The secret of compressing the vast amount of data contained within the Robico games can now be used within your own creations. This text-handling toolbox enables would-be authors to Create, Modify, Compress and Recall text messages.

Essentially the package is for the use of adventure writers, but it could prove equally useful wherever large amounts of text data are to be held in memory. The package is very easy to use and consists of a number of menus which act upon the text file containing your messages.

All messages are initially entered in upper case, within which you may add special characters which are interpreted at write-out time. These characters may be used to specify the colour of text, the line width of the printed message, begin and end of case change and the speed at which the message is to be printed. Using this technique, colourful, upper and lower case text may be quickly or slowly printed in a laid out format. For example, the message:

@MY NAME IS @FRED.I AM 9.

would be finally be printed as:

My name is Fred. I am 9.

To use the resulting data you simply *LOAD the file at the top of your memory and do a CALL MPRINT or JSR MPRINT to access your messages. A professional text compressor like this, which averages 45% compression, is a very useful tool for the Beeb adventure writer and this one is as good as they come.

While on the subject of home-grown adventures, it is to be hoped that the anticipated Graphic Adventure Creator from Incentive Software will live up to its promise. I hope to review this shortly.