TECHNICAL DETAILS

MAGAZINE:Script

PUBLISHER: Locomotive Software Ltd

PERIOD:1987 — 1992

ISSUES:24 copies (from 0 to 23/24)

PRICE:Subscription / Club Members

SYSTEM:Amstrad PCW

LANGUAGE:English

SYNOPSIS: Script was the official voice of Locomotive Software, the architects behind LocoScript and Amstrad's BASIC. Originally born as a newsletter for subscribers and registered users, it evolved into a go-to technical magazine. Its content is unique for preservation purposes, featuring official patches, direct-to-hardware programming secrets, and definitive guides on LocoScript and CP/M Plus written by the creators of the code themselves.

A> DESCRIPTION

Script was an English-language newsletter focused on LocoScript, Locomotive Software's word processor for Amstrad PCW computers. It was published between 1987 and 1992, with a total of 24 issues, starting with issue number 0 in September 1987 and ending in 1992. It was directly edited by Locomotive Software Ltd., the same company that developed LocoScript and other PCW software. The newsletter was printed in English and distributed primarily among users and developers interested in getting the most out of LocoScript and its associated software ecosystem.

THE ROLE OF SD MICROSYSTEMS AND STEVE DENSON

The preservation of this magazine is thanks to Steve Denson. It is important to note that his company, SD Microsystems, not only requested publication permissions, but in 1999 formally acquired Locomotive's software, becoming the official heir to its legacy. Thanks to this, Denson owns the legal rights to LocoScript, Locomotive BASIC, and AMSDOS, which allowed the newsletters to be released under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license.

SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL CONTENT

[#] Version Updates: It was the medium where critical updates were announced, from LocoScript 1 to LocoScript 2 (which introduced font support and improved printer drivers) and later LocoScript 3.
[#] Peripheral Integration: It provided exclusive instructions to configure non-standard printers from brands like Epson or Star, which was vital since the PCW originally came "tied" to its own daisy wheel printer.
[#] LocoLink: It explained in detail how to use this software/cable to transfer files between the PCW and new IBM PCs, an essential tool for users starting the technological transition in the early 90s.
[#] Official news regarding releases, updates, and products related to LocoScript.
[#] Letters and user queries sections, featuring answers and advice directly from the developers.
[#] Technical and practical articles about complementary Locomotive software (such as LocoMail, LocoLink, LocoSpell, LocoFile) and other utilities.
[#] Tutorials, tricks, templates, and guides to improve productivity and solve common issues.
[#] Advice on data recovery, advanced disk usage, printers, and LocoScript tips.

HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE

Script was not just a newsletter; it was the umbilical cord between the original developers (Richard Clayton and Chris Hall) and their most loyal user base. Being a publication from the software house itself, the technical accuracy of its advice on data recovery and disk management (areas 0-7 for documents and 8-15 for deleted files) was unmatched.