It would help greatly with testing programs if the same format could be used when generating data files on the DMAC and elsewhere. This would allow a large number of pictures to be made generally available.
The standard output from the DMAC, assuming the thumb wheel is set to zero, is a co-ordinate pair in format 2I5 followed by a new record character. As both of these only use the least significant 4 digits it is possible to use column 1 as a control digit. This paper describes the proposed use of this variable.
The data file is read in the format I1,I4, where the three variables are, say, C, X and Y respectively. The file is generated in either the same format or format 2I5 where columns 1 and 6 are blank (zero).
The control variable C is in column 1 and is usually typed on the keyboard, followed immediately by a new record character. The two exceptions are when C = O or 4 but these are explained later. The control variable has the following meanings:
(1) C=0, X and Y are a co-ordinate pair. Note, the 0 is automatically produced by the DMAC when a co-ordinate pair is output.
(2) C=1, the following co-ordinate pairs are in curve format. If SPROGS is used then a VEC could be done on the first two followed by TOXY on all subsequent co-ordinate pairs.
(3) C=2, a line break for curve format. This is the same as 'start another curve'.
(4) C=3, co-ordinates are in line format. They should be in sets of two and SPROGS could use VEC's on each set.
(5) C=4, characters follow, for example, titles. X is used to define the number of lines and can be used to skip the required number of records if the characters are not needed. Y is used to give the maximum number of characters per line, if Y is zero then 80 should be assumed.
(6) C=5, the following co-ordinate pairs define a box in which the picture was drawn. The first is the bottom left hand corner and the second is the top right.
(7) C=6, undefined. The system may be extended to use column 6 if any more controls are required.
(8) C=7, another picture is to follow.
(9) C=8, advance film, allowing films to be produced the hard way.
(10) C=9, end of data file.
4000100005 CROSS 5 1000 1000 2000 2000 3 1000 1000 2000 2000 1000 2000 2000 1000 9
