# Basic programs for the PicoCalc

**URL:** <https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822>\
**Category:** PicoCalc\
**Tags:** tinkering, programs\
**Created:** [June 4, 2025, 5:24pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822 "2025-06-04T17:24:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 4

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![M57](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/m57/32/12528_2.png) [@M57](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/M57)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 9:29am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/61 "2025-09-29T09:29:05Z")

</div>

Should be able to convert this to font 7 and add a screenshot function to one of the F keys

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Guidouil](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/guidouil/32/12198_2.png) [@Guidouil](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Guidouil)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2025, 9:32am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/62 "2025-09-29T09:32:17Z")

</div>

You an save a screenshot by pressing s or S

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![thwill](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/thwill/32/9466_2.png) [@thwill](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/thwill)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 9:10pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/63 "2025-09-30T21:10:13Z")

</div>

Hi @M57,

I took a look at your “Elite” and noticed that there are various places where you (or Claude) do something like this:

```auto
FONT #7
TEXT 10, 190, "Docking Alignment: ", "LT", 1

```

Which is a bit idiosyncratic because you are setting the default font to #7 but then explicitly writing in font #1 in the TEXT statement.

Best wishes,

Tom

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![M57](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/m57/32/12528_2.png) [@M57](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/M57)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 10:07pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/64 "2025-09-30T22:07:12Z")

</div>

Howdy Tom, I set that while changing the text size for the screen, theres a few others like this that ive came across so far, most if not all should be fixed on fridays patch. Good catch, thank you 🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ophitoxaemia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/cdc98d/32.png) [@Ophitoxaemia](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Ophitoxaemia)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 9:39pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/65 "2025-10-01T21:39:46Z")

</div>

Thinking of making a Scrabble dictionary on the PicoCalc. Would likely require some interesting optimizations. Just the eight letter word list is 600k+ in the source format of JSON.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![maple](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/maple/32/12677_2.png) [@maple](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/maple)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 10:09pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/66 "2025-10-01T22:09:40Z")

</div>

using inspiration from [Dictionary Compression - Kevin Cox](https://kevincox.ca/2022/03/01/dictionary-compression/) when i went to make my port of wordle for palm OS i used base 26 indexed by the first two letters, maybe that could help: [palmdle/scripts/generate\_wordlist.py at main · Lana-chan/palmdle · GitHub](https://github.com/Lana-chan/palmdle/blob/main/scripts/generate_wordlist.py)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![M57](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/m57/32/12528_2.png) [@M57](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/M57)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 2:51am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/67 "2025-10-02T02:51:39Z")

</div>

File paging works wonders for the pico’s. You can search a text document for any information without the document being loaded into memory. Thats more or less how [PicoPub](https://github.com/INSCCOIN/PicoBasic/tree/main/Applications/PicoPub) works.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ArielPalazzesi](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/arielpalazzesi/32/16836_2.png) [@ArielPalazzesi](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/ArielPalazzesi)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 1:33pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/68 "2025-10-03T13:33:24Z")

</div>

# Spirograph

This project draws **spirograph-style curves** (hypotrochoids and epitrochoids) on **PicoCalc** using MMBasic. You can adjust gear parameters and the pen offset, and render figures with **cyclic color** (HSV toRGB) as they draw.

> Normal workflow: you first see the **UI** to tweak parameters; when you press **SPACE** the UI hides and the curve is drawn; if you press any key while drawing, you return to the UI to keep iterating.

> **[PicoCalc\_Software/Spirograph at main · VintaBytes/PicoCalc\_Software](https://github.com/VintaBytes/PicoCalc_Software/tree/main/Spirograph)**
>
> PicoCalc (ClockWorksPi) Software. Contribute to VintaBytes/PicoCalc\_Software development by creating an account on GitHub.

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/7/7df6de7cd20139b34fa4c7ca9704911c8b9e11c7.png)

## Controls in the UI:

- **H / E** : **H** ypotrochoid / **E** pitrochoid mode.
- **A / Z** : increase / decrease `R1`.
- **S / X** : increase / decrease `R2`.
- **D / C** : increase / decrease `D`.
- **SPACE** : **draw** the curve (UI hides).
- **Any key** while drawing: **interrupt** and return to the UI.
- **B** : clear screen and show help/UI again.
- **ESC** : quit.

