---
title: "TRA1 and TRA2"
id: 72979
type: "computer_media"
slug: "tra1-and-tra2"
url: "http://localhost/computer_media/tra1-and-tra2/"
markdown_url: "http://localhost/computer_media/tra1-and-tra2.md"
published_at: "2026-10-27T21:30:09+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-10-27T21:30:09+00:00"
author: "David Anderson"
featured_image:
  url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20230809-041332.jpg"
excerpt: "Two SuperBASIC programs that build QDOS TRA tables, one translating characters sent to the serial port and one replacing the error messages."
post_tag:
  - name: "Downloadable"
    slug: "downloadable"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/downloadable/"
  - name: "QL"
    slug: "ql"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/ql/"
model:
  - name: "Sinclair QL"
    slug: "sinclair-ql"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/sinclair-ql/"
indiv:
  - name: "Jan Bredenbeek"
    slug: "jan-bredenbeek"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/jan-bredenbeek/"
genre:
  - name: "RS232"
    slug: "rs232"
    taxonomy: "genre"
    url: "http://localhost/type/rs232/"
media_type: "Diskette"
programmers:
  - name: "Jan Bredenbeek"
    slug: "jan-bredenbeek"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/jan-bredenbeek/"
download_url: "https://archive.org/download/timex-sinclair-software-archive/TRA1%20and%20TRA2%20%281986%29%28Bredenbeek%2C%20Jan%29%28Sinclair%20QL%29%28NL%29%28Program%29.zip"
mediadate: "1986"
article_media:
  - id: 46763
    title: "TRA_BAS 1.2 RS-232 Translation"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/tra_bas-1-2-rs-232-translation/"
media_type_tags: "RS232"
license: false
---

# TRA1 and TRA2

These two programs build tables for the QDOS `TRA` command. `TRA1_bas` asks for character codes and up to three replacement codes each and builds a translation table for the RS-232 ports, for printers that need different codes; `TRA2_bas` builds a table that redefines the system error reports.

The REMs credit Jan Bredenbeek of Hilversum and date the programs 13 April and 7 March 1986. The article “TRA_BAS 1.2 RS-232 Translation” describes an enhanced version of TRA1_bas.

## Program Analysis

Both reserve 1 KB with `RESPR` and start the table with the word $4AFB that `TRA` checks for; `TRA1_bas` fills a 256-byte one-to-one table before applying your replacements.

It came from a QL owner’s floppy copies of QUANTA and IQLUG library material, imaged double-stepped so that only half of each disk survived; this file read back complete. The download holds the files exactly as recovered and a QL5A floppy image, *TRA1 and TRA2.img*, with the same files and their QDOS headers. Mount the image as FLP1_ (drop it on the QLRun page, or use it as a floppy image in sQLux, QPC2 or Q-emuLator) and type `lrun flp1_TRA1_bas`. In the image copies only, `mdv1_tra_list` reads `flp1_tra_list` so the program finds its files on the floppy.

Tested in QLRun with the JS ROM as far as its first prompt.

## Source Code

```
100 REMark TRA-command for RS232-translations
110 REMark Jan Bredenbeek, Hilversum
120 REMark 1986 April 13
130 :
140 DIM v(3)
150 start=RESPR(1024)
160 POKE_W start,19195: REMark $4AFB
170 table_a=start+6: table_b=start+262
180 POKE_W start+2,table_a-start: POKE_W start+4,table_b-start
190 FOR i=0 TO 255:POKE table_a+i,i
200 pointer=table_b+1
210 ncodes=0
220 CLS
230 REPeat loop
240   INPUT "Code ? (ENTER to stop)"!a$
250   IF a$="" THEN EXIT loop
260   REPeat loop1
270     INPUT "Number of repace codes (1-3) ?"!n
280     IF n>0 AND n<4 THEN EXIT loop1
290   END REPeat loop1
300   FOR i=1 TO n
310     INPUT "replacecode"!(i);"?:"!v(i)
320   END FOR i
330   IF n=1 THEN 
340     POKE table_a+a$,v(1)
350   ELSE 
360     POKE table_a+a$,0
370     POKE pointer,a$
380     FOR i=1 TO n:POKE pointer+i,v(i)
390     ncodes=ncodes+1
400     pointer=pointer+4
410   END IF 
420 END REPeat loop
430 POKE table_b,ncodes
440 TRA start,0
450 SBYTES mdv1_tra_list,start,pointer-start
460 PRINT "You may reload your codes with:"
470 PRINT "a=RESPR(";pointer-start;")"
480 PRINT "LBYTES mdv1_tra_list,a"
490 PRINT "TRA a"
500 REMark *** end of listing TRA1_bas ***
```