Re: ancient animation

[dalloff@freenet.columbus.oh.us (Dave Althoff)]

Greg Berigan (gberigan@cse.unl.edu) wrote:

: Has anyone found a way to run Integer BASIC programs under ProDOS?  I
: understand there was a conflict in that ProDOS stores itself where
: Integer BASIC would normally go.

Indeed, the ProDOS kernel sits in the language card area, while
BASIC.SYSTEM uses the normal DOS area, and I think manages the
bank-switching so that you can use Applesoft and ProDOS at the same
time...when Applesoft is active, ProDOS becomes invisible and vice-versa
since they both use the same memory space (but in different banks). 
BASIC.SYSTEM makes it so that you don't have to worry about this.

There IS a way to run ProDOS and Integer BASIC, but it requires a rare
hardware configuration:  you need an Apple ][ with a language card. 
Specifically, you need an *original* Apple ][ (NOT a ][+), with Integer
BASIC in ROM, and a 16k RAM card (normally used under DOS 3.3 to load
Applesoft).  On such a machine, you cannot use Applesoft and ProDOS
simultaneously for the same reason that you can't use Integer and ProDOS
on other Apple ]['s. And of course, if you have an Applesoft ROM card in
your ][, then you can't run ProDOS because you don't have that 16k RAM
space that ProDOS needs (you have two 16k ROM spaces instead).

: How about an INT to SYS compiler?  There were BAS to BIN compilers out
: there (but for DOS 3.3, making it "A" and "B" filetypes... Beagle?), but
: I don't remember anything about there being one for Integer BASIC
: programs.

I'm sure it could be done...
But you might want to take a close look at AppleVision.  There are no
commands for manipulating the hi-res screen in Integer BASIC, which means
that AppleVision is performing some neat tricks.  My guess is that part of
that program is a machine-language library sitting within the BASIC code. 
It might be possible to extract that and re-cast the program in Applesoft.

But again, I have to wonder why anyone would bother.  I've said it before
and I'll probably say it again.

If you are running old programs designed to be run under DOS 3.3, save
yourself the hassle and RUN THEM UNDER DOS 3.3!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
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