Z TIPS: Eagerly awaiting completion of VFILER Version 3.5, upgrade by Al
Dunsmuir (Scarborough, Ontario, Canada), we submit here what we think are
useful VFILER notes. But first, we show VFILER built-in help (menu of
commands using screen highlighting), obtained by typing "?" or "/" (unshifted
?) toggle at VFILER Files display command prompt. Last of three displays is
Macro Menu (VFILER.CMD file).
B0:WORK1 VFILER, Version 3.4 [Z-80 Code] Fn.FT
-- Tagging Commands -- --------- File Operations ----------
T - Tag File C - Copy File D - Delete File
U - Untag File F - File Size R - Rename File
W - Wildcard T/U Q - usQ File
G - Group Copy/Delete/FSize/usQ/Tag/Untag
-- Cursor -- -- File Print & View -- --- User Functions ---
^E P - Print V - View 0-9 - Execute # - HELP
^
^S <-+-> ^D -- Movement Commands -- --- Miscellaneous ---
v <SP> - File Forward A - Toggle Alpha Sort
^X <BS> - File Backward H - Help File
+ - Screen Forward N - New DIRectory
-- Screen -- - - Screen Backward S - Disk Status
^A Left J - Jump to a File Z - ZC
^F Right E - Refresh Screen ^C,X - Exit
Command (? = Files): X
When in Files display, command line shows as: Command (? = Help):. The
drive/user area (directory name) is shown in upper left corner; current-file
cursor points to, at upper right. Commands may be executed from three (3)
user interface displays: files, built-in help and macro menus. Current File
shows from all displays, even Macro Menu.
Instead of 6 or 7 seconds, VFILER 3.5 loads in about 3 seconds (thanks to
Z-Noder Jay Sage, Newton Centre, MA), using 8" DSDD drives, indicating a
really useful, little noticed utility. Observe internal macro command menu
(User Functions) is obtained by typing "#", fully releaving any necessity to
remember the ten (10) custom commands.
VFILER does things you want it to do: unsqueeze files to printer,
console or to another file, or unsqueeze on a wildcard and group basis.
Single or group tagging/untagging, copying, renaming, deleting, viewing, and
paginated with-header printing. Also wildcard tagging/untagging of files for
further processing--nothing is as quick and as simple as VFILER for general
disk and file housekeeping, and as macro-command main entry into turn-key
menu/command-line drive computer system!
Now we design an example CMD macro command file (with Macro Menu) to
manage ZCPR3 source files, by keeping them in a squeezed library called (by
Charles McManis, Sunnyvale, CA) SOURCES. Z-News 201 showed how library
automation is realized from ZCPR3 command line using aliases PUT, GET, INSERT
and EXRACT. We use two of these in our design and VFILER current-file pointer
to insert/extract files into/from SOURCES, plus additional aliases and
commands assisting other activities.
Remember, several CMD files may be used in your system by placing each in
a different directory, using current directory and search path to access
desired one. The command lines of CMD are separated from Macro Menu by the
"#" symbol, the same symbol used to display menu. VFILER.HLP contains
information necessary to write custom CMD files. While in VFILER, type H to
access this documentation; outside, use command HELP ZCPR3 with HLP files
along your path.
------------------------------------------------------------------
0 - Directory of Current Disk (XDIR) - 0
1 - EDIT Current File (non-document mode) (WordStar) - 1
2 - Put MAC file into SOURCES Library (PUTIT) - 2
3 - Extract MQC file from SOURCES Library (EXTRACT) - 3
4 - Enter SOURCES Library (LBR) (NULU) - 4
5 - Scan Master CATALOG from Console (Discat CATSCAN) - 5
6 - Financial Tally (T/MAKER) - 6
7 - Telecommunicate via modem (Modem7) - 7
8 - Database Management System (MBasic + DIMS) - 8
9 - Set Current File Attribute (R/O, R/W, Archive) (PROTECT) - 9
------------------------------------------------------------------
XDIR is set here to give a display horizontally sorted by file name (not
vertically by file type, the defaults for XDIR) of all files on current disk.
Notice how trailing command attributes are easily added to CMD command text to
bring out features desired. Text between apostrophes (prompts to user) may be
nested, to be answered by user, one following another!
WordStar 3.0 is poked at location 392H (a byte altered) to make sure non-
document mode is used for program source code editing function (no high bit-
7's set that way). GO executes WS at standard Z (CP/M) location 100H.
Program file is pointed to with VFILER cursor arrow, passed to WS as %f file.
Your ZCPR3 CCP must be assembled to have GET and GO active.
Library program NULU (Martin Murray's replacement for LU and LSWEEP) has
been renamed to LU. PUTIT alias is: sq $1;era $1;insert *.mqc. INSERT and
EXTRACT aliases are from Z-News 201; sq is SQUEEZE program. (We learned GET
alias name conflicts with ZCPR3 resident, intrinsic GET, which loads a file
without execution at a specified memory location--JUMP intrinsic runs
program.)
Using 3 to extract a file from SOURCES library results in prompt for file
name of MAC file desired. Only file name is entered without file type. File
copy is automatically unsqueezed exiting SOURCES library, details in EXTRACT
alias.
