Jack in the Redwoods Heard From

Hello Jack! This SYNX critter is one thing we’ve been a ‘lookin fer! A way to sneak by the syntax checker. Now we can put foreign disk syntax into a program line, save to cassette and send to a friend who dont know how to be a dunin it.

Or, how bout changing the syntax in a TS-2068 program to QL Basic, then shipping it out as a ASCII file to the QL sitting over on the next table? Heck, some of us may be writing IBM programs on the 2068. Thanks Jack, we’ll find a use for it. Now why did ya disguise it by sayin its fer AERCO Disk users? Some of us are but others aint and it appears that it dont make no difference nohow which kind of disk we’re using. And while I gotcha, why dint you mention that you have a lot of good software for the TS-2068, and anybody can get yore catalog for a Buck, which will be recouped on the first order?

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Jack Dohany 390 Rutherford Ave Redwood City, CA 94061
(415) 367-7781 FEB. 22, 1988

*** SYNX ***

SYNX is a 46-byte relocatable MC routine for AERCO DISC users.
SYNX is short for SYNTAX CHECKER SWITCH.
SYNX is given into the public domain.

SYNX allows you to turn off the BASIC syntax checker when writing or editing BASIC lines… and to turn it back on. Syntax checking during program execution remains in effect.

Why? Perhaps you want to write a BASIC program that can be used on a non-AERCO disc system… perhaps on ALL disc systems. You may want to write a line like this:

 500 SAVE *"TEST": REM for Zebra disc

Well, you CAN’T write it because it will fail syntax checking. But with the syntax checker turned OFF, you CAN write it.

SYNX works by changing some locations in the BASIC operating system… normally in ROM, but in RAM with AERCO DISC. A more detailed explanation is beyond the scope of this document.

Assuming you have the code on disc or tape as a .BIN or CODE file, it can be loaded wherever there’s no conflict with other software. Let us say you want to load it at Loc 64000: CAT “SYNX.bin”,64000 or LOAD “SYNX” CODE 64000 will do it.

To SAVE the code: MOVE “SYNX.bin”,64000,46 or SAVE “SYNX” CODE 64000,46

*** HOW TO USE IT ***

Assuming the code is at 64000:
RANDOMIZE USR 64000 turns syntax checker OFF.
RANDOMIZE USR 64002 turns syntax checker back ON.

Here is the SYNX code as a decimal listing, ready to be poked into memory however you wish:

64000  24    64010 255    64020  24    64030 255    64040   0
64001  27    64011   0    64021 221    64031   1    64041 243
64002  24    64012   0    64022 197    64032   4    64042 237
64003  18    64013 205    64023 225    64033   0    64043 176
64004   0    64014  13    64024   1    64034   9    64044 251
64005   0    64015  13    64025  11    64035  17    64045 201
64006   0    64016 253    64026   0    64036  76
64007 253    64017  54    64027  24    64037  14
64008  54    64018   0    64028   5    64038   1
64009   0    64019 255    64029 197    64039   9

Of course, if you get a single number wrong, the silly computer is likely to crash when you attempt to use SYNX. So… SAVE before testing.

*** END ***