12 August 1985
                                 Z-NEWS 209

Double  FLASH:  REVAS4 gets Hitachi HD64180 code disassembly capability--price
stays at $90.00!  Al Hawley, REVAS (REVerse ASsemlber) author and Sysop for Z-
Node  #2 and ham radio packet to landline network coordinator,  just  finished
Hitachi  version.   Registered  REVAS3  owners may  upgrade  for  $20.00  plus
shipping and handling.  Send Echelon your master diskette.
    TERM III is shipping--one year in development,  planned to take only four
(4)  months.   Program takes advantage of environment created by  ZCPR3.   Has
what you would expect from full-feature communications package plus much more.
Term3 represents new thinking about configurability, flexibility, ease-of-use,
performance, and modularity.

Z  TIPS:  VFILER36,  VMENU15,  and MENU38 trio is released preliminarily.   Al
Dunsmuir  (Scarborough,  Ontario) did it again;  we thought previous  versions
were  great  but latest brings a fine tune to assembly  language  programming.
Forty-four  code enhancements were introduced to the trio for:   1)  increased
speed  and quickness,  2) reduced screen rewrites,  and 3)  increased  overall
flexibility.  About the updates, Al said, "A large effort was made to speed up
the loading of VFILER and VMENU, and both VMENU and MENU now are a lot smarter
(search for menu file along path, no extraneous returns/checks of Command line
status).   VMENU  now  knows about the Command echo flag,  and System  menus."
Read *.INF within respective .LBR files for specific details,  on Z-Nodes now.
Z community owes Al much gratitude for his extraordinary attention to  detail,
his  continuing  concern to establish ZCPR3 utilities best.   He next  tackles
ZEX, making it an improved (and proper) Z-System program!
    Dennis  Wright,  Z-Team  Member and author of  ZRDOS,  has  upgraded  Ted
Emigh's  FINDERR to handle ZAS assembler errors.   He also created a nifty ZEX
file  to go with it.   The way Dennis wrote batch file,  ZEX works  without  a
glitch.   Find  ZASLINK.ZEX  and new FINDERR.MAC--it's Version 1.4--on  Z-Node
Central and other nodes.
    Jay  Sage  checked  out ALIAS for  update,  calling  his  screen-oriented
version VALIAS,  and Richard Conn works on MKALIAS.  Therefore, we soon should
have two super make-alias programs with internal editors--good times  continue
to roll!

Rememorandum:   Many computerists remain that haven't purchased Richard Conn's
ZCPR3:  The  Manual.   What's the matter with you  estimated  60,000  Z-System
users?   Bound, typeset, 351 pages, 7.5" by 9.25" size, manual still sells for
only $19.95, plus $4.00 for shipping and handling costs.  Shipping from stock!
You  need not another source for facts,  information,  knowledge?   Satisfied?
Please, think again!
    And there's ZCPR3 and IOPs selling for $9.95, plus shipping and handling,
or  get  the  tutorial  as a series of files (from  Z-Nodes  as  IOP.LBR)  for
download  phone-time cost.   Fifty-page (50) loose-leaf document,  written  by
Richard Conn, explains ZCPR3 input/output redirection philosophy, shows how to
modify your BIOS to include I/OP segments,  and how to use  DEV,  DEVICE,  and
RECORD Z-System commands.

Comment  Line:   We are encouraged by volume of mail  we  receive,  indicating
interest  in high-performance 8-bit products,  and perhaps,  commitment.   One
problem:   we  don't  have the staff to individually respond to most  of  your
questions.
    Your efforts are appreciated;  we thank you.   Every letter is  carefully
read  and we react with what is felt appropriate.   If you haven't received  a
reply,  don't  think we didn't receive and read your  letter.   Consider:   it
takes, on average, 20 minutes of someone's time to draft a response; that time
is worth,  with our present corporate overhead,  about $60.00 per hour.   Thus
each response costs us $20.00,  deeply cutting into profits, profits so dearly
needed to continue our developments.   (MicroPro, producer of WordStar, offers
personalized telephone help at $90.00 for first hour,  if prepaid!  After that
it's $2.50 per minute!)  Information costs money...
    It  may  be severe but printed material should be read  seven  (7)  times
before concluding lack of understanding.   Seven times is sufficient to obtain
meat!   It's a law; from such reading technique, you move from echelon (level)
to echelon, increasing insight naturally.

