FALL 991

,....----THE PPalmtop aper

INSIDE:

Publisher's Message. . • ...... 1

LeHers ...... ••..•... 2 Most Frequently Asked HP 95LX

News from HP Questions to HP Technical Support NewsStream Receiver ...... 4 DictionaryfThesaurus ...... 7 We thank the HP technical support stafffor their Other products ...... 9 considerable efforts in compiling for The HP Palmtop Paper readers these answers to the most often asked HP HP 95LX Support ...... 9 95LX questions. In this first of a two-part series, HP's CompuServe ...... 10 900-number support staff answers querie.1l concerning Most Asked Questions ...... 13 file transfer, programming, printing, phone directory HP Support ...... 16 conversion, internal RAM and RAM cards, AC adapter, DOS Connection batteries, and installing the HP 95LX Connectivity Pack. File Compression ...... 17 DOS Software ...... 20 By the Hewlett-Packard HP 95LX Support Staff Quick Tips ..•..•.....•.. 22·23

Columns Batteries Looking Glass ...... 25 Sawy User ...... 27 How can I make my batteries last longer? Programmer's Corner ...... 30 First, use the AC adapter whenever possible. Applications Getting Started ...... 33 which continuously update the screen (i.e. TigerFox), or use the serial port (i.e. FILER or COMM) use more power than programs Thaddeus Computing News ... 35 which spend most of the time waiting for keystrokes. Use of the HP Palmtop Paper: the future ... 35 AC adapter is especially important with these high power usage How to contribute ...... 35 programs. HP Palmtop Paper on disk ..... 35 Free Subscriber's disk...... 36 Second, always close the FILER and COMM applications Challenge to readers ...... 36 when they are not in use. These two applications turn on the power to the 95LX's serial port. Third Party 95LX Products Third, when you are finished using the HP 95LX, turn it Hardware and Connectivity . . . .. 37 off. The power consumed in the five 'minute wait before the HP Software ...... 41 95LX automatically turns off will add up. What to expect in 1992 ...... 40 Fourth, if your are running in DOS mode, the serial port Notice to 95LX Developers ..... 43 is powered on. You can execute the SERCTL /0 command in DOS to force the serial port off. See page B-17 in the HP 95LX User's Advertiser's Index...... • .. 44 Guide for details on this option. (The System Manager will turn (Continued on page 13.) LOW cosrl PIE·fOIMArrEDI 5 YEAIS flEE BATrEIIESI

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Double your capacity! FREE batteries for five years! Now DoubleCarcf" has increased ACEcards usually require one battery Always look to ACE for the latest in standard RAM card memory up to 4MB! replacement per year. ACE will send palmtop card technology. DoubleCard uses Stacker US'" data you FREE BATTERIES for five years so compression technology and is 100% that you always have a spare. Just To Order: compatible with all popular applica­ return the registration card at the Call ACE TOLL FREE tions for your palmtop computer. time of purchase to set up your free 1/800 825-9977 battery program. Pre-formatted for your convenience Each ACEcard TN is pre-formatted and One Year Warranty ready to use. Just plug it into your ACE Technologies' innovative palmtop computer. products are built to the highest ACE Technologies, Inc. Pre-formatting saves you standards of quality and 2880 Zanker Road, Suite 103 performance and carry a San Jose, CA 95134 time, plus eliminates the 408428 9722 FAX 4084289721 risk of accidentally erasing one year warranty. Should your files while formatting. ACE your ACEcard malfunction within one year due to a defect in materials even includes useful bonus software, ACEcard conforms to PCMCINIEIDA specifications. already loaded and absolutely free! or workmanship, we will promptly Dealer Inquiries welcome. replace it at no charge.

