------------------------------------------------------- version 2.4 --
 ##
              //\
             / / /
     ||\   / / /    a program by Tijl Coosemans (tijl@ulyssis.org)
     | | | / /s/
     | | |/ /u/      website:  http://www.kalimero.be/
     | | / /n/
     | |/ /e/     !! with special thanks to Jean Carot, Henk Poley,
     |   /V/      !! Dan Weiss, Guillaume Hoffmann, Patai Gergely
     |__/ /       !! and Pieter Van Nuffel for the impressive tips
     \__\/        !! and beta testing


   $LastChangedDate: 2005-02-04 19:52:23 +0100 (Fri, 04 Feb 2005) $

----------------------------------------------------------------------


----------------------------------------------------------------------
 ## description
----------------------------------------------------------------------

  Venus acts as a small plug-in for your TI-83 that allows you to run
  compatible assembly programs as normal TI-Basic programs, directly
  from the PRGM-menu.

  Additionally this package contains several graphical shells from
  which you can run Venus, Ion, SOS, AShell and/or TI-Basic programs.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
 ## installation
----------------------------------------------------------------------

  Just send the group file "venus.83g" to your calculator. This will
  copy the following files:

  A  : a shell from which you can run Venus and Ion programs
       (optional)
  0V : the Venus core, this allows you to run asm programs
       (required)

  You can optionally send one of the other graphical shells to your
  calculator. They will replace prgmA. More details about each shell
  can be found below.

  If you want to copy Venus from your calculator to another one,
  then copy at least prgm0V, which is a required file. prgmA is
  optional, but comes in handy if you use other shell programs.

  If you ever want to uninstall Venus, then just delete prgm0V and
  most likely all Venus programs too.

  IMPORTANT: Don't install any other assembly shells on your calc
  (unless of course they specifically state to be compatible).
  They may crash your calculator when you use them in combination
  with Venus.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
 ## running a program
----------------------------------------------------------------------

  Exactly the same as with TI-Basic programs. Pick them from the
  PRGM-menu, hit the enter key and enjoy!


----------------------------------------------------------------------
 ## overview of included graphical shells
----------------------------------------------------------------------

<-> expl/pv/a.83p -- size: 567
	* Pretty Venus only shell.
	* Displays icons.

<-> expl/sv/a.83p -- size: 463
	* Simple Venus only shell.

<-> expl/svi/a.83p -- size: 905
	* Simple Venus/Ion shell.
	* Default shell.
	* Loads and unloads Ion programs very fast.

<-> expl/svisab/a.83p -- size: 1056
	* Simple Venus/Ion/SOS/AShell/Basic shell.
	* Detects and runs TI-Basic programs that start with a colon.
	* For SOS programs you should make sure you have all the
	  necessary libs if they need any. If you miss one nothing
	  will happen when you try to run them. Check their readme.
	* IMPORTANT: Some SOS programs ship with an INSTALL program.
	  Do NOT run it. It will crash your calculator. This shell
	  doesn't require you to "install" SOS programs, so it is
	  best that you immediately delete prgmINSTALL.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
 ## using a shell
----------------------------------------------------------------------

  Startup the shell by running prgmA. If it seemingly refuses, then
  that means you currently don't have any compatible programs on your
  calculator.
  Navigating through the menu is done by using the arrow keys.
  [Up] and [Down] move the selection one item at a time.
  [Left] and [Right] move it an entire page at once if there are more
  programs.
  [2nd] or [Enter] runs a program.
  [On] will turn off your calculator.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
 ## history
----------------------------------------------------------------------

<-> version 2.4.2005.02.04 -- size: 206
	* moved vRandom's seed to inside the routine
	* vRandom's seed is now initialized at startup so programs no
	  longer have to do this.
	* new loading routine, much smaller and extremely fast
	* replaced a couple things by rom calls
	* added several new graphical shells to the archive

<-> version 2.3.2003.05.24 -- size: 222
	* removed two routines, leaving vFastCopy and vRandom
	* major change in routine loading
	* fixed a bug where the graph screen was sometimes dirty
	  after running a Venus program
	* fixed the check to prevent running send(9prgm0V

<-> version 2.2.2002.11.17 -- size: 355
	* updated the random number generator
	* small change in the fastcopy routine
	* added a check to prevent executing send(9prgm0V

<-> version 2.1.2002.02.18 -- size: 346
	* fixed a bug in the explorer

<-> version 2.1.2002.02.03 -- size: 346
	* fixed and improved some things in the explorer

<-> version 2.1.2002.01.01 -- size: 346
	* fixed a bug that caused a program to quit with a
	  Syntax Error sometimes
	* due to a bug in the TI-Graph Link Software, the venus.83g
	  file had a wrong format

<-> version 2.0.2001.12.26 -- size: 346
	* Venus underwent a whole metamorphosis
	* no more installation required
	* no more external routines
	* generally more userfriendly

<-> version 1.5.2001.08.19 -- size: 348
	* improved installation
    routines (9):
	zfcpy.83p - zgetk.83p(1.1) - zgetx.83p - zgrey.83p(1.1)
	zpic.83p - zrand.83p(1.1) - zrec.83p(1.2) - zsend.83p(1.2)
	zspr.83p(1.1)

<-> version 1.4.2001.06.29 -- size: 355
	* highly optimized installation procedure
	* improvements to some routines
    routines (9):
	zfcpy.83p - zgetk.83p(1.1) - zgetx.83p - zgrey.83p(1.1)
	zpic.83p - zrand.83p(1.1) - zrec.83p(1.2) - zsend.83p(1.1)
	zspr.83p(1.1)

<-> version 1.3.2001.05.04 -- size: 377
	* more compatible with Venus Explorer
	* some minor optimizations
	* removed the 'jp' to the load routine again
	  after long consideration it didn't seem to be much useful
	* improvements to some routines
    routines (9):
	zfcpy.83p - zgetk.83p - zgetx.83p - zgrey.83p(1.1) - zpic.83p
	zrand.83p - zrec.83p(1.2) - zsend.83p(1.1) - zspr.83p
    explorer:
	* the explorer is no longer included within this zip file

<-> version 1.2.2001.04.09 -- size: 375
	* added a 'jp' (pointer) so programs can easily load external
	  data by using Venus's built-in routine
	* changed external object pointer table; entries now point to
	  size bytes instead of data
	  (except for programs which have a 'jp')
	* optimized a few things
    routines (7):
	zfcpy.83p - zgetk.83p - zgetx.83p - zgrey.83p - zpic.83p
	zrec.83p(1.1) - zsend.83p
    explorer: version 0.1

<-> version 1.1.2001.03.10 -- size: 379
	* optimized installation procedure
	* displays version number on installation
	* optimized program loading code
	* prepared for explorer
	* changed header of programs (in function of explorer)
    routines (5):
	zgetk.83p - zgetx.83p - zpic.83p - zrec.83p - zsend.83p

<-> version 1.0 - 20010207 -- size: 399
	* first release


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