Superbasic (programming language)

Articles (99)

TitleAuthor(s)PublicationDate
“PATHS” on the QL
Following on from the article above using the DEV device on Gold Cards to adapt software to run from subdirectories...
Dilwyn JonesInternational QL ReportJuly/August 1994
Accessing PRINTER_DAT
This article sets out to explain the file structure of the PRINTER_DAT printer driver used by Quill, Archive and Abacus....
Dilwyn JonesInternational QL ReportMarch/April 1994
Adding Config Blocks To Qlib Programs
BasConfig is a utility, written by Oliver Fink, that creates config blocks for Qliberator compiled programs. For those that don’t...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalJanuary 1998
Alternative to True Multitasking
n the March 1995 issue of QREVIEW there appeared an article titled “BEYOND QUILL” that expressed the sentiment regarding whole...
International QL ReportJanuary/February 1996
Archive Indent
I have always thought that Archive has always been one of the underrated programming languages for the QL. When I...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalJanuary 1996
Base Conversion
In some postings in on Usenet, there have been some conversations about converting from different bases. I found this task...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalOctober 1993
BetterBasic And CrossRef
BetterBasic and CrossRef are two SuperBasic programming utilities written by Chas Dillon (of THE EDITOR fame). Chas has released these...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalDecember 2001
Boot Up Reminder
Productivity tools for the QL are far and few between. On the PC, there is a dearth of these tools;...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalJuly 1996
Byte Input in SuperBasic
In the last QHJ, I mentioned that I could not get single byte input to work in SuperBasic for my...
QL Hacker’s JournalApril 1993
Case Statement Implementation
When I recently was working on SSB 2.6, I was using a SuperBasic implementation of a CASE structure for the...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalJuly 1998
Cellular Automata
Back in college, I was short 1/2 a unit from graduating. To make up the unit, I enrolled in a...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalJuly 1991
Chaos Program #2 from Scientific American
Second QL chaos program adapted from Scientific American, implementing a chaotic attractor with parameters a=2.24, b=0.43, c=-0.85, d=3.4. Colors plotted...
Mark WahlTimelinezJuly-December 1989
Complex ASCII Rotation
While reading one of the many computer magazines that I read in a month (got to have something to do...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalAugust 1994
Contest Program — Attendance Tracker, Part 1
First installment of a QL SuperBASIC attendance-tracking program submitted as a SMUG programming contest entry. Tracks monthly attendance for up...
Bill HeberleinSMUG BytesJune 1991
Contest Program — Attendance Tracker, Part 2
Continuation of the QL SuperBASIC attendance-tracking program from v8 n6; covering lines 2050 through 14000+, including display and print routines,...
Bill HeberleinSMUG BytesJuly 1991
Contest Program — Attendance Tracker, Part 3
Final installment of the QL SuperBASIC attendance-tracking program; covering lines 15000 through 17180+, including routines to delete records by number,...
Bill HeberleinSMUG BytesAugust 1991
Core War for QL
Documentation and SuperBASIC listing for a Core War game implementation on the Sinclair QL, in which competing programs battle for...
Tim SwensonTimelinezFebruary 1989
Creating Loadable Extensions Using Qlib
One of the things that has always amazed me about the QL was the ability to load a binary file...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalJuly 1998
Decoding CompuServe’s Run-Length-Encoded Graphics on the Sinclair QL
A SuperBASIC program for the Sinclair QL to display off-line CompuServe RLE (Run-Length-Encoded) graphics files. Explains how to download files...
Norm LehfeldtTimelinezJune 1986
Deskjet Print Filter
Once I got my DeskJet printer, I wanted to be able to produce nice looking text output. Quill and other...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalJanuary 1996
Dice Percentages
I’m still distracted by my other hobby, wargaming. In tying the two together, I thought about dice, percentages, and To-Hit...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalJanuary 1994
Disk Eraser
In one of my program idea brainstorming sessions, I came up with the idea of writing a program to completely...
Tim Swenson
Herb Schaaf
QL Hacker’s JournalNovember 1992
Disk Text Search Utility
Over the years, to keep various e-mails and newsgroup postings, I’ve printed them out and kept them at home. I’ve...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalDecember 2001
Diskinfo
This program started out as an attempt to examine a disk with corrupted files. The problem may have been with...
Herb SchaafQL Hacker’s JournalFebruary 1991
Editor SE (Part 4)
This section of the tutorial will be devoted to setting up ALTKEY (Hotkeys) commands within The EDITOR. If you haven’t...
