30 June 1986
                                 Z-NEWS 504

Z  Tips.    File COMMAND.LBR is great place for keeping your  little-used  COM
files  (for speed, frequently-used ones are outside).  By putting  many  files
into one file you save disk space (on average, one-half allocation block  size
per file, i.e., 1k-byte if 2k-byte block) and directory entries (important  if
only  64 or 128 file entries permitted per disk).  But you soon forget  what's
in  the  LBR and using LU or NULU takes too much time to determine  only  file
names.  Solution: a neat little alias, we call it SEE, "ROOT:llf  ROOT:command
/ic"  quickly  displays files in COMMAND.LBR.  That's all there is  to  it--we
said neat!  SEE<cr>.  Shows files sorted, CRC and index values, sizes in  both
records  (128  bytes  per) and k-bytes rounded up to next  kilobyte.   LLF  is
ZCPR3's "list library files" utility.  See Z-News 305 for more details and for
other  such  utilities: LX, LGET, LHELP, all written by ZCPR3  author  Richard
Conn.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
From Our Mail Box.   Ken Davidson (Micromint, Inc., 25 Terrace Drive,  Vernon,
CT 06066, 203/871-6170) supplies early indications of Borland's Turbo  Modula-
II  speed.   Bench1 and Bench2--see Z-News 409 and 501--took only 164  and  96
seconds,  respectively, on SB180 HD64180 computer with no memory wait  states.
Compare with Aztec C II and C/80 C Language, from Z-News 501, of 263 and  135,
and  135  and  74 seconds, respectively.  Assembler  for  Bench2,  using  same
computer, was 29 seconds.  Put into a table:

         Micromint SB180 (6.144mHz 64180) RAM       Bench1  Bench2
         Assembler (Syslib v3.6)                     n/a      29.3
         Software Toolworks C/80 v3.0               135.4     74.3
         Borland Turbo Modula-II (beta)             164.0     96.0
         Manx Aztec C II v1.06                      263.0    135.0
         BDS-C v1.5a                                268.0    194.4

    Lachlan  Myers,  from Moonee Ponos, Victoria, Australia,  writes  of  "an
excellent  product."   Well, it turned out to be a  production  prototype  SBC
using  HD64180 and Z-System, designed and produced by our soon-to-be  OEM  and
Australian distributor, Microtrix.  SBC is STD-bus based and runs with two 1.2
megabyte  5.25"  floppies and 512k-bytes of RAM.  As long as the  $US/$A  rate
stays  as  is, it should be a winner down under.  If any of  you  Aussies  are
interested  in  such  a computer, contact Mr. Frank  Wrobel,  24  Bridge  St.,
Eltham, Victoria, 3095, Australia.

     "Hope is not a way out.  It is a way through."--Steven J. Daniels

Amateur Z-User's Corner.   Z-News 401 shows a VMENU script useful for  program
development.   We  here extend it while making all  aspects,  hopefully,  work
correctly, plus add a writer's workbench and housekeeping section.  Files used
by menus are in BASE:A0> or ROOT:A15> directories, along command search  path,
or in "public" areas.

#x
Arrow Keys move Pointer                   Use "+" and "-" if More Files

                       +++ WRITER'S WORKBENCH +++

    0 - WordStar        Edit using Document Mode        Newword - 1
    2 - V-Spell      Spelling Check and Correction    Word Plus - 3
    4 - Style                   Writing                 Grammar - 5
    6 - StarIndex                                Communications - 7
    8 - ASCII to WordStar   File Conversion   WordStar to ASCII - 9

