The SIG/M Report - November 1980
                           edited by
                  Bruce Ratoff and Bill Chin

SIG/͠ ha� no� bee� i� ful� operatio� fo� th� pas� tw� month� an� �
thing� ar� reall� startin� t� happen�� A�  So� announce� i� thi�  �
colum� las� month�� ou� firs� thre� softwar� volumes�� containin� �
sourc� an� objec� o� tw� souped-u� Adventur� games�� ar� no� �
available��� Sinc� tha� announcement��� w� hav� collecte� a� �
additiona� fou� volume� o� software�� whic� wil� b� availabl� fo� �
th� firs� tim� a� th� Novembe� meetin� o�  SIG/͠  (a�  th� �
808X/Z80,CP/M,N*,TRS-8�� users�� meeting�� a� UCTɠ  o� Friday� �
Novembe� 7�  Th� ne� volume� are:

           SIG/M004 - miscellaneous CP/M utilities
           SIG/M005 - 8080/8085 diagnostics package
           SIG/M006 - 6502 monitor and simulator (on Z80!)
           SIG/M007 - modem and BBS utilities

Anothe� dis� o� game� ha� bee� starte� bu� doe� no� ye� contai� �
sufficien� materia� fo� release�� Expecte� futur� volume� includ� �
mor� CP/� utilities� an� � se� o� cross-developmen� tool� fo� th� �
TI990� processor�� Thes� an� al� futur� volume� wil� b� announce� �
i� thi� column� an� o� ou� participatin� BBS'� (se� below).

W� ar� o� cours� alway� seekin� softwar� contribution� i� al� �
area� o� interest�� Remembe� tha� th� "quickie� tha� yo�� thre� �
togethe� t� solv� som� mino� proble� ma� b� � lifesave� fo� �
anothe� user� n� matte� ho� trivia� yo� ma� conside� it.

Fo�  thos� wh� hav� no� ye� hear� abou� SIG/M�� it� purpos� i� t� �
promot� th� exchang� o�  program� an�  informatio� on/abou� CP/� �
an� relate� systems�� I� i� ou� goa� t� provid� thi� exchang� i� �
a�  ope� an�  non-commercia�  a�  environmen�  a�  possible�  �
Beside� providin� softwar� exchange��  w� woul� lik� t�  serv� a� �
� foru� fo� sharin� ideas/comment�  o� CP/͠  relate� topics�   �
Thi� i� you�  organization�� an� ca� onl� succee� wit� everyone'� �
participation��  SIG/�  wa�  jointl� founde� b� CP/͠  proponent�  �
i� ACGN�  an�  th�  Ne�  Yor�  Amateu�  Compute�  Clu� (NYACC).

WHERE TO FIND US

Ther�  ar�  man� way� t� contact/locat�  SIG/� fo�  informatio� �
o� t� exchang� software�   W�  ca� alway�  b� foun� a� th� "firs� �
Friday�� ACGNʠ users�� grou� meetin� a� UCTɠ o� th� "secon� �
Tuesday�� NYACà users�� grou� meetin� a� Compute� Emporiu� (i� �
NYC)�� Yo��  ma�� als� contac� on� o� th� fou�  coordinator� �
directly�  W� are:

                 Bruce Ratoff   Iselin,NJ      201-283-2724
                 Bill Chin      Clifton,NJ     201-778-5140
                 Marty Nichols  Dover,NJ       201-361-7180
                 Henry Kee      Flushing,NY    212-539-3202
Written  correspondence and diskettes may be mailed to: �
                             SIG/M
                          P.O. Box 97
                       Iselin, NJ  08830

