The monthly news magazine of the Tampa Bay Kaypro User's
Group and the DataCOM Super Systems(tm)
=================================================================
News and reviews of programs, hardware, and peripherals for users
of microcomputers with CP/M, MP/M, MS-DOS, PC-DOS, or TurboDOS
operating systems.
=================================================================
The DataCOM Super Systems(tm) is a "state of the art" multi-user
remote database with 40mb of files online. An annual fee of
$35.00 is required for access, an application may be downloaded
by calling (813) 791-1454 at 300/1200/2400 baud or send a SASE
along with your request to:
TBKUG / DataCOM Super Systems(tm)
2643 Cedar View Court
Clearwater, FL 33519
-==( DISCLAIMER )==-
Articles and reviews of microcomputers, hardware, software, and
other peripherals reflect currently advertised prices as released
by the distributors and are included here for YOUR INFORMATION
ONLY. The TBKUG/DataCOM Super Systems(tm) is NOT being paid
to advertise these products and we cannot be held
accountable for the actual retail price and/or performance
of said products.
{This is the second in a three-part series of articles aimed at
the new owner of an IBM-PC or clone. This month we look at some
of DOS' hidden features and some super FREEWARE programs.}
-={ DOS Tip of the Month }=-
This is simple fix that will really speed things up especially if
you have a fixed (hard) drive. DOS allows you to allocate buffer
space for the handling of diskfile I/O and all you need do is add
a line to your CONFIG.SYS file as follows:
BUFFERS = 20
I would also recommend that you add the following line as well.
FILES = 20
Users with floppy-based systems will probably not notice any
great improvements but it sure makes a big difference with a hard
disk drive installed.
-={ Change Your Prompt }=-
How would like a fancier looking DOS prompt? It's real easy to
change the information displayed on your system prompt. Instead
of a plain looking "A>" prompt you can have one that looks like
this:
[12:27 Mon 3-03] C:\WORDPRO>
You can experiment with the command prompt by using the DOS
command "PROMPT", the above is created with:
PROMPT [$T$H$H$H$H$H$H $D$H$H$H$H$H] $P$G
$T by itself displays the entire time string "00:00:00.0"
$D by itself displays the entire date string "Mon 3-03-1986"
The $H characters indicate how many data positions to display
from the string.
You can add this line to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file and your prompt
will come up in any fashion you desire each time the system is
booted.
The addition of the current sub-dir on the prompt can really save
you a lot of time instead of doing DIRs to see what directory you
are logged into.
Note: You must use the MD (make dir) command and name a sub-dir
before it can be displayed on the prompt with the "$P" parameter.
-={ CED To The Rescue }=-
Ever wish that you could just type "ERA filename" under DOS 2.x
instead of having to enter ERASE all the time? Or let's say you
let someone operate your PC to play games and you don't want them
erasing or changing filenames, how do you turn off the built-in
commands?
If this was CP/M we were talking about I'd say you needed to
install ZCPR3 -- but this is DOS! Cheer up sportsfans, the
answer to most all of your problems can be had by using a nifty
little program called CED. CED stands for Command EDitor and
that's just what it lets you do plus a whole bunch of other
really neat little tricks. CED is a blending of two other great
DOS utilities, DOSEDIT and RE-CALL, and takes their best and adds
a few new features of its own.
CED will actually remember every command entered from the
keyboard and keeps these in a "stack" in memory for later re-call
and subsequent editing before use. The commands may be recalled
by pressing the UP arrow key or DOWN arrow key to go through the
stack either backwards or forwards. Each command is displayed
right on the DOS prompt line and you may use the cursor keys to
move through the commandline for editing or just simply hit the
ENTER key to re-use the command. CED only remembers commands
with three or more characters so repetitive commands like "D" for
directory or "A:" are not added to the stack.
