Version 3.0 of ZCPR is released, with 3.3 pending; latest ZRDOS is 1.7 and
remains priced at $59.50. Upgrades are only $20.00, for those using Z-COM or
earlier versions of ZRDOS. Item 12 on Price List.
Z Tips. Notice Version 1.4e of DSD is shipping. Screen-oriented, multi-
window utility is best debugger/simulator available for high-performance 8-bit
systems, bar none. Author, John Otken, intends to keep it that way. REALLY
SPEEDS DEBUGGING CODE! New release supports Hitachi HD64180 extended Z80
instruction set, and has backtrace facilities similar to a word processor's
"undo" key. Auto-installs to ZCPR3 TCAP environment. Over 60 commands.
Elegant. Still only $129.95, Item 23 on Price List. Because of new, easier-
to-use 135-page manual, upgrade price to those with previous version is
$30.00, instead of usual $20.00, plus S&H.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
BPrinter, Version 1.1, adds a new mode of operation useful for situations
where complex ESCape character sequences are contained in files to be
"background" printed. Mode needed when using, e.g., I/O Recorder to capture
Newword or WordStar output for proportional spacing printers. Now new
"verbatim" mode is used for these situations but v1.1 retains "normal" mode
for expanding tabs in "straight" text files. (See Z-User's Corner below for
alias using I/OR and BPrinter.) Offered for $39.95 plus S&H. Upgrade for
$20.00. Requires ZRDOS 1.1 or later and IOP installed.
Lots of magazine pieces published about things of interest. The Computer
Journal, Issue #25, has three; one by Jay Sage (Z-Node #3) detailing ZSIG/NAOG
purposes; one by Morris Simon (Consultant, Tuscaloosa, AL) comparing manual
versus auto install ZCPR3 and Z-System, with much supportive background. And
one by Rick Lehrbaum (Ampro Computers) showing how to build an SCSI bus
adapter. Micro/Systems Journal, Sept/Oct 1986, Vol.2/No.5, has one by Richard
Conn (ZCPR3 author) on advantages of designing and writing programs using
SYSLIB, Z3LIB, and VLIB in Z80 and HD64180 computer environments.
Hurray! Now The Word Plus, spelling check and correction system, is
bundled with Newword from Newstar Software, Z-News 402/403. Price is still
only $125.00. Such a deal!
Just released ZRDOS v1.7 is fast, as announced in Z-News 601-1. Going
from one drive to another is near instant. Warm boot occurs fast, much faster
than under CP/M 2.2, and does not change R/O status of files or disk, hard
disk partition or floppy drive. But, programs directly altering disk
directory tracks require running DISKRST immediately after exit, to update
changed disk parameters. We speak of programs classified as "disk editors."
UNERASE and DU3 are examples. Remember alias UNERA of Z-News 507-2? Here's
one just as simple but for DU3 sessions: du312;diskrst. We call alias DU3.
It uses latest version of DU3, 3.12. Type DU3<cr> and DISKRST, ZRDOS v1.7
utility, is automatically run on exit from DU312.
No grass growing under compression-expert Steven Greenberg's feet.
Designs and codes a greatly improved, faster, more flexible, and better
compression ratios, releases Version 2.0 of CRUNCH. Our "library" 423-record
test file of Z-News 508-4 compressed to 225 records versus 266 for SQUEEZE
v1.11, 246 for CRUNCH v1.1. Complete package (with support TYPE and UNCR, and
REL code ready to be used by other written-in-linkable-MicroSoft-format tools)
is on Z-Nodes everywhere and on SUS diskette #6. We must get to putting UNCR
into NULU, VTYPE, and VFILER. Advantages of CRUNCH are so great, SQUEEZE now
seems very inadequate. Caveat: Versions 1.x of CRUNCH are incompatible with
2.0 and later. So keep both 1.x and 2.x to be able to UNCR any crunched file
that comes along.
