So I was looking around and did a couple searches but couldn't find anything. But I was curious what the best way to obtain the hidden/extra/special characters is or are. I'm sure there are multiple ways. Also, is there anyway to do it so it remains a BASIC program so other calcs can run it without getting these characters too and such.

Ya, I remember a program like that from a few years ago. I hate when you can't remember things like that haha. What programs do people use? (Just anyone, just curious to see what's out there.)

What do you mean usbtools? Or are you talking about the program that integrates with your computer and you can like you your mouse and such with it?

The issue with USB tools is if the person has a 83+, tho. They have no USB port.

However, The prog linked by Ztrumpet as well as some others (you have to make sure it also contains the chars from OS 1.15 or later), such as Weregoose's, are very useful to get hidden characters.

Sometimes, these chars lets you choose in a string. If you don't feel like going through that process all the time, what you can do is just get rid of the entire code except the chars, and keep them as some sort of database and copy them using Rcl when needed.

on United-TI, you need to check the project releases section. There should be a topic about where the downloads went (UTI used to have a portal with downloads). The instructions on how to access old downloads are there. Otherwise, maybe his program is in the topic list, or at http://tibasicdev.wikidot.com

ohshit I forgot about the file move. Let me try something

And no I don't think black box is possible in BASIC, except through ASM programs, which won't let you store them in strings (and these progs are slow)

EDIT: Solution - in this topic

http://www.unitedti.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=8563

for example if you want to download w w w.unitedti.org/downloads/[5]rl1.zip, do w w w.unitedti.org/forum/downloads/[5]rl1.zip instead.

Someone should post this in their topic maybe, because the site moved URL and they did not tell users about the downloads

Oh ok, well that is pretty lame haha. So the black boxed equal sign is as close as you can get then?
As for downloading I get it. I think I did it wrong then because those are the directions. I shall try, thanks DJ

Ya, aren't those called vertical text sprites? (I saw the one routine post about them.)