Bob GilderInternational QL ReportMay/June 1994
Equal Loan Payments Calculator
This program is based on one written by Ward Seguin in the March “85 CATS for the 2068. It had...
Duane ParkerCATS NewsletterOctober 1989
File Transfers – QL/Archive to PC/DBase
This is the first of several articles concerning the interchange of data between QL/QDOS applications programs and MSDOS applications programs....
Tom RobbinsInternational QL ReportSeptember/October 1993
Fletcher’s Checksum
The May issue of “Dr Dobb’s Journal” focused on data communications and included articles on checksums. One article covered Fletcher’s...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalJune 1992
Fractured Fractals
You have no doubt seen some computer generated landscapes or other objects. If you saw any of the Star Trek...
Marshall StilesQL ReportOctober 15, 1987
Hex Movement Library
Recently I’ve been distracted by one of my other hobby, wargaming. There has been a discussion on USENET about freeware...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalOctober 1993
Internet Conciseness Contest
Mark Schnitzius (schnitzi@eustis.cs.ucf.edu) has started and runs the Internet Conciseness Contest. The contest is designed to provide an outlet for...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalJuly 1993
Iterated Function Systems
IFS is what Michael Barnsley calls his Iterated Function Systems, and IFS is another part of fractals (remember those Mandelbrot...
Herb SchaafQL Hacker’s JournalJuly 1991
Label Program — Part 2
Continuation of the QL SuperBASIC mailing label program; covering lines 1580–9999 including window definition procedures, disk file load and save...
Bill HeberleinSMUG BytesJanuary 1992
Learning SuperBasic, Or How I Got out of the WHEN ERRor Loop
After nearly a year of only using the Psion® sofware on my QL, I finally tried to do a little...
Duane ParkerCATS NewsletterJuly 1987
Linked Lists in SuperBASIC
Tutorial explaining linked list data structures for QL SuperBASIC programmers. Covers the concept of pointer-based dynamic ordering, where records store...
Tim SwensonTimelinezDecember 1988
LZW Compression
Through work I have come to know one Alex Bocast. When I first met Alex, he mentioned working on a...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalNovember 1992
Mailing Labelmaker
A QL SuperBASIC program for printing mailing labels on a full-size printer. Menu-driven with options to print return address labels,...
Walt GabyTimelinezMarch 1987
Minerva II Tidbit
Here is a small utility for snooping about in the Minerva II ram. There’s nothing sacred about the limits on...
Mel E. LaVerneInternational QL ReportSeptember/October 1994
More on Timing
Eros Forenzi’s article on operating speeds (IQLR 4-6) got me to thinking about timings other than those shown. For instance,...
Mel E. LaVerneInternational QL ReportMay/June 1995
Parameter Passing Techniques In S*Basic
In QHJ#24 and #25 there were articles on parameter passing techniques (By Tim Swenson and by Peter Tillier, respectively). I...
QL Hacker’s JournalOctober 1998
Passing Parameters
When I was learning Pascal, one of the hurdles I had to get over was the concept of parameter passing....
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalMay 1996
Paycheck Analyst
A Sinclair QL SuperBASIC program that analyzes a paycheck’s deductions. User answers 9 questions about a weekly/monthly pay period and...
Carlos LytleTimelinezNovember 1988
Permuations
[Below is an interesting permutation program sent to me by Herb Schaaf. He did not include any article or explanation,...
Herb SchaafQL Hacker’s JournalApril 1994
Philosophy Of Structured SuperBasic
Philosophy is defined as a system of principles for guidance in practical affairs. The Philosophy of Structured SuperBasic (SSB) is...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalOctober 1995
Prime Number
[This article was sent in by Mike Fink, owner of Domino Cubes, a Z88 Dealer. Once Mike told me about...
Mike FinkQL Hacker’s JournalApril 1994
QColumn
Regular QL column with two hardware tips (Microdrive safety during power-off and humidity considerations) and a full SuperBASIC type-in program...
Gabe SchafferThe RAMTOPSep-Oct 1987
QHJ Print Formatter
The last four issues of the QHJ have beed done using Quill. Quill is a decent word processor but it...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalAugust 1991
QL <-> MSDOS <-> QXL
In previous articles, I have discussed file transfer techniques between the QL Psion suite and the *de facto” MSDOS standard...
Tom RobbinsInternational QL ReportJuly/August 1994
QL Chaos Program
SuperBASIC program implementing the logistic map chaotic attractor for the Sinclair QL. Uses WINDOW, FOR/NEXT loops, and POINT commands to...
