J

m ^m mm m
PLUS THE GUIDE AT YOUR SIDE
DISC MANAGEMENT SCREEN I

C=Ceate new document

!1 = Dicc change I2 = ln!:pect
Diec Management.
£=Edit existing document
<3 = Cnpy (4 = Move
Punter idle.
P=Print document
D=L)nect pnnling
How to use this chart
This chart shows all the possible screens and menus that you can see
f5=Rename !6 = Eiac f7=Modes f8 = Optiun-j
in
J LocoScript, howto get to each one and where it goes afterwards. To make it

easier to read, we've used certain conventions:

I r
pick group
f ?
i H!W,'MaiMJMl Where no other legend, the normal way of using a menu is to place
there's
[ENTER] pick group confirm
[ENTER) [ENTER] rename Document the highlight bar over'the item you want using the cursor up and down keys,
Limbo
new name new name recover from Limbo © and then press [ENTER] which both actions the choice and clears the menu off.
[ENTER] [ENTER] rename Group
fcm*M.'.M.]s Menu choices in capitals are headings and cannot be selected - the highlight
rename Disc
Edit document bar will just skip over them.
Print document
Create document
If the menu choice has
0B by it, then you must press to set or to Q Q
clear the choice before pressing [ENTER] to complete.
Direct printing
Make ASCII tile If the menu choice has N or T
by it, then you must type a Number or some
Text respectively followed by [ENTER], before pressing [ENTER] again to
complete.
""'infirm
Some of the simple menus that merely ask you to confirm an action have
U been left off- the chart just says "confirm" at these points. Press [ENTER] to
proceed or [CAN] to stop.
lEXtxiT]

""•infirm confirm Where further explanation is needed, we've used a footnote.

choose name
[ENTER]

a kmaugi i i

IfBoid"
EDITING TEXT SCREEN I Centre
[J Double
Italic
A:l t I JbHS'HbAD.ME Editing text. Keep
Pi inter idle. Using A:
:

??
ayout I \ .'.
PM ? :
-: i pe Layout T>
fl-Show
1 I 1" of 54
f2=Layout Line Pilch ?
Line Spacing ??
Last Line
Last Page Number
Pitch ?? ?
Page Number
I ReVerse
Right Justify
SuBscript
SupoRscript
UnderLine
Word underline
O UniT
hard space
hard hyphen

FOOTNOTES
Ch ° iCeS
n
[Disc
h
M
Management screen
^ tHiS menu
u
?an * direct|
y accessed from th * 3. This choice can be directly typed with
the ky wmmnKion
combination
by their initials E, P, C, D as [ALT] + [RETURN]. .

pnae.

with
pp

L
manual pp 2 1-
S°ET
1
e
;

H Si "^
£ )nd CLEAR (B) me
™***Z T°
.

" US
"
T -
L CoScri P t
4.

*
The UNIT choice can only be
^ REPRINT Ch0iCe
must use one of the chokes below
LocoScript is a
ta * ££*££EL
menu
accessed by these

it on the

trademark of Locomotive Software

menu
- you

Ltd.

BQQQQQQQp3BQQ85S5Sa
SQQpQQQQQQQQQlJ[T|QQDe ^QQpQQQQQQQQQUODSJQe,
ALT I

L_JUZJCJ JQQQQQQQlQQQ
EXTRA if |+] i

DQQQQQQQI
a——^ — -—»m«^-'- -^^m^^^ ^MMr
 ' ,

How to use
this chart

LOCOSSRIPT This chart details

LocoScript
press the f-key (DD,
2.
all the

EL
menus
The normal procedure
available in
is

etc.) linked with the

move the
to

THE GUIDE YOUR SIDE menu, use the cursor keys to

AT highlight bar over the choice

press Ifflrol .
you want, then

Options marked with a tick (V) need to be

DISC MANAGEMENT SCREEN specially 'selected'. Press s or a to select or

deselect, then press rENTERi to perform the

Disc management. Printer idle.
C a Create Using one. chosen action.
E = Edit document P = Print
(1=Actions document D = Diet printing
f3=File (4=Grourj J5=Document Some choices require you enter a number,
f6=Settings t7=Disc char f8=Options Place cursor over
Press D Header and Footer size menu.
file, press P for instance the
( rixrn to finish) i

Rename pronn After highlighting the option, type the number

Verify disc Move file
I

Add dirtinn Format disc Erase you want, then flffSn . After altering any other
Rename disc
file V ShoU-imbo files New Name* DOC .TXT
Rename
I

file group
Show phrases Recover from Limho choices you want on that menu, press I^terI
Load phrases
Save phrases
Set first pages \| High quality again to act on the entire menu.
V Draft quality
Number of copies
In most places, the \m key (for 'Cancel')
Print all of document
Print Dart of document aborts the current operation and returns to
Paper tvpes '!

DOC .TXT DOC TXT New Character normal editing.

Style
New Namp' nnt" TYT group group Character Styles
group B For Character Set This chart is based on version 2.11 of
B First page First page England
Last page Last page For Printer Print part of document LocoScript 2, as shipped with the PCW9512.
Old Name: DOC .TXT Total Dape PCW9512
Group:
I Drive:
group
- 11"
Other versions may differ slightly, depending
\ Fanfold
Simple text file Set total pages-counter]
Printer Defaults V 2" Labels what paper and printer types you have set up.
Page image file
I

Write SETTINGS. STD

v/ A5
EXIT PCW9512 Portrait (Tall)
Landscape (W
Default Paper Type
A4
Default Style
PrestigePica 10
Default Set
England For
i
PrestigePica iq
Character Set
SET MENU CLEAR MENU
England
Single sheet For Printer
Continuous stationery
I
A4 PrestigePica 10 PCW9512
Fanfold
2
1.1"
Labels For Character Set
mjMkffl iiiiiM M D630
:ntre
I
Rolri
CR
A5 For Character Set For
\i DMP extra
England Printer CR extra ?? Double
England For Printer PCW9512 Double
Top gap t For
Italic
Bottom garj 3
Printer PCW9512 Italic Justify
PCW9512 Justify Keep
v Ignore paper sensor Keep ?? Line Pitch
For Printer LayouT ? Line Spacing
Create new Paper Type PCW9512 Line Pitch ? Mail
Paper: A4
= Mliff*Wf Line Spacing V Pitch
l l
v D630 Last Line Reverse
Single sheet J DMP
Last Page Number SuBscript
Continuous stationerv Mail SupeRscript
Pitch ?? UnderLine
II Ribbon Page Number ( soft space
)

Pitch: 10 Reverse (•I soft hvphei

•J Multi-Strike Right Align
For Character Set III
'
Single Strike SiC
England SuBscript
For Printer Impression control SupeRscript
PCW9512 v Low UnderLine
Create y Medium Word underline
Set new details V High UniT
or Create new Style hard space
hard hyphen
Edit file

EDITING TEXT SCREEN The Set and Clear menus are shortcuts for most of the main editing
menus. For example, typing bb turns on Bold, and BB turns it off
again. To use these menus, type or B followed by the capitalised
group DOC Editing text. letters in the choice you want. The menu itself won't appear unless
CFS+O LP6 you deliberately wait for a few seconds. If a number is needed, you
f1= Actions f2=Layout f3=Style f4=Size f5=Page f7=Spell f8=Options EXIT will be prompted to type it in and press rjjgg .
3

Dorumpnt *iptun I
All of rinriimpnt laiiiHWJ.
EDITING LAYOUT SCREEN
Edit identity Word underline i 10 12 15 17 PS Just forwards from here Save and Continue
Insert text Bold Normal width Sing le word Save and Print
Disc manager Layout exchange Double strike Double width Abandon edit
B: group DOC .TXT Editing layout.
Layout replacement i
User dictionary upkeep
Show phrases
Italic
Line spacing
Layout 1 Pi12 LS1 CR+0 LP6
Centre Superscript
Show blocks Subscript vLO %_1 Vff :
Right align Reverse
Set justification CR extra spacing
V % 1 Vh
Line pitch
7 5 6 7

l^HjPMHiIEHEIIEIM
I \f (V I avnut
1: Layout F: Layout
EDITING 2: -Layout 2
2: Layout 2 i. Layout
3: Layout 3 LAYOUT 4: Layout
Layout 4 Find page Set Right .

4: SCREEN Set Centre Tab 5: Layouit

5: Layout 5
End page here 6: Layout*
Found lavout: Layout Set Decimal Tab
7: Layout
Last line of oaee y
8: Layout
Leave layout as it is "Keep effrrlmt tine" wmrr
Change layout ?? lines above Clear Tab
Automatic replacement Abandon lavout exc^anoo ?? lines below Clear all Tabs
Name: avout 1 I

DOCUMENT SETUP SCREEN PTR PRINTER CONTROL SCREEN

group DOC .TXT Document setup. Using B: M: Disc management
Layout Pi12 LS1 ;R+0 LP6 line — 54 Printer: ready Top of form Printing document A4
f1=Actions f3=Papei f6=Left Offset f7=Document !8=Options

end of header 1 : used for all pages I Return tn edit

end of footer 1 : used for all pages ~ Return to start of document
Suspend printing Left offset Name: DOC
•end of header 1 : used for no pages at all >
from pag Rihhnn tvne
Clear offset to page:
II

end of footer 1 : used for no pages at all — 11" Fanfold Increase offset
2 Labels I
Decrease offset on page: Multi-Strike
A5 on copy: Single Strike

V Portrait (Tall) i
Keprmt trom:
Printer Selection V Landscape (Wide)
use Paper lyne
Edit identity Change stock layouts Show Paper Type
Insert text PrestigePica 10 ill Character Stvle
PrestigePica
^^tTTTWrffrTrfflTU
f
Disc manager Centre For Character Set PrestigePica 10
Right align Character Set
Show England For Character England
phrases Set justification For Printer
Set
Show blocks England Printer
PCW9512 For Printer PCW9512
PCW9512

1:
2:
Layout
Layout
EDITING
LAYOUT
SCREEN
i
7
D630
DMP MM^TbH
For Printer
M
3: Layout PCW9512
4: Layout
5: Layout For Printer
6: Layout PCW9512
7: Layout
8: Layout I Panpr tvrip
9: Layout Page layout
Header/footer options
Page break control iMiM'.Vm
Paee numbers U D630
DMP
J
p these c

4
_L

IfMITmriM
m I
Page layout Header/footer

v
\l
first
all
page only
but last page
1 used for:

I
^' Allow anv nat^e break
Prevent widows and orphans
Do not break paragraphs
QQQQQQQQQQQQQB
V odd pages

Portrait (Tall)
\ First page header enabled
Landscape (Wide) 4 First page footer enabled
\< Fixed footer zone
\' Last page header enabled
Use Paper TyDe «'
Floating footer zone v Last page footer enabled 1CQ1
Show Paper

GiDQQQQQQeOGOQ
Tyi
Bottom gap i For one page document
Use footer for first page

Qi
'.-

V Use footer for last page Total pages ???? [

Hold down {MJ to ge [alt] + HE sets up these characters:

aQQQQQQQQQQQQSaQQQQ 8QQQQQQQQQQQQ DELl CAN CUT I COPYlbASTEl

GDQQQQQQQQQQQQ
SHIFT
LOCK
iGQQOQQQQQQQGLJQOT!
)QQQQQQQQQQQG-IODQ@Q JQQQaslQQQQQQ
I

g^F
EXTRA |[
nwiiiiii)!,]|iiiiiii..lll!F Nwiiy
E i
3QQQQQCQ9I IQQQ
Hold down extra to get:
{M + UD sets up these characters:

8QQQQQQQQOQQQ9QQQ99 aQQQQQQQDQDQQaaaQaal
i i

POC V [UNIT '

page! PARAl

L
gRor M\ ^M \. ^^M \^^^^^-—-——--— ^ mm mmmmmwwwwrrrrwrrwwwm ^asBBKBBg^^^^^mUMBB^Kinn^BMS!IMKKK^^
i mRmroR
^QKKKK^^ ^^^^^^W ^^^^^^r ^^^^f^f^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^r ^^mt^^r KF
ZDQQQ(DQ(IIR
To get back to normal characters, do a fAiti + [7H

i ~««c/...m* ic a trademark of Locomotive Software Ltd

 , | . ?

nan LOCOSCRiPT at
Using this Wallchart Disc Management
GLANCE WALLGHART
Editing
CURSORS
Locoscript uses two types of cursor. The first Disc Management is the start up screen and you return to it whenever you want to manipulate a file. Look Creating or altering adocument are both editing procedures. Try to learn at least the most common control codes, so that you can continue
is a small flashing oblong. This type includes: The Editing Cursor, which appears
as you type in text. The Ruler Cursor, which moves along the upon each of its sections as boxes in which you place your documents by type. typing without having to pulldown a menu. [+] or [-] followed by the grid key in the middle of the cursor arrows calls up a help menu for
ruler bar at the top of the Editing Screen as you type in the text. The
enabling or disabling codes. Use the Cut and Paste options rather than deleting with the [DEL-] and [DEL-] keys then
re-typing.
other is a long Cursor Bar. This type includes: The Menu Selection cursors. The Group and File Cursors on the Disc
STATUS BAR Use initial letters from the Disc
Management Screen. Both types of cursor are moved with the Cursor Control Keys, which are on the right of the keyboard.
Management screen. C=Createa STATUS DAR
ENABLE/DISABLE new document in the group
ENTER
Group memory used.
The keys for Enable [+]
containing the cursor. E=Editthe Current Line Number increase by
and Disable [•] are found on either side of the space bar. Their main uses are to Select or Cancel options Drive number: Group Name/ Bold, Double Strike, Italic are
on menus or document indicated by the cursor. [ENTER] to print. Line Space.
to indicate to Locoscript that you are about to enter a control code. Some menus do not need [+] or [-J; just move Document Name shown here, if enabled.
the cursor bar till the option required has a tick by Drive number: P=Print the document indicated by
it, then press [ENTER], -Drive memory remaining. I

Disc name the cursor. D=Enter Direct Printing Select documer with file cursor. liiMwrjiljC'lWftH miner la**, using h:
EMERGENCIES state. [f7] [ENTER] cofirms. layout -Ei 13 -L« -LE6 P;.ge 1 line 3 of S<
"

In case of emergency the two uiso panagefiem,, fruiter ill*. fHhouMj&MliSk -+

^Dtpli sis f4=StgIe fS=Lmes f6=Pages It- Modes f«=BiocKs im>
vital keys are [STOP] and [CAN], found on the top row. [CAN] will cancel a menu you enter by Ui
+
if it
h* t f t J. L
create nejl document E ; Edit existing document F-Frint doctirwit ,
mistake. [STOP] stops a process, such as inserting text.

is to Save a document
to switch off the machine, you
regularly, using [EXIT], then selecting 'Save

will still
It

have a recent version of your file.

will request another [STOP] for confirmation. Your best insurance

and Continue' with the cursor bar. Then, even if you have u l=Disc change f2=L,sv>ect f3=Copy f4=Move fS=Renane fS=Erase f?=

MODES
'

1
Print document

Gr o up^^^roti
Type
finish.
in page number to start or
[ENTER] [ENTER] to print
Show state o:

I Drive: A Lines to the page=

Pitch Line Pitch Body Copy
v Print all pages
1

This Guide to Locoscript

files. To upgrade an
is based on version
earlier version, contact
1.20,
Amstrad.
which differs from previous versions in its handling of partial printing of documents and creatinq ASCII

|A:Lm£J!S
• linbo files
7 files SBfflK
9 linbo files
5 files|A:CONT 1
i linbo files
files AiTHPLAIE 12 files
fa Print sofie pages

Se«ct document with file cursor.

Layout
:-: is
in operation.
Base Layout. Line Spacing
Printer status; simultaneous
Editing and Printing are possible.
length.

mm— | • lifibo files

ffl ** 1 ~ **» <:t» I* LEI2PAi,HJP 2k
[f7] Stiect Print all pages or Print

JT2PKI.PLP 2k
some pa^s with the cursor bar.
"TtB T HBP
Printer
'

Group Cursor Cursor Keys + File Cursor. Cursor Keys to move. Limbo files still recoverable Print doeunau '

B
Printer Control State [SHIFT] to move. Create document
'

Position cursor on Move cursor to first Text is removed.

is obtained with the [PTR] key or by pulling back the bail bar on the printer. first
Direct snnqing
The Printer Status Bar appears at the top of the screen, with a new set of menus, which control the Make ASCII fjile
character of text to be cut. character after CUT
various printing operations. texttobecut.
Select Group with group cursor.
DISC CHANGE
[17] Type in name: 8 characters. 3
STATUS BAR characters (numbers,', and

Online: ready to print. Offline: on

,=Create new document
Reads in files from a newly _ are allowed) [ENTER] confirms.
fi inserted disc.
standby. Waiting for Paper: insert
fl=Disc change f2=Ins Direct Printing
paper or
Printing document or Idle.
[f2] to clear. Active. Bail Direct Printing ([D]; [ENTER] or
bar back: loading. [f7] from Disc Management
INSPECT Screen) turns the PCW into an Identify text.
1 Disc Maiiagenent Prnner Usniq none.
idle, [ENTER] confirms Direct Printing
Oinrne at line: 21 Idle High quality Smqle sheet intelligent typewriter. Text can be
(see box).
Use Block (0-9) for long

www,
m
us fZ^Paver f3=hotions fS^Docuiient/Rewint f?=Reset f8=0n/]ff Line EX II altered until [RETURN] is pressed
Move cursor to first Text is stored in memory sections; Phrase (A-Z) for
Position cursor on =?l
Drive A: MDri ve when it is printed but not stored. and remains on screen.
CI. ""' free
.

2 fi
filfjsl • * files! 4V >"-' Ues Inspect document Identifies a selected
first character COPY character after short sections (maximum
This allows accurate positioning of

Current position of printing. Printing status.

document. the print head when filling in
of text to be copied.
t text to be copied. Text is stored
removed from screen.
in memory but of 255 characters per
Phrase; 550 characters for
forms, etc. Use 'Left Offset' to
all Phrases.)
control left margin: [PTR]; [»3];
OPTIONS Selects left Offset' with the
Select document with file cursor.
Type in identify text here. Make ASCII file
[f7] Select destination with group

reg^sF™
cursor bar. Right/left cursor keys

m I Draft qua! ii
Select Printquality[+] or [-]

Select Single Sheet or

Continuous Paper. [+] or [-]
COPY
set the print position
column; +

type in
[Shift]

position by the inch. Alternatively

the Offset size
by the
they set the print

in tenths of Old Nane: DEMO ,001

cursor. [ENTER]. RenameTfTTiJeb:
the same name already exists
the group or if a new name is
required, 'Simple text file' containing
in

Paste

m
Group: P0SIER no detailed layout information

g
:*Efnr an inch. Use the printer paper feed
Single sheet paper Drive: A
-i.
Lines per page in 1/6 inch. document with the file other than tabs and returns; 'Pp Text appears from cursor position.
Continuous stationery
Select knob to adjust the vertical ag e Position cursor where first Identify Block (0-9) or
Set automatically for Copy docunei t

tH Select destination image file' has identical line]

I

cursor^] position. [EXIT] returns to printing /"Sinple text file breaks character of pasted text is to Phrase (A-Z).
Lines at top/bottom paper. Single Sheet (A4) or Page wage file to the original and ASCII fo orm
Foreilength: 70 II Ne«.N«e: CAMS group with the group cursor. once the head is positioned. appear.
Gap length! 3 Continuous (11 inch) Group: cQNT feeds, suitable for sending V a
, Disable to stop printer near !

[ENTER] Rename if a file of the j

Paper out defeat paper. Drive: H

bottom of paper. [+] or [-] same nanie already exists in the electronic mail. Avoid mixing
Old Nane: CODES ,001 new group or if a new name is ASCII and Locoscript fi'iies on the
PAPER Group: POSTEK required. [ENTER] Original file same disc.

V ( ma Clears 'Waiting for Paper' if Printer

Drive: A
remains.
OPTIONS
Inserting a Document

already contains paper. [ENTER]

MOVE Position cursor where first Select 'Insert Text' Disc Management Screen. =?l
(8 [+] and [-] Reveal and Conceal character of inserted document is f7 with cursor bar. ENTER Select document to be ENTER ENTER
Limbo and Hidden (operating inserted with cursor.
I
^^^i ™
to appear. file

ACTIONS Moup document

Select document with the file
system) files.
\L

Advances paper one line. [+] t

cursor. [f4] Select destination
group with group cursor. [ENTER]
Rename if a file of the same name
iEiii
Advances paper one sheet.
already exists in the new group or
Saving a Block
[+]
Old Narte; DEMO .001 if a new name is required. [ENTER] CODES CHART
M\ I, lllil mfm Group: POSTER removed.

m
. I

Original file is
Feed to top oTforn Indicates first line of continuous Drive: A EFFECT ENABLE DISABLE KEY NOTES
Set top of forn Select 'Save block' Disc Management Screen. Identify Block with a file
paper to printer. [+] BOLD MB MB f3
Select Group to name
* f8 with cursor bar.
[enter file Block with (8 characters, Inter]
Set left offset CENTRE MC f5
Offset sue: C
0-99 sets distance from
to start of printing.
left margin
RENAME/RECOVER FROM UMBO DOUBLE STRIKE +
[ ]D [-]D f3
h Type in Block
identifier (0-9).
group cursor. 3 characters).

DOUBLE WIDTH [+]P??D[ENTER] [-]P M ??=PITCH: default=12.

*
DOCUMENT/REPRINT HARD HYPHEN [+][HYPHEN] f5 Line will not break at HYPHEN.
(f5_ r^rfflMedocuiienT^ I renane document *
HARD SPACE [+][SPACE] f5 Line not break at SPACE.
recover iron Linbo
reiune Group 1 He, Hue:
will
Saving Phrases
;
! 1 ITALIC Ml Ml f4
Na*e: MIZAM.OZ rename Disc 1

M
Fro« page 1 ; nid " __u , ,

KEEP LINES TOGETHER [+]K??[ENTER] [-]K??[ENTER] f6 Keeps ?? LINES above [-] or below [+]
This page p- Current position of printing.
the code together. Select 'Save all phrases' PHRASES, STD file is To save permanently, transfer
renane Group
Io page i g$| with cursor bar. automatically created Group PHRASES, STD Group
HLT f8
.KBWs LAYOUT in to on a
j

[+]??[ENTER] f2 ??=LAYOUT number: [-] returns to 1, 1

f 1 Drive M, replacing any existing disc containing Locoscript, using
BASE LAYOUT.
Select where printing resumes
*n LINE PITCH [+]LP?[ENTER] MLP f5 ?=6 or 8: default=6.
PHRASES, STD file. Copy [13] from, the Disc
This page p

Hi LINE SPACING [+]LS??[ENTER] [-]LS ??=0/V2 /1/lV2 /2/2'/2 /3: [-] returns to
Management Screen.
Fro* beginning with cursor bar and [+].
.'
renane Disc f5

RESET
Old Name:
Group: f US ILK Linbo
\
"" »»»»= r .
j LAST LINE OF PAGE MLL *
f6
BASE LINE SPACING; defaults
Use f6 at end of LINE only.
;'.»-" *

itasa
Driver A IK SBSUSi 'P| LAST PAGE NUMBER [+]LPN f6 Inserts NUMBER.

document or group with

PITCH [+]P??[ENTER] HP f4 ??=10712/15/17/P (Proportional
Saves to disc. Returns to Disc
Abandon printing and reset Select Limbo document with file Select file
Spacing): [-] returns to BASE PITCH; Saves to disc. Cursor to top of
I
Cancel printing with cursor bar
f7 "ASjiilTiJB cursor. [f5] Select 'Recover from or group cursor. [f5J Select desired Management screen. document.
and [+]. default-12.
Cancel Rename option with cursor bar.
Limbo' with cursor [ENTER] *
It bar.
j

PAGE NUMBER [
+]PN f6 Inserts NUMBER. SPECIAL KEY COMBINATIONS
Rename if a file of the same name [ENTER] Type in new name for
REVERSE VIDEO +]RV HP.V f3 Only seen on screen.
already exists in the group or if a document, group or disc as [
rtxit options: [ENTER]+[ALT] CAPS LOCK
ON/OFF LINE RIGHT JUSTIFY + ]RJ
*
f5
new name required. [ENTER] desired. [ENTER] [
NUMERIC KEYPAD+[EXTRA]
is
* •ENABLES NUMBERS
, using none, Toggles Printer On/Off line. Stops SOFT HYPHEN [-[[HYPHEN] f5 Word breaks with HYPHEN if too long.
jality Single sheet *
Save and Continue [RELAY]+[ALT] NUMBER LOCK FOR KEYPAD
printing resuming when leaving SOFT SPACE H[SPACE] f5 Line breaks with SPACE if too long. ^Save and Print [EXIT]+[SHIFT]+[BCTRA]
f8=0n/0ff Line EXI1 RESET COMPUTER
Abandon edit"
Printer Control State if it's
SUBSCRIPT MSB [-]SB f4 f4: on HALF HEIGHT option. [PTR]+[EXTRA] SCREEN DUMP TO PRINTER
Select document with file cursor. [f6]
HSR

m
352k frp» ' 'Ues temporarily halted. SUPERSCRIPT MSB f4 f4: on HALF HEIGHT option.
[ENTER] confirms. Document is
held in Limbo until it is erased
UNDERLINE MUL [-JUL f3
Leaves Printer Control State. * * Returns to Disc Management
again or the disc
UNIT MUT Used with the UNIT search key. Saves to disc. Prints.
screen without saving.
Resumes printing if it's temporarily is full.

halted.
WORD UNDERLIE MW [-]UL f3

This posters free witti The Complete Guide to Ihe Amstr*] PC* 8256 ft 85 12 Nottot re-sale

»>iimj>comm
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LOCOSCRIPT- ISSUE 1

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EASY?
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 The Cracker-2
versus
SuperCalc-2™
Question urself about Spreadshee

1 Which one is a current edition, written entirely in machine code and supported by
its author?
2. Which one uses sparse matrix storage techniques to maximize workspace and
extensive context-sensitive help messages?
3. Which one is available with immediate quotes for site and corporate licenses and
can transfer datafiles to and from it's 1 6 colour Amstrad PC counterpart {Cracker-3
mouse and memory resident options) via an optional serial transfer
£69, with
program (CSTAM £49) ?
4. Which has built-in self verification and powerful macros?
5. Which has built-in date, timer and I/O commands?

6. Which has DIF and dBase™ file compatibility built-in ?

7. Which one even has a simple database and mailing label print option?

8. Which one has built-in high resolution screen and printer graphics?

9. Which one is written by a British author, costs £49inc, & represents the best all

round value?
10. Which one should you buy?

The answer is Cracker 2

Please send me the Cracker 2 enclose £49.00

I

NewStar Software specialises in the best

Please debit my Access/Visa Card:
software solutions for both the Amstrad PCW
and PC (and other compatibles). Call or write
for a catalogue - or collect one from your local
Machine type PCW8256 CPC6128
computer store. Please send me your colour software catalogue and
dealer list forthe PCW series
55

NewStar Software Ltd., Name

IMEMM 200 North Service Road,
Brentwood, Essex CM14 4SG Address
STAR Tel: (0277)220573
Telex: 995143 NEWSTAG
Fax: (0277) 232637
Post Code
How to use the Guide
This is the most complete guide to the The Complete Guide
Amstrad PCW computers ever published.
Here you'll find details of software,
hardware and services - from dust covers
to £500 programs!
To help you through this maze of products, 8256 & 8512
we've divided them into 15 sections. But
PCW novice or a micro
whether you're a
veteran, the following points will help you
Introduction 5
get themost from the guide. From unpacking the PCW to understanding CP/M.
• No one program will suit every
situation.Where we've looked at a product
in-depth, it's not necessarily because it's
Word Processing 15
the best. UcoscriptTWordStar/NewWord/SupenMriter/Tasword 8000/Others
• The extended reviews show what you The war of the words - taking Locoscript to task.
can expect from a representative package.
Where there are several examples, they
cover various levels of sophistication.
Databases 26
• Check with the distributor before Dataflow & Mailflow/dBase ll/Otheis
ordering by mail. Software prices have Our file on intelligent information handling.
even been known to go down!
• most cases, prices shown include
VAT.
In
Figures 37
• We've tried to keep the lists as up-to- SciatchPad/Cracker/Oxstat
date as possible. But this is a fast moving How spreadsheets spread the load of complex calculations.
industry, so check the Update section.

EDITOR Finance 42
John Minson
Money Manager/MAP Integrated Accounts/Others
MANAGING EDITOR
Kevin Cox Calculating the cost of computerising your accounts.
PUBLISHER
Roger Munford
ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER
Neil Dyson
Communications 51
CONTRIBUTORS Modems demystified, networks unravelled . . . talking business.
John Cook
Martin Croft
Christina Erskine
Alan Fitch
Graphics 56
Mike Gerrard Quick on the draw with the PCW - the electronic pencil.
John Lettice
Max Phillips
THANKS TO:
Richard Allison/
Specialist 59
Software City; Exceptional answers to unusual problems.
Nickie Bedford-
Davies/Michael
Joyce Consultants;
Madeleine Kihlberg;
Games 62
High Voltage, Croydon. Shoot up or strategy? Entertainment for all tastes.
PUBLISHED BY
Sportscene Specialist Press Ltd
14 Rathbone Place
London W1P1DE
Utilities 67
01-631 1433 The keys to easing those keyboard blues.

Programming 71
The write approach to computer languages.

Education 74
Classy ways to soak up skills.

Hardware 78
Chips, discs and printers to supercharge your Joyce!

..aoDnooDnaaua
daosaaooaisBDi
—OH. BOBOOOQ BJBBBM I , Support Services 84
CSff: Gt ,

2y Backmg-upthePCW.

The Complete Guide

independent journal, not
to the Amstrad
affiliated
PCW 8256 and 8512 is an
with Amstrad Consumer
Update
Electronics pic.
News of all the latest products on the Amstrad scene.
 The
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£99.95
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PCW 8256
USED MODELS - GUARANTEED
EXCHANGE YOUR
8256 FOR A
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£149.95
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For not much more than the
a
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(£343.85mcVAT)
cost of the second drive.
I Camsoft Invoice plus stock Typing Tutors I
£99.95 Touch W Go £24.95 Phone for details.
£149.95 lansyst Crash Typing £24.95
£49.95
CashTraderlessAnalyser
Cash Tradennc Analyser
£99.95
£149.95
lansyst Two Fingers
Tutorial & Educational
Locoscnpt(Cassette)
£24.95

£9.95
ALL PRICES
0)
Money Manager
MAP., Compact and
Also available
£29.95
ABCS
CPM plus basic (Cassette)
SuperCalc II (Cassette)
£9.95
£6.95
INCLUDE VAT 0)
accounts packages New Word (Cassette) £9.95
Word Processors
NewWord £69.00
Multiplan (Cassette)
French Mistress
£9.95
£19.95
DAISY WHEEL
£49.95
£69.95
Spanish Tutor
German Master
£19.95
£19.95
PRINTER PACKAGE
HandsonCP/M
Microword/MicrofileW/P + D/B
£49.95
£49.95 Hands on Supercalc II
£24.95
£24.95 FOR PCW8256/8512
Polypnnt + Polyword £29.95 Hardware
Tasword8000
Tasprint 8000 (fonts)
£24.95
£14.95
£29.95
PCW8256 FREE Delivery
PCW8512FREEDelivery
FD2 1MB Second drive
CPS Serial/Parallel l/F
£456.95
£571.95
£172.38
£68.88
£199(£229.95
.96 + VAT
incVAT)
Databases Nightingale modem + comms. s/w £229.88
Delta 1.25 £99.95 Sage chit chat modem plus Everything you need to produce
Dbasell £119.00 E.Mails/w £199.95
£99.95 letter quality print from the
Sage chit chat modem plus
£99.95 Prestels/w £199.95 Amstrad PCW range:
£69.95 Maintenance contract for 8256 £41.40
£49.95 Maintenance contract for 851 2
.

. £51.75
• DyneerDWI 2 (Silver-Reed
Datafile123 £29.95 256KUpgrade £39.95 EXP400) High quality daisy
... £69.95 IntergemDiskl/F £99.95 wheel printer
Spreadsheets PCWDustcover £9.95
£49.95 CF23"Disksx10 £39.95
• PCW Parallel/Serial interface
I Scratch Pad +
£49.00
£69.95
CF2DD3"Disksx10
Includes 2 x library cases per 10 disks
£59.95 • Parallel Printer Cable
• NEW Tasword 8000 Word I
Q Braphics
Electronic Studio Light Pen +
£69.00
SEND FOR COMPLETE
PRICE LIST
Processor Software
Extra for Pocket Wordstar
Q
Graphics Software £79.95 W/P £25 inc VAT
DRDraw £49.95 Full Telephone Support with Extra for Newword
DR Graph £49.95 all Equipment Purchased
Graphpad II I CAD/CAM Tablet ... £149.95 W/P £45 inc VAT

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ALSO VAST RANGE OF DISK DRIVES, JOYSTICKS, DISK BOXES, INTERFACES, SHEETFEEDERS, ETC
53-59 High Street, Croydon, Surrey CRO 1QD. Tel: 01-681 3022
Prices correct at copy date. Subject to change without notice due to currency fluctuations etc. E & O.E.
 INTRODUCTION
The Amstrad PCWs have revolutionised computing overnight. Not long ago The third step on the PCW road to

a micro capable of running serious applications was beyond the reach of the success is its price. It's not just that for
£400 you have a complete system; the
individual's pocket: now that power is available to everyone.
reduction in the cost of hardware has led to
a reduction in the price of business software

The PCW - computing too. As publishers realised that there

market for their products, they dropped the
prices of the PCW versions, bringing
was

them
a

into line with the machine itself. For £100

power without the price you can buy programs that costs
as much in their original formats.
five times

Are there points against the Amstrad? A

few, perhaps, though they're fast becoming
irrelevant. The 3" discs were once in short
supply; happily that situation now seems to
be a thing of the past. The complete system
In those pre-PCW days, few small attach a 13 amp plug to the flex and away approach also meant that you had to use the
businesses could afford a micro, though a you go, safe in the knowledge that the Amstrad printer. While it is very good, it

hard-pressed one or two person concern printer will work with the computer. cannot match the quality of a daisy wheel.
could easily profit as much from office Secondly, though the PCWs are fully Alternatives are now becoming available.
automation as the bigger companies, which fledged word processors, running a very The documentation is probably the worst
took it for granted. A computer can take care satisfactory program, Locgscript, they are aspect of the package, but training courses
of many of those mundane chores that also computers in their own right. They are available all over the country and
waste so much of the working day. come complete with a standard operating alternative instructions are flooding into the
Then the PCWs arrived, providing a one system, CP/M, which allows them to run a bookshops. Now that half a million PCWs
plug system. The compatibility problems, vast number of business programs, have been sold, business computing will

that often face new users were banished. identical to those available for their bigger never be the same again. Join the Joyce
You just connect the three units together, brothers. revolution!

Alternatives to the Amstrad PCW

If you're still considering whether to buy an Amstrad PCW, this chart should help you to weigh up the pros and cons.

Manual Electric Electronic Amstrad PC

Typewriter Typewriter Typewriter PCW Clone
Computer Computer

TYPING
Tabs Not on cheapest Limited Yes Yes Yes
models
Correction Facilities No No Yes Yes Yes
Multiple Copies No No No Yes Yes
Document Copies No No No Yes Yes
Document Storage No No No Yes Yes
Type Quality Uneven Good to excellent Good to excellent Good to excellent Good to excellent
depending on printer depending on printer
quality quality

Variables No No Yes Yes Yes

Typefaces

OTHER USES
Other Business No No No Many Many
Applications

Range of Software N/A N/A N/A Large Large

Prices of Software N/A N/A N/A Low to medium Medium to high

COST
Minimum Price £40 £170 £450 £459/574 £850
not including disc drive complete with basic printer

CONCLUSION
Cheap but old Quality type but lacks Why restrict yourself Unbeatable value for Powerful but at this
fashioned and clumsy. correction facilities. when a micro can do many, opening up a price for dedicated
more? world of business users only
computing.
INTRODUCTION
When you first open the box, you The screen is your main
output device while working
may be intimidated by the carefully
with the PCW, so position it

packed components that make up at a comfortable viewing

distance, around 18" from
your PCW. Half an hour studying the
your eyes. Don't place it

User Guide will show you how to opposite a light source, to

avoid reflections. Keep it
connect everything, but there are a
clean, to avoid glare and
number of useful hints which the perhaps use an anti-glare
shield.
manual omits. .

Establishing Position the keyboard at a

'

comfortable typing height, so

awork that your fingers rest lightly

on the keys. Frequent rests
will help but it's worth
investing in a special table
and chair if you want to work

station for hours without backstrain.

Do take time setting up your Amstrad,

because a little thought at the start can save
an awful lot of inconvenience later. Even
before you unpack, clear your workspace or
vital components will vanish into a pile of

polystyrene. Also note that Amstrad advises

you to keep the packaging in case you have
to return the machine for repair.
There are three major parts to the PCW:
the keyboard, which looks very much like a
standard typewriter, with a handful of extra
keys to the right ;the printer, with its

continuous paper and sheet feeds, which

are packed separately; the monitor, which
contains the computer itself and one or two The brightness knob is not

disc drives, depending on whether you have only useful for avoiding
eyestrain caused by too
an 8256 or an 8512.
much contrast. It can also be
So much for the hardware; but you are used to fade the screen when
also provided with some software. A you are not using the PCW,
computer can do nothing without preventing 'image burn'.

instructions, and these are contained on the

two discs that you'll find in the package.
You'll need blank discs too, so buy at least

two with your P.CW. We look at discs more

closely on the next page.
Now its time to connect all the pieces,
put a plug on the power cable, and remove
the card that protects the disc drives during
transit. But as you'll sometimes be using the
machine for long periods, take note of the
tips below, to make working with your PCW
a more comfortable affair. ,
 INTRODUCTION

Single density disc drive. head that's reading it.

When switched on the Before you Power Up or

computer automatically Switch Off, check that the
looks for a disc in here. If it disc drives are empty, or the
Be careful not to damage the
doesn't find one after a few power surge could corrupt
vertical extension port edge
minutes it will beep then data. Unless you are leaving
connector on the rear as it's
switch itself off. To reset, the machine unattended for a
your plug point for many
press the Space Bar. Never long time it is probably better
peripherals.
remove a disc while the red to leave it on, with the screen
light is on: you could dimmed. Ifyou have problems with
damage the disc and the image stability, note that
there are vertical and
horizontal hold knobs at the

back.

The short length of the

printer ribbon cable means

that the printer almost
always has to be placed to

\ the right of the machine.

Extensions are available
from the companies listed in

the services section.

4
When using continuous
paper, you'll find that the
printed section falls onto the
incoming stack, causing
possible obstructions. A
simple two level letters tray,

available from any good

stationers, will hold the
emerging paper.
Don't tear continuous paper
while it is still being printed;
themovement can cause
smudged letters.

Though the Paper Tray

When accurately aligning the Extension is meant for use
position of printing on the with single sheet stationary,
paper, use the ruler on the placing it upside down with
bail bar, which corresponds the continuous paper feed
to the on-screen ruler. also helps avoid fouling.

> -r

An easily neglected feature If the auto-paper feed

of the printer is the doesn't operate, check that
adjustable print head. Print you haven't inserted the
that is too heavy or light will sheet so far that the printer
result from incorrect thinks it's already loaded.
positioning. Flimsy paper
uses the lower settings,
while multiple sheets have to
be set higher.
 INTRODUCTION
Without a way of storing programs and data, a computer would be of very concerns what you store on them rather
little use. Magnetic discs provide a speedy method of storing and than their physical characteristics.
retrieving
information. But you
Distribution discs are issued by software
will encounter several kinds of disc when you start to
manufacturers and the only time you should
use your Amstrad.
use them in the machine is to make a copy.
This is called a Start of Day copy, and if it

becomes corrupted it can always be

Discs and Drives replaced. The other type of disc is a File
Disc, which only holds the information that
you are processing. There is no need to keep
Every PCW comes complete with at least A nearest the screen. the Locoscript operating system on your File
one hardware disc drive. This is referred to In theory CF-2 and CF2DD disks are not Discs, for example. Load the program, then
as Drive A by Locoscript, or any other interchangeable, but if you have created a change to a newly formatted disc, hitting
program that you might run. If you own an Double Density disc in drive B and then [f1 and you will have lots more storage
] ,

8512, or have added a second drive to an want to use it for a read only operation in A, space. But Locoscript stores files in a
8256, then this will be called Drive B. When you can do so. different form from most other programs, so
aprogram expects two drives it will The only other difference in disc types it is unwise to mix its files with ASCII ones.
sometimes refer to A as B whenever it

expects you to change discs.

In addition there is Drive M, an area of Anatomy of a Disc
memory which can be used for storage like

a 3" floppy disc while the computer is

running. It is found in both models, though

The write protect tab. When
the 8512 has larger capacity.
the tiny hole behind the
Accessing Drive M information is faster sliding shutter is uncovered The shutter withdraws when
than reading from a disc, but everything you cannot Save or Write to you insert the disc into the
held in the drive vanishes when you switch the disc. This prevents drive, which is pulled back
overwriting valuable by the lever on the side of the
off the machine. So it's unwise to use it for
programs. case.
anything you cannot afford to lose, unless
you're prepared to save to Drives A or B at
regular intervals.
There is also a difference between Single
and Double Density discs, which is most
relevantif you own an expanded machine. A

Double Density disc can hold 720K of

B-li
program or information, and uses a double F-i

G-3
headed drive which stores twice the number
H-2
on each side. It can read from both
of tracks 1-9

sides of the disc without it being turned

over. Always insert a CF-2DD disc with Side

Do's and Dent's of

Disc care
The 3" discs used by Amstrad are far
sturdier than the traditional 57/ format. You
can happily carry them around in a briefcase
or pocket. But it is still possible to lose
valuable data, so treat your floppies with
care.
DO keep you discs in their cases, safe from
dust.
DONT place discs near magnetic fields;
avoid loudspeakers, transformers, and the
PCW monitor itself.
DO save at regular intervals. A mains
interruption could erase all the work that
you've done so decide how much you'd be
and save before that point.
willing to rewrite,
DONTpull back the shutters, revealing the
disc surface, or do anything that could
damage them.
DO back up all files and keep these
'insurance' discs in a separate room if
The disc surface is divided
into a series of tracks and
possible.
sectors, established when
DONT use distribution discs; always make A simple point, but label all you format These are filled
it.

copies. discs immediately, as one with information, one by one.

looks very much like another. As the disc fills, the head
DO label all discs, and keep them in a logical
may have to search through
order.
more sectors before it
DONT turn the machine on or off with a disc locates all of the code.
in the drive.
 Leisure Genius presents this classic word game elegantly
translated to computer. SCRABBLE® is available forAMSTRAD CPC
machines and now for the PCW 8256/8512.
Computer SCRABBLE® faithfully follows the board game rules,
and features a large vocabulary and intelligent "opponents" so you
can play by yourself as well as with friends. ,

me a copy of Computer SCRABBLE®:

Please send
AMSTRAD CPC 464/664/6128 DISC £14.95 AMSTRAD CPC 464/664/6128 DISC £14.95 CASSETTE £9.95

Name
Address.

Please make cheque payable to Virgin Games Ltd,

i 2/4 Vernon Yard, Portobello Road, London W11 2DX. (Please

SCRABBLE ® Trade Mark and Copyright licensed by IW Spear and Sons PLC. Leisure Genius® is
do not post cash).
a registered trademark a) Winchester Holdings Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Virgin Games Ltd
l_6IStir6
p5|||||C
^^^^^B^H ^^M^^
 The low cost
joystick interface for the
AMSTRAD PCW8256/851
Plugging directly into the 8256/851 2 expansion slot on the
rear of the monitor, the joycestick interface is
compatible with all of the best games currently available for
that machine.
The joycestick will make the ideal 8256/851 2 owners gift.

Includes compatible * Full one year

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• Easy installation • Fully utilizes
£27.9
• Plugs into 8256 8256 hardware
expansion port piuse-m
• Wide range of
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software
Cascade Games Ltd
Harrogate HG1 5BG, England

Allow 28 days for delivery Be sure to quote Ref. JOY 1 when ordering by telephone

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packing and postage per unit. (Total £28.95) Address:

I enclose a cheque/postal order for [£ ] made payable to

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For even faster ordering when charging to ACCESS, BARCLAYCARD, VISA
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 INTRODUCTION
PROFILE.SUB a special .SUB file which
To unlock fully the potential of your PCW you need a key. The CP/M Plus is

auto-runs whenevbr the disc is inserted into

operating system. CP/M unlocks the gates to literally hundreds of software
a reset machine. Its operation calls for a
packages, but to turn that key you need a basic understanding of how CP/M little programming, and lies outside the
works. scope of this article.
If you want to see how PROFILE.SUB

works though, load your working copy of

Understanding CP/M CP/M. Type REN PROFILE.SUB =
PROFILE.END [RETURN] then reset the
computer. Now place the disc in the drive
and it will automatically copy certain files

into Drive M.
Many programs provide instructions on
how to produce turnkey discs, as auto-run
programs are called. However, one process
that will speed your work is to PIP the CP/M
operating system onto your working disc.
This is located on the CP/M disc and is

CPM3. EMS or something similar.

called J11
Whenever you place a disc containing the
operating system in the drive you will

automatically get the A > prompt, so you

There are occasions when you'll pick up a and then the name of the document to be just need to type in the program name.
new the drive, and run copied.
disc, place

1
it in it will

immediately. But more often than not you PIP often uses M: as a halfway house File
have to load CP/M first. Even then the between discs on an 8256. It is also often
program may not run until you have made used with the wildcards, so that you could Management
certain modifications. And even you if PIP all the COM programs with *.COM, but
restrict yourself to Locoscript, you'll need beware of trying to load too many programs The PCW CP/M discs contain a
CP/M to copy your master discs. into a restricted memory space. number some more
or programs,
CP/M is not difficult to use. Insert the You can follow PIP commands with an The File
useful than others.
working copy of your CP/M disc (Side 2 of square brackets, [0], to double check that
in
Management commands let you
the software included with your machine) the whole program has copied, or a [V] to
keep your discs in order.
and almost immediately you'll see its verify by comparing the copy with the
characteristic A > prompt. This tells you that original. [C] asks for confirmation, as DIR, for Directory, lists the files on a drive or

the PCW is now accessing the A Drive. before. can tell you if a specific file or file type is

To change drives, type the drive SUBMIT is another command that you may present. Type in the command after the A>
(M or B, if you have an
identification letter need to prepare working discs. It causes any prompt, and don't worry about upper or
8512) then a colon. The prompt will indicate commands of a SUB file type to execute. lower case letters; CP/M automatically
the new drive name. This is known as the Type SUBMIT, then the file name or translates to upper case. Follow the

default drive. wildcards, and CP/M will behave just as if instruction with [RETURN] and a list of the

You can refer to drives this way from within you had typed in a series of commands. programs on the drive, including DIR.COM
commands to indicate files on a drive other
than the one you're logged onto. This
method of specifying drives is also used by Printer control
many programs that run under CP/M. CP/M
PCW printer status while operating
Altering the under is similar to
A common error is to change the default
working in Locoscript. Hit the [PTR] key or pull back the feed lever and the
drive, then receive error messages that the
file you are trying to use is not present. following menu appears. The arrow keys move the block cursor sideways.
Obviously you have to transfer any files that [EXIT] returns to the program.
you want to use first, or direct the computer
to them by specifying their location.

Preparing Working Status indicators

Hex On and Off is used for
programming purposes.

Discs
If you want to create discs that run H and [-] toggle between
Draft and High Quality.
immediately, you need to copy CP/M
files onto them first
1
PIP is the COM program that you need to
copy individual CP/M files. It also serves for I lop of Font I LF I FF I Draft quality I PO defeat :0n I HexiQff I RESET
transfers where there is not memory space
for DiSCKIT
You can type in PIP followed by a space
Paper Out defeat toggles On
every time, or you can just type PIP -
for single sheets, Off for
[RETURN] The prompt will change to a star continuous stationery.
and you will remain in PIP until you hit

[EXIT]. Une Feed and Form Feed [+] RESET cancels the whole
The syntax remains the same, however. feeds one line or a whole printing process.
sheet at a time.
You type the name of the file that you're
copying to, with drive identifier if it is

different from the default, an equals sign,=,

11
 isJl' ft
WOULD YOU ASK On-
and
eve

THE BLACKSMITH
TO SERVICE YOUR TV
Probably NOT we think!! but then. . .*

Do you expect SERVICE & ADVICE

really
for your business software when you buy it from a
Photographic & HiFi Store, a Chemist, a Bookshop or even a Clothing chain ...???

ForALLyourBUSINESSACCOUNTINGSOFTWARE L
it®

AMSTRAD PC to IBM PC XT AT the

int

EXPERTS
Call the
Dl!

ca

RoufMI Principle Suppliers of Distinguished as

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toMIMMmiMI Business Software for Today's Micro Computers CO
l IMITH)" Guidance - Implementation - Training - Support frt

COMPACT MULTISOFT TETRAPLAN REGIONAL BUSINESS SOFTWARE CENTRE us

Belsize House, 1 a Caldmore Road, Walsall WS1 3LX. Tel: Walsall (0922) 61 541 cc

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For all your Amstrad PC Wand PC hardware, software and accessories

For your free subscription to 'The Source' catalogue, write to:

Software Mail Order Group Ltd • Jubilee Close • Townsend Lane • Kingsbury • London NW9 8TZ
or ring 01-200 7733 (36 lines)
Dealer and Overseas enquiries welcome.
 INTRODUCTION

Disckit File Types and

On-screen instructions, plus the use of function keys M
and Y to confirm choices, make Disckit easy to use, ( 3
field fro* i CF2 disc in Hi
Wildcards
even if you know nothing about CP/M. A CP/M file name has three parts. First is
f i
Exit to the win raw HIT Read fro* a disc in B:
t 1 the drive identifier letter followed by a
colon. If you omit this element, the
program will refer to the default drive
Next is the Filename, of up to eight
f S
Com characters, which are usually just letters
1 s I 4
Fonut i CF3 disc in A: and numbers.
f 3
M The Filetype, preceded by a full stop,
! 3 { i
Exit to the Nin i EXIT Fornat a CF29D disc in 8; can be up to three characters long. It
I 1

Exit fro* the progrm EXIT

1 I
indicates the file'sA .COM file is
purpose.
a file that contains a program that CP/M
1 i

can run; a BAS file is a BASIC program.

