BBC Micro Documentation Project

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What is it ?
Due to the popularity and advancements in emulators for the BBC micro, more and more people are rekindling their passion and indeed fondness for this much loved computer of the 1980's.

The problem then arises that many users (re-users) cannot remember how they did X - Y years ago. Hence the need for some documentation.

I took the Econet Advanced User Guide to see how difficult it would be using a scanner and OCR software to get it in "electronic" format for the WEB. 2 weeks later I had it finished. This prompted me to start hunting down some more documentation that I was in need of for some of the things I was doing.

Unfortunately I live in Austria, and there is a distinct lack of car boot sales and second hand advertisements for BBC related gear so I have had to rely on other people sending me bits and pieces over, either physically or electronically.

Here I must thank Chris Richardson of 8BS, and Mike Tomlinson who have contributed handsomely over the years. Also thanks to Dave for letting me use many of the cover scans from The Stairway to Hell.

Help
I have done rather a lot of documents so far myself, but I would like contributions from other people. There is still a lot of documentation to be added, and I cannot possibly get through it all myself. So those of you that have still got photocopies of manuals, installation guides for add-on X, even cheat's, adventure solutions.... etc etc... if you could possibly spare a little time, scan them in and get them to me. If you are looking for a good piece of OCR software, try Cuneiform, it is what I have used and I can recommend it. The more people that contribute the more we can put up on the WEB.

Completed and in progress
Documentation can really be divided into two groups: Hardware related and Software.

The hardware documentation is probably some of the hardest to track down.. e.g. fitting instructions for add-on boards, adapters, User Manuals etc.

The software covers both games, applications software, ROM software etc.

Here is what has been accomplished so far. All are in Rich Text Format unless otherwise stated.


Pete Robinson has also converted many of these documents into HTML format so that they can be viewed online or offline in your WEB browser - whichever takes your fancy.

Kade Hannson has converted the BBC User Guide into HTML format and it can be viewed online.

If you are working on anything then please tell me so that I can put your name and current piece of work on this page. Then we are not going to get anyone doing anything twice. Also let me know if you have any comments or even requests for documentation that you are trying to track down. No promises, but I'll try to help if I can.


and remember: Don't just download it, contribute to it !!!