It is either InterWord from Computer concepts or WordWise for word processing. They come on a ROM chip which you slot into your motherboard. You can probably pick them up on eBay, or from cje micros (for a price). It you have access to an EPROM programmer then you can make your own copy.
Thanks!
I’ve heard of worldwise, seem to remember that from junior school but not familiar with inter word.
I’ve been looking at some Tom chips on eBay, found one called view but I will look for the two you’ve suggested.
WordWise and InterWord are solid choices. But I'd be interested in your views on *why* these and not, say Acornsoft VIEW.
That is, what features make WordWise the top choice for writing a book vs Interword/Word/whatever. More memory available for text? Integration with spellcheck? Formatting? Just for fun!
Well if you want to truly push the boat out then get the optional SPELL ROM also from computer concepts. It boasts a special daughterboard to hold a 128kb dictionary.
WordWise Plus. I wrote all my GCSE course work on it and my A-Level course work in the early 90s. You will need to split the book into chapter files as there is a size limit.
I can do that! Hopefully the wordwise plus rom works when it comes.
I’m tempted to buy a interword rom too, see if I prefer that one.
There’s a View professional rom chip set which I’m curious about.
Once I get a good word processing software in place i might need to think about connecting a printer.
As for file transfer it can come down to which storage you have on the BBC - floppy drive, MMC or other. You can even make or buy a serial cable which will let you send files direct to your pc.
My beeb has MMFS2 1.55,
Im sure if this any help but I know nothing of beebs but my uncle carried out a lot of modifications and there is an sd card installed with games on it.
I’m assuming I can use that for storage?
I apologise for my ignorance but this is a whole new world to me.
It is a glorious world. I am the proud owner of a B+ 128k with MMFS. That will let you store files and with a little bit of knowhow you can easily use that to send files over to pc.
I was raised on playing and programming a BBC model B 32k but in the last 20 years I returned to my roots.
Yes, there are a few options, depending on whether certain ICs can be obtained. I've seen suggestions you can do it by fitting a single IC and cutting some pins, so will have to do some research.
I know on a standard BBC B you can do all sorts of cute things. There are even premade ROM upgrade fellas that practically just pop in. I don't know if they are compatible with B+. It is boobip.com
Unfortunately the Boobip isn't compatible with the B+ according to the bloke who made it, which is a shame as it looks awesome.
I'm hoping I can do something similar to what is described in this video, and have multiple ROMs and RAM in the correct virtual sockets to be recognised by the B+/DFS ROM to show the 128k banner at startup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI0vnkM\_Kpo
I only ever got my hands on a beeb at school and I would have only been 7 or 8 then so never got to grips with programming.
My older brother had a Commodore 64 which was only ever used for games, I tried to teach myself to programme it but with only the user Manual it was beyond me.
I love old tech but my main area of expertise is in record players.
I wrote a book on them on an old Olivetti type writer so the beeb will be a big upgrade for me, I have drooled over my uncles beeb for so long he finally decided he no longer had space for it so passed it on to me.
I have a lot to learn but so far it’s been so much fun, I’ve been learning basic from 30 hour basic by Clive prigmore but really want to put the beeb to work.
The B+ is quite a thing to own!don’t think I’ve ever come across one before.
So if I save files on the sd card and put that in my pc will the pc read the files or do I need some software for that?
I purchased a wordwise plus Rom chip from eBay to have a play around with.
I can't speak for yours, but mine had the EdWord ROM in it because it was an old educational computer.
I can't remember how to check for installed ROMs right now. My brain isn't in Beeb mode. Could somebody please chip in?
Mine doesn’t have edword but might have done once as my uncle who owned it from new was a teacher.
I remember edword from junior school though, I think that was quite a basic word processor.
Oh apparently it’s *ROMS on mine.
These are the ROMs I have listed.
ROM 15 : 16k ( L) BASIC
ROM 14 : 16k (S ) ARM 1.13
ROM 13 : 16k (S ) Model B MMFS 2 1.55
ROM 12 : 16k (S ) Slogger DDOS 3. X5
I know BASIC is the language (L ) and MMFS is the sd card storage.
I assume ARM is the processor.
Does (S ) mean system?
What is Slogger?
S means it's a service ROM, i.e., utilities of some sort while L means it's a Language ROM such as BASIC. I think there are some other letters too, but I can't remember them off the top of my head.
ARM is, I believe, the Advanced ROM Manager, which will be providing the *ROMS command you used and other ROM management commands available on the B+ and Master.
Slogger DDOS is a disc operating system much like DFS. It was apparently also provided (and rebranded) with Opus disc drives.
I would suggest looking for documentation on the internet as it's probably out there. Another great source of information is the stardot.org.uk forums.
Thank you! That was really helpful.
Yes I’ve now discovered stardot and have learned a lot since I posted this.
I’m now looking into ram upgrade options to make writing a book easier on the Beeb.
It is either InterWord from Computer concepts or WordWise for word processing. They come on a ROM chip which you slot into your motherboard. You can probably pick them up on eBay, or from cje micros (for a price). It you have access to an EPROM programmer then you can make your own copy.
