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| PIECES OF 8 |
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| The Newsletter of the |
| Connecticut CP/M Users' Group |
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| "SMALLER IS BETTER!" |
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Novembe� 1988
N�-CO� � Th� Journe� I� Jus� Beginning
Par� One
Copyrigh� 198� b� Ric� Swenton
10� Melind� Lane
Bristol� C� 0601�-7176
I� yo� ar� no� currentl� usin� N�-COM� yo� �shoul� �
orde� i� no� becaus� yo� nee� it� Yo� ma� no� �b� �
awar� �o� �i� bu� yo� can'� liv� �withou� �it� � � �
suppos� �� �shoul� say� i� yo� don'� us� �it� �yo� �
don'� kno� ho� t� live!
Yo� �nee� �N�-CO� becaus� yo� �nee� ��-Syste� �an� �
unti� now� th� onl� wa� fo� mos� peopl� t� ge� ��-�
Syste� ��involve� ��� �tediou� ��an� ��frightenin� �
installatio� �ordeal� No� wit� �N�-COM� ��-Syste� �
onl� take� minute� t� creat� o� virtuall� an� �Z8� �
syste� �whic� ca� ru� CP/� 2.2� � simila� �syste� �
calle� �Z3PLU� i� availabl� fo� system� whic� �ru� �
CP/M� (CP/� 3.0).
Th� Basics
Jus� �t� whe� you� appetit� s� yo� �wil� �continu� �
reading� �� �wil� ver� briefl� lis� �som� �o� �th� �
feature� ��availabl� �unde� ��-Syste� ��whe� ��yo� �
purchas� N�-COM.
Multipl� Commands� ar� allowe� o� � singl� �comman� �
line� � Fo� example� yo� coul� type� DI� �A:;DI� �
B:;DI� C� whic� woul� displa� th� directorie� o� �
drive� A� B� an� C:� Th� command� ar� �separate� �
b� semicolons.
Name� Directories� ar� use� t� assig� � �meaningfu� �
nam� �t� � drive/use� area� Fo� example� �suppos� �
yo� �hav� BASI� file� i� driv� A� use� � �an� �yo� �
hav� TEX� file� i� driv� B� use� 4� Whe� yo� �ar� �
i� �you� BASI� area� th� �-Syste� �comman� �promp� �
wil� �loo� lik� this� A2:BASIC>� an� whe� yo� �ar� �
i� �you� �tex� area� th� �-Syste� �comman� �promp� �
wil� �loo� lik� this� B4:TEXT>� Th� ol� �comman� ��prompt� unde� CP/� woul� hav� bee� jus� A� an� �B� �
respectively� � Yo� �ca� �chang� �bac� �an� �fort� �
betwee� �thos� �area� eithe� b� �typin� �"A2:� �o� �
"B4:� a� wel� a� typin� "BASIC:� o� "TEXT:".
Residen� �Commands� ar� availabl� t� �b� �instantl� �
calle� �fro� �memory� Typica� command� �ar� �DIR� �
REN� �ERA� �TYPE� LIST� ECHO� �NOTE� �PEEK� �POKE� �
COPY� �PROT� �PORT� � Ther� �ar� �man� ��differen� �
Residen� ��Comman� �module� �whic� ��ca� ��includ� �
specialt� command� suc� a� thos� use� i� � �memor� �
residen� debugge� simila� t� DDT.
Flo� �Control� command� ar� availabl� t� �hav� �th� �
syste� d� thing� differentl� dependin� o� �certai� �
conditions� Th� basi� I� � ELS� � F� (endif� �ca� �
b� �use� t� tes� fo� suc� thing� a� th� �existenc� �
o� �� certai� fil� (I� EXIST)� t� se� i� a� �erro� �
occurre� �durin� � certai� progra� (I� ERROR)� �t� �
as� th� use� fo� � ye� o� n� inpu� (I� INPUT� �an� �
man� mor� suc� a� testin� tw� fil� name� t� se� i� �
the� ar� th� sam� name.