    N - Number of Words in File       Print File using PropStar - P
    M - Menu                 Housekeeping                VFILER - W
                                                 ^Q to change File Sort
#
0 $d$u:;PRIVATE:ws $pf
1 $d$u:;BASE:nw $pf
2 $d$u:;era vspell.mis;PRIVATE:vs $pf;if ex vspell.mis;era vspell.mis;  <<
 era BASE:vspell.bak;BASE:nw $pf;fi
3 a$u:;era $u:errwords.txt;PRIVATE:spell $d:$pf $slic;PRIVATE:review;if <<
 ex $u:errwords.txt;PRIVATE:markfix $d:$pf $m#;$d:;BASE:nw $pf;else;$d:;fi
4 a$u:;PRIVATE:cleanup $d:$pf $m#;$d:;BASE:nw $pf
5 a$u:;PRIVATE:phrase $d:$pf passive.txt;$d:;BASE:nw $pf
6 $d$u:;PRIVATE:starindx $pf
7 MAIL:;ROOT:setfile 1 t3.mnu;ROOT:menu t3.mnu
8 $d$u:;BASE:;txttows $pf
9 $d$u:;BASE:;filtw $pf
n $d$u:;BASE:;wc $pf
p $d$u:;BASE:;ps $pf
m:3
w ROOT:vfiler $d$u:
z!"$d$u:Command>"
#x
Arrow Keys move Pointer                     Use "+" and "-" if More Files

         +++ INTERACTIVE ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT +++
                                                 Current File is $f1
    A - Assemble/Link/Load (ZAS/LINK)
    E - Edit $f1 (WordMaster)
    R - Run $n1.COM
    S - Set Current File to Edit/Assemble/Link/Load/Run (SETFILE) - S

  Pointer File
    1 - Edit (Newword)       Assemble/Link/Load Z80's (ZAS/ZLINK) - 2
    3 - Assemble/Link/Load MAC'S (M80/L80)      ASM's (MAC/MLOAD) - 4
    5 - Interactive (ZAS/ZLINK/WM)  Convert Intel to Zilog (ZCON) - 6
    7 - Edit (LZED)                                  View (VTYPE) - 8
    9 - Enter Library (NULU)                    Edit (WordMaster) - 0
#
a $d$u:;zas $n1;if er;sak /p2 errors in assembly--canceling;else;zlink <<
 $d:$pn,a:grwlib/,a:grxlib/,a:vlib/,a:z3lib/,a:syslib/;era *.rel;fi
s ROOT:setfile 1 "Enter file name (fn.ft) to edit/assemble/run -- "
e $d$u:;PRIVATE:wm $f1
r!$d$u:;$n1 "Trailing Parameters, if any (<cr> if none) -- "
1 $d$u:;get 100 ROOT:nw.com;poke 74e ff;poke 787 ff;go $pf
2 if12 $pt=z80;$d$u:;era $pn.bak;zas $pn;if ~er;zlink $d:$pn,          <<
 a:grwlib/,a:grxlib/,a:vlib/,a:z3lib/,a:syslib/;era *.rel;else;       <<
 sak /p2 errors;fi;else;sak /p2 not z80 type;fi
3 if12 $pt=mac;$d$u:;era $pn.bak;m80 =$pn;sak /zp7 errors, cancel      <<
 link (^C)?;l80 /p:100,$pn,a:vlib/s,a:z3lib/s,a:syslib/s,$pn/n/u/e;   <<
 era $pn.rel;else;sak /p2 not mac type;fi
4 if12 $pt=asm;$d$u:;era $pn.bak;mac $pn $$-spz;sak /zp7 errors,       <<
 cancel load (^C)?;mload $pn;era $pn.hex;else;sak /p2 not asm file    <<
 type;fi
5 $d$u:;zas $pn;if er;sak /zp3 link cancelled;wm $pf;else;zlink        <<
 $d:$pn,a:grwlib/,a:grxlib/,a:vlib/,a:z3lib/,a:syslib/;era $pn.rel;   <<
 $pn;fi
6 $d$u:;BASE:zcon $pf
7 $d$u:;BASE:lzed $pf
8 ROOT:vtype $pf
9 if ex $d$u:$pn.lbr;$d$u:;nulu -o $pn -f;else;sak /p2 library cannot  <<
 be found;fi
0 $d$u:;PRIVATE:wm $pf
z!"$d$u:Command>"
#x
Arrow Keys move Pointer                    Use "+" and "-" if More Files

                          +++ HOUSEKEEPING +++
Pointer File
C - Copy to another Directory   (CP)    P - Print (to printer)   (PRINT)
E - Erase (delete)             (ERA)    R - Rename                 (REN)
N - Enter Library File        (NULU)    V - View (bidirectional) (VTYPE)

