30 June 1986 Z-NEWS 504 Z Tips. File COMMAND.LBR is great place for keeping your little-used COM files (for speed, frequently-used ones are outside). By putting many files into one file you save disk space (on average, one-half allocation block size per file, i.e., 1k-byte if 2k-byte block) and directory entries (important if only 64 or 128 file entries permitted per disk). But you soon forget what's in the LBR and using LU or NULU takes too much time to determine only file names. Solution: a neat little alias, we call it SEE, "ROOT:llf ROOT:command /ic" quickly displays files in COMMAND.LBR. That's all there is to it--we said neat! SEE. Shows files sorted, CRC and index values, sizes in both records (128 bytes per) and k-bytes rounded up to next kilobyte. LLF is ZCPR3's "list library files" utility. See Z-News 305 for more details and for other such utilities: LX, LGET, LHELP, all written by ZCPR3 author Richard Conn. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From Our Mail Box. Ken Davidson (Micromint, Inc., 25 Terrace Drive, Vernon, CT 06066, 203/871-6170) supplies early indications of Borland's Turbo Modula- II speed. Bench1 and Bench2--see Z-News 409 and 501--took only 164 and 96 seconds, respectively, on SB180 HD64180 computer with no memory wait states. Compare with Aztec C II and C/80 C Language, from Z-News 501, of 263 and 135, and 135 and 74 seconds, respectively. Assembler for Bench2, using same computer, was 29 seconds. Put into a table: Micromint SB180 (6.144mHz 64180) RAM Bench1 Bench2 Assembler (Syslib v3.6) n/a 29.3 Software Toolworks C/80 v3.0 135.4 74.3 Borland Turbo Modula-II (beta) 164.0 96.0 Manx Aztec C II v1.06 263.0 135.0 BDS-C v1.5a 268.0 194.4 Lachlan Myers, from Moonee Ponos, Victoria, Australia, writes of "an excellent product." Well, it turned out to be a production prototype SBC using HD64180 and Z-System, designed and produced by our soon-to-be OEM and Australian distributor, Microtrix. SBC is STD-bus based and runs with two 1.2 megabyte 5.25" floppies and 512k-bytes of RAM. As long as the $US/$A rate stays as is, it should be a winner down under. If any of you Aussies are interested in such a computer, contact Mr. Frank Wrobel, 24 Bridge St., Eltham, Victoria, 3095, Australia. "Hope is not a way out. It is a way through."--Steven J. Daniels Amateur Z-User's Corner. Z-News 401 shows a VMENU script useful for program development. We here extend it while making all aspects, hopefully, work correctly, plus add a writer's workbench and housekeeping section. Files used by menus are in BASE:A0> or ROOT:A15> directories, along command search path, or in "public" areas. #x Arrow Keys move Pointer Use "+" and "-" if More Files +++ WRITER'S WORKBENCH +++ 0 - WordStar Edit using Document Mode Newword - 1 2 - V-Spell Spelling Check and Correction Word Plus - 3 4 - Style Writing Grammar - 5 6 - StarIndex Communications - 7 8 - ASCII to WordStar File Conversion WordStar to ASCII - 9 N - Number of Words in File Print File using PropStar - P M - Menu Housekeeping VFILER - W ^Q to change File Sort # 0 $d$u:;PRIVATE:ws $pf 1 $d$u:;BASE:nw $pf 2 $d$u:;era vspell.mis;PRIVATE:vs $pf;if ex vspell.mis;era vspell.mis; << era BASE:vspell.bak;BASE:nw $pf;fi 3 a$u:;era $u:errwords.txt;PRIVATE:spell $d:$pf $slic;PRIVATE:review;if << ex $u:errwords.txt;PRIVATE:markfix $d:$pf $m#;$d:;BASE:nw $pf;else;$d:;fi 4 a$u:;PRIVATE:cleanup $d:$pf $m#;$d:;BASE:nw $pf 5 a$u:;PRIVATE:phrase $d:$pf passive.txt;$d:;BASE:nw $pf 6 $d$u:;PRIVATE:starindx $pf 7 MAIL:;ROOT:setfile 1 t3.mnu;ROOT:menu t3.mnu 8 $d$u:;BASE:;txttows $pf 9 $d$u:;BASE:;filtw $pf n $d$u:;BASE:;wc $pf p $d$u:;BASE:;ps $pf m:3 w ROOT:vfiler $d$u: z!"$d$u:Command>" #x Arrow Keys move Pointer Use "+" and "-" if More Files +++ INTERACTIVE ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT +++ Current File is $f1 A - Assemble/Link/Load (ZAS/LINK) E - Edit $f1 (WordMaster) R - Run $n1.COM S - Set Current File to Edit/Assemble/Link/Load/Run (SETFILE) - S Pointer File 1 - Edit (Newword) Assemble/Link/Load Z80's (ZAS/ZLINK) - 2 3 - Assemble/Link/Load MAC'S (M80/L80) ASM's (MAC/MLOAD) - 4 5 - Interactive (ZAS/ZLINK/WM) Convert Intel to Zilog (ZCON) - 6 7 - Edit (LZED) View (VTYPE) - 8 9 - Enter Library (NULU) Edit (WordMaster) - 0 # a $d$u:;zas $n1;if er;sak /p2 errors in assembly--canceling;else;zlink << $d:$pn,a:grwlib/,a:grxlib/,a:vlib/,a:z3lib/,a:syslib/;era *.rel;fi s ROOT:setfile 1 "Enter file name (fn.ft) to edit/assemble/run -- " e $d$u:;PRIVATE:wm $f1 r!