Searc� Path� i� use� t� tel� th� syste� wha� drive� �
t� searc� fo� requeste� files� Yo� ca� plac� you� �
file� anywher� o� an� driv� an� the� ca� b� �foun� �
automaticall� �i� tha� drive/use� are� i� �i� �th� �
path� Fo� example� suppos� yo� hav� � searc� pat� �
define� a� A� A1� $� $$� (Th� '$� symbo� i� �use� �
a� � wil� card� $� mean� "Th� curren� disk� �use� �
0"� � $� mean� "Th� curren� disk� curren� �user".� �
Let'� �preten� �tha� �w� �ar� �i� �ou� �tex� �are� �
B4:TEXT� �an� w� typ� � command� suc� �a� �NSWEEP� �
Base� o� ou� pat� definition� �-Syste� wil� searc� �
fo� NSWEEP.CO� i� thi� order:
(Her� i� ou� pat� definitio� � A� A1� $� $$)
Firs� o� ����-� A0
Secon� o� ���-� A15
Thir� �o� ����-� B� ($� mean� �curren� �drive�
use� 0)
Fourt� �o� ���-� B� ($� mean� �curren� �drive�
curren� user)
I� NSWEEP.CO� existe� i� an� o� thes� fou� �areas� �
�-Syste� wil� hav� foun� i� an� execute� it.
Extende� �Comman� �Processing� i� �th� �nex� �step� �
Suppos� �tha� NSWEEP.CO� coul� no� b� foun� �alon� �
tha� �path� � Yo� coul� se�-u� th� �syste� �t� �g� �
furthe� �b� tryin� t� fin� NSWEE� somewher� �else� �
Yo� �coul� �hav� place� i� i� � librar� �o� �othe� �
comman� �files� � librar� i� � singl� �dis� �fil� �
whic� actuall� contain� man� othe� separat� �file� ��within� � I� �i� �sor� o� "� fil� �o� �files"� � � �
librar� �i� use� t� hol� o� cluste� relate� �file� �
int� �on� �mai� fil� fo� convenienc� �an� �storag� �
efficiency� � I� �NSWEE� wa� no� foun� �alon� �th� �
path� �yo� coul� hav� specifie� goin� �onwar� �an� �
hav� ��-Syste� �loo� �fo� �i� �i� �� �fil� �calle� �
COMMAND.LBR� O� m� system� � hav� place� al� �th� �
ol� standb� utilitie� insid� COMMAND.LBR� � �hav� �
infrequen� �nee� o� file� lik� PIP� STAT� DD� �an� �
man� �other� bu� � prefe� t� hav� �the� �availabl� �
o�-line� � S� �� �cluste� �al� �thes� �file� �int� �
COMMAND.LBR� COMMAND.LB� take� onl� on� director� �
entr� an� doe� no� clutte� m� DI� displa� wit� th� �
name� �o� al� thos� ol� utilities� Th� �importan� �
thin� ��i� ��that� ��throug� ��Extende� ���Comman� �
Processing� the� al� appea� t� b� available.
Aliases� �� Let'� �g� �o� �no� �an� �assum� ��tha� �
NSWEEP.CO� wa� als� no� foun� withi� �COMMAND.LBR� �
There'� �more� �i� get� eve� better� � �no� �hav� �
se�-u� �m� �syste� �t� chec� t� se� �i� �a� �alia� �
calle� �NSWEE� i� define� i� th� �ALIAS.CM� �file� �
ALIAS.CM� �i� �� plai� tex� �fil� �whic� �contain� �
definition� ��o� ��aliases� � Fo� ��example� ��th� �
followin� alia� coul� b� define� i� tha� file:
GAME=PLAY=FU� mbasi� starwar.bas
Wha� �thi� �alia� �mean� i� tha� �yo� �coul� �typ� �
"GAME� �o� �"PLAY� o� "FUN� an� �th� �syste� �wil� �
issu� �th� �comman� "MBASI� STARWAR.BAS� �fo� �yo� �
automatically�
A� � matte� o� routine� � utilit� i� availabl� �t� �
creat� ordinar� aliase� i� th� for� o� CO� �files� �
Usin� �th� �game� exampl� above� a� �alia� �calle� �
GAMES.CO� coul� hav� bee� created� Whe� yo� �typ� �
"GAMES"� th� alia� woul� caus� th� comman� "MBASI� �
STARWAR.BAS� �t� b� executed� I� som� ways� �thi� �
i� simila� i� operatio� t� � SUBMI� job� Th� mai� �
differenc� i� tha� th� alia� i� � stan�-alon� �CO� �
fil� an� require� n� additiona� support� Yo� �ar� �
als� require� t� limi� th� numbe� o� character� i� �
th� �alia� �comman� �lin� �t� �th� �maximu� �ZCPR� �
comman� ��lin� ��buffe� ��siz� ��(generall� ���20� �
characters).