> Tip: pick a simple ratio for `R1` and `R2` (e.g., 80/20) to get neat, closed figures.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VecTron5](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/vectron5/32/13534_2.png) [@VecTron5](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/VecTron5)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 11:55pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/69 "2025-10-03T23:55:38Z")

</div>

Elite on Picocalc?

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/2X/e/e737240dc77b182f31afafe868eb8e8bbad220e0.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![M57](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/m57/32/12528_2.png) [@M57](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/M57)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2025, 2:19am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/70 "2025-10-04T02:19:41Z")

</div>

I love this! I had a Spirograph kit I got for my birthday when I was like 6. I haven’t had a chance to use this app, is there a way to screenshot? if there isn’t, you should totally add one.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![M57](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/m57/32/12528_2.png) [@M57](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/M57)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2025, 2:31am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/71 "2025-10-04T02:31:49Z")

</div>

It’s the hardest programming I’ve done in a minute. Graphics are trash due to the frame buffering problem, its laggy and looks bad as of now however, in the near future I hope to have a somewhat working / picocalc friendly version maybe some form of an RTS version of Elite?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gordons\_Treehouse77](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/gordons_treehouse77/32/13482_2.png) [@Gordons\_Treehouse77](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Gordons_Treehouse77)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2025, 6:12am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/73 "2025-10-06T06:12:05Z")

</div>

A wonderfully small program that’s perfect for testing the PicoCalc. My kids love it, and I’ve already spent an hour enjoying it myself. Thanks for your work!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gordons\_Treehouse77](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/gordons_treehouse77/32/13482_2.png) [@Gordons\_Treehouse77](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Gordons_Treehouse77)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2025, 6:15am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/74 "2025-10-06T06:15:38Z")

</div>

For all new PicoCalc users, I’ve created a few small tutorials over the past few months. You can either check them out on [GitHub](https://github.com/flashgordon77/PicoCalc) or click the links to watch a short video about each one and download the code via the comment section or on Github:

MMBasic Tutorials:  
TuT 01: Funny Steps in MMBasic [https://youtube.com/shorts/-sGcW\_dJaNE](https://youtube.com/shorts/-sGcW_dJaNE)  
Tut 02: Animation [https://youtube.com/shorts/tUGIiMFLdl8](https://youtube.com/shorts/tUGIiMFLdl8)  
Tut 03: Circles and Tone [https://youtube.com/shorts/MVs\_x1FJkAY](https://youtube.com/shorts/MVs_x1FJkAY)  
Tut 03.1: Circles [https://youtube.com/shorts/sneTEUPdg04](https://youtube.com/shorts/sneTEUPdg04)  
Tut 04: For…Next loop [https://youtube.com/shorts/i4u\_CZh0syg](https://youtube.com/shorts/i4u_CZh0syg)  
Tut 05: Fonts!!! [https://youtube.com/shorts/SHzSE7JqeGo](https://youtube.com/shorts/SHzSE7JqeGo)  
Tut 06: Collision [https://youtube.com/shorts/\_nq2zqfaXAo](https://youtube.com/shorts/_nq2zqfaXAo)  
Tut 07: Variables - Astro Loop [https://youtube.com/shorts/-leiRnJdaZ8](https://youtube.com/shorts/-leiRnJdaZ8)  
Tut 08: Game Leveldesign\_Picodash [https://youtube.com/shorts/3lu0YVqm2RQ](https://youtube.com/shorts/3lu0YVqm2RQ)  
Tut 09: MMBAsic Editor Copy&Paste [https://youtube.com/shorts/dhU87ebS2Cs](https://youtube.com/shorts/dhU87ebS2Cs)  
Tut 10: Servo Control with Picocalc [https://youtube.com/shorts/lT6V3seDM8Q](https://youtube.com/shorts/lT6V3seDM8Q)  
Tut 11: Flash Micropython to PicoCalc [https://youtube.com/shorts/sFOv4v-ptiE](https://youtube.com/shorts/sFOv4v-ptiE)  
Tut 12: Minecraft Skin Editor [https://youtube.com/shorts/XHZ8bOElKgY](https://youtube.com/shorts/XHZ8bOElKgY)

