Prestel mailbox Squirter. This program will take a text file created by Pipedream and convert it to a form suitable to uploading to a Prestel response frame. The program will automatically format to the following mailbox frames: 1. Spectrum letters (page 8009 ) 2 Z88 letters (page 800 ) 3. mailbox page 77 If you use the Z88 letters option, you should first change the name in line 160 of the Basic program to your own. In order to use this program using one of the above formats you should first type your text into Pipedream with the right margin set to column 39. Then save it out as a plain text file. Switch to basic and then run the program - the input file will be the file you have just saved, and the output file will be called "convert.tmp". To upload the file to Prestel, first select the desired mailbox or response frame. Then transmit the file convert.tmp using the <>FL command in Zterm. That's it! It is also possible to create your own formats, either by using the user defined option, or editing the program. In order to use the program, you need to first call up the desired frame on Prestel. You should then note the following. a) What characters do you need to key before text transmission? These should be stored in the string M$ - e.g. "123456789#" at the start of a mailbox frame. b) What characters do you key after the text has been transmitted and the first # pressed? (e.g. "Steve Marsh#1" at the end of the Z88 letters.) This is stored in the variable L$. The program will automatically add *09 to recall the frame, as well as an appropriate delay to allow for the time to redisplay the screen. c) What is the column position of the first character on the screen? It will be either 0 or 1. d) How many lines are there for input? Ignore the final line as this is used for the continuation text ">>>>". It is usually shorter than 40 columns anyway, and it was too difficult to try to allow for this. This should provide you with all the information you need to answer the program's questions. Once you are satisfied that it works, you could always add another option to the Basic menu. If you should have any trouble with it, or would like to make any suggestions please contact me on mailbox 016570301. Steve Marsh. 13th December 1988.