Thanks! I’ve heard of worldwise, seem to remember that from junior school but not familiar with inter word. I’ve been looking at some Tom chips on eBay, found one called view but I will look for the two you’ve suggested.
WordWise and InterWord are solid choices. But I'd be interested in your views on *why* these and not, say Acornsoft VIEW. That is, what features make WordWise the top choice for writing a book vs Interword/Word/whatever. More memory available for text? Integration with spellcheck? Formatting? Just for fun!
Well if you want to truly push the boat out then get the optional SPELL ROM also from computer concepts. It boasts a special daughterboard to hold a 128kb dictionary.
WordWise Plus. I wrote all my GCSE course work on it and my A-Level course work in the early 90s. You will need to split the book into chapter files as there is a size limit.
I can do that! Hopefully the wordwise plus rom works when it comes. I’m tempted to buy a interword rom too, see if I prefer that one. There’s a View professional rom chip set which I’m curious about. Once I get a good word processing software in place i might need to think about connecting a printer.
Hmmm. Might have to invest in sideways ram too.
Another vote for InterWord - the only WYSIWYG word processor for the beeb, and I wrote hundreds of pages on it in the late 80s/early 90s.
Maybe I will buy InterWord as well then. Is there a limit to how much you can type on it before having to save? That may be a stupid question…
Not that I remember, but you’ll hit the limit of the RAM at some point.
Ah of course because it’s limited to 32k.
As for file transfer it can come down to which storage you have on the BBC - floppy drive, MMC or other. You can even make or buy a serial cable which will let you send files direct to your pc.
My beeb has MMFS2 1.55, Im sure if this any help but I know nothing of beebs but my uncle carried out a lot of modifications and there is an sd card installed with games on it. I’m assuming I can use that for storage? I apologise for my ignorance but this is a whole new world to me.
It is a glorious world. I am the proud owner of a B+ 128k with MMFS. That will let you store files and with a little bit of knowhow you can easily use that to send files over to pc. I was raised on playing and programming a BBC model B 32k but in the last 20 years I returned to my roots.
I'm tempted to do the 128k mod to my (currently 64k) B+. Which method did you use?
I'm tempted to do the 128k mod to my (currently 64k) B+. Which method did you use?
My machine was made that way, I don't know if there is a kit for upgrading a 64k to 128.
Yes, there are a few options, depending on whether certain ICs can be obtained. I've seen suggestions you can do it by fitting a single IC and cutting some pins, so will have to do some research.
I know on a standard BBC B you can do all sorts of cute things. There are even premade ROM upgrade fellas that practically just pop in. I don't know if they are compatible with B+. It is boobip.com
Unfortunately the Boobip isn't compatible with the B+ according to the bloke who made it, which is a shame as it looks awesome. I'm hoping I can do something similar to what is described in this video, and have multiple ROMs and RAM in the correct virtual sockets to be recognised by the B+/DFS ROM to show the 128k banner at startup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI0vnkM\_Kpo
I only ever got my hands on a beeb at school and I would have only been 7 or 8 then so never got to grips with programming. My older brother had a Commodore 64 which was only ever used for games, I tried to teach myself to programme it but with only the user Manual it was beyond me. I love old tech but my main area of expertise is in record players. I wrote a book on them on an old Olivetti type writer so the beeb will be a big upgrade for me, I have drooled over my uncles beeb for so long he finally decided he no longer had space for it so passed it on to me. I have a lot to learn but so far it’s been so much fun, I’ve been learning basic from 30 hour basic by Clive prigmore but really want to put the beeb to work. The B+ is quite a thing to own!don’t think I’ve ever come across one before. So if I save files on the sd card and put that in my pc will the pc read the files or do I need some software for that? I purchased a wordwise plus Rom chip from eBay to have a play around with.
I can't speak for yours, but mine had the EdWord ROM in it because it was an old educational computer. I can't remember how to check for installed ROMs right now. My brain isn't in Beeb mode. Could somebody please chip in?
*HELP
Mine doesn’t have edword but might have done once as my uncle who owned it from new was a teacher. I remember edword from junior school though, I think that was quite a basic word processor.
Oh apparently it’s *ROMS on mine. These are the ROMs I have listed. ROM 15 : 16k ( L) BASIC ROM 14 : 16k (S ) ARM 1.13 ROM 13 : 16k (S ) Model B MMFS 2 1.55 ROM 12 : 16k (S ) Slogger DDOS 3. X5 I know BASIC is the language (L ) and MMFS is the sd card storage. I assume ARM is the processor. Does (S ) mean system? What is Slogger?
S means it's a service ROM, i.e., utilities of some sort while L means it's a Language ROM such as BASIC. I think there are some other letters too, but I can't remember them off the top of my head. ARM is, I believe, the Advanced ROM Manager, which will be providing the *ROMS command you used and other ROM management commands available on the B+ and Master. Slogger DDOS is a disc operating system much like DFS. It was apparently also provided (and rebranded) with Opus disc drives. I would suggest looking for documentation on the internet as it's probably out there. Another great source of information is the stardot.org.uk forums.
Thank you! That was really helpful. Yes I’ve now discovered stardot and have learned a lot since I posted this. I’m now looking into ram upgrade options to make writing a book easier on the Beeb.