Z Tips. RESOLVE and GETVAR, described in Z-News 408 and mentioned in 504,
written by Dreas Nielsen (Bellevue, WA), deserve, because of their power and
usefulness, more review. RESOLVE processes commands prefixed with "%" and
GETVAR places shell variable names (representing a command, even multiple
commands) into ROOT directory SH.VAR file. Use SHDEFINE to edit meanings of
existing variables. Demonstration from your keyboard--you type-in the
underlined text, computer does the rest:
GETVAR run What do you wish to run?<cr> <-- you enter at command line
What do you wish to run? DIR$|VFILER<cr> <-- prompt shows, you respond
RESOLVE %run<cr> <-- you enter variable name
--> DIR is run followed by VFILER <-- computer does this
Variables are equated to (replaced by) command line text of up to 126
characters. In our example variable "run" equals running DIR followed by
running VFILER. RESOLVE recognizes eight parameters: %<text>; $D and $U for
current disk and user area; $R<n> for up to ten register values; $F<n>, $N<n>,
$T<n> for System Files one through four; and, $| as multiple-command separator
(";" in standard command line). References to shell variables may be nested,
i.e., one may be replaced by another. Seldom would you use them from command
line as we have done in our example, but from turn-key ZEX, CMD, and (V)MENU
command lines. Useful additional tools to assist in automating our computer
system are ECHO, GET, POKE, GO, SHVAR, and SETFILE, among many others (see
last paragraph of Amateur Z-User's Corner below). More information in online
HLP file within file SHUTILS.LBR on Z-Nodes--look for it!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
File String-Search Program Status. Z-News 303 reviewed SIFT and noted our
longing for something faster to find strings of text in multiple files.
Though costing only $23.00 and a value at that price, we want something
faster. Commercially, we have found two additional programs.
SEARCH produced by CompuMagic, P.O. Box 437, Severn, MD, 21144, 301/969-
8068--priced at only $30.00--is written in C Language using C/80, plus some
assembler; file is 25k-bytes in length; SIFT, 19k-bytes. Program can search
and find up to ten independent strings, simultaneously; Sift, only one. Both
handle wild-card file searches, with many pattern matching search options to
assist finding text not exactly character-for-character known, and do it even
from multi-file databases. Found strings, along with surrounding text lines,
entire paragraph, or especially marked (indexed) sections, can be sent to a
file. SEARCH author, Norm Dresner, is interested in speed, but you just can-
not get much of it using "C" compared to assembler.
Another written-in-C-Language string search and extraction program comes
from O'Neill Software, Box 26111, San Francisco, CA 94126, 415/398-2255--it
goes for $49.00--is called "Electra-Find". And they offer unlimited-use site
licenses for $299.00. Program is 40k-bytes in length, written in BDS-C,
indicating lack-of-power of C Language in producing compact code. Author,
Dennis O'Neill, did what he could, and did a super job, with extensive,
professional features offered.
Code length notwithstanding, if you know you have a certain set of text
on your disk system but don't know in which file it is in, one of these
programs is much faster than using your editor, file-by-file, for finding it.
All three search programs, especially Electra-Find, have more versatility than
�we normally need; but if you are a writer, lawyer, or researcher dealing with
long articles, book chapters, essays, reports, tables, briefs, and contracts,
you could easily require their exceptional string extraction powers. Either
SEARCH or Electa-Find essentially eliminates need for free-form indexing
database programs (FYI, etc.), especially if using fast Winchester or RAMdisk.
Simple table comparing SIFT, SEARCH, and Electra-Find on next page. A
two-file benchmark search, approximately 32k-characters total, for 15-
character strings placed at end of each text file takes from 31 to 40 seconds.
Find Strings
Online Boolean Size (in seconds)
Program Rating Price Help Search Bytes Records 1st 2nd
SIFT v2.2b good $23.00 no no 19k 148 16 37
SEARCH v1.22 good $30.00 yes yes 25k 196 17 40
FINDS v1.0 n/a $39.95 yes no n/a n/a n/a n/a
Electa-Find 3.2a best $49.00 yes yes 39k 310 14 31
Tests were performed using an Ampro Model 1220 Bookshelf Z80 computer, one
with relatively quick 20-megabyte Seagate 225N hard disk.
Richard Conn, ZCPR3 author, is writing a Z-Tooltm in Assembly Language
using SYSLIB, Z3LIB, and VLIB routines. (How these routines speed task of
code writing!) We call tool FINDS, Find String, complementing FINDF, Find
File. When finished, we compare search and find speed with C Language program
equivalents, replace n/a's (not available) in table. We plan to initially
offer FindS for $39.95, plus $4.00 S&H, continental USA.