Micropython Tutorials:  
Tut 1: Drawing Commands in MicroPython [https://youtube.com/shorts/FZlIU81eDWY](https://youtube.com/shorts/FZlIU81eDWY)  
Tut 2: Flower Animation in Mycropython [https://youtube.com/shorts/9l2e5ybXaVk](https://youtube.com/shorts/9l2e5ybXaVk)  
Tut 3: Colors in Micropython [https://youtube.com/shorts/61xNUKeSKC0](https://youtube.com/shorts/61xNUKeSKC0)  
Tut 4: Wireless lan in Micropython [https://youtube.com/shorts/RBKdni3pr88](https://youtube.com/shorts/RBKdni3pr88)  
Tut 5: RSS News Feed & Atomic Clock [https://youtube.com/shorts/\_6\_OgBv2lCM](https://youtube.com/shorts/_6_OgBv2lCM)  
Tut 6: File Access in Mycropython via os module [https://youtube.com/shorts/vfCNapNRqjk](https://youtube.com/shorts/vfCNapNRqjk)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aaron\_Addison](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/aaron_addison/32/13781_2.png) [@Aaron\_Addison](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Aaron_Addison)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 12:47am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/75 "2025-10-07T00:47:48Z")

</div>

In a moment of self hating, and anger at xmodem adding nulls to the ends of things that are transfered.

I wrote tar, in mmbasic. I know I know I shouldnt hate myself this much, and I should just drink more. But whats done is done.

Does anyone have any intrest in it? Otherwise I will keep it to myself.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cjstoddard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@cjstoddard](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/cjstoddard)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 10:09am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/76 "2025-10-07T10:09:18Z")

</div>

> [@Aaron\_Addison](#):
>
> Does anyone have any intrest in it? Otherwise I will keep it to myself.

There is no reason for the self hate, you had a problem and you solved it, that is programing in a nutshell. Post it, someone will find it useful.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tabemann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tabemann](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/tabemann)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 7:23pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/77 "2025-10-07T19:23:39Z")

</div>

Please make this available somewhere under a free software license – someone may find it useful.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Aaron\_Addison](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/aaron_addison/32/13781_2.png) [@Aaron\_Addison](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Aaron_Addison)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 8:47pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/78 "2025-10-10T20:47:02Z")

</div>

So for now, here is tar.

It works good added to the library via library save.

just type tar from the command line for a simple help screen.

to make compatable files in unix  
use  
tar -H ustar

Usage:  
tar “Command”, “Tarname”, “filepattern”

Commands are  
t lisT files in a far  
x eXtract files in a tar  
c Create new tar

When you are extracting files it does not use a wild card match. The filepattern is just a instr function so to extract all bmp’s from thistar.tar would be

tar “x”,”thistar.tar”,”bmp”

Any questions just ask.

’ Copyright (C) 2025 Aaron Addison  
’  
’ This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify  
’ it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by  
’ the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or  
’ (at your option) any later version.  
’  
’ This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,  
’ but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of  
’ MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the  
’ GNU General Public License for more details.  
’  
’ You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License  
’ along with this program. If not, see [https://www.gnu.org/licenses/](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/).  
’

Sub tar c$, f$, o$  
opt$ = o$  
If c$ = “” Then  
Print “TAR in MMbasic by Aaron Addison”  
Print "using file specifications from "  
Print “wikipedia”  
Print “to make compatable files in unix”  
Print “use”  
Print "tar -H ustar "  
Print “”  
Print “Usage:”  
Print "tar "Chr$(34)“Command"Chr$(34)”, ";  
Print Chr$(34)“Tarname"Chr$(34)”, "Chr$(34);  
Print "filepattern"Chr$(34)  
Print  
Print “Commands are”  
Print “t lisT files in a far”  
Print “x eXtract files in a tar”  
Print “c Create new tar”  
Exit Sub  
EndIf

'Open f$ For input As #1

If c$ = “t” Then  
Open f$ For input As #1

Print "Listing of "f$  
For a = 1 To 9000  
readnextheader  
'Print fname$  
If fname$ = “” Then  
Close #1  
Exit Sub  
Exit For  
EndIf  
listcurheader  
advancetonextrecord  
Next

EndIf

If c$ = “x” Then  
Open f$ For input As #1  
Print "Extracting "f$  
For a = 1 To 9000  
readnextheader  
If fname$ = “” Then  
Close #1  
Exit For  
EndIf  
listcurheader  
savenextrecord  
Next  
EndIf

