This page (revision-47) was last changed on 03-Feb-2023 15:21 by Roland B. Wassenberg 

This page was created on 23-Apr-2014 11:57 by Roland B. Wassenberg

Only authorized users are allowed to rename pages.

Only authorized users are allowed to delete pages.

Page revision history

Version Date Modified Size Author Changes ... Change note
47 03-Feb-2023 15:21 14 KB Roland B. Wassenberg to previous
46 02-Sep-2017 23:26 14 KB Roland B. Wassenberg to previous | to last
45 02-Sep-2017 22:35 13 KB Roland B. Wassenberg to previous | to last
43 02-Sep-2017 22:34 13 KB Roland B. Wassenberg to previous | to last Synapse SynCalc ==> SynCalc
44 02-Sep-2017 22:34 13 KB Roland B. Wassenberg to previous | to last Synapse SynCalc ==> SynCalc
42 11-May-2017 15:23 13 KB Roland B. Wassenberg to previous | to last
41 11-May-2017 15:18 13 KB Roland B. Wassenberg to previous | to last

Page References

Incoming links Outgoing links
SynCalc
SynCalc

Version management

Difference between version and

At line 1 changed one line
!!!Synapse SynCalc ; Copyright (C) 1983, 1985 Synapse Software Corp. and Mike Silva
!!!SynCalc Copyright (C) 1983, 1985 Synapse Software Corp. and Mike Silva
[{TableOfContents }]\\
\\
At line 6 added 10 lines
\\
In 2016 Mike Silva gave SynCalc into public domain including source code! Mr. Silva, the Atari community is forever in your debt! Thank you so much, we really appreciate your help. You are now in the hall of fame.\\
\\
[{Image src='Thank_you_Mike_Silva.jpg' width=512 height=112 }]
Thank you Mike Silva!!!\\
\\
Further credit goes to Brian Lee, the product manager, who was very involved in guiding the look-and-feel and the overall functionality of the program. Thanky you so much Mr. Lee, we really appreciate your help, then and now. :-)\\
\\
Because the source code listing as well as the disk files are lost, it would be cool, if someone out there is in the possession of that, if you can share it with the community. Many thanks in advance. :-)\\
\\
At line 19 changed one line
||Port B |FF |EF|EB|E7|E3|AF|AB|A7|A3|8F|8B|87|83|FF|FF|
||Port B |FF |EF|EB|E7|E3|AF|AB|A7|A3|8F|8B|87|83|FF|FF
At line 25 changed 3 lines
* [Synapse SynCalc-1983 Version|http://www.atarimania.com/documents/Synapse_Syncalc_Manual.pdf] ; size: 7,6 MB ; thanks to Atarimania for hosting
* [Synapse SynCalc-1985 Version|http://www.atarimania.com/documents/Synapse_SynCalc_1985.pdf] ; size: 13,3 MB ; thanks to Atarimania for hosting
* [Synapse SynCalc Template Disk|http://www.atarimania.com/documents/SynCalc%20Template%20Disk%20Synapse.pdf] ; size: 8 MB ; thanks to Atarimania for hosting
* [SynCalc-1983 Version|Synapse_SynCalc_1983.pdf] ; size: 7,6 MB
* [SynCalc-1985 Version|Synapse_SynCalc_1985.pdf] ; size: 13,3 MB
* [SynCalc Template Disk|SynCalc_Template_Disk_Synapse.pdf] ; size: 8 MB
At line 29 changed 4 lines
* [1983 version from Atarimania|http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-400-800-xl-xe-syncalc_15763.html] ; thanks to Atarimania for hosting
* [1985 version from Atarimania|http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-400-800-xl-xe-syncalc_20705.html] ; thanks to Atarimania for hosting
* [Synapse SynCalc Template Disk|http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-400-800-xl-xe-syncalc-templates-disk_15774.html] ; thanks to Atarimania for hosting
\\
* [SynCalc_(1983)(Synapse Software)(US).atx] ; atx-image of the 1983 version which runs properly, icluding the VisiCalc import program, which is missed on nearly all(!) versions
