================================================================= The $ R / O R E A D O N L Y -=( April 1986 Issue )=- The monthly news magazine of the Tampa Bay Kaypro User's Group and the DataCOM Super Systems(tm) ================================================================= News and reviews of programs, hardware, and peripherals for users of microcomputers with CP/M, MP/M, MS-DOS, PC-DOS, or TurboDOS operating systems. ================================================================= Steven L. Sanders - Editor (Sysop) ================================================================= The DataCOM Super Systems(tm) is a "state of the art" multi-user remote database with 40mb of files online. An annual fee of $35.00 is required for access, an application may be downloaded by calling (813) 791-1454 at 300/1200/2400 baud or send a SASE along with your request to: TBKUG / DataCOM Super Systems(tm) 2643 Cedar View Court Clearwater, FL 33519 -==( DISCLAIMER )==- Articles and reviews of microcomputers, hardware, software, and other peripherals reflect currently advertised prices as released by the distributors and are included here for YOUR INFORMATION ONLY. The TBKUG/DataCOM Super Systems(tm) is NOT being paid to advertise these products and we cannot be held accountable for the actual retail price and/or performance of said products. ================================================================= -=={ Change Your PC's Personality }==- Copyright 1986 by Steve Sanders {This is the second in a three-part series of articles aimed at the new owner of an IBM-PC or clone. This month we look at some of DOS' hidden features and some super FREEWARE programs.} -={ DOS Tip of the Month }=- This is simple fix that will really speed things up especially if you have a fixed (hard) drive. DOS allows you to allocate buffer space for the handling of diskfile I/O and all you need do is add a line to your CONFIG.SYS file as follows: BUFFERS = 20 I would also recommend that you add the following line as well. FILES = 20 Users with floppy-based systems will probably not notice any great improvements but it sure makes a big difference with a hard disk drive installed. -={ Change Your Prompt }=- How would like a fancier looking DOS prompt? It's real easy to change the information displayed on your system prompt. Instead of a plain looking "A>" prompt you can have one that looks like this: [12:27 Mon 3-03] C:\WORDPRO> You can experiment with the command prompt by using the DOS command "PROMPT", the above is created with: PROMPT [$T$H$H$H$H$H$H $D$H$H$H$H$H] $P$G $T by itself displays the entire time string "00:00:00.0" $D by itself displays the entire date string "Mon 3-03-1986" The $H characters indicate how many data positions to display from the string. You can add this line to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file and your prompt will come up in any fashion you desire each time the system is booted. The addition of the current sub-dir on the prompt can really save you a lot of time instead of doing DIRs to see what directory you are logged into. Note: You must use the MD (make dir) command and name a sub-dir before it can be displayed on the prompt with the "$P" parameter. -={ CED To The Rescue }=- Ever wish that you could just type "ERA filename" under DOS 2.x instead of having to enter ERASE all the time? Or let's say you let someone operate your PC to play games and you don't want them erasing or changing filenames, how do you turn off the built-in commands? If this was CP/M we were talking about I'd say you needed to install ZCPR3 -- but this is DOS! Cheer up sportsfans, the answer to most all of your problems can be had by using a nifty little program called CED. CED stands for Command EDitor and that's just what it lets you do plus a whole bunch of other really neat little tricks. CED is a blending of two other great DOS utilities, DOSEDIT and RE-CALL, and takes their best and adds a few new features of its own. CED will actually remember every command entered from the keyboard and keeps these in a "stack" in memory for later re-call and subsequent editing before use. The commands may be recalled by pressing the UP arrow key or DOWN arrow key to go through the stack either backwards or forwards. Each command is displayed right on the DOS prompt line and you may use the cursor keys to move through the commandline for editing or just simply hit the ENTER key to re-use the command. CED only remembers commands with three or more characters so repetitive commands like "D" for directory or "A:" are not added to the stack. CED also allows you to add the convenience of synonym commands which any good ZCPR3 user knows as an alias. An alias or synonym is usually a simple command for a very complex or repetitive operation. It may also be used to shorten or abreviate DOS's own internal command names. As I mentioned at the beginning of this article it would be nice to say ERA instead of ERASE all the time. No