Rather than typing in all of this each
f 4 time you use CP/M there are two
VerifV i CF2 disc in A;
r 3
'Wildcard' operations.
1 ? represents any character, and can be
Exit to the twin Menu EXIT Verify a disc in B:
1 1 used anywhere in a name.
* represents any number of characters,
and can be used alone or with other
characters.
itself, will appear. DIR DISCKIT will tell you if new name is the same as the old one.
So DIR D??C*.* would provide a
that file is present or DIR*. COM will ERA erases files, however once erased there
directory of all files that begin with D, have
indicate all the .COM files. is no way of retrieving a file, so treat with
C as their fourth letter and any number of
DISCKIT is the useful general utility that you caution. For safety's sake, type a pair of *
letters following. The after the stop
can use for copying complete discs as well square brackets with a C for confirm
indicates that they can be of any type. In
as formatting new discs, and Verifying that between them, [C], at the end of the
this case DISCKIT.COM fits the template.
a program has copied properly. Type in the command and it will ask you ERASE (file
*.* indicates all the files on the drive.
command as before and the utility will load name) (Y/N)?
from the disc.
This is a very simple utility, making great
use of the function keys plus the Y key to What is CP/M Plus?
confirm choices. Follow the on-screen If every program had to be rewritten for every micro on which it appeared it would not
instructions step-by-step and you won't go only be a waste of time and effort, but would raise the price of software. CP/M Plus, the
far wrong, but do remember one or two version of CP/M used by the PCW, makes programs portable, acting as a bridge between
basic points. the program's code and the computer's Processing Unit.
Copying a program will probably take at The best way to visualise CP/M is as an adaptor, like those used with electrical goods
least two stages to complete, so swap discs in foreign countries. One side always fits the appliance or the program, while the other
as and when required. can be made to fit many specific sockets or computers. When you load your CP/M disc it

Formatting a disc erases everything upon looks any other CP/M computer to the program.
like
it, so make sure that you are not accidentally As the 3" disc is almost unique to Amstrad, many programs are ready to run on the
obliterating valuable data files. For the PCWs. If you are using a non-standard printer you may have to make changes though. To
second, Double Density drive, discs must this end, there are may short CP/M programs available.
be formatted for that drive, so that they
contain the correct number of tracks for the
head to read. Both sides are formatted
one operation, so don't turn the disc round.
in
Supporting CP/M
Returning to CP/M itself, you may require CP/M may seem terribly technical, but 20456).
help is at hand. The CP/M User Group Another major source of public domain
information about files or wish to perform
(UK) is a private club that exists to help software is Davis Rubin Associates, which
actions upon them.
name CP/M users on all machines, though there publishes a handbook describing 70 such
[SIZE] after a DIR and a file indicates
are specialist Amstrad groups. programs, with clear instructions on their
the size of the file.
As well as its telephone helpline, the usage. It comes complete with the
SHOW tells you how much free space is left

RW indicates that the disc can be group has journals and newsletters and a programs on 3" discs for only £39.95.
on a drive.
library of public domain software which it Contact Davis Rubin Associates Ltd., 1
written to and read from, though not
necessarily that the write protect hole of the provides speedily, for a minimal sum to Canonborne, Weston Sub Edge, Chipping

disc is shut.
cover disc and postage costs. Campden, Glos. GL55 6HQ.
This free CP/M software came about For those who want more information
[DIR] after SHOW and a drive identifier tells
when certain users wrote programs that on the operating system, there are several
you how many more files, to the maximum
they wished to distribute but not to sell. guides available to supplement the
number of 64, memory permitting, can be
There now a good body of utilities and
is manual, including: The Amstrad CP/M
placed on the disc.
even games available from the group. Plus by Andrew R.M. Clarke and David
TYPE, followed by a name, shows how a file
is made You can add to or alter these
up.
Directmembership enquiries to The Powys-Lybbe, MML Systems Ltd.;
command lines to modify a file and make it Membership Secretary, CP/M Users Group Mastering the Amstrad PCW 8256/8512,
do just what you want.
(UK), 72 Mill Road, Hawley, Dartford, by John M Hughes, Sigma Press, contains
Kent. three introductory chapters; an audio tutor
REN renames a program, and once again the
The Amstrad Computing Newsletter has isavailable from Reel Time; and for double
command works logically. Type REN,
instituted anothersuch library and the drive owners, the Hands-On CP/M Plus
followed by the new name, then an equals
contacted is Chris Bryant, 11 Havenview computer course comes from Microcal.
sign (=), and finally the old name, followed
Road, Seaton, Devon EX12 2PF (0297-
by [RETURN] to tell the computer that the
,
 Help is just a 'phone call away for members of the
SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT GROUP
Our experienced and efficient team will offer members of the Small Business Support Group
friendly advice and help with their urgent business computing problems, and a wide range of other
professional business services:

^HELPLINE: Just one number for all your most urgent computer problems

*ONEtoONE: Free ONEtoONE electronic mailbox — send and receive telexes direct from
your computer

^TRAINING: 10% discounts to SBSG members on business computing courses at our

Cotswolds HQ in Broadway
^MAGAZINE: Regular member's newsletter full of independent reviews, hints and tips,
members' letters and up-to-date news on the latest hardware and software

"SOFTWARE: Disk-to-disk transfers and software updating — many formats available

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS £40 (including VAT)
You may join by telephone if you wish to pay by VISA or ACCESS (0386) 852641

or call at your local WH Smith's and join on the spot.

For more details about the SBSG, write to:
MUP Ltd, Bank Buildings, Kennel Lane, Broadway, WORCS.

THE BBD DUST COVER

COLLECTION Everything for the
Tailored in nylon fabric that has been treated with
an anti-static inhibitor. Attractively finished with
contrasting piping. Can be washed and ironed.
Amstrad Business User!
PCW 8286/851 2 £1 1 .95
COMPUtERS
3 piece set in soft grey. Monitor and printed piped PROCRAMS, SUPPLIES
in green. AMSTRAD PCW hot foil printed on BOOKS. TRAINING
keyboard. PRINTERS, PLOTTERS
MODEMS
PC 1512 £8.50 IF WE HAVEN'T COT IT
-WE CAN GET IT!
2 piece set stone coloured nylon. Monitor piped
in
in brown. AMSTRAD PC hot foil printed on monitor
and keyboard covers.
PROFESSIONAL
CPC 61 28/664/464 £7.50 DATA SERVICES
662 HIGH ROAD

2 piece set dark grey nylon piped in red.

in NORTH FINCHLEV
LONDON N120NL
AMSTRAD CPC hot foil printed in keyboard. TEL 01 -M6 4889 1701
OPEN -Mon-Fri 8 30-600
Please state whether colour or green monitor.
Saturday8 30-2 30

PRINTER COVERS TO MATCH

A range of covers for over 200 printers to match
any of the above covers, e.g. Amstrad 2000 and WE ALSO SELL TAND0N, NEC
3000, Brother, Canon, Epson, Mannesmann, Star,
Ricoh, Smith-Corona. Prices start from £4.50.
ANDOTHERjLFADING NAMES
IN COMPUTERS
^P ^
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5
Please make cheques payable to:
Cm BDD DUST CO VERS
The Standish Centre, Cross Street, RING US FOR PRICES
Standish, Wigan WIM6 OHQ BEFORE YOU BUY
Telephone: 0257 422968 ANY PROGRAMS OR SUPPLIES
Available in Southern Hemisphere from TECH-SOFT
324 Stirling Highway, Claremont 601 0, West Australia
Tel: (09) 385 1885
 WORD PROCESSING
Why buy a word processor for the PCW when comes complete with
it In this instance Wordstar and New Word
have their attractions, as their complexity is
Locoscript? It's all a question of whether the bundled software matches
balanced by their power. If for example, you
your needs. want to produce circulars, they allow you to
process large lists automatically, and will
make it easier for you to link into

Beyond Locoscript sophisticated databases.

Having read this, and the reviews which
I
follow, you may still feel happy with
A word processor lets you write all sorts of other word processing programs are ASCII Locoscript, but if that's the case you'll have
documents which it stores in the computer's compatible. made the decision from a position of
memory you switch off. At any stage
until Another problem associated with knowledge rather than prejudice.
you can make changes and, providing Locoscript's friendliness is that, in certain In the final analysis, all word processors

you've saved your file to disc, you can come instances, it lacks flexibility. The checks and have their good points, albeit sometimes
back weeks, months or even years later to balances in the program can act like rather obscure ones. Deciding which one is

make further alterations. tramlines and stop you doing anything out foryou will depend heavily on your usage
The advantage of word processing over of the ordinary. and personal taste.
ordinary typing is that you're not committed
to hardcopy until you're satisfied with the
Most people find that the act of writing
text.
What to look for in a Word Processor
becomes less of a challenge when they If you type or write a document, be it a commands? Deleting letter by letter is
know that all their mistakes and typing memo or a novel, you commit all your tedious you have to remove a whole
if

errors can be corrected before they reach the thoughts - and all your errors - to paper. sentence. What about moving blocks of
printed page. This is one reason for the
Alteration and correction is messy and text? If that paragraph would look better
Amstrad's success. time consuming. earlier in the text, you don't want to type it

Many people who buy a PCW get to grips A word processor stores your typed in again.
with locoscript and remain quite content thoughts as electronic signals. Each byte, Do you need special printing effects?
with what they've got. But even if you've consisting of eight bits, represents one Even if you don't want different fonts and
never considered an alternative, you should character; a letter, punctuation mark or type-faces, you might need to underline,
look at the competition. Many packages code to control the appearance of the text use italics or produce super- or sub-
boast facilities which Locoscript lacks, and on-screen or in print. Those thoughts only scripts. If you send copy abroad, the
those could be just the features that you're ever become concrete when you send ability to produce accents will be useful.
looking for.
them to the printer, and you can still store You may want to mailmerge names and
On the face of it, Locoscript is both
them on disc and make further alterations. addresses from a database, or perhaps
powerful and friendly. Documents are easy The most important feature of a word you'll want to include figures or graphics
to create, load, move around and modify via processor is WYSIWYG, or What You See from another program. Do you need
a combination of cursor controls and Is What You Get. This means that the multiple columns and sophisticated
function keys. The printing output, often a screen image will look like the finished tabulation? Is a spelling checker available
bugbear for word processing programs, is text. Even so, it can seldom cope with as an extra or is one included with the
also fairly easy to control. The standard different type faces. program? And will your program output
templates allow you to produce form letters Ask how fast the program is. It should files in a format that could be used for
and layouts for a whole series of common be able to cope with a good typing speed. other applications, such as
documents. Watch the end of a line when the cursor communications?
But there are disadvantages associated word-wraps onto the next one; is there a Finally, you have to balance the
with this power. Locoscript files take up a lot
delay? Can the cursor be moved quickly? program's sophistication with its ease of

of discspace and the large number of Ideally,you should be able to flip from the use. After you spend half an hour
all, if

features make it practically impossible for consulting a manual to find an effect, you
top of a page to the bottom, or even to the
Locoscript documents to be understood by bottom of the document, quickly. might be better off with that typewriter
other programs because of the number of Does it support a number of delete after all!

control codes embedded within them. WYSIWYG -What You

This creates problems if you want to See Is What You

communicate files between computers, Get - doesn't cover all

the printing effects,

whether you're swapping discs between
but at least text will be
programs, or need an electronic mail facility.
formatted so that you
THIS IS DWMSIRMIOK
Normally such interchange depends on a ft

can see where lines

mil SEE IS.HHAI SOU &£I
common system called ASCII (American aMftl
u and pages break.
Standard Code for Information
ts
HMT
IMs wans that the docunent Kill be printed as it. appears on
Interchange). screen, including ill line breaks, paragraphs, and mst printing
effects
ASCII assigns numbers to the characters Certain effects ire net shorn, such as bold tape, subscript and
superscript, and the like, You should therefore dislag the printing
on a computer's keyboard. If you save or codes that indicate ahere such effects are being used.

send a file in this format, it can be readily

understood by an otherwise totally incom-
THIS IS A DEMONSTRATION
patible software/hardware system. OF
Early versions of Locoscript can't sail sm see. is shai xqh gex
otherwise known as
produce ASCII files at all, so their doc-
sosism
uments can only be read by programs such
as Polyword that include a Locoscript to This means that the document will be printed as it appears on
screen, including all line breaks, paragraphs, and most printing
ASCII transfer utility. Although later versions
effects.
can save a file to ASCII, they can't read it Certain effects are not shown, such as bold type, subscript and
back. You could use Locoscript to prepare a superscript, and the like. You should therefore dislay the printing
codes that indicate where such effects are being used.
file transmission on electronic mail, but
for

you couldn't use it to manipulate what you

receive. It's a serious omission as most

15
 WORD PROCESSING
For anyone withlittle or no previous Locoscript's unique Groups, Documents time. The best answer is to back up
word processing experience and Templates are particularly useful if your Locoscript on a spare disc, delete all of the

Locoscript provides an ideal

writing frequently falls into the same few templates provided by Amstrad that you
categories. It makes for an easily organised don't want, then use a blank disc, or side B
introduction. It is simple to use,
system, though it is expensive on memory. of the back up disc, to hold your day-to-day
despite any impression you may get The eight groups on each disc let you files.

from the manual, and flexible keep similarly styled files together. And the Locoscript's lack of compatibility with
enough to enable you to produce templates simplify writing documents which other programs which you might want to
share an identical format, since the use with your documents, such as spelling
documents of many different types.
parameters don't have to be established checkers, mail merge, or word counters, is

each time. Used in conjunction with also irritating. Version 1.20 has an option to
Locoscript's pleasingly simple phrase
Locoscript storage facility, which lets you paste in a
make an ASCII from your documents,
files

which puts them into a format compatible

particular phrase rather than typing it out with other CP/M packages. However, once
many times, this is a great time saver. you've done this, it removes all the special
Printing effects are also easy to achieve. Locoscript markers, which usually pertain to
You can use the Enable and Disable keys the layout of your document, and you will
with the menus or just the mnemonic code. have to reinsert them into the document
Say you want a passage in Bold type, you later.

can hit the Enable key, wait for the menu, Anybody who has tried to write a long
select Bold and hit Enter, or more simply, hit document with Locoscript will know how
Since Locoscript was specifically designed Enable, then B for Bold. Adding codes slow it becomes. Every time it has to scroll
for theAmstrad PCW, the keyboard has becomes a natural part of your typing. through pages of text, instead of flipping
many keys dedicated to commands which Locoscript does have its drawbacks straight to the last page. The fact that Save
are accessed by control codes in other though. The omission of both a word count and Continue returns you to the head of your
packages. This is, on the whole, an easy and a spelling checker from the program is text, rather than where you stopped writing,
system, once you are accustomed to it. frustrating.Even its line count can be hazy, results in yet more wasted time. The only
But if you are used to WordStar, or because you have to remember line spacing answer is to break long files down into
another 'standard' word processor, you may and how many lines the headers and footers sections of, at most, ten pages.
find it takes a bit of time to familiarise are taking up. Locoscript good
word processor,
is a first
yourself with Locoscript. It is radically Another problem is disc capacity, though with many useful features, but if you want to
different from those other packages. Its 8512 owners. The
this is less relevant for produce long documents, interact with other
screen layout, its filing system for 174K single density disc is quickly eaten up programs, or learn a standard system, then
documents, and its method of keyboard when you build up a stock of templates or you would do better looking for an
control will all be alien to you. have to store documents for any length of alternative.

Working With Locoscript

ism"JWLOCOKRF CE Edi ut T" Fruiter idl*. IkTJm Ai
aocunent r-mnt aocunent s h 12 | Li* r ucn t Line space l nine Justus
=Inspect f3=Cop! IMove (S=»eiaiw f6*ase f7^odes f«=0jtions
Drive A; -j- i i

Sk used 188k tree 1 f 4k used 98k free 3 files

Locoscript's unique Groups, tocunents and Tenpiates are
HIMKBKj group 4 IIEJS Ik WVi vk particularly useful if your writing frequently falls into the sane few
grouprj JI group S MPLK
MPLES «k COMEMIS
CONTENTS »k
«k categories. It flakes for an easily organised systen, though it is
group 2 r* MISSUS 2k PCH14EMS Ik expensive on nenory.
group 3 ~im «k GONZO «k
«: group 9 1 files GUTTERS 1 tiles n:FCMl»EHS 1 files H :FCH14B1S 1 files
2 tiflbo files a I inbo files t linbo files » liitbo files
I
The eight groups on each disc let gou
TEMPLATE. STS Ik TEMPLATE STB 2k TEMPLATE. STD Ik
.
keep simlarly staled files together,
tad the tenpiates simplify writing
documents which share an identical
fornat, since the paraneters don't have
to be established each tide. Used in
conjunction with Locoscript's
pleasingly sinple phrase storage
Locoscript's Base screen, Pressing C enables you to create a document. To identify facility, which lets you paste in a
it,simply overtype DOCUMENT.001 with the chosen name. To rename the group, ticular phrase rather than typing it
out nany tines, this is a great tine
press the [+] cursor once, to highlight Group: group 0, and type in the new name. saver

]*:gn)
Layout
Tvt«ipTiM
-Pil2 -LSI
— rrrn
-T.P6'
tst Prmler Idle.
Page
Using !i H:

S=F*tleS f?-fli] +'

Editing your layout. Set up a template so that any documents in the same group
.entre
Double willconform to the same style. Pitch refers to characters per inch; Line pitch to
Newport Pagnalle Itilic
Bucks* Keep « lines per inch. You can also set Left and Right Margins, Tabs (indentations),
L.vjouT « Justification, and Italics.
Line Pitch '»

Dear Mr Snith.c Line Spacing °'>

C Last Line
4 .*, I have received todag your guery regarding your List Page Nunber - Iditing text, ftinter idle, Using »•
-t

Pitch '>> •> of forn Idle Draft gwality Simie saw*

Fsqe Nunber
Reverse
icons/nenu systen. Options its filing systew for dcjuner.ts. and
Right Justify
c Subscript
11 all be alien you. u
s unique Groups, Document; aixl T#*ip>
i First select the pocket calculator icon - this puts gou in Superscript
(*Italic)Mdition(-IUlic)Mde. Then, fron the sub-nenu. the flas UnderLine
DraTT quality • if your wri','.'.)9 frawewM.'s u * -

This will put gou in Intelligent node.c Word underline *s for an easily organised syS'M, :'.

4 Vou will now see a series of icons depicting the four season Single sheet paper
Unil
the gear. Click the nouse on all four to put yourself in Vearly n. Continuous stationery oups on each disc let you ttl? sini.ariy \', .
, bard space ?
Next gou mist nove the abacus icon which will appear at the top of the templates sinpiify wising downer.:; #r;
bard hyphen
screen, Forn length! 70 at. sine? the parameters tUr't !»« *.; jj
Using the nouse, nove the counters until five are positioned at the
Cap length: 3 Used in conjunction with Uc6SCM?t' <
4 t

right hand side, to denote a five year tine scale. Move to the next nenu Paper out defeat •/ rase storage facility, .hull lets s-ju pas:? :

screen (icon depicting a finger pointing to_ ,h " ' ther than typing it out nana tines, this :: i
gour figures. ne saver, '

Printing effects are also eas^

ve taken the I
*ble and &isj*' a *-««" "'** ">- -—
One of Locoscript's most useful menus, obtained by pressing [+] and the Grid key, Printer options. Before committing yourself to print, it's worth checking the
keyboard. It shows the codes used to enhance document
2, to the right of the parameters. Do you want to print out in high quality, which is slow but near letter
presentation. Options are selected by moving the cursor to highlight the one you quality, or draft, which is fast, dot matrix standard? Are you using single sheets of
require. To switch off an option, use the [-] key with the Grid, to access the menu paper? Will you get the right number of lines to the page? Move the cursor to
again. highlight the option, then press [+] to confirm.

16
 PUBLISH, PROGRAM, OR PLAYGAMES
ALL ON ONE MACHINE!
Our development team have been hard at work with Joyce for many
months now, and the result of their labours is nothing short of amazing!

Using keyboard, mouse, or Electric Studio light pen,

these are just some of the facilities at your disposal:

FLEET Over 300K of ready-to-use graphics on a library disk

Full-feature studio package for graphic creation and

STREET manipulation
5 fonts, each in 5 point sizes and 5 styles
Full-function word processor for text entry

CITY OF LONDON EC4 Text editor foron-screen editing in page make-up

Full-function page make-up with variable leading,
columns and margins, page sizing, orientation and

publish* dummies, graphic scaling and basic graphics editing

tools, hyphenation, justification, proportional spacing,
text block movements,rules, and snap to guides.
management structure
File
Fleet Street Publisher is without doubt one of the most Enhanced print-out to dot matrix
powerful and sophisticated products to be written for the
Hardware requirements:
PCW. It enables the user to produce multiple-page
documents with editable layouts, left and right hand
Amstrad PCW 8256or8512 PCW printer or
Epson-compatible with Centronics interface
pagination, automatic page numbering, and sequential
or non-sequential columns and pages. Optional extras:
Additional fonts and font editor Graphics libraries

binder Special printer drivers

Fleet Street Publisher is supplied in a slip-cased ring
comprising comprehensive indexed manual and disks, £69. 95 including VA Tand intial user support

mAsmsim
OPERATING
SYSTEM
The result of months of development work in creating
the graphics side of Fleet Street Publisher, the Graphics
Operating System is a complete set of graphics
programmer's tools, providing the machine-code or
high level programmer with a full graphics operating
Designed in co-operation with British Aerospace, Strike environment. All the routines are fully documented with
Force Harrier puts you in the pilot's seat of one of the
input requirements and error messages.
world's most exciting fighter planes. With the most
Functions supported include:
realistic instrument display (albeit just a little futuristic)
Drop-down menu construction
and handling you're likely to see on an 8-bit simulator,
Graphics filing
the program combines accurate flying and strategic
Character drawing to any defined pixel position on
gameplay- with an element of shoot-em-up to keep you
the screen
on your toes.
Line drawing
You must plot your way to enemy HQ, defending yourse Ellipses and circles
from ground and air attack using all the sophisticated Line weight and style
weaponry at your disposal - cannon, bombs, and Windowing
Sidewinder heat-seeking missiles, as well as chaff and Shape fills
flares to put the enemy off your tail. But don't forget to Sizing
keep moving up your landing sites and ground crew, or Block handling
you'll find yourself stranded without fuel or arms! Rotation

£19.95 including pilot's manual and map £99.95on disk, including user manual

For more information on these and other

forthcoming Amstrad PCW
titles, talk to

your local retailer or contact us direct at:

The publishers reserve the right to altei prices and
Maxwell House, 74 Worship Street, London EC2A 2EN
specifications without notice. Tel: 01-377 4645 Fax: 01-377 0022 Telex: 886048 BPCC G
 WORD PROCESSING
Pocket WordStar and NewWord come from different companies but share would be a word count, which is absent
many of the same features. It's not surprising really, as NewWord is a from the PCW WordStar.
NewWord is WordStar compatible, uses
version of the classic WordStar and is written by the same authors.
the same Gontrols, but is a little easier to
Whatever your needs, it's well worth looking at two programs that have be.
understand. It adds a word count facility and
become industry standards. has a comprehensive manual that takes you
step by step through the program. It's also a
little cheaper, but when buying software this
Pocket WordStar and should never be the only
NewStar, the program's supplier, has
criterion.

also taken the helpful step of including a

NewWord II
leaflet

program
explaining
for the
how you
PCW. WordStar is
install the
partially
pre-installed but it isn't configured to use the
Though WordStar and, to a lesser extent, understood these, and the major control PCW keyboard and doesn't make use of
NewWord, can be difficult, millions use codes which move you around the program Drive M.
them on micros many times the price of the and the document at speed, you're pretty Unless you do a lot of word processing
PCW. On the other hand there's practically close to total control of your output. you're unlikely to need the full power of
nothing you can't do with them provided — Learning them can be a big problem either of these programs, but if your usage

you know the relevant control code or dot though, particularly if you rely on the is heavy and complex, then they're well
command. If you're considering buying manual supplied by MicroPro. All you get worth the extra money. In such cases your
either of these programs you should take for the PCW is a leaflet tucked into the front. choice of WordStar or NewWord will depend
both these factors into account. But get yourself a good book on the subject on personal preference, for the two
WordStar's main problem is that the and you can use WordStar in spite of the programs are both excellent.
learning curve soon becomes quite steep manual. Once you're over that hurdle you'll
even though it's easy to get started. You can find a wealth of word processing power
FACTS BOX
at
TITLE
use it as a simple text processor and not your finger tips.
POCKET WORDSTAR
bother with the advanced features, but if WordStar has an associated mailing list
PRICE
that's all you want, you'd be better off program and spelling checker, MailMerge £49.99
sticking with Locoscript or using a less and SpellStar. But if you require a utility PUBLISHER
powerful alternative. which isn't included there is also a 'Run a MicroPro
The main reason for this initial difficulty program' facility to let you use external TITLE

is the use of dot commands two ; letter programs. You can add any programs that NEWWORD II

instructions which control top and bottom PRICE

willl run under CP/M to the disc, providing
margins, headers and footers, alter printing
£69.00
that there's room for them, and make your
PUBLISHER
formats from within a document and copy of WordStar do things that the release
NewStar
perform similar functions. Once you've version can't. The most logical addition

WordStar and NewWord at work

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WordStar's openingmenu shows some of the basic commands but lacks

information on how to reach the Help screens. Pressing D and specifying a file NewWord's main menu is textually similar to WordStar's but replaces the need to
takes you to the Edit menu The main menu can always be retrieved while editing a set the help level with key J for Help. NewWord also lets you log onto sub-
document by pressing ALT + directories, for example B1, though these can cause problems if you want to use
your files in other programs.

at»iHc:iK
W down on-screen foreiat JHB-M B «,< _
dotni
left
rj dovn
m up screen
t

j
saving i blocks
print controls
_ I
< <
ID3»j"CTlfiTT5
1

BLOCK
i
m
Uirm'^ri!IS3 Klii
j
right quick functions
I

_ uord left screen

I

,
lave $ restme I Segin K End S Bead P Print
I I (Tron Hain onlsi)

,
—————
03 aord right
i i i i i..
D Save—done
X Save « «xit
Ct Abandon file
I

I
.

C
Hide / Display
Copy
Move
V
Copy £ Renane
Celetel J Delete
M Write
I I

I
tJ Help tK Block
tB Quick tP Print
I

"TO"
he ftnstrad »p jl worsdstar I V QiDBMffinnJEiCS
I I to
"
Onscreen
Colunn on (ffiUim Change Togged disW
,iskl Spaoe Bar returns
" Direotom
|

PPDtl.ISI HS0DLV1.0UH HSHSCS.OtlR KflOMKE.QUR RESET2S6.HS WS.COM

v C
UB KEVS356.HS INSTflLL.CCtl US. IMS WSU.COM REDUCE. SUB
Pocket WordStar and NetiKord cone fro« different CMpanies
PROFILE.
hut share mm
of the sa«e features. It's not surprising,
really, as NeuHord is a version of the classic WordStar and is
wr it ten »g the sane authors. Whatever gour needs, it's »ell
north looking at Uo prograns that have becone industry
standards.

NewWord's Editing screen is similar to WordStar's but somewhat clearer. The WordStar and NewWord incorporate copious help features, although they're not
current file is shown top left and the cursor position appears next to it. Note the always as clear as they might be. Here is part of WordStar's Block and Saving Help
dot commands at the head of the text, which will produce headings in double screen, which is obtained by pressing ALT + K. NewWord's help screens are rather
strike on each page, and a footer to indicate 'continues' or 'ends'.

18
 WORD PROCESSING
A self-contained word processor may be stored on the M:,A: or B: drive, is documents, deleted or renamed.
done in the SuperWriter workspace. If it's a Another SuperWriter strength is its use of
package may sound like a dream, but
new document, its name and the drive to variables. These can be set so that during
that's what SuperWriter aims to program stops and prompts an
which it will be saved, if this is different from printing the
be. . . and it's all menu driven! the default, is entered. Then, before writing input, such as a name. Or you can produce
commences, the author's name and date are mailshots and circulars automatically from
requested, to be stored with the document data files that you enter.

SupeiWriter file.

This provides a useful feature for

All in all, SuperWriter
processor, supported by comprehensive
is a powerful word

anybody who needs to keep a close record documentation. It comes very close to being

SuperWriter approaches word processing of their text. Used in conjunction with the an all-in package with the distinct advantage
from a rather original angle. All its facilities Utility option on the main menu, the history of a logical, menu-driven nature of

are accessed via a system of hierarchical of the document's creation can be amended operation.

menus. That may sound a touch or viewed. A complete novice can start serious work
intimidating, but the logical structure of the Pressing Exit during an editing session with the program almost immediately,
system allows even a total novice to get calls up a line of single letter options at the gradually building up a working knowledge

down to work almost immediately. bottom of the screen. This accesses a of the powerful facilities on offer. Advanced
The package is both powerful and standard selection of word processor users will find much to please them,
comprehensive, and it achieves this by facilities, including find, replace block mark, including the clever mailmerge facility.

ingenious means. On the 8256 the block move, block delete and copy. The main problem would appear to be
dictionary, spelling checker and print driver This is also the menu that lets you save the memory used by the system, which
are called into memory from disc, as the contents of the SuperWriter workspace leaves very limited space on the 8256. But if

overlays, each time they are required. With to disc or discard it. This last option means you don't want to use SuperWriter for very
an expanded M: drive, the PCW can hold that if you've called up the wrong file, or had long documents, and need its multitude of

everything in memory all of the time and still second thoughts about changes you've features, or compatibility with the Supercalc

have plenty of room for text files. made, you can leave the text in its original spreadsheet, it can be highly recommended.
made from the
Selections are state, muchsame way that Locoscript
in the
SuperWriter main menus by moving the provides an Abandon Edit choice. FACTS BOX
cursor with the Space bar then hitting Documents which have been saved to TITLE

Return. Exit serves as an Escape key and disc may be spooled, so that they are SuperWriter
always returns to the previous menu level, printed as a background job, while other PRICE

The sub-menu £49.95

so a selection made in error is never files are edited. Utility also
PUBLISHER
disastrous. allows files to be displayed, so that you can
Software City
The actual editing of a document, which look at their contents, included in other

What's on the SupeiWriter menus?

Docwent: HiWORtS SuperWriter Lto
Workspace contains: Output Fomat: S/Nriter
33 Words Save History: Yes
143 Chiraeters lab Insertion: No
3 Lines Create Backup: Yes
1 I»9«5
(32795 Free)

Save sour docwent on disk:

1 Save docwent
. Retime and save docwent
_ Change output f omat
Space bar=Nove Cursor, CJ=Select ESC<ancel, ?=ftostierXey

Shice nar=Nove Cursor, CR'Select, ESC=Cancel, McnsMrXeg

Editopens both old and new files, while Quit returns to CP/M. Print leads to its own Saving during an edit leads to this menu. It allows far more than a straight save. The

sub- menu. Check brings the spelling checker into operation. Disk not only leads to document can be renamed and saved, perhaps to a different drive, indicated by a
the drive directory, but also allows files to be examined without editing . Utilities letterand a colon. The output format may also be altered from SuperWriter to
accesses file handling routines, and lets you use Supercalc External or System, letting you port it into other programs.

went; A: WORDS MOMENT PROOFRKADIHC l.»3 Docwent: KiHORDS DOCIWNT COMPOSER l.»3

Dictionary: SW.DIC

Currently Proofreading
Length: 2»,29S vords
u ter: Epson

Fomat Settings
FX-M
fafei me
I: *
1

Control Settings:
Start Record f I
Stop Record I: Last
:

3s
I Nords I Words X Words I Words
1 X. Words t Proofing Copies "rJtns i
Unique Unlive lismuh NisMtch lone tl&Kfl* Fonts
fonts (C.S) is C
End Page I (1-999) is 999
6.3X Begin Page I (1-399) is
47 24 Sl.tx i ltt.tit
tional ) is
K?cT (lf-18) is

Optii us for Proofing: Printing Options

I Keviev Nisnatched Words _ .omat and PRDfl docwent
_ Quick Rev lev NisMtched Words _ Fomat On-screen
. lark (111 Nisnatched Words _ Change Fomat settings
. Change Control settings
Space bar=*ove Cursor, CR-Select, ESC<aneel, ?=ftnsMrXey . Secondary pint functions
_ Return to Syste*
Space nar=Nove Cursor, CR=Select, ESC<ancel, *=Ans*erRey

Checking spelling couldn't be easier. Select the Check spelling option from the The Print menu contains a screenful of information on the current format and
main menu, input the file name and the spellchecker goes through the document, control settings. These can be altered via the appropriate print menu options. A
giving a progress report on its findings. Once the file has been checked, document can be formatted on screen before printing, to preview embedded format

mismatched words can be Ignored, Marked or Added to the dictionary. commands and so avoid wasted paper.
 LOAD
*RUN
rft Coat y&etn,
cOteamt cbtne facte. , ,

CAVALIER SOFTWARE PRODUCTS

WILL EASE YOUR WAY THROUGH
THE COMPUTING NIGHTMARE INTO
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INSTALL IN STOCK & INTACT ALREADY TO LOAD & RUN ON YOUR
COMPUTER WITH A SAVING! PCW £99.95f
AMSTRAD IBM PC £109.95f
* Available end Oct. '86
f Available mid Nov. '86
All PCW items run on 8256/851
All prices include VAT & carriage free in UK
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TRY YOUR LOCAL DEALER. E & OE
 WORD PROCESSING
program, or the printer could be stopped
Tasword 8000 is the latest in a long line of word processors that were
and you could enter them by hand. This
originally developed for home computers like the Spectrum. It combines
facility can be used with the high-powered
simplicity with several original features but do they add up to a viable database, dBase II.
alternative to Locoscript? Tasword has a file transfer capability,
which allows you to transform Locoscript
files ito Tasword format. You can therefore

Tasword 8000 produce original text under the system

known by practically all PCW owers, then
transfer it to Tasword for its enhancements.
Tasword's notepads are another useful
feature. You can use these for reminders
Tasword's origins can be seen in its manual, to print parts of your text in different that are unconnected with the current

which is brief but informative, and the typefaces. document. Or if you want to work on
general style of program. But don't prejudge You can produce condensed, double something which will be inserted towards
it; the program itself is pleasant to use and strike, elite, superscript, subscript, italic, the end of the document, you'd use a

supports justification, text centring, condensed-enlarged and enlarged, in notepad and plug it in later.

character, word and block deletion. addition to the more florid faces supported Standards being standards, there's no
Normally there is an abbreviated Help by the optional Tasprint facility. The various way Tasword will supplant Wordstar, or even

screen at the top of the text entry window, tyefaces can't be mixed with normal print on Locoscript, but it's not expensive and should

but a fuller one is obtained by pressing the same line, but can be mixed with each find itself a niche in the market. It's missing
Stop. This fills the screen with details of the other. certain functions, like Searchand Replace
program's control keys. Though it's chaotic There is also a simple but effective data and a Word Count, but it has many
compared with hierarchically arranged Help merge facility which allows you to insert attractions, whether you use it as an extra or

screens,
information,
providing everything
one go, making
where you press a key for more
it has the advantage of

you need
easier to use the
to know at
information from a database to produce
mailing
must be seen as one
of Tasword.
lists, circular letters
of the
and so on.
main attractions
It
instead of Locoscript.

FACTS BOX
TITLE
^^^
it
'&'
TASWORD 8000
program's full facilities. To insert data you use the character
PRICE
Tasword 2 was supported by a number of to indicate a variable. So, if you're writing a £24.95
print and display utilities which are still to be you couid type 'Dear &N'. Names
circular PUBLISHER

found in this latest version. These allow you would then be inserted automatically by the Tasman

Using Tasword 8000

main menu line end l*H stirt of text "4 left Hflii * start of page
1EL nord Jt-JEL to line start!*'1 * end of text *M
'"-tright Mrg
nargin 3-1 next page
Print text fil ^JELline <unroClr1)|% stirt of line ^
at scroll up it fast scroll
print with Dat •CUT pari
cut hWv »aS£L dear text l^ end of line H
'i scroll dom H fast scroll
...,: 'I line/char |*f nord left '
't start of para
pa 1 start of sc
ve text :

V"n/pad 31 insert on/off [U nord right "+ end ' of para 1 end of sere
oad text i i T rfile 3i auto on/off l'°l goto line WP r
erge text fil
Return to text file
4 A set left nargin H to "t put Darker
ou centre line I 'MB reverse tab S S clear nargins »5l to ,4 6 goto iiarker
^E nove text right ''TAJ set tab aj set right nargin '- and ": put narker
r
rename uiau
Erase file from disc
me X! rejustifg paragrap
-It hard rejustifg par
"X rejustifg line
<*
'Z
"'m
clear tab
reset tabs
clear tabs
38 get r
JT save
*«- and f4 : next narker
3- and 1= prev, darker

L inuustifu line blABnuntric tall 'SPACE S TT*i .'.TCTV^I

Customise program
save Tasword
clear notepad I'D nark end get, 3U put header 1 3D Hard Hrap
checK spelling 'STOP show all notepads IPASTE novo X
Iau get, X
put user kegl 31 Insert node on/off
•COPy text to notepad ICOPV copg *C lower to upper easel 3ft Auto insert on/off
...ange drive laf upper to loner case I "
change user number
change r J5J transpose chars «>_
find next EXIT save, load, print bH Help
3468 characters free Drive/User: B/9
erscript 1/6 line spacing I nedian I ranchero
backspace 9 subscript 1/8 line spacing 1 lectura I breaker
ensed I italic 7/72 line spacing j conpacta 1 las»r»>t i

_le strike I underline proportional I data run B enph.

elite 1 condensed-en high quality I palace | box
for* feed 1 enlarged 1 outline (

Tasword's mainmenu is accessed from the text window by pressing Exit. The main
commands are single keystrokes, and in the case of irreversible commands, you're Pressing Stop during editing gives you the full Tasword Help screen, which is

presented with a double check, confirmed with Return. You have to Save or Load to cluttered but highly informative. During normal editing a window onto the Help
view the directory and you can't save a file in the format Disc Identifier: Filename if screen appears at the top of the screen You scroll through
. it with the plus and

you're logged onto a different drive. minus keys.

JriveB,
|
5748 free
User B.: M^
1l<? Te ^i- :

!
Press -A to change to drive A
Press afl a*, to change user no. :
iftnienpiate tor Letters group
|

ACO ,MS 28 cm .BAK 18 HINPOLJ ,MC 38 NENSCmj.UK 18

DK80UP .1111 IK CEN ,U3 IK KINIAS ,MC 88 NH4SC0N .1114 28
MSI
MS
MBA8
28
18
HEADS
HEADSB
18
18
HINWORD ,JH
KMWRt im
K
8
NEHSCON
NENS0A8
.1115
.1117
28
18
MS .117 IK as? ,KI IK HMNOBJ ,HC S8 PK .H3 18
ma ,M
CAM
CAVE
COHO
mDO

DAK
4K
n
4K
nagn
hacn
»DK)
.BAK
1113
.BAK
IK
18
18
ma
"PRO
,HAX
.1112
.llllt
18
18
18
80B1
TOTAL
TOTAL
.BAK
.113
18
IX
18
COHO M 4K MHO .hi 18 NET IK USER .BAK IK
DES
DI5
m
-in
IK
IK
"ETA
KM M ,BAK 28
28
NETCALL
NEHSACT
,ltS
,118
HIS
IK
IK
USER
SEB
Ml
.U2
18
18
mm
II

Hp .BAK IK .BAK 4K ItEHSAH .1114 ;« HPO .116 18

II .114 IK MIAMI .JO 4K HEKSAI .1118 28

Dane of text file for Mrging' 1

Either tape text file nane and press RSIDRM (or COPV o vieu dur g load)
Line 2|Col 66|Page UR/J on |H/H on [Insert off|Paging offlSIOP for helplNuneric off|I8
pres ! STOP to abandon nerge and return to nam nenu

BJ9J PJpflp^HBip.
^
Tasword is unable to read Locoscript files unless you convert them to ASCII format.
The Merge Text menu displays the directory of Drive B. Pressing Copy instead of The document usually needs to be reformatted to an acceptable width though. The
Return after the filename lets you view the file during loading, and the whole notepad, at the top of the screen, was obtained by scrolling down beyond the base
procedure can be abandoned with Stop. of the Help screen.

21
 WORD PROCESSING
If our in-depth examples have whetted your appetite, TASPRINT8O00 program, dedicated to a piece of

here are several other word processors, and related software, in this case the
Tasman
Dataflow database, which is
programs, to make life at the keyboard less of a strain. £14.95
reviewed in the relevant section.
We've already referred to
The unique feature of this
Tasword's print capabilities in

Improving your word the extended review. While

Lectura Light and Median are
package is its Locoscript
compatibility, so that if this
is your word processor, you can
supplied as standard with the

power main program, you'll have to

purchase Tasprint if you want the
still

letters.

Text
produce mail-merged

is automatically
full range of faces.
It's a neatly unified package, reformatted and up to 20
The extra fonts are
Word processing worthy of consideration if you Compacta, Data-Run, Palace
different variables can be
specifically need its functions. inserted into the document.
Script, Ranchero, Breaker and
packages Because Tasprint
Features such as the insertion of
MICROWORD Outline. s
phrases which are conditional
Though they are not in the same characters are twice the normal
Amsoft/Saxon on other phrases, such as
league as WordStar/NewWord, Locoscript height, and the
£49.95/£69.95 with Flexilabel 'Yours faithfully' to follow 'Dear
packages which couple a word maximum to a line is 90, it is
Microword comes complete with Sir', and automatic dating, make
processor with a suite of better suited to producing head-
its own database, Microfile, and it a powerful package.
programs can have their own lines than general text.
is available through Amsoft or
attractions.
direct from Saxon. also ties in NEWMAIL/NEWTAG/
Writing wrongs
It

POLYPROGRAMS with Flexilabel, a label printer

NEWKEY / NEWFILE /
NewStar (see below). Spotting errors is notoriously
£59.90 While Microword is rather SPOOL difficult when you're working on
(Polyword + Polyprint £29.90; Polymail basic, it is also very simple to screen, and more often than not
NewStar
£19.95; Poiyplot £24.95; Typeface discs use, and cleverly balances typing errors and spelling
£29.95/ £14.95/ £14.95/
2 and 3 £19.95 each) WordStar-style dot commands £29.95/ £14.95 mistakes creep past your checks
Polyword, Polyprint, and with dedicated function keys. Its
As its name suggests, NewMail and into the printed document.
Polymail are three quarters of a menus will be reassuringly is aimed at the NewWord user, One of the things that a com-
suite of programs; the fourth familiar to Locoscript users.
but it can be used with any other puter can do is handle routine
being Poiyplot, which produces Features include instant
program that produces procedures very quickly, so it's
graphs for inclusion in your text. cursor movement to the top or
NewWord style files. ideally suited to correcting
They are available separately or bottom of a document, avoiding NewMail can be used directly all those little misspellings or
as one package. Locoscript's scrolling; automatic
from the NewWord main menu, typing errors.
Polyword, the word text indentation; multiple copy and is a comprehensive mail-
processor, uses Locoscript's printing; and the automatic
merge program. You can use it
PROSPELL
control keys to lead to series of sorting of columns of figures in
for everything from creating
small menus, rather than a main ascending or descending order. Arnor
a mailing list of up to 18 fields
one with sub-menus. If you have There is also a useful auto back- £29.95
through keeping it in shape, and
experience of Locoscript, there up facility, which saves your Arnor's Prospell is the only
there is even a label printing
should be no problems. document every ten minutes. Locoscript compatible spelling
option.
As a stand-alone word You can produce a limited checker available at the time of
NewTag, NewKey and
processor it's not earth number of typefaces with the writing.
NewFile are primarily file
shattering, but its usefulness package, including Italic, Pica You load your document,
managers, allowing you to add
rests on its links to the other and Elite. It is ready to use with a whatever its format, into the
identity text to NewWord files,
three programs. variety of printers, including program then sit back while it
search them for keywords and
Polyprint is also menu driven Epson and Juki, as well as compares every single word with
produce handle files, producing
and can produce 25 typefaces Amstrad'sown. its 32,000 word dictionary.
a comprehensive directory,
on a dot matrix printer. Nine The mailmerge facility allows It then produces a list of
respectively. Spool allows you to
fonts are supplied with the up to 50 items to be merged. words that it doesn't recognise
continue using NewWord while
package, and the others are Beginners will find Saxon's and allows you to alter them,
printing.
available on two discs. They support service, which provides referring to their context if need
provide attractive alternatives to ready made or specially FLEXILABEL be. You can add new words to
the Locoscript standard, and designed templates for Saxon the dictionary, personalising it

include everything from the Microfile, useful. £29.95 for further use, or tell the com-
aptly named Miniscule to Dedicated totheMicroword/ puter to ignore an apparent
Cooper Black (Large).
Microfile package, Flexilabel can error.
Polymail uses the '&' Expanding handle multiple copies of a If you're unsure of the
character to indicate a variable, computer can
just like Tasword. Its main
systems
existing single label or produce spelling, the
suggest a spelling by searching
individual address labels.
limitation is that lists of add- Many systems provide ample
Cursor-selected menus for a near match. If that wasn't
resses are limited to 100, and a opportunity for expansion. enough you can even produce
create printing effects, such as
full list takes up considerable Certain programs, such as separate dictionaries, dedicated
centring, and different print
space. But if you're looking for NewWord's excellent spelling styles, which can be altered to specialist applications.
an easy to use mail merge checker, The Word, are bundled Of course, no spelling
within a single line. As many as
program, suited to smallish free with the products, while checker is infallible, and you
five labels can be produced if

tasks, this could be tor you. others can be purchased to suit type 'too' for 'two' or 'their' for
across a sheet.
One great plus for Poly- your individual needs. And if 'there', it can't recognise your
programs is its use of ASCII you're in search of some simple MAILFLOW HI/DATAFLOW III
error. But if you want to produce
files. It can manipulate files from CP/M utility, like a word count, Micro Power error free copy, you stand a far
WordStar, NewWord and later don't neglect the public domain £49.95 better chance if you invest in a
versions of Locoscript. software libraries. Mailflow is another mailmerge product like this.

22
 »
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BETTER ORGANISER
FOR ONLY £60 l ir .
If your micro system is starting to get out of hand a
I l

Shelving accommodates your monitor, printer

smart organiser could be the solution to your computer, disc drive or cassette recorder and
problems. software, and the teak-finished unit is fitted with
castors to make it fully mobile. The Organiser's
At just £59.95 the Organiser desk from Opus
Supplies will help to organise your system
assembled dimensions are: H. 31 ", W. AOVa " and
D. 26".
beautifully. It's purpose built to provide plenty of
storage space and because it's produced alongside And our price includes VAT and FREE DELIVERY.
our range of executive computer desking it offers
of quality you'll appreciate.
The Organiser desk is suitable for use with af
home micros including the BBC, Amstrad,
leading
Commodore and Sinclair computers.
Getting organised couldn't be easier. Phone us on
0737 65080 or simply post the coupon below.

To: Opus Supplies Ltd,

55 Ormside Way, Holmethorpe Industrial Estate, Redhill, Surrey.
Name.
Please rush me the following: Address
(PRICES INCLUDE VAT AND CARRIAGE)
Organiser Desk(s) at £59.95 each (inc. VAT)

I enclose a cheque for £ or please debit my

Telephone
credit card account with the amount of £
My Access Q Barclaycard Q (please tick) no. is:

|AMU| Opus Supplies Ltd.

WORDPROCESSING

Word Processing round up

WORD PROCESSORS UTILITIES

NEWFILE
£29.95
9 « * ^ * *
1 # ^ rr ^ i? ^
NewStar
•NewWord manager
/ / NEWKEY
file

LOCOSCRIPT Artisoft/ N/A • Powerful but not standard. Certain £14.95

Locomotive features available at extra cost. NewStar
MICRO Amsoft/ 49.95 • • • Simple word processor incl. Micro File •Keyword search
WORD Saxon database. NEWTAG
NEWWORD II New- 69.00 • • • WordStar compatible, but with added £14.95
Star features NewStar
POCKET Micro 49.95 • -
• Classic but can be hard to learn. •File identifier
WORDSTAR Pro SPOOL
POCKET Micro 69.95 • • • See above. NewStar
WORDSTAR Pro £14.95
DELUXE •Print spooler for NewWord
POLYWORD NewStar 29.90 • • • Available separately but best used as part
of Poly prog rams suite.
MAILMERGE
SUPERWRITER Software 49.95 • • • • Comprehensive Supercalc compatibility LOCOMAIL
City 32K file max. Amsoft/Locomotive
TASWORD Tasman 24.95 • • • Easy to use. Produces ASCII files. £49.95
8000 •Locoscript compatible and
runs from Locoscript main
CHECKERS length files «Max line length menu »Dual mode insert
SPELLING PRINTING EFFECTS
255 characters •Many advanced features
PROSPELL FONTGEM
INDEXER MULTILINK MAILING LISTS
Arnor/£29.95 £19.95
Multilink/£19.95
•32,000 word dictionary; Gemini ANSIBLE INDEX
•Works with Locoscript
•Up to 900 per single density
50,000 word max •Locoscript Ansible/£49.50
disc •Five user defined
via ASCII •8 typefaces in NLQ •Max. 1,500 entries «Auto
selection codes •Label printing
SPELLING CHECKER ROTATE alphabetisation •Sophisticated
NEWMAIL
Computer One/£34.95 £24.95 sort
NewStar/£29.95
•64,000 word dictionary •Fully Logicom
PROGRAM SUITES •Runs from inside NewWord
Locoscript compatible •Print rotator •ASCII input
•Label printing
•Variable fonts »Max depth 96 POLYPROGRAMS
LABELLERS POLYMAIL
lines £59.90 £19.95
EASYLABELLER TASPRINT8000 NewStar NewStar
MASS/E33.35 £14.95 •Polyword; Polyprint; Polymail •ASCII compatible »100 entries
•Max. 2,000 labels per disc Tasman mailmerge; Polyplot graphics maximum
•Date stamping and numbering •Six fonts •ASCII file utility.
QMAIL
•Group printing compatible POCKET PROSTAR SUITE Logicom/£29.95
FLEXILABEL TRINITY ROTATOR £149.00 •Locoscript compatible
Saxon/£29.95 £25.95 Davis Rubin Associates •Name, address and five extra

•Alternative typefaces Trinity •WordStar; Calcstar fields in database •Coding to

•Print effects •Print rotator •Unlimited spreadsheet; InfoStar database. allow sorts

Davis Rubin Associates Ltd Micro Power Ltd Saxon Computing

Contacts 1 Canonbourne Northwood House 3 St Catherines Drive
Amsoft Weston Sub Edge North Street Leconfield
Victoria House Campden
Chipping Leeds LS7 2AA Beverley
POBoxlO GlosGL556QH 0532-458800 HumbersideHU177NT
Sunderland SR13PY 0386-841181 Multilink Network Systems 0401-50697
0783-673395 Gemini Marketing Ltd Monksilver House Software City
Ansible Information Gemini House Rose Mount 382 Kings Road
94 London Road Dinan Way Oxton Chelsea
Reading ExmouthEX84RS Birkenhead L435SW London SW35UZ
Berkshire RG1 5AU 0395-265165 051-6525371 01-352 9220
0672-62576 MASS Business Systems NewStar Software Ltd Tasman Software
Amor Ltd 43 Wymer Street 200 North Service Road Springfield House
118 Whitehorse Road Norwich NR24BR Brentwood Hyde Terrace
Croydon CRO 2JF 0603-630768 Essex CM144SG Leeds LS29LN
01-6848009 MicroPro International Ltd 0277-220573 0532-438301
Computer One Ltd Haygarth House Logicom Trinity Business Systems
Science Park 28/31 High Street Proteus Computing Ltd 52 Queens Road
Milton Road Wimbledon Village 2 Iff ley Road Heathersett
Cambridge CB44BH . London SW195BY London W60PA Norwich
0223-862616 01-8791122 01-7482302 Norfolk NR93DB
 DATABASES
Your PCW is the ideal way to control the masses of paperwork that make traditional filing systems so unwieldy.
Almost anything filed on paper, from contact lists to stock control, can be computerised.