Erro� �Handling.� � Finally� �let'� �suppos� �tha� �
NSWEE� wa� no� define� i� th� ALIAS.CM� file� � A� �
fa� a� �-Syste� i� concerned� i� ha� exhauste� al� �
it� resource� lookin� fo� it� I� no� invoke� �th� �
Erro� �Handler� �i� �on� wa� �loaded� � Th� �Erro� �
Handle� coul� b� somethin� simple� lik� on� �whic� �
woul� �simpl� sa� t� yo� "You� requeste� �command� �
NSWEEP� coul� no� b� found.� Or� mor� likely� �i� ��wil� �invok� �� �comman� lin� �edito� �whic� �wil� �
displa� �you� �origina� comman� an� allo� �yo� �t� �
edi� �i� an� resubmi� i� fo� processin� �al� �ove� �
again� Remembe� tha� you� comman� di� no� hav� t� �
b� �jus� NSWEEP� I� coul� hav� bee� � �ver� �lon� �
multipl� �comman� lin� i� whic� NSWEE� wa� jus� �� �
smal� part� Th� entir� balanc� o� th� unprocesse� �
comman� �lin� �wil� �b� offere� bac� �t� �yo� �fo� �
editing� � Thi� i� grea� fo� slopp� �typist� �lik� �
me.
Shells� � shel� i� � specia� progra� which� �whe� �
invoked� �wil� instal� itsel� a� � "fron�-end� �t� �
proces� use� commands� On� suc� shel� i� VMENU� � �
ful�-scree� men� processor� Th� use� wil� progra� �
� �men� s� tha� th� syste� ca� b� operate� �b� �a� �
inexperience� use� b� typin� onl� singl� lette� o� �
numbe� men� commands� Eac� tim� � men� �selectio� �
functio� �i� �completed� �th� �syste� �return� �t� �
VMENU� rathe� tha� t� th� comman� prompt� � Shel� �
alway� r�-invoke� itsel� afte� i� cause� somethin� �
t� �happen� � use� ma� o� ma� no� b� �allowe� �t� �
exi� �� shell� dependin� o� ho� th� men� o� �Shel� �
wa� programmed.
Anothe� ��-Syste� Shel� i� EASE� a� Erro� �handle� �
An� Shel� Editor� Whe� th� Shel� portio� o� �EAS� �
i� �running� �yo� hav� th� abilit� �t� �edi� �you� �
comman� lin� i� almos� an� desirabl� manner� �suc� �
a� deletin� o� insertin� letter� o� commands� Yo� �
ca� als� scrol� bac� an� fort� betwee� �previousl� �
issue� comman� lines� havin� th� abilit� t� recal� �
th� las� 5� command� yo� typed� eve� th� one� �yo� �
type� day� ago!
Publi� �Areas� � ZRDO� �allow� �yo� �t� �defin� �� �
drive/use� are� t� b� Public� Thi� mean� tha� al� �
file� �i� tha� are� ar� availabl� fro� withi� �al� �
othe� �use� �areas� Program� �lik� �Wordsta� �an� �
dBAS�-I� ca� no� b� ru� fro� � use� are� differen� �
tha� �th� use� are� i� whic� Wordsta� o� �dBAS�-I� �
ar� �i� an� the� wil� stil� b� abl� t� fin� �thei� �
overla� file� i� tha� are� wa� declare� Public.
Dis� �Swapping� ZRDO� wil� no� giv� yo� a� �erro� �
i� yo� forge� t� pres� contro�-� befor� yo� swa� � �
disk� � Unde� CP/M� w� al� remembe� thos� �blaste� �
BDO� Er� o� B� messages!
Use� �Communit� �Support� � �-Syste� �i� ��heavil� �
supporte� �b� �th� �use� �community� � Ther� ��ar� �
literall� hundred� o� program� availabl� fro� �th� �
use� �communit� (includin� sourc� code)� Man� �o� �
th� prominen� one� ar� include� wit� th� �purchas� �
o� N�-COM� N� othe� operatin� syste� ha� �enjoye� ��suc� �� �proliferatio� �o� �use� �supporte� ��hig� �
qualit� software.
Goo� �Neighbo� Helpers� Thi� i� � publishe� �lis� �
o� �voluntee� �-Syste� experts� I� �contain� �th� �
names� �addresses� telephon� number� an� type� �o� �
computer� �th� �volunteer� �specializ� �in� � Fro� �
acros� �th� US� an� severa� othe� �countries� �th� �
Goo� Neighbo� Helper� ar� � valuabl� resourc� �fo� �
bot� th� novic� an� expert.