I� yo� hav� � mode� a� you� disposal��  yo� ma� wis� t�  contac�  �
u� and/o� obtai� program�  b�  callin� Bruc� Ratoff'� Remot� �
Iseli� Bulleti� Boar�  Syste� (RIBBS)��   I� additio� t� norma� �
BBӠ functions��  i� i�  possibl�  t� g� int� CP/� an� sen�  o�  �
receiv� program�  usin� th� War� Christense� MODE� program� Plan�  �
ar�  currentl� underway��  althoug�  no�  ye� implemented��  t� �
suppor� Appl� CP/� an� TRS-8� CP/� o� thi� system�   T� reac� th� �
system�� dia� Bruce'� numbe� (liste� above)��  le� i� rin� once�  �
han�  u� an�  cal� bac� withi� 4� seconds��   Th� syste� wil� �
answe�  th�  secon� call��   � numbe� o�  othe�  BB� owner�  an�  �
potentia� BB�  owner�  hav�  expresse� interes�  i�  providin� �
th� sam� servic�  o�  thei� systems��  Thei� number� wil� b� �
publishe� i� futur� columns�     W�    ar�   especiall�   lookin�   �
fo� participant�  i� othe� region� (bot� i� an� ou�  o� th�  �
NY/N�  area)�   Contac�  u�  i�  yo�  wis�  t� participate.

LOCAL COORDINATORS

W�  ar� lookin� fo� peopl� t� coordinat� loca� distributio�  o�  �
th�  SIG/͠  softwar�  collection��  Thi� i� i� lin� wit� ou� �
genera� polic� o�  keepin� bot�  use� cost� an� clu� cost� t� �  �
minimum�   I� yo�  ar�  th� 808� o� CP/� coordinato� o�  �  loca� �
club��  o�  wis� t� ac� a� th� "droppin� of�  point�� fo�  th�  �
othe�  CP/� user� i�  you�  area�  pleas� contac� us�   Th� poin� �
o� al� thi� i� t�  minimiz� th�  numbe� o� dis� copie� tha� w� �
hav� t� produce� whil� providin� th� wides� possibl� distributio� �
o栠 th堠   softwar�   collection���     Club�   an䠠   are� �
coordinator� ma�� obtai� copie� o� th� SIG/͠ volume� fo� � �
donatio� o� $� pe� diskette�� plu� $� t� cove� mailin�   costs�    �
Thes�   diskette�  ar�  t�   b� redistribute� locall� o� � non-�
profi� basis��  Fund� collecte�  b� th� loca� coordinato� shoul� �
g�  bac� int� th� suppor� o� th� loca� clu� o�  group��   Al� �
commercia�   us�  o�  thes�  diskette�  an�   thei� content� i� �
expressl� forbidden.

PROGRAM SUBMITTAL

Al�  programs/file�  fo�  submitta�  t�  SIG/͠ shoul䠠  b�  �
provide�  o�  8�  single-densit�  sof� sectore�  "standar� CP/M� �
format�  alon�  wit�  ou� standar�  submitta�  form�   �  cop� o�  �
thi�  for� appear� o� eac� SIG/� volum� a� th� fil� SIG/M.LIB� I�  �
i�  als�  reproduce�  i�  thi�  issu�  o�   th� newsletter�   �
Contribution�  an� form� ma�� als�  b� sen� vi� mode� t� � �
participatin� BBS�� bu� � signe� cop� o� th� submitta� for� mus� �
b� receive�  befor� th� progra� ca� b� distributed��   Thi� �
protect� al� o�  u�  fro�  copyrigh�  problems��  an�  assure�  � �
consisten�  metho�  o�  progra�  documentatio�  an� cataloging.

UPCOMING RELEASES
�Th�  NYACà S-10�� users� grou� ha� publishe�  � director��  o� �
public-domai� software�   I� contain� th�  catalog� an� abstract� �
fro� al� curren�  CPMU� an� SIG/� releases��  Th� director�� i� �
availabl� fo� $� (subjec� t� change� fro� NYACC.

Digita�   Researc�  ha�  release�  th�   firs� versio�  o�  �
CP/NET��  thei�  distributed-processin� system��  Thi� releas� �
allow� u� t� 1� modifie� CP/� system� t� shar� disk� an� printer� �
residin� o�  a� MP/� system��  Eac� dis� driv� ma�� b� eithe� �
locall�� supporte� o� mappe� int� th� networ� (controlle� b�� th� �
MP/͠ system)��  Th� communicatio� metho� i� lef� u� t� th� �
installer�� makin� thi� � ver� genera� an� powerfu�  too� fo� �
application� requirin� to�  muc� "crunch�  pe�  termina� t� b� �
serve� wit� �  singl� processor��   Th� cos� i� $200��  an� th� �
licens�  i� linke� t� � singl� MP/� syste� license.

