Andra KOM-möten frän denna tid
Saturday 1986-05-17 19.12.59INFO-IBMPC mailing list
(Text 103254) 85-05-05 14.00 Jacob Palme QZ Name: INFO-IBMPC mailing list This conference will receive messages from the ARPANET mailing list "Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA". This is a mailing list for exchange of experience on the IBM PC personal computer. To ensure that your entries into the list will be forwarded to the American mailing list, send your entries not only to the COM conference "INFO-IBMPC mailing list" but also to the external COM name "Info-IBMPC @ USC-ISIB.ARPA".
(Text 103254)INFO-IBMPC mailing list Name: INFO-IBMPC mailing list Number: Conference 511 Creation time: 84-12-13 18.39 Organizer: Michael Evans S-E-Banken # links to object: 235 Object: Text 173948 Type: Open PPN: 3427,3121 Number of members: 119 INFO-IBMPC mailing list has the following members: Last present Unseen Name 85-12-07 12.06 127 Jacob Palme QZ 84-12-13 19.02 235 QZ Computer Centre 84-12-13 19.02 235 FOA organisation 84-12-13 19.02 235 NADA employees 86-03-31 03.08 38 Sven Olofsson QZ ********* ***** 199 Per Lindberg QZ 86-05-11 22.14 1 Michael Evans S-E-Banken 86-01-11 20.21 60 Leif Wahlberg SAS 86-05-07 02.27 46 Mats Ohlin FOA2 85-10-03 17.36 102 Uul Haanstra SARA ********* ***** 215 Richard Friedman PSR ********* ***** 188 Paul van Binst 86-04-07 13.15 74 Tomas Lindgren FOA3 85-09-20 14.08 135 Gunilla Nordstr|m QZ 86-01-14 06.26 56 -KPJ Jaakkola QZ private (@QZCOM) ********* ***** 28 Torgny Tholerus QZ 86-04-27 16.47 13 Petri Kutvonen Univ. of Helsinki 85-05-10 22.07 170 G|ran Agerberg HLR/BBDO AB ********* ***** 217 Michel E Debar DECUS ********* ***** 216 James McLellan ********* ***** 61 Pekka Kyt|laakso HYLK 86-05-11 14.58 1 Nils Qwerin Statskontoret 86-05-05 18.33 4 Bengt Bengtsson LiTH 86-05-15 21.07 1 Lewis Taylor FFE 86-03-29 15.01 21 Birgitta Oeberg QZ 86-05-13 04.07 1 Dennis Mennerdahl 86-05-17 12.34 PETER STAHL ABC-KLUBBEN 86-05-14 22.49 39 COM archiving program 86-05-16 18.51 27 Hans E Renstr|m FOA 4 86-04-29 18.53 7 Kjell Ohlson 85-07-18 01.13 137 G|ran Wallberg QZ 86-04-04 07.38 61 Johan Lundstrom STOCC ********* ***** 121 Jan Norden 86-03-05 11.28 79 Jan Sel`n 86-05-15 17.00 39 Juha Koivisto HUTCC 85-06-02 23.02 158 Osmund Paulsen A/S NEVI 85-06-10 20.20 204 Lars-]ke Larsson Cybis Elektronik & Data AB ********* ***** 175 Rob Armstrong AUCC 85-09-17 23.48 169 bo ehk stocc 86-05-08 16.47 4 H}kan Gadler 85-08-10 23.28 123 Janne Larsson ABC-klubben 85-04-29 21.15 212 Erik Wallin 86-05-12 23.48 1 Peter Bergfeldt abc-klubben 85-05-13 01.25 172 Erik Fichtelius STOCC 85-05-28 19.13 184 Peter Siklosi 86-05-04 22.21 4 Olle Jaernefors KTH 86-05-11 17.05 1 Jan Flodin ********* ***** 214 Siegfried Michael Schoberth KFA ********* ***** 213 Pasquale d'Erasmo CSATA 86-05-03 16.31 54 Bo Kagstrom University of Umea (Bo K}gstr|m Ume}) 86-01-12 01.56 56 Christer Lindh 86-03-25 00.06 25 Mats Forsenberg STOCC 85-05-28 05.26 212 CURT LIND UNIV. OF OREGON 86-01-13 23.12 100 Mats Ekelund Datatronic ********* ***** 78 Matts Kallioniemi QZ 85-11-07 10.37 145 Domenico Rotondi CSATA 85-06-12 00.04 204 KURT ERIKSSON NCR 86-05-13 08.10 1 Georges Rousseau University of Brussels 85-06-14 19.13 191 Berith Demo QZ (Berith Sannebring) 85-06-13 20.21 204 Mikael T|rnkvist STOCC 86-05-12 15.28 1 Henric \stmark FOA2 85-07-17 14.01 172 Jan Berglund 85-07-23 15.43 175 Lena Ramerfelt QZ 86-04-29 13.11 11 Xavier Xantico (=Jacob Palme) 86-04-14 21.51 18 janne larsson ITT-Scanips 85-08-22 22.07 183 MIKAEL LIDEN ABC 85-08-26 18.49 126 Jost Krieger RUB 86-05-16 19.33 39 Rudolf Valder Univ. of Dusseldorf 85-11-07 22.19 82 Bj|rn Svensson CODE AB 85-10-08 10.06 166 povl skaalum adm. dep. 86-03-04 17.58 79 Edward af Geijerstam 85-09-12 13.36 116 Bengt Thylander FRN 85-09-04 13.09 169 A. C. Cotton Univ. of Southampton 86-05-14 21.34 1 Bengt Wendel (Wenco AB) STOCC 86-03-03 01.02 35 Transcript maker for UNISOFT AB 86-05-17 09.40 Dan Bellander S-E-Banken 85-10-21 23.36 153 Bj|rn Rundl|f 86-05-17 09.09 christer modin ics 86-05-16 22.22 Leif Wahlberg STOCC 86-01-01 21.26 116 anders westberg mkv/ka4 86-01-14 14.35 109 Bengt Walerud KIRSTEIN/WALERUD 85-11-24 13.54 235 Group Personal computers hardware and software 85-11-24 13.55 235 Group USA corresponding conferences (mailing lists) 85-12-02 22.44 74 Stefan Westman 86-02-09 23.08 77 G|ran Husman 85-12-05 23.23 126 Kurt Wassberg 85-12-05 12.51 129 Heikki Apiola Univ. Support div/Finnish State comp. Centre 86-05-04 10.40 4 Martin Lundberg 85-12-09 20.02 125 G\RAN KROOK 85-12-11 15.08 73 Simo Jokela (Kone) 86-03-18 13.55 80 Thomas Adriaansen 86-02-07 23.04 41 Urban S|lving ABC-klubben" 85-12-15 18.31 83 Bertil Hagnell STOCC ********* ***** 67 Kent Filen ********* ***** 111 Pieter Donche Antwerpen 86-04-28 12.32 56 Ann Demo QZ (Ann-Sofi Jonasson) 86-05-07 00.58 4 Johan Backlund FOA221 86-01-27 18.44 69 Hannu Kulokari 86-05-14 23.09 1 Bruno Walter MESA Konsult 86-03-15 12.04 35 Bo Kullmar ABC-Club 86-04-16 11.10 48 Bjorn Bertelsen KOINOR 86-05-11 15.04 1 Kent Ericsson 86-02-20 15.11 85 Ola Lindblom Electrolux AB 86-05-16 15.11 \rjan Leringe 86-05-08 00.25 24 Bj|rn Gustafsson QZ 86-05-11 13.51 1 Paul-Andre PAYS (Ecole des Mines SAINT-ETIENNE) 86-03-19 13.53 54 Lars Richter Asea AB 86-03-09 21.54 82 Andres Kaarik 86-04-20 00.18 15 Rune Larsson BENiMA AB 86-02-19 21.22 35 --Cary Karp STOCC 86-03-02 01.26 35 Urban Sundstrom STOCC/KTH ********* ***** Hans Eberding 86-03-28 04.38 21 LEIF \STLING TRANS-BUS AB 86-03-27 21.15 33 Cary Karp SU 86-05-10 01.39 2 Jukka Kiviniemi WSOY 86-05-13 11.55 14 Stefan Levander ]bo Akademi 86-03-19 14.27 72 Per-]ke Olsson Chalmers-V 86-05-11 11.28 1 Olle E Johansson 86-04-01 17.35 65 Bosse Inerfeldt AB VOLVO 86-04-17 16.15 52 Birgitta Lagnell AB VOLVO 86-05-16 20.34 42 Bengt Forsgren Televerket 86-04-04 11.42 74 ulf lunden h8 conor info ab 86-04-04 21.04 73 Ralph Luddeckens N-Control AB 86-05-17 17.33 26 Mats J Hammarstedt STOCC 86-05-16 16.04 MICHAEL BENEDICKS 86-04-10 22.23 71 Fredrik Knoop 86-04-17 17.49 39 thomas gustavsson sind ********* ***** 15 Anders Sandberg STOCC 86-05-12 00.53 1 Tommy Riboe 86-04-30 15.48 54 Manuel Medina ********* ***** 51 Kristina Gustafsson FOA2 86-05-09 17.20 43 Ulf Ergander KI 86-05-16 18.38 41 Lars Ohman EPOC
(Text 149673) 86-01-31 05.01 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <193> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-01-31 05.01 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <184> -- Received: 86-01-31 06.07 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-01-31 05.01 Marked by somebody. Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #16 %Original date: 30 Jan 1986 12:52:41 PST. TF: DSKD:794927.MAI %FROM: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 37925 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 31 Jan 86 01:51 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 30-Jan-1986 17:38:15-est Date: 30 Jan 1986 12:52:41 PST Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #16 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Thursday, 30 January 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 16 This Week's Editor: Richard Gillmann Today's Topics: PC RT (3 msgs) AT Speedup (3 msgs) PC Speedup TallTree JLASER Board (2 msgs) Tektronix 4010 Emulator (2 msgs) Anchor Modem Problems (2 msgs) DOS vs. Direct Screen Writes (2 msgs) 7 cents per Kb Procomm B for the IBM PC and compatibles under MS-DOS. Dos 3.1 Environment size patch Clarification on GREP.C LOTUS Specs Different versions of ARC PC Ltd. AT Query Battery backed up memory MS Compatible Driver Wanted for Logitech Mouse Bad Reset Disk Optimizers....not too good File I/O from resident programs More MIX "C" notes LS.LBR INT09 Side Effect ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 28 Jan 86 20:31:12 EST From: kevin@harvard.HARVARD.EDU (Kevin Crowston) To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: RT and XNS Does anyone know if the RT's version of BSD 4.2 includes support for the XNS protocols? Can anyone describe its networking capabilities in more detail? Kevin Crowston UUCP: {seismo,ut-sally}!harvard!kevin MIT Sloan School of Management ARPA: kevin@xv.mit.edu or kevin@harvard.arpa ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Jan 86 15:55:19 pst From: amd!ubvax!skip@SUN.ARPA (Skip Addison Jr) To: amd!sun!ucbvax!info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: RT networking and my mistake Hopefully this will get out before too much damage is done. Apparently there were two operating system released for the RT PC. One that I was referring to in my submission is the Academic Information Systems. It is a 4.2 bsd derivative and is sold to academic units only. Someone mentioned CMU's Andrew software. This may be that. ACIS does support Ethernet and Token Ring networks. It does not support the PC Network Adapter from IBM. The other operating system I don't have information on, but apparently it was developed by those folks that brought us PC/IX. It is originally a Sys V derivative with enhancements. (I love Unix, I really do! I just can't figure what it is. :-) It does support the PC Network Adapter and apparently not the others. My incorrect statement was that the RT PC does not support the PC Network Adapter. It depends on which flavor of Unix you're running. Sorry for the confusion. -- Skip Addison {lll-crg, decwrl}!amdcad!cae780!ubvax!skip ------------------------------ Date: 29-Jan-1986 1340 From: mitton%olorin.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (Dave Mitton) To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: IBM PC Network support on PC-RT RE: Skip Addison's comments on no support of the PC Network adapter. I beg to differ with him, but the information given in issue #9 is straight from the IBM announcement, section 186-006, page 6. Dave Mitton. ------------------------------ Date: 28 Jan 86 13:05:35 PST (Tuesday) Subject: Heat Sink for PC AT running at 9 MHz From: Burton.osbunorth@Xerox.COM To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.Arpa cc: ibmpc^.ES@Xerox.COM I recently sped up my PC AT to 9.7 MHz, and I installed a heat sink, using heat sink compound to attach the heat sink to the CPU. I use my AT "tower" fashion, so that in theory the heat sink could slide off the CPU into the disk controller. Is the heat sink compound also an effective adhesive? If not, can you recommend an adhesive that can be removed without traces, in case I have to take the CPU back to the dealer for service? Phil Burton Xerox Corporation ------------------------------ Date: 28 Jan 86 13:06:07 PST (Tuesday) Subject: Ronsco 5 Speed Clock Switch for AT From: Burton.osbunorth@Xerox.COM To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.Arpa I just received and installed the Ronsco "Five Speed" clock switch in my AT. The unit has a jack that plugs into the AT's crystal socket, which leads to a five position rotary switch that select the various crystals. The crystals and rotary switch mounted are on a flat plate that mounts in the AT's "maintenance panel" on the rear of the CPU, to the left, as viewed from the front. The crystals and switch are enclosed in a rubber jacket, which I have not removed. Installation was quick, less than fifteen minutes, not counting uncabling and recabling my system, with clear instructions. The actual speeds vary somewhat from the nominal speeds: Nominal Actual* 10 10.6 9 9.7 8 8.1 6 6.0 4 3.9 All speeds determined by the Norton Utility "si", with the standard 6 MHz showing a 5.7x rating relative to the PC. [The Norton "si" benchmark is notoriously deceptive! --Ed.] The rotary switch is not firm enough in its settings. It is apparently possible to get an intermediate speed setting if the switch contacts two crystals at the same time. At 10.7 MHz, the system would boot up only when it was cold. Otherwise, it failed the Power On Self Test before the keyboard test was complete. The memory tests were apparantly completed, but the keyboard LED's never lit. Once warm, the system would not accept keyboard input at 10.6 MHz. At 9.7 MHz, I was able to use all my input/output devices without any changes in operations. At 3.9 MHz, games are decently slow. However, the system bleeps several times during POST, and the "Press F1 to continue" message appears. Also, my EGA is apparently not initialized properly, and initially displays output in 40 column mode. (I use mode to restore co80.) Ronsco recommends against switching speeds while the system is running. My limited experience suggests it works between 6 and 8 MHz, otherwise not. I usually power down the system to change speeds. (Can anyone recommend a hardware reset switch that would be as effective?) My configuration consists of a model 068, my own third party hard disk and half-high 360 KB floppy disk, AST card with 1.128 MB, parallel port, two serial ports, and a game port. Also, an EGA with the EG Display. I have a Hayes modem, a serial Diablo printer running at 9600 baud (which share COM1 with a Y cable), a parallel Epson printer, and COM2 reserved for a serial mouse. Overall, I'd give this product a good minus, because of the mediocre quality of the rotary switch. If readers are interested in getting this product, they better hurry. Ronsco's real business is vertical market software, and they produced this device initially as an accommodation for the AT customers, then decided to market the product, then finally decided NOT to continue marketing it. Telephone support was very good. Ronsco is in Monee, IL, at 312 534 1303. I bought this switch, instead of simply installing a faster crystal, so that my kids could play games. At 6 MHz, the AT is too fast for any time-sensitive game written for the PC. Philip Burton Xerox Corporation ------------------------------ Date: 28 Jan 86 13:08:12 PST (Tuesday) Subject: Switching speeds on PC AT From: Burton.osbunorth@Xerox.COM To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.Arpa cc: ibmpc^.ES@Xerox.COM I recently got a speed switch for my PC AT, and proper procedure for switching speeds is to power down the system. Would a hardware reset switch be as effective? Which one is recommended, and at what price? I don't need any extra features. Phil Burton Xerox Corporation ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Jan 86 22:12:05 PST From: iverson%cory@BERKELEY.EDU (Tim Iverson) To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: Overthruster PC Speedup Query In the Feb. 1986 issue of PC Tech Journal, tucked way in the back, I found an add for a kit to increase the PC clock speed to 7.38Mhz. The product is called The Overthruster and is produced by Data Management Systems. Now, the question: How is this done? General answers and gueses are apreciated, but I would kill for a detailed explanation (with lots of big words and chip numbers). After all, I would like to do this myself without spending $300. Thanks, Tim Iverson. (iverson@cory.berkeley.edu) ------------------------------ From: <bang!root@nosc.ARPA> Date: Sat, 25 Jan 86 02:33:48 PST To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib Subject: Talltree JLASER board An add on board for the Talltree JRAM3 and JRAM-3AT 2mb RAM board, is their JLASER add on. This allows a PC or AT to send full page 300 dpi graphics at high speed to ANY Canon laser engine (Apple Laser Writer, HP LaserJet et al.) However, I'm looking for software to support it. Nothing actually seems available now. Rumors that a version of Fontrix and Printrix will work do not seem to be confirmed by local software dealers. Another rumor is that a company called Le Beau has a program that will take any DOS or WordStar text file and return a printed document in any of 32 fonts and any point size up to and including a single character per page at 300 dpi is encouraging, but I can't find the company. Sigh. The JLASER board concept is great, it entirely bypasses the intelligence (and limitations) of the various Canon engine laser printers allowing the PC (you) to create full page hi res pictures and text and then sending them directly to the engine at high speed. I don't know what the memory limitations of the Apple LaserWriter are, but the HP is capable of only 1/4 page of 300 dpi graphics (the laserJet+ can do 1/2 page) and it takes a while to print. The JLASER uses 1mb of the 2mb RAM board and includes a hi-speed parallel interface for the printer. The board and interface are co-resident with the original interface and do not interfere with normal use. A good start I hope. Now if I could only find software.. Bret Marquis (sdcsvax, ihnp4) bang!bam bam@NOSC.ARPA ------------------------------ Date: 29 Jan 1986 12:38:18 PST Subject: Re: Talltree JLASER board From: Billy Brackenridge <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: <bang!root@NOSC.ARPA> I spoke with Ed Thompson of Tall Tree. He informs me that Jlaser is selling well and many have joined the band wagon. He claims Jlaser memory isn't limited to 1MB as your article implies I think the limit is 8MB as you can run it from several JRAM boards. Here is the list they gave me of software companies with announced products. Le Beau makes Le Print 800-532-2844 Data Transforms makes Fontrix and Printrix The dragons in the Tall Tree ads seeen in PC week were made with this. (303)832-1501 Softcraft has a version of their popular Fancifont (619)944-0151 Financial decisions makes large scale (mainframe) corporate accounting systems. They are using Jlaser to print state and local corporate tax forms. They really don't make PC products per se (Their software costs around 10K). They digitise the forms rather than generate them from software. (818)706-2000 Personal Tex has a tex implementation (415) 388-8853 Jlaser only works with the JRAM-3 and JRAM-3-AT boards. These boards conform to the Intel expanded memory spec as well as Tall Tree's own memory scheme. While not printing the memory can be used for any of the normal purposes. I understand that the switches and jumpers are a real rats nest and Tall Tree's documentation has never been up to the standards of AST or IBM, but their technical help line have always been extremely competent. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29-JAN-1986 17:44 EST From: <LEONARDRG%VTVAX5.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> To: <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB> Subject: Tektronix 4010 Emulation We've got a public domain Tektronix 4010 emulator here at Virginia Tech that was written in-house. It supports the full 4010 protocol including GIN mode. It features picture file capture, on-line help and keyboard maps, hardware break key, snoop mode, and many other things. It takes up 13KB disk space (that's 13KB) including the picture file manager. We have used it running all PLOT-10 software, SAS/Graph, etc. on our VM/CMS and VAX/VMS systems. A version that includes VT100 (ANSI) emulation and other features is available with documentation by mail for $39.95. If you are interested in either version of TekTERM, let me know. Greg Sherman ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29-JAN-1986 23:20 EST From: <LEONARDRG%VTVAX3.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> To: <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Subject: Re: Tektronix 4010 Emulation I'd like to release the source but the communication modules and 4010 parser are the basis for the commercial version (which includes VT100 emulation). Also, it's about 100KB of 8086/88 assembler. But because I know this type of program is highly useful in a university environment, I am making the 4010 package available for distribution with NO strings whatsoever.. no donations, etc. Our computing center here at VA Tech supports the program and provides documentation (which is also available on disk). Anyone who is interested can let me know and I'm happy to make arrangements. And in case anyone needs to know, the program requires a PC with 64KB, color/graphics monitor and adapter, an asynch card and modem, and at one disk drive. The AT is supported, but the PCJr is not. Most BIOS compatible machines (Compaq, Leading Edge) have been reported to do fine, as well as some compatible graphics cards (Paradise, Everex). I admit my motivation in giving away TekTERM 4010 is to sell the VT100 version, but in no way is TekTERM 4010 an incomplete or poorly featured program. Let me know if you want any more information. Greg Sherman ------------------------------ Date: 30 Jan 86 10:39 GMT From: ghicks @ KOREA-EMH Subject: Anchor modem problems To: info-ibmpc @ usc-isib I am the proud owner (not so proud??) of an Anchor Communications Mark VI (it might be a 300B ) internal modem. I really don't know since it was given to me. Supposedly, the modem is capable of the following protocols: Bell 103 and 202, CCITT V21 and V23. One BASIC program was included. This program has the following problems: a. I can't filter characters (ie. nulls) nor can I program function keys. b. If I want to use a capture buffer, it must be initialized prior to making a connection. If the number I want to dial is busy (and here in Korea, the IMP/TAC numbers are usually quite busy during the daytime) I must re-initialize the buffer before each attempt to dial the number. c. The program uses timing loops in INTERPRETED basic to determine pulse or tone spacing/duration. This means that I had best not compile the program or the timing loops are messed up. I know the following things about the modem: a. Ports are at 03F8H - 03FFH (IRQ 4) for COM1: and 02F8H - 02FFH for COM2: (normal, I believe); b. Since the program is poorly documented, I think the registers are named as follows: TXB (Transmit buffer) - 03FBh MCR (Modem Control Register) - 03FCh, LSR (????? status register) - 03FDh, MSR (Modem Status Register) - 03FEh, TDR (Transmit Data Register??) - 03FFh c. I believe the MODEM chip is a WD8250PL-00 (a 40 pin DIP). It might be an 8519 (a 28 pin DIP). d. The COMx: port is opened as "COM2:BAUD,PARITY,BITS,STOP,CD" (a normal DOS port request.) Modem input/output is via this handle. My request: Does anyone know of a better program that will work with this modem?? Or does anyone know where I can get more documentation for the modem? Thanks in advance. Gregory Hicks GHICKS@KOREA-EMH (or JUSMAG-DT@KOREA-EMH) PS. I can't seem to get the 202 mode working. Any ideas? Or is the problem that interpreted Basic isn't fast enough? ------------------------------ Date: 30 Jan 1986 10:21:27 PST Subject: Re: Anchor modem problems From: Richard Gillmann <GILLMANN@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: ghicks@KOREA-EMH.ARPA cc: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Sounds to me like a standard PC internal modem, in terms of the registers, etc. I've got an Anchor Automation (is this the same?) Volksmodem 1200 which works fine with VDTE. I would imagine it would work also with most other terminal emulation or comm programs. You might try some of the free comm programs in the Info-IBMPC library. As to the 202 modem, do you have a host computer to talk to which does 202? Bell 202 is very rare these days (212 is the standard) and the only use I've seen of it recently is in amateur packet radio. Dick Gillmann ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Jan 86 22:32:12 pst From: minshall%ucbopal@BERKELEY.EDU (Greg Minshall) To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: DOS vs. direct screen writes Cc: gts%ucbopal@BERKELEY.EDU Hi. I'm a novice in the PC arena, but I am sorely tempted to complain about the so-called "write_string" sub-code of the INT 10H BIOS entry point (I don't even know how to call things, sigh). This routine generates at least one, if not two, INT 10H's per character being moved into the video ram. I haven't measured how fast this is really running on my AT, but I doubt it goes more than about 19K bits per second. If I just do a REPZ MOVSW, the update is essentially instantaneous. (So, I just measured the rates. INT 10H runs at about 59 Kilobits/second; REPZ MOVSW runs at about 5.12 Megabits/second.) Am I right? Given that I need instantaneous updates (not 19K bits), what do I do? Can I just copy some of the BIOS code (for locking out things - as in the scroll_up function, which seems to do things right), and run that, and assume that it will run everywhere? Thanks. Greg Minshall ------------------------------ Date: 29 Jan 1986 14:46:45 PST To: minshall%ucbopal@BERKELEY.EDU (Greg Minshall) Subject: DOS vs. direct screen writes From: Richard Gillmann <GILLMANN@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Cc: info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Yes, your analysis of the video display choices is valid. If you go thru DOS, it will be compatible with all MS-DOS computers, but relatively slow, especially if you're doing full screen updates. If you go direct to the regen buffers, it will be fast but compatible only with IBM PC clones. Don't forget to do the vertical retrace boogie with the color/graphics adaptor or you'll wind up in "snowy mode". Dick Gillmann ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 28 Jan 86 16:38:06 PST From: walton%Deimos@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu Subject: 7 cents per Kb To: info-ibmpc%Deimos@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu cc: caltech%Deimos@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu From the February 1986 issue of PC Tech Journal: "The shocker of the show [COMDEX] was the announcement from TheSys of an add-in memory board holding 8 Mb of RAM. Actually, the board has 12 Mb on it; 4 Mb are used for ECC [error correction--NOT just detection]. Fully populated, this board costs $800. And it is EMS-compatible. Want more? It is CMOS. Not content? TheSys also introduced a 16MB solid-state hard disk--a box full of RAM with your choice of disk interface. Buy the unit, plug it into your hard- disk controller, and away you go with a hard disk that boasts an average access time of 10 microseconds (about 8,000 times faster than the XT hard disk). Again, it is CMOS and can be backed up with batteries." As a side note, it would cost us a minimum of $16,000 to upgrade our 5-year-old VAX 780 from 4 to 8 Mb of memory--40 times more per megabyte. Steve Walton Caltech Solar Astronomy walton%deimos@hamlet.caltech.edu swalton@caltech.bitnet ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Jan 86 02:36:13 EST From: James H. Coombs <JAZBO%BROWNVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: Procomm Inno Frencken asks about Procomm. I don't use it but I do have the latest version. Let me know if you want it for the INFO-IBMPC library. --Jim [Yes! Please send the source code. --Ed.] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1986 11:39:37 -0100 From: mcvax!steven@seismo.CSS.GOV (Steven Pemberton) To: info-ibmpc-request@usc-isib.arpa Subject: B for the IBM PC and compatibles under MS-DOS. B FOR THE IBM PC AND COMPATIBLES UNDER MS-DOS. (This B is unrelated to the predecessor of C: B is a working title. The language will get its final name, ABC, when the language is frozen.) Summary There is now a first implementation of B available for the IBM PC and compatibles under MS-DOS, alongside the existing implementation for Unix. It is available for the cost of the media: $35 US, or Dfl. 100. Details of the implementation and an order form are at the end of this article. What is B? B is a new interactive programming language and environment that is as simple as Basic to learn, offers the structure of C and Pascal, but thanks to its high-level data-types is very powerful and convenient to use. DATA-TYPES It has 2 basic data-types: numbers and texts (=strings), and 3 composite data-types: compounds, lists and tables. o Numbers are unbounded, like all data-types in B, and are kept exact if possible (even with division); o Texts can be joined, repeated, trimmed; o Compounds are like records, or structures, but without field-names; o Lists are sorted sequences of values of any one type (numbers, texts, lists...); o Tables are generalised arrays: both indexes and elements may be of any type. COMMANDS The usual structured commands are available: IF, WHILE, etc. You can define your own commands and functions. Functions can return values of any type. ENVIRONMENT B is both a language and an environment. There is a structured editor that knows about B which you use the whole time that you are using B. It suggests possible command completions, so for instance, if you type a W, it suggests the command WRITE, which you can accept by typing a tab. It also supplies such things as closing brackets automatically. EXAMPLES The best way to appreciate the power and simplicity of B is to see some examples, and 2 are given below. For more details see "An Overview of the B programming Language" by Leo Geurts, in SIGPLAN December 1982, and "Description of B" by Lambert Meertens and Steven Pemberton, SIGPLAN February 1985.) Imagine you want to maintain a list of phone numbers. You start off with an empty list (>>> is the prompt from B): >>> PUT {} IN tel and add a few numbers >>> PUT 4138 IN tel["Frank"] >>> PUT 4071 IN tel["Leo"] >>> PUT 4141 IN tel["Lambert"] Now you can look up individual numbers: >>> WRITE tel["Leo"] 4071 or even write the whole table: >>> WRITE tel {["Frank"]: 4138; ["Lambert"]: 4141; ["Leo"]: 4071} (note they're sorted on the names). You can access the list of 'keys' (the indexes): >>> WRITE keys tel {"Frank"; "Lambert"; "Leo"} and so you can write the table neatly: >>> FOR name IN keys tel: WRITE name, ":", tel[name] / Frank: 4138 Lambert: 4141 Leo: 4071 It is easy to discover who has a particular number: >>> IF SOME name IN keys tel HAS tel[name]=4141: WRITE name Lambert But if you do this often it is easier to create the inverse table: >>> PUT {} IN let >>> FOR name IN keys tel: PUT name IN let[tel[name]] >>> WRITE let[4141] Lambert >>> WRITE let {[4071]: "Leo"; [4138]: "Frank"; [4141]: "Lambert} Example 2: a cross reference generator. (This example would need more than 100 lines of Pascal or C.) HOW'TO INDEX text: PUT {} IN xtab FOR line'no IN keys text: TREAT'LINE OUTPUT TREAT'LINE: PUT text[line'no] IN line WHILE line>"": TREAT'WORD TREAT'WORD: GET'WORD IF word>"": SAVE'WORD GET'WORD: PUT "" IN word WHILE line>"" AND NOT alpha: PUT line@2 IN line WHILE line>"" AND alpha: PUT word^line|1, line@2 IN word, line alpha: REPORT line|1 in {"a".."z"} OR line|1 in {"A".."Z"} SAVE'WORD: IF word not'in keys xtab: PUT {} IN xtab[word] INSERT line'no IN xtab[word] OUTPUT: FOR word IN keys xtab: WRITE word<<10 FOR line IN xtab[word]: WRITE line>>4, " " WRITE / THE IMPLEMENTATION o Requires at least 384K bytes to run, though there is a restricted version without the built-in editor that runs in 256K. o Runs under MS-DOS 2.0 or higher. o Configurable for different size screens, or to use the ANSI screen driver, for compatibles with incompatible BIOS. o Editing operations can be bound to the keys of your choice. o Comes on a single 5.25" or 3.5" diskette. Apricot format also available. o It is not copy protected. But: o It is not a production version: it is not fast, but it is fun! WHAT YOU GET Apart from the floppy, you get a book introducing B, how to use the system, and giving a complete description of the language, and a quick reference guide. HOW TO ORDER Fill in the details below, and send them with a cheque or money order for $35 US or Dfl. 100 (to cover cost of media, postage, etc.) payable to Stichting Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam to: B Group, PC Distribution Informatics/AA CWI POB 4079 1009 AB Amsterdam The Netherlands Name: Organisation: Address: Country: Telephone: Network address: Type of machine(s): Required media [ ] 5.25" double-sided, double density floppy [ ] 3.5" double-sided floppy Required version [ ] Full implementation (at least 384K bytes) [ ] Small version (256K bytes) Signature and date: ------------------------------ Date: Wed 29 Jan 86 09:01:41-CST From: Pete Galvin <CC.GALVIN@R20.UTEXAS.EDU> Subject: Dos 3.1 Environment size patch To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Here it is, snarfed from a recent issue of the Boston Computer Society's PC REPORT: Debug Command.Com: xxxx:0D11 0A change the 0A to 1E for a 544 byte environment or 3C for a 1K size. Then of course do a 'W' command to save the new version. --Pete ------------------------------ Date: Wednesday, 29 January 1986 11:32:56 EST From: Joe.Newcomer@a.sei.cmu.edu To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: Clarification on GREP.C The version of GREP.C I submitted contains, as I indicated, calls on the Blaise Computing CTOOLS library. This includes the use of the <direct.h> file which is part of their library. Anyone who wants to expand the code to "run native" using some DOS gate may do so; the problem is that most DOS gate code is not portable across C compilers. Since I felt no loss in generality by using the Blaise package, and most of the necessary logic changes I made in this area are necessary, I felt this to be an improvement over the no-wildcards version that was there. The dsrfirst and dsrnext calls are translations of the DOS calls, and the struct used is based on the DOS documentation. Ideally, someone will now build on my contribution and produce a fully-native version, or produce a <direct.h> and dsrfirst/dsrnext package. I cannot, because I have already read the Blaise copyrighted code and any such effort could be construed as releasing proprietary information. joe ------------------------------ Date: 29 Jan 86 09:46:00 PST From: ALEX WOO <wu@ames-aero> Subject: LOTUS Specs To: info-ibmpc-request <info-ibmpc-request@isib> Dennis Korbel here at NASA Ames called LOTUS and checked on those LOTUS internal specs that I sent you. They are released to the public domain, but they are copyrighted so that you don't modify them. Basically if the documents are released without modification then LOTUS OK's it. Alex. [OK, this is now available in the file [ISIB]<INFO-IBMPC>LOTUS123.FILE-FORMAT -- ed.] ------------------------------ Date: 29 Jan 1986 11:55:24 PST Subject: Different versions of ARC From: Koji Okazaki <swg.Koji@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Hello. It has recently come to my attention that there may be some incompatibilities between some versions of the public domain archiver program called ARC. The specific versions in question are ARC430.COM, ARC450.COM, and ARC500.COM. As we are starting to get more program submissions in ARC format, it is important that we know what the differences are between the three aforementioned versions, and the degrees of compatibility between them. Some users have already said that they couldn't successfully de-archive the programs they ftp'ed from us, perhaps due to the possibility that they were archived in one version and de-archived in another. Help will be appreciated! ------------------------------ Date: Wed 29 Jan 86 15:48:35-PST From: Steve Dennett <DENNETT@SRI-NIC.ARPA> Subject: PC Ltd. AT Query To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA There have been several messages over the last few months requesting info on the PC's Limited AT clone. I'd like to know if anyone has at this point actually bought and used one, and what their experience with it has been. Thanks mucho! Steve Dennett dennett@sri-nic.arpa ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Jan 86 15:48:14 PST From: Matthew J Weinstein <matt@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU> To: info-ibmpc-request@isib Subject: Battery backed up memory A company called ``SEMIDISK'' makes battery backed up memory. $595/512k. It's in some of the mags. - Matt ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 29 Jan 86 19:09:55 PST From: mccluskey@Jpl-VLSI.ARPA Subject: Microsoft Compatible Driver Wanted for Logitech Mouse To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa I'm using a couple of AT's equipped with Logitech mice that came with the $6000 Futurenet Schematic capture system, and I'd like to use these same mice with Microsoft software such as PC-Paintbrush, etc... Could someone post me the phone number of Logitech so I can call them up and beg them for a driver? Futurenet is no help at all, and I seriously doubt we will ever buy anything from them again. I've ordered a schematic drawing package from Omation, in Texas, and it looks like a very nice system for a reasonable (relative to Futurenet) $495. A review will follow when it arrives. P.S. I went to the L.A. computer swap meet and what they say is true! An 8 slot motherboard with a V-20, boot rom, and 640K capable (0K installed) for a mere $115 !!! Still, the supply of EGA compatible graphics boards is not yet comparable to the plethora of color and hercules boards displayed. John McCluskey @ JPL-VLSI.ARPA ( or is it JPLLSI ??? ) ------------------------------ Date: 30 Jan 1986 10:47:05-EST From: mlsmith@NADC To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib Subject: Bad Reset Recently I have been unable to reset the IBM-PC/AT I have with a <ctrl> <alt> <del>. I have to power down to get it running again. The symptoms I get are "Invalid drive specification" when it seeks the autoexec file and ANSI.SYS on the hard disk. I also used to load the mouse driver, but have removed it from the config.sys file. I load from A: the following files: CONFIG.SYS: break = on device = c:\dos\ansi.sys buffers = 50 files = 15 AUTOEXEC.BAT: [The contents of this are saved in [ISIB]<INFO-IBMPC>AUTOEXEC.BIG -- by the way, this is by far the longest autoexec file I have ever seen, over 200 lines! --Ed.] Does anyone have a clue of what is going on? {DOS is 3.1} ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jan 86 08:34:48 est From: allegra!phri!greenber@seismo.CSS.GOV (Ross Greenberg) Subject: Disk Optimizers....not too good To: allegra!seismo!usc-isib.arpa!info-ibmpc In respose to a request regarding information regarding Disk Optimizers: I'm not too impressed. They perform exactly as advertised, but with the following (important) caveat: They all seem to throw the empty disk space in one large chunk at the end of the (physical) disk. Soft Logic's program also alphabetizes the directory, and throws all of a directory's clusters together. So, when I do a "COPY /c/myprog.c /c/myprog.old, the poor disk has a lot of work to do, going from the directory and FAT, to the the actual data area, to the empty space at the *other* end of the disk, and back. Lots of seek time. Reads are pretty quick, but writes actually become slower. Fix-by: create a huge file in your most commonly used directory, run the optimizer, then delete the huge file, leaving a gorgeous chunk of contigious space right where you need it. I think the disk optimizer companies should re-release their products when it puts all the empty space in the center of the disk. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jan 86 08:47:51 est From: allegra!phri!greenber@seismo.CSS.GOV (Ross Greenberg) Subject: File I/O from resident programs To: allegra!seismo!usc-isib.arpa!info-ibmpc Regarding opening up a file when you are terminate-and-stay-resident: WARNING PROFESSOR ROBINSON! WARNING! Be very careful when you attempt this. Many an FAT has been eaten for lunch when I first tried doing it. Two ways that work like a charm: 1) Take over interrupt 0x28. This interrupt gets called by DOS while its waiting for a key to be hit. Whenever it does get called (your program should not be time critical, btw, as this routine is never called from CPU intensive tasks), it is safe to do with DOS what you will. (Except for certain interruptions, such as Search First and Search Next, which either you'll screw-up for the foreground task, or they'll screw-up for you.) 2) Get the Critical Section Flag by issuing an int 21, with ah=0x34. This returns a pointer to a flag in ES:BX. When this flag is NULL, *and interrupts on on!*, it is safe to play DOS games. Unless you are the last program to take over the interrupt, don't trust the flag word: many "fine" programs like SideKick do not give you a true copy of the flag word on the stack, but rather give a simple "pushf" *after* interrupts are turned off. (Grumble...jeez!) Happy Hackin' ------------------------------ Date: Thu 30 Jan 86 09:35:52-PST From: Jackie <Burhans%ECLD@USC-ECL.ARPA> Subject: More MIX "C" notes To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA cc: howald%ECLD@USC-ECL.ARPA Two more notes on the MIX C compiler: There is indeed a #define MACRO feature and a /*$LISTMACRO*/ compiler option to expand macros during compilation. The linker creates very small .COM files, but they must be used with a runtime support file called RUNTIME.OVY, which has to reside on the same disk or in the same directory as the .COM file. You can, however, patch the linker to look for the overlay file on another drive or directory, in which case all linked files will share the path direction to RUNTIME.OVY. You can also use the linker to "build" an executable file with the runtime support in it. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jan 86 10:07:57 PST From: prandt!reynolds@AMES-NAS.ARPA (Don Reynolds) To: amelia!EB%OZ.AI.MIT.EDU%XX.LCS.MIT@EDU.ARPA, reynolds@AMES-NAS.ARPA Subject: Re: LS.LBR Cc: amelia!info-ibmpc-request@usc-isib.ARPA I will put a copy of it in our public directory on our ARPA node, ames-nas.arpa. It is a 4.2 bsd VAX which supports ftp login anonymous with any (non-null) password. I will put it in two subdirectories with Kermit, using image mode (kermit -is) for the executable in subdirectory /bin; and ascii mode for the documentation and source listings (for the folks at Info-IBMPC). Happy snarfing! Best, Don ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jan 86 14:10 EST From: Elefante@RADC-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: INT09 Side Effect To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Anybody know if the keyboard interrupt routine (INT09) leaves the byte value sent to the I/O port in tact after using it, i.e., can it be read again by subsequent code if another kb interrupt hasn't arrived to clobber it? ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------
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(Text 150166) 86-02-03 13.38 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <194> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-02-03 13.38 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <185> -- Received: 86-02-03 19.17 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-02-03 13.38 Marked by somebody. Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #17 %Original date: 1 Feb 1986 22:11:45 PST. TF: DSKD:801239.MAI %FROM: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 26410 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 2 Feb 86 11:39 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 02-Feb-1986 02:13:05-est Date: 1 Feb 1986 22:11:45 PST Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #17 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Saturday, 1 February 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 17 This Week's Editor: Richard Gillmann Today's Topics: PC RT is slow Public Domain Emacs Wanted MAX editor Vertical Retrace Boogie (2 msgs) AT XENIX vs Ungerman Bass Adhesive for your heat sink Re: Anchor modem Experience with the Proprinter PROCOMM and PIBTERM Tall Tree Jlaser & Soft Craft Fancy Font Differences between old and new AT BIOS Re: PC-DOS 3.1 Environment Size ARC versions: compatible downward but not upward Calling EXEC from Turbo Pascal Microsoft Assembler problem and solution Review of Prolog_V+ Query: Interleave factors WordPerfect and LaserJet Problem 8085 Cross-assembler Wanted Query: GCLISP & PC/XT Extended Memory Boards PCjr Expansion Query ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 31 Jan 86 10:35:03 est From: Scott Guthery <sguthery%slb-doll.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> To: INFO-IBMPC@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: PC RT is slow I recently took the RT out for a spin and didn't feel any of the speed that is claimed for the machine. In fact it felt down right soggy. The 600K lines of code that Big Blue added to make Unix idiot proof take a MIP off the top. Furthermore, the mouse is handled in software BY EACH PROCESS so if you have some stuff in the backgound the mouse cursor hops and jumps rather than glides as you move the mouse. I.e. you see the Unix scheduler on the screen! AIX should join PC/IX in the penalty box. How can one get AIS? ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jan 86 19:44:23 EST From: "Paul E. Hoffman" <PAULH@MC.LCS.MIT.EDU> To: info-ibmpc-request@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Public Domain Emacs Wanted I want to find out about two public domain EMACS' that are supposedly available (mini-EMACS and SCAMI). Is there a direct way of getting this information? Thanks, and if you want to communicate by analog (speaking), my tele is 415/644-0433. >>Paul Hoffman ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 1 Feb 86 03:09:38 PST From: larry@Jpl-VLSI.ARPA Subject: MAX editor To: info-ibmpc@isib.arpa About 8 months ago I got a binary copy of a freeware editor call MAX, a micro-Emacs. I find myself using it more and more, because it provides 95% of what I need outside of word processing. It's small (16K obj + 16K help file) and absolutely the fastest software I've ever seen on a PC. It has problems and limitations but the tradeoffs for me are on the plus side. For instance, when I go to GNU Emacs on a Sun or Gosling Emacs on VMS I don't have to go to Underthruster Drive. Now I want to bite the bullet, pay up for what I've got, and buy the source as well. Unfortunately...I don't know the phone or address of the author, Ivo Welch, residing in New York state someplace. Anyone out there know? Also, I'd appreciate any comments on the latest version. (Mine is 1.01 with a 1984 copyright notice.) Larry @ jpl-vlsi ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Jan 86 18:42 CST From: SMiller@HI-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: Vertical Retrace Boogie Query To: Gillmann@USC-ISIB.ARPA ReSent-To: info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA I saw your message in the INFO-IBMPC digest that mentioned the CGA and the ``Vertical retrace boogie'' that was required to avoid the nasty snow on the monitor when accessing the hardware directly. Could you elaborate on how to dance with the CGA, the steps required (and maybe a code example?) etc. so I can get rid of the snow and get on with my application... Thanks. Scott Miller SMiller at HI-Multics ------------------------------ Date: 1 Feb 1986 11:34:44 PST Subject: Re: Vertical Retrace Boogie From: Richard Gillmann <GILLMANN@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: SMiller@HI-MULTICS.ARPA cc: info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA If you just write directly to the regen buffers for the color/graphics adaptor, you will get snow all over your display (snowy mode). The snow can be avoided by the following means: 1. Do this only for the CGA, not the monochrome. 2. Vertical retrace occurs when the scanning electron beam of the monitor reaches the bottom of the screen. It must then go back to the top and this takes a small amount of time. 3. Wait for vertical retrace to begin. 4. Turn off video display (blank the screen). 5. Now do your direct writes to the regen buffers. 6. Turn the video display back on. The exact code for this can be found in the Tech Ref Manual BIOS listing for the video display function INT 10H. The above procedure for avoiding snowy mode causes the screen to flicker somewhat, as it does for example when you do a long "DIR" listing on a CGA equipped PC -- but this is much preferable to snowy mode. Dick Gillmann ------------------------------ Date: Thu 30 Jan 86 12:41:02-PST From: William Pearson <PEARSON@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA> Subject: AT XENIX vs Ungerman Bass To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA I have recently started using XENIX on my IBM PC/AT. The two serial ports are connected to a Hayes Smartmodem and a Ungerman-Bass Net/One LAN port. The LAN port is configured for a terminal, since I often use the PC as a smart terminal, but this seems to preclude its use as a dial-in port under XENIX. When I enable the LAN port under XENIX XENIX sends the "login:" message which the LAN echos and back and forth forever, so the LAN port is always busy and cannot be dialed into. I would appreciate help from anyone who has solved this problem without changing the LAN port to the host mode, where it cannot be used to dial out. Bill Pearson ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jan 86 17:10 PST From: Dave Platt <Dave-Platt%LADC@CISL-SERVICE-MULTICS.ARPA> To: INFO-IBMPC <INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Subject: Adhesive for your heat sink I wouldn't trust the heatsink grease. Instead, I'd suggest laying a narrow bead of silicon adhesive ("RTV") OVER the mounting feet of the heatsink... don't put it between the heatsink and the chip (or whatever), but instead lay a bead of it around the edges of the heatsink. There are some very nice high-temperature silicon adhesives; they are goopy when applied, become firm but flexible when they cure (1-12 hours), and can generally be peeled away cleanly, leaving no residue. I've used off-the-shelf clear RTV adhesive for mounting electronic components for years (any decent hardware or auto-supply store will have a tube for less than five bucks); if you're concerned about the heat, then you could try the silicon-based "form-a-gasket" available at auto-supply shops... it'll handle temperatures above the boiling point of water, and is made to peel away cleanly for replacement. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jan 86 17:15 PST From: Dave Platt <Dave-Platt%LADC@CISL-SERVICE-MULTICS.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Subject: Re: Anchor modem 202 mode? Bleah. That's a half-duplex protocol, I believe... it's completely incompatible with the Bell 212 protocol that most PCs and networks support. I believe that the same may be true for one of the V protocols that you mentioned... it looks to me as if your modem is not capable of running full-duplex at any speed greater than 300 baud (Bell 103). Given the way that the prices for 212-compatible modem cards has come down over the past couple of years, I'd strongly suggest that you consider retiring your current card and buying one that has the following characteristics: (1) It speaks both 103 [300 baud] and 212 [1200 bps] protocols; (2) it has good noise filtration [adaptive equalization is VERY nice, if you can find it], and (3) it uses the command set popularized by Hayes, and supported by LOTS of people. You can almost certainly find a card of this variety for under $350 these days (and likely lots less), and it will give you much greater satisfaction than the one you're using now. Also... you might want to consider shelling out the additional couple of hundred $$ for a modem that has 300, 1200 and 2400 full-duplex support. You'll have the option of operating at 2400 baud (and thus cutting file-transfer time, phone bills, and sometimes your CompuServe bill also). In addition, 2400-baud modems always have adaptive equalization (I *think* all of them do), which works much better than fixed equalization... so, a 2400-baud modem operating at 1200 baud (in Bell 212 mode) will generally work better than a 1200-baud-only modem operating in the same mode... since most 1200-baud modems have fixed equalization. ------------------------------ Date: 30 Jan 1986 18:42:59 PST Subject: Experience with the Proprinter From: Bill Mann <MANN@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA I've seen the Byte magazine review of the Proprinter by Rich Malloy. I agree with most of his reactions, which are rather lukewarm, but after using my Proprinter for a while I give it much worse grades than Rich does. The machine is simply underdesigned. For one thing the whole paper-drive mechanism is aligned by two little plastic clips gripping a shiny metal rod. With all the noise and vibration, they drift, and the printer goes into paper-crunching mode. It seems to happen about every 10 pages. It's silly to walk out of the room with the thing printing, because before you get back it will be stuffing little shreds into its guts. Another piece of underdesign is the lack of ribbon guides. Quite frequently the paper drags the ribbon up on top of the print head, making it necessary to handle the ribbon and mess the current page before reprinting. Inserting a page of letterhead or an envelope will generally throw the ribbon up as well. (The lack of ribbon guides also allows the ribbon to rest on the paper when not printing. And it always leaves a spot overnight.) It's also annoying that even though the machine has been out for many months, new software that I buy can't handle it. (Malloy's article seems to suggest that using Epson MX-80 settings will work, but it hasn't worked for me with Sideways or Lotus123. Local PC experts suggest ordering upgrades for everything.) As an Epson look-alike, it's hard to justify. Malloy says "If you will not be using the (front) slot much, I suggest you look around at other dot-matrix printers." I suggest you look around even if you really wanted to use the slot a lot. Bill Mann ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jan 86 18:10 EST From: "George Barbanis, Heldenprogrammer" <BARBANIS%umass-cs.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: PROCOMM and PIBTERM The PROCOMM package can be found on many PC bulletin boards (I got it from the local BBS - (413)549-1501 - for free). From the same BBS I got another communications package called PIBTERM which had a MUCH better VT100 emulation mode (PROCOMM's VT100 emulation, for instance, couldn't get EMACS right, whereas PIBTERM worked fine). Hope that helps, George Barbanis UMass - Amherst ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Jan 86 09:59:14 CST From: fenchel@rsch.wisc.edu (Bob Fenchel) To: brackenridge@isib Subject: Tall Tree Jlaser & Soft Craft Fancy Font ReSent-To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA The Jlaser is pretty good with Canon engines. We have adapted both Fancy Font and Fancy Word to use the Jlaser and Jram and can print a full page with multiple fonts etc. is just under 1 minute using an IBM AT and JRAM-AT. (it can take MUCH longer to use the graphics mode on the HP w/o jlaser). Please note that our phone number is 800 351-0400 (608 257-3300). Bob [Fancy Font is a troff like program which allows any normal word processor or editor to print documents using fonts. Fancy Word adds their font library as an extention to Microsoft Word. I guess that with the addition of the Fancy Word, Microsoft Word can support the Jlaser interface. -WAB] ------------------------------ Date: 31 Jan 86 09:15:21 PST (Friday) Subject: Differences between old and new AT BIOS From: Burton.osbunorth@Xerox.COM To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.Arpa Has anyone done a comparison of the old and new AT BIOS to see if there are any other changes besides the infamous speed check and support for additional drive type via the CMOS configuration memory? Some possibilities: Burn your own BIOS chips to bypass the speed check, if you have a new AT. Burn your own BIOS chips, to add non-standard drive types, if you have an old AT. Phil Burton Xerox Corp. ------------------------------ From: connery%bnrmtv.UUCP@BRL Subject: Re: PC-DOS 3.1 Environment size Date: Mon, 27-Jan-86 09:45:13 PST Actually the line in CONFIG.SYS should look something like: SHELL=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM C:\DOS /P /E:20 where the options are respectively: 1) Where to load the initial copy of COMMAND.COM 2) Where to get subsequent copies 3) Make these changes permanent 4) Environment size, in number of paragraphs. The default is 10 but anything between 10 and 62 will work. values outside that are ignored. Also, there's apparently (I got this info off compuserve) another switch /D which causes AUTOEXEC.BAT not to be executed, if you care. Glenn ------------------------------ To: info-ibmpc%usc-isib.csnet-relay@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA From: kwan%mhuxa.btl.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA Date: Fri, 31 Jan EST 1986 13:13 Subject: Bar code readers Does anyone have experience with bar code readers (hard- and soft-ware) on IBM PC? We have a few TimeWand's from Videx for reading bar codes. However, they are not for *interactive* processing, i.e., bar codes are read offline first into a wand, then the data are fed into the PC later. Pointers to where to find bar code readers will be useful. Choi Kwan ATT Bell Labs (201) 582-5727 "mhuxa!kwan"@btl.csnet ihnp4!mhuxa!kwan ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Jan 86 19:22:58 EST From: James H. Coombs <JAZBO%BROWNVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: ARC versions: compatible downward but not upward Koji Okazaki points out that there are incompatibility problems with ARC files. The best source for information is the documentation that System Enhancement Associates provides with the program. In general, however, they have been guaranteeing upward compatibility but have not been able to maintain downward compatibility. In their own words, ARC 5.0 can still read archives created by earlier versions of ARC, but once again it creates archives which older versions cannot read. Since every version brings considerable enhancements, developers are understandably anxious to use the newest versions immediately. This creates problems for those who do not have the latest version. To reduce the confusion, we should do two things: 1) Developers should specify the version of ARC that they have used. 2) Everyone should avail him/her/selves of the latest version as soon as possible. The first step is straightforward as long as there is some medium external to the ARC file for expressing requirements. Unfortunately, many bulletin boards allow for only 40 character descriptions, and there is not enough room for a description of requirements. Since ARC is rapidly becoming a standard, we might consider a convention of ending program descriptions with strings such as "ARC5.0". In any case, developers must find some means of letting people know how to unpackage their products. The second step--getting the latest version--is a little more complicated. Still, if people know what version of ARC they need, they will at least know that they cannot unwrap the package until the proper version appears. Developers might consider delaying the use of a version until it has had some time to circulate. Hope this helps. Let me know if you need ARC 5.0. The documentation contains a detailed version history, so I will not repeat it here. --Jim ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Jan 86 17:50:50 PST From: David_T._Price%UBC.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA To: Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Calling EXEC from Turbo Pascal I have been working on a Turbo Pascal routine to call the DOS function 4B (Load and Execute Program) from within a Turbo program. After a fair amount of fiddling around, and cursing Microsoft documentation, I've almost got it working. The only problem occurs when I attempt to load the DOS COMMAND processor from my invoking program. Assuming it is on the boot drive (A:), and the default drive is the boot drive, then I get a mysterious error message: Specified COMMAND search directory bad but COMMAND is loaded correctly and works. If I attempt to load it from a logged drive other than the boot drive, then I get the same error message, but (not very surprisingly) COMMAND is not loaded. This error message is not mentioned in my copy of the DOS 2.11 user's manual, and it's not in the Programmer's Reference Manual either as far as I know. Could anyone explain what the error message means (maybe someone in the vicinity of Bellvue WA?) and what I should do about it, if anything. Thanks, Dave. ------------------------------ From: frank%sagan.UUCP@BRL Subject: Microsoft Assembler problem and solution Date: Tue, 28-Jan-86 17:17:07 PST phil@kcl-cs.UUCP writes: >I think that the following should assemble without problems: >PUBLIC foo >foo PROC NEAR > mov [si],OFFSET bar >foo ENDP > >bar PROC NEAR >bar ENDP >All of this being in the code segment of course. The error message from MASM >is: > error 35: Operand must have size >This happens with both V3.0 and V4.0 of MASM. Is this a bug and how do I get >around it? The assembler first converts the "OFFSET bar" into a (relative) constant, thus forgetting its type (size). This confuses the opcode generator, which doesn't know if SI is pointing to a byte- or word-sized data. Thus MASM complains. The only work-around I found was: mov [si],Word Ptr (OFFSET bar) which looks funny, but assembles correctly. The parentheses are necessary, as: mov [si],Word Ptr OFFSET bar again confuses the assembler. The fact that the compiler outputs this code is probably a case of premature optimization (the coder missed one of the cases). I usually see compilers output something like: mov ax,OFFSET bar mov [si],ax which is one more byte but one less clock (on an 8088). ...Frank Whaley, MicroPro Product Development UUCP: {decvax!decwrl | ucbvax}!dual! {hplabs | glacier}!well! seismo!lll-crg! ihnp4!ptsfa! pyramid!micropro!sagan!frank ARPA: micropro!sagan!frank@lll-crg.ARPA "I'm told there are better programs [than WordStar], but I'm also told there are better alphabets." --William F. Buckley Jr. ------------------------------ From: dcgoricanec%watnot.UUCP@BRL Subject: Review of Prolog_V+ Date: Tue, 28-Jan-86 14:18:39 PST I have used prolog_v+ (plvp) for 4 months in a professional evaluation sense for a major Canadian employer. For 99.95 US Chalcedony Software will mail a box containing : one (1) handsome red-clad professional-looking manual; one (1) 360-kb diskette containing an AMAZING prolog interpreter one (1) licensing agreement; Plvp supplies IBM PC (and clone) dependent graphics predicates such as : setdot, getdot, drwln and scrnrl (for rolling screen window), exciting predicates for any prolog, as well as comprehensive dos calls from within plvp, as well as ability to load c, pascal, dbase3, etc. stuff below plvp as a coresident routine, as well as 8087 support (as coresident routine), as well as 64-bit floating point reals, as well as editor support for user's choice, as well as 90% Clocksin + Mellish compatibility, with full comp. availiable by simply adding some predicates to the plvp library (prolog.lib) file, as well as ample demo routines on disk, as well as the best and most descriptive prolog manual i have ever seen, allowing anybody over 16 years old to learn prolog in a single day. bug report : all of the 100+ predicates that I have tested work . PLVP is an interpreter,a compiler would be nice. There are 2 bugs : 1. Division by a real number in interval [0.0,.999999) will not work. (Divide by zero error ?) My patch involved inserting the following predicate for multiplicative inverse in prolog.lib : inv(X,Y) :- A = 1000000, Y is A / (X * A). ( if I remember correctly. ) 2. Operators are handled inconsistently sometimes, but there are obvious solutions avoiding problems. ie. *,/ are treated differently than +,- " user-defined. typically, op(50,yfx,^)? These are inconsequential difficulties since I have a plvp+ symdiff program similar to C + M but with the full CRC table of differentiation formulae which runs v-e-r-y smoothly . In summary, PLVP is a usefully feature-packed ,C + M standard, well-documented language with only two bugs which you can patch easily. There is no telephone support, but you can always mail me. :-) The major advantage of plvp is the price : 99.95 US . Don't buy the stripped down plv for 69.95 because $ 30 is cheap for all the bells and whistles provided in plvp. PLVP works on clones very well also. :-) BUY IT ! It remains to be seen if MPROLOG Compiler for PC (mega-expensive) conquers the business market, but plvp may be destined for a significant educational role due to its cheap price and superior primary and tertiary documentation. The author is in no way affiliated with Chalcedony Software nor MPROLOG, and will only accept positive liability for this review . ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Jan 86 21:58:16 est From: Chris Schmandt <geek@MEDIA-LAB.MIT.EDU> To: INFO-IBMPC@ISIB.ARPA Subject: Query: Interleave factors I have read with interest many references to interleave factors lately. Now it is my turn to deal with it, and I am confused. I am replacing a fried 10Mb disk from an XT with a 20 Mb disk. I suspect I want to use a different interleave factor, but have no idea where one even specifies an interleave factor to Dos (I am using 2.0). Or is it something that gets stuck in the new Rom for the disk controller? Thanks a lot if anyone can clarify this for me. chris ------------------------------ Date: Thu 30 Jan 86 20:08:49-PST From: HOWALD%ECLD@USC-ECL.ARPA Subject: WordPerfect and LaserJet Problem To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA We are experiencing difficulties trying to get WordPerfect (4.1) and the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet printer to print in boldface. The printer prints boldface correctly when we use the cartridge fonts, but not when we use the internal "courier" font (under- lining is o.k.). The setup string *IS+ correct according to the printer manual. It looks like a bug in the software. Has anyone else had this difficulty and can provide a solution? Thanks in advance! James Howald howald@usc-ecld ------------------------------ Date: 31 January 86 09:13-PST From: DEP%SLACVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: 8085 Cross-assembler Wanted We're looking for an 8085 assembler that runs on an IBM PC. Has anyone heard of such a thing? Don Pelton, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Stanford, Calif. Bitnet: DEP@SLACVM Arpa: DEP%SLACVM.BITNET@wiscvm.ARPA Usenet: ihnp4!ptsfa!well!dep 415-856-8032 (home) 415-854-3300 ext. 2901 (work) ------------------------------ Date: Fri 31 Jan 86 13:17:25-PST From: Ted Markowitz <G.TJM@SU-SCORE.ARPA> Subject: Query: GCLISP & PC/XT Extended Memory Boards To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Excuse me if this has has been asked before, but has anyone been able to get GCLISP (Golden Common) to use extended memory on an XT? I seem to remember a message about it. Any pointers would be appreciated. --ted ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Jan 86 13:48:57 EST From: Michael Camilletti (CSD) <cptcam@AMSAA.ARPA> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: PCjr Expansion Query I have the same questions as jim@maryland.arpa. 1. Identify the pin-out of the 16 pin connector on the serial connector. 2. Any recommended add-on drive kits? I've only found J&M Systems@ $295. 3. 128k RAM expansion hidden costs? What do I need besides the board? What do I need to know to install it? Microsoft offers a board at $145. Is it any good? Many thanks! CPTCAM@AMSAA.ARPA ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------