Stacker lZS is a tradomaric of Stac Electronics. DoubleCard is a trademaric of ACE Technologies, Inc. ACEcard is a tradomaric of ACE Technologies, Inc. Publisher's Message The HP Palmtop Paper Volume one I Number zero By Hal Goldstein Fall 1991 Executive EditorlPublisher You belong to the exclusive, distinguished, Hal Goldstein international circle of HP 95LX users. You run companies, manage business Managing Editor finances, fly planes, manage others' time and Richard Hall activities, restore health, perform engineering Department Editors feats, consult, sell professionally, study, Tom Page research or argue court cases, and perform Ed Keefe the whole spectrum of professional activities Mark Scardina ... and you use the HP 95LX. You live throughout the U.S., Canada, Contributing Editors and Europe, and reside in Mexico, Japan, Ted Dickens India, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, and Copy Editor in other Asian, African, and South American Glen Frank Hal Goldstein countries ... and you take your HP Palmtop wherever you go. Advertising You had the vision to comprehend the value of carrying a PC Brian Teitzman compatible computer in your pocket, and you blaze a trail for others. You are genuinely excited about this brilliantly engineered, compact Hewlett Circulation Packard creation, and want to know how to put it to full use. Margaret Martin Our mission at The HP Palmtop Paper is to share with you possibili­ Marni White ties for using the HP 95LX - to provide you with new ways to profit from Executive Advisor and enjoy your HP Palmtop. We do this by acting as the central hub Rita Goldstein where HP Palmtop users worldwide share knowledge and expertise. We organize that knowledge and disseminate it in the form of this newsletter The HP Palmtop Paper is published and other related products and services. bimonthly by Thaddeus Comput­ We ask three things from you to help make this journal the highest ing Inc., at 57 East Broadway Ave­ success. nue, Fairfield, IA 52556. Subscrip­ tion rates payable in U.S. dollars, First, contribute. Send us your tips, articles, opinions, discussions of checks drawn on a U.S. bank or by HP 95LX-related products, your software and Lotus templates. Send us credit card - one year: $39; two whatever you think the majority (or at least a significant portion) of years: $69. Postage; U.S. and U.S. fellow HP 95LX users would find of practical value. We'll organize and possessions free; Canada, Mexico share the best of this material with all of you. add $6 per year; other countries Second, take the time to look at the information presented by our add $18 per year. Please allow four to six weeks for receipt of first advertisers. You will likely benefit from the work performed by these issue. Executive, Editorial, Circu­ companies, and from all those who create HP 95LX-related products. lation, and Advertising Offices: Third, if you have not done so already, subscribe now. Have your P.O. Box 869, Faitfield,IA 52556. colleagues and friends subscribe. There is so much useful information in Telephone: (515)472-6330, FAX: The HP Palmtop Paper that most HP 95LX users will want to read and (515)472-1879. (c) Copyright 1991, reread each issue and then save each issue for reference. Thaddeus Computing, Inc, all This first issue provides the foundation of HP 95LX knowledge that rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced will be expanded upon in future issues. It will be rewarding to see what without written permission. Rea­ ideas fill these pages in the coming years. We look forward to your input sonable efforts are made to provide and feedback. accurate and useful information, Most importantly we look forward to providing you with the valuable but the reader must make his or information that will enhance and enrich your everyday use of the HP her own investigations and deci­ 95LX Palmtop. sions; the Publisher and Editorial Staff cannot assume any respon­ sibility or liability for use of infor­ In this issue you will see references to both "Personalized Software" mation contained herein. and "Thaddeus Computing, Inc." In the future we will publish The HP POSTMASTER: Please send Palmtop Paper under our corporate name, Thaddeus Computing, Inc. any address changes to Thaddeus Computing, Inc, Attn: The HP Palmtop Paper, P.O. Box 869, Fair­ field, IA 52556.