problem, just enter the following command: CED SYN ERA ERASE Your PC will now erase a file with entry of either "ERA filename" or "ERASE filename" now. And when the kids are playing games and you want to turn off erase altogether, just enter: CED IGNORE ERASE CED IGNORE DEL CED actually scans every commandline entered from the keyboard and looks for synonyms or commands that should be ignored or handles them accordingly. Installation of CED is done at startup time by adding a simple line to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file like so: CED <-f ced.cfg> You can also load CED definitions with the addition of the optional <-f filename> parameter or just "CED" by itself installs CED for later programming from the keyboard or another .BAT file. CED increases resident DOS size by about 16k and it's 5 internal buffers may also be changed to different sizes but only at initial startup. This should have been more than enough to wet your appetite so I'll just say that CED is available online in the NEWDOS file area and can be found in a file called CED10D.LBR, yes, it's public domain! And it has more features than just the few mentioned here. -=={ Add a Virtual Drive }==- RAMDISK.SYS is a DOS 2.x device driver which is configured and loaded at startup time with other DOS drivers listed in the CONFIG.SYS file. DOS always looks for CONFIG.SYS at boot-up even before it starts executing commands from AUTOEXEC.BAT. If you're not using a CONFIG.SYS file now it is easily created by any text editor or even the COPY command. It is just like a .BAT file and contains instructions that are passed to DOS to allow the installation of special devices. The RAMDISK.LBR contains the driver RAMDISK.SYS which is placed on your boot disk in drive A, then add the following line to your CONFIG.SYS file: DEVICE=RAMDISK.SYS The parameter can be whatever amount of memory you have or wish to allocate to the virtual drive. I have a 640k clone so I use 150k for my new drive C by giving the command: DEVICE=RAMDISK.SYS 150 You have never seen Wordstar run so fast as it does when you copy Wordstar and it's overlay files to the ram drive. And you can copy any other frequently used utilities to drive C and then set the path to check for them on C:\ This virtual drive will also save your floppy drives from a lot of unecessary wear and tear with constant drive acesses. PC-DOS 3.1 users get a Ramdisk driver with their operating system utilities, it's called VDISK.SYS and must be configured for your particular parameters and then used just like RAMDISK.SYS. -={ BACKSCRL Utility }=- The library BACKSCRL.LBR contains a handy DOS extension for remembering previous CRT screens. You can take a snapshot of the current screen and re-call it anytime you want, then restore the original screen again. BACKSCRL can be set to buffer 1 to 28 pages depending on how much memory you want to allocate to it's use. Do a DIR once and save your disk drive, want to see it again, simple, just activate BACKSCRL and view it. -=={ Where's My Overlays ?? }==- GLOBAL is another DOS 2.x goodie that allows you to set file(s) "common" to any directory you desire. There are a lot of specific commands necessary to use GLOBAL and I'm not going to describe them here, the DOC file does a much better job anyway. Suffice it to say that if you have a fixed (hard) disk or use a Ramdisk (virtual) drive that you should be using GLOBAL. You just create a WORDPRO directory for example, then set Wordstar and it's overlays comman to that directory and away you go! Note: GLOBAL does not work under PC-DOS 3.x and I've had to go to a commercial alternative called SmartPath(tm) which does the same extra path searching for overlays. -=={ Prevent CRT Burn-In }==- BURNOUT.LBR has a DOS device called BURNDEV.SYS which is also loaded via the CONFIG.SYS file at startup. This one will darken your CRT display after 8 to 10 minutes of no keyboard activity. You just tap any key and your screen is instantly restored and ready to go again. For those of you who have their computers in a semi-public area and wish to add password protection as well as CRT burn-in protection, check out the D.LBR files. D.EXE when executed will black out the CRT until any key is pressed, it then responds with: ACF82004 ACF2, ENTER PASSWORD- and waits for the correct password to be entered or justs blacks out the screen again if an iccorect password is entered. After entry of the proper password, the screen is once again restored with all the data as it was before typed "D". The characters preceding the "ENTER PASSWORD-" prompt are meant to mystify the curious according to the author and simulate some mainframe terminal ID sequence or some such nonsense. The internal password is easily changed (if you know the current password) and this program provides "simple" protection unless the mischievous hacker has brought along his own boot disk. -={ PCWINDOW }=- Want a SideKick-type program but don't want to spend any money? The PCWNDW22.LBR has a memory-resident program with the following features: Time/date display with stopwatch timer, ASCII character table, Note pad, and Printer Set-Up utility. All of these are displayed in pop-up windows just like SideKick's. Press ALT-0 and a main menu appears in the upper righthand corner of the screen, press ALT-0 again and it dissapears again. {End of Part 2, next month we look at hardware goodies.