System Functions
F - Files Capable of Being        1 - Sort and Pack Directory (CLEANDIR)
    Recovered        (UNERASE)    2 - Disk Catalog Menu    (MENU/DISCAT)
U - Unerase Files    (UNERASE)    3 - Enter SHOW System Utility   (SHOW)
W - File Manipulator  (VFILER)
#
c cp "Copy to Directory (DU: or DIR:): "=$ d$u:$pf
e echo $pf - Delete (Y/N)?  ;if in;era $d$u:$pf;fi
p!poke fe37 "How many columns to print, in hex (50h=80, 64h=100)? ";   <<
 ROOT:print $pf "Options (<cr>=default, e=exact): ";poke fe37 50
r ren "New Name of File (no wild cards): "=$pf
v ROOT:vtype $pf
n if ex $d$u:$pn.lbr;$d$u:;nulu -o $pn -f;else;sak /p2 library cannot  <<
 be found;fi
f!ROOT:unerase *.* l
u!ROOT:unerase "Name of File to Recover (wild cards okay): "
w ROOT:vfiler $d$u:
1 ROOT:cleandir $d:
2 CAT:;ROOT:menu discat.mnu
 CAT:catscan 'Define File Search Mask (e.g. *.doc): '
3 ROOT:show
z!"$d$u:Command>"
##
    Taking  tip from Newword handling of text, and also from VFILER,  Version
4.0,  all menu lines are in half-intensity; all command letters  and  numbers,
full.   You  may wish to have the program names also half-intensity,  but  not
parenthetical brackets--more distinctiveness that way.  Embed ^A (use ^PA with
NW, WS, and LZED; <esc>^A for WM) in menu to start half-intensity, ^B (^PB) to
stop.  Use up to 14 lines for displayed text; more causes internally generated
command line to lap into your text lines.  (VMENU uses four lines for  pointer
files,  one  for "more files" message, one for title banner, and  one  for  CL
prompt,  plus two for application program generated lines.  Allowing  a  blank
line  between  prompt  and  menu's last text line  results  in  total  10-line
overhead, leaving 14 for your menu screen.
    Screen arrow points to Pointer File; Current File is name given to System
File, number one (1) in this case, the S command.  Use SHOW's number 4 command
to see the up-to-four System File assignments.  Study and modify menus to your
specific needs and liking.
    Many  functions  are  handled from  WRITER'S  WORKBENCH  menu.   Document
editing,  printing,  word  count, file conversion,  spelling,  and  style  and
grammar  check.   Choice of using either Newword  or  WordStar  wordprocessor,
depending  on  your mood.  But much can be done to customize  menu,  improving
cosmetics, tailoring to your daily operations.
    ASSEMBLY menu provides three major program development options.  1) Using
Pointer File with commands 2, 3, or 4 depending on whether using ZAS, M80,  or
MAC  assembler, 2) using ZAS and command 5 to automatically go from  assemble,
link, and run, or to edit if assembly errors occur, and 3) using Current  File
(System File 1 set with SETFILE using S command) and using commands A, E,  and
R  to assemble/link/load, edit, and then run program, a semi-automatic  inter-
active  process.  Menu command 2 nearly fills command line (CL) buffer of  204
characters.   Remember,  each parameter takes up more space  than  in  script,
e.g., $pf can expand up to 12 characters of file name.  We used *.rel  instead
of $pn.rel to permit command 2 to function without overflowing CL buffer.   If
you  get a CL error message when executing a long script line, try  shortening
file name to be processed to less than 8 characters; or take out some unneces-
sary script text.  We use Newword (non-document mode), WordMaster, and LZED as
program editors.
    HOUSEKEEPING menu has features worth noting: 1) using POKE to change  the
SYS.ENV  segment area in memory.  Here we change Printer 0 (see CPSEL  command
detailed  in  ZCPR3: The Manual, pages 28 and 29) from its  default  line-wrap
value  to value specified at prompt.  Makes for quick printing of  files  with
long  lines  using PRINT, which uses SYS.ENV for wrap  column  value.   System
Environmental  Descriptor  (base  address here of FE00  hexadecimal,  hex  for
short) positive offset of 37 hex (number added to base) is for Printer 0;  3B,
Printer  1; 3F, 2; and 43, 3.  Use SHOW<cr> or Z3LOC Z<cr> to  determine  base
address  for  your system.  You can use POKE to change  many  default  values,
maximum drive and user area, CPU speed, CRT and Printer selection, etc.  Study
source  code  for your SYSENV.LIB file for more details.  ZCPR3:  The  Manual,
pages 300 to 304, also discusses this system segment.  And, 2) commands S  and
U using UNERASE utility program to list, to potentially recover erased  files.
Notice  renaming  and erasing (you may wish to try GETVAR/RESOLVE  to  improve
this command--more on these Dreas Nielsen utilities next fortnight) of Pointer
File.  And Z command hidden from menu screen.
    VMENU, Version 1.5 or later, is a wonder to behold going from one menu to
the  next--the main reason we added two menus, for writing  and  housekeeping.
Visualize four lines, four columns, of files remaining stationary as displayed
menu  is  replaced with another, when you enter "." followed  by  ",".   Don't
forget you can use these keys instead of "<" and ">" to go from menu screen to
menu screen; thus, no shift key involved.
    The VFILER CMD command line we use, 5, to enter writing and code develop-
ment menus, called ASM/WRITING.VMN, is either:

           5 ROOT:ldr WORK:sys-2.ndr;ASM:;ROOT:vmenu *.* asm.vmn
or
      5 ROOT:ldr LETTERS:sys-3.ndr;LETTERS:;ROOT:vmenu *.* writing.vmn

depending  from which directory we use "5", i.e., which VFILER CMD file is  in
the  directory we are in.  (Notice script convention of directories  in  upper
case, commands in lower.)
    Of  course,  you can enter menus from directory where  they  are  located
without using a VFILER CMD command.  Command path is searched for MNU and  VMN
file  type.  Our Assembly Language development area is B10: and is named  ASM.
Our  CAT  directory is, by convention, drive/user area  A8:.   Writing  occurs
mainly  from B0: and C0:, the WORK: and LETTERS: directories.  Presently,  F0:
is our BACKUP: directory (floppy drive).
    Study  Z-System  User's  Guide, Section 6.3.2, pages 6-12  to  6-16,  for
details  of  syntax and grammar of VMENU.  And ZCPR3: The Manual,  Chapter  5,
pages  133 to 147, covers MENU and VMENU uses and operations.  Study it  also!
Learn meanings of #, ##, !, :, $, pf, pn, pt, fn (where n=1 to 4), nn, tn,  -,
x, c, d, and p.
    You  find  these menus, with appropriately embedded  screen  highlighting
codes  fully in place, along with WC, FILTW, TWTTOWS, and more, as file  WORK-
VMN.LBR on Z-Nodes.

Z  Node  Activity.   More nodes online..."pvac" Z-Node #72 is  run  by  Harris
Edelman,  Venice,  CA 90291, 213/306-3611.  George Allen starts  up  #73  from
Ballwin, MO 63021, with RAS number of 314/394-6279.  E-Com Z-Node #74 is to be
run  by Nelson Lesmerises, Hookset, NH 03106.  And Mel Spencer  (CDR  Systems,
Heath)  runs Z-Node #75 in San Diego, CA 92138, 619/560-8929.  They  all  want
callers, well?  The beat goes on...
    Joseph  Wright  (San Jose, CA), Good-Neighbor Helper, author  of  Ampro's
floppy  disk BIOS, Micromint and Oneac's BIOSs, and Z3-Dot-Com and Z-Com,  has
produced  new  Z3INS, Version 1.4, and LDR, Version 1.5,  utilities  and  have
placed  them on Z-Node Central, 415/489-9005.  Path file search and more  name
flexibility  are features.  Serious Z-System users will want to get these  new
versions.