Amateur Z-User's Corner. We show our C Language development VFILER CMD file.
Menu was used (and developed) when we were doing benchmarks of Z-News 409 and
501. Commands 2, 3, and 4 cover C-80, BDS-C, and Aztec CII compilers, each
using PCC to check for balanced structure braces, "{ }", and comment, "/* */",
symbols.
TITLE: C Language CMD Macro File
%d%u:;get 100 ws.com;poke 392 ff;go %f
1 %d%u:;get 100 nw.com;poke 74e ff;poke 787 ff;go %f
2 if ex %n.c;%d%u:;era %n.bak;pcc %f;c %n;as %n;era %n.asm;else; <<
sak /p3 not c file type;fi
3 if ex %n.c;%d%u:;era %n.bak;pcc %f;cc %f;clink %n -ns;era %n.crl; <<
else;sak /p3 not c file type;fi
4 if ex %n.c;%d%u:;era %n.bak;pcc %f;czii -t %f;as %n.asm; <<
ln %n.o %d:z80math.lib %d:z80libc.lib;era %n.asm;era %n.o;else; <<
sak /p3 not c file type;fi
5 %d%u:;era %n.bak;BASE:lzed %$;c %n;sak /p7 Errors, cancel (^C)?; <<
as %n;era %n.asm
6 xdir %d%u:*.* ogoh'Options (u=all areas, p=to printer, d=disk, <<
<cr>=default): '
7 MAIL:;ROOT:menu t3.mnu
8 ROOT:vtype %$
9 if ex %d%u:%n.lbr;%d%u:;nulu -o %n -f;else;ROOT:sak /p3 library <<
file not found;fi
0 %d%u:;BASE:lzed %$
#
>>> C LANGUAGE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT <<<
==================================================================
1 - EDIT Pointer File (non-document mode) (Newword) - 1
�
Compile/Assemble/Link/Load Using:
2 - Software Toolworks C/80 v3.0 (C/AS) - 2
3 - BD Systems BDS-C v1.5a (CC/CLINK) - 3
4 - Manx Aztec CII v1.06 (CZII/AS/LN) - 4
5 - C Language Program Development (C/80 with LZED) - 5
6 - Directory of Files on Current Disk (XDIR) - 6
7 - Telecommunicate via Modem (from MAIL directory) (Term3) - 7
8 - View Pointer File with Forward/Backward Scroll (VTYPE) - 8
9 - Enter Pointer File Library (LBR) (NULU) - 9
0 - EDIT Pointer File using LZED (LZED) - 0
==================================================================
Normally for "C" we use Newword, because of its ability to automatically
determine file type and respond accordingly. Automatic tab-indent after
entering carriage return at line end for C, PAS, BAS, and other structured,
high-level-language conventions. Of course non-document mode is used for this
feature. Here, document-mode justification and line wrapping is not desired.
Such mode sets character-byte bit 7 high (a "one" or "true") for some
operations. We don't want that! We use FILTW, Keith Peterson and Irv Hoff's
public domain program, to remove automatically formatting control codes, high-
bit 7s (WM and LZED automatically zero these bits), that may have been
inadvertently placed in a file.
LZED (Little Z-Editor, ZED comes from Zivio soon) and NW (Newword) are
our editors, but you can change menu to handle your choices. LZED is quick
for program changes, if source fits into memory. Otherwise, use WM
(WordMaster); it is disk based. Either LZED or WM is great for interactive
debugging process as used in command 5 above.
Using "if ex %n.c" instead of "if %t=c" as leading command in 2, 3, 4,
and 9 has advantages plus two side-effects. Incidentally, "if" is from
resident FCP, fast; "if12", from Version 1.2 of transient IF.COM, slower.
Latter recognizes wild cards in parameters, e.g., %t=a?m would be a match for
any center character of the file type. Also, FCP IF must have been assembled
with "fcb" option set TRUE, not always the case. Now side-effects. Pointing
to a file name that exists on current directory results in compiling it if
file type of C also exists. No need to actually point to file to be compiled,
just to one with same name, not type, a disconcerting feature. Not the kind
of thing we think of when automation is thought of. But... Second, an
operator error is automatically compensated for, certainly fostering less than
explicit use of a thinking machine. We use it here to "get the feel." Who
knows, "if ex" could be best. Time is our friend.
