Utility Software to Download

Utilities

Amstrad Print	Print from your Amstrad via your PC
Analogue Clock	Clock with chimes
BBC Micro to NC Program Converter
Digital Clock	Clock with digits shown in a large font
Document Merge	Combine two Word Processor documents
Z80 Disassembler	Converts op-codes back into mnemonics
Filedump	Displays the contents of any file
Help File Generator	Creates help files for PCB CAD
I2C Bus Communication	Two-wire communication via the parallel port
Memory Checker	Tells you how much memory you have left!
Menu Master	Menu system for BBC BASIC programs
NC100EM Emulator	An NC100/200 emulator for Linux and Windows
NC Screen Grab to PCX Converter	Save a screen in a format recognised on a PC
NC Talk	Transfer files between your NC and PC
NC Word Processor to HTML Converter
NC Word Processor to RTF Converter
Printer Driver for Electric Typewriter	Print to German electric typewriters
Programmer's ASCII Chart	Displays the ASCII character set
Screen Capture	Saves a screen from a program into memory
Screen Dump to Printer	Prints a screen from a program
UU-Decoder	Decodes a UU-Encoded file
World Time Clock
ZCN CP/M OS Clone

Programs marked 'From ANUW' are taken from Mark Ray's Amstrad Notepad Users Web.

AMSTRADPRINT_V1_1.ZIP ... Microsoft Windows 95/98/NT Version 1.1 ... 328kb

Purpose

I did not like having to disconnect my computers' printer or do complicated document conversion for simple prints on my Amstrad Notepad. This was especially true as the computers were already linked together with the serial cable anyway. This program allows the Amstrad Notepad or Notebook to print in serial mode (along the data transfer cable) to the PC and to redirect this to the connected printer; therefore there is no more cable pulling from the back of the PC!  Note that Terminal programs promise to be able to do this, but all the ones that I have tried stripped out all the useful control codes. This job of this program may exist somewhere else and may even be easier to use, but at the time I could not find such a program. It was fun writing anyway.

Installation

Place all files in a single directory.  Do not rename any files.  Create a shortcut to AMSTRAD_PRINT.EXE in the normal way.  Edit the AMSTRAD_PRINT.INI file to reflect the settings on your computer.  Use the same format as the current default settings. 'Comportno' is the number of the PC serial port that you have your communications cable in. Print device is the full name of the port. i.e. 'lpt1'. (Note this program will work with Novell printers if the Path is specified! i.e. '//gbrsf99/laser_print_q')

Running the Program

Change your Amstrad's printer to SERIAL and set up communications. Speeds can be specified but the Amstrad must have Data Stop Bits as 8/1, Parity as NONE and Handshake ON. The printer selected must reflect what is attached to the PC as the PC program does not do any conversion. (LaserJet works perfectly with my HP 690c).

Run the AMSTRAD_PRINT program on your PC.  It will now sit in Test Mode.  If you send a print from the Amstrad, the Test light will flicker to show that data is been received. (You can also test communications with the [FUNCTION] [S] mode on the AMSTRAD).  If communications are OK press the START PRINT button on the PC program set the program to Waiting To Print mode. On your Amstrad select your document and start the print in the normal fashion. The progress bar should start moving and the printer will spring to life.

Problems

Test Mode should determine if you have communications problems. However, the Test light will still flash and download will appear to happen even if the parameters of communication are incorrect, i.e. baud rate not the same on both machines. If this is OK but the printer does not print, check the printer port specified and that the driver on the Amstrad is correct. 

JAP
August 2000

Version 1.1 Changes

Buffer bug fixed so it now works with laptop computers. Install the driver for your PC Printer on your laptop, redirect the LAPTOP printer to COM port, set the Baud speed (Now up to 57600 Baud) and away it goes....

JAP
November 2001

CLOCK1.TXT ... NC100 Version ... 2.3kb
CLOCK2.TXT ... NC200 Version ... 2.4kb

I have adapted the clock program form the Notebook manual so the hands of the clock do not flicker.
I have also added chimes every 15 minutes!