Z-Node Activity:  Richard Rodeheaver,  C.O.R.E.  Z-Node #14 Sysop,  advises to
use  password  RAVEN  when  logging  onto  his  Reynoldsburg,   Ohio,  system.
Richard's number is 614/864-2678.   Another Richard, Petersen, but in El Paso,
TX, has a new node modem number:  915/821-3638.
    New  1,024k-byte  block  transfer YMODEM and KMD programs  and  2400  bps
modems  exhibit increased through-put,  reduced stay-time on Z-Nodes.   One k-
byte  blocks  instead of 128-byte increase transfer through-put by  about  30%
with 2400 bps modems,  by 9% with 1200 bps.   Actual results are determined by
error rate of transmission circuit.   (US Robotics must make their 2400  modem
less error prone or they will be black-balled.  The Hayes 1200 is poor enough,
we can't live with further reductions in quality.  You OEMs listening?)
    Echelon recommends temporarily using KMD (renamed to XMODEM, as suggested
by its author, Irv Hoff) along with BYE5 on all Z-Nodes, until such time Term3
replaces both.
    While  on  subject of performance,  Jud  Newell,  Z-Node  #16,  Islington
(Toronto),  Ontario,  CANADA, has all Echelon files and programs online.  Both
freely  distributed  ones  (non-commercial  use)  and  proprietary  items  are
handled.   Jud  is  a  popular software downloader (see Z-News  206)  and  has
special modem number for his node:   416/231-9202.   If you need our products,
here's a place to download from!

Amateur  Z User's Corner:  Zas is distributed so assembly produces a REL file,
one  that  can be used for linking with  subroutine  libraries,  like  SYSLIB,
Z3LIB,  and VLIB.  (Change defaults by running "install" program.)  Of course,
REL  files  become COM files using ZLINK and default code origin of  100  hex.
Add trailing "h" to command line to toggle output to HEX.   An alias,  we call
it ZASH, to create COM files from HEX using Ron Fowler's MLOAD program is:

          ZAS $1 h;SAK /bp6 Errors, cancel load (^C)?;era $1.bak;
          era $1.com;mload $1;echo;echo erase hex file created?;
          if input;era $1.hex;else;fi

Note  conditional  test  of  HEX file erasure,  in case you  wanted  HEX  file
retained  for later use.   Command line is ZASH <fn><cr>.   File type (ft)  is
assumed as .Z80 and must not be entered as part of file name (fn).  Such would
be passed along with name.   "era $1.bak" would expand to "era fn.ft.bak"  and
that's not wanted!
    Zilog mnemonics are easy--much easier than Intel--to learn, remember, and
use.   Best  example,  LD operation replaces five (5) Intel ones:   MOV,  MVI,
PCHL, XCHG, and SPHL.  Additionally, LD handles operations beyond Intel's 8080
capability.   You quickly learn register,  immediate, and memory operand (data
to  be  worked  on)  notation.   Source of data to  right  of  operand  comma,
destination  to left;  memory data in parenthesis but immediate and  register,
not.   So think not it difficult to learn Zilog/Hitachi mnemonics, think paths
(no pun intended) to efficiency, performance, and speed.
    Don't  forget  that  one  of the best ways  to  learn  assembly  language
programming is to disassemble working programs, ones you have source code for!
And,  we  know  of no better disassembler  than  REVAS.   Furthermore,  REVAS4
handles   new,    destined-to-change-microcomputer-world,    Hitachi   HD64180
instructions.   (If this were a perfect world,  Intel's 8086/80286 would  have
been upward compatible with 8080/Z80 microprocessor; you know it's not, and it
isn't!)   Unique  REVAS  manual (it's over 80 pages) guides  you  through  all
phases of disassembly and promotes quick code learning.
    For  those with limited disk space,  David McCord (Z-Node Central  Sysop)
has advice.   "A good solution is the Z3 CMDRUN facility.   This allows you to
group  .COM files into a library (.LBR) file,  where you will not be forced to
dedicate  storage  [either an allocation block or directory  entry]  for  each
file,  because library files store member files much more efficiently.  To set
this  up,  get  the LRUNZ3 file in the UTILITY:  directory here.   Rename  the
LRUNZ3.COM file to CMDRUN.COM and place on A15:.   Then, create a library file
of the COM files you want named COMMAND.LBR and place in A15:.  You should now
be  able to invoke any of the COM files in COMMAND.LBR by just  entering  it's
name (e.g.,  SHOW<cr>) at the system prompt, just as though it were not really
actually inside a .LBR file.   Again, see the ARCHIVE: directory for some more
info on the CMDRUN function of ZCPR3."  Please don't install (load) any of the
four  Z3 error handlers if you have CMDRUN.COM along file search path--there's
a logical search conflict!


