MACLONE
from Your Sinclair #2 (Feb.1986)

[They didn't bother to say so in the article, but ]
[access the utilities with SymbolShift+Space, then]
[1, 2 or 3 to select one; or 4 to return to BASIC.]
[                                            JimG ]

Nope, it's not the latest fast food fry-up from McDonalds -
though that's how we sold the idea to Tony 'Slim' Samuels!
Maclone's an amazing utility package that packs the power of
the Macintosh into your Speccy.


There's a bandwagon doing the rounds at the moment that
everyone's hitching a ride on - and it's called the Apple
Macintosh. You only have to take a look at SofTechnics' The
Writer, reviewed in last month's YS, or OCP's Art Studio,
reviewed in this, to see the influence it's having - all
those drop- down menus and icons. Now just so you don't feel
left out in the code, I've written my own Mac influenced
program.

Maclone is a collection of three pull- down utility programs
that are related to the Desk Accessories on the Mac -
perhaps you've seen the calculator, puzzle and scrapbook
that can be pulled down over the top of the screen you're
working on. My three programs are similarly transparent to
the Speccy so the screen won't be permanently corrupted.
That means, for example, if you're bored with the program
you're working on, you can call up one of these utilities
and it'll sit on top of your program until you're ready to
get going again.


CLONE RANGER

As soon as you're ready to use your saved copy of Maclone,
type CLEAR 61950: LOAD "Maclone" CODE and start the tape.
There are three main RAND USR calls to Maclone - 63256 sets
the program up, 63278 switches it off and 63269 turns it
back on again. You'll only need to set up Maclone after
you've loaded it in or after NEW.


MAC MIMICRY

Here's a run-down of the three Macalike programs that mimic
the desk accessories. Two grand computers - who needs 'em?


THE LETTER SQUARE

Imagine you're writing a program and inspiration has
deserted you. You've made enough cups of coffee to keep
Brazil in credit for the next ten years but still nothing'll
come. Nope, there's nowt for it but drop everything and play
a game - if only you weren't already using the Speccy. Well,
now, at the press of a key, you can jiggle your brains with
this letter square puzzle. Just use the keys Q, A, O and P
to move the blank tile around the letter square. As soon as
you get bored or inspiration returns, just press Space and
bingo, you're back into Basic.


THE UDG EDITOR

Here's a real time-saver - well, you can make up all the
time you've wasted playing the word square. It's a UDG
editor that you can call up and use from within the Basic
program you're editing. It lets you change any one of the
Speccy's 21 UDGs just by moving the cursor round the UDG
with the Q, A, O and P keys. You can flip it on or off with
the M key and change a UDG using Enter. Once back in Basic
(press Space), your UDGs'll appear just as you defined them
in the Maclone routine. Save your data before you shut down
with SAVE "udg data" CODE USR "a",21*8.


THE LOCK-UP

Phew, that megaprogram's nearly finished but you've just got
to go out / sleep / eat / go for a pee. And what happens -
Sod's law, that's what! Someone's dusted and well, my hand
slipped, honest. Sorry just doesn't seem to say enough. Plus
you've got to keep a constant vigil against all those
industrial spies just waiting to rip off your programming.
Panic no more 'cos this program provides the answer. Select
option 3 and the screen will go black with just six question
marks in the centre of the screen. Now type in your six
letter password - no repeats are allowed so if your name's
Aardvark, you'll have to find an alternative. When all six
are in, press Enter and a message appears on the screen that
should deter all Intruders - DON'T TOUCH. Even if someone
has a go, they'll find the Speccy completely locked up - and
it'll stay that way without the password. Clever on? When
you're ready to begin again, type in your password to take
you back to Basic - But if you get it wrong you'll have to
go right back to the beginning.


--
Another Fine Product transcribed by:
Jim Grimwood (jimg@globalnet.co.uk), Weardale, England
--
