ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN LIMA NEWSLETTER JANUARY 1987
 
 
 
                   REVIEW OF "SCREEN DUMP II" 
 
    There are a number of screen dump programs
available written in extended basic or in assembly.
The extended basic dump programs are usually quite slow
and only work with extended basic programs.  Most
assembly language programs are quite fast, but most
will still only work from within an extended basic
program.         
 
    SCREEN DUMP II from Quality 99 software, is one of
the most versatile screen dump programs I know of.  It
can be loaded into memory expansion with Mini Memory,
E/A, or Extended Basic modules and then can be executed
any time from within a program, from command mode, or
from the keyboard.  Keyboard activation (you see a
screen you want to dump and press the right keys to
dump it) is one of SCREEN DUMP II's most useful
features.  The program will dump screens from TI BASIC
programs (if Mini Memory or E/A modules are in use),
Extended Basic programs, or (if a load interrupt switch
is installed) from many modules.  The documentation
provides a partial list of modules for which SDUMP II
will and will not work. 
 
    Once SDUMP II is loaded it is invisible to any TI
BASIC or EXTENDED BASIC program that is subsequently
loaded.  Small or large size dumps are possible.  Small
dumps are about 1/2 the width of an 8.5 inch page.
Normally small dumps are centered on the page.
However, the left margin of the picture can be set
otherwise with CALL LINK("TAB",column).  Large dumps
take up a whole page and are printed sideways.
 
    What I like most about SDUMP II is the ability to
select a screen dump with the press of a button.  The
other screen dump programs in our user group library
require entering code into a program in order to
initiate a dump.   
 
    What I like the least about SDUMP II is the
unnecessarily long time it takes to load SDUMP itself.
It loads from a BASIC loader program.  First you see
the title screen slowly scroll onto the screen.  Then
you are asked what kind of printer you have (EPSON
compatable or PROWRITER), and then you are asked the
output name of your printer (PIO, RS232, etc).  Having
to wait for the title screen and then input the name of
my printer name each and every time is a big pain.  It
should be easy to rewrite the BASIC loader program to
automatically include your printer name.  Unfrtunately,
the loader program is heavily protected.  The usual
CALL LOAD's for unprotecting protected extended basic
programs don't work.  I was finally able to break the
protection and rewrite the BASIC loader so that SDUMP
II loads for my PIO printer in about half the previous
time.  This is just one more example of why protected
programs are often not liked by those who purchse them. 
 
    SDUMP II is available for $29.95 from TRITON
(800-227-6900) in a combination package that includes
the CorComp load interrupt switch.  Other TI cataloges
also probably list SDUMP II.  The program can also be
puchased directly from the distributer Quality 99
Software, 1884 Columbia Rd. #1021, Washington DC 20009
(202-667-3574)