What Good is an Atari Portfolio

-------------------------------



Written by Mr. Portfolio



There has been many a time that I have been asked by curious

onlookers, "gee that little computer is a neat toy, but what good

is it ??".



One of my answers is that the address book has been the most useful

part of the Portfolio, and that is even in a way that Atari really

never intended it to be used.



As a square dance caller, I have found the address book to be very

useful. I used it to catalog a bin of records. This resulted in my

getting a list that told me of everything I had in the bin.



For a collector, the address book would be indispensable, with the

first line being used as a title, the address book becomes a real

useful general purpose database.



There are a few programs out now that allow the user to view

his/her address file on a PC, and allow the user to import/export

from Windows Cardfile .CRD files.



Eventually I get asked about games on the Portfolio. I have used my

Portfolio for different games, one of the best games around is

written by B. J. Gleason, it is called Spinner 1.0



For those of you who have never heard of Spinner 1.0, the following

diagram sort of describes it:



              _____________________________

            -|  |  |  |xx|yy|yy|xx|  |  |  |-

           | |--|--|--|--|--|--|--|--|--|--| |

            -|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |-

              -----------------------------



In this diagram there are 20 numbers marked from 1 to 20, randomly

spread throughout the little boxes. By using right and left cursor

keys , the numbers move around either clockwise or counter

clockwise. Pressing the spacebar swaps the numbers in the boxes

marked xx and yy. The object of the game is to manipulate the

numbers, until they are all in order from left to right, starting

at the leftmost box.



I found this game quite challenging, especially near the end when

almost all of the numbers were in order. Play is fairly fast, the

program itself is an EXE file, so no other programs are needed to

play it.



All in all, Spinner 1.0 is a really good game, B.J. Gleason has

gone out of his way with this one.



ST Transfers with the Parallel port.

------------------------------------



Finally, there is a program out for the Atari Portfolio called

STFOLIO.ARC, it allows you to hook up your ST to the Portfolio.



With the special program and the special cable that you make, (it

is not too hard, I have seen the Diagram that is enclosed in the

arc file), you can send files to your Portfolio from your ST.



The program uses the Parallel port on the Portfolio, and is almost

identical to the one on the IBM.





Flight Simulator for The Portfolio

----------------------------------



There is now a program out called FS.EXE that allows the user to

fly a little plane across the Portfolio screen. The program does

not have any graphics, it has a neat propeller sound, and uses the

up and down arrow keys to move the plane up or down. Landing the

plane is easy, you just move the down cursor until the plane

touches the bottom of the screen, then it says: Safe Landing.



The game itself is rather small and easy, it really is just a

novelty that wears off soon, but it is still kind of neat.





Terminator II and the Atari Portfolio

-------------------------------------



In the year 1991 the second terminator has struck, and the boy hero

of the movie has an Atari Portfolio.



The kid makes real good use of the Portfolio, during the movie

there are real close up shots of the Portfolio while the kid

proceeds to plug a magnetic card into an automated banking machine.



The magnetic card appears to be hooked up to the Portfolio through

a cable, a program on the Portfolio is scanning the card, and after

20 seconds it tells the kid what the pin number is.



The kid explains to his friend that his mother showed him how to

modify little computers, he then withdraws $300.00 of money (not

his money).



(That's one real good use for the Portfolio, but I hope this one

never hits the market...).











Banking and the Portfolio

-------------------------



In keeping with the above, one real good use for the Portfolio is

to use it as an electronic checkbook. With proper use of the

spreadsheet, you can keep real good control at you fingertips of

where your money goes.



The example below illustrates this:



    ---------------------------------------

   |  Date  |  Action  | Amount | Balance  |

   |--------|----------|--------|----------|

   | Jul 6  | Deposit  | $100.00|  $100.00 |

   | Jul 7  | Withdraw |  $50.00: +C4-D3   |

   ------------------------------------------



In the above example, the first line , July 6 and its contents is

the start of the worksheet. The formula in block D4 takes the

previous balance from block C4, subtracts the amount from block D3

and puts the updated balance in block D4.