CED also allows you to add the convenience of synonym commands
which any good ZCPR3 user knows as an alias. An alias or synonym
is usually a simple command for a very complex or repetitive
operation. It may also be used to shorten or abreviate DOS's own
internal command names. As I mentioned at the beginning of this
article it would be nice to say ERA instead of ERASE all the
time. No problem, just enter the following command:
CED SYN ERA ERASE
Your PC will now erase a file with entry of either "ERA filename"
or "ERASE filename" now. And when the kids are playing games and
you want to turn off erase altogether, just enter:
CED IGNORE ERASE
CED IGNORE DEL
CED actually scans every commandline entered from the keyboard
and looks for synonyms or commands that should be ignored or
handles them accordingly.
Installation of CED is done at startup time by adding a simple
line to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file like so: CED <-f ced.cfg>
You can also load CED definitions with the addition of the
optional <-f filename> parameter or just "CED" by itself installs
CED for later programming from the keyboard or another .BAT file.
CED increases resident DOS size by about 16k and it's 5 internal
buffers may also be changed to different sizes but only at
initial startup.
This should have been more than enough to wet your appetite so
I'll just say that CED is available online in the NEWDOS file
area and can be found in a file called CED10D.LBR, yes, it's
public domain! And it has more features than just the few
mentioned here.
-=={ Add a Virtual Drive }==-
RAMDISK.SYS is a DOS 2.x device driver which is configured and
loaded at startup time with other DOS drivers listed in the
CONFIG.SYS file. DOS always looks for CONFIG.SYS at boot-up even
before it starts executing commands from AUTOEXEC.BAT. If you're
not using a CONFIG.SYS file now it is easily created by any text
editor or even the COPY command. It is just like a .BAT file and
contains instructions that are passed to DOS to allow the
installation of special devices.
The RAMDISK.LBR contains the driver RAMDISK.SYS which is placed
on your boot disk in drive A, then add the following line to your
CONFIG.SYS file:
DEVICE=RAMDISK.SYS <size>
The <size> parameter can be whatever amount of memory you have or
wish to allocate to the virtual drive. I have a 640k clone so I
use 150k for my new drive C by giving the command:
DEVICE=RAMDISK.SYS 150
You have never seen Wordstar run so fast as it does when you copy
Wordstar and it's overlay files to the ram drive. And you can
copy any other frequently used utilities to drive C and then set
the path to check for them on C:\ This virtual drive will also
save your floppy drives from a lot of unecessary wear and tear
with constant drive acesses.
PC-DOS 3.1 users get a Ramdisk driver with their operating system
utilities, it's called VDISK.SYS and must be configured for your
particular parameters and then used just like RAMDISK.SYS.
-={ BACKSCRL Utility }=-
The library BACKSCRL.LBR contains a handy DOS extension for
remembering previous CRT screens. You can take a snapshot of the
current screen and re-call it anytime you want, then restore the
original screen again. BACKSCRL can be set to buffer 1 to 28
pages depending on how much memory you want to allocate to it's
use. Do a DIR once and save your disk drive, want to see it
again, simple, just activate BACKSCRL and view it.
-=={ Where's My Overlays ?? }==-
GLOBAL is another DOS 2.x goodie that allows you to set file(s)
"common" to any directory you desire. There are a lot of
specific commands necessary to use GLOBAL and I'm not going to
describe them here, the DOC file does a much better job anyway.
Suffice it to say that if you have a fixed (hard) disk or use a
Ramdisk (virtual) drive that you should be using GLOBAL. You
just create a WORDPRO directory for example, then set Wordstar
and it's overlays comman to that directory and away you go!
Note: GLOBAL does not work under PC-DOS 3.x and I've had to go
to a commercial alternative called SmartPath(tm) which does the
same extra path searching for overlays.
-=={ Prevent CRT Burn-In }==-
BURNOUT.LBR has a DOS device called BURNDEV.SYS which is also
loaded via the CONFIG.SYS file at startup. This one will darken
your CRT display after 8 to 10 minutes of no keyboard activity.
