MACHINE LOG SYSTEM

A typewriter is electronically connected to a multi-page buffer which is a dynamic electronic shift register. System control logic is provided to allow the operator to type codes corresponding to characters as well as certain control codes into the buffer for later print-out. In addition, the system control logic is operable to allow the operator to insert characters into and delete characters from the buffer for editing and correction purposes. The multi-page buffer is also in electronic association with a tape cassette such that the operator, by depressing a page store button, can store the contents of the buffer onto the tape of the tape cassette or read pages from the tape into the buffer. Means are provided for automatically keeping track of the location of the pages of the various jobs. Thus, a machine log is utilized which is recorded at the beginning of the cassette tape which includes the location on tape of each of the pages of a particular job and the next available block which can be utilized for storing a page. Upon depressing the store button to store a page, the machine log is queried and a decision is made to either store the page on an existing block allocated for this job, in which case a command is given to the tape to access that block, or it may be determined that a new block is required for this page. In this case the address of the next available block is determined and is inserted in the machine log static shift register (SSR) and the cassette is automatically driven to that block. At the beginning of a recording operation the machine log stored on the tape is loaded into an electronic static shift register (SSR) under control of the system control logic.