Background Tasks. Echelon on the move! (1) We finish Phase 2 of TERM3 with
addition of T3DO, T3SERVER, and T3MASTER, and porting to SCSI/Plus bus. It
should be in hands of users by mid-January 1986. (2) ZCPR, Version 3.3,
should be ready for distribution sometime in February. It has many new
features suggested by Jay Sage, Z-Node #3, and others, plus more enhancements:
no re-assembly of CCP source or installation of utilities required, and ex-
panded TCAP database, including straight-line drawing ability, and WHEEL byte
functions. (3) At same time we will offer ZCPRS3, a simple Z-System for those
situations not requiring full OS capabilities, but full TPA. (4) ZCPRB3, with
banked memory capability and usable TPAs of 62k-bytes, should be available in
late March. (5) ZRDOS, Version 3.0, adds about 15 new function calls, e.g.,
get and set file date and time and file stamping, modem control, get and set
memory bank, load or execute a program, get free disk space, etc. This new
DOS should be ready in late February. (6) Full integration of Z-MSG with
TERM3 by mid-January. (7) Multitasking, single user, multiuser through TERM3
master-server distributed OS networking, ZCPRM3 should be ready for delivery
to OEMs by summer. (8) Real Time multitasking Executive, called QUICK-TASK,
should be ready by end of January. Uses re-usable task concepts and high-
level language; powerful and easy to use! (9) Major upgrade to DISCAT out by
end of March. Wow! Lots of OS and application activity. High performance 8-
bit systems continue to be enhanced, staying up with hardware technology.
All programs continue to run on Z80 based machines. Our super OS with
multitasking and extended DOS functions runs natively on HD64180-based
computers, some porting required on banked Z80 systems. Implementations
include concurrent processing as well as background task suspension. Number
of tasks active is controlled by available memory, 64k-bytes per task. Run
WordStar printing formatted text, monitor your modem answer the phone,
assemble and link a program under development, while you edit a text file,
with, e.g., five open but suspended files, working with one then another: Z-
System concurrent processing!
DISCAT SALE. Purchase present $39.99 Version 1.3 of Discat between now and
end of March and receive free new version in April...changes coming include
many asked-for enhancements...but price goes back to original $49.00. Order
now, save $9.01.
Z TIPS. Interactive Code (or menu script) Writing. Several compiler
packages are now including built-in or bundled compatible editors. Such
programs provide for quick change-over speeding program development, long
recognized as desirable by Echelon staff. Assembler and menu program develop-
ment (and Pascal or C) under Z-System can be automated by using available Z
utilities. (1) From a simple menu declare file name using one-of-four
resident system file names, then go from edit to assemble to run, back to
edit. Or (2) make two chaining command line aliases that loop from function
to function for iterative source modifications. Here's how (we use VMENU,
SAK, IF, and SETFILE as tool set):
(1) The VMENU method --
#x
Arrow Key Move File Pointer Enter "+" and "-" if More Files
+++ INTERACTIVE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT MENU +++
Current File is $f2
� 1 - EDIT Current File (non-document mode) (WordStar) - 1
2 - ASSEMBLE Current File: (.Z80's only) (ZAS & ZLINK) - 2
3 - (.ASM's only) (MAC & MLOAD) - 3
4 - (.MAC's only) (M80 & L80) - 4
5 - Enter Pointer File Library (file must be LBR type) (NULU) - 5
C - Current File to Edit and Run (System File #2) (SETFILE) - C
D - Delete Pointer File
E - Execute (run) Current File
#
1get 100 ws.com;poke 392 ff;go $f2
2!zas $n2;sak /p6 Errors, cancel link (^C)? ;era $n2.bak;
zlink $d:$n2,A:VLIB/,A:Z3LIB/,A:SYSLIB/;era $n2.rel
3!mac $n2 $$-s pz;sak /p6 Errors, cancel link (^C)? ;era $n2.bak;mload $n2;
era $n2.hex
4!m80 =$n2;sak /p6 Errors, cancel link (^C)? ;era $n2.bak;
l80 /p:100,$n2,A:VLIB/S,A:Z3LIB/S,A:SYSLIB/S,$n2/N,/U,/E;era $n2.rel
5!if $pt=lbr;nulu -o $pn -f;else;echo --> file is not a library <-- ;fi
e!if $pt=com;$n2;else;echo --> file is not com type <-- ;fi
dera $pf
csetfile 2 "Enter file name (fn.ft) to edit (and later run): "
##
More is added to produce a complete menu--we show edit, assemble and link,
run-file aspects. Incidentally, we included enter-library-file command. This
VMENU VMN is great for developing itself--real recursion! Run VMENU *.*
fn.VMN, then try setting Current File to name of VMN file and go from your
editor to menu. Add your own ideas. Chapter 5 of ZCPR3: The Manual describes
menu production. Using $f3 as your current file is interesting since that
system file number is used to return to VMENU after a menu execution. Try it
and see what happens. Using $f2, as we have done here, makes pointer file
same as system (current) file; more details in Manual.