You just tap any key and your screen is instantly restored and
ready to go again.
For those of you who have their computers in a semi-public area
and wish to add password protection as well as CRT burn-in
protection, check out the D.LBR files. D.EXE when executed will
black out the CRT until any key is pressed, it then responds
with:
ACF82004 ACF2, ENTER PASSWORD-
and waits for the correct password to be entered or justs blacks
out the screen again if an iccorect password is entered. After
entry of the proper password, the screen is once again restored
with all the data as it was before typed "D". The characters
preceding the "ENTER PASSWORD-" prompt are meant to mystify the
curious according to the author and simulate some mainframe
terminal ID sequence or some such nonsense. The internal
password is easily changed (if you know the current password) and
this program provides "simple" protection unless the mischievous
hacker has brought along his own boot disk.
-={ PCWINDOW }=-
Want a SideKick-type program but don't want to spend any money?
The PCWNDW22.LBR has a memory-resident program with the following
features: Time/date display with stopwatch timer, ASCII character
table, Note pad, and Printer Set-Up utility.
All of these are displayed in pop-up windows just like
SideKick's. Press ALT-0 and a main menu appears in the upper
righthand corner of the screen, press ALT-0 again and it
dissapears again.
{End of Part 2, next month we look at hardware goodies.}
-={ TBKUG ZCPR3 User Disks }=-
The TBKUG has the entire phase 1 and 2 release files for Richard
Conn's Z-80 Console Processor Replacement version 3.00 and the
source code for all utilities and SYSLIB libraries.
We offer the following diskettes for support of ZCPR3:
Files For All ZCPR3 Users:
TBKUG.029 All of the utilities from phase 1 release in ready
to install (with Z3INS.COM) form.
TBKUG.030 Utilities HeLP files
TBKUG.040 Utilities HeLP files
TBKUG.062 ZCPR3 User Guide and new (phase 2) utilities
TBKUG.065 ZCPR3 real-time clock utilities, Kaypro clocks,
Z-Time I, or DC Hayes Chronograph
Specific Kaypro Model Disks:
TBKUG.063 ZCPR3 for Kaypro 4'84 (also 2'84 models)
TBKUG.044 ZCPR3 for Kaypro 10 (2.2, 2.2D, 2.2F, 2.2G)
TBKUG.061 ZCPR3 + BIOSMMR for the Kaypro 10 (adds 1.5mb to
the hard disk storage capacity.)
TBKUG.087 ZCPR3 for early Kaypro II or 4 ('83 models)
TBKUG.088 ZCPR3 for Kaypro 10 plus Advent's TurboROM
ZCPR3 Source Code (MAC, M80, and L80 plus SYSLIB (3.0), VLIB, and
Z3LIB req'd for assembly):
TBKUG.031 ZCPR3 Install Source disk 1
TBKUG.032 ZCPR3 Install Source disk 2
TBKUG.033 Utilities Source code
TBKUG.034 Utilities Source code
TBKUG.035 Utilities Source code
TBKUG.036 SYSLIB HeLP files
NOTE: All disks except 061 and 063 are Kaypro SS-DD (191k)
format - readable by any model Kaypro. All TBKUG User Disk
Volumes are priced at $10/ea ($12/ea foreign) and include the
diskette, mailer, and postage. Disks are shipped First Class US
Mail within 24-48 hours of receipt of personal check or money
order - NO C.O.D. orders are accepted.
We also have a growing number of IBM/DOS User Disk volumes as
well. You can obtain a copy of our catalogs by sending a disk
with a re-usable mailer and return postage. Please specify disk
format as Kaypro SS-DD or DS-DD or PC-DOS DS-DD. We can also
supply these disks in most any 5-1/4" soft-sector format, but
inquire first. Be sure to include the return postage or you'll
get a nasty note from me, I spend enough money now as it is at
the local Post Office.
