EI Z-NEWS 809 14 March 1988
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Standards. We have spoken of user interface consistency being important to
reduce harshness and promote tool transparency. Many have asked what is our
standard. Not suprisingly, Echelon promotes, with varing degrees of success,
ZS (Z-System) log-on banner and built-in "//" help system as aspects, VFILER
and VMENU general appearances are others, of our standards.
<utility name>, Version x.n [brief description of utility's function]
Syntax:
<example command line> <[/][options]>
Options:
<list of option letters and their function>
By convention, text between brackets, "[" and "]", is optional.
Here are some existing examples, all acceptable, but none exactly follow-
ing the standard except for PATH:
ERASE Version 5.1 (loaded at 8000h)
Syntax:
ERASE dir:filename.typ,dir:fn.ft,... [/]o...
Options:
I -- Inspect Mode (Give user approval option)
R -- Erase R/O Files without prompting user
S -- Include SYS Files
SHCTRL Version 1.0
SHCTRL - Control Shell Stack
Syntax:
SHCTRL C or SHCTRL CLR - Clear Shell Stack
SHCTRL D or SHCTRL DIS - Display Shell Stack
SHCTRL P or SHCTRL POP - Pop Shell Stack
DIR, Version 1.4
Syntax: DIR dir:afn o
Options: A=All, S=Sys, H=Horiz, V=Vert, P=Print, T=File Type/Name Sort
PATH, Version 3.1
Syntax:
PATH <-- Display Path
PATH expr <-- Set Path
ERASE, here a Type 3 utility loaded at and running from address 8000h, comes
close to meeting standard. It needs the comma following its name and separat-
ing word Version (fully spelled out; in print we usually use "<nane> vx.n"
instead of full word) but correctly has multi-space indent to Syntax and
Options. Additionally, there is little or no need to have two hyphens for a
dash, one would do, spacing option letter and its description. PATH uses
arrows to explain command-line syntax variations. In most cases only first
line of "//" help shown above is used as a program log-on banner.
Another kind of consistency to promote, watch for during coding is how
the tool displays its collected data. And, what do several tools look like
when displayed one after another as in a multiple command alias at cold boot
(hardware reset) time? Below, two displays show some seen from one of our
STARTUP aliases used during boot.
PATH, Version 3.1
Symbolic Form: A15: --> A0: --> A15:
DU Form: A15: --> A0: --> A15:
DIR Form: ROOT: --> BASE: --> ROOT:
PUBLIC, Version 1.0
Public User Drive(s): A:
Public User Area(s): 6:
DIR Form: Drive A: PRIVATE:
The user sees a certain grace, at least that is the way we see it, in how the
single-space indents are handled at the left margins...very pleasing to our
stressed-out eyes.
We present these standards to those who modify and enhance our Z-System
utilities, both Z-Team members and the community at large. Please study the
standards and do your best to adhere to them. You will have the whole commu-
nity thanking you. We understand there are cases in which the standards don't
really apply, like for those programs not using the "//" built-in help techni-
que. VMENU and ZFILER are good examples, because of their unusually broad set
of functions. Thanks for hearing us out...
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Software Update Service. "Using EASE, you can step backward through your
commands or search for a specific command, no matter how long ago it was
typed. You can then edit it and re-execute it." Error and Shell Editor,
needs ZCPR v3.3 but functions as full-screen editing error and command history
shell, replaces Z33VERR (or any other error handler) and HSH or VCED. (LBR
includes Z33LIB in case you wish to re-assemble and link EASE.) Error handler
works from ZFILER internal command line but command history shell does not
(hint to Paul and Jay). Always load EASE before loading other shells on your
system. EASE E<cr> installs only error handler; EASE S<cr>, only command
history shell; and, EASE<cr>, both. EASE, the best we have seen in a combi-
national tool--full editing of command lines and any errors that have resulted
plus command recall from "way-back." Our thanks to Paul Pomerleau and Jay
Sage for such a Z-System masterpiece.
LAP (Loader and Path), written by Bob Andersson, Gloucester, England, is
a neat way to configure your system after a cold boot. Paul Pomerleau's
Library Loader, LLDR, quickly loads group of system segments from a library--
really works fast in a STARTUP alias. Our cup runs over, how do we choose
between using LAP and LLDR?
LX18 is Howard Goldstein and Bruce Morgen's latest handiwork updating
Rick Conn's Library eXecute to full Z33 compatibility. MCOPY47B, by very
active Bruce Morgen of Z-Sig and NAOG, brings utility into modern world.
Bruce, next PRINT III v2.0?
Michal Carson fixes a few little bugs in super VLU102 library management
utility. Michal is upgrading VLU with delete and krunch functions, likely
ready in early Spring.