$d$u:;$n1 "Trailing Parameters, if any ( if none) -- " 1 $d$u:;get 100 ROOT:nw.com;poke 74e ff;poke 787 ff;go $pf 2 if12 $pt=z80;$d$u:;era $pn.bak;zas $pn;if ~er;zlink $d:$pn, << a:grwlib/,a:grxlib/,a:vlib/,a:z3lib/,a:syslib/;era *.rel;else; << sak /p2 errors;fi;else;sak /p2 not z80 type;fi 3 if12 $pt=mac;$d$u:;era $pn.bak;m80 =$pn;sak /zp7 errors, cancel << link (^C)?;l80 /p:100,$pn,a:vlib/s,a:z3lib/s,a:syslib/s,$pn/n/u/e; << era $pn.rel;else;sak /p2 not mac type;fi 4 if12 $pt=asm;$d$u:;era $pn.bak;mac $pn $$-spz;sak /zp7 errors, << cancel load (^C)?;mload $pn;era $pn.hex;else;sak /p2 not asm file << type;fi 5 $d$u:;zas $pn;if er;sak /zp3 link cancelled;wm $pf;else;zlink << $d:$pn,a:grwlib/,a:grxlib/,a:vlib/,a:z3lib/,a:syslib/;era $pn.rel; << $pn;fi 6 $d$u:;BASE:zcon $pf 7 $d$u:;BASE:lzed $pf 8 ROOT:vtype $pf 9 if ex $d$u:$pn.lbr;$d$u:;nulu -o $pn -f;else;sak /p2 library cannot << be found;fi 0 $d$u:;PRIVATE:wm $pf z!"$d$u:Command>" #x Arrow Keys move Pointer Use "+" and "-" if More Files +++ HOUSEKEEPING +++ Pointer File C - Copy to another Directory (CP) P - Print (to printer) (PRINT) E - Erase (delete) (ERA) R - Rename (REN) N - Enter Library File (NULU) V - View (bidirectional) (VTYPE) System Functions F - Files Capable of Being 1 - Sort and Pack Directory (CLEANDIR) Recovered (UNERASE) 2 - Disk Catalog Menu (MENU/DISCAT) U - Unerase Files (UNERASE) 3 - Enter SHOW System Utility (SHOW) W - File Manipulator (VFILER) # c cp "Copy to Directory (DU: or DIR:): "=$ d$u:$pf e echo $pf - Delete (Y/N)? ;if in;era $d$u:$pf;fi p!poke fe37 "How many columns to print, in hex (50h=80, 64h=100)? "; << ROOT:print $pf "Options (=default, e=exact): ";poke fe37 50 r ren "New Name of File (no wild cards): "=$pf v ROOT:vtype $pf n if ex $d$u:$pn.lbr;$d$u:;nulu -o $pn -f;else;sak /p2 library cannot << be found;fi f!ROOT:unerase *.* l u!ROOT:unerase "Name of File to Recover (wild cards okay): " w ROOT:vfiler $d$u: 1 ROOT:cleandir $d: 2 CAT:;ROOT:menu discat.mnu CAT:catscan 'Define File Search Mask (e.g. *.doc): ' 3 ROOT:show z!"$d$u:Command>" ## Taking tip from Newword handling of text, and also from VFILER, Version 4.0, all menu lines are in half-intensity; all command letters and numbers, full. You may wish to have the program names also half-intensity, but not parenthetical brackets--more distinctiveness that way. Embed ^A (use ^PA with NW, WS, and LZED; ^A for WM) in menu to start half-intensity, ^B (^PB) to stop. Use up to 14 lines for displayed text; more causes internally generated command line to lap into your text lines. (VMENU uses four lines for pointer files, one for "more files" message, one for title banner, and one for CL prompt, plus two for application program generated lines. Allowing a blank line between prompt and menu's last text line results in total 10-line overhead, leaving 14 for your menu screen. Screen arrow points to Pointer File; Current File is name given to System File, number one (1) in this case, the S command. Use SHOW's number 4 command to see the up-to-four System File assignments. Study and modify menus to your specific needs and liking. Many functions are handled from WRITER'S WORKBENCH menu. Document editing, printing, word count, file conversion, spelling, and style and grammar check. Choice of using either Newword or WordStar wordprocessor, depending on your mood. But much can be done to customize menu, improving cosmetics, tailoring to your daily operations. ASSEMBLY menu provides three major program development options. 