SpeedScript: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:39, 13 January 2021

Revision as of 04:20, 8 April 2022

Line 23:

==80-column updates==

The original versions of SpeedScript were designed for the 40-column Commodore 64 and the 22-column VIC-20. When the [[Commodore 128]] was released, featuring an 80-column display, many users requested an updated version of SpeedScript to take advantage of this new capability. In June 1986, ''Compute!'s Gazette'' published SpeedScript-80, a short [[Patch (computing)|patch]] for SpeedScript 3.0 or higher, which enabled the use of the [[MOS Technology VDC|VDC]]'s new 80-column capabilities on a Commodore 128 running in 64 mode.<ref name="heimarck198606" /> However, this did not take advantage of the C128's expanded memory, and a few minor commands were eliminated due to the alterations to the existing code. SpeedScript-80 was enhanced soon after with SpeedScript-80 Revisited, by Bob Kodadek.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

[[File:SpeedScript 128 in action.png|thumb|right|SpeedScript 128]]

A native version for the C128 called SpeedScript 128, also written by Bob Kodadek, was finally released in October 1987 Compute!'s Gazette. This version eliminated the problems of the patch and took full advantage of the C128's 80-column screen, its expanded memory and the enhanced keyboard.<ref name="kodadek198710" /> A later update (SS128-Plus) appeared in September 1989 Compute!'s Gazette, adding full text justification, tab setting, and online help.<ref name=gruber198909 />

In December 1987, ''Compute!'s Gazette'' published ''Instant 80'', a utility for the C64 version of SpeedScript that allowed 80-column document previewing (though not editing) on a standard C64. This was done by using half-width characters on a high-resolution graphics screen.<ref name="mackinnon198712" />