Richard Charnes, Berkeley, CA, has taken shells and aliases under Z-
System to heart. Library file TLF.LBR is recent result. TLF is a type-file-
in-library utility. File may be uncompressed, squeezed, or crunched. Similar
in concept to GLF, extract library files alias of Z-News 508, but uses TYPELZ
instead of LGET. Thanks, Richard, for thinking about how to use tools of Z to
your advantage, and ours. TLF is on SUS #6 diskette and on many Z-Nodes.
Echelon bootable disk Z-System for Kaypro with Advent TurboROM is
shipping. Offered for $69.95, is Item 13 on Price List. Comes with special
70-page tutorial-style manual written by Richard Jacobson and Bruce Morgen.
Those wanting to improve their Kaypros, any model or version, bootable disk Z-
System is your opportunity, with or without TurboROM. No installation
hassles--three sizes of Z, ready to go to work for you.
String Searching, Continued. Charles Kestner points out FYNDE is fastest of
"public domain" string searching utilities. Program displays built-in help if
only verb is entered at command line. We tested it on our two-file, 15-
character string benchmark, Z-News 508-3, and was unable to get better than
12.82 seconds on 4mHz Z80 Ampro hard disk, 18.44 on 3ms step-rate 96 tpi
floppy. (Remember, FIND54 took 9.56 and 17.38, respectively; FINDU, 24.02 and
33.31.) Since FYNDE, like FINDU, can search squeezed files, we wouldn't
expect it to be the fastest. Definitely, FYNDE is faster than FINDU. On the
other hand, FIND54 can output found-text-lines into a declared file; FYNDE
cannot.
We can tell that Bridger Mitchell, of Plu*Perfect Systems, is working on
a string-search program. Knowing him, he will come up with something unique,
and desirable. What have we started with this string search? Well, interest!
In finding text in the most efficient manner, and that's good. We are
benchmark and beta test site for Bridger, if he comes up with something faster
than FIND54. Good luck, one and all.
SUS Report. System Software Support diskette #6 fills but has a ways to go
to be full.
XDIR III, Version 2.0 Horizontal Listing by File Name/Type
Disk: F User: 0 Name: BACKUP, File Attributes: Non-System
Filename.Typ Size K RS Filename.Typ Size K RS Filename.Typ Size K RS
-------- --- ------ -- -------- --- ------ -- -------- --- ------ --
-SUS .006 0 R ALIAS#2 .LBR 2 CRUNCH20.LBR 50
DU312 .COM 12 FIND54 .COM 4 FINDU10 .LBR 6
FYNDE .COM 4 TLF .LBR 12 ZL2 .ZEX 2
ZNODES37.LZT 4
10 Files Using 96K, 10 Files on Disk and 290K Left
ZL2.ZEX is a conditional batch file for programming assembly language using
ZAS v2.4 and ZLINK v2.3, and Z3INS to auto-install a Z3 utility you worked on.
Similar to original ZL.ZEX by Dennis Wright, author of ZRDOS, but using ZAS's
error detection ability instead of FINDERR. ZNODES37.LZT requires UNCR v2.0
to uncompress. Of course, it's in CRUNCH20.LBR on #6 diskette. If any of
these files are of interest, join our SUS ranks. Z-News 507-1 contains full
details.
Z-User's Corner. The alias mentioned above, BP, Background Print, uses
BPrinter and I/O Recorder. But first some background. Our favorite word
processor is Newword. Compatible with WordStar, but with more speed, "dot"
commands, and control over printers. Alas, Newword cannot print files while
editing like WordStar can. However, with I/OR and BPrinter, Newword takes on
background printing power superior to that of WordStar. BP<cr> command
syntax. BP.COM consists of
ldr recorder.iop;record on p;nw;record off p;ldr bprinter.iop; <<
bprint v printer.fil;nw
RECORDER.IOP loads followed by RECORD diverting output from printer to default
file, PRINTER.FIL. Next Newword loads. Then from main menu, you now declare
file to print using P command. After Newword quickly completes "printing" to
file PRINTER.FIL, you exit using X command. Alias turns RECORD off and runs
BPRINT, using verbatim "V" option printing of PRINTER.FIL starts. Returns you
to Newword after printing starts, for simultaneous editing while printing.