If c$ = “c” Then  
Print “Create archive “f$  
If f$ \<\> “” Then Open f$ For output As #1  
If opt$ = “” Then opt$=”\*”  
x$=Dir$(opt$,file)  
Print x$  
For z=1 To 10000  
If z=1 Then x$=Dir$(opt$,file)  
If z\>1 Then x$=Dir$()  
If x$=“” Then Exit For  
fname$=x$  
Print x$  
buildheader  
Print #1, header1$;  
Print #1, header2$;  
Print #1, header3$;

Open x$ For input As #2  
For filecopy = 1 To fsize  
ccrt$=Input$(1,2)  
Print #1,ccrt$;  
Next  
filesize=fsize  
If fsize \<\> 0 Then fsize=Int(((fsize-1) / 512)+1)\*512  
padding=fsize-filesize  
Do While padding \> 0  
Print #1,Chr$(0);  
padding=padding -1  
Loop  
Close #2

'Print Len(header$)  
Next

EndIf  
padding = 1024  
Do While padding \> 0  
Print #1,Chr$(0);  
padding=padding-1  
Loop

Close #1  
End Sub

Sub buildheader  
Open fname$ For input As #3  
fsize=Lof(#3)  
Close #3  
'Print fname$ “size” size$  
fname$=nullpad$(fname$,100)  
fmode$=mpad$(“600”,8)  
oid$=mpad$(“1750”,8)  
gid$=mpad$(“1750”,8)  
size$=mpad$(Oct$(fsize),12)

header$=fname$+ fmode$+oid$+gid$+size$  
modif$=mpad$(“15063020162”,12)  
checksum$=" "  
header$=fname$+ fmode$+oid$+gid$+size$+modif$+checksum$+“:”  
ftype$=“0”  
lname$=nullpad$(“”,100)  
ustar$=mpad$(“ustar”,6)  
oun$=nullpad$(“basic”,32)  
ogn$=oun$  
dmj$=nullpad$(“”,8)  
dmi$=nullpad$(“”,8)  
fnpre$=nullpad$(“”,155)  
trash$=nullpad$(“”,12)

header1$=fname$+ fmode$+oid$+gid$+size$+modif$+checksum$+ftype$  
header2$=lname$+ustar$+“00”+oun$+ogn$+dmj$+dmi$  
header3$=fnpre$+trash$

check=0  
For ch= 1 To Len(header1$)  
check=check+Asc(Mid$(header1$,ch,1))  
'Print check  
Next ch  
For ch= 1 To Len(header2$)  
check=check+Asc(Mid$(header2$,ch,1))  
'Print check  
Next ch  
For ch= 1 To Len(header3$)  
check=check+Asc(Mid$(header3$,ch,1))  
'Print check  
Next ch

checksum$=mpad$(Oct$(check),7)+" "

'Print checksum$;

header1$=fname$+ fmode$+oid$+gid$+size$+modif$+checksum$  
header2$=ftype$+lname$+ustar$+“00”+oun$+ogn$+dmj$+dmi$  
header3$=fnpre$+trash$

End Sub

Sub readnextheader  
fname$=Input$(100,#1) '0 100 File path and name  
fmode$=Input$(8,#1) '100 8 File mode (octal)  
oid$=Input$(8,#1) '108 8 Owner’s numeric user ID (octal)  
gid$=Input$(8,#1) '116 8 Group’s numeric user ID (octal)  
size$=Input$(12,#1) '124 12 File size in bytes (octal)  
modif$=Input$(12,#1) '136 12 Last modification time in num  
checksum$=Input$(8,#1) '148 8 Checksum for header record  
ftype$=Input$(1,#1) '156 1 Link indicator (file type)  
lname$=Input$(100,#1) '157 100 Name of linked file  
ustar$=Input$(6,#1) '257 6 UStar indicator, “ustar”, then NUL  
usver$=Input$(2,#1) '263 2 UStar version, “00”  
oun$=Input$(32,#1) '265 32 Owner user name  
ogn$=Input$(32,#1) '297 32 Owner group name  
dmj$=Input$(8,#1) '329 8 Device major number  
dmi$=Input$(8,#1) '337 8 Device minor number  
fnpre$=Input$(155,#1) '345 155 Filename prefix  
trash$=Input$(12,#1)

Do While Asc( Mid$(fname$,Len(fname$),1)) = 0  
fname$=Mid$(fname$,1, Len(fname$)-1)  
If Len(fname$) = 0 Then Exit Do  
Loop  
End Sub