1) Using Pointer File with commands 2, 3, or 4 depending on whether using ZAS, M80, or MAC assembler, 2) using ZAS and command 5 to automatically go from assemble, link, and run, or to edit if assembly errors occur, and 3) using Current File (System File 1 set with SETFILE using S command) and using commands A, E, and R to assemble/link/load, edit, and then run program, a semi-automatic inter- active process. Menu command 2 nearly fills command line (CL) buffer of 204 characters. Remember, each parameter takes up more space than in script, e.g., $pf can expand up to 12 characters of file name. We used *.rel instead of $pn.rel to permit command 2 to function without overflowing CL buffer. If you get a CL error message when executing a long script line, try shortening file name to be processed to less than 8 characters; or take out some unneces- sary script text. We use Newword (non-document mode), WordMaster, and LZED as program editors. HOUSEKEEPING menu has features worth noting: 1) using POKE to change the SYS.ENV segment area in memory. Here we change Printer 0 (see CPSEL command detailed in ZCPR3: The Manual, pages 28 and 29) from its default line-wrap value to value specified at prompt. Makes for quick printing of files with long lines using PRINT, which uses SYS.ENV for wrap column value. System Environmental Descriptor (base address here of FE00 hexadecimal, hex for short) positive offset of 37 hex (number added to base) is for Printer 0; 3B, Printer 1; 3F, 2; and 43, 3. Use SHOW or Z3LOC Z to determine base address for your system. You can use POKE to change many default values, maximum drive and user area, CPU speed, CRT and Printer selection, etc. Study source code for your SYSENV.LIB file for more details. ZCPR3: The Manual, pages 300 to 304, also discusses this system segment. And, 2) commands S and U using UNERASE utility program to list, to potentially recover erased files. Notice renaming and erasing (you may wish to try GETVAR/RESOLVE to improve this command--more on these Dreas Nielsen utilities next fortnight) of Pointer File. And Z command hidden from menu screen. VMENU, Version 1.5 or later, is a wonder to behold going from one menu to the next--the main reason we added two menus, for writing and housekeeping. Visualize four lines, four columns, of files remaining stationary as displayed menu is replaced with another, when you enter "." followed by ",". Don't forget you can use these keys instead of "<" and ">" to go from menu screen to menu screen; thus, no shift key involved. The VFILER CMD command line we use, 5, to enter writing and code develop- ment menus, called ASM/WRITING.VMN, is either: 5 ROOT:ldr WORK:sys-2.ndr;ASM:;ROOT:vmenu *.* asm.vmn or 5 ROOT:ldr LETTERS:sys-3.ndr;LETTERS:;ROOT:vmenu *.* writing.vmn depending from which directory we use "5", i.e., which VFILER CMD file is in the directory we are in. (Notice script convention of directories in upper case, commands in lower.) Of course, you can enter menus from directory where they are located without using a VFILER CMD command. Command path is searched for MNU and VMN file type. Our Assembly Language development area is B10: and is named ASM. Our CAT directory is, by convention, drive/user area A8:. Writing occurs mainly from B0: and C0:, the WORK: and LETTERS: directories. Presently, F0: is our BACKUP: directory (floppy drive). Study Z-System User's Guide, Section 6.3.2, pages 6-12 to 6-16, for details of syntax and grammar of VMENU. And ZCPR3: The Manual, Chapter 5, pages 133 to 147, covers MENU and VMENU uses and operations. Study it also! Learn meanings of #, ##, !, :, $, pf, pn, pt, fn (where n=1 to 4), nn, tn, -, x, c, d, and p. You find these menus, with appropriately embedded screen highlighting codes fully in place, along with WC, FILTW, TWTTOWS, and more, as file WORK- VMN.LBR on Z-Nodes. Z Node Activity. More nodes online..."pvac" Z-Node #72 is run by Harris Edelman, Venice, CA 90291, 213/306-3611. George Allen starts up #73 from Ballwin, MO 63021, with RAS number of 314/394-6279. E-Com Z-Node #74 is to be run by Nelson Lesmerises, Hookset, NH 03106. And Mel Spencer (CDR Systems, Heath) runs Z-Node #75 in San Diego, CA 92138, 619/560-8929. They all want callers, well? The beat goes on... Joseph Wright (San Jose, CA), Good-Neighbor Helper, author of Ampro's floppy disk BIOS, Micromint and Oneac's BIOSs, and Z3-Dot-Com and Z-Com, has produced new Z3INS, Version 1.4, and LDR, Version 1.5, utilities and have placed them on Z-Node Central, 415/489-9005. Path file search and more name flexibility are features. Serious Z-System users will want to get these new versions. "Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow."--Swedish Proverb Lunch Break. Games soon offered...all run under ZCPR3 and Z-System...take full advantage of operating system features. Watch these lines for further details. Right in our backyard (El Dorado) lives BDS Corporation--they make LASER printers that act like Diablo 630 daisy wheels, using ubiquitous Cannon marking engine. Newword completely controls their printer; WordStar, not beyond controlling features of a standard 630. Write or call them, 800 Maude Ave., Mountain View, CA 94043, 415/964-2115. Mr. Jeff Holden, BDS Sales Manager, can direct you to nearest dealer. BDS sells not to end users. Makings of a good advertisement. Anatole France (novelist and satirist, 1844-1924) is quoted as saying, "It is human nature to think wisely and act foolishly." That may be true, but if you buy our products, you'll be acting as wisely as you think! Our Shipping and Handling (S&H) policy for overseas orders has changed, regrettably. We must now charge actuals for mailing to Europe, Australia, and Asia. Our cost has been two to three times the nominal $18.00 we have been charging. What this means to most is no more prepayments with checks (see next paragraph). You can still use your credit card to place an order and you will be charged actual postal costs plus $2.00 for our handling. We no longer accept checks drawn on other than USA and Canadian banks. Our local bank goes through too much trouble (and expense) converting such checks to US dollars. So please send only checks drawn on USA or Canadian banks. On the other hand, Visa and MasterCard numbers from any country are acceptable. Plastic over paper! ==================================================================== Of Cabbages and Kings. You think we are overly critical of our industry, our society, its work ethic and morality? Yes, you do--admit it! Our view of conditions in beloved America: cradle to grave fundamental changes required if we are to avoid going way of British or ancient Roman Empire. Attitudes of let-George-do-it, of wanting more for less--these do us in! Parents, schools, voters, management, labor, capital, government, all require huge changes to avoid what living on borrowed time (and money) has done to our culture. Now, the moment of truth! We need to discover America; so far we have only colonized it--an act of violence. One group conquering another, of bias and bigotry, of rape, waste and hatred. Gone With Wind are the days--we are both happy and sorry to say--of the cowboy (John Wayne, six-gun style) rescuing a damsel in distress. Remember the Lone Ranger of Saturday matinee movies? He is never alone but always has Tonto (plus Silver and Scout) nearby, a partnership (a strategic alliance)... Partnerships in business, in marriage, in living, in deep living, that's what we need. Competition without combat, friendly competition, between partnerships! Reduce quantity of adversary relationships to nil. See noble goal mentally, group together to achieve it physically. Think...of people-energy expended using hair grooming spray, both men and women...effort to produce the sticky stuff. We individually work so hard to look good on the outside, while doing little for the inside. Vanity, Oh! Vanity. All is vanity. Or is it? Think of this people-energy asserted to exit uni-dimensional living, to learn about Life...think! We try, we try. 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: TKBBS, SB180, COMM180, Micromint; PRO-180, MDC-1, Magnum Digital; XL-M180, Intelligent Computer Designs; ON!, ONFILE, Oneac; DT42, Deep Thought 42, The SemiDisk, SemiDisk Systems; HD64180/63484, Hitachi; NSC800, National; Z80/180/280/800, Zilog; Z-System, ZCPR3, ZRDOS, Z-Tools, Zas, Zlink, Z-Msg, Term3, Quick-Task, Lasting-Value Software, Echelon; CP/M, Digital Research; Turbo Modula-II, Borland; LZED, Zivio; Word Plus, Oasis Systems; V-Spell, CompuView; WordMaster, WordStar, MicroPro; Newword, Newstar; SCSI/Plus, Little Board, Bookshelf, Ampro Computers. eagle * here Z sets you FREE! * * Z-News 504 is Copyright 1986 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission to reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is given to Echelon.