Variations: remove "nw" command at end of alias returning to command line
prompt after printing starts; use WordStar instead of Newword. Other vari-
ations of BP alias are equally possible to satisfy your needs.
We use BPrinter, Version 1.1 and I/O Recorder, Version 1.7. If you don't
have IOP segment installed in your BIOS, now's the time to do it. Wait no
longer. Input/Output redirection opens doors to task automation. Price List
Item 84, ZCPR3 and IOPs, by Richard Conn, explains step-by-step how to modify
your BIOS for redirection. Book assumes assembly language knowledge for
understanding. Covers using DEV, DEVICE, and RECORD utilities. Still only
$9.95 plus S&H.
From Our Mail Box. "Enclosed is my check for $24.00 for my Z-News
subscription. ...and I'm not saying that I now know everything on my computer
but the challenge of your entire system drives me on. Thanks for your support
and Z-System." writes William Fassnacht, McKinleyville, CA.
Rick Swenton, Bristol, CT, reminds of, "...my latest work on 'Z' recently
published in the Heath/Zenith magazine, REMark." That makes it three! Rick
has articles in Nov '85, Jan and Sept '86 issues of that magazine. First one
was on characteristics of ZCPR3; second, on Z-System in general; and now,
bootable disk version of Z-System created and sold by Analytical Products,
Woodlake, CA, under license from Echelon. In his letter, Rick gives high
praise--we do too--to "master" Richard Conn, Dennis Wright, and Peter Shkabara
for their work (Z-News 309-1/2, 501-3, and 502-5). Now maybe, Rick, you are
ready to do a book review of Z-System User's Guide. Just maybe...and we need
articles showing what aliases combined with Z-System facilities can do for
computer users.
Z-Node Activity. Bob Peddicord, back online with Z-Node #60 after a move.
New access number is 503/597-2852.
Robert Hootman assists Richard Peterson, Z-Node #31, El Paso, TX,
915/821-3638, handling "The Pass" sysop duties. They have 100 megabytes
online using Heath H89 and Ampro "Little Board" Z80 computers.
Four new Z-Nodes come online, while nine inactives have been dropped from
roster. File ZNODES37.LQT has latest information on Z-Nodes.
Carol Miller, Enid, OK 73702, 405/237-9890, becomes Z-Node #33, "EDP
Consultants" node. Carol is into data processing, you see!
Ben Grey fills big, long-time void in Portland, OR, area managing Z-Node
#24, 503/644-4621; and also in Oregon, Ken Jones, Z-Node #4, 503/370-7655,
complements Bob Peddicord, both in Selma, OR. Ken calls his node "Time
Taker." We guess "time" refers to his, ours, and yours.
Finally, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, gets Z-Node #18. Bruce Smith
handles sysop chores from 416/823-4521.
More Benchmarks. We picked-up table below from a local RAS--thought it
enough of general interest to reprint here.
Add these meas
urements to those of Z-News 409 and 501 and a full-picture
emerges. Sieve tests here were run using only one iteration, instead of 10,
as has been done in past times. One iteration seems to be more appropriate
for relative slow micros, to speed comparative testing.
Lunch Break. Week of 8 September 1986 saw record sell-off of stocks by
institutional buyers, selling based mainly on advice of computer programs. We
wonder if many sellers understand principles used for their computer's
decision to output such advice. Same holds for users of spread sheet
equations developed by someone else. Seems end users are now pawns of those
who develop programs that make decisions. Think! Most of these programs are
static, have old data, not updated by day-to-day thinking of human beings.