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(Text 151583) 86-02-10 14.31 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <195> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-02-10 14.31 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <186> -- Received: 86-02-10 19.32 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-02-10 14.31 Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #18 %Original date: 6 Feb 1986 22:42:03 PST. TF: DSKD:822214.MAI %FROM: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 17085 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 10 Feb 86 11:40 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 07-Feb-1986 08:47:03-est Date: 6 Feb 1986 22:42:03 PST Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #18 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Thursday, 6 February 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 18 This Week's Editor: Richard Nelson Today's Topics: Brief Test of Victor SpeedPac 286 Fast Xtals in AT / Sidekick Calling EXEC from Turbo Pascal (2 msgs) PCjr to VAX 11/780 Query PCjr Serial Connector Wordperfect 4.1 and HP Laserjet (2 msgs) Sluggish Hard Disc Burroughs Terminal Emulator Renaming Subdirectories Directories as Data Files Query Plotting Overhead Transparencies Query Faster Xtals in Compaq 286 Query Hard Disk Optimizer Query "Screen Machine" Recommendations Request Word Processor for Russian Query ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 2-Feb-86 16:12:32 EDT From: David Farber <farber%pcpond.pc.udel.edu@Louie.UDEL.EDU> Subject: Brief Test of Victor SpeedPac 286 To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA, ud-ibmpc@louie.udel.EDU CC: farber%pcpond.pc.udel.edu@Louie.UDEL.EDU I recently purchased for testing a Victor SpeedPac 286. The ordering people were very pleasant, the unit came RIGHT away and all seems very good. The unit is short board with a umbilical cord that plugs into the 8088 socket. It has a 8k cache and a 7.5 80286 and can hold a 80287 (5 or 8). The construction was very good with even a big heat sink. I tested it using the ARC 5 File achieve program with a 80k compressed file in ramdisk. I ran the "test" option which has to de squeeze the text to check for validity. (it uses Lempel-Zev coding scheme. Run times are as follows: AT (9mh with 150 nano memory) 30 sec PC with SpeedPac 39 Zenith 148 (4.77 mh)= PC 118 (note this is the same as the PC without SpeedPac) Zenith 148 (8mh) 72 Seems that speedpac is a reasonable way to speed up an old PC at a reasonable price ($595). Dave ------------------------------ From: davidsen@ge-crd.ARPA Subject: Fast Xtals in AT / Sidekick Date: Sat, 1-Feb-86 12:39:48 PST I would encourage anyone who has a problem with the floppy drives and a fast clock to look at all the sources of the problem carefully before slowing down. I had some of these problems (9 MHz) and tried some patches and stuff without much luck. I finally found that Sidekick was the cause (or at least part of the problem), since taking it out turned hard failures into perfect operation. Since Sidekick also craps up the operation of DOS functions 6 and 7 (direct read), I'm not too unhappy taking it out. To prove that it does this, write a program with DEBUG doing: a100 mov ah,7 int 21 g=100,104 With Sidekick out, the values of ALL keys are passed back to the program. With Sidekick, ^P toggles the printer, ^S stops output, ^Q starts output, and ^C kills the program. Nobody ever used those keys in an editor, huh? Borland gets by this in their editor by bypassing the DOS completely and going to the hardware. This is acceptable in a program for the PC, but making DOS fail is not! -bill davidsen ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Feb 86 09:04:52 est From: allegra!phri!greenber@seismo.CSS.GOV (Ross Greenberg) Subject: Calling EXEC from Turbo Pascal Regarding calling EXEC from Turbo Pascal: I've gotten the same error message from Lattice. I discovered what caused the problem in Lattice, chances are the same thing caused it in Turbo. SWITCHAR=- When Lattice calls command.com, it appends a '/c' to the string. If you have SWITCHAR=- (or any other character), then you're trying to execute a program called "COMMAND/", which is a tough one to create or parse! :-) The dumb code doesn't checkint 0x21, ah = 0x37 to determine or set the switch character. Specs: al = 0, return current SWITCHAR in dl, al = 1, set SWITCHAR as specified in dl al = 2, return device available byte in dl al = 3, set device available byte as specified in dl if al = 2 and dl = 0, then I/O to devices should be done through" /dev/device (/dev/con, /dev/prn, etc.) DOS 2.x allows you to specify SWITCHAR=- in CONFIG.SYS, DOS 3.x doesn't. For DOS 3.x, a little program utilizing the above calls can set it the way you desire. ------------------------------ To: hplabs!INFO-IBMPC%usc-isib.arpa@csnet-relay.arpa Date: Mon, 3 Feb 86 10:53:52 PST From: Arvind Kumar <hpcea!kumar@hplabs.ARPA> Subject: Calling EXEC from Turbo Pascal >Subject: Calling EXEC from Turbo Pascal > >The only problem occurs when I attempt to load the DOS >COMMAND processor from my invoking program. Assuming it is >on the boot drive (A:), and the default drive is the boot >drive, then I get a mysterious error message: > > Specified COMMAND search directory bad > My semi-intelligent guess is that somehow the PATH variable in the environment is getting clobbered. Memory allocation in DOS and on the 8086 being what it is, this is not impossible to do. The latest issue of Programmer's Journal has an entire article devoted to this (written by yours truly). With the set of procedures described in the article, I did not run into the problem you are having, so you might want to take a look at it. Arvind Kumar kumar@hplabs@csnet ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Feb 86 11:01:14 EST From: Michael Camilletti (CSD) <cptcam@AMSAA.ARPA> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA cc: cptcam@AMSAA.ARPA Subject: PCjr to VAX 11/780 Query My organization is planning to provide me with a Racal Vadic model #VA3451 to use with my IBM PCjr for access to the mainframe. There is a lack of good information about how to accomplish this. Our particular need is to determine the additional hardware, firmware and/or software requirements this will entail. The system manager does not have the details on the IBM side of the connection to assist in the set-up. We think we can fabricate the DB25 connector to the PCjr's serial connector if we can identify the pin out configuration. We are unsure of any other hardware restrictions there might be. Also, is there a particular firmware or software application needed to communicate once the hardware is hooked up. We have access to PC Talk. Finally, when all this hook-up is accomplished what communications limits will we face. Can we expect to download information to a floppy on the micro? Can we send files from the micro to the mainframe? Maybe what we need is a good reference manual. As you can guess, we are initiates to the micro-mainframe operation. Any help is appreciated. Thanks. CPTCAM@AMSAA.ARPA ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Feb 86 23:16 pst From: "tomaschke greg%b.mfenet"@LLL-MFE.ARPA Subject: PCjr Serial Connector To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa In regards to the questions about the pin-out of the 16-pin serial connector on the PCjr-- The following material is taken from pages 2-129 and 2-134, ("Serial Port"), and 3-89 thru 3-90 ("Serial Devices Cable") of the IBM Technical Reference Manual for the PCjr. As you are looking at the back of the Jr, the 16-pin connecter is labeled as follows A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 (I think this is right. There is some ambiguity in the diagram on p3-89) The pin specification is A1 not used A2 Data Terminal Ready A3 Request to Send A4 Transmit Data A5 Carrier Detect A6 Data Set Ready A7 Clear to Send A8 Receive Data B1 Shield Ground B2 Signal Ground B3-B8 Signal Ground (not used) According to the diagram on p3-90, the correct connection to a 25-pin connector is A2 - 20 A3 - 4 A4 - 2 A5 - 8 A6 - 6 A7 - 5 A8 - 3 B1 - 1 B2 - 7 Hope this helps. Greg. Tomaschke%ccc@lll-mfe.arpa ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Feb 86 09:56:12 PST From: Brian_McCashin%UBC.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA To: Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Using Laserjet with Wordperfect My understanding is that the Internal Courier font has no Bold or Italic characters. You need the courier font cartridge to get bold face. Underlining doesn't need a stress change. Brian McCashin%UBC.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA [This is correct. All you get with a vanilla LaserJet is plain Courier in portrait and landscape modes. Additional character sets require font cartridges. -ed] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Feb 1986 12:46 MTN From: Kelly McDonald <KCM%BYUADMIN.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: Wordperfect 4.1 and HP Laserjet To: <INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> cc: <HOWALD%ECLD@USC-ECL.ARPA> Following is a message I received from someone on our campus that seems to have had the same problem. ====================================================================== Received: by BYUADMIN (Mailer X1.23) id 2815; Fri, 24 Jan 86 13:26:17 MTN Date: Fri, 24-JAN-1986 13:24 MST Sender: (CTSHHH@BYUVAX) via List Processor <LISTSERV@BYUADMIN> Reply-to: Distribution List <PCSHARE@BYUADMIN> From: <CTSHHH@BYUVAX> Subject: Bold LaserJet Courier with WordPerfect To: KELLY MCDONALD <KCM@BYUADMIN> (Distribution: PCSHARE) Hi! I am out here; I just forgot to read my mail lately. There are two ways you can get bold Courier on the Laser Jet. 1) Get the cartridge which has the italic and bold Courier fonts, or 2) get WordPerfect to do it for you with "shadow printing." To make WordPerfect do shadow printing, run the PRINTER program (on the Learning disk) and select option 3 (printer definitions). Edit the definition for HP Laserjet A (Courier 10). Pick option 5 (superscript/subscript/underline/bold), then delete any codes under line 9 and line A (bold on, bold off). When WordPerfect sees that there is no printer code to do bolding, it will shadow print. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Feb 86 11:30:54 PST From: Jim Carter <jimc@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU> To: wilkins@fas.ri.cmu.edu.ARPA CC: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: Sluggish Hard Disc In a recent PC digest, wilkins@fas.ri.cmu.edu.ARPA writes: > ...Why might my hard disc have gotten so slow? Maybe it's getting fragmented. It's quick to access sectors in their natural order, but if they are spread all over the disc it's much slower. DOS allo- cates the first vacant sector, then when that fills it gives the then-first vacant sector, ad nauseum. So if your disc had a lot of little files, and you deleted them, and then wrote a .EXE file, it would end up strung all over creation and would load slowly. Other scenarios also produce fragmentation. Several programs are on the market for making hard disc files contiguous. I have used "Disk Optimizer" by SoftLogic Solutions, 530 Chestnut St, Manchester, NH 03101. James F. Carter (213) 206-1306 UCLA-SEASnet; 2567 Boelter Hall; 405 Hilgard Ave.; Los Angeles, CA 90024 UUCP:...!{ihnp4,ucbvax,{hao!cepu}}!ucla-cs!jimc ARPA:jimc@locus.UCLA.EDU ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Feb 86 16:41 EST From: Hess@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: Burroughs Terminal Emulator To: Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Well, this may be too late, but: I saw a Burroughs emulator at a Sperry site. It was running on their AT clone. Try: Southern Computer Systems Attn. David McKay 2732 7th Ave. South Birmingham, AL. 35233 (205)251-2985 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Feb 86 22:55 CST From: Wilkinson@HI-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: Renaming Subdirectories To: MATHES%UMCVMB.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU cc: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA The easiest way that I have found under PC-DOS 3.0 on my XT is with the NAME command in BASICA direct mode: NAME "\dirpath\subdir" AS "\dirpath\newdir" You can also MOVE a file from one dir to another as in: NAME "\dirpath\file" AS "\newdir\file" OR rename a file as in: NAME "\dirpath\file" AS "\dirpath\newname" An combinations thereof. Richard {Wilkinson@HI-MULTICS} ------------------------------ Date: 01 Feb 86 15:16 CDT From: David_R_Linn%VANDERBILT.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA To: "Info-IBMPC Digest" <INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Subject: Directories as Data Files Query I need some help reading MSDOS 2+ directories as data files. I'm working in Microsoft C Version 3 but will use 8086 assembler if I must. David R Linn@Vanderbilt.MAILNET LINNDR@VUEngVAX.BITNET David Linn P.O. 3241-B Vanderbilt Nashville, TN 37235 ------------------------------ Date: 3 Feb 1986 (Monday) 1707-EDT From: LINDA BOHNSACK <BOHNSA@wharton-10.ARPA> Subject: Plotting Overhead Transparencies Query To: info-ibmpc%isib@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA I am interested in a software package (cheap to about $300) which is capable of producing overhead transparencies on a plotter. I have an IBM XT and I am willing to purchase a plotter (two pens). Does anyone have any suggestions? Sincerely, Linda Bohnsack ------------------------------ Date: Mon 3 Feb 86 16:37:49-PST From: Bob Knight <KNIGHT@SRI-NIC.ARPA> Subject: Faster Xtals in Compaq 286 Query To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA With all the discussion about faster crystals in ATs, I have yet to see such discussion regarding Compaq Portable 286s. Has anybody tried it? Is it feasible...so on and so forth. For various reasons, primarily convenience (we do a fair amount of field work, and a portable is MUCH easier to move than a conventional machine), we're probably going to buy a Portable 286. Any comments pro or con from people on this group? Thanks, Bob ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 04 Feb 86 06:43:49 cet To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA From: 10409813%WSUVM1.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Subject: Hard Disk Optimizer Query I am looking for a Public Domain Hard Disk Optimizer program. My first choice would be for some source code that is fully debugged. However, if someone out there is working on this sort of thing currently, I would be willing to help with development in exchange for its use. For those of you who don't know, a Hard Disk Optimizer is designed to rearrange the files of your HD so that all the clusters assigned to each are contiguous, and files within a directory follow each other physically on the disk. It cuts down on the time to read a single file, as well as the seek time when reading different files in the same directory. Please reply by direct E-mail, as I am not receiving info-ibmpc at this time. Thanks in advance, Eric Schneider 10409813@wsuvm1.BITNET or eric@wsu.CSNET ------------------------------ Date: Tue 4 Feb 86 13:39:47-PST From: Marvin Zauderer <ZAUDERER@SU-SUSHI.ARPA> Subject: "Screen Machine" Recommendations Request To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA A "screen machine", as far as I can tell, is a program that allows you to prototype a (usually frame-based) program quickly. Some of them produce a file which can be re-"executed", which in this case means that you can proceed automatically through the sequence of frames (screens) that you have designed. Some of these programs actually produce working code; I've seen one that produces Turbo Pascal code from your specifications. I'm looking for a screen machine which supports the EGA card, i.e. that operates in high-resolution mode. I'm not very particular about whether or not it produces code -- I just want something that will allow me to prototype and link together a sequence of screens. Any recommendations? Thanks, Marvin ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 4 Feb 1986 12:55:14 EDT From: FAC0395%UOFT01.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU (Joe Feustle) Subject: Word Processor for Russian Query To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Can anyone recommend a word processor for the PC that will handle Russian? Thanks. ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------
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(Text 151667) 86-02-10 17.11 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <196> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-02-10 17.11 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <187> -- Received: 86-02-10 19.32 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-02-10 17.11 Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #19 %Original date: 7 Feb 1986 23:48:00 PST. TF: DSKD:822237.MAI %FROM: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 25110 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 10 Feb 86 11:53 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 08-Feb-1986 03:38:38-est Date: 7 Feb 1986 23:48:00 PST Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #19 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Saturday, 8 February 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 19 This Week's Editor: Richard Nelson Today's Topics: ARC - Freeware File Compression AT 1.2Mb Drive Failure Not Maxell Media UNIX|STAT Ordering Information More About the PC RT (Than You Ever Wanted to Know...) Beware of 'MVDIR.BAT' (& all self-documenting code) Microsoft Quick-Basic 1.00 Known Bugs Undocumented Microsoft LINK Option: /E Microsoft Assembler Alsys Ada on AT Windows with Mouse; Norton Editor The CHMOD Woes XTREE Review Plotting Overhead Transparencies Hard Disk Optimizer AT to VAX Serial Problem XENIX outb() Function Not Found Parallel Transfer Rate of AT Query Columbia BIOS ROM Query Film Digitizing Query DBASE III+ Query Digitizing Tablets Query Apple Laserwriter with MS-DOS Query ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 7 Feb 1986 17:33:53 PST Subject: ARC - Freeware File Compression From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA We will shortly be getting a new version of Hack for our lending library. For those that may have forgotten Hack is sort of a super Rogue (a screen oriented adventure game). I understand from Tim Iverson (iverson%cory@BERKELEY) the source code is some 280K. Koji will let the world know when we have transferred the files. The only reason I mention this before the fact is that we are getting the file in ARC format. I have seen several messages in the digest discussing differences between ARC 5.0 format and ARC 4.0 format. I didn't know what these messages were referring to until now. ARC is a freeware program from System Enhancement Associates which compresses files of any kind (by one of four compression techniques) and stores the compressed files in one large archive file. It is just the ticket for something like Hack which involves dozens of files and hundreds of thousands of characters. If anyone is interested in this program, I have placed the file ARC500.DOC in our info-ibmpc lending library. INFO-IBMPC still maintains its policy of not distributing freeware, and all program submissions must be in clear text source code. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Feb 86 8:50:37 EST From: "Lawrence D. Sher" <sher@BBNJ.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: AT 1.2Mb Drive Failure Not Maxell Media In Vol. 4 Issue 105 of this Digest (14-Sep-85), I reported that 2 of 10 Maxell floppies (high capacity type MD2-HD for the PC AT) had failed. After two more failed, I tried the Dysan equivalent, whereupon one of those failed. I called Maxell and explained what had happened on the chance that they would see some self-interest in understanding the problem. They were extra-ordinarily helpful, and I must say that were every company half as helpful, we would have a much more serene Digest to read. Witness: They offered to send two of my failed diskettes to their lab for detailed examination. I sent the diskettes and (after a month) they replied with a telephoned, then a written(!!!), report including micrographs and oscilloscope tracings. The report shows that the head of my seldom-used IBM high-density diskette drive is canted so as to scratch track 0 into track heaven. The two failed samples (one Maxell, one Dysan) show identical scratches on the 200x photographs. There are several lessons for us all: 1. A new diskette drive can have an insidious diskette-killing disease. 2. Media failures should not automatically be blamed on a "bad batch". 3. Maxell has shown itself to be a paragon of an end-user-oriented company. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Feb 86 10:01:36 est From: "Bennett E. Todd III" <ecsvax!bet%mcnc.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: UNIX|STAT Ordering Information Turns out the announcement of the availability of UNIX|STAT for MS-DOS went out early in November of 1985, and I cannot find machine-readable for it anywhere, so I will just retype the crucial information: Requirements to run UNIX|STAT: MS-DOS at least 96K RAM floppy drives Of course, more memory and a hard disk make things (substantially) nicer to use, but isn't that always the case? Send a check or money order for $15 in US funds (no personal notes or invoices) made out to Gary Perlman. Include the return mailing address in *exactly* the following format: Gary Perlman School of Information Technology Wang Institute of Graduate Studies Tyngsboro, MA 01879 USA Distribution is via US Mail *only*. You can also write him for more information. -Bennett Todd Bennett Todd -- Duke Computation Center, Durham, NC 27706-7756; (919) 684-3695 UUCP: ...{decvax,seismo,philabs,ihnp4,akgua}!mcnc!ecsvax!duccpc!bet ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Feb 86 22:03:21 est From: "John R. Levine, P.O.Box 349, Cambridge MA 02238-0349 (617-494-1400)" <ima!johnl%cca-unix.arpa@cca-unix.arpa> Subject: More About the PC RT (Than You Ever Wanted to Know...) To: info-ibmpc%usc-isib.arpa.ima!net.micro.pc@cca-unix.arpa I just got a copy of the PC RT "technology book" which contains 157 pages all about the RT's hardware and software, including the VRM and AIX but not 4.2BSD. Order SA23-1057, "IBM RT Personal Computer Technology" from your local IBM branch office. John Levine, ima!johnl, Levine@YALE ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 06 Feb 86 02:46:28 EST From: James H. Coombs <JAZBO%BROWNVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: Beware of 'MVDIR.BAT' (& all self-documenting code) Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #15 (01/28/86) carried a notice that gave directions for moving "an entire directory." The procedure involves creating a 'MVDIR.BAT', which invokes the public domain 'MV.DIR' (presumably the one by Harry G. McGavran, Jr., version 3.00). While I'm sure that the author of the notice has had lots of success with this technique, one of my colleagues destroyed our hard disk directory on the first try. Don't ask me how. All files were moved into one directory, which ended up with bad links--an error message that I have never seen before. When I restored the original directory structure, I ended up with cross-linked files and truncated entries. I restored a couple of the files but lost a directory. CHKDSK recovered a lot of chains that were unrecognizable, of course. Finally, I can't boot off the disk. I found that COMMAND.COM was degraded and restored that. Still no help. It will be quicker to just reformat the damned thing and start from scratch. So far, 'MVDIR.BAT' has cost me two hours. If I'm lucky, I can get everything set up again in another two hours, plus diddling this and that for several weeks. I hope no one else has shared this experience, and I am writing in the hope that no one else will. Finally, I have to say that I am not pleased to find an uncommented, unexplained BAT file in INFO-IBMPC. I don't have the time to work through it to figure out what it is supposed to do, and I am sure as hell not going to try it out. I suppose that the author might feel that the code is "self-documenting"; well, that is why I would never have tried the damned thing in the first place. Unfortunately, my colleague is not a programmer and has not been taught to recognize and revile something that is not well-thought out. For those who do not have technical backgrounds, I strongly encourage that you do not try out public domain software unless you understand how it works or have had it "certified" by a local expert. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Feb 86 05:50:30 PST From: Ya'akov_Miles%UBC.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Microsoft Quick-Basic 1.00 Known Bugs List of Known Bugs in Microsoft Quick-Basic Compiler Ver 1.0 ------------------------------------------------------------ I currently have Microsoft Quick-Basic Compiler 1.00 in my possession, and have placed an order for Microsoft Quick-Basic 2.00 with JMG International. I found the following bugs in Ver 1.00 and would like to know if they have been fixed: o BASCOM /C:size accepted, but not documented. Does it work? o BASCOM /V checks each STATEMENT for events. Docs say /V checks each LINE o BASCOM /W does not allow ON KEY GOSUB/ON COM GOSUB/... etc. at run-time o BREAK sent to (opened) COM1: or COM2: makes QUICK-BASIC program to crash Please reply to this message... ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Feb 86 06:07:10 PST From: Ya'akov_Miles%UBC.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Undocumented Microsoft LINK Option: /E There exists an undocumented(?) switch to Microsoft LINK.EXE ver 3.XX, which will cause an automatic compaction during binding. This process will eliminate storage for uninitialized arrays from the .EXE file produced by the linker, reducing the .EXE file size by up to 300 percent! To use this feature, specify the /E option to the command line, eg LINK myprog/E; should work. For example, PCKERMIT.EXE ver 2.27 was 80K when linked normally but shrunk down to 33K when linked with the /E option... ------------------------------ From: dob%ihmax.UUCP@brl Subject: Microsoft Assembler Date: Sat, 1-Feb-86 06:41:31 PST ReSent-Date: 6 Feb 1986 14:18:37 PST ReSent-From: Richard Gillmann <GILLMANN@USC-ISIB.ARPA> ReSent-To: info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA > >I think that the following should assemble without problems: > >PUBLIC foo > >foo PROC NEAR > > mov [si],OFFSET bar > >foo ENDP ... > > error 35: Operand must have size > > The only work-around I found was: > mov [si],Word Ptr (OFFSET bar) > which looks funny, but assembles correctly. The parentheses are > necessary, as: ... Won't this work? mov word ptr [si],OFFSET bar Daniel M. O'Brien (ihnp4!ihmax!dob) AT&T Bell Laboratories IH 4A-257, x 4782 Naperville-Wheaton Road Naperville, IL 60566 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Feb 86 14:37:52 PST From: larry@Jpl-VLSI.ARPA Subject: Alsys Ada on AT To: info-ibmpc@isib.arpa I received info on a full-Ada compiler for the PC-AT today. Alsys Inc. is the vendor. It's headed by Jean Ichbiach, the Ada design-team leader. The compiler looks very interesting; I intend to give it a close look at the SIGAda/AdaJUG conference the last week of this month in L.A. Alsys says they will be demoing their AT, Sun, and possibly Apollo versions of the compiler. The host is an AT with a hard disk, DOS 3.x, and at least 512K of memory. The compiler comes with a ~3 MB memory board that fits in a full slot. You run under PC-DOS, using your own editor to create source files. Source files are stored in a library created and maintained by an Alsys-proprietary library manager. You could, of course, edit your files on an XT or any other system that creates ASCII files you could copy to your AT. Possibly even the library manager would run on an XT or PC compatible. Compilation, however, has to be done on the AT. The Alsys linker binds into the load module a run-time executive which handles dynamic memory allocation/freeing. If you want to create programs which do parallel processing with Ada tasks, you would bind a larger alternate run-time executive which also implements tasking . The resulting module will run on a PC or compatible under MS-DOS 2.x. If you want to do any floating point the target must also have an 8087/80287 chip. No mention is made of a symbolic debugger of any kind, a serious lack if there really is none. If the target is an AT with more than 512K of memory you can have it run in virtual mode (this is NOT virtual memory, of course, but the 16 MByte direct memory addressing feature of the 80286). There's no need to recompile to have your program run in real or virtual mode; I assume this is a linker option. Alsys claims the object code is about as compact and fast as C code and give a few benchmarks to support that. The size of the run-time executive isn't given, however. My guess is that the executable is probably a good deal bulkier than the C executable if it does parallel processing, due to the tasking part of the alternate run-time exec. (The dynamic-memory management code in the executive should be comparable to the C code in size.) Alsys says they'll soon pre-validate the AT compiler system under the Ada verification suite 1.6 as a preliminary to getting an official validation from DoD. They say the total cost including the ~3MB memory will be under $3000. If the compile and execution speed and load-module size isn't too bad, my section will probably buy a copy. That combined with Alsys' computer-aided instruction "Lessons on Ada" ought to make a good educational tool. After the conference I'll pass on any interesting info. Larry @ JPL-VLSI.arpa ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Feb 86 08:22:38 PST From: walton%Deimos@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu Subject: Windows with Mouse; Norton Editor To: info-ibmpc@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu I just got a Microsoft Mouse for use with Windows and my Zenith Z-151. I have seen the future of DOS, and it is good (to misquote PC magazine). I have come to agree with those who have said that Windows without a mouse is not a good thing. Windows with a mouse is rapidly becoming indispensable to me. Now that a means exists for making any program RAM-resident, perhaps we can hope to see Borland Lightning for Windows... On another topic--I just ordered my copy of The Norton Editor. It was reviewed positively in PC magazine, saying essentially the ads were correct--namely it is fast, great for Pascal and C, and can do simple word processing. PC griped a bit about the fairly limited printer support, but whatta ya want for 50 bucks? I would be interested in corresponding with other users of this editor on tricks and customization. Steve Walton walton%deimos@hamlet.cit.edu swalton@caltech.bitnet ------------------------------ Date: 6 Feb 1986 02:59:43 PST Subject: The CHMOD Woes From: Craig Milo Rogers <ROGERS@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA CHMOD (PC-DOS interrupt function 43H) negligently trashes register AX on a non-error return from subfunction 00H (Get File Attributes). My DOS Technical Reference says "AX Error codes if carry flag set". I interpreted that to mean no change if carry flag not set. I was wrong. Craig Milo Rogers ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Feb 86 08:22:15 PST From: walton%Deimos@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu Subject: XTREE Review To: INFO-IBMPC@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu [Forwarded for Art Chodos, who is not on the ARPAnet.] "I am not on the network but I do read the PCINFO documents put out on PCPUBLIC by Educational Computing. [Submitter's note: there is an AT running Xenix on campus which is our central repository for PD software, FreeWare, and ShareWare.] In PCINFO8 there were a lot of comments about writing programs to change file attributes and rename subdirectories. An extremely powerful, inexpensive program exists which does all that and more and it seems to me that it would save a lot of people considerable effort. The program is XTREE by Executive Systems, 15300 Ventura Blvd., Suite 305, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 800-634-5545 or 818-990-3457 $49.95 list. It allows you to see the tree structure of your disk and examine the files within directories or subdirectories or it will show you ALL the files on your disk. Files may be sorted by name, date, size, or extension. Directories and subdirectories may be created, deleted or renamed. File display can include attributes, date of creation, size, and so on. Attributes can be changed. Files can be tagged so that only tagged files will be acted upon. DOS can be run from within XTREE. I could not get along without it. I would appreciate it if you could make this information available on the network. I have no connection with Executive Systems--I'm just a satisfied user." Steve Walton walton%deimos@hamlet.cit.edu swalton@caltech.bitnet ------------------------------ From: Roy Stehle <stehle@sri-tsc> Date: 7 Feb 1986 0838-PST (Friday) To: Bohnsa@wharton-10 Cc: Info-Ibmpc@usc-isib, Stehle@sri-tsc Subject: Plotting Overhead Transparencies Advanced Graphics Software offers SlideWrite. I have tried it with an HP plotter and found it to be a fairly good product. They can provide you with a trial disk (which is how I tried it). If you get the trial disk, you will probably get a coupon worth $30 off the list price of $225. They offer a 30 day money back guarantee. SlideWrite offers: 2 Fonts (Modern, Roman) 3 Weights (Light, Medium, Bold) 5 Sizes (Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, Giant) 4 Styles (Italic, Color, Underline, Outline) 4 Symbols (Dot, Box, Triangle, Checkmark) 4 Rules (Dotted, Thin, Medium, Heavy) Graphics (Boxes, Circles, Arrows, etc) What You See Is What You Get Contact: Advanced Graphics Software Inc. 333 W. Maude Avenue, Suite 105 Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (408) 749-8620 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Feb 86 13:10:13 cst From: knutson@huey.UTEXAS.EDU (Jim Knutson) To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: Hard Disk Optimizer About the cheapest optimizer you can get is the BACKUP/RESTORE programs. Just backup your hard disk, zero it out and restore all the files. They will all have contiguous allocations. This, however, does not move the most frequently accessed files together (to reduce seek time) but then I don't know of any optimizers that do this automatically either. Jim Knutson ARPA: knutson@ngp.UTEXAS.EDU UUCP: {ihnp4,seismo,kpno,ctvax}!ut-sally!ut-ngp!knutson Phone: (512) 471-3241 ------------------------------ Date: 7 Feb 1986 09:30-EST Subject: AT to VAX Serial Problem From: MHARRIS@A.BBN.COM To: Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Cc: jpg@SRN-VAX.BBN.COM, MHarris@A.BBN.COM Perhaps there's something I don't understand (likely), and perhaps this has already been discussed here (although I don't recall seeing it), but: I have a vanilla AT with AST Advantage card (2 serial ports) and need to make a serial line connection directly (not via modem) to a vanilla Vax 750. Until recently, I've had this connection running successfully by converting to current-loop at the Vax end and converting back to EIA at the AT end. But I just moved the AT closer to the Vax and removed the current-loop stuff; now it doesn't work. On poking around with a 'scope, I discovered that the AT serial card is putting out 0 to +6 volt signal levels; the RS232 standard calls for something like -3 to +3 volt levels. The current-loop converters were being friendly and making the right thing happen, but apparently the Vax serial port hardware won't deal with it. So: 1. Do I understand correctly what's going on? 2. Same problem if I use IBM serial/parallel adapters? 3. Any solution other than going back to current-loop? Many thanks. -- Michael Harris MHarris @ BBNA BBN Labs 617-497-3794 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 4 Feb 86 11:02:58 est From: rochester!kodak!gardos@seismo.CSS.GOV (tom gardos) Subject: XENIX outb() Function Not Found To: rochester!seismo!usc-isib.arpa!info-ibmpc@seismo.CSS.GOV I am trying to write a device driver in C for the IBM PC AT running XENIX. The program requires use of the functions out() and outb(), however the C compiler cannot find them. Has anyone had this problem? Does anyone know where the functions are defined? Please respond by mail and I will summarize the responses. Thanks. Tom Gardos ------------------------------ Date: 5 Feb 86 15:00:45 PST (Wednesday) From: mwilliams.es@Xerox.COM Subject: Parallel Transfer Rate of AT Query To: <INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> cc: mwilliams.es@Xerox.COM Hello, I am looking for the data transmission rate for the IBM AT when running in parallel mode. I am not interested in its burst rate but the rate for a document > 20,000 bytes. If anyone knows, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanx Mitch ------------------------------ From: bwong2%amovax.uucp@UCI.EDU To: ucivax!INFO-IBMPC%USC-ISIB@amovax Subject: Columbia BIOS ROM Query Date: 05 Feb 86 15:46:54 PST (Wed) A friend of mine happens to have a Columbia computer. He wanted to upgrade the system to the new version of WordPerfect but was unable to do so because he can only run an old version of DOS because he has a outdated BIOS ROM. Does anyone know of a compatible ROM that he could buy? I thought that a company called Phoenix sold one but then again I am not sure. Many Tanks. Bradley Wong UUCP: ucbvax!ucivax!amovax!bwong2 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Feb 1986 12:26 EST From: Reggie Aurora <AURORA%SBBIOVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> To: <info-ibmpc%usc-isib@wiscvm.arpa> Subject: Film Digitizing Query Hello: We are interested in setting up a scanning/digitizing system from which we can obtain intensity and positional (X,Y coordinates) off film negatives. Any one who has set up a system that uses a video camera or alternatively a scanner type of system and can provide us with information or specifications, would be of great help. If this is of sufficient interest to other netlanders I will post to the network. Thanx Much! -- Reggie. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 06 Feb 86 14:00:10 CST From: C449499%UMCVMB.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU (Randy Davis) To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: DBASE III+ Query Has anybody seen an actual working copy of this new 'wonderful' update? Is it really worth shelling out another $100? If all I get is the speeded up indexing time, I might as well buy QuickIndex by Fox & Geller. Randy Davis University of Missouri - Columbia ------------------------------ Date: Thu 6 Feb 86 21:25:13-PST From: Brian Reilly <CON.REILLY@SU-GSB-HOW.ARPA> Subject: Digitizing Tablets Query To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA A friend of mine is interested in purchasing a digitizing tablet for his IBM-XT. If anyone has any experience with such products, or can recommend one, please send me a note and I will forward it on to him. I'm not on this list, so please send directly to me. Thanks. - Brian Reilly con.reilly@su-gsb-how.arpa ------------------------------ To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.csnet-relay From: tcr@mhuxi.btl Date: Fri 7 Feb EST 1986 09:39 Subject: Apple Laserwriter with MS-DOS Query We are obtaining a Apple Laserwriter and would like to be able to use it with both the Macintosh and with MS-DOS. Switching from one to another electrically is no problem, but what we need is a printer driver for MS-DOS. If it could be used to print simple ASCII text, that would be good. If it could emulate a printer like the Diablo, that would be even better. Has this been done before and if not, any suggestions? Tom Russell AT & T Bell Labs, Murray Hill, NJ (201) 582-7578 Usenet: ihnp4!mhuxi!tcr CSnet: tcr.mhuxi@btl ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------
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(Text 152655) 86-02-12 23.51 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <197> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-02-12 23.51 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <188> -- Received: 86-02-13 00.40 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-02-12 23.51 Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #20 %Original date: 11 Feb 1986 18:18:58 PST. TF: DSKD:827582.MAI %FROM: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 46980 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 12 Feb 86 12:49 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 12-Feb-1986 00:27:16-est Date: 11 Feb 1986 18:18:58 PST Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #20 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Tuesday, 11 February 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 20 This Week's Editor: Billy Brackenridge Today's Topics: Hard Disk Interleaves PC Clones Query XENIX and 30MB Seagate Alsys Ada on AT Installing Interrupt Handlers in Turbo Pascal 2.0B (MS-DOS version) MAX Editor Dead Terminal Caused Backlog A Different Experience with the Proprinter Proprinter GKS driver Dbase III+ Undocumented Microsoft LINK option: /E ARC5.12 IS NOW AVAILABLE Renaming Subdirectories Beware of 'MVDIR.BAT' (& all self-documenting code) MVDIR.BAT New Files Available at SIMTEL20 Rename Directories, Moving Files, & Disk Optimizing Disk Optimizers DOS vs. Direct Screen Writes DOS vs. direct screen writes Terminal and PC at Once? Alternate Shell Program Russian (and French) Word Processors MS Mouse Protecting the Hard Disk Heads on an XT Symdeb 4.0 -- Stack trace? Hotel Front Desk Package Wanted Product Evaluation: Classic 286 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: allyn@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu (Allyn Fratkin) Date: 11 February 1986 1630-PST (Tuesday) Subject: Hard Disk Interleaves I have read with interest the discussions about the interleave factors on hard disks. But I still have a few questions. I work with 4 PC/ATs and 4 PC/XTs. All of these use the standard IBM disk controllers. We have a mixture of disks: CMI and Seagate for the ATs and Seagate and IMI for the XTs. Are some or all of these disks likely to be suffering from a bad interleave factor? How do I check the interleave of a disk, and how can I change it if I don't like it? Thank you. Allyn Fratkin allyn@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu UCSD EMU/Pascal Project or U.C. San Diego {ucbvax, decvax, ihnp4}!sdcsvax!allyn [This question has been asked before but never answered. -wab] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 04 Feb 86 18:10 EST From: GKN3M2%IRISHMVS.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Subject: PC Clones Query I would be interested in hearing from those people who have purchased PC/PC-XT clones. Specifically, how compatible are they? Is there sufficient support from the dealer? How much did it cost? Feel free to include any general comments on the 'feel' of the machine. Evan Bauman ARPANET -- gkn3m2%irishmvs.bitnet@wiscvm.arpa BITNET -- gkn3m2@irishmvs ------------------------------ Date: Fri 7 Feb 86 18:46:29-PST From: William Pearson <PEARSON@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA> Subject: XENIX and 30MB Seagate I recently purchased a 30MB Seagate drive for my PC/AT (drive type 8), which installed with no problems under DOS3.1. I now use the original IBM 20MB drive with XENIX, and the 30MB drive with DOS, but I would like to reverse the configuration. I have Robin Cutshaw's patches to correct the XENIX disk parameter tables, but it is not clear to me how many changes must be made to the distribution/installation floppy. I am unable to run "fd /etc/badtrack" because the 30MB drive keeps seeking to track 0 after checking the first 520 tracks (at least that's what it sounds like) and as a result I get a "Bad signature (B66D)" message when I boot XENIX, which does not seem to hurt anything. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has set up IBM XENIX for the AT to boot from a non-standard drive. Bill Pearson Dept. of Biochemistry U. of Virginia (804) 924-2818 ------------------------------ To: INFO-IBMPC@usc-isib.ARPA, INFO-Ada@usc-isif.ARPA Subject: Alsys Ada on AT Date: 08 Feb 86 11:02:08 EST (Sat) From: Bob Munck <munck@mitre-bedford.ARPA> I too have been looking into this, and have set aside the money in my budget. I'm told by an Alsys source that they have pre-validated the compiler running on a VAX and compiling to a PC or AT. (Pre-validation is the point where the vendor has run all of the validation tests and is satisfied that his compiler passes, such that he is willing to risk the significant cost of calling in the government validation team to run the tests officially.) The source felt that they were within a week or so of pre-validating the AT host compiler, and mentioned in passing that the RAM board they supply with the compiler is more likely to be 4M than 3. That'll take my AT to 7.5M. I've been coding in Modula-2 until now, using the Logitech compiler and a Final Word II editor reprogrammed to "know" Modula-2. To switch to Ada, I need a set of Final Word macros for it. Has anyone done this? Anyone want to help? (The Modula-2 macros took about four evenings to write, and Ada has quite a few more statements and reserved words.) -- Bob Munck, MITRE (...!linus!munck.UUCP) (Munck at MITRE-Bedford.ARPA) ------------------------------ To: info-pascal@BRL-VOC.ARPA cc: "J. Eliot B. Moss" <EBM@mit-xx.ARPA>, James Dugal <DugalJP%usl.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> Subject: Installing Interrupt Handlers in Turbo Pascal 2.0B (MS-DOS version) Date: 08 Feb 86 01:11:47 PST (Sat) From: Alastair Milne <milne@uci-icse.ARPA> [Apologies to non Turbo Hamsters for this long message. The discussion of Interrupt handlers is meaningless without the code examples, so despite our policy of not including long code examples in the digest, it seemed the right thing to do in this case. -wab] Ages ago now I posted a general request for information about installing user-written interrupt handlers in Turbo Pascal, MS-DOS version. Eliot Moss kindly sent me hardcopy of a terminal emulator package in Turbo which installs a handler for auxiliary serial port AUX:. However, at the time I was unable to coax what I thought were the relevant sections to behave for me. Since that time I have had reason to do some similar work in 8088 assembly, which led me to discover some small but very important details, and also to a better understanding of Eliot's package. Finally, last night, I successfully raised an interrupt for a routine in my program installed as in interrupt handler, which worked, returned successfully to the program, and apparently left the system intact. Two major points: 1. In every routine, Turbo apparently places some code ahead of the first user instruction, making it impossible immediately to install inline code to save all the registers, as MUST be done in an interrupt handler. The routine itself cannot therefore be installed directly as the handler. 2. The interrupt controller chip, the 8259, must be programmed to allow your interrupt, which is done by sending a mask value to port 21H. The particular mask value depends on the interrupt you are servicing. Also, the interrupt servicer should inform the 8259 when servicing has finished. This is done by sending another mask to port 20H. NOTE: if you want to assign the the two words of any intersegment pointer individually, instead of by using the function Ptr, remember that the offset is in the FIRST word, the segment base in the SECOND. This is contrary to the <seg>:<offseg> notation commonly used. "Ptr" handles this automatically. Eliot's technique, which seems to work just fine, is to place in a data structure the sequence of instructions needed to save all the registers, and call as a far routine the actual handler. The handler will finish with a far return, and the rest of the data structure will restore all registers, and return from interrupt. The advantage here is that Turbo doesn't interfere with the contents of a data structure, so the handler begins and ends with exactly the code one specifies. Finally, one simply assigns into the interrupt vector the pointer to the structure. An example of code to do this: *************** program lookatinterrupts; {I can't stand looking at streams of numbers, especially in hex, and especially when they are doing something important: } const pushax = $50; popax = $58; pushbx = $53; popbx = $5B; pushcx = $51; popcx = $59; pushdx = $52; popdx = $5A; pushsi = $56; popsi = $5E; pushdi = $57; popdi = $5F; pushES = $06; popES = $07; pushDS = $1E; popDS = $1F; pushCS = $0E; pushBP = $55; popBP = $5D; callL = $9A; { long (intersegment) call} IRet = $CF; { return from interrupt: LAST instruction of handler} StI = $FB; { Set Interrupt flag: allow interrupts to be raised. interrupt flag is automatically reset when the handler is called.} type array11 = packed array[1..11] of byte; {Must be adjusted to exactly the number of bytes the initialising instructions need.} array10 = packed array[1..10] of byte; {Likewise for terminating instructions.} RoutinePtr = ^byte; {actually, pointer to anything will do.} CallerRec = record SaveAllAndCallServicer: array11; ServicerAddr: RoutinePtr; RestoreAllAndIRET: array10; end; { A "CallerRec" is in fact a routine. All the components MUST be directly contiguous, and allocated in this order. Particularly, ServicerAddr is the argument to the far call which is the last instruction of the previous field. } { Declare as constants the stream of bytes comprising the interrupt's initialisation, long call, and termination: } const ServicerInit: array11 = (pushAX, pushBX, pushCX, pushDX, {save all gnrl. reg.s} pushSI, pushDI, pushES, pushDS, pushCS, popDS, { set DS to CS} callL); { call the servicer, whose address must immediately follow this byte. } ServicerTermnt: array10 = (popDS, popES, popDI, popSI, popDX, popCX, popBX, popAX, StI, {re-enable interrupts before leaving} IRet); {finally, return from interrupt} var PrntScrnAddr: RoutinePtr; {to save the pointer to the true print screen servicer. Fail to restore this, and you will only be able to print the screen after rebooting. } { Declare the interrupt vector as what it is: 256 routine pointers starting at address 0:0 : } IntrVector: array[0..255] of RoutinePtr absolute 0:0; { Provide callers for, in this case, 2 interrupt handlers: } PrntCaller, MyCaller: CallerRec; procedure myscreenprinter; { A substitute routine to serve as an example of substituting for an existing interrupt handler. THE ORIGINAL MUST BE RESTORED, or you will lose all screen-printing service. NOTE: NO parameters are possible, either on the stack or in registers. The program MUST NOT DIRECTLY CALL THIS ROUTINE.} begin writeln('screen would now be printed.'); port[$20] := $10; {DON'T TRUST THIS MASK VALUE. It caused me no problems on the Sanyo MBC-550, but that's not compatible enough with IBM's and their imitators for a strong argument. } inline( $8b/$e5/ {mov sp, bp} $5d/ {pop bp} $cb); {retl} end; procedure myhandler; { A very simply demonstration interrupt handler, to make some previously unserved interrupt give a response when raised. The CallL instruction in MyCaller calls this. NOTE AGAIN: NO parameters; the program MUST NOT DIRECTLY CALL THIS ROUTINE.} begin (**)writeln('in interrupt handler.'); port[$20] := $20; { Announce to the 8259 that the interrupt is over. Since the particular mask value that announces this depends on which interrupt is being served, the OUT instruction for this is not built into the handler termination code. $20 works is the completion mask for interrupt 12} {Make sure that the routine uses a long, or far, return, to match the long call instruction that called it. Restore SP and BP just as Turbo's code would, if the routine were going to use it. } inline( $8b/$e5/ {mov sp, bp} $5d/ {pop bp} $cb); {retl} end; procedure installhandler( IntrNum: byte; var Caller: CallerRec; RoutineAddr: integer); { Sets up the callerrec Caller to call the routine whose offset is RoutineAddr when interrupt IntrNum is raised. Although this form does not do so, ideally interrupts should be disabled whenever the interrupt vector is modified, and restored only when all changes are finished. Disaster could occur if something raised the interrupt while the address in the vector was only partly changed.