*********************************************************************** This article is being presented through the *StarBoard* Journal of the FlagShip/StarShip SIGs (Special Interest Groups) on Delphi and GEnie telecommunication networks. Permission is hereby granted to non-profit organizations only to reprint this article or pass it along electronic- ally as long as proper credit is given to both the author and the *StarBoard* Journal. *********************************************************************** =========================== Why CP/M ? Written By: Carl F. Howard [Carl.H ] 10-11-87 =========================== Many of you C-128 owners have a Giant hiding in the box that came with your computer and probably aren't aware of it. It's the CP/M Systems Disk that you've been ignoring and have filed away. Perhaps you have tried to load it and were puzzled by the funny looking A: (DOS Prompt) that came up when it finished loading. This article will explain some of the features of the CP/M+ Operating System (O/S) and Why you might want to take advantage of using it on your 128. Two reasons for using CP/M on the 128 are Power and Software Availability. Imagine Down Loading the entire Commodore or CP/M GEnie Software Files Directories (about 300k) and creating a Usable Local Data Base file to do your own off line searches and print custom listings. You couldn't do that in C-64 or C-128 Mode. Or How about editing that 300 page Novel you've been writing for the last 5 years. The CP/M O/S was the first Universally used O/S for Micro-Computers and learning how to use it will give you knowledge of other computers as well as to prepare you for using the MSDOS O/S when the time comes. Being the first O/S means that users have been tinkering and playing with it for many years and as such there is a great deal of Public Domain (Free Software) as well as Powerful Commercial Software available which will allow you to do things you only dreamed of doing on your old C-64. For example, one of the most widely used Word Processors available for use on Micro-Computers is called Word Star (tm). Word Star is an 80 Column full featured Word Processor containing Spelling Checker and Mail Merge options. It can Create and Edit Documents of unlimited size (As much Space as you have on your Disk Drive or Ram Disk) and can also be used as an ASCII text file editor for editing Non-Word Star Files and MBasic or Machine Language Source Program files. Also Word Star Files created on your C-128 are fully compatible for use on an MSDOS machine if you use one. Learning how to use Word Star at home at your own speed on your 128 can prepare you for using it at work or school. Imagine what people will think of you when you sit down and already know how use it like a seasoned professional. It's a great skill to have and will enhance your credentials no matter what you do. Another example, one of the most popular Data Base Management Systems Available for Micro's is a program called dBase (tm) by Ashton Tate. dBase was originally developed on CP/M machines and has evolved to a Powerful Applications program on MSDOS machines. In fact it's a programing language in it's own right. dBase II for CP/M is capable of being run on a C-128. Here again learning to use it at home at your own speed is a great way to pick up a professional skill. You can use dBase for just about any Home or Small Business data base applications and it's processing capacities and abilities far exceed anything you might have worked with in 64 mode. Also, If you take advantage of using a Ram Expansion Module you will be able process Data at blinding speed as compared to using the 1541 and 1571 disk drives. You can probably pick up legal copies of these Programs at a local swap meet or through a users group at very reasonable prices but if you can't afford to buy these right off I can highly recommend some P.D. Software Available here on GEnie that will serve most of your needs to begin with. The first is an excellent file editor which is Word Star compatible and it's called VDE261 (File #4699 in the CP/M R.T). The Second is a SHAREWARE Data Base Program called PCFILE (File # 2409). Both of these programs come with documentation contained in the Library or ARK file which will explain how to use them and are, I feel of Commercial Quality. They would be among the first to start up your CP/M software library with. Learning CP/M isn't really any more difficult to do than learning to use the C-64 or C-128 operating systems. In fact if you've already figured out how to Load programs and copy files in Native Mode your half way there. When you get down to it, all Computers must do essentially the same things to process data. They have to be able to input and output data from devices such as your disk drive, Monitor and printer. Once you have mastered these essential DOS (Disk Operating System) skills on one computer, learning to do it on another is really not that hard at all. It's kind of like learning how to ride a bicycle or drive a car. You need to become proficient and learn your balance and judgment and once you've acquired the ability to do it with one vehicle learning how to operate a second one comes easy. If you have used your 128 in either 64 or 128 mode for a few months and have got the basics down moving up to CP/M is not going to be a problem. In fact you may find after a while using CP/M is easier than using the 128 in C-64 Mode. The biggest difference between the three operating systems and the one you will have to remember the most is that CP/M is a Command Line driven system. Because it was developed in the early days of Micro- Computing, things like POP Down Menus and Color Graphics didn't exist. So learning to work with the command line is the big adjustment. You will still do the same types of DOS functions but you will have to learn the Lingo. Fortunately one of the nice things you can do to help with the cryptic command instructions is built right into the system and that is to custom configure your keys (All Keys not just the Function Keys) on your keyboard. For example I have configured my function keys to execute the commands to copy files and display directories at the touch of a key as well as to Dial my favorite BB'S and send Log on Strings. The KEYFIG.COM program on the Flip Side of The CP/M Systems Disk will allow you to configure your Keyboard any way you want. One interesting trick I've played with my system is to re-program the Bracket/Colon key on my 128 to a Colon/Semi-Colon key found on MSDOS machines. The point is you can make a lot of the hard things easy by installing some training wheels, much like using a DOS wedge program in the C-64/128 modes. If you're really interested in getting into CP/M and want some good help in getting up and running see the CP/M Primer Articles in Library 34 of the CP/M RoundTable. They are File #'s 2122, 2413 and 2247. They offer some good beginning tips and go beyond the material found in your 128 users Manual. I'm going to be writing more articles for beginning and intermediate users to supplement these as well. If you have questions or find your self stuck on something drop me some E- mail and I'll be glad to help in any way I can. I Hope this instilled some inspiration and tickled the imagination in some of you out there, Don't be bashful I'm looking forward to hearing from you. Regards, Carl..... [CHUCK.WAGON] [Carl.H] - GEnie CP/M Assistant