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 115mb 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, (813) 796-5627
at 1200 or 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.
It's now official, the new DataCOM PCBoard(tm) node went online
on August 31, 1986. This new system is for IBM-PC or clone users
only as all online software is IBM-related. The system accepts
1200 or 2400 baud at logon and displays online color and graphics
to other IBM or compat machines with CGA card and color monitors.
If you have only a monochrome system, then answer "N"o at the
first prompt for color graphics.
This new system becomes DataCOM's third remote node and adds
another 32mb to our online data storage. With the multi-user
system and the new IBM system added together we now offer our
callers over a 100 megabytes of online files!! TBKUG/DataCOM
members have access to all three systems for one low annual fee
of $35.00.
According to Telenet, PC Pursuit service will be available for
the Tampa/St Petersburg/Clearwater areacode (813) by early fall
and is one of their next projects. Telenet is also installing
2400 baud modems in all the present 14 outdial areacodes and will
be doing the same to any new areas being added. The new 2400
baud service will be provided at no extra cost and will be
available in most areas very soon.
We are offering a 20-minute demo access on the new PCBoard to
non-members who complete an online registration. You will have
enough time to see what the board looks like and you can download
the DATACOM.INF, MEMBER.APP, and MASTER.ARC files. The
MASTER.ARC file is a daily-updated listing of all online files on
the PCBoard system, it presently lists about 18mb of files!
DataCOM PCBoard -- (813) 796-5627 1200/2400
-={ Kaypro II/IV 256k RAM Mod Update }=-
by Dr. Michael W D Liddle
Ron Rock had problems with my 83 Kaypro II/IV 256K upgrade. I
hope the following will help him and others. I also hope that
those of you who didn't spot my two typing mistakes will be
generous and forgive me.
Ron found that after installing the mod while still using 64K
chips that small programs worked but large ones didn't. This
suggested to me that different parts of RAM were being addressed
simultaneously. I had this at one stage whilst debugging my
prototype although from a different cause.
NOW FOR THE CAUSE AND CURE :- My circuit as published has PIO 1
and A14b coming from U3 labelled the wrong way around. I accept
full responsibility for this mistake it slipped past all my
checks. Pins 10 and 11 of U3 (the 74LS153) should connect to
A14B (Kaypro U33 pin 11) and Pin 12 of U3 goes to the PIO as PIO
1 (PAD E29).
My error results in A14 not reaching the memory and thus the
first 16K overlaps the second 16K whilst the third 16K overlaps
the fourth 16K. Thus any program bigger than 16K overwrites
itself and dies. This would explain Ron Rocks problem.
If you get this far you will find another problem. The REFRESH
for RA8 won't work until you earth PIN 2 of the 74LS393 (U1).
Anybody adding 256K to their machine please let me know how you
get on with it (especially Mr Rock and his son to who I owe
special thanks for bringing this problem to my attention). Do
tell me of any other problems and any solutions you find to them.
P.S. The transposition of A14 and A15 (U33 pins 10 and 11) was
something else I hadn't noticed. I took the lid of my machine
and find that Micro-C have it right. I apologise to anyone who
had problems using the circuit in the file that appeared on
various BB's shortly before Micro-C published the official
version. This particular bug would only show up once you had
256K up and running.
P.P.S. The Micro-C version is correct in earthing pin 2 of the
74LS158 although my system does work fine without this it may
make a difference to others.
P.P.P.S. Since submitting the design to Micro-C I have altered
the PIO connections. Both work with the 63K CBIOS I recently
made available however the ZCPR3 BIOS needs the newer PIO
arrangement. For those who want an exact duplicate of my system
the following is straight from my (working) motherboard to you:
PIO 1 = PAD 29. PIO 2 = PAD 31. PIO 3 = PAD 28.
This is the corrected schematic for the KAY256.LBR 256K ram
modification for '83 series KayPro computers, Models II and IV.