Master disk and file catalog is scanned using Rick Conn's DISCAT (Echelon
proprietary) program (see Newsletter 008, page 2). Here's a case of shell-
menu controlled directory (CAT) being entered from shell VFILER. The DISCAT
menu permits running VFILER and chaining back when finished. Of course, going
to HELP directory from VFILER results in nested shells also. Where does it
end--it doesn't! Disk B0: is directory WORK1 (see Newsletter 104, page 1).
Study the newsletters and HLP files and your ability to create macro CMD
files increases quickly. Try some--start slow and debug each command line
before going to the next--learn a little, do, learn more. Aliases and Zex
file in Z-News 109 and 201 set the mood! (Next newsletter covers Files
display and adds more notes.)
Z-COM is big success! Now you can install Z-System on your computer in a few
minutes, with I/O Package Segment ready to use PKey and other I/O packages you
or we develop. You have all the functions of full-up Z without modifying your
BIOS. Z-Com cold boots as your operating system by using CP/M CCP patch
technique described in Newsletter 009, but ZC is used as command instead of
Z3.
Licensed users of Z3-Dot-Com may upgrade to Z-Com (with I/OP) for $40.95
plus tax (if any) and shipping and handling of $3.00 (a $99.00 value).
Included is rose-pink two-sided command and installation card, two disks of
latest ZCPR3 utilities, along with six (6) special ZRDOS utilities and full
online HLP documentation. Notice command 6 in above CMD file, how auto-
archiving (backup) of edited (changed) file occurs using ZRDOS Archive Copy
utility!
Z-Node Network nears completion in United States--need several nodes in Europe
and Asia. These apparently won't come automatically to us, so we will search
them out!
25. Douglas Thom - San Jose, CA 95129 - 408/253-1309 (number correction!)
34. Rod L. Blackman - Visalia, CA 93291 -
35. Norman Beeler - Sunnyvale, CA 94086 - 408/245-1420
Z-Node #15 needs more callers! Those in Chicago area can have access to a
super Kaypro BBS and Z-Node run by Sysop Richard Jacobson. Try it--dial 312/
649-1730 and behold treasures offered your modem port.
Amateur_Z_User's_Corner: Where to go to efficiently obtain more knowledge,
understanding of computer operations and usage--try your public library! We
know our writings don't completely cover your needs, but there's lots of books
and magazines we recommend reading and studying that will:
1. Soul of CP/M: Using and Modifying CP/M's Internal Features, Mitchell Waite
2. The Programmer's CP/M Handbook, Andy Johnson-Laird, Osborne/McGraw-Hill
3. Inside CP/M, Dave Cortesi of Dr. Dobb's Journal
4. User's Guide, P.O. Box 5245, Redwood City, CA 94063, 415/364-0108
5. The Computer Journal, P.O. Box 1697, Kalispell, MT 59903, 406/257-9119
6. Micro Cornucopia, P.O. Box 223, Bend, OR, 97709, 503/382-5060
7. Micro/Systems Journal, P.O. Box 1192, Mountainside, NJ 07092, 201/522-9347
First seven issues of User's Guide are great for learning CP/M, WordStar,
MailMerge, SuperCalc, Modem7, dBASE II, T/Maker III and other popular 8-bit
programs. These back issues are sold for $6.00 each. Exorbitant, you say;
yes, but worth it!
It'll take approximately two (2) years of study and computer operation to
feel you know what's happening. After 1000 hours of activity you are above
average in capability to understand the new and to do, way ahead of majority
in these days of computer literacy--you know-you-know what's going on. Wonder
what a "power user" feels? Study no more than two (2) hours per day. Facts
need to settle into your bones, soul before more is laid on, a basic homo
sapient learning characteristic.
Digital Research (Pacific Grove, CA) continues to demonstrate truth of harsh
words used (see 15 October 1984 Newsletter 007, page 4, next to last
paragraph) to describe their understanding of customers, of business, of life.
(Yuppies and MBA's do not make a business.) Their Unix activity is dissolved,
as is their languages division; neither 8 nor 16-bit CP/M activity remains.
All eggs are in GEM (Graphics Environment Manager) basket...but will Apple
Computers sue? We expect them to see really hard times in less than six
months (DRI founder Gary Kildall deserves better; Gordon Eubanks, author of
EBasic and CBasic, would agree), unless a miracle! May their new Concurrent
DOS-286 take off. See you down the lines...
Echelon, Inc.
101 First Street
Los Altos, CA 94022
Telephone: 415/948-3820
Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005
Trademarks: HD64180, Hitachi; Z80/800, Zilog; WY-50/75/85, Wyse; Model 955,
TeleVideo; Z-System, Z-Tools, ZCPR3, ZRDOS, Z-Com, Zas, Zlink, DSD, ZDM, ITOZ,
Z-Msg, Lasting-Value Software, Echelon and their respective owners and
authors; Unix, AT&T; CP/M, GEM, Digital Research.
Z-News 202 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission
to reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is
given to Echelon.
