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One of the most successful British word processor programs, developed by Peterborough-based [[Arnor]] Ltd between 1985 and 1995. Protext has sold over 30,000 copies. Original written for the Amstrad [[CPC]]464, Protext was subsequently released for the Amstrad PCW8256, the PC, the Atari ST, Commodore Amiga and the Acorn Archimedes.
'''Protext''' is one of the most successful British word processor programs, developed by Peterborough-based [[Arnor|Arnor Ltd.]] between 1985 and 1995. It was sold on tape, disc or as ROM.


When [[Arnor]] closed in 1995 it seemed that Protext had become another British casualty of the fast-evolving world of computers. But a group of Protext users with professional experience from other areas of business, were not prepared to let it go. They formed a partnership called Protext Software with the copyright owners and original programmers and have relaunched the program in an new version (v6.7) for the PC.
Protext has sold over 30,000 copies.
 
Original written for the Amstrad [[CPC 464]], Protext was subsequently released for the Amstrad [[PCW|PCW8256]], the IBM-PC, the [[Atari ST]], [[Amiga|Commodore Amiga]] and the [[Acorn Archimedes]].
 
When [[Arnor]] closed in 1995 it seemed that Protext had become another British casualty of the fast-evolving world of computers.
 
[[WACCO]] continued with the sales.
 
But a group of Protext users with professional experience from other areas of business, were not prepared to let it go.
 
They formed a partnership called Protext Software with the copyright owners and original programmers and have relaunched the program in an new version (v6.7) for the PC.
 
== Covers ==
 
<gallery caption="Protext (tape)">
 
Image:Protext (tape) Back Cover.jpg|Back Cover
Image:Protext (tape) Front Cover.jpg|Front Cover
 
</gallery>
 
<gallery caption="Protext (ROM)">
 
Image:Protext (disc) (old version) Back Cover.jpg|Back Cover
Image:Protext (ROM) Front Cover.jpg|Front Cover
 
</gallery>
 
<gallery caption="Protext (disc)">
 
Image:Protext (disc) (old version) Back Cover.jpg|(old version) Back Cover
Image:Protext (disc) (old version) Front Cover.jpg|(old version) Front Cover
Image:Protext (disc) (new version) Back Cover.jpg|(new version) Back Cover
Image:Protext (disc) (new version) Front Cover.jpg|(new version) Front Cover
 
</gallery>
 
<gallery caption="Protext (disc-CPM)">
 
Image:Protext (disc-CPM) (old version) Back Cover.jpg|(old version) Back Cover
Image:Protext (disc-CPM) (old version) Front Cover.jpg|(old version) Front Cover
Image:Protext (disc-CPM) (new version) Back Cover.jpg|(new version) Back Cover
Image:Protext (disc-CPM) (new version) Front Cover.jpg|(new version) Front Cover
 
</gallery>
 
== Tape ==
 
<gallery caption="Protext">
 
Image:Protext Tape.jpg|Tape
 
</gallery>
 
== Disc ==
 
<gallery caption="Protext">
 
Image:Protext Disc - side B.jpg|Side B
Image:Protext Disc - side A.jpg|Side A
 
</gallery>
 
<gallery caption="Protext CPM">
 
Image:Protext CPM Disc (Old version) - side B.jpg|Side B (Old version)
Image:Protext CPM Disc (Old version) - side A.jpg|Side A (Old version)
Image:Protext CPM Disc (New version) - side B.jpg|Side B (New version)
Image:Protext CPM Disc (New version) - side A.jpg|Side A (New version)
 
</gallery>
 
<gallery caption="Protext CPM (Wacco)">
 
Image:Protext CPM Disc (Wacco version).jpg
Image:Protext CPM Disc (Wacco 3' version).jpg
 
</gallery>
 
== ROM ==
 
<gallery caption="Protext">
 
Image:Protext ROM.jpg|ROM
 
</gallery>
== ROM Commands ==
Rom Details:
Rom type: Background
Version: 1.22
Rom Name: PROTEXT 
 