Andy HradeskyTimelinezApril 1989
QL Column
Reprints computer emoticons/smileys from the January 1987 issue of Office Automation, then presents a SuperBASIC graphic clock program originally written...
Gabe SchafferThe RAMTOPApr 1987
QL Column: Tips
A collection of practical SuperBASIC tips for the Sinclair QL covering TV/monitor mode switching POKEs, CAPS LOCK POKEs, screen freeze...
Gabe SchafferThe RAMTOPMar 1987
QL Logo Implementation in SuperBASIC
Implements a subset of Logo turtle graphics commands as SuperBASIC procedures for the Sinclair QL, including FD/BK (movement), RT/LT (turning),...
Tim SwensonTimelinezFebruary 1989
QL Printer Codes
Presents a SuperBASIC procedure Set_Codes that defines Epson-compatible printer escape sequences as string variables, plus companion procedures Test_Run and Save_Codes....
Frank ToemayThe Sinc Times (2)May/June/July 1988
QL Productivity Tips
A collection of three SuperBASIC productivity tips for the Sinclair QL: using the slash-zero character (CTRL+SHIFT+FP) in printer output for...
Peter HaleTimelinezNovember 1988
QL Serial Connections
Provides wiring diagrams for connecting the QL SER2 port to a modem and for a direct QL-to-PC serial cable. Includes...
Harvey Taylor
Mark Wahl
The RAMTOPWinter 1993
QL System Variables
Reference guide to selected Sinclair QL system variables with addresses, sizes, and usage notes. Covers RAMTOP+1 (memory expansion detection at...
Tim SwensonTimelinezJuly-December 1989
QL-Crypt File Encoder
A QL SuperBASIC utility for encrypting and decrypting Sinclair ASCII text files using a password. The password is hashed to...
Tim SwensonTimelinezJune 1987
QLPatch
One of the problems I’ve encountered in publishing souce code in the QHJ, is the dilemma of publishing a newer...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalJanuary 1992
QPAC2 (My) Boot
There has been a lot said and written about QPAC 2. The designer of this program (Mr. Tony Tebby) made...
Bob MadarisInternational QL ReportJuly/August 1994
QROFF Postscript Filter
I know of a few QL users that have postscript printers at work and transfer QL documents to another word...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalAugust 1991
Quick Copy Utility for the QL (Part 1)
Introduces the Qcopy microdrive backup utility for the Sinclair QL, describing four versions (with/without volume name, with/without directory). Provides a...
Christopher RaynakThe RAMTOPMar 1987
Random Dot Stereograms
Random Dot Stereograms (RDS) can give the illusion of depth if you have binocular vision. Instead of the usual pair...
Herb SchaafQL Hacker’s JournalJune 1992
RDS (Random Dot Stereograms)
Somewhere in this issue of IQLR there should be a page with lots of dots on it; dots that seem...
Herb SchaafInternational QL ReportJuly/August 1993
Real Windows for SuperBasic
The QUANTA library has a number of routines that will allow real non-destructive windows in SuperBasic. Since I started working...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalApril 1991
Response To Day_Of_Week
While playing around with the function on paper there appears to be a slight error. I am sure that I...
QL Hacker’s JournalJanuary 1996
Reverse String
In one of the programming newsgroups I read, I saw a couple of postings dealing with how to reverse a...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalMarch 1995
Revision Control System (RCS)
Whether it’s source code or system configuration files, it’s nice to be able to keep track of changes made to...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalJuly 1998
RLE Decoder for the QL
A SuperBASIC procedure named ‘picture’ that decodes run-length encoded (RLE) images and renders them on the Sinclair QL screen. Demonstrates...
The RAMTOPApr 1987
Routine Auto-Locator
Have you ever, in the course of developing a moderately complex SuperBasic program, found yourself scrolling madly up and down...
Mel E. LaVerneInternational QL ReportMay/June 1994
RPN Calculator
Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) is mathmatical convention for handling expressions. RPN is most commonly found in Hewlett-Packard calculators. RPN, like...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalNovember 1991
Scripting in QTPI
Jonathan Hudson’s QTPI program has been evolving for some time, beginning as a ‘simple’ terminal program under another name and...
James HunkinsInternational QL ReportJuly/August 1995
Scrolling Banner
A QL SuperBASIC program that scrolls up to 10 user-entered text strings across the screen in a repeating banner display....
