| Subject: | UniComal V 3.12 Students |
| Expected Functions: | Simple DOS and OS/2 Programming System |
| Platform: | iMac with Virtual PC Emulator |
| Media: | PC format high density Floppy Disk |
Equipment Required: An iMac, Virtual PC (or equivalent emulator), a computer, with its own floppy disk drive, linked to the iMac / an iMac with a floppy disk drive / an external floppy disk drive attached to the iMac, and the Unicomal V3.12 Students' diskette.
[Apparently, a standard iMac doesn't have a floppy drive (!) - Ed.]
Step 1: If working with the iMac joined to another computer, copy all files from UniComal disk onto the hard drive or iMac's "recent server" found in iMac apple menu. Link computers and copy UniComal files from other computer's hard drive onto a folder on the iMac desktop. If working with iMac with attached Floppy Disk Drive simply copy UniComal files into a folder on the desktop.
Step 2: Open Virtual PC or other PC emulator and either drag and drop the folder onto the virtual PC desktop or make folder into a "shared folder" on the Virtual PC/PC emulator.
Step 3: Open up folder on the PC emulator and follow normal installation instructions (i.e., double-click SETUP.EXE).
Step 4: Enjoy Program!
We performed a further test of UniComal's capabilities by running this program:
0010 PAGE 0020 width:=20 0021 bin:=50000 0040 FOR pig:=1 TO bin DO 0050 aa:=INT(RND*width) 0051 bb:=INT(RND*width) 0052 cc:=INT(RND*width) 0053 dd:=INT(RND*width) 0099 PRINT AT cc,dd: " " 0100 PRINT AT aa,bb: "*" 0101 ENDFOR pig 0103 PAGE 0110 END
Expected Result: Fills a patch on the screen 20 spaces by 20 with random asterisks and also rubs them out randomly to create a flickering effect.
Actual Result: Fills a patch on the screen 20 spaces by 20 for a maximum of 50,000 times (flickers of the asterisks) As expected. Perfect result.
Overall Opinion: Fine for basic programming but annoying when it comes to editing out mistakes as you often have to retype an entire line plus error messages aren't always entirely helpful. On the whole, a good programming application but no more. Complicated to use with iMacs, especially ones without floppy disk drives.
Uploaded 25-8-2001