The electronic filing cabinet

Everybody has to store, recall and use data, the less obvious ones. Your files may be There's little point in using a
whether it's names and addresses for confidential, in which case a program that database if you have to re-type all the data it

personal use, or a business's price lists and protects them with a password is an contains at some later date.
catalogues. The computer provides an easy excellent idea. Similarly, check that you can convert
way to keep files up to date and access You may need to change the fields in a records in a file into a popular data format,
specific information quickly. It also adds file which has been inuse for some time. If so that they can be read by another
many facilities which are simply not your program provides no easy way of doing program. You may want to use information
available with a manual system. this, you could face serious problems. from your database in a spreadsheet, for
If you keep a card index you can only
order your records according to one set of
criteria, such as by surname. This means
Flat File and Relational database programs
that you can only refer to information easily
if it's at the top of the card. It isn't much use Most databases are designed to handle just one file at a time. They cannot cross-
the details you want are stored reference or combine information from separate files. These programs are often called
if in an
unsorted lower section. file handlers or flat-file databases.

A computer can search for any particular

They are fine for many tasks, where the computer is simply used for storing and
item, or sort your records into a different manipulating a list of similar items. But more sophisticated applications require a program

that can access several separate but related files at once. These are called relational
order. It can also total and sub-total different
records automatically, to produce a detailed
Relational database programs can easily manage all the tasks of a flat-file package,
report far more quickly than you could.
The PCW is well supported as far as
Flat-file managers
software is concerned, but computerising
Flat-file managers are often visualised
your files isn't simply a case of buying the
as containing tables, with one row for
most expensive program you can afford, each record and columns for the
then typing your information. To set up
in all different fields/The program can only
an effective database, you need to know in access one file at one time, but for many
applications this is not a restriction.
advance exactly what information it will
Do make sure that the program will
contain and what you'll be doing with it let you set up enough fields though. And
afterwards. Only then can you choose the ask yourself how intelligent its searches
appropriate software. need to be. Will it be enough to select
whole words, or might you want to pick
Most databases provide all the basic
records from just a few letters, such as
facilities, such as the ability to browse every name beginning with T? Will you
through records, make changes, erase need to sort figures as well as words?
unwanted details and locate particular
entries. Similarly, almost all provide a
sorting option and at least a basic facility to
print a report, summarising selected
records.
What varies is the amount of flexibility
you have in manipulating your data. Some
programs will only search for the exact
information specified in one particular field,
such as a particular name. Others can make
sophisticated comparisons and locate
records which fulfil several conditions.
Many simple programs have predefined
ways of presenting records on-screen or
printed in reports. More advanced
programs, which let you design a screen
form to make viewing and correcting your
information easier, are usually preferable.
The ability to produce a report which
includes only the particular details that you
are interested in, and which has an
appropriate layout, is also useful.
Think about what you want to do with ;

your computerised files, and you'll be better

prepared to find a program that has all the \

necessary facilities. Don't neglect some of

26
 DATABASES
example. If you change your software or Each record contains a set number of to filing information which is regular and
hardware, it's essential to have the ability to items, or fields, each containing a piece of predictable though. Fortunately, with a
read your data into the new program. So
information relating to that record. in a little thought, it's possible to organise
file members, you might have
of club most of your files this way.
HOW DOES A DATABASE HANDLE DATA? fields for name, address, date of Another major consideration is the
Before you can decide which database is membership and so on. memory required. This is particularly
right for your needs, you must have some All your records should be reasonably relevant if you're an 8256 owner. Once
idea of what you'll want to do with the similar in size. It's no good specifying that you've a rough idea of your fields and their
information, how much data you'll be able the field for notes will only hold 30 size, it's a simple matter to calculate how
to store on a disc, and so on. To do this characters if you then want to write 20 many characters, or bytes, each record will

you need a basic understanding of how the lines. Conversely, if you allocate large occupy. This, in turn, will give you an idea
programs store information. amounts of space to certain fields but of how many records can fit on a disc, and
Most databases impose a rigid format don't use it, you'll be wasting valuable disc whether your hardware can cope.
on your data. Instead of a piece of paper or space. A straightforward mailing list file might
an index card, on which you can write Most database programs restrict you to need 25 characters for the name, plus
anything you like, a database requires you fairly short fields, but there are a few that three address fields, each holding twenty
to define what each of your records will allow more complex text to be entered and characters. The total record length would
look like in advance. sorted, so if you need comprehensive be about 85 characters. A standard
Each entry in your database, be it a notes, choose one that will cope with this PCW8256 can store around 170,000
customer's name, product, order or special application, such as Caxton's characters on one side of disk. This would
whatever, must belong to a record, the Cardbox. leave room for around 2,000 names and
computer equivalent of an index card. On the whole, databases are best suited addresses. But if you're going to get into
more complicated records, it could be
time to get that second disc drive and so
boost your storage capacity to 720K —
that's approximately 720,000 characters!
but the opposite is really not true. Although you can simulate some of the functions of a
relational database with a reasonable flat-file system, you'll end up wasting disc space
and reducing the program's performance. Data storage and
For this reason, it pays to make sure you're buying a program that will do the job you
want it to. If you currently use a manual system that involves cross-referencing several the Law
files, or you need to store the same information, such as an address, across many of the The vast amount of information that can
records in your database, then you need a relational system. be stored by a computer makes it a
powerful tool for compiling personal
records. While most people's use of such
files will be totally innocent, there is now a
law which governs all databases.
Whether you're using your Amstrad to
hold the names and addresses of potential
business clients or just details of
membership and attendance at your local
darts club, the law now insists that you
register your database.
The Data Protection Act came into
operation in May 1986, to ensure that all

such information is treated responsibly.

This means that information must be
treated as confidential, and may only be
accessed by certain, registered users.
Otherwise it must be protected by a
security system, such as a password.
Furthermore, anybody who believes
that you hold information about them can
demand to see it, and if they consider it
untruthful can force you to remove it.There

Relational databases are also strict conditions concerning the

transfer of such data. You cannot sell a
Relational programs work on the same
basic principles as flat-file ones
mailing list to a third party without the
However, they have the ability to permission of everybody on it.

automatically cross-reference different Obviously, if you use your database for

files. This allows you to break down your
purely personal reasons, it's unlikely that it
data into separate files, making it more

manageable and reducing the will evercome to the attention of the

duplication of information. The inspectors whose duty it is to uphold this
programs can automatically combine law. But if you are a business which makes
information from two or more linked files
much use of this sort of record, in
when necessary.
In this example, a file is kept for all particular for public applications, such as
the different books stocked by a shop. producing mailing shots, it could be wise
Details of the publishers are held in i
to register.
separate file. This is linked to the main
Details of registration are obtainable
file by the Publisher field. By linking the
two files together, a report can be from:
produced which gives the name and The Data Protection Registrar
address of each publisher, followed by a Springfield House, Water Lane, Wilmslow
list of its books.
Cheshire SK95AX 0625-535711

27
 PCW 8256/8512 COMMUNICATIONS
PRESTEL, TELECOM GOLD, BULLETIN BOARDS, EVEN TELEX
FACILITIES ALL FROM YOUR OWN DESK

THE MODEM £59.95 + vaT&p& p

The
A modem
DATAPHONE
with the following features:
AUTO DIAL direct from the PCW keyboard doesn't even need a telephone
attached. AUTO ANSWER allows the modem to be accessed remotely.
Complete with MAINS POWER SUPPLY, Telephone plug and RS232 type "D"
connector. 300/300, 1 200/75, 75/1 200 BAUD RATES CCITT V21 & V23,
BELL 103 & 202. Fully SOFTWARE controllable. Approved modems
also available.
Please phone for
details

THE INTERFACE £49.95 +VAT & P&P

RS232/CENTRONICS
An interface that plugs directly onto the back of the PCW 8256/851 2 with the following
features:
A full RS232 SERIAL port on industry standard "D" type connector. Can be used to drive
PRINTERS etc. CENTRONICS type PARALLEL port on easy to connect with PCB edge
connector. Equivalent to CPS8256.

THE SOFTWARE £39.95 +VAT & P&P

KIWICHAT
TERMINAL emulation software supplied on a 3" disc with the following features:
line 90 character screen for TELECOM GOLD, BULLETIN
VT52/Z1 9 terminal with 30
BOARDS etc. menu selectable Baud rates.
Fully Special DATAPHONE menu. EASY
filing of DATA. PRESTELA/IEWDATA emulation with full block graphics, solid or
separated, double height chars. SPLIT SCREEN on PRESTEL allows consecutive
viewing of index & pages. PRINT screen or TEXT options.

THE PACKAGE £149.85 +VAT POST FREE

EVERYTHING YOU NEED
12 MONTHS GUARANTEE for registered users. MONEY RETURNED if not satisfied.
Supplied DIRECT from BRITISH MANUFACTURER.

To: DATAPHONE LTD, 92 The Plain, Epping, Essex CM16 6TW.

Telephone: (0378) 78047

please send me: ..(Qty) DATAPHONE Modems at £74.69 inc VAT & P&P
..(Qty) RS232 Interfaces at £60.89 inc VAT & P&P
..(Qty) KIWICHAT Software discs at £48.24 inc VAT & P&P
OR
..(Qty) DATAPHONE Packages at £172.33 inc VAT (post free)
I enclose a cheque to the value of £ No or ACCESS No
Name Signature

Address

Post Code (Please Print)

 DATABASES
Dataflow is typical of many simple databases. Coupled with Mailflow, it lets document as it prints them, reformatting as
you produce personalised form it goes.
letters for mailshots, circulars and so on.
You can produce personalised mailings
But is the single package approach the best way of adding mailmerge to
or even use Dataflow to print envelope
Locoscript?
labels. The facility is not as quick as some
mailmerge programs because the
document must first be
Dataflow III and Mailflow III Locoscript
converted to ASCII, and you also have to
convert the Dataflow records.
Both programs are fairly easy to use,
Like most data managers, Dataflow lets you those written in the PCW's Mallard with extensive prompting and menus. There
store records of a predefined format. When Basic. You could use Dataflow to store and are no Help screens though, and Dataflow
you create a file, you specify the names of process results from a program that you had requires numeric codes to specify field types
each field , and what type of data they'll written. and calculations, so novices will need the
hold. This can be text, such as a name; a Dataflow can also convert records back manual.
number; an amount of money; a date, in UK, into this format for use in other programs, The complete package represents a basic
US or Swedish formats; or a value which is where Mailflow comes in. This range of facilities, adequate for keeping and

calculated from the contents of one or more straightforward mailmerge program manipulating lists and similar files, but not

of the other fields. combines records from a Dataflow file with really sufficient for more complex database
This last facility saves having to work out a master document produced by Locoscript. tasks.
afield, such as the price with VAT, in every A printed copy is created for every record
FACTS BOX
record. It also conserves memory, because taken from Dataflow.
PRODUCT
the calculate field needs only be computed When you write the master document, Dataflow lll/Mailf low III
when the record is actually used. you specify the fields which will be included SUPPLIER
The calculating power limited though. by typing their number, enclosed */
is in Micro Power
A calculated field may only be based on one characters. Mailflow automatically PRICE
operation — addition, subtraction, substitutes the relevant field into each £49.95
multiplication or division — using the
values from any two fields, or one field and a Dataflow is controlled by a series of numbered
menus and prompts. This makes it easy to
number. Alternatively, all the money or
Database contains I understand, though it can be time-consuming once
numeric fields preceding the calculated you're accustomed to the program. Here, a printing
Entering mord Ell
[Chris Rogers
fields can be totalled. SALi mm [Chris company has created a new contacts list for its
[31 Acacia Avenue
The program allows a maximum of 20 »M!5d [Nitchw latest catalogue.
»RBSS3 [Surrey
fields in a record and up to 255 characters in m CMMcm [phone call
Chanjt !C>, Next record (N) or Naster Neno («) > I
any one field. The number of records you Access to the file is nomal

can store depends on the number and

Select froR
Once the contacts are entered, Dataflow can
length of fields but should be more than
produce a variety of reports. You can choose which
adequate for the sort of task Dataflow is fields are included in the report, what order they're
J) - AMESS1 a
i) - IDMESS2 i
suited to. in, and what totals and sub-totals appear. This
S) - OTRE5S3
E) - HUH CONTACTS)
|
1
Dataflow handles one file at a time and report lists all the people who first contacted the
Enter nunber for extract field b or press (return:' to end )

company with a phone call.

cannot cross-reference information from
several files. This limits it to purposes such LIST Where : HOV CONTACTED KEYWORD - phone call
3?aga Wo. I
as catalogues, lists and so on. It is not Sew Contacts as ot 1st .September 1986
suitable for more involved tasks, such as
Kec No. MAME ADDKES.S2
order processing and invoicing.
1 Simon N John 59 Muswell Hill Park London No 4 2GH
Once a file has been created, new records Liz Valkland Sheffield
3 S Tories so3 4-JN
can be entered from the keyboard; unwanted b" Kevin Barry Vastebridge Middlesex
Alison Wheel
ones can be deleted; corrections and 8 Chris Rogers
changes can be made; and particular
+8Speedo Printers*1
records can be located via a search through 14 Hiqn Street*'
Hest dulherr-jf
Berkshire.**
a particular field. Records may also be The relevant data is moved to ^Telephone (04S62) 567432-B-I^
Mailflow with the Extract option. The
sorted into order, using any field.
mailshot itself is written with imfm
The program has a basic report facility, */w**>
Locoscript. Data insertion points are
which produces tabulated summaries of indicated by the field number inside */
data, including totals and sub-totals. A more characters. 7DT/* represents the
Bear */W*,?
date. Printer effects, like underline i 4 Further to your *fW*, I have great
extensive record search is provided at this pleasure in enclosing our 1986 catalogue and a
and bold, are also entered this way price list. As you dill see, Speedo Printers
stage. Up to three fields can be tested at
because Mail low doesn't understand
offers very keen prices coffp>ar?a to other Jims
and a very couplet* service. v

once and their values can be compared. Locoscript's control codes. t I do hope that ue are ah e to do business
i

together, If you have any queries, please do not

This means that you can produce a report hesitate to contact *e,f
Speedn Printers
for everybody called Smith who lives in 14 High Street
West Hulberry
Manchester. Berkshire.
Telephone (04562) 567432
One possible drawback with Dataflow is
Before it can be used
that it cannot make comparisons on date
I 13 Voodfali Road with Mailflow, the
be a drawback Sheffield
fields. This will if you need a Z Yorfcs mi 4.r N standard letter must be
program to print out all the people who i2th October 1986 Speedo Printers
converted to an ASCII

joined your club after a certain date, for 14 High Street format file using the
West Hoi berry
Berkshire.
Modes option on
example. Telephone (04562) 567432 Locoscript's Disc
But Dataflow is greatly enhanced by two offers very keen prices Management screen.
and a very couplet"? s^r i( Philip Maxwell
other facilities. You can read data into a 12 Seaview Road
Running Mailflow produces the
I do hope that we are s\ Eastbourne customised versions of the letter,
Dataflow file if been stored in 'comma
it's together. If you have nj Sussex
hesitate to contact me. with automatic reformatting.
and quote delimited' format. This is not a 12th October 1986

standard data format, like SYLK or DIF, but Dear Mr Maxwell.

Yours sincerely Further to your letter of 26th June, I
many programs can produce it, including have great pleasure In enclosing our 1996
catalogue and a price list. As you will see,
Speedo Printers offers very keen prices compared
to other firms and a very complete service.
John Bull
29
Marketing Diree r, I do hope that we are able to do business
 Dictaphone
MICROMAINTENANCI
Direct to you.

Amstrad Let the experts provide the maintenanc

back-up you will want for your new Amstrad
PC1512.
links up with one Dictaphone can offer comprehensive
servicing and repair facilities nationwide for
the new PC1512. We are Amstrad approved.
of the biggest names Naturally.
We are one of the country's leading
Amstrad computer servicing specialists, and
in the industry besides handling the PC1512, we also servici
the PCW8256, PCW8512, CPC464, CPC66
andtheCPC6128.
Find out more about our fast call-out an
low cost Amstrad servicing contracts. Phone
FREEFONE DICTAPHONE and ask for the
Amstrad Hot Line.

qp Dictaphone
A Bowes Pitney Company
Dictaphone Company Ltd,
Regent Square House, The Parade,
Leamington Spa, Warwicks CV32 4NL.
(Tel. 0926 38311)

AMSTRAD IBM PC & CLONES BBC Z80 COMMODORE

CP/M MICROPRO PRODUCTS PC DOS
POCKET Suite includes Pocket WordStar, Pocket CalcStar,
and Pocket InfoStar (DataStar + ReportStar) — for
PC DOS Includes WordStar- 151 2 —
DOS word processor),
CalcStars P rea d sneet + InfoStar database and report
PROSTAR the Amstrad PCW 8256/851 2, 6 1 28 (with 2 drives), MIPRnPRn
m IWKW HU .

generator. There is complete file compatibility between

SUITE BBCZ80etc. Forthe independent ProStar Guide, add SUITE CP/M & DOS versions.
£16.
£149 £199
• Pocket WordStar
merging
for word processing and mail
£49.95
• MicroPro's WordStar- 1512
easy-to-use word processor
— menu driven,
for IBM PC and clones £69.50
• CalcStar— spreadsheet for calculations, budgets, pro-
• Pocket CalcStar spreadsheet for calculations, projections and analysis
jections £59
and analysis £39.95 • InfoStar— powerful and flexible database and report
generator with sort routines: easy to start for complete
• Pocket InfoStar— DataStar database and ReportStar, beginners, great potential for experts £115
the powerful report generator and sorting program £69.50 • InfoStar Plus— includes StarBurst menu generator for
design of turnkey systems £139
• Pocket SuperSort— a comprehensive sorting program £49.95 • SuperSort— comprehensive sorting program £69

THE DYNAMICS OF PROSTAR — The comprehensive GUIDE TO MICROPRO SOFTWARE £18.00

FREE SOFTWARE • CP/M and PC DOS/MS-DOS Editions available.

HANDBOOK PLUS A comprehensive selection of favourite Public Domain programs— with
70PROGRAMS ON DISC •
excellent documentation in the form of the Handbook
5.25" disks/book set £35.00
• Chapters on Family Fun, Directory Assistance, Useful Utilities, Libraries
3" disks/book set £39.95 and Catalogues, Communications, and a Hacker's Toolbox.

CPM BASIC programsjrequire Mallard or Microsoft Compatible BASIC

DOS BASIC programs require IBM BASIC or Compatible BASIC

Send Cheque (or VISA/ ACCESS number) to:

DAVIS RUBIN ASSOCIATES LTD

1 Canonbourne, Weston sub Edge, Glos. GL55 6QH
VISA/ACCESS order: TEL (0386) 841 1 81 All prices include VAT and Postage
* * * • * SEND FOR OUR FULL LIST » • » » »

i
 DATABASES
dBase II is a powerful database conventional programming language. It can complete packages for specific
management program offering perform complex data analysis, as well as applications. If you're planning to set up a
producing perfectly formatted and arranged sophisticated system for a well-known
facilities not available from any other
reports. application, it might be worth checking that
PCW package. But it has a reputation
One area where dBase is traditionally you can't already buy one, written with
for being difficult to learn and use. hard going is on-screen form design, for dBase, from a consultant or dealer.
data amendment screens and report dBase more than deserves its long-
layouts. These normally require a long standing position as a best-seller. It's power,

dBASEII sequence of commands and can be difficult.

But the package is supplied with a separate
flexibility

to
and proven reliability commend it
anyone who wants to set up a database
program called ZIP, specifically for this on their PCW. But it is difficult to get started
purpose. It works much like a standard with and you could spend more time than
designer, then produces the relevant dBase you'd like learning to use it.

s uses the standard records and fields commands for you automatically. So if you only need a program for
format. You can have up to 32 fields with dBase for the PCW also comes with a straightforward filing, you may be better off
255 characters in each. It caters for three program called dBase Menu, itself written in with a less sophisticated, friendlier
different types of information; text, numeric dBase. This simple, menu-driven program program. But you want to get the most
if

and logical. Logical holds a single character lets you perform simple filing tasks without from the PCW's database abilities, there's
to indicate Yes or No, conserving disc using dBase directly. It only supports a really no alternative.
space. Other field types, such as money or limited number of dBase facilities, but will

date, are easily simulated with dBase prove useful for newcomers who want to FACTS BOX
commands. use the package without having to spend a PRODUCT
The program is relational, and allows two long time learning it. There are also many dBASEII
files to be used together simultaneously, books available on dBase, containing SUPPLIER
linking their values in particular fields and programs to use and adapt yourself. First Software
automatically cross-referencing them. An Many computer professonals are familiar PRICE

invoicing system, with one database for with dBase, and some use it to produce
£119.95
client addresses and details and another for
orders, would link the two via a common Vou My not grant sublicenses nor transfer the software Files are created in dBase with the create
or related Mterials in any for* to any person unless
field containing a client code. dBase could AshtonTate consents in writing. This software command, after dBase displays its full stop
contains valuable trade secrets and proprietary
prompt to indicate that it's ready for a new
read the address from one and sale details information, and is protected by federal copyright
laws, the violation of which can result in civil
damages and criminal prosecution.
command. The user then simply lias to
from the other, to produce a complete answer questions as prompted. In this
dBflSE II is aregistered trademark and
invoice. SMS and hSHTON-I»H( are trademarks of Ushton-late. example, a file is created to handle the
most database programs, which
Unlike IF {Oil ME NOT A PIOCBSmEK, FLUKE IVPE 'DO MEMu", AJU HIT RIT1IRH individual hirings of a video club.

work with on-screen menus, dBase is

normally operated with individual
commands, much the same as a language
create MUEBOOK
like Basic. Around eight commands are i
Enter record structure as follows:
Field Name, Type, Width, Decimal places
necessary to start using the program in a HI Ka»e,C,25
HI Tape, C, as
simple way and many more are needed to M3 Charge,N,6,2
M4 Hired, C,
advanced
use its facilities.
m Returned, .

WW1
list
Hiss F H Bullbridge Star Mars ,M 27/9S/86
.M 92/96/86
.

Although the command system may put Input data nowTN Paul Jones
Paul Jones
Omen 12
.M 12/laVK
.
.'

you off, it's the route to dBase's power and MM5

Peter Smith
Peter Smith
Shoot!
The Last Centurions
M
M
92/96/86
19/W5/86
.

Peter Smith Omen 12 M lw/05/86

.

flexibility. New users soon pick up the Sally Prakel Hotel 90 87/95/86 .

The file can be used immediately with Sally Prakel Keeping Fit 1 .M l»/»S/86
simple commands, while experienced users mm Sally Prakel Keeping Fit 2 .M 1V9S/86
.

dBase commands. List prints out all Mult T Heinman Murder at Midnight .88 81/96/86

can quickly perform quite complex the details on file, followed by a list of
WU
mu T
T
weinman
Heinman
Back to the Future
flBridge Too Far
.M W7/M/86
.98 15/85/86
.

M813 T Heinman Omen 12 .M 93/86/86

operations on their data. tapes hired by T Weinman. Finally, all ,

list tape, hired for nawe= Heinman"

hirings of a film, Omen 12, have been
. I

The command system has another Melt Murder at Midnight

Wall lack to the Future
9 1/8.786
97/9S/86
listed. This sort of flexibility lets you
Mtl2 8 Bridge Too Far 1S/W86
advantage. Commands can be combined to review information quickly, in M»13 Omen lZ wives/ 8S

form programs, letting you produce tailor- ways, but the commands are
different . list name, hired for tape- Omen 12"
9*592 Paul Jones 92/86/86
made database systems. Programming a complicated and screen presentation MMt Peter Smith 19/85/86
88913 T Heinian 93/86/86
is minimal.
custom-built database is much easier than
starting from scratch with a conventional
language.
Although there's no need to go this far, >
MW3 The hirings file can be linked to a members file with a
short dBase program. This one produces a report of all
many users learn to do so because it allows
the outstanding details in the hirings file. Although the
them to produce easy-to-use, menu-based commands look complicated, they rapidly become
systems. These are useful for other peoDle, familiar and it is not impossible for non-technical
who aren't familiar with dBase, so that they users to create quite complex routines.

can use a program produced with it. One RHCOKD « 00004RECOKD t, 00005REC
technically knowledgeable employee can
create a system for use by untrained staff.
The final report lists each person set
Almost any facility you can think of is use hirebook index hname
alphabetically, followed by all their select secondary
available in dBase. The program contains a outstanding hirings and the total
use members index nemhnane
store " " to person
do while .not. eof
special ability to speed up file access, which amount owed to the club.By extending if KameOperson
the program further, the report could be ! " Hue: NName
creates an index of any particular field. » "Mdress-. "HrimlUddresslH", "ttnm(IWtlress2)+", "Hrim(Rddress3H\
arranged to print out individual invoices
dBase is then able to locate a particular store Mane to person
for each customer, and the amount- else
select primary
record almost instantly.The index also owed field in the members file could be list Hired, Tape, Charge for Nane="*.person"

allows you to view your records in sorted automatically updated.

select secondary
order, though you can also perform a skip
endif
physical sort with a specific command. enddo
?
! "End of Report"
Data manipulation functions are wide return

ranging, so that dBase can match a

31

I
 "Quite the best and most flexible personal accounts system I 've seen - doubles as an inexpensive business system "
Computing with the Armstrad September 1985
"Money Manager is good enough to make most programs of this type give up in shame"
Popular Computing Weekly 17-23 April 1986

Unrivalled features MONEY MANAGER Unbeatable value

ONLY £29.95 mci.vAT,p& P I

Disc for the

AMSTRAD CPC464 CPC664 CPC6128 PCW8256 PCW8512
Financial management software for personal and/or small business use.
Thousands of satisfied users!
Now with even more useful features -VAT reports, standing orders etc!
Why pay £50 or more for a "sledgehammer" accounting system?

Money Manager is an easy-to-use system for recording all financial transactions, and for analysing them in a
number of very powerful ways in order to facilitate sound financial management. It is ideal for controling the
finances of a small business, or for users wishing to control their personal finances in a business-like way. Use it
to check bank statements, keep track of expenditure, monitor cash flow, make budgeting forecasts, prepare
business financial statements, pacify your bank manager, convince the tax and VAT inspectors, avoid nasty
surprises, etc. etc. I

1 2 months of entries are kept in a file stored on your disc. At any time, you may load a file into the computer
memory, add to or edit the entries, analyse them, print statements, and then save the updated file for later use.
Entries may be historic (for record keeping) or forecast (for budgeting). You may have any number of separate
files, and make copies of files for archive purposes. You may advance the period covered
by a file month by
month.

Up to 100 separate transactions may be entered per month.

Each entry consists of:
• The day of the month, e.g. 23rd of June.
You may select categories according to account, class and
• An account number, one of up to 9 defined by you to suit
mark (e.g. all entries, or all motoring expenses for business
your circumstances e.g. 1 =Barclays, 2=Visa, 3=Halifax
using a credit card, etc.) and produce reports on the screen or
etc.
printer as follows:
• Reference, e.g. ABC123 for a cheque number or invoice
• Full detailed statements, showing each transaction for any
reference.
• A class code, one of up to 50 defined by you to
month or for the whole year.
suit your
circumstances e.g. ho = Household expenses,
• Detailed monthly VAT statement showing input and
h1=Mortgage, h2=Rates or pO=Production, p1=Raw output amounts excluding VAT, the actual VAT and the
materials, p2=Assembly, p3=Packing, etc. total amount, plus totals and net VAT due.

• A description so that you can see what each transaction • Tables showing the totals in each class for each month of
was for, e.g. "New gearbox" or "Box of 10 discs". the year.
• An optional single character mark which you may include • Tables showing the totals in each class for each account.
for further classification, e.g. b=business, p=private, etc.
• Tables showing monthly maximum, minimum, average
balances, turnover, cashflow etc.
• The amount of the transaction, which may be plus or
minus. • Bar graphs of any category month by month.
• A marker to indicate whether the entry is exempt, zero • Pie charts of annual totals for various categories (CPC
rated or taxable for VAT, or alternatively the actual VAT version only).
paid.

Plus: standing orders- entries optionally sorted into date order- item search facility.
Comprehensive manual and full set of practice data included. Full telephone support.
CPC version suitable for Epson-compatible, DMP2000 etc, printers, Tascopy or Utopia screen dump.
Send cheque or credit card number or phone for immediate despatch.
(Please specify CPC or PCW)

Connect Systems
3 Flanchford Road, London W1 2 9IMD

E3 01-743 9792 8am-10pm 7 days a week

 DATABASES
The most important thing when choosing a database is to find one for your particular used en suite, for mailmerge
needs. Here we round up some of the possible programs. and the like.
POCKET INFOSTAR
Davis Rubin Associates
Files for all occasions £69.95
£49.95 (DataStar only)
£39.95 (ReportStar only)

Further files
Retrieve uses plain language
commands, which can be in

English, or are easily translated,

for foreign users. Sorts are
The product easy to use, everything when you upgrade. available on one or two
Caxton classics thanks to
is fields at
its near-English Matchbox is another low a time, and up to 20 conditions
Highly regarded software
command language. priced database, which could are allowed.
producer, Caxton, has a pair of
Condor may not be quite so provide a novice system without Report formats are user-
databases, intended for very
versatile as dBase II, but it's too much trouble. defined and the program
different uses.
undoubtedly more friendly. As The maximum fields per features a calculation facility and
Cardbox is often seen as a
with Cardbox, the manual is record is 30, and their size is statistical analysis, making it a
simple substitute for a card
excellent, running to over 300 defined by the user. This allows powerful package for a number
index, but it's real ability is
pages of tutorial. Neither up to 32,000 records per file, of applications.
handling very long fields,
program is cheap, but all Caxton though memory restrictions will Camsoft is a long-
containing varying amounts of
products come with free and bring this down. Searches are established company with a
text. It's ideal if your data tends
unlimited telephone support for available on full or partial fields. good track record, and Cambase
to be irregular.
registered users. The program can also produce combines power and a
It's a flexible package for
CARDBOX labels. reasonable price. As well as high
keeping records, allowing up to
Caxton The Database Manager used performance features, such as
26 fields on a card. The largest
£99.99 to be known as At Last, and sold 39 fields per record, 60
field possible is 1,404
CONDOR 1 for £20 more than its current character text lines and 127 lines
characters, which is the card
Caxton price. It has to be one of the per field, the package introduces
size, and the only limit on the
£99.99 cheapest relational bases some useful extras.
number of cards is disc capacity.
around. Fields can be conditional on
You can mark certain
important words in a long field,
Budget bases With an eye to friendliness, it other fields; if, for example, a
uses menu prompts and single person was single, there
to speed up searches. This If the risk of buying the wrong
keys wherever possible to make wouldn't be an extraneous field
makes it ideal for storing package is putting you off, a
its features as easy as possible for the spouse. You can also
awkward information such as a budget-priced database could
to use. These include nine types alter field details at a later date
contact file with notes on be the answer.
of field, each of which can hold and selections can use more
particular people. Minerva's First Base allows
up to 99 elements, allowing you than one field, to produce
Condor 1 lets you design a up to 255 fields, with a key field
to defineforename and surname detailed reports. The report
system, tailored to your needs. to speed searches. Your record
within one field, then sort them generator is itself a
It's a relational database cards can have text wherever
separately. Sophisticated sorts sophisticated one, and if you
manager, containing many you want it. The report
are possible and structures are want to embellish its output with
powerful options. You can easily generator's facilites include
redefinable without data loss. a word processor, it produces
add or alter the structure of its totalling numerical fields. First
FIRST BASE ASCII files.
field, for example. The Base also supports mailmerge,
Minerva File Manager is another
maximum record size is a with Locoscript or ASCII word
£29.95 program that aims for versatility
kilobyte and you can have up to processors.
MATCHBOX without complexity. An
127 fields per record. While First Base won't be the
Quest interesting feature is that
It also lets you produce your only database you'll ever need, it
£29.95 advanced systems created with
own screen designs. Coupled is a good introduction to this
THE DATABASE MANAGER the package can be interactive.
with its programming power, area of computing, and as its
Advance Software This means that data from one
this allows you to establish files can be converted to ASCII,
£29.95 file can call up data from
systems for use by other people. you shouldn't need to retype
elsewhere, so that it can be

CMMOX(II) File ft;CUSIOHER,FIL READY

All the stars inserted or verified.
Level « - RECORD 1 OF 51 also has a data compaction
If you're a WordStar user, you It

COfPftHY JUiDUUMT S5EU2B 3E! '•.mM'MB SATE ia.»4.Sa PCE U may be interested in Pocket routine, to help cram more onto
ADDRESS Helliaell House ME DataStar and ReportStar, also by a disc. Sandpiper claims a
178 Barton St
MicroPro. Together they make typical ratio of two to one.

M
Mm
raw a
1772118573
LSB

KGR
JiHUHmiE
m CMS
up Pocket InfoStar, to create
integrated electronic office.
DataStar is a relational
an Because the system is loaded
into memory, the full disc
storage area is available for files.

OPSiMUS program, ideally suited to twin RETRIEVE

drive systems. ReportStar Sage

I
Pilot Site, Possible other 1« if all goes well.

liter wnMin;
MUST coNund: I
i
I comes complete with a custom
report program, for more
complex reports, and a sorting
£69.99
CAMBASE
Ustindex; Camsoft
Stive, SUit
LIST: tfi=lst tt=last tS=)»clt tF=f«d EMTKY: tX=erase tH=backs:
'backspace routine, though MicroPro also £49.95
produces SuperSort separately. FILE MANAGER
Cardbox comes complete with a demo file, which shows how clear its screen The programs are powerful tools Sandpiper
designs can be. The command letters are at the bottom of the screen.
in their own right, but are best £TBA
 AMSTRAD PCW& PO IBM&COMPATIBLES
you run any kind of cash-based business and you want total
If

financial control withoutknowing anything about accounting,

take a look atCash Trader. It's been designed to address the
problems you most commonly face in running your business
and to solve them, simply.
No knowledge of accounting? you can distinguish income and
II

expenditure, you can run your book-keeping and accounts with

Cash Trader
Can't Type? Most Cash Trader operations involve using arrow-
keys to select what you want to do from a menu of options - typing
is reduced to an absolute minimum

Randomly accumulated piles of paperwork? Simply enter them

as they accumulate - Cash Trader puts an end to pre-sorting
into type and date order
Not quite sure of the state of your business? As you
enter each transaction, your Profit and Loss Account and
Balance Sheet are instantly updated and are constantly
displayed, bang up to date, on the upper part of the

Bogged down by VAT? Cash Trader automatically

and accumulates VAT and reports on all VAT
extracts
transactions.

Can't use a computer? A comprehensive manual

containing key-by-key instruction and copious examples
is only the first step: the Cash Trader program also

contains a number of training exercises which you must

master before you can use with your actual business
it

figures.

In addition to these features, Cash Trader also gives you total

flexibility in creating your own analysis heads and with Analyser,

a module which extracts information under any criteria you care to
define, you can produce reports and analyses at the touch of a key.
H.M. Customs and Excise recognizes the suitability of Cash Trader
reports for VAT purposes and, as a recent review concluded.
"Cash Trader will be welcomed by accountants and auditors alike
and should pay for itself within a month".

THE END OF THE

BOOK-KEEPING
& VAT NIGHTMARE
To see Cash Trader in action is to
appreciate its benefits instantly, so for
a demonstration copy, fill in the
^_ form below and send it

today. Of course, if
you're already convinced it
can help you run a more
efficient and profitable business,
there's no need to have a
demonstration first.

my Access/Visa/American Express card no

Please send me CASH TRADER @
£99.95 inc. VAT
Please debit

Please send me CASH TRADER with ANALYSER @

£149.95 inc. VAT D Delete those not applicable.

Please send me an evaluation copy @

£1 9.95 inc. VATD
Please send me further information
CGA86
Microcomputer in use
Evaluation copies are usable but a Name
restriction on the number of entries
Address
exists: on payment of the balance (£80.00 I enclose a
forCash Trader only, £130.00 for Cash .Tel. No: . cheque for

Trader with Analyser) you will be given a Type of Business No. of employees
password to remove the restriction and
IT MARKETING LIMITED, P.O. BOX 6, Please make cheques payable to
enable full use to be made. MARKETING LTD.
BRIXHAM, DEVON TQ5 9XT TEL: (08045) 6566.
IT
 DATABASES

Data anas OataGem

CAMBASE
In I TIhL53P""""I
Camsoft/£49.95
• Database manager* 9 files
per disc max. • 15,000 records
max. • 39 fields per record max.
• 7,620 char, per field max.
• 4 field types* Calculations
• Conditional inputs
FIRST BASE
CARDBOX
Caxton/£99.99
• 65,500 records max. • 26
fields/1,404 char, per record
max. • 1,404 char, per field max. Nans a.F. Sharpies

CARD INDEX la^hik tec. Lertgt Address 54, London Road

Tom Taunton
Cornix/£24.95 Counts Sofierset
• 600 records max. single disc
telephone <»91)-27723
• 15 fields per record max. • 40
Salary 27.
char, per field max.
CONDOR
Caxton/£99.99
• Database manager • 2 files
max. • 65,500 records max.
• 127 fields/1,024 char, per
First Base NCMB1S lUBiHUMBE
record max. • 6 field types
• Calculation
DATABASE FILE MANAGER MATCHBOX POCKET INFOSTAR
lnteger/£29.95 Sanspiper/£TBA Quest/£29.95 Davis Rubin Associates/£69.50
• 20,000 records max. • 18 • Relational • 4,000 char, per • 32,000 records max. • 30 • Includes DataStar (£49.95)

fields max. • 80 char, per field record max. • 255 char, per fields per record • 255 char, per and ReportStar (£39.95) • Max.
max. • Index on one field field max. • Interactive • 2:1 record max. • 2 data types records disc dependant • 245
• Search any field data compaction • Suitable for • Select on partial field • Label fields per record max. • 245
• Calculations* Labels single drive print char, per field max. • Infinite

DATAFLOW III FIRST BASE MICROFILE field types •Variable field

Micro Power/£49.95 Minerva/£29.95 Amsoft/Saxon/£49.95 lengths • Calculation

• Max. records only subject to • 255 fields per record max. • 6,500 records max. • 20 RETRIEVE
disc capacity • 20 fields per • Search on first 5 char. fields/1,600 char, per record Sage/£69.99
record max. • Sort on any field • Inversion and subset search max. • 20 char, per key field 80 • 2 files max. • 1,020 char, per
• Select on 3 criteria max. • Locoscript compatible char, others • 5 field types
max. record max. • 20 condition sort
• Calculation • With Mailflow mailmerge • Calculation • Four key fields max. • Auto mailmerge
mail merge* Label printing MAGIC FILER • Logical sort •Two level • Calculation • Statistical

DATAGEM Sage/£69.99 access • Templates available analysis • Plain English enquiry

Gemini/£39.95 • Structured filing system • MicroWriteword processor • Foreign language capability

• 2 files max. • 32,000 records
max. • 32 fields/1,498 char, per Comix Software Ltd Micro Power Ltd
record max. • 31 char, per key
Contacts Spirella Building, Northwood House,
field/88 char, others max. •4 Advance Software Promotions Bridge Road North Street
Field types • Calculation • 8 key Ltd
Letchworth, Herts SG6 4ET Leeds LS7 2AA
fields • 32 search criteria max. Unit 1, Harolds Close 0462-682989 Minerva Systems
dBASE II
The Pinnacles, Harlow Davis Rubin Associates Ltd 69 Sidwell Street

First Software/£119.95 Essex CM19 5TH 1Canonbourne, Exeter EX46PH

• Database manager • 2 files 0279-412441 Weston Sub Edge, 0392-37756
max. • 32 fields per record max. Artisoft Chipping Campden Quest Business Software
• 254 char, per field max. • House, POBoxlO
Victoria GIOSGL55 6QH Berryhead Road
Indexing for speed Sunderland SR1 SPY 0386-841181 Brixham
THE DATABASE MANAGER 0783-673395 First Software Ltd Devon TQ5 9AA
(AT LAST) Camsoft Unit20B, Horseshoe Road 08045-6566
Advance/£29.95 Cambrian Software Works Ltd Horseshoe Park Sagesoft pic
• 10files max. •32,000 Unit 2, Maenofferen Pangboume NEI House,

records max. • 20 fields per Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd Berkshire RG8 7SW Regent Centre
record/2,000 char, per record 0766-831878 07357-5244 Gosforth
max. • 79 char, per field max. Caxton Software Ltd Gemini Marketing Ltd Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3DS
#99 elements per field max. 10-14 Bedford Street Gemini House 091-284 7077
• 9 data types* 5 indexes London WC2E9HE DinanWay Trading Estate Sandpiper Software
simultaneously • 3 level sort 01-379 6502 Exmouth EX8 4RS 24 Abbot Street, Wrexham
• Calculation Compsoft pic 0395-265165 ClwydLLH 1TA 0978-358832
DELTA Compsoft Manor Integer Saxon Computing
Compsoft/£99.99 Godalming Hill, 430 Bury New Road, 3 St Catherine's Drive
• Database manager • 90 Farncombe Prestwich Leconfield, Beverley

fields per record max. • Twin Surrey GU7 2AR Manchester M25 5BD North HumbersideHU177NT
drive system 04868-25925 061-7987303 0401-50697

35
 Faulty Amstrad? Send just the keyboard. DO NOT send the monitor, unless
. . .

DEAD! (To make sure monitor is DEAD, switch on monitor in

the monitor is also
darkened room, turn up brightness to maximum and after 5 minutes switch off.
If you get a bright spot receeding, then monitor is O.K. (not DEAD)). Please send
all items, well packed by 'Compensation Fee Paid' - Post, details from your P. 0.

(DeptCWA PRINTWORKS LANE, LEVENSHULME, MANCHESTER M19 3JP.

Tel061-224 1888 or 061-224 9888
msT- FIRST-
To provide 'While-U-Wait' Service. For ADVICE I HELP "I have come across a firm that will be
.
AMSTRAD REPAIRS
fmsr- more than willing to advise you as to how to remedy your BETWEEN £14 and £55
problem. They are called MANCOMP ana as well as repairing
With International repairs and discounts for Schools,
Hospitals and H M. Forces.
Spectrums, are also quite willing to discuss your
faulty SPECTRUM REPAIRS
problems with you, and offer reasonably cheap and (more BETWEEN £9 and £20
msr- CORRECT cures". Phil Rogers, 'POPULAR
importantly)
To provide Insured/Recorded Delivery on return journey COMPUTING WEEKLY'. JANUARY 1985. COMMODORE
rmsT- FIRST-
REPAIRS BETWEEN
With LOWCHARSES (e.g. £9 for keyboard faults). For LOW PRICES "My Spectrum blew recently. took to
. I it
£14and£35
rmsT- MANCOMP, who fixed in 8 mins. and for less than £ 10. they
it
BBC REPAIRS
are local, 'clued-up'. and blindingly efficient!" COMPUTER BETWEEN £14 and £45
For PROFESSIONALISM "Of all the repair companies
COLUMN, '4 HEATONS DIGEST', (Vol. 1, No. 1 1.).
'Sinclair User' spoke to, MANCOMP seemed the most
professional when it came to advice and a helpful attitude''
FIRST- ESTIMATES GIVEN ON
AUGUST 1985. For HONESTY .Call in and watch your computer being
. . PRINTERS/DISK DRIVES
tested and repaired 'While-U-Wait' Our engineers don't ETC.
hkt- disappear into a back room. If there is nothing wrong, we will
For SPEED . . . "One firm, at least, can usually any
effect tell you!
necessary repair 'over-the-counter' in 45 mins. Based in flRST-
Manchester, MANCOMP can offer what is arguably the fastest
MANCOMP GUARANTEE
For REPUTATION We have a reputation built on 2'/2 years If the same occurs within 90 days of our repair, we
fault
turnaround in the business, to personal callers". 'CRASH' will repair FREE of charge AND refund the postage
of successful Spectrum, BBC, Commodore, Apple and IBM it

Magazine, JUNE 1985. 'Terms and Cond'tons avatoDte o" requesi

repairs.

COMMUNICATIONS Mancomp
AMSTRAD... Price £
PACE:
Price £ BEEBUG UTILITIES
8256 WORD PROCESSOR SYSTEM 430.00 ULTRABASE (464/664/6128) DISC
8512 WORD PROCESSOR SYSTEM
COMMSTAR SOFTWARE 31.62
540.00 ULTRABASE (464/664/6 128) CASS
SERIAL INTERFACE 79.06
6128 128K + GT65 GREEN MONITOR 299.00 LOCKSM ITH (464/664/6 1 28) Dl SC
6128 128K + CTM644C0L. MONITOR
COMMSTAR + INTERFACE 102.35
399.00 LOCKSM ITH (464/664/6 1 28) CASS
464 64K + GT65 GREEN MONITOR
COMMSTAR + NIGHTINGALE 150.94
199.00 LOCKSM ITH (464/664/6 1 28) ROM
46464K + CTM644 COL. MONITOR
COMMSTAR + NIGHTINGALE + l/F 172.50
299.00 REMBRANT (464/664/6128) DISC
l/FTO NIGHTINGALE CABLE 8.62
DISC DRIVE -(-INTERFACE (464) 159.95 REMBRANT(464/664/6128)CASS
SECOND DISC DRIVE (LESSCABLE) 99.95 WORD PROCESSING Dl SC DEMON (464/664/6 1 28) Dl SC
SECOND DRIVE CABLE 6.95 TASMAN: DISC DEMON (464/664/6128) ROM
464/6 128 MODULATOR 29.95 TASW0RD464 19.95 TOOLKIT (464/664/6128) DISC
RS232 INTERFACE (464) 49.95 TASW0RD464-DISC 24.95 T00LKIT(464/664/6128)CASS
RS232 INTERFACE (8256) 67.85 TASWORD6128 24.95 TOOLKIT (464/664/6 1 28) ROM
SPEECH SYNTH + SPEAKERS 29.95 TAS-SPELL 16.50 COMPLETE OFFICE SUITE
AMX . .
TASPRINT
TASCOPY
9.90 DATABASE:
AMX MOUSE (464/6128) 69.95 9.90 MINIOFFICEII (464/664/6 1 28) CASS
AMX UTILITIES 19.95 GEMINI BUSINESS & ACCOUNTS MINI OFFICE II (464/664/6128) DISC
AMXPAGEMAKER 49.95 DATABASE (464/664/6128) DISC 25.95 PRINTERS
AMX3DZICON 24.95 DATABASE (464/664/6 1 28) CASS 19.95 SEI KO SP1000CPC PRINTER FOR AMSTRAD
MEMORY EXPANSION GRAPH PLOT (464/664/6 128) DISC 25.95
64K MEMORY EXPANSION (464/664) GRAPH PLOT (464/664/6 128) CASS
256K MEMORY EXPANSION (464/664)
49.95
99.95 REPORTGEN (464/664/6128) DISC
19.95
25.95
OPEN
256KMEMORYEXPANSION(6128)
256K SILICON DISC (464/664)
99.95
99.95
REPORTGEN (464/664/6 1 28) CASS
HOM E ACC (464/664/6 1 28) DISC
19.95
25.95
MON-SAT
256KSILIC0NDISC(6128)
DK TRONIKS LIGHTPEN + l/F (464/664)
99.95 HOM E ACC (464/664/6 1 28) CASS
CASH BOOK (464/664/6 1 28) Dl SC
19.95 9AM-8PM
24.95 65.95
CASH BOOK (464/664/6 128) CASS 59.95 All pricesinclude VAT, Carr. Extra.
JOYSTICKS FINAL ACC (464/664/6128) DISC
AMSTRAD SINGLE JOYSTICK 65.95 Software orders add £1.80 P&P.
9.99
FINAL ACC (464/664/6128) CASS 59.95 Hardware orders add £7.00 per item P&P.
CHEETAH 125JOYSTICK 8.95
DATAGEM(8256)DISC 39.95 Joysticks add £1.00 P&P.
 FIGURES
Ever feel lost in a sea of figures? A computer is a fast and efficient number The final consideration is performance.
cruncher, so let your PCW demolish those digits. This relates to the size of spreadsheet that
can be accomodated and the speed at which
calculations take place.

Figuring it out with your Manufacturers quote the largest possible

worksheet size but, in practice, often the
PCW will run out of memory before these
limits are reached. Some programs avoid
Amstrad this problem by using the disc drive as an
extension to memory. This can be very
effective with the large RAM disc of a PCW
8512, which can cope with very demanding
problems.
In terms of speed, most programs are
adequate for small worksheets but can be
frustrating with full-size balance sheets and
similar tasks. If your needs are straight-
Most people can immediately see the spreadsheet package into a separate
forward, it's better to choose a simple
benefit of using their PCW for word business graphics package, which often
package that works quickly, rather than one
processing or creating databases.lt's much produces better results, although it's more with lots of features that is slow.
harder to recognise the value of a spread- time-consuming.
sheet, as most people have only the vaguest
idea of what one does or how to use But
almost any computer user could find
it.

such a How a Spreadsheet works

program a valuable investment.
Spreadsheets provide a vast work area, divided into rows and columns, into which
Spreadsheets are a boon to anyone who numbers, text and formulae are placed. This worksheet is usually much larger than the
works with figures. In management they can screen and only part of it can be seen at any one time.
be used to plan new product launches, to the spreadsheet
At first is blank and has no particular function. The finished
monitor company cash flow, or for basic
spreadsheet's operation is purely the result of the information the user enters into it.
accounting.
The intersection of rows and columns are called cells; boxes which may contain a
In science and engineering they can take
value relating to the problem (usually a number), some labelling text, or a formula
the tedium out of repetitive calculations,
relating the values in other cells.
making work quicker, easier and far less
All formulae are reworked every time a value is changed. So once a particular
prone to error. They can even take the place
spreadsheet (or model) has been created, new figures can be entered and the results
of a home finance package for monthly
calculated automatically. A finished spreadsheet can be used repeatedly with different
budgetting. In fact, they have so many uses figures, or changes in values to show how they affect overall results.
because they make managing lists, tables
Such experimentation is useful when planning, providing swift answers to questions
and numbers much easier than on paper. like, "What if the mortgage rate went down?" or, "What if sales were higher?"
Spreadsheets provide a flexible way of
In this example, a model has been created to try to maximise profits when selling an
manipulating data, and many are as good
item.
with text as they are with numbers. But
although they can be near essential for
every finance manager, their usefulness is This text names the
dependent on the range of ideas applied to numbers in the next

them. column.

All spreadsheets are basically similar.

They provide a sheet on which you work,
and facilities for creating a useful 'model'. Unit Cost 0.99
way they The basic figures for the
You can copy entries, alter the are Price 1.5« '

problem are entered into

displayed, change column widths and so
The row of signs makes Sales 15000 these cells. These could be
on. the spreadsheet clearer. _ actual sales figures or
The ability to split the screen into diff- experimental ones.

erent sections, to see different parts of the

Profit 7^50
work area at once, and to protect certain
entries from accidental alteration, are well The formula, UNIT
COST*SALES-UNIT
worth having and, fortunately, fairly
PRICE'SALES, calculates
common. the profit on the figures
Spreadsheets also offer a range of above. The spreadsheet
automatically works out
functions to simplify formulae, much like a
the result and displays it in
calculator has special buttons for certain
the cell.
operations. Most can add up columns and
rows, compute averages and so on. Often
they have a range of financial functions for Unit Cost 0.75 Unit Cost 0.99
calculating depreciation, interest and so on. Price 1.5 Price 1.75
The general user should also look for the
Sales 15000 Sales 13000
ability to manipulate time and dates, sort
entries and manipulate text.