BBC Micro Program to NC Program Converter

Written by: Bruce Murray

For: NC100 NC200

BBCTONC.TXT ... 4kb

Convert programs written in BBC BASIC for the BBC Micro to the format required by the NC BASIC interpreter.

Digital Clock

Written by: Mark Ray

For: NC100 NC200

DCLOCK1.TXT ... NC100 Version ... 1kb
DCLOCK2.TXT ... NC200 Version ...1kb

This program displays the time in a large font, in the same way as in the Big Message program.

Document Merge

Written by: Mark Ray

For: NC100 NC200

MERGE.TXT ... 1kb

Produce a columns effect in the NC word processor by first writing two documents each with a maximum width of 35 characters, and then running this program to merge the two documents, creating one document with columns.

DISASM.TXT ... Main Program ... 15.5kb
DISSTART.TXT ... Run this first ... 216 bytes

This is a Z80 disassembler for the NC100/200, which also allows you to view the contents of the memory and switch in different ROM, RAM and card RAM banks into memory.

FILEDUMP.TXT ... 338 bytes

Simple program that reads the contents of any file and displays it's exact contents on the screen (with no hidden codes!)

HELPGEN.TXT ... 1.6kb

This is the program used to generate the help file for PCB CAD 3.51.
The file is created using the word processor, making sure the end of each line ends with ENTER rather than word wrapping. Tags for the help generator are placed in greater-than and smaller-than signs. The first tag gives the title of the help file. After this each help topic is arranged in the order of the index. The index must have five 0's (the help generator changes these later), then a space, then a unique shortcut key for the topic, then a space, then the name of the topic. The next tag is then START.
Each topic is then typed in after it's name tag. Use END to end the topic.
To generate the help file, run HELPGEN and type in the filename of the help file (extension must be HLP). If there is an error you will be told.

See PCBHELP.HLP as an example.

I2C.TXT ... 4kb

You can control the I2C-bus with the printer port of your Amstrad NC very easily by using this program and and a minimum amount of hardware (only two 330 Ohm resistors):

MENUM2.TXT ... 9.9kb
SSFILES.MMR

This is a iconic menu system for BBC BASIC which shows you which programs you have in memory.
Save the program as AUTO and it will run every time you press FUNCTION-B.
The file SSFILES.MMR contains the data for each program and it's icon. I have included icons in SSFILES.MMR for some of the programs downloadable from this site.

Memory Checker

Written by: Mark Ray

For: NC100

MEMCHECK.TXT ... 1kb

Displays the amount of memory available in the lower memory for programs, and advises what to do if the memory is low.

NC100EM-1.3.TAR.GZ ... Linux Version ... 76kb
NC100EM.ZIP ... Windows Version ... 720kb

nc100em is an Amstrad NC100 emulator. (It also has NC200 support, but this is less complete.) It supports both the ROM software and my free CP/M-like replacement OS ZCN. There are actually four separate versions:

• gnc100em, a GTK+-based version for X;
• snc100em, which runs under svgalib on a Linux console (using only generic VGA modes, so it should work on any VGA card);
• tnc100em, which runs on any tty (but only works with ZCN);
• xnc100em, an Xlib-based version for X (emulates NC100 only).

snc100em obviously requires Linux. The GTK+ and Xlib versions should work on any POSIX-ish Unix box with X (and GTK+, in the former case), though I've only tested it under Linux. tnc100em should run on anything those two run on, except it doesn't need X. :-)

Associated programs also included are `makememcard', a simple shell script to make a blank memory card image, and `zcntools', an mtools-like set of utils for reading/writing memory card images in ZCN format.

nc100em uses the Z80 emulator from Ian Collier's `xz80'.

Stefano Bodrato has ported the emulator to Windows - you will need a copy of the original NC100 ROM in order to run it. Here's Tony Kingsmill's Quick Start Guide:

Setting up the emulator:

1. Download "NC100EM.ZIP", above.
2. Extract the contents to a location on your computer - it will create a folder called 'nc100em-12'.
3. Download a copy of the Amstrad NC100 ROM (you can find it by searching the web).
4. Copy the ROM file to the 'nc100em-12' folder.
5. Rename the ROM file to "nc100.rom".
6. Double click on the "gnc100.exe" file to start the emulator.