* [SynCalc_(1985)(Synapse Software)(US).atx] ; atx-image of the 1985 version which runs properly, icluding the VisiCalc import program, which is missed on nearly all(!) versions
* [SynCalc 128K atx-version|SynCalc_128K_(1985).atx] ; atx-image which runs on Altirra, but not with the Atari800MacX emulator (2016)
* [SynCalc 128K atr-version|SynCalc_128K_(1993).atr] ; atr-image which runs on all emulators, but not verified yet regarding reliable calculations
* [SynCalc Template Disk|Syncalc_Template_(original).atr] ; atr-image from the original diskette
* [SynCalc Data Disk.atr|SynCalc_Data_Disk.atr] ; atr-image with some examples and templates
* [SynCalc Classic for 400-800 Ataris|SynCalc_(Classic).atr] ; not yet tested, use on your own risk
* [SynCalc for XL-XE-Ataris|SynCalc_(XL-XE).atr] ; not yet tested, use on your own risk
* [SynCalc with OSS DOS XL 2.30 as file version|SynCalc_with_OSS_DOS_XL_2.30.atr] ; not yet tested, use on your own risk
!!RAW files from the Kryoflux
* [Kryoflux-raw-no-flippy.zip] ; size: 22.9 MB ; A very big thank you goes to Freddy Offenga for creating the raw files from our original SynCalc 128K diskette. Freddy, great work! Thank you so much! :-)
At line 120 added 90 lines
!!Findings from Mike Silva:
Zero page\\
\\
$95 Current Spreadsheet Row (all rows and columns are zero-based)\\
$96 Current Spreadsheet Column\\
\\
$99 Current Screen Y\\
$9A Current Screen X\\
\\
$9F Current Cell Data Pointer (points to data of current cell)\\
\\
$A7 Last Spreadsheet Row\\
$A8 Last Spreadsheet Column\\
\\
$CA Last Added Cell Data Pointer (a stack pointer to next free memory to add new cell data) More below #1\\
\\
Non-zero page\\
\\
$1901 Array of column widths\\
\\
$19DB Last direction of cursor movement (1=left, 2=right, 3=up, 4=down)\\
\\
$1A00 Screen memory\\
\\
$2BF3 Array of 3-byte cell structures. Each structure consists of a 2-byte cell data address, followed by one additional byte (more below #2). Array order is A1, B1, C1,...n1, A2, B2, C2,...n2,...Am, Bm, Cm,...nm where n is last sheet column, m is last sheet row.\\
\\
#1 Cell data is form B1, B2, B3, cell data (variable number of cell data bytes).\\
B1: D7-D6 = number format code\\
D5 = comma flag\\
D4 = dollar flag\\
D3 = percent flag\\
D2 = ??? haven't figured this one out\\
D1-D0 = sign code\\
B2: D7-D6 = justify code\\
D5-D4 = ??? haven't figured this one out\\
D3 = protect value flag\\
D2-D0 = margin value 0-7\\
B3: D7 = protect entry flag\\
D6-D0 = length of cell data that follows\\
\\
Cell data is either text or ATARI numeric. In formula cells the value of the formula is first, followed by the actual formula.\\
\\
#2 Additional cell info byte\\
D7-D6 = cell type (01 = text, 10 = numeric, 00 = empty cell?)\\
D5-D2 = precision value\\
D1-D0 = ???\\
\\
The cell data stack grows downward from $7FFF on a 48k machine. By testing other hardware it will be possible to see where the stack begins in different memory circumstances, and also perhaps to ID some other addressing bits in the cell pointer array, bits that are just zero in the base 48k version.\\
!!Problems when importing VisiCalc files ; findings from luckybuck
SynCalc holds an import program, called: 'VC->SC' in order to read in files from the VisiCalc program. All versions(!) out there, except the original ones are not able to import properly VisiCalc files! The SynCalc program tries to load a convert program from the original program disk. If this fails, you get the following pictures:
[{Image src='1.jpg' width=330 height=200 }]
SynCalc VC->SC option selected\\
\\
[{Image src='2.jpg' width=332 height=202 }]
SynCalc asking for the program master disk\\
\\
[{Image src='3_.jpg' width=333 height=201 }]