More sophisticated programs boast

Profit 11250 Profit 9880
macros, which automate complex The profit wasn't very substantial. But if the cost of Alternatively, charging a higher price could help, but
operations. Some can also produce making each item is reduced to £1.50, it instantly sales would drop. The new values produce a new
business graphs straight from their data. produces a better 'bottom line'. profit. It becomes obvious that the real problem is
Though the cost of manufacturing and this value that must
this is convenient, it is usually
be improved in order to maximise profits.
possible to transfer the data from any

37
_
 FIGURES
If you're looking for flexibility and it doesn't tell you what to press, just that the considering for its broad range of facilities,
features, The Cracker is probably the keys you are trying are "Wrong Here". such as its business graphics, which make
The Cracker seems to make excellent use it very flexible. But its lack of speed and the
best equipped spreadsheet available
of the memory available to it and there is a awkwardness are drawbacks. It is best
for the PCW But all that power is at a healthy 17K free for your work. But is is some previous
suited to users with
price . .
slower than some of its rivals in computer experience or who have outgrown
recalculating a spreadsheet. This is not their current spreadsheet. So, if you're new
helped by the time takes to display the to the game or only want a spreadsheet for
Cracker 2
it

results when its calculations are completed. purely numerical tasks, look for a more
Many simple operations, such as copying a straightforward program.
Naturally the Cracker has all the basic block of cells, are frustratingly slow.
essentials you'd expect of a serious
FACTS BOX
As only part of the program is loaded at a
TITLE
spreadsheet, but it also boasts a large time and other sections are read from the
THE CRACKER 2
number of useful extras. disk drive as needed, a vast improvement in PRICE
It can generate business graphs from its speed can be made by putting some Cracker £49.95
figures, providing an effective way of program files onto the M: drive. PUBLISHER
and presentations, as
illustrating reports The Cracker is definitely worth NewStar
well as a quick way of seeing exactly what is
happening yourself. There is a large choice
of graph types, including line graphs, pie
Cracking Cracker
charts, and bar charts.
Unlike most spreadsheets,
Cracker also has functions which are Cracker does not automatically
useful for maintaining data. It can find extend the work area as you use

particular values from a list and sort rows it. When you first load it, you
have fb insert some lines
into order. This means that the Cracker can
and columns before you can
do many tasks that might otherwise require start work.
a database, but as it's limited to the size of
the PCW's memory, it is not a real
alternative.
The Cracker's large range of functions For simple operations, using the

include date and time manipulation. There is

Cracker is much like using any
other spreadsheet. Here, revenue
also an IF.. .THEN.. .ELSE facility, which
for the I branches of a
allows a Cracker model to be 'intelligent'. supermarket chain is tabulated,
Rather than just working out everything as with the program automatically

the result of mathematical formulae, calculating all the totals.

it can
and use an appropriate
test particular values
formula, then warn you that a figure is
below an acceptable limit or take other
relevant action.
Finally, the Cracker includes macros; a
facility that stores keystrokes in a cell, to be
played back later, just as if they were being
typed at the keyboard. Coupled to its range
of command-like functions, this allows
To produce a graph, you enter
expert users to use the Cracker almost as if
information about titles and
it were a programming language in its own various functions, which tell the
right. program where the data is and
This programmability turns the Cracker what sort of graph to produce,
in a spare area of the
into a very versatile tool. It is well suited to
worksheet. The process can be
anybody who wants to write models for use quite fiddly as the functions
by other people. Spreadsheets can be simply show up as meaningless
created for complete novices where the numbers.
model itself asks for the information it

needs, then automatically work out the

results.
All this makes the Cracker infinitely
flexible. Instead of being more specialist than Once a graph has been correctly
other spreadsheets, the advanced features defined, the Cracker will display it c
Revenue 1st Quarter 1986
Northbourne SuperMart Company
make it much more adaptable to non- screen or print it out. Shading and 16000
scaling of axes are all handled
financial tasks, such as keeping track of club automatically.
12 High Street

records or analysing the results of a survey.

But this complexity is not without
problems. Not only is there a lot more to
learn to get the most from Cracker, but the
basic features of the program are not as
easy to use as those of its less ambitious
alternatives.
uses single-letters for commands, like
It

most other programs, but after you have

selected a command, you are frequently
presented with a cryptic list of what keys to Feb Mar
press next. And often, when the program Month
wants you to press a particular key or keys,
 FIGURES

Despite the some manufacturers, few spreadsheets can cope with

boasts of converted into other formats so that the data
can be used in other programs. Two formats
vast worksheets. Scratchpad Plus can, but you may find its lack of certain
are supported; DIF is the popular one and
other features makes it more suitable for some tasks than others.
can be used with many different programs
while SDF is designed specifically so that
worksheets can be exchanged with the
Scratchpad Plus popular Supercalc spreadsheet.
Although Scratchpad is not as flexible as
many programs, it is easy to learn and use
and handles most straightforward
applications, such as accounting and
financial analysis, extremely well.

Scratchpad Plus is a typical example of a be totalled or averaged into a summary FACTS BOX
straightforward spreadsheet. It does its job worksheet. TITLE
well but doesn't have many of the features Scratchpad comes with a separate Scratchpad Plus
incorporated into more advanced programs, consolidation program called CONS, which PRICE

which makes them simpler to use and more will total or average a number of similar £69.99
flexible. sheets into one overall master sheet. CONS PUBLISHER

Scratchpad has one big advantage over also allows Scratchpad worksheets to be Carton

other programs. Most spreadsheets restrict

you to a sheet that can be held entirely
memory. While they might claim to allow
in
Consolidating four quarters with Scratchpad
you larger areas, such as 60 columns by talc off Ell Creating a Scratchpad Plus
200 rows, in practice you'll fill the memory Ent v: E12-»Sult(E14.,E16>| worksheet is much the same as
with other spreadsheets. You
long before these limits are reached. The Gadget Conpans Revenue 1st Quarter
enter figures, formulae and text
This problem doesn't arise with Total
Product Price London Winchester labels appropriate to the job,
Scratchpad, which automatically uses disc Gadget £43.35 M.M then format them so that the
storage, or the PCW's Ram drive, and so MM on-screen image, and printout,
Por!ille Midget lll'M
effectively extends the memory available. 1
[ingle
Pro fangle
£149.95
£199.95
11
tt.M
is as clear as possible.
Scratchpad is limited in that all
This makes it far less quick than some M.M M.M tt.M columns must be the same
its
programs, but the trade-off is well worth it if Overhead width and its method of
Production Costs M.M M.M tt.M
duplicating a formula needs
you anticipate the need for very large Cost if sales
2
care. Its advantage —
worksheets. Nett revenue MM MM worksheets can be much larger.
Beyond this, the program provides
adequate facilities. Setting up your Scratchpad worksheets can
The Gadget Company: Re<-
be automatically consolidated
worksheet is a fairly involved process Price London Ha ichester Total
to form an overall view.
because of the limited set of commands and Quarterly sales figures and Gadget ,£49.95 231
197
193
170
£21176. 60
£25671. 65
Widget £69.95
225 £17101.45
the crude way in which formulae are revenues for The Gadget Portable Widget
Fangle
£29.95
«a*9. 95
346
213 167 £56981. 00
Company Limited are Pr
created.
consolidated into yearly Revenue 2nd Quarter
Most spreadsheets let you refer to the
results. Each quarter's Ov Product Price Manchester Total
different cells in two ways. You can use an worksheet is identical except
Pr
Gadget a 1
*, 95 182 127 £19434. 55
Widget £69.95 103 112 £1923-3 25 .

actual co-ordinate, or a relative co-ordinate, for the sales data, so the He Portable Widg* t £29 95 . 301 211 ,£15334. 40
Pa ng 1 £149.95 178 135 £49933. 35
which indicates that the cell you want is so original can be saved to disk, Pro Fangle £199.95 100 65 £32991. 75

then used as a template for £76193. 80 £56736, 50 £132930. 30

many rows and columns away from your
successive quarters, under Overhead £25432.00 £20400. 00 £45832. 00
current position. This latter approach makes another name.
Production Co ts £30676. 00 £22981. 00 ,£53657. 00
Cost of soles £4500. 10 £3800. 00 £8300. 00
it quick and easy to duplicate formulae £15585. SO ,£9555. 50 .£25141. 30
Sett revenue
across a worksheet without having to alter
each cell individually.
calc on lit
Scratchpad has no relative system at
Instead, it will automatically adjust the
all.

cell
'ornuU; ft

& ——
The Gadget Cowing: Vearlu Revenue
co-ordinates in a formula as best it can
Product Price London Hanehester Total Konso! idate Scratchpad files
while you copy them. This approach works .SP .SP ,SP ,., ==) ,SP
2-ScratchPad file to IIP fornat
fine for simple worksheets, such as balance 6
3-&IF file to Scratchpad fowat
sheets, but can be awkward for more IIP ==> ,5P
4-SIP hie to Scratchpad formt
sophisticated problems. .SM «> ,SP
£»,M tt.M 5-Exit progran
An adequate set of functions are
(Enter 1, I, 3, 4, or S)
available, including all the popular same as the
Next a master sheet is created. This the
mathematical ones, as well as a couple of individual sheets but has all its data set to zero. When
Inter output filename: CM
useful extras like LOOKUP, IF and CHOOSE. the sheets are consolidated, they will be passed inter Raster filename: CA1 is
Inter filenane: GAKEI01
through this sheet and the totals will accumulate in filenane: MDCET82
These allow some fairly sophisticated inter
inter filenane: CAKEN3
the positions that are currently zero. inter filenane: CAKET04
problems to be tackled. iter filenane:
Although the program can sort rows of
data, it only possesses a limited set of Running the CONS program and
choosing option performs the The Gadget ly; Yearly Seven
functions for handling text. Again, this 1

limits its appeal to purely financial work.

consolidation. The user must enter Produc Pr z Manchester Total

the name of the master sheet, the Gadget £249 75 812 560 £342657. 00
If you work in this field, you'll find the
names of the individual sheets and
Vidget £349 79 564
1017
452 £362341, 00
Portable W dget £149 75 820 £275090. T5
Fangle £749 75 6B5 553 £926190, 50
program has a useful consolidation facility a name for the final, consolidated Pro Fangle £999 75 417 313 £729617.50
which allows several related worksheets to sheet. The final yearly balance £1489821. 25 £1148275.50 £2638096. 75
sheet is produced automatically
be combined into an overall view. This is Overhead £101728. 00
£119972, 00
£51600. 00
£92852, 00
£183328. 00
£212624. 00
by CONS. It can be used and Costs
Cost of sa £16000. 00 £15200. 00 £33200. 00
frequently needed in business where similar altered just like any other
Kett raven e £1250121.25 £958623.50 £22 08744.75
worksheets for individual sales regions, Scratchpad worksheet.
time periods, products and so on, need to

I
 FIGURES
Most people think they left statistics behind when they
left school. But statistical analysis is an important part of Figuring out Figures
everyday life, from business meetings to advertising
and the media.

Understanding SPREADSHEETS STATISTICS PACKAGES

CRACKER 2 AMSTAT2
statistics NewStar/£49.00 SCColeman/£39.95
• Statistics • Graphics • 27 nonparametric tests •
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• Macros SCColeman/£27.95
Statistics can be invaluable for option lets you perform arith- MULTIPLAN • Linear and polynomial
analysing business data and metic on rows and columns, and NewStar/£69.99 regression • Trend and seasonal
finding clear and convincing there are spread-sheet-style • Statistics • Sorting • Logical variation • Multiple regression
ways of presenting information. commands to copy and move operations •Trigonometric analysis • Transformations
Most simple statistics can be particular entries. An added • Windows* Relates • Exponential smoothing
handled with a spreadsheet, but bonus is that the results of some spreadsheets • Adaptive filtering
for more involved work you need calculations can automatically PLANNERCALC OXSTAT
a specialist package. be placed back into the table for NewStar/£39.00 MedStat Ltd/E 113.85
These provide a range of further use. • 65,563 max. sheet size • One and two way variance
common statistical functions, of Once the data is ready, a test • Statistics • Logical operations analysis* Chi-square test,
which most are only of use to is selected. Test calculations • Limited maths • Windows Fisher Exact test, Yates
specialists, but a number have a available through Oxstat include commands
• English-style Correlation • Linear correlation
wider appeal, such as averages medians, means, chi-square, POCKET CALCSTAR • Ten way multiple linear
and correlation, An introductory Anova, Spearman's rank, paired Davis Rubin Associates/£39.95 regression* Paired t-test
book on the subject may T-test, Mann-Whitney U, • 1,400 active cells, max. • Spearman ranked correlation
suggest a few possibilities. correlation or Wilcoxon test. • 3-63 char, column width test• Unpaired Students t-test •
A histogram and scatter • Menu driven • Templates of Matched-pairs signed-rank test
graph, with best-fit line, can be cells can be created RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Oxstat produced, but sadly these don't SCRATCH PAD PLUS SCColeman/£27.95
make use of the PCW's graphics Caxton/£69,99 • Applications to solve
Oxstal is one such package and and are use normal screen • Statistics • Sorting • Logical sequencing, scheduling,
consists of a series of linked
characters -*,+, etc -which operations • Trigonometric blending and allocation
programs, written in Mallard
makes the results rather too • Drive used for extended problems
Basic. Its speed is not
imprecise for serious users. workspace • Flexible rows and
unacceptably slow, but it's best columns • Versatile calculations
The tests provided by
suited to the PCW8512, where PRINT ROTATORS
statistics packages are always a • Multiple windows
using the large M drive will
matter for debate. Some users • Configured for Amstrad Landscape
speed up the time taken to move find useless what others SUPERCALC2 System Build/£19,95
between its different parts.
• 250 character width x 96
consider essential. Oxstat's Software City/£49,95 lines
The opening screen is a
range • Sorting • Logical operations •
is pretty basic, but should depth
spreadsheet-like table of rows
be enough for people who don't Trigonometric functions ROTATE
and columns, which makes it
• Windows • Macros • Help
do statistics for a living. Logicom/£24,95
easy to enter and amend the
screens • 255 character width x 96 lines
figures for testing. It allows the
FACTS BOX ~
same set of figures to be tested
TITLE
in different ways without the Oxstats London W6 OPA
need for a separate editor or PRICE
Contacts 01-748 2302
re- typing. £113.85 Medstat Ltd
The data can be manipulated PUBLISHER Caxton Software Ltd City House
in several ways; the Calculator Medstat Ltd 10-14 Bedford Street Maid Marian Way
Covent Garden Nottingham NG1 6BH
x= 1= >-tiU points t=)l point *=Best-f it straight line London WC2E9HE 0602-411120
01-379 6502 NewStar Software Ltd
SC Coleman 200 North Service Road
33 Leicester Road Brentwood
Ashby-de-la-Zouch Essex CM14 4SG
57- * i Leics LE6 5DA 0277-220573
0530-415919 Software City

42- Davis Rubin Associates Ltd 382 Kings Road

I
1 Canonbourne Chelsea
I

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Proteus Computing Ltd Lines PE68EA
An Oxstat scatter-graph, with the data-points marked by +s. Stars indicate the 2 Iffley Road 0778-344388
best-fit line, which illustrates the general shape of the data

40
 AN OFFER YOU CAN'T REFUSE!
- YOU OWN A PCW 8256/8512 - THEN FOR ONLY £4.95
SIMPLIFILE IF

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SIMPLIFILE is a database written for the Amstrad PCW 8256 and 851 2, bearing challenge the computer - OR is it the other way round?
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Newword 2 All £69.00
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1 1 Arram Road, Leconfield, BEVERLEY, Humberside HU17 7NP
Telephone for BROCHURE or ORDERS 0401-50697

1
FINANCE
program tailored to your line of work?
Computerising your business or home accounts won't let you sit back and There's a lot to consider before you take a
leave it all to your PCW. But if you adopt a logical approach, it can ease the single step or spend anything at all.

daily routine. Sit back and ask yourself some

questions. The first should be, are your
accounts big enough to warrant being

Accounting with your computerised? During the

popularity for the home
first burst of
micro, there was a
trend towards using them for allmanner of
much
Amstrad things which were better
manually; address books, cataloguing the
cats, home accounts, anything.
done

If you've made do up till now with a

tenpenny notebook, do you really need to

change? And don't forget that if you regard
keeping your written accounts as a nuisance
and omit to do it regularly, having
Transferring your accounts from paper to the perfect machine for running a compre- everything on computer isn't likely to make
computer is generally reckoned to be a good hensive accounts package, only to discover you apply yourself more diligently to the
thing. Millions have done it satisfactorily that you need to add a second drive to run task.
and soon discovered the time that it saves. the software that's best suited to your needs. Are you prepared to develop good
But it's not something to be approached And what is the best package? Will a working practice? You may feel wary about
lightly. simple, general accounting package suit keeping your precious financial records on
You might think that your PCW8256 is your needs or maybe there is a specialist disc. There's no need to be, provided you're

Are you looking for an accounting program that will mammmm

handle the payrolls of twenty employees, or just balance
your cheque book stubs? It's important that you match tamm «bmi£ti
power to purpose when you choose a package. Opening Balance 9.W
Umutched Receipt 0,00
There has been such growth in keep track of your cash and bank
All
accounting software for the records and VAT. In that case,
Unmatched Payrtent 0.W f.

PCW that the newcomer will ttBJMWMiW

you should be looking at one of Current Balance . 0,W i
most likely be bewildered by the the systems under about £40. In
ft. Add/taend fop loy.ee
choice. But this proliferation this range you'll find Money C. Calculate Payroll
does mean that somewhere Manager (£29.95), reviewed
P. Pays lips
there should be the right over the page. return 10 CONTINUE
accounting package for you, if Simple Accounts from Cornix S. Suwiary
Sandpiper Accounts and Payroll
you know where to look and Software, costs £34.95. It
D, Document Print
what you want. allows 200 transactions per
folio, a folio being a week, «, Vear Start/End
ON A BUDGET month or any other period to N. Maintain File
If you're looking for a simple suit yourself. VAT is catered for,
». S.S.P. Records
program for home use, or you're and income and expenditure can
in business as a sole trader, with be analysed under 20 different Function
no more than one or two staff, headings. However one peculi-
Press EXIT to Finish Day
then you'll probably just want to arity is that unpaid debts count

towards your 200 trans-actions, The suppliers of such

Cashbook Accounts
Version 3,1
PAVHENKS) WW * 21/12/198S so if you have too many slow systems know that people in
Saxon Computing
payers they could completely different businesses have

SERIAL
ruin your accounts system! different needs, though, and the
!

Cashbook Accounts from different modules that make up

SUPPLIER XE¥ : DESCRIPTION :

Saxon Computing is along most of these packages can be

im 07 PAYHBtl (C/B) :
and costs £29.95,
similar lines purchased separately.
BMW UH : DESCRIPTION : covering VAT, weekly cash You may, for example, have a
TOTAL AMOUNT :£ reports and allowing up to 50 predominantly cash-based
CATEGORY m DESCRIPTION AKOUNI
payment categories, 10 bank
accounts and 175 suppliers.
business; the accounts could
then be handled quite
adequately by one of the above,
MODULAR SYSTEMS cheaper packages. But if you
For most people, the next step also have a sizeable payroll or a
up from a simple cash-based comprehensive stock system to
system probably means a fully- look after, rather than buy a full
I
6.UUJBH
fledged accounting system with system which would be much
Saxon Cashbook Accounts
sales and purchase ledgers, more powerful and complicated
stock control, payroll, and than necessary, you should
accounts analysis through to consider purchasing the
trial balance or balance sheet. individual modules to suit your
This is almost certainly going to particular needs.
require a second disc drive. Camsoft offers a payroll

42
 FINANCE

careful. Losing electronically recorded yourself, who have already taken the plunge. ask to be put in touch with any satisfied
information isn't all that common — when .User groups are also a good source of customers. Bear in mind too that the more
did you last have an unannounced power contacts: the PCW Users Group has several popular a package, the more support you're
cut, for instance? hundred members, many of them running from the software house and
likely to get

But when working at the computer you small businesses, all of whom are ready to other users; a product that's only been

must get into the habit of saving information chat to you about their own experiences. bought by three people in the entire
disc every few minutes. And at the end of Then, before buying an accounting country. well, there could be a reason for
. .
to

the day you must make a back-up copy, so package, you should list your accounting that.

that your entire records are duplicated. requirements and look for something that Don't be daunted by whatseems a
Some people have the impression that meets them, rather than buying what monumental task. You should run your
computer discs are meant to take the place appears to be suitable and hoping for the manual and written accounts side by side
but that's far from the truth; for a while, perhaps computerising your
fof paperwork,
records
important will be printed out
best.
Don't be afraid to write to software cash book or payroll first, followed by your

anyway. The real benefits of computer- companies asking if their package will cater stock records and so on. This allows you to

isation are to make access to information for 25 employees, 300+ sales ledger get used to the system slowly, and make

quicker, remove all the boring financial accounts and so on. Their replies will tell your mistakes when it doesn't matter too
calculations, and speed up the production of you something about their level of interest in much.
ledger accounts, invoices and so on. their customers. Plus it's also essential to Look round for computer courses, and
know whether or not they run a support remember that for larger businesses it
If you still want to take the step towards
service to deal with your queries and what probably isn't wise to have only one member
computerisation, then the first thing to look
advice. Consult your accountants and this costs. knowledgeable about the system.
of staff
for is

see what they know about computerised You should also find out if the software Your computer isn't likely to get pregnant or

accounts. Ask if they have other clients like runs on one disc drive or two, and perhaps catch flu, but humans do.

I
program for £49 .95 that caters single package for an indepen-
SftGE ACCOUNTS
for any number of employees, dent part of your business
calculates tax, Nl, and so on records, like payroll or stock
1) Create Ledgers 4) Sales/Purchase Ledger Reports
automatically, produces control, is one way to familiarise
2) Posting Routines 5) Honinjl Ledger Reports
payslips and also gives you a yourself computer-isation
the payment of without committing yourself to 3) Utility Routines 6) Statenent Routines
coin analysis for it

cash wages. totally. And the option is still left 4) Exit fron frogr**

£49 MAP's Payroll has

For open you to add further
for

similar facilities and will also modules from the same

print out cheques and cater for software company's range.
credit transfers, while Sage's
Payroll costs £69.99 and COMPLETE PACKAGES
Sage Popular Accounts
Sandpiper's is £69.95 for a The one disadvantage of buying
single-drive version, £79.95 for one module at a time is that it is
the dual drive. more costly. You may prefer to
In a similar fashion, stock take the plunge at once, in which
control programs are available case you'll probably be spending
either separately or as part of a E150-E200.
package. So are several Sage's system at £199.99
invoicing programs and the offers full accounting to trial
usual sales, purchase and balance and balance sheet,
norminal ledgers. Buying a stock records, payroll and

invoicing. Camsoft's combined packages that fill slightly

package costs £149.95, but this different areas. Their Cash

excludes their payroll system-a Trader at £99.95 acts as a giant
further £49, making £199.90 in cash book with 140 different
total. MAP'S costs £149 plus analysis headings, aimed at
£49 for the payroll module. those who have no need for
Sandpiper's complete system detailed ledger accoounts. For

costs £179.95 for one drive and accountants preparing client

£199.95 for the two drive information from incomplete
version. records, their Shoebox program
As you can see, pricing tends at £149.95 provides a nominal
to be very competitive, and the ledger to balance sheet service,
saving of a few pounds isn't a while they also supply
reason for buying a particular TimeRecorder ( £69.95) for the

package. Buy the one that you professional practice needing to

need. Also check the cost of allocate time and costs to their

software support, in addition to clients' accounts.

Quest Cashtrader
the package, which can set you There is also a growing

back half as much again. number of packages aimed at

particular professions, so check

SPECIAL NEEDS whether there's one aimed

Quest Business Software offer specifically at your business.

43
 FINANCE
The modular approach to accounting packages has distinct advantages if purchase ledgers, while the purchase ledger
you need a powerful, expandable system. We put MAP'S entry into this can also be linked to the stock control

market through its paces. system. A 'Batch Control' element has been
included — you enter the total figure before
starting to post individual items,
and the

MAP Integrated Accounting system keeps a comparison for you.

There are training courses available
either in Manchester or on-site, while MAP

Package also offer a support service which

the month, and costs £50 for one year
first

thereafter. The payroll support service is free

is free for

The MAP Integrated Accounting suite is backed up, then separate data discs are for the first twelve months.
typical ofmany in the £150-£200 range. The prepared for sales, purchases, nominal, The sales, purchase, nominal and stock
modules are available separately, but are at stock and payroll. Each of these is then control modules that make up Integrated
their most powerful when fully integrated. backed up in turn, and don't forget they have Accounting cost £49 each but the four cost
If you have several subsidiary companies to be backed up constantly when in use. only £149 if you buy them together. The
this system will cope with up to 26 different After all this work you'll be relieved to payroll module also costs £49, and this has
sets of accounts — always subject to your hear that the MAP manual is nothing if not to bought separately and added to the cost,
Amstrad's disc capacity, of course! thorough, though the indexing could be but the £198 total is a typical price for this
In theory it is possible to use the 8256's better. After an introduction to the system, standard of accounting package.
single drive to run the system, with constant you're toldhow to initialise data discs. You FACTS BOX
swapping of discs, but in practice the space only need to know how to load a CP/M disc TITLE
most companies need for data storage and use Disckit and everything thereafter is Integrated Accounting
means that the second drive is essential. similarly well explained. PRICE
Be prepared to spend some time simply The advantage system is its of a full £149
setting up the system. Three master discs integrated nature. Nominal postings can be PUBLISHER
are provided, and all six sides must be done automatically from the sales and MAP

Mapping MAP
H.I.F. Mm MP laa htt i 11.11.
IUiii atftu iflcttioii IkilUil sttct Urns, • in Cu.tMtr Iile

Fit. i Acceuat Hut*: Ustlm TnTcl tutti TO"

rwcMw Addrm Lint 1; Hit Old Ujcartat
bftffr Hm Ititriptitn Flu* Iriekfti Lint 2: Albert *wrr
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SUcl nit lilZKH'

The opening screen of Integrated Accounting shows The stock control program is comprehensive; a
the linked modules. Each module requires its own
A sample of expenses 'pages' in the nominal ledger.
massive 100K for the program itself with almost a ,

master disc, plus a disc for storing data, and with Up to 19 different accounts are set aside for each of
further30K needed for each 100 stock items on the
sales and purchases, 90 for expenses, 20 for fixed
various start-up and programs as well, all
utility data discs. Each item can have up to five different
assets, plus ledger and bank control accounts,
needing back-up copies to be made. You'd be well buying prices. A Job Costing module can also be
advised to invest in a capacious disc storage box!
Profit & Loss account; 250 ledger accounts in all.
added to the system.
The Journal is also kept in this part of the program.

*.U. I«af(t MP IMH htt : *J.lt.K

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The records of one employee, part-entered in the The purchase ledger contains a sheet for details of
payroll system. Subject to disc capacity, the each supplier, and code numbers which link with Details of a new customer are entered in the sales
program will cater for up to 9,999 employees, in 99 stock records. A cheque printing program is ledgor file, with space available to set the credit
different departments, being paid per week, per four provided, with stationery available from MAP. You limit. When posting sales invoices, and for cash
weeks or per calendar month. Six types of pay will need approximately 80K of memory per 100 received, the running balance is checked against the
deduction can be handled as well as ten different suppliers, and 175K for the sales/purchase program, credit limit for each customer. The angriness of any
additions to the basic pay. whether you are using one or both. reminder is up to you.

44
 FINANCE

the home or small business user,

Managing Money Manager
For

Money Manager is an introduction to

how Money Manager is menu driven. The start menu
computerised accounting But
allows you to create a new file of data or load an
useful is this budget buy? existing file from disc. The latter option automatic-
HJffiKKHam HHlBWBl data file
ally lists the files on the data disc. With a
Start new data file
>
loaded, the main menu offers the options illustrated.
fr» Konn tanner

Money Exit

Manager Sort entries into Jate order

Business data sample
Detailed statement Starting balance
A/c Description
MI statement
Hat West 2 ,'543. 49
1
2 Cash -57.67
SiMary statement (bs nonth)
For a small business, which doesn't require 3 Visa -142.32
4 VAT -743. 26
SuMary statement <»» account)
the complexity of a comprehensive but 5 Acme Sup. Co. O. 00

Account statistics
expensive accounts package, or for home CLASS CODES: Code Description
Bar chart
TRAHSFERS
use, Money Manager could be the ideal tO
dO DRAVIHGS
Md or edit codes
fO FIHAHCIAL
package. fl Chrge 4 lnt
Search lata
you like to f2 VAT
It has undoubted attractions if
10 IHCOHE
Add a ne» nonth
keep a tight reinon your personal accounts. Services
Save and exit
,

CAPITAL EQUIP
Should you wish to keep track of your bank Cars
Office equip
balance, credit cards and savings accounts, Kacblnery
OVERHEADS
as well as knowing how much you're Wages
The accounts and codes that are in use can be Rent
spending per month or per annum on rates, Services
listed on screen or printed as a memo, and all codes, Telephone
Postage
food, computer software, and so on, it will
descriptions and starting balances can be edited as Stationery
Travel
suit the purpose admirably. required. A warning is given not to edit any heading Misc.
which already has transactions entered, as these MARKETING
The small business user may also be Advertising
would be erased. Pr 1 nt i ng
interested in the package. But how small is PRODUCT I OH
Business dat Raw materials
small in the Money Manager? Well,
eyes of Packaging
Standing order.
the absolute maximum number of entries it

though the Day A/c Ref CI Description HI Balance

Standing orders are listed under a
will accept for one month is 100,
1 1 SO 2 Rent 360.00- heading for a fictitious 13th month
manual advises you that this is "subject to 1,860.00-
1 1 so d0 DRAV1HGS
1.680.00- in each year, on top of the twelve
? 1 so 12 Archer a Co.
the total memory capacity of the computer." 15 1 so 1 Vages 2,180.00-
the program caters for. The relevant
Unfortunately it doesn't go on to explain standing orders are then called up

Separate monthly summaries are available for VAT purposes, with

when you make each month's
exactlywhat that means. The manual's payments at
entries. This allows for
designed to cover all five computers in the exempt and zero-rated items listed together in one column, as
monthly, quarterly, and annual
shown. The amount of VAT due or reclaimable is worked out,
Amstrad CPC and PCW ranges. If you take it
though a quarterly VAT return option is not available. This leaves intervals, or, as happens with rates

that, month
with nigh-on 100 entries per the user to add together the relevant three months' figures.
bills, ten times a year.

each and every month, Money Manager will Bus la

A print-out of one account
run out of memory, you'll be safe. You could Dec-S6
for one month. In this case it's VAT statement for
always split your files across more than one a bank current account, though
Al 1 accounts
All classes
All narks
disc though. it could as easily be a credit Taxable entries included
card or even a ledger account. Zero-rated entries included
that you create can only
Each data file Exenpt entries included
Insertions can be made to add VAT rate: s ~ standard rate at 15 X
have a of nine Accounts
maximum - zero rated
omitted items, such as bank
headings, but between them these can charges, while any uncleared IfPDT VAT;
contain up to 50 sub-headings for types of CI Descrlptln it Exempt/ 0-rated Taxable Kate
debits and credits can be Day Ac Ref
- 360.00-
income or expenditure. 'postponed' to the following 2 Rent
15.97- s 2.40- 18.37-
o7 Travel
month to facilitate bank pi Raw materials s 28.76- 220.47-
The manual is the program's main _ 1,500.00-
reconciliations. 17.39- 6 2.61- 20.00-
drawback. One example of its poor Personal data sample
4.74-
16.94-
E 0.71-
2.54-
5.45-
19.48-
S
372.50-
organisation is that on page six you're told Detailed Statement for Har-86
323.91-
5.96-
S 48.59-
0.89- 6.85-
S
Account o. 1 (Current a/c>.
to select an option, but not told how to do
it
500.00-
All clae 298.43- S 44.77- 343.20-
All mark's 2.77- 21.22-
page eight. If you later need to change
18.45- B
till
c
66.54-
Ba lance
'

Day A/c Ref CI Description Debit 15.97- 2.39- 18.36-

s
the standard rate of VAT, the manual doesn't 39.60- 6 5.94- 45.54-
132.50- 13.2.50-
1 1 so hi Mortgage 41 415.06-
tell you how. You'll eventually stumble 1 1 nso h3 Gae 55.00- *Xo7.50-
210.96- '." 949. OS- 142.36- 3,933.04-
5 1 115 12 Petrol 23.46-
253.56-
across it in one of the menus. 8 1 116 11 Food 42.60-
58.50- 312 Y6-
9 117 mO Alison YAT Total
320.45- apt/O-rated Taxable Rate
1

It's a shame about the poor instructions 10

14
1 118 MS
to
MISCELLAI.
iron 6 649.81
1 810.43 B 121.57 932. 00
66.09- 583.72
because the program itself is very good 15 1 119 11 Food
50.00- 533.72 156.52 s 23.48 180.0"
15 1 14 Cash (card)
to S\ •" 100.00- 433.72
within its limits. You have to get in there and 18 1 127 to
Hlectrlcity 90.18- 343.54
18 1 126 h6
19
things out for yourself, but at least
'

find
nees data sample
you'll familiarise yourself with what's going
Limited statistics can
Account balance statistics for J an- 86 to Dec- 86
on. In its favour, Connect Systems does be prepared, showing the Account Bo. 4 <VAT>

offer a free helpline, so if you've coped with number of monthly

transactions, total debits
manual accounts, you should have no major
and credits, cash flow, and H- 935,35- 1S6 62- 1200 83- 1710,03- 505,27- 917,17-1339,22- 3*2,94- 779.21- 7*3.26-
713.2*- 31*. IS- 6*5.
problems. so on. Here you can see the
Stirling
3K.lt- S65.14- 935.35- ISt,62- 120083- 1710 03- 505,27- 917.47- 1339,22- 3*2.9*- 771.21- 119*. 27- 1194,27-
Ending
7401- 509.20- 120J. 7* 412.20- *2I.7S- 995.28 4*. 27- 41*. 06- 451.01-
" ttUO 3*8.98- 270.21- 47B.73
VAT account movements for Ctiingt

FACTS BOX U- 0,00 505,27- 917,17- 0,00 3*2,9*- 779,21-

3K.K- 15*62-1200 83-
a year, but you may wish HimiN 665, 0,00
UO0B3- 1710 03- 1710.03- 917. 47- 1339.22- 1339,22- 779.21-1194,27- 1710.03-
NiDiiM 743.26- 665. 14- 935.35- 935.35-
1339,22 436.27 415.0* 1710,03
TITLE to summarise your Diffmnc* 713.2* 318,98 270.21 935.35 71U1 509,20 1710.03 »12.» 421.7*

Money Manager household expenditure, Avtrige 237.21- 339.13- 65*. 13- 374,1*- 431.11- 120O.B3- 9S2.I7- 491.53- 917,47- 5*8.90- 342,94- 765,37- 606,50-

business expenses or any 935,3* 1710 03 133'. 22 ,727 8*

'

PRICE Tolil in 713,26

421,75 342,94 436.27 415,06 5178.97
similar field. The average 714,2! 509. 20 505,27 112,20
Total wt 316,1* 318,56 270,21 IS*. 62

£29.95 451.01-
balance is the true average, Uih Mm 127.10 348.94- 270.21- 178.73 7*4 21- 509 20-1204,7* 112.20- 424 .75- 996.2* 436,27- 415.06-

917.17- 1339,22- 342,9*- 779,21- 1194,27- 1194.27-

505,27-
PUBLISHER Cuwlitin C/F 316,16- 665,11- 93S.3S- tSt,62 12WU3- 1710,03-
worked out on a time basis.
Advance
45

1
 FINANCE
Whatever your business, there's a piece of software to ease the day-to-day running. independently of the other units.

From a full financial package to a single program that's dedicated to your profession, The three ledgers make up a
consistent and powerful system,
you'll find something to lighten the work load.
with the nominal ledger
providing a monitor of the

Minding your business businesss cash flow.

The Sage Popular Accounts
package is easy to use and uses
a single program disc philosophy,
with a second disc for data. It's

as wellsuited to cash traders as

it is to credit businesses.
Sales, purchase and nominal
ledgers are provided, with full

reporting facilities. Data posting

nominal ledgers. The advantage tax, SSP and Nl laws. P35
Simplex is that each entry needs to be documents can be printed for
is automatic and a full audit trail

is provided. The nominal ledger

made only once, and the system each department and P60 forms
simplicity handles all postings. are printed on an annual basis.
offers VAT return analysis, and
bank/VAT and cash
you use Vyners' popular It was also designed with the SANDPIPER ACCOUNTS
If
reconciliations. The printed
Simplex D Cashbook, 8256 in mind, and is quite happy Sandpiper
you'll be reports include sales, purchase
to run on just one disc. £129.95/149.95 (single/dual
interested to know that there's a It
and nominal ledger cards, plus a
includes text for forms, so that drive)
program that follows its style, profit and loss account report
though it can be used just as you can print out on blank SANDPIPER PAYROLL
and a balance sheet.
well with any accounting paper, so avoiding the cost of Sandpiper
Sage also produces an
system. special stationery, and it can £69.95/79.95 (single/dual
invoicing program for
Information is recorded on a handle label printing. Full drive)
businesses which have a special
day-by-day basis, with instructions appear on screen, SANDPIPER COMBO PACK
need for such a product. It can
occasional more complex so it should keep the number of Sandpiper
be used as a stand alone
times you have to refer to the £179.95/199.95 (single/dual
additions, such as VAT. The program, or with Popular
information produced by the manuals to a minimum. drive)
Accounts. The Popular Accounts
program accurate and ready to
The nominal ledger provides
is

enter into your ledgers. management reports, with Complete Plus package includes invoicing
and stock control. Finally there's
A calculations, for six areas. The
useful feature of the
cash book provides a true
accounting a Popular Payroll package,
program for the small trader is which is designed with the
that cash and bank balances are picture of the business's Camsoft's Integrated System is occasional user from the small
displayed at times and
financial status. The sales and available in several versions,
all company in mind. It's a
instantly updated, helping
purchase ledgers work closely and its compact size makes
you it
comprehensive program that
keep a record of your financial together and along with the suitable for the 8256. It's a allows you to mix hourly, weekly
situations. A fuller analysis daybook, invoice and credit note versatile package which
is still and monthly pay and it can
also available, however, system and VAT facility, which manages to be friendly, offering handle up to eight pay
including a profit and loss allows eight categories, make detailed help at the press of a adjustments.
this a comprehensive stand- key. Input and editing make
report. PAYROLL
VAT is catered for on alone system. great use of the cursor arrows, STOCK CONTROL
schemes A to F plus Pharmacy The Sandpiper Payroll to speed your way around the INVOICING
Scheme B, and other schemes package also has a single disc screens. SALES LEDGER
can be made available. The approach. Once again it is easy The units include sales, PURCHASE LEDGER
to use, printing out on blank purchase and nominal ledgers,
output from this section NOMINAL LEDGER
includes the VAT form box paper. It can cope with cash, plus invoicing and stock control. Camsoft
numbers, making the cheques and giro payment and Invoicing includes a daybook £49.95 each
caters for overtime and pension and profit analysis, and you
completion of the paperwork if
SALES/PURCHASE/NOMINAL
much calculations as well as current want, can be used
simpler. it
LEDGERS
If you want to know more Option 6 : OPINING BALANCE ENTRIES
Camsoft
about the Micro Simplex system, £99.95
BATCH TOTAL ;

a 20 minute video is available on STOCK CONTROL/INVOICING/

free loan from the company. N/C ACCOUNT NAME IEEIT CREDIT
It's SALES LEDGER
a clear and helpful Camsoft
demonstration of how easy to £99.95
Option ; 4 Amend Usout of Accounts Section : PROFIT S LOSS ACCOUNT
use this product is. SALES/PURCHASE/NOMINAL
MICRO SIMPLEX CAIEGQRV HEADING LOU I HIGH
LEDGERS/INVOICING/STOCK
£99.95 CONTROL
1
Sandhurst Business Systems 2 Camsoft
3
£149.95
Paying the I
6
POPULAR ACCOUNTS
Sage
Sandpiper Press | 99.99

SIAS stands for Simplified

ie POPULAR ACCOUNTS PLUS
u
Integrated Accounting System, 12 Sage
£149 99
which is how Sandpiper I
IS POPULAR INVOICING
describes its integrated system.
Which entry is to he altered Q~ POPULAR PAYROLL
It allows speedy access of sales,
Sage
purchase, cashbooks and Sage Papular Accounts' screens are clear and easy to use.
£69.99

46
 '.8 HIGH STREET 4 SUN
5 THE TIMES
3 TELEGRAPH FINANCE
1 CAR MONTHLY
software requires an 8512 or
THE GEORGE HOTEI 3 SUN equivalent, and versions are
3 THE TIMES
1 TELEGRAPH available for motor, motor cycle

1 LOWER ROAD 1 SUN and caravan dealers. Stock

control, vehicle pricing,
149, MANEY HILL ROAD 1 TELEGRAPH
quotations for both cash and
160, MANEY HILL ROAD 1 SUB
If your business is medium finance, and sales and possible
sized, or you expect to expand in DEBTORS 100 - 109 18/06/86 sales can be filed. The result of
NO NAME A/C PER 3 PER 2 PER 1 CURRENT TOTAL WEEKLY
the near future, Compact's
.

this accurate report on business

100 SANDY MARCHANT 4.04 1.44 9.52 3.44 should be better planning.
comprehensive accounting 0.42 0.30 0.72 0.34
101 JOHN SMITH
system, based on its highly 102 BARCLAYS BANK 35.80 12.99 84.59 23.29 Once the car's on the road it

103 FRED WENDLE 12.88 12.88 12.20'

praised PC original, has many 104 SID JAMES 2.45 2.45 2.00 10.88 1.66 needs petrol, and Gemini's
105 MR. D. MUNROE 4.24 4.36 2.88 15.93 2.92
strengths. 5.30
Garage Management provides
106 Will Scarlet 2.16 1.92 1.22 1 .44
Though the various elements support for the forecourt. At its

can be bought separately, a big core the software suite offers

saving can be made with the sales and purchase ledgers, VAT
complete Accounts package. All Example of Debtors List analysis, creditors and debtors
output from these programs can Supernews produces lists for rounds. . . and warns you of outstanding debts. reports, credit card analysis, a

be used with many major word program price per annum, while and a customer quote are
lists banking report and cashflow
processors and spreadsheets. training costs £50 a half day, on produced. There is also a analysis via a spreadsheet.
For the smaller business that a one to one basis. sealed-unit pricing program and Modules include a petrol

doesn't require full ledger DAYBOOK a window labelling utility. subsidies report, state-of-the-
accounting, the Daybook should Compact A more general Job Coster is company analysis, payroll and
suffice. It allows up to 32,000 £49.45 available from Quest and it can sick pay packages.
accounts and transactions in PURCHASE LEDGER help any self-employed plumber, Videofile handles the stock

sales and purchase daybooks. It NOMINAL LEDGER electrician, joiner or small and out-going and incoming
also includes a nominal ledger SALES LEDGER contractor keep a record of tapes and membership of video
for financial reports, and caters SALES INVOICING material costs, wages and libraries. The 8512 version can
for 10 VAT rates. STOCK CONTROL receipts. Each job in progress is hold over 9,300 entries.
The next four programs make Compact kept as a separate file for all Opticians could find the Patient
up the Accounts package. The £69.99 each transactions, and suppliers are Recall package from John
Purchase Ledger includes batch PAYROLL listed separately for materials, Beavan Associates a help with
processing for all types of Compact employees and subcontractors. appointments. It provides label
transactions, including pre- £99.99 The amount of paperwork for printing and mailmerge.
payments. It caters for VAT COMPACT ACCOUNTS newsagents is phenomenal, but Finally, whatever your
analysis and reporting for Compact Supernews puts most of it onto business, Mint Fixed Assets lets

32,000 suppliers and £199.99 your computer. The customers you keep track of all your assets
transactions. The Nominal SUPPORT AND TRAINING list allows for holiday stoppages and their depreciation. A full
Ledger is equally powerful, Rowtall Computing Ltd and special stops on the TV audit trail of every transaction is

maintaining double entry book £N/A magazines, while a separate provided.

keeping standards. It reports to publications file can cope with QUAFF WINDOW REPLACEMENT
trial balance and allows full Tailored to the 200 dailies, 5 evenings and 195 SYSTEM
journal posting. monthlies. Debtors and round CJ Systems
The Sales Ledger is best used trade lists can both be produced. £287.50
with the Invoicing package. The Though a general accounting Another job with heavy stock JOB COSTER
former maintains full details of package cope with most
will problems is that of the landlord. Quest
customers, and lets you set situations, you could find that Bar Stock Control is suitable for £99.95
credit limits while Sales there's a program designed every type of licensed premises SUPERNEWS
Invoicing can be used as a specifically for your trade or and lets you enter your own Bubble Bus
dedicated typewriter, or it can profession. stock descriptions, case sizes, £218.50
produce product profitability As well as saving you the yields, cost and selling prices. BAR STOCK CONTROL
reports, to help analysis of trouble of adapting an off-the- Purchases and closing stock are Quest
successful lines. shelf system, it could offer quickly entered and provision is £99 95
If you need a Payroll package, facilities unavailable elsewhere. made for returns, allowances for FARMING SOFTWARE
Compact's incorporates the Most of these packages credit/loans, spillages and ANC Agricultural Software
latest SSP and Nl requirements combine elements of databases overheads. £N/A
and can calculate hourly, weekly and financial software, to help Taking Joyce down on the Sum-It Computer Systems
or monthly pay. It can cope with you keep a close eye on what's farm is now an option thanks to £N/A
up to 18 allowances or happening. Many of them are two companies. ANC Agricul- MAXI-MISER MOTOR TRADE
deductions. The Stock Control also designed with the computer tural Software produces Midas Systems
program eases this worry by novice in mind. But because of programs for farmers with cattle £460
providing instant access to stock their specialised nature, you can or chickens. For example, its GARAGE MANAGEMENT
situations, including re-order end up paying as much as the Egg Monitor copes with income Gemini
levels and prior allocations to PCW — or more! and grading, feed costs, £499
customers. The QUAFF System is consumption and mortality. VIDEOFILE
Compact is well supported, intended for replacement Sum-It produces its Farm SP Electronics

and stationery packs specifically window companies, providing Accounts as a main module, £79.95
designed for the programs are accurately costed quotations with additional modules to cover OPTICIANS PATIENT RECALL
readily available. Readers in the and workshop cutting lists for Dairy and Beef Herds, Pig and John Beavan Associates
Midlands area can also obtain PVC or aluminium fabricators. Arable Management. £99.95
support and training from You have to enter a plan and Meanwhile the motor trade MINT FIXED ASSETS
distributors Rowtall. Telephone from that full details of labour can get their accounts on the John Beavan Associates
support is 1272 per cent of the and material costs, plus cutting road with Midas Systems. The £99.95

47

,
 FINANCE

Taking account of Accounts Contacts

11
ADVANCE
% ^ % % % % \ % \\ \ \
ANC Agricultural Gemini Marketing Ltd
Money Manager 29.95 • Software Gemini House
CAMSOFT 13The Butts Concorde Road i
1
Integrated System 99.95 • • • Aynho, Nr Banbury Dinan Way Trading
modules Oxon Estate Exmouth
Individual
£49.95 each. 0X17 3AN Devon EX84RS \
0869-810294 0395-265165
Integrated System 99.95 • • •
Integrated System 149.95 • • • • •
Advance Software MAP Computer
Promotions Ltd Systems Ltd
Payroll 49.95 •
Unitl 105-107 Windsor Road
COLLEEN
Payroll 29.95 •
Harolds Close
The Pinnacle
Oldham, Greater S
Manchester
COMPACT Harlow 0L81RP
Pi
Accounts 199.99 • • • • Essex 061-624 5662
re
Individual modules CM19 5TH Midas Systems Ltd
Pi
£69.99 each. 0279-412441 Silvester House
b\
Daybook 49.45 • John Beavan Silvester Road
Payroll 99.99 • Associates Cowplain P
Stock control 69.99 • 63 York Road Hampshire P08 8TD
P
Montpelier 0705-266941
CORNIX P
Bristol Quest Business
Simple Accounts 34.95 • BS6 5QD fa
Software
CJF LOWE 0272-540024 Berryhead Road P
Amsac Personal Accounts 14.95 • Bubble Bus Software Brixham F

MAP 87 High Street Devon TQ5 9AA f

Integrated Accounting 149.00 • • • • • Tonbridge 08045-6566

Individual modules KentTN91RX Rowtall Computing Ltd
£49 each. 0732-355962 Belsize House

Payroll 49.00 • CJ Systems (Software lACald more Road

QUEST
Support) Ltd Walsall WS1 3LX
38 Hodder Drive 0922-615411
Pocket Cashtrader 99.95 •
Perivale SP Electronics
Shoebox 149.95 •
MiddxUB68LL 48 Linby Road
Time Recorder 69.95 • • 01-998 9257 \
Hucknall, Nottingham
Amstrad Business 99.00 • • • • Camsoft 0602-640377
Control Suite
Cambrian Software Sagesoft pic
Purchase Ledger 33.00 • • Works NEI House
Ltd
Nominal Ledger 33.00 • • Unit 2, Maenofferen Regent Centre
Quest Business 99.00 • • • • Blaneau Ffestiniog Gosforth
Control Suite Gwynedd Newcastle Upon Tyne
Purchase Ledger 33.00 • • 0766-831878 NE3 3DS
Nominal Ledger 33.00 • • Colleen Ltd 091-2847077
File Expander D 49.95 • • Colleen House Sandhurst Business
Wordlink2) 49.95 • • 18 Bishop Street Systems
Invoice Spooler • • Penygraig Cheshire House
3) 29.95
Tonypandy Castle Street
SAGE
Mid Glamorgan Macclesfield SK11 6AF
Popular Accounts 99.99 • • •
CF401PQ 0625-615375/615000
Popular Accounts Plus 149.99 • • • • •
0443-435709/434846 Sandpiper Software
Popular Invoicing 69.99 • Compact Software Ltd 24 Abbot Street
Popular Payroll 69.99 • 1 Paper Mews Wrexham \
SANDHURST 330 High Street Clwyd LL11 1TA \
Micro Simplex 99.95 • Dorking 0978-358832
i
SANDPIPER Surrey RH 14 1QX Saxon Computing
1\
0306-887373 3 St Catherine's Drive
Comix Software Ltd Leconfield, Beverley
Spirella Building HumbersideHU17 7NT
Payroll (Single drive) 69.95 •
Bridge Road 0401-50697
(Double drive) 79.95 • •
Letchworth Sum-it Computer

(Double drive) 199.95 •••••• • •

Herts SG6 4ET
0462-682989
Systems
Hillcroft
SAXON CJF Lowe Chinnor Road
—
Cashbook Accounts 29.95 • 2 Christ Church Square Bledlow Ridge
1 Expands ABCS, QBCS, Shoebox or Time Recorder. 2 Transfers ABCS or QBCS details to WordStar. Accrington High Wycombe, Bucks
3ForusewithABCSorQBCS. Lancashire BB5 2NA 0240-27238

48
WHAT I
SANDPIPER IS..
A professional, well-established company
producing software designed to meet the commercial
requirements of businesses, large and small.
Produced to cater for the administrative needs of a
busy office, the software is well thought out,
practical and simple to use.
All products are available to run on IBM
PC/compatible machines including the Amstrad
PC 1512, and the Amstrad PCW Series. Tested
in the market place, Sandpiper Software has
proved, by demand, to be one of the most
popular software ranges available, backed by
full customer telephone support if required.

SANDPIPER IS..
File Manager —
a comprehensive, fully relational, interactive and
programmable multifile package designed to cater for individual business
needs, and yet it is so simple to use. Starting from simple systems and then
expanding upwards, files can be selected, calculations made, information
returned to any file, information updated and reports produced. No other
database package offers so much for so little.

SANDPIPER IS..
Accounts —
a simplified integrated accounting system for which each
transaction need only to be entered once as all relevant ledger postings happen
automatically. Sandpiper Accounts produces personalized invoices, statements and
remittances. Designed for inexperienced users, this package has a large file capacity
for Sales, Purchase, Nominal ledger, cashbook, daybook, VAT returns and labels.

