Guidelines for Telesoftware authors:


We are always happy to consider your software for transmission on
Telesoftware. If you have written software, utilities or procedures you
think would be of value to other BBC micro or IBM pc owners, and would
like to send your programs to us, please address them to:

       BBC Telesoftware,
       CEEFAX,
       BBC Television Centre,
       Wood Lane,
       London W12 7RJ

Because our audience uses a wide range of hardware, we request that all
programs follow a few basic rules. These notes should help you.

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Software for the BBC micro:

1. Wherever possible, the software should be compatible with BASIC 1. This
involves replacing the keyword OSCLI by the procedure as given in the User
Guide, page 455; ensuring INPUT commands do not include a semi-colon; and
avoiding the use of EQU instructions in Assembly Language.

2. Do not assume the computer will be in Mode 7. Your program should
select the required mode.

3. The program must run correctly with any 'legally' written filing
system. Do not include coding that directly accesses the filing system or
by-passes the correct O.S. calls unless you make it clear that the program
is for a particular hardware configuration.

4. For Teletext-Interactive software, the program must work correctly with
the BBC Advanced Teletext System.

5. Programs should be compatible, as far as possible, with:
       BBC Model B
       BBC B+
       BBC Master 128
       Acorn DFS
       Acorn ADFS

6. For compatibility between ADFS and DFS, any filenames referred to in
the program should not include the following:
       Directory specification
       Characters & (ampersand) - (minus)
       More than seven characters

7. Any workspace claimed by the program (e.g. machine-code assembly)
should not be in reserved areas.

8. Tape-based programs should be written for use by disc systems. Either:

       (a) ensure the program loads and runs when PAGE is set to &1900
  or   (b) use a 'relocator' to move the program in memory when loaded
           from disc if PAGE is set higher than required by the program.

9. Please try and avoid making the program unnecessarily complicated. It
is very tempting to include routines that are very cleverly designed,
having taken a long time to write and look particularly impressive, but
are not particularly advantageous to the program as a whole.

10. The program should be self-documenting, or have a separate text file or
BASIC program describing how to use it.

11. Please check your programs carefully, and in particular that any
newcomer to the program can operate it without difficulty.

12. Please send your programs, preferably on 80 track 5.25 inch discs,
formatted for ADFS, to the address above. Listings are not needed. Please
state the make and model of any equipment that the program uses, including
details of your micro.

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IBM PC:

1. Although IBM software will run on a very wide range of machines, we can
only test routines using one specific make - the IBM PS2 Model 30 with VGA
graphics. If you suspect your programs may not operate on this machine,
please give full details of the system you have used for its development.

2. Shareware type software from the original authors can be accepted, but
advertising of other products cannot. Please ensure your program does not
require the recipient to make further purchases in order to use the
program, unless it is a routine specifically for use with a particular
software package they already own.

3. Programs should be self-documenting, or accompanied by a text file
describing its use and operation.

4. Please send your programs on PCDOS (or MSDOS) format 360k 5.25 inch or
720k 3.5 inch discs.