-={ NEW CP/M FILES }=-
PROLINK.LBR is Ron Fowler's (of MEX fame) fancy linkage editor
for .REL files. This was previously a NightOwl proprietary
program but Ron has now graciously donated it to the public
domain for all to use. PROLINK works great in conjunction with
output files from ZASM, a macro-assembler also in the public
domain. Put these two fine programs together and you have a
system as good as the commercial M80/L80 package from MicroSoft.
NULUFIX.ASM A fix has been found for NULU v1.5. Like all good
fixes, however, it causes its own share of problems and can only
stand as a temporary fix until I can get version 1.6 out. The
problem was BDOS function 37, which NULU15 uses before writing to
a drive in case it has been changed. Under certain
circumstances, BDOS loses its mind when this function is called
and starts giving away previously allocated disk blocks. This is
no good for anyone. The "solution" lies in NOT USING BDOS 37.
The problem now is that you cannot tell NULU to log in a new
disk. Oh well, try to live with it until I get the new one out
that will support the fix. {text extracted from NULUFIX.ASM}
I/OCAPKP.LBR will allow you to capture console output and send it
to a diskfile for later editing and/or viewing. This version has
been tested on my Kaypro 10 with TurboROM, ZCPR3, and half the
kitchen sink running in memory and it still works! You just run
the program to install it in memory and everything printed on the
screen is saved to a diskfile. Run the program again and it
turns it off.
USQFST18.LBR This is the fastest CP/M file unsqueezer I've ever
used. Compared to Dave Rand's USQ120 written in machine language
it's about 2 to 3 times faster! Many improvements have appeared
in this program since it's release and it keeps getting better.
SB-180 owners will want to look at CONFIG12.LBR and FVC22.LBR.
The CONFIG12 files allow you to re-configure your system in
memory or on disk. The original CONFIG has some problems and is
outlined in the CONFIG.BUG file also online. FVC22 is an
improved disk format/verify/copy program. All SB-180 related
files can now be found in their own file area called SB180.
RESQ14.LBR is th
e latest ram-text restoring program for Wordstar
users. If you ever get a diskfull error while trying to save an
edited file, press the reset button, insert a disk with RESQ.COM
on it and simply enter "RESQ". RESQ will ask for a string to
search for and then hunts thru the ram buffer until it's located,
then backs up to the start of the buffer and saves it to the end
of the text area. You end up with a file called RES.Q which
contains the "lost" text, or at least 14-16k of it anyway.
DIR1ST30.LBR is a unique type of directory program, it lists the
filenames and sizes in 'k' as usual, but it also can be told to
display the first <nn> lines of ASCII printable files.
-={ MexPlus for CP/M }=-
The DataCOM Super Systems(tm) was chosen as one of the primary
download sites for Ron Fowler's new MexPlus v1.6 modem
communications program for CP/M systems. If you have enjoyed the
public domain version of MEX114 and would like to have an even
more sophisticated program then you want MexPlus. MexPlus
features full support of real-time clocks which adds a bunch of
new STAT and WAIT variables for timing purposes. Or how about
the MexPack with either the REMOTE option or the Terminal
Emulator option, or both.
Current pricing for MexPlus downloads is as follows:
Basic MexPlus package including Wordstar formatted manual and
complete menu-driven installation program is $59.95
MexPlus with REO or TEM options $89.95
MexPlus with both REO and TEM options $99.90
REO is the remote control package for MexPlus, you can call in
from another computer and have full remote control of MexPlus.
This access can be secured by using the password option so don't
fear the zit-faced Twits.
The TEM or Terminal Emulator can easily configure your computer
to look and act like quite a few others. VT-52/100 is used by
many mainframe computers and there are many more like ADM3A,
TV920/950, Hazletine 1500, and so on.
See the file called MEXPLUS.NQW on the remote systems for full
details of all of MexPlus' features, there just isn't enough room
here to do it justice. Suffice it to say that if you were
impressed with the pd version of MEX, just wait until you try
MexPlus!