� ne� versio� o� MP/� i� schedule� fo� releas� befor� th� en� o� �
th� year�   Th� mai�  enhancemen� wil�  b�  th� inclusio� o� fil� �
interlock�  betwee� users�  makin�  multi-termina�  fil�  update�  �
muc� easie�  t� implement��   Thi� versio� o�  MP/�  wil� als�  �
suppor�  th� nex� releas�  o�  CP/NET��  whic� allow�  th�  �
inclusio� o� slav� processor� tha�  d� no�  contai�  an�� loca� �
dis�  storage�   �  furthe� updat�  o�  MP/�  an�  CP/NET�  whic�  �
allow�  MP/� system�  t�  functio�  a�  slave�  t�  othe�   MP/� �
systems� i� expecte� a� th� beginnin� o� nex� year.

Question�  abou�  th� much-delaye� releas�  o� CP/M-8�  wer�  me� �
wit� � repl� tha� i�  shoul�  b� release�  "an�  wee�  now"�   I�  �
wil�  consis�  o� 8086/8088-residen�  version�  o� al�  th�  �
standar� CP/͠  programs��  plu�  � cross-assemble� tha�  wil� �
allo��  th� installe� t� us� a� existin� 8-bi�  CP/͠ syste� t� �
brin� u� th� 16-bi� system.

CP/M TIP-OF-THE-MONTH

Thi�  "department�� wil� hopefull� appea� o�  � regula� basis�   �
It� purpos� i� t� provid�  answer� t�  commo� technica� question� �
abou� CP/� an� MP/M��  Pleas� sen� you� questions� idea� an� tip� �
t� Bruc� fo� inclusio� i� thi� column.



               The SIG/M Report - December 1980
                        by Bruce Ratoff

Th� SIG/� softwar� librar� seem� t� hav� draw� grea�  interes� �
fro� CP/� user� bot� i� an� ou�  o� ou� geographica� area��   Th� �
Novembe� SIG/� meetin� a�  UCT� sa� lon� line� o� ACGNʠ member� �
waitin� t� cop� th� availabl� diskettes��   Man� thank� t� Jef� �
Kashinsky���  whos堠  syste� go� � rea� workou�  doin� th�   �
copying��    �  numbe�  o�  individual�   hav� volunteere�  thei� �
assistanc� i�  distributin�  th� library�   Thei� name� an� phon� �
number� (som� BBS�� som�  voice� appea� below�   I� i� hope� tha�  �
thi� interes�  wil� continue��  fo� � grou� suc� a� SIG/͠ need� �
broa� suppor� i� orde� t� succeed. �
On�   regrettabl�  misha�  ha�   occurre�   i� compilin� th� �
librar�� disks���   Diskett� numbe� 4�� � collectio� o� CP/� �
utilities��  wa� defectiv� a� th� tim� o� th� users�� grou� �
meeting��   Henr� Kee��  wh� compile�  thi� diskette��  seem� t� �
hav�  discovere� (th�  har� way�� a� incompatibilit�� betwee�  �
Digita� Researc� PIР an� Cromemc� CDOS��  Th� en� resul� wa� �
severa�  ba�  files��   Th� diskett�  ha�  bee�  recreate�  an�  �
verified��  an� wil� b� availabl�  fo� copyin� a� th� nex� users� �
grou� meeting��  Thos� o� yo�  wh�  receive�  th� defectiv�  �
copie�  wil�  o� cours� receiv� � ne� on� a� n� charge.

