This episode features SynCalc, originally released in 1983 by Synapse Software.  It was also released in 1985 by Br0derbund under the Synapse branding.  It was programmed by Mike Silva.

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Box and Supplement Scans

Scan of the front of the box (1983):

 

Scan of the back of the box (1983):

 

Synapse Catalog page featuring SynCalc:

 

Synapse Logo:

 

Br0derbund Logo:

 

SynCalc in Action

Booting

1983 Boot splash:

 

1985 Boot splash:

 

Booting with insufficient memory:

 

Interface (1983) on an XE with 192K:

 

Interface (1985) on an XE with 192K (note the available memory is 84K):

 

Main Menu

Press OPTION to bring up the menu. Navigate with the cursor keys and use RETURN to select:

 

Expert mode uses keystrokes instead of the OPTION menu.  Not the shortcut keystroke command in the status bar at the top (/LSWD2L BUDGET):

 

Load / Save Menu

Six command functions on the menu:

 

Load

First choose Worksheet or Data (DIF):

 

Load Worksheet:

 

Load Data:

 

Save

Save sub menu.  First choose Worksheet, Data (DIF), or Text:

 

Save Worksheet:

 

Save Data (DIF):

 

Save Text:

 

Format

 

Delete

Delete sub menu.  First choose what to delete – Worksheet, Data (DIF) or Text:

 

Delete Worksheet:

 

Delete Data (DIF):

 

Delete Text:

 

Rename

 

VC -> SC

Converts VisiCalc files to SynCalc files:

 

End result:

 

Text Menu

Use this to force input to be text:

 

Numeric Menu

Use this to force input to be of numeric type:

 

Command Menu

The command menu has a lot of functions.  Manu commands open sub menus as well:

 

Format

Format menu:

 

Format Justify:

 

Format Margin:

 

Format Protect:

 

Format Dollars:

 

Format Commas:

 

Format Percent:

 

Format Precision:

 

Format Number:

 

Format Sign:

 

Global

 

Global Format:

These are the same as the normal Format commands, but apply globally.

 

Global Unformat:

These are the same as the normal Unformat commands, but apply globally.

 

Global Width:

Global Erase:

 

Global Recalc:

 

Global Txt Mode:

 

Width

 

Unformat

 

Copy

 

Move

 

Insert

 

Delete

 

Erase

 

Goto

 

Print

 

Sort

 

Window

 

Window set horizontally:

 

Window set vertically:

 

Titles

 

With titles locked, you can scroll back past the lock to edit the locked row or column:

 

Headings

Headings Off:

 

Headings On:

 

UseLBLS (Labels)

Specify the column and row, then you can reference cells in formulas using the text in the columns and rows specified – like JAN_SALES:

 

Errors

Errant forward reference not caught:

 

Forward reference resolved after recalculation:

 

Out of Range error (top line):

 

Illegal filename:

 

Device error:

 

File not found error:

 

Cell protection error:

 

Files

The program disk itself has a hidden VTOC and is copy protected.

SynCalc saves produced three types of files.  SC for worksheets, DIF for data interchange files (or values), TXT for reporting:

Note the similarly named VC files (from VisiCalc).  When converted they are sometimes larger, likely due to failed aspects of conversion where items get converted to plain text.

Instructions

You can find the manual in a number of places online.  Check the links section below.

 

Show Links:

• Inverse ATASCII S1 E6 (Synapse SynFile+):  https://inverseatascii.info/2014/12/16/s1e6-synapse-synfile/
• Inverse ATASCII S1 E8 (VisiCorp VisiCalc): https://inverseatascii.info/2015/01/13/s1e8-visicalc/
• AtariMania (SynCalc 1983) (includes commercial at the bottom): http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-400-800-xl-xe-syncalc_15763.html
• AtariMania (SynCalc 1985): http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-400-800-xl-xe-syncalc_20705.html
• AtariMania (SynCalc Template Disk): http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-400-800-xl-xe-syncalc-templates-disk_15774.html
• AtariAge (Template Disk Thread): http://atariage.com/forums/topic/217076-synapse-syncalc-templates-disk/
• AtariWiki (SynCalc): https://atariwiki.org/wiki/Wiki.jsp?page=Synapse%20SynCalc
• Synapse Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synapse_Software
• Br0derbund Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brøderbund

 

 

Intro music is an excerpt from a chip tune by Wizwars named 8 Bit Raceway.  It is used under Creative Common license Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.