                File Conversion from ASCII to Spreadsheet Format
                ================================================
                                  Arnold Betz
                            Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
 
          There   are  four  BASIC   programs   (DIFMAKER,   DIFMAKE2,
          DIFMAKE3, and VCMAKER)  and one test file  (WORKFILE/TXT) in
          this system. All programs are  original works and are in the
          public domain.
 
          The programs  will make ASCII  files into a  form usable  by
          spreadsheet programs  such as VISICALC, MULTIPLAN, and LOTUS
          1-2-3.
 
          The   programs  have  been  tested   with  TRS80   Model  4,
          TRSDOS6.2.1, VISICALC  and MULTIPLAN. They  should also work
          under  TRSDOS1.3 or LDOS5.1.4 on  the  TRS80 Model III,  but
          they  will  probably  not  be able  to  handle  large  files
          because of the 48K memory limit.
 
          To use the programs or the created files  with an IBM PC  or
          a  PC   compatible,  convert  them  with  SUPERCROSS/XT   or
          HYPERCROSS. The programs  will  need minor  modifications to
          change the default file names to use MS-DOS conventions.
 
          If  you  have any  questions  or  suggestions,  contact  the
          author:
 
                      Arnold Betz
                      84 Bayswater Ave.
                      Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
                      K1Y 2E9
 
                      Tel: (613)729-4598
 
          ===========================================================
 
          DIFMAKER is  a program  for converting  ASCII  files  to DIF
          files  so that data  from  almost any  source  can  be  made
          loadable into  a spreadsheet (assuming, of course, that  the
          data  is reasonably  well organized in columns). The program
          is self documenting as it runs.
 
          DIFMAKER has three phases:
 
               Phase 1  inputs an ASCII  file  and permits some simple
          operations  such      as line delete and line blank,  to get
          rid of  lines that are not  needed      in the  spreadsheet.
          The resulting file is saved on disk for re-use.
 
               Phase 2 lets  you  mark the start of  each data  column
               with  a type code (I,A,Q,N,M) and mark the  end of each
               column.  Data is  displayed to give  a visual reference
               for marking. The display  is scrolled  to  permit lines
               of up to 255 characters to be viewed and marked.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
               Phase 3 converts  data  into standard form and  outputs
               it to  a  DIF file  in the  form  expected by VISICALC,
               based on the  column  type codes. There  are  five type
               codes:
                    I specifies a field to be ignored.
                    A specifies a left-adjusted alphanumeric field.
                    Q specifies a quoted alphanumeric field.
                    N  specifies a numeric field  (or blank if  not  a
                    valid number).
                    M  specifies  a  mixed numeric/alphanumeric  field
                    (anything  that can not  be  converted to a  valid
                    numeric is considered alphanumeric).
                    LM=15
 
                    Valid  numbers  may  include  commas,  spaces,   a
                    decimal  point,  a dollar  sign, the letter E (for
                    scientific  notation), plus signs  on fraction and
                    exponent,  minus  signs on fraction  and exponent.
                    Commas, spaces, dollar sign,  and  plus  signs are
                    removed  to  produce  a  standard   numeric   form
                    understood  by VISICALC.  If the  data can not  be
                    converted  to  a valid  numeric  form, the data is
                    replaced  by  a  blank  (if  type  N)  or  by  the
                    original alphanumeric data (if type M).
 
          ===========================================================
 
          DIFMAKE2  is basically the same program as  DIFMAKER without
          the  documentation.  You  should  only  use  it  if  you are
          familiar  with the program operation,  and  don't  want  the
          documentation. It  runs a bit faster and allows larger input
          files because of the deletion of online documentation.
 
          ===========================================================
 
          DIFMAKE3 is similar to DIFMAKER  and DIFMAKE2  but  it has a
          different method of marking  the columns for conversion. You
          are asked to  provide  a  start position and length for each
          column. When you  have entered  the last column, you hit the
          ENTER  key  on  the  "Column  start" prompt  and  conversion
          proceeds.  NOTE: any  undefined  columns  are  Ignored,  any
          defined columns are Mixed.
 
          ===========================================================
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
          VCMAKER is  used  to  convert DIF files into  VC files which
          can  be input into  VISICALC, MULTIPLAN, or LOTUS 1-2-3 (and
          possibly some other spreadsheets).
 
          VISICALC  and  LOTUS  1-2-3 will  accept  either  DIF or  VC
          format, so  you may not need to use VCMAKER.  MULTIPLAN does
          not accept DIF format, but does accept VC format.
 
          VCMAKER  allows  you  to  relocate the  data  by setting the
          upper  left  corner at any point in the range A1  to Z99. If
          the resulting  lower right  corner is right of  column BK or
          below row 254, the program will abort.
 
          VCMAKER  does not use  default filenames. You  must  specify
          filenames, and you should use  the standard extension VC for
          the output file.
 
          ===========================================================
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