TABLE I
Signal on Chip on
Board Kaypro II/IV
REFRESH U48 pin 12
MUX U33 pin 1
A14 U33 pin 11
A15 U33 pin 10
RA7 U20 pin 9
RA8 U20 pin 1
PIO 1 Pad E29
PIO 2 Pad E28
PIO 3 Pad E31
The following message was copied from the Lillipute Z-Node, and
deserves wider circulation. I ordered the BASCOM/M80/L80 package
from J&D Associates below and was astounded that I received the
full package complete with documentation in slip-case binder --
and for only $29.95 plus shipping and handling. An incredible
deal! -- Terry Carroll
R.I.P. Osborne Computer Corporation. (new and old) But you can
pick the bones for fun and profit! The following companies have
bought the software inventory at auction:
J&D Associates, 546 Green Lane, Union, New Jersey 07208
BASCOM (MicroSoft BASIC compiler w/ M80, L80) $29.95
FORTRAN ..................................... $24.95
PRESTO ...................................... $39.95
Public Domain Software Company (P.D.S.C), Suite L3, 33 Gold ST.
New York, NY 10038 (212) 732-2565
For $17.00 each:
Documate plus (index and table of contents)
Deadline (murder game)
ZORK-1 (adventure game)
Starcross (Galaxy game)
Footnote (footnotes for WordStar docs)
Math (adds calculator to WordStar docs)
For $28.00 each:
StartPAC (audio cassette tutorial for CP/M, BASIC, SuperCalc,
and WordStar )
SuperCalc 1
MBASIC
FORTH ver 2.0
MicroLink
DBase 2 tutorial
Osborne 1 Diagnostic tester
Disk Doctor (disk repair utility)
Milestone (project manager)
Mailman (mailing list database program)
Spellguard (spelling checker)
FORTRAN
BASCOM (MicroSoft BASIC compiler, no manual)
For $39.00 each:
BSTAM (file transfer program)
SuperSort
Personal Datebook
WordPAC (writers program package. Includes :
Grammatick, Spellguard, Documate plus, Footnote)
DataStar (database program)
Real Estate Manager
SuperCalc (ver. 1 may run on other systems)
MicroSoft BASIC
For $95.00 each:
Osborne 1 bundled pack (including MBASIC, WordStar, SuperCalc,
and manual)
Personal Pearl (menu driven database program)
For $175.00 each:
DBase2 with ZIP
Osborne Executive bundled software (includes CBASIC, MBASIC, CP/M
3.0, WordStar, SuperCalc, and Personal Pearl)
Most of the Osborne software will run on any CP/M compatible
system. SuperCalc version 1.12 and later is memory mapped and
will not run on other computers. The FORTRAN may be MicroSoft
FORTRAN, which also would include M80 and L80, the MicroSoft
macro assembler and linker programs.
Call the above numbers for more information. The prices are right
if you can read or transfer from Osborne format disks.
-={ ZCPR3 Shells - What Are They? }=-
by Steve Cohen
Msg #3858 posted 08/17/86 by JOHN LIN
To: ALL USERS About: What are Shells? (6 lines)
It did not occur to me last night as I was reading the latest
issue of Z-NEWS as to what shells really were. The Conn manual
gives a treatment to shells, but assumes you have seen them in
use already. Does anyone with greater background in operating
systems have a defintion of shells and what they can be used for
practically?
Msg #3859 posted 08/17/86 by Steve Cohen
To: JOHN LIN About: What are Shells? (56 lines)
[Reply to msg #3858]
Good question, John, and one that is not so easy to answer.
A shell in Zcpr3 anyway is a program which when loaded into
memory, "installs" itself in such a way that it "pre-empts" the
user interface of the operating system (The CCP) and substitutes
its own interface. Whenever the Multi-Command Buffer is empty,
you would normally be put back into the CCP. Instead, with a
shell you are put into its special and hopefully more convenient
(for certain purposes anyway) interface. Thus if you want to do
a lot of file management, coying, deletion, etc., VFILER is a
much more convenient place to be than the ZCPR3 prompt. In fact,
VFILER has been so expanded with so many options it is for me
almost always a more convenient place to be such that VFILER is
practically my operating system.