SANDPIPER IS..
Payroll — a simplified integrated payroll system designed to be fully compliant
with all Tax/National Insurance guidelines. The system is SSP compatible, caters
for additions and deductions, bonus and overtime rates, pension schemes and
holiday pay.

Sandpiper Software Products

Sandpiper File Manager £99.95 inc VAT

Sandpiper Accounts £149.95 inc VAT
Sandpiper Payroll £79.95 inc VAT
Sandpiper Combination Pack
Accounts &. Payroll £199.95 inc VAT
I enclose a cheque made payable to Sandpiper Software Ltd

SANDPIPER SOFTWARE LTD 24 ABBOT ST. WREXHAM CLWYD LL11 1TA TELEPHONE (0978) 358832
 THE GREAT Now the Amstrad
ST. BERNARD is in business.
SOFTWARE BEFORE
PRESENTS
A superb word processor is often let down
"WHEELER DEALER"
THE BUSINESS STRATEGY GAME by the printer, but now ...
Do you fancy running your own secondhand car
showrooms, paying yourself a good salary and opening AFTER
when you like? The ATT printer does the
YOU DO? business for less than £500
But how much can you squeeze out of the bank
manager? Will your advertising budget bring you ADD THE ATT PRINTER.
enough customers? Can you spot the bargains at the
local car auction? Have you the nerve to clock a banger
IT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE
or bodge up a wreck? Would you know a prospective TO THE AMSTRAD.
client from a time waster? Is there enough in the bank You can see the difference: word perfect, letter
to pay the V.A.T. demand? quality, daisy wheel printing.
These are just some of the problems awaiting you in...
In business, nothing less will do. So we've added
new new interface and the new ATT printer to
software, a
"WHEELER DEALER" the best-selling Amstrad PCW
8256 to create a first-class
PCW8256&PCW8512 business-like word processing package for less than <£ 1000.

£14.95 You can buy the complete package, or add the ATT
to your existing system. Either way, with the ATT, the
inc. V.A.T. +p&p
Amstrad's in business.
IN STOCK NOW!
AND READY FOR IMMEDIATE DESPATCH! See the difference at your nearest branch of Office International
Send your orders with cheque or if Northern Ireland, Noble Computers 0247 457562 - or contact
or postal order payable to:
ATT Systems on 0926 55914 for the facts
AUTOMATA U.K. LTD
P.O. BOX 78, SOUTHSEA, HAMPSHIRE P04 9SL
TRADE ENQUIRIES WELCOMED
Add the difference.
THE GREAT ST. BERNARD SOFTWARE

The Enterprise range of BABT approved modems offers

you V21(300 BAUD), V23(1200/75) and for Enterprise 2,
V22 (that's right 1200 BAUD FULL DUPLEX).
We can offer them complete with an extensive range
of top class software to support the auto dial/auto answer
functions, viewdata etc. all at incredibly low prices.
In the words of Micronet 800 "As far as value for money is

concerned, Enterprise 1 and 2 from Kirk Automation are it'.'

.

PRICES
/avi?***"""'
Enterprise 1 - £99.95 + vat (£1 4.95) The So
R,SE
Enterprise 2 -£249.95 + VAT (£287.45) {^Alternative

Comms Packs (including Enterprise 1, Viewdata/Terminal

Software, Interface, Leads, Instructions etc).

There is Just plug in and GO!

PCW8256/8512 £199.95 (+VATand postage)
PC 1512 (all versions) £199.95 (+VATand postage)
alternative CPC 464/664/6128 £129.95 (+VATand postage)

Electronic Mail

All cheques etc. payable to Kirk Aiifrnmatinn Limited

For Telex, on-line games, Prestel, Telecom Gold, Easylink,
home banking, cheap holidays etc. Bridge Works, St. Whites Road, Cinderford, Glos. GL143HB
Telephone: 0594 22084 Access, Visa and Amex
2
 COMMUNICATIONS

One of the most exciting aspects of business computing is the area of communications. Suddenly your PCW
becomes a gateway to a wide variety of services. And all it takes is a modem, a phone line and a little software. . .

The world beyond your PCW

^n

Connecting a micro to the telephone lines in, and pay by credit card), information get it all from various databases.
has never been easier. You just need a and bulletin boards. On these you
libraries, Most databases allow for sophisticated

modem (short for modulator/demodulator) can contact other computer users which search and retrieval. If you input key words
to connect the computer to a telephone could be useful if you need advice on — 'oil', 'gold', 'Russia', for example you —
socket and some driving software to make it something in a hurry. could obtain all the stories on oil and gold
understand the signals it will receive. Of course, you can access the discoveries in, or sales to, or by, Russia.

independent, amateur bulletin boards too, If you think you will use online
But before you get carried away with the if

joys of technology, stop and think. What do you wish. These are often of a very high communications a lot, a modem could well

you want from electronic communications? standard, although they won't have the be a valuable asset for your business. But
Will you be using electronic mail instead of resources of the commercial operations. remember that, whatever you plan to use
traditional postal methods? Are you going to Finally, you can make use of commercial comms for, there may be hidden costs.
be transmitting large amounts of data over databases. Basically, a database is a Don't forget your telephone bill, or the

the telephone lines? Do you plan on collection of information stored on a large charge made by the information services.

accessing services such as Micronet? Do computer. It can be just about anything: Some database services can cost £70
of the

you plan on using on-line database information on stock and share prices or an hour or more, and if you're only going to
services? foreign exchange rates going back for a use them for one or two enquiries, they may
Electronic mail isone of the most year; patent information; chemical not be cost effective. Unless you plan on

obvious attractions of communications. You abstracts; the full text of articles from news using them a fair amount, it could prove
can send memos, letters, even reports, to papers and magazines around the cheaper to choose more traditional
any other E-Mail user. It is many times world. . . the choice is almost endless. methods.
quicker than conventional mail services, There are literally thousands of databases However, if you plan your communica-
and you can send the same form letter to a available internationally. tions wisely and don't get carried away with
large number of people simultaneously. The For example,you run a small company
if such an exciting part of the new technology,
time of day shouldn't matter, either. Not which exports a product, you may need you will be able to benefit from the biggest
everyone you want to communicate with via information on foreign laws, tax, transport revolution in the exchange of information

electronic mail will be capable of receiving and the size of overseas markets. You can since the invention of the printing press.
it, but you'd be surprised how many are.
Incidentally, if you have a modem you
can also use electronic telexing — which The jargon of Communications
means you can send and receive telexes and never more dense than
Computing has a reputation for jargon, it's in
without all the bother of having an old
the field of communications.Here's brief round up of some of the more
fashioned telex machine.
If your company has offices in different common terms.
locations, or if you do a lot of work from
home, transmitting data over the telephone
lines could be well worth while. You'll need
two or more micros, each equipped with a
modem, of course. ASCII American Standard Code for Hacker Hackers use their deductive and
The advantages of sending information Information Interchange All printable programming skills to enter parts of
in this fashion are basically speed and characters are given a value in systems or other on-line computer
convenience. You can transmit the hexadecimal between 20 and 126. services. Despite certain well publicised
equivalent of a bulky sales report in a very Baud Data transfer, measured in bits per cases, security is not a major problem at
short time, and you can work away from the second. the moment, though all users should be
office, using the system at any time of the Bulletin Board Like a board on which you careful to guard their passwords.
day or night, making use of cheap phone pin notices, a bulletin board lets you Log On To access a communications
rates. display messages. Many are privately run system.
While certain business services are by enthusiasts. Privilege Not every user will be allowed
extremely costly, there are a number geared Columns How many on-screen columns into every area of a comms system.
towards the individual rather than the large can be used for text or block graphics. Access may be limited for a number of

company. Micronet, BT Gold and similar Standards are 80, or 40 on home reasons.
concerns offer the advantages of electronic computers. Smart Used of a modem, it means that it
mail plus a whole lot more. Carrier A tone produced by the modem to can provide certain useful facilities that a
For a very reasonable subscription and inform the receiving computer that data is manual one wouldn't.
low hourly charge, providing you avoid the being transferred. Sysop A SYStems OPerator, responsible
peak times, you can access online Download To save information or a for running a system.
magazines, news services, teleshopping program from a board into your computer.
(make your selection on your screen, type it

1 51
COMMUNICATIONS
Even when you've made all the connections between modem, micro and phone socket, you need software to tell

your PCW what to do . . and it can make for trouble-free communications.

Chatting with Chit-Chat

Talking Chit-Chat is generally reckoned one to access Viewdata have no trouble creating a
Royce of
to be the Rolls services, and Combo, which working copy, though 8256
Amstrad communications contains all the facilities on one owners have to swap discs
softly software. It's easy to use and disc. This is the version rather a lot. You are then asked
provides a host of labour saving reviewed here. It's also to enter your name and add-
While Chit-Chat is almost facilities, but you pay for the available complete with a basic ress, which not only person-
certainly the friendliest piece of power. modem, the Pace Nightingale. alises your copy but also
communications software Chit-Chat comes in three Providing you follow the discourages illegal duplication.
available, there are alternatives, versions, one to handle E-Mail, instructions carefully, you'll
which cater for different needs.
14:M:83C One of Chit-Chat's most appealing features is its use of
Comm+, bundled with several
function keys tied to menus, which appear at the
modems, is a comprehensive bottom of the screen. Certain functions remain
system, though it requires a lot constant, such as Help on [fB], and ffl] is always the
of work before you can actually way out of a situation. The opening screen is the route
to all of the program's facilities. Note the clock at the
use it. Rather than putting you
Chitchat top right hand corner of the screen. This lets you send
directly in command, it's a
TelecOMunications messages even when you're away from the keyboard,
communications program Softiurt
provided you set it at the start of a session. But
generator. It's equally suited to remember to leave your PCW on.

modem-linked
direct or
communications.
NewComm C-STAM is aimed
'•"MUM" Phone directory H:H:I7C

at inter-computer links, letting Select function by pressing keg <F1

you send files between PCWs or

to IBM PCs and compatibles.
With room for 24 entries in its directory, Chit-Chat
Also from NewComm, JtmSK TELECOM MDIOPKDK
should be able to cope with all of your comms •1 $31 3»76
DataMail is a low price Viewdata numbers. you have a manual modem you'll still have
If CBBS LOfDOK •1 399 2136
ens SH 0392 S311S
and E-Mail package. Its E-Mail number yourself, but auto-dial hardware
to dial the camps inc. neucasilf, »»7 543S55
even takes over that stage of logging on. You just
1 (79 1386
facilities support One-to-One EhSKLMK 30* BAUD
Si iff 1I3_
select the system required with the cursor bar, then
and Telecom Gold, among Local Easy link 3M nunber
press [141, Connect to Host, and away you go. EASYLIIOC LOCAL 18W7S BAUD Local lasvhnk 12M/75 nwber
others, and it can store Prestel
frames. til. la Edit directory entry
win
•SI 456 41S7

Finally, don't forget the public

Dost nane
mm •1 731 0971
«1 731 139!

domain software, available from Phone

libraries, such as the one run by

Chit-Chat provides more than auto-dialling. Edit the
the CP/M Users Group. Of these,
number and Password, and
directory to contain your ID
Modem 7 is held in high regard, itwill communicate this information to the host
and though it lacks many of the computer without you having to lift a finger. But a
flashier features, such as an word of warning; guard your Chit-Chat disc carefully,
or you could find unauthorised users accessing
auto dial directory, it can do the
services at your expense.
job for the price of a disc. Auto logon
Sonnection text Editor Insert
uto logon
Comm+ tUtO PMSHO! File AJtSTIA. Line=S
£86.25
& Co
Margolis tear AUn
Newcomm C-Stam/Datamail Have just bought a node* - unit a uonderful SJevice!

£44.00/£39.95 Typing a message while actually on-line is time

in I'd also using tie Sage Chit-Chit sottaare, yhich certain!) "a*" life a lot
easier. I can prepare letters for e-nail uith its text editor...
Newstar consuming, costly and prone to error. Use the Text

Modem 7 Editor to create your message before you even dial up

an E-Mail service. The editing facilities are rather
CP/M Users Group
basic, and it doesn't feature word wrap, so you have to
end each line with Return, but it will easily do for short
Contacts files. Otherwise you can use a word processor with

ASCII output. The equivalent facility for reading files

CP/M Users Group (UK) gives you the chance to store frames, to study at your
72 Mill Road
Hawley, Dartford, Kent
•1.11 Main screen

Margolis & Co la!

The Task facility allows you to use Chit-Chat to send a

105 Foundling Court
file, prepared with the editor, when you are away from
Marchmont Street the terminal. This is useful if you want to send a batch
London WC1N1 AN of E-Mail when phone charges are cheap. You can also
01-2783032 Chitchat
save frames this way. Note the Help message at the
bottom of the screen, called up with [f8].
NewStar Software Ltd Telecomunications

200 North Service Road SofUare

FACTS BOX
Brentwood, Essex CM14 4SG TITLE
0277-220573 Chit-Chat E-Mail/Viewdata/Combo/
Copgright (C) 19«6
Sagesoft PLC Communications Pack
NEI House PRICE
Select function bg pressing keg (H
Regent Centre, Gosforth £69.99/£69.99/£99.99/E199.99
Create task - you are being pronpted to enter the nine of
PUBLISHER
Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3DS the task uhich gou uant to create. This can consist of up
to eight letters and/or digits, uhich My be preceded by a
Fl

drive specifier, e.g. A; or B:. CHITCHAT uill append an Sage

091-2847077

52
 COMMUNICATIONS
You need a modem for almost every type of computer communication, few use acoustic coupling, so that the
telephone handset sits in two rubber cups,
but be prepared to pay anything from £100 to over £700, depending on the
most plug directly into a phone socket.
features you require.
The acoustic variety can be used with old
fashioned phones that are wired into a

Making sense of modems junction box, but this

relevance if

from your office a

you'll
is

be using your
lot.
really only of
PCW
Their great failing
away
is

The only time that you can link two this low level of communication still has its that they're susceptible to extraneous noise,

computers directly is when they are of the uses, you are constantly exchanging
if which corrupts the data as it's transmitted
same type and within very close range
— information between two PCWs. However as a series of high-pitched tones.
the same room or adjacent offices. Even communication really comes into its own We've considered interfaces in our
then you'll need an RS232 serial interface when you start to use the telephone lines to Hardware section, so here we'll take a look
and cables, as well as software to control access other computers, be they micros or at the modems themselves, along with the
the transmissions and reception. mainframes. features that can make them cost almost
Though it may not sound very ambitious, Forthis you'll need a modem, and though a twice the price of the micro itself.

Choosing a •5?

modem £ £> /$>

The more you pay for a modem, ^^ ^ <s- <*
the more you get. These are the
CM144EE 0277-230222
AMSTRAD PO Box 462, Brentwood, Essex
major features to look out for . .

Amstrad £99.95 V21 V23; • Badged Pace Nightingale, but includes

software. Free first quarter Micronet sub.
Protocols: Successful communications
KDS 15 Hill Street, Hunstanton, Norfolk PE36 5BS 34853-2076
depend on certain standards, which are
indicated by a V number. The main Chatterbox +VAT V21;V23 • • • Single unit; includes RS232 and
variable is the rates of data transfer, £150 Centronics interfaces.
measured in characters per second, or
systems use the same MIRACLE TECHNOLOGY St Peters Street, Ipswich IP1 1XE 0473-216141
bauds. Not all

rates.

baud,
V21
full
is 300 baud; V22 is 1200
duplex; V22bis is 2400 baud;
WS2000 £125 V21;V23 • Basic home model.
+VAT
V23 is 1200/75 baud. Which rates you
require depends on which services you WS3000 £295 V21;V23 # # # # # Hayes compatible; full feature, including
intend to access, but on the whole V21, V21/V23 +VAT -
audio monitor, etc.
used by most electronic mail
which
services
is

and V23, used by Prestel, will

WS3000 £495 V21;V23; • • • • •
be enough. However, if you wish to V22 +VAT V22
access services in the
also be useful.
USA, V22 can
The V standard also
WS3000 £650 V21; V23; • • • • •
refers to the tones used for V22bis +VAT V22; V22bis
transmission.
Auto Dial: This lets you send a number
WS4000 £150 V21; V23 • • • • • Hayes compatible
+VAT
from the computer and dials it

automatically. If it isn't connected WS4000 £400 V21 V23; ; • • • • •

within a specified time it will then ring V22bis +VAT V22
can save a time.
off again.
Modems which
It lot of

include external WS400 £555 V21; V23; • • • • •

speaker can use this feature to provide V22bis +VAT V22; V22bis
auto-dialling ofnormal phone calls.
MODEM HOUSE 70 Longbrook Street, Exeter, Devon EX4 6AP 03 92-2133 55
Auto Answer: The modem detects
incoming.calls and answers them Voyager 11 £99.95 V21;V23; Comm+ software included; reverse
without the need for an operator. +VAT 1200/1200 Prestel to host comms.
Auto Baud Select: The modem is able to
half duplex
detect thebaud rate when it is
transmitting and receiving, and PACE Juniper View, Allerton Road, Bradford BD15 7AG 0274-488211
switches to that rate automatically. Sage Chit-Chat
Nightingale £99 V21;V23 Available bundled with
However it won't be able to switch to a
doesn't feature.
+VAT Combo.
rate that it

A directory to store
Directory:
commonly used numbers, passwords,
Series IV £265 V21 V23 ; • • • • • Fully Hayes compatible; timer; monitor;
2123 +VAT carrier strength and detect line.
and so on.
BABT Approval: Any equipment which
telephone
is Series IV £265 V21 V23 ; • • • • •
directly connected to the
2123 +VAT
system must carry British Telecom's
approval. Unluckily there has been a Series IV 22 £479 V21;V23; • • • • •
backlog of products awaiting the green +VAT V22
which means that
seal,

illegal to use them.

it is technically
Series Iv 22b £619 V21; V23; • • • • •
Hayes Compatibility: Hayes Protocol is +VAT V22bis
named after an American modem, and 2PW
ROBERT EDWARDS 236 North Road, Hertford SG14 0992-54118
indicates a fully automated product, so
that all controls can be sent from the Commtel-X £199 V21;V23; • • • • Comm+ software, interface and leads
computer, without the need to alter +VAT 1200/1200 included.
buttons on the modem itself.
half-duplex.
Other Features: Top of the range modes
often include features such as a timer, TANDATA Albert Road North, Malvern, Worcs WR14 2TL 06845-68421
which
prepared
lets your
file at
PCW transmit a
a specified time, even if
TM110 £99 V23 • • •
you're away from your workstation;
+VAT
carrier strength indicators, to warn .of Hayes compatible.
bad transmissions; and monitors, to
+VAT
provide audio confirmation of signals.

53
COMMUNICATIONS
The range of services available from electronic communications is growing unications. Prestel allows you to send
telexes anywhere the world without a
every day. We look at one of the largest systems, as well as surveying in

telexmachine. Cost are low, from 50p a

what else is on offer.
frame of approximately 100 words for the
UK, to £5 a frame for maritime
communications. Incoming telexes, to your
Information at your personal mailbox, are free.

Mailboxing (or MBX-ing in communications

slang) is another valuable facility, provided

fingertips the person you are contacting

Micronet/Prestel subscriber. However, this
is also a

is one area where you'll have to look at your

contacts, to see which systems they
subscribe too.
Communications also make up an
important part of Micronet's leisure appeal.
It's quite easy to spend an evening in

electronic conversation, with people from all

over the country, on the open chatlines. If

you want to talk about a specific subject

there are several specialist lines too.
Along with multi-user games, an up-to-
the-minute news service, features sections
offers support on two levels. Queries sent to and specialist micro sections, Micronet has
Getting onto Micronet their mail box will be answered on the open something to interest almost everyone. And
lines, or for a fee of £25 per annum, they if you're worried about cost, don't be!
Micronet is one of the oldest comm- provide a personal service between 9am and Providing you ring out of peak hours,
unications networks, and one of the most 9pm daily. avoiding Prestel's business user charges,
comprehensive. It's a closed corner of Micronet also caters for comm- most areas are free.
Prestel, but a subscription to Micronet also
gives you access to Prestel's wide range of
business and communication facilities.

Not that Micronet is the only system

Costs vary greatly, for registering with a service and using its facilities. Several services
you'll ever need. Many of its services will be
offer individual registration and more expensive corporate rates. With Prestel and
totally irrelevant if you only want E-Mail, for
Telecom Gold, it is cheaper to subscribe through Micronet and Microlink, though to
instance. But many people want a mixture of
benefit fully from the reduced rates, you'll have to use them out of peak hours.
business and leisure activities from
Once you are registered, the costs of services, such as sending a telex or hiring a
communications, and it is here that
mailbox, are also very different. You may also find yourself facing a minimum monthly
Micronet comes into its own.
invoice. Micronet is currently the cheapest service, with low subscriptions, no minimum
Logging on to Micronet is similar to any
charge, free mailbox rental with unlimited free messages, and no connection charge, off-
board. You ring your local computer number
peak. But the situation can change in this highly competitive growth market, so check for
and when you hear the tone, hand over
current details.
control to the PCW. Once the connection is
If this still seems expensive,
good news is that by using British Telecom's Packet
the
made, your user number is requested,
Switch Stream (PSS) system, however far you live from the host computer, you pay only
followed by a private password, to ensure
local call rates, not long distance. This also works for overseas communications. Full
that nobody else logs on at your expense.
details are available from British Telecom.
After that you're free to roam Micronet's
pages. Paths through the sections are
indicated on screen, so you can take a slow
Surveying the services
and simple route, or if you know the page
number of the section that you want, you
can move straight to it.

The only time you'll find your way barred

is when you reach a CUG, or Closed User
Group. There are a number of these, Comet • • Telemessages
catering for specialist interests, but a small 0527-64274
fee gains access.
Easylink • • Dial-a-gram; translation
Small businesses will find a variety of
01-6339577
useful services ready and waiting. Bizznet
provides everything from a letters column,
Microlink • • • • • Part of Telecom Gold. Translations;
061 -456 8383 teleshopping; leisure; chatlines; CUGs.
to advice on starting and running a
business, and even provides legal aid. You Micronet • • • • Part of Prestel. Wide range of interactive

send your question down line, and expert 01 -278 3143 business and leisure services.
advice soon appears on screen. One-to-one • • t • • London only courier service; distribution lists
A recent development on Bizznet is 01 -351 2468 for mass circulars; noticeboard has free
computerised accounting. Payments and advertising.
receipts can be sent to MAS Accountants, Prestel • • • • Major business service; comprehensive
an independent firm founded in 1964, and Freefone data services plus electronic purchase of
books will then be prepared and returned 2296 tickets, etc.
through the post, at a considerable saving
Telecom Gold • • • • • Powerful database; easy and cheap direct
on the normal charges.
01 -403 6777 access to US MBXs; message storage and
If you have specific business computing
remote sending.
queries, computer consultants Interlex

54
 Prestel local call access).
...or Tuesday.. .or Thursday...
the sooner you send off the Special Introductory offer: We'll
coupon, the sooner you'll have pay your VAT. A complete CPC pack -
the entire knowledge of the world at Modem and Software - for just
your fingertips.The Voyager range of Modems has full r £1 19.90. PCW Pack (Voyager and Serial II

BABT approval and is fully compatible with just about any Interface) £199.95.
micro throughout the world. And you could pay twice the Fill in the coupon then stand by to access mainframes

price for a modem and still not get these features: and micros - worldwide.
• Multi Speed - including 300/300,1200/75, 75/1200
duplex, and 1200/1200 half duplex
full Full Function •
LED Display #
More software support than any other
THE SINGLE SOURCE SOLUTION
Modem - and the best.
Modem House,
The Voyager CPC range of Software gives you: 70 Longbrook Street, Exeter,
Devon EX4 6AP
• Auto Dial/Auto Answer ©Full Colour Prestel/ I J As Stocked by
Viewdata Emulation •Full Prestel/Viewdata Graphics
Please send me: which required)
Emulation •
Full Telesoftware support # Full Upload/ 1. Voyager 7 Modem
(Tick

£91.94 (he VAT) fj

Download and/or Spooling to Cassette, Disk, Memory 2. Complete Amstrad CPC pack inc. Software & Modem £1 19.90
and/or Printer •X-Modem File Transfer • Bulletin 3. Complete PCW Pack (Voyager II Software & Serial Interface) £199.95

board Software available soon ©The total software on

I
I enclose cheque/PO payable to 'Modem House' for

ROM package for just £39.95 (ex-VAT) • PCW OR

NAME
Access No:

Software available - the most powerful and best-selling |

ADDRESS
pack -£75.00 (ex-VAT).
With Voyager 7 you can link Prestel, Micronet, Viewfax,
I
Amsnet, BT Gold, Microlink - and most other data
- and 98% I Post to:- Modem House, 70 Longbrook Street, Exeter,
bases for of the country cost you only
it'll 1
Devon EX4 6AP Tel:(0392) 213355 aa/9/86
around 40p per hour (cheap rate) to run (Assuming
GRAPHICS
It is said that a picture's
overlay with the most recent and sub-menus which appear
worth a thousand words.
Fortunately, the
resolution graphics are well
PCW's high DRDraw element clearly indicated. This
allows you to manipulate the
at the top of the screen. The
manual is also a model of
The box ofDR Draw boasts that chosen portion, usually the clarity, taking you step by step
suited to illustration. . . it's 'From Digital Research, The most recent addition, in a through various projects. Even
and you don't even need Creators of CP/M'. With a variety of sophisticated ways. installing DRDraw is easy,
pedigree like that you'd expect You can move it, copy it to any though the program's size
much art experience!
something special. And you get position, or even alter details. means that 8256 owners will
it. Correcting errors is also spend a lot of time swapping

The package is totally simple. The Delete option discs.

Picture software driven and specially

geared to producing regular
removes the selected element,
while Undelete replaces it, so
DRDraw is friendly to
and turns graphic design
use
into a

geometric shapes, straight it's easy to experiment by joy rather than another time-

this lines
suitable for
and arcs, making it most
planning and
adding and removing
Printing out your picture, which
details. consuming chore.

design applications. This can be saved on disc for further

FACTS BOX
program can produce anything work at a later date, also
TITLE
from a cover for a report to a provides a variety of options DRDRAW
ground plan. and printing formats. PRICE
In keeping with this design Despite this versatility, the £49.95
philosophy DR Draw treats each program is easy to use. It's PUBLISHER
element of a picture as an controlled via a series of menus Digital Research

Creating a cover with DR Draw

Computer graphics are much in Minn Choosing the Add option leads to a sub-menu, from
I Sriwt I Hm_ Crou I l miffT~
demand today. Whether you're Minli. rrf» KM when Mnnhrt
which we have selected Line. Start and finish points
producing a cover for a report, a are chosen with the space bar, and the Return key
CO mpletes an element, calling up the main menu,
graph to illustrate it, a technical
1

H( re the cursor, towards the bottom of the frame, is

design or a sketch, your
pi Ming down a line to draw the internal cover box.
Amstrad can turn you into an 1

j
artist.
1

Just as a word processor 1 1

'
takes the pain out of writing, a 1
'
1
'

1 1

drawing package allows you to 1 1

Add 1 Qua* 1 Seltct 1 Cow
alter illustrations time and time 1

T
1

again without tearing the paper

or smudging theink. The im im im Twi iwl Twi
. : in cumin cunt ro ike : :

inexpert draughtsman can also MSIMt KH

1

: KSB 1 851! :

produce lines and regular The grid of dots serves as a guide for the cursor,
'.'.'.:'.'..'.'..'.'.'.'.'.
shapes without having to worry which snaps to the nearest one when 'Space' is :!«, :: :

'.
', '.',',',',',', y, \ '.'.
'. :I: .

pressed. The dots' density can be doubled for more

j

about keeping angles true. ;:;:::::

accurate positioning, or you can switch them off ...
::;:::::::
There are two main and very :;;;;-;;;;;;;;.;;
with the Change menu. Space will then fix a line at
....
different approaches to the exact position of the cursor. The dotted line
:

computer graphics. One is surrounding the word, which has been typed in with
,; '-
1 .

purely software based, while the the Text option, indicates that this is the most
:

X: \\
recent addition to the picture.
other uses hardware to help you
in the act of drawing. We've
taken an in-depth look at each Md I CW I itlKt 3fiu "«* '
™*> DR Draw's Copy feature allows you to reproduce the
method. item indicated by the dotted line, saving repetitious
.+'
typing. Select allows you to choose items other
than the most recent element. In the bottom right
"™
Representing 'ULSX
MSIMt
1
!!! 25?
fCH 8!56 1 JS12 .1
! hand corner of the cover we have drawn an arc,
. . . . .... ..»...,.. ,. «.
.

which has been filled with text. Using the Change

option the typeface has been altered.
Figures
A graph is often the best way of
presenting complex data, so
why not exploit your Amstrad's
graphic capabilities?
Polyplot is part of the CteMt Mid COPI I MHlll 1 HUt,:

Polyprograms suite reviewed in

Iml I..I T.„t I..1 T..t I..I
the Word Processing section. It
Almost complete. The corner section has been IKE CtWLEIE CUD! 10 IKE
can create bar, line and pie MSIMt PCD >2S( 1 151!
deleted, and the design redrawn to fill in lines
charts and four sets of data may which were erased by its removal. To facilitate work
be placed on the same axes, on the central box the picture has been zoomed to
tat i«t
fill the frame. Removing the grid gives you an idea
with up to 20 points for each set. tat Text
of what the final design will look like, and a frame
Data is manually entered but tat
has been added to show how it will print out on a 1

tat tat
results are portable to the other *4
Polyprograms.
page.

tat /
n tat

tat
DR Graph is companionn
piece to DR Draw and features
that program's friendliness.
Line, bar, bar and line, pie and
V
.tat
^~j

56
 GRAPHICS
text-only graphs are available,
and embellishments include fill
actually bring the pen into Saving and Printing pictures

patterns

pie
and exploded
graphs. Data can be
'slices' of
Light pen contact with the curved glass,
and the
magnified.
slightest shake is
is easy, and a useful feature
GSX operating system driver.
GSX does for graphics what
is a

imported from most major

spreadsheets, and up to four
The main problem of using the To overcome this problem CP/M does for business
arrow keys to control a drawing the package provides you with software; a program saved in
graphs can be placed on one
page.
cursor is that they make options to draw regular shapes. this format could be transferred
freehand sketching extremely You're advised to think carefully to another GSX program, such
POLYPLOT difficult. A light pen is a natural about what the finished picture as DR Draw, for further
£24.95 alternative, letting you work will look like, so that you can embellishment.
Newstar directly on the screen. plan in advance, first layinng Light Pen will take a little

The Electric Studio's pen, down the basic shapes then while to master but once you
OR GRAPH
which is about the size of a using the Fill, Brush and Spray know its quirks it's a lot of fun
£49.95
standard fibre tip, comes commands to add shading and and it brings a good range of
Digital Research
complete with an interface texture. computer graphic techniques to
which plugs into the rear Erasing errors with the Light the Amstrad user.
extension port. You load up the Pen is similar to erasing pencil
driving software, and you're lines. You set the Ink Colour so
ready to run. This another that reverse the pixels
is it will
FACTS BOX
If the idea of drawing on your menu driven program, but you (the minute dots that make up TITLE
screen doesn't appeal, there are use the pen to pick options not the picture), turning them LIGHT PEN
two major alternatives. A the keys. green. And if you want to draw PRICE

digitiser tablet lets you work on Drawing on a vertical screen on a dark area you'll have to £79.95
a sheet of 'electronic paper', is not quite as easy as on paper, reverse the picture's tones, so PUBLISHER

often covered with an overlay, particularly since you don't that the pen can read the screen.
The Electric Studio
dedicated to the task in hand. A
mouse is a small box that you Light on the Light Pen
move around your desk top to
Light Pen works with menus and sub-menus, line
control the on-screen cursor.
leads to several further choices. Single Line has
Although Advanced Memory been used to produce the horizon, and then the
Systems' mouse was not perspective effect was produced with Rays, which
fixes a point on the horizon and pulls out lines from
available at the time of review, it
it. Note the prompts, which appear above the main
should be included in the
menu, and the small Ink Status indicator, top right.
Up Date section.
Grafpad 3 is an A4 digitiser
tablet, coupled to a Computer
Aided Design program, which is

totally menu driven. There are all

the line and shape drawing

routines that you'd expect of
such a package, and facilities
It is easier to produce shapes with the relevant
like zoom, pan, and layering.
tilt option, rather than drawing freehand. Here the
The use of the pad for menus landscape has been elaborated using the Shapes
leaves the screen free for menu. The top circle is the standard size, but
diameters are easily altered before they are fixed in
drawing.
place. The pyramid was added with the Triangle
option, which gives you the option of creating 3D
GRAFPAD shapes, as does Rectangle. Once the two
£149.50 dimensional points are fixed you create the illusion
Grafsales of depth.

Select till/lrmh auk The Fill option has been used to add shading to the
Contacts spheres. First rough boundaries were created with
Draw, to divide them into thirds. Pressing T on the
Digital Research (UK) Ltd
keyboard calls up the Texture menu, with its 55
Oxford House patterns. These can be used to Fill any enclosed
Oxford Street shape, or with Brush drawing. A small patch of the
Newbury chosen pattern appears at the right of the Ink
Status indicator.
Berks RG131JB
0635-35304
The Electric Studio Products Ltd
13 The Business Centre
Ira kokurl 11* finish <itk Uim. tit SICT U nit
Avenue One Inlrr chiricttri

Letchworth Garden City

Herts SG62HB
0462-895720 Almost ready to print. Texture was added to the
Grafsales Limited baits by using the pen with the Ink Mode changed so

Works that bright pixelsbecame dark as it scribbled over

Unit Q2, Penfold
them. The shadows were created with the Spray
Imperial Way, Watford option, using a narrow nozzle effect. The cloud was
Herts WD24YY Drawn freehand and shaded with Fill and then
0923-43942 textured. Text can be added in a variety of sizes and
directions.
NewStar Software Ltd
200 North Service Road
Brentwood, Essex CM144SG
0277-220573/213218

57
 BUSINESS MANAGER
for the AMSTRAD PCW 8256 and PCW 8512
A comprehensive business management system

PURCHASES, STOCK CONTROL, and SALES all in 26/05/86 MENU le software BUSINESS MANAGER
one package — le software's 'BUSINESS
MANAGER'.
01 11 Stock Reports
The 'BUSINESS MANAGER' software package Stock
02 Customers 12 Customer Reports
has been specifically designed and written for the
AMSTRAD PCW 8256 and PCW 8512 and can be 03 Suppliers 13 Supplier Reports

used with either single or twin disc drives. 04 Stock Entry 14 Orders Reports

* Supplier Records — name, address, 05 Orders/Delivery Notes 15 Stocktaking

telephones, contact person, credit limit, 06 Invoices 16 End of Quarter/Year

discounts, quarterly purchases and payments, 07 Credit Notes 1 7 Purchase/Sales Ledger

yearly purchases and payments. 08 Payments 18 Aged Creditors/Debtors

* Customer Records — name, address, 09 System Parameters 19 System Maintenance

telephones, contact person, discount, quarterly 10 Bank Transactions 00 Exit to System

sales and payments, yearly sales and
payments. System Password: •••••• Option: 17

* Stock Records — supplier, purchase costs, System Date: 26/05/86 Password: ••••••
retail prices, wholesale prices, value, quantities
— in stock, ordered, minimum level, quarterly
purchases and sales, yearly purchases and le software BUSINESS MANAGER version 1,04 1986
sales.
* Add, change, delete, display or print Supplier,
Customer, and Stock records at any time.
Please return coupon and cheque to:
* Orders to suppliers, entry of stock, payments to
le software
suppliers.
P.O. Box 46,
* Orders from customers, delivery notes to
Kingston upon Hull,
customers.
North Humberside HU5 1 AG
* Invoices from orders, automatic invoices, credit Telephone: (0482) 447588
notes, payments from customers.
* Extensive Reports
Stock — lists, purchase details, retail prices, BUSINESS MANAGER
wholesale prices, quantities, quarterly and
yearly purchases and sales.
Trial & Evaluation

Customers —
lists, quarterly and yearly sales, Additional Information
sales and payments, statements. Please tick
Suppliers — lists quarterly and yearly
purchases and payments, stock entries
(summary and detailed), orders to suppliers. Name
Orders — orders (summary and detailed),
quantities ordered, stock below minimum Address
level, profits from orders.
Invoices — invoices summary, profits from
invoices.
Ledgers — purchase ledger, sales ledger.
Aged Creditors.
Aged Debtors. Postcode.
* User 'BM HOTLINE' support team.
Telephone.
Price:
BUSINESS MANAGER' £99.95 inc. VAT on Type of Business
sale or return
'Trial & Evaluation' package £20.00 inc. VAT.
 SPECIALIST APPLICATIONS
Is there a program that will . . ? Whatever special application you can think of, chances are that somebody has
thought of it before you. Here we review some of those products that don't easily fit in to any particular pigeon
hole.

Odd Jobs
Fleet Street on your desk
If you've ever had to stick down ambitious, Fleet Street Publisher horizontal rules. Stories are then applications for a package like
text for printing, you'll know that comes complete with a 'photo- placed in the page framework, this,from company or society
laying out a page is every bit as library' of drawings to use. and naturally you can magazines to advertisements or
difficult as writing the copy in The starting point for any experiment with them until they- attractively presented reports. It

the first place. publication is collecting the fit properly. may take some careful planning
Balancing the length of a individual articles. These are Finally the pages are sent to to use well, but it's also fun, and,
piece with the size of type, which held in initial draft form, ready the PCW printer, and Mirrorsoft after all. . . even Robert Maxwell
is often restricted, particularly if for editingand then layout. is aiming for better quality than had to start somewhere.
you had to produce it on a Meanwhile the pages is available from Locoscript. You
typewriter, is a difficult task. themselves have to be designed.
FACTS BOX
can then take your publication to
TITLE
Desktop publishing is a You have full control over the your local print shop, safe in the Fl eet Stree t Publisher
recent software development, number of columns and their knowledge that it's free of inky PRICE
and it's one of the most exciting. width; whether text will be fingerprints and that no lines of £TBA
It most accurately be
could where illustrations
justified; will text have come unstuck. PUBLISHER
described as page processing. go; and where there will be There are literally dozens of Mirrorsoft
The raw copy is just the first step
Fleet Street Publisher includes a basic text editor, although
in a chain that eventually
written files can be imported from other word processors,
produces a finished layout, including Locoscript. Once they've been sub-edited, you can
complete with diagrams, manipulate the size and style of fonts, enabling you to
illustrations, or spaces to insert produce bold headlines and attractive body copy.

photographs. Prepare your text with any word

Mirrorsoft's Fleet Street processor, whether it's Locoscript or a
Publisher was still in prototype CP/K system. Mirrorsoft's Fleet Street
Publisher includes a text editor, wbj
form when we looked at it, but
includes word wrap; deletion; slOj
its specifications make the first
fast cursor movement; insert and
desktop publishing program for overwrite text; mark block; move bio
the PCW a powerful tool. copy block; relay block; delete bloc
The secret of that power is its call the directory mode; enter the Next you need to produce your illustrations. The
ability to handle large amounts layout mode; save and exit to the Harrier has been drawn with Mirrorsoft's own Graphics
of data, and to store it, whatever publication menu; save and return; exit Operating System, which uses a drop down menu system
without saving; and save a block. to provide powerful creative potential.
It supports a full
state it's in, while you work on
Copy can be placed in a queue, range of set shapes and free hand drawing, plus shape
another part of the publication. you can define windows around picture
In addition
waiting for you to work on it, and a fills.

These are complex enough full or brief status report will be elements, then manipulate them.

procedures, so the package available. If you choose a full report

must be easy to use, and has to you will have the option of enter
supply information
of articles
on the flow
whenever you need it.
some identifying text.
Text can be justified or lef
a ragged right margin.
sum mmu mwsw
Fleet Street Publisher opts

for a WIMP-style environment;

the acronym stands The Fleet Street Publisher Photo Library includes a
for
selection of decorative effects, such as borders,
Windows, Icons, Mouse and
letters and punctuation marks, to embellish pages.
Pointer. An operating system There are also icons, which can be used to identify
based on this design lets you articles, and maps, for illustrative purposes.

select commands with an on-

screen cursor. Though the PCW
doesn't come with a mouse, a
couple are available, and the
program is compatible with
these, or Electric Studio's Light
Pen.

The other important area for

a desk top editor is how to
produce graphics. Fleet Street
Publisher is compatible with
output from most graphics
packages. Mirrorsoftalso Once elements are prepared they can be placed on the page.
There's a wide range of intelligent text controls available. For
produces its own, stand alone
instance, copy will run on, automatically adjusting its width,
Graphics Operating System, and but stopping once it hits a horizontal rule, and continuing in

illustrations from this can be the next column. Meanwhile pictures are scaled and dropped
into place.
dumped into your pages. If your
graphics needs are less

59
SPECIALIST APPLICATIONS
Pertmaster is a highly you're planning a marketing package. . . providing you can
The electronic sophisticated project manager, campaign or writing a novel, afford to tie up your Joyce for

diaiy JBBBB? taking its name from

Performance Evaluation and
Brainstorm can cope.
Computer programmers
hours at a time!
Interactive Display System

The idea of an electronic diary Review Technique. It's should find its text editor useful £34.95
may seem attractive, but it's also particularly strong in the field of too. You could enter the CJF Lowe
impractical. You can hardly report generation, providing structure of a program, without

carry your Amstrad around options for tables, bar charts, attempting to write any code In the
But Time Organizer is a pie graphs and histograms. This until you had each unit well- Do you read your horoscope in

useful way of arranging is an important facility when planned, then produce a disc the daily newspaper? There's
appointments and recording complex information has to be copy of the file which omitted all more to serious astrology than

anniversaries. Used with print conveyed with maximum clarity. the development remarks, all just the sun signs. Whether you
out paper designed for a loose You tell the computer what ready to be compiled. believe that our fates lie in the

leaf diary binder, available from the different activities involved It's hard to think of a situation stars is a matter of personal

Filofax.it could be worth its in the project are, their order, inwhich Brainstorm does not opinion, but students of

bargain price. how long they should take and have its uses. And there can be astrology take hours to draw up

This menu driven program what resources are called for. few things more satisfying than a birth chart.

allows you to store 2,920 Pertmaster then produces a seeing a succession of The alternative to piles of

events, covering a year.on one master plan, with start and apparently diffuse ideas falling books and hours of calculation

disc. These are in the form of finish dates. It also tries to into place. is to use your computer to plot

date, time, and events. You can identify possible problems Brainstorm the positions of the heavenly

produce monthly or weekly during the period. Once the £49.95 bodies at a particular time. What

summaries, use a search facility project is underway you can Caxton could take a couple of hours

to cross-reference specific update the information and with an ephemeris can be

occurences over a length of time Pertmaster will adjust its plan reduced to two minutes of
or produce an automatic according to circumstances. computer time. Then the
reminder. Comshare's Target Task, Amstrad can print out the chart.
All in all, Time Organiser's imported by NewStar, is for After that the analysis is up to

usefulness rather depends on double disc systems. It allows M» tart it you.

whether you're willing to load it you to balance time saved Astrocalc has a long tradition

up whenever you need to against any extra costs incurred. Brainstorm's key controls are easy to of producing serious
learn and experimentation shouldn't and
consult it.
A project plan is produced, and astrological software, if you
cause problems.
Time Organiser PERT methods allow on-going want an introduction to this

£12.95 review techniques. The program fascinating art, then their starter

£20.00 (with Amsac Accounts) can also produce Gantt chart

Showing off with pack provides all the basic
CJF Lowe plots in a calendar format. information that you need to
Pertmaster
Amstrad construct a simple chart.
The most obvious user of a
Projects - from £69.95
Abtex display system is a retailer.
Astrology Starter Pack
£15.50
Target Task However, all sorts of information
AtoZ £99.99 can be conveyed in many
Astrocalc

Project planning is an exact NewStar different situations, using this

science. The ability to follow a novel package.
job from start to finish, planning There are two types of
Contacts
the details of each stage and Ideas in action presentation available with
Abtex

allowing for any unforeseen It's said that genius is 3 percent Interactive Display System. The 11 Campus Road
Listerhills Science Park
occurences as you go, is a inspiration and 97 percent first is fully automatic, so that
invaluable one for every perspiration. If so, much of that screens change at regular
Bradford BD71HR
businessman. 97 percent spent sweating out
0274-734838
is intervals, which are set by you.
Astrocalc
Your PCW can help if you the initial idea and turning it into This could be used for
have to break down a major a cogent form.
67PeascroftRoad
advertising in a shop window,
project into a series of stages. Many people who use for example.
Hemel Hempstead
Starting from the most general Brainstorm are near evangelical Interactive presentations call
Herts HP38ER
enthusiasm for the way 0442-51809
level, such as publishing a in their it upon the user to take some
magazine, you then subdivide
Caxton Software Ltd
helps organise thoughts. action,such as answering a
10-14 Bedford Street
the task into its constituent Brainstorm is, quite simply, an question or selecting an option
Covent Garden
parts, such as researching ideas processor. from a menu. A complex path
articles, writing them, selling Not that turn you into an
London WC2E9HE
it'll can be selected through a series
01-3796502
advertising and arranging Einstein overnight. What it will of screens. This could be used in
Some of these will more CJF Lowe
distribution. do is force you to think a teaching situation, or to
have to be completed by a and does 2 Christ Church Square
clearly efficiently. It provide particular information.
Accringtorr
certain stage of the project, this by ordering your ideas, At the heart of IDS is a screen
while others are continuous for which you type in as they come designer, which is similar to a
Lancashire BB5 2NA
Mirrorsoft
the whole period. to you. It then cross references word processor in its control
Maxwell House
Now things really get them, and finally produces a style. It allows for normal and
74 Worship Street
interesting. What happens to the written report, providing a large text, lines, boxes and areas
you employ structured overview of your
London EC2A2EN
completion date if of reverse video. The interactive
01-3774645
another person? What if you do ideas. system lets you construct the
NewStar Software Ltd
it all yourself? And when things The uses to which Brainstorm various paths through the
200 North Service Road
start to go wrong, how do they can be put are almost limitless. options.
Brentwood
affect the schedule? Only by The most obvious is planning a If you need displays of this
forward planning can you cater project, though this is a wide sort, IDS is a clever,
Essex CM144SG
0277-220573
for all contingencies. enough field in itself. Whether economically priced

60
 Small Business
Accounts & V. AX
made Simple.
Accountsand V.A.T. made Simple is the answer for your business
• Professional business software for the Amstrad 6128, 8256 or 851 2 (Single or
Dual Drives) and for IBM compatible PC1512

• Over 2500 Users on many other computers.

• Cash Book accounting made simple based on the Simplex 'D' system.

• Control of Unpaid Bills.

• Single entry — no knowledge of book-keeping required.

• Produces VAT Return for Special Schemes 'A' to 'J' Pharmacy
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• Very simple to operate weekly accounts.

• Fully accepted by Customs & Excise.

• User Club and 'HOTLINE' support team.

• Ideal for all Retailers and other cash businesses

• £99.95 inc. VAT or Demo version at £19.95 inc

• 20 minute video. Available VHS/Betamax

YES — Clip the coupon now or telephone4625 61 5375 for you# E Video.

Please return coupon to:

Micro Simplex, Cheshire House, Castle Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 6AF

Name

Company Address.

Telephone.