Sub listcurheader  
Select Case ftype$  
Case “0”  
Print "File ";  
Case “5”  
Print "Dir ";  
’ Mkdir fname$  
End Select

Print fname$;  
fnamepad=30-Len(fname$)  
If fnamepad \< 0 Then fnamepad = 0  
Print String$(fnamepad,32);

Print " ";  
For tempd = 1 To Len(oun$)  
If Mid$(oun$,tempd,1) \<\> Chr$(0) Then Print Mid$(oun$,tempd,1);  
Next  
Print “/”;  
For tempd = 1 To Len(ogn$)  
If Mid$(ogn$,tempd,1) \<\> Chr$(0) Then Print Mid$(ogn$,tempd,1);  
Next

Print " “;  
'Print " " Len(fname$) " “;  
'Print size$;  
size$=”&O”+sizE$  
'Print size$;  
Print Val(size$)

End Sub

Sub advancetonextrecord  
flen=Val(size$)  
If flen \<\> 0 Then flen=Int(((flen-1) / 512)+1)\*512  
'Print flen

Do While flen \> 0  
fonecont$=Input$(1,#1)  
'Print fonecont$;  
'If fonecont$ = Chr$(10) Then Print

flen=flen-1  
Loop  
If flen \<\> 0 Then fonecont$=Input$(flen,#1)  
'Print fonecont$

End Sub

Sub savenextrecord  
flen=Val(size$)  
If flen \<\> 0 Then flen=Int(((flen-1) / 512)+1)\*512  
padding=flen-Val(size$)  
flen=Val(size$)  
extract=0  
If opt$ = “” Then extract = 1

If opt$ \<\> “” Then  
If Instr(LCase$(fname$),LCase$(opt$)) \> 0 Then  
extract=1  
If MM.Info(exists dir fname$) = 0 Then  
If ftype$ = “5” Then Mkdir fname$  
EndIf  
EndIf  
EndIf  
If extract =1 Then  
If MM.Info(exists dir fname$) = 0 Then  
If ftype$ = “5” Then Mkdir fname$  
EndIf  
EndIf

If extract =1 Then Open fname$ For output As #2  
Do While flen \> 0  
fonecont$=Input$(1,#1)  
If extract =1 Then Print #2 , fonecont$;  
flen=flen-1  
Loop  
If extract =1 Then Close #2  
Do While padding \> 0  
fonecont$=Input$(1,#1)  
padding=padding-1  
Loop

End Sub

Function mpad$(dat$,lent)  
Do While Len(dat$) \< lent-1  
dat$=“0”+dat$  
Loop  
dat$=dat$+Chr$(0)  
mpad$=dat$  
End Function

Function zeropad$(dat$,lent)  
Do While Len(dat$) \< lent  
dat$=“0”+dat$  
Loop  
zeropad$=dat$  
End Function

Function nullpad$(dat$,lent)  
Do While Len(dat$) \< lent  
dat$=dat$+Chr$(0)  
Loop  
nullpad$=dat$

End Function

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sweacco](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/sweacco/32/11840_2.png) [@sweacco](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/sweacco)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 10:16am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/79 "2025-10-15T10:16:49Z")