} -={ TBKUG ZCPR3 User Disks }=- The TBKUG has the entire phase 1 and 2 release files for Richard Conn's Z-80 Console Processor Replacement version 3.00 and the source code for all utilities and SYSLIB libraries. We offer the following diskettes for support of ZCPR3: Files For All ZCPR3 Users: TBKUG.029 All of the utilities from phase 1 release in ready to install (with Z3INS.COM) form. TBKUG.030 Utilities HeLP files TBKUG.040 Utilities HeLP files TBKUG.062 ZCPR3 User Guide and new (phase 2) utilities TBKUG.065 ZCPR3 real-time clock utilities, Kaypro clocks, Z-Time I, or DC Hayes Chronograph Specific Kaypro Model Disks: TBKUG.063 ZCPR3 for Kaypro 4'84 (also 2'84 models) TBKUG.044 ZCPR3 for Kaypro 10 (2.2, 2.2D, 2.2F, 2.2G) TBKUG.061 ZCPR3 + BIOSMMR for the Kaypro 10 (adds 1.5mb to the hard disk storage capacity.) TBKUG.087 ZCPR3 for early Kaypro II or 4 ('83 models) TBKUG.088 ZCPR3 for Kaypro 10 plus Advent's TurboROM ZCPR3 Source Code (MAC, M80, and L80 plus SYSLIB (3.0), VLIB, and Z3LIB req'd for assembly): TBKUG.031 ZCPR3 Install Source disk 1 TBKUG.032 ZCPR3 Install Source disk 2 TBKUG.033 Utilities Source code TBKUG.034 Utilities Source code TBKUG.035 Utilities Source code TBKUG.036 SYSLIB HeLP files NOTE: All disks except 061 and 063 are Kaypro SS-DD (191k) format - readable by any model Kaypro. All TBKUG User Disk Volumes are priced at $10/ea ($12/ea foreign) and include the diskette, mailer, and postage. Disks are shipped First Class US Mail within 24-48 hours of receipt of personal check or money order - NO C.O.D. orders are accepted. We also have a growing number of IBM/DOS User Disk volumes as well. You can obtain a copy of our catalogs by sending a disk with a re-usable mailer and return postage. Please specify disk format as Kaypro SS-DD or DS-DD or PC-DOS DS-DD. We can also supply these disks in most any 5-1/4" soft-sector format, but inquire first. Be sure to include the return postage or you'll get a nasty note from me, I spend enough money now as it is at the local Post Office. -={ NEW CP/M FILES }=- PROLINK.LBR is Ron Fowler's (of MEX fame) fancy linkage editor for .REL files. This was previously a NightOwl proprietary program but Ron has now graciously donated it to the public domain for all to use. PROLINK works great in conjunction with output files from ZASM, a macro-assembler also in the public domain. Put these two fine programs together and you have a system as good as the commercial M80/L80 package from MicroSoft. NULUFIX.ASM A fix has been found for NULU v1.5. Like all good fixes, however, it causes its own share of problems and can only stand as a temporary fix until I can get version 1.6 out. The problem was BDOS function 37, which NULU15 uses before writing to a drive in case it has been changed. Under certain circumstances, BDOS loses its mind when this function is called and starts giving away previously allocated disk blocks. This is no good for anyone. The "solution" lies in NOT USING BDOS 37. The problem now is that you cannot tell NULU to log in a new disk. Oh well, try to live with it until I get the new one out that will support the fix. {text extracted from NULUFIX.ASM} I/OCAPKP.LBR will allow you to capture console output and send it to a diskfile for later editing and/or viewing. This version has been tested on my Kaypro 10 with TurboROM, ZCPR3, and half the kitchen sink running in memory and it still works! You just run the program to install it in memory and everything printed on the screen is saved to a diskfile. Run the program again and it turns it off. USQFST18.LBR This is the fastest CP/M file unsqueezer I've ever used. Compared to Dave Rand's USQ120 written in machine language it's about 2 to 3 times faster! Many improvements have appeared in this program since it's release and it keeps getting better. SB-180 owners will want to look at CONFIG12.LBR and FVC22.LBR. The CONFIG12 files allow you to re-configure your system in memory or on disk. The original CONFIG has some problems and is outlined in the CONFIG.BUG file also online. FVC22 is an improved disk format/verify/copy program. All SB-180 related files can now be found in their own file area called SB180. RESQ14.LBR is the latest ram-text restoring program for Wordstar users. If you ever get a diskfull error while trying to save an edited file, press the reset button, insert a disk with RESQ.COM on it and simply enter "RESQ". RESQ will ask for a string to search for and then hunts thru the ram buffer until it's located, then backs up to the start of the buffer and saves