It's up to 150 now, and count continues...we see yen rising to 120-to-
the-dollar in a year or two. Remember ratio, not too long ago, was 240 or so.
Dollar and zen value are covered in Z-News 502-2. Oh! What webs we weave...
Sol Libes does it again--sells magazine he founded, but remains as
editor. Yes, M&T Publishing, publisher of Dr. Dobb's Journal has taken over
Micro/Systems Journal...hopefully, and we believe it, good things will come
from such a relationship. Both DDJ and MS/J, over the years, have been
significant sources for news and technical information about microcomputers
and its industry doings. We wish Sol, Lennie, Don, and Susan good luck and
happiness in their new business relationship.
We usually view Z-News equally as art-form and newsletter, much like folk
music with hard social-issue lyrics. We go from sea-shore through desert to
mountain-top generating technical descriptions, industry coverage, and cross-
grain philosophy. Span far and wide, provoke. All to break molds, change
ruts into groves, generate new thought. (In fact, we write this Z-News issue
on-the-move within California's Sierra Nevada/Madre--snow-covered, mother
range--with elevations over 10,000 feet. Easy mentally to get aloft at such
altitudes. It's not the end of the world, but you can see it from here.)
Work should be for more than money, for more than a pay check, but for
learning, for purpose. Then, life takes on meaning. Purpose has value of and
within itself, like colors. Sure, colors--red, green, blue, and mixtures--
have purpose. Here we go again, provoking...lunch is over.
====================================================================
Of Angels and Eagles. We grope, as in darkness, trying to make sense of our
surroundings. We started as wanderers and we remain so. The meanest among us
can be as big as our continent, we homo sapients striving to become thrice-
sapient. We must go where we have not been, we wanderers, but...
Morality plays such a small part in what we do. (Yet a golden thread
still runs among us, bonds us...usually pull for underdog in competitions.)
Economics subconsciously top our priority list, both individually and collect-
ively, nationally. No matter what we say, actions speak louder. What we are
totally masks any words we use to describe ourselves.
Actions proclaim, manifest being. We promote liberty within our borders,
shout its merits wide and far. But abroad, economic issues take priority,
rule what we do, how we behave. We seem to care not with what form of
government we deal, so long as we benefit financially from our relationship.
Liberty at home, bondage abroad. Latin America is best case in point, covered
by the Monroe Doctrine. We "own" South American people, to do with as we
please. And our pleasure is to use their natural and human resources to
"ease" our lives in USA. We forget these Latins, these Hispanics are
Americans and co-inhabitants of the planet. But, our policies drive them to
take sides. With Communist help, new unions are being formed against us, in
West versus East struggle. Why has this happened? No one to blame? Simply
human nature unfolding: history, as is being made in South Africa today? But
window for action, for leadership is closing. (Please read again definition
of money, Z-News 305-5; levels of morality, 408-3; and, whole being, 305-2.)
We should encourage same swiftness, same quality of leadership shown by
Afrikaners in pointing way to end British colonialism (a colonialism
essentially economic in character) at beginning of 20th century (Boer War,
1899-1902). Leadership, we need it now! If Western world doesn't provide it,
who will? 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: Little Board, Ampro Computers; SB180, Micromint; PRO-180, Magnum
Digital; ON!, Oneac; DT42, The SemiDisk, Deep Thought 42, SemiDisk Systems;
TR-XL180, M.A.N. Systems; TurboROM, Advent; HD64180, Hitachi; Z-System, ZCPR3,
ZRDOS, Z-Tools, Zas, Zlink, Z-Msg, Term3, Quick-Task, FINDS, PPAL, Lasting-
Value Software, Echelon; GT180, Turbo Modula-II, Borland International; Lotus
1-2-3, Lotus Development; TWP, The Word Plus, Oasis Systems; SIFT, Siftsoft;
Electra-Find, O'Neill Software.
* *
Z sets you FREE!
* *
Z-News 602 is Copyright 1986 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission
to reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is
given to Echelon.