Type of Business VHS/Betamax*

Micro Simplex is a Division
ofSandhurst Marketing p. I.e. * Delete one
 GAMES
Though Amstrad nevei intended the PCWs to be games you choose which door to enter.
S.A.S. Raid One contains the documents,
machines, software companies are busy proving that
S.A.S. Raid is something of an another a key which enables
there's more to your Joyce than word processing.
oddity. While the title suggests you to leave, but behind all the
an arcade game, it is actually a others are tricky tests, ranging

Playing with the PCW

test of strategy and risk taking. from reaction time to
Played on a grid, you control observation and memory.
an S.A.S. man who has to find Though the idea of the game
Whether you prefer a quiet from the deadly serious to the his way into a castle, deep is very simple, it is also
evening's chess or ten minutes hilariously funny, but the best within enemy territory. Dotted strangely addictive. You'll
during your lunch hour blasting call for hours of thought and around the countryside are a probably find yourself returning
Space Invaders, there's a total involvement with a story variety of useful objects, such as forthat'onelastgo'asyou
program to meet your needs. that you are actively shaping. a map which tells you what grid again fail in your misson. S.A.S.
We've divided the games into number you are on, and a radio may not be as dramatic as its

three main types — strategy, which provides an update on title suggests, but it's an
adventure, arcade — and we've where the patrols are. interesting diversion for those
0S00SS
identified them each with a little You'll also find ropes, torches who like brainteasers.
symbol. and similar aids to crossing a
you have only ever
If variety of obstacles at the
encountered arcade games in northern edge of the grid. Only FACTS BOX
TITLE
your it may come as a
local pub, one square actually leads to the
S.A.S. Raid
surprise to see how varied they castle, and it's a matter of trial
PRICE
can be. .and how well some of
. and error before you find it. A
£14.95
the top titles from the games disguise will protect you, if you PUBLISHER
computers have been converted collide with a patrol, as will the CRL
to theAmstrad! You need calm gun, but you will be returned to
Strategy games suit the more Summary Not so much burnt cork
thought as much as accurate your base and lose your
thoughtful player who prefers as brains required for this sortie
reactions if you're to beat the possessions.
abstract problems. The classic into enemy territory.
challenges posed by Batman or Once inside the stronghold,
board game, chess, is available
Fairlight.
in several versions and your
Though they are apearing too
PCW can be a tough opponent.
late for full reviews, several
For strategy with a i
more
simulations are also on the way,
contemporary feel, try SAS Raid.
ranging from the sedate CM
pleasures of cricket to the thrills

of flying a Spitfire.
But whatever type takes your
iHM-MMWil
Adventures were among the interest, games are probably the
computer games, originally
first fastest moving part of the PCW
83 - Nvket PUce

nUB
1 «
developed on vast mainframes. market so look at our up-to-the-
3SM imaiGnsiEB esw
You control a 'puppet' character minute Up Date section. And
with typed inputs, as you remember —
all work and no
! Kif Radio

'iflmiTIW IS - « Car Park 22 - The Tom Squire

attempt to solve mind-boggling play makes Joyce a dull girl. Be 12 - A Lane S3 - The Sea

problems. Usually with a fantasy warned though. . . you may just

setting, adventures vary in tone find that you're hooked!

you puzzled for hours. break the curse that has con- map indicates a wall that's too
Fairliqht Isvar is a lowly serf who has demned the land of Fairlight to thick, it probably means that
A perfect blend of strategy and been lured into the depths of darkness. there's a secret passage behind
animation, Fairlight is probably Castle Avars to recover the Book The game's 3D graphics, it. Every object that you find has
the closest you will get to a of Light, which is hidden seen from a high angle, are its own weight so that you can
, hybrid between an arcade and somewhere within the walls. beautifully drawn, though the carry five keys at a time, but only
an adventure game. The When he gives it to the old price you pay for all this detail is one barrel. If you kick a chair it

superbly animated graphics wizard, help prisoner in a a blackout as you move from will slide further than a heavy
combine with an epic quest to remote chamber, the magical screen to screen. But eventually oak table.
provide problems that will keep powers of the ancient tome will you'll become so absorbed There is no single solution to

that you'll hardly notice it. Fairlight. Approach the secrets

In fact, you'll probably spend of Castle Avars much as you
your first few visits to Fairlight would a real life search and
just wandering around, eventually you will save the
admiring the scenery, but kingdom.
beware. . . the natives are
undoubtedly hostile. A host of FACTS BOX
TITLE
guards roam the corridors,
Fairlight
ranging from rejuvenating trolls
PRICE
to transparent, gas-filled
£14.95
bubbles. You'll find that a little
PUBLISHER
thought avoids much dodging The Edge
and fighting though.
Fairlight s most pleasing Summary A crucial PCW purchase,
whatever type of game you prefer,
feature is the care that has been
combining adventure with great
taken to make it realistic. Castle
Avars planned so that animated graphics.
is if your

62
 GAMES
a time when almost every pub in probably the ideal therapy after a buy Gemini's InterGem 57," disc

the country seemed to be filled frustrating day using the PCW you get the
drive, little green
with the constant beep and blast for more serious purposes. meanies for free.
of row upon row of rank and file Supernova Software's version
little green meanies biting the of the classic, marketed by FACTS BOX
emini, well planned as far as TITLE
dust. is
Invaders
It's interesting to play difficulty is concerned, with the
PRICE
game again after all these years invasion force getting ever faster
£12.95
and realise just how addictive it as it nears the earth. Purists will
PUBLISHER
still is. There is something object to the fact that you cannot Gemini Marketing
Invaders strangely satisfying about move and fire simultaneously
They're back!The first game moving your laser base along though. Summary There is still enough life
from the arcades to gain fame the bottom of the screen, firing On the whole, Invaders is an in this old classic to keep you

has invaded the PCW. There was at the descending aliens. It's amiable diversion, and if you blasting the Invaders.

enter multiple commands, with

Lord Of The one verb referring to several
nouns, so saving on typing time,
Rings and to modify verbs with
adverbs. You can even talk to the
Tolkien's epic quest has been the
other characters, telling Sam to
model for countless fantasy
get the bottle and the food, for
games, but here is the official
example.
version of the original classic.
It's possible to fool this
Actually this is just The
system, and some of its
Fellowship Of The Ring, the first
misunderstandings may seem
volume of the trilogy, but
illogical, but remember that a
successive parts will appear
computer is basically a fast but
over the next year or so.
unintelligent thinker. Lord Of The
Melbourne House is the
Rings is still a stunning
acknowledged Tolkien expert,
achievement, even if you do
having previously produced The
have to spell out your intentions
Hobbit, also available for the
at times.
PCW, and newcomers are necessary objects that on the
sounds lie
advised to sample its delights
If all of this
daunting there's a beginner's
rather
Batman far sides of exploding floors!
and frustrations first.
Swooping down, to keep your that wasn't bad enough
level game included on the disc. If

Lord Of The Rings expands PCW free from crime, comes the there's an amusing selection of
It follows the full-scale plot, but
on its predecessor, not only in Caped Crusader. This an characters. They include
many of the puzzles are is evil
size (the main adventure is amazingly successful con- comic dogs which follow set
simplified or omitted altogether
divided into two parts) but also version of a chart-topping game, movement patterns and whose
and you are restricted to just one
in complexity. You can control even on your Amstrad, Batman bite is definitely worse than their
character. Still, you can use it to if

any or all of the four hobbits in wears green, not blue and grey. bark, and radar assisted robots,
get a taste of the full task.
their battle against the forces of Like Fairlight, this is an who actively pursue our super
darkness and the evil Sauron. arcade adventure, with 3D hero. Even contact with the walls
You can even split your party to FACTS BOX graphics seen from a high is fatal in some rooms.
TITLE
pack them off on separate vantage point. The plot is true to The one complaint about the
Lord of the Rings
missions. comic strip simplicity. . . some game is its choice of movement
PRICE
The really impressive feature fiendish villains have kidnapped control keys. They seem illogical
£24.95
of Lord Of The Rings, which it
Robin, the Boy Wonder, and to say the least, but as you can
PUBLISHER
shared with The Hobbit, is its Melbourne House batman must save his sidekick. re-define them, it hardly matters.
sophisticated understanding of Before he can do that he must Batman is a brilliant piece of
English. You communicate with
Summary Advanced adventuring
reassemble the seven missing programming, on a vast scale. It
the program in Inglish, a cut- for fantasy fans, with amazing
parts of the Batcraft, which thought and fast
calls for lots of
interaction which only occasionally
down version of the everyday Robin was in the process of reactions, plus some careful
fails to understand.
language. This allows you to cleaning, just before he was mapping to remind you what
snatched away. They are scatt- dastardly trap lies through that
libtWMTTJi ered around the labyrinthine next door. Be warned though —
Near the door is a large heavy nooden chest, Against one ull is a kitchen dresser.
In the kitchen dresser ire a drwer and a cupboard. Serened to the nail is a
catacombs of the Batcave, it's not for the faint hearted, or
noticehoard. Covering the noticehoard is a grow of photographs. Finned over the
group of photographs is a note, toil can see San and Pippin,
which is inhabited by the Joker anybody looking for five minutes
Pippin wits.
San wits.
and the Riddler's deadly easy relaxation.
oo open the large heavy nooden chest.
henchmen.
n the large heavy nooden chest are a length of strong rope, 3 canvas backpacks,
I itpin wits,
Where Batman differs from
Sax wits.
Fairlight is in the nature of its FACTS BOX
Voti take the note. TITLE
Pippin wits.
problems. Almost every room of
San wits, Batman
the Batcave presents an
PRICE
You see a note an a large piece of notepaper hearing the nessage
individual puzzle, which must be
See goo at Sivendell. £19.95
The utter is argent.
.

Hatch out for the Black Riders

solved before Batman can PUBLISHER
All the best, Gandalf '.
Pippin wits.
.

progress. There are conveyor Ocean

wits.
San
belts that carry him to his doom
unless he moves in the opposite
Summary Unbelievable animation

%" direction; tricky

lifts
arrangements of
that need careful timing if
and sound prove that the
match any games machine, but
Batman is not for beginners.
PCW can

he's to jump between them;

GAMES

3-D Clock Chess/

MM rJ*§L$kSh. 1
M
Colossus 4 Chess
Just about everybody knows the Colossus 4 Chess also .

basics of chess, but it may come includes a 3D illustration of the m^ *

u
as a surprise to discover how board, though this is smaller
H
u . h mn
0.
well acomputer can play the and less clear than its 9iB €r
classic board game. We've pitted opponent's. However, it is 2 dSd4

L i'-'.

two PCW chess programs

against each other.
possible to change to a standard
plan of the board. Colossus
employs the rather simpler
VL2
i b
U u s.tp. c d e f 9 h Hhite Black
Both 3-D Clock Chess and Vour «ovt»

Colossus 4 Chess have good method of using a cursor to

Look<utead=3 PosiUons=Z239
many move pieces, though you can
pedigrees, perfected on
other machines, and both have enter co-ordinates if you prefer.
m
Current line ftssuned :c3-dS

Best lineCcoreiHtrl t Psnl 8)

converted well to the Amstrad. As its name suggest, 3-D g8tS clgS b8c6 1S(6 s?f6 sScl null
3 bl-c3 45-44
They each offer a wide range of Clock Chess includes a chess
Colossus 4 Chess
features and options and they clock, also drawn in 3D, at the
play strong enough games to top of the screen. Both you're interested in the micro easier to use. It would probably
please almost any standard of programs allow you to play time chip's thought processes both satisfy the occasional player, or

chess player. based tournament and blitz programs will display these. even the novice, who could
The most striking feature of games though. Time also If anything, Colossus make good use of its Help
3-D Clock Chess is its large controls the skill level of 3-D contains even more options than facility, but the budding Grand
board and standard chess set, Clock Chess; the longer you give 3-D Clock Chess, though they Master may prefer to go for the
shown in 3D. The graphics are it to think, the more it plans are also rather less easily comprehensive Colossus.
clear and the board can be ahead. accessed. Both programs allow
inverted so that you play from Colossus's skill is controlled the micro to play itself, and
the correct end. You make your rather differently. You can select while 3-D includes a Help FACTS BOX
moves by entering co-ordinates, just how many moves forward it routine, so that the program TITLE

which can be displayed for the will look and even how suggests your next move, 3-D Clock Chess
PRICE
beginner. aggressively will play. And if
it Colossus lets you control both
£19.95
sides, or play a human
PUBLISHER
opponent if you wish.
CP Software
Both programs also include
options that allow you to set up
Summary Attractive and easy to
use, this package can cope with
the board, and as a further
beginner and advanced players
bonus Colossus comes
alike.
complete with a selection of
TITLE
games and problems, which will
Colo ssus 4 Chess
be of interest to the chess
PRICE
addict.
£15.95
It's impossible to make a final PUBLISHER
choice between the two CDS Software
programs. While Colossus
Summary For a really tough game,
appears to play a stronger game
packed with options, this is the
and is more complete in its
program, though it lacks some
options, 3-D Clock Chess is a
frills.
3-D Clock Chess
more attractive package and is

&
Ballyhoo
«*"
£29.99
£28.75
X •
Infocom
Infocom Classics
Fantasy adventure.
Spellbraker

Starcross

Suspect
£29.99
£28.75
£29.99
£29.99
Infocom
Infocom Classics
Infocom

Infocom
Expert level
conclusion to Enchanter

Reporter framed for murder.

trilogy.

Search of alien spaceship for experts.

Castle Blackstar £14.95 CRL Traditional style fantasy. Suspended £29.99 Infocom Command six robots in

Countdown to Doom £19.95 Global Fantasy with humour. £23.00 Infocom Classics expert-level quest for survival.

Cutthroats £29.99 Infocom Sea-based standard level.

Wishbringer £29.99 Infocom Introductory magical
£28.75 Infocom Classics whimsey.
Deadline £29.99 Infocom Expert level mystery.
Witness £29.99 Infocom Hard-boiled 30's
Enchanter £29.99 Infocom Part one of
Zorkl £29.99 Infocom
£23.00 Infocom Classics spellcasting trilogy.
£23.00 Infocom Classics Epic trilogy set in
The Hitchhikers £29.99 Infocom Hilarious sci-fi.
Zorkll £29.99 Infocom the great underground
Guide to the Galaxy £28.75 Infocom Classics
£23.00 Infocom Classics empire.
Ha'mil £19.95 Global Classic style.
Zorklll £29.99 Infocom
The Hobbit £24.95 Melbourne House Fantasy classic for Tolkien fans.
£23.00 Infocom Classics
Infidel £29.99 Infocom Advanced level among Batman £14.95 Ocean Testing superheroics.
the pyramids.
Bobby Bearing TBA The Edge Giant maze and rolling hero.
Jewels of Darkness £19.95 Level 9 Trilogy of traditional tales.
£14.95 The Edge Fantasy adventure.
Fairflight
Lord of the Rings £24.95 Melbourne House Epic sequal to The rtobbit.
Graham Gooch's £19.95 Audiogenic Simulation or arcade versions as
Monsters of Murdac £19.95 Global Humourous traditional Test Cricket England plays Australia.
style quest.
Invaders £12.95 Gemini Marketing Arcade classic.
A Mind Forever £29.99 Infocom Advanced serious sci-fi speculation. TBA Mirrorsoft Accurate Battle of Britain missions.
Spitfire 40
Voyaging 8512 only.
Strike Force TBA Microsoft Modern day air warfare.
Old Scores £19.95 Global Mystery set on South
Tomahawk £19.95 Digital Integration Fly a battle helicopter across enemy
Bank.
territory.
Planetfall £29.99 Infocom Sci-fi comedy at
Bridge Player £19.95 CP Software Classic card game.
£23.00 Infocom Classics standard level.
Colossus 4 Chess £15.95 CDS
Seastalker £29.99 Infocom Introductory level
£23.00 Infocom Classics battle against sea monster. S.A.S. Raid £14.95 CRL

Sorcerer £29.99 Infocom Second part of the Scrabble TBA Leisure Genius/Virgin Ideal entertainment for wordgame fans.

£23.00 Infocom Classics Enchanter trilogy. 3-D Clock Chess £19.95 CP Software

64
 GAMES

Jewels Of Contacts
Darkness Audiogenic Software Ltd
Level 9 is a British company 12 Chiltern Enterprise Centre
with a reputation for imaginative Station Road
and challenging adventures. Theale
Vou cannot urn in that direction
Jewels Of Darkness is a What next? s
Berks RG74AA
llou ire it the too of a huh cliff nhich slices across the land, Far beln sou are the
compilation of three of its southern lwlanls: once a prosperous faming area but nw devastated by drought, plague
0734-303663
and tar. J ten aaimls grate in the dry fields.
earliest releases, in enhanced Mat next* d CDS Software Ltd
Vou cannot novo it that direction.
versions with attractive What next? s CDS House Beckett Road
Vou cannot Mve in that direction.
illustrations, which sould suit Hut next? • Doncaster DN2 4AD
cannot now in that direction,
novice and more advanced 0302-21134
adventurer alike. They come S t next? e
cannot now in that direction.
Hut next? a CP Software Ltd
Vou are startling over sharp stones in a steeply sloping guiles
complete with a scene-setting ire IS a rare orchid here 15 Despard Road
orchid is too foot abov your reach,
eot above
London N195NP
i

novella. at next'
The trilogy represents solid, 01-2722918
traditional fare. Each part is set the defeat of the tyrant you are insurance policy, allowing you to CRL Group PLC
in a mystical land, though there searching for his treasure in take back a fatal move. Coupled CRL House, 9 Kings Yard
is a gap of a hundred years Dungeon Adventure. with a standard Save to Disc Carpenters Road
between the firstand the last What makes these new option and the opportunity to be London E152HD
episodes. You can approach versions so suitable for the resurrected, this avoids the 01-9852391
them separately, though to get beginner is their friendliness. frustrations of sudden death. The Edge
the highest score, which can be With large vocabularies, you are 36/38 Southampton Street
unlikely to have to search long
FACTS BOX
carried between parts, you'll
TITLE
London WC2E7HE
need to play them in sequence. and the
for the right word, 01-831 1801
Jewels of Darkness
Colossal Adventure is a prompts are always helpful. If
Gemini Marketing Ltd
PRICE
variation on the original you examine something and it is £14.95 Gemini House
mainframe game, and sets you of no use, the adventure says so. PUBLISHER Concorde Road
seeking untold treasures in a Two other useful features are Rainbird/Level 9
ExmouthEX84RD
deep and dangerous system of RAM Save and Oops. You can
Summary A great introduction to 0395-265165
legendary caverns. Adventure use the first to store your
adventuring at a bargain price; Global Software
Quest occurs a century later and position in memory, so that,
friendly but including some POBOX67
pits you against the Demon should you die you can return to
fiendish tricks and puzzles. London SW111BS
Lord's Black Tower. A day after that point. Oops is another
01-2281360
Infocom
badge. Along with the glossy
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy manual, it all adds to the fun.
Activision (UK) Ltd
ActivisionHouse
Don't Panic! The cult series from the fate of the characters. Infocom games are all
23 Pond Street
radio, television and books is In Hitchhiker's, you play graded according to their London NW32PN
available as an adventure game. Arthur Dent, the only survivor of difficulty and Hitchhiker's comes 01-431 1101
Infocom, an American com- Earth, which has been demo- into the second category,
Infocom Classics
pany distributed by Activision, lished to make way for an Standard, which means the
House
has a reputation for its high interstellar by-pass. This puzzles are fiendishly clever — Softsel. Softsel
Syon Gate Way
quality programs, so when it unfortunate event happened just but not insoluble. You will need
Great West Road
decided to convert The after Dent got out of bed with a to make the strange, lateral
Brentford TW89DD
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, hangover. Hardly surprising leaps of its author's
01-5688866
they brought in its author, then that he's a bit shaken (if not imagination, and never ignore
Level 9/Rainbird
Douglas Adams, to ensure it stirred) as he sets out on a quest an object, however useless it
74 New Oxford Street
remained true to its zany original. that will take him to the end of may appear. Also, remember to
London WC11 PS
The word adventure hardly the universe. keep saving the current game to
01-631 5170
does justice to an Infocom title. To help you get into the disc at regular intervals. And if
Leisure Genius/Virgin
The term they prefer is 'inter- mood, Infocom includes a the worst comes to the worst,
2-4 Vernon Yard
active fiction' which more number of related objects in the Infocom sells a help booklet.
Portobello Road
accurately suggests the depths package. There's the opaque If you loved Hitchhiker's in its
London W112DX
of the description in the games. peril-sensitive sunglasses, to be previous incarnations you'll love
01-7278070
Playing an Infocom title is like worn in times of extreme danger, this. If you've never sampled the
delights of Adams' bizarre sense
Melbourne House
reading a novel, but you shape and, of course, a 'Don't Panic'
(Publishers) Ltd
of humour, stick out your
Score: 1/6
thumb, and welcome aboard. Melbourne House
ftTbedri
bedroon is a ness,
It is a snail Mroo* pith a faded carpet and old nallpaper. There is a 60 High Street
vashbasin, a chair Kith a tattg dressing gwn slung over it, and a nindon eith
the curtains dram. Near the exit leading south is a phone. Hampton Wick
~" |s a flathead serwdriwIvor here,
FACTS BOX
is a toothbrush here.
Kingston Upon Thames
TITLE
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the KT14DB
iixkilg.this is large enough for sou to get hold of. ?ou notice soacthing in
Ihe pocket. Galaxy 01-9433911
PRICE Mirrorsoft
1IW8 open or dose the pocket unless you're Hearing the gwn.
£29.99/£28.75 Purnell Book Centre
)war gom PUBLISHER
you are aw ueariag your gwn. Paulton
Inf ocwti/lnfocom Classics
(open pocket Bristol BS185LQ
Opening sour gom reveals a thing gov aunt gave sou Mich gou don't knw that
it is, a buffered analgesic, and pocket fluff. Summary Hitchhiker's is hilarious, Ocean Software
)| but if intergalactic wackiness 5 Central Street
doesn't appeal, try any of the other Manchester M25NS
II top of rem Itf I IT I fraft oualitg I N defeats I aexiOff I IISI1
Infocom titles. 061-8326633

65
 C&F ASSOCIATES THE COMPLETE ACCOUNTING
SYSTEM FOR JUST
A wide selection of Amstrad PCW
8256/851 2 software available
OUR
TITLE SUPPLIER RRP PRICE
LORD OF THE RING MELBOURNE HOUSE 24.95 20.95
COLOSSUS CHESS CDS 15.95 13.95
FAIRLIGHT THE EDGE 14.95 12.95
HITCH-HIKERS GUIDE INF0C0M 28.75 22.95
BLACKSTAR C.R.L. 14.95 12.95
S.A.S. RAID C.R.L. 14.95 12.95
GRAHAM COOCH CRICKET AUDIOGEN 19.95 17.50
BATMAN OCEAN 14.95 12.95
JEWELS OF DARKNESS RAINBIRD 19.95 17.50
BRIDGE PLAYER CP SOFTWARE 19.95 17.50
AFTER SHOCK INTERCEPTOR 17.95 15.95
TOMAHAWK DIGITAL 19.95 17.50
SPANISH TUTOR KOSMOS 19.95 17.50
GERMAN MASTER KOSMOS 19.95 17.50
FRENCH MISTRESS KOSMOS 19.95 17.50
ANIMAL/VEG/MINERAL BOURNE 14.95 12.95
WORLD WISE BOURNE 14.95 12.95
PRQSPELL ARNOR 29.95 23.95
TASWORD 8000 TASMAN 24.95 19.95
TOUCH 'N' GO CAXTON 24.95 19.95
INCLUDES INVOICING, SALES LEDGER,
include VAT and postage and packing.
All prices
Cheques/postal orders made payable to C & F Associates
PURCHASE LEDGER, NOMINAL LEDGER
and send to
& STOCK CONTROL. PAYROLL £49 inc VAT.
C&F ASSOCIATES (PW), PO Box 2, BIDEFORD EX39 3RE FOR AN INFORMATION PACK PLEASE CONTACT
Tel: (023 73) 619
Overseas orders: Europe add £ 1 .00 per order;
MAP COMPUTER SYSTEMS LTD, 105-107 WINDSOR RD,
airmail add £2.00 per item
OLDHAM OL8 1RP - 061-624 5662
Goods normally despatched within 24 hours of receipt of order

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 UTILITIES

Utilities make life at the PCW keyboard that little bit easier, especially when you use them with more complicated
programs. Think of them as programs that solve the problems caused by other programs.

Utilities - Aids to efficiency

package consists of a suite of KBIKfV ^ « HicroUner 138S Ne»»Star Software 82S6/512

Portions - » Kicrosoft Corporation, 1979,1981. all Rights Reserved
Keep track of three programs: Directory Editor,
Pleas* type up to It REWORDS or phrases (no nore than SZ characters each)
Copyfile and Zipdisc
1)PC«
your discs Directory Editor has the
Bff
useful feature of being able to 4) 8256
5) Han's Best Friend
If you use your computer for any recover erased files. When you 8) Coaputer
7)1
length of time, you will save a lot
erase a program or a document
of heartache by obtaining a it is not immediately wiped from
decent disc utility.
the disc, but just removed from
SKMOD*; l«« Files Kill be revelled as tooni. ESUpe .ill aiurt tins seirch
Discs sometimes go wrong the visible disc directory. mt escape t. st
|1BC1 _ mm)iMlMlaKt
and precious data or invaluable Directory Editor presents a
- feij&t: HtKCost: KmclusiQn:tl«i<tbusoTteofthesnheiuiXUitiUd()thesu
documents can be irretrievably very detailed directory of a disc, traduction TofullyunlucVthepotentiito{yourfCkijoijTte*daJi*y
lost unless you've got a good giving all sorts of information i9i.pt i cd iscspr ov ide is peed «w"

disc editor which can override which would normally be .. AHSTtieWJrl/Wxrx «K Us MTROBUCIXOK tMhudhn* MUff
'
IIUUITHbTRICI ^introduction
the system. It's especially useful invisible. You can change many
for when you've
those times details with a single keystroke
forgotten to make a back-up.
and save this information back
Some disc utilities make the to the original disc, again using
process of creating back-up Hew reading fflOJBSIH.OOl (User 1)|
a single key. You may bring files
copies easier, while others
back from the dead or cause NewKey you specify up to ten words or phrases, then produces a report,
lets
search through disc files looking
hidden files to suddenly appear. naming the file and showing the context.
for specific words.
You can protect those vital files
There are several disc utilities
by designating them 'Read Only' improvement in speed. The for it) or it can be used straight
sold on the market. Others are so they cannot be erased. from the operating system
documentation states that this
available free through CP/M Copyfile takes the strain out which means read straight
particular utility is compatible it'll

public domain libraries such as of making back-ups. If you find ASCII or Locoscript files.
with all software.
those run by the CP/M Users the CP/M Pip utility a bit Installation is simple, and the
Discmate is a good example
Group and Davis Rubin daunting then this will make life instructions take you through an
of a general disc utility package
Associates.
a lot easier. Once more the and is well worth considering. example search which will teach
emphasis is on ease of use. you how to use the program
Zipdisc is a strange program without too many worrying
DISC MATE
Siren Software
which claims to speed up disc NEWKEY moments.
accessing time by about 20%. NewStar Software NewKey searches for up to 10
£24.99
We tested it by copying files but £14.95
keywords, none of them longer
Running under CP/M Plus, this found no significant than 52 characters, and while
What use is a program that this process is not lightning fast
automatically searches through
it's a lot faster than attempting it

id) Set To R/0 (1) Set To DDt <G> Change Disc (S) Save Changes all the on a disc to look for
files
yourself.
(B) Set To l/N (E) Erase A File <H) !!! HELP !!! (F) Next Pa~
selected keywords? Newkey
(0 Set To SYS (F) Unerase A File (I) Quit lo CP/K* A report signals which files
does just that and it could prove
ZIPDISC .CUM USER M READ/HRIIE MR ffi COPVFILE.COH USER « READ/HRITE DM contain which keywords and
f MATE .COM USER » REM/URITE MR invaluable.
gives the text surrounding the
Imagine you use a word word, enabling you to pick out
processor all day, constantly
the extract from the document
creating files. . . and losing
file without any trouble.
KELP PAGE How many
track of them.
This is probably not an
Allans A file To Be Protected Against Overwriting Or Erasure
DOCUMENT.OOO's have you got essential utility, but you
SET R/0
(A)
IB)
(0
SETm
SET SVS
Renoves The Protection Afforded By R/0 File Nay Be Written To
Prevents File Being Listed Using The MR Comand
on your discs? Now try to get
haven't got the self discipline to
if

MR Removes The SVS Attribute Allowing File To Be Listed With MR hold of the file that dealt with
(D) SET name all your documents care-
(E) erase Erase A File Fro* Die Msc.
those Llamas. Unless you had
(F) UNERASE Recover An Erased File. Hie Best Tine To Recover A File Is fully as you create them, it's a
As Soon As It Has Been Erased, And In Any, Case Before Vou the forethought to call it
Hrite To The Disc. Once A File Has Been Overwritten It Can Not great time-saver.
Be Recovered As It Is No Longer A Cmvlete File LLAMA.001, you waste time
Use This Function To Switch To A New Disc. Sixplg Place Void- New
Disc In Drive A And Select This Function. searching through all the files by
Displays This Help Page.
hand. Or you could use a utility
Exits To CP/N Plus. THE KNIFE
Saves The Changes Nade To The Directors Onto The Disc like NewKey.
Toggles Between Page v And Page 1 Of The Directory. HiSoft
The program can be called up
£12.95
from within NewWord (or a

The Disc Mate main menu is supported by a help screen guide to the control keys. wordprocessor especially set up The Knife is a high-powered disc

67
 UTILITIES
sector editor which lets you to be careful. Defining a key

access sectors, tracks and files used by the program itself can
withtheminimumoftrouble.lt cause all sorts of problems.
includes searches for strings of But if you are familiar with a
characters and byte sequences. particular application there is no

It should be able to deal with any doubt that a Key Editor can save
disc problems that you encoun- you vast amounts of time and
The documentation

m
ter. is trouble.
extremely clear.

SIMPLE SIMON Work while you

Interlock Services Ltd.
print
£14.99

Simple Simon consists of a disc

When you put the printer into

editor, including a recovery action, you are usually tying the

facility, which aims for simplicity machine up for the duration, and
that costs valuable computer
of use. It can also format discs
faster than Disckitand time. The solution is a program
speed up
drive performance. Start of day
such as Spool.
discs can be automatically You can access Write-Hand-Man at any time - even during a game of Gemini's
created and there is an aid to SPOOL Invaders. A menu window appears in the top left-hand corner.

handling password security NewStar Software

systems. £19.95
automatically to the original
You install

SPOOL at the
Spool by typing A friend inside application exactly where you
start'of your left off.
session and running your main your PCW Naturally such a complex
Cutting down program. Then whenever you program needs quite a bit of
send something to the printer One of the most useful tools for
setting up so isn't for
keystrokes Spool automatically stores all
thePC computers is Sidekick, a
beginners. But
it

if you're getting
the necessary information program which sits silently
As yuu get deeper into software,
in so deeply into your PCW that
memory and takes over the inside the micro until you
particularly CP/M programs you can barely tear yourself
chore of controlling the printing. summon it to perform one of its
which lack the familiar Loco- away from the keyboard, you'll
The computer is left free for many functions. Now there's a
need it.
script drop down menus, you version for the PCW.
more useful ends such as letting
could find yourself using long
you get on with the job in hand
sequences of keystrokes to per-
or running another program. WRITE-HAND-MAN Contacts
form a single, simple operation.
Another advantage of Spool HiSoft Caxton Software
You'll save time with a Key
is that it will 'stack' printing £24.95 10-14 Bedford Street
Editor, aprogram that recalls
jobs. More than one file can be Covent Garden
long key sequences at the touch This is not an essential utility,
sent for printing at a time and London WC2E9HE
of a button. but once you get it running you
the program will put it in a queue 01-3796502
rnay find yourself addicted.
while you continue with CP/M Users Group (UK)
SMART KEY You load Write-Hand-Man
something else. The only, 72 Mill Road
Caxton Software into the computer before doing
proviso is that there's enough Hawley
£49.99 anything else and it sits on top
memory available. Considering Dartford
of the system, waiting for you to
Smart Key runs alongside any that the 8512 can spool Kent
call it into action. Once
application you're using under documents of around 150 Davis Rubin Associates Ltd
activated, by a pre-determined
CP/M, though it's not pages, and the 8256 about half 1 Canonbourne
keystroke, it gives a number of
compatible with Locoscript as much, only the very greedy Weston Sub Edge
very useful options for anything
which uses its own operating will run into trouble. Chipping Campden
who spends a great deal of time
system. It allows you to assign The price you pay is that Glos GL55 6HW
at the keyboard.
any sequence of keystrokes to a program execution slows down 0386-841181
Notepad allows you to make
single key press — usually ALT a little while the spooler is at
a few notes, maybe about the HiSoft
plus a character. work, but the time saved is well
program you're working on, in a The Old School
The process is fairly simple, worth it. If you are working and
32 character by 8 line pull-down Greenfield
and the documentation is printing all day, this utility will
window. You could look up a Bedford
detailed and clear, but you have pay for itself very quickly.
phone number, previously 0525-718181
stored on disc, and Interlock Services Ltd
Kixkey II Version 1. IB
Copyright (c) 1981,84: FBN Software
communicate that number to an 123b Brent Street
Saartkey II vl.l naintenance utility modem. Calendar is a
autodial London NW42DX
two week diary, that could prove 01-2028727
COfflflffl) HDtii
very handy for the business man
NewStar Software
« Exit to CP/K writing a letter to arrange a
1 Pack and save current definitions 200 North Service Road
2 Load definition file meeting. There's also a four
Brentwood
3 List definition file
function calculator, a fast
4 List current definitions Essex CM144SG
5 Clear current definitions directory facility and much
6 Alter setup key 0277-220573
more.
8 Conpile definitions Siren Software
9 Modify definitions Advanced features include a
76 Bridge Street
You can also
limited Key Editor.
Enter selection: I Manchester M3 2RJ
load up a second program and
061-7966074
Smart Key's main menu presents a clear path through the key editor's functions. when you exit from it return

68
 Our Kempston Mouse is
THE BUSINESS
Kempston Mouse System for the In addition to this drawing facility, it is

AMSTRAD PCW 8256/8512. possibleto mixTEXT with graphics and also

Kempston announce the launch of their use the mouse drivers within Loco-Script.
Mouse System for the Amstrad PCW Range The Introduction of the Mouse expands the
complete with 'Desktop' PCW's capabilities well beyond its primary
function as a word processor.
THE HARDWARE The protocol used by the interface is likely to
become the industry standard as it is already
The Mouse, which features two independant supported by Mirrorsoft with their 'Fleet
trigger buttons uses an optical system to Street Editor' and Nabitchi Computing with
decode movements of an internal tracker 'EXBASIC.
ball. These movements are precisely
monitored by the interface which fits onto The Kempston Mouse for the
the expansion port of the Amstrad PCW. A PCW 8256/8512 is competitively priced at
simple port read reveals the exact X and Y £89.95 inc. VAT.
co-ordinates and the status of the trigger
buttons at any instant.

THE SOFTWARE
'Desktop' is a versatile drawing utility
featuring Pop-Down menus enabling the
user to treat the screen as if it were a drawing
board, using the Kempston Mouse.

ORDER FORM
Fast Mail Order Service.
Please send me the following:

Kempston Mouse System for Amstrad

PCW range £89.95
Information on Amstrad CPC 6128
Mouse System Telephone (0234) 327544
Information on other Amstrad Products Telex 82392 Robins G

^
HfimpiTon
MICRO 1 ELECTRONICS LTD
 ••• •••••••

VIDEO PROCESSOR w
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MODERN LANGUAGE
LEARNING AIDS OF ALL TIME
• THE FRENCH MISTRESS
• THE GERMAN MASTER
• THE SPANISH TUTOR
NOW AVAILABLE FOR AMSTRAD PCW 8256/8512
Designed to satisfy the language learning needs of:
• School children studying O-level, CSE and GCSE
• Beginners and night class students
• Business men and women
• Holiday travellers
• Foreign students learning English

Each program includes a comprehensive series of lessons

COLOUR HARD with over 2500 items of vocabulary. Additional vocabulary

such as homework, coursework and revision material can
all be very easily keyed in, edited and saved on disc or
cassette for future use.

COPY- A UNIQUE For PCW 8256/851

For CPC 464, 664, 61 28
For CPC 464, 664
3"DiscE19.95
3" Disc £19.95
Twin Cassettes £16.95

To order please state FRENCH. GERMAN or SPANISH and enclose a

SOLUTION cheque/postal-order or quote your

All prices include

Please remember to
VAT and
tell
ACCESS
postage.
number.

us which type of computer you have.

Graftel's video processor range is a KOSMOS SOFTWARE LIMITED Tel: 05255 3942/5406
unique solution to printing colour graphics FREEPOST (No Stamp needed) (Telephone orders welcome)
displays. Forget software drivers. Forget device DUNSTABLE, Beds. LU5 6BR All orders despatched same day
dependance. The VP 200 range collects and
stores display information in a matter of
seconds. The host is released for other tasks
while printing goes ahead. The video processor DISCOUNT CP/M SOFTWARE
drives the printer of your choice and generates FOR THE PCW8256 & PCW851 2
an exact representation of the screen. A stand- WORD PROCESSING:
NEW WORD RRP 69.00 OUR PRICE 61 .95
alone hardware device that eliminates software TASWORD8000 RRP 24.95 OUR PRICE 20.95
TASPRINT8000 RRP 14.90 OUR PRICE 12.50
overheads, the VP 200 range accepts RGB video PROSPELL RRP 29.95 OUR PRICE 25.95
DATABASES:
input. Able to match any terminal, preset CAMBASE RRP 49. 94 OUR PRICE 43.95
variants for IBM and DEC systems are available. AT LAST RRP 49.95 OUR PRICE 43.95
DATA GEM RRP 39.95 OUR PRICE 34.95
FIRST BASE RRP 29.95 OUR PRICE 25.95
SPREADSHEETS:

RGB Vldeo
Input
k
V l\
Adaptive - Automatically
Matches Last Terminal
SUPERCALC2
CRACKER 2
GRAPHICS:
RRP 49.95
RRP 49.95
OUR PRICE 44.95
OUR PRICE 43.95
DR. DRAW RRP49.95 OUR PRICE 43.95
W TT'ull Representation of
a Colour Screen 8 and 64 Colour
versions
DR. GRAPH
POLYPLOT
POLYPRINTwithPOLYWORD
POLYPRINT TYPEFACES (2 or 3]
RRP 49.94
RRP24.95
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RRP 19.95
OUR PRICE 43.95
OUR PRICE 22.95
OUR PRICE 26.95
OUR PRICE 18.95

B utter Store Holds

Complete Page(s)
k Qcreen Sizes up to 1280
"u by 1024 Pixels
COMMUNICATIONS:
CHIT CHAT E-MAIL
CHIT CHAT VIEWDATA
AMSTRAD CPS8256 l/FACE FOR ALL PCWs
AMSTRADV21/V23 MODEM
RRP 69.95
RRP 69.95
RRP 67.85
RRP 99.95
OUR PRICE 57.95
OUR PRICE 57.95
OUR PRICE 59.95
OUR PRICE 96.95
k T^ast Data Capture - Frees ^T^v rives a Range of Colour TUTORIAL:
W ±- Terminal during Printout, r i-J Ink Jet and Matrix Printers IANSYST CRASH TYPING RRP 24.95 OUR PRICE 22.95
HANDS ON (CP/M/SUJPERCALC2/DBASEII) RRP 24.95 OUR PRICE 21 .95
TOUCH & GO RRP 24.95 OUR PRICE 20.95
Other products from Graftel include Printer LOCOSCRIPT TUTORIAL (audio) RRP 9.95 OURPRICE 8.95
GAMES:
terminals that act as both Viewdata and computer HITCH HIKERS GUIDE (Infocom) RRP 28.95 OUR PRICE 23.95
printers, and buffered multiplexers which control WISHBRINGER (Infocom) RRP 28.95 OUR PRICE 23.95
20RK (or or III) (Infocom)
I II RRP 23.00 OUR PRICE 19.95
printers in. multiple PC/terminal installations. SORCERER (Infocom) RRP 23.00 OURPRICE 19.95
LORD OF THE RINGS RRP 24.95 OUR PRICE 19.95
TOMAHAWK RRP 19.95 OUR PRICE 16.95
BATMAN RRP 14.95 OUR PRICE 12.95
THE AMSTRAD CP/M PLUS - Paperback 1 2.95; Loose leaf 1 8.95
LABELS: Fanfolded:
1 across x 1000 RRP 7.95 OURPRICE 6.25
Graftel (U.K.) Ltd 2 across x 2000 RRP 11.95 OURPRICE 10.95
Chequers Court, Station Road, postage, packing and VAT in the U.K.
All prices include
Overseas orders welcome — please write for export prices
Thatcham, Newbury, Berks, SEE OUR LATEST PRICES AND OFFERS ON PRESTEL '25888
RG13 4JD. Please send cheques/POs to:

Tel: 0635 62626 M.J.C. SUPPLIES (CGA)

Telex: 859 922 Scoja", London Road, Hitchin, Herts SG49EN
Fax: 0635 69413 Tel: (0462) 32897 for enquiries! Access orders - out of hours Answerphone
 PROGRAMMING
Though most PCWs are bought to run other peoples' programs, many owners succumb to a desire to dabble in the

code that controls the computer. .

Mind your languages

Programming a micro is not Mallard is not a bad dialect, it used in educational situations. Procedures, which act upon it.

difficult. It's a skill that can be does lack several important Be warned though — Logo is There are three versions of
learnt like any other, and most features, not the least ofwhich nothing like Basic. Cobol available, of which Micro
people can pick up enough is graphics handling. It's The most obvious feature of Focus's CIS Cobol, via Software

competence to help them probably best suited to the language is the 'turtle' on- Toolshop, is held in high regard.

understand the workings of mathematical functions. screen cursor, which you control
CIS-Cobol
professional software. Exbasic, from Nabitchi, adds from the keyboard. This Software Toolshop
However there are many 36 new commands, covering graphics introduction to Logo
£99.95
different high level languages cursor control, screen layout makes it a lot of fun, but it has
Cobol
that can be used to comm- and those elusive graphics, to many other applications. Nevada
unicate with the Central either augment or simplify
£37.95
Processing Unit's (CPU) low Mallard sequences. You'll find
Cobol Compiler
level machine language. Each yourself doing some extra Microsoft
has its own style and is better typing,and operations will slow
£184.00
suited to certain tasks than down, but this is one way to
others. To confuse things expand Mallard.
further, though two versions of a A more satisfactory SeeC
language may be 90% the alternative, for the ambitious
C's short name could stand for
same, there are many different
dialects available, which may
user, is Digital

CBasic Compiler. This differs

Research's
/?C?CU 4 I'A iM n m the compact nature of the code
that it produces. It allows you to
include or omit certain from Mallard because, instead bok defied
'hex do a lot with very few
commands. of the micro having to translate
If you want to start prog- the language into a form the 1 instructions, which take the
Logo lets you create procedures, such form of words and symbols.
ramming, where better to start CPU will understand every time
as drawing a box, and call them up with C is a highly-structured
than with Basic or Logo, which it's run, it takes the program,
a single word. language, much favoured in the
are bundled with the machine. produced with any editor or
Logo lets you use a number construction of computer
But if you get hooked there are word processor that produces
of simple commands to build up operating systems, business
plenty more avenues to explore. ASCII files, and turns it directly
more complex procedures. To software and even games. It is
into machine code.
draw a box you'd command the very flexible, in particular in its
While it is rather slow
advance a number of
Back to Basic running, CBasic Compiler
turtle to

elements then turn through 90

definitions of datatypes, but this
error checking
results in its
includes sophisticated graphics,
Basic is the first language that degrees. Tell it to do this four being less strict.
using the GSX system. It also
most people learn. In fact, its times then stop. This procedure If you're working with Hi-
lets you create a program in
name is an acronym of could be named 'box' and called Soft's C and need a floating
structured modules, which are
Beginners' All-Purpose up with this single word in point library, to add arithmetical
eventually connected. Of course
Symbolic Instruction Code. future. functions and more, Edenmay
you lose the opportunity to run
Basic is generally easy to produces one.
the uncompiled code to check it OR Logo
learn, and understanding other
for errors, so this is a useful Digital Research Aztec C
people's code is simple; some-
feature. The final program can Included with PCW £109.99 (personal)
thing which is not always true of
use all 61 K available when £265.99 (commercial)
other languages. Its use of
running directly under CP/M. BDSC
numbered lines means that you Business talk £109.99
can trace a path through the CBasic Compiler
Cobol takes its name from Floating Point Library
code, which has a reasonable Digital Research
Common Business-Oriented Edenmay Ltd
resemblance to English. £49.95
Language. It was the first £12.95
Every Amstrad PCW comes Exbasic
language devised for general Hi-Soft C
complete with Mallard Basic, Nabitchi
purposes and not just High-Soft
and all of the second manual is
£11.44
mathematics. £39.95
devoted to the language. While Mallard Basic
Its style is similar to everyday Toolworks C/80
10 LET N = 2 Locomotive Software English, though it pays for this £00.00
Included with PCW clarity in terms of the memory it

20 FOR C = 1 to 10 Nevada Basic requires. Despite this clums-

£38.99 iness, it is still an interesting
30 LET N = N * N Z Basic language for the
£86.99 Cobol divides into four areas.
writer.
computing
40 NEXT C Identification includes all the Named after the father of

information on the program computing, Blaise Pascal,

50 PRINT N
Log onto Logo name, author, and so on. The was intended as a successor to
this

Logo is the other language that Environment is only concerned Basic, for use as a teaching
The numbered lines make Basic language.
comes with the PCW, and it's a with details which are specific to
programs easy to follow. This one
verygood introduction to the micro. The hard core of the Pascal is a compiled
squares variable N ten times, using C as
a counter. programming. In fact, it's often programming is its Data and the language which is strong on

71
 PROGRAMMING
long, complicated programs and Pro Fortran
list handling. It is also highly Prospero Contacts
structured, enforcing a system- £75.00 Abersoft
atic approach. Unfortunately, FTL Modula 2 7 Maes Aftallen
these bounds can make it Hi-Soft
Bow Street
difficult to learn. £49.95 (compiler) Dyfed SY24 5BA FO
It's a popular language on the £39.95 (interactive editor)
THI
Compact Software Ltd
Gfi
Amstrad, and the cheapest Micro Prolog 1 Paper Mews PR'
packages are from Systems LPA 330 High Street AP
Software and Hi-Soft. The former £77.00 Dorking
is a good choice for beginners Lisp/80
Surrey RH41QX Joi
because it lets you test run your Toolworks
0306-887373 Re
compiled code without leaving £69.95 an
Digital Research (UK) Ltd
the program, but its editor is less Pilot ye
Oxford House
than perfect. Pascal 80, on the Forth is a mid-level language, which Nevada /

lacks the simplicity of Basic but

Oxford Street
is £37.95
other hand, has an excellent
friendlier than pure machine code and Newbury PRI
and Hi-Soft's policy of
editor, Devpac 80 Assembler
almost as powerful. Berks RG131JB
constant up- grades has ensured Hi-Soft
0635-35304
a host of features.
and has similarities to Basic. Its £39.95
Edenmay Ltd
Stepping up a name is an abbreviation of Macro80 Assembler
little in price, 7 School Walk
Pascal/MT+ is a standard
FORmulaTRANslation, and as Microsoft
Chippenham
version, so this indicates, its main use is for £184.00
its source code is
SN14 0QS
Wiltshire
scientific and engineering
and comes
easily portable,
0249-653800
purposes.
complete with debugging
utilities. Pro Pascal is again Modula 2 is an interesting The easy way to Hi-Soft
The Old School
development of Pascal, while
standard and includes facilities
Prolog, from PROgramming
program? Greenfield
to handle long integers, random BedsMK455DE
LOGic, is particularly strong in If actually writing a program
access file handling and single 0525-718181
and double precision floating- its data handling. It's part- sounds too complex, a program
Micro Focus
point numbers. Around the icularly favoured in Artificial generator meets you half way
26 West Street
same price Turbo Pascal Intelligence circles as it mimics and acts as a guide. Nucleus is
is easy Newbury
to use, fast and has several human logic, and is likely to an aid to creating business
Berks RG 13 1JT
extension programs, including form the basis for the next programs, which, as they're in
0635-32646
sound and graphics. generation of computers. Mallard Basic, can be modified
Microsoft
Lisp is also used in Al further if you feel ambitious.
Oxford Pascal Excel House
because of its List Processing In simple terms, Nucleus lets
Systems Software (Oxford) Ltd. 49 De Monford Road
strength, and for text handling." you create data handling
£24.95 Reading
PILOT is a rather esoteric lang- systems dedicated to a specific
Pascal/MT+ Berks RG18LD
uage but even this can be found task. It could, for example, help
Digital Research 0734-500741
on the PCW. you to create an integrated
£49.95 Nabitchi
Of course, if you really want program that would use
Pascal 80 Merseyside Innovation Centre
to get as close as possible to the financial information within
Hi-Soft 131 Mount Pleasant
micro's own language you can standard letters, storing the data
£39.95 Liverpool L3 5TF
use an assembler. This allows in a database of personal
Pro Pascal 051-708 0123
Prospero
you to address the chip directly, records. Information from
Prospero Software Ltd
£75.00 using mnemonic commands, Compact's accounting software
190 Castelnau
Turbo Pascal such as LD for LoaD a register of can also be used, or you can use
London SW13 9DH
£59.99 the processor. the Nucleus Interfacer to
01-741 8531
Not surprisingly, it's a communicate with other word
Softshare Toolshop
difficult art to master, but if processing and spreadsheet
Go Forth. . you've got a logical mind
it can programs.
see Hi-Soft
Systems Software (Oxford) Ltd
be most rewarding. You have to The well-illustrated manual is
and further! pay great attention to detail to generally good and clear, though
16b Worcester Place
Oxford 0X1 2JW
Several other languages are get the chip to do just what you you'll find problems if you're an
0865-54195
supported on the PCW.and all want it to, though. absolute beginner and rush
have their adherents. Of these, A good assembler, which straight into it. Take your time, LANGUAGE SUPPLIERS
Forth has attracted great supports a wide range of comm- follow the examples, and it all Because of their specialist nature,

interest. It has a dictionary of a ands, is vital, and though the falls into place. The most languages are often difficult to obtain.

CP/M disc actually includes important thing is to plan what Where a publisher's address not
few, limited commands, which is

supplied, the program should be

are used to create new, com- such a utility, you'd be advised to you want the finished program
obtainable from:
pound commands. Eventually invest in something more to do before you move to the Analytical Engines
the whole program is turned into sophisticated. Hi-Soft's keyboard. PO Box 35
one command, which is then Devpac80 is to be recomm- Nucleus won the 1984 RITA Eastleigh Hampshire S05 5WU
Rational Solutions
run. ended for its friendly facilities award for Best Software
9 Rosehill Road
Forth can be an exciting and reasonable price. Product. It is still an excellent London SW18 2NY
language to work in, but it can Forth
aid to fast and efficient 01-874 6244
also be infuriating, because programming. Software City
it is Abersoft
382 Kings Road
not easy to read somebody £29.95 Nucleus Chelsea, London SW3 5UZ
else's code — and chasing bugs Work Forth Compact or Software Toolshop (address
in your own programs can be £39.95 £99.99 above).
01-352 9220
extremely difficult. Fortran Nucleus Interface
Fortran dates back to the Nevada Compact
days of mainframe computers, £36.99 £69.99

72
 INTERACTIVE DISPLAY SYSTEM
di/antgqe With IDS the interactive display system on Amstrad PCWs you can:
• Set up automatic displays that cycle through screens of information
DISC SOFTWARE FOR PCW COMPUTERS — ideal for shop displays.
• Tailor Computer Aided Learning tutorials that present information and
allow the user to interact with the displays — suitable for training
FOUR NEMESIS ADVENTURE GAMES £15.95
environments.
THECOMPLEAT UTILITIES SUITE £11.95 • Creat quizzes and tests for any subject — useful in supplementing
GAMES COMPENDIUM £9.95 other teaching techniques.
PROFESSIONAL 'C COMPILER £39.50 • Many other applications.
APPLICATION PROGRAMS £11.95 The IDS package includes a full feature, word processor-like screen
creatore that allows boxes, lines, large text, reverse video, printer
NATIONAL & INTERNATION USER GROUP output, menus, etc. A useful set of utilities help yuou to set up and
Join the leading independent user group for PCW & CPC computers. manage the displays. All the facilities are accessed through easy to use
Receive monthly Newsletters, support, share views, programs and ideas, menu systems. Many other facilities.
and get £2.00 off each of the discs above. The membership fee is £8.95 per IDS is machine code for speed and compactness and comes complete
year (UK) or £1 3.95 (overseas). with on-disc demo, user guide, full after sales and upgrade support at the
introductory price of only £34.95.
Advantage (Dept. GA), 33 Malyns Close, Chinnor, Oxfordshire 0X9 4EW
Cheques/POs or send s.a.e. for further details to:
PRICES INCLUDE POSTAGE & VAT AT 15%. OVERSEAS ORDERS PLEASE ADD £1 PER DISC C. J. F. LOWE, 2 Christ Church Square. Accrington, Lanes BB5 2NA

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 EDUCATION
Fed up with two finger typing or want to revise your French? The computer can be a great aid to learning. Here we
review aids to learning computer skills, and more general educational programs.

Learning programmes

The PCW way to The two-fingers to touch

typing conversion course aims
while typing, though a
report is generated during the
full error market and
classic Pitman method.
it's based on the
Its

WPM to teach people

have computer keyboard
who already
skills
lesson.
If you think you'd prefer a
boast is

twenty-four hours.
true touch typing in

Though a word processor allows to learn better habits while more traditional approach, It's an exceptionally well
you to correct your errors more actually working. Touch 'n' Go is the antithesis of presented course, both on-
easily than a typewriter, you're A unique feature of the lankey. Starting with the screen and off. Its manual is
still not realising your PCW's full program is its ability to let you repetition of single letters, to rather more complete than its
potential if you can't hit those customise lessons for yourself, teach your fingers where to lie, it competitors', and includes hints
keys at a reasonable speed. or for training employees. To progresses to three and then on the ergonomics of good
If, for example,
you type only this end lankey will license you four letter words, first repeated typing-technique, such as hand
1,000 words a week, and can copy the program, and supply and then with
to variety. position and posture.
attain 20 words per minute, a extra documentation, for a small This approach may seem
drill The display includes a rep-
reasonable speed for an fee. rather mechanical, but it is resentation of the keyboard,
untutored typist, you'd still be lankey s approach is infor- effective. Your score is carried complete with animated fingers,
losing four whole working hours mal, which has resulted in it over and you can easily revise or so you should never need to
a year, compared with a 60 wpm going against the grain of trad- pick a later lesson. You'll be look at your hands. You can aim
typist, according to lancyst. itional typing practice. doesn't expected to work hard and apply for the program's
It speed and
Their lankey course contains you never look at the
insist that yourself with this method, but it accuracy targets or set your
a special option to teach two- keyboard, but you are dis- teaches good skills from the own, as with the other
fingered typists to touch type couraged from doing so as the start. The only grumble is the programs.
properly, as well as a crash key positions are shown on- absence on-screen prompts
of If you tire of the exercises,
course for beginners. This takes screen. to help you identify keys; this though, Computer One has
only three to four hours study to There also less emphasis could force you to look down
is at provided a typing game. This is
teach keyboard recognition and on the home keys, on which the your fingers. a variation on that old favourite,
aims for 40 wpm with reason- fingers normally rest, and you're Computer One's Typing Tutor hangman, but instead of
able accuracy. not required to correct errors is the most recent addition to the guessing words you have to type
them. It's a nice diversion with
IX. No. lugttst ust sentence; UuenM Kesuits Typing Tutor has most graphic appeal, with its
u some entertaining phrases and
|t«M moil apa representation of the keyboard and hangman game.
!2L it helps take the sting out of the
Stir 1 J 3 4 5 S 7 J s • - = »& DEL work.
lit « E » I » » I r [ 1 In the long run, your decision
will rest on personal preference.
lankey is versatile and pro-
gressive whileTouch 'n' Go
teaches you in a traditional style.

