---
title: "Daisy Update"
type: "article"
slug: "daisy-update"
url: "http://localhost/article/daisy-update/"
markdown_url: "http://localhost/article/daisy-update.md"
published_at: "2026-10-22T23:59:42+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-10-22T23:59:42+00:00"
featured_image:
  url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20230809-041332.jpg"
excerpt: "We continue to describe the operations of our new and improved Daisy word processor, using our TS2068, LKDOS (L3), and 9-pin printer Brother M-1109. This time, we talk about the Quickie Menu. Just as the Daisy dB Manager comes up in Bill Jones' original formulation, only when Turbo = 1 or Turbo = 3 holds,…"
category:
  - name: "ZXir QLive Alive"
    slug: "zxir-qlive-alive"
    taxonomy: "category"
    url: "http://localhost/category/periodicals/zxir-qlive-alive/"
indiv:
  - name: "David Lassov"
    slug: "david-lassov"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/david-lassov/"
publication: "ZXir QLive Alive"
publication_r:
  id: 10286
  title: "ZXir QLive Alive!"
  type: "periodical"
  url: "http://localhost/periodical/zxir-qlive-alive/"
authors: "David Lassov"
volume: "5"
issue: "1"
issues_articles:
  - id: 26817
    title: "ZXir QLive Alive! v5 n1"
    type: "issue"
    url: "http://localhost/issue/zxir-qlive-alive-v5-n1/"
pages: "19"
pubdate: "Spring 1995"
archive_link: false
volumeissue: "v5n1"
---

# Daisy Update

We continue to describe the operations of our new and improved Daisy word processor, using our TS2068, LKDOS (L3), and 9-pin printer Brother M-1109. This time, we talk about the Quickie Menu.

Just as the Daisy dB Manager comes up in Bill Jones’ original formulation, only when Turbo = 1 or Turbo = 3 holds, so the Quickie Menu appears only in In+Ed.B6 and ManlAd.B6, respectively.

Please read the other article on Daisy this issue for standard details on the Quickie Menu. Here, we will indicate how we use this menu to accomplish the most amazing amount of satisfying work production.

[Figure: Screen display listing q$, r$, j$, h$(1) to h$(7) and i$(1) to i$(7), each marked Finished]

Typically, we start entering a letter or document, by LOADing In+Ed.B6 from disk. The Function Menu comes right up with no prompting, as there is no printer to initialize in this current effort to enter a letter, or other document, into a disk file as a character array.

Next, we press 1, in order to commence Input-Edit. Now faced with the Quickie Menu, we enter Input mode, by pressing 1. This results in a brief reminder on line 22, that use of the cursor arrows leaves Input mode and enters Edit mode, and that Pressing Cap-Shf and Sym-Shf at the same time will return us to the Quickie Menu.

Entering Input mode, we type away (at “TURBO speed”, according to Bill). Our typing is captured in string u$.

After typing in our first paragraph, we press Cap-Shf and Sym-Shf together. At the Q Menu, we observe Buffer = MMM and press 3, in order to Store our typing buffer (u$) in RAM, before something happens to it. Of course, we have to input a length for this, our first paragraph, which will go into H$(1). This input 1 can be any number with MMM <= 1, and 1 will be used to DIMension all of h$(1), h$(2), … , h$(7), in order to store our first seven paragraphs.

What is the best value for 1, the “magic number”? Well, anything at least MMM will do, and Bill’s suggested value of 700 stores a paragraph of about one screenful. But, 704 not only stores a screenful and stores the entire h$ character array in only one track of the disk at item “:”, but also permits a very nice display of the h$ array as a “disk file” in program Po+Mm.B6, which is usually used for printing our letter/document, but lacks the sophisticated display facilities of In+Ed.B6 .

In order to check our progress, we get the Q Menu on-screen and press 6. Here, we can cycle through each of our paragraphs, as Stored in h$(1), h$(2), … , h$(7), i$(1), i$(2), … , i$(7), edit them, and return to the menu.

The edit mode is performed slowly and in BASIC. The input mode is performed quickly and in cat.C1, which is Don Lamen’s MC program. Bob Swoger calls it a “Journaling Program”. The slow edit mode is the only drawback, we have found with Daisy; so, that’s not so shabby !!!!

We mention this, only because Larry Kenny’s Mini Word Processor is all in BASIC, and it is not only as fast on input, but also as fast on edit, with no letdown in speed between input and edit. This code comes from Larry’s “Sequential/Random Access Files” and must be similar to what he had in mind for his “LarKen Desk Top Publisher”, which will probably never appear !!!

Bill’s editor is elaborate and implements all of Header Entry, Block Insert, String Insert, Block Delete, Back Shift, Right Shift, Line Feed, Cursor Up, character Delete, and Resume. Larry’s code implements all of text Enter, text Insert, text Delete, text Erase, cursor Move (all), Escape, and Newline. MWP works fine for Max-Com!!

As far as we can see, we are considering a singularity of Bill’s code, which can only be removed, by replacing inpt.B6, edt.B6, and cat.C1. But, can the many features of edt.B6 be replaced? And, this entire input/edit facility is a foundation of Bill’s Dbms code, also.

Well, it’s best not to make too many mistakes in the first place !!

Oh, yes, option #7 (Word Replace, Global) is also in BASIC and slow. But, in this case, we are not talking about searching a giant data base and progress is shown on-screen. So, it is not at all troublesome, even though slower than both Larry’s MC search in MWP and Tom Wood’s MC search in PROFILE.

In our copy of Daisy, the original code for #9, to Cycle Caps, had to be repaired for our new and improved version.

And, lastly, item “;” for “Macro Mgt” is fascinating, incorporating the 2068’s color capabilities into the construction of beautiful banners. This is one of the reasons for our loss of interest in the TS1000 as our primary personal computer !!