John T. Brown has been super busy creating polished ZFILER user-macros
and WordStar v4.0 printer driver utilities, ZFILRCMD.LBR and WS4PRNDV.LBR.
Here we have multiple-command aliases and lines carried to upper echelons of
usefulness, automation. Much energy went into designing and documenting these
36 or so routines. Give a look--we can all learn something.
Z33TRC11.LBR contains ZSDOS-(co)developer (Z-News 807-1) Cameron
Cotrill's RCP extension loading under the CCP instead of in buffer space in
high BIOS memory. Called Transient RCP, works much like Backgrounder ii and
CP/M v3.0 RSX programs.
Z3LOC v1.5 contains Joe Wright's handiwork, expands the information shown
by this Z3 system location utility. (Z3LOC complements SHOW v1.2 for telling
about OS characteristics.) See Z-User's Corner below for what Z3LOC can do.
We applaud quality of these utilities and thank each of you for your
contribution at making them great. Keep up the good work!
Z-Node Doings. Lots of call-ins, message exchanges, up and downloads. A
thought...do you use VLU<cr> to see inside libraries to view members? At 2400
bps action is good (even for we who use 38,400 baud terminals on a regular
basis), but a little too slow at 1200, and not at all useful or acceptable
(especially to sysops) at 300 baud. How times change! Many of us remember
(you around, Irv Hoff?) using hardcopy 45-baud Teletype and thought that was
fast information transfer.
James DeMauro, Plainview, NY 1803, Pro-Gram RAS, takes over Z-Node #59,
516/932-7674, ready to install ham radio packet capability.
Welcome to Robert Cooper, Sysop for new Z-Node #81, 805/942-5669,
Lancaster, CA 93535, Coop's RAS, with H89/90 and CDR SuperRam. Robert, like
James, is readying for packet radio.
Up-to-date Z-Node roster (along with Good-Neighbor Helper roster) is to
be published on 4 April, both hardcopy and uploaded to Z-Nodes.
From The Mail Box. Gerald McMullon, Cambridge, England, regrading philo-
sophy, lets us know he is "less interested in nationalism than humanity." He
also sent along over a megabyte of public domain programs from the UK.
Thanks, Gerald, for PDS programs. And, we try in the future to view things
more from a whole-world point-of-view. Mental images aroused by language we
usually use is quite different from country to country. Prime movers are not
necessarily similar because of dis-similar cultural upbringings. But, we
still express opinions, take sides, we are seldom in the middle...
From Elmhurst, IL, James Ott passes along a fix for VID7.Z80 of VLIB v1.1
for Wyse terminals used in 132-column mode. James we will use your code when
we upgrade The Libraries. Thanks!
Russell Greene, London, England, writes for information on using ZCPR
v2.0 with ZRDOS v1.7 and ZCPR v3.3 utilities. Our advice is to bite-the-
bullet and install ZCPR v3.3. It's likely less work to go that way than to
modify v2.0 for a System Environment Descriptor, needed by the utilities and
ZRDOS's PUBLIC directory feature. We don't support ZCPR v2.0 anymore--it was
dropped about five years ago in favor of the more powerful ZCPR v3.0.
From downunder, Aubrey Keightley, Albany, W.A., Australia, sends a VFILER
CMD file using all 60 available characters for user macro commands. We like
"3" command
3!get 100 %$ ;go 'Source/data file ' 'Options '
best. Easy to convert to equivalent ZFILER syntax. Why is macro so useful?
You tell us!
Yes, Dorothy, Kansas City, we soon distribute Bridger Mitchell's new
JetLDR, linker/loader replacing LDR and LLDR; loads conventional ZS segments
plus nine types of REL and special ZRL relocatable files.
Z-User's Corner. As promised, here's what Z3LOC v1.5 shows when entering
command Z3LOC Z<cr>:
Z3LOC, Version 1.5
System Elements Base Addresses
---------------- ---------------
CCP BC00h (ZCPR 3.3) (16 recs)
BDOS C406h (ZRDOS 1.9) (28 recs)
BIOS D200h (Z80/NSC800)
Version 1.5 shows if 8080/8085, Z80/NSC800 or HD64180/Z180 cpu runs, if new Z-
Com, lowest RSX and if DateStamper, name of IOP loaded, and type of terminal
defined in Environmental Descriptor. Display above is for 52-megabyte Ampro
Bookshelf Z80 computer, running what we call "full-up" Z-System. Notice
features beyond what v1.1 and 1.2 showed. Version 1.5 begins support for
dynamic Z-Com v2.0 environments and their implications.
You have seen term RSX used lately, here and in other places in the
community. Well, yes, it comes from DRI's CP/M v3.0 (aka CP/M Plus) legacy.