} begin { Fill in the initialisation field of the record with the instructions already declared as a constant: } Caller.SaveAllAndCallServicer := ServicerInit; { Likewise for the termination code: } Caller.RestoreAllAndIRET := ServicerTermnt; { Fill in the intersegment address of the CALLL instruction which is the last byte in the initialisation code. The pointer to the routine consists of the code segment base, and the routine's offset in CS: } Caller.ServicerAddr := ptr( CSeg, RoutineAddr ); { Fill in entry IntrNum of the interrupt vector with the address of the CallerRec (NOT the handler routine itself). Its pointer is the Data seg (NOT the code seg.), and its offset into the data seg: } IntrVector[IntrNum] := ptr( DSeg, ofs(Caller) ); { NOTE: pointer is put into vector only AFTER what it points to is ready to handle an interrupt. } end; begin . . . { EXAMPLES OF INSTALLING INTERRUPT HANDLERS: } { Install the routine MyHandler as the servicer for interrupt 12: } InstallHandler(12, MyCaller, ofs(MyHandler)); { When superceding existing handlers, BE SURE TO SAVE THEM to be restored before the program exits. Otherwise, you'll find yourself missing possibly vital services until you next reboot. } PrntScrnAddr := IntrVector[5]; InstallHandler(5, PrntCaller, ofs(MyScreenPrinter) ); { Let the 8259 controller know that interrupt 12 is now supported and active:} port[$21] := port[$21] and not $10; . . . IntrVector[5] := PrntScrnAddr; {RESTORE pre-existing handler. } . . . end. *************** Nobody's favourite coding, but it works. Eliot also supplied two small procedures Enable and Disable to allow and prevent interrupts, respectively. I have omitted them here to keep things from getting completely out of hand. They consist simply of InLine calls using the STI and CLI instructions. Alastair Milne PS. I'm sure that by now, Eliot, James, and anybody else who wanted this information is certain that I've forgotten all about it, and that Eliot at least is quite irritated, since I told him I would pass his information on long ago. I hope they will accept my apologies for the long delay. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 8 Feb 86 14:30 EST From: "Roger A. Roach" <Roach@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA> Subject: MAX Editor I got a copy of MAX 1.01 (and SCR) from: Mr. Ivo A. Welch Columbia College East Campus New York, NY 10027 At the time, Mr. Welsh was available as UI.IVO@CU20B. The cost was $15 for educational uses, $30 for commercial. Since it seemed that the authors were students, I am not sure what their present address would be. There was some reference information included on the disks, but I could not find any other address. ------------------------------ Date: 8 Feb 1986 18:02:56 PST Subject: Dead Terminal Caused Backlog From: Koji Okazaki <swg.Koji@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Howdy. My terminal's been dead for the last couple of weeks.... hence, I haven't been able to read my mail recently. Now you all know why I haven't been answering your messages to me. Will be operational within a week. Thanks in advance for being patient. Koji Info-IBMPC program submissions... ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 8-Feb-86 18:17:31 EDT From: Manny Farber <manny%pcpond.pc.udel.edu@Louie.UDEL.EDU> Subject: A Different Experience with the Proprinter My experiences with the IBM Proprinter have been notably more positive than those reported in an earlier Info-IBMPC. While there are some things I don't like about it, I have not had any problems with paper feeding; quite to the contrary, it has been exceptional in this area. The paper can also be ripped off right along the perforation, with no wastage. The construction is rather sturdy and the single sheet feeder is handy, although I don't use it much. The print speed (200 cps) is relatively fast (or at least average), and the NLQ mode produces very clear, easy-to-read characters that don't have serifs. It also prints all 256 IBM display characters. Now the bad parts: it's relatively expensive, unless you can get a discount; the output is much more wavy than an Epson's; and it doesn't have italics built in. I have overcome the problem with italics by trapping the output from PROLOAD (a font loader/editor available on CompuServe) and putting it in a file, which I copy to the printer with the /B option. This allows it to be put in a batch file. With Microsoft Word, for italics one can send the codes (in the PRD) file to switch into the download character set; in the end, it's transparent. (If anyone wants details or source code [for the trap routine], drop me a line.) Manny (manny@louie.udel.edu) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 86 12:03:12 PST From: Jim Carter <jimc@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU> Subject: Proprinter GKS driver You've all been waiting for the driver for the IBM 4201 Proprinter in IBM's GKS. Guess what? You had it all along. vdiprgra.sys (for the standard graphic printer) works on the Proprinter also IF you turn on switch 6, auto CR after LF. Switches are under the cover at the left rear of the machine. Auto CR has no effect on most other software -- unless your program does a LF and expects to end up in the middle of the line. This was tested on "circut.exe", the GKS demo program that has a print feature, and on some locally written software. I have heard that a simi- lar maneuver also works on IBM-compatible Epson printers. My boss pulled this in from a bboard. James F. Carter (213) 206-1306 UCLA-SEASnet; 2567 Boelter Hall; 405 Hilgard Ave.; Los Angeles, CA 90024 UUCP:...!{ihnp4,ucbvax,{hao!cepu}}!ucla-cs!jimc ARPA:jimc@locus.UCLA.EDU [Cross-posted in net.graphics] ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 8 Feb 86 21:51 EST From: Yedidyah Langsam <YDLBC%CUNYVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: Dbase III+ The $100 upgrade fee for Dbase III+ is in my opinion worth it. Firstly, they completely redid the Assist interface. Secondly, there is a new type of file which keeps track of which indexes go with which file and allows you to set up a "view" of how you wish your files to be opened without having to open each index and file independently. This feature is in itself worth the update. Thirdly, there is the matter of the network support, which if you need it is great. A full review appeared in last months issue of Data Base Advisor, and is well worth reading. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Feb 86 20:13:17 CST From: nather@ASTRO.UTEXAS.EDU (Ed Nather) Subject: Undocumented Microsoft LINK option: /E The option does not exist in MS Link versions 3.00 and 3.01; it seems to have been added to version 3.02. I tried it out on a long program and it works, but the exepack utility that comes with Microsoft languages works better -- the size reduction was 2X greater than with link /E. Maybe that's why its undocumented ... Ed Nather Astronomy Dept, U of Texas @ Austin {allegra,ihnp4}!{noao,ut-sally}!utastro!nather nather@astro.UTEXAS.EDU ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 9 Feb 86 20:36:47 pst From: Richard Hallett <hallett%instr.selkirk.bcc.cdn%ubc.csnet@CSNET-RELAY> Subject: ARC5.12 IS NOW AVAILABLE [Info-IBMPC is not distributing ARC or ARC format files or for that matter any binary format files. Discussion is fine but please don't ask us to send it to you. -wab] 8 Feb 86 EIBEN, MSDOS:ARC51.COM .. a truly 'boots-trapping ARC' - beware, You need roughly double the space of ARC51.COM to get the 'hidden ARC-files' de-arced. From: REFUGE::PORTER 7-FEB-1986 16:39 Subj: New version of ARC - V5.12 in a "package" Bernie, Just happened to be checking up on SEAboard, and spotted a new version of the now famous ARC utility - V5.12. This one comes with its own unique form of "packaging" - a "self-unpacking" archive! It is no longer necessary to have any "other" file compression utilities to unpack an ARC kit! The new "self-unpacking" archive file is named ARC51.COM, to unpack the ARC software you just run it like any other .COM image and it proceeds to unpack an archive contained within the .COM file as follows: ARC51.COM contents: ARC.EXE Version 5.12 executable ARC.DOC Version 5.12 docset ARC.TXT ARC product description only one caveat - when you run ARC51.COM to unpack the kit, the file must be in your MSDOS "current default directory". On another topic: There is now a new version of Fido - V11R, I will try to upload a copy to LSMVAX as soon as possible. Regards, KhP Kevin R. Porter Sysop of WayStar Fido - (617)-481-7147 in Marlborough, Mass. ------------------------------ Date: Mon 10 Feb 86 08:12:41-CST From: Clifford A. Wilkes <CC.Wilkes@R20.UTEXAS.EDU> Subject: Renaming Subdirectories To: MATHES%UMCVMB.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Department: Computation Center - A20/R20 staff The "Duke Language Toolkit" is a set of programs to describe and install different character sets on IBM PC's with the EGA. I've used it and found it easy to understand and describing a character set, while time consuming, is not difficult. The major drawbacks are its support of few printers at present and the fact that it will not work on my Sperry. For more information on the the "Duke Language Toolkit" you should contact Jeffrey William Gillette at Duke University. His e-mail address is: DYBBUK%TUCCVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU. I hope this helps. <@> ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Feb 86 14:25:14 EST From: Kenneth Van Camp -FSAC- <kvancamp@ardc> Subject: Beware of 'MVDIR.BAT' (& all self-documenting code) James H. Coombs writes on Feb 6: >So far, 'MVDIR.BAT' has cost me two hours. If I'm lucky, I can get >everything set up again in another two hours, plus diddling this and >that for several weeks. I hope no one else has shared this experience, >and I am writing in the hope that no one else will. > >Finally, I have to say that I am not pleased to find an uncommented, >unexplained BAT file in INFO-IBMPC. I guess this must be refering to my MVDIR.BAT, since I think I was the only one who submitted a BAT file of that name to the request for directory rename utilities. However my version was definitely NOT undocumented. True there was not documentation within the BAT file itself; but my accompanying letter provided thorough (I think) guidelines for its usage. My mistake was probably in separating the batch file listing from the rest of the message by a line with many dashes that said <CUT HERE> in the middle to show where the BAT file began and ended. When the info-ibmpc digest arrived at my mailbox, I undigestified it. The undigestify program thought the dashes were message separators and hence the BAT file came out looking totally undocumented. All I had to do was read the messages before and after it to get the total picture. Perhaps your undigestify program did the same, or even lost the other two parts completely. To summarize, the documentation pointed out that the current directory should be the directory you want to move, and the parameter to MVDIR should provide the full path of the destination directory. There were also instructions to create two supporting files, \TMP\CD.MKB and \TMP\RMDIR.MKB. My guess is that your friend didn't create these files, or didn't create them properly, resulting in the improper construction of the CMMDS.BAT file from within MVDIR. In retrospect, I probably should have made it so MVDIR.BAT created its own supporting files every time it is run, for the public release version -- to avoid this kind of problem. Of course I don't do that in my own version because it slows things down and seems like a waste of computer time. It still seems like a very slim possibility that this could have caused your friend's problems. MVDIR.BAT was *really* a very simple program; most of the work was provided by the public domain MV.EXE; are you sure your version of that is working OK? If you really want to know for sure (and if you have the stomach to look into this any further), check and see if you have a file called CMMDS.BAT on your hard disk. If so, let me know what it contains and maybe we can figure out what happened. One of the worst things about MS/DOS is the poor support for error checking in BAT files; ERRORLEVELs are not set from most DOS commands. I'm really looking forward to hearing from more people on the net about PCUNIX. Hopefully this system provides some REAL script files, like Unix. --Ken Van Camp <kvancamp@ARDC.ARPA> ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 86 8:42:54 EST From: Kenneth Van Camp -FSAC- <kvancamp@ardc> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib Subject: MVDIR.BAT To those who were wondering what MV.EXE program I was using in my MVDIR.BAT, I would like to clear up the confusion. This was NOT the program written by Harry McGavran (also called MV.EXE); it was written by Chuck Forsberg and was gotten from Volume 068 of the Simtel20 archives -- not from USC-ISIB. I don't know if it was MV.EXE that caused the problems, but probably the easiest solution is to use McGavran's program instead of Forsberg's. (McGavran's automatically renames directories, as well as files.) The only problem is that McGavran won't release the source and USC won't keep anything but source. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1986 13:28 MST From: Keith Petersen <W8SDZ@SIMTEL20.ARPA> To: hans@OSLO-VAX.ARPA (Hans A. ]lien) Subject: New Files Available at SIMTEL20 Hello again Keith, Why have so many of the files in PCDOS: been removed lately? Will they be replaced by new versions, are the programs already available in other PD: directories, or whatever? Maybe some of the programs can't be distributed, even for private use? I would especially like to have access to the ARC500*.* file archiver. Thanks for any help! Hans We have created a new directory PD:<MSDOS> here at SIMTEL20. It has several subdirectories, one of which has ARC500.EXE and DQC, and the latest versions of LU, SQ and USQ. For a complete list of available files FTP the file PD:<MSDOS>MSDOS.CRCLST which will be periodically updated as new files are added. --Keith ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Feb 86 12:15:33 PST From: prandt!reynolds@AMES-NAS.ARPA (Don Reynolds) To: amelia!info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: Rename Directories, Moving Files, & Disk Optimizing This note is in response to several messages on disk utilities for renaming subdirectories, moving files, and optimizing the hard disk. I have had good luck with the PACKDISK Utilities from SoftPatch P.O. Box 11455 San Francisco, CA 94101 (415) 777-2993 PACKDISK eliminates file fragmentation, unallocated space, reintegrates lost clusters into the available space, packs the root directory and subdirectories and frees subdirectory trailing clusters (but could trash hard-disk installations of some software) DELDIR deletes subdirectory, its files and subdirectories NAMEDIR renames a subdirectory TRANSDIR transfers a subdirectory, its files & subdirectories to another directory LISTFRAG lists fragmented files in the drive PARK parks disk before power off Softpatch's PACKDISK Utilities contains NAMEDIR.COM, which apparently renames directories with no problems. But it is suggested that software "installed" on the hard disk be "uninstalled" before packing (or re-formatting) the disk. After re-formatting, I have heard it suggested to MKDIR the most used subdirectories first, for fastest access. Is that fact or fiction? The message from Coombs in Info-IBMPC Digest, Vol. 5, Issue 19 should raise a caution flag and suggest you backup your hard disk before reorganization. Best, Don ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 86 11:45:45 PST From: walton%Deimos@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu Message-Id: <860211114545.00g@Deimos> Subject: Disk Optimizers To: info-ibmpc@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu There are two conceptually different products on the market for hard disk optimization. One is the "make all current files contiguous" type, which makes access to these files very fast but has the disadvantage of being both temporary and placing all new files at the end of the disk, making many cross-disk seeks necessary to create new files. The other type is, or would be, a disk caching utility--a RAM-resident program which would hold in memory the most recently accessed sectors on the disk and return the copy in memory rather than going to the disk if possible. All computers larger than IBM PC's use disk caching, and some PC-clones do as well. For example, the ITT Xtra-XP (80286-based XT compatible) uses a disk program which gets AT-class performance on average out of an XT-class hard disk (85 msec track-to-track access time). Also, I believe MS-DOS does hold the current FAT in memory. At least one product exists which is supposed to do this disk caching; I saw the ad in PC magazine within the last few months, but can't find it again. The tip-off was the ad said "Uses Expanded Memory if present." PC had a disk caching utility a while back, but it only used a 64K cache (too small for even a 10 MB hard disk) and was optimized for floppy disks. I recommend it to two-floppy owners, but it wasted 64K of memory on my hard disk system. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Feb 86 14:31:49 PST From: kegel%Romeo@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu Subject: DOS vs. Direct Screen Writes Minshall- DOS writes to the screen are slow for two reasons: 1. stdout is normally in 'cooked' mode, in which DOS makes one call to the device driver for each character output. 2. ANSI.SYS stacks the registers for each char output, and makes one or two BIOS calls per character output, to boot! Both of these can be fixed. 1. Any handle can be set to 'raw' mode with dos function 44h. In raw mode, DOS passes all read and write requests directly to the device driver, cutting the per-character overhead to zero. 2. ANSI.SYS can be rewritten to write directly to screen memory, and to avoid stacking the registers. I'm not sure if anyone else has redone ANSI.SYS, but I took a shot at it, and would be happy to put my sources up. It is radically faster. One test program I wrote- a file viewer- redraws the screen in less than a tenth of a second. I think even the most hardcore advocate of direct machine access would be satisfied with the performance an efficient device driver gives DOS. - Daniel Kegel [Woof Woof Send it to us Daniel! -wab] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Feb 86 23:46:20 pst From: minshall%ucbopal@BERKELEY.EDU (Greg Minshall) To: kegel%Romeo@hamlet.caltech.edu Subject: DOS vs. direct screen writes Very well. However, in my test case, I was invoking INT 10H myself. So (to my very limited understanding) NO DOS, NO ANSI.SYS. And, I was still unhappy. Again, with this approach, one gets some 50 K bits/second to the screen. But, I want some number of megatbits/second. Or, am I wrong? I would, though, love to see a much faster ANSI.SYS. Greg Minshall ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1986 22:15 PLT From: George Cross <FACCROSS%WSUVM1.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: Terminal and PC at Once? I have two serial ports on a PC and a terminal (VT 100). Is there a DOS multitasking product that will let me connect the terminal to one of the ports, a modem to another, and then dial out from the terminal while still using the main PC console? Perhaps Double DOS - run a background CTTY to COM1, dial out on COM2, etc. ---- George [The COM_PKG2.ASM in supports two serial ports simultaneously. You could use this package to implement this application -wab] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - George R. Cross cross@wsu.CSNET Computer Science Department cross%wsu@csnet-relay.ARPA Washington State University faccross@wsuvm1.BITNET Pullman, WA 99164-1210 (509)-335-6319/6636 Acknowledge-To: George Cross <FACCROSS@WSUVM1> ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Feb 86 22:35:26 cet To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA From: 10409813%WSUVM1.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Subject: Alternate Shell Program I am interested in writing an alternate command processor to run under MS-DOS rather than command.com. I welcome any input from those of you who have experience in this area. I am looking to implement a shell similar to those found under UN*X. One initial question I have is whether or not my shell has to be a .COM file? Please send comments directly to me, and I will summarize to the net in a couple weeks when I know what such a project entails. Thank you, Eric Schneider 10409813@wsuvm1.BITNET or eric@wsu.CSNET [Try PC-Toolbox from Wendin. It looks like this is exactly what you are looking for. Perhaps some users of this package can help you out. Of course we have most Unix utilities in our program library. -wab] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 86 01:40:21 pst From: ttidca!ttihwe!cole@rand-unix.ARPA To: ttidca!randvax!info-ibmpc@isib Subject: Russian (and French) Word Processors Cc: cole@rand-unix.ARPA I asked an associate (a fellow by the name of Potashnik) about word processors for Russian, and he gave me the name of one company who makes one. The company is called Economic Insights, of Rockville, MD, phone (301) 258-5235. Their product uses a Quadvue display board, generates output only for Diablo 630 and Epson LQ-1500 printers, and costs $595. That's all I know about them (I don't speak or write Russian and never heard of the company until now). On a (remotely) related subject, another friend who is a big fan of Microsoft Word is in the process of getting a French version of MW. It is apparently only available in France, however. He talked to Microsoft in Canada and they have a French-Canadian version, but it is said to be significantly different from the French version. I don't know if there are any other versions out there for other languages, although I doubt they have a Russian version. If they did you might have to order it from the USSR and pay for it in rubles, anyway. Randy Cole Citicorp-TTI ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10-Feb-86 20:44:59 EDT From: David Farber <farber%pcpond.pc.udel.edu@Louie.UDEL.EDU> Subject: MS Mouse For those who have MS Bus mice which stop working when the clock is raised, the new bus mouse and its rev D card works fine at 9 mh. Hmmm. WOnder why they fixed it. Also FANSI and MS Word/ PCPAINT just do not agree. Dave ------------------------------ Date: 11 Feb 86 07:34 EST From: Jim Moore <moore@ncsc> Subject: Protecting the Hard Disk Heads on an XT There has been a lot written in PC Mag, PC Tech Journal, and (I think) this space concerning the parking of hard disk heads to protect the disk. I'm no longer sure that's a good idea: I'd been using SHIPDISK.COM, which comes with the Diagnostics Disk, to retract the heads every afternoon after work, because my XT sits on the floor on a stand, a particularly vulnerable position. The last time I ran it, the heads moved back, then went wild. I had to re-partition the disk and reformat. Fun. Now the only thing I do is turn the power off and take my chances.... jim ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 86 11:38 EST From: LBrenkus@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: Symdeb 4.0 -- Stack trace? The new version of the excellent symbolic debugger SYMDEB (included at no extra charge with the Macro Assembler v 4.0) includes several new options. The most intriguing is a new command K which the "help screen" (? option) identifies as a "stack trace". Unfortunately, the manual says nothing about it. Anyone know what it does? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Feb 86 11:59:17 pst From: Ron Smith <ron%garfield.mun.cdn%ubc.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> Message-Id: <38:ron@garfield.mun.cdn> Subject: Hotel Front Desk Package Wanted I am searching for a Hotel/motel front desk package that will run on an IBM PCXT or compatable. Tha package will be used by students in the Hospitality Program here at Holland College to familiarize them with software they will find in the industry. If anyone can recommend a package please give me the package name, producer and/or supplier name and address. A brief description would also be appreciated. My mailbox name is <ron@garfield.mun.cdn>. Postal address is Ron Smith Holland College Weymouth Street Charlottetown, P.E.I. Canada, C1A 4Z1 Telephone is (902) 566-9670 Many thanks for any suggestions I may recieve. ------------------------------ Date: Tuesday, 11 February 1986 16:16:49 EST From: Joe.Newcomer@a.sei.cmu.edu Subject: Product Evaluation: Classic 286 As you may be aware from reading earlier postings, I have been interested for some time in upgrading our PC and XT to AT-class performance. I have evaluated several boards, most of which were rejected just based on specs or price. One low-cost board (Titan Technologies) simply didn't perform as advertised (SI 1.8x faster, benchmark 1.2x faster as opposed to a promised "2.5 to 4"). I have finally located a board which solves our problem. It may not be the only such board, but I'm somewhat tired of looking, it works, and I'm using it. The board is the Classic Technology 286 Speed-Pak. The board is a 286 chip and the usual connector into the 8088 slot. Installation was reasonably straightforward in our XT. First, the 8088 is removed. However, unlike most boards, you don't throw the chip away, you plug it into a socket on the chip. With the flip of a switch, you can then change from 80286 operation to 8088 operation. The device is not strictly AT compatible. For example, its memory extension above 1Mb is their own proprietary scheme, which they are not releasing specs of. It is clearly not compatible with VDISK extended memory. The board itself contains 1Mb of memory, but the upper banks of RAM are used to hold a copy of the ROM BIOS so that the BIOS runs with a 16 bit memory path. Extended memory (Intel/Lotus spec) is supposed to work with this board, although with only an 8-bit path. They have a 2.5MB upgrade, but it only runs with their multitasking software, and they are not currently supporting ramdisks with their memory upgrade. Their ramdisk software didn't install in anything approximating the documented way (in fact, I couldn't get it to install at all) and apparently you can only add ramdisks with their software where you would have had floppies (so, for example, you have to configure the XT motherboard to say there is a B: drive to get a B: ramdisk!). When I called them up to ask about this, they said "oh, yeah, there's a bug" and sent me new software which I haven't tried. There was also a bug in their installation instructions. They supply a little 40pin DIP header with three capacitors, which is to be inserted in the 8087 slot if the 8087 is not used (the board has a provision for an 80287 also). The instructions say "insert the dip header with the notch towards the back of the computer". Fine, except the header is totally symmetric. Not even a pin 1 marking. Fortunately, I knew that the three capacitors which were connected to a corner pin must obviously be to ground, so plugged it in so that pin 20 (ground) was where the common line to the three capacitors went. Not everyone would have known this. The board also doesn't have a built-in clock/calendar. Fortunately, we have one on our multifuction XT memory board (which now serves only as a serial port and clock). The goal was not AT compatibility, but XT compatibility with AT speed. Since this was of more interest to me than AT compatibility, I feel no loss. The Norton SI command says the performance is 7.0 times a PC, and our benchmark (I/O and compute intensive) ran in 25 minutes instead of 82 minutes. The difference is obviously the disk I/O limitation (80 ms seek), since it runs in 18 minutes on my AT with the faster drive (30ms seek), but only 5.0 on the SI yardstick. I have had no failures running any program we normally use. We also successfully ran FASTBACK in the 80286 mode to restore files to a new 32Mb disk we installed, so serious BIOS and device hacking still works. There have been no disk problems or other problems of timing. Performance of screen editors such as Epsilon is impressive, since it runs more towards the 7.0 factor. Unfortunately our best measure was big file searches, which are also disk intensive; they seem to run 3-4 times faster. One nice feature of the 8088 "downgrade" switch is that we could switch processors and run the same tests again to see what the performance is like. A little experimentation showed that switching processors makes the machine go catatonic; they should be switched only when the power is off. My housemate, who was envious of the performance of my AT, is now extremely pleased. We even bought some little "custom hot rod" flames to put on the machine to show it is a "hot" job. I am sufficiently happy with this product that we have ordered a second one for our PC. The original price was about $1200, but rumor has it that they have dropped the price by $150 in the last week or so. Because we have ordered the second one within 30 days of the evaluation copy the first one also comes in at the lower price, whose exact value I will know when the second one arrives in a week or two. Adding two AT-performance for $2000 is not a bad investment at all. I hope someday they produce real ramdisk software that allows the creation of D:, E:, etc. drives in extended 16-bit memory. This will substantially improve the performance (for example, I use ramdisk on my AT for Epsilon swap space). Being able to put the dBASEIII .dbf and .ndx file for our major application into ramdisk for the report generation would also be a big win. The company didn't seem much interested in this aspect, nor with releasing the specs to customers, which was a bit of a turn off, but I'm hoping they will finally wise up and either provide useful software or provide the necessary specs. If anyone knows of a cheap Intel/Lotus compatible board or source for something of that form, I'm interested. ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------
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(Text 152928) 86-02-13 18.43 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <198> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-02-13 18.43 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <189> -- Received: 86-02-13 19.27 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-02-13 18.43 Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V4 #21 %Original date: 12 Feb 1986 17:12:49 PST. TF: DSKD:830697.MAI %FROM: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 17760 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 13 Feb 86 17:20 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 12-Feb-1986 21:47:31-est Date: 12 Feb 1986 17:12:49 PST Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V4 #21 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Wednesday, 12 February 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 21 This Week's Editor: Billy Brackenridge Today's Topics: Review of "Schmeme" Lisp AT&T PC 6300 Expansion Now How About Specs for 1-2-3 Device Drivers? SHELL, Modula2 Software Development System Fansi Console and Shell from Dr. Dobbs Turbo Board Comparison? monochrome monitor query Removing non-DOS Partitions from AT Disk LINK Option /E vs EXEPACK PC-DOS 3.1 and "echo off" CGA: 2 More Palettes in Medium Res Re: File truncation under PC-DOS Co-Processor Board Inquiry WordPerfect and the LaserJet CHMOD Woes ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue 11 Feb 86 22:38:38-CST From: Rob Pettengill <CAD.PETTENGILL@MCC.ARPA> Subject: Review of "Schmeme" Lisp I recently purchased an implementation of the Scheme dialect of lisp for my PC. I am familiar with GC Lisp, IQ Lisp, and Mu Lisp for the PC. I use Lambdas and 3600s with ZetaLisp at work. TI PC Scheme is a very complete implementation of scheme for the IBM and TI personal computers and compatibles. It combines high speed code execution, a good debugging and editing environment, and very low cost. The Language: * Adheres faithfully to the Scheme standard. * Has true lexical scoping. * Prodedures and environments are first class data objects. * Is properly tail recursive - there is no penalty compared to iteration. * Includes window and graphics extensions. The Environment: * An incremental optimizing compiler (not native 8086 code) * Top level read-compile-print loop. * Interactive debugger allows run time error recovery. * A minimal Emacs-like full screen editor with a scheme mode featuring parethesis matching and auto indenting of lisp code. * An execute DOS command or "push" to DOS capability - this is only practical with a hard disk because of the swap file PCS writes. * A DOS based Fast Load file format object file conversion utility. * A fast 2 stage garbage collector. First Impressions: Scheme seems to be much better sized to a PC class machine than the other standard dialects of lisp because of its simplicity. The TI implementation appears to be very solid and complete. The compiled code that it produces (with debugging switches off) is 2 to 5 times faster than the other PC lisps that I have used. With the full screen editor loaded (there is also a structure editor) there seems to be plenty of room for my code in a 640k PC. TI recommends 320k or 512k with the editor loaded. The documentation is of professional quality (about 390 pages), but not tutorial. Abelson and Sussman^2's "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs" is a very good companion for learning scheme as well as the art and science of programming in general. My favorite quick benchmark - (define (test n) (do ((i 0 (1+ i)) (r () (cons i r))) ((>= i n) r))) runs (test 10000) in less than 10 seconds with the editor loaded - of course it takes a couple of minutes to print out the ten thousand element list that results. The main lack I find is that the source code for the system is not included - one gets used to that in good lisp environments. I have hit only a couple of minor glitches, that are probably pilot error, so far. Since the system is compiled with debugging switches off it is hard to get much useful information about the system from the dubugger. Based on my brief, but very positive experience with TI PC scheme and its very low price of $95 - I recommend it to anyone interested in a PC based lisp. You can order from Texas Instruments at 1-800-TI-PARTS. (Standard disclaimers about personal opinions and having no commercial interest in the product ...) Rob Pettengill ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 86 05:56:59 cet From: 10409813%WSUVM1.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Subject: AT&T PC 6300 Expansion I have an AT&T PC 6300 and would be interested to hear from other owners concerning expansion. I am looking into an expanded memory board, and I believe AT&T makes one which would take advantage of the 16-bit data bus. Does anyone have any experience with this product? I would also like to find out about other boards for the AT&T which take advantage of the 8086's 16-bits. (Graphics, ports, etc.) On an unrelated note, does anyone have a screen dump routine for the TOSHIBA P1340? I have FRIEZE (comes w/PC PAINTBRUSH) and it seems to support as many printers as any, and it does not support the P1340. I have written (not entirely successfully) my own driver, but would most insterested in seeing what others have done. Ultimately, I would like to be able to dump AT&T 640x400 monochrome, but would settle for a routine which expects a CGA. Thanks, Eric Schneider 10409813@wsuvm1.BITNET or eric@wsu.CSNET ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 86 05:17 ??? From: LBAFRIN%clemson.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA Subject: Now How About Specs for 1-2-3 Device Drivers? Plaudits to the kind soul who contributed the 1-2-3 worksheet file format specification to the Info-IBMPC archives. Would it also be possible to obtain for the archives a copy of whatever specs Lotus may have for writing 1-2-3 device drivers? Just wondering... -- Larry Afrin Dept. of Computer Science Clemson University ================================ Please send replies, if any, to: lbafrin@clemson.csnet or lbafrin%eureka@clemson.csnet or, as a last resort, any reasonable-looking string with "lbafrin", "eureka", and "clemson" in it (And I'm told that Usenet fans can try ihnp4!seismo!clemson.CSNET!lbafrin) I disclaim everything anybody ever said about anything. ------------------------------ Date: Feb 10 1986 From: Hermann Willers <G95%DHDURZ2.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: SHELL, Modula2 Software Development System 1. Did anyone try successfully to put COMMAND.COM into an other directory than the root ? I tried, but the SHELL command in CONFIG.SYS did'nt work. "missing or defective command interpreter" (or so) was the message. My system is an Olivetti M24, MSDOS 2.11, version to support 720 K drives (M24 = AT&T 6300). Does it under these conditions always fail or did I miss something too obvious ? 2. Does anyone know, if the M2SDS has nice features like INLINE (as Turbo-P.), interruptcalls, the capability of executing as an interrupt service routine, include files (optional), including EXTERNAL code, absolute variables, short: the things one wouldn't want to miss in T.P. Please reply directly to me, since I see only someone else's copy of INFO-IBMPC and this is VERY irregular. Thanks in advance for your time and effort ! Hermann Willers G95@DHDURZ2.BITNET Heidelberg, FRG ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 86 13:30 EST From: Hess@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: Fansi Console and Shell from Dr. Dobbs To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Message-ID: <860212183030.376476@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA> For the person who wanted a faster ANSI driver, there is FANSI-CONSOLE, which is shareware of some sort. Not freeware, but not expensive either. Try Hersey Micro Consulting (or "no Smoking Software"?) in Ann Arbor, MI. For the person who wanted to create a shell to replace COMMAND.COM, try looking at last month's and this month's Doctor Dobbs Journal. They claim to have a disk available, with source code (MS-C) and executable shell. Try DDJ in Palo Alto, CA. Brian ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 86 13:32 EST From: Hess@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: Turbo Board Comparison? Can someone with a Victor plug-into-socket board estimate the speed-up via Norton tests? I recall that the most recent message about it described mostly installation stuff. Joe Newcomer's note about his turbo card and an advertisement from Victor sparked my interest. Brian ------------------------------ Date: 12 Feb 1986 12:09:49 PST Subject: monochrome monitor query From: Laurence I. Press <SWG.LPRESS@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Does anyone know a source for schematics and parts for the IBM monochrome monitor? Thanks, Larry Press ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12-FEB-1986 12:31 PST From: Mike Iglesias <MIGLESIAS%UCIVMS.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: Removing non-DOS Partitions from AT Disk We have an AT w/20mb hard disk. We had a copy of PC/IX on loan about a year ago, and we tried to install it, but for some reason that I can't remember right now, it didn't work. We don't have PC/IX anymore, and we want to get rid of the PC/IX partition on the hard disk so we can have a 20mb DOS partition again. I've tried using FDISK to remove the PC/IX partition with no success. Is there a way to get rid of the PC/IX partition without having PC/IX? Thanks, Mike Iglesias University of California, Irvine ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 86 04:14:42 PST From: Ya'akov_Miles%UBC.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: LINK Option /E vs EXEPACK By comparing the sizes of the (packed) files generated from LINK ver 3.02 and the /E option with the size of the .EXE file manually packed with the (scarce and infrequently distributed) utility EXEPACK, I have come to the conclusion that LINK ver 3.02 option /E generates EXACTLY the same size file as manually running EXEPACK on a regular .EXE file output by LINK... Since LINK is easy to get, whereas EXEPACK is only distributed with an (expensive) subset of Microsoft packages, I heartily recommend using LINK and /E. Also, the LINK with /E does not involve the hassle of intermediate files, and appears to bind at the same rate as LINK without /E. There is only one slight problem with packed files, namely SYMDEBUG does not know how to use them. In reality this is no problem, you link without /E while developing and then release the final product packed. Also, in higher level languages (such as Quick-Basic), who cares about the Symbolic Debugger, anyway... While on the topic of Quick-Basic, when is Microsoft going to improve their manual so as to mention that you have to link to GWCOM.OBJ to get the serial I/O ports to work, and what the file SMALLERR.OBJ is good for? It would also be nice if the /V and /W switches to BASCOM worked as the manual said they did. (/V works like /W is supposed to, /W produces junk) Also, a BREAK or a FRAMING ERROR to the serial I/O port crashes Quick-Basic ------------------------------ From: 2212msr%whuts.UUCP@BRL Subject: PC-DOS 3.1 and "echo off" Date: Tue, 4-Feb-86 10:15:45 PST nather@astro.utexas.edu writes: "For several reasons (none very good) I'd like to use PC-DOS 3.1, but not at the expense of bat-chatter. If anyone knows how to patch the 3.x command.com so it runs .bat files silently, please send it to me, or post it to the net. The patch for 2.x I am using does not work on 3.x (*sigh*). I have a kludge that erases the "echo off" which is echoed when the batch command "echo off" is executed, but it is irritating after getting used to the real thing." This patch changes echo default to echo off (DOS 3.1 only!). debug command.com -e 1967<cr> xxxx:1967 01.00<cr> -w <cr> writing xxxx bytes -q<cr> Max S. Robin AT&T Bell Laboratories Rm. 3E-318A Whippany, NJ 07981 201-386-6865 email:whuxg!2212msr ------------------------------ From: farren%well.UUCP@brl Subject: CGA: 2 More Palettes in Medium Res Date: Sun, 9-Feb-86 10:44:51 PST jan@looking.UUCP (Jan Gray) writes: "From the documentation I've seen, there are only two medium res colour palettes, one with black, red, green, yellow, and the other black, magenta, cyan, white. However, Turbo Pascal can set another two palettes with "high intensity" colours. How is this done? The BIOS Video Set Palette call doesn't seem to be able to set palette 2 or 3. Is there a BIOS call to do this? Is there a (much less portable) IO address to poke?" You can get the high-intensity palette by setting the background color to a high-intensity color (Probably black, that's usually the most common choice). To do this, you use the normal BIOS call, INT 10H, with AH set to 0BH, BH set to zero, and BL set to 8 (high intensity black). Likewise, if BL is set to zero, you will get the low-intensity pallette. Mike Farren uucp: {your favorite backbone site}!hplabs!well!farren Fido: Sci-Fido, Fidonode 125/84, (415)655-0667 ------------------------------ From: rde@ukc.ac.uk Subject: Re: File truncation under PC-DOS Date: Tue, 4-Feb-86 01:08:02 PST bright@dataio.UUCP writes: "Anyone out there know a way to truncate a file to 'n' bytes in length without going in and directly manipulating the FAT? I need a method that is well-behaved." Use function 42H (seek) to move the file pointer to the place you want the file truncated. Then use function 40H (write) with a count of zero (CX=0). This comes from the MS-DOS Programmer's Manual so it ought (!) to be well behaved. Hope this helps. Bob Eager rde@ukc.UUCP rde@ukc ...!mcvax!ukc!rde Phone: +44 227 66822 ext 7589 ------------------------------ Date: Wednesday, 12 Feb 1986 13:15:20-PST From: watson%akov04.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM Subject: Co-Processor Board Inquiry I would like to find out what a co-processor is and how it works. I have requested information from suppliers that advertize such products in the trade magazines but all I get is hype on their products. I would like to know does the co-processor and system processor compute concurrently? How do the processors communicate, do (all, most, some, none) of the popular software work on the co-processor? How does the user control the 2 processors? Are there (one, two, several, many) different types of co-processors? Which one is best? etc, etc, etc. If you are privy to this information, I would very much appreciate hearing from you. I will try to summarize the responses for other curious and/or confused souls out there with the same interests. Thank in advance. Rick Watson ------------------------------ Date: 12 Feb 1986 16:24:43 PST Subject: Co-Processor Board Inquiry From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: watson%akov04.DEC@DECWRL.DEC.COM A co-processor as defined by Intel is a chip nearly pin for pin identical to the processor chip. In the case of the PC/XT the main processor chip is an Intel 8088 and the floating point co-processor chip is an Intel 8087. When the main processor issues a special instruction the co-processor is informed that the next few following bytes are instructions for the co-processor to perform. Currently there are two co-processor chips made by Intel. The 8087 does fast floating point arithmetic, the other is a special chip that aids in implementation of stand alone word processors. Intelwill soon announce a third co-processor chip that will speed up graphics for PC applications. There are also co-processor boards available for the PC. I suspect this is what you were asking about and relabeled your query accordingly. Some co-processor boards use the Intel family chips to run DOS faster than a PC or AT. Others contain 68000s or National 320XX chips and run various flavors of Unix. The subject is indeed confusing as no standard has emerged in this area. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 86 16:27 CST From: XASSHOR%UCHIMVS1.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Subject: WordPerfect and the LaserJet The reason WordPerfect will sometimes not print boldface on the LaserJet even though there is a bold font available is this: WordPerfect assumes that there is one printer command string for turning on boldface. On the LaserJet there is both a primary font and a secondary font available, and the command strings for working with them are slightly different. By default, WordPerfect sends the string for boldfacing the primary font. The fixes are obvious. -- Melinda Shore University of Chicago Computation Center ...!ihnp4!gargoyle!sphinx!shor XASSHOR@UChicago.Bitnet ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1986 19:56 EST From: LENOIL@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU To: Craig Milo Rogers <ROGERS@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Subject: CHMOD CHMOD (PC-DOS interrupt function 43H) negligently trashes register AX on a non-error return from subfunction 00H (Get File) Not negligent at all. The DOS technical manual explicitly states (somewhere) that AX is never preserved by an INT 21. ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------
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(Text 153328) 86-02-15 12.16 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <199> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-02-15 12.16 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <190> -- Received: 86-02-15 19.15 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-02-15 12.16 Subject: Info-IBMPC-Digest V5 #22 %Original date: 14 Feb 1986 18:57:47 PST. TF: DSKD:835292.MAI %FROM: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 27850 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 15 Feb 86 11:24 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 14-Feb-1986 22:45:35-est Date: 14 Feb 1986 18:57:47 PST Subject: Info-IBMPC-Digest V5 #22 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Friday, 14 February 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 22 This Week's Editor: Billy Brackenridge Today's Topics: Hard Disk Interleaves Xenix 1.0 + Hercules + Princeton + vi = headache Memory Board Query UNIX|STAT Announcement MIDI Interfaces Xenix on 30Mb Rodine Disk fopen() under XENIX/DOS on PC-AT Request Info on Micro-PROLOG 1.2 MB Drive on PC/XT Link/E Option IBM System/36PC New ANSI Driver WordStar 2000 Inquiry SAVVY PC 5 Mb Cartridge Drives Info-IBMPC Submission Quick Basic Woes System Buffer Pool Writer's Workbench for PC-DOS Query Expanding Old PC Motherboards Where is ARC50.COM? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 12 Feb 86 16:21 PST From: GEORGEBURKITT.ES@Xerox.COM Subject: Hard Disk Interleaves The interleave function exists because some controllers cannot buffer adjacent sector READs in real time. They read one sector, then transfer the data out; while the data is being transferred, the disk is still spinning past the adjacent sector. By the time the controller is ready to handle a second sector, the head is ready to read a sector some ways around the track. The controller knows this, so it originally placed the "second" sector the same distance around the track. The interleave factor is the number of sectors which the controller skips between "acjacent" sectors. It also is the number of revolutions the disk must make to read an entire track. Since it is a FORMAT function, it must be done at the initial formatting....usually by the dealer before delivery. There are a number of non-IBM reformat programs around, but I don't know them by name. [Does anybody have any specific programs that will format a disk with higher interleave factor? -wab] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 86 19:20:08 pst From: David Robinson <ia-sun2!david@csvax.caltech.edu> Subject: Xenix 1.0 + Hercules + Princeton + vi = headache I have just installed Xenix 1.0 on an IBM PC/AT that has a Hercules color card with a Princeton monitor. When I use vi, everytime I insert a character, delete a character, or delete a line the screen flashes. This is literally giving me a headache. Is there an easy fix to this or do I need to hack up the /etc/termcap entry? Any suggestions/fixes are more than welcome! ------------------------------ Date: 12 February 86 22:14-PST From: from: DEP%SLACVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Subject: Memory Board Query Date: 12 February 1986, 22:13:21 PST Anyone out there have strong opinions about reliable and economical memory boards for the IBM PC (non AT)? We have been using mostly AST boards here, but I'm curious to know what other people recommend? *-------------------------------------------------------------------* * Don Pelton, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Stanford, Calif. * * Bitnet: DEP@SLACVM Arpa: DEP%SLACVM.BITNET@wiscvm.ARPA * * Usenet: ihnp4!ptsfa!well!dep * * 415-856-8032 (home) 415-854-3300 ext. 2901 (work) * *-------------------------------------------------------------------* [I like Tall Tree -wab] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 86 10:04:28 est From: "Bennett E. Todd III" <ecsvax!bet%mcnc.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> Subject: UNIX|STAT Announcement What follows is an announcement of a new version (5.2) of my UNIX|STAT package of data manipulation and analysis programs for UNIX and MSDOS. The UNIX version is finished, and the MSDOS version will be ready as soon as we get around to compiling them, certainly by March 1, 1986. UNIX|STAT continues to be distributed on tape for $20 and floppies for $15, and you can make free copies for non-profit use. If you do data analysis on UNIX or MSDOS, its worth reading on. For People Who Are Familiar With UNIX|STAT: So what's new from the old version? To me the main changes are: a. contab (new program) for contingency tables and chi-square b. probdist (new and replacement program) for random number generation, and probability to/from statistic conversion for uniform, normal, chi-square, t, and F distributions. c. on-line help built into most programs: -L print program limits -O print program options -V print program version number d. ranksort (new program) to rank order data within columns e. on-line manual entries will be available on MSDOS, so: g. I am no longer distributing free printed documentation. f. there is brand new documentation (a big handbook) for 5.2 There are several new features added to old programs, to take up slack for programs I am no longer distributing (io, vincent, trans, dataplot). I hope to rid myself of this compulsion to write new UNIX|STAT programs, so I intend to avoid adding to the package for at least six months. This should be the best version around for a while. The long description follows, and it includes ordering information. Due to the number of calls I have received, and had to return, I will no longer be returning calls about the package. If you must call, leave your name and address and I'll send you a paper copy of exactly what follows. And don't forget, send me your addresses in the form they will appear on a mailing label, or I will let your request gather dust for weeks rather than try to decipher letter-head. Foreign requesters: please tell me what country you are writing from; I am still wondering where Flatzen-Hozen is. UNIX|STAT 5.2 DATA MANIPULATION & ANALYSIS PROGRAMS FOR UNIX and MSDOS UNIX|STAT is a set of over 20 data manipulation and analysis programs developed at the University of California, San Diego and at the Wang Institute of Graduate Studies by Gary Perlman. The programs are designed with the UNIX philosophy that individual programs should be designed as tools that do one task well and produce output suitable for input via pipes to other programs. Interactive use is supported in the command line interpreter which also provides a programming language for complex analyses. Typical usage involves a pipeline of transformations of data followed by input to an analysis program, summarized schematically by: INPUT DATA | TRANSFORM | ANALYSIS | OUTPUT RESULTS Functionality often built into statistical packages (e.g., graphics and sorting) is not re-invented in UNIX|STAT which delegates such responsibility to standard tools. DATA MANIPULATION PROGRAMS: abut join data files colex column extraction dm column oriented data manipulator maketrix create matrix type file from free-form file perm randomly permute lines in a file probdist probability distribution functions ranksort rank order columns repeat repeat a pattern or file reverse reverse lines, columns, and characters series print a series of numbers transpose transpose matrix type file validata verify data file consistency DATA ANALYSIS PROGRAMS: anova multi-factor analysis of variance calc interactive algebraic modeling calculator contab contingency tables and chi-square desc descriptions histograms, frequency tables dprime signal detection d' and beta calculations oneway one-way anova and t-test and error-bar plots pair paired data statistics, regression, plots regress multivariate linear regression stats report summary statistics ts time series analysis and plots FEATURES: easy to use (negligible training period) simple input formats (free format field oriented) used in pipelines with other UNIX or MSDOS utilities (sort, print) flexible data manipulation data validation (range and type checking) full documentation (manual entries, tutorials) extensible (many modular C functions) efficient (less than a few seconds per analysis) small enough for micros runs on any UNIX System (V6, V7, 2.8BSD, 4BSD, System V, etc.) runs on MSDOS 2.0 and 3.0 with 96K (IBM PC, Wang PC, AT&T PC, etc.) liberal copyright (can't be distributed for gain) in use at more than 400 UNIX sites for six years CHANGES FOR RELEASE 5.0 (March 1985): reworked to increase portability, reliability, usability most commands now use a standard option parser (getopt) all calculations now done in double precision improved error messages regress now does a partial correlation analysis colex and trans added as alternative to dm better approximations to F-ratios efficiency of I/O improved most programs ported to MSDOS improved random number seeding on UNIX standard exit status (0) on successful runs version control added CHANGES FOR RELEASE 5.1 (November 1985): several minor bugs removed the full package was ported to MSDOS CHANGES FOR RELEASE 5.2 (January 1986): 5 probability distributions with random number generation crosstabs and chi-square program on-line help in most programs plotting options added to paired data program anova program more robust error bar plots, unweighted means solution in oneway program better support for residual plotting in regress UNIX|STAT Handbook and new manual entries on-line manuals on MSDOS AVAILABILITY AND ORDERING INFORMATION: The programs are distributed under a liberal copyright. The software (program code, executable code, and on-line documentation) can be distributed freely, provided there is no material gain. All rights are reserved on the printed documentation. All prices include delivery and should be prepaid US funds to G. Perlman. UNIX Version of UNIX|STAT: Price: $20 Contents: Program (C language) & Manual (troff) Source Files Format: 600 foot half inch 9 track mag tape, 1600 bpi tar format MSDOS Version of UNIX|STAT: Price: $15 Contents: Preformatted Manuals and Executables Format: 2S/2D MSDOS 5.25 inch floppy diskettes Handbook: Price: $10 Contents: Examples, Conventions, Reference Materials, CALC & DM Manuals Format: Printed Manual (~70 pages) Printed Manual Entries: Price: $5 Contents: Typeset Versions of Manual Entries, Reference Sheets Format: Printed Manual (~30 pages) CONTACT: Gary Perlman Wang Institute of Graduate Studies Tyng Road Tyngsboro, MA 01879 USA (617) 649-9731 UUCP: decvax!wanginst!perlman CSNET: perlman@wanginst NOTES: UNIX|STAT is unsupported, though known bugs have been removed. UNIX|STAT may not be distributed for profit. UNIX is a trademark of AT&T Bell Laboratories. UNIX|STAT is NOT a product of any company or organization. -- Gary Perlman Wang Institute Tyngsboro, MA 01879 (617) 649-9731 UUCP: decvax!wanginst!perlman CSNET: perlman@wanginst -------------------------------------------------------------- -Bennett Bennett Todd -- Duke Computation Center, Durham, NC 27706-7756; (919) 684-3695 UUCP: ...{decvax,seismo,philabs,ihnp4,akgua}!mcnc!ecsvax!duccpc!bet ------------------------------ Date: 12 Feb 86 23:41:34 EST From: John Duimovich <John_Duimovich%CARLETON.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: MIDI Interfaces We have people here doing a music/computer interfacing project using an IBM-PC equipped with the Roland MPU-401 and corresponding interface board. Does anyone out there have any information on : 1) Available MIDI software / documentation for the IBM-PC 2) Documentation for Oberheim System Exclusive Messages, and associated protocol. This is really important ! 3) Is there a MIDI BBoard/Mail Groups on the Net (or anywhere else !) ? 4) Documentation on the Roland MPU-401. Anyone out there used it ? Problems ? As this is a specialized topic please reply directly to me and I'll summarize to the net. Thanks in advance John Duimovich John_Duimovich@Carleton.BITNET PP147363@Carleton.BITNET if your mailer can't handle > 8 character names. ------------------------------ Date: 13 Feb 1986 09:56-EST Subject: Xenix on 30Mb Rodine Disk From: MHARRIS@A.BBN.COM I have been trying to install Xenix on an AT with 30Mb Rodine disk without success. I tried Robin Cutshaw's patches; they caused my installation floppy to trash itself. Mr. Cutshaw very kindly sent me the patched code on floppy; it doesn't work. I'm told there are "official" IBM patches now; does anyone know if this is so, and how to get them (local dealers feign ignorance)? Any help would be appreciated (my project is constrained to IBM issued Xenix, so SCO is not a possibility). Thanks. -- Michael Harris BBN Labs 617-497-3794 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Feb 86 09:25:20 est From: Kevin Sullivan <kjs%tufts.