Z TIPS: POKE&GO1.DOC, presently on Z-Nodes, exhibits unusually high
creativity by its author, Bruce Morgen (Ivyland, Pennsylvania). The Alias and
Zex files described by this DOC file indicates what can be done using vast
power designed into Z System (neither CP/M nor MS-DOS have such power.) A
little thought goes a long way if concentrated to come up with something
useful. Idea here is to change to-be-run program where and after it's been
loaded. Various temporary versions are created, e.g., of WordStar with
different default settings, by an RCP (Resident Command Package) poking
specific addresses using different Alias files and a Zex file. Here's how
Bruce described his inspiration:
"If your ZCPR3 system supports the GO command and you have an RCP with
the POKE command, you can easily make extensive run-time modifications to a
program. The terminal session below is a very simple example of the
technique. The entire process is an alias script, ZEX is used to load and
exit WordStar, the WordStar addresses for right margin and initial mode are
poked to the desired values and the now-modified WordStar is run with an
optional command tail. The regular RCP (without POKE) is loaded on exit.
Much more extensive changes could be made this way, including some, like page
length or different control strings for different printers, which cannot be
done from the console once inside WordStar. You can use WINSTALL to make a
modified copy of WordStar, use DIFF or equivalent to find the poke locations
and off you go-- 2k-bytes for the alias (1k-bytes if you have CMDRUN and put
it in COMMAND.LBR), 2k-bytes for WS35.ZEX--a savings of 14k-bytes over
separate versions of WordStar. Additional aliases 'cost' only 1 to 2k-bytes
extra per WordStar version because only one ZEX file is needed. If you don't
have ZCPR3 I/O redirection, you can manipulate the IOBYTE with a poke, not to
mention the ZCPR3 external Path and Wheel Byte, much faster than with
utilities (PATH or WHEEL)--clumsy technique for console input, but fine for
alias-controlled routines. Similar stuff can be done from a menu shell in
lieu of an alias. All this assumes that WordStar is patched, or BDOS
modified, so that WordStar can find its overlays properly if you want freedom
to wander around user areas. Have fun--Bruce Morgen."
A0:SYSTEM>ALIAS WSD
ALIAS, Version 1.1
Alias Name: WSD
Old Alias Command Line:
1 --> A0:; |GO TO SYSTEM DIRECTORY
2 --> LDR SYS3.RCP; |LOAD RCP THAT HAS THE POKE COMMAND
3 --> ZEX WS35; |LOAD WORDSTAR & EXIT (SEE WS35.ZEX, BELOW)
4 --> POKE 036B 22; |SET RIGHT MARGIN TO 35 (ACTUALLY 34 DECIMAL)
5 --> POKE 0378 00; |SET INITIAL MODE TO DOCUMENT FROM NON-DOCUMENT
6 --> $D$U:; |RESTORE ORIGINAL DIRECTORY
7 --> GO $1; |RUN LOADED WORDSTAR WITH OPTIONAL FILENAME
8 --> A0:; |BACK TO SYSTEM DIRECTORY ON EXIT
9 --> LDR SYS.RCP; |LOAD REGULAR RCP
10 --> $D$U: |EXIT TO ORIGINAL DIRECTORY
Input Alias (RETURN to Abort)
-->
WSD alias listing cancelled by entering a carriage (cursor) return. The
contents of ZEX file used by WSD is shown by using the Type command:
A0:SYSTEM>TYPE WS35.ZEX
WS |RUN WORDSTAR
^. |MAKE SURE ZEX LEAVES NO
^# |FOOTPRINTS (FOR NEATNESS' SAKE)
X |EXIT TO ALIAS STEP #4
Either WSFIX.ASM or WSPAT-DM.ASM, on Z-Nodes, permit patching WordStar for use
in directories other than in User area where WS.COM and overlay files are.
Another idea: set-up alias with loop-ZEX (GOTO) using REG command to
"print a text file the number of times from-command-line declaration."
Chuck McManis, Sunnyvale, California, has contributed a neat improvement
to IF.COM permitting wildcard file matches, and he added extensive built-in
help. Chuck also has some interesting nested alias examples to wet your
appetite for setting up and maintaining a ZCPR3 Source Code Library of
squeezed files. Alias GET and PUT uses alias EXTRACT and INSERT,
respectively. Get IF12.DOC and IF12.MAC for further details.
Finally, good neighbor-helper John Dunsmuir, Scarborough, Ontario, has
located and fixed a known bug in VFILER32, in the View command. It's fixed as
Version 3.3. John is presently completing addition of wild-card file tagging
and unsqueezing to program, to be Version 3.4. To most, these are welcomed.
Look for it as you read this newsletter. (Others, namely Jay Sage, Z-Node
Sysop, and Bob Demron, have greatly enhanced VFILER in parallel with John's
effort; our task of combining all these improvements into one Version 3.5 is
challenging. We may choose to have two different versions, each following
independent paths; more about VFILER in a fortnight.)
FLASH: Famous message handling program added to EI product line--METAL!