      "Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow."--Swedish Proverb

Lunch  Break.   Games soon offered...all run under ZCPR3  and  Z-System...take
full  advantage of operating system features.  Watch these lines  for  further
details.
    Right in our backyard (El Dorado) lives BDS Corporation--they make  LASER
printers  that  act  like Diablo 630 daisy  wheels,  using  ubiquitous  Cannon
marking  engine.   Newword completely controls their  printer;  WordStar,  not
beyond controlling features of a standard 630.  Write or call them, 800  Maude
Ave.,  Mountain  View,  CA 94043, 415/964-2115.  Mr. Jeff  Holden,  BDS  Sales
Manager, can direct you to nearest dealer.  BDS sells not to end users.
    Makings of a good advertisement.  Anatole France (novelist and  satirist,
1844-1924)  is quoted as saying, "It is human nature to think wisely  and  act
foolishly."   That may be true, but if you buy our products, you'll be  acting
as wisely as you think!
    Our  Shipping and Handling (S&H) policy for overseas orders has  changed,
regrettably.  We must now charge actuals for mailing to Europe, Australia, and
Asia.   Our cost has been two to three times the nominal $18.00 we  have  been
charging.   What  this means to most is no more prepayments with  checks  (see
next paragraph).  You can still use your credit card to place an order and you
will be charged actual postal costs plus $2.00 for our handling.
    We  no longer accept checks drawn on other than USA and  Canadian  banks.
Our  local  bank goes through too much trouble (and expense)  converting  such
checks  to  US dollars.  So please send only checks drawn on USA  or  Canadian
banks.   On the other hand, Visa and MasterCard numbers from any  country  are
acceptable.  Plastic over paper!
    ====================================================================
Of Cabbages and Kings.   You think we are overly
critical of our industry, our
society,  its  work ethic and morality?  Yes, you do--admit it!  Our  view  of
conditions in beloved America: cradle to grave fundamental changes required if
we  are to avoid going way of British or ancient Roman Empire.   Attitudes  of
let-George-do-it, of wanting more for less--these do us in!  Parents, schools,
voters,  management, labor, capital, government, all require huge  changes  to
avoid  what living on borrowed time (and money) has done to our culture.  Now,
the  moment  of  truth!   We need to discover America; so  far  we  have  only
colonized  it--an act of violence.  One group conquering another, of bias  and
bigotry, of rape, waste and hatred.  Gone With Wind are the days--we are  both
happy  and sorry to say--of the cowboy (John Wayne, six-gun style) rescuing  a
damsel in distress.  Remember the Lone Ranger of Saturday matinee movies?   He
is  never  alone  but  always has Tonto (plus  Silver  and  Scout)  nearby,  a
partnership (a strategic alliance)...
    Partnerships in business, in marriage, in living, in deep living,  that's
what  we  need.   Competition without combat,  friendly  competition,  between
partnerships!   Reduce quantity of adversary relationships to nil.  See  noble
goal mentally, group together to achieve it physically.
    Think...of people-energy expended using hair grooming spray, both men and
women...effort  to produce the sticky stuff.  We individually work so hard  to
look  good  on the outside, while doing little for the  inside.   Vanity,  Oh!
Vanity.   All is vanity.  Or is it?  Think of this people-energy  asserted  to
exit  uni-dimensional  living, to learn about Life...think!  We try,  we  try.
See you down the lines...
                                                                Echelon, Inc.
                                                      885 N. San Antonio Road
                                                      Los Altos, CA 94022 USA
                                                      Telephone: 415/948-3820
                                           Z-Node Central (RAS): 415/489-9005

Trademarks:  TKBBS, SB180, COMM180, Micromint; PRO-180, MDC-1, Magnum Digital;
XL-M180, Intelligent Computer Designs; ON!, ONFILE, Oneac; DT42, Deep  Thought
42, The SemiDisk,  SemiDisk Systems; HD64180/63484, Hitachi; NSC800, National;
Z80/180/280/800,  Zilog; Z-System, ZCPR3, ZRDOS, Z-Tools, Zas,  Zlink,  Z-Msg,
Term3,  Quick-Task, Lasting-Value Software, Echelon; CP/M,  Digital  Research;
Turbo  Modula-II,  Borland; LZED, Zivio; Word Plus,  Oasis  Systems;  V-Spell,
CompuView; WordMaster, WordStar, MicroPro; Newword, Newstar; SCSI/Plus, Little
Board, Bookshelf, Ampro Computers.


                                                        eagle
               *                                        here



                              Z sets you FREE!



                *                                        *


Z-News  504 is Copyright 1986 Echelon, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.   Permission
to   reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source  credit  is
given to Echelon.