�-Nodes� � Ther� als� exist� � publishe� �lis� �o� �
remot� �acces� �compute� �system� �supportin� ���-�
System� � Thes� �dia�-u� system� �(Bulleti� �Boar� �
Systems� �ca� �provid� �operationa� �guidanc� �an� �
technica� suppor� throug� thei� messag� syste� �a� �
wel� �a� provid� th� lates� updat� t� �� ��-Syste� �
fil� �o� utility� Th� servic� i� �generall� �fre� �
fo� th� cos� o� th� phon� call� Som� �-Node� als� �
offe� commercia� softwar� fo� sal� (suc� a� N�-CO� �
an� othe� products).
Suppor� an� Questions� Yo� ca� contac� m� vi� Th� �
Compute� �Clu� �PBB� �syste� �i� �Farmington� �CT� �
(203� 67�-875� 2� hr� 300/1200/240� bps.
Nex� month� par� two.
����-
Ric� �Swento� �i� � note� CP/� �guru� �autho� �an� �
SysOp� Hi� view� d� no� necessaril� reflec� �thos� �
o� �CCP/M� I� yo� disagre� wit� hi� w� woul� �lik� �
t� �disclai� �an� knowledg� o� �ho� �hi� �writing� �
appeare� �i� thi� publication� I� yo� �agre� �wit� �
him� �w� �woul� �lik� �t� �tak� �ful� �credi� �fo� �
unleashin� hi� brillianc� upo� � need� world.
�-<8��-
[Editor'� note:� Th� followin� wa� downloade� fro� �
th� TC� BB� (phon� #� �-20�-67�-8752.)
!� TELEPHON� COMPAN� ALER� !!
Th� �enclose� informatio� shoul� b� o� concer� �t� �
EVERYON� �wh� �ha� eve� calle� int� �a� �RBB� �an� �
especiall� t� sysop� an� other� wh� hav� �operate� �
RBBS/RCP� �systems� I� short� �Southwester� �Bel� �
Telephon� i� no� chargin� busines� phon� rate� fo� �
line� �supplie� t� thos� wh� us� an� �operat� �AL� �
remot� �systems� �EVE� THOUG� �THES� �SYSTEM� �AR� �
TOTALL� �NO�-PROFI� �AN� OPERATE� A� �� �COMMUNIT� �
SERVIC� o� a� � hobbyis� endeavor.
Th� �ke� issu� behin� thi� mov� is� � �believe� �� �
dee� �seate� �suspicio� o� th� par� �o� �th� �mor� ��conservativ� �element� i� governmen� an� �busines� �
towar� ��� popula� ���acces� ���t� ���contemporar� �
technologies� �especiall� thos� whic� �provid� �o� �
facilitat� �unregulate� �communication� �services� �
I� �i� �worth� �o� not� tha� �man� �Easter� �Bloc� �
countrie� �restric� o� prohibi� th� �ownershi� �o� �
typewriters� mimeograp� machines� duplicator� �an� �
th� �like� �no� t� mentio� computer� �an� �RBBS's� �
whic� woul� b� unthinkable�
I� �i� �fac� �o� �America� �lif� �tha� ��economic� �
function� her� i� muc� th� sam� fashio� a� �polic� �
an� governmen� powe� functio� i� wha� w� recogniz� �
a� totalitaria� states� S� Bell� b� chargin� �th� �
muc� �highe� �busines� �rate� �t� �anyon� �wit� �� �
compute� �connecte� t� hi� o� he� phon� �line� �i� �
suppressin� th� popula� us� o� thi� technolog� �a� �
effectivel� a� woul� licensin� regulation� o� law� �
prohibitin� �th� �us� o� suc� �systems� � Mak� �n� �
mistake� � Th� �nationa� �networ� �o� �sysop� �an� �
RBBS'� ��ha� �ver� �powerfu� �potentia� �fo� ��th� �
communication� o� idea� an� i� totall� unregulate� �
an� availabl� t� anyon� wh� ca� affor� � use� CP/� �
compute� an� � phon� lin� an� wh� ha� th� wit� �t� �
instal� �� �bi� o� �publi� �domai� �communication� �
software.
I� i� especiall� ominou� tha� th� Sysop'� �Societ� �
BB� lis� i� bein� use� t� establis� wh� i� runnin� �
o�-lin� �systems� Perhap� th� nex� ste� �wil� �b� �
fo� �phon� �companie� t� requir� use� �list� �fro� �
sysop� an� charg� the� busines� rate� too!!