But for sheer fun, Computer One

takes the biscuit. Still, which-
ever way you choose, the twenty
four hours it takes to learn to
touch type is as nothing
compared with the time you can
save.
Beware the Jabberwock, ny son
Beware the Jabber* FACTS BOX
Irg taping
rw. IMP* nurds like
s«m aords Kith sour fingers on Mimm t
PRODUCT
ah lankey
ill sid lid; »t hid his; lig stj fill; lash lull
SUPPLIER
lancyst
PRICE
Plust press HMMli U continue:
£24.95
Touch 'n' Go puts you through drills until you learn the
lessons by repetition. PRODUCT
Touch 'n' Go
sour 'ESCMT keg.
SUPPLIER

[
An lankey exercise demonstrates how many words can
J

Ktm
i
is toed iiiu the second finger, left hind.
Caxton
PRICE
£24.95
it the end is taped «ith the fourth finger, right hind
be made with the middle line of the keyboard. PRODUCT
Reguireaent to luster this lesson; declines IN z , Speed M HPM Typing Tutor
Nm tgpe the Mining (finishing aith 'return') — SUPPLIER
ddddddddddddddddddddidddd Computer One
PRICE
£24.95

74
 EDUCATION

to identify. While an adult can should be stressed here that no computer teaching, but if

Reversing roles type in these characteristics, if young child should be left alone they're used by a parent and
the child does he or she will to learn with a computer. An younger child, or an older pupil
In the field of computer intell- it

soon start to learn about data educational package for this age with a positive attitude towards
igence there is a type of program
categorisation and get an idea of is only of value if it is fully education, they are reasonably
called Intelligent Animal. In it,

how artificial intelligence supported by parental guidance. priced aids.

the computer has to deduce the
operates. Starting at the junior end,
animal you're thinking of by FACTS BOX
asking questions from its These are a pair of unusual Magic Maths (4-8) and its PRODUCT
database, which it updates every and clever programs, designed sequel, Maths Mania (8-12), aim Beter Maths
to stimulate enthusiasm, rather to turn basic skills into a game. Better Spelling
time you play.

Animal, Vegetable, Mineral than teach by mechanical The first concentrates on add- Biology I

and World-Wise are Intelligent means. ition and subtraction, while the Chemistry I

programs, and latter emphasises multi- Geography

Animal-style FACTS BOX
the plication and division. Magic Maths
both turn the child into PRODUCT
teacher. Aimed at the age range Animal, Vegetable, Mineral Unfortunately School has been Maths Mania
they are an enter- World-Wise unable to add much in the way Physics
7 and older, I

taining way to stimulate a child's SUPPLIER of graphics, so there is little SUPPLIER

curiosity, and could be used Bourne Educational Software reward for the young pupil when School Software Ltd.
PRICE they get a question right. PRICE
equally in home or classroom
£14.95 each Better Spelling also comes £12.95 each
situations.

As both programs are similar, into effect at this age (8-Adult).

we'll take our example from Joyce goes to It concentrates on the most The tutor in the
common errors and areas of
Animal, Vegetable, Mineral. At
the computer knows very school confusion, such as prefixes,
machine
first
Imagine if you could have a
little. If you tell it that you're Though the likelihood of the suffixes and irregular plurals,
tutorial help facility resident in
thinking of an animal, it will ask computer ever replacing the which it groups together in
human teacher in the classroom logical order. It's a demon- your PCW for every program
a few stock questions, such as
stration of the computer's ability
that you use. Well, interactive
how many legs it has or if it is remote, there's no denying
learning is already available for a
barks. The yes or no answers let that it can provide a powerful, to provide structured rote
number of programs
interactive learning tool. learning.
it eventually hazard a guess.
Micro Cal produces three
The educational value of the Whether it's for revision or to School Software's other
program lessons are intended for the Hands On tutors, for CP/M,
program really comes into its clarify text book, a all

secondary age range, from 12 Supercalc and dBase II. The last
own when it starts to ask ques- can prtsent information in a
upwards, and cover Geography, mentioned requires a second
which the child doesn't
tions to clear, easily-learnt form.
drive, but the others reside
know the answer. To teach the School Software's speciality Maths and Science subjects.
happily in an 8256's memory,
PCW, the child is forced to refer isprograms for children and They provide the most basic
hints concerning the subject,
along with a simulation of the
to books, so learning basic teenagers, though the skills of
plus questions which could be
host program.
research techniques. Better Spelling are applicable to
useful for revision purposes.
Each program takes you
The program will also ask for any age. Their programs span
School's programs take a through a series of structured
information to help distinguish the age range from four, to
lessons, which give you
the objects that its been taught senior school science exams. It conservative attitude towards
instructions on how to set about
certain tasks. If you make a
Animal, Vegetable, Mineral exploits the micro's ability
Mineral
to simulate intelligence and set up an interactive mistake a window appears,
learning situation. 1 Is it vers shins? telling you what went wrong.
n This system isn't without its

n! Let ne think.,, problems though and you have

to follow the instructions fairly
Is it the following:
closely because experiment-
sand? n ation tends to confuse the

I give up!! program. But this is a unique

AClIVIiy SERBS
use of the computer as a
F lease enter the Mineral
2, .The netal nhich tarnishes Mst npidls in lir is LITB sou were thinking of: learning medium.
oxide of the neUl
leadB Minerva's Lemloco is less

ambitious. It's a series of

Chemistry and the other School Software titles are
I Locoscript files that you load
probably best used to revise facts that have been after the word processor
learnt in the classroom.
program with the [f1 ] key. You
then access the lessons with
NAM JOHN HELL DONE RICHI URONG Edit and providing you always
No* JOHN try this one I

PRESS SPACE Bffl 10 CONTINUE « 2 e leave them with Abandon Edit,

you can experiment to your
9S99S99
heart's content, changing the
3 P
9999999 text on the screen.

B The lessons take you through

99
a variety of exercises. Eventually
they become quite advanced,
tackling specific jobs that you
might want to do with Loco-
script. All are of a highly

Magic Maths uses the PCW's standard character set to practical nature and naturally,

create big, chunky numbers, suited to young learners. nm-.mm t Right Ouestion No, 1 you can produce hard copy on
the printer.

75
 EDUCATION
Minerva's Learner Friendly constructed course which takes you lose points for trying, so handling figures, from the very
range also includes an easy to full advantage of the Amstrad's you can keep a record of your beginning to O-level standard.
use database and spreadsheet, disc storage for data, and its progress. The 24 lessons include full
which newcomers to computing ability to produce foreign The flexibility of the series of instructions, unlimited prob-
can use to familiarise them- accents. programs is probably its lems and explanations of wrong
selves with these program's Running under Basic, the greatest asset. You can select answers. The step-by-step
basic principles. programs are all menu driven, the learning pattern that suits nature means that you can
with useful on-screen prompts you best. If there is a failing, it's define your own pace as you
FACTS BOX
as well as several screens of that the tests are too forgiving. progress from such simple
PRODUCT
instructions. Each covers a They recognise where words topics as averages and
Hands-OnCP/M
minimum of 2,500 words should end, so if you try to type percentages to algebra,
Hands-On dBase II
vocabulary, verb conjugation in an extra letter, they don't mark geometry and statistics.
Hands-On Supercalc
and stock phrases. If that isn't you down. Whether it's for a child at
SUPPLIER
Micro Cal enough, you can also create Of course, the absolute school or for an adult to learn
PRICE your own lessons, which you beginner would need some extra these skills, this is a comp-
£24.95 could gear to the technical help on pronounciation,and rehensive series of lessons.
PRODUCT language specific to your possibly a book of basic gram-
Lernloco business, for example.
FACTS BOX
matical rules too. But as an aid
SUPPLIER PRODUCT
At all stages in the Kosmos to absorbing vocabulary, The
Minerva Micro Maths
course, you control the rate of French Mistress and educa-
PRICE SUPPLIER
£16.95
learning. If you want to study tional friends are excellent. LCL
vocabulary related to the family, PRICE
FACTS BOX
Minding your for instance,
On seeing
you select Lesson
TITLE
£24.00
1. that it contains 47
The French Mistress
language words, you may feel that it's too
The German Master Contacts
much to take in during the 15
When you have to write that
The Spanish Tutor Bourne Educational
minutes you've got to spare, so
SUPPLIER
important letter to France, will Software Ltd
you decide to concentrate on the Kosmos Software Ltd
you be able to cope? Certainly Bourne House
first dozen. However, you prefer PRICE
you studied the language in The Hundred
these to appear in random order, £19.95 each
school, but you can
all
so that you're not just learning a
Romsey
remember is something about Hampshire S058BY
the pen of your aunt
set sequence. Additional 0794-523301
. .
Once you've been through the
Caxton Software Ltd
Whether you're revising your vocabulary, you can test your- assistance 10-14 Bedford Street
languages for a business trip self. Again you choose how Nothing seems to cause
abroad or an impending examin- Covent Garden
many words will appear, in what problems like maths. Many
ation, the Kosmos series could
London WC2E9HE
order.and whether you'll be people have a blind spot when it

be invaluable. With versions for tested on English or the foreign

01-3796502
comes to even the most basic
German, Spanish and French, equivalents. The program won't
Computer One Ltd
arithmetical skills. LCL's Micro
they provide a carefully Science Park
let you type a wrong letter, but
in Maths is a complete course in
Milton Road

Lernloco ingeniously uses Locoscript files, which

Cambridge CB44BH
you're free to experiment with as you read the tutorial. 0223-862616
lancyst Ltd
- _r SIST!X ind SBSI DISCS Jenny, you nay have noticxt 1
file
PHUBSES
naned PKHISES. Sib.
Wen the eonputer
By
is
n«i you
snitched
ire
off
used
the
to
PUBISES
inking
you
Omnibus Building
have mde mil vanish!
41 NorthRoad
PHMSES.SU isa store for phrases. It . hold 26 phrases
as long as they dp not exceed a total c
phrase for each letter of the alphabet.
) characters,
mot
s
One
be
London IM7 9DP
It has to be froa •Etltmc
WT SCREEN*, such as the screei
screen version of this page. 01-6075844
Press IfB] BLOCKS and look „ the SUB nni on screen. neve
the cursor dwn to the batten line vhich sags
the
SAVE ALL PHRASES Kosmos Software Ltd
and press [I
1 Pilgrims Close
your full nane in the highlighted area below
this hue; Harlington
Hen Rake a phrase of itT ReAetber* you start
iith the [C0PY1 Key and follw the instructions
Dunstable
at the top of the screen. this has created a lest 1 Scare 111
FILE
m in jfaE
aBAKbOK
Hi nailed
EMI yhenalien
PBRHSES.SIb
leaving this
and even
screen
if
the
BedsLU56LX
FILE mil return. LIB] again and you'll find the
05255-3942/5406
Hello, Kbit is your IBM? John
LCL
Here are smc problens John Melody House
Micro Maths covers a wide range of mathematical Greys Road
topics,many of which are vital in everyday life. liiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiit M iiiiiiiiiiiiiiieiiiieiiiiiiiiitiacotowowwwwww
WMOtWWOOOWWWM
Henley-On-Thames
Oxon
0491-579345
Micro Cal
English, then French
Start at entry 1
(SINGLE STEP)
End at entry S3
PO Box 561
Phrases Display niniber I Entry nuttier 4 Slough SL39DP
0753-75991
Minerva Systems

ho« are you?

69 Sidwell Street
Exeter EX46PH
0392-37756
cotment allei-vous*
School Software
Meadowvale Estate
The French Mistress and colleagues are versatile Raheen
teachers, which let you learn vocabulary and grammar
EilS!
Limerick
Press to continue, liJli to quit. at your own pace.
Ireland

76
 LOGICOm
Business THE NEW RANGE OF
Software Bargains LOGICOM PRODUCTS
MASSIVE STOCKS U.K. POSTAGE FREE FOR THE
AMSTRAD 8256/851 2/PC1 51 AMSTRAD 8256/8512
NEW!! From MICRO POWER PC SOFTWARE
DATAFLOW III Flexible, Easy to Use Database
& PLUS
MAILFLOW III Mailmerging with LOCOSCRIPT
(Turn your PCW 8258/851 2 into a fully integrated
Information Retrieval System and automate 80/90% of
your Office Procedures)

ONLY £49.95 inc VAT!!

DATABASES
D Base II £44*tHT£107.10
Condor I
59&&T £89.99
*Condor Junior JS9r99" £89.99
Delta _£9*e0" £89.99
*Cardbox ,£5*r99" £53.99
Scratch Pad _£59*9" £53.99
Sage Retrieve .£69t99- £62.99

WORD PROCESSING
Pocket Wordstar _£49*5" £44.95
Prospell _£2*95" £26.95
Brainstorm 5M*ff £44.99
*Touch 'n' Go j2Ar*& £22.49
GRAPHICS
DR. Graph _£49*r £44.95
DR. Draw _£49r9r £44.95

ACCOUNTS
SAGESOFT
Payroll j£fc99" £62.99
Invoicing/Stock Control S&fr&T £62.99
Popular Accounts
(Integrated Bookeeping/Accounts) _£99r99" £89.99
Popular Accounts Plus
(Invoicing and Accounts) _£449^9~ £134.99
Super Combo
(Accounts, Invoicing and Payroll _£499t99~£179.99

M.A.P. SOFTWARE
*Sales Ledger, Puchase Ledger, Nominal
Ledger, Stock Control, Payroll (EACH) _£49^0" £44.90
COMPLETE PACKAGE (All five!!) .£44*00" £134.99

EXTRA SPECIAL OFFERS (While Stocks Last)!!!

(8256/8512 Peripherals/Games) >>g
INTERGEM 5.25 inch 2ND DISC DRIVE Post to John Fontana, Proteus Computing Ltd.,
ADAPTOR JSfcST £74.95 2 Iffley Road, London, W6 0PA.
RS 232 INTERFACE JS^ST £57.75
PLEASE TICK APPROPRIATE BOXES-
Electric Studio LIGHT PEN SJ&9T £71.95
Bridge Player .£49r9T £14.95 I am an End User, please send me the address
3D Cyrus Chess JJ&9F £11.95 of my nearest dealer.
Lord of the Rings .£24*5- £17.95 I am a Dealer.
_£J4*r £10.95
Black Star
.£44*5- £10.95
D Please send information on LOGICOM
SASRaid
products.
PC 1512 VERSIONS AVAILABLE AT THESE PRICES Send me a full list of Amstrad Business
Send S.A.E. For Full Listof Amstrad 8256.8512, and PC 1512 Software.
Software Bargains ORDER NOW!! mail ORDER ONLY
Name (Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms)
Name Company Name
Address
Address
Post Code Tel No
Tel No Please use BLOCK CAPITALS. CGP
H U Se
[e°^S?4£:So°n. 5 I^^ Street
- (OV^ASCOHTACTSW.COMEO,
 HARDWARE
As you become more ambitious, the basic PCW is Interfaces
likely to fall short
of your needs.
An interface is almost always vital before you start
connecting peripherals to your Amstrad. You'll need it for
Inten
electronic communications, as well as many alternative Installing as
printers. owner. The s

density drive

Expanding your Amstrad Fitted to the expansion port at the rear of the
should provide an RS232 link and a Centronics
The RS232 is the industry standard communications
machine,
port.
it

information
disc.

protocol, and lets you send and receive information via the As well a
What 8256 owner hasn't wanted a second disc drive? And did you ever wish programs In
telephone, with a modem, or transfer data to other
that you had a real letter quality printer for important correspondence? machines, via their RS232S, as well as using RS232, or machine for
A flourishing peripherals industry has grown up around the Amstrad, and 'serial' printers. that second
if

you take advantage of these additional pieces of hardware, you'll be well on The Centronics port allows you to use Centronics, or
'parallel', printers.
your way to owning a powerful business system, for a fraction of the
cost
you'd expect to pay.

Printers
The printer supplied with
thePCW is a good little
machine, but for particularly
heavy work, or top quality
print, you'll need an
alternative.
Both common communications
protocols are supported by most
interfaces, so your choice is open,
between dot-matrix or daisy wheel printers.
A daisy wheel can be thought of as a
typewriter mechanism which is controlled
by the computer. A dot-matrix forms the
letters by a striking the ribbon with a series
of tiny pins. The PCW's own printer is
of this type.
The advantage of a dot-matrix
is that it is fast and versatile,

whereas a daisy wheel is

relatively slow, although the

matches that of a
print quality
good typewriter. Most people
want to expand to the higher
will

quality alternative.

Hard Discs Joysticks

A hard disc, sometimes known as a Winchester, contains a rigid storage If you ever play arcade games on your Amstrad, you could save yourself a You i

medium, protected from dust and dirt. It spins much faster than a normal
repair bill if you get a joystick. The PCW's keyboard was never designed
for your
floppy disc and can store considerably more data. Usually this would be 10 or the pounding that some programs require. seco
20 MBytes, which is around 60 normal CF2 discs! Not only can the Hard Disc
need a special interface to let you connect a standard joystick to your
You'll Ir
store more data, but the storage and retrieval time is faster.
Joyce but games are already appearing which offer an option for this thou
Once you've added a Hard Disc to your system, you'll wonder how you ever
traditional arcade control. It's possible that other, more serious packages will T
managed without it —
but unless you really need its storage capacity, you
use a joystick as an alternative to the cursor keys. appl
may find the cost prohibitive, as they don't come cheap.
you'
78
 HARDWARE

Lei mal Drive

Ming a second drive is probably the first major upgrade for an 8256
in. The second drive, fitted below the first, is a double sided, double
Kftydrive. This means that both sides of the disc are read at once, and the

Mion is very tightly packed, with around 700K storage space on a single External Discs
I
An external drive is most easily fitted to an 8256. It is commonly connected where the
Is well as the extra space, a second drive also lets you copy files and
second 3" drive would go and has all the advantages of an internal drive.
fains from one disc to the other far more easily. And if you're using your
A striking advantage of these drives is that they can use different sized disc drives.
(ftinefor an application which accesses large files, such as a database,
The 5'/," floppy, considered to be the industry standard for most business machines,
(second drive may become almost vital.
costs around half the price of the CF2 disc and there is also a 372 " format.
If you or a colleague use another CP/M system which uses either of these discs, or
you want to be able to access data that has been stored on them, this would be a useful
purchase.

Graphics Tablet/Light Pen/Mouse

If you're using your PCW for any sort of graphics application, then consider an
aid such as these. All three connect via the expansion port, and enable you to
control a drawing cursor more easily than using the keyboard.
The Light Pen allows you to sketch directly onto the screen, while the
mouse is moved around the table by hand. For artistic purposes, a graphics

tablet, which is effectively a sheet of electronic paper, is considered the best

alternative, although it is more expensive than the other options.
For more details see the Graphics section.

Memory Upgrade Modems

You might think that 256K of memory is more than enough, but as you use A modem is simply a device that enables you, via an RS232 port, to send and receive
your machine for more ambitious applications, especially if you have a information down a telephone line. It opens up a wealth of information systems and
second drive, you'll find an upgrade to 512K useful. databases, such as Prestel and The Source, as well as offering electronic mail and telex
Installation is simple enough. Just slot a few memory chips into the board, services.You can spend as little or as much as you want, depending on how many
rhough beware — opening the machine may invalidate the guarantee. extras you desire.
The extra memory will provide you with a large RAM disc, so some For further details see the Communications section.
applications programs will run faster and if you have a Print Spooler utility,

you'll be able to stack up more jobs than ever.

79
HARDWARE
If you use an 8256, it won't and 368K to play with on Drive 8512 UPGRADES interact with a world of systems.
M. If you don't fancy doing it From Technology Research
be long before you wish Citadel
yourself, though, many dealers £189.95
comes the Gamma Disk
you'd bought an 8512, with
will fit the chips for you. Interface, which is available
Dictaphone
its second disc and from the company complete
MEMORY UPGRADES £182.85 (drive only)
improved memory. Luckily with a selection of Mitsubishi
Analytical Engines £257.03 (full upgrade) 1

many ways to
there are £26.80 Expert Systems
drives, including a twin 3 /2 "for

expand your Amstrad, and £179.95 £299, which really gives you
Citadel
storage power.
you may find that some of £39.95 £184.95 (including fitting)
Timatic takes a different
Dictaphone Nabitchi Computing
them even have advant- approach with *
their 5'/4 drive.
£74.18 (including fitting) £149.50 (drive only)
ages over the standard You connect this internally and
DKTronics £179.40 (full upgrade)
upgrade. thread the cable out through the
£39.95 Silicon City
£139.00 (drive only) back of the case. Though it
Expert Systems
Soli-Comms doesn't come with software to
£34.95
Expanders £39.95 (including
Nabitchi
fitting) £140.00 (drive only) access other CP/M formats, a
program called Chameleon is

available for this purpose from

£29.90 External
Timatic. What it does come with
Screens Microcomputers
£26.05 expansion is an MS-DOS file transfer utility,

allowing use of PC discs.

Silicon City Though 3" discs have the
Peartree's drive comes in a
£25.95 distinct advantage of being fairly
box large enough to contain a
Soli-Comms damage-proof, they are almost
modem, interface, or even a
£22 unique to Amstrad. This has
third drive. This forms a base foi
£32.00 (including fitting) made them expensive, and
the monitor unit, raising it to a
Technology Research double density ones can be
more comfortable viewing
£59 difficult to find.
height. The company has an
£69.00 (including fitting) An alternative to a second 3"
MS-DOS file transfer program
Timatic Systems drive, for 8256 owners, is an
available for an extra £27, and a
£49 external 5
1

/4
"
or 372 " drive, which
further £21 brings the memory
becomes Drive B on the Loco-
Fattening up script base screen or for CP/M.
upgrade chips.
Box produces two drives
This may be fitted directly to the
Joyce internal connector or via a
which include format software.
Their MS-DOS utility, which is
While a memory expansion is special interface socket.
read only with their 80 track
one step up the ladder, for the Gemini Marketing's InterGem
drive, but read and write with the
true equivalent of an 8512 you enables you to connect any BBC 40 track, costs £23.50.
need to add a second drive. compatible drive to your
Some programs, particularly Amstrad. No soldering is DRIVE INTERFACES
ones that have to handle large required, so installation can be Gemini Marketing
amounts of data, actually carried out athome. £99.95 (includes software)
require the additional storage Having removed the back of Technology Research
space of the second drive. You'll the monitor, you slice through £49
Improving your also save yourself time when the lugs holding the plate which
EXTERNAL DRIVES
making copies covers the hole for the second
memory you're
Installing an internal drive
of discs.
is drive, then slot the small circuit
Box Ltd
£177.50 (40 track)
By far the cheapest way to rather more difficult than board in from the front.
£207.25 (80 track)
upgrade an 8256 is to forget the inserting eight chips, but it's Two sockets, for the drive's
Peartree Computers
second drive and concentrate on well worth the effort. The PCW ribbon cable connector and
£139
its memory. This is made was designed with upgrade in power output, are the only
Soli-Comms
relatively simple, providing you mind, and you can take evidence of the alteration, until
£100 (3V drive)
don't own one of the very first advantage of features that were you connect the drive. This
should be 80 track, since
£110 (5V drive)
PCWs, because the machine is intended to make life easier for
Timatic
just waiting for you to insert service engineers. Locoscript won't work with a 40
£209
those extra memory chips. You'll need a screwdriver and track model. Expect to pay £150.

Provided you take your time hacksaw blade, to break through The expansion is the same as Internal
and follow instructions, it's not a the bulkhead below Drive A, but adding an internal drive, and
hard task. Open up your there's no soldering involved as that extra 720K is enough to Alterations
machine and you'll find eight everything plugs in. Inside, the store vast amounts of data. But Though internal alterations to

sockets, which is where the wires are neatly bundled there's more. InterGem also lets the PCW are not generally
chips go. Though fitting these together, so there shouldn't be you use CP/M programs on 5%" difficult, opening it up invali-

can be a bit fiddly, it is by no any real problems, beyond disc, directly from your second dates any remaining guarantee,
means difficult. getting it all to fit back together drive. unless it is done by an Amstrad
You then have to let the micro again. A word of warning The InterGem utilities disc, authorised engineer.
know that it's now operating at though; problems have been supplied with the hardware, If you decide to do it yourself,
as an 8512. This is where reported with certain, non-SD2 allows you to format the drive to make sure that the machine is
vintage PCWs cause problems, drives. accept CP/M software for nearly unplugged, and has been
as you'll have to do a little re- If this does sound a little 80 machines. It also lets you allowed to stand for several min-
wiring. Most people will just daunting, you might prefer to read from and write to machines utes, to let power drain from the
have to flick four switches. have Dictaphone, which handles using MS-DOS and PC-DOS, circuits. Avoid touching the end
And that's all there is to it. the official Amstrad upgrades, or including IBM PC clones, and of the monitor tube as this can
You now have 512K of memory a local dealer do the work. the BBC. In fact, your PCW can contain high voltages.

80
 HARDWARE
Upgrading to a daisy wheel is included for direct file transfer. alternative for a variety of printersto listthem all in a
Soli-Comms interface reasons. publication of this sort, but as
printer will interest
contains two additional ports. You could choose another an example, the Qume Sprint
anybody who needs truly An Atari-style mouse can be dot matrix. Though you can get range is priced between £549
letter quality copy. But plugged in, to control an on- better print quality, and at a and £2768. Speeds range from
before you can connect screen arrow cursor, or modem higher speed than the PCW's 22 to 90 cps, they all offer bold
anything to your Amstrad, users can view Teletext frames rather sluggish pace, the price and proportional spacing
in colour with an RGB monitor. that you'll pay makes this an printing effects and two line and
you'll require an interface.
Though the interface doesn't unlikely move. three character pitches. Various
include a clock, one is available Instead, most people will types of paper feed are available,
separately from Soli-Comms, want a daisy wheel, with including cut sheet feeders,
Printers ind it includes a facility to store electric typewriter quality
its

which are invaluable when you

security codes and machine printout. For important business have a large job which can't be

and options.
Finally, those special
correspondence, or typing
reports and theses, this is the
printed on perforated
Other tried and trusted
fan-fold.

applications. If you've been natural choice. names are Epson, Canon,

tempted to play arcade games The third option will set you Olivetti, Toshiba, Ricoh, Silver
Interfaces on the Amstrad, you'll know that back more money than even the Reed and Brother. But whatever
the keyboard can take quite a highest quality daisy wheel. sort of printer you're looking for,

hammering. A joystick interface Laser printers produce copy that ask questions, see it in action,
is the answer, and two are is good enough for typesetting, and get a specimen of its

available, from Cascade and DK with all the versatility of type- printout.
Tronics. Many future games are faces and font sizes associated
certain to offer these control with dot matrix. For instance
Dedicated Daisy
options. Qume's standard LaserTEN

RS232/CENTRONICS costs £2,880, excluding VAT! Wheels

Other considerations when
INTERFACES If you bought your PCW
buying a printer are primarily
Amstrad primarily because it was a one
speed, paper size and noise. A
£49.95 plug system that avoids
dot-matrix can howl like a
Peartree Computers compatability problems, don't
banshee, while a daisy wheel
£39 despair. It is possible to upgrade
will rattle like a hailstorm, so
SCA Systems Ltd to a letter quality printer that will
take this into account unless
work with Locoscript.
Making £55
you're prepared to buy an
ATT Systems produces a
Soli-Comms
accoustic hood as well. Speed is
connections £30
measured in cps (characters per
complete package of printer,
£55 (with RGB) interface, cables and software.
What's in an interface? In theory second), though this is variable
+£5 (with mouse port) At an equivalent print speed of
one will do as well as another, depending on the document.
+£10 (TV modulator) 35cps, the ATT is moderately
but some contain extra features Some manufacturers are rather
fast and remarkable quiet for a
beyond the serial and parallel JOYSTICK INTERFACES optimistic in their estimates.
daisy wheel. It can cope with
ports, or you may not need Finally there are compatibility
Cascade paper up to 17" wide, with a
these standards at all. questions. Most printers are
£24.95 print width of 13.7".
Amstrad'sCPS8256isthe unable to handle Locoscript
DK Tronics The software runs under
official interface for either files, and you have to establish
£TBA CP/ M and is menu driven, so all
machine. one hundred
It isn't certain parameters concerning
you have to do is load its Locop
per cent standard as it uses an carriage returns, line spacing
eight bit Centronics port instead
Perfect printing disc, then your Locoscript file
and the like, before you can use
disc. You choose the document
of the usual seven bit. This will Though the Amstrad PCW them with CP/M. Thankfully,
with the cursor bar and press
cause problems with certain printer is amazing value, many programs include options
unless you can alter or
Return to print. The PCW printer
printers, considering the total price of the for the most popular brands.
remains connected all the time,
obtain software to correct it. package, and its results are You will also find printing effects
so it can still be used for draft
The only other possible good enough for many limited with some daisy wheels.
quality, before ATT produces
problem with the CPS 8256 is purposes, you could want an There are far too many
high quality finished copy.
that Locoscript files have to be
Wilding Office Supplies has
converted to ASCII first. Apart
put together two bundles, based
from that it's well documented
around either the Brother HR10
and serves its purpose well.
or Silver Reed XP500 daisy
Somewhat cheaper, and
wheel printer. Normally these
solving the bit problem check, is
cost £199.95 each, but for a
Peartree's interface, which fits
further £149.50 they will supply
rather obstrusively on the side,
a cumplete package including
rather than the back of the
cables, interface and NewWord,
micro.
including mailmerge and spell
SCA Systems' is slightly
check, to provide a complete
cheaper than the official
word processing upgrade.
offering, and contains a real

time clock, which uses battery DEDICATED PCW PRINTERS

back-up. This means that you ATT Systems Ltd
can add date and time to files,
£573.85
from the operating system.
RS232 communications can be PCW PRINTER PACKAGE
300 to 19200 baud, and an
set at The ATT Printer is a fast, quiet running daisy wheel which has the distinct advantage Wilding Office Supplies
of being fully Locoscript compatible.
additional three wire duplex port £349.45

81
HARDWARE
A second drive adds drive is 10Mb capacity (that's At Amstore's centre is a 20Mb one disc doesn't seem wise,
10,000Kb) and comes complete Winchester, which connects up they are currently developing a
considerable power to your
with the Tasword 8000 word to a ring circuit, with sockets for streamer, to let you back up files
PCW.But if your needs are
processor disc controller, host each micro, printer, extra drive on tape.
really ambitious you can adapter for use with the PCW or whatever. These are known as The system is cheap and
turn a humble Amstrad and power supply. nodes, and Amstore allows you easy to install, with its neat
into a system to take on all Soli-Comms' Winchester to change and expand the junction boxes. Obviously to
offers 20 Mb capacity and system at will. realise its potential to the full,
competitors.
comes complete with an SCSI Amstore is also intelligent. and to justify its cost, it's best
controller, a separate power Communicating such large suited to larger businesses, for

Advanced supply, software and an

interface for a parallel printer. It
amounts of information around
a network calls for some clever
whom it could be a godsend.
HM Systems' answer to
plugs directly into the expansion Amstore is the Amstrel, a version

systems port.

A hard disc can still be

of their Minstrel,
actually used by
which was
Amstrad itself.
worthwhile on a single user Much of what has already been
system, but it really comes into said about networking holds
its own when it's used to true. Amstrel also features discs,
network a series of PCWs, or both 20Mb hard and soft,

even a mixture of micros, which including a 3", and a tape back

then become separate up.
workstations. It runs an operating system
All are able to access the disc called TurboDOS, which allows

simultaneously thanks to its you to combine CP/M and PC-

speed, which is many times DOS programs on the same
faster than a floppy disc drive. network. Its basic system is for
Multi-users and Information can be exchanged Northern Computers Amstore provides two users, but it can be extended
Winchester and networking facilities. to 16. With a 16 bit master
megabytes between users, so that you can
call up information on an invoice programming to ensure that controller, you can run advanced
Imagine having 100 times the from the accounts department everything reaches its correct 16 bit software, with 8 bit PCWs
storage space of a standard 3" for a letter that you're writing. destination. The demands made as terminals.
disc. You could have your word Meanwhile, each micro on on the user by Amstore are very
HARD DISCS ONLY
processor, database, spread- the network retains its integrity, few. A little care may have to be
ACC
sheet and accounts software which means that if one suffers taken with security though, to
always ready to run — with a failure, the others can continue ensure that files are only
£686.55
Soli-Comms
plenty of memory left over for as if nothing had happened. accessed by authorised users,
£600
data! Northern Computers' and that certain uses are
A hard disc, commonly called Amstore provides just such a prioritised. HARD DISC PLUS NETWORKS
a Winchester, allows you to do system. If you're feeling really Expansion holds vast (Basic unit cost)
just that. One of these sealed ambitious you can couple 120 potential, from a shared, quality HM Systems Ltd
units should be considered by Amstrads, or other computers, printer to communications. In £6,195
every business where there is to theone network. This allows this last respect, Northern +£1,390 (per extra pair of
need for bulk storage and a you to add more or less Computers is producing a telex workstations)
variety of programs. sophisticated micros, according node. And if the thought of Northern Computers Ltd
ACC Computer Services' to usage. trusting all that information to £1,400

Cascade Games Ltd HM Systems Ltd Screens Microcomputers &

Contacts Harrogate HG1 5BG 220 The Vale Electronics
0423-504663 London Main Avenue
ACC Computer Services Citadel Products Ltd NW11 8HZ Moor Park Northwood
8 Water Street 50 High Street 01-209 0911 Middlesex
Abergele Edgware Middlesex HA8 7EP Nabitchi 09274-20527
Clwyd LL22 7SH 01-951 1848 Merseywide Innovation Centre Silicon City
0745-826235 Dictaphone Company Ltd 131 Mount Pleasant Mithian
ATT Systems Ltd Regent Square House Liverpool L3 5TF St Agnes
16 Park Road The Parade 051-7080123 Cornwall TR50QE
Kenilworth Leamington Spa CV324NL Northern Computers Ltd 087255-2112
Warwickshire CV8 2GF 0926-38311 Churchfield Road Soli-Comms Ltd
0926-55914 DK Tronics Ltd Frodsham 17 Sweyne Avenue
Amstrad Consumer Electronics Englands Lane Cheshire WA6 6RD Southend-on-Sea
pic Gorleston-on-Sea 0928-35700 Essex SS26JQ
PO Box 462 Great Yarmouth Peartree Computers Ltd 0702-335511
Brentwood Norfolk NR316BE St George's House Technology Research Ltd
Essex CM144EE 0493-602926 14 George Street Unit 18
0277-230222 Expert Systems Huntingdon Central Trading Estate
Analytical Engines Freepost CambsPE186BD Staines
PO Box 35 Northampton NN1 1BR 0480-50595 Middlesex TW184XE
Eastleigh 0604-24463 SCA Systems Ltd 0784-63547
Hampshire S05 5WU Gemini Marketing Ltd 61 Ferringham Lane Timatic Systems Ltd
Box Ltd Gemini House Ferring Fareham Market
22 Hendred Street Concorde Road Worthing Fareham
Oxford 0X4 2ED ExmouthEX84RS W Sussex BN125LW Hants P0160LB
0865-717968 0395-265165 0903-504444 ,0329-236727/239953

82
 THE MINERVA
LocoScript Word Count!
AnsibleChecK will give an accurate word count of any
LEARNER FRIENDLY "range
LocoScript document quickly and easily. Here are
. . .

the main features:

• Counts words as words. no estimates . .

• Simple to use one command runs the program

. . .

automatically
• Works with ordinary LocoScript documents . .

no special preparation AMSTRAD AMSTRAD

• Will also look for accidentally repeated words, PCW PC
and show them in context
• Price: £19.50

We also supply AnsiblelndeX, a LocoScript text

indexing program for all professional writers:
journalists, authors, academics and publishers:
Tha ••»* to u«« coaputar arofttaare written for Pa op la not
• Up to ,500 entries, 40 page references each
1 Prograemara, bringing alBpliclty of operation to tha Aajatrad PCM and PC.

• Automatic alphabetization No.i FIRST BASE

A simple to use database taining features likely
all the needed to be by
• Exact page numbers the new computer user. Ea ecord design, finds any record in 2 seconds,
sorting, mail-merge with any wordpr ocessor
• Lists words, phrases and in verted phrases ic
with ASCII based output including Loco5cript, reports, totals. Only 129.95
• No special commands to learn ... if you use No. 2 LERNLOCO
If you have Just purchased your Amstrad or you are finding manual too
LocoScript, you can compile an index complex, then this tutorial
the
ia Just what you need. A LocoScript tutorial
• Full page proof compatibility: optional dummy which teaches every function FROM WITHIN LOCOSCRIPT. You will become so
confident that you even produce your own personalised manual! Only £16.95
format, plus reorganization to match printed
No. 3 TVPER1TE
book This touch typing course is accessible from within LocoScript and teaches
the correct method for the skill of fast and efficient typing. Only £19.95
• AnsibleChecK included
No. 4 FIRST CALC
• Price: £49.50 Contains probably every facility you i likely to need in
written with simplicity of operation
Both packages include a special free "extra": the
RESIDENTIAL COURSES
dreaded GREASE, scourge of writers everywhere. . Friday evening to Sunday afternoon with all meals
of six places are available on each course.
PLEASE NOTE no hidden costs. Our prices include VAT and
:
Software for other computers also available
postage. A comprehensive, plain-language manual comes with
both packages. Write or telephone for our detailed brochure. Or
order direct, payment enclosed, from:

ANSIBLE INFORMATION (Dept. DG) MINERVA SYSTEMS,

94 London Road, Reading, 69 SIDWELL STREET, EXETER,
Berkshire RG1 5AU Tel: 0672 62576 DEVON. EX4 6PH. Tel: 0392 37756

PCW 8256 PCW 8512

£382.57 exvat £468.52 exvat
£439.95 INC VAT £539.95 INC VAT
256k Memory Expansion £35.95 Inc VAT
Upgrade the internal 8256 memory to RAM disc to 368k
51 2k and increase the

NOTE : All Prices include VAT & Carriage - No extras to pay

PCW
8256
PCW
8512
DOT MATRIX PRINTERS
Canon PW1080A(nlq|
Canon PW 11 56
Epson LX86 (new model) 120cps/25cpsNLQ
Epson LX86 Tractor Attachment
^
i^Tr*
^~
w k A j Inc VAT & Carriage
wAN
6 ****
* '»«
» vlsf

4
rht^l^f
.
259.95

<r
384.95
• 274 95
.">l»t .<£.... 21.75
-

Epson LX86 Sheet Feeder ^T AW **««>» ^?*... 55.95

Epson FX80(160cpsl Z»*»/v* "*« Jk...UM8
r
Epson LQ1 500 (200cps, professional) f?. JZ %to, *A 89970
DMP2000 ^TAA /\T*H-'
154 96
'

Juki 551 1 80cps/NL0 (optional colour - fantastic value) y^N

....K... 289.95
SPECIAL OFFERS
How do you use it?
Quen Data Daisywheel
National Panasonic
Printer

KX-P1080U superb- value

149.95
189.95
MP165 160cps/40cpsNLQ 219.95
* Basic and advanced training courses held daily at
our convenient central London Centre.
* We have designed our courses to ensure that you AMSTRAD COMPUTERS & DISC DRIVES
61 28 Green 284.95 DDI Drive ... 15295
receive the highest degree of personal attention. 6128 Colour 369.95 FDI Drive (No interface! 95.95 I

* We offer you full telephone support after training. Q* %»iW^

Our Introductory Course covers the basics for DAISYWHEEL PRINTERS
Daisystep 2000 229.95
total newcomers to word processing and our Juki 6100 289.95
Advanced Course is customised to your special Juki 2200 Daisywheel
SOFTWARE
Printer/Typewriter 279.25
BUSINESS SOFTWARE
requirements. Basic Tutorial PT1 19.95 Cashbook Accounts 33.00
Basic Tutorial PT2 19.95 Stock/Sales/lnvoicing 99.00
Courses start at £69 inc VAT. Pitman Typing Tutor 9.95 Purchase Ledger 33.88
DFM Database 14.95 Nominal Ledger 33.00
WANT TO KNOW MORE? call us on: Supercalcll 49.95
Devpac Assembler/Disassembler 24.95
SORRY OFFICE ONLY - NO CALLERS WITHOUT APPOINTMENT
0732 460003 Prices and specifications subject to variation. Please phone for best prices.

24 HOUR TELEPHONE ORDERS

50 London Rd Sevenosfks 1st Floor, 23 Denmark St f\jf Dept. CGA1.86

KentTN131AS London WC2H 8NA 46 Middle Street Blackhall.

Hartlepool. Cleveland TS27 4EA.
Tel: (0732) 460003 Tel: 01 -240 2662
J LicfocCiA Tel: 0783 872430.
SERVICES
A computer is only an aid to efficiency if it is used efficiently itself. One of the paper can feed up from below, help is at

hand. Extension cables, specifically

main causes of confusion is a disorganised workspace, and yet it is an area
designed for the PCW are available from
that is often overlooked.
several suppliers, the standard length is

around 1 m, though this may vary. Lightwave

2m
From HS I
to tables
sells a
connect
set. Many also sell cables to
serial printers to an interface.
PRINTER EXTENSION LEADS
RSD Connections Ltd.
£10.93
Analytical Engines.
£10.99
RSC Ltd.
£12.50
Lightwave
£18.45
CENTRONICS PRINTER LEADS
RSD Connections Ltd.
£17.48
RSC Ltd.
you're inviting trouble. As well as wasting
£12.50
Hold the front time searching for the disc you want, they Lightwave

page
A source of
BT
annoyance when copying a
are susceptible to
valuable data, and
dust particle. The solution
damage. You
all because of a stray
is to
risk losing

file away
£13.65

Portable Joyce
document is that your attention is your discs much as you would any other
office documents, in a specially designed
If you can't bear to be parted from your
constantly shifting between the screen and
Joyce, Vidix produces a carrying case that
the text. A copy holder keeps your document filing cabinet. Several companies produce
lets you carry it by hand or over your
in a comfortable viewing position. such boxes. Micro Interface's hold up to ten
shoulder, as well as keeping it safe during
Thingi is an unlikely name for an discs, which are fanned out for easy
car journeys.
ingenious solution to the problem. A plastic selection when you open the lid. Rexel's box
With room for all the hardware plus
bar, with a clip at one end and a strip of is lockable and includes three dividers as
discs, manuals and even a modem, the
velcro at the other, it holds the copy so that does RSC's. 1

Amstrad Transporter measures 17" x 16 /2 " x

ithangs down by the side of the screen. 3 FILING CABINET
14". Of tough design, it contains protective
If you prefer a more conventional copy Micro Interface
boards and features an adjustable nylon
holder that sits on the table, or even clamps £5.95
webbing strap which can be used over the
to its edge, RSC produces one of each type.
shoulder or as a handle.
Both use clips and a magnetic ruler to hold £16.50
the copy steady. RSC Ltd AMSTRAD TRANSPORTER
THINGI £10.50/£13.50 Vidix Case Company Ltd.

Overbase Ltd. £19.75

£6.99 Position your printer

FREE STANDING/CLAMP COPY HOLDERS
One of the few features of the PCW
Keep it clean
RSC Ltd. Just as it's important to keep your discs free
guaranteed to cause irritation is the length
£12.95/£29.95 from dust, you need to protect your Amstrad
of the printer cable. It is almost impossible
to position it anywhere other than to the as well. Ordinary household and office dirt
Filing your floppies right hand side of the monitor. will soon find its way into vulnerable parts of

or on a the micro, in particular the disc drives.

Is your desk awash in a sea of 3" floppy But if you'd prefer it to the left,

above your desk, so that continuous Dust covers are available from a variety
discs, some of them without covers? Then shelf
of sources, including some suppliers. They
are one of the
cheapest accessories that you
can find.butthey could saveyou a lotof
. .

expense repairing damage caused by dirt!

DUST COVERS
RRD Computer Dust Covers
£11.95
TMEC Trading
£9.50
RSC Ltd.
£9.50
Lightwave
£19.95

Don't be dazzled
The best way of avoiding reflections on the
screen is not to place your machine facing a
light source, and to keep it clean. But even
then you may find that glare makes
prolonged viewing uncomfortable.
An anti-glare filter clips in front of the
monitor and cuts down reflections.
Lightwave sells one specifically for the PCW
 SERVICES
at a cost of £19.95, which is a small price to equipment. Also ask yourself if you need a 2', to heights of either 26" or 30". A
pay for all the eye strain it saves. platform to raise up either the monitor or the selection of shelves, paper feed trays, wire

SCREEN FILTER printer. If your desk lacks such a facility, channels and concealed four plug extension
Lightwave. TMEC produces a range of metal monitor sockets make for a comprehensive system.

£19.95 and printer stands, starting at £13.50. Opus's Business Desk Range starts at
At the bargain end of the market, MFI £129, rising to £239 for a full feature desk,
warehouses frequently offer which includes slots for paper feed through
Four legs to stand on furniture
computer tables at less than £20. These are the desk and cables, a shelf and a drawer.
1

There are definite reasons for buying quite functional, but many are intended The dimensions are 27 46" wide "
/2 high,

specialistcomputer furniture. It should be more for the games playing fraternity, so be and 30" deep.
solidenough to bear the weight of the model is rugged
careful to ensure that the Their basic Model 1 (27V high, 46"
monitor and printer, and take the constant enough for the PCW. wide, 30" deep) is easily augmented with a
vibrations of your typing. And it may also Stepping up to £59.95 brings the Opus shelf for £49. Model 2 measures the same
contain a variety of features, such as Organiser. A shelf takes the monitor and but adds a 57/ high drawer, and costs only
channels for cables. printer, with storage space underneath, and £159. If you want to create a unified office,
While the occasional user may be the whole unit is mounted on castors and Opus also produce triangular units to link its
1
satisfied with a cheaper unit, which blends finished in teak. The unit is 31 "high, 40 A" desks.
in with their home decor, the small business wide and 26" deep. MONITOR/PRINTER STANDS
person will want a more robust piece of Prototype Development Systems desks TMEC Trading
office furniture. In the end it is a question of are aimed at the small office and start at COMPUTER FURNITURE
balancing cost against usage. £74.45. Their units have steel frames with MFI
Make sure that you have enough storage teak finish or London grey laminated Opus Supplies Ltd.
space for all your discs, manuals and other surfaces. Sizes range from 2' by 2' to 4' by Prototype Development Systems Ltd.

Since it was introduced, the PCW has attracted services of every kind. From electronic typesetting to maintenance
agreements, we reveal the miscellany of support for the machine.

