This is similar to the way BASIC works, but with one exception: The screen can scroll both up and down. When you finish typing on the last screen line, SpeedScript automatically scrolls the text upward to make room for a new line at the bottom. Even if you make numerous editing changes, SpeedScript reformats the screen and rewraps all words. This feature, called word-wrap, makes it much easier to read your text on the screen. If a word you're typing won't fit at the end of one line, it's instantly moved to the next line. But unlike BASIC, SpeedScript never splits words at the right edge of the screen. When the cursor reaches the right edge of the screen, it automatically jumps to the beginning of the next line, just as in BASIC. To begin using SpeedScript, just start typing. SpeedScript lets you move the cursor anywhere within your document, making it easy to find and correct errors. The cursor shows where the next character you type will appear on the screen. The remaining lines of the screen are used to enter, edit, and display your document. This command line is used to communicate with SpeedScript. When you run SpeedScript, the screen colors change to dark gray on light gray except for the top screen line, which is black with white letters. SpeedScript cannot take advantage of any custom hardware configurations except those that do not interfere with normal operations. Use whatever filename you like (although "SPEEDSCRIPT" would be the best choice if you intend to use "SpeedScript Date And Time Stamper" found elsewhere in this issue).īefore using SpeedScript, you should unplug any cartridges and expanders. To do this, type SAVE"SPEEDSCRIPT 3.2",8 (or ,1 if you're using tape) after loading SpeedScript, just as you would for a BASIC program. It's a good idea to save a couple of extra copies of SpeedScript, just in case the original is destroyed. This BASIC line is included to make the program easy to load, run, and copy. If you load SpeedScript and list it, you'll see that it looks like a one-line BASIC program. SpeedScript can be loaded just as if it were a BASIC program. When you've finished typing in the data, save several copies to tape or disk before leaving MLX. For SpeedScript 3.2, respond with the following values: When you run MLX, you'll be prompted for a starting address and an ending address for the data you'll be entering. Skip to the section entitled "The SpeedScript Family" for simple modifications to update your copy to version 3.2.) (If you already have a copy of SpeedScript 3.0 from the March 1985 issue of COMPUTE! or SpeedScript 3.1 from the book SpeedScript: The Word Processor for Commodore 64 and VIC-20, it's not necessary to retype the entire program. Since SpeedScript is a machine language program, it must be entered with the "MLX" machine language entry program found elsewhere in this issue. SpeedScript is one of the longest programs we've ever published, but it's well worth typing in. The distinction between rough and final drafts becomes blurred as you perfect your writing as you write. You no longer think about typewriting-you can stand back and work directly with words and ideas. Words are no longer frozen in place by ink they become free-floating entities. It won't necessarily make you a better writer, but you may become a better writer once the tedium of retyping and erasing is replaced by the flexibility of a word processor. You type in everything first, preview and make corrections on the screen insert and delete words, sentences, and paragraphs and then print out an error-free draft, letting SpeedScript take care of things like margins, centering, headers, and footers. You can start writing with it the first time you use it. SpeedScript is also very easy to learn and use. SpeedScript 3.2, though compact in size (6K), has many features found on commercial word processors. This version also works on a 128 in 64 mode. The latest version of Commodore 64 SpeedScript, version 3.2, incorporates many improvements, readers' suggestions, and additional debugging. Written entirely in machine language, SpeedScript contains nearly every command and convenience you'd expect from a quality word processor. Since its introduction in the January 1984 issue of COMPUTE!'s Gazette, SpeedScript has been the most popular program ever published by COMPUTE! Publications. SpeedScript 3.2 for the Commodore 64 Return to the archive home page
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