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> Subject: fopen() under XENIX/DOS on PC-AT I developed a program under XENIX and used the -dos option on the compiler to produce a file executable under DOS. The fopen() call returns an absurd value, however, when the memory model is specified to be Large. The program runs under XENIX and under DOS unless memory model LArge. 1) has anyone seen this problem, do you know a fix? 2) does anyone know how to get IBM to respond to this kind of problem? Please mail directly to me as I am not on the PC list. Thanks much. Kevin Sullivan Tufts University kjs%tufts@CSNET-RELAY ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Feb 86 12:10 EST From: Deba Patnaik <DEBA%UMDC.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: Request Info on Micro-PROLOG How much does it cost ? Who distributes the software ? Are there any other PROLOG interpreters or compilers ? ------------------------------ Date: 13 Feb 86 10:13:41 PST (Thursday) Subject: 1.2 MB Drive on PC/XT From: Kadifa.osbunorth@Xerox.COM I am interested in the possibility of using a 1.2 MB high-density floppy drive as an additional drive on an XT. Naturally, the XT BIOS doesn't support the high-density drive, but I would like to know if there exist any MS-DOS drivers for the 1.2 MB drive. Abdo. [Tall Tree in Palo Alto makes hardware & software to support 1.2MB drives -wab] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Feb 86 14:36:52 CST From: CHENJCL%UMCVMB.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Link/E Option Microsoft's newest version of the macro assembler documents the /e (Execpack option). Masm ver 4 (i think) around page 55. More trivia. Up to and including pc-dos version 3.0 allowed basic to rename directories (using NAME "?old" AS "?new"). Pc-dos version 3.1 flags this 'error'. Oh well. john lewis ------------------------------ Date: Thursday, 13 Feb 1986 14:26:57-PST From: waters%viking.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM Subject: IBM System/36PC I just opened up a copy of Datamation and saw an advertisement from IBM for a "System/36PC". What is this???? There is a picture of an IBM PC with two floppy drives, monochrome monitor, and keyboard. Next to the PC is a vertical mount chassis system which has a single half-height drive and looks like a PC/AT. The price? -- $5995! This includes "a 256K, 40MB System/36 Processor". The ad says that it is available from participating Authorized IBM PC dealers, Value Added Dealers, and IBM Product Centers. When was this announced? Did it just get lost in the RT/PC announcement? Lester Waters WATERS%VIKING.DEC@DECWRL.COM (ARPA) ...!decvax!dec-rhea!dec-viking!waters (UUCP) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Feb 86 18:27:23 PST From: kegel%Juliet.Caltech.Edu@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu Subject: New ANSI Driver Hi, folks. Here's my console driver: NANSI.CAT Nansi.sys is a console driver which understands ANSI control nansi.doc sequences. It has several advantages over ANSI.SYS (the driver setraw.cat supplied with DOS): 1. It supports new escape sequences (see nansi.doc). 2. It provides MUCH faster output under certain conditions. 3. It supports the 43-line mode of the EGA. 4. The darned bell is now 1/4 second instead of 1/2 second. See the file setraw.doc for Macro Assembler, Lattice C, and Microsoft C routines for entering and leaving raw mode. <kegel%Juliet.Caltech.Edu@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu> 2/14/86 So let me know what y'all think. - Daniel Kegel [These files have been added to our program library. It would be very nice if someone could combine this with the work done for terminal emulation ------------------------------ Date: 14 Feb 86 03:47 GMT From: ghicks @ KOREA-EMH Subject: WordStar 2000 Inquiry Having just purchased an EPSON FX-80 printer, I wanted to try and get our office copy of WordStar 2000 to work with it... I installed the printer as directed, but couldn't find a way to get the right printer selected. The one that came closest wasthe MX-80... But I can't do proportional spacing from WordStar.. Any ideas on how to 'patch' (or change the PRINTERS.DB file) to allow WS2000 to understand this printer?? Thanks Greg Hicks ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Feb 86 22:23 CST From: Greenwald@HI-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: SAVVY PC Does anyone have any experience with SAVVY PC. (put out by Savvy Corp. in Albuquerque, N.M.). It is advertised as a Database Manager, Extensible Programming Language, and pattern recognition driven Retriever. In addition, it is a virtual system - permitting you to run programs whose size is limited only by disk space, allows for 10,000 concurrently open files, has embedded telecommunications, .... And all of this for $49 !!! ------------------------------ Date: 14 Feb 1986 02:20:34 EST From: BALLGOOD@USC-ISI.ARPA Subject: 5 Mb Cartridge Drives Does anyone know if on a system (GRid) using MS-DOS with a 10MB hard disk composed of 2 5MB cartridges, a contiguous file greater than 5 MB (say 6.5MB) be built by a data base program? Specifically, R-Base 5000, Dbase III or Oracle. Anyone willing to share any experience with the GRiD and large database systems , please let me know,]]Thanks Bob Allgood ------------------------------ Date: Friday, 14 Feb 1986 07:09:19-PST From: watson%akov04.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM Subject: Info-IBMPC Submission I have just replaced the 8088-2 CPU in my PC Designs FD-1000 with a V20 chip and would like to report the differences noted. My configuration is: PC Designs FD-1000 system (8 Mhz clock) 512 K 150 ns system ram 2 M AST Rampage board (128 K used to bring system memory to 640 K) (remainder used as ram disk) The following are comparison timings done before and after the installation of the V20 chip: Norton SI index 1.7 2.9 BENCHA (Interrupt Response) 1.21 1.04 BENCHB (Interrupt Kernel benchmark) 4.39 4.18 BENCHE (String Search benchmark) 6.32 4.83 BENCHF (Bit Manipulation Instructions) 6.70 6.26 BENCHH (Linked List Insertion) 4.40 4.18 BENCHI (Quicksort) 7.14 5.99 BENCHK (Bit Matrix Transpose benchmark) 18.23 16.03 IEEE Micro (2/81) Digital Filter Benchmark 13.68 8.24 Compilation of 8454 line Turbo Pascal Program 159.00 156.00 DeARC 19 'Crunched' Pascal Sources Files (ARC V5.2) 226.63 220.41 ARC the same 19 files (Crunched) 112.37 109.03 * All benchmarks were run from and used files exclusively from ram disk. The numbers represent time in seconds except the Norton SI which is a relative index. The BENCH? and Filter Benchmark were obtained from a BBS and are designed to highlight the V20 performance. The V20 has some additional instructions to aid in bit manipulations. The table above indicates the timings with the V20 running 8088 object code. BENCHF and BENCHK also report timings using the enhanced instructions which are: BENCHF 3.85 BENCHK 10.93 These times are much improved over the 8088 however, the object code is not compatible with the 8088. All in all I can't notice any difference while doing normal operations on the system. (normal operations include program development using C, Turbo Pascal, and MASM). So far, I haven't found any program that was 'broken' by the V20. If I do, I will go back to running the 8088 and chalk up the $25 spent on the V20 to experience. Rick Watson ------------------------------ Date: Fri 14 Feb 86 08:53:06-PST From: Bob Knight <KNIGHT@SRI-NIC.ARPA> Subject: Quick Basic Woes On the subject of Quick Basic, I had a private conversation which I enclose in this message. If there's anyone else who's run into problems, please send documentation to me. Date: Thu 13 Feb 86 14:21:01-PST From: Bob Knight <KNIGHT@SRI-NIC.ARPA> Subject: Quick Basic. To: Ya'akov_Miles%UBC.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Hi - In the latest INFO-IBMPC digest, you spoke of problems you've encountered with Quick-Basic. I'm writing an application in it, unfortunately, and have run into problems with PC hangs that I feel were the fault of Quick-Basic, and directly related to comm ports, since I'm working over a radio link. Your message was truncated, but the last line said something regarding this. In addition, I've had random lossage (and I MEAN random) regarding string space corrupts, out of memory errors and the like. Considering the time constraints I'm under on this project, and the apparent ignorance on Microsoft's part of these problems, I'm looking for people who've run into them and can perhaps offer some workarounds... If I had more time, I'd have the luxury of using something that was more stable. Thanks much for any assistance given, Bob ------- Date: Thu, 13 Feb 86 18:53:38 PST From: Ya'akov_Miles%UBC.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA To: KNIGHT@SRI-NIC.ARPA Subject: Quick Basic. I have devised the following procedures which make BASIC usable (1) Use BASICA interpreter instead of Quick-Basic where possible (2) Have the ON ERROR GOTO a statement which consists of RUN Don't bother with sophisticated error handling, or Quick-Basic will incur another I/O error before it has finished processing the last I/O error. This will drive it nuts... (3) Manually examine the COM line status register for BREAK and FRAMING errors (the ones that crash Quick-Basic). Refrain from opening files on COM until you have manually (thru OUT) cleared these bits. (4) Microsoft Quick-Basic is guaranteed to crash on the following o The guy sending thru COM device changes baud rate suddenly... o The guy sending thru COM device hits break. (it breaks...) ------- End of enclosure ------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 14 Feb 86 08:53:03 PST From: Jim Carter <jimc@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU> Subject: System Buffer Pool In PC digest V5#20, Walton%Deimos@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu writes about disc optimizers and points out that disc "access" can be speeded up a lot if disc sectors are cached in core; he mentions several products that take care of this. Standard PC-DOS v3.1 (and v3.0, the manual says) has a system buffer pool too. The default number of sectors in the cache is 2 (3 for an AT) but you can expand it to 99 (=~50K) with the "buffers" command in config.sys. All drives share the same cache. James F. Carter (213) 206-1306 UCLA-SEASnet; 2567 Boelter Hall; 405 Hilgard Ave.; Los Angeles, CA 90024 UUCP:...!{ihnp4,ucbvax,{hao!cepu}}!ucla-cs!jimc ARPA:jimc@locus.UCLA.EDU ------------------------------ Date: 14 Feb 1986 09:47:39 PST Subject: Writer's Workbench for PC-DOS Query From: Richard Nelson <SWG.NELSON@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Writer's Workbench is a text preparation tool available on Unix. Is there a version of it (or something like it) available on PC-DOS machines? Thanks, /richard ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 14 Feb 86 13:25:23 est From: parrish@EDN-VAX.ARPA (Jimmy Parrish) Subject: Expanding Old PC Motherboards Does anyone know of a method of expanding the motherboard memory of early IBM-PCs. These early machines were limited to 64K ( 36 16K x 1 chips) memory on the motherboard. Any source for advice or parts would be appreciated. Please reply directly to PARRISH@EDN-VAX.ARPAPA . THANKS IN ADVANCE ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 14 Feb 86 15:52:17 PST From: cameron@Jpl-VLSI.ARPA Subject: Where is ARC50.COM? Gentlemen, I noticed that <INFO-IBMPC> has the file ARC50.DOC which is the documentation for the lastest version of the archiving utility ARC. I was wondering: is the latest version of ARC on ARPAnet somewhere? Thanks, -Jonathan Cameron (CAMERON @ JPL-VLSI) [Does anybody want to be the "Official" net depositary of the latest version of ARC. If so I will put your address in our ARC.DOC file. -wab] ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------
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(Text 154054) 86-02-18 23.34 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <200> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-02-18 23.34 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <191> -- Received: 86-02-19 00.40 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-02-18 23.34 Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #23 %Original date: 17 Feb 1986 22:55:07 PST. TF: DSKD:844341.MAI %FROM: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 15395 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 18 Feb 86 22:15 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 18-Feb-1986 02:32:11-est Date: 17 Feb 1986 22:55:07 PST Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #23 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Monday, 17 February 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 23 This Week's Editor: Eliot Moore <Elmo@USC-ISIB> Today's Topics: Memory Boards Memory Boards, Wordstar 2000 Apple LaserWriter and MSDOS Writer's Workbench Clones Transparencies for IBM Color Jetprinter Smartworks Floppy problems with 10 MHz AT Public Domain Calculator Query Digital Camera Recorders Query Digitized Speech Systems Query Unix Query 'True' Basic Query Programming a modem with Turbo-Pascal ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 15 Feb 86 00:13:17 EST From: Chris Schmandt <geek@MEDIA-LAB.MIT.EDU> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib Subject: Memory Boards Cc: DEP%SLACVM.BITNET@wiscvm In response to the query about memory boards: I am using JRAM 3 with 2Mb and planning to get more of them. Their ramdisk and speedy diskcopy is the best I've seen, full of switches for hackers to customize. Source included! And hard to beat the price! I know everyone is probably sick of Billy tooting Tall Tree's horn, but theirs has been an impressive performance. As for disk caching: I've had some use of an intelligent cacher called "Lightning". As opposed to straight caching, they do some clever read- aheads. It can actually a more effective use of memory space than a ramdisk, IF you don't have enough ramdisk for all your frequently accessed files. A while ago I referred to the Tecmar Megafunction board as "vapor". To correct that, it exists. It is overpriced and poorly documented, and their software barely acceptable, but it is a VERY packed multi-function card. ------------------------------ Date: 15 Feb 1986 10:36-EST Subject: Memory Boards, Wordstar 2000 From: DEVCTR@USC-ISID.ARPA To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA It has been my experience that Word Star, no matter what form or version, never has or does support matrix printers very well. In earlier versions, I had to reconfigure through the installation routine, control codes that were compatible with the particular matrix printer. However, Word Star has not included enough vacant command control spaces or any "hooks" to add any. Some folks at NOSC have written print driver routines using BASIC but I would recommend PASCAL. And I would specifically recom- mend the BORLAND TURBO-87 or BORLAND TURBO versions (I found TURBO-87 slightly faster). Regarding the utility RAM boards--Tall Tree is our favorite through a selection process but we have not (and I havn't either) evaluated one since it is in the mail somewhere. However, an article concerning the Tall Tree JRAM-2 memory board (less all the other utilities like clock etc) is included in the March '85 PC World Magazine on page 167. If you can not find or do not have easy access to the article, it is short, and I can include it as a message. One thing the article points out is that the driver named JETDRIVE has two versions. The first version is 2.40 while the more recent is version 2.75. For owners of the old version, they can get the newer version for 20 bucks while others can get the whole new driver for 60 bucks. The source for the JETDRIVE package is Tall Tree at their CAL address. The version 2.75 allows the user to configure more than one RAM disk in the JRAM-2 board. The article says up to four. Also, unique to Tll Tree's JRAM-2 and JETDRIVE VER.2.75, the user can reboot without loosing JETDRIVE. In addition, JETDRIVE, in some cases, is faster than SUPERDIVE by AST Research. I am not sure whether Tall Tree uses EMS or EEMS and if this is a problem, the prospective buyer should investigate whether there is a potential problem Fred ------------------------------ Date: Sat 15 Feb 86 11:59:04-EST From: Barbara H. Liskov <LISKOV@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU> To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Apple LaserWriter and MSDOS In response to Tom Russell's query in info-ibmpc about sharing a Laserwriter between Macs and IBMPCs: We just got a Laserwriter at work and are struggling with the same problem. The Macs, using Appletalk are connected to the Appletalk connector and an IBMPC is connected to the RS-232 connector. For ibm use, we physically move the rear switch from the Appletalk to either the special position for Diablo 630 emulation at 9600 bps or the 9600 bps position for Postscript applications. In the latter position we use GEMDRAW or a simple ASCII listing program (with selection of one normal and one bold font), that I wrote. I'd be happy to sent that program to info-ibmpc, but it is very limited. Note that it is not necessary to power down the Laserwriter when the switch position is changed. If there is a way to switch between Macs and IBM users electronically, I'd like to hear about it. I've heard that there is an IBM to Appletalk connection, but I do not know if that is real and whether there is any useful IBM software to support it. I've seen ads for a number of laser software utilities for the HP laser printer from the ibm pc, but none for Postscript. I would appreciate hearing about any useful ones. Nate Liskov ------- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 15 Feb 86 16:55:47 EST From: James H. Coombs <JAZBO%BROWNVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Writer's Workbench Clones Richard Nelson asks about Writer's Workbench for PC-DOS machines. At last count, there were two: Grammatik and Punctuation & Style. At one point, Grammatik was taken off the market (according to the rumors), but then I saw a review a few months ago. In any case, both of these programs are worthless as far as I am concerned. Don't listen to the reviewers in the glossies though; they think everything is useful ("if you need a program that _____, then ____ just might be for you"). The biggest problem with all available grammar checkers, including WWB, is that they flag every occurrence of words and phrases that are commonly misused. I find them to be a waste of time. In the end, the knowledgeable user encounters excessive flagging, and the "ignorant" user is left to determine whether or not there really is an error. I recognize that there are a number of programs in the WWB system, not just flagging of commonly misused words/phrases; but, so far as I know, the rest of the system has not been cloned. And I have to say that those readibility indexes (Flesch, Fog, whatever) are among the most embarrassing products of academia. There are a number of intelligent systems in the works, and I recommend that you wait until these are available. For a good summary, see Gary B. Alexander, "Computer Aids for Authors and Editors," *Seybold Report*, Feb. 13, 1984 (pp. 3-21?). Although this article is two years old now, there has been no news of major developments since then. For the record, I am a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in English. I have a Ph.D. in English and an A.M. in Linguistics. I have also worked extensively on one of the systems that Alexander discusses. I speak for myself, however, and have nothing to gain by the success of one system over another. I do, however, have a lot to gain by the success of one or more systems that do what we really need; not only would such a system significantly reduce the mechanics of proofreading my own composition, it would reduce the low-level errors in my students' papers. It's about time that we put these machines to work, don't you think? ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Feb 1986 17:20:18 EST From: NEVRH%NERVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Transparencies for IBM Color Jetprinter As far as I have been able to find, IBM is the only source of transparencies that are reliable for the Jetprinter. I have tried the kind intended for use with the 749/750 plotter (about the same price, but we already have the supply path established) and the Jetprinter ink does not spread evenly on this surface. I have tried plain acetate sheets with the same result, only worse. I have tried drafting film (both glossy and matte). The ink beaded up on the glossy stuff and did not spread evenly on the matte surface. I am on the lookout for surfaces that I haven't tried yet and I'll let you know if I ever I find something that works and is also less expensive. As far as being hard to get, the only problems I found were getting our purchasing people to do a PO. As soon as I had the PO number, I called IBM Direct and the transparencies were here two days later (it took two days because I called very late in the afternoon). I would think it ought to be the next day in Delaware. I would like to hear if you find any other potential good materials for transparencies. Virginia Hetrick Northeast Regional Data Center University of Florida Gainesville, Florida 32611 NEVRH@NERVM.BITNET ------------------------------ Date: 17 February 86 09:21-EDT To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA From: CSCON102%UOFT02.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU (Alan Smith) Subject: Smartworks Does anyone out there know how to make a safe-keeping backup copy of a program called Smartworks? The program is used in drawing/creating printed-circuit boards using an IBM-PC. I have tried Copywrite and CopyII PC these will not produce a working backup of the program. I can not directly send mail on BITnet but I receive mail from the network...Send any ideas/(programs?) to CSCON102@UOFT02.BITNET (My account at the University of Toledo). Thank you Alan. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Feb 86 02:48:11 EST From: "Paul L. Kelley" <PLK@MC.LCS.MIT.EDU> Subject: Floppy problems with 10 MHz AT To: Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA My 10 MHz AT has a significant rate of access failures for the 1.2 Mbyte floppy drive (no problem with the 360 Kbyte drive). Retry works, but is not particularly pleasant. I thought the "Change Diskette Parameter Table's motor startup delay" code recently sent to INFO-IBMPC by Glenn Connery (connery%bnrmtv.UUCP at BRL.ARPA) might solve the problem. Not so, no matter what I set the startup constant to be. I did verify that the original constant was 8. Apparently there is another timing loop (I suspect the seek track routine) that needs a bigger constant. Is there a better idea out there? Paul Kelley (PLK@MIT-MC) ------------------------------ Date: Mon 17 Feb 86 10:33:23-PST From: Marvin Zauderer <ZAUDERER@SU-SUSHI.ARPA> Subject: Public Domain Calculator Query To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA I'm looking for a public domain calculator that runs on the PC/XT/AT. I'd like it to be a Macintosh-like "desk accessory" if possible; I want to call it from within a program I'm writing to do occasional calculations. I think a simple 4-function (with memory) model would suffice. If possible, I'd like the source code as well; ideally, I could modify it to work with the EGA/Enhanced Color Display setup (i.e. in high resolution mode), if it doesn't already. Any ideas? Thanks, Marvin (ZAUDERER@SU-SUSHI.ARPA) ------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Feb 86 07:57:34 pst From: Neal Holtz <holtz%cascade.carleton.cdn%ubc.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: Digital Camera Recorders Query [Note: the following message is forwarded for John, whose BITNET host is being difficult...] I'm interested in purchasing a 4K digital camera recorder. Anyone had any experience with the camera made by Matrix Corp? Are there any other reasonably priced units out there? Thanks John Przybytek <John_Przybytek@carleton.bitnet> ------------------------------ From: greenber%phri.UUCP@BRL.ARPA Subject: Digitized Speech Systems Query Date: Thu, 13-Feb-86 11:39:49 PST I'm in need of any and all information regarding voice boards for operation on a IBM AT (or compatible). I've heard of the WATSON board, and this might come close to my needs, but you might know better: 1. Ability to answer the phone. 2. Good to excellent voice quality 3. Ability to register Touch-Tone Frequencies 4. Ability to run a number of "scripts", of unknown (but large) length (maybe 5 minutes of voice?) 5. Excellent response time (<5 seconds after TT hit) 6. It would be nice if it could use expanded and extended memory up to the limit of the AT (to avoid Disk I/O as much as possible) 7. Reasonable price (<$10K) If you know of any boards, or have further information regarding such boards, please *MAIL* to me, and I'll summerize as required. Thanks! ross m. greenberg ihnp4!allegra!phri!sysdes!greenber ------------------------------ Date: Saturday, 15 Feb 1986 16:05:55-PST From: shapiro%kim.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: Unix Query Does anyone know of a UNix look alike os for the IBM PC that is in the public domain? I just bought a 20 meg hard disk, and can't wait to graduate from PC Dos to Unix. If there is nothing in the public domain, what is the best value from the multitude of Unix implementations for the PC? A licensed implementation is preferable, but not if it is outrageously expensive! Thanks ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 15 Feb 86 12:45:10 CST From: MATHES%UMCVMB.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Subject: 'True' Basic Query To: info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Does anybody know of a good compiler for True Basic (Addison Wesely). Elias Saab ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 15 Feb 1986 17:31 CST From: Nigel Salway <SALWAY%UREGINA1.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: Programming a modem with Turbo-Pascal To: <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> I am interested to know if anyone has a reference that shows how to write a ter minal emulator in Turbo-Pascal. I am running Turbo-Pascal under DOS 2.1 on an P C-AT with a Hayes Smartmodem 1200 attached to COM1. The language seems to indic ate that COM1 can be accessed as a file called Aux but I have not been able to get any code to work. The farthest I have got is to get 1 character echoed from the modem and then it hangs, not even responding to CTRL - C. Nigel Salway (SALWAY@UREGINA1) ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------
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(Text 160258) 86-03-24 05.07 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <201> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 05.07 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <192> -- Received: 86-03-24 06.07 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 05.07 Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #36 %Original date: 22 Mar 1986 15:47:49 PST. TF: DSKD:931196.MAI %FROM: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 14935 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 24 Mar 86 01:26 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 22-Mar-1986 18:52:25-est Mail-From: INFO-IBMPC created at 21-Mar-86 13:44:59 Date: 21 Mar 1986 13:44:59 PST Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #36 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA ReSent-Date: 22 Mar 1986 15:47:49 PST ReSent-From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> ReSent-To: C511%QZCOM.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Friday, 21 March 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 36 This Week's Editor: Billy Brackenridge Today's Topics: DOS 3.2 (yawn) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DATE 860318 TITLE IBM PERSONAL COMPUTER DISK OPERATING SYSTEM VERSION 3.2 AND IBM PERSONAL COMPUTER BASIC REFERENCE VERSION 3.2 AVAILABLE OVERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS o Is upwardly compatible from IBM Personal Computer DOS 3.1. (DOS 3.1 and DOS 2.1 are still available.) o Supports IBM Token-Ring Network. o Supports all members of the IBM Personal Computer family. o Provides a new command (REPLACE) to replace all occurrences of a file on a disk. This facilitates installation of new versions of DOS or application programs. o Provides a new command (XCOPY) to allow copying of files from more than one subdirectory where the source and target drives are of different densities, making complete or periodic backups easier. o Removes default drive capability on FORMAT. When the FORMAT command is executed, the drive letter must be specified, helping to prevent accidental reformatting of a disk or diskette. o Provides for label checking when a fixed disk is formatted. FORMAT will not proceed until the volume label is entered correctly by the user, providing an extra check to avoid accidentally reformatting a fixed disk. o Enhances several existing DOS commands to provide greater usability and better error recovery. o BASIC has been enhanced to include the following: - OPEN statement now includes support for the IBM PC Network and IBM Token-Ring Network. - Extended Graphics Adapter support is provided for enhanced modes via the PALETTE, PALETTE USING, and COLOR statements. - DOS extended error support is now provided. DESCRIPTION IBM Personal Computer DOS Version 3.2 provides the required support for an application program to interface with IBM Personal Computer hardware. It supports all members of the IBM Personal Computer family. DOS allows the user to manage files on a disk or diskette (display directories, rename files, copy files and so on). DOS also permits the user to start an application consisting of one or more programs linked together into a single load module. IBM Personal Computer DOS Version 3.2 includes a BASIC Language Interpreter Version 3.2 (described in the separately available BASIC Reference Version 3.2). DOS Version 3.2 also provides a line editor and debug utility programs to aid in program development. A linker program is provided to convert language compiler relocatable modules to executable load modules. New commands are provided to support copying of files in more than one subdirectory and to allow referral of a physical device as multiple drive letters. TECHINFO TECHNICAL INFORMATION SPECIFIED OPERATING ENVIRONMENT HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS: An IBM PCjr, IBM Personal Computer, IBM Personal Computer XT, IBM Portable Personal Computer, or IBM PersonalComputer AT are required. Memory requirements are: o IBM PCjr - 128Kb o IBM Personal Computer - 96Kb (128Kb recommended for fixed disk) o IBM Personal Computer XT - 128Kb o IBM Portable Personal Computer - 256Kb o IBM Personal Computer AT - 256Kb Diskette drive requirements include at least one of the following: o 360Kb diskette drive o 1.2Mb diskette drive Display and adapter are required as appropriate. HARDWARE PERIPHERALS: The following have been tested for compatibility with DOS 3.2 and operate as described in their documentation: o IBM Token-Ring PC Adapter and Cable o IBM 5841 1200 bps Modem o IBM Personal Computer 1200 bps Modem o IBM Personal Computer 3278/79 Emulation Adapter o IBM 5201 Quietwriter (R) Printer Model 1 o IBM 5201 Quietwriter (R) Printer Model 2 o IBM 5216 Wheelprinter o IBM 5223 Wheelprinter E Model 1 o IBM 3852 Color Jetprinter Model 2 o IBM 4201 Proprinter o IBM 3812 Pageprinter o System/36 PC 5364 Model 1 o System/36 PC 5364 Model 2 o Enhanced 5250 Emulation Version 2.1 Installation Convenience Kit o Enhanced Display Station Emulation Adapter Kit o System/36 PC Model 21 o System/36 PC Model 22 o 3270-PC with 3270-PC Control Program Versions 1.22 and 2.1 o 3270 Personal Computer AT with 3270-PC Control Program Version 2.1 o IBM Personal Computer AT/370 Option Kit o IBM 7371 Color Plotter o IBM 7372 Color Plotter o IBM Voice Communications Adapter Option COMPATIBILITY: IBM Personal Computer DOS Version 3.2 is an upwardly compatible enhancement to DOS 3.1 and contains maintenance updates to DOS 3.1. DOS 3.1 is still available. DOS 3.2 provides support for the IBM Token-Ring Network. Because the storage requirements are 8Kb greater than DOS 3.1 (44Kb versus 36Kb), some programs may not fit in the same size machine. In such instances, a program may be divided into smaller segments, or more memory may be added to the system unit. o DOS environment area can now be reserved: A new option of the SHELL command allows this area to be expanded to 32Kb. This allows the user to specify more extensive PATH commands, PROMPT commands, and SET commands without running out of environment space. o FORMAT: The FORMAT Command now requires the user to specify the drive letter; it no longer uses the current drive as the default. When formatting a fixed disk, the FORMAT command requires the user to specify the Volume ID of the disk. A warning message is also displayed, indicating that all data on the fixed disk will be lost if the user chooses to proceed with the formatting. o REPLACE: A new command, REPLACE, is provided to replace all occurrences of a file on a disk. o SELECT: The SELECT command has been enhanced to provide additional flexibility. o XCOPY: A new command, XCOPY, has been added to allow the user to copy files in more than one subdirectory. Options allow prompting for selective copying of files, verify after write, copying of lower level directories even when empty, copying of files modified after a specified date, and copying of archived files only (with or without modifying the archive bit). XCOPY can be performed where the source and target drives are of different densities. o Utilization of the BIOS parameter block: The BIOS parameter block is used to obtain media-type information to remove dependence on the File Allocation Table ID for the media-type information. o I/O control subfunctions: DOS 3.2 implements subfunctions that enhance device independence. These subfunctions allow querying and changing of device parameters as well as logical device support. These subfunctions are: - Get device parameters - Set device parameters - Read track on logical drive - Write track on logical drive - Format and verify track on logical drive - Verify track on logical drive - Get logical device number (determine if a device has more than one letter) - Set logical device number (suppress diskette change request messages) IBM Personal Computer DOS 3.2 is an upwardly compatible enhancement to DOS 2.1 and contains maintenance updates to DOS 2.1. DOS 3.2 requires a minimum of 44Kb of user memory. DOS 2.1 requires 24Kb.Because DOS 3.2 storage is 20Kb greater, some programs may not fit in the same size machine. In these cases, a program may be divided into smaller segments, or more memory may be added to the system unit. In addition to those described above, DOS 3.2 contains the following enhancements: o Optional file sharing: Applies on a file basis; provides full range of sharing possibilities. o Block locking: Provides the ability to restrict access to all or part of a file when the file is opened in a shared mode. o Support for IBM PC Network/IBM Token-Ring Network: Allows addition of the IBM PC Network programs. These programs are available separately and require appropriate network hardware. o Background print: Modified version of DOS 2.1 Print, which now supports path specifications and an internal programming interface. o Additional interrupt 21H functions: Additional function calls provide enhanced file management and support for the IBM PC Network environment. o Enhanced error recovery: Additional error reporting facilities to enhance support in the IBM PC Network environment. o Support for IBM Personal Computer AT: 1.2Mb diskette drives, non-volatile timer, larger fixed disk (size = 20Mb versus 10Mb for DOS 2.1). o BASIC Interpreter: Support IBM Personal Computer Enhanced Graphics Adapter, IBM PC Network, IBM Token-Ring Network, and DOS Extended Error facilities. BASIC Reference Version 3.2 contains a more detailed description of the changes. o VDISK: RAM disk. Allows use of part of storage for a virtual disk; supports extended memory (above 1MB) on IBM Personal Computer AT for virtual disk. o Large linker: Supports up to 1Mb o SUBST: Substitute string. o JOIN: Splicing of directories. APPLICATION PROGRAMS: The following licensed programs have been tested for compatibility with DOS 3.2 and operate as described in their program documentation: [List of programs deleted in interests of brevity. All programs were IBM products. Other usless stuff deleted as well. -ed] PACKAGING: IBM Personal Computer DOS Version 3.2 resides on two diskettes (6280057). The first diskette contains DOS; the second contains the Linker, Debug, EXE2BIN, sample device driver listings, and the BASIC sample programs. The following are included in the program package: o IBM Personal Computer Disk Operating System User's Guide (Version 3.2) o IBM Personal Computer Disk Operating System Reference (Version 3.2) o IBM Personal Computer Disk Operating System Quick Reference Card (Version 3.2) A brochure and postage-paid response card for a free copy of "The Directory," the catalog of personally developed software for IBM Personal Computers are also included. An update to the IBM Personal Computer DOS Technical Reference includes information on DOS 3.2 and will be sent automatically to registered users via the Update Information Service. This service provides updates to this manual until 60 days after the manual has been withdrawn from marketing. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: The IBM Personal Computer Assistance Center (PCAC) will provide assistance to eligible IBM customers. ORDERING ORDERING INFORMATION BASIC Reference Version 3.2 can be ordered as feature 0075 of 5150 - MNL and is not available at discount. Orders for any quantity may be taken by NCMD/SWMD marketing representatives. Orders for quantities less than 20 may be taken by the IBM Product Centers. Each Product Center will accept and process orders within its trading area. CHARGES, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS CHARGES Part Feature One-Time Description Number Number Charge IBM Personal Computer 6280057 0057 $95 DOS Version 3.2 BASIC Reference 6280075 0075 45 Version 3.2 TERMS AND CONDITIONS WARRANTY: Program - No, the provisions of the IBM Program License Agreement apply. ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------
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(Text 160259) 86-03-24 05.08 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <202> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 05.08 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <193> -- Received: 86-03-24 06.07 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 05.08 Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #24 %Original date: 22 Mar 1986 15:51:10 PST. TF: DSKD:931203.MAI %FROM: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 17060 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 24 Mar 86 01:30 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 22-Mar-1986 18:53:14-est Mail-From: INFO-IBMPC created at 19-Feb-86 20:58:13 Date: 19 Feb 1986 20:58:13 PST Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #24 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA ReSent-Date: 22 Mar 1986 15:51:10 PST ReSent-From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> ReSent-To: C511%QZCOM.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Wednesday, 19 February 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 24 This Week's Editor: Eliot Moore <Elmo@USC-ISIB> Today's Topics: Administravia - Erroneous Publication PC Clones Finding bad blocks on disks ARC50.COM Micro-Prolog Distributor PCs and Macs Connect to LaserWriter Multiple Serial Ports Query Windows for RT Query Rogue River, where are U ??? Literacy Software Query QNX Query ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 19 Feb 1986 18:10:42 PST Subject: Administravia - Erroneous Publication From: Eliot Moore <SWG.ELMO@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA In Digest V5 #23 a message regarding Smartworks with reference to defeating copy-protection mechanisms was mistakenly published. Info-IBMPC does not endorse, support, or condone the use of products to defeat copy-protection, and as such will not carry any dialogue on the subject. Regards, Elmo ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Feb 86 11:57:26 est From: ulysses!ihnp4!pur-ee!sgh@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (No Taste, Better Filling.) To: WISCVM.WISC.EDU!GKN3M2@IRISHMVS.BITNET, pur-ee!info-ibmpc Subject: PC Clones I own a Heath/Zenith 158, an XT clone. Compared to the XTs at work, which I unfortunately had the need to dig inside, the Zenith (or Heathkit) looks and feels like a much better engineered machine. The EMI/RFI levels are far better, the screen never "snows", the CPU card is separate and removable from the chassis, there are 3 more slots, and the power supply is 168 watts standard (I operate 2 floppies and one hard at the same time, with all slots filled). The ROM BIOS does not include BASIC, but rather Zenith felt that the user would prefer to have a diagnostics menu and disassembler instead. I have NEVER had trouble running any PC program; but Zenith does provide two DOS utilities that will make the extended BIOS operate just like IBMs. The ROM monitor program is directly accessable either at power-up, or by the <alternate><control><insert> key combination. Upon power-up, the machine is ready to boot the disk in 3-5 seconds (compared to IBM's 10-20). The MS DOS does NOT include BASIC, getting away from IBM's idea of a home "personal" computeer, and more user/programmer/business computer. The DOS instead includes many useful utilities, such as search-for-a-string-in-a-file, search-for-a-file, convert-tabs-to-spaces, display-an-extended-sorted-directory, etc. The programmer's tool kit even includes one of the best screen editors that I have ever used (I regularly use EMACS, VI, SE, and score of others). The tool kit also includes a COMPLETE on-disk listing of ALL of the BIOS, as well as VDISK.SYS and ANSI.SYS (so that you can modify them yourself), plus version 4 of the macro-assembler. The documentation for the operating system has been totally rewritten by Zenith, and comes in binders twice to three times as thick as IBM's, with full explainations and examples. The video card has dip-switches to make the card emulate either IBM's color graphics card, monochrome card, or the EGRA. Outputs include RGB and com- posite video (B/W) with absolutely NO snow. True to Zenith's reputation, the composite video output displays a TRUE gray-scale on a monchrome monitor, even taking into account IBM's BROWN. I have found that Flight Simulator looks better in color mode when I use it one my monochrome monitor than in its monochrome mode. The floppy controller card can operate 4 drives directly, even though there is only room to mount two in the machine (since they would require power anyway, an external chassis would be perfect). All slots are full length slots, a total of nine of them (one for the CPU card, eight for the rest of the system). The keyboard is faster, smoother, with larger key-caps than IBM's, although it still uses the standard IBM layout (except the the large L-shaped <return> key). The whole keyboard is faster, and runs with a separate programmable processor, that has a key-repeat that speeds-up the longer that you hold a key down, and learns to adjust to your typing. The key-click is generated by the keyboard processor, and can be shut-off (<alternate><escape> combination). The NUM-LOCK and CAPS-LOCK keys both have LEDs in them to show what status they are in. During the summer, I used my Zenith keyboard on my employer's XTs with no problems, but with better output. The machine itself, when purchase under the Heath version, includes HUGE service manuals, that make repairs and service as easy for the layman as riding a bicycle. It comes in two full-size 3-inch binders, with everything that you would want to know. The documentation for the machine and the DOS are so clear and precise, that I got more knowledge of the IBMs at work after reading Zenith's documentation, than I did when I had read IBM's documentation. From the rumors that I heard (no validation), Zenith paid some good bucks acquire some propreitary knowledge from IBM, apparently only in the interest of making there machine as compatible as possible. Zenith has re-engineered the whole system, and did a fine job of making a machine more IBM compatible than IBM themselves. The machine was designed to incorporate the state-of- the-art equipment and software available. Zenith also markets a version of Microsoft's Xenix (called Zenix?), and CPM. I have used Kaypros, Compacts, and even Zenith's Z200 machine, and found that they are for more inter- changable in many enviroments, that even IBM isn't (thats what I mean when I say they are MORE compatible than IBM themselves). Note too, that the Z150 series are the ONLY non-IBM machines allowed to call themselves an IBM XT in the ROM code (a one-byte identification). It took Zenith 4 years (1985) to come up with there clone for the XT (they had an 8088 machine, the H/Z 100 in 1980), but as far as I can tell, they corrected as many of the complaints people had of the IBM, and still be compatible, as they could. I am a EE student here at Purdue University, as it only took two days of looking at the documentation and the PC boards in both the XTs at work, and the Zenith to appreciate the Heath Engineers in St. Joe, Michigan, and all the fine work they put into their machine. The IBMs at work have had break-down, service, and dealer support problems, my Zenith has only had one CPU problem (I didn't solder the kit well enough), and Zenith directly and openly supports every machine they make directly, with separate lines for software, DOS, and hardware. Remember, if no one else has told you, Zenith's Z100 machine is a better piece of architecture than the IBM XT is; even though both with use MS DOS and use the 8088 processor -- I hae been able to do more with my roommate's S100 bus Z100 than I can with my IBM compatible. Like I have said, I have used many IBM type machines (the school used to buy Leading Edges), and fell that in the IBM XT class, the Zenith 158 is the way to go. By the way, if you are looking for an IBM AT class machine, the new Kaypro is the way to go -- they are only ones allowed to identify themselves as an IBM AT in ROM. Also note, Zenith's 148 looks and acts an awful lot like Compact's machine, and even identifies itself as such -- any clue where the money went here? I am sorry if this is long, but I wanted you to get a GOOD look at what I am talking about when I say that the Zenith is the machine that you want to go for. - sgh ------------------------------ Date: Wed 19 Feb 86 12:36:27-PST From: Ted Shapin <BEC.SHAPIN@USC-ECL.ARPA> Subject: Finding bad blocks on disks To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Phone: (714)961-3393; Mail:Beckman Instruments, Inc. Mail-addr: 2500 Harbor Blvd., X-11, Fullerton CA 92634 I had the following experience with the 20 meg IBM supplied hard disks (not CMI) on two brand new AT systems. I ran into I/O errors reading files for an application on one system. Running the advanced diagnostics flagged the same tracks written on the sticker on the hard disk. Running chkdsk did not pick up any bad tracks. Running Tom Jennings SCAV30 (scavenge program) found some ADDITIONAL bad blocks and locked them out. Then running CHKDSK a second time, converted these bad blocks to files, FILEnnn.CHK, which I left so those blocks wouldn't be allocated by DOS. The second system showed the same type of thing. SCAV30 showed bad blocks that were not picked up by either the advanced diagnostics or CHKDSK. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Feb 86 13:15:43 EST From: Kenneth Van Camp -FSAC- <kvancamp@ardc> To: cameron@Jpl-VLSI.ARPA cc: info-ibmpc@usc-isib Subject: ARC50.COM ARC50.DOC is on the Simtel20 archives, as well as the executable. --Ken Van Camp <kvancamp@ARDC.ARPA> [Please be specific when mentioning files on simtel20, as to include the directory name. It is not inherently obvious, nor is it necessarily easy to determine. Thanks. -elmo] ------------------------------ Date: 18 Feb 86 08:47:00 EST From: "DYMOND, KEN" <dymond@nbs-vms.ARPA> Subject: Micro-Prolog Distributor To: "info-ibmpc" <info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa> Reply-To: "DYMOND, KEN" <dymond@nbs-vms.ARPA> Re: Deba Patnaik's 2/13/86 query on Micro-Prolog Try Programming Logic Systems, Inc. 31 Crescent Dr. Milford, Conn. 06460 (203) 877-7988 ------ ------------------------------ Date: 18 Feb 86 14:59 EDT From: (Gary Chapman) <CHAPMAN@NYU-ACF7.ARPA> To: <info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Subject: PCs and Macs Connect to LaserWriter Organization: New York University/Academic Computing Facility Systems Group Office: Rm 318, Warren Weaver Hall, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences Address: 251 Mercer Street, NY, NY 10012 Work-Phone: (212) 460-7160 or (212) 460-7181 Network-Address(es): Chapman@NYU, or ...!{siesmo,allegra}!cmcl2!chapman At the NYU Microcomputer Laboratory, we have played with PC-MacBridge installed on a standard PC AT. PC-MacBridge (from Tangent Technologies, 5720 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 100, Norcross, Georgia 30092, 404-662-0366) is a combination of a short board and software which puts a PC on an AppleTalk network. We have two Macs, one Mac XL, the PC AT, and a LaserWriter networked together. The chief use for PC-MacBridge is to allow one to print on the LaserWriter, although if one is willing to buy Macintosh mail software (I forget the name of the package), one can theoretically have mail capabilities between work- stations on the network. The software included with PC-MacBridge allows one to print documents from several popular word processing programs, including WordStar and Multimate. One can easily set things up to print plain ASCII files. I have to say that we have been rather disappointed with PC-MacBridge, given its cost of $595. Two major problems have surfaced: (1) PC-MacBridge seems to fail miserably most of the time when trying to print files greater than 32K in length. The files I have tried to print were converted by PC-MacBridge into PostScript files, so the original size of the text files were rather less than 32K. (2) We have on many occasions experienced PC-MacBridge interferring with the actions of Macintoshes on the network which are in the process of printing when we give the command for PC-MacBridge to print. At least once, PC-MacBridge's actions resulting in a Macintosh being "kicked off the network". More typically, if a Mac is printing, say, a ten page document, and then we give the command for the PC AT to print, the printer will not complete the Mac's document before allowing the PC AT's document to begin printing. This is truly incredible, since all PC-MacBridge has to do is wait until the LaserWriter is free. We have heard that they are "working on it"! Given that the release of the software we have is V. 2.1, it is hard to justify such problems. Until such problems are fixed, caveat emptor. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Feb 86 22:41:00 est From: BACS Access <access%indiana.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> To: net.micro.pc%indiana.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA Subject: Multiple Serial Ports Cc: mod.computers.ibm-pc%indiana.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA, I am using a Zenith AT clone with Xenix and am interested in attaching several more serial ports. Has anyone had experience with the Quadram 5 serial port board or the AST FourPort/XN? They both look interesting. Other than that, does anyone know of an 8 port board or the like that isn't too incredibly high priced? *thanks Robert Cole iuvax!access (usenet) access@iubacs (bitnet) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Feb 86 14:51:50 pst From: young@AMES-NAS.ARPA (Bruce Young) To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Windows for RT We need a windowing package for the IBM RT/PC running UNIX system V. Our caveat is the package must support the original IBM pc enhanced graphics card, rather than the new RT/PC graphics card. All rational suggestions are appreciated. Broadcast your reply or mail directly to: young@AMES-NAS ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Feb 86 15:25:36 cet To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA From: C0%DDAESA10.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Subject: Rogue River, where are U ??? Hello, I saw a product today that I would like very much to purchase, but from where ???. It is the SPF/PC editor from "Rogue River Software". This version, 01.70 did not yet have macros, but it did say they would be available in version 2. Can anyone help with an address or even better a telephone number, please no 800 numbers, we can't access those from across the water. For anyone who spends there working day using ISPF/PFD this is the editor to use. Many thanks, Dick ------------------------------ Date: 18 February 86 09:41-PST From: DEP%SLACVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU (Don Pelton) To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Literacy Software Query This is a query from a teacher participant in the EDUCATIONAL conference on the WELL. Please reply to me and I will pass on the information. "I have another question to pose to anyone (I was about to say listening!) reading.... Are you aware of any micro software (IBM or Apple) written for ADULTS who are learning to read and write. I promised my gang at Project Read (part of the California Literary Project part of a nationally funded literacy push right now) that I would ask. Seems there is a puddle of software for CHILDREN newly gaining literacy but it is very inappropriate for our adult illiterates. The Menlo Park library where my group is based has various types of Apple and IBM micros that we could start using with our students but, sigh, we need some software. Any and all ideas and information would be appreciated." ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Feb 86 03:46:47 -0100 From: Tom Ivar Helbekkmo <helbekkmo%vax.runit.unit.uninett@nta-vax.arpa> To: <info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA> Subject: QNX Query Does anyone out there have any experience with the QNX operating system for the IBM PC? It seems to be a multi-user, multi-tasking, networking, UNIX-inspired system - but having only looked at a demo diskette I happened upon, I know very little about it except that the demo looks nice! :-) QNX is made by: Quantum Software Systems Ltd. P.O. box 5318, Station "F" Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2C 3H5 Any information and comments regarding both the QNX operating system and Quantum Software Systems in general will be appreciated! Tom Ivar Helbekkmo, <helbekkmo%vax.runit.unit.uninett@nta-vax.arpa>. ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------