This type of worksheet can be used to keep track of bank deposits

and withdrawals, and another similar worksheet can keep track of

purchases, right down to the penny.



I used this system for months when I was in college, and it

resulted in a savings of $100.00 or more per month, by just being

able to have the info at my fingertips.



One piece of advice, if you are going to use a system like this,

save your output file on a ramcard, and call it something like

Bank0706.wks, it makes things easier as you update it. The first

four letters of the filename should be descriptive, the next two

letters are the month and the last two is the day, as you update

your list, change the filename to correspond with the latest

update's date.



As a final note, I am listing a good portion of the PD files that

are available for the Atari Portfolio. The list comes from Atari

Canada's BBS.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------

PK361.EXE    PC compatible ARC utility to unarc BBS files in this area



 ---> NEW Files:

SPIN.EXE     Number Puzzle

FM.COM       Atari Files Manager

FS.EXE       Small flight simulator, Not much on graphics but fun

PCRD11.ARC   newest version for Windows 3.0 - Cardfile file compatible with    

             Portfolio address book (needs VBRUN100.ARC)

FLASH.ARC    BSE Flashcard software drivers for connecting and HD to the       

             Portfolio - contact BSE 714-832-4316

BLKBST.BAS   Arcade game (needs PBasic)

DIGDEC.ARC   Card trick program

DIGDEC.DOC   Docs for above

DZN.BAS      Puzzle (needs PBasic)

DZNRUL.TXT   Docs for above

TEXTCO.ARC   Removes returns from text files except at the end of paragraphs

TIMEZN.ARC   Reset system clock when you are in different time zones

TYPIST.COM   Typing practise for the small keyboard

TYPIST.DOC   Docs for above

VADER.BAS    Space invaders (needs PBasic)



 ---> Conversion Programs

AG2POR.ARC   Lotus Agenda macros to export Agenda data to Portfolio

DRYSK.ARC    Diary files to sidekick

PRTCRD.ARC   Convert address book ADR files to Windows 3.0 Cardfile CRD files (

VBRUN100.ARC Win 3.0 Visual Basic Runtime for above

WPCAL.ARC    Covert WordPerfect Cal to DRY



 ---> DEMO Programs:

PGSH21.ARC   Fastest Demo available

PSI.EXE      Demo program for the Portfolio



 ---> Utilities:

60BY10.ARC   Program to change screen to 60 col by 10 lines

ACDPW2.ARC   Password protect your data files

ADDRES.EXE   Address file viewer

ADDRES.SIT   Mac Hypercard stack allows import/export, requires StuffIt

ARCEX.ARC    Portfolio "Un-ARC" utility

AUTOEXEC.BAT Example startup file

BAT2EXE.ARC  Compile batch files, output runs on the Portfolio

BATTST.ARC   Battery tester for Portfolio

BM2.ARC      Battery reminder program

BXD26.ARC    Debugger, runs on the Portfolio

CONFIG.SYS   Example config file

DOSEDI.COM   DOS command line editor, remembers last few commands you entered

FT.COM       Parallel module file transfer prog

GREP.ARC     Text search program

HDIR.ARC     Horizontal directory

LISTFG.COM   displays fragmented files

LOGOS.ARC    custom screens

NEWPORT.ARC  Tech Overview of Portfolio accessories

PASSWORD.ARC Password Protection Utility for Portfolio

PDD2MENU.ARC Driver for Radio Shack Portable disk drive

PFBACKUP.ARC Backup utility

PORTHELP.ARC excellent help files

PORTUTIL.ARC Setup files for the Portfolio, update, autoexec, config etc.

PRTTXT.ARC   Textfile Create HOT KEYS on the Portfolio using ANSI.SYS

PTOOL.ARC    A set of excellent Portfolio utilities.