How to Download MexPlus
You must pay in advance by check or money order made payable to
TBKUG in the amount shown above for the desired package. Special
arrangements will be made in advance and the MexPlus files will
be made available to you to download via modem.
Credit card orders and persons wishing to buy the IBM-PC version
of MEX-PC must contact NightOwl Software direct at:
1-800-NITEOWL
The PC version comes only with a nice printed manual in a vinyl
binder and is not available on diskfile so it precludes its
download-ability sorry.
-={ NEC RCP/M Has a WATTS Number }=-
{text captured during an online session}
The Starlet RCP/M, 1-800-632-7227, 300 or 1200 baud, sponsored by
NEC Home Electonics, 700 Nicholas Boulevard, Elk Grove Village,
Il. 60007.
The board is intended for use by our customers and those who are
interested in NEC Home Electronics Computers and Software. This
is currently an open board, meaning, passwords are not pre-
assigned... a caller makes one up upon logging in for the first
time, and continues to use it thereafter. The CP/M up/down
loading section is not restricted, so even first time callers may
use it. The Christensen 128 byte packet protocol is currently in
use for up/downloads, so a caller wishing to upload must have a
MODEM7, MEX, or compatible program in order to up/download.
Beginners are welcome and are encouraged to read and re-read the
many help explanations that are available on this board, and to
generally play around to get the feel of things. Some good books
on Public Domain Bulletin Boards are available, which are highly
helpful in learning about this and other systems like it. The
main intent of this Remote Bulletin Board System is to aid in the
answering of inquiries about the NEC computer product line as it
relates to Software. So, PLEASE only leave messages for help
about GETTING AROUND ON THIS BOARD if you have already tried
everything you can possibly think of, after reading every Help
message available, and every attempt has failed.
Please, only call once every 24 hours. The system is set up to
automatically disconnect after 2 minutes of inactivity (like if
you don't type anything in for 2 minutes.... bye-bye!) It also
is set to allow only one hours' use per call. Please don't abuse
this privilege. This board is an experiment in common courtesy,
so let "you should know better than that" be your guide.
One of the key benefits of this information base is, we believe,
that all users are encouraged to contribute data to it which
might be of use to fellow users. If you feel that you have data
which you would like to include in the information base, please
upload it as an ASCII file with a short heading explaining that
you wish to contribute to the base. Also, please include a
sentence or two on the contents of your data file, so that we may
better organize the information.
P.S. People who cause disgrace to RBBS systems are NOT WELCOME,
and are violating the law just as much as any other obscene phone
call perpetrator.
signed: SYSOP - November 4, 1985 17:00 CST
{Editor's note: I only wish we (the TBKUG) had the funds
available for an incoming WATTS line, what a joy to call LD and
not get charged for it! My hat's off to NEC - good show!!}
-={ N.A.O.G. Becomes NAOG/ZSIG }=-
Now that the membership of the North American One-Eighty Group is
solidly into triple figures, an important fact has emerged:
people who don't own SB180s (or any other HD64180-based system)
are a big part ( a near-majority!) of NAOG. Furthermore, there
is no independent national or international users group
dedicated to advanced CP/M-compatible computing. Most existing
groups, SIG/M, CPMUG, FOG, KUG, CP-MIG, etc., have vast
memberships and software libraries, but have failed to do what
needs to be done to assure the survival and growth of 8-bit
computing: get behind the new operating system standard, ZCPR3,
and the many possible performance enhancements and user benefits
it affords.
Echelon, Inc. has done a thoroughly admirable job of promoting
and supporting ZCPR3 (and the fine-but-optional ZRDOS), but it is
apparent that no software company can provide the support on the
individual user level that a united user community can give.
