Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!iuvax!uxc.cso.uiuc.edu!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!jgreco
From: jgreco@csd4.milw.wisc.edu (Joe Greco)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm
Subject: Re: Changing text clarity on a c-64
Message-ID: <3796@csd4.milw.wisc.edu>
Date: 12 Aug 89 01:00:39 GMT
References: <1989Aug10.072328.5711@plains.NoDak.edu> <4699@merlin.usc.edu>
Reply-To: jgreco@csd4.milw.wisc.edu (Joe Greco)
Organization: Starbase 74 - Starfleet Operational Support Services
Lines: 49

In comp.sys.cbm article <4699@merlin.usc.edu>, aliu@castor.usc.edu (Terminal Entry) wrote:
]In article <1989Aug10.072328.5711@plains.NoDak.edu> ncperson@ndsuvax.UUCP (Brett G. Person) writes:
]
]>Is there a way to increase the size of the
]>text and increae the readability of the screens? 
]
]It certainly is possible to use larger text on the 64 with relative ease.
]
]Compute's Gazette once had a little program that let you use double-width text
]on the 64. Not sure what issue, tho.
]
]In case you want to write your own routine, it would go like this:
]
]Duble width text:
]
]Define the normal A letter as the right half of 'A' letter, and the REVERSED
]A letter as the left half of the A.. So, when you would be using the new font,
]to type a double-width A, you'd type  A+RVS[A]...
]
]When you choose to use either double height or double width, you loose the
]"reversed" text option. When you choose to use double height/double width, 
]you have to give-up something else, such as maybe lower-case letters.
]
]2x2 s the most you can do with a regular font. By using raster interrupt, you
]can use larger fonts, but that gets tricky.
]

A MUCH better approach might be to purchase a Commodore VIC-20.  I
have seen VIC-20's used in this type of application, and the 22*24
(versus 40*25) screen is very clear.  You should be able to get a VIC
for next to nothing.

I even saw a package that did basic functions of this type.  It
consisted of an editor program and an execution program.  It could run
on an unexpanded VIC with 1540(1541) or an expanded VIC, out of
memory.  It simply sat and displayed page after page of data,
including color and a few special attributes (flash!)... I seem to
recall it may have had double height characters as well, but don't
quote me.

I would think that it would be relatively easy to duplicate the basics
on a VIC-20 and 1541, even if you know only simple programming.

						...Joe
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