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(Text 160261) 86-03-24 05.10 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <203> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 05.10 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <194> -- Received: 86-03-24 06.07 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 05.10 Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #25 %Original date: 22 Mar 1986 15:51:12 PST. TF: DSKD:931212.MAI %FROM: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 18300 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 24 Mar 86 01:35 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 22-Mar-1986 18:53:55-est Mail-From: INFO-IBMPC created at 20-Feb-86 21:34:57 Date: 20 Feb 1986 21:34:57 PST Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #25 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA ReSent-Date: 22 Mar 1986 15:51:12 PST ReSent-From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> ReSent-To: C511%QZCOM.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Thursday, 20 February 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 25 This Week's Editor: Eliot Moore <Elmo@USC-ISIB> Today's Topics: ARC50 (sic) and Being Specific IP/TCP NRC & MIT NANSI's Beep AST 4 port vs 8 port card on Xenix PC/AT Multiple Serial Ports MS Word, Mouse, and Hercules IBM Monochrome Display Adjustment Query IBM Compatible Presentation Graphics Diablo <=> Lotus on Wang PC Apple/IBM conversions... Compaq Noise, dBase III+ WANG WP PC Emulator Board Query ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 20 Feb 86 09:04:30 PST From: prandt!tweten@AMES-NAS.ARPA (Dave Tweten) To: amelia!Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: ARC50 (sic) and Being Specific How's this for specific? pd:<msdos.arc-lbr>arc500.dqc pd:<msdos.arc-lbr>arc500.exe Be sure to use "tenex" mode because they're both binary files, and simtel20 is a 36-bit machine. The "q" in "arc500.dqc" means the file is compressed with the "SQ" program. That is available in the "pd:<msdos.sq-usq>" directory. ------------------------------ Date: 20 Feb 1986 13:19:34 PST Subject: IP/TCP NRC & MIT From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA cc: braCKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA Many have asked about IP/TCP implementations for the PC. I recently completed an application based on the IP/TCP code from Network Research Corp. (NRC) of Oxnard CA. Last November we purchased the Fusion software package from NRC for $750. We also acquired a 3Com 3C505 Ethernet interface for another $1100. I can't recommend spending this much money just to hook a user PC to the net, but as our application was to act as a server the cost seemed justified. I understand the NRC software will work with the cheaper Ethernet interfaces, but as I have no experience in this area I can't comment. I think $750 is a lot of money for PC software and NRC seems unwilling to negotiate price, but in some respects they are the only game in town so I guess it is a sellers market. The delivered user code comes with an FTP and a Telnet. The FTP works fine. It looks just like a Unix FTP and includes lots of commands most essentially multiple get and put. I have no complaints here. The Telnet works but it uses ANSI.SYS to provide VT100 emulation. I have yet to try the new NANSI.SYS code we recently released in our INFO-IBMPC library. When this is combined with ScrollMate and I suspect the Telnet will decent. The biggest problem with the user code is that host tables must be kept in a file on the local disk. The NRC code doesn't know how to access either the old style name servers or the new style domain servers. If you try to open a FTP or telnet connection to ISIB you must have the exact spelling of the name in your local host table file. Of course in our application as a server this wasn't a problem. We bought the Fusion package as it was advertised to be a flexible programmable generalized IP/TCP package. The package was billed as Berkeley Unix source code (user level) compatible. This didn't exactly thrill me as the Berkeley Unix interface is just plain demented. Certainly the programmers at NRC didn't choose this interface. It must have been a marketing decision. Sometime in the far distant future they hope to implement a rational user interface in addition to the Berkeley interface, but for the time being we have to live with "the standard". (It ought to be possible to do an implementation of the SUN distributed file system on top of this interface. If anybody ports this please let me know.) Before we purchased this code we received warnings from others on the net that this code was a sham and didn't work as advertised. This proved to be true. As of last November NRC was selling a Lattice C version of their Fusion package. Internally they were using a Microsoft C version under Xenix. The Microsoft C version is Berkeley compatible and works. The Lattice C version is neither compatible nor well documented nor to the best of my abilities to determine functional. I assume NRC will soon be shipping the Microsoft C version of the Fusion package. If you have the previous version beat them into sending you the new Microsoft code! This isn't a reimplementation of the Berkeley code. There are lots of business suit types around NRC and I assume this includes lawyers. Disregarding legal the reasons, this code must run under Xenix, various flavors of Unix, VMS, DOS, and who knows what else. Of course the same code also supports Xerox protocols, and your friendly NRC salesman will promise you any protocol/hardware combination you can dream up as long as you are willing to throw money. I pity the poor programmers who have to support all this from one common body of code. The user documentation seemed real sparse until someone from NRC pointed out that it might be instructive if I got my hands on some Berkeley Unix documentation and read it (Thank you local Unix Geeks for the help here!). The NRC DOS MIcrosoft C library contains most everything Microsoft left out of their libraries that a Berkeley Unix hacker might want when porting code to the PC. I don't know if the documentation people at NRC are just behind or there are some legal reasons, but you have to use the DOS LIB program or read your Berkeley manuals to get a list of the functions. The long and short of it is that after a few dozen phone calls and nearly as many trips to Oxnard we got the Microsoft C large model code working. It is closely compatible with Berkeley Unix, and our application code worked nearly right out of the box. One can plan and build sophisticated network applications around this code. NRC has an excellent reputation for technical support. Even the salesmen are helpful after the sale has been made! Why didn't we use John Romkey's MIT code for free? We have used this code here at ISI for several applications. This application was written in Pascal, assembler, and large model C. With the debugger loaded it swamps a 704K AT. Thank you Gordon Letwin! We are able to combine all these Microsoft languages. Storage allocation works from the same heap and the I/O routines are all compatible. Dale Chase and I had previously written applications based on the MIT package where extra modules had to be called as resident pseudo device drivers in order to get around the MIT package's inability to link with anything not written at MIT. Romkey's code has many good points. I am forcing his hand, but I think it unfair to talk about NRC's IP/TCP implementation without mentioning that Romkey has rewritten his IP/TCP code in Microsoft C and will be marketing it shortly. I am sure John will do a better job of improving and supporting his code than the numerous others who are reselling his public domain code. I hope INFO-IBMPC will become a forum for discussing these various IP/TCP implementations. NRC's code met my needs for this last project. Hopefully for us consumers, IP/TCP implementations will become like other commercial products such as editors, word processors, and spreadsheets. The NRC code is very different from John's and each implementation is suitable for different applications. I think it healthy that in order to join the net we don't have to have some standard configuration shoved down our throats by Washington planners and can choose our IP/TCP implementation. Network Research's phone Number in Oxnard California is (805)485-2700 ------------------------------ Date: 20 Feb 1986 00:21:10 PST Subject: NANSI's Beep From: Craig Milo Rogers <ROGERS@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA There is a bug in the timing code used by the BEEP routine in NANSI, the ANSI.SYS replacement which was recently submitted to the Info-IBMPC library. If the addition of the beep period to the BIOS low timer word results in an overflow, the beep will be supressed. Suitable replacement code would be: mov bx, timer_low mov cx, -1 beeplp: mov ax, timer_low sub ax, bx cmp ax, cs:beep_len jg beepover loop beeplp beepover: Craig Milo Rogers ------------------------------ From: Herm Fischer <hermix!fischer@rand-unix.ARPA> Reply-To: HFischer@ada20 To: access%indiana.csnet@csnet-relay, info-ibmpc@isib.arpa Subject: AST 4 port vs 8 port card on Xenix PC/AT Date: Thu Feb 20 11:20:17 1986 I have been using an American Micronics (AMI) 8 port serial card with PC/AT Xenix, and prior to that I've used the AST 4 port serial card with Xenix. My experiences with the two are that both cards seem to be well constructed hardware, but AMI seems far more responsive on driver support than AST. The AMI card is supported by both IBM's Xenix (which I still use) and SCO's Xenix. Microport (which supplies a Unix V.2 for the AT) apparently also will support the AMI card. The AST card is only supported on IBM's (not SCO's) Xenix as far as I can tell. With the AST card I occasionally (once every two weeks or so) had the driver and/or hardware lock up. Re-booting would not solve this problem; I would have to halt and cycle power on the AT. Secondly, with the AST card, one cannot share the interrupt level with other devices. (Xenix supports having multiple devices, such as a streamer tape and printer, on the same interrupt level. AST claims there is a hardware error which prevents this with their card.) The AMI card has neither locked up nor bungled interrupts (yet). Eight is more useful than 4 ports (see my configuration, below). Finally, the driver they supply for IBM Xenix is apparently more efficient, in terms of software system overhead, than AST's. If you run a cat to a terminal and measure system overhead, it is significantly lower with the AMI driver. (I have not run this test on SCO Xenix.) Pricewise, AMI appears a better deal. Local dealers seem to want about $500 for the AST 4-port. AMI claims a retail price of $575 for their 8-port, but most dealers provide significant discounts on their products. (AMI's phone number is 714/261-2428). My AT, running at 14.3 MHz, has 1.664 MB memory, the AMI 8 port card, an EGA console, 3 Wyse 50 local terminals, 2 dial-in ports (on com1 and com2), a LaserJet, a Bell Technologies streamer, and a serial mouse. Herm Fischer {ihnp4, decvax}!hermix!fischer or HFischer@ada20 ------------------------------ From: bierma@nprdc.arpa (Larry Bierma) Date: 20 February 1986 1301-PST (Thursday) To: access%indiana.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA Subject: Multiple Serial Ports Cc: info-ibmpc@usc-isib I have an eight-port serial board running under XENIX in my PC-AT. It works just fine. It is the "Hostess" board from: Control Systems 2855 Anthony Lane Mineapolis, MN 55481 (612) 789-2421 The sell both a four port ($495) and an eight port ($695) board, and drivers for XENIX (4-port, 8-port, or two 8-port boards supported). --Larry ARPA: bierma@nprdc.arpa UUCP: {decvax,ucbvax,ihnp4}!sdcsvax!sdics!nprdc!bierma PSTN: (619) 225-2161 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Feb 86 13:35:51 PST From: walton%Deimos.Caltech.Edu@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu Subject: MS Word, Mouse, and Hercules To: info-ibmpc%Deimos.Caltech.Edu@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu Reply-To: walton%Deimos.Caltech.Edu@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu I am having a problem with Microsoft Word when used with a Microsoft Mouse and a Hercules card in a Zenith Z-151 PC. Basically, the mouse pointer is garbage--a series of 7 blobs of pixels spaced across the screen. I believe that the problem is that the MS Mouse driver is failing to determine the presence of a Hercules card, and is generating a pointer for a CGA instead. Word itself successfully determines automatically that I have a Hercules card, and works fine. I also have Microsoft Windows on the same system, and its mouse pointer is fine. I'd like to hear from anyone who is using a MS Mouse with Word and a Hercules card in any PC, especially if you had problems getting it to work and particularly if you know how to patch the MS Mouse driver to force it to generate Hercules graphics pointers. Steve Walton Caltech Solar Astronomy ------------------------------ Date: Thu 20 Feb 86 20:32:01-CST From: AI.BUNDA@R20.UTEXAS.EDU Subject: IBM Monochrome Display Adjustment Query To: info-ibmpc@R20.UTEXAS.EDU My IBM monochrome display's vertical hold has gone bananas. Of course, the only adjustments on the outside of the case are the brightness/contrast, and there are "no user or field serviceable components inside". Does anyone know if this is a fixable problem, (i.e. a pot inside I can tweak), or should I do as my product center kindly suggests and trash it? (!) Thanks..../John Bunda UT-Austin ------------------------------ Date: 19 FEB 86 15:22-CST From: MCDONALD%UMKCVAX1.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: IBM Compatible Presentation Graphics PC user, I have a user who wants a presentation graphics package for an IBM compatible. He thinks all he needs is bar charts, pie charts and line graphics. Wants it in color. Seen any recent comparisons?? Also, know any good graphic printers?? Probably won't want to spend to much on either. Thanks, -GaryM. BITNET contact UMKCVAXn (n=1, 3) Univ. of Mo. at K.C. ps. As I am not a subscriber to this digest, please reply to MCDONALD @ UMKCVAX1 . BITNET ------------------------------ Date: 19 Feb 1986 05:59:27 EST Subject: Diablo <=> Lotus on Wang PC From: ABN.20E-27@USC-ISID.ARPA To: Info-IBMPC Just a note of interest -- I wonder if some user out there would possibly be familiar with LOTUS 1-2-3 enough to inform me of how (if possible which I feel should be) to get LOTUS to communicate with my DIABLO printer. I am using a WANG PC-005A/AB, interfaced with the WANG PC-PMo12/AB Daisywheel Printer. When asked to print even a straight spreadwheet the system locks up. I have no problem printing Multiplan, therefore why no LOTUS? I am curious about this querk and would really enjoy hearing something back. It would be a shame not to bea able to use the printer while in LOTUS. I do use other 'backdoor' methods of getting printouts from LOTUS spreadsheets, but no where near to the extent of what Lotus is capable of. WAY TO BE ----- Kurt A. Neumaier Reply: ABN.20E-27 -------------------- ------------------------------ Date: 19 Feb 86 10:37 GMT From: ghicks @ KOREA-EMH Subject: Apple/IBM conversions... To: info-ibmpc @ usc-isib CC: jusmag-dt @ KOREA-EMH After many years of being a squeaky wheel, our sponsor has finally allowed us to purchase IBM compatable computers under the Navy/Air Force contract. Now we have a problem... We have a fairly large data base, developed under PFS:File for the Apple, that I do not relish re-entering for the IBM compatable. Does anyone know of a program that can convert from Apple disk format to IBM disk format?? I could just 'print' the files under PFS:report to the serial port and have the IBM input them, but don't really want to have to do this.. Is there a better way? pPreferably one that doesn't cost too much?? Gregory Hicks (Ghicks@Korea-EMH) ------------------------------ Date: 19 Feb 86 14:33 EST From: McCliman@DDN2.ARPA Subject: Compaq Noise, dBase III+ To: info-ibmpc @ usc-isib.arpa Several months ago I purchased three compaq 286 machines (compaq's at equivalent) and have been very happy with all three. However, one of them has recently developed an intermittant high pitched squeal. I have torn the entire machine apart and it is not the fan, drives, power supply or anything else I could test. I if it is coming from the board under the power supply. If anybody has encountered this problem or has any suggestions... Also, on an unrelated topic, has anybody actually encountered the new 'plus' version of dbaseiii? I am curious if it does what ashton-tate says it does. also, does it have as many bugs as dbaseiii v1.0 & 1.1 did. tia. fred. ------------------------------ Date: Tue 18 Feb 86 14:39:45-PST From: Steve Dennett <DENNETT@SRI-NIC.ARPA> Subject: WANG WP PC Emulator Board Query To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Some time ago I read somewhere about a plug in board (?) that allowed a Wang dedicated word processor to run IBM PC software. I'm looking for any information on this device, and would also like to hear the experiences of anyone who has actually used the beast. Thanks. Steve Dennett dennett@sri-nic.arpa ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------
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(Text 160262) 86-03-24 05.11 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <204> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 05.11 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <195> -- Received: 86-03-24 06.07 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 05.11 Marked by somebody. Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #26 %Original date: 22 Mar 1986 15:51:14 PST. TF: DSKD:931220.MAI %FROM: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 15800 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 24 Mar 86 01:39 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 22-Mar-1986 18:54:30-est Mail-From: INFO-IBMPC created at 21-Feb-86 17:56:30 Date: 21 Feb 1986 17:56:29 PST Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #26 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA ReSent-Date: 22 Mar 1986 15:51:14 PST ReSent-From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> ReSent-To: C511%QZCOM.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Friday, 22 February 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 26 This Week's Editor: Eliot Moore <Elmo@USC-ISIB> Today's Topics: Genius VHR (2 Messages) ARC5xx Removing Non-DOS Partition on AT LINK /E vs EXEPACK Update Interrupt Handlers in Turbo (V5 #20) Floppy Access Problem on 10 MHz AT Diablo <=> Lotus on Wang PC MS-DOS Find First File/Find Next File functions Max Files Open Multitasking a la TopView Query Color & Mono Cards in AT Public Domain Backup Program Wanted ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu 20 Feb 86 23:54:46-PST From: Richard Pattis <PATTIS@WASHINGTON.ARPA> Subject: Genius VHR To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA I am seriously considering buying a Genius VHR for my AT system. This monitor, discussed in PC Mag's "Best of 85" article (page 112, Vol 5 No 1) supposedly crisply displays 66 lines x 80 columns in portrait mode. It has 730 pixels across by 1004 pixels down. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find one installed locally, such that I could actually see it and try it out. I am interested in hearing of anyone owning such a monitor, or anyone owning or knowing of a similar product. Mostly, I want to use the bigger screen for editing (with Epsilon) and previewing TeX output. I'll appreciate any pointers. Richard Pattis ------------------------------ Date: 21 Feb 1986 12:52:25 PST Subject: Re: Genius VHR From: Craig Milo Rogers <ROGERS@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Richard Pattis <PATTIS@WASHINGTON.ARPA>, info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA, mockAPETRIS@USC-ISIB.ARPA In-Reply-To: <12185063836.21.PATTIS@WASHINGTON.ARPA> I have one of the Genius VHRs. I have mixed opinions about it. The large screen is good for editing, terminal emulation, etc. I haven't written or acquired any software to use the graphics plane yet. The BIOS-replacement supplied with the monitor was very buggy, and I've never received a fixed version or the sources so I could fix it myself, even though I've asked them and been promised results three times. The worst problem that I've encountered is heat. The controller board and monitor use an awful lot of power; my office is noticeably warmer than it was before I installed the Genius in my AT. Furtheremore, the board is heat sensitive. When we've had complete air conditioning failures the whole screen will go crazy. When we have partial failures perhaps one or two characters, in certain columns, will have some flickering bits. Another problem I've noticed is that occasionally when editing with Epsilon the whole screen will go blank. Everything will reappear when I hit the next keystroke. I don't know whether Epsilon or the Genius is at fault here. I've written my own programs to initialize the Genius (set its mode bits, clear the screen, etc) because the ones supplied with the monitor/controller didn't do it the way I wanted. In white-on-black mode the image is pretty crisp and flicker-free. There's a problem with the brightness and contrast controls... it's hard to get the intensity level up high enough. Furthermore, I think there was an intensity problem with software that uses inverse video (or something like that), but I haven't tried that in a while. Based on my experience I would not recomment this display. I would consider changing my mind if the manufacturer provided better customer support. Craig Milo Rogers ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Feb 86 18:34:55 -0100 From: hans@oslo-vax (Hans A. ]lien) To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: ARC5xx For the last few days, ARC on SIMTEL20 has been PD:<MSDOS.ARC-LBR>ARC51.COM.1 This is a special "programme" containing both ARC.EXE and ARC.DOC (of v.5.10). About 90K altogether, packed into a file of 58,880 bytes. Make sure to unpack by running ARC51.COM in your current directory. The accompanying .DOC file states the availability of the source code, but nothing is said on distribution policy of sources AND/OR .ARC file format descriptions. I am interested in both, and maybe other programmes (like DEARC.PAS) being able to unpack .ARC5 archives. Please send your info to INFO-IBMPC, or maybe better, directly to me, and I will summarize for the Digest. Tnx! Hans P.s.: Maybe ARC52.COM has become available by the time this reaches you, but that's ok, isn't it? ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Feb 86 11:13:39 PST From: Nicholas B. Mason <mason%cod@nosc.ARPA> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib Subject: Removing Non-DOS Partition on AT In V5 #21 of the digest someone wrote in that they were trying to remove a non-dos partition from their PC-AT harddisk (a PC-IX partition I think). I had a similar problem. To remove the non-dos partition they need to use the "Advanced Diagonstics for the IBM Personal Computer AT" diagonstic disk version 2.01 or later. On this disk there is a routine that will reformat the hard disk. After this is done you have to use "fdisk" and the dos "format". The disk can now be used for dos. Note that the diagonstics disk that comes with the AT does not do the above. You must have the advanced diagonstics. Nick Mason NOSC San Diego , CA ihnp4 \ akgua \ decvax ------------------!sdcsvax!noscvax!mason dcdwest / ucbvax / ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Feb 86 14:43:18 PST From: Ya'akov_Miles%UBC.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: LINK /E vs EXEPACK update... Just took delivery of my Microsoft MASM 4.00 update today. It appears that the new EXEPACK.EXE ver 4.00 supplied with this MASM is more efficient than the EXEPACK.EXE ver ?.?? supplied with my Microsoft "C" version 3.00, and yes, the (NEW) utility EXEPACK.EXE ver 4.00 produces smaller files than the LINK option /E does. It appears that the LINK option /E packs files the same way as the old EXEPACK.EXE which was distributed with Microsoft "C" version 3.00 As an aside, the new EXEPACK.EXE ver 4.00 supplied with the MASM 4.00 will successfully pack many .EXE files that the old EXEPACK.EXE failed to pack correctly... My apologies for the previous message... ------------------------------ From: mcvax!ukc!jmh@seismo.CSS.GOV Date: Tue, 18 Feb 86 13:47:21 GMT To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: Interrupt Handlers in Turbo (V5 #20) A few comments on Alastair Milne's interesting article on Turbo interrupts from V5 #20. I don't claim to be a Turbo/8086 guru, so please be kind if this is all a load of old cobblers. All comments apply to Turbo 3.01A. 1. Turbo does indeed place a prelude in front of the first user instruction in each procedure. This procedure is concerned soley with saving the old stack frame pointer and setting up a new stack frame, and for a procedure with no parameters and no local variables goes something like push bp ; Save old frame pointer mov bp,sp ; Mark start of new one push bp ; save new frame pointer jmp L1 ; jump around space for local ; typed constants L1: <start of your code> Should there be any local variables, SP is decremented to make way for them at L1 before your code is started. So you can (though see below) install interrupt handlers directly as hinted on p214 of the Turbo 3.0 manual. Additionally, if you load DS from a typed constant you can get at global variables. 2. It is only necessary to inform the 8259 of interrupts you wish to receive *which are generated by external hardware*. To handle interrupts generated by e.g. INT instructions the 8259 does not need to be involved. Oh, and it isn't necessary to re-enable interrupts before leaving an interrupt - the IRET will do that for you, as it pops the flags register to its previous state. A ghastly problem. The following applies to interrupt routines handling interrupts that occur from within MSDOS. I am chiefly thinking of external interrupts (e.g. those from the serial port - time-consuming sections of MSDOS enable interrupts for at least some of their duration), but I believe there may be INT instructions from within MSDOS that e.g. call screen print routines (INT 5 for IBM PCs). The problem is that when MSDOS is doing its stuff it switches to an internal stack which is VERY short on space. In fact it is so short on space that it is unwise to rely on it having room for anything more than the flags register and return address saved when the interrupt occurs. This, unfortunately, means that what you need to do is to switch to your own stack as the first thing your interrupt procedure does, and then save all the registers etc. Restore all registers on the way out and then switch back to the previous stack before doing the IRET. Nasty, innit ? Finally, note that procedures called from within interrupt procedures with the stack in an unexpected place must have their calls compiled with the K- switch to prevent Turbo assuming the stack has run into the heap and squealing accordingly. Persons interested in picking their way through unpleasant code are invited to mail me for a copy of a memory-resident INT ?? handler which uses interrupts from the serial chip to provide full-speed serial facilities. Jim ..!mcvax!ukc!jmh.UUCP ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Feb 86 23:45:45 EST From: "Paul L. Kelley" <PLK@MC.LCS.MIT.EDU> Subject: Floppy Access Problem on 10 MHz AT To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA A few days ago I reported that the "Change Diskette Parameter Table's motor startup delay" code sent to INFO-IBMPC by Glenn Connery (connery%bnrmtv.UUCP at BRL.ARPA) did not fix an access failure problem for the 1.2 Mbyte floppy on my 10 MHz AT. Several people suggested that I use FIXDSK.ASM from the INFO-IBMPC directory at USC-ISIB. I am happy to say that this has solved the problem. Paul Kelley (PLK@MIT-MC) ------------------------------ Date: 21 Feb 1986 19:51:38 EST From: DASG@USC-ISID.ARPA Subject: Diablo <=> Lotus on Wang PC To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA, abn.20e-27@USC-ISID.ARPA cc: MEDCOM18@KOREA-EMH.ARPA Two reasons may be causing your hangup. With the Wang PC, Lotus uses its own PRINTER DRIVER and you have to insure that you have your printer configured properly in Lotus. You do this by going to the configuration menu in lotus thusly /WGDPI. For serial you select port 2 for lotus which throws you into serial mode and asks you for the baud rate--probably 1200. The other problem you may have is the parity setting. Lotus actually requires that your serial printer be set to a specific parity. Dont remember what that is right now but it is in the Lotus manual. You say the PM012 is a Diablo. Are you sure? We were were told the PM014 55cps daisy was also a Diablo but later came to find that it is is really a Data Products Printer which does not allow for parity changes.There is no way to compenstate with Lotus other than to save your file to a print file and print it from DOS or the Wang menu. By the way, the Local Wang reps here were astounded when they found that their "Diablo" PM014 was really a data products--a very heavy but otherwise good printer--albeit at least $1000 too expensive. Curious part of this is that Data Products apparently decided to at least use the Diablo printing mechanism since we have no problem with generic diablo ribbons. Hope this helps. If you need more info call me autovon 22-51633. --gary swallow DASG-AMZ, Pentagon ------------------------------ Date: Fri 21 Feb 86 00:06:52-EST From: Bard Bloom <BARD@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU> Subject: MS-DOS Find First File/Find Next File functions To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA I'm writing a directory editor (which is to SWEEP as a good screen editor is to EDLIN). I'm using DOS function calls 4E and 4F to read the directory (from Turbo Pascal). The program can read directories on Rainbows, but apparantly can't on IBM PC/AT's. Any ideas why not? Please reply to BARD @ XX.LSC.MIT.EDU if possible. Vasty thanks, Bard Bloom ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Feb 86 13:39:38 mst From: cib%f@LANL.ARPA (C.I. Browne) To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: Max Files Open I have just come across one of the DOS quirks which limits any process to opening 20 files. Not concurrently, but ever. To add insult to this limitation, DOS takes at least three off the top for itself, so that a program can only open (and close) 17 files. This fillip is rather a severe limitation on some text retrieval programs. NOTE: FILES, in the config.sys file, is not relevant to this situation. Can any dos wizard suggest a graceful way around this limitation? Thank you. cib@lanl.arpa cib@lanl.uucp ------------------------------ Date: Friday, 21 February 1986 15:50:57 EST From: Bob.Sproull@vlsi.cs.cmu.edu To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: Multitasking a la TopView Query Does anyone know of a multitasking executive for the PC that is like or (preferrably) emulates the multitasking features of TopView but is MUCH smaller. Multiplexing the display is NOT necessary. Thanks. ------------------------------ Date: 20 Feb 86 14:01 PST From: Ghenis.pasa@Xerox.COM Subject: Color & Mono Cards in AT To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Is there supposed to be a problem in intalling both a monochrome and a color graphics adapter in a PC/AT? I know some software like Lotus 1-2-3 and DoubleDOS allow you to run with both types of displays and flip between the two or show different screens on each. However, I can't get it to work right. Is having both cards plugged in something you can only do on an XT? Any info will be appreciated. Thanks in advance. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Feb 86 10:18:09 EST From: John Shaver STEEP-TMAC 879-7602 <jshaver@apg-3> Subject: Public Domain Backup Program Wanted To: info-ibmpc@usc-isid Is there a Hard disk baskup program in the public domain which is easily reached by FTP? Thanks John ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------
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(Text 160263) 86-03-24 05.12 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <205> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 05.12 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <196> -- Received: 86-03-24 06.07 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 05.12 Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #27 %Original date: 22 Mar 1986 15:51:15 PST. TF: DSKD:931228.MAI %FROM: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 14250 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 24 Mar 86 01:44 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 22-Mar-1986 18:55:21-est Mail-From: INFO-IBMPC created at 23-Feb-86 11:51:44 Date: 23 Feb 1986 11:51:44 PST Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #27 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA ReSent-Date: 22 Mar 1986 15:51:15 PST ReSent-From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> ReSent-To: C511%QZCOM.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Sunday, 23 February 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 27 This Week's Editor: Richard Gillmann Today's Topics: Updated Xenix PC/AT C Compiler Leading Edge Setup NANSI is a Snowy Mode Program CMR-ATTRIB.ASM added to Library SAVSCR11.ASM added to Library CRC2.PAS added to Library IBM Mono vertical hold Source for SPF/PC How to Print the Screen from Basic Undocumented switches in LINK Query: Date and Time from Turbo Pascal Problems locking bad sectors on AT hard drives Interface to Videodisk Player Wanted Wordstar Locations Wanted Extended vs. Expanded Memory Query Three Queries ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Herm Fischer <hermix!fischer@rand-unix.ARPA> Reply-To: HFischer@ada20 To: info-ibmpc@isib.arpa Subject: Updated Xenix PC/AT C Compiler Date: Sat Feb 22 21:10:17 1986 The latest Microsoft update to the Xenix C compiler just about fixes up the Large Model. Gasp! Finally! It sure is nice to be able to rely on large model programs without hunting for compiler bugs... (I found one problem with the optimizer generating bad code, but that was obscure, avoided by dropping the -O flag, and so far hasn't recurred in other programs. Register variables seem to finally work. A far cry from having to hack middle model to allocate large data segments last December...) Look for the set of Microsoft update disks dated 12/31/85. I understand they were sent out to the OEMs and DIAL customers. Your Xenix source should be able to provide them. (Other things fixed: shared memory; large malloc (32K-64K) seems to work now; a huge model seems to generate code but some link modules are missing (compiler flag -Mh); the way the kernel allocates internal memory is different now (may affect custom driver code), and a few others.) ------------------------------ Date: 21 Feb 86 13:34:00 EST From: <doug@ari-hq1> Subject: Leading Edge Setup To: info-ibmpc <info-ibmpc@usc-isid> I ordered a Leading Edge "M" through the mail. When it arrived I set it according to the instructions, except the instructions didn't tell how to install the monitor card. No problem, except that once installed I couldn't get anything on the screen. I reseated the card, tried it in several different slots, even read the instructions. No joy. Finally, about midnight, an image of a dip switch bubbled up from some deep recess of my mind. Certainly not from the installation documation - I finally found them mentioned in the Technical Specs, about page 178. Those switches were set, quite logically, to null, since the monitor card was not installed at the factory. MORAL: It's not the device that's faulty - more likely it's the documentation. ------------------------------ From: chapman%miro@BERKELEY.EDU (Brent Chapman) To: kegel@juliet.caltech.edu Cc: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: NANSI is a Snowy Mode Program Date: 21 Feb 86 16:17:33 PST (Fri) I snagged your NANSI driver from the INFO-IBMPC library. I like it so far, but I have one problem with it: It thoroughly snows my screen. Any ideas for a fix? I have an AT with a CGA. Thanks! Brent Chapman chapman@miro.berkeley.edu ------------------------------ Date: 21 Feb 1986 20:47:21 PST Subject: CMR-ATTRIB.ASM added to Library From: Eliot Moore <SWG.ELMO@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA CMR-ATTRIB.ASM Modified attrib.asm to twiddle archive bit. I also made a couple of other minor changes. I changed the command parser to make '.*' the default when the file name extension is not specified. I changed the command parser to accept ";" as a delimiter. I changed the command parser to accept multiple attributes. In the case of incompatible attributes the last one wins. The user should be aware that there are some other differences between this program and the dos 3.10 attrib command. The dos attrib command lists the entire drive and path when listing files, while this program lists only as much of the path as the user specified. Original program was written by Bob Eager, Herne Bay, England. Craig Milo <Rogers@Isi> 3-Feb-86 ------------------------------ Date: 21 Feb 1986 21:26:10 PST Subject: SAVSCR11.ASM added to Library From: Eliot Moore <SWG.ELMO@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA SAVSCR.ASM Is a resident program to write text displayed on a screen to disk. Version 1.1 adds support for the EGA board. Ted Shapin <Bec.Shapin@ECL> 11 Feb 86 ------------------------------ Date: 21 Feb 1986 22:15:59 PST Subject: CRC2.PAS added to Library From: Eliot Moore <SWG.ELMO@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA CRC2.PAS A collection of documented routines to calculate CRC's written for Turbo pascal, inspired by CRC.PAS David Dantowitz <dantowitz%eagle1@decwrl.dec.com> Feb 86 ------------------------------ Date: 22 Feb 1986 02:39:07 EST Subject: IBM Mono vertical hold From: Franklin Antonio <QUALCOMM@USC-ISID.ARPA> To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Someone asked recently if IBM Mono displays had a vertical hold adjustment. Yes. Several pots inside. VR401 -- Vertical Hold VR402 -- Vertical Size VR403 -- Vertical Linearity Pretty simple circuitry. Schematic is in the IBMPC technical reference manual. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 22 Feb 86 20:28 EST From: Yedidyah Langsam <YDLBC%CUNYVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: Source for SPF/PC To: <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To the individual who was looking for the source of SPF/PC: Command Technology Corporation 1900 Mountain Boulevard Oakland, California 94611 415-339-3530 telex: 509330 ------------------------------ From: todd%trsvax.UUCP@BRL.ARPA Subject: How to Print the Screen from Basic Date: Tue, 11-Feb-86 15:12:00 PST To print the screen from BASIC, a short assembly language program will do the trick. The assembly language routine is embedded in a string, and should work with any MS-DOS BASIC. To use it, just say GOSUB 900. 900 ' Dump screen using INT 5 910 A$ = CHR$(&HCD) + CHR$(&H5) ' int 5 instruction 920 A$ = A$ + CHR$(&HCB) ' far return instruction 930 ENTRY!=PEEK(VARPTR(A$)+1)+256*PEEK(VARPTR(A$)+2) 940 CALL ENTRY! 950 RETURN This information has been provided by an individual. ... canonical disclaimer ... Todd Milburn Tandy Corp. ------------------------------ From: rde@ukc.ac.uk Subject: Undocumented switches in LINK Date: Wed, 12-Feb-86 16:54:17 PST Some people may have seen the article about the /E switch in LINK although it may not have come to this newsgroup. Not quite sure where it came from, but basically it said that there was an undocumented switch in LINK, the /E switch (actually, that's the minimum abbreviation; its full name is EXEPACK). Apparently it does much the same job as the EXEPACK utility that comes with version 4 of the assembler; it compresses uninitialised data areas and grafts in a bit of code to expand them again at run time. Sure makes a difference on some files! For example, version 2.27 of MS-Kermit shrinks (the .EXE file that is) from 84K to 35K approx (but then there are some enormous data areas for screen saving). Version 2.28 of MS-Kermit claims space dynamically so the saving won't be as dramatic. The time taken to do the expansion at the start of execution is a *lot* less than the time taken to load 50K of zeros off a floppy. This switch is not present in version 3.00 of the linker (came with the 3.00 assembler) but it is in version 3.02 of the linker (came with version 1.0 of QuickBasic). Incidentally, both 3.00 and 3.02 have a handy switch called /HELP (abbreviation at least /HE) which just summarises switches and exits. There is also a /WINDOWS switch; no idea what it does though. Bob Eager rde@ukc.UUCP rde@ukc ...!mcvax!ukc!rde Phone: +44 227 66822 ext 7589 ------------------------------ Date: 18 Feb 1986 05:57-PST Subject: Query: Date and Time from Turbo Pascal From: BSCHAAR@USC-ISIF.ARPA To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA How do I get the date and time from within a Turbo Pascal program? Is there a function call, or do I have to use some embedded assembly code? Please provide me some code, or a pointer to a PC Digest (volume and issue) where I can find it. Thanks. Brian Schaar ------------------------------ From: chapman%miro@BERKELEY.EDU (Brent Chapman) To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: Problems locking bad sectors on AT hard drives Date: 21 Feb 86 16:20:33 PST (Fri) I use an AT, with a 20M disk, running DOS 3.10. I have been experiencing problems with DOS's handling of bad clusters on the disk. PC-TOOLS showed two bad clusters on the disk when it was formatted, before any files were copied onto it. Now, however, it appears that DOS has allocated right over the top of one of those two bad clusters. Has anyone had any experience with this type of problem? Can anyone suggest any solutions? I'd like to be able to mark these clusters in some way and prevent DOS from allocating them. I could simply create a file that is made up of these two bad clusters, then hide the file, but when I did a backup/restore, that would because the file would be restored to an arbitrary position on the disk, and something else would be written over those bad clusters. Any other ideas? Thanks! Brent Chapman chapman@miro.berkeley.edu ucbvax!miro!chapman ------------------------------ Date: 21 February 86 19:30-PST From: PHMWJ%SLACVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Interface to Videodisk Player Wanted Does anyone know about ways to use a PC to control a videodisk player? A friend in the drama department here at Stanford is trying to put together a catalog for his collection of slides in the form of a database on a PC (probably an IBM AT), and it would be nice to be able to display the pictures on a videodisk machine under control of the program on the computer. I assume that this will require a physical link of some sort and software on the computer, but my knowledge of videodisk players is limited to that required to get one to play Empire Strikes Back. If you send information to me directly, I will be happy to summarize for the net. Thanks in advance. Pat McAllister on BITNET: PHMWJ@SLACVM on ARPANET: PHMWJ%SLACVM.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA ------------------------------ Date: 22 Feb 86 03:20 GMT From: oli2146 @ KOREA-EMH Subject: Wordstar Locations Wanted To: Info-IBMPC @ USC-ISIB.ARPA Looking for the source code locations for the delay defaults used by WordStar Ver 3.3. Thanks in advance Mark H. Meaders "From the Land of the Morning Calm" and the mid-afternoon madness... ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Feb 1986 22:29:45 EST From: Mark Harris Perlman <6108070%PUCC.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: Extended vs. Expanded Memory Query Can anyone out there relate experiences using extended and expanded memory on the AT in both a dos and XENIX environment? I know that XENIX requires extended memory, but what about DesQview and Windows? Also, will the Intel Above Board AT support both extended and expanded memory? Thanks in advance. --Mark Perlman 6108070@PUCC.BITNET (Many of the above words are trademarks of many companies). ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 22 Feb 86 14:04:48 PST From: Doug Lind <entropy!lind@uw-beaver.arpa> To: INFO-IBMPC@usc-isib.arpa Subject: Three Queries 1. Does anyone know of a package of Turbo Pascal scientific programs, like the NAG library? It should handle standard problems (differential equations, numerical integration, matrix operations, etc.), use complex numbers, be available in source code, and it would be nice to support Hercules card graphics, like the Turbo Graphix Toolbox. 2. The Norton NU program bombs out on my Zenith 158 with a message about the program being out of memory (used on a hard disk with about 6 MB of files; works fine on the second hard disk). Is there a public domain Unerase program to recover erased files similar to Norton's? 3. DoubleDos crashes on my Z158; the problem seems to be with the keyboard buffer. Has anyone successfully run DoubleDos on a Zenith, either at 4.77Mhz or 8Mhz? It crashes on mine at either speed. DoubleDos is working on the problem, and seems to think the problem is in the keyboard hardware of the Zenith. Any information on these would be much appreciated. Doug Lind, Univ. of Wash. Math. Dept. uw-beaver!entropy!lind ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------
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(Text 160267) 86-03-24 05.13 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <206> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 05.13 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <197> -- Received: 86-03-24 06.07 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 05.13 Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #30 %Original date: 22 Mar 1986 15:47:40 PST. TF: DSKD:931235.MAI %FROM: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 47715 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 24 Mar 86 01:47 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 22-Mar-1986 18:58:58-est Mail-From: INFO-IBMPC created at 6-Mar-86 12:44:15 Date: 6 Mar 1986 12:44:15 PST Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #30 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA ReSent-Date: 22 Mar 1986 15:47:40 PST ReSent-From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> ReSent-To: C511%QZCOM.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Thursday, 6 March 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 30 This Week's Editor: Richard Nelson Today's Topics: Toshiba Lap-Top T1100 DESQview Version 1.2 TECO Editor Project Fixup Disks for IBM Products Zenith Gets New Government PC Contract Prolog Menuing and Full-Screen Prompting Writer's Workbench Clones Chiwriter TRS Model 100 to XT Interface Mega Board Parallel I/O Dot Matrix Printhead Maintenance Serial Ports (2 msgs) Microsoft C V3.0 Options Benchmark (2 msgs) AT Xenix Device Driver Problem SORT Program Problem: German DOS 3.0 MS Windows w/ Smartmodem 2400 Problem Microsoft C read() Problem DOS Task Termination Return Code in C Problem WYSIWYG Page Setup Query EMACS like editor query Postscript Applications Query Analog Circuit Analysis Programs Query PCUnix by Wendin Query Microport System V Unix(tm) for PC/AT Query Priam Drives on AT, Wait State on AT Queries Leading Edge Mod M Clock Query MS-DOS 2.xx Terminal-Driver Sources Query Capturing Print Output from dBase III Query FFT Boards, Frame-Grabber Hardware Queries Accelerator Boards and Compaq Portable Query AT&T PC6300 Format Command and Color Display Problem SAVVY PC Query ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 4 Mar 86 10:20:17 EST From: Ih@louie.udel.EDU To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA cc: ih@louie.udel.EDU Subject: Toshiba Lap-Top T1100 I have been looking, for some time, for a PC compatible Lap-Top which is functionally adequate (512+ K, modem, one disk drive), convenient (small, light, reasonable battery life, readable screen) and reasonably priced (less than $2,000). I believe many of us are also waiting for such a machine. When I heard about the Toshiba T1100, I called them immediately. It took more than two weeks to get a single sheet of specifications. They don't take orders and you must order it from a local dealer. I called many places. Most of them didn't know about the machine and did not want to be bothered with it. Finally The Data Place, Inc. (Newark, De. 302-366-0801) agreed to order one for me (not enthusiastically initially). Surprisingly we got the machine and an external 5 in. drive in three weeks. After having seen it, we are pretty excited. Now The Date Place has a couple in stock. I have been playing around with it for a week. It is in a very nice package, about 12x12x2.75 in. and 9 lb. It comes with 512 k, one built-in 3.5 in. drive, a parallel port, a RGB and an external disk drive port, and Toshiba/MS DOS 2.11 operation system. Optional accessories are an internal multi-function card with clock and 300 baud modem which can be turned off when not in use to save battery, an external 5.5, an external 3.5 in. drive, and a short board to be plugged in a PC so that the T1100 can directly access the PC's 5 in. drive. The 3.5 in. disk can be formated for 720k or 360k. The latter is electronically equivalent to an IBM 5.5 in. disk. If you are looking for a truly compatible and portable Lap-Top, this could be it. When I connected the external 5.5 in. drive to it, so far all the popular programs I have tried worked except some minor problems with Sidekick. You can even transfer Flight Simulator, Lode Runner, etc. from the 5 in. to the 3 in. disk and run them. The LCD screen is the best I have seen. It is more readable than the TAVA Triumph, Tandy 200 and DG One. It is much less sensitive to light conditions. You can also connect a color monitor directly to it and switch between the LCD and the color monitor by flipping a switch at the back. The built-in 3 in. drive is drive A and the external drive B. They can be interchanged by flipping a switch so that many protected program can run directly from A. The built-in rechargeable battery lasts for seven hours for normal use. The AC adapter is only 1.75x2x3 (less than 1 lb) with a single output of +18 v. If the battery is completely run down, it is recommended that you charge the battery for five minutes by plugging in the AC adapter with computer off. Apparently the computer is still running on the battery even the AC adapter is plugged in. The battery charging reduces to a trickle when the computer is on. Therefore the AC adapter can be connected and disconnected at well without interrupting the computer. I have not tried the multi-function card and the short board. Apparently they are not yet available (at least not in quantity). The modem software compatibility and direct PC disk operations remain to be tested. The Toshiba' 5 in. external drive can also be used as an extra drive for the PC. Overall I am pleased with this little machine. I have shown it to many of my colleagues and they all seemed im- pressed with it. Charles Ih, Univ. of Delaware. 302-451-8173. ------------------------------ Date: 4 Mar 86 07:44:42 PST (Tuesday) From: Eldridge.ES@Xerox.COM Subject: DESQview Version 1.2 To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Message-ID: <860304-074455-2166@Xerox> For the past few months Quarterdeck Office Systems in Santa Monica, CA has been shipping version 1.2 of their DESQview multitasking software. The additional features of DESQview V1.2 are: 1. Support for expanded memory boards. V1.2 is compatible with Lotus/Intel/Microsoft EMS boards (i.e., AboveBoard) and with AST/Quadram/Ashton-Tate Enhanced EMS board (i.e., RAMpage!, in fact DESQview comes free with the RAMpage! board). Using AboveBoard, DESQview allows you to run concurrently several programs that use the expanded memory. With the RAMpage! you can also run up to nine 545K programs concurrently. 2. Support for Hercules graphics card. 3. New installation files for programs such as Lotus 1-2-3 Rel 2, Sidekick, GEM Desktop, etc. 4. Bug fixes and minor improvements. One area of improvement is the handling of 40 char-mode screens. One of the nice features is the ability to run Lotus 123 in a small window. This makes it possible to view two separate spreadsheets simultaneously. A handy feature when you need to compare or transfer data between spreadsheets. A memory status program is included so that you can see how much memory you have free at any time and also what the largest chunk of contiguous memory is. If you are a DESQview V1.0 owner, then the update is $19.95 (plus tax where applicable). If you purchased DESQview V1.0 after November 15, 1985, then the update is free. DESQview V1.2 can be purchased at discount software houses for about $65. If you need multitasking, then DESQview V1.2 is the program to have. George (Eldridge.es@Xerox.com) Disclaimer: My only affiliation with Quarterdeck Office Systems is that I am a satisfied customer. Many of the names used in this note are trademarked by someone. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Mar 86 09:41:10 PST From: Ya'akov_Miles%UBC.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: TECO Editor Project I have used the context editor TECO since my youth, and am in the process of writing a (stripped-down) version in Microsoft "C" to run on the IBM-PC This would be public domain software. Anyone interested in this project? ------------------------------ To: info-ibmpc@isib Subject: Fixup Disks for IBM Products Date: Mon, 03 Mar 86 19:37:14 -0500 From: jcmorris@mitre.ARPA With a singular lack of fanfare, IBM is from time to time releasing machine-readable fixup diskettes for some of its logo products. Although some of the recently-released products have included registration cards which could be filled in (or out; why do "fill in" and "fill out" both fit in this sentence?) and sent to Big Blue, nobody seems to have been notified about the existence of these repair kits unless they squawk loudly. After making very loud noises to the local C'land I was told that there were no such disks available and that the Dealer Hotline had never heard of such things except from the PC WEEK report. After quoting an entry from PCSHARE the C'land rep again asked the DSC people who finally admitted that there were such beasties. Any owner of the related IBM-logo product should be able to get a copy from an authorized IBM sales site. No printed documentation came with any of these diskettes. One floppy is supposed to fix problems with the COBOL compiler. Since I use COBOL only as a bad example, I didn't get it and have no idea what it does. The second floppy contains a replacement for BACKUP.COM for DOS 3.0 and 3.1; this probably fixes the problems which cause unusable backup files to be created. The file is BACKUP.COM, dated 11-1-85, with 6212 bytes. The third fix floppy is for the BASIC compiler version 2. Unlike the one reported in PC WEEK, this floppy does not include a README.TXT file so I haven't any direct method of finding out what it supposedly does. The files on it are all dated 27 January, which is more recent than the ones reported in the PC WEEK article. Some of the programs on the floppy produce release flags: BASRUN20 (IBM level 2.02; usoft level 5.62); BASCOM (IBM 2.00); LINK (2.30). Does anyone in Netland know of any other IBM-provided fix disks? Joe Morris (jcmorris@mitre) ------------------------------ Date: 3 Mar 1986 12:29:09 CST Subject: Zenith Gets New Government PC Contract From: HUNEYCUTT@GUNTER-ADAM.ARPA To: Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Announcement: On Friday, 28 February 1986, a contract was signed between the government and Zenith Data Systems to provide an estimated 90,000 microcomputers over three years to the Air Force, Navy, Army, and Defense Logistics Agency. This contract replaces the original Z-120 contract, which expired for systems on 2 Feb and dies completely in October. GSA mandated the recompetition when we totally underestimated the quantities for the Z-120. Our specifications called for three classes of machine...a pc-type, a pc-xt type, and a pc-at type. What we have on contract are three varieties of AT-type machine, the Z-248, running at 8MHz with no wait states. Included in this message is a list of most of the contract line items (CLINs) along with a brief description and prices. This is a heads-up for those of you who can order from this contract....for the others, an indication of what you can get with enough buying power and a good set of specs. To those who say that this contract was wired for ZDS, I cheerfully respond that it's difficult NOT to award to excellent equipment, particularly when it is also 'reasonably' priced. Doug Huneycutt Air Force Small Computer Program Management Office CLIN 1 Z-248 w/512K RAM, 2 360K floppies, 8MHZ, no wait $1103.00 CLIN 2, Z-248 w/512K RAM, 1 360K floppy, 20M winchester $1534.00 CLIN 3, Z-248 w/1.1M RAM, 1 360K floppy, 20M winchester $1658.00 Each system above includes: 1 serial/parallel card (Asynch), 1 serial/ parallel card (Synch), 1 enhanced graphics adapter, DOS 3.1, Microsoft Windows, and assorted other goodies. CLIN 4AA, 640K RAM expansion $ 120.00 CLIN 4AB, 2 Meg RAM expansion $ 240.00 CLIN 6AA, 20 Meg winchester upgrade $ 302.00 CLIN 7, MPI AFP-45 dual mode printer $ 528.00 CLIN 8AA, cut sheet feeder for MPI $ 207.00 CLIN 9, Diablo C-150 color ink jet $ 802.00 CLIN 10, Plotter (8 pen, self-capping Western Graphtec) $ 929.00 CLIN 11, 640x350 color monitor $ 302.00 CLIN 12, High res monochrome monitor $ 116.00 CLIN 13, Digitazer pad $ 293.00 CLIN 14AA, Power Converter (220-240-->120) $ 55.00 CLIN 14AB, Surge supressor $ 30.00 CLIN 15, 300/1200/2400 baud modem $ 158.00 CLIN 16, Tape backup unit $ 478.00 CLIN 17, 80287 8MHz math coprocessor $ 143.00 CLIN 18, Microsoft BASIC compiler $ 46.00 CLIN 19, Microsoft COBOL compiler $ 15.00 CLIN 20, Microsoft Assembler $ 9.00 CLIN 21, Microsoft FORTRAN compiler $ 13.00 CLIN 22, Microsoft PASCAL compiler $ 16.00 CLIN 23, Computer Innovations C compiler $ 100.00 CLIN 24AA, Wordstar Professional $ 130.00 CLIN 24AB, Multimate $ 148.00 CLIN 25AA, dBase III $ 355.00 CLIN 25AB, Condor III $ 72.00 CLIN 25AC, dBase II $ 239.00 CLIN 26, Microstat $ 75.00 CLIN 27, Supercalc III $ 76.00 CLIN 28, Graftalk (updated for presentation) $ 81.00 CLIN 29, CadKey, mechanical engineering CAD $ 239.00 CLIN 30, TimeLine (project management) $ 53.00 CLIN 31, Enable integrated software package $ 87.00 CLIN 32AA, CXI Connectware 3278/9 Coax system $ 422.00 CLIN 32AB, 3780+ IBM Terminal emulation (RS-232) $ 96.00 CLIN 32AC, VT100 emulator (DEC-20 connection) $ 33.00 CLIN 32AD, Honeywell VIP emulator $ 156.00 CLIN 32AF, Sperry systems terminal emulator $ 121.00 CLIN 32AG, Burroughs TD832 emulator $ 136.00 CLIN 32AH, Z-319 card (Z-120 emulator) $ 175.00 CLIN 35AA, CAI (Intro to microcomputers) $ 11.00 CLIN 35AB, CAI (Supercalc III) $ 23.00 CLIN 35AC, CAI (Condor III) $ 42.00 CLIN 35AD, CAI (Microstat) $ 5.00 CLIN 35AE, CAI (TimeLine) $ 14.00 CLIN 35AF, CAI (dBase II) $ 36.00 CLIN 35AG, CAI (dBase III) $ 23.00 CLIN 35AH, CAI (Multimate) $ 23.00 CLIN 35AJ, CAI (Graftalk) $ 6.00 CLIN 35AK, CAI (CadKey) $ 73.00 CLIN 35AL, CAI (Enable) $ 7.00 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 1 Mar 86 09:09:34 pst From: jhass%ucbiris@BERKELEY.EDU To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: Prolog Reply to inquiry about PC Prologs: There are two major Prologs on the PC. Lotus/Arity Prolog sells for $800 and is copy-protected. Borland has just announced Turbo Prolog. It will sell for about $99 and ship in about two months. Borland claims it is about ten times faster than Arity's. All of the Prologs except Borland's are surveyed in the Feb. 86 issue of ACM Sigplan Notices. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 01 Mar 86 14:48:22 EST From: James H. Coombs <JAZBO%BROWNVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Menuing and Full-Screen Prompting > I would like to find a general purpose menu package. This would be a > set of routines to which I hand a title string and a group of selection > strings and which hands me back the index of the selection. It would > operate by reading the arrow keys and/or a number typed by the user to > select the item. It should probably highlight the selections as the > cursor is moved around among them. > > Also, a routine to collect a text string from the user, in the context > of the above menus. Other functions like help strings for each > selection, and screen attribute/color control would be nice, too. Roundhill's Panel provides the sort of menuing and full-screen prompting that you want. The ads give a pretty good sense of the features available. Mailorder houses are selling it for around $240 right now, but you might want to check around for someone who has it in stock; it took me three months to get my copy. I have had the program for several weeks and have very mixed feelings about it. If you are not too fussy, you can follow the demo programs and have something pretty powerful running in just a few hours. My first response was: "You can do all of THAT with just a hundred lines [of C]?" I am fussy, however, and am now beginning to wonder when I will stop writing routines to replace the ones that came with the package. Although they provide the source for validation of characters, lines, and fields, they do not provide the source for the standard driver functions and some of the low-level interface. I was not satisfied, for example, by the fact that the insert key simply inserts a single blank character instead of inititiating an insert mode. Similarly, the destructive backspace replaces the destroyed character with a blank instead of shifting the remainder of the line one position left. The other major problem for me was that a carriage return does not normally terminate a read. Since my program runs on a 3081 as well (using DMS/CMS), I need the carriage return to interrupt the read and return control to the application so that I can display a new panel, give messages, or terminate prompting and go to work (i.e., I need a common interface). On top of this, Panel does not enable one to define more than 14 function keys without doing a special dance. My next step is to start doing my own keystroke processing. For a simple application, 14 might be fine, but those keys go quickly when you start providing lots of functions and binding them to Alt-A, Alt-D, etc. Two more problems: 1) In my experience, the executable is at least 40K, even for simple programs (although I have a program with two panels and lots of error checking that drives six other programs and takes only 50K.) 2) The documentation is incomplete and poorly organized. Hackers can deal with it, but others will be lost if they can't just take the program as is. The authors rely much too much on the sample programs and the library source. For the most part, their code is well documented (internally), but we still need good external documentation. Without realizing the seriousness of it, they confess that they decided not to provide an index to the documentation because that would slow things up. On the plus side: 1) One can rely on most of the low-level screen handling, such as the definition and writing of attribute bytes. 2) They provide a program that enables the purchaser to "tailor" the environment fairly reasonably--remapping keys, defining cursor size, etc. 3) They have been very thoughtful about portability, even to the extent of worrying over the HP150 and touch screens. 4) They provide some direct-write routines if you want super fast screen updating. (But watch out for conflicts with YTERM.) 5) The sort of menuing that was asked about comes with the program and operates satisfactorily. 