by Ken Ross: petlibrary@bigfoot.com

COMMODORE ANTIQUE SHOP

If you're in the Romney Marsh area the historic town of Rye, with its many beautiful buildings tucked away along the cobbled streets of the old town, has many delights. The main one for me being a visit to the Rope Walk arcade, where I found a computer game shop had a 'back room' filled with second hand Commodore stuff ( C64 , Amiga and even an 8023 printer ! )

HTML VIEWER FOR C64

I've encountered an increasing number of files turning up in HTML format that would be nice to have on C64 disk but until now that has meant a lot of saving as text only then checking & editing the results. The C64 scene is far from static and I'm cut and pasting an 'about.txt' file below from a software author which will explain things!

'Welcome to FAIRLIGHTML 0.99 the first HTML viewer for the C64. This shareware version FAIRLIGHTML 0.99 is released as shareware. This shareware version will not be developed any further. All new features and functions will be added in the commercial version (which is 1.00 and above). The reason for a pay-version is that I'd like to finance a supercpu. that way I can continue to support the C64 scene with more programs in the future, and even make a scpu version of FAIRLIGHTML. Currently, FAIRLIGHTML v0.99 supports the following HTML tags. - HTML , - head ,- title , - body , - hr ,- BR ,- a href..., - a name... - pre , - center ,- b - p , - h1, h2.

When you register for the full version you will receive a disk (1541/1581, please specify) with FAIRLIGHTML 1.00, and some useful example documents from the Internet. You will also receive a printed manual describing the "hidden features" of the program and how you can use these functions in your own HTML documents. You will also receive additional programs to create HTML document on the 64. The registered version of FAIRLIGHTML 1.00 has the following extra functions:

• img-support (decodes the alt-parameter)

• allows larger HTML documents

• setup saving

• show active link under cursor

• decodes special characters like É

• autoload an index.htm file

The registered user will also have two upgrades for free. All I'm asking for is money that covers disk/mail costs. ($2) The program is getting new functions and features all the time. if you are interested in what's in the pipeline, just mail the me at magnus.q.nyman@telia.se or take a look at hem.passagen.se/harlekin/html.htm

To register for the full version, send $5 to the following address:

magnus nyman, runv. 7b, 39352 Kalmar , SWEDEN

Please specify disk type (1541/1581) and allow two weeks (probably less) for the post to arrive!'

This program is the only C64 HTML viewer I've come across. It can scroll up & down the file and behave exactly like an off-line browser by linking to other files on disk. The only odd quirk I've noticed is in the fact that the PC underline char in filenames translates into CBM left arrow and the browser can't recognise this fact when looking for links & files to load. Editing for some files is therefore still needed - maybe the paid for version will have this sorted out?

(Editor: I have been looking for an HTML viewer for a PC for ages. I know a browser can view files but that is overkill. I want a simple program that can be mailed with HTML files so that someone with an ancient PC can view the files without the need to install a browser. Please e-mail me with any suggestions brian.grainger1@freeserve.co.uk)

JUST ADD WATER

(warning -- some sections of the following item may be too controversial for some!)

On the first page of my website there's a link called 'marko's site' that has a sub-directory of.D64 images. If you're an 8-bit devotee you'll want to reconstitute these files back into real 15xx floppies.

Another good site to start from is: www.funet.fi/pub/cbm/

For those amongst us who lack modems ( and phones , cash , etc. ) an alternative is to visit a friendly Internet cafe with box of pre-formatted DD PC disks. If you're lucky enough to own a 1581 with a copy of Big Blue Reader ( or Little Red Reader ) you can then read the files. In my case it was cheaper to get a very cheap Amiga set up and a copy of Ami-64-link then use Messy-DOS to access PC 720K disks.

The Ami-64-Link is available in two versions - budget £23.50 - standard £35.25 from:

York Electronic Research, The Paddocks, Jockey Lane, Huntingdon, York. YO3 9NE ( They also do a PC-64-Link at £32.25 ) ( prices as at December 98 )

Older Amigas such as the A500+ would have to have large sums of money spent on them to utilise hard drives , CD-ROMs or larger memories and it seems to be easier to get hold of a more modern machine and utilise that as a starting point. This is reflected in the prices demanded. The older Amigas however are ideal for this concept with a bit of disk juggling. The workbench/boot disk is copied and then the copy has the files not required for this job deleted to get space on the floppy (anything around 340K gives enough room).

The Ami-64-Link works from the disk it is on. Then the files 'PC2CBM' and 'Transfer' are copied onto the prepared disk. The PC disk items are copied to RAM disk then onto the special boot disk then transferred to 15xx. Other hardware needed is a 1571 (or equivalent) along with a 1541 (or equivalent) at the least. The Ami-64-Link will also enable you to use your C64 printers with the Amiga. On the Amiga there is a phono socket which can be plugged direct into the video socket of any monitor to get a black-and-white picture. 1701 monitor owners like myself can have the C128/64 plugged in as normal at the back then flip over to the other input when working with the Amiga.

D64 files are usually GZ compressed on the Internet. They can be re-inflated back to 174848 bytes with an unzipping program on the C64/128. I use NZP12819, which can deal with both ZIP & GZ format compression, from the 1541 onto the 1571. The program 'DFILER' by Dave Belter (dbelter@delphi.com ) is the next item used. The D64 from the 1571 floppy ( saved as a PRG ) is 683 sectors in size whereas the available formatted area on a 1541 drive is 664 sectors ( 170K ). The extra 19 sectors are for the disk drive 'housekeeping'. So one of your drives has to be a 1571 or 1581 (or compatible size) to get the file on. The other drive can just be a 1541 but two drives are needed with numbers 8 & 9 - the source and destination drive numbers can be toggled. DFILER then block writes the data to the destination drive.

Apart from.D64 files other files to be found have suffixes that start with '.S' these are usually self extracting PRG files. Items that have the PRG suffix can be used direct without any further work after they're on a Commodore floppy. To deal with LNX files I prefer to use the 'ARKIVE2.PRG' first before resorting to 'LYNX17'. ARKIVE2.PRG is a rather good utility program. The one thing to be noted is the 'curse of 8.3 ' that afflicts filenames in the PC world. When files are to be saved they've got to be checked that the identity isn't going to be lost.

COMMODORE SCENE

There is a C64 magazine that reflects what is happening today in the C64 scene and a review of the current copy can usually be found on Vince Manolfi's site along with some stuff to download www.commodore.u-net.com. The editor Allan Bairstow  allanbairstow@compuserve.com runs Commodore Scene magazine & cover disk along with CMD importing service for new and also used hardware.

Commodore Scene, 14 Glamis Close, Garforth, Leeds, West Yorks. LS25 2NQ

(individual issues = £4, 4 issue subs = £15).

Commodore Scene is available without a cover disk at a cheaper price.

REASONS FOR BUYING A PC

1. It'll need to be upgraded every six months so you can show how up to date the machine is.

2. All your filenames are 8.3 characters long anyway.

3 I don't understand the ' Think different' campaign.

REASONS FOR HAVING A MAC

1. I've always wanted to work on Smash Hits magazine.

2. I've been practising looking smug

3. Two button mice confuse me.

POSTSCRIPT

Why not drop me an e-mail? petlibrary@bigfoot.com or visit my website at: members.tripod.com/petlibrary

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