Written by Tim Gary (Los Altos, California), Metal provides lots of capability
with convenience, over 20 commands. Open and private message storage; easy
and quick access to new messages not previously read; catalog of users by
name, city and ID number; plus full statistics of file up/download by date and
user. Metal presently mates with public domain telephone answerer, BYE, and
soon with yet-to-be-shipped (vaporware) Term3. More details of METAL is found
on page 2 of Newsletter 009, dated 12 November 1984.
Z-Nodes online (or soon to be) include some big storage disks and high
population locations; but most importantly, these Sysops want to serve users:
1. Dave McCord - Fremont, CA - 415/489-9005
2. Al Hawley - Los Angeles, CA - 213/670-9465
3. Jay Sage - Newton Centre (Boston), MA - 617/965-7259
4. Don Buzzingham - College Station, TX - 409/845-8931
5. Ronnie Stone - Lisle (Chicago), IL
6. Andrew Hart - Palo Alto, CA
7. Tim Linehan - Olympia, WA - 206/357-7400
8. Thomas Hill - Anchorage, AK
9. Larry Snyder - Winter Park (Orlando), FL - 305/677-8086
10. Rea Williams - Carson, CA - 714/855-0672
11. Mike Ward - Voorhees, NJ - 609/428-8864
12. Norm Gregory - Seattle, WA - 206/325-1325
13. Walt Jung - Baltimore, MD - 301/661-2175
14. Rich Rodeheaver - Reynoldsburg (Columbus), OH - 614/864-2673
15. Richard Jacobson - Chicago, IL - 312/649-1730
16. Jud Newell - Toronto, Ontario - 416/232-0442, 232-0269
17. Robert Tate - Altamonte Springs, FL - 305/831-6049
18. John Rovner - Union City, CA - 415/489-0388
19. Bob Finch - Glendale, CA - N6CXB 2 meter packet, 146.745 mc
Certainly we find our node collection gratifying--future holds much excitement
from nets and nodes for us, for our continent, and our Earth. We need total
of 40 Sysops worldwide for an effective network, have a ways to go.
Dave McCord has been selected as Z-Node coordinator, with Al Hawley as
backup and Los Angeles connection to Bob Finch, our ham radio packet network
expert. These gentlemen are prepared to answer your questions about
communications and about message systems.
Z-Nodes contain full message recording subsystems, ZCPR3 Core and
Utilities files available for transfer using Christensen (XMODEM) protocol;
plus latest Z-System program bug fixes and selected Echelon promotional
material, list prices, and order forms. Some Sysops have elected to be
downloaders of our proprietary software. For those wishing to buy Echelon
programs (Discat, Z3-Dot-Com, ZRDOS, Z-Com, Z-Tools, etc.) by downloading,
contact closest Z-Node for procedural details. (Downloading from nodes solves
our massive disk format problem.)
More Benchmarks: Comparing 16-bit multiply and 32-bit result from Intel
document "iAPX 88 versus Zilog Z80 Benchmark Report--August 1980" with Hitachi
HD64180 similar operation indicates modern, superior 8-bit design. Results:
Z80 is slow because it lacks hardware on-chip multiply. For tests, HD64180
used software routine to provide 16-bit multiply, but employed its internal 8-
bit multiply instruction to get such quick results. The different clock rates
and wait states of 8088 and HD64180 muddy final conclusions about absolute
quickness, but here we see 8-bit certainly holding its own! Bench testing was
performed by Tom Cantrell of Microfuture, Fremont, California.
Thanks to Don Roth and Keith Houser of CP/M SIG Inc. (Broomfield-Denver,
Colorado) for their considerable article writing, conducting of workshops, and
generally promoting Echelon and ZCPR3. These educators are doing one Z of a
job acting as catalyst to those wanting to learn.
Solutions versus Features: From our beginning we have tried to indicate, to
point to solutions to your problems. We could have just listed features of
ZCPR3 and ZRDOS, Z System; no, we have produced a continuous stream of
examples to show solutions to your problems. Some we have received from you:
thanks! What other solutions have you come up with--don't be bashful or
delay, tell us!
Many have asked why we buck trends, go not with IBM and PC-DOS and Unix,
the popular microcomputer fashion. Well, we are not of mass movements, but
about fragments, remnants! Nonetheless we use only whole cloth, usually in
dreadfully short supply; most don't understand or appreciate what we do, but
how they get upset.
We welcome Crusader, activist label placed on us by some few (others have used
less flattering expressions). You know, we don't go with flows, with crowds;
but create intellectual turbulence and mental eddies. We maneuver at near-
virgin fringes of human emotional exploration. Join us!
See you down the lines...
Echelon, Inc.
101 First Street
Los Altos, CA 94022
Telephone: 415/948-3820
ZCPR3 BBS & Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005
Trademarks: Z80/800, Zilog; HD64180, Hitachi; 8088, Intel; Z-System, Z-Tools,
ZCPR3, ZRDOS, Z-Com, Z3-Dot-Com, Discat, Syslib3, Term3, Zas, Zlink, DSD, ZDM,
ITOZ, Revas3, Metal, Lasting-Value Software, Echelon and their respective
owners and authors; PC-DOS, IBM Corp.; CP/M, Digital Research; WordStar,
MicroPro Int'l; Unix, AT&T.
Z-News 107 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission
to reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is
given to Echelon, Inc.