It's simple to make an infinite loop between commands 2, 3, or 4 and
command E, with SAK used to permit breaking out. Notice how it's done in the
aliases below.
(2) The TWO-ALIAS method (using BALIAS or VALIAS to create) -- first the Edit
Alias and Assemble File Alias; let's call it BUILD. Command syntax: BUILD
<filename><cr>.
get 100 ws.com;poke 392 ff;go %1.z80;zas $1;sak /p6 Errors, cancel link (^C)?;
era $1.bak;zlink $d:$1,A:VLIB/,A:Z3LIB/,A:SYSLIB/;era $1.rel;try $1
Second, make the Run Alias which we call TRY. Command syntax: TRY
<filename><cr>.
You may wish to put above aliases into file COMMAND.LBR, using NULU
library manager. Rename your LRUNZ3 file to default extended command
processor name of CMDRUN (see Z-News 209 for more description of CMDRUN
usage). By the way, all your aliases can be used from such a command file.
(New ZCPR33 permits use of ECPs, like ARUNZ, simultaneously with error
handlers, like VERROR, and declaring with ECPSET which ECP is default.) Such
techniques permit small floppy systems to shine. Yes, we appreciate what it
�takes to effectively use small computers.
Many other ways exist within Z-System context to automate tasks. Send in
your ideas and we will publish them; others benefit from seeing your work.
We_Get_Letters. Ronald L. Hiles, Dale City, VA, writes, "OK, so I am hooked
on Z! Finally, a system is here that provided the flexibility and
adaptability that was needed in the Z80 microprocessor environment...last but
not least you will find my 'free-ware' contribution... " Thanks for kind
words and financial support, Ronald. We need more like you who understand
what we do. New things on the drawing boards should get lots of attention
and, hopefully, approval.
Glenn Brooke, a molecular biologist, corrects us on our Z-News 308
description of drug effect in the brain. He states individual neurons are not
programmed by genetics but by each person's experience. Scientists continue
to learn about these matters.
Boost For Print Quality. QMS Inc., P.O. Box 81250, Mobile, AL 36689,
205/633-4300, offer Cannon LBP-CX laser printer with 40 stored character
styles and sizes. Diablo, Qume, and Epson FX-80 software compatibility, with
256k-bytes of ROM and 78k-bytes of user RAM, sells for only $1,995 with
Centronics parallel interface, serial RS-232C optional. Printer--named KISS,
Keep It Smart and Silent--makes Apple LaserWriter at $5,995 look foolish; even
HP's LaserJet at $3,495 doesn't effectively compete.
THE COMPUTER JOURNAL. "For Those Who Interface, Build, and Apply Micros."
Stated purpose of the magazine on its cover makes sense. The more we read TCJ
the more we are impressed. Both software and hardware is covered from more
than how-to-use but how does it do what it does perspectives. At $14.00 a
year, 6 issues, it's hard to go wrong. Subscribe by calling or writing Art
Carlson or Donna Carlson, 190 Sullivan Crossroad, Columbia Falls, MT 59912,
406/257-9119.
Big Dealer of Z Software. Larry Herring and Tamara Watson, The Micro Store,
610 James Street, Richardson, TX, 75080, 214/231-1096, become enthusiastic
sellers of Echelon Z-System software. TMS, a major computer book store, are
dealers for Kaypro and Bondwell CP/M machines. North Texas 8-bit computer
users interested in expanding should drop-in and visit. Here, see demo of Z
fly like eagles.
Year's End. We waiver not, continue to learn; you drive us...puffed with
pride from opportunity and successes, we move ahead. We trust 1985 has been a
good year for you, that you have much, as we have, to be thankful for. We
appreciate opportunity and privilege of serving you during this past year, and
hopeful we will be able to say the same at this time next year. Without you
we are nothing.
Now, we order bottles of 1981 White Zinfandel and prepare with family for
year's change-over. Happy New Year! See you down the lines...
Echelon, Inc.
101 First Street
Los Altos, CA 94022
Telephone: 415/948-3820
Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005
Z-News 401 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission
to reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is
given to Echelon.
