This package is intended to make it easy for you to define your own character shapes to be used in the hi-res screen modes, and consists of two modules.

The first enables you to define up to 128 different characters which can be saved as a data file. You also have the facility to read in and update this file at any time.

To definine your characters, you are presented with a 7 by 9 grid whose rows and columns are numbered. Each square in the grid can be filled in to define the character.

As you are filling in this grid the character is drawn full size on another section of the screen so that you can see how it is taking shape.

Once you have completed the definitions the data is saved on cassette, so you can build up a library of different character sets. For example, one set could include proper lower case characters, another could have scientific symbols, and so on.

The second module is a demonstration program, and also contains the routines that are used to read in the character data file and then to print any selected characters anywhere on the hi-res screen. The characters are held in a two dimensional array and are referenced by their ASCII value.

An added feature is the facility to display your text vertically (that is, lying on its side), as well as horizontally. The demo program actually shows a sine graph with the axes rotated using both these formats.

The character drawing is a bit slow but tips on overcoming this are given in the clearly printed instruction leaflet.

C.D.