SDIR24.ARC   Sort directories

SM.COM       Change screen mode from dos prompt of batch file

SNATCH.ARC   Grab PC screen shots and run them on the Portfolio

SRCH.ARC     Search diary and address files for a string

STRIP.ARC    Strips carriage returns from ASCII files

UPDT107.COM  Lastest update

VDEL.COM     Prompts y/n before any delete file operation

 ---> Word Processing:

OUTLINE.ARC  Outline text editor for the Portfolio

WS_EDIT.ARC  Word Star like editor for Portfolio



 ---> Programming:

PBAS45.ARC   Latest version of Basic with coms support

PBE13.ARC    PC editor to create PBasic programs

SPB.EXE      Removes unneeded lines and REM statements from PBasic progams

ZBASIC.ARC   Compact basic product that runs on the Portfolio



 ---> Communications:

ACOM11.ARC   Terminal Program

DIAL.ARC     Xterm dialer

PFBOOT.ARC   Serial interface program to load terminal

PORT8BIT.ARC Tech document describing connecting Portfolio to Atari 8 bit

PORTTOST.ARC Files to GET Xterm on the Portfolio without files transfer

SLAVE.ARC    Host program (Portfolio to any terminal supporting X-Modem)

STFOLI.ARC   Parallel file transfer

XTERM2.ARC   Terminal program, includes XMODEM file transfer capability



 ---> Graphics:

PORT_ART.ARC Graphics pix demonstration

SKETCH.ARC   Sketch program for the Portfolio



 ---> Applications:

CBASE.ARC    Create scripts to collect data in the field

CC3.BAS      Metric conversion, requires BASIC

CLOCK.EXE    Large Portfolio Clock

FUNCTION.ARC Function analysis uses graphics to plot x-Y diagrams

MERLIN.ARC   Game

OHM.ARC      Ohmeter Program for Portfolio

OTHELLO.ARC  Othello runs on portfolio (set the screen to static)

PBASPRGS.ARC Assorted basic programs

PC.ARC       Programmer's calculator

PCHESS.ARC   You play chess against the Portfolio

PIM.ARC      Personal Info Mgr. fully operational program

PORTPRGS.ARC Assorted Games, LIFE, PVIEW, SM, TT

PTONE.ARC    Generate tones via file or keyboard

QUICK.ARC    Input you cheques in the field and upload to Quicken later.

SHERLOCK.ARC Adventure game

SIMON.ARC    Simon game

TETRAD.ARC   Tetris game for the Portfolio

TRON.ARC     Motorcycle game

YANKEE.ARC   Music for the Portfolio



 ---> Misc Files:

PORTABLE.ARC Portable Addiction, a newsletter on Portable products



The next area below has a list of UK files that are available for the

Atari Portfolio.









Dear Portfolio user,



This file contains a short overview of the contents of the Portfolio Public

Domain disk. The contents are collected on 23 april 1990 from files of

the Atari-NET BBS of Atari (Benelux) B.V., this BBS contains Public Domain

software collected all over the world. Atari-NET is reachable at

+31 3473 77584 and +31 3473 77376.

[Benelux is the combination of The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg]



Directory   File            Description

         [abc.def is a proposal for the English name of a program]



(root)     CED.DOM         Remembers DOS cmds, recallable using cursor keys.

                  Less powerful (smaller) than DOSEDIT.

        UNCRASH.COM     Resets crashed programs using [FN]-B

         

        FILELIST.BAT    Batch shows directory of system (1)

        OHM.EXE         Convertion colour codes of resistors



ATTR       ATTR.COM        Set/reset file attributes (hidden etc)

        ATTR.DOC



BATCHIO    ALARM.BAT       Very handy batchfiles by Sjoerd

        DEMOEXEC.BAT    Spoelstra.

        BEL.BAT

        [call.bat]

        BREED.BAT

        [wide.bat]

        MEMO.BAT

        STIL.BAT

        [quiet.bat]

        LAAD.BAT

        [load.bat]

        SERVE.BAT

        SMAL.BAT

        [small.bat]

        REKEN.BAT

        [calc.bat]

        ZOEK.BAT

        [search.bat]

        FAKE.COM        This file is REQUIRED for these batchfiles !!