Resident System eXtensions are simply programs that Terminate and Stay
Resident (TSR) in local RAM, i.e., a Memory Resident Package (MRP), generic
term EI promotes for add-function filters/processors that locate themselves
either under existing CCP or above DOS to extend OS, either CCP or DOS,
functionality. However...
An RSX doesn't permit overwriting the OS's CCP memory space (2k-bytes, 16
records) by an application program. An RSX loads (places) itself just under
the base of the CCP, taking as much memory space downward, i.e., from CCP base
to a lower address, as it needs to do its job. But system memory economy is
greatest by strategically, dynamically using RCP and above-BDOS buffers,
adjusting their size and functionality as required to get your job done.
Under Z-Com v2.0 this is easy: RCP, FCP, NDR, IOP, and custom buffer space is
adjusted to accomplish task functions. As task requirements change, segments
change--now that's dynamic!
With so many tools at hand, we in 1988 think more about TASKs than
APPLICATIONs. When creating a menu, what with fast disk-memory, ZEX, and
ALIAS.CMDs calling aliases controlled by ARUNZ, it's no longer enter
"wordprocessor" but "create business letter," "create short letter to friend,"
"connect to Z-Node Central." In each case, much more occurs than just enter-
ing WordStar, LZED and Term3.
Hardware/Software Beat. RAM disks are important to Z80 computes and auto-
mated-TASK execution speed. (It's much quicker to access solid-state rather
than rotating magnetic media in those multiple command aliases.) If you have
an Ampro Z80 Little Board or Bookshelf, have you upgraded to Terry Hazen's
MDISK (n/SYSTEMS, Z-News 806-2,3)? Now's the time to do it what with all the
dynamic things happening in our community. By the way, Ampro Computers has
moved to greatly expanded facilities at 1130 Mountain View/Alviso Road,
Sunnyvale, CA 94089, 408/734-2800. If you haven't contacted them lately now
may be the time to do it.
EMEX 2400 bit-per-second (bps) modem comes through our testing with fly-
ing colors (Z-News 807-3). As good as the best, a super value! If you are
still using a 1200 bps communications machine and wish to double your speed,
get your 2400 unit from Bruce Morgen at NAOG--support those who support you!
While on the subject of modems, "baud" terminology dies slowly. Original
meaning was applied to slow-speed electro-mechanical signaling devices. Now
term is usually applied incorrectly to multi-level high-speed electronic
modems. A modern 2400-bps modem uses "Phase Shift Keying" as the subcarrier
modulation technique and 600 baud signaling, four levels at each binary
condition; 1200-bps, two levels. A different modulation technique, "Frequency
Shift Keying," is used with 300 baud modems--here 300 baud equals 300 bps--
with only one level for ones and zeroes. When stating speed of modems you
can't go wrong if you use bits per second, bps, to indicate transfer date
rate.
And by the way, if you use Term3, get file TI24-23.Z80 for use with 2400
bps modems, on Z-Nodes. Original TI (Telephone Interface) was only for 1200-
and-below modems.
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Of Angels and Eagles. You know, from our perspective high in these 10,000-
foot mountains, it seems we are always getting close to a final solution to
our problems using computers as productivity tools. It is so seductive
amongst this clear and clean air--air angels and eagles breathe--to think
these machines are going to solve our problems; they do move problems further
into/down the horizon so we are less conscious of what reality is. Seems we
are very asleep even when we are fully awake...
You know, if the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to find things
to bang on, put nails into. If we don't understand how what we use works, how
can we understand the product produced by the thing. How can we further
understand ourselves if we don't dig into the subject. How can we so coverup
the inner workings of our computers that we are unable to write aliases that
automate our TASKs, much less write code to change the OS or its utilities.
We come to believe the impossible is possible when it comes to solving
our problems. Solutions are not along directions of conventional wisdom.
Getting more money makes us more comfortable physically, gives us more toys
that occupy more of our time, but does having money equate to happiness or
fulfillment? We see no evidence that supports money and fun exclusively going
together. Remember Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and
evolution of people'
s problems: First, how to get food to eat? Next, why do
we need to eat? Then, where do we have lunch today? Survival then inquiry
followed by sophistication. Remember Socrates' protagonists the Greek
Sophists? If so, you know to where sophistication leads.
"Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."
Everybody knows that something is eternal, must be! It's not Earth or
even Sun or Stars...when they are gone, we are left with, well...see you down
the lines...
Echelon, Inc. P.O. Box 705001-800 South Lake Tahoe, CA 95705 USA
Telephone: 916/577-1105 Telex: 4931646 Z-Node Central (RAS): 408/432-0821
Z-News 809 is Copyright MCMLXXXVIII Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Permission to reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source
credit is given to Echelon.
