The BASIC Conversions Handbook for APPLE, TRS-80, and PET Users

This book was written to meet a pressing need before the IBM-PC became the dominant player in the PC world. For example, TRS-80 owners like me were looking for applications written in Level II BASIC. Sometimes, I would find an application that I was looking for in a computer magazine, but unfortunately, the program was written in, say, AppleSoft BASIC for the Apple II computer. I found the help I needed in this book to translate program instructions from one BASIC dialect into another.

After introducing the general methods of translation in Chapter 1, the authors covered the specifics in chapters 2, 3, & 4, namely, conversion of Apple II and PET programs into TRS-80, conversion of TRS-80 and PET programs into Apple II, and conversion of TRS-80 and Apple II programs into PET.

The conversions are presented in tabular form comparing two systems at a time in three columns under the headings: Computer X Function, Computer Y Function, and Comments. If the commands were the same for both machines, the Comments would simply explain what the function accomplished. If the commands were different but the functions were the same, the differences in commands would be apparent and the Comments would tell you so. If the functions worked differently, you would be told in the Comments field how to deal with the differences. If there were no equivalent commands, you would be told in the Comments how to compensate for the missing function.

Appendices A & B provide the readers with sample subroutines and program conversions. Appendix C covers screen coordinate conversions from one system to another.

Note. Brain Bank is a business name, not a personal name. ( )