6) Finally, if worse comes to worse, one can use their system as a model for developing one's own screen handler. The system is basically intelligent. There is not as much isolation between the application and the screen handler as something like DMS/CMS provides, and this can cause some confusion; but the design is basically sound. In sum, Panel is good for novices who have simple applications and hackers who have simple to intermediate applications. For complicated applications, be prepared to do a lot of customizing and to toss all but the panel generation editor and low-level routines. One way to go for full-screen prompting is windowing. If you are interested in windows, I would take a close look at Windows for C and Windows for Data. Below is a more comprehensive list. Perhaps others can provide info. Screen Genie, 70, Nostradamus. SunScreen, 99, TecWare. Library source included, $199? ZVIEW, 245, Data Management. View Manager, 275, Blaise Computing. Library source for $150. Panel, 295, Roundhill. Library source included free. Windows for Data, 295, Vermont Creative. There may be some reasonable utility libraries as well. If people will send me info about these packages and others, I will summarize and submit. Please note that the quoted prices were taken from ads and SHOULD be full retail. One company, however, lists SunScreen with source at 299 instead of 199, so who knows? ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 01 Mar 86 15:08:36 EST From: James H. Coombs <JAZBO%BROWNVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Writer's Workbench Clones In my previous notice on Writer's Workbench clones, I mentioned Grammatik and Punctuation & Style. Here are two more programs that appear to be in the same genre: PC-Style, by ButtonWare RightWriter, by Decisionware I hope to see these programs in the near future and will provide a summary when I do. Or perhaps someone has experience with them? ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 1 Mar 86 20:46:22 EST From: Eric_B._Arnold%UMich-MTS.Mailnet@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA To: Dave%SCU%Panda@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA, Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Chiwriter In response to your query about the relative merits of Chiwriter and T3, I can offer an opinion about Chiwriter as a very satisfied user, but I know nothing about T3. The price of Chiwriter may be deceptive; its author is a graduate student in mathematics at the University of Michigan who under- stands the need for good, affordable software, and who wrote Chiwriter to fill a need that wasn't met by the technical-wordprocessing packages available at the time (late1984-1985). I don't know exactly what he had available, but everything that I have heard of he knew and found lacking. His primary interest, as I understand it, was to be able to have on-screen editing of mathematical and technical symbols imbedded in text, to be output on dot- matrix printers, and designed such that department secretaries as well as mathematicians could learn to use it easily. I think it meets these goals admirably. It is on the primitive side as word processors go, and has room for polishing in a number of areas, but it works well and is superb for its intended purpose. The user has available up to ten fonts which can be selected with two keystrokes; single characters from non-current fonts can be included with one extra keystroke, and one can have unlimited superscript and subscript lines, with half-line spacing between them so that actual overlap of symbols is possible. A font designer is included, and makes it relatively easy to obtain any desired symbol or combination of symbols. The fonts that come with it are Roman, Italic, Bold, Small, Script, Gothic, Greek, Symbol, and two math symbol fonts. It can handle around 70 pages of text in a PC with 640K of RAM. It prints best with printers such as the Toshiba 1340 family with 24-pin printheads, but I am quite pleased with the performance that I get with my Gemini-10X. I use it extensively in my own work (physics) for preparing lecture notes and material for publication. I understand that the author is working on a version which will work with a laser printer. I have successfully created a font for drawing electronic circuits, and it is spectacular when combined with the various text fonts for labelling the various components! A trial version is available for a nominal fee from the author or free from some public sources. A copy and/or more information should be available from: Horstmann Software Design P.O. Box 4544 Ann Arbor, MI 48106 I have no financial interest in the sale of this product. --Eric B. Arnold Dept. of Natural Sciences University of Michigan--Dearborn 48128 EBA%UMich-MTS.Mailnet@MIT-Multics.ARPA ------------------------------ Date: 3 Mar 86 18:20 GMT From: meaders @ korea-emh Subject: TRS Model 100 to XT Interface To: info-ibmpc @ usc-isib.arpa CC: pz @ mit-vax Ref your inquiry about Model 100: Although I am not familiar with the the 100, I have used a software package which will allow you to use your XT as a "multi-user" system. I have used an Apple, Commodore, Zenith 100 and several other machines to remotely access my base system from as far as 100 miles at speeds from 300 baud to 19.2 KBPS. The package is called MultiLink. It is advertised in many of the PC magazines along {_with a program called LAN Link. Mark Meaders from "The Land of the Morning Calm" ------------------------------ Date: 3 Mar 86 18:20 GMT From: meaders @ korea-emh Subject: Mega Board To: info-ibmpc @ usc-isib.arpa Information on the Mega Board can be gotten from "The Big Blue Seed" an assembly guide and parts list by Raymond Kosmic, NuScope Associates, PO Box 742, Stn B Willowdale, Ontario, M2K 2R1, Canada. Mark Meaders from "The Land of the Morning Calm" ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 4 Mar 86 11:11:50 pst From: ttidca!ttihwe!cole@rand-unix.ARPA To: ttidca!randvax!dowens@a.bbn.com, ttidca!randvax!info-ibmpc@isib Subject: Parallel I/O Cc: cole@rand-unix.ARPA You can certainly use a IBM-type parallel printer port for general purpose I/O, but you have to be careful. IBM-type parallel printer ports use an LS374 tri-state octal latch to drive the 8 data lines, but it is always enabled for output (i.e., the -OE signal on Pin 1 is tied permanently to ground). So the external device cannot drive the the 8 data lines itself, and there is a specific warning in the Tech Ref manual that says "It is essential that the external device not try to pull these pins to ground". Why IBM did it this way heaven only knows. There is a simple solution, however. You can cut the trace that ties Pin 1 on the LS374 to ground and tie Pin 1 on the LS374 to Pin 15 on the LS174, which is an unused output which is controlled by Bit 5 in the command register (3BE, 37A, or 27A, depending whether the parallel port is LPT1, LPT2, or LPT3). Then you can use Bit 5 to enable the LS374 or put it in the high impedance state so you can read your external device. I'm not sure offhand whether this affects normal printer operation. It depends on what DOS does when it finds this printer port on bootup and how the printer code works. The fact that DOS mucks with the port on startup may cause some problems with your external logic. What I did to get around this (and avoid messing with my IBM or AST cards) was to buy a cheap ($30) printer board, which has the advantage that you can jumper the starting address to locations where DOS won't find it (and which hopefully don't conflict with anything else, of course). Randy Cole Citicorp-TTI ttidca!ttihwe!cole@rand-unix ------------------------------ Date: 5 Mar 86 12:29 PST From: Ghenis.pasa@Xerox.COM Subject: Dot Matrix Printhead Maintenance To: LIN@MC.LCS.MIT.EDU cc: info-cpm@AMSAA.ARPA, info-micro@brl-vgr.ARPA, INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA >Anyone know how to tell if a dot-matrix print head needs replacement? >I've has an Epson FX-80 head for about 6 M characters, and the print >quality is going down (tops of letters like "h" and "l" are not coming >out). Am I due for a change? What's a good price on print heads? Before you throw away your print head, try wiping the pins with alcohol. This will remove any ink residue (picked up from the ribbon) that might be jamming some of the pins. This has worked very well for me in the past on my NEC 8023. Another thing to check is the little tin ribbon guide, which is also a "mask"; if it is slightly out of line it will block either the upper or lower pins, producing incomplete characters. Good luck! ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 02 Mar 86 08:58:39 EST From: IJDG400%INDYCMS.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Serial Ports Query I need information on connecting three serial ports to an MS-DOS PC. As far as I can tell two serial ports are the limit. Has anyone tried connecting three or more serial ports to a PC? Thanks Jim Griffin IJDG400@INDYCMS.BITNET ------------------------------ Date: 3 Mar 1986 11:13:07 PST Subject: Serial Ports From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: IJDG400%INDYCMS.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU cc: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA You might try calling Mike Kolsy at American Micronics in Irvine CA. (714)261-2428 They make a board with 8 serial ports. I know they have Xenix drivers and I helped them get started writing a DOS driver. I don't know if they have made any progress. Their board includes an extra status register which tells which of the 8 UARTS caused the interrupt. All the UART status registers are contiguous in I/O space. Switches select the base address. Any of the several async packages in the INFO-IBMPC library could be adapted to use with this board. ------------------------------ From: Paul Fishwick <Fishwick%upenn.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> Subject: Microsoft C V3.0 Options Benchmark Query To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Date: Sun, 2 Mar 86 13:31 EST Has anyone done any benchmarks on the code generated from using the options /G0, /G1, or /G2 under Microsoft's C V3.0 ? /G0 -> generates 8086/88 instructions /G1 -> generates 80186/88 instructions /G2 -> generates 80286 instructions Thanks.. -paul ------------------------------ Date: 3 Mar 1986 11:16:14 PST Subject: Microsoft C V3.0 Options Benchmark From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Paul Fishwick <Fishwick%upenn.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> cc: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA I haven't done benchmarks, but I have noticed they don't use the push immediate instruction. When pushing a constant they move it to AX then push AX. I would assume the newer push immediate instruction would result in faster smaller code. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Mar 1986 13:18 O From: Guy Sirton <MLSIRTON%WEIZMANN.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: AT Xenix Device Driver Problem To: info-ibmpc <info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa> I am having problems writing a device driver in XENIX (V1.0 running on a regular PC-AT) and I'm wondering if any of you can help me... The problems are: 1) Accessing storage (for memory-mapped devices). I overcame this problem by defining a 'far' pointer but I am wondering if there is any built-in kernel routine to do it. 2) Creating the new kernel. When I type 'make' in /usr/sys/conf I get the following result: ld: Unresolved extrenals: __stkgro in file(s): /lib/Mlibc.a(~_chkstk.o) __Syspc in file(s): /lib/Mlibc.a(exit.o) __syscal in file(s): /lib/Mlibc.a(exit.o) *** Error code 1 Stop. 3) Poor documentation. The documentation at the lowest level is really poor some routines (such as seterror() ) are mentioned but not explained and I'm pretty sure (by 'string'ing lib_io and the kernel) that there are routines that aren't even mentioned. The index is also in a very poor state... Anyone who can help me in these problems and/or has a list of un-documented routines please mail me back. Guy ------------------------------ Date: 03-MAR-86 15:15 MEZ To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA From: M70B%CBEBDA3T.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU (F.Buetikofer, Help desk UNI Bern) Subject: SORT Program Problem: German DOS 3.0 We tried to sort an ASCII file, containing a list of german names (the name contains german umlauts). The result of sorting did not correspond to our expectations. According to the DOS manual, the european characters 80H-AFH are collated with the ASCII characters A-Z. And this is wrong. I try to explain it with an example: +-----------+ +-----------+ |P@ar | SORT |Baar | * First two items correct, because |Paar | ---> |B@ar | order was correct in the source! |Baar | |P@ar | * Second two items wrong, because |B@ar | |Paar | @ is collated with a, but should +-----------+ +-----------+ be after a. Where @ stands for a german a umlaut (84H) Is anybody out there, who has a solution to our problem ?? Thanks, Fritz Buetikofer Help desk of the Uni Bern (Switzerland) BITNET or ARPA: M70B@CBEBDA3T.BITNET ------------------------------ Date: 3 Mar 86 19:00 GMT From: ch-mkmc @ KOREA-EMH Subject: MS Windows w/ Smartmodem 2400 Problem To: info-ibmpc @ usc-isib.arpa i am having trouble getting the terminal program in windows to recognize my hayes smartmodem 2400. the led's on the front of the modem flicker on and off as though the modem is trying to initialize itself but then the following message appears "cannot communicate with the modem". at the same time that the modem is trying to initialize itself a small window on the screen displays the message "waiting for answer" and is counting down the seconds(in my case it starts at 30 sec and then the cannot communicate message appears at 28 sec). i have tried using both 300 and 1200 baud and have tried varying the various settings in the program but to no avail. when i use the autodial feature of the cardfile program the modem works fine. any help would be greatly appreciated since i am across the water and can't just pick up the phone and call microsoft. thanks tom robertson ch-mkmc@korea-emh ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 4 Mar 86 22:24:13 est From: romkey@BORAX.LCS.MIT.EDU (John Romkey) To: info-ibmpc@isib.arpa Subject: Microsoft C read() Problem I've just experienced some marginal behavior with the read() call in the Microsoft C library. The read() call seems to read the number of bytes you request, and then return the number that were actually stored after doing CR LF to LF compression in O_TEXT mode. This leads it to return a smaller value than the number of bytes you asked for. I suspect there is a fair amount of code out there that this might break. Many programs seem to interpret this as an end of file indication. Be forewarned... - john romkey ftp software ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Mar 86 14:08:17 PST From: Jim Carter <jimc@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib Subject: DOS Task Termination Return Code in C Problem PC-DOS task termination is driving me up the wall. I merely want to give a return code on exit from a program. The library's "exit" subroutine, when tested, fails to return its argument. I load subcode 4Ch in AH, the return code in AL, and do int 21h. The resulting code is zero or negative. In fact, I tried loading every register in the machine. Here is the code (IBM "C", (c) Microsoft): /* ZILCH.C -- Test exit codes*/ #include <stdio.h> #include <dos.h> void regd(msg, regs) { /*Register dump routine*/ } main(an, av) /*Obvious declarations omitted for brevity*/ { union REGS regs; sscanf(av[1], "%x", &res); regs.h.ah = 0x4c; /*Program termination code*/ regs.h.al = res; regs.x.bx = 0x101 * res; /*And the same for cx,dx,si,di*/ regd("Initial values:", regs); /*Values were as expected*/ intdos(®s, ®s); /*Does int 21h */ regd("Damn, it returned.", regs); /*No, it didn't return*/ } zilch %1 Batch file to run the above if errorlevel 2 echo >=2 This wasn't echoed if errorlevel 4 echo >=4 Neither was this -- ever. I disassembled _exit (called by exit) and found that it merely puts the argument into al and does int 21h/4c, as above. What's going on? Has anyone been able to make this work? James F. Carter (213) 206-1306 UCLA-SEASnet; 2567 Boelter Hall; 405 Hilgard Ave.; Los Angeles, CA 90024 UUCP:...!{ihnp4,ucbvax,{hao!cepu}}!ucla-cs!jimc ARPA:jimc@locus.UCLA.EDU ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 01 Mar 86 1:37 EST From: irfan ahmad <ECO10125%BOSTONU.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: WYSIWYG Page Setup Query To: info-ibmpc <INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> I would like to get some info on programs that can be used for creating newsletters or other in-house magazines. Something which uses the Hercules Graphics Card and displays the exact stuff that will be printed (What You See Is What You Get). Ideally I should be able to get a draft printout on an Epson FX printer and the final version on the Apple Laser Printer. Any information on this will be appreciated. Irfan Ahmad ECO10125 BOSTONU ------------------------------ Date: 3 Mar 1986 0913-PST (Monday) From: Danny Abramovitch <danny@su-isl.arpa> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Cc: Subject: EMACS like editor query I am in the market for an EMACS like editor. I have seen a lot of discussion about Epsilon, I know that there is a version of PC-EMACS, and I have used Mince. I have also seen something about freeware (MAX, SCAMI, mini-EMACS). Does anyone have a decent cost/performance comparison of any or all of these packages. Any ordering information would also be helpful. Thanks in advance, Danny ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Mar 86 10:37 pst From: "pugh jon%e.mfenet"@LLL-MFE.ARPA Subject: Postscript Applications Query To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa I am looking for information from anyone who is using an Apple Laserwriter or other Postscript printer with a PC. I need some software to drive it. Are there any packages that will take text files and twist them into shape or only special purpose applications? Any information would be helpful. Please respond to me, as I am not on the digest. Jon Pugh pugh%mfe@lll-mfe.arpa ------------------------------ Date: Mon 03 Mar 1986 13:50:38 EST From: <DIGITS@LL.ARPA> Subject: Analog Circuit Analysis Programs Query To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa I am looking for information on analog circuit emulators for the IBM-PC. are there any circuit analysis programs out there that work similar to SPICE and that will do transient circuit analysis? ANY information I can get would be very helpful. So far the only program I have seen that even comes close is one call MICRO-CAP II. Thanks in advance Lou DiPalma MIT/LINCOLN LABS Wood St. , Lexington, Ma. ------------------------------ Date: 3 Mar 86 07:21 GMT From: ch-mkmc @ KOREA-EMH Subject: PCUnix by Wendin Query To: info-ibmpc @ usc-isib.arpa I was wondering if anyone has received a copy of PCUnix by Wendin? The last word I had was that it was supposed to be released the week of 17 Feb. 86. Does anyone know if it was in fact released or if not what the new projected release date is? Several of us fellows across the water are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our copies. It would help to know if we should make a mad dash to the mailbox everyday or just sit back and wait (heaven forbid). thanks tom robertson ch-mkmc@korea-emh ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Mar 86 17:45:20 PST From: maddox@renoir.berkeley.edu (William Maddox) To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: Microport System V Unix(tm) for PC/AT Query Has anyone used this product? I am planning to upgrade my IBM Xenix 3.0 to System V, and would like to know how the Microport SysV compares to SCO Xenix V. In particular, how robust is it? How does the performance compare? Please reply via mail, and if I get any interesting replies, I will summarize to the net. William Maddox maddox@renoir.berkeley.edu ucbvax!renoir!maddox (415) 642-4611 ------------------------------ Date: 1 Mar 86 16:37 EDT From: (Gary Chapman) <CHAPMAN@NYU-ACF7.ARPA> To: <info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Subject: Priam Drives on AT, Wait State on AT Queries I am thinking of acquiring an IBM PC/AT with a Priam 60 megabyte drive, and plan to run DRI's Concurrent operating system. Does anyone have experience with the Priam drives on ATs and/or comments about Concurrent? Also, I have read in Byte (special IBM issue) that "IBM has provided a special line called the zero wait state (OWS) signal on the bus to suppress the wait states. This is useful if you have high-speed memory and an expansion card that supports this signal". Does anyone have experience with such hardware? -- Gary Chapman (NYU ACF Microcomputer Laboratory) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 4 Mar 86 01:17:48 EST From: "Robert L. Plouffe" <PLOUFF@MC.LCS.MIT.EDU> Subject: Leading Edge Mod M Clock Query To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Has anyone hacked a clock setting utility for the Model M so that the battery backed-up clock updates the DOS date/time when using PCDOS 3.1? If so, would appreciate a pointer to public domain access of same. Please respond directly to me. as PLOUFF at MIT-MC. Else I guess I will habe to do it myself. ------------------------------ Date: March 04, 1986, 10:40 CET To: <info-kermit@CU20B> FROM: <#D15%DDATHD21.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Cc: <INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB> Subject: MS-DOS 2.xx Terminal-Driver Sources Query Hi, Is there anybody out there in the PC-world who can send me the assembler sources for a MS-DOS 2.xx foreign-terminal-driver. I'm specially interested in the source of KEYBGR.COM (German Keyboard), but any other version will do quite well. Please respond directly to me, because I'm not a member of this list. My network address is as follows: BITNET: <XBR2D96D@DDATHD21.BITNET> Thanks a lot in advance Martin Knoblauch TH-Darmstadt, D-6100 Darmstadt, West Germany EARN/BITNET: #D15 at DDATHD21 (the number sign is really part of my UID) <D96D@DDATHD21.BITNET> <XBR2D96D@DDATHD21.BITNET> ------------------------------ Date: 4 Mar 86 07:27 EST From: Stephen Mahan <steve@ncsc> Subject: Capturing Print Output from dBase III Query To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib A friend of mine is working on a Dbase III applications package and in order to make the software more robust he wants to save all output to the printer to a disk file and them dump it using the DOS print command. Is there a way to redefine the printer port (COM 1) as a disk file? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Stephen Mahan steve@ncsc ------------------------------ Date: 4 Mar 86 16:31:05 PST (Tuesday) From: Ready.pa@Xerox.COM Subject: FFT Boards, Frame-Grabber Hardware Queries To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA cc: Ready.pa@Xerox.COM I need to run lots of FFTs really fast on a PC-AT. Is there any form of hardware FFT hardware available other than Systolic Systems, or alternatively a single board array processor that sits on the AT bus? My application would require a 512 X 512 X 16 bit word FFT. Also, does anyone have experience with framegrabber hardware on the AT. Steve Ready Xerox PARC ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Mar 86 13:09 MST From: Steve Herbst <Herbst@HIS-PHOENIX-MULTICS.ARPA> Subject: Accelerator Boards and Compaq Portable Query To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Classic Technology says its 286 Speedpak doesn't work on the Compaq portable because the latter uses the 8086 processor instead of the 8088. Victor says its SpeedPac 286 doesn't work on the Compaq portable because the cord is incompatible somehow with the main board (they didn't mention the processor). One of their customers is currently evaluating how to change the product to make it Compaq compatible. Anybody know of an accelerator board known to work on Compaq's? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Mar 86 15:51:49 pst From: Alan S. Nobunaga <nobunaga%marlin@nosc.ARPA> To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: AT&T PC6300 Format Command and Color Display Problem We have two AT&T PC6300's with AT&T color displays. Whenever we run the AT&T MS-DOS format command from either the hard disk or floppy, after it responds that the format is complete, the display gets snowy, the characters change to a larger print, and the left margin is now in the center of the screen. What we usually do is reboot or use the cls command and the screen returns to normal. Does anyone know what is causing this and how to fix this? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks. Alan Nobunaga Naval Ocean Systems Center Milnet: nobunaga@NOSC.ARPA ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 05 Mar 86 15:45 PST From: Louise Callejo <Louise-Callejo%LADC@CISL-SERVICE-MULTICS.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Subject: SAVVY PC Query I just received some mailorder literature regarding a Database Manager, a Language Tutorial, a Retriever and a Spreadsheet--all for about $100. The Retriever uses pattern recognition to make a stab at interpreting a request that is only partially defined. The SAVVY people start off their letter by wondering why people are buying DBase and Lotus for so much more money when they could buy all their products for a fraction of the price. I'm kind of wondering about that too, so if anyone has experience with these products, let's hear about it. Louise ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------
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(Text 160268) 86-03-24 05.15 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <207> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 05.15 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <198> -- Received: 86-03-24 06.07 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 05.15 Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #31 %Original date: 22 Mar 1986 15:47:42 PST. TF: DSKD:931257.MAI %FROM: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 47025 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 24 Mar 86 02:00 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 22-Mar-1986 19:00:42-est Mail-From: INFO-IBMPC created at 9-Mar-86 16:19:57 Date: 9 Mar 1986 16:19:56 PST Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #31 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA ReSent-Date: 22 Mar 1986 15:47:42 PST ReSent-From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> ReSent-To: C511%QZCOM.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Sunday, 9 March 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 31 This Week's Editor: Phyllis O'Neil Today's Topics: IP/TCP NRC & MIT DBase III, printers, and LPTX (5 messages) Microsoft C V 3.0 and Phoenix Linker PLINK86 V 1.30 MS C 3.0 Large model struct assign code generation BUG Optimizer for DeSmet C compiler `C` sources & MS-DOS implementation of MIT teco editor Wish list for Microsoft C compiler Emacs-like editor (2 messages) Queuing System Simulation Software Query FFT Boards, Frame-Grabber Hardware FSCRC contract... Incremental File Backup Utilities Turbo Prolog DOS Termination Priam Drives on AT, Wait State on AT Limits on files open: concurrent and lifetime. LSPELL added to Library Dirlib Package added to Library Kermit 2.28 jrd/5b + Turbo Lightning /G0 and /G1 benchmarks NANSI (2 messages) Today's Queries: Turbo's 64K Limitation Query Compaq Deskpro and NEC V30 Query Qubie Modem Problem Lotus 1-2-3 Version 1 vs. Version 2 Query GEM Draw Problem ICOM R71A Radio Receiver to PC Query CMS Hard Disk, IBM Proprinter, Write & Spell Query Ctags for MS-DOS wanted Character ROMS Query Serial printer on PCjr Query Real-time PC operating systems query Serial ports query Graphics query Clearing the screen query Alternate Character Sets Query Program chaining query Wang PC "Open Architecture" package query ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: March 9, 1986 From: Richard Gillmann (Gillmann@ISIB) To: Info-IBMPC@ISIB Subject: New Editor We would like to welcome Phyllis O'Neil of the Aerospace Corporation as a new editor of Info-IBMPC Digest. Phyllis can be reached at oneil@aerospace.arpa. Richard ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Mar 86 01:25:43 est From: romkey@BORAX.LCS.MIT.EDU (John Romkey) To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: IP/TCP NRC & MIT Well, it seems about time that I posted something as a followup to Billy Brackenridge's message about NRC's TCP/IP and my code. I've just been incredibly busy the last couple of weeks; keeping a small company going is very time consuming. I've never used NRC's code, but a number of the problems Billy pointed out with it (terminal emulation, host name resolution) have been fixed for a long time in the MIT PC/IP code. Now I'm taking the MIT PC/IP code and selling it myself, after having spent several years developing it. A couple of other companies seem to be selling an older version of the MIT code: Spartacus and Wollongong, for those who are interested in knowing. The new implementation of PC/IP is going to correct (hopefully) many of the problems with it that I've seen over the past few years but haven't, for one reason or another, been able to correct. For instance, there are a number of new applications: FTP, rlogin, rsh, rexec, rcp, rwho. The terminal emulator has been 'fixed' so that it will work on a greater variety of display hardware, but still be fairly fast (PC/IP's had lots of problems on non-IBM displays). And it's now written in Microsoft C - it compiles faster on my AT than it did at MIT on a VAX 11/750. There will also be a set of programming libraries available with both the native PC/IP programming interface, and the demented 4.2BSD programming interface in them so that people can write their own applications. The new code is marketed by FTP Software, Inc., of Cambridge, MA. Our address is: FTP Software, Inc. PO Box 150 Kendall Square Branch Boston, MA 02142 (617) 497-5066 Odd, the Post Office Box is actually located in Cambridge, but its address is in Boston... That's all I'll say for now about the product; I don't want to get into advertising on the net. If anyone has questions about it, feel free to ask me. Billy also suggested that we use INFO-IBMPC as a forum for discussing TCP/IP implementations. Here's a list of all the available implementations that I know of for the PC. A * means it's not commercially supported: Excelan (requires their hardware) FTP Software PC/TCP *MIT PC/IP NRC Fusion Spartacus KNET/PC Wollongong WIN/PC CMU and Stanford have done some additional work to MIT PC/IP that they are making available to others, at least to academic sites. There are others who have done work too, I'm just not sure that they're distributing it. So there seem to be about three strains of TCP/IP for the PC here: Excelan's, which I know little about save that it's mostly on their outboard processor; MIT's; and NRC's. Anybody know of any other TCP/IPs for the PC? Want to describe what's in these packages, your experiences with them? I'd also be interested in hearing what some people think would be useful new protocols to implement. Most of the current TCP/IP implementations implement the 'standard DARPA protocol suite': telnet, FTP, *maybe* SMTP, and some random protocols. The problem is, these protocols were all designed for use by somewhat sophisticated users on mainframes, and they're fine for that. But sharing files between PC's using FTP is simply gross. So we have network filesystems nowadays (yes, the reasoning does *not* quite follow...) What other sorts of applications would be useful? I could see having a dictionary server on a CD ROM based machine. It would be nice to have some sophisticated printer spooling and user database (so that you can get some info on *who* is using the PC - what's their favorite color?) protocols built on top of TCP/IP. Dave Clark once suggested a protocol that took me a while to digest. He suggested implementing a program that allows you to basically telnet to a PC from another machine - and get to use to see the graphics display on your local bitmapped display. That way you could access some of the more interesting software on the PC from your bigger and better personal workstation without having to rewrite it for the workstation. I finally decided it was a somewhat neat idea. Perhaps this kind of discussion would not be appropriate for INFO-IBMPC. I don't think it quite fits into the way the TCP-IP list works, either. If so, we could always start up a new list elsewhere if enough people were interested. John Romkey romkey@borax.lcs.mit.edu President, FTP Software Disclaimer? What disclaimer? I'm hardly unbiased... ------------------------------ To: Info-IBMPC@usc-isib Subject: Problems with lptx.asm Date: 06 Mar 86 17:19:20 EST (Thu) From: opus@athena.MIT.EDU I just recently downloaded the LPTX.ASM program from the library, and tried assembling it with Microsoft MASM 3.0. The resulting .COM program refuses to work correctly. The first time I tried to run the program, it printed up the banner, and then froze the machine, forcing a cold boot. I experimented in debug, and successfully managed to trace my way through it without a problem. This led me to believe that the program was interfering with one of my resident programs/drivers. On a hunch, I removed NANSI.SYS from my config.sys file, and re-booted. Wonder of wonders, it worked! Now, question number 1 is: Which program is giving me the problems, LPTX or NANSI? Unfortunately, this was not my only problem with LPTX. After running it, and redirecting lpt1: to the default file, I tried typing DIR > PRN, to test the program. The machine halted, and I had to warm boot. I examined the LPTX1.LST in the root directory, and noted that it contained 512 bytes. I tried printing a smaller file, and the program worked correctly. Now my question is: why doesn't LPTX work with data larger than 512 bytes? Thanks in advance for the help. David Jedlinsky opus@athena.mit.edu [Are you running DOS 3.1? -rag] ------------------------------ Date: Thu 6 Mar 86 20:37:16-PST From: David John Buerger <D.Buerger%SCU%PANDA@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA> Subject: Re: LPTX To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA In response to Steven Mahan's request for some way to output from dBase III to a disk file, I've successfully used a public domain software program called LPTX. This program allows one to define parallel output to any disk file of your choice. You may then detoggle this command and continue output to your printer. Unfortunately, it only seems to work under DOS 3.1; I tried repeatedly to make it work with DOS 2.1 and it didn't work. David J. Buerger Director, PC Center Santa Clara University Dave%SCU%Panda@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA ------------------------------ Date: Friday, 7 March 1986 13:46:05 EST From: Joe.Newcomer@a.sei.cmu.edu To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: DBASE III output-->printer DBASE III works under some fairly serious delusions, not the least of which is that all PCs have printers and "print" means "send to the physical printer device". This is of course worsened by the inability of DOS to do even the most primitive redirection of logical devices. My solution in DBASE III is to totally ingore anything in the manual with the word "print" attached, and use the "set alternate" mechanism to direct output to a file. The use of "set alternate" is not obvious, but once you know this is the mechanism, HOW to use it is fairly straightforward. set talk off is a good mode to work in. Using the set alternate method, anything printed on the screen goes to a file, so most of the reports can be redirected this way. joe ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 07 Mar 86 13:09:14 EST From: ST602556%BROWNVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU To: Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: dBASE III output In reply to the query about changing COM1 to be a file in order to spool dBASE output to the disk instead of the printer: Every dBASE output command that I know of provides a method of sending the output to a disk file rather than the printer. See the SET ALTERNATE and SET DEVICE commands and various options of the LIST and DISPLAY commands. Eric Wolf ST602556 @ BROWNVM.BITNET ------------------------------ Date: 9 Mar 1986 15:54-EST Subject: Re Capturing Print Output from Dbase III From: ABN.ISCAMS@USC-ISID.ARPA To: steve@NCSC.ARPA Cc: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Steve, I routinely use LPTX (LPTX.ASM, available via anonymous ftp from INFO-IBMPC archives at USC-ISIB.ARPA). I do NOT work with Dbase II or III, so cannot guarantee LPTX will work with that program .. but it appears to work with everything else I've tried. Price is right too. Regards, David Kirschbaum Toad Hall ABN.ISCAMS@USC-ISID ------------------------------ Date: 9 MAR 86 00:00-AST From: IU%DACTH51.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Microsoft C V 3.0 and Phoenix Linker PLINK86 V 1.30 Two friends of mine are working on a comprehensive word processor using the above C compiler from Microsoft. Due to the size they have to split the program into overlays and thus have to use PLINK V 1.30. Unfortunately they get an error message regarding the object record type 8E What we like to know is: Is there a new version of PLINK available which supports MS-C 3.0 FULLY ? Specifically does it support the object record type 8EH fully? The German vendor expects them to pay about 300 $ without beeing able to tell them wether it does support MS-C or not. They told me the latest available version here in Germany was 1.48. Any help would be greatly appreciated. (Either to info-ibmpc or to IU%DACTH51.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA or IU%DACTH51.BITNET@psuvax1.UUCP) el (Eberhard W. Lisse) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Mar 86 18:23:22 PST From: Matthew J Weinstein <matt@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU> To: info-ibmpc-request@isib Subject: MS C 3.0 Large model struct assign code generation BUG There are a number of known bugs in MS C 3.0 struct/double assignments. I found this one yesterday; given the following conditions: 1) you are generating large model code 2) you use ONE register variable in your function 3) you use that register variable to index a pointer to a struct 4) you are performing structure assignment of an element of that structure which is not the first elt of the structure If all of the above are true, the generated code contains two LEAs that are mis-ordered. Code that exercises the bug (try cc -S): ----- slash here ----- struct a1 {char foo[6];}; struct a2 {int bar; struct a1 elt;}; struct a2 *broken; struct a2 okay[]; Broken() { register i; struct a1 wrong; struct a2 *me_too = broken; wrong = broken[i].elt; /* broken */ wrong = me_too[i].elt; /* broken */ wrong = okay[i].elt; /* WORKS */ } ----- and here ----- No fix forthcoming from Microsoft. - Matt ------------------------------ Date: Fri 7 Mar 86 14:38:35-PST From: Carl Fussell <CARL%SCU%PANDA@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA> Subject: optimizer for DeSmet C compiler To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA For those of you using the DeSmet C compiler... I've written a public-domain optimizer that is available from the C-Ware Fido Bulletin Board (143/9) at (408)-720-8197. The file is stored in the IBM PC file area under the name O88-V207.ARC (version 2.07 of O88). The ARC file contains three files: O88.DOC - The documentation file O88.EXE - O88 optimized by O88 for execution on an 8088 O88.V20 - O88 optimized by O88 for execution on a NEC V20. (rename O88.V20 to O88.EXE before use.) The optimizer automatically senses whether an 8088 or V20 is installed, and optimizes for the corresponding instruction set. Either mode can be forced by a command line argument. The V20 instructions that are used are all 80188 instructions, and so the optimizer is also useful for people with AT's. In general, it will remove 5-10% of the instructions (10-20% if the 80188 instruction set is used), and simplify ~5% of those that remain. One user said that the optimizer is better than that offered with MicroSoft's compiler. The optimizer is free for the taking. Enjoy! Dan Lewis Key Software Products ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Mar 86 04:19:46 PST From: Ya'akov_Miles%UBC.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: `C` sources & MS-DOS implementation of MIT teco editor I am in the process of translating the MIT context editor TECO into standard Microsoft (UNIX) "C", and have a preliminary release of this editor available in both "C" source and (MS-DOS) executable form which is public domain, and can be downloaded at any time from the following 2400 baud RBBS bulletin boards shown (no user validation required) RBBS PoCo.............604-464-7693 RBBS Smokey Mountain..604-462-8753 These versions will be updated if I can continue with my project... ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Mar 86 08:39:56 PST From: Ya'akov_Miles%UBC.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Wish list for Microsoft C compiler It would be nice if Microsofts "C" compiler ver 3.0 was enhanced by (1) Improving the optimizer such that string constants are folded. Currently the following "C" statements PRINTF("\nThis string is stored twice by Microsoft `C`"); PRINTF("\nThis string is stored twice by Microsoft `C`"); causes the string constant to be replicated, wasting space. (2) Increasing the module size that the optimizer will handle before warning: function `xxxxxx` too large for post-optimizer [0] (3) Lowering the price sufficiently so as to become industry standard ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Mar 86 09:18:10 est From: T. J. Brando <brando%linus@mitre-bedford.ARPA> To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: RE: emacs-like editor I've been using an editor called BRIEF on an AT running PC-DOS 3.1 for about 4 months. I didn't realize until a couple of weeks ago that it's an emacs clone. When I did realize it I immediately switched from vi to emacs on the vax at work, and I'm in pig heaven! BRIEF uses ctrl-keys for movement commands and alt-keys for other commands. It supports multiple buffers, multiple files, and multiple windows. The key bindings of existing functions can be changed, and macros can be written in lisp-like format using most of the existing functions. In fact, the editor comes with a large number of user-contributed macros that were the winners in a contest the company sponsored. For more information on BRIEF, contact Solution Systems 335 Washington Street Norwell, MA 02061 Sorry I don't know how much it costs. Thom linus!brando@MITRE-BEDFORD.{ARPA,BITNET,CSNET} {allegra,decvax,ihnp4,philabs}!linus!brando.UUCP ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 07 Mar 86 13:01:58 EST From: ST602556%BROWNVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU To: Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Emacs-like editor BRIEF, published by Solution Systems in Massachusetts, is a totally reconfigurable editor which is very much in the EMACS vein. Although it doesn't really start out too EMACS-like, you could very easily remap the keys and write a few macros so that it would be just like EMACS. I first used it last summer and within hours of getting it I was writing small macros. I don't use it heavily, but find it more than powerful and fast enough for the things I do. Eric Wolf ST602556@BROWNVM.BITNET P.S. - Although BRIEF's authors are friends of mine, I in no way profit from its sales. ------------------------------ From: op987!jsm@seismo.CSS.GOV To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: Queuing System Simulation Software Query Date: Thu Mar 6 08:16:51 1986 Has anybody seen a PC/XT or PC/AT package of simulation software that is useful for queuing-system simulation. Something like GPSS would be ideal, but anything close might wrok as well. The application involves modeling the queuing behavior of information management systems in which each node can be thought of as a single or multi-server queuing system. Can anybody help? Jim McMichael UUCP: seismo.css.gov!op987!jsm ------------------------------ Date: 7 Mar 1986 12:04:52 PST Subject: Re: FFT Boards, Frame-Grabber Hardware From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Ready.pa@XEROX.COM cc: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA We built a system based on the Imaging technology frame grabber and our TMS320 signal processor board. The board was built for speech processing, but we used the fast multiply to do cosine transform based image compression. Warner Frei sells this board along with a very nice mouse/window driven image processing system. He has FFTs running on the Marinco array processing board that will meet your needs. The Marinco board does floating point. I don't think 16 bit word is wide enough for 512x512 FFTs starting with 8 bit image data. Warner Frei (213)452-1730 ------------------------------ Date: 7 Mar 1986 14:15:13 CST Subject: FSCRC contract... From: HUNEYCUTT@GUNTER-ADAM.ARPA To: Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA In response to a general flood of info requests, this is a shotgun initial response. To those of you with no interest, I'm sorry to abuse your systems. The new contract (Z-248s) is not a GSA contract. Rather, its a requirements contract administered by the Air Force Computer Acquisition Center (AFCAC). AFCAC is copying the contract, and will be sending copies to all affected contracting offices. Check with you contracting office if in doubt. For those of you in the Air Force, your MAJCOM/SOA small computer technical center (SCTC) can assist you. By the way, two items I forgot to mention. First, the delegation of procurement authority has been modified to include all of the Department of Defense. Second, the systems come with a one (1) year warranty. Doug ------------------------------ Date: 7 Mar 86 13:27:48 PST (Friday) Subject: Incremental File Backup Utilities From: Burton.osbunorth@Xerox.COM To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.Arpa A recent Digest article referred to IBU, an incremental backup utility, available for ftp from SIMTEL20. According to IBU's documentation, it determines files qualifying for backup by examining file dates and times on source and destination. If the source has a later date and time, then the file is marked for backup. (IBU also has options for overriding these selections.) Why not take the more straightforward of using the ARC bit? Consider the following: I have a system with a hard disk, and I organize my work by application area, each in a separate subdirectory. I also back up my work to floppy including full directory path. For some applications, I have only a few files, and I can back up on one floppy, or even share a floppy with another application. However, some applications have megabytes of files, and the backup spans multiple floppies. A date comparison method won't work automatically. Any pointers to backup utilities that use the ARC bit? Ideally, the utility is written in C and scans all subdirectories, not just the working directory. Phil Burton, Xerox Corp. ------------------------------ From: Tim Finin <Tim%upenn.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> Subject: turbo prolog To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Date: Fri, 7 Mar 86 08:42 EST Someone gave me a copy of a news item from Electronic Engineering Times of March 3rd which describes a Prolog compiler for PCs that Borland International (of Turbo Pascal fame) is releasing on April 15th. According to the note, the price will be $99. Borland claims that it was clocked at 100K lips on an IBM-PC and 300K lips on an AT! (The benchmark used was described as "a single rule benchmark"). The dialect is described as "a superset of Clocksin and Mellish". The system appears to include an incremental compiler, screen editor, support for windowing, a module capability, sound primitives and color graphics primitives. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 8 Mar 86 11:39:11 est From: ucdavis!lll-crg!seismo!cmcl2!phri!greenber@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Ross Greenberg) To: ucdavis!info-ibmpc Subject: Re: DOS Termination Regarding the DOS Termination problem from a program in C. The program as listed should correctly set the termination code.... and then, when you fall off the end of main, a new termination code is generated by main (_main?). Try simply putting: exit(code); at the end of the routine, or try this after setting your exit code: regset.x.ax = 0; intdos(®set, ®set); which will cause your code to exit immediately, without any of the stuff a the end of main being called. ross ross m. greenberg ihnp4!allegra!phri!sysdes!greenber [phri rarely makes a guest-account user a spokesperson. Especially not me.] ------------------------------ To: Gary Chapman <CHAPMAN@nyu-acf7.ARPA> cc: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: Re: Priam Drives on AT, Wait State on AT Date: Fri, 07 Mar 86 08:56:11 -0500 From: Dan Grim <grim@huey.udel.EDU> I have had the Priam 60MB drive installed in my AT for about two weeks. It works quite well with one reservation. The software supplied with the drive uses a non-standard partitioning scheme to take full advantage of the size of the drive. Although they configure the AT for a type 12 drive (which has 855 cylinders), the Priam drive actually has 981 cylinders. They use an installable disk driver under DOS to access the extra area. Since I am running both DOS and Xenix on my AT I am currently using the 60MB drive as a standard type 12 (50MB) drive. If you only use DOS this will cause you no problem. Dan ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 08 Mar 86 18:45:20 EST From: James H. Coombs <JAZBO%BROWNVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Limits on files open: concurrent and lifetime. A number of people have asked recently about the maximum number of files that a program may open. Since no one else has picked up the ball, I will offer what little I know about this. 1) The DOS manual states that no program can have more than 20 files open concurrently. This includes such files as stdio and stderr. Using the C fopen() function, I bomb out on the 16th file. 2) Some people have said that the limit is not 20 files CONCURRENTLY but 20 files during the execution of a program. Using standard C routines, I was able to open, write to, and close 40 files sequentially. 3) I tried a couple of editors. One could open only 15 files; the other opened 23 and appeared to be ready for many more. There were no indications that the second editor was paging files to disk. Clearly, there is some limit on the number of files that may be open concurrently, and no apparent (or documented) limit on the number that may be open during a complete run. Furthermore, there are techniques to get by the limit on the number of files open concurrently. Apparently, the 20 file limit came with DOS 2.0 and the use of file handles instead of control blocks. I tried using interrupt 21 function 0x0f to open files with fcbs but had no luck. I imagine that I was making some simple error, however, because this is the way fileio was handled before DOS 2.0. Conclusions: 1) An inability to open more than 20 files during the run of a program must have to do with some quirk/bug in either the compiler/interpreter that one is using or in DOS 3.xx. (I was using 2.0.) Will someone with DOS 3.xx check this out? 2) Programmers have been able to get around the 20 concurrent files limit, probably by using fcbs. This may be as simple as using the "archaic" libraries of compilers that support DOS 1.xx. If one does not have such a compiler, try using the DOS macros for fcbs. In the worst case, one could use direct reads and writes, but it is probably not necessary to give up that much of OS services. For more info, see the DOS manual, the Technical Reference, and the Programmer's Guide to MS-DOS. ------------------------------ Date: 21 Feb 86 20:58:00 PST From: Eliot Moore <Swg.Elmo@USC-ISIB.Arpa> To: info-ibmpc Subject: LSPELL added to Library LSPELL 0.93 LSPELL.PAS LSPELL is a TEST version of a simple but useful document LSPELL.DOC speller based on Borland International's Turbo Lightning. Christopher J. Dunford The Cove Software Group 10057-2 Windstream Drive Columbia, MD 21044 (301) 992-9371 CompuServe 76703,2002 12/10/85 ------------------------------ Date: 8 Mar 1986 23:40:31 PST Subject: Dirlib Package added to Library From: Eliot Moore <SWG.ELMO@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA dirlib.intro Dirlib is the "dirlib" package implemented for dirlib.c Microsoft-C. Matt@Ucla-Locus, 25-Feb-86. dirlib.h testdir.c ------------------------------ Date: 9 Mar 86 06:58:33 EST From: Davidann <DZimmerman@BLUE.RUTGERS.EDU> Subject: Kermit 2.28 jrd/5b + Turbo Lightning To: Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA I've noticed problems also with the combination of Kermit and Lightning. Normally, Lightning is pretty well behaved, and even with the smallest dictionary in memory (RAM1), it doesn't beep unless a word looks adequately strange. Since I started running it with jrd/5b, though, it has been beeping on little words like "the" and "my", which is totally out of character. If I then do a word check, Lightning tells me the word is correct without accessing the disk, which means #1: the word was already in memory, and #2: if it was in memory, Lightning shouldn't have beeped. I should mention that Lightning was running fine with my previous version of Kermit (2.28 jrd/2). David P. Zimmerman, Rutgers University Arpa: DZimmerman@Blue Uucp: {seismo, allegra, ihnp4}!topaz!dpz ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7-Mar-86 10:37:28 PST From: ihnp4!pelican!pete@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Pete Carah) Subject: /G0 and /G1 benchmarks To: Fishwick%upenn.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa Cc: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa >Has anyone done any benchmarks on the code generated from using the >options /G0, /G1, or /G2 under Microsoft's C V3.0 ? I have run (on a NEC V20, not a 186) the Dhrystone benchmark using both the G0 and G1 options, with and without /Oxxx, and with and without the REGISTER as given in the dhrystone header. G1 does speed things up. Note that this benchmark is very call-intensive, simulating an ADA environment with highly-structured, small routines. Here is my letter to the dhrystone keeper giving the results. I also ran it on the definicon board (rather impressive). Note that the times differring by 1 second are not particularly significant due to the time() granularity of 1 second. The number listed alone or before seconds is "dhrystones/sec" (= 50000/seconds). I include some of the other times that came with the benchmark for reference: no reg reg * IBM PC/XT 8088-4.77Mhz VENIX/86 2.0 cc 297 324 * VAX 11/750 - VMS VAX-11 C 2.0 958 1091 * Sun2/120 68010-10Mhz Sun 4.2BSD cc 1136 1219 * PDP 11/70 - UNIX 5.2 cc 1162 1250 * IBM PC/AT 80286-7.5Mhz VENIX/86 2.1 cc 1190 1315 * * VAX 11/780 - UNIX 5.2 cc 1515 1562 I ran dhrystone on my PC in various combinations of compile options, and got the following results: PC (not XT) 4.77 MHz NEC V20 (not 8088), MSDOS 3.1, Microsoft C v.3.00 This compiler does support enums and structure assigns. I used small model for all of these (2-byte pointers). no regs, no optimize, no 186 instructions: 387 129 secs no regs, no optimize, 186 instructions: 393 127 secs no regs, -Ot, no 186 instructions: 387 no regs, -Ot, 186 instructions: 393 regs, no optimize, no 186 instructions: 420 119 secs regs, no optimize, 186 instructions: 427 117 secs regs, -Ot, no 186 instructions: 416 120 secs regs, -Ot, 186 instructions: 427 117 secs Apparently the -Ot option did nothing and enabling the 80186 instruction set improved things by a couple of percent. Same PC, DSI-32 board, 10 Mhz 32032, using the Definicon (Green Hills) C: This compiler supports enums and structure assigns. The base system was MSDOS 3.1 The runtime version was loader: 2.14v; 32io: 2.1 No wait states: Definicon 32032, no regs, no optimize: 1282 39 secs Definicon 32032, no regs, optimize 1: 1250 40 secs Definicon 32032, regs, no optimize: 1315 38 secs Definicon 32032, regs, optimize 1: 1282 39 secs 1 wait state: (my 2MB upgrade was slightly flaky with none) Definicon 32032, no regs, no optimize 1190 42 secs Definicon 32032, no regs, optimize 1190 42 secs Definicon 32032, regs, no optimize 1250 40 secs Definicon 32032, regs, optimize 1190 42 secs (!) A different PC, 8088, 4.77 MHz PC-IX, cc: (cron and update were left running, with no crontab activity) no regs 271 regs 294 -- Pete ...{ihnp4, scgvaxd, vortex}!pelican!pete ------------------------------ Date: 3 Mar 86 13:43 EST From: Jim Moore <moore@ncsc> Subject: NANSI Query To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib Is NANSI available anywhere as executable rather than source? I don't have Microsoft's MASM 3.0, and apparently that's what I need for the current stuff available in ISIB (NANSI.LBR). Thanks for any information jim [NANSI is the new ANSI.SYS replacement from Daniel Kegel of Cal Tech -wab] ------------------------------ Date: 5 Mar 1986 13:52:33 PST Subject: NANSI From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Jim Moore <moore@NCSC.ARPA> cc: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA There were some modifications to the code receintly that allow it to assemble under MASM 1.00. We won't support binary, but somebody else on the net might. ------------------------------ Date: Tue 4 Mar 86 14:06:21-PST From: Marvin Zauderer <ZAUDERER@SU-SUSHI.ARPA> Subject: Turbo's 64K Limitation Query To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA I'm interested in getting around Turbo Pascal's 64K code/64K data limitations. I know about the "chain" and "execute" calls; does anyone have any experience with other methods, e.g. commercial products which extend Turbo? Thanks for your help. -- Marvin Zauderer E-Mail: Zauderer@SU-SUSHI.ARPA ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Mar 86 23:29:31 pst From: Marc Caminetsky <marc%uofm-uts.cdn%ubc.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: Compaq Deskpro and NEC V30 Query I have just purchased a COMPAQ deskpro and was thinking about poping in the NEC V30 chip to replace my 8086. I have many friends who have replace there 8088 with a V20 in their IBMPC and have met with a vast improvment in speed. Firstly, can you put the V30 in the DESKPRO and secondly has anyone done it? If so what kind of speed improvments is it giving? Thanks in advance, Marc Caminetsky. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 5 Mar 86 23:29:42 pst From: Marc Caminetsky <marc%uofm-uts.cdn%ubc.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: Qubie Modem Problem I have a Qubie 1200 baud internal for my Compaq Deskpro, It works fine Usually, in fact I am using it now. BUT..... I have tried to logon to a certain BBS that uses a multitek 2400 baud modem. When I dial, I connect, hear the host modem at 2400 baud, it then switches to 1200 baud and then nothing happens. The QUBIE just sits there and does nothing. It will not respond to the Multitek carrier. Has anyone else had this problem with there qubie's? Is there some way via the AT commands that I can rectify this problem? Other than this particular BBS the modem works fine....I should also mention that a friend uses a HAYES 1200 and has NO prob. Thanks in advance Marc Caminetsky. ------------------------------ Date: 6 Mar 86 09:10 GMT From: oli2146 @ KOREA-EMH Subject: Lotus 1-2-3 Ver 1 vs. Ver 2 Query To: info-ibmpc @ usc-isib.arpa Can anyone send me or direct me to a comparison of Lotus 1-2-3 Version 1 and version 2? Thanks in advance.... Mark Meaders "Fm the Land of the Morning Calm...." ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Mar 86 12:23 EST From: Mandell@DOCKMASTER.ARPA Subject: GEM Draw Problem To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISI.ARPA I saw a demo of GEM draw last week. The use of the shift home combination to select the movement of objects(open hand) seemed to be very unreliable. It requires a simultaneous momentary push othe two keys and only works a small portion of the time. Has anyone seen this problem? is there a fix? Does a similar problem occur with a mouse? Dick Mandell ------------------------------ Date: Thursday, 6 Mar 1986 09:04:00 PST From: (Dave Gomberg) <GOMBERG@UCSFVM.BITNET> To: info-ibmpc at USC-ISIB Subject: ICOM R71A Radio Receiver to PC Query Has anyone succeeded in connecting an IBM PC to the "computer" interface of this beast? [This is a ham radio receiver with a serial interface that allows selection of frequency etc. -wab] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Mar 86 15:41 EST From: TRK%OAK.SAINET.MFENET@LLL-MFE.ARPA Subject: CMS Hard Disk, IBM Proprinter, Write & Spell Query To: Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.Arpa My father is in the market for an XT system for his club for keeping track of names & addresses, sending out letters etc. He is not a computer person and neither are the people who will be using it. What he is looking at is an XT with a 20 meg CMS hard disk, an IBM proprinter, and a Write & Spell word processor. I have never used anything by CMS and I am not familliar with the printer or the word processor either. I was hoping that some of you out there might be able to tell me if you have had any good/bad experiences with these things so I can tell my father whether to go ahead and get it or keep looking for something better. I would certainly appreciate any help anyone could offer. You can send replies to Info-IBMPC or: TRK%OAK.SAInet.MFEnet@LLL-MFE.Arpa Thanks in advance, --Tracy ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Mar 86 16:15:25 CST From: frank@db.wisc.edu (Dan Frank) To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib Subject: Ctags for MS-DOS wanted Does anyone know of a public domain ctags program for MS-DOS? ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Mar 86 01:32:07 EST From: Jacob Moskowitz <JMSK@MC.LCS.MIT.EDU> Subject: Character ROMS Query To: Info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA I am very urgently looking for alternate ROM's to plug in place of the one on a PC to give me more greek characters and more math symbols. A companion ROM for the printer would be nice, but I can download those. I've been told that there is an EPROM equivalent for the PC character ROM, but I have been unable to find a vendor that sells anything like what I want. The reason I can't use any of the numerous "scientific/math" WP pgm's is that I need to use these fonts in my existing sfw, ThinkTank in particular, and I sure don't need those foreign characters nor the smiling faces, etc. Any help any of you can give me on this would be greatly appreciated. Jake Moskowitz CBS, NYU Physics ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Mar 86 12:42:38 pst From: calma!thompson@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Sheldon Thompson) To: ucbvax!info-ibmpc Subject: Serial printer on PCjr Query I desparately need help! I am attempting to access the serial port on the IBM PCjr to use a serial printer. The tech manual seems to be unavailable in this area. Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance, Sheldon Thompson Calma Company UUCP: ...{ucbvax,sun,csd-gould}!calma!thompson ARPA: calma!thompson!ucbvax.ARPA Disclaimer: I'm sure much of the above is trademarked. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Mar 86 13:51:46 PST From: atm%DEImos.Caltech.Edu@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu Subject: Real-time PC operating systems query Has anyone any experience with the various real-time operating systems for the PC, either full-featured ones such as RTOS (derived from iRMX86) or bare kernels such as VRTX? In particular, has anyone spliced an Ethernet protocol server (e.g. TCP/IP) into one of these? Alan Moffet Caltech Astronomy ATM%deimos@cit-hamlet.arpa ATM%deimos@caltech.bitnet ------------------------------ Date: Fri 7 Mar 86 14:53:07-PST From: STEINBERGER@SRI-KL.ARPA Subject: serial ports query To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA I am using IBM professional fortran and need to control 2 serial ports. I have ordered a product called "No Limit" from MEF ENVIRONMENTAL in Austin, TX (800) 562- 9700. They claim that their software will allow access to both ports, including using interrupt driven communication. Has anyone used this or a similar product? Any advice or comments would be welcome. Thanks. Ric Steinberger STEINBERGER@SRI-KL (415) 859-4300 [There are a couple of programs in the INFO-IBMPC library that do this. -ed] ------------------------------ Date: Sat 8 Mar 86 13:36:10-PST From: Carl Fussell <CARL%SCU%PANDA@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA> Subject: graphics query To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Does anyone have an assembler routine that can be interfaced with the Professional FORTRAN to run the EGA board on the IBM AT using a monochrome monitor??? I've written some code that allows me to turn pixons on and off, but I was also looking for some assembler routines that will allow me to display characters and graphics (Mode F) simultaneously. I've also been hacking at some code to allow the user to define an alternate character set, but have had some trouble interpretting the limited documentation. If anyone has any assembler routines that do this and can be interfaced with the Professional FORTRAN package, I'd like to hear from you. Thanks, Stephen J. Hager (hager%SCU%Panda@Sumex-Aim.Arpa) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 08 Mar 86 18:53:59 EST From: James H. Coombs <JAZBO%BROWNVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Clearing the screen query What is the best way to clear the screen when running the color monitor? The call in my C library wipes out the attribute bytes. I believe that this is a call to the BIOS video services. As I understand it, one can print an ANSI.SYS command string to clear the screen, but this requires the installation of ANSI.SYS. If possible, I would like to make no assumptions about the environment. There must be some generic way to clear the screen (better than printing 25 blank lines). ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 8 Mar 86 19:50:13 EST From: Jacob Moskowitz <JMSK@MC.LCS.MIT.EDU> Subject: Alternate Character Sets Query To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISI.ARPA I just posted a message requesting help on replacing the standard character ROM, in particular with one adding to the limited number of greek/math symbols. Since then, a friend told me that STSC sells an APL compiler that changes some of the characters to APL characters, WITHOUT replacing the ROM, suggesting that there's a way to do this by software. Does anyone know whether this is true ? Does the IBM-PC download the character ROM into RAM, or does DOS have to be patched to allow intercepting of interrupts, or something ? I'm obviously ignorant of this stuff and will be very grateful for any assistance anyone out there can offer. Thanks. Jake Moskowitz ------------------------------ Date: 9 Mar 86 21:10:52 +0100 From: XBR1YD14%DDATHD21.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU (YD14@BR1.THDNET) Subject: Program chaining query To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib I have some FORTRAN programs that should invoke each other, so that only one program is resident in memory at any time. There is a DOS-call in version 3.x of DOS, but I don't like it because it seems to create some kind of subprocess and the "calling" program stays in memory. (In the CP/M-80 version of my program I'm using the FCHAIN subroutine in the F80's library.) I'd appreciate any hints. If ever possible, I'd like to use DOS Version 2.11. Thank you Reinhard Goeth (Techn. Univ. of Darmstadt) BITNET: XBR1YD14@DDATHD21 ARPA: XBR1YD14%DDATHD21.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU ------------------------------ Date: 9 Mar 1986 15:59-EST Subject: Wang PC "Open Architecture" package query From: ABN.ISCAMS@USC-ISID.ARPA To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Has anyone seen or worked with the "Open Architecture" package (or some such name) obtainable (for much bucks) from Wang for their PC? It supposedly has technical information about the buss, BIOS, interrupts, and all the secret ways it is NOT compatible with most anything. They blindsided us when we bought the boxes .. I'd rather not have any more unpleasant surprises if I buy this supposed equivalent to "Norton's Programmers Guide" for the Wang PCs. Thanks in advance, David Kirschbaum Toad Hall ABN.ISCAMS@USC-ISID.ARPA ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------