You can create a desktop icon by right clicking on the gnc100 file and choosing Send To.. Desktop.

Using the emulator:

Most keys map to the same keys as on the NC100. The emulator maps the special keys as follows:

MENU key - Home key
YELLOW key - Control key
RED key - Left cursor key
GREEN key - Right cursor key
BLUE key - Down cursor key

To save changes you make to data and settings use the "Exit nicely" button.

A 32kb memory card is emulated - to copy a file from your PC to the card use zcnput.exe.

See also:

• ZCN CP/M Clone
• More information: https://zgedneil.nfshost.com/nc100em.html

SGPCX1.TXT ... NC100 version ... 3kb
SGPCX2.TXT ... NC200 version ... 3kb

This program will convert an NC screen grab file (the file that results from pressing CONTROL-SHIFT-S) into a PCX format file which can be read by programs on the PC such as Paint Shop Pro.  The image of the screen will be inverted, so you will need to invert the image again on the PC to correct it.

Visit Robin's homepage at www.robinnixon.com

NCTALK.ZIP ... 176kb

This Windows program allows you to connect your NC to your PC using a serial lead and transfer files between them.  To run it, simply run the NC_talk.exe file from the zip archive file.

NC2HTML.TXT ... 3kb

This program converts an NC Word Processor document into HTML, the mark-up language used to format documents on the World Wide Web.  It translates the basic Word Processor formats, as well as offering a variety of additional features. The following list details the program's functionality:

• Adds ".htm" to the entered save file name.
• Adds a standard HTML header and footer, putting the original document name in the HTML <TITLE> tag that shows at the top of a browser window.
• Strips out any Word Processor formatting lines that begin with a greater-than symbol (>).
• Converts bold and italic formatting.
• Puts in the special HTML codes for ampersands (&), pound signs (£) and quote marks (").
• Gives the option to format the document with a sans-serif font (usually Arial or Helvetica) or with a serif font (usually Times or Times New Roman).
• Gives the option to fit the text in a centred, 500 pixel-wide table (allowing shorter, more readable lines) or to leave it to flow to the full width of the browser window.
• Reads underlined text as being an HTML link, prompting the user to enter a link location (ie, page2.htm or http://www.ncus.org.uk/).
• Converts the tilde symbol (~) to the HTML <HR> tag, allowing the insertion of horizontal rules, which are good for breaking up text.  These look best with a blank line inserted above and below in the Word Processor.
• Reads a single carriage return as an HTML line break <BR>.
• Reads two carriage returns as an HTML paragraph break <P>.
• Enables some basic control of font size, by translating any Enlarged text to the HTML <FONT SIZE=+3> (headline size), any superscript text to <FONT SIZE=+2> (subhead size), and any subscript text to <FONT SIZE=-2> (reduced size).

All code produced is standard HTML and as such should work on any version of any web browser.  You can of course add to the HTML file produced by opening it up in the NC word processor (or in Notepad, Wordpad or any PC word processor) and introducing other HTML tags!

NC Word Processor to RTF Converter

Written by: Mark Ray and Maksim Lin

For: NC100 NC200 Windows

NC2RFTB.TXT ... BASIC version ... 2kb
NC2RTF.ZIP ... MS-DOS version ... 14kb
NC2RTF.TXT ... Mark Ray's Read-Me file ... 2kb

Use one of these programs to convert your Protext documents into Rich Text Format (RFT) which can be read by PC word processors such as Write and Microsoft Word.

The original program, written by Bruce Murray, was written in C and can be run by any PC running MS-DOS. The second program, written by Mark Ray, is the BBC BASIC version that can be run on the NC. Also included in the zip file for the MS-DOS version is the original Read-Me file and C source code.

