TI-99/4A 8x8 Character Grid Hex Converter
Freeware

Copyright 1998
Chris Scoggins
chriss@fparker.com

(Installation)

This software is in a Winzip self-extracting zip file
and will automatically place the files in their proper
directory of c:\tihex.  All the files in this zip file
are the only ones you will need ie: no runtime modules
are required.  If you place this program in a directory
other than the default the program will not find the
help file because it looks in c:\tihex for it.  This
program does not automatically create a shortcut or
Start menu entry for itself, so that will have to be
done manually.  This program works in Windows 3.1 or 
Windows 95.


(Introduction)

This software is a small utility for those of us
that still have and love our TI-99/4A computers
and periodically still program them. I remember
learning how to program in TI-basic many years
ago when I would come home from school and after
watching Star Blazers. I will never forget how
excited I was when I first keyed in the program
Mr. Bojangles from the TI Beginner's Basic book
on page 118 and could see graphics come alive on
the screen that I had programmed. Immediately
afterwards I went to a program I had read about
in the User's Reference Guide that allowed a visual
way to define the graphic characters and it would
give you the Hexadecimal Code to enter into your
program.  That program was found on page III-26 of
the User's Reference Guide and called Character
Definition.  That program became a staple in my
software collection and was used to create several
character definitions for many programs.  This is
a modern recreation of that program for those that
want a drive down TI memory lane and want to fire-up
the old TI for some programming.

(Usage)

The software is composed primarily of an 8x8 grid
that is composed of a total of 64 dots or pixels
that represent the 8x8 character grid on the TI.
Each pixel can be toggled  on or off by clicking
on it with the mouse.  White is off and Black is
on.  Once the user has turned on the desired pixels
he may click on the button titled "Grid to Hexadecimal"
this will convert the 8x8 Grid pixel pattern into
a hexadecimal representation in the box labeled
"Character Hexadecimal Conversion".  This Hex code
can then be manually placed in your TI program to
represent the character you graphically defined.

If you need to clear out the grid and start over 
then click on the button labeled "Clear Character Grid"
under the 8x8 grid.

If you already know a 16 character Hex Code for a
character then you can enter it into the box labeled
"Character Hexadecimal Conversion" and then click on
the button labeled "Hexadecimal to Grid" and the program
will convert your hex code into a graphical representation
in the grid.

The program allows you to save your hex code into a
file for later use.  Once the user has turned on the
desired pixels he will then click on the button titled
"Grid to Hexadecimal" to create the 16 charcter hex code.
Then the user should click on the button labeled "Save
Character Hex File".  This will bring up a traditional
Save dialog box for the user to type in a filename
and the program will store the hex code in the chosen
filename.

The programm allows you to open saved hex code files
for editing. The user should click on the button labeled
"Open Character Hex File" this will bring up a traditional
Open dialog box for the user to select the filename to
open.  Once the filename has been chosen and the users
exits the Open dialog box, the Character Hex Code will
be displayed in the "Character Hexadecimal Conversion"
box and the character will be graphically displayed
in the 8x8 Character Grid.

I have included some sample Hex Code files:

Ball.chx - ball
Face.chx - happy face
Hour.chx - hourglass
Man.chx  - Mr. Bojangles himself

(Legal)

TI and TI-99/4A are trademarks of
Texas Instruments Incorporated.

Program based on the
Character Definition Sample Program
found in the TI-99/4A User's Reference Guide
in Chapter 3 Appendix to BASIC Ref. Section
pages III-26-27
Copyright Texas Instruments Incorporated.

Photo of TI-99/4A Home Computer
by Jim Childress of Lubbock, Texas

This Software is Freeware
and freely distributable by anyone

The author makes no implied warranties as to 
the usefulness or suitability to any purpose of
this software, and takes no responsibility for
any adverse effects the software may have
on your computer.

The author takes no responsibility for
alterations to this software made without
permission.

Developed, written and programmed
by
Chris Scoggins
chriss@fparker.com