                    "Louis Carrol sketch and quote here
                            in hardcopy edition"



Public_Domain_Status_of_Echelon_Software:   Questions regarding domain  status
of ZCPR3 and other EI products are coming in again.   Newsletter 103 discussed
our position and nothing has changed.   Z3NOTE.MSG file on Z-Nodes also  gives
details of our status.
    We are aware that several mail-order,  for-profit, companies are offering
packaged  ZCPR3  software for sale.   If these companies don't have a  license
from EI they are probably unintentionally selling our software illegally.   We
hope they apply and get on Echelon's team.   You can help!  Let such companies
know that Echelon would welcome signing them up with a license arrangement  to
sell ZCPR3 (and ZRDOS) software.

Question  Anything Not Understood:  Computer literacy,  for many,  appears  to
stifle  thinking,  certainly a step backwards,  not wanted.   Though increased
quantity of paperwork always results, quality is something else.  It's good to
do  some things occasionally by hand,  add a column of numbers now  and  then.
What we don't use,  we lose!  And a brain is a terrible thing to put into such
category.  Z-News 109, pg 3, and 203, also pg 3, let us have it in the teeth--
question  results,  even  those produced by  computing  machines.   Understand
spreadsheet model's way-of-thinking.   We say again (though, at times, we feel
we plant daisies in South Pole ice):  don't simply be an end-user, be elitist,
be best-of-class!

Business  Management Character:  Subconscious action,  if fundamentals of Life
are  lacking (never learned),  leads to human fear (non-receptivity to  things
new), bogus guilt (self-blame), lack of self-determination (simple re-action),
and  social  detachment  (avoiding  emotional  pain).   American  big-business
produces few individuals elevated to far-sighted-ness, produces few who expend
Cosmic Conscious energy.  We fall into trap thinking next-quarter profits more
important  than  quality of life (if any) our grand children  (when  grown-up)
will  experience.   Long  live principles of  Silent  Spring  author,  Rachael
Carson, and Stanford University Prof. Frederick Terman!
    This  Earth is substance more enduring (holy) than all biological  life--
homo sapiens are but a small aspect of this life.   Until each human becomes a
sphere,  this planet is our MOTHER and FATHER;  the only commandment:   HONOR!
If we honor,  all falls/rises into place;  else, face survival uncertainty, fi
(endif).

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:    SB180,   COMM180,  TKBBS,  Micromint;  HD63484/64180,  Hitachi;
Z80/800, Zilog; 8080/85/88/86/186, Intel; 9580/81, Advanced Micro Devices; WY-
50/350,  Wyse Technology;  Z-System, ZCPR3, ZRDOS, Z-Tools, Z-Com, Zas, Zlink,
ZDM,  REVAS,  Z-Msg,  DSD,  Term3,  Lasting-Value Software,  Echelon and their
respective owners and authors; MOSART, XE1201/03, Xecom; NSC800, National.

Z-News 209 is Copyright 1985 Echelon,  Inc.   All Rights Reserved.  Permission
to  reprint,  wholly or partially,  automatically granted if source credit  is
given to Echelon.