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 1 LETTERS

Inexpensive Modem Some people have had suc­ for the HP 95LX cess without any modifica­ HOW TO CONTACT US A couple of months ago, tion. They have just sent the modem the following com­ when I was visiting my local There are a number of ways to get in touch with The Palmtop CompuAdd store, I saw the mand; Paper staff. You can write; mail us a disk with your comments; GVC Mini Modem on the AT&OO&W&W1 display shelf. It was a small, send CompuServe mail; fax; or call. Our address is: portable, battery-powered The moral is this; if you Thaddeus Computing, Inc 2400 baud modem, with a have $69, and don't mind The Palmtop Paper $69 price tag. My hand be­ getting involved, you may PO Box 869 gan to move involuntarily end up with an excellent, toward my wallet. low cost communications Fairfield, IA 52556 The modem didn't work solution for the 95LX. I U.S.A. with the 95LX right out of found the GVC Mini Modem the box, but after experi­ at a CompuAdd Catalog Fax 1:515-472·1879 ments and a small amount of Store. You can call them Phone:515-472~30 solder, I was happily racking directly at 800-627-1967 to or 800-373-6114 up heavy connect charges on place an order. Ask for the CompuServe. GVC Mini Modem Catalog # CompuServe 10: Since that time, many 49581. Hal Goldstein, [75300,2443] HP 95LX owners have pur­ chased this unit. Some units READING COMPUSERVE (To send material to our street address, substitute "57 E. Broad­ work right out of the box, MESSAGES WITH LOTUS way· for "PO Box 869".) requiring only a simple soft­ Now that I had the modem ware command. Others re­ working with the 95LX, I To contribute to The Palmtop Paper, contact Publisher I quire a slightly modified want.:!d to use my new setup Executive Editor, Hal Goldstein or Managing Editor, Richard connector. Fortunately GVC to read messages from the Hall. seems to be a very respon­ CompuServe forums. Be­ To advertise in The Palmtop Paper, contact advertising sales sive company; they have ex­ cause there was no conve­ director, Brian Teitzman. changed units for those who nient way to do this, I de­ were unsuccessful with their veloped some software that To subscribe, change address, or clear up any problem with initial purchase. would permit me to down­ your subscription, contact our subscription department As you can tell, some load, read, and reply to mes­ (Director, Margaret Martin). experimentation is required. sages from CompuServe. That is because identical It took a while to write, For support: We are not staffed to answer your HP 95LX looking GVC modems may but, now that the software is questions by phone. If you send us a letter describing your contain different chip sets. working pretty well, I have problem we may publish and respond to it. For faster response Some chips sets don't work another problem - dealing we suggest you: well with 95LX, because with my wife's reaction to 1. Call HP at 800-443-1254 for pre-sales information, dealer they require signals that the the sound of 95LX keys locations, and answers to common questions. 95LX does not provide. Oth­ crunching one inch from her 2. Call HP for technical support at 900-288-0025 from 8am- er chip sets seem to work ear, at 3 am, while I busily 3pm Pacific time. For non-U.S. customers, look in your send messages all over cre- fine with the 95LX. User's Guide or call your local HP sales office. Fortunately there seems ation. . to be some fairly simple Those with a similar 3. Join the HP 95LX section of the CompuServe HPSYS cures for those with prob­ desire to alienate their Forum (call 800-848-8990 or 614-457-8650). lems. The communal wisdom spouse might try software of several successful GVC called MESSAG.EXE*, and modem users lies in is available in library 14 of the downloaded CompuServe QUE corporations 1-2-3 GVCMOD.95*, a file residing the CompuServe HPSYS message, and also to create Macro Library can be an on CompuServe's HPSYS fo­ forum. It is built around a the message reply upload excellent start. The informa­ rum, library 14. It contains Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet that script. tion in the 95LX manual is tips on getting the modem to processes messages from the If you are thinking of good, but more a command work with the 95LX. CompuServe forum. moving Basic onto the 95LX reference than tutorial. Here is my solution: By the way, if you have for programming, give the Well, Hal, I think this not written a program using 1. Plug the cable that came Lotus macro language a try. newsletter is a fine idea, and the Lotus 1-2-3 macro lang­ Because Lotus resides in will open up new vistas for with the Connectivity uage for a while, or have Pak into the 95LX. ROM, it saves valuable RAM many 95LX users. Let me never tried, you will proba­ for other things. The Lotus break