TOHEX

     I  have  been using Microsoft's M80 assembler to generate  a 
custom  bios  for  my system.  There are  problems  in  using  an 
otherwise fine product for this purpose, namely L80. L80 will not 
link  a  file  which is targeted beyond the TPA  of  the  current 
system.  Also,  to just get an executable file,  L80 is both slow 
and complicated in places where it will do the job. 
     Most  of my assembly programming efforts are small programs. 
By this I mean that they consist of only one module. There are no 
EXTERN/PUBLIC symbols to be resolved,  They are ORG'ed to where I 
want them to be, and require no relocation. 
     This  program allows me to convert a program created with  a 
few constraints directly from a REL file to a HEX file.  It  does 
not  care  where in memory the HEX file is to be loaded,  and  it 
does no relocation.  (Have you ever used ORG 100H in an M80  file 
and  then  found those 256 unused bytes and a jump to 203H  after 
linking?) I know that all of that stuff can be overridden in  the 
linker, but give me a break, I LIKE load-and go.

                            TO USE IT
     In  order  to use this conversion utility,  there are a  few 
constraints on your assembly language files. 
     1.  They  can only contain CSEG and  ASEG  directives.  When 
     using TOHEX, CSEG and ASEG are identical.
     2.   They  cannot contain any ENTRY,PUBLIC,EXTERN or  COMMON 
     symbols.

Assemble your file using M80:

M80 FUBAR=FUBAR

You will now have FUBAR.REL . Now run TOHEX.

TOHEX FUBAR.REL FUBAR.HEX

Now, either run DDT FUBAR.HEX or LOAD FUBAR. For a CBIOS you have 
the  HEX  file to be merged with CPMxx.COM and you are  ready  to 
generate a new system.

Enjoy.
Ed Ganger
605 Laurel Ave
Johnson City, TN 37604
(615)929-7053
It  is requested that if you modify and distribute this software, 
you  share the blame.  I don't want midnite calls for bugs I  did 
not bring into the world.  Actually,  I don't want midnite  calls 
for bugs I created, either. 1800-2200 Eastern Time, please. Thank 
you.