Moreover, Echelon's major efforts, for economic reasons, must now
focus on landing OEM agreements if they are to survive and
prosper - we want them to do just that. Frank Gaude', Rick
Conn, Dennis Wright and Dave McCord are exceptionally energetic,
innovative people, but they are not supermen. It is not fair to
expect the impossible from them. Yet, many do expect just exactly
that, and complain that most of the fine (and not-so-fine) new
programs coming out of the user community are not being reviewed
for inclusion into the official Z tool set.
We propose an alternative place for ZCPR3 innovators to take
their wares and for advanced users to share their discoveries.
Effective immediately, N.A.O.G. is now NAOG/ZSIG - ZSIG for ZCPR
Systems Interest Group. We have not forgotten the SB180 owner
and the HD64180 enthusiast - THE ONE-EIGHTY FILE will provide the
support and exchange of ideas that NAOGers have already come to
expect. We believe that advanced software deserves the best
available hardware - and, for now, that is the 64180. We have
simply remembered everyone else. We believe a solid Z80 machine
running ZCPR3 is better than an IBM clone for most purposes. We
don't want to see all that sound hardware junked - and
programming expertise wasted - in a rush toward IBM-compatible
mediocrity. We support a viable alternate path to computer-aided
human productivity and creativity.
NAOG/ZSIG And Echelon
We will build a Public Domain library of alternative tools and
true ZCPR3 applications written by users. We do this in the same
spirit as a previous era's CP/M users expanded on what Digital
Research provided, creating - as Rick Conn acknowledges in source
code comments - the basis for much of the ZCPR3 system. We
receive the ZCPR3 system with gratitude. We propose to use its
amazing flexibilty in new and innovative ways for the benefit of
all.
NAOG/ZSIG - Who We Are
The core group of NAOG/ZSIG consists of:
Jay Sage - Software Librarian
Richard Jacobson - Remote Access Systems (RAS) Coordinator
Bruce Morgen - Director and ONE-EIGHTY FILE editor
Jay Sage will take on the task (with whomever he recruits to help
him) of reviewing new software and organizing it into ZSIG
libraries.
Richard Jacobson's beautifully maintained Lillipute Z-Nodes will
be the official software collection and distribution points as
well as the NAOG/ZSIG maildrop - he will also see that other
sysops, Z-Noders or not, are kept up to date.
Joining Up
Membership is open to all. Send $15 U.S. ($25 payable on a U.S.
bank if you are beyond the reach of a 22 cent stamp) and the
NAOG/ZSIG Membership Application form below (let us know if you
want to be accessible to other NAOG/ZSIGers, please!) to:
NAOG/ZSIG
P.O. Box 2871 Phone: 215-443-9031
Warminster, PA 18974 (Voice - data by appt.)
Library disk distribution will commence as soon as 180K or so
(source and object) are accumulated. To accommodate the greatest
number of users, the Ampro, Kaypro and Osborne SSDD 5.25 inch
disk formats will be supported, with others to follow if demand
warrants. Unlike NAOG userdisks(tm), the ZSIG libraries will be
available to non-members for a small additional charge: NAOG/ZSIG
members get them for $12 postpaid, non-members pay $18 ($18 and
$25 are charged for overseas destinations). Members get 12
monthly ONE-EIGHTY FILEs and access to the NAOG/ZSIG directories
of the Lillipute Z-Nodes. Full Lillipute Z-Node access is
offered at $35/year, representing a $5 discount, to NAOG/ZSIGers.
If you want to drop us E-Mail you can call Lillipute Z-Node at
312-649-1730 or 312-664-1730 (300/1200/2400 baud) and leave a
message for SYSOP, Jay Sage, or Bruce Morgen (note spelling). Jay
can be reached directly via his own Z-Node #3 at 617-765-7259
(300/1200/2400 baud) and Bruce Morgen's GEnie address is
BRUCEMORGEN.
-={ FINIS }=-
Well, that wraps up another month of news and reviews. Lots more
good stuff coming next month, until then... adios.