We locate C/80, BDS-C, and Aztec in three separate directories, each with
its own support files. Makes for less clutter and files in a directory are
directly applicable to a specific compiler. You should customize above CMD
menu, creating as-necessary menus, and place each in its appropriate,
respective directory.
Since only up-to-ten commands are available from each CMD menu (but as
many CMDs may exist as there are number of directories on your disk system)
display can use one or more screen lines per command. Style presented here is
a result of trying many forms. We think it pleasing to the eye. Let's see
your CMD creations--send them in!
Where to go for more information? Z-System User's Guide, pages 6-16 thru
6-18, and ZCPR3: The Manual, pages 153 to 160, cover VFILER usage and CMD menu
�development.
Some of you may have missed our alias called CAT, the one used to access
Echelon Discat program Master Catalog.
if nul $1;CAT:;menu discat.mnu;else;CAT:catscan $*;fi
Here's how it works: if you enter CAT<cr> on command line, you
automatically enter Discat Catalog menu. Without trailing parameter, the $1,
next commands execute, i.e., log into CAT directory, followed by running MENU.
MENU finds script file DISCAT.MNU in default directory. But if you enter, say
CAT *.doc<cr>, now there is a trailing parameter ($* represents entire command
tail, for processing from $1), so module CATSCAN searches Master Catalog (also
in CAT directory) for all "doc" files on all disks in catalog. CAT *.doc
doc.*<cr> causes CATSCAN to search for all "doc" files of any name on disks
named "doc" of any disk type. Such versatility is a feature of Discat catalog
system.
Nonetheless, despite all the above, for us to consider Z-System and its
utilities only as tools, as a means to an end, is to miss magic power of
learning, joy of accomplishment, of having perpetual fun (fulfillment).
Change of pace. Resident Command Packages contain many functions, some
soon forgotten. The help "H" command--case not important--entered at command
line prompt (even from within shells VFILER, MENU, and VMENU) prints to screen
available command names. CLS, CP, DIR, ECHO, ERA, LIST, MU, NOTE, P, POKE,
PROT, R, REG, REN, TST, TYPE, WHL, WHLQ, and BYE are the ones implemented, 19
thus far. But don't forget GET, GO, and JUMP resident in the CCP. Scan file
SYSRCP13.LIB for a complete description (most are detailed in ZCPR3: The
Manual, but not all) except MU (Memory Utility) and BYE. File DEBUGRCP.ASM
indicates that only MU command is available in DEBUG.RCP. ZBYE information is
in file ZBYE.LBR on many Z-Nodes, but for sure on Node #42. Combine these 22
with 80 or so transient commands (utilities) and you have a powerful operating
system. Add Term3's 29 commands and you have global system (operating system
integrated with communications system through pre-defined, local message
buffer areas) the likes of which world presently only dreams of. And it's 8-
bit!
From Our Mail Box. " ...thanks much for your quick response to my request
for Quick-Task information. Having passed the demo programs on to the
programming staff, they fell in love with it right away. Needless to say, we
placed a order immediately and received the code today [06/03/86]. When I
left work at 6:30pm they were still pouring over it with their eyes lit right
up. One of the fellows said it was like--no, really much better--than a
similar system he had used from .... and it cost about $39,750.00 less. Looks
like you have another winner. Please use us as reference if you need to; but,
after people see the demo you most likely won't have to. Regards, Rea
Williams, VP Engineering, Computer Power Systems Corp., 213/515-6566."
Thanks, Mr. Williams, for the vote of confidence.
"Cache memory carried to an extreme becomes RAMdisk."--Gary Feierbach,
President, Inner Access Corporation, Belmont, CA
"I have to agree with Ted Silveira (Profiles, Dec. 1985): 'The weak point
is documentation... it is short on tutorials and examples to help a typical
computer user do productive things.' The friendliest help I've found has been
the command string examples in above article (page 27)," writes Philip Bishop
from Narragansett, RI. Documentation has been a problem, Philip. But with
publication of Z-System User's Guide, Item 88 on Price List, joining long-
�available ZCPR3: The Manual, we feel we are over that hurdle. Front page of
Z-News 503 asked what more should be done; 504 and present newsletter has gone
into much menu creation detail. Well?
Lunch Break. Hacker, whiz kid; these are simply labels applied to
engineering and technical types. Engineering is not about operating engines?
Sure it is! Computers are engines. What's an engine? Something that makes
things go, to effect a purpose. Think--any user of a computer is an engineer.
