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From: porter@inuxd.UUCP (J Porter)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: [Chris Jarocha-Ernst : How can I write BASIC lines >80 chars on C64?]
Message-ID: <480@inuxd.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 11-Mar-84 21:48:26 EST
Article-I.D.: inuxd.480
Posted: Sun Mar 11 21:48:26 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 12-Mar-84 05:43:44 EST
References: <17294@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Consumer Products Div., Indianapolis
Lines: 24

Yes there is a way to put more that 80 characters on a BASIC line on the 64.
The technique is covered in a series of articles in COMPUTE! back before
the 64 was born.  Specifically, Sept/Oct 1980 (The original compactor for
PET written in BASIC) and it's companion uncompactor in the May 1981 issue
(both by Robert Baker) and the third is a machine language compactor in 
the July 1982 issue.

Both compactors create a new disk file based on an old disk file - so two
drives are important.  It would take more than a casual once over to
convert them to a single drive compactor.  The theory of operation is there.
You can now get 256 characters on the same line.  It is hell to edit,
since the screen editor works only with 80, but that is why you have 
uncompactor programs.  The 4040 dual disk and the 1541 have nearly
identical operating systems and you should not have to go to any
conversion for the disk commands unless you start modifying the DOS 
in the drive.

I'm sure this program is planned for a future COMPUTE! issue.  I would
also expect a really good basic aid soon from COMPUTE!  If you can't find
back issues, I could send you xerox copies.

Jeff Porter  (inuxd!porter)
AT&T Consumer Products
Indianapolis