SynCalc failed to load a program from the program master disk\\
\\
Further, if you have really hard VisiCalc spreadsheets and the 1985 version even in original form fails to import, try the 1983 version, which works like a charm in these very rare cases.
!!Private Notes from JAC! in German
Syncalc werde ich mir irgendwann nochmal im Detail anschauen, aber das braucht Zeit.\\
So wie ich das ganze sehe, was SyncCalc im Original eine XEX die von Synapse auf\\
einen DOS Disk mit einem entsprechenden DOS gepackt und dann verschlüsselt wurde.\\
Die Boot-Disk packt das DOS dann sozusagen wieder aus.\\
Nur so kann sie nach dem Booten Files von den Datendisk lesen.\\
!!Emulator Hints
In emulators it could be useful to turn the SIO patch off for using the ".ATX" disk images.\\[{Image src='SIO.jpg' width=387 height=146 }]
!!File types
The program disk itself has a hidden VTOC and is heavily copy protected. A really hard one, even in todays times. SynCalc saves produces three types of files (syntaxes):\\
a) SC for worksheets\\
b) DIF for data interchange files (or values)\\
c) TXT for reporting\\
Thank you Wade Ripdubski for finding out and sharing your knowledge with us. :-)))\\
[{Image src='files.png' width=300 height=235 }]
SynCalc file syntax\\
\\
[{Image src='rating.png' width=300 height=34 }]
SynCalc rating from Wade Ripdubski (InverseATASCII). AtariWiki fully admits that rating. Mike Silva has done a men's jpb. Shaft's score would be a 10 out of 10.\\
Please also take a look at Wade's site: [SynCalc at InverseATASCII|http://inverseatascii.info/2016/02/23/s2e08-synapse-software-syncalc/] ; highly recommended!\\
!!References
[Synapse Wiki|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synapse_Software]\\
[Br0derbund Wiki|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brøderbund]\\
[SynCalc at InverseATASCII|http://inverseatascii.info/2016/02/23/s2e08-synapse-software-syncalc/]\\
!!Video
* [Commercial video with Alan Alda about SynCalc from Atarimania|atari_8bit_synapse_software_alan_alda_commercial.flv] ; a big thank you to Atarimania ; funny to watch! :-)
At line 220 added 12 lines
[{Image src='SynCalc_requires_48k_of_RAM.jpg' width=329 height=198 }]
SynCalc requires 48k of RAM and all cartridges removed\\
\\
[{Image src='max.jpg' width=361 height=226 }]
Maximum RAM in KB available for SynCalc regardless how many is installed\\
\\
[{Image src='Synapse_Syncalc_with_128K.jpg' width=911 height=173 }]
Synapse Syncalc with 128 KB RAM startscreen with 85 KB RAM free\\
\\
[{Image src='RAM-Vertelung_markiert.jpg' width=1104 height=663 }]
Synapse Syncalc with different machines and different free RAM\\
\\
At line 241 added 9 lines
[{Image src='SynCalc_128K-1.jpg' width=711 height=828 }]
SynCalc 1985 version-front of box\\
\\
[{Image src='SynCalc_128K-2.jpg' width=738 height=821 }]
SynCalc 1985 version-back of box\\
\\
[{Image src='SynCalc_128K-3.jpg' width=938 height=459 }]
SynCalc 1985 version-side of box\\
\\
At line 256 added 9 lines
[{Image src='SynCalc_Templates_Disk_5.jpg' width=800 height=600 }]
SynCalc Template Diskette - image 3 ; thanks to RHOD\\
\\
[{Image src='SynCalc_Templates_Disk_4.jpg' width=317 height=657 }]
SynCalc Template Diskette - ad 1\\
\\
[{Image src='SynCalc_Templates_Disk_3.jpg' width=416 height=591 }]
SynCalc Template Diskette - ad 2\\
\\
At line 125 changed one line
SynCalc ad ; thanks to Atarimania
SynCalc ad ; thanks to Atarimania\\
\\
[{Image src='ad.jpg' width=900 height=675 }]
SynCalc ad from eBay
This page (revision-47) was last changed on 03-Feb-2023 15:21 by Roland B. Wassenberg  Top