                 "INSERT IN HARD-COPY EDITION"


                TERM III COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

TERM III is a communications system which runs under the Z-System
(the  ZCPR3 command processor with,  optionally,  the ZRDOS  CP/M
BDOS  replacement).    Over  twenty  (20)  programs  provide  the
following capabilities:

    o interactive communications with remote computer systems
    o reliable file transfer between the user's computer (host)
      and a remote computer
    o control of an auto-dial/auto-answer modem
    o access control for remote system applications (the user's
      system can be set up to be dialed into by outside users)
    o rapid and easy reconfiguration of the communications
      environment for different applications

    TERM  III is integrated with ZCPR3 and provides the Z-System
user with a communications capability adaptable to a wide variety
of  needs and can be used in conjunction with his other  Z-System
tools.  The TERM III programs return result codes (which indicate
the  success or failure of their operation) in a manner which can
be  examined  using the IF command.   TERM III  programs  can  be
employed   in  menus  and  aliases  that  provide  commands   and
applications environments which are tailored to a user's specific
needs.  TERM III programs rely upon the environment provided by a
Z-System for support.  Some aspects of this support include:

    o All screen-oriented displays obtain terminal-specific
      information from the ZCPR3 TCAP
    o Many of the programs return result codes (via the Program
      Error Message in most cases) through the ZCPR3
      Environment Descriptor
    o File references can be prefixed with the ZCPR3 directory
      reference forms (DIR or DU)
    o Path searches or direct ROOT accesses are employed
    o Messages and other attributes of the ZCPR3 environment
      are used extensively

    The large number of features built into the TERM III  System
combine   to  provide  the  user  with  flexibility  of  use  and
adaptability to different communications requirements.   Ease  of
use  and  user-friendliness are also key elements of the  design.
An outline of the features of the TERM III System follows:

    1. Interactive Communications
       o terminal mode - the user "feels" like he is directly
         connected to the remote computer via a terminal
       o conversation mode - the screen is divided, with
         incoming characters printed in the top half and
         outgoing characters printed in the bottom half
       o translation tables - all incoming and outgoing
         characters pass through translation tables,
         supporting parity transmissions, masking of
         selected characters (such as escape sequences),
         and using different character sets (such as EBCDIC)
       o macro tables - ten predefined strings can be
         transmitted at will, using multiple tables
       o printer output - displayed characters can be queued
         to the printer
       o buffer load and dump - displayed characters can be
         stored in a memory buffer and dumped to disk,
         printer, or the remote computer
       o XON/XOFF recording - displayed characters can be
         stored in a disk file, using XON/XOFF handshaking
         to ensure no loss of
data
       o dynamic setting and displaying of environment
         variables for ease of selection of features

    2. File Transfer
       o several communications protocols available, including
         XMODEM with Checksum, XMODEM with CRC, and KERMIT
       o batch file transfer (sending lists of files using
         wild cards) available with some protocols
       o communications server - remote system access and
         control from the user's system without the need
         for the user to issue commands to the remote
         system directly

    3. Modem Control
       o answer the telephone and drop into the Z-System
         environment with a result code (phone rang or
         user abort)
       o dial the telephone based on mnemonics or specific
         telephone numbers, built-in editor
       o rotary dialing - dial all numbers in a directory
         file in sequence until one answers
       o multiple telephone number directories

    4. Access Control
       o LOGIN program
       o selecting the attributes of a user's environment
         based on the user's ID; attributes include:
              - command search path
              - ZCPR3 System Segments loaded
              - startup command line
              - various Environment Descriptor data
              - wheel byte and quiet flag
       o loading a TCAP entry based on the user's ID

    5. Environment Configuration
       o use of Comm Sets (Communications Sets) which
         define the aspects of an environment and
         can be quickly loaded as needed
       o screen-oriented editors to create and tailor
         Comm Sets easily
       o automated program installation procedure with
         installation configuration files

TERM  III  was designed to meet the communications needs  of  the
serious Z-System user,  and knowledge of that operating system is
required to make effective use of the combination.   Three books,
ZCPR3: The Manual, ZCPR3 and IOPs, and ZRDOS Programmer's Manual,
provide detail descriptions of all Z-System functions.  Prices:

Price List Items:

 61. Term3, with 100-page, loose-leaf manual .......... $99.00
 81. ZCPR3: The Manual, 351 pages, bound ............... 19.95
 84. ZCPR3 and IOPs, 50 pages, loose-leaf ............... 9.95
 85. ZRDOS Programmer's Manual, 35-page loose-leaf .....  8.95

Order from:
                                                   Echelon, Inc.
                                                101 First Street
                                            Los Altos, CA  94022
                                         Telephone: 415/948-3820
                                    Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005
Rev. 8/5/85