[z-machine] output stream 2, input stream 1

[Kevin Bracey]

In message <20031119174137.92637.qmail@web40710.mail.yahoo.com>
          Amir Karger <amirkargerweb@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Two questions about streams.
> 
> First, the spec says output stream 2 is buffered. Frotz seems to
> word-wrap it to 80 characters, but the spec doesn't say how many
> columns to use. Is 80 the standard, or do we get to pick how many
> characters to use (in which case, what's really the point of
> buffering?)

You can do whatever you want on the output. It's for human consumption.
Hey, you could output a PDF file or an MS-Word document instead, if you
like.

> Second, what's the story with input stream and read_char? The spec says
> read_char only reads from the keyboard, which Frotz does also. In that
> case, what's the point of storing read_char keypresses in output stream
> 4, if you can't read them back in in stream one?

Who says you can't? Zip 2000 will certainly read keypresses and mouse clicks,
including timing information, from input_stream 1. The only thing it won't
do is the real-time @read_mouse information.

This just sounds like a Frotz limitation.

-- 
Kevin Bracey
http://www.bracey-griffith.freeserve.co.uk/