</div>

For those living within Picocalc mmbasic, I made a clock.  
I set it to launch with a function key, and when I get tired of programming, I just gaze at it.

```auto
'Clock for PicoCalc MMBasic

CLS

'=== present time
Dim hh As integer
Dim mm As integer
Dim ss As integer
'=== past time
Dim hh_ As integer
Dim mm_ As integer
Dim ss_ As integer

'=== parameters of clock hands
Const x0=160
Const y0=160
Const lh=70
Const lm=130
Const ls=130
Const l_=-10
Const th=-8
Const tm=-3
Const ts=-1

'=== draw clock hands
Sub DrawHour hour%,minute%,second%,c%
  hour_=hour%+minute%/60.0+second%/3600.0
  theta=Pi/6.0*hour_
  Line x0+l_*Sin(theta),y0-l_*Cos(theta),x0+lh*Sin(theta),y0-lh*Cos(theta),th,c%
End Sub

Sub DrawMinute hour%,minute%,second%,c%
  minute_=minute%+second%/60.0
  theta=Pi/30.0*minute_
  Line x0+l_*Sin(theta),y0-l_*Cos(theta),x0+lm*Sin(theta),y0-lm*Cos(theta),tm,c%
End Sub

Sub DrawSecond hour%,minute%,second%,c%
  theta=Pi/30.0*second%
  Line x0+l_*Sin(theta),y0-l_*Cos(theta),x0+ls*Sin(theta),y0-ls*Cos(theta),ts,c%
End Sub

'=== parameters of clock face
Const l1=150
Const l2=140
Const t1=-2
Const t2=-4

'=== draw clock face (numbers)
Sub DrawClockFace
  Font 3
  Color RGB(white)
  For i=1 To 12
    Text x0+l2*Sin(Pi/6.0*i),y0-l2*Cos(Pi/6.0*i),Str$(i),cm
  Next i
End Sub

'=== draw clock face (markers)
Sub DrawClockFace2
  '1,2,4,5,7,8,10,11
  For i=1 To 10 Step 3
    x=Sin(Pi/6.0*i)
    y=Cos(Pi/6.0*i)
    Line x0+l1*x,y0-l1*y,x0+l2*x,y0-l2*y,t1,RGB(grey)
    Line x0-l1*x,y0-l1*y,x0-l2*x,y0-l2*y,t1,RGB(grey)
  Next i
  '3,9,6
  Line x0+l1,y0,x0+l2,y0,t2,RGB(grey)
  Line x0-l1,y0,x0-l2,y0,t2,RGB(grey)
  Line x0,y0+l1,x0,y0+l2,t2,RGB(grey)
  '12
  Line x0+t2,y0-l1,x0+t2,y0-l2,t2,RGB(grey)
  Line x0-t2,y0-l1,x0-t2,y0-l2,t2,RGB(grey)
End Sub

'=== erase old clock hands
Sub EraseClockHands
  DrawHour hh_,mm_,ss_,RGB(black)
  DrawMinute hh_,mm_,ss_,RGB(black)
  'DrawSecond hh_,mm_,ss_,RGB(black)
End Sub

'=== draw new clock hands
Sub DrawClockHands
  DrawHour hh,mm,ss,RGB(lightgrey)
  DrawMinute hh,mm,ss,RGB(lightgrey)
  'DrawSecond hh,mm,ss,RGB(lightgrey)
  Pixel x0,y0,RGB(black)
  hh_=hh
  mm_=mm
  ss_=ss
End Sub

'=== read Time$
Sub ReadTime
  hh=Val(Left$(Time$,2))
  mm=Val(Mid$(Time$,4,2))
  ss=Val(Right$(Time$,2))
End Sub

'=== time signal (1 shot)
Sub TimeSignal
  If mm=0 Then
    Play tone 998,1002
    Pause 500
    Play stop
  End If
End Sub

'=== time signal (2 shots)
Sub TimeSignal2
  If mm=0 Then
    Play tone 2000,0
    Pause 70
    Play stop
    Pause 130
    Play tone 2000,0
    Pause 70
    Play stop
  End If
End Sub

'=== clock process
Sub ClockProc
  EraseClockHands
  ReadTime
  DrawClockFace2
  DrawClockHands
  TimeSignal2
End Sub

' ***** MainProgram from here

ReadTime
DrawClockFace2
DrawClockHands

Do
  ReadTime
Loop Until ss=0

SetTick 60000,ClockProc,1

ClockProc

Do
Loop

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![granzeier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cab0a1/32.png) [@granzeier](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/granzeier)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 1:00pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/80 "2025-10-15T13:00:12Z")

</div>

This is one of those programs that should be assigned to an F key.

Why did you rem out the second hands? It looked like you just ignored the seconds, and I could not understand how you could just stare at it. I was surprised to see that you had remarked out the seconds. Also, I did not hear any beeps.

Now, I need to get my PicoCalc to get the current time at each boot.

Thank you for this.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sweacco](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/sweacco/32/11840_2.png) [@sweacco](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/sweacco)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 1:20pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/basic-programs-for-the-picocalc/17822/81 "2025-10-15T13:20:46Z")

</div>

> This is one of those programs that should be assigned to an F key.

Thank you!

> Why did you rem out the second hands?

I started building it to refresh the screen every second, but I couldn’t figure out how to use the framebuffer, so the screen flickered. I’ve commented out the code to display the second hand once I fix it.

> Also, I did not hear any beeps.

The beep sounds at times like 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, etc.

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