     This archive contains 3 sets of QB subroutines:  COMPORT.BAS,
PALREAD.BAS, and READSCRN.BAS.  COMPORT.BAS contains subroutines/functions
for accessing COM ports.  It is fair warning to point out that these COM
port routines are really just for experimentation.  Since they use bios
functions, they are not particular fast and will not likely be useful for
higher than about 1200 baud.  PALREAD.BAS contains a subroutine to return
the RGB palette data for a given attribute and READSCRN.BAS contains a
function to return the line of text on the current line on the screen.
(You can use LOCATE to specify what line you want READSCRN to read from at
any given instant.  If you just want to read lines in succession, without
having to use LOCATE each time, you can do so, but the order of succession
must be UP the screen.  When READSCRN finishes reading a line, it
positions the cursor at the beginning of the next line up.  Hence, you
need only use LOCATE once, say, "LOCATE 25,1", and then you can use
READSCRN to read the screen from the bottom up.  (Generally, when I use
READSCRN, I'm looking for something *last* displayed by some program.))
The files themselves contain specific usage information; just read the
commentary at the top of each routine.  (For COMPORT.BAS, make sure you
look at each subroutine/function in the file.)

     Additionally, there is a file QBUTIL.INC.  You need to put the
contents of this file at the top of your program (or else use the $INCLUDE
metacommand).  It contains the necessary DECLARE statements and machine
code routines.

-Glenn Stumpff
gstumpff@ball.com
