B - a - c - k - G - r - o - u - n - d - e - r ii adds new dimensions to CP/M 2.2 Z80 computers BACKGROUND COMMANDS ... let you run BGii's built-in commands without disturbing your two primary tasks. You can change disks, get file directories, erase, rename, view and print files. And get "help" for a program at any time, even when it's running. KEYBOARD MACROS ... allow you to use handy "alternate" and numeric-keypad keys to represent complete commands, text, and printer control sequences. You can create and edit new definitions, or even automatically record your keystrokes at any time. These custom definitions can be saved for use with particular programs, and automatically loaded, if desired, when the programs are rerun. BACKGROUND CALCULATOR ... lets you do quick calculations in 15 digit decimal or hexadecimal arithmetic, save results in memory registers, and automatically recall the answer in a program. TASK SWITCHING ... lets you run two programs at one time and switch between them. For example, your text editor is available when you are using a database manager, spreadsheet, or communications program. With task switching, all of your programs immediately become "desktop accessories" for use while running any other task. TASK-TO-TASK DATA TRANSFER ... lets you mark and "cut" a region of data on the current screen and later "paste" it into another program. There's a built-in notepad for making short notes while other programs are running, and you can "dump" the current screen to your printer, or to a file. BACKGROUND PRINTING ... prints any number of files automatically while you are running other tasks. In addition, a program's printer output can be redirected to a file. EXTENSIBLE COMMANDS ... allow programmers to add customized foreground and background commands to those already built into BGii. NAMED DIRECTORIES ... for easily-remembered drive and user-number areas. BGii is a high-performance virtual-memory extension to CP/M. It works best with a ramdisk or a hard disk. BGii replaces the CP/M command processor and requires 2.75K of additional space (just 0.25K in a ZCPR3 system). The virtual-memory file on the disk requires about 100K. BG can be instantly removed to restore the original command processor, should a very large program require more space. BGii is compatible with the ZCPR3 command processor concept and associated high-memory buffers. - - - - - - - LIMITATIONS OF THIS DEMO VERSION The Demonstration Version of BGii: - is limited to drive A: - includes introductory loading messages - lacks the printed user's manual - lacks the print Spooler and other utilities Otherwise, it provides the same features as the registered BGii version. The following features require a screendriver for your specific terminal or computer: - automatic screen redraw - cut/paste - screendump - notepad Screen drivers are currently available for Kaypro '83 and '84 computers, and Heath/Zenith 19/89/90 computers/terminals. Experienced assembly-language programmers can code a screen driver for any terminal/computer whose screen can transmit its current image -- as single characters or a region -- to the host computer on its command. The source code for the above drivers is available in the library BGIIDRVS to serve as examples. The manual, available only to registered users, contains more information on writing drivers. - - - - - - - The remainder of this file provides instructions for configuring and installing the DEMONSTRATION VERSION of BGii. - - - - - - - SUMMARY OF INSTALLATION STEPS -- DEMO VERSION A reprint of the Installation Chapter from the manual is in the file DINSTALL.PRN and has been formatted for a 10 cpi, 6 lpi printer with and 8.5 x 11 paper. Please print out this file and read it before starting the installation. 1. Run SETTERM ... to configure SETBG and LOADBG with terminal capabilities. 2. Run SETBG ... to configure LOADBG with BGii's user parameters, (only swap-drive, help-directory are initially necessary) to optionally install screen driver into LOADBG. to optionally install function-key driver into LOADBG. 3. Copy ... *.HLP files to help directory (A15: suggested) 4. Run PUTBG ... to create the BG swap file. Needs about 100K. Syntax: PUTBG -d=drive [-k=nnn] (drive=A...P) (nnn in Kbytes) 5. Run LOADBG ... to load BGii into memory and swap file and start up. (BG.REL must be in logged-in drive) 6. Type HELP ... whenever you need information about BGii commands. - - - - - - - LIST OF BackGrounder ii FILES -- DEMO VERSION file function ------------ ----------------------------- SETTERM.COM Define & install terminal capabilities. TERMBASE.DAT Terminal capabilities database. SETBG.COM Configure user BGii parameters. PUTBG.COM Create BGii swap file. LOADBG.COM Load and activate BGii. BG.REL The relocatable BGii code. K83SCRN.DRV Kaypro '83 screen driver. K84SCRN.DRV Kaypro '84 screen driver. H19SCRN.DRV Heath/Zenith 19/89/90 screen driver. K8384FNK.FNK Kaypro '83 and '84 functionkey driver S19.FNK Super 19 Heath 19/89/90 functionkey driver U19FNK.FNK Ultrarom Heath 19/89/90 functionkey driver BG.HLP on-line help files for BGii BGINFO.HLP " " KAYPRO.BG Arrow and numeric-keypad definitions for Kaypro. WSARROW.BG WordStar arrow-key definitions for Kaypro. ZEX31A.COM Corrected ZCPR3 resident batch processor. EX14A.COM Corrected resident batch processor. WS30RDRW.HEX WordStar 3.0 redraw-screen function (Cntl-\) patch WS33RDRW.HEX WordStar 3.3 " " WordStar PATCHES If you don't have a screendriver for your terminal/computer and use the WordStar editor, you can install the Plu*Perfect Systems' WS patch to add a screen-redraw command. When installed, will redraw the screen. If you define the BackGrounder redraw-string to be and attach it to the patched WS.COM the editing screen will be restored following a to Background CP/M. To install the patch, use DDT to load WS.COM and then the appropriate version of the hex patch, and SAVE nnH WSX.COM. Test carefully; if WS has been previously patched there may be a conflict. PERFORMANCE/TIMINGS BGii's performance depends very much on the disk hardware and the quality of the system BIOS. The following measurements are are a guide: SECONDS TO: DISK CPU TERMINAL SYSTEM swap suspend tpa without/with screen <1 0.2 / 1.5 ram, dma 6 9600bps SB180 1.2 0.2 / 1.0 Advent ram 4 controller Kaypro 84/Turborom 5 0.5 / 1.5 hard 1K 4 controller Kaypro 84/Turborom 22 5" flpy 1K 4 9600 bps Ampro 30 5" flpy 512 4 9600 bps Ampro 60 5" flpy 512 2.5 controller stock Kaypro '83 IN CASE OF DIFFICULTY BackGrounder ii has been tested on a wide range of systems. However, BGii may not work with systems that do not adhere exactly to the CP/M 2.2 standard. Also, programs that depart from that standard may not run correctly. The following difficulties could arise: Symptom Possible Cause BGii won't load BDOS not 2.2 (or ZRDOS 1.1-1.3, 1.7), or patched BGii runs/swaps slowly BIOS random read/write deblocking is defective (see typical timings) BIOS unnecessarily re-determines disk type can't change disk type BIOS doesn't determine disk type on newdisk select program crashes program doesn't determine free memory correctly program assumes standard command processor program won't run needs more memory ORDERING INFORMATION The complete, licensed version of BackGrounder ii loads more quickly and runs on all drives. It is shipped with a printed and indexed user's manual, the print spooler and other utilities. Registered users also receive notice of updates. DateStamper is also available from Plu*Perfect Systems. It adds automatic file time- and date-stamping to CP/M 2.2 systems (8080 as well as Z80). To order, specify format and send: $75 for BackGrounder ii $49 for DateStamper + 6% in California + $ 3 shipping & handling per order to: plu*perfect systems box 1494 idyllwild ca 92349