SIG/M LOCAL COORDINATORS

Th�  followin�  peopl� an� organization�  hav� offere�   thei�  �
assistanc�  i�  distributin�   th� library:

    Kevin O'Connell                        609-461-4351
         Distribution for southern New Jersey
    Ray Glueck                             201-227-5361
         Conversion/distribution on Micropolis format.
    Dave Hardy - Technical CBBS            313-846-6127
         Distribution via modem in Dearborn, MI
    Howard Moulton - SJBBS              (R)617-388-5125
         Distribution via modem in Amesbury, MA
    Keith Petersen - Remote CP/M        (R)313-588-7054
         Distribution via modem in Royal Oak, MI
    Kelley Smith - MP/M-Net                805-527-9321
         Distribution via modem in Simi Valley, CA
    Bruce Ratoff - Remote CP/M          (R)201-283-2724
         Distribution via modem in Iselin, NJ

Not�  tha�  th� (R� symbo� indicate�  �  mode� syste�  tha� �
require� "rin� back"��   Thes�  system� ar� accesse� b�� dialin� �
th� liste� number��  lettin� th� phon� rin� exactl� once� hangin� �
u� an� dialin� agai� withi� � tim� limi� (usuall� 4�� seconds)�  �
I� yo�  ha� previousl� offere� you� hel� an� you� nam� doe� no� �
appea� above�  le� m� kno� an� i� wil�  b� liste� nex� month.

W� ar� o� cours� alway� lookin� fo� mor� help� I� yo�  operat�  � �
dial-u�  syste�  wit�  softwar� exchang�   capability��   o�  yo�  �
ca�   assis�   i� distributin� th� librar� t� som� grou� o� user� �
no� ye� represented�  pleas� contac� u� b� phon� o� vi� lette� t� �
ou� pos� offic� box:

                           SIG/M
                        P.O. Box 97
                    Iselin, NJ   08830

SIG/M CHAIRPERSONS

    Bruce Ratoff        Iselin, NJ         201-283-2724
    Bill Chin           Clifton, NJ        201-778-5140
    Marty Nichols       Dover, NJ          201-361-7180
    Henry Kee           Flushing, NY       212-539-3202 �
    CURRENT SIG/M VOLUMES
         SIG/M001       Standard ADVENTURE object code.
         SIG/M002       Standard ADVENTURE source code.
         SIG/M003       Super ADVENTURE object code.
         SIG/M004       Assembler-language utilities.
         SIG/M005       8080/8085 diagnostics package.
         SIG/M006       6502 monitor and simulator.
         SIG/M007       modem and BBS utilities.

Thes�  diskette� ar� availabl� fo� �  donatio� o�  $�  each��  a� �
th� users� grou� meeting�  o�  b� writin� t� SIG/� a� th� addres� �
give� above��   Whe� orderin� th� diskette� b�� mail��  pleas� �
includ�  a� additiona� $� fo� postage��  Th� catalo� listing� o� �
eac�  volum�  ma�  b� foun�  o�  al�  participatin� BBS's��  o�  �
ma�  b�  obtaine� b�  sendin�  �  self-addresse� stampe� envelop� �
t� SIG/M.

    TIP-OF-THE-MONTH - Changing the CP/M 2.2 backspace:
         As  many  of you know,  CP/M version 2  allows
    hardcopy-style  line editing,  via the  rubout  and
    control-U keys,  as well as CRT-style line editing,
    via  the backspace (control-H) and control-X  keys.
    As supplied, the CRT editing keys use a "backspace,
    forward   space,   backspace"  sequence  to   erase
    characters  from  the  screen.   If  your  terminal
    requires  a  character code  other  than  control-H
    (08H)  to move the cursor left one  character,  you
    may  patch  the correct  character  into  locations
    1373H  and  13ADH of MOVCPM.   If you then use  the
    modified  MOVCPM to create a new  system,  it  will
    use  the  new  backspace character  that  you  have
    designated.

I�  yo�� hav� � CP/� questio� o� kno� � "trick� tha� yo�� woul� �
lik� t� se� a� � "tip-of-the-month"� pleas� contac� m� vi� eithe� �
th� mailin� addres� o� telephon� numbe� liste� above.