Technical (technique, base word) regards how to do something, usually
something physical. "Technology" is means employed to provide objects
necessary for human sustenance and comfort. Words, Oh! Words...we notice...
We notice struggle that programmers and software-interface designers have
indicating how to enter a character from console keyboard. Enter, Touch, Hit,
Press, Strike are all used as verb conventions by various programs. We have
chosen "Strike" as ZCPR3 and Z-System convention. After we looked-up each
verb in an unabridged dictionary, and started thinking kindly about keys and
keyboards, our opinion is "Strike (gently) Any Key" (SAK) is best. So be it!
Philips/Signetics, Thomson-Mostek, now Italian SGS/Zilog?
KAMAS, "OutThink" have competition. "Thoughtline" from Spite Software,
4875 SW Nineteenth Drive, Portland, OR 97201, 800/237-9111 to order, 503/245-
8102 to ask questions. At $69.95, Thoughtline does things an outline
processor should do and does them with familiar WordStar/Newword
compatibili
ties--same editor cursor and file manipulation commands. Text
files are moved into Thoughtline and automatically converted into outline
format. "You move from Newword to Thoughtline without missing a beat or
losing a thought." CP/M-80 compatible software continues to get better!
Common Cause. We have on good authority, better than hearing it down-the-
grape-vine, a "Lotus 123-like" spreadsheet program and a full-featured C
compiler are about to be released. No big deal, you say! But good news is
these are Z-System compatible and take advantage of HD64180 512k-byte memory
space. Compiler due out early July, spreadsheet in late September. Both have
been in-the-works for over a year. Can we wait? We'll let you know details,
how to get product, as soon as they firm.
Available soon, add-on board for Tandy TRS-80 computers uses Hitachi
HD64180 superchip. Developed and produced by M.A.N. Systems, 323 N. 3rd,
Medford OK 73759, 405/395-3849. Called TR-XL180, offered for $325.00, and
works with all Model 4s. It is an easy auto-install and has 390k-byte
RAMdisk. Bravo! Board puts Tandy machines into Z-System realm of high-
performance computing.
====================================================================
Of Cabbages and Kings. Certainly we have the power to completely destroy our
heritage, our planet; the question is: do we have the wisdom to preserve both?
That California has much to offer deep-livers/lovers of life, from scenic
splendor, diverse climate to gracious dining (with vintage Zinfandel),
intellectual tolerance and diversity, needs no elaboration or support from
here--it's simply a fact.
But someday, when the big shaker hits and the state slowly slides into
chilly Pacific water, another must surely take its place. Here, there is no
contest, at least in our minds: it's Virginia.
Virginia has its mountains, seashores, cities, small towns, great food
and drink, plus nearly unrivaled scenery. Virginia is an old state, dating
from 1607, contributing perhaps more to our history than any other. Gen'l
Robert E. Lee came from there. This gentleman so loved his home state, though
educated and stationed in Yankee land, fought for the South during our civil
war. Others from there, George Washington, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson,
�James Madison. Yorktown, Williamsburg, Alexandria, Jamestown, Appomattox,
places to bring ripples down our spines...and now the Pentagon and CIA head-
quarters are stationed there. Point is: we love California and Virginia. We
love north and south, east and west, UC Berkeley and Stanford. Will our
children and grandchildren be able to do as we have done--love contrasts! Or
will there be only sameness?
Do we have wisdom enough to preserve diversity, both states, east and
west? Do we!
Another Side. We Americans have a secret weapon (other than our abundant
natural resources) seldom discussed. It's our ability to say "Oops, I goofed!
Tipped over another glass of Zinfandel." Japanese do not gracefully react to
failure or accident, part of their face-saving religious beliefs. But we were
born of trial and error, came out of repression and failure, to take risk, to
be free enough to fail and hit bottom. What an advantage!
Japanese have one other major barrier before being leaders of our race:
their attitude towards women, which is generations behind ours. Their culture
makes it hard to change, far harder than it has been for us. Their lack of
free expression is reason they have few innovative ideas...generations of
taking the imaginative ideas of others and improving the implementation by
paying attention to details, details so important to product quality. Once
they are forced to develop ideas, become free thinkers on their own, do the
basic research, then their competitive advantages (mainly as result of, as
with south Koreans, low standard of living) look neither very attractive nor
long-term promising. Remember, they have learned everything they know, about
business, about capitalism, by observing us. Now, their turn to become
innovative, to act, not simply react, but fully on their own ground. Can they
do it? Peace.
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
Z-News 505 is Copyright 1986 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission
to reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is
given to Echelon.