DRV6000.TXT ... 3kb
DRV6000I.TXT ... 12kb
DRVPIXN.TXT ... 1kb

I connected my electronic typewriter to the NC100. Besides, I added some features to the driver the original typewriter didn't support. The features are emulations of bold-faced font and some characters, common in program source code, but not yet on the German character wheel of my typewriter:

$@~\{}[]<>

Here is what you need to find it useful:

• Amstrad Notepad Computer NC100 (German firmware; it may also work with others)
• PRZSIDENT 6000i, S3004 or compatible typewriter (made in GDR, now FRG)
• A 3-wire cable with connectors for the typewriter and for the printer port
• The driver install program (BBC BASIC + Assembler)
• A RS232 null modem cable or a memory card to get it into the machine
• Some code to get rid of the driver (Default method is cold restart)
• The resident driver program is an add-on to the built-in parallel printer driver (EPSON, 9 pin, parallel). It emulates a serial link (1200 baud) to the typewriter utilizing the BUSY and ACK lines of the printer interface. My EPSON compatible printer still worked well, even with the typewriter driver installed, but run at reduced speed.

A known bug is that the machine crashes if it is switched off during print sessions.

ACHART.TXT ... 2kb

This program will display on the screen all of the characters that the NC can display, along with its ASCII code which can be used to display the characters in your programs using VDU 27, number or PRINT CHR$(number).  Note that the VDU 27 command will always display the correct characters, but the CHR$ command will affect the screen in other ways if numbers lower than 32 are used.  For example, CHR$(13) will do a carriage return, and CHR$(7) will make the computer beep.  CHR$(127) will also delete one character from the screen.

Visit Robin's homepage at www.robinnixon.com

SCAPT1.TXT ... NC100 Version ... 583 bytes
SCAPT2.TXT ... NC200 Version ... 584 bytes
QBSCREEN.TXT ... Q-BASIC Version... 383 bytes

Use this program to capture the screen of a BASIC program where the usual CONTROL-SHIFT-S does not work. The process will take a while, and you will end up with a file 'NCSCREEN' which can be read using the Q-BASIC screen capture program.

SCREEN1.TXT ... NC100 Version ... 563 bytes
SCREEN2.TXT ... NC200 Version ... 564 bytes

Use this program to get a print out of the screen on an Epson compatible printer.
It will take a while to print since the POINT command is used to determine the colour of the pixels.

UU-Decoder

Written by: Bruce Murray

For: NC100 NC200

UUDECODE.TXT ... 2kb

This program will decode a binary file that has been UU-Encoded, for example, a GIF image that has been sent as an attachment to an email.

TIME1.TXT ... NC100 Version ... 9kb
TIME2.TXT ... NC200 Version ... 9kb

Use this program to set the time on your NC. A world map appears and you can select your country from the map.

Visit Robin's homepage at www.robinnixon.com

ZCN14.ZIP ... 1.29Mb

ZCN is a free operating system for the NC100. It's largely compatible with CP/M 2.2. It runs most CP/M 2.2 programs, including ZDE, QTERM, Mallard Basic, and Hitech C. It can also run the NC100's ROM BBC Basic as if it were a native ZCN program. You need an NC100 and at least one PCMCIA memory card to use it, and a separate computer (perhaps a PC) and a serial lead to get the system code to it for the first time.

ZCN isn't just some random hack; it comes with serious amounts of documentation, including a guide to programming CP/M and ZCN, and has optional online help.

You should probably consider using ZCN if you like the idea of a portable CP/M box, or want to use the NC100 as something a bit closer to a `real computer'. It comes together with many custom-written utilities, as well as various free CP/M programs.

After unzipping ZCN13.ZIP, you will find the installation guide and manual 'zcn.txt' in the 'docs' directory. To run and use ZCN a serial link to your PC and a memory card for the NC100 will be necessary.

See also:

• The November 2000 feature, ZCN - A CP/M Clone, by Jameel Siddiq.
• Extracts from emails sent to me by Jameel Siddiq, who has installed ZCN on his NC100, which is in the Questions & Answers section.

See also Odds 'n' Ends

MMDS Editor

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