Commands:
{|
|-
! Command !! Description
|-
|PROTEXT||Start Protext, in 80 column mode. If you want to start in 40 column mode use <nowiki>|PROTEXT,1</nowiki>
|-
|P||Start Protext
|-
|PRINTER||Select a printer driver
|-
|ROMON7||Disable all roms, except ROM 7 (the AMSDOS rom)
|-
|CP||Start Protext with a colour screen
|-
| Hidden Command:0x10,0x0||See [[Media:Proprog.txt|Protext ROM Technical Information]]
|-
| Hidden Command:0x10,0x1||See [[Media:Proprog.txt|Protext ROM Technical Information]]
|-
| Hidden Command:0x10,0x2||See [[Media:Proprog.txt|Protext ROM Technical Information]]
|-
| Hidden Command:0x10,0x3||See [[Media:Proprog.txt|Protext ROM Technical Information]]
|-
| Hidden Command:0x10,0x4||See [[Media:Proprog.txt|Protext ROM Technical Information]]
|-
| Hidden Command:0x10,0x5||See [[Media:Proprog.txt|Protext ROM Technical Information]]
|-
| Hidden Command:0x10,0x6||See [[Media:Proprog.txt|Protext ROM Technical Information]]
|-
| Hidden Command:0x10,0x7||See [[Media:Proprog.txt|Protext ROM Technical Information]]
|-
| Hidden Command:0x10,0x8||See [[Media:Proprog.txt|Protext ROM Technical Information]]
|-
| Hidden Command:0x10,0x9||See [[Media:Proprog.txt|Protext ROM Technical Information]]
|-
| Hidden Command:0x10,0xa||See [[Media:Proprog.txt|Protext ROM Technical Information]]
|-
| Hidden Command:0x10,0xb||See [[Media:Proprog.txt|Protext ROM Technical Information]]
|-
| Hidden Command:0x10,0xc||See [[Media:Proprog.txt|Protext ROM Technical Information]]
|-
| Hidden Command:0x10,0xd||See [[Media:Proprog.txt|Protext ROM Technical Information]]
|}
 
== ROM Technical Details ==
 
A separate technical manual was produced that could be obtained from Arnor. This was later recreated and uploaded to the [https://cpctech.cpcwiki.de/docs/proprog.html  "Unofficial Amstrad WWW Resource"]
This provided the following information:
# Calls that can be made to PROTEXT which either return some information or perform some function.
# Vectors that may be intercepted to change the operation of some feature of PROTEXT or to add a new feature.
# Printer driver format.
# PROTEXT key translation table
 
>
== Protext CP/M Easter Egg ==
 
The CP/M version has a thanks easter egg:
 
At the Protext prompt, enter:
 
KEY E,^192
 
In editing mode, press Control-0 then E
 
If you did this correctly, you'll see "Many thanks to David Foster for all his help." show up at the top of the screen.
<gallery>
Protext_CPM_Thanks_Egg.png|Protext Thanks
</gallery>
 
== Review ==
 
* ACU December 1985, pages [[:File:ACU8512-134.jpg|134]], [[:File:ACU8512-135.jpg|135]].


== Manual ==
== Manual ==


<gallery caption="The Protext manual">
* [[Media:Protext (Arnor) Manual.pdf|Protext (Arnor) Manual]] {{EN}} {{PDF}}
Image:protext frontpage.jpg|Frontpage
* [[Media:Protext CPM (Arnor) Manual.pdf|Protext CPM (Arnor) Manual]] {{EN}} {{PDF}}
Image:protext contents.jpg|Frontpage
* [[Media:Proprog.txt|Protext ROM Technical Information]] (More information)
Image:protext p3.jpg|Page 3
* [[Media:Proprog.zip|Zipped HTML version]] (More information)
Image:protext p4.jpg|Page 4
 
Image:protext p5.jpg|Page 5
== Download ==
Image:protext p6.jpg|Page 6
 
Image:protext p7.jpg|Page 7
* [[Media:Protext (tape).zip|Protext (tape) (Arnor).zip]] (CDT for Emulators)
Image:protext p8.jpg|Page 8
* [[Media:Protext (disc).zip|Protext (disc) (Arnor).zip]] (DSK for Emulators)
Image:protext p9.jpg|Page 9
* [[Media:Protext CPM (disc).zip|Protext CPM (disc) (Arnor).zip]] (DSK for Emulators)
Image:protext p10.jpg|Page 10
* [[Media:Protext_V1.20_(Rom).zip|Protext V1.20 (ROM) (Arnor).zip]] (ROM for Emulators)
Image:protext p11.jpg|Page 11
* [[Media:Protext(Rom).zip|Protext V1.22 (ROM) (Arnor).zip]] (ROM for Emulators)
Image:protext p12.jpg|Page 12
 
Image:protext p13.jpg|Page 13
== Links ==
Image:protext p14.jpg|Page 14
 
Image:protext p15.jpg|Page 15
* {{CPCPower|4114}}
Image:protext p16.jpg|Page 16
* {{CPCPower|4667|Protext CPM}}
Image:protext p17.jpg|Page 17
* [https://cpctech.cpcwiki.de/docs/proprog.html Protext Technical Information]
Image:protext p18.jpg|Page 18
 