        APPBATCH.DOC    Please read this documentation!



BUCKETS    BUCKETS.INF     Program for database programmers, calculates

        BUCKETS.PRG     the number of BINs (buckets) required.

        BUCKETS.TXT



DBFREAD    DBFREAD.DOC     Database conversion program by Sjoerd Spoelstra.

        DBFREAD.EXE     Suitable for DBase III and clones like clipper

        MEMBERS.DBF     Foxbase etc.









DIAL       AT.COM          Extra (DIAL) programs's for the XTERM2

        DIAL.BAT        serial comm program.

        DTR.COM

        REMOTE.BAT

        WAIT.COM



DOSEDIT    DOSEDIT.COM     Powerful program that recalls previous DOS commands

        DOSEDIT.DOC     using cursor keys, edit and knows about ALIAS 

                  functions.



FUNCTIO2   FUNCTIO.DOC     Draws graphs of x-y functions, written by

        FUNCTIO.EXE     Sjoerd Spoelstra.



TIPS       PRTFTIPS.TXT    Hints by an American journalist.

        TIPS.TXT        Hints by Sjoerd Spoelstra



PFBOOT     BINHEX.COM      These files allow the installation of a comm program

        CHKSUM.COM      using a serial interface WITHOUT built-in comm 

        HEXBIN.COM      software [which lacks in DIP 1.42].

        LOAD.BAT        

        PFBOOT.BAT      MS-DOS PC with serial port is required.

        PFLOAD.EXE      This way, a parallell interface can be saved by

        README.DOC      people who only need a serial interface.

        XTERM1.COM      

        XTERM1.DOC

        XTERM1.HEX



PFCIJF     KLNA3H1.SDF     Teacher's score list program by Sjoerd

[marks]

        PFCIJF.DOC      Spoelstra.

        PFCIJF.EXE      [Unlikely to be usable in the USA because the

                  pupil score system is different. Dutch use

                  1 (bad)..6(just sufficient)..10(excellent).



PFCLOCK    CLOCK.EXE       Screen filling clock program by Paralax.

        CLOCK.TXT



PF_DEMO    ATADEMO.EXE     Graphic (shop) demo by Sjoerd Spoelstra

        D1.TXT

        D2.TXT

        D3.TXT

        DEMO.BAT

        TRAAG.COM

        [delay.com]

        WENS.EXE

        [xmaswish.exe]



RG         READ.ME         Various tools, collected by Richard

        CIFER.COM       Gigengack. Read READ.ME file first.

        QUERY.COM

        SORTF.COM

        STRIP.BAS





RPNCALC    RPNCALC.DOC     HP-41 compatible calculator, read doc file FIRST

        RPNCALC.EXE     because of directions about screen setup.



SDIR24     SDIR24.COM      Directory utility

        SDIR24.DOC



SDL        S.BAT           Directory utility

        SDL.COM

        SDL.DOC



TBASIC     CODES.TBI       Tiny BASIC, this basic doesn't know string functions.

        README.1ST      Read doc first.

        TBASIC.ASM

        TBASIC.COM

        TBASIC.DOC



WCX        WCX.COM         Word Count utility

        WCX.DOC



WS_EDIT    EDIT.COM        Wordstar like editor

        EDIT.DOC



W_SHEET    AUTOKOST.WKS    Various worksheets: Car costs

        [carcosts.wks]

        HYPOTEEK.WKS                        Mortgage

        [mortgage.wks]

        NSKOST.WKS                          Rail costs

        [railcost.wks]



XTERM2     XTERM2.COM      Latest version of serial comm program

        XTERM2.DOC      with: XModem, ASCII up/download.



OTHELLO    OTHELLO.COM     Othello game, read doc because of 

        OTHELLO.DOC     screen setup directions.





 (1)  Adapt for own system





That concluded the lists of files that are available for the Atari Portfolio.

Next month I will be adding an update, see you then.



This is it for now, there will be more Portfolio news to come next month.



Russ Campbell, Mr. Portfolio.