TimelinezMarch 1987
Shelling Out To Superbasic
The QL is unique in how QDOS and SuperBasic are sort of rolled into one. Just as we can only...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalOctober 1998
Size Base Listing for the QL
A complete SuperBASIC listing for Qmonix Size Base Rev 7.9, a clock and time-display utility. The program defines procedures including...
Frank ToemayThe Sinc TimesFebruary 1987
Software Reuse And SSB
Through work I get a number of computer related magazines, either directly to me or ones that are received by...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalJanuary 1996
Some Thoughts On Programming Style
In QHJ #24 Tim talks about a colleague’s style of writing Perl and contrasts it with his own. I have...
QL Hacker’s JournalJuly 1996
Stochastic Indexing
This demo program, SID (Stochastic Indexing Demo), see listing 1 below, simulates clouds as seen by a satellite looking straight...
Al BoehmQL Hacker’s JournalOctober 1993
Structured SuperBasic 2.6
Structured SuperBasic is a utility that has been printed a couple of times in this newsletter. I have recently dusted...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalJuly 1998
Structured SuperBasic 2.6.1
One project keeping me away from working on the QHJ was updating Structured SuperBasic. I’ve made a few minor changes...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalJune 1999
Structured SuperBasic Version 2.5
Structured SuperBasic (SSB) has been sitting on my shelf for a number of years without having any upgrades. I really...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalOctober 1995
SuperBASIC for Beginners
Continuing from last month’s column, we move on to PRINT. Most of us have a pretty clear 1dea of what...
Peter HaleSinclair Timex User Group NewsletterMay/June 1988
Supercalafragalistic Phone Number Word Generator
A BASIC program for the Sinclair QL that generates all possible words that a phone number could spell, useful for...
Lawrence SouderTimelinezJune 1986
Task Commander
Task Commander is a utility that will convert a TURBO compiled program into a resident extension or Toolkit, that can...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalDecember 2001
The Chaotic Return
Corrected QL SuperBASIC chaos program responding to the challenge posed in issue 4. Replaces POINT with BLOCK for the physical...
Mark WahlTimelinezJuly-December 1989
The Hanoi Tower
This version of the old game of moving a tower of disks from one peg to another, with one intermediate...
Duane ParkerCATS NewsletterOctober 1989
The Stripper
No, this is a program to strip out control codes froma Quill _ DOC file leaving it with no end...
Dilwyn JonesInternational QL ReportNovember/December 1993
There’s Bugs in My SuperBasic Part One
Digital Precision has a sheet with the above-mentioned name that lists most known bugs and what the “fix” is for...
QL ReportAugust 15, 1987
There’s Bugs in My SuperBasic Part Two
This is the second and final part in a listing we received from Digital Precision that we started in last...
QL ReportAugust 15, 1987
Timex-Sinclair Survival Column
In the last few articles we started looking at some of the features of the QL’s built-in programming language, SuperBASIC....
Mark FendrickComputer ShopperNovember 1988
Translation of SuperBASIC into Fortran 77
In the last issue we looked at implementing some of the SuperBASIC maths functions and the majority of the memory...
International QL ReportMarch/April 1993
Translation Of SUPERBASIC To FORTRAN 77
As a gentle introduction, let me tell you how I came to write this article/note/letter, call it what you will!...
International QL ReportJanuary/February 1993
Turbo 3 (Untold Stories)
This column is intended to bring together new and/or changing developments within the QDOS community. The information contained here has...
Simon GoodwinInternational QL ReportNovember/December 1994
Turbo Compiler
TURBO, the SuperBasic compiler, has been updated and released for almost a year. Simon Goodwin is the original author with...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalDecember 2001
Turbo Config
TURBO does not support standard Qjump Config Blocks. George Gwilt has created TURBO Config, a tool that allows Config blocks...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalDecember 2001
Turbo Support Page
To assist in the support of TURBO, I’ve created a TURBO Support Page on my web page. The page will...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalDecember 2001
Turbo Utilities
Another zip file contains a number of other TURBO utilites: LIBRARY MANAGER, DATASPACE and Utility_Task. The zip file does not...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalDecember 2001
TurboPTR
TURBO is not compatible with all SuperBasic extensions, esp. those with array paramaters or return values through parameters. QPTR is...
Tim SwensonQL Hacker’s JournalDecember 2001
Windex
WINDEX is a collection of public domain programs to create a “word index” of any text file.
Bill CableInternational QL ReportNovember/December 1993
Z88 Programs, Tips, and Other Useful Info
Tips and a QL SuperBASIC program for transferring files from the Cambridge Z88 to the Sinclair QL using the Z88...
Peter van DijkTimelinezNovember 1988
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