Elmer the Turtle

Elmer the Turtle
Developer	Peter Crosby
Publisher	RUN magazine
Release	1986
Platform	C64
Genre	Programming Language Logo
Operation
Media	, Listing
Language
Information

Elmer the Turtle is a very easy programming tool for LOGO or learning and understanding programming on a computer, that was first published in RUN magazine issue September 1986. The program was developed by Peter Crosby in BASIC for the C64. The output of the turtle are only BASIC chars!

Description

"Elmer the Turtle" has a small input mask, which is limited to 36 lines.

You have the following options:

• Input a line number from 1 until 36 for editing a line.
• Input E for starting Elmer, who is executing the input commands on the second screen (this is equal with a program start).
• Input the command NEW for deleting the whole input mask.

After that, don't forget to press RETURN !

Editing a line

If you have input a line number from 1 until 36, you see all the 10 commands of Elmer the turtle. You can also input a command, which contains the command word and a parameter like number, char or text. The command input is closing by pressing RETURN . If you have successful input a command, you go back to the input mask.

Also you have 3 special commands:

• I : Insert a line at this line position.
• D : Delete this line.
• B : Back to line #. This leave the editing line mode and you are go back to the input mask.

Start & Instructions

The starting screen of "Elmer the Turtle".

The short instructions for "Elmer the Turtle".

Commands

Editing the first line.

A small demo program.

The excuted program.

The program "Elmer the Turtle" knows 13 commands.

Turtle (Elmer) commands

RIGHT X : Move Elmer X chars right. X = 0-99

LEFT X : Move Elmer X chars leftt.

UP X : Move Elmer X chars up. 

DOWN X : Move Elmer X chars down.
               - Note: If Elmer leave the screen, he comes back from the other side!

PEN UP : Deactivate the pen (no painting!). No chars will be permanent shown on screen.

PEN DOWN : Activate the pen for painting. All chars will be permanent shown on screen.

CHAR Z: Change the drawing char Z (no graphic symbols allowed!).

TEXT ABC: Write the text ABC (min. 1, max. 10 chars long). It could be also used graphic symbols!

COLOR C : Change the painting color C = 0-15.

STOP : Stop Elmers moving and painting. The program holds on and you see the drawing screen. 
       You go back to the input mask after pushing a key.

Editing / special line commands

INSERT : empty line by input: I  
         - Note: If you have a command in the last line 36, 
                 you loose this line by inserting a new line!

DELETE : this line by input: D

BACK TO LINE#: You go back to the input mask by input: B

Basics commands in the input mask

LINE#: Input a number from 1 to 36 for the editing line.

E : Start Elmer, who is following your input commands.

NEW - Delete all lines / commands / the program.

Special Key

• RUN/STOP : If pushing in the drawing mode, the BASIC program "Elmer the turtle" is breaked.

Links

• C64Games.de - Game No. 6056 "Elmer the turtle" with manual (RUN, September 1986)