it to the end of the text area. You end up with a file called RES.Q which contains the "lost" text, or at least 14-16k of it anyway. DIR1ST30.LBR is a unique type of directory program, it lists the filenames and sizes in 'k' as usual, but it also can be told to display the first lines of ASCII printable files. -={ MexPlus for CP/M }=- The DataCOM Super Systems(tm) was chosen as one of the primary download sites for Ron Fowler's new MexPlus v1.6 modem communications program for CP/M systems. If you have enjoyed the public domain version of MEX114 and would like to have an even more sophisticated program then you want MexPlus. MexPlus features full support of real-time clocks which adds a bunch of new STAT and WAIT variables for timing purposes. Or how about the MexPack with either the REMOTE option or the Terminal Emulator option, or both. Current pricing for MexPlus downloads is as follows: Basic MexPlus package including Wordstar formatted manual and complete menu-driven installation program is $59.95 MexPlus with REO or TEM options $89.95 MexPlus with both REO and TEM options $99.90 REO is the remote control package for MexPlus, you can call in from another computer and have full remote control of MexPlus. This access can be secured by using the password option so don't fear the zit-faced Twits. The TEM or Terminal Emulator can easily configure your computer to look and act like quite a few others. VT-52/100 is used by many mainframe computers and there are many more like ADM3A, TV920/950, Hazletine 1500, and so on. See the file called MEXPLUS.NQW on the remote systems for full details of all of MexPlus' features, there just isn't enough room here to do it justice. Suffice it to say that if you were impressed with the pd version of MEX, just wait until you try MexPlus! How to Download MexPlus You must pay in advance by check or money order made payable to TBKUG in the amount shown above for the desired package. Special arrangements will be made in advance and the MexPlus files will be made available to you to download via modem. Credit card orders and persons wishing to buy the IBM-PC version of MEX-PC must contact NightOwl Software direct at: 1-800-NITEOWL The PC version comes only with a nice printed manual in a vinyl binder and is not available on diskfile so it precludes its download-ability sorry. -={ NEC RCP/M Has a WATTS Number }=- {text captured during an online session} The Starlet RCP/M, 1-800-632-7227, 300 or 1200 baud, sponsored by NEC Home Electonics, 700 Nicholas Boulevard, Elk Grove Village, Il. 60007. The board is intended for use by our customers and those who are interested in NEC Home Electronics Computers and Software. This is currently an open board, meaning, passwords are not pre- assigned... a caller makes one up upon logging in for the first time, and continues to use it thereafter. The CP/M up/down loading section is not restricted, so even first time callers may use it. The Christensen 128 byte packet protocol is currently in use for up/downloads, so a caller wishing to upload must have a MODEM7, MEX, or compatible program in order to up/download. Beginners are welcome and are encouraged to read and re-read the many help explanations that are available on this board, and to generally play around to get the feel of things. Some good books on Public Domain Bulletin Boards are available, which are highly helpful in learning about this and other systems like it. The main intent of this Remote Bulletin Board System is to aid in the answering of inquiries about the NEC computer product line as it relates to Software. So, PLEASE only leave messages for help about GETTING AROUND ON THIS BOARD if you have already tried everything you can possibly think of, after reading every Help message available, and every attempt has failed. Please, only call once every 24 hours. The system is set up to automatically disconnect after 2 minutes of inactivity (like if you don't type anything in for 2 minutes.... bye-bye!) It also is set to allow only one hours' use per call. Please don't abuse this privilege. This board is an experiment in common courtesy, so let "you should know better than that" be your guide. One of the key benefits of this information base is, we believe, that all users are encouraged to contribute data to it which might be of use to fellow users. If you feel that you have data which you would like to include in the information base, please upload it as an ASCII file with a short heading explaining that you wish to contribute to the base. Also, please include a sentence or two on the contents of your data file, so that we may better organize the information. P.S. People who cause disgrace to RBBS systems are NOT WELCOME, and are violating the law just as much as any other obscene phone call perpetrator. signed: SYSOP - November 4, 1985 17:00 CST {Editor's note: I only wish we (the TBKUG) had the funds available for an incoming WATTS line, what a joy to call LD and not get charged for it! My hat's off to NEC - good show!!