VCED is another shell (HSH is quite similar in function). It
is virtually identical to the straight CCP except that it
"remembers" in an accessible file commands previously entered,
yet another kind of function that can be done with a shell. MENU
and VMENU allow the user to enter a number of possibly complex
multiple commands at a single key-stroke by a substitution
mechanism (VFILER also has this capability). Yet another shell
is my own W.COM which allows wildcard capability to be given to
some commands that do not normally accept them. It, unlike most
other shells, does this without further user input once the
initial command is typed. It creates a new command line
incorporating the name of an unambiguous file name in place of
the wildcard typed in by the user, doing so sequentially through
a list ofall matching files.
Soon you will probably see a text editor that is a shell. An
ideal use for this would be with assemblers or compilers. The
compiler command line would be generated from the editor and
control would be returned to the editor after the compilation
something like the way Turbo-Pascal works now. The advantage of
the shell set-up is much greater flexibility. One of my gripes
with Turbo is you can't go TURBO MYPROG.PAS and immediately start
editing that file. You will also have access to the full Z-
SYSTEM commands including aliases, ARUNZ, CMDRUN and all that
other neat stuff you don't get from TURBO.COM's internal mini-
CCP. (Yes that's what it is.)
So you see there is no limit to the variety of uses for
shells. What they hold in common is:
1> the ability to generate new command lines (either manually or
automatically or by some sort of simplifying substitution scheme)
and pass them to the CCP for execution.
2> the fact that control is returned to the shell after the
command has been executed rather than to the raw CCP and,
3> which I haven't mentioned but must quite obviously be the
case, that every shell has a way of exiting such that control is
then passes back to the command processor.
There is one major disadvantage of shells. They must be
loaded into memory from disk each time they are re-invoked. Thus
hardware speed is critical for shell performance, so much so that
VCED and HSH are virtually useless on floppy-based systems and
only really come into their own on Ramdisk-based systems. To
some extent this is also the case with VFILER, VMENU and MENU.
But with fast hardware, shells greatly increase performance with
only a small penalty in speed.
Thanks for asking the question. You stimulated me to expound
on something I understand but have never tried explaining to
anyone else.
-={ WHATSNEW in Public Domain }=-
All files listed here are readily available for download from The
DataCOM Super Systems' remote nodes.
[CP/M]
RCPM0986.LQT The Sept-Oct 1986 remote CP/M systems listing.
This list is updated every month - please use the latest copy to
avoid placing modem calls to numbers no longer in service.
LX12.LBR This version of LX (Execute file from a library)
determines if the COM file to be executed is a ZCPR3 utility. If
it is, it auto-installs it (sets the address of the environemment
descriptor) so you don't need to install with Z3INS.
PHONER.CMD This is a DbaseII phone-dialing routine, tested under
Dbase 2.41 on a Kaypro II (old
II w/ upgrade). It's a handy
demonstration of the Dbase Poke routine, commented so users can
adabpt the program to their needs.
SPLTFST2.LBR is a trick little program that "splits" large files
into smaller files by number of lines. I like it, I can split a
large file into small enough chunks to use KP-EDIT or VDO.
FINDF25.LBR Latest version of FINDFast, a ZCPR3-only file
finding utility. Let's you choose a single drive to search...
ex: ff b:*.mqg to search drive B: for any MQG ext files.
DD12.LBR is a ZCPR3-specific directory program with all sorts of
commandline options and toggles.
NEWRITKP is a new formatter for TOUR20 (PD outline processor)
files. Real Turabian outlines with nice indentation. Runs on
KP, source (Pascal) included. Buggy, but produces nice output.