Image:protext p19.jpg|Page 19
[[Category:Applications]]
Image:protext p20.jpg|Page 20
[[Category:Expansion ROM]]
Image:protext p21.jpg|Page 21
[[Category:Manual]]
Image:protext p22.jpg|Page 22
Image:protext p23.jpg|Page 23
Image:protext p24.jpg|Page 24
Image:protext p25.jpg|Page 25
Image:protext p26.jpg|Page 26
Image:protext p27.jpg|Page 27
Image:protext p28.jpg|Page 28
Image:protext p29.jpg|Page 29
Image:protext p30.jpg|Page 30
Image:protext p31.jpg|Page 31
Image:protext p32.jpg|Page 32
Image:protext p33.jpg|Page 33
Image:protext p34.jpg|Page 34
Image:protext p35.jpg|Page 35
Image:protext p36.jpg|Page 36
Image:protext p37.jpg|Page 37
Image:protext p38.jpg|Page 38
Image:protext p39.jpg|Page 39
Image:protext p40.jpg|Page 40
Image:protext p41.jpg|Page 41
Image:protext p42.jpg|Page 42
Image:protext p43.jpg|Page 43
Image:protext p44.jpg|Page 44
Image:protext p45.jpg|Page 45
Image:protext p46.jpg|Page 46
Image:protext p47.jpg|Page 47
Image:protext p48.jpg|Page 48
Image:protext p49.jpg|Page 49
Image:protext p50.jpg|Page 50
Image:protext p51.jpg|Page 51
Image:protext p52.jpg|Page 52
Image:protext p53.jpg|Page 53
Image:protext p54.jpg|Page 54
Image:protext p55.jpg|Page 55
Image:protext p56.jpg|Page 56
Image:protext p57.jpg|Page 57
Image:protext p58.jpg|Page 58
Image:protext p59.jpg|Page 59
Image:protext p60.jpg|Page 60
Image:protext p61.jpg|Page 61
Image:protext p62.jpg|Page 62
</gallery>

Latest revision as of 00:24, 27 February 2025

Protext is one of the most successful British word processor programs, developed by Peterborough-based Arnor Ltd. between 1985 and 1995. It was sold on tape, disc or as ROM.

Protext has sold over 30,000 copies.

Original written for the Amstrad CPC 464, Protext was subsequently released for the Amstrad PCW8256, the IBM-PC, the Atari ST, Commodore Amiga and the Acorn Archimedes.

When Arnor closed in 1995 it seemed that Protext had become another British casualty of the fast-evolving world of computers.

WACCO continued with the sales.

But a group of Protext users with professional experience from other areas of business, were not prepared to let it go.

They formed a partnership called Protext Software with the copyright owners and original programmers and have relaunched the program in an new version (v6.7) for the PC.

Covers

Tape

Disc

ROM

ROM Commands

Rom Details: 

Rom type:	 Background
Version:	 1.22
Rom Name:	 PROTEXT

Commands:

Command Description
PROTEXT Start Protext, in 80 column mode. If you want to start in 40 column mode use |PROTEXT,1
P Start Protext
PRINTER Select a printer driver
ROMON7 Disable all roms, except ROM 7 (the AMSDOS rom)
CP Start Protext with a colour screen
Hidden Command:0x10,0x0 See Protext ROM Technical Information
Hidden Command:0x10,0x1 See Protext ROM Technical Information
Hidden Command:0x10,0x2 See Protext ROM Technical Information
Hidden Command:0x10,0x3 See Protext ROM Technical Information
Hidden Command:0x10,0x4 See Protext ROM Technical Information
Hidden Command:0x10,0x5 See Protext ROM Technical Information
Hidden Command:0x10,0x6 See Protext ROM Technical Information
Hidden Command:0x10,0x7 See Protext ROM Technical Information
Hidden Command:0x10,0x8 See Protext ROM Technical Information
Hidden Command:0x10,0x9 See Protext ROM Technical Information
Hidden Command:0x10,0xa See Protext ROM Technical Information
Hidden Command:0x10,0xb See Protext ROM Technical Information
Hidden Command:0x10,0xc See Protext ROM Technical Information
Hidden Command:0x10,0xd See Protext ROM Technical Information

ROM Technical Details

A separate technical manual was produced that could be obtained from Arnor. This was later recreated and uploaded to the "Unofficial Amstrad WWW Resource"

This provided the following information:

  1. Calls that can be made to PROTEXT which either return some information or perform some function.
  2. Vectors that may be intercepted to change the operation of some feature of PROTEXT or to add a new feature.
  3. Printer driver format.
  4. PROTEXT key translation table

>

Protext CP/M Easter Egg

The CP/M version has a thanks easter egg:

At the Protext prompt, enter:

KEY E,^192

In editing mode, press Control-0 then E

If you did this correctly, you'll see "Many thanks to David Foster for all his help." show up at the top of the screen.

Review

  • ACU December 1985, pages 134, 135.

Manual

Download

Retrieved from "https://wiki.amstrad-cpc.net/index.php?title=Protext&oldid=25162"