Fonts, faces, boxes, border rules, distortion

Support your PCW and reverse setting are available.

your
You
text,
insert the setting

but this is far less

codes directly into

daunting than it

sounds, providing you take your time and

follow the instructions. Then post off your
Communications pages), and access to disc to Type City Graphics, or for almost
Join the club SBSG's own notice board. immediate turnover, use the One-to-One
The official Amstrad Professional User Club Other benefits include a bi-monthly E-mail service, and send the copy down the
brings you discounts on software, magazine, a disc copying service for the telephone line.

peripherals, discs, ribbons and stationery, conversion of public domain software or Type City Graphics sets the type directly
which can be ordered by phone; a support data between disc formats and sizes, and a from your data. It is important to check for
hotline for programs sold by the group, a 10 per cent discount on SBSG training typographical errors, and that all the codes
monthly newsletter and free copies of courses. are as you wish, because you are in total

Amstrad Professional Computing magazine. The courses are based in Worcestershire control of the final result.
Amstrad Professional Computer User Club and the standard charge is £100 a day. Turn around is extremely quick, thanks to
LazaholdLtd. Subjects covered include the PCW hardware this high level of computerisation. Your
£49.95 pa and operating systems, word processing, setting will usually be returned the same
data processing and spreadsheet programs, day. It is also cheap, the minimum charge
Backing small telecommunications and networking. being £2.60, for 12" of type.
Weekend courses are also available. Wordstream works with ASCII files, so
businesses Small Business Support Group you'll need a recent version of Locoscript
The success of the PCW has led to a Microcomputer User Publication Ltd. with this conversion facility if you're using

dramatic fall in the cost of CP/M business £40.00pa the standard word processor.
software. But while manufacturers have not Typeshare's setting is more expensive
cut corners in software quality, the level of because it depends on software which you
support offered has been an inevitable buy from the company. This costs £199.98,
casualty. Obviously when a program is sold plus VAT, for a basic package, with
for £250, the manufacturer is expected to While desk top publishing packages have additional units to allow more elaborate
provide a telephone helpline. But what about brought the preparation of pages for printing effects available at £199 each.
the £50 version for the PCW? printing within the reach of every PCW The software provides full preview
The Small Business Support Group owner, for that really professional facilities, letting you see where lines and
provides a neat answer to this problem. For appearance you still need proper pages will end, and includes error checking,
an annual subscription of £40, you have the typesetting. to warn you of mistakes in your codes.

right to phone the SBSG Hotline, which Even this process can be computerised. Setting costs £3.60 for each linear
covers a wide range of CP/M software, and Whether you're producing a business card, a 300mm, though if you send the copy by
is available during office hours, Monday to small display ad or a full blown magazine, modem (Typeshare has one available for
Friday. professional typesetting is available. £398), this is reduced to £2.40. Twenty
Less urgent problems are dealt with by Wordstream offers the cheapest service, fonts are available, from 472 to 72 point.
post or electronic mail, and your though you'll have to enter the codes that Typesetting
membership includes a free subscription to control the setting yourself. These are Type City Graphics Ltd.
the One-to-One service (see the illustrated in an easy to follow manual. Typeshare

85
SERVICES

Micro Interface Surrey KT80RN

Amstrad ailments Contacts 84 Talbot Road 01-9412225/3909
There appears to be an unwritten law that Analytical Engineers London N6 4RA RSC Ltd

however reliable a piece of equipment is, it

PO Box 35, Eastleigh 01-3400310 75 Queens Road
go wrong at the most inconvenient Hampshire S05 5WV Watford WD1 2QN
will Micro Learning Centre
moment. Now that you're dependent on your BBD Computer Oust Covers 13a The Bull Ring 0923-43301

Amstrad, can you imagine the problems if it

The Standish Centre Wakefield WF1 1HB RSD Connections Ltd
suddenly died on you?
Cross Street 0924-383312 PO Box 1, Ware
Standish, Wigan Herts
No business can afford the time spent Microcomputer User
0257-422968 0920-5285/66284
sending a vital piece of equipment back to Publications Ltd
Dictaphone Company Ltd Bank Buildings RT Computer Training
the manufacturer. This is where Dictaphone
Regent Square House Kennel Lane, Broadway 15 Victoria Street
steps in. Having been responsible for the
The Parade WorcsWR12 7DP Wetherby
installation of second disc drives since the
8256 first appeared, now offering
Leamington Spa CV32 4NL 0386-852641 W Yorkshire LS224RE
it is a
0926-38311 0937-63032
maintenance contract. Minerva Systems
Expert Systems TMEC Trading
69 Sidwell Street
For a year payment of £41.40, you
first
Freepost 68 New Road, Clifton
Devon EX46PH
Exeter,
get twelvemonths of cover. This allows you Northampton NN1 1BR 0392-37756 Bedfordshire SG17 5JL
an unlimited number of on-site emergency 0604-24463
Office International
0462-676253
calls, during normal working hours. A Gateway Video Tutorials
247-257 Euston Road Type City Graphics Ltd
request for service will normally be met 68a Dornton Road
London NW1 2HY Victoria Chambers
within two working days. London SW129NE 01-3889344 Fir Vale Road
An alternative is provided by Expert 01-675 4019 Opus Supplies Ltd Bournemouth BH1 2JN
Systems, which requires you to return your Head-Line Communications 55 Ormside Way 0202-294347
machine by Securicor courier, though this Friar House, 9 Friar Street Holmethorpe Industrial Estate
Typeshare
expense is carried by the company. Hereford HR4 0AS Redhill. Surrey RH12LW
Alan House
Furthermore, the company guarantees to 0432-275132 0737-65080
55-59 Saffron Hill

return your machine within three working Lazahold Ltd Overbase Ltd Hatton Garden
days. The cost of the annual contract is Victoria House.PO Box 10 176a Conway Street London EC1N8QX
£29.95 for an 8256, £39.95 for an 8512. Sunderland SR1 3RY Birkenhead, Wirral L41 3JB 01-4057937
Lightwave Leisure Ltd 051-6478981 Vidix Case Company Ltd
Service Agreement
Unit 31, Wirral Business Prototype— Development Tech West Centre
Dictaphone
Expert Systems Centre Dock Road Systems Ltd 10WarpleWay
Birkenhead L41 1JW Survey House London W30RQ
051-639 5050 Pool Close, West Molesey 01-7499692

KO^M SAGESOFT
CQfflrmpmfaaf?
COMPACT
JftmMtf&l MICROPRO
ACCOUNTS £89.00 DAYBOOK £45.00 POCKET WORDSTAR £45.00
PAYROLL £59.00 COMPACT ACCOUNTS £189.00
MAGIC FILLER £59.00 SALES LEDGER £59.00
INVOICING £59.00 SALES INVOICING £59.00
COMBO PACK £129.00 PURCHASE LEDGER £59.00 RS232 INTERFACE £65.00
SAGE DATABASE £59.00 NOMINAL LEDGER £59.00
ACCOUNTS PLUS £129.00 STOCK CONTROL £59.00
SUPER COMBO £169.00 PAYROLL £89.00 DISCS
CHIT-CHAT, E-MAIL £59.00 NUCLEUS £89.00
CHIT-CHAT, VIEWDATA £59.00 INTERFACER £59.00
AMSOFT 3" CF2 (BOX OF TEN) £36.95
CHIT-CHAT, COMBO £89.00
Available complete with Modem AMSOFT
CHIT-CHAT, E-MAIL PACK £189.00 SUPERCALC II £43.00 UPGRADES
CHIT-CHAT, VIEW DATA PACK £189.00 NOMINAL LEDGER £30.00 DK TRONICS 8256
CHIT-CHAT, COMBO PACK £229.00 PURCHASE LEDGER £30.00 UPGRADE TO 8512 £36.00
COMBINED BUSINESS PACKAGE £89.00
NEW FROM AMSOFT!
HISOFT MICROFILE/MICROWORD £45.00 GAMES
PASCAL 80 £35.00 CP SOFTWARE
THE TORCH £10.00 DIGITAL RESEARCH BRIDGE £19.95
THE KNIFE £10.00 PASCAL £45.00 3D CLOCK CHESS £19.95
DEVPAC 80 £35.00 CBASIC £45.00 COLOSSUS 4 CHESS £15.95
HISOFT C COMPILER £35.00 DR. GRAPH £45.00
DR. DRAW £45.00
CAXTOIM QUEST DUST COVERS
BRAINSTORM £43.00 CASH TRADER £99.00 KUSTOM COVERS
SMART KEY £43.00 With option Analyser £149.00 6128 DUSTCOVER SET £6.95
TOUCH 'N' GO £21.00 TIME RECORDER £69.00 8256 DUSTCOVER SET £8.95
CARDBOX £89.00 SHOEBOX £149.00 6128 DUSTCOVER
SCRATCH PAD £59.00 MATCHBOX £29.00 (Keyboard Only) £4.95

Please make all Cheques/Postal Orders payable to:

CAPITOL COMPUTER PRODUCTS, Unit F3, Railway Triangle, Farlington, Hants P06 1TG
A member of the Capitol Marketing Services Group of Companies
Please supply the following Name
EH ^^ HOTLINE 0705 380531

Address

Post Code .Tel:

All prices include VAT and postage Dealer Enquiries Welcome
 PCW 8256/851 2 EDUCATION
MAILING LISTS Give your kids that extra edge with the world's
leading educational software now on your PCW.
• A simple to operate program Don't settle for less than the best.

specifically for storing names and ONLY £14.95 - mailorder

printing labels on the PCW. BETTER SPELLING (age 9-adult}

A superb training course with 1 6 menu options to choose from. Deals with all the
• Requires no expertise. major aspects of spelling in a structured and imaginative manner. Already available
on BBC, Commodore, and other Amstrad machines. This is an entertaining and
• Any numberof names on different educationally sound way to gain the confidence of those with a good command of

disks which may be changed from spelling whether you are a schoolgoer, secretary or in business.

BIOLOGY
within program. This program has already been acclaimed in its Commodore, Amstrad and BBC
• Five categories of selection codes versions.
prograi ns
The course is well structured, written by an educational author like
and as usual programmed by a professional to give you top standards. The
all our

plus alphabetic selection. menu options contain notes and exercises which should give a good understanding
of the basics of biology. Ideally suited to ages 12-16.
• Names quickly retrieved from an
CHEMISTRY
index file in alphabetical order. For a nominal price this course gives many hours of work in the basic areas of
chemistry. Learning is reinforced with well designed assignments which develop
• Date stamping forexpiry. understanding. Educationally superb and professionally programmed to give PCW

• Full screen editing (amendments are users the very best. Ideal for ages 12-16.

easy). BETTER MATHS 1 (age 12-16)

Rated in reviews as the best maths course on the market and now for your PCW.
• Flexible label spacing (1-9 across). Book your order now. Ten courses on popular areas of maths.

MAGIC MATHS
• Restart print run from partway (age 4 8)
"Here at last is a program which really deserves the title 'educational game'," said
through. one review. Easily the best educational game available for any machine.

• Uses memory drive and eitherdisk MATHS MANIA (8-1 2)

This outstanding program now available for our PCW makes multiplication and
drive. division addictive fun.

Only available mail order £ 1 4.95 each

EASyLABEL £23.95 (inc. VAT p&p) VISA HOTLINE ring 010/353/61/27994 (UK) for immediate

MULTILINK NETWORK SYSTEMS delivery or

£ 1 .00 p&p
send cheque/PO/VISA No.
(Amstrad PC soon)
Monksilver House, Rose Mount,
Oxton, Birkenhead L43 5SW CHOOI
Tel: 051 652 5371 SOFTWARE LTD.
Meadowvale Estate, Raheen, Limerick, Ireland.
DEALER ENQUIRIES WELCOME Telephone: , (U K .) 1 0-353-6 1 -27994

Convert your Amstrad PCW8256

AMSTRAD to a
PCW8512
TRAINING Only £189.95
Existing owners of

NATIONWIDE PCW8256 machines

can now upgrade to
the PCW8512 for only
£189.95 inc. VAT.
From £75.00 a day
Our courses and on-site
training cover the use of
locoscript, supercalc, dBase
II and Sage software. Small Easy to follow instructions.
Skills similar to replacing fuse required.
businesses may qualify for Fits internally.
1megabyte internal second drive.
256K of extra internal ram.
government grants towards No external boxes and cables.
our training fees.
For further details phone
0242 38929 or 01-894 1437 Memory & disk upgrade kit. £189.95 inc. VAT and P&P.
Memory only upgrade. £29.99 inc. VAT and P&P.
Disk drive only £159.99 inc. VAT and P&P.

Professional Computer Send Cheques.

or
Postal Orders
Access No. to: Export enquiries to:
CITADEL PRODUCTS MICRO INTERFACE
Training (UK) Ltd. LIMITED
Dept. A 50, High Street,
84 Talbot Road, London N6
Telephone: 01-340 0310
Edgware, Middlesex. HA8 7EP Telex: 295441 Busy B G
Telephone: 01-951 1848
 UPDATE
Few industries move faster than computing. Ever since we started writing the Guide, details of new products have
been flooding in. Here's a selection of the ones that didn't quite make the deadline. .

Hold the back page!

PCWvsPC Beware of the

The biggest event on the Amstrad Though the 8256 can be limited £200 — and even if you're just word Monster!
computing scene has been the at times, the 8512 is a powerful twin processing with it, you'll need a
launch of its PC clone. With prices drive machine. Ask yourself how program, costing at least another
starting at just £399 plus VAT and often you've found the PCW slow — £70. So you're paying £270 more
an amazing specification, it's an and that doesn't include Locoscript's than a PCW just to get your system
undeniable bargain. So does the scrolling, which is the program's up and running. Bear in mind that
advent of the PC change what we failing, not the machine's. software prices are likely to be more
said about the PCW in the And how many times does state expensive as well.
introduction? Should you trade-in of the art merely mean status The PC 1512 is a very good
your Joyce, before it's only fit for the symbol? Though Amstrad is going machine. But don't get hooked on
scrap heap? to promote the word processing hardware. Think whether it's worth
The answer is categorically — side of the Joyce, if you've read this the extra cost for what you want to
no! Good though the PC 1512 is, it guide, you'll realise that there's nota do with it.

serves a different purpose. It gives lot you can't do with it. AMSTRAD PC 1512
you more computing power, a faster Finally, there's the question of £399WAT upwards
processor, and access to state of the price. For a twin disc PC you'll have Amstrad Consumer Electronics, Brentwood Tales abound of a land called
art programs. But do you need all of topay £499, but on top of that you'll House, 169 Kings Road, Brentwood, Essex
Murdac —
but no adventurer has
this? need a printer —
perhaps another
CM144EF. 0277-230222
ever returned from beyond its
borders. The prize for a successful
mission is rumoured to be great
wealth. But the price of failure is
always death.
Monsters of Murdac is an
unusual quest into a land of
improbable creatures and
alternative universes, which should
keep you tied in knots for weeks on
end. It's a sophisticated adventure,
and Locomotive's coding means it

can understand multiple

commands. And with it's unique
sense of humour, it's unlikely that
have seen anything like it
you'll

before!
MONSTERS OF MURDAC
£19.95
Global Software, PO Box 67. London
SW111BS
The Amstrad family of PC Clones — but will they make the Joyce redundant?

Mailshots — Locoscript style

Though there's a lot to be said for At last a new version of Locoscript, you would Print or Edit. different people.
mixing and matching products, a complete with mailmerge, has There are two kinds of merge, to let A clever program, which adds a
suite of programs has its own appeared. But this particular you type in the details, or use a much needed feature to the resident i
attractions, particularly when the upgrade is going to cost you £49.95. Locoscriptdocument as its word processor. And if that wasn't
programs are of the quality of the For that you get an extremely database. You have a lot of choice enough, Locomotive is working on a
Pocket ProStar series. powerful program, with one distinct about the kind of information that Spelling Checker too.
This is centred on Pocket advantage over all its competitors goes into each letter, so insertions LOCOMAIL
WordStar, a classic word processor. — it runs inside Locoscript. This can be dependent on other £49.95
To this is added CalcStar, the means that you select it from the conditions. You can even have Artisoft, Victoria House, P0 Box 10,

spreadsheet, and InfoStar, a disc management screen, just as different paragraphs sent to Sunderland SR13PY. 0783-673395

complete database and reporting

package.
Buying the programs en suite
Ribbon repair Praise the Vicar
saves money, and, of course, you The shortage of Amstrad discs is If you program, it doesn't matter which can cope with multiple
can also transfer data between finally over, but it seems to have what language you use — source files. Its friendliness is
them Another advantage
.
is that been replaced by a printer ribbon eventually your code will develop a reflected in its provision of full

DRA has configured all the famine. This makes a ribbon re- bug. Often it can arise from context for each variable and not
programs to take full advantage of inking seem like a good idea. Such a something as simple as a variable: i just a line reference. Versions are

PCW keyboard, with its special service offered by Aladdink, who letter or letters that stand for a available for dBase Basic, C-
the is II,

keys. And you'll be buying from one charge £1.90 to press that ribbon number. It should be easy to trace, Basic, Pascal, Turbo Pascal and C.

of the most knowledgeable, helpful back into service when it's grown but only if you can keep track of THE VICAR
distributors in the country. old and grey. your variables. £29.95 each version
POCKET PROSTAR SUITE Vicar stands for Variables In Omnibus Building, 41 North
lansyst Ltd,
Road, London N7 9DP. 01-607 5844
£149.00 Aladdink, 4 Hurkur Crescent, Eyemouth, Context Analyst and Reporter, and
Davis Rubin Associates Ltd. 1
Canonbourne. Berwickshire TD14 5AP. 0390-50965 provides full cross-referencing
Glos
Weston Sub Edge, Chipping Campden,
GL55 6QK 0386-841181
 Counting the costs
Cornix has announced two new
packages for the small business
which has to cost a product or
provide estimates for a service.
Both are menu driven and aim for
simplicity of use.
Product Costing keeps track of
raw materials and labour costs to
provide a report on the latest cost of
each product. You choose whatever
mark ups apply. Job Estimating is
suitable to situations where work is
Miditrack wasn't quite ready as we went to press, but it has a successful track record with the Amstrad CPC games machines.
contracted, such as in the building
has both
or printing trade. It
MIDI Music
management and customer modes,
so you can use it in front of a client The idea of using your PCW for synthesised sounds, or provide a perfect synchronisation.
with only the selling price terms on musical purposes may sound composition aid. Miditrack Performer is a tried and
display. unlikely, but you're not dependent Midi opens up a wide range of tested system, which includes the
PRODUCT COSTING/JOB ESTIMATING on its keyboard and humble beep. musical possibilities, including the interface and driving software. EMR
£49.95 each Midi is a standard for opportunity to multi-track can also make a suitable Yamaha or
Comix Software Ltd, Spirella Building, Bridge communications between electronic recordings, which consists of laying Casio keyboard available. Though
Road, Letchworth, Herts SG6 4ET.
musical instruments and micros. It down a number of tracks so that the price isn't fixed yet, the system
0462-682989
allows you to connect an you can play along to your own should be available before
instrument, such as a keyboard, to accompaniment. You can also Christmas.
your computer and use it to drive or connect other Midi instruments, MIDITRACK PERFORMER
be driven by software which can such as a drum machine, and the Electromusic Research Ltd, 14 Mount Close,
There's a topical note to Aftershock,
store sequences of notes, data for system ensures that they keep Wickford, Essex SS11 8HG. 0702-335747
an adventure set after a major
nuclear accident. An earthquake has
damaged a reactor and up to you
it's All atC Interface Extra
to repair it. But to reach it you have
Another company has entered the
to make your way through the Another version of the C language is For those lighter moments,
interface fray. RAM's Centronics
shattered city. available from Advantage. It's a full Advantage also has four comic
of and RS232 interface comes
If you find the verb/noun input Kernighan-Ritchie implementation, adventures, the Arnold Blackwood
complete with a printer cable, but
traditional adventures frustrating, supporting floats, doubles, bit saga.
it's still cheaper than Amstrad's
you'llbe pleased to learn that this fields, structures and unions and is ADVANTAGE-C
own. The casing is especially slim
one won't communicate with you Unix C compatible. £39.50
and it's colour matches the
unless you talk proper English! As well as 150 library functions THE ARNOLD BLACKWOOD
Amstrad's case.
AFTERSHOCK and optimisation tools, it includes a ADVENTURES
step-by-step tutorial, so even the £15.95
RAM INTERFACE
£17.95 if
Ram Electronics (Fleet) Ltd, Unit 16, Redfields
Interceptor Micros, Mercury House, Calleva above means nothing to you at the Advantage, 33 Malyns Close, Chinnor,
Industrial Park, Church Crookham.-Aldershot,
Park, Aldermaston, Berks. moment, it could do soon. Oxfordshire 0X9 4EW Hants GU13 ORE. 0252-850031

Space age workstatio. Read on

If you're in the market for hi-tech If you want further information on
computer furniture, IQ-161 is a the Amstrad, there's no shortage of
purpose designed desk with 21 st reading material. In fact there's far
century styling.
Hfe too much to mention it all. A brief
It takes the ergonomics of word for a handful of books though
keyboard work into account, with Pitman publishes and distributes
1,' I _ I

several titles, including two from

1*- '
*
\ k
Sunshine Publications on

\Jp*4
* J1 Locoscript and the PCW in general,
plus an audio typing course. Mike

., /
UH\ Gerrard's introduction to word

full adjustment for height,

viewing angles and seating
V processing on the machine Using
thePCW 8256, from First Software,
position. It also has a steel
is extremely friendly.
The best way to keep up-to-date
base for stability and front lockable
on amonthly basis is probably one
heavy duty castors. Height adjustments
of themagazines dedicated to the
!

are controlled by a pneumatic spring in the

machine. There's been a spate of
central column. The standard workstation
them recently, but the longest
comes with desks for the monitor,
established is Amstrad Computer
keyboard and printer, which has its
User, with its more recent break-
own stand, but optional extras
away title, Amstrad Professional
include a side table and a
Computing
drawer.
If you're getting into
IQ-161 WORKSTATION
communications, there's a bi-
£112.70
monthly title dedicated to the
Intelligence Quotient Ltd,
subject and packed with all sorts of
45 Epping Close,
information on this fascinating, but
Romford,
attimes complex, area. It's called
Essex RM7 8BH
TeleLink and subscription details
are available from68 Chester Road,
The IQ-161 computer table adds a touch Hazel Grove. Stockport SK7 5NY or
of 'Star Trek chic to your working phone 061 -480 0171.
environment.
Technical drawing
Mice everywhere Secrets from St
]

If you want to use your PCW for \

none of the
technical drawing and
If you read our demonstration of
packages in our Graphics section
is

precise enough, Timatic has

the Electric Studio's Light Pen, you'll Brides
realise that we had a lot of fun with
answer with Microdraft. The Rural Ireland may seem an odd
it. However, for accurate drawing it's
accuracy is such that the cursor source of computer games, but it's

of a rather too imprecise.

I position is given in hundredths from there that St Brides School has
Now the company has a mouse,
been producing witty, original
millimetre!
uses a which comes with the an enhanced
To cope with this detail it
adventures for some time now. Two
version of the graphics software.
zoom facility, holding the whole of these are about to appear on the
This adds the ability to save and
picture in memory, and only the Amstrad, from different sources.
resolution reload parts of a screen; expansion
small part that the screen The Secret of St Brides sets you
You and contraction of windows; a lock
can handle actually appears. as Trixie Trinian, waking in the
of facility to aid straight line drawing;
can also pan across the surface mysterious surroundings of an old
the drawing.
and a co-ordinate display option for Electric Studio's Mouse — the first school building, where everybody
extra accuracy. The mouse interface
Drawing uses a menu system, rodent controller for the PCW. seems to think that it's still the
also includes a joystick port.
and includes techniques specially The AMX Mouse, complete with 1930s. It's a rip-roaring yarn,
Meanwhile the company is set to
suited to draughtsmen, such
as DeskTop program, should also be atmospherically written, capturing
move into another area of graphics
cartesian and polar cursor available soon, and Advanced the tone of all those old school
and with a video digitiser. This allows
positioning. There are also Get Memory Systems also has a stories.
manipulate you to take a video image and turn it
Ivfove commands to pagemaker program for desk top The Very Big Cave Adventure is a
you want to into a picture on your PCW, which
individual elements. If publishers. on the original
hilarious satire
could be useful for all sorts of
buildup aJibrary of picture THE ELECTRIC STUDIO MOUSE mainframe adventure game. It
display purposes. On the software
elements on disc and then introduce. £123.95 features hazards like the bull in the
front, Electric Studio is developing a
them into drawings, there's the The Electric Studio, Unit 13, The Business gulley, who will only go away if you
font module, for use with the Centre, Avenue One, Letchworth,
Macro option. tell him you're not there, because
graphics program. Herts SG6 2BH. 0462-895720
A technical product, and one he's a gulley-bull!

which requires a plotter to get the THE SECRET OF ST BRIDES

it, but it's an
exciting Keeping it under control £TBA
best from
expansion of the machine into a Amstand could help you maximise and the keyboard can be hidden
Audiogenic Software Ltd, 12 Chiltern

Enterprise Centre, Station Road, Theale,

new field. desk space and keep your PCW underneath when you're not Berks RG7 4AA. 0734-303663
MICRODRAFT wiring under control. It's a simple using it. THE VERY BIG CAVE ADVENTURE
£79.99 two box unit, with room for AMSTAND
shelf, £14.95
Market,
Timatic Systems Ltd, Fareham
0329-236727/
the printer on top and the monitor £20.64 CRL, CRL House, 9 Kings Yard, Carpenters
Fareham, Hants P016 OLB.
The screen is raised to a
inside. Road, London E15 2HD. 01 -985 2391
239953 Hytek Mouldings Ltd, Hallcrott Industrial
more comfortable viewing height, Estate, Retford, Notts DN22 7SS
Under its spell
More Modems When we wrote the Word
Processing section there was only
Mektronic Consultants is selling auto call as well. technical enquiries, advertising and
The two line-powered modems one spelling checker available for
three modems from GEC for use information. All services are free
with the PCW. All operate at 1200/ could be useful where power and the number is 061 -733 7739.
use with Locoscript. Now there's
sockets are limited, or you also competition from Computer One.
75 (V23), have front panel controls if The standard used is Teletype,
The new arrival contains a
and indicators, and are BABT have a portable micro. Mektronics which means 8 data bits, no parity,
dictionary of over 60,000 words,
approved. can also provide a complete modem at speeds of 300/300 and 1200/75.
and these can be cleverly broken
The 1223 is the basic unit and package, including interface, cables MODEMS 1223/1223A/1223B/
down, so that you can have separate
doesn't require a separate power and software. MODEM PACKAGE
sub-dictionaries. It caters for a widei
supply as it's line-powered. The Mektronic also operates a £89.99/£143.40/£195.50/£170.20
communications service own, range of wildcards, letting you
1223A adds auto answer and auto- of its
Mektronic Consultants, Linden House, 116
search for close matches and
disconnect, either on command or offering a variety of services, such Rectory Lane.Prestwich,
includes a lot of other special
loss of signal and the 1223B has as confidential or public messages, Manchester M25 5DB. 061-798 0803
commands. If this leaves you lost in
a sea of words, also contains a
Alphabetical order it

hangman game.
free

One feature that's missing from SPELLING CHECKER

most word processing packages is £34.95
an indexer. Ansible has come to the Computer One, Science Park, Milton Road,
frustrated authors. Cambridge CB4 4BH 0223-862616
rescue of all

Working with Locoscript Ansible

IndeX allows full text marking, with Give me joy
a maximum of 1,500 phrases. It can
cope with single words, phrases Another joystick interface has
and their inversions, and it places appeared for the games playing
selections in alphabetical order as it Joyce owner. This one has the
goes, listing page numbers in distinction of coming from

numerical order. If you need dummy Kempston, whose joystick protocol

has become a standard for the
numbers for typesetting purposes, Keeping your contacts on file
these can be listed as zeros. A Sinclair Spectrum. We'll have to
separate program can be used to If you have long lists of business or The program can be used to wait and see if PCW games
verify the indexing and there's even social contacts, Teleadd is a produce lists or labels. producers support it too.

a word count! dedicated database which allows TELEADD JOYSTICK INTERFACED JOYSTICK
ANSIBLE INDEX you to keep a record of names, £21.95 £14.95/£29.95
£49.50 addresses, phone numbers and Load & Run, P0 Box 123, Dartford DA1 5AA. Kempston Micro Electronics Ltd, Unit 4,
Ansible Information, 94 London Road, important dates, such as 0322-72116/73128 Manton Lane. Bedord MK41 7HY.
Reading, Berks RG1 5AU. 0672-62576 anniversaries or details of meetings. 0234-327544

Editor JohnMinson; Contributors John Cook, Martin Croft, Christina Erskine, Alan Fitch, Mike Gefrard, John Lettice, Max Phillips; Design and Production TTM&R; Layout and Artwork Phoehe Creswell Evans, Guy Bennington;
Advertisement Manager Neil Dyson; Advertisement Executive Julian Harriott; Managing Editor Kevin Cox; Publisher Roger Munford; Publishing Director Stephen England. Published by Sportscene Specialist Press Ltd,
14 Rathbone Place, London, W1 P 1 DE; Telephone (all departments! 01-631 1433; Telex 8954139 BunchG, Company registered in England. Typesetters Universe, London; Reproduction Graphic Ideas, London;
Printed by Chase Web, Plymouth, Devon; Distribution SM Distribution, 16-18 Trinity Gardens, London SW9 8DX, Telephone 01-274 8611. All material in The Complete Guide to the Amstrad PCW 8256 & 8512 © 1986 Felden
Productions, and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the written consent of the publishers. The Complete Guide to the Amstrad PCW 8256 S 8512 is a quarterly publication.

90
 Please send cheques/postal orders to:

Compumart, (Dept Ol
,Falcon Street, Loughborough,^
leics.tEIIIEH
 AMSTRAD PROFESSIONALS
FROM DIGITAL RESEARCH
W k»

Your Amstrad can handl

interactive presentation
quality graphics."
The Amstrad 8256 and
6128 don't simply have massive
to view the entire picture. Or
zoom out to fit your picture
memory capacities that take 1
neatlyina 8 /2"x11"or11"x8V2"
them across the dividing line
between home and business
machines.They also have GSX graphics
graphics
So here they
^ are. screen rwl
crrepn backand
page layout On extra- large
drawings, you can pan the
forth over each section.
extension systems that make them Ideas become art with
See, store, print, present!
potential producers of high quality (and DR DRAW £49.95. DR GRAPH and DR DRAW let you
highly exciting) graphics for business, DR DRAW lets you create
see exactly what you've designed on
educational,scientific,industrialorpure organization charts.Flowcharts.Business
screen.Then store it on disk for recall or
pleasure purposes. logos.Technical diagrams. Maps.
update later. Or print or plot on paper or
NowDigitalResearch,creatorsofthe Orjust about any shape or line drawing
overhead transparencyfilm.
CP/M operating systems that make this imaginable.
Eitherwayyou've gota totally
graphics capability possible, offeryou And each element can be enhanced
professional presentation.
two professional graphics software or highlighted with a variety of colours
Both packages run on Amstrad
packages which exploit it to the full and patterns.
CPC 6128 or PCW 8256 computers with
DR GRAPH and DR DRAW. Easy-to-follow menus let you select one or two disk drives. Hard copy can be
Data comes alive with pre-programmed shapes-circles, bars,
produced on any GSX-driveable printer
DR GRAPH £49.95. arcs, rectangles, polygons,and lines-or
or plotter, such as Amstrad, Epson or
DR GRAPH lets you use data create yourown pictures by modifying
Shinwa printers and the HP7470A
entered manuallyorcreated with these shapes via mouse or keyboard. plotter.
popular spreadsheet programs such as Add text anywhere you wish, selecting
SuperCalc to design vividly effective and between a wide variety of

professional line,bar,scatterand stick type font styles.

graphs,and pie and text-only charts, Revise with the stroke

quicklyand effortlessly. of a key. Fill a shape with
Simply choose options from menus colour or patterns.
and byfilling in a form. Enlarge or reduce it.

When you've completed your Move it to a new location.or

selections, you've completed the graph. copy it.

Choose from three different type Change type fonts, size,

your machine type) for titles,
styles (plus colour, and location with just
legend and annotation copy. Deploy a fewsimple keystrokes.
different line styles, line and bar widths Zoom in for detailed

and eight filled patterns to add clarity work,then zoom back out
and emphasis. Add borders, colours and
labels. Barcharts can be stacked, Amstrad Professionals from Digital Research.
clustered,orarranged
Pie charts
in steps or"sticks."
can include exploded "slices."
Now Professionalism begins at home.
To place an order.send
cheque to: Amstrad Sales.Digital Research (UK)
Annotation can be incorporated, Limited,OxfordHouse,OxfordStreet,Newbury,BerkshireRG131JB.
OrtelephoneNewbury(0635) 38787 or 38783, with yourcredit card
modified,and moved anywhere you
details.Or contact your local Amstrad dealer.
want. Different graph types can be
combined within one chart,and as many
*FREE telephone support for 30 days following receipt of registration
card.Thereaftera full year's on-line telephone support is availablefor
m DIGITAL
as fourdifferent charts or graphs can be
just £15.00+VAI Full details will come with your software.
RESEARCH
combined on a single page. n The creators of CP/M

*And high level languages, so ask about DR PASCAL MT+ and C BASIC Compiler packag es £49.95 each
 PLUS THEC
DISC MANAGEMENT SCREEN I

Dice Management. Punter idle.

C=Cieate new document E=Edit existing document P=Pi int document

H = Dicc change I2 = lnspect f
3=Copy f4 = Move f5=Rename f6 = Erace

t
pick group
f
pick group
'r

confirm
EE
[ENTER]
[ENTER] [ENTER] rename Document ee
new name new name recover from Limbo © EE
rename Group
[ENTER] [ENTER]
rename Disc E3E3EEBI
Edit document
Print document
pick group Create document
r [ENTER] ~j^ Direct
Make ASCII
printing
tile

Name: MAKE ASCII FILE

If T | New name confirm
T
Print all pages PRINT SOME PAGES T
Print some pages T Old namt
[EXIT]
FIRST PAGE T Group
confirm
T Drive
Simple text file ch

LAST PAGE Page image file

*
I EDITING TEXT SCREEN
A:l t I ItllS/HfcAO.ME Editing text.
'. I ayout ;
-'.
Pi1 ? : -: iP6
(UShow f2=Layout f3=Emphasis f4=Style f5=Lines f6=Pagei
J...J.. 2 3 4 5

© ©
d'yvi^/^jira
EMPHASIS CODES: Bzsasaacs flWWM
EE I Underline" EE IHall Height
© end page here

EE ICcdes
EE Bold ED
EE Rulers
EEII Double ED
EE Blanks
ReVerse Video
EE Spaces El
EE Effectors
INSERT PAGE tv

this Page Nur

EEII Full underline ED I I SupeRscript Last Paqe Nui

EE Word underline EE SuBscript

©
DOCUMENT LAYOUT:
ED 10 pitch
EZ3EBEEB
DD 12 pitch
INSERT LAYOUT ED 15 pitch
I brand New layout EE 17 pitch
© N Layout BE Pro insert soli space
lase layout ED normal width insert hard space
ED Double width insert soft
insert hard
hyphen
hvohen
EDIT LAYOUT
Cunent layout Line spacing ??
Layout Line pitch i?
ICOSCRIP
E GUIDE AT YOUR SIDE
Usin(j ron
D = Dnect punting
How to use this chart
This chart shows all the possible screens and menus that you can see in
ides !8 = Opliun-_
LocoScript, how to get to each one and where it goes afterwards. To make it

easier to read, we've used certain conventions:

Where no other legend, the normal way of using a menu is to place
there's
EEZZEBJSSa
the highlight bar overthe item you want using the cursor up and down keys,
and then press [ENTER] which both actions the choice and clears the menu off.
Menu choices in capitals are headings and cannot be selected - the highlight
bar will just skip over them.
If the menu
choice has El B
by it, then you must press B to set or Q to
clear the choice before pressing [ENTER] to complete.
If the menu choice has N
or T by it, then you must type a Number or some
Text respectively followed by [ENTER], before pressing [ENTER] again to
complete.
confirm
Some of the simple menus that merely ask you to confirm an action have
been left off- the chart just says "confirm" at these points. Press [ENTER] to
proceed or [CAN] to stop.
[EXIT]
confirm confirm
Where further explanation is needed, we've used a footnote.
choose name
[ENTER]

SET MENU

Centre
EN Double
Italic
Keep ??
Punier idle. Using A:
Layout 11
Line Pilch ?
f6=Pages f7=Modes f8=Blocks EXIT Line Spacing 11
8
Last Line
Last Page Number
Pitch '
11 ?
Page Number
TEXT STORAGE:
ReVerse
age here Right Justify

r— Save blocE" SuBscript

I
SupeRscripl
'LINES TOGETHER PHRASE UnderLine
Word underline
© Save all phrases UniT
RT PAGE NUMBER hard space
Page Number pick group hard hyphen
I Paqe Number [ENTER]
choose name
EXIT OPTIONS:
[ENTER] Finish editing
Save and Continue
Save and Print
CLEAR MENU
EDITOR SUB MODES: Abandon edit

I Edit Header II Bold

BUSES Edit identify text

Insert text
Disc management Keep V:

|
DISC
n
MANAGEMENT SCREEN |
Layout
Line Pitch
Line Spacing
Pitch
ReVerse
edit text [EXIT] Pick document SuBscript
[ENTER] confirm SupeRscripl
UnderLine
(
soft space
)

() soft hyi
 FOOTNOTES
1. The choices in this menu can be directly accessed from the 3. This choice can be directly typed with the key cor
Disc Management screen by their initials E, P, C, D as [ALT] + [RETURN].
appropriate. 4.The UNIT choice can only be accessed by the set men
2. This choice, or all choices in this menu, can also be accessed 5.The REPRINT choice can be highlighted but notselec
with the SET ( [JJ ) and CLEAR, (0) menus - see the LocoScript must use one of the choices below it on the menu,
manual pp 2 1
1
- 1 23. LocoScript is a trademark of Locomotive Software Ltd.

RQQQQQQQQQQQQBBQQaQ
LDGQQQQQQQQOQQ
GDOQQQQQQQQQQQUGDOQD! [

QQQQQQQQGDQQ
¥
ALT EXTRA ¥B |
jQQQCDQQQ
 f3=Emphasis (4=Style (5=Lines
3 .4 5

ABETTERS READ. ME Editing pagination. Printer idle. Usina A: M:

i 6 Line S pace -:: Layout -: :PM2 ;xsi -:LP6 Paijc --•- line --
1
Justify of
II »S how t?=Layo ut l3 = Emphasis f4 = Stvt* t5 = Lin»s t6=Pnn*«: 17. Murine iH-m.^-Lc c
laigm IJ=Tab U=R,ght lob l5=Ceni,e lab 16-Decimal iab E xiT
3
a end of header 1 : used lor all pages ""
end of footer 1 : used for all pages ^™»
end ot header 2 : used for no pages at all
'

:ursor left and right keys to highlight a format option end of footer 2 : used for no pages al all I Use this paginal
the EE keys to alter the option necover old f
Empty pagin;
3r down key moves you to the ruler menu Abandon odil
f1,f2, 13, f4, f5, f6, 18 all

function as in the editing menu

:ursor left and right

:he relevant f-key to set

keys to move to the desired column D
a ruler mark at that column

EDITING HEADER SCREEN

A:LETIERS<READ.ME Editing header. Prime, idle.

M -layout f3=r.haractejj; (5= Tab Count !6.Br»aks f7=Paoe Si/e (8

J 1.

| Page length

Header zone
i one line
NAME: position
d lo top of torm
lop ot torm
FROM PAGE
THIS PAGE
LEFT OFFSET TO PAGE Fooler zone
el size: position
© I REPRINT
This page
Previous page
From beginning CHARACTERS: PAGE BREAKS:
IBS I I Zero is O WIDOWS 8 ORPHANS
Ibi Zero is
01 BB
IBB Decimal
Decimal
is
BB
Bill is
BROKEN PARAGRAPHS
BB Prevented
BB
 ™«™

PLUS DISC MANAGEMENT SCREEN

THE GUIDE AT
Disc management. Using i-fone

C = Create new document E = Edit document P = Print document D = Direct

M=Actions f2 = Disc f3 = File f4=Group f5=Document f6=Settings f7=Disc char \

I Rename group
Verify disc Move file
fl/.FTT.VttlliL Format disc Erase file
Rename disc Rename file

Show phrases Recover from Limbo

Load phrases
Save phrases Set first pages
Set total pa ges

DOC TXT Name: DOC TXT New Character Style

group Group: group Character Styles
Npw Namp- nOT TXT I

B Drive: B For Character Set

group England
B First page First page 1
For Printer
Last page Last page 1
PCW9512
Old Name: DOC .TXT Total Daee
Group: group
Drive: B
Simple text file Set total paees=counterl
Page image file

PrestigePica 10
11" Fanfold
2" Labels For Character Set
A5 For Character Set England
England For Printer
For Printer PCW9512
PCW9512
v Ignore paper sensor
Create new Paper Type

Single sheet
Continuous stationerv

Pitch: 10
Top gap For Character Set
Bottom England
Ignore paper sensor I
For Printer
v
PCW9512
Set new details Set new details
Create new Paper Type Create new Style
I
Remove Paper Type

EDITING TEXT SCREEN

group DOC Editing text.
CFt+0 LP6
f1=Actions f2=Layout f7=Spell f8=Optior
1 1

»itnr:R.r All rtf (inriimpnt

Edit identity \ Word underline 7 10 12 15 17 PS Just forwards from herel
Insert text I \! Bold 4 Normal width
Disc manager Layout exchange \' Double strike \ ;

Double width
Layout replacement I Italic User dictionary upkeep
Show phrases \' Superscript Line spacing 1
Show blocks Centre v Subscript V !«>, 1 Vh '.

Right align Reverse

Set justification
v
CR extra spacing
V it 1 Vh
Line pitch
7 5 6

2: Layout 2 EDITING
3: Layout 3 LAYOUT
4: Layout 4 SCREEN I
Find page till' lu: Mi
5: Layout End page here
6: Layout Last line of page
 How to use
this chart
This chart details all the menus available in

LocoScript 2. The normal procedure is to

press the f-key (QO, LID, etc.) linked with the

AT YOUR SIDE menu, use the cursor keys

highlight bar over the choice
press UnterI .
to move the
you want, then

Options marked with a tick (V) need to be

specially 'selected'. Press a or a to select or
deselect, then press rgJTERi to perform the
Dir*ct printing chosen action.
ir i f8=Oplions Some choices require you enter a number,
Press D Place cursor over
exit to finish) file, press P for instance the Header and Footer size menu.
( I i
^
After highlighting the option, type the number
Show Limbo files
you want, then mm . After altering any other
choices you want on that menu, press [mm\
again to act on the entire menu.
In most places, the [Ml key (for 'Cancel')

aborts the current operation and returns to

normal editing.
This chart is based on version 2.11 of

LocoScript 2, as shipped with the PCW9512.

Other versions may differ slightly, depending
wthmsmaad
A5 what paper and printer types you have set up.
Portrait (

Landscape (Wide!
Default Paper Type
A4
Default Style
PrestigePica 10
Default Set
England
For Character Set
SET MENU
England
For Printer
PCW9512
CEntre
lap
CR extra
CR extra ?? Double
Double Italic
Italic Justify
Justify Keep ?
Keep ?? Line Pitch
For Printer LayouT ? Line Spacing
PCW9512 Line Pitch i
Mail
Line Spacing ?? Pitch
Last Line Reverse
Last Page Number SuBscript
II Options for PCW9512 Mail SupeRscript
Pitch ?? UnderLine
Page Number soft space
Reverse (

(-)
)

soft hyphen
5 Multi-Strike :ht Align
I
V Single Strike
Impression control oupc.iscript
J Low UnderLine
v Medium Word underline
V High UniT
hard space
hard hyphen

The Set and Clear menus are shortcuts for most of the main editing
menus. For example, typing eb turns on Bold, and SB turns it off
again. To use these menus, type or a followed by the capitalised
letters in the choice you want. The menu itself won't appear unless
you deliberately wait for a few seconds. If a number is needed, you
ffcOptions EXIT will be prompted to type it in and press rural .

I Finish edit
EDITING LAYOUT SCREEN
iave and Continue
^^ Save and Print
Abandon edit
group DOC Editing layout. Printer idle. Using
Layout 1 Pi12 CR+0 LP6 Decimals Zero=0 ScalePitchl
f3=Tabs f4=Size f5=Stock f8=Options EXITl
..2 3 4 5..

1: Layout Decimal marker is

2: Layout Decimal marker is

Set simole Tab 3: Layout

4: Layout Zero character is
bet Right Tab Zero character is
Set Centre Tab 5: Layout
\Codes Set Decimal Tab 6: Layout
7: Layout i itch 10
12 15 17 PS
 ^niT^iMa.
TCeep currerit line" flim:
?? lines above
?? lines below

I: group DOC Document setup. Printer idle.

Layout Pi12 CR + LP6

Hold down [alt] to get:

BQQQQQQQQQQQQRRQQRQ
EDQQQQQQQQQQQQ
^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^m^^^ -immmmf ^S^^W 1UHBWHW P ^raHBBBF 'IWWWWMP ^H9MM^ ^HHnMF ^MnmtOr ^RBMMF >BiBKI|>^
(8
fj>
\ [EXCHk [DOC \ [UNf
| FIND | PAGE| PARA|
| | |

QQQQQQQQQQQQUQOQD
W ««i» W >HMF ^MMM^ ^iir

rrrrrrr
^^^^m^^^^M^^^^ ^^^^^ TMm^^^ ^MMM^ ^HMMMUMHHMF

irrprr r
^MSHBB^ ^BUBUm^ ^IIWUBb ^aGSBB^ ^mnSMP^ ^HUDMMF ^KKKttt'

Hold down extra to gi

BQQQQQQQQQQQQ88QRQQ
i i

tDQRRRRRRQRQQQ IETURN |

fj | |
EXCHY [DOC k [UNIT
FIND| PAGE! PARA|
| |
1

SQQQQGQQQQQQQUQTOI
QRRRRQQQQRRRRRGDRQQI
LocoScript is a trademark of Locomotive Software Ltd
 Clear Tab
Clear all Tabs

J
I
PTR PRINTER CONTROL SCREEN
Disc management.
Printer: ready Top of form Priming documenl
f1=Actions f3 = Paper f6=Left Offsel f7=Document

Left offset Name: DOC TXT

from pag 1
Clear offset to page: 1
Increase offset
Decrease offset on page: Multi-Strike
on copy: Single Strike

Reprint from: Impression control

—n llliM v'

V
Low
Medium
Beginning
V High
Character Stvle
PrestigePica
Character set
England
Printer
PCW9512

For Character Set

England
For Printer For Printer
PCW9512 PCW9512

[Ml + UB sets up these charact

BQQQQQQOQQQQQBBBBBB
QRRQQQQRRQQGO fj | |
EXCHV [DOC \ [UNIT
FINDI PAGE| PARA|
|
I

|]QQQQQppqQQQQUQ©CD©
,
'"'"
IF *Jl"*Jr -F 'lrAr "Arm Ax At '1KI1 '""
II'URWIR
QDQQ^ + sets up these characters:
i rrrrf^rr
[alt] DID

n3 in4 ill
5
:)i
6
;)(
7 :)(*
ap .jp <

^MNHHHnHHPF ^Mr ^MntHHBF ^^f^MHp* ^HHHMHr ^MMM^ ^J'^M^ ^HH^RW wAMF ^MMHV ^MMMMPP ^MHHAW ^HMMlr *\ ^flp ^RMMF ^W '^r

p* ^Wt^WP^ ^^pntnPr ^PffnMMtF ^MBHPPF *^M)V ^"^^r ^^RBRffP ^HHV^PP ^HMH^P' ^"PPBPPr ^Hr ^OTMHIPP ^IVJPJIPMpr ^Mv ^NMMpr ^VMMBPr ^MNBvF I

— imw "™ ^— ^ ^— w n
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ALT ¥ EXTRA ¥ ffl

|
)
QRQ(F)QQQ
Cm] + QD sets up these character
Q(Tl(2~lf3~lfini5~lf6

CDSlQQQQQQQRQQt^DGDRQR
RRRRRRR1
J
EXTRA I
I

To get back to normal characters, do a (alt] + UD

 For Character Set
For Character Set England For Printer
England For Printer PCW9512 I
For Printer PCW9512
PCW9512
JESHfl
pnrn^iT^MTnu For Printer
PCW9512
v D630
V DMP

Pitch: 10
Multi-Strike
For Character Set Single Strike
England
For Printer Impression control
PCW9512 V Low
details
\l Medium
-I High
|
Create new Style

EDITING TEXT SCREEN The Set and Clear me

menus. For example,
again. To use these n
-diting text. Printer idle. letters in the choice \
R+0 LP6 you deliberately wait
=Style f4=Size f5=Page f7=Spell f8=Opiions EXIT will be prompted to ti
.3

I H.rl+M.'Jl.ll.'iKT.
EDITING LAYOI
Word underline V 10 12 15 17 PS Save am Continue
and
Bold v Normal width Save and Print
Double strike vl Double width Abandon edit
group DOC .TXT Editing layout.
Italic User dictionary upkeep Layout 1 Pi12 LS1 CR+O LP6
Superscript Line spacing
Subscript V0S.1 IV. f1=Margins f3=Tabs f4=Size f5=Stock
Reverse CR extra spacing ..2 3 4 5.

V V. 1 IV,

Line pitch
75 6
IHJ'l'MiEHJ

EDITING
LAYOUT
Find page
SCREEN Set Centre tab
3TEQHHD End page here
Lastline of paee
Set Decimal Tab
lavout i

"Keep cUrreTVt Ting" WittT!

ft ?? lines above Clear Tab
?? lines below I
Clear all Tabs

SETUP SCREEN PTR PRINTER CONTROL SCRI

Printer idle. Using B: M: Disc management.
Page - line — 54 Printer: ready Top of form Printing document
f5=Page (6=Printing f7=Spell f8=Options EXIT f1=Actions f3 = Paper f6=Left Offset
L

return to start of document

Suspend printing I
IT Left offset
Feed to top of form J A4 Clear offset
Feed one line 11" Fanfold Increase offset
Set top of form 2" Labels Decrease offset
A5

PrestigePica 10
For Character Set PrestigePica 10 PrestigePica 10
Character bet
England England
For Printer
For Character Set
England Printer
PCW9512 PCW9512
For Printer
PCW9512

DITING
AYOUT ^ssr
Twranran
CREEN For Printer
PCW9512

3p6r type
age layout
eader/footer options
age break control
age numbers

LaCtI + \JB sets up these characters:

BQQQQQQQQQQQ
st page header enabled
st page footer enabled
;t page header enabled
;t page footer enabled
3ne page document
se footer for first page
sc footer for last page

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 Uiuny nut un?n i r-rniiv iiugunent vvirccv yi i

low f4=Moy» fS-Renane f6=EriS8 f 7-Mo^es f8=0f

Print document Type in page number to start or

ive B: Mpty Drive N; finish. [ENTER] [ENTER] to print

ik used Mt free • files 4k used 352k free 2 files ^o'i! pos-ip^
Drive; A
group 4 Mt
sroup S Jk
...JI group 6 4k </ Print all pages
:
IBffLAIE group 7 4k Print son* piges

5 files A;C0HT 1 files TEMPLATE 12 files!

files 4 lirtio files lido files Select document with file cursor.
J
[f7] Select Print all pages or Print
LEI2PAl.lu)P 2k
LEI2PACI.PLP 2k some pages with the cursor bar.
TTTtBf HBP •'

Cursor. Cursor Keys to move. Limbo files still recoverable.

Select Group with group cursor.

[f7] Type in name: 8 characters. 3
characters (numbers,',and
Reads in files from a newly . are allowed) [ENTER] confirms.
inserted disc.
;

Drive: ft

Direct Printing
Direct Printing ([D]; [ENTER] or
[f7] from Disc Management
Screen) turns the PCW into an
can be
[ENTER] confirms Direct Printing
intelligent typewriter. Text
see box).
altered until [RETURN] is pressed
when it is printed but not stored.
Identifies a selected This allows accurate positioning of
document. the print head when filling in

forms, etc. Use 'Left Offset' to

control left margin: [PTR]; [f3];

Selects 'Left Offset' with the

Select document with file cursor.
Make ASCII file
cursor bar. Right/left cursor keys [f7] Select destination with group

set the print position by the

cursor; [ENTER], RehameTaTfleoT
column; + [Shift] they set the print the same name already exists in
Drive: M
position by the inch. Alternatively
the group or a new name is
if

Old Nane: DEMO .001 required, 'Simple text file' contains

type in the Offset size in tenths of
Group: POSTER no detailed layout information
an inch. Use the printer paper feed
Drive; ft

Select document with the file other than tabs and returns; 'Page
knob to adjust the vertical
cursor.[!3] Select destination position. [EXIT] returns to printing </ Sinple text file image file' has identical line breaks

group with the group cursor. Page wage file to the original and ASCII form
once the head is positioned.
[ENTER] Rename if a file of the feeds, suitable for sending via

same name already exists in the electronic mail. Avoid mixing

new group or if a new name is ASCII and Locoscript files on the

required. [ENTER] Original file same disc.

remains.
OPTIONS

[+] and [-] Reveal and Conceal

Select document with the file Limbo and Hidden (operating

cursor. [14] Select destination
system) files.

group with group cursor. [ENTER]

Rename if a file of the same name
already exists in the new group or
if a new name is required. [ENTER] CODES CHART
Original file is removed.
EFFECT ENABLE DISABLE KEY NOTES
BOLD MB MB f3
*
CENTRE MC f5

DOUBLE STRIKE [
+]D [-]D f3

DOUBLE WIDTH [+]P??D[ENTER] [-]P f4 ??=PITCH: default=12.

*
HARD HYPHEN [+][HYPHEN] f5 Line will not break at HYPHEN.
renane document *
HARD SPACE [+][SPACE] f5 Line will not break at SPACE.
|l He* Itae: ? !
ITALIC Ml Ml f4
\

!
'•"'' c :
KEEP LINES TOGETHER [+]K??[ENTER] [-]K??[ENTER] f6 Keeps ?? LINES above [-] or below [+]

renane Group the code together.

jj"!j
j

LAYOUT [+]??[ENTER] MLT f2 ??=LAYOUT number: [-] returns to

t==i Hew Ha
BASE LAYOUT.
JLjIjlIB LINE PITCH [+]LP?[ENTER] MLP f5 ?=6 or 8: default=6.

J" " "™

M
"t
R'|SSBS| jBftfaW^^M| l
:

— LINE SPACING

LAST LINE OF PAGE

LAST PAGE NUMBER
[+]LS??[ENTER] [-]LS

MLL
[+JLPN
*

*
f5

f6

f6
??-0/72 /1/l72 /2/272 /3:
BASE LINE SPACING; defaults
Use f6
Inserts
at end
NUMBER.
of LINE
[-] returns to

only.

Select document or group with file

PITCH [+]P??[ENTER] MP f4 ??=10/12/15/17/P (Proportional
Spacing): [-] returns to BASE PITCH;
or group cursor. [f5] Select desired
default=12.
Rename option with cursor bar. *
PAGE NUMBER [+]PN f6 Inserts NUMBER.
[ENTER] Type in new name for
document, group or disc as
REVERSE VIDEO [+]RV [-]RV f3 Only seen on screen.
*
desired. [ENTER] RIGHT JUSTIFY [+]RJ f5
*
SOFT HYPHEN [-HHYPHEN] f5 Word breaks with HYPHEN if too long.
*
SOFT SPACE MfSPACE] f5 Line breaks with SPACE if too long.

SUBSCRIPT MSB MSB f4 f4: on HALF HEIGHT option.

Select document with file cursor. [16]
SUPERSCRIPT [+]SR HSR f4 f4: on HALF HEIGHT option.
[ENTER] confirms. Document is
UNDERLINE [+]UL [-JUL f3
held in Limbo until it is erased