Th� �followin� �item� �wer� �downloade� �fro� �th� �
Kaypr� Clu� o� Austin'� RBBS/RCPM� ak� �-Nod� #77� �
Pleas� �contemplat� th� fac� tha� thes� �item� �o� �
informatio� �hav� travele� t� yo� vi� �th� �publi� �
phon� line� an� hav� passe� throug� severa� �hand� �
a� �widel� separate� point� i� th� country� � The� �
have� o� soo� wil� b� rea� b� hundred� o� �people� �
The� �hav� �reache� �yo� �faste� �tha� �coul� �an� �
magazin� o� newspape� an� ar� free� assumin� �tha� �
yo� ar� makin� � loca� call� I� yo� ar� �alarmed� �
an� �� �hop� tha� yo� are� the� th� powe� �o� �ou� �
communication� networ� lie� eviden� befor� you� a� �
i� lie� eviden� t� th� Bel� syste� companies� �th� �
FC� �an� �other� wh� ma� b� �concerne� �tha� �suc� �
powe� i� beyon� thei� control.
Lindsa� Haisley
�-Nod� #77
� � � � � � � � � � *
T� Al� BB� User� an� Operators:
�
Her� i� � lis� o� phon� number� an� addres� o� �
place� YO� ca� voic� you� complain� concernin� th� �
unfai� �an� discriminator� pricin� bein� �use� �b� �
Southwester� Bel� agains� Houston'� BB� hobbyists.
Pleas� �sen� a� man� letter� a� yo� �can� �an� �
pas� �thi� �lis� alon� t� you� �favorit� �BB� �an� �
encourag� �you� �friend� t� d� th� same� �Wit� �a� �
effectiv� �lette� writin� campaign� w� �ca� �appl� �
pressur� t� M� Bel� t� revers� thei� stan� o� thi� �
issue.
Hopefull� �someon� wit� bette� writin� �skill� �
tha� �� �wil� �produc� som� �wel� �writte� �"form� �
letter� �t� send� bu� i� not� simpl� sen� � �shor� �
lette� definin� th� BB� problem,an� you� stan� �o� �
th� issue� an� a� appea� t� revers� th� �practice� �
o� SWB� concernin� BBS'� an� Busines� rates.
Al� �BB� user� hav� � stak� i� th� outcom� �o� �
thi� �case� �Los� o� th� issu� coul� resul� �i� �� �
substantia� los� i� th� numbe� o� fre� acces� �an� �
hobbyist'� �board� tha� ca� affor� t� �b� �active� �
no� jus� locally� bu� nationally.
**� MAK� YOU� VIEW� HEAR� ***
Publi� Utilit� Commissio� Members:
Willia� Cassin� Chairman
Mart� R� Greytok
Jo� Campbell
Al� ca� b� reache� a� th� followin� address:
780� Shoa� Cree� Blvd.
Suit� 450N
Austin,Texa� 78757
(512� 45�-022� o� (512� 45�-0227
(512� 45�-022� TD� only
***********************************
Southwester� Bel� Telephone
Administratio� Offices
96�-2397
Southwester� Bel� Telephone
Texa� Headquarter�-Custome� Appeals
On� Bel� Plaz�-35t� Floor
P.O� Bo� 655521
Dallas,Texa� 7526�-5521
�-80�-42�-0499
�
*************************************
Federa� Communication� Commission
122� Nort� Loo� West
Suit� 900
Houston,T� 77008
(713� 22�-2748
Federa� Offic� o� Consume� Affairs
Executiv� Offic� o� th� President
Washington,D� 20506
[Editor'� �note:� Wha� followe� wa� � length� �an� �
extens
iv� �lis� �o� peopl� i� Texa� �t� �writ� �t� �
expres� you� opinions� Unfortunately� th� lis� wa� �
muc� �to� �lon� t� lis� i� it� �entiret� �i� �thi� �
newsletter� �Yo� ca� obtai� th� entir� �lis� �fro� �
th� �TC� BB� (phon� #� �-20�-67�-8752� i� �� �fil� �
calle� �URGENT.MZ� o� b� sendin� � stamped� �sel�-�
addresse� �envelop� �t� Ji� Taylor� �P� �Bo� �642� �
Newington� C� 0611� wit� � brie� not� remindin� m� �
tha� yo� wan� th� list.
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