} -={ N.A.O.G. Becomes NAOG/ZSIG }=- Now that the membership of the North American One-Eighty Group is solidly into triple figures, an important fact has emerged: people who don't own SB180s (or any other HD64180-based system) are a big part ( a near-majority!) of NAOG. Furthermore, there is no independent national or international users group dedicated to advanced CP/M-compatible computing. Most existing groups, SIG/M, CPMUG, FOG, KUG, CP-MIG, etc., have vast memberships and software libraries, but have failed to do what needs to be done to assure the survival and growth of 8-bit computing: get behind the new operating system standard, ZCPR3, and the many possible performance enhancements and user benefits it affords. Echelon, Inc. has done a thoroughly admirable job of promoting and supporting ZCPR3 (and the fine-but-optional ZRDOS), but it is apparent that no software company can provide the support on the individual user level that a united user community can give. Moreover, Echelon's major efforts, for economic reasons, must now focus on landing OEM agreements if they are to survive and prosper - we want them to do just that. Frank Gaude', Rick Conn, Dennis Wright and Dave McCord are exceptionally energetic, innovative people, but they are not supermen. It is not fair to expect the impossible from them. Yet, many do expect just exactly that, and complain that most of the fine (and not-so-fine) new programs coming out of the user community are not being reviewed for inclusion into the official Z tool set. We propose an alternative place for ZCPR3 innovators to take their wares and for advanced users to share their discoveries. Effective immediately, N.A.O.G. is now NAOG/ZSIG - ZSIG for ZCPR Systems Interest Group. We have not forgotten the SB180 owner and the HD64180 enthusiast - THE ONE-EIGHTY FILE will provide the support and exchange of ideas that NAOGers have already come to expect. We believe that advanced software deserves the best available hardware - and, for now, that is the 64180. We have simply remembered everyone else. We believe a solid Z80 machine running ZCPR3 is better than an IBM clone for most purposes. We don't want to see all that sound hardware junked - and programming expertise wasted - in a rush toward IBM-compatible mediocrity. We support a viable alternate path to computer-aided human productivity and creativity. NAOG/ZSIG And Echelon We will build a Public Domain library of alternative tools and true ZCPR3 applications written by users. We do this in the same spirit as a previous era's CP/M users expanded on what Digital Research provided, creating - as Rick Conn acknowledges in source code comments - the basis for much of the ZCPR3 system. We receive the ZCPR3 system with gratitude. We propose to use its amazing flexibilty in new and innovative ways for the benefit of all. NAOG/ZSIG - Who We Are The core group of NAOG/ZSIG consists of: Jay Sage - Software Librarian Richard Jacobson - Remote Access Systems (RAS) Coordinator Bruce Morgen - Director and ONE-EIGHTY FILE editor Jay Sage will take on the task (with whomever he recruits to help him) of reviewing new software and organizing it into ZSIG libraries. Richard Jacobson's beautifully maintained Lillipute Z-Nodes will be the official software collection and distribution points as well as the NAOG/ZSIG maildrop - he will also see that other sysops, Z-Noders or not, are kept up to date. Joining Up Membership is open to all. Send $15 U.S. ($25 payable on a U.S. bank if you are beyond the reach of a 22 cent stamp) and the NAOG/ZSIG Membership Application form below (let us know if you want to be accessible to other NAOG/ZSIGers, please!) to: NAOG/ZSIG P.O. Box 2871 Phone: 215-443-9031 Warminster, PA 18974 (Voice - data by appt.) Library disk distribution will commence as soon as 180K or so (source and object) are accumulated. To accommodate the greatest number of users, the Ampro, Kaypro and Osborne SSDD 5.25 inch disk formats will be supported, with others to follow if demand warrants. Unlike NAOG userdisks(tm), the ZSIG libraries will be available to non-members for a small additional charge: NAOG/ZSIG members get them for $12 postpaid, non-members pay $18 ($18 and $25 are charged for overseas destinations). Members get 12 monthly ONE-EIGHTY FILEs and access to the NAOG/ZSIG directories of the Lillipute Z-Nodes. Full Lillipute Z-Node access is offered at $35/year, representing a $5 discount, to NAOG/ZSIGers. If you want to drop us E-Mail you can call Lillipute Z-Node at 312-649-1730 or 312-664-1730 (300/1200/2400 baud) and leave a message for SYSOP, Jay Sage, or Bruce Morgen (note spelling). Jay can be reached directly via his own Z-Node #3 at 617-765-7259 (300/1200/2400 baud) and Bruce Morgen's GEnie address is BRUCEMORGEN. -={ FINIS }=- Well, that wraps up another month of news and reviews. Lots more good stuff coming next month, until then... adios. Steve Sanders - Editor