VIDLOG20.LBR is set of dBASE command files to provide an easy
method of maintaining a simple catalog of your video tapes. The
only requirements for this program is that you own dBASE II, and
that you can type. Two members had been damaged in the
originally named VIDEOLOG.LBR and are replaced in this library.
[IBM-DOS]
PKX32A11.COM is a self-unpacking archive that contains Phil
Katz's newest ARChive utilities: PKARC11 is a very fast utility
to create, add, or freshen an existing archive. PKXARC32 is a
very fast archive extractor utility. The doc files are also
included in this self-unpacking archive.
ARCA122 is the latest (fast) archive create, add, or freshen
utility from Vern Buerg and Wayne Chin.
ARCE206 is also from Buerg/Chin and is a super fast archive
extractor utility.
NOTE: All of these new ARC utilities are MUCH faster than the
ARC512.EXE utility from S.E.A. and are completely compatible in
format. The users are benefitting from a minor update "war"
currently going on between Phil Katz and Buerg/Chin to see who
will create the fastest ARC utilities.
PCBBS28D.LQT The Sept 1986 remote PC (IBM) systems listing.
LIST60H.ARC is the latest version of Vern Buerg's excellent ASCII
file listing utility. This program just keeping better with each
new release. You can list files one at a time or use wildcards,
send the output to screen or printer or both. LIST now has a
split-screen mode where you can freeze part of one file on the
top window and list another on the bottom window. LIST will even
display binary files! I would recommend this utility very highly
to anyone with a DOS machine!
CT515 is an excellent personal/small business finance manager,
you can keep track of up to TEN checking accounts, likewise for
investment/savings accounts.
SHOW is a Dir utility that displays the filenames, sizes, and
also the cluster(s) used by the files.
DPROT102.ARC allows you to set your hard disk drive to read only
status while testing newly downloaded (and unknown) programs.
CHAIN, OWNER, & MARKC are three nice utilities for finding out
what file uses what cluster(s) on the actual disk. MARKC is used
to mark or unmark "bad" disk clusters.
JAXHST3A.ARC is a remote mini-host for IBM-PCs or compatibles.
It allows access to the DOS commandline and uses the XFER150
program for XMODEM/YMODEM protocol transfers. This is a nice
system for those who wish to access their computer remotely
without the hassle of setting up a "full blown" remote system.
QMODEM22.ARC Latest version (as of 9/1/86) of QMODEM. This is a
super modem program for any IBM-PC or compatible with internal or
external Hayes-type smartmodem. Supports all popular file xfer
protocols and has moveable pop-up help and xfer display windows.
EZFRMC24.ARC is EZ-FORMS ver c.24. This is a form generator that
makes any form that you may need. It comes with several forms
that you can use or adapt for your needs. Documentation is
thorough and included.
ALTPAGE.ARC Print on both sides of paper. Do one side and then
flip it over, calculates internally for multiple page printouts.
GALXY12C.ARC is a Wordstar clone with multiple-file editing,
multi-windows, word-wrap, print formatting, pop-up help menus.
All of GALAXY's functions are faster than Wordstar and it's
screen appearance is very pleasant and easy to work with. Five
stars for this editor!
DISKVR41.ARC Diskover v 4.1. Prints an insert for disk jacket
which lists all files and explodes ARC and LBR files. It uses
the compressed printing mode of most dot-matrix printers, has
built-in config for Epson FX/RX/MX, IBM graphic, IBM Pro, HP
Laser Jet, Okidata 192/193/Plug-n-Play, Toshiba P321, AT&T
473/478/479, & C ITOH 8510/1550 printers - plus you can enter
your own sequences for any printer not listed. This new version
now has a preview function for viewing the output before printing
if desired. I'd be lost without this fine utility!
-={ Until Next Month ... }=-
That does it for another month folks, check out the DataCOM Super
Systems, we just added a new 85mb drive. Lots of new files
online now and room for many more.
Remember, the PCBoard(tm) node (another 31mb of files) is now
online! It's here, it's ready - please use it!
Cheers !!!