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(Text 160269) 86-03-24 05.16 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <208> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 05.16 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <199> -- Received: 86-03-24 06.07 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 05.16 Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #32 %Original date: 22 Mar 1986 15:47:43 PST. TF: DSKD:931277.MAI %FROM: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 22060 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 24 Mar 86 02:11 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 22-Mar-1986 19:02:30-est Mail-From: INFO-IBMPC created at 10-Mar-86 19:02:38 Date: 10 Mar 1986 19:02:38 PST Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #32 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA ReSent-Date: 22 Mar 1986 15:47:43 PST ReSent-From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> ReSent-To: C511%QZCOM.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Monday, March 10, 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 32 This Week's Editor: Phyllis O'Neil Today's Topics: LPTX Alternate Character Sets Clearing the Screen (2 messages) Re: Microsoft C Compiler Wish List FORTRAN to C query Redistributing INFO-IBMPC RE: AT&T PC6300 Color Display NEC V30 in a Compaq Deskpro SAVVY Turbo Pascal's 64K Limitation Today's Queries: Help with FTP between PC and VM Help needed with device driver INTERRUPT ROUTINES--QUERY Discrete simulation languages query .OBJ file format query Sort and German DOS 3.x query PC's Limited AT Query ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 10 Mar 86 16:15:09 est From: Mike Ciaraldi <ciaraldi@rochester.arpa> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: LPTX Problems (more details) I downloaded LPTX a few weeks ago from the ARPA archives, and found it works partially. My first problem was not knowing that it had to be processed by EXE2BIN. At first I thought the "No Stack Segment" message from LINK was an actual error. Once I got that figured out, it would actually run. Results: Under DOS 2.1 it seems to work fine for me. This is on a standard IBM PC with Color Graphics Adapter and dual floppies. I tried several different things, such as copying a file to PRN, using printer echo (ctrl-P), etc., and they all seemed OK. I was NOT using any other memory-resident programs. Under DOS 3.1, it worked all right for printer echo and other commands that didn't require disk use. When I tried to do a DIR > PRN or a DIR with printer echo, the first 512 bytes would go into the printer file, then the whole system would lock up. Repeating, other ways of producing printer output (e.g. from a BASIC program) that did not use the disk caused no trouble. So, it would appear that there is a conflict when DOS is trying to handle two disk requests simultaneously, one producing the data and one receiving it. Looking through the code, I see that there is a place where the author saves away the system stack, explaining in a comment that this gets around the restriction against doing#zDOS calls from inside an interrupt handle. The comment makes reference to the DOS 2.1 reference manual. So, my suspicion is that something changed between DOS versions, and LPTX does not take that into account. I hope someone else with more experience than I can figure out how to fix this, as LPTX seems very handy. Mike Ciaraldi ciaraldi@rochester seismo!rochester!ciaraldi ------------------------------ To: jmsk@mc.lcs.mit.edu Cc: info-ibmpc@isib Subject: Alternate Character Sets Date: Sun, 09 Mar 86 23:07:23 -0500 From: jcmorris@mitre.ARPA In your posting of 8 March you asked about the STSC handling of the special character sets used in its APL product. The STSC APL*PLUS/PC package can work with all three standard IBM CRT interfaces (mono, CGA, and EGA). The special PROM is required with the monochrome adapter; it's recommended but not mandatory with the CGA, and cannot be used with the EGA. (There are also several different PROM's for use with other manufacturers' boards.) Assuming that one of the IBM boards is being used, the no-PROM approach uses the techniques shown in the standard IBM documentation. You don't say in your note which CRT adapter you're using. If it's the IBM mono or CGA, both boards use the same PROM. I've not actually done it, but it doesn't look to be too difficult to figure out the addressing scheme and design your own character set if you've got access to a PROM burner. The EGA uses proprietary chips and doesn't have a socketed PROM to be replaced. The IBM manuals show how to specify your own character set for the CGA and EGA. There is no way to avoid a special PROM if you're using the monochrome adapter. Joe Morris (jcmorris@mitre) ------------------------------ Date: Mon 10 Mar 86 12:42:35-CST From: Pete Galvin <CC.GALVIN@R20.UTEXAS.EDU> Subject: Re: Clearing the screen To: JAZBO%BROWNVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU cc: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA I believe the best method is one described in the IBM Tech. Ref. It is simply a call to the bios video routines scroll function. Tell it to scroll 25 lines, and the screen is cleared. Sorry I don't have the numbers in front of me... --Pete ------------------------------ Date: 10 Mar 1986 11:01:27 PST Subject: Re: Clearing the screen From: Richard Gillmann <GILLMANN@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Pete Galvin <CC.GALVIN@R20.UTEXAS.EDU> cc: JAZBO%BROWNVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU, INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA I agree that the BIOS call is the best bet. Most MS-DOS machines have a mode that will emulate the IBM BIOS to that extent. The only way to clear the screen that does not depend on ANSI.SYS nor on the IBM BIOS is to write 25 linefeeds to the screen. And even this won't be compatible with displays with more than 25 lines, like the EGA in some modes. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Mar 86 09:55:22 CST From: nather@ASTRO.UTEXAS.EDU (Ed Nather) To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Re: Microsoft C Compiler Wish List >From: Ya'akov_Miles%UBC.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA >It would be nice if Microsofts "C" compiler ver 3.0 was enhanced by > > (1) Improving the optimizer such that string constants are folded. > Currently the following "C" statements > > PRINTF("\nThis string is stored twice by Microsoft `C`"); > PRINTF("\nThis string is stored twice by Microsoft `C`"); > > causes the string constant to be replicated, wasting space. I don't think they can do that ... the C langauge allows you to write to a string constant and change its value, so each one must be unique. While there is no way to address the one in your example, it is a special case which the compiler would have to identify. And if it were identical to one that you *could* address ... > (2) Increasing the module size that the optimizer will handle before > > warning: function `xxxxxx` too large for post-optimizer [0] That one should be easy. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Mar 86 13:51:47 CST From: fenchel@rsch.wisc.edu (Bob Fenchel) To: info-ibmpc@isib Subject: FORTRAN to C query Anyone have, or know of a program that can do a reasonable job translating from FORTRAN to C? ------------------------------ To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: Redistributing INFO-IBMPC Date: Mon, 03 Mar 86 16:07:23 -0500 From: Craig Partridge <craig@loki.bbn.com> A few weeks ago a note went out to this list which, among other things, expressed some annoyance at those of us who run CSNET for not offering redistribution facilities for mail digests like INFO-IBMPC. We at CSNET view this as a somewhat unfortunate situation -- we like to see ourselves as helping the research community, yet in this particular situation our hands are tied. I've included parts of the original message below with an explanation of why we are unable to help out. I hope this will give people a better sense of why the problem exists. > Date: 19 Jan 1986 13:34:50 PST > Subject: New Year's Resolutions > From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> > To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA > The editors of INFO-IBMPC met last week. Several changes have taken > place. > > [much text deleted] > We are unresolved as to what to do about sending back digests and > library files to unconnected networks. We never have responded to > requests from usenet hosts unless they were closely connected to th > arpanet, and we are getting increasingly fed up with sending things > via mail to csnet and bitnet. The only reason these nets don't have file > access to our archives is because the political administrators of > these networks are unwilling to implement gateways that can handle > file transfer. I fail to see why we should have to send files as mail > because the users of these connected networks are unwilling or unable > to put pressure on the administrators of their nets to allow them > file access to ARPA hosts. In the mean time some requests will get > answered and others won't depending on the mood of who is editing at > the moment. This sounds harsh but only reflects the reality of the > last year or so as requests have grown beyond our capability to handle > them. We'd love to offer file access to ARPA hosts. In fact we at CSNET had plans to implement (indeed had started work on) a mail interface to the FTP protocol. But when we mentioned this idea to various parties involved in running the DDN we were told that we could not offer mail oriented FTP. Apparently FTP is involved in a large fraction of the security incidents on the DDN, and if we made FTP available to a larger community (i.e. those people who can reach the Internet via mail), the security problems and concerns could become much more serious. > > If someone had a mail based server that could automaticly respond to > these requests, this could solve the problem for the short term. > > [more deletions ] Such programs exist. Both CSNET and BITNET have information servers that are capable of automatically handling requests via mail. Other versions exists on the UUCP network. MOSIS (at ISI) also offers this capability. We (at CSNET) are, however, in no position to start archiving all of the various mailing lists that our members are interested in (we just don't have enough processing and disk resources to handle this much data). As I've said, we'd like to help out, and we are not unaware of this problem. If we find a solution at our end you'll be the first to know. insert Craig Partridge CSNET Technical Staff craig@sh.cs.net (for the daring) or craig@csnet-sh.arpa I stand by my statements that the reason csnet subscribers can't get FTP access to our files and archives is political not technical. If "the various parties involved in running the DDN" really believe FTP access to the ARPANET is a security breach there is something seriously wrong with the DDN. I am sure there is some appropriate mailing list to discuss whatever politics may be involved in this decision, but this isn't the one. I spoke with the MOSIS people and their software is too specific to MOSIS to work for INFO-IBMPC. In the mean time there is a program called netlib that runs on unix that allows people to fetch files from libraries via net mail. I'd like to get that up running. I don't speak unix and don't want to do it personally but would be glad to give assistance to any volunteers. -wab] ------------------------------ Date: 10 MAR 86 14:32-N From: INNO%HWALHW5.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: RE: AT&T PC6300 Color Display I have an Olivetti M24 with a color monitor. It has almost the same hardware as the AT&T 6300. I recognized the problem of the color monitor. I had the problem too, when I was running the product SUPERKEY. When I tried to exit the same problem occurred: a snowy display and the left margin in the center of the screen. I didn't have the problem when I booted from an original IBM PC-DOS V2.00 floppy. For the rest I never have problems with my color monitor, even if I run some graphics color demos for the IBM-PC. Inno Frencken Computing Centre Agricultural University Hollandseweg 1 6706 KN Wageningen The Netherlands phone: 08370-83875 EARN-id: INNO EARN-node: HWALHW5 ------------------------------ Date: Mon 10 Mar 1986 12:39:11 EST From: <SAGE@LL.ARPA> Subject: NEC V30 in a Compaq Deskpro To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib I am running my Deskpro Model 4 with an NEC V30 chip in it. The Norton utility performance index doubled, indicating that some instructions now run twice as fast as before. I ran one benchmark using a compute-bound PMATE text-editing macro and found a speed improvement of about 10-15%. My hard disk seems to run noticeably faster. The one problem I have had is with the tape backup. Things seem to go too fast for it! I solved the problem by switching the computer to its low-speed clock when making the tape backups. ------------------------------ Date: Mon 10 Mar 86 10:24:47-PST From: CRESWELL@SRI-AI.ARPA Subject: SAVVY To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA I purchased Savvy about 6 months ago and have used it for database applications for medium sized files. It is easy to use...seems to do all I want it to...though I'm not using it for extremely exotic purposes. Purchased it through the mail for a good deal....installed in my PC hard disk and had it up and running in about an hour. The little instruction books are well written. The manual, like most manuals, is "ok" if you really need to delve into the guts of things altho' I've found that the menus/user books have provided most everything I need. ------------------------------ Date: 10 Mar 86 10:58:53 PST (Monday) From: Eldridge.ES@Xerox.COM Subject: Turbo Pascal's 64K Limitation To: Marvin Zauderer <ZAUDERER@SU-SUSHI.ARPA> cc: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA, Eldridge.ES@Xerox.COM It is true that Turbo Pascal is limited to 64K of code space and 64K of static data space, but this is not really a problem. To get around the code space limitation, Turbo Pascal provides an overlay facility. Chaining can also be used where appropriate. The 64K limitation on the data space applies only to static data structures. If you use dynamic data structures, then you have access to all available memory in the machine. Dynamic data structures are allocated off of the heap. There is a limitation of 65521 bytes for a single dynamic variable. I have heard that Nostradamus software offers a utility that extends the code and data space range of Turbo Pascal, but I have no experience with it. George (Eldridge.es@Xerox.com) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Mar 86 10:28:07 cet Subject: Help with FTP between PC and VM From: UZR500%DBNRHRZ1.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU I am developing a FTP-program running on the IBM-PC (every version). Our PC has a coax kable and neither IRMA nor AST-PCOX card for emulation and FTP from/to our IBM/370 host under VM/CMS. At the moment we would need some information exchange with other people who have the same problems or who have already written such a program,no matter in which programming language it has been written. We have several programs which are solving our problem. But every is too slow or it does not run exactly. We have problems in compiling BASICA-pro= grams with the IBM-BASIC-COMPILER and with the QUICK-BASIC-COMPILER. At the end of our list,writing this program in TURBO-PASCAL brings some other problems,too.So,if there is someone who has the same pro= blem or better who has already solved it,I would like to correspond with him in order to solve it. Thank you very much. Sincerely yours Thorsten Glattki Glattki, Thorsten 0228/73-2747 UZR500 at DBNRHRZ1 RHRZ Universitaet Bonn Zimmer 003 Wegelerstrasse 4 D-5300 Bonn 1 Ferderal Republic of Germany (West Germany) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Mar 86 03:11 EST From: Paul Schauble <Schauble@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA> Subject: Help needed with device driver To: Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA I am attempting to write a device driver for a slightly strange disk and have run into a problem. The disk is different from a standard PC disk in that it uses a 2K byte sector size. I know that DOS has some procedure for dealing with other sector sizes: I have previously seen device drivers that use other than 512 byte sectors. However, when I try to load my driver, it gets the message "Sector size too large in driver.sys". Does anyone know if anything special is needed to set the sector size that DOS uses? Or, just exactly what is the problem here? Thanks, Paul ------------------------------ Date: 10 MAR 86 10:48-N From: DOMMELEN%HWALHW5.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: INTERRUPT ROUTINES--QUERY Has anyone in this audience a routine which does the following: 1. Generates a timer interrupt and calls a routine e.g. each second. 2. Can be locked into the system, so keeps interrupting when a FORTRAN program runs. 3. Maybe can do something like the ON KEY .. GOSUB functions of GWBASIC. I'm asking this for a custumor who is working with an Olivetti M21 and wants to write his program in Microsoft FORTRAN. Probably these routines should be made in MASM, which is available also. Any suggestions are welcome. Wim van Dommelen, Computer Centre Agricultural University, Wageningen Holland. DOMMELEN@HWALHW5.BITNET ------------------------------ Date: Monday, 10 March 1986 13:57:55 EST From: Joe.Newcomer@a.sei.cmu.edu To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: Discrete simulation languages query (I'm asking this for a friend) Are there any discrete system simulation languages (the last one I used was Simula) available for the PC. He needs to simulate a system with lots of discrete servers (neg. exp. arrival and service times) with setup and "latency" considerations. Graphics output nice but not required. A self-contained system is desired; native language is C (he has no Fortran, so Fortran-based preprocessor simulator things will not work). joe ------------------------------ Date: Monday, 10 March 1986 14:00:48 EST From: Joe.Newcomer@a.sei.cmu.edu To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: .OBJ file format query (for another friend) I know someone who wishes to port his favorite compiler to the PC. Ideally, he'd like to write .obj files directly instead of invoking the assembler. The .OBJ file format is rather obscure and the Intel document hasn't helped us much. Does anyone have a public domain or small $ .OBJ-file-writer? Desire is to support the equivalent of Lattice's S,P,D and L models. I don't have time to get involved in this deeply so am looking for ways to help. joe ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Mar 86 15:59:36 PST From: kegel%Juliet.Caltech.Edu@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu Subject: Sort and German DOS 3.x query To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa, m70b%cbebda3t.bitnet@wiscvm.wisc.edu The stated problem is, why does SORT seem to ignore the umlaut on letters? Sort is presumably using the generalized mechanism provided by DOS for resolving ordering of ascii characters. The DOS function call "Get/set country information" allows you to get or set the address of the subroutine used to order characters. Although the documentation in the DOS 3.0 Technical Reference manual does not specify what exactly the subroutine does, tracing thru it with DEBUG reveals that it is something like the following: translate proc far push bx ; save caller's register mov bx, offset value_table ; get address of our order-value table xlat cs:[bx] ; replace char in AL with its order value pop bx ret translate endp value_table db 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ; and so on The value_table used by DOS simply assigns the value 'A' to all letter A's regardless of case or accent. To replace the default character-ordering subroutine, you would need to write a small program which would set the address of the your subroutine, then terminate and remain resident. Warning: the above example subroutine is typed from memory, and may be incorrect; you will have to trace thru the default subroutine to make sure. Have fun, and good luck! - Daniel Kegel 1-60 Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91126 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Mar 86 01:34:41 EST From: "Keith F. Lynch" <KFL@MC.LCS.MIT.EDU> Subject: PC's Limited AT Query To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Does anyone have any info on the PC's Limited AT compatible? Is it any good? How can it be so much cheaper than the competition? ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------
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(Text 160292) 86-03-24 12.16 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <209> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 12.16 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <200> -- Received: 86-03-24 19.11 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 12.16 Marked by somebody. Subject: INFO-IBMPC DIGEST V5 #33 %Original date: 22 Mar 1986 15:47:45 PST. TF: DSKD:932240.MAI %FROM: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 38445 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 24 Mar 86 11:00 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 22-Mar-1986 19:03:42-est Mail-From: INFO-IBMPC created at 12-Mar-86 19:49:35 Date: 12 Mar 1986 19:49:35 PST Subject: INFO-IBMPC DIGEST V5 #33 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA ReSent-Date: 22 Mar 1986 15:47:45 PST ReSent-From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> ReSent-To: C511%QZCOM.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Wednesday, March 12, 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 33 This Week's Editor: Phyllis O'Neil Today's Topics: Accelerator Boards and Compaq Portable Limits on Files Open Fast Turbo Screen Writing Grammatik and Rightwriter BRIEF Arity Prolog Sector Size Newsroom Program German DOS and SORT .OBJ File Format EXEPACK Breaks Programs NEC V30 vs V20 in Compaq Deskpro Device Drivers and Sector Size MAX Availability RE: Queuing Simulation on IBM PC/XT/AT SAVVY PC Turbo Pascal Clearing the Screen Microsoft C compiler and strings Microsoft C V 3.0 and Phoenix Linker PLINK86 V 1.30 MS-C Re: Microsoft "C" Compiler Wish List Today's Queries: UCSD PASCAL on IBM-PC Query Overlay linkers Query 8087 Library for DeSmet C Compiler Query BRIEF Programmer's Editor--Macros Request What are Those Error Codes? 25 Top Utilities Request Looking for Paradox Database Users Irma Boards Query Logitech Modula-2 Compiler Review Requested Turbo Pascal Query DESQview Query HP Vectra vs IBM PC/AT Jove Query Graphics-Cursor on EGA Query AT&T 6300 Hard Disk Query Installing Xenix on Compaq Query ------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Mar 86 18:41:39 EST From: Walter Bender <walter@MEDIA-LAB.MIT.EDU> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: RE: Accelerator Boards and Compaq Portable Cc: blue@MEDIA-LAB.MIT.EDU The PC-elevATor 286 from Applied Reasoning Corp. works in Compaq portables, DeskPros, and even PC-ATs. It comes in 8, 10, and 12.5 MHz models, with optional 5 or 8 MHz 80287 co-processor, and up to 2 MB of no wait-state RAM. Their software includes RAM Disk and EMS / Above Board support. Applied Reasoning Corporation 765 Concord Avenue Cambridge, Mass. 02138 (617) 492-0700 Yr. obt. svt., P.D.Pathe Javelin Software Corp. (blue@media-lab.mit.edu) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Mar 86 15:10:45 pst From: psivax!friesen (Stanley Friesen) Subject: Limits on Files Open Organization: Pacesetter Systems Inc., Sylmar, CA James H Coombs writes: >1) The DOS manual states that no program can have more than 20 files >open concurrently. This includes such files as stdio and stderr. Using >the C fopen() function, I bomb out on the 16th file. The manual is correct as far as *DOS* is concerned. The limit with fopen() is internal to *stdio*. The standard implementation of the stdio library only allocates 16 FILE structures for use by the library, so even though DOS permits more, stdio doesn't. Use open() or its equivalent to get at the DOS file handles instead of fopen(). Or else recompile the stdio library(if you have the source) to use 20 FILE structures. > >2) Some people have said that the limit is not 20 files CONCURRENTLY but >20 files during the execution of a program. As far as I know there is no sequential limit at all. Sarima (Stanley Friesen) UUCP: {ttidca|ihnp4|sdcrdcf|quad1|nrcvax|bellcore|logico}!psivax!friesen ARPA: ttidca!psivax!friesen@rand-unix.arpa ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1986 21:06 CST From: Dean Hoyt <NU068450%NDSUVM1.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: Fast Turbo Screen Writing To: <info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA> >From: Bard Bloom <BARD@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU> >Subject: Generic Fast Screen I/O Query >How does one write quickly to the IBM PC's screen from Turbo Pascal? >I have a generic MSDOS version of Turbo, running on a very incompatible >Rainbow; I'm trying to write a program that will run on IBMs as well. >I also need to know how to set video attributes, at least underlined, >bold, and reverse video. > Thanks, I work on Zenith PC's that the school has. The memory for the color screen is at $B000:$F000. The memory for the mono screen is at $B000:$0000. I define an array of integer that is the size of the screen memory and then write into this array. This method bypasses both DOS and BIOS. Type a_screen = array [1..25,1..80] of integer; Var color_screen : a_screen absolute $B000:$F000; mono_screen : a_screen absolute $B000:$0000; temp_screen : a_screen; begin { code to build picture or text in temp screen } color_screen = temp_screen; { copy temp screen onto real screen } { more code } temp_screen = color_screen; { save current contents of screen } { display help screen } color_screen = temp_screen; { restore screen } end; As for attributes I only have experience with a color screen. As you can see the screen array is of type integer. The upper byte of an integer contains attribute bits, the lower byte contains the ascii character to display. Blink Back color Bright Fore color ASCII char ---------------------------------------------------- l x l x x x l x l x x x l x x x x x x x x l ---------------------------------------------------- Hi byte low byte I would just play around with the attribute bits and see what comes up on the screen. oh in the array it is Y,X so a gotoxy(15,10); write ('A'); would place an A in the lower byte of the screen array at location 10,15 so to get it you could use the statement, Value := color_screen[10,15]; I hope that this helps. I have found that with this type of screen I/O you can not see the writes to the screen, the picture just appears. Dean Hoyt NU068450 @ NDSUVM1 ------------------------------ Date: 11 Mar 1986 01:34:23 EST Subject: Grammatik and Rightwriter From: Norman Lyons <LYONSN@USC-ISI.ARPA> To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA I use both Rightwriter and Grammatik and I thought I would comment on the capabilities of the two packages. I read about 30 Master's theses a year, and all theses are submitted to these two packages first. Working together, they handle almost all of the nit-picking editing chores. The two packages are actually complementary. Grammatik flags wordy phrases, archaic phrases, and other such problems. It has an extensive dictionary of its own, and the user can easily create his own phrase dictionary using an ASCII editor. Two passes are required with Grammatik. One pass flags problems in the document itself. Another pass prints out suggestions for changes separately from the document. Rightwriter is a much more sophisticated package. It examines sentence structure, flags passive voice, long sentences, complex sentences, and some types of grammatical errors. It also computes a fog index and a list of unusual words. It's a very useful package for streamlining prose. One has to be careful about its suggestions, however. If taken too literally, it can result in a "me Tarzan--you Jane" style of prose. It "rewards" short sentences and active voice with a low fog index. Since I use both of these programs together, I have written a pair of C routines and some BAT files that work both Grammatik and Rightwriter comments into the document in a single format. These programs can run in unattended mode. It requires about 20 minutes to do a complete check on a 100-page thesis. I can contribute these programs to INFO-IBMPC if anybody is interested. Disclaimer: I have no interest in either of these companies except as a reasonably satisfied user. ------------------------------ From: chapman%miro@BERKELEY.EDU (Brent Chapman) To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: "ENVSIZE.EXE" (included with BRIEF editor) patches COMMAND.COM Date: 10 Mar 86 23:53:44 PST (Mon) The program "ENVSIZE.EXE" that is included with the BRIEF Programmer's Editor successfully increases the environment size, but it does it by patching your COMMAND.COM file. Now, while in and of itself, this is not necessarily a bad thing, this little "feature" is not noticeably (if at all) mentioned in any of the documentation... I don't know about you, but I prefer to know in advance when something is going to go poking around in my critical files... Just thought I'd warn everyone else. Brent Chapman chapman@miro.berkeley.edu ucbvax!miro!chapman ------------------------------ Date: 11 Mar 86 09:34:00 EST From: "DESILVA, ERIC" <desilva@nbs-vms.ARPA> Subjectt: Arity Prolog To: "info-ibmpc" <info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa> I was catching up on my mail and happened to notice a message about Arity Prolog. We just got version 4.0 and it is no longer copy pro- tected. For the $800, you also get the Arity Prolog Compiler which runs about 10-20 times as fast as the interpreted stuff (Can Borland beat that?). There is a review of a bunch of Prolog interpreters in the Jan '86 PC Tech Journal for more info and benchmarks (LIPS Logical inferences per second !?!) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Mar 86 13:30:02 PST From: Dana Myers <bilbo.dana@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU> To: Schauble@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA CC: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Sector Size Too Large MS-DOS determines the size of the largest sector it will have to deal with during boot time by examing the sector sizes in use by the disk driver in IO.SYS. For most PCs, this is 512 bytes. Once DOS figures this out, it creates the buffer pool which consists of a number of structures fixed in size, the size being the largest sector size plus a small amount for a header. Unfortunately, if you want a larger sector size you have to do something tricky, like modify your IO.SYS source (you do have source to IO.SYS, don't you?) or mess with IO.SYS somehow to make DOS believe a larger sector is in use (don't ask exactly how, it qualifies as black magic). You could also block and deblock the 2k sectors into 512 byte sectors... Note that having a large sector size (which means large buffers) will reduce the amount of memory available to applications for a given number of buffers. 25 buffers is a reasonable number; this is about 13k of 512 byte sectors but more like 53k of 2k byte sectors... ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Mar 86 13:44:54 EST From: mr <ihnp4!inuxc!isrnix!mr@seismo.CSS.GOV> To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Newsroom Program > I would like to get some info on programs that can be used for creating newsletters or other in-house magazines. Something which uses the Hercules Graphics Card and displays the exact stuff that will be printed (What You See Is What You Get). Ideally I should be able to get a draft printout on an Epson FX printer and the final version on the Apple Laser Printer. Any information on this will be appreciated. Irfan Ahmad ECO10125 BOSTONU > You might check into Springboard's "Newsroom" program ($25). With the program, you get some 200-odd pieces of "clip art" that can be modified to your liking. (sure, the clip art is a little hokey, but you can get either volume 1 or volume 2 of their more sophisticated clip-art. add $19. volume 2 is the business clip art which allows the design and production of many, many graphs, charts, logos, piecharts, you name it.) Either volume touts over 500 pieces of clip art. With a color/graphics monitor, you're able to design your own "photos" which, if you like, can be laid out pixel by pixel; anywhere on your page. There's 6 "departments" in the newsroom: the photo lab where you design your own "photos;" the printing press; the wire service where pc's running "newsroom" can talk to one another via modem; banner department where the masthead is created; the copydesk where text is written; and the layout where it all comes together. mice/joysticks are welcome but not necessary. It is fully compatible with most dot-matrix printers (esp. with epson's) and what you see, is what gets printed (wysiwgp!). .^. michael regoli /|\ ...ihnp4!inuxc!iuvax!isrnix!mr '|!|` <mr@isrnix.UUCP> ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Mar 86 13:52:32 PST From: kegel%tybalt.caltech.edu@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu To: m70b%cbebda3t.bitnet@wiscvm.wisc.edu Subject: German DOS and SORT > How do I get SORT to sort letters with umlauts correctly? In an earlier letter, I reasoned that SORT used the DOS facility for building a character sorting weight table. As it happens, the SORT that comes with DOS 3.1 (and probably DOS 3.0, as well) contains its own sorting weight table, which will have to be modified. The new sorting weight table will (like the old one) be the identity function for characters below 65 (upper-case A). Since I don't know in what order you want to put the various accents, I can't give you an exact table; but here's how to construct one: Write down the alphabet (including accented letters) in the desired order. Number each letter, starting with 65 for A and a (both cases get same number). The number next to each letter is its sorting weight table entry. Now sort the list by ASCII code number, and fill gaps (which mostly hold block graphics characters) with numbers higher than the weight generated for Z. You should have 191 entries, one for each code from 65 to 255. Finally, convert the weights into hexadecimal (ugh). Here's how to use DEBUG to find and change SORT's weight table (this will only be understandable if you already know DEBUG): 1. Make a copy of SORT.EXE under a different extension, e.g. copy sort.exe sort.bin 2. Locate the case map table within sort.bin: DEBUG SORT.BIN -RCX ; How long is the file? 0680 ; Now we know how long to search -S 100 L 0680 0 1 2 3 4 5 ; Search for start of case map table xxxx:0592 ; Now we know offset of table -H 592 41 ; Find where letter A starts sum=05d3 difference=0551 ; it starts at 5d3 -Q ; back to DOS (The above numbers are examples) 3. Make a file called Script with your 192-entry hex weight table as follows. (Let's say the first 4 entries of your table are 41h, 48h, 49h, 50h, and the last 4 entries are a3h, a4h, a5h, a6h.) f 5D3 L F 41 48 49 50 etc.... f 5E2 L 10 ... ... f 682 L 10 .... a3 a4 a5 a6 w q 4. Run debug on sort.bin with Script: debug sort.bin < Script 5. Copy sort.bin to newsort.exe, and try it out. 6. If it does not sort correctly, change the file Script, and go back to step 4. Again, good luck. - Daniel Kegel ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Mar 86 14:12:44 PST From: kegel%Juliet.Caltech.Edu@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu Subject: .OBJ File Format To: joe.newcomer@a.sei.cmu.edu, info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa The Microsoft .obj file format is pretty obscure, and is slightly different from the Intel .obj file format (a clean subset, I think). I was able to write a .obj file writer by intensive study of the issue of IBM PC Tech Ref Journal (?October 1985?) that explained the format, and by examinging the output of very, very simple MASM runs. The only thing the article doesnt mention is that, although indices usually are coded into 1 byte, the high bit is a "next byte is low 8 bits" flag, allowing more than 255 external symbols (for instance). There is also a document available mail-order from Microsoft, the MS-DOS Programmer's Reference, which (i am told) also describes the format. - Daniel Kegel ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Mar 86 16:31:58 PST From: Matthew J Weinstein <matt@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU> To: info-ibmpc@isib Subject: EXEPACK Breaks Programs EXEPACK v 4.00 and previous are known to break programs. No specific causes or solutions. EXEPACK broke a 220k program in obscure ways the other day... MS has no new version at this point; no word if they are working on it. The /E option of LINK is known to break programs too. I don't use it. - Matt ------- UUCP: {ucbvax,ihnp4,randvax,trwrb!trwspp,ism780}!ucla-cs!matt ARPA: matt@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11-Mar-86 08:34:56 PST From: scgvaxd!pelican!pete@csvax.caltech.edu (Pete Carah) Subject: NEC V30 vs V20 in Compaq Deskpro To: marc%uofm-uts.cdn%ubc.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa A friend and I have put a V30 in a deskpro, and find that the time to compile and assemble a large ms-pascal/assembly program was reduced from 25 to 19 minutes, where the time in a PC went from 38 to 37 minutes when a V20 was installed. In other words, the V30 improves a deskpro more than a V20 improves a PC, at least for MS-pascal and the assembler. -- Pete [I suspect the NEC V20 is choked by the 8 bit data path and spends more time waiting for memory -wab] {scgvaxd, ihnp4, vortex}!pelican!pete ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11-Mar-86 08:58:06 PST From: scgvaxd!pelican!pete@csvax.caltech.edu (Pete Carah) Subject: Device Drivers and Sector Size To: schauble@mit-multics.arpa Cc: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa DOS gets its idea of sector size for buffer allocation from the BPB of the first block device driver loaded. Since this is the one that comes with DOS, you are kind of stuck without a patch. Several people manage to get around this to increase the allowable disk size over 32MB. It should be possible to sneak around in the DOS.COM data area and fix the problem at the time of loading a driver, but I don't know what side effects there might be, and code to do it would not work on another version of DOS. One side effect of having a buffer size over 512 bytes is that the buffer area uses a lot of memory and (in your case) 3/4 of it wouldn't get used while floppy or normal hard disk sectors were bufferred. Another way to handle the problem is to translate all requests to/from "virtual" 512-byte sectors in your driver. That isn't too hard but it would require an internal buffer to handle partial sector requests, and if the cluster size were smaller than 2K you would get some thrashing. This scheme has the disadvantage of not increasing the allowable device size over 32MB, though you can always allow more than one DOS partition (my disk driver does, and allows up to 128 MB in a drive, in 4 virtual devices). -- Pete {scgvaxd, ihnp4, vortex}!pelican!pete ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Mar 86 23:56:17 PST From: larry@Jpl-VLSI.ARPA Subject: MAX Availability To: info-ibmpc@isib.arpa In answer to several queries, I got my copy of MAX (a microEMACS) from UTEXAS-20.ARPA from <CC.GALVIN.PUBLIC>MAX.LBR... Larry @ jpl-vlsi ------------------------------ To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Cc: tektronix!stever%tektronix.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA Subject: RE: Queuing Simulation on IBM PC/XT/AT Date: 10 Mar 86 19:08:52 PST (Mon) From: stever%tektronix.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA consider evaluating SIMAN, it is a cross between GPSS and GASP/SLAM. Systems MOdeling Corporation Calder Square P.O. Box 10074 State College, Pennsylvania 16805-0074 (814)-238-5919 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Mar 86 08:24:05 est From: Scott Guthery <sguthery%slb-doll.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: SAVVY PC I use SAVVY PC for a coupld of little databases I ride herd on and find it quite useful. It has a funky model of computation (tasks kinda) and the AI component is very A but all in all for $49 I'm a happy customer. I also wonder why you'd spend more. There's nothing I've wanted to do that SAVVY PC can't handle (probably a comment on my imagination or needs). It allows full-fledged programming which means you can simulate a Turning machine if you have to. I recommend you pay the extra $30 and get the hardcopy documentation cause there's lots of it and you'd waste at least $0 worth of your own time and paper printing it all out. ------------------------------ Date: Tue 11 Mar 86 21:14:14-EST From: Doctor I & III & V <WESALUM.A-LIAO-85@KLA.WESLYN> Subject: Turbo Pascal To: INFO-IBMPC%USC-ISIB.ARPA@VAX.WESLYN About Turbo Pascal: As far as I know the 64K program space limitation is still in effect on Version 3.xx. This is not true, however, for dynamically allocating variables off the heap. He and I managed to allocate something close to 200K on his machine (he has a 256K IBM PC). Warning to all, however, about using Turbo's version of linked lists: If you're not careful you, referencing a NIL pointer can be REAL dangerous. It turns out that, at best, reading data via a NIL pointer will only return garbage. However, writing to a "variable" will hang your machine (and possibly worse). It turns out that Turbo sets the NIL pointer as an address in REAL LOW Memory (i.e. the DOS area). So writing thru a TURBO NIL pointer down in that area isn't really a recommended thing to do. In fact, Turbo really doesn't tell you if you try to dereference a NIL pointer. Fortunately, I talked to Borland and they said they finally fixed the problem (I'll believe it when I see it). "NIL", they said, "doesn't do that nonsense anymore". This is as of 6 weeks ago. So I assume a new version of Turbo Pascal is out on the market. Hope this info helps.... - drew liao ------------------------------ Date: Tue 11 Mar 86 21:25:37-EST From: Doctor I & III & V <WESALUM.A-LIAO-85@KLA.WESLYN> Subject: Clearing the Screen To: INFO-IBMPC%USC-ISIB.ARPA@VAX.WESLYN RE: To GALVIN@R20.UTEXAS,JAZBO%BROWN The following is the code to clear the screen and leave the cursor in the top left-hand corner: ;The following was written to interface with MS-Pascal. I wrote this ;code for an IBM monocrhome monitor. It makes use of the DOS 2.00 ;BIOS routines. PLEASE NOTE THE DOS Version! ; ;HOMCLR Clears the screen of garbage and moves cursor to top left ; corner of the screen, and leaves the cursor there. ; Called from MSPascal as: PROCEDURE HomClr;EXTERN; HOMCLR PROC FAR PUSH BP ;Set for frame pointer MOV BP,SP XOR CX,CX ;Top left corner of screen MOV DX,24*256+79 ;Bottom right corner of screen XOR AL,AL ;We want all lines moved up MOV BH,7 ;Want white on black attribute MOV AH,6 ;Select scroll screen up (CLR) INT 10H ;Go do it XOR DX,DX ;Where do we want cursor? XOR BH,BH ;Current active screen MOV AH,2 ;Select move cursor function (HOM) INT 10H ;Go do it POP BP ;Restore original base ptr RET ;Return to MSPASCAL program address HOMCLR ENDP Hope it helps. - drew liao ------- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Mar 86 13:18:39 PST From: Dana Myers <bilbo.dana@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU> To: Ya-akov_Miles%UBC.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA CC: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Microsoft C compiler and strings On page 181 of "The C Programming Language" by K and R, in section 2.5, it is stated that "All strings, even when written identically, are distinct.". KR offered the only standard for C compilers for a long time and a lot of programs exist which make assumptions about the uniqueness of strings. Even though ANSI is hard at work on a standard for C compilers, etc., I don't think this can change. AT one time I used Lattice C a lot, and it would perform constant folding of strings, which made some programs non-portable to Lattice C. I don't know if the newest versions of lattice C still do this. Dana ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1986 18:59 EST From: LENOIL@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU To: IU%DACTH51.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Cc: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Microsoft C V 3.0 and Phoenix Linker PLINK86 V 1.30 > Two friends of mine are working on a comprehensive word processor using the above C compiler from Microsoft. Due to the size they have to split the program into overlays and thus have to use PLINK V 1.30. > I'm fairly certain that the newest LINK from Microsoft supports overlays. ------------------------------ Date: 12 MAR 86 11:39-AST From: IU%DACTH51.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: MS-C Re: My question about the Microsoft C compiler 3.0 and the Phoenix Linker 1.30 in INFO-IBMPC 5 31 I forgot to mention that the reason to use PLINK86 is the need for hierarchical overlays, which the Microsoft linker doesn't support. Sorry, el (Eberhard W. Lisse) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Mar 86 17:03:14 PST From: Jim Carter <jimc@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: Re: Microsoft "C" Compiler Wish List In Info-IBMPC Digest v5 vol32, Ed Nather writes about folding string literals. The current draft standard for "C", X3J11/85-138, says in sec. C.1.4, that different copies of the same string literal need not be distinct, and that string literals may not be modified. James F. Carter (213) 206-1306 UCLA-SEASnet; 2567 Boelter Hall; 405 Hilgard Ave.; Los Angeles, CA 90024 UUCP:...!{ihnp4,ucbvax,{hao!cepu}}!ucla-cs!jimc ARPA:jimc@locus.UCLA.EDU ------------------------------ Date: 10 Mar 86 21:09:56 +0100 From: XBR1YD22%DDATHD21.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU (YD22@BR1.THDNET) Subject: UCSD PASCAL on IBM-PC Query To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib Hi folks, I have an application program written in UCSD-PASCAL and currently running on an Apple ][ computer. I'd like to transfer the program to an IBM-PC or compatible computer. So I am looking for a PASCAL compiler that is similar to the UCSD PASCAL and runs on the PC. I'm not very keen on 100 % compa- tibility, but I'd like to get e.g. the string built in functions/procedures and the like. Please respond to me, so we don't clog up the net. If there's any interest, I'll summarize to the network. Thank you very much Ralf Bayer Computing Center @ the Technical University of Darmstadt, West Germany Arpanet address: xbr1yd22%ddathd21.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.EDU (personal mail) BITNET address: xbr1yd22 @ ddathd21 (no NETDATA format) #d22 @ ddathd21 ( NETDATA format, beware of the Number sign, it's part of the USERID) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Mar 86 22:10:52 EST From: James H. Coombs <JAZBO%BROWNVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Overlay linkers Query Could someone give a summary (or a reference to one) of overlay linkers: what they are, why use them, and which ones are good/bad? I have an application that could consist of 10+ separate programs, each loaded at the appropriate time by a system call. Unfortunately, four of the routines attempt to load as much data into RAM as possible and then have to "page" out to disk. If I can avoid giving up 60K or so to the driver, then I will have that much more room for data. Also, one of the programs uses many of the same routines as the driver, and I would hate to give up RAM to duplicate versions of some fairly complex routines. The answer seems to be to use an overlay linker. Are there linkers reliable enough to sacrifice the modularity of separate programs, or am I better off giving up the RAM? Thanks. --Jim ------------------------------ Date: Mon 10 Mar 86 22:23:56-PST From: D.LEWIS%SCU%PANDA@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA Subject: 8087 Library for DeSmet C Compiler Query To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA I've noticed that the 8087 run-time library for the DeSmet C compiler occassionally places *TWO* (as opposed to one) WAIT instruction directly in front of an 8087 instruction, even some that only reference the 8087 internal stack. Does anyone know why more than 1 WAIT might be needed? Also, does anyone know the code fragment that will determine if an 8087 is installed? Thanks in advance! Dan Lewis Dept. of EECS Univ. of Santa Clara Santa Clara, CA 95053 ------------------------------ From: chapman%miro@BERKELEY.EDU (Brent Chapman) To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: BRIEF Programmer's Editor--Macros Request Date: 10 Mar 86 23:44:54 PST (Mon) I've just started using BRIEF lately, and absolutely love it. I was wondering if any other users of the system might have some useful macros they'd be willing to share? If you'll send them to me, after the smoke clears, I'll summarize them all in one post to Info-IBMPC. Send anything that YOU find useful; you never know when someone else might actually agree with you... Brent Chapman chapman@miro.berkeley.edu ucbvax!miro!chapman ------------------------------ Date: 11 Mar 86 07:53 GMT From: meaders @ KOREA-EMH Subject: What are Those Error Codes? To: info-ibmpc @ usc-isib.arpa Can someone fill me in on what a parity check 68000 (s) is? Same 60000, 48000, 64000, 48000 etc. Thanks in advance Mark Meaders "From the Land of the Morning Calm..... and Mid Afternoon Madness" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Mar 86 22:44:16 est From: ucdavis!lll-crg!seismo!cmcl2!phri!greenber@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Ross Greenberg) Subject: 25 Top Utilities Request Organization: Public Health Research Inst. (NY, NY) As part of a book I've been asked to write, I'm looking for the top 25 Utility programs for the IBM-PC. Everybody as their favorites, I'm sure, and so I'd like to ask you to forward to me a list of *your* favorites. Both Public Domain, and Commercial programs are fine. If you could give a (very) brief description of what they do, and where I can get them, I'd appreciate it immensely. Please mail them to me, and I'll eventually summarize, analyze and whateverels-irize. Thanks! ------ ross m. greenberg ihnp4!allegra!phri!sysdes!greenber [phri rarely makes a guest-account user a spokesperson. Especially not me.] ------------------------------ Date: Tuesday, 11 March 1986 10:25:07 EST From: Chuck.Weinstock@a.sei.cmu.edu To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: Looking for Paradox Database Users Are there any other users of Paradox out there? This is the best database system that I've found for the PC. I'd like to talk to other users to share experiences. Chuck ------------------------------ Date: Tue Mar 11 11:53:39 1986 From: jperry@sri-unix To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib Subject: Irma Boards Query Does anyone out there have experience using Irma boards to emulate IBM terminals when connected to an IBM mainframe? Does anyone out there know what the known software/hardware problems are with this board and whether the error rates are high/low/medium? Any and all experiences/ rumors/innuendos about this product will be appreciated. I am doing research for a group which may purchase many such boards and since they are about $1200 a pop, they want to know that they are spending their money wisely. John Perry SRI International ------------------------------ Date: 11 Mar 86 14:50:00 EST From: "INFO1::ELDER" <elder%info1.decnet@wpafb-info2.ARPA> Subject: Logitech Modula-2 Compiler Review Requested To: "info-ibmpc" <info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA> Could anyone who has used the Logitech Modula-2 compiler provide a review. Is it a complete implementation of Modula-2? I heard the compiler is now selling for $89 so I am interested. Thanks in advance. Greg Elder elder@wpafb-info1 ------ ------------------------------ From: "JAMES P FERRILL" <ferrill@eglin-vax> Subject: Turbo Pascal Query To: "info-ibmpc" <info-ibmpc@usc-isib> I have been working on a program that writes output to the printer using the standard Writeln routine. In working with this program which does a good bit of screen formatting I discovered that if the printer was off-line when the Writeln(Lst,foobar) statement came along I got the familiar DOS message Printer Fault. Abort, Retry, Ignore or something similar. I then tried to use the {$I-} Writeln(Lst,foobar) {$I+}; construct but still get the DOS error message on the screen. Is there a way to turn this message off or at least catch it? It sure does mess up my screen that has been formatted for screen I/O. Any help would be appreciated. Paul Ferrill ferrill@eglin-vax.arpa ------ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10-Mar-86 19:09:13 EDT From: David Farber <farber%pcpond.pc.udel.edu@Louie.UDEL.EDU> Subject: DESQview Query To: ud-ibmpc%pcpond.pc.udel.edu@Louie.UDEL.EDU, info-ibmpc%usc-isib.arpa@louie.udel.EDU CC: lauren%rand-unix.arpa@louie.udel.EDU I have been having a ball running DEQview on my At with UULINK in the background and everything else (well almost) in the forground. Only serious pain I have seen and it may be just the sparse documentation is that when it starts up a partition it puts the path as it existed before DESQview got control but NOT the sets that were made. That is a BIG pain. Anyone know a trick. Much nicer than Double DOS ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Mar 86 19:36:40 pst From: consult%ucbopal@BERKELEY.EDU (CS Consulting) To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: HP Vectra vs IBM PC/AT Cc: arch@renoir.berkeley.edu Arch Turner <arch%renoir@Berkeley.EDU> would like an answer to the following: #1- Do you know anything about the HP Vectra as an alternative to the IBM PC AT? Someone in Mexico City called, asking the question, and in a moment of weakness I promised to call him back. Thanks, Arch Turner, CSSG Staff 467 Evans, 2-1319 arch@renoir Bill Wells consult%opal@Berkeley.EDU ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Mar 86 01:13:57 cst From: cmkuo@im4u.utexas.edu (Chin-Ming Kuo) To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Cc: cmkuo@im4u.utexas.edu Subject: Jove Query Could you tell em where can I get a complete set of JOVE running on msdos machine ? I think object code is prefered cause I don't have too many tools. Thanks . C.M. Kuo ARPA:cmkuo@im4u.utexas.edu UUCP:....!ut-sally!im4u!cmkuo Ics.cmkuo@r20.utexas.edu ------------------------------ Date: 12 Mar 86 10:29:07 +0100 From: XBR1D36K%DDATHD21.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU (D36K@BR1.THDNET) Subject: Graphics-Cursor on EGA Query To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Does anybody know any way to produce a Graphics-Cursor on the EGA? What I need is a FORTAN-callable Routine. Is there any DOS-Interrupt, to handle this purpose? Gunther Hartmann Technical Univ. Darmstadt West-Germany Bitnet: D86V@DDATHD21.BITNET ------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Mar 86 07:56:53 pst From: Gerry Key <key%tetra@nosc.ARPA> To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: AT&T 6300 Hard Disk Query Anyone have any recommendations for a 30 Mb external hard disk (< 40 ms), controller, and streaming tape combo for either an AT&T 6300 or Xerox PC? --Gerry Key key@nosc.arpa ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Mar 86 16:58:19 CST From: frank@db.wisc.edu (Dan Frank) Received: by db.wisc.edu; Wed, 12 Mar 86 16:58:19 CST To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib Subject: Installing Xenix on Compaq Query IBM Xenix has the nifty limitation that it only installs on 20 MB IBM hard disks. Does anyone know a way to install it on non-standard hard disks such as the 30 Mb. disk used in the Compaq? -- Dan Frank (frank@db.wisc.edu) -------
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(Text 160297) 86-03-24 12.20 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <210> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 12.20 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <201> -- Received: 86-03-24 19.11 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-24 12.20 Marked by somebody. Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #34 %Original date: 22 Mar 1986 15:47:47 PST. TF: DSKD:932259.MAI %FROM: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 32880 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 24 Mar 86 11:10 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 22-Mar-1986 19:05:08-est Mail-From: INFO-IBMPC created at 15-Mar-86 20:14:50 Date: 15 Mar 1986 20:14:50 PST Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #34 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA ReSent-Date: 22 Mar 1986 15:47:47 PST ReSent-From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> ReSent-To: C511%QZCOM.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Saturday, 15 March 86 Volume 5: Issue 34 This Week's Editor: Phyllis O'Neil Today's Topics: Norton SYSINFO Genius VHR Display Re: Top 25 Utilities TECO EDITOR Clearing the Screen Re: Installing Xenix on Compaq Query DOS 3.1 ASMB (Another Silly Microsoft Bug) [2 messages] MASM 4.0-- ASMB (Another Silly Micrsoft Bug) WINDOWS and Hayes 2400 interface to videodisk player More PC/BLUE Volumes Available Re: Sector Size Re: INTERRUPT HANDLERS IN TURBO Re: IRMA Boards Re: C ISPF-like Dialog Management Program Wanted Today's Queries: Textile Design Grammatik and Rightwriter Living C Wishlist / MAX (EMACS-like Public Domain Editor) & SCR PC Implementations of TeX Microsoft Fortran Turbo Pascal DMA transfers on a PC XENIX, nroff, neqn & Epson Printers Wang PC Problems WD Hard Disk Condition Code 40 Turbo Pascal Screen Clearing DOS 3.0 and Old COMPAQs IBM BASIC Compiler 2.0 Query -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: dewar@nyu-acf2.arpa Received: by nyu-acf2.arpa; Wed, 12 Mar 86 21:27:17 est To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Norton SYSINFO This information has appeared before, but undoubtedly needs repeating every now and then (and I hope editors of PC, PC Week, PC World etc. are listening). The Norton SYSINFO test is a particularly bad choice of benchmark, clearly based on insufficient familiarity with the chip family. It is heavily biased by the multiply/divide time, which is (a) easy to speed up substantially (as is done on the NEC chips and 80286 and (b) not particularly relevant for real world tests. In general SYSINFO can only be used in a valid manner to compare two implementations of the same chip. Results in other cases are likely to be misleading. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Mar 86 21:35:37 est From: dewar@nyu-acf2.arpa To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Genius VHR Display I have one of these displays and I am very pleased with it. I get 66 lines by 80 characters of very sharp text (better than the IBM Monochrome) on a pleasing blank on white presentation. I do find that the attribute 0F (high intensity) is more suitable than 07 (normal) for general use. The comment which appeared here about insufficient contrast probably results from using the 07 attribute. I have had no trouble with heat (and my AT is very full - SMD Disk controller, Atron Probe, PC Network card (a hot card itself!), tape backup card, 4Meg memory board ..) I have the windows driver and it works nicely, although the typical fonts used by Windows Write are a little small to read with comfort. I can confirm that there is a glitch which sometimes causes a transitory incorrect screen display, always cleared by any keystroke at all, and not happening enough to be annoying. I have no problems with the BIOS, although I have only rarely used IBM compatibility (25 line) mode. The only slight glitch in the BIOS is that the bell is not sounded when the BEL character is written with write TTY. All in all an excellent product. I cannot imagine putting up with a 25 line screen ever again! I do wish that more products knew about 66 lines (A Pox on IBM for not putting in a BIOS call to get the number of lines -- the only way I know to do it is to write line feeds until the screeen scrolls). The really nice thing about this display, which makes it far superior to the high res displays on many workstations such as Sun etc, is that it has a character generator for normal use (ther 750 x 1000 pixel graphics is or'ed with the character generator display for maximum flexibility). This character generator is completely compatible with the normal IBM mono interface except that more lines are present. It took me all of 15 minutes to modify the editor of my utilities package so that it properly supports 66 line mode when run on this monitor. ------------------------------ Date: Wed 12 Mar 86 22:59:38-PST From: Jackie <Burhans%ECLD@USC-ECL.ARPA> Subject: Re: Top 25 Utilities To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Some obvious ones: 1. The NORTON Utilities: best categorized as disk managers{_; my favorite and most used ones a) unerase files b) allow me to look at files in hex mode (even in EBCDIC!) c) sort my directories, d) find files on my hard disk and e) tell me the size of my files and whether I have enough room on a diskette to copy these files. 2. Sidekick--or it would be one of my favorites if it didn't interfere with my other software--maybe when they develop a standard for resident programs... 3. Sideways--prints files (especially) spreadsheets sideways on a dot-matrix printer. 4. BAC--a public domain program for copying modified files to backup diskettes. 5. ARC--for archiving files; I really like this one--it squeezes files and saves multiple files in one archive file. Great for long-term backups and saving space on diskettes which I pay for out of my own pocket. ------------------------------ Date: 13 MAR 86 09:51-N From: DOMMELEN%HWALHW5.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: TECO EDITOR Dear Ya'akov_Miles, I'm interested in your teco project, being a stucked teco-user on DEC mainframes and cursing MS for not providing a good editor. I would like to try/test etc. your preliminary version, but..... I'm not able to download the files I need. We're connected to BITNET, if you see any chance to send me e.g. the C source file, I would be most grateful. I will report bugs, problems, suggestions or fixes as soon as possible. MS-C is available. Wim van Dommelen, Computer Centre Agricultural University, Wageningen Holland. DOMMELEN@HWALHW5.BITNET I'm sending this to INFO-IBMPC after 10 tries mailing it to you directly and recieving everything back from the Mailnet-Master at MIT-MULTICS.ARPA I tried YA-AKOV_MILES, YAAKOV_MILES etc., none worked. It's the accent which is filtered out somewhere. Do you have an alternative adress ? ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Mar 86 01:25:05 PST From: dgb%DEImos.Caltech.Edu@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu Subject: Clearing the Screen To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA To the person who was concerned with clearing the screen via a scroll, to my mind that is indeed the easiest way to go. Be warned, however, that the display attributes are replicated from the bottom line all up the screen. (I can't remember if it will make vertical attribute stripes or not, or simply force the entire screen to say, the last characters attributes. You'll have to experiment and see.) I'm far away from my references at the moment, but I can't remember a good implementation independant way of determining screen size. I guess that you just have to drive a table lookup off of the video mode, which you can get from the BIOS. This isn't bombproof, but should work for most reasonably close compatables. ------------------------------ From: Herm Fischer <hermix!fischer@rand-unix.ARPA> To: frank@db.wisc.edu Subject: Re: Installing Xenix on Compaq Query Cc: info-ibmpc@isib.arpa Date: Wed Mar 12 23:46:08 1986 Dan Frank writes that ``IBM Xenix has the nifty limitatin that it only installs on 20 MB IBM hard disks.'' I, and most other Xenix users I know of, are using Xenix on different disks. Most folks are using disks between 70 and 85 MB. There was an update by IBM (5/85) to make these disks work properly. There were also instructions on the net on how to patch unupdated IBM Xenix... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Mar 86 10:03:44 est From: dewar@nyu-acf2.arpa To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: DOS 3.1 ASMB (Another Silly Microsoft Bug) (except they think this one is a feature!) The trace flag (TF) is used in some debuggers for single stepping. There are cases in DOS 3.1 (this is a new bug, DOS 3.0 worked fine), where DOS turns off the trace flag on returning from INT 21H. You certainly might suppose that preserving the control flags is the expected behaviour, but Microsoft in response to a question on this subject claims they have never promised to preserve the TF setting. Since Microsoft has also never promised to preserve the IF setting, it seems that to be safe we should perhaps do STI after every INT 21H call, because if the Kat is right, DOS 3.2 is arriving on 3/16, and who knows? ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Mar 86 09:53:40 est From: dewar@nyu-acf2.arpa To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: DOS 3.1 ASMB (Another Silly Microsoft Bug) The /E option of the linker should generate an EXE file which is logically equivalent to the uncompressed EXE file. The current version however results in AX being clobbered. AX on entry to an EXE file has a definite meaning (it indicates drive validity for the parameteres), thus it should be passed through to the uncompressed image. Given this one very obvious violation of the interface rules, there may be others, I have not bothered to investigate further (I was looking to see why /E files blew up in a particular case). Disclaimer: I certainly have **NO** connection with Microsoft, but I did write the Realia SpaceMaker program which does a similar sort of thing to the EXEPACK option (but needless to say does not have this particular ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Mar 86 09:59:12 est From: dewar@nyu-acf2.arpa To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: MASM 4.0-- ASMB (Another Silly Micrsoft Bug) MASM Version 4.0 is still pretty much of a mess semantically and has many bugs, some of which are new with this version. The Intel assembler has rediculously complicated semantics (especially with respect to GROUPS, frame/target reloc- ation etc.), and many people do not understand these semantics, as is clear from messages in this forum previously. The combination of these complex semantics plus an incomplete understanding of them reflected in the MASM implementation is plain diabolical! Well end of flame, now here is a particular bug which cost another few hours the other day: A EQU WORD PTR [BP+4] ; typical definition for variable in stack frame . . MOV AX,OFFSET A This instruction generates no error message, but the OFFSET is ignored and a move from memory (instead of a move immediate) is generated. There is no simple way around this, except some cludge like: OFFSET_A EQU 4 A EQU WORD PTR [BP+OFFSET_A] . MOV AX,OFFSET_A AARCGH! [This same bug has been mentioned here a few times before. I've personally quit using the OFFSET operator -- it's just not reliable. Instead of MOV AX,OFFSET A use LEA AX,A which so far hasn't failed me. -rag] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Mar 86 18:56:52 est From: morrell@mitre.ARPA (James Morrell) To: INFO-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: WINDOWS and Hayes 2400 Microsoft acknowledges that there is a problem with the WINDOWS TERMINAL dialing out with a HAYES 2400. They offer a fix, but they caution that it may not work and it doesn't. They suspect (as do I) that the problem is with TERMINAL.EXE software, not just Hayes 2400 setup. They said that when they can get their hands on a 2400, they will fix the problem. This should be "soon", they say. ------------------------------ Date: 13 March 86 23:05-PST From: PHMWJ%SLACVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: interface to videodisk player My thanks to everyone who provided information in response to my earlier query (about Feb. 23). It appears that enabling a PC to control a videodisk player will be easier than I thought. Apparently 'industrial strength' players all have built-in serial ports or separate controller boxes with serial ports, so I need only provide serial output from the PC. Several Pioneer players were mentioned, the model LD-6000 several times, and so were players from Sony, Hitachi, and Panasonic. The programming problem will thus reduce to figuring out the command set of the target player and providing a set of routines (callable by the program which handles the database queries) to send them out via the serial port. Anyone want to bet that videodisk player documentation is no better than computer documentation? Pat McAllister on BITNET: PHMWJ@SLACVM on ARPANET: PHMWJ%SLACVM.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 14 Mar 1986 00:49 MST From: "Frank J. Wancho" <WANCHO@SIMTEL20.ARPA> To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA, INFO-HZ100@RADC-TOPS20.ARPA Cc: INFO-CPM@AMSAA.ARPA, INFO-MICRO@BRL.ARPA Subject: More PC/BLUE Volumes Available Another batch of PC/BLUE volumes arrived yesterday and are now available in PD:<PC-BLUE.VOL176> through PD:<PC-BLUE.VOL187>, plus a new PD:<PC-BLUE.VOL000>, which includes a new PCBLUE.CAT in reverse order, all on SIMTEL20, of course. All of our so-called "public domain" collections are provided as-is and made available to the entire Internet community with access to DDN via ANONYMOUS FTP. --Frank ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 14 Mar 86 09:40 PST From: GEORGEBURKITT.ES@Xerox.COM Subject: Re: Sector Size To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA >MS-DOS determines the size of the largest sector it will have to deal >with during boot time by examing the sector sizes in use by the disk >driver in IO.SYS. For most PCs, this is 512 bytes. Unless there is something I missed, the problem of too-large sectors can be cured by re-formatting the "weird" drive. This requires the expensive version of the Diagnostics ($150); or a call to your local dealer/service man. ------------------------------ To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa, mcvax!ukc!jmh@seismo.css.gov Subject: Re: INTERRUPT HANDLERS IN TURBO (V5 #20) Date: 14 Mar 86 02:30:39 PST (Fri) From: Alastair Milne <milne@ICSE.UCI.EDU> Your message was by no means old cobblers to me. I congratulate you on the extent of your knowledge. I certainly wasn't able to find out as much. > push bp ; Save old frame pointer > mov bp,sp ; Mark start of new one > push bp ; save new frame pointer > jmp L1 ; jump around space for local > ; typed constants > L1: <start of your code> I'm afraid I don't see from your paragraph #1 how it's possible to install a Turbo routine directly as an interrupt servicer. The fact that one at least of the registers is changed before any of them are preserved is enough to prevent its being an interrupt servicer, since the code executing at the time of the interrupt would have bp and sp changed behind its back, which is easily enough to destroy its functioning completely. That, at least, is how it seems to me. Am I overlooking something? (There is actually something I can think of, but I am not convinced, and I'll keep it to myself until I am). > 2. It is only necessary to inform the 8259 of interrupts you wish > to receive *which are generated by external hardware*. I don't suppose you would know what the appropriate mask values for it are, or, more generally, where one would find a reference on programming it? > ...I believe there may be INT instructions from within > MSDOS that e.g. call screen print routines (INT 5 for IBM PCs). I'm certain of it. Try using DEBUG to follow a few of the pointers in the interrupt vector, then disassemble the routines they point to. I think you'll find they include a few INT instructions. Besides, what if hardware events occur while DOS routines are executing? This is a ghastly problem indeed. In other words, any interrupt servicer which does not create for itself a nice roomy stack elsewhere in memory may be inviting disaster if its interrupt is raised during a call to take a crack at amending the servicer's initialisation code to use Thanks a lot, Alastair Milne ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 15 Mar 86 18:27:00 est From: Mark D. Freeman <mdf@ohio-state.ARPA> Subject: Re: IRMA Boards To: info-ibmpc-request@usc-isib.arpa Before sinking money into IRMA Boards, I strongly suggest you look at CXI's products. They are reputed to be better, faster, smaller, cheaper, etc. and add features to IRMA's offerings. They sell hardware and software, and they even started selling thier software to IRMA owners, so that IRMA boards can have some of the extras CXI offers, such as supporting local printers as 327X IBM emulators, etc. One supplier I know of that sells to end users is: AK Technology (soon to be a net site, if I can get their Columbus, OH Convergent VMiniFrame running) (614) 764-0 I do have sregards to CXI products. (Teresa is their CXI expert.) Happy hunting! ------------------------------ From: <dual!gatech!akgua!opus!ki4pv!tanner@ucbvax.berkeley.edu> To: Info-IBMPC@usc-isib.arpa Date: Tue Mar 11 12:00:56 1986 Subject: Re: C In response to the question about starting new programme without retaining current programme in memory: (1) the C compiler routines generally known collectively as "exec" will do what you want in various flavours. (2) routines known as "spawn" appears to invoke dos function x4B and take a flag of 0, 1, or 2 to wait for child to finish, overlay parent ("exec") or run concurrently. Note that the option to run both concurrently is not actually implemented! spawn family names are spawnv, spawnl, &c. as in execv &c. This information is from ms-c and ms-dos manuals. The name of the "spawn" family will likely vary if you use other C compilers. The routines seem to work, retaining parent as requested. Obviously the concurrent operation flag is .RFE until there is a multi-tasking ms-dos. tanner andrews, systems compudata south, deland ...{ihnp4!hropus decvax!ucf-cs}!ki4pv!tanner ------------------------------ From: mcvax!dutesta!robvh@seismo.CSS.GOV ( ) To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: ISPF-like Dialog Management Program Wanted As an (addicted) user of ISPF (Interactive System Productivity Facility) running under IBM MVS/TSO and VM/CMS, I have grown fond of the facilities offered by the dialog management functions of this program. These functions include: - Screen handling: Menus, Selection panels, Data entry panels, - Variable handling: Conversion, Communication between panels and programs, Validity tests and error messages during data entry, Profile of variables between sessions, - Tables: A linear array of linear structures, best compared to SAS datasets, each row in a tables may be accessed individually and within each row separate variables are available, With a table display one ore more rows may be selected for processing, - File tailoring: Generation of an output file, in which variables are substituted, lines can be generated depending on a condition, and tabels may be processed with simple loop control, - Debugging: traces and brakepoints available on function call or on variable access, - Language support: Functions can be invoked from programming languages like FORTRAN, PL/1, Pascal, Assembler, and from command languages like CLIST, EXEC and REXX (comparable with shell scripts or .COM files) with similar conventions and facilities. Has anyone run across an IBM-PC version of ISPF that supports the dialog management functions? I've had a brief look at PC/SPF, but this one "only" implements the outward appearance (editor, utilities, command entry) and not the dialog interface (your own program calling ISPF functions). Even in the UNIX world I have not found a program with facilities comparable to those offered by ISPF, and I would heartily recommend that anyone designing a dialog manager would first have a look at ISPF. Rob van Hoboken Delft University of Technology dept. of Electrical Engineering Mekelweg 4, room 9.23 PO Box 5031, 2600 GA Delft Netherlands telephone: +31 15 786251 UUCP: ..!mcvax!dutesta!robvh ------------------------------ Date: Wed 12 Mar 86 22:35:33-PST From: Jackie <Burhans%ECLD@USC-ECL.ARPA> Subject: Query: Textile Design To: info-pc@USC-ISIB.ARPA cc: burhans%ECLD@USC-ECL.ARPA I am asking this for a non-networked friend: I have a friend in the textile industry who is looking for computer software/hardware combination to do textile/clothing design work. She would like to be able to design and possibly print textile patterns easily and to "freehand" draw clothing patterns (possibly using a Koala pad type interface). She is not a computer person and would like something with a friendly interface, somewhat along the lines of MacPaint--but in color. The question then: does anyone know of specialized software designed specifically for this kind of task and/or can anyone suggest possible choices of hardware and software to achieve this? Thanks in advance. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Mar 86 11:12:05 EST From: Ih@louie.udel.EDU To: lyonsn@usc-isib.ARPA, info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: Grammatik and Rightwriter Query I am interested in the C routtines for combining these two programs. I have used the Rightwriter a couple times and found it very mechanical. Where can I buy the Grammatik and how much? Thanks for your help. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Mar 86 12:40:25 est From: phunter@nswc-wo.ARPA To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Living C Query Cc: jcavall, phunter To any helful soul on the net: Can anyone direct me to a US supplier of the Living C interpreter from a British company called Living Software? Their ad in February's Byte impressed me, but the company in Florida listed in the ad either doesn't exist or dosen't handle it. Either way, the 800 number in the ad got me nowhere. I need a US supplier because I work for the government and foreign suppliers are frowned upon. As an aside, does anyone have any experience with this product and care to comment on it? For that matter, is there another product that is better as a learning tools? Thanks Paul Hunter (phunter@nswc-wo) ------------------------------ Date: Thu 13 Mar 86 11:19:59-CST From: Ivo Welch <W1.WELCH@CHIP.UChicago> Subject: Wishlist / MAX (EMACS-like Public Domain Editor) & SCR To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA I have just managed to regain access to INFO-IBMPC. So I have missed quite a number of messages. I am now trying to find two programs: - One is on top of my MSC wishlist: a good C source code debugger. Does anyone have recommendations? - The second refers to one of my recent acquisitions of a Hercules Graphics Card lookalike (which seems to work perfectly). Is there some (public-domain?) program that intercepts (IBM color card) graphics accesses and translates them into Hercules equivalents? Furthermore, I have just submitted Jens' and my Public-Domain EMACS-clone MAX (which is still faster than anything else), and a version of a SCRIBE-look-alike--both with source--for inclusion into the INFO-IBMPC library. Anyone please feel free to ... [Just got the copy of MAX/SCR. Turns out it's NOT public domain. It is copyrighted and comes with a license agreement and a request for funds -- so it is in fact freeware/shareware. "Public domain" is a legal term meaning "not copyrighted". -rag] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Mar 86 14:55 PST To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa From: Don Worth (213) 825-7408 or 825-9445 <CSMIDDW@UCLA-CCN.ARPA> Subject: PC implementations of TeX Query I'd be interested in someone who has used TeX on micros and minis comment on the trade-offs of speed. I'm currently using TeX on a Sun mini, and i like it reasonably well, but it's no jackrabbit performer in that environment either. Does anybody have experience with both environments, so they could give a relative assessment of the speed of operation? Sean Boisen, boisen!beaune@locus.ucla.edu ------------------------------ Date: Thu Mar 13 16:42:34 1986 From: jperry@sri-unix To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib Subject: Microsoft Fortran Query Does anyone know if Microsoft Fortran (most recent version) is a FULL or PARTIAL implementation of FORTRAN '77? If it is partial, I would appreciate a list of the items omitted from the full standard. A reply ASAP would be greatly appreciated. John Perry SRI International ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Mar 86 20:15:09 cet To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA From: CHADM1%UCONNVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Subject: Turbo Pascal Query Could someone tell me how to get a directory listing from a running (compiled) TURBO PASCAL program on the IBM PC? Is there an assembler routine that can be imbedded in the source code? Is there a DOS routine one can hook to? Thanks. Carl David ------------------------------ Date: 13 Mar 86 10:51:24 PST (Thursday) Subject: DMA transfers on a PC From: Wax.OsbuSouth@Xerox.COM To: Info-IBMPC-request@usc-isib.Arpa Has anyone any pointers/code that allows a program to do DMA tranfers on the PC. My main use for this is to read or write to disk while doing other computing. DOS forces you to wait for the I/O completion before returning. Allan Wax ARPA: Wax.OsbuSouth@Xerox.COM ------------------------------ Date: Thu 13 Mar 86 17:44:41-PST From: D.SMOLARSKI%SCU%PANDA@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA Subject: XENIX, nroff, neqn & Epson Printers Query To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA cc: unix-wizards@BRL.ARPA Recently some code from Tom Tkacik (Univ Virginia) appeared on net.sources along with code from Bruce Townsend to compile an NROFF/EQN table for an EPSON (compatible) printer enabling someone to utilize the math word processing capability of UNIX with a small printer. Has anyone gotten this code to work with the standard IBM (Microsoft) XENIX? If so, how? When I try, the resulting table (TABEPSON) in /usr/lib/term is unlike the Microsoft supplied tables, and is rejected at run-time by nroff. Microsoft seemingly strips the headers from the compiled modules, leaving a file which is a "data" file (when the file is checked with the Berkeley UNIX "file" command). Does anyone know of any other code available (free or commercial) which will enable someone to use the Unix/XENIX nroff/eqn/tbl math text formatting system with an Epson (compatible) printer? I been hacking and asking questions for nearly 6 months, but so far no luck. Please reply directly. Thanks in advance. Dennis Smolarski SJ Santa Clara University (D.SMOLARSKI%SCU%PANDA@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA) ------------------------------ Date: 14 MAR 86 08:40-N From: INFOEARN%HLERUL5.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Wang PC Problems Does anyone know why the WANG PC doesn't run "normal" packages like MS DOS 3.1, Turbo Pascal, Wordstar, The IBM Personal Editor (just to name a few packages I tried). I always get an error "Invalid/Unrecognized Interrupt" or the PC just freezes up. Any suggestions are welcome. Marc Chang Sing Pang BITNET: SINGPANG@HLERUL5 ARPANET: SINGPANG%HLERUL5.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA [The Wang PC never claimed to be IBM PC compatible as far as I know. -rag] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 14 Mar 86 01:28:36 est From: Glenn Jordan <ecsvax!trent%mcnc.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> Subject: WD Hard Disk Condition Code 40 Query To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Help. I recently purchased an NEC 20-meg hard disk with a Western Digital controller card for my XT clone. I set it up and formatted it using the WD lowlevel format program on the card's ROM, and then created a DOS partition with FDISK, and then Formatted it for DOS using FORMAT.... All this worked fine. I used it like this for a week, and then one evening it refused to boot from disk and went into ROM basic instead.... I proceeded to try to reformat it from the card's ROM again, but got an "error ------- condition code 40" returned. Bad system tracks or some other major disk failure, I guessed, blindly. Anyway, I got a new Hard Disk, and tried to format it last night, but the exact same error showed, and still no C: drive.... I guess the WD controller card is dead in some way, and will receive another Friday, but could someone tell me what the error #40 is trying to tell me....? This is a WX2 rom copywrite 1985, entered from C800:5 Thanks, Glenn (trent@ecsvax) ------------------------------ Date: Fri 14 Mar 1986 09:18:29 EST From: <SS@LL.ARPA> Subject: XT/370 Speedup Query To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Does anyone have any information as to if an IBM XT/370 can be run with a clock faster then 4.77MHz ( and if such a speed up would work in 8088 mode, 370 mode, or both) (In particular would the Micospeed Fast88 product described in the March 11 PC Week work?) ----- please Thanks in advance S. Scharf SS@LL ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Mar 86 15:59 MST From: Jameson@UNCA-MULTICS.MAILNET Subject: Turbo Pascal Screen Clearing Query To: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB> Does anyone know of a patch which will stop Turbo Pascal programs from clearing the screen before they run, and possibly from leaving the cursor at the bottom of the screen afterward? Many thanks. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 15 Mar 86 15:49:13 EST From: "Steven T. Kirsch" <SK@MC.LCS.MIT.EDU> Subject: DOS 3.0 and Old COMPAQs Query To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA When doing DOS copy operations or other floppy operations, the original COMPAQ portables sometimes hang (requiring a power-cycle). I have noticed this problem on all our original portables, but not on the PC or the Deskpro. Have other people had these problems? We are also running a 3COM ethernet, but we even have the problem without the ethernet software. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 15 Mar 86 20:04:34 est From: Mark D. Freeman <mdf@ohio-state.ARPA> Subject: IBM BASIC Compiler 2.0 Query To: info-ibmpc-request@usc-isib.arpa I am interested in finding out what the differences are between the first 2.0 and the patched version available through it's dealers. It seems that they fixed some things and broke others. A personal aside: I have tried mailing to Mr. Video (brown@nicmad) and never got a reply, nor any indication that the mail system didn't send properly. He has mailed to me in response to my postings, so I know we are connected somehow. If you are reading this, please drop me a line. End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------
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(Text 160540) 86-03-25 23.18 @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) Receiver: INFO-IBMPC mailing list <211> Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-25 23.18 Receiver: @USC-ISIB.ARPA: Info-IBMPC (Info-IBMPC Digest) <202> -- Received: 86-03-26 01.01 Sender: Transfer (from) MAILNET -- Sent: 86-03-25 23.18 Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #37 %Original date: 22 Mar 1986 15:47:52 PST. TF: DSKD:935989.MAI %FROM: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> %SMTP sender: @MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA File size is 46790 chars.@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA C511@QZCOM.MAILNET Return-Path: <@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA:BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> Received: from MIT-MULTICS.ARPA by QZCOM.MAILNET via SMTP; 25 Mar 86 21:19 +0100 Received: from USC-ISIB.ARPA by MIT-MULTICS.ARPA TCP; 22-Mar-1986 19:08:01-est Mail-From: INFO-IBMPC created at 21-Mar-86 16:24:14 Date: 21 Mar 1986 16:24:14 PST Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V5 #37 From: Info-IBMPC Digest <Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: Info-IBMPC_Distribution_List: ; Reply-To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA ReSent-Date: 22 Mar 1986 15:47:52 PST ReSent-From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@USC-ISIB.ARPA> ReSent-To: C511%QZCOM.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Info-IBMPC Digest Friday, 21 January 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 37 This Week's Editor: Billy Brackenridge Today's Topics: Emacs-style Editors: Epsilon Wins PROINDEX Index Program TOC/Index for WordStar Experiences with Cache Programs on the AT PC/IX Users Survey EGA and Display Write TEMPEST LAN Problem (4 Msgs) "Mobius" and "LanLink" Query IP/TCP More Corrections Regarding AK Technology MS C 3.0 Compiler Bugs Device Drivers and Windows & Running Symphony under Windows When is a Clone a Clone MASM OFFSET Bug (2 Msgs) Program List Fast Cards VDISK Source Listing Documents FAT Interrupt Handlers in Turbo (V5 #20) Today's Queries: FTP Between PC and VM/CMS (2 Msgs) WordPerfect & Epson Proprinter Emulation BSR Board DAVONG multi-function bd. Anchor Automation Volksmodem 1200 Anchor Automation Volksmodem 1200 Automated PC-->Mainframe Sessions Info on MS Mouse Driver for Xenix Changing Cluster Size Microsoft Mouse and Print Spoolers ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 21 Mar 86 17:18:30 +0200 From: enea!tut!jty@seismo.CSS.GOV (Jyrki Yli-Nokari) Subject: Emacs-style Editors: Epsilon Wins I use EPSILON from the Lugaru software regularly and I'm EXTREMELY pleased with it!! I once tried BRIEF but was unable to operate it without the manual and gave up. I've used, first Gosling-emacs and afterwards GNU-emacs extensively. Now that I have access to a pc, I do all my editing in it with epsilon. The major point is that I've never read the manual, since it is very much emacs-compatible. It has concurrent processes, multi windows and you can even have COMMAND.COM in a window (this is the REAL command line editor!!!!). It's also very fast! My version is 2.04, and they have released version 3, which is said to be a lot better. My only arguments are that the beast doesn't support non-american keyboards and you have to do an extensive keyboard remapping. Secondly, the pc-window (sidekick-like utility) doesn't work with it when editing, but is back when you exit the epsilon. Summa Summarum: It's $195 and well worth it! Check out the Lugaru's ad in the latest Dr. Dobbs Journal. The Address is: Lugaru Software Ltd. 5740 Darlington rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 (412) 421-5911 jty@tut.UUCP ! I know all about FORTH. Jyrki Yli-Nokari ! I saw a TV-program about it once Tampere University of Technology ! (I also love Carl Barks) Computer Systems Laboratory ! N 61 26' E 23 50' ! +358 31 162590, home +358 31 531999 ! Disclaimer: I don't have any personal or financial contacts with the Lugaru software except as a pleased customer. [I spoke with Todd Doucet of Lugaru this week. He informs me version 3.06?? is in beta test. This version can be configured to run such that it passes characters through to various resident "pop-up" style programs. It should be able to run with any of these style machines or Generic MS-DOS machines. The new version also allows EEL programmers direct access to the INT function. ISI also recently acquired a site license for Epsilon. -wab] ------------------------------ Date: 18 Mar 1986 17:23-EST Sender: ABN.ISCAMS@USC-ISID.ARPA Subject: PROINDEX Index Program From: ABN.ISCAMS@USC-ISID.ARPA Cc: Ghenis.pasa@XEROX.COM I just snarfed PROINDEX.DOC from the PC-BLUE volume 175 at SIMTEL20. Haven't downloaded or run the program yet, but documentation indicates it might be a good one. Basically you create a list (separate ASCII file) of the words/phrases you wish indexed. The indexer then works thru the target file and creates the index (to disk file or printer). Also an interactive mode, plus various switches you can set for case-sensitive, etc. Not like the CP/M indexer I used quite often, where you must actually enter specific control characters within the document for those segments you wish indexed. This never touches the original file. Might be worth your while to snarf the .DOC (price is right .. Freeware, but even with registration only $35 to $45). If you can't reach SIMTEL20 via ANONYMOUS FTP, yell and I'll EMail the .DOC to you. Usual disclaimers .. no financial interest (don't even know the guys). David Kirschbaum Toad Hall ABN.ISCAMS@USC-ISID.ARPA ------------------------------ Date: 19 Mar 86 07:27 EST From: Mark Williams <mlw@ncsc> Subject: TOC/Index for WordStar RE: Table of Contents and Index generators for WordStar: In the not too distant past, the WordStar Professional package for CP/M machines included a MicroPro TOC/Indexer called StarIndex. It worked fairly well as I recall, and I would expect it to be included in MS-DOS releases, too. I don't remember all the details about its operation and capabilities, but it made a suitable point of departure. Mark L. Williams Naval Coastal Systems Center ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18-Mar-86 20:05:10 EDT From: David Farber <farber%pcpond.pc.udel.edu@Louie.UDEL.EDU> Subject: Experiences with Cache Programs on the AT I have been trying various disk cachers on my AT. I am running a 9 mh unit with 3.5 mbytes. I have run Lightning and VCACHE (Golden Bow Systems San Diego). Lightning is claimed to work with the expanded memory boards (the Intel-Lotus etc) (which I don't have). It works well with normal PC 640 memory space but the cache is rather small. It does not work nor do they plan to have it work with the extended memory of the AT. VCACHE works with all three memory configurations and thus is the only one that works well for me. Both seem the same technology and VCACHE is cheaper and better (at least for ATs). Minor bug in VCACHE. It seems not to work with no ramdisk (at least for me). So I set up a 512k ramdisk and a 1.7meg cache. REAL WINNER I get 85 % cache hits on the average with what I run. Dave [Farber does it faster! -ed] ------------------------------ From: allyn@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu (Allyn Fratkin) Date: 18 March 1986 1902-PST (Tuesday) Subject: PC/IX Users Survey Does anyone out there still run PC/IX at all? I know it never really became popular, and I was just wondering how many PC/IX systems are really out there. thanks in advance. Allyn Fratkin allyn@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu UCSD EMU/Pascal Project or U.C. San Diego {ucbvax, decvax, ihnp4}!sdcsvax!allyn [Please send replies to Allyn not us. I am sure he will summarize. -ed] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1986 23:44 EST From: Mike Kramer <MMKBC%CUNYVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: EGA and Display Write To: jim moore <moore@ncsc.arpa> > From: Jim Moore <moore@ncsc> This is really frustrating. Both PC Mag and Software Digest's Ratings News- letter say that DW3 can do ON-SCREEN underlining and boldfacing. Now, IBM Tech Support says, yep, that's true, but.... The guy I spoke to is using a Mono Display and can do on-screen u-ing and says I should be able to do the same with an EGA w/64K on board. He just can't tell me how. > From extensive experience with DW3 and various monitors/display cards, here seems to be the lowdown: The default colors of Dw3 text is green on black. On a CGA with color monitor, bold text appears as bright green, and underlined text appears in the color brown. As far as I know, there is NO way to get true underline in DW3 on a color monitor. The same applies to DW3 when used with an EGA. EXCEPT for the following: When DW3 has been informed that the user is utilizing an EGA- (using the DW3USER command -- see the manual p. 23-10 and the "mode" parameter of the DW3PG command in the DW3.BAT file). then the alternate character set is loaded into the EGA which provides a wealth of technical and mathematical symbols (WYSIWYG). Unfortunately, in IBM's infinite wisdom, when you enable the alternate character set, you must sacrifice the ability to display highlighted text (the "bright color" attribute bit on the EGA and the "alternate character" attribute bit are one in the same). Therefore, DW3 bold text on an EGA is not displayed differently than the regular text. Underscored text is still brown. Bold text is not displayed differently on the EGA, but a printer that will support bold will still bold the text. It is beyond me why they couldn't at least highlight bold in a different color (e.g. yellow) when the alt char set is enabled! As an aside, DW3, an EGA and a Quietwriter or Pageprinter makes a great technical writing system! Michael Kramer (MMKBC@CUNYVM.BITNET) Brooklyn College Physics Dept. ------------------------------ Date: 19 Mar 86 11:46 EST From: JHodges @ DDN2.ARPA Subject: TEMPEST LAN Problem To: tcp-ip @ sri-nic.arpa, info-ibmpc @ usc-isib.arpa I have a problem that I'm hoping someone out there can help me with. I have a user who has a large number of TEMPESTed Zenith PCs (IBM-compatible types) who wishes to connect these PCs to a secure LAN (Fiber Optic based). He wishes also to implement the usual file-sharing capabilities and remote logins associated with LANs. The problem is that the user has been told that, if he opens the PCs to work on them, any and all maintenance agreements go out the window and (supposedly) Zenith is not willing to renegotiate a new maintenance agreement. Also opening the PCs violates the TEMPEST certification. Further complicating matters, the customer is not willing to use a third-party maintenance group. Now, having said all of that, does anybody out there know of any software which might allow the connection of the PCs to the LAN via the PC's RS232 port, and also implement/allow file sharing? Are there any other solutions which might be feasible (such as an Thanks in advance for your help! Jim Hodges ------------------------------ Date: 20 Mar 1986 16:43:57 CST Subject: TEMPEST LAN Problem From: DSDC-SDT2@GUNTER-ADAM.ARPA To: jhodges@DDN2.ARPA Being the TEMPEST Officer here I can appreciate your user's problem. If I were a vendor I would not want a user to open my Tempest box. In response to your question about alternatives, I talked to our LAN people here and they gave me some literature on a product called EasyLAN Office Network. This product claims: EasyLAN shares printers, disk drives, and infor; easy to justify - less than $100 per PC; Easy to install; easy to operate; performs in the background. PC's are connected by EasyLAN cables plugged directly into your PC's standard serial comm port. Can be used with digital PBX's as well as modems and dial-up lines. All comm operations are protected by optional passwords and disk access restrictions. Will operate on a PC with an individual copy of EasyLAN, 128K memory, a serial port, and DOS 2.0 or above. It seems to be in the cables only, no special black-box attachment. They don't say anything about fiber optics. Their address is: SERVER TECHNOLOGY, Inc. 1095 Duane, S107 Sunnyvale, CA 94086 1-800/835-1515, in Calif call 408/738-8377 This product is described in the latest MIS Weekly newspaper, which is at home. Our LAN folks are also going to get me more info on another product tomorrow, and will post it to the net as soon as I look at it. ********** STANDARD DISCLAIMER ********** Cheers.... Walt ------- ------------------------------ Date: 20 Mar 1986 22:24-EST Subject: TEMPEST LAN From: CERF@USC-ISI.ARPA To: JHodges@DDN2.ARPA Jim, shot in the dark: SYTEK makes a lot of RS-232 S-XX (product number which I forget) interfaces for its broad-band LAN. It is conceivable that they can help - but if the LAN is not SYTEK's, I dunno... Putting a Tempest CARD into a Tempest cage does NOT mean the result is TEMPEST. Why not have Zenith evaluate/inspect/test the card? Someone will have to run TEMPEST certification all over with the card installed, in any case, before you could reasonably expect approval to work in that new mode. Vint Cerf ------------------------------ Date: 20 Mar 86 12:43 EST From: JHodges @ DDN2.ARPA Subject: "Mobius" and "LanLink" Query I was wondering if anybody has had any experience in using/installing either "Mobius" or "LanLink". "Mobius" claims to enable a virtually invisible link between PCs and VAXes, and to allow the PCs to share the VAX's memory/programs/peripherals etc. "LanLink" claims to implement a LAN without any special Hardware and to achieve data rates of around 100kbps. Anybody know anything about either of these? Jim Hodges [Sounds dubious to me. -wab] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Mar 86 01:54:42 est From: romkey@BORAX.LCS.MIT.EDU (John Romkey) To: JHodges@DDN2.ARPA Cc: tcp-ip@sri-nic.arpa, info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: TEMPEST LAN problem FTP Software will be doing a SLIP (Serial Line IP) driver for its TCP/IP product, which includes the standard Darpa protocols and also the Berkeley Unix protocols. There is already a SLIP driver for 4.2 and Suns, from rick@seismo. SLIP is currently used for point-to-point links between Unix systems. Once the PC SLIP is done, you'll be able to also use it to connect a number of PC's to a VAX or Sun via serial lines and have the VAX or Sun gateway packets between the PC's and any other networks it was on. FTP Software's address is: FTP Software, Inc. PO Box 150 Kendall Square Branch Boston, MA 02142 phone (617) 868-4878. - john romkey late of MIT now of ftp software Biased? Of course I'm biased... [A 9600 baud serial line solution would be fine for remote logins, but as a remote disk server it will be too slow. Symphony takes up about 256K of disk space. Assuming no overhead for error checking or retransmission it would take about 4.5 minutes to load Symphony over a serial line. This would be an intolerable delay. -wab] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Mar 86 12:08:28 pst From: minshall%ucbopal@BERKELEY.EDU (Greg Minshall) To: tcp-ip@sri-nic.arpa Subject: IP/TCP The University of California at Berkeley issued an RFQ towards the end of last year. The RFQ asked for a combination of hardware and software which would allow: 1. PC-net programs to run on ethernet, using TCP-IP protocols. 2. FTP and TELNET. 3. Programmatic interface to the TCP-IP-link level (and UDP), for writing custom applications. 4. Assurances that the product bid would, in some unspecified time, become a commercial product. The RFQ was sent to a number of companies. The responses were evaluated, and the contract was given to Ungermann-Bass. The Ungermann-Bass product (which is NOT a commercial product at this time) puts TCP-IP on board, is NETBIOS compatible (so, the IBM PC networking software runs on top of it), comes with user FTP, and allows us to port our own 4.2 applications over (it is interesting, though not surprising given our location, that we have worked hard to try to get an interface that allows for the 4.2 networking calls to work as in the 4.2 manual. I'm not a bigot about how great they are; I just think they are a [somewhat malleable] standard). Of course, this is a new TCP implementation. That means that certain algorithms which impact the efficiency of the protocol are unlikely to be optimal this early in its life. On the other hand, the University's RFQ requested a 20KBytes/second FTP file transfer rate, and the product we are currently using out performs that (to put the requested number in perspective, unloaded Vax 750's seem capable of doing about 60 KBytes/ second, while an IBM 3081 using a DACU does barely 20 KBytes/second [though there is more to the 3081/DACU performance than just this miserable number]). The product we currently run does host name to host number translation via static tables. There has been considerable discussion within Ungermann-Bass and within the University about the "right" way to do the name lookups. Basically, the question here is whether to use an IEN116 name server or the new Domain Name Server. The final product delivered to the University will support one of these protocols. This final product should be delivered within the next few months. My hope, certainly, is that this will become a commercial product very soon. I believe this to be Ungermann-Bass's intention, too, but you'd have to talk with Ungermann-Bass marketing people about this. The University's interest in this becoming a commercial product has to do with our desire to have a good vendor support for the product. One-of-a-kinds don't have that kind of support; real live products may. My one comment on other TCP-IP packages I've noticed so far is that NETBIOS compatibility is a large, missing feature. I worry a bit that many of us say "foo" to IBM PC networking, but that many of our end users (say small, non-computer oriented departments) are going to see many of the PC networking features as being very useful. It is also true that allowing NETBIOS compatibility allows us to NOT develop the function that PC networking already provides (remote disk access, etc.). Of course, one problem in NETBIOS support is that it is hard to imagine two vendors mappings of PC Networking -> TCP/UDP/IP to be compatible. We would hope, vainly I'm sure, that there would be some meeting of the minds between the various developers on this. Greg Minshall minshall@berkeley.edu minshall@ucbcmsa.bitnet (415)642-0530 [I have been talking with a lot of network vendors recently these same issues seen to crop up again and again -wab] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Mar 86 16:09:53 est From: Mark D. Freeman <mdf@ohio-state.ARPA> Subject: More Corrections Regarding AK Technology The following is what was in the 5-35 digest: [AK Tech makes the IRMA replacement board and software for IRMA cards. -ed] Unfortunately, it is a bad edit on what I sent. CXI makes boards that are alternatives to IRMA boards, as well as making software that enables IRMA owners to have more features and higher performance without upgrading hard- ware. AK Technologies Corporation is a distributor/dealer of CXI products, not their manufacturer. Sorry that this has become so complicated. [I goofed I don't know much about these boards. -wab] ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Mar 86 14:03:17 PST From: Matthew J Weinstein <matt@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU> Subject: MS C 3.0 Compiler Bugs 1) Using strict type checking modes -W2 and -W3 can cause bad code to be generated. MS acknowledged the problem, but has no fix. They recommend using -W1 for real code generation, and -W2 or -W3 for 'lint'ing only. 2) The large model 'qsort' library has had a tendency to loop in some circumstances. MS has not acknowledged this as a problem. I believe it to be caused by bad code generation during optimization (see below). 3) -O (optimize) may generate code that fails in limited circumstances (such as some address arithmetic above $8000). I have not gotten an answer from MS about this one. - Matt ------------------------------ From: microsof!gaben@uw-beaver.arpa Message-Id: <8603192300.AA14867@uw-beaver.arpa> Subject: Device Drivers and Windows & Running Symphony under Windows Date: Wed Mar 19 10:24:16 1986 Microsoft is currently working with a large number of device manufacturers to help them write device drivers for Windows. Microsoft will rarely if ever be writing device drivers itself in the future. As device drivers are returned to Microsoft by the device manufacturer, we will put them through our QA group, and when they pass they will be distributed to our OEM and Retail product support groups. We are currently considering putting together a device drivers disk, but we have no schedule or commitments for such a disk. Barring disk space or other considerations, we will try to include all the drivers we can QA in the next retail release of Windows, for which we also have no announced release date. Contact our retail product support group if you need to have a device driver that wasn't in our retail release, and if they have it, they will send you a copy. Also device drivers are posted on the Windows RoundTable on GEnie, the new General Electric Information Services network. If you are interested in writing a device driver, send a letter describing the device and your intentions to: Gabe L. Newell Windows Program Manager Microsoft 16011 NE 36th Way Box 97017 Redmond, WA 98073-9717 Retail Product Support can be reached at (206) 882-8089. There was a query on what patch would be needed to run Symphony under Windows. Symphony will run without modification under Windows. Since Symphony modifies memory and the keyboard interrupt, Windows reduces itself to a 4K stub, and allows Symphony to be run to completion. You can do screen grabs from Symphony, but you can not switch back into Windows from Symphony until you exit, when Windows will reinstall itself. If you have any other problems running Symphony under Windows, please contact our Product Support Group at the above number. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Mar 86 9:08:18 EST From: Steven Segletes <steven@BRL-TBD.ARPA> Subject: When is a Clone a Clone Some recent talk on the net about Wang PCs raises questions in my mind about clone compatibility. Am I to believe that most (if not all) clone ROMs do not have INT 10H compatibility? Does anyone know which ROMs do or do not have such compatibility? Steven Segletes <steven@brl.arpa> U.S. Army Ballistic Research Laboratory Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005-5066 [A PC without INT 10H compatibility is not a clone. It might be a "MS-DOS" compatible machine, but not a PC clone. -wab] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Mar 86 19:07:46 est From: dewar@nyu-acf2.arpa To: GILLMANN@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: MASM OFFSET Bug But you certainly agree that if you have: a equ [bp+4] lea bx,a You will not get a 4 in bx, which is what I wanted! I didn't want the effective address of a, which in any case OFFSET could not even be expected to provide. Here is the issue with groups: ; suppose G is a group composed of S1,S2,S3 assume ds:G ; assume variable v is in S2 mov ax,offset V ; gives offset relative to start of S2 mov ax,offset (G:V) ; gives offset relative to start of G mov ax,offset (S1:V) ; gives offset relative to S1 (may fail in LINK) lea ax,V ;gives offset relative to start of G (because of ASSUME) Usually what you want is the offset relative to the start of the group G, hence your comment that LEA generally works. On the other hand, you might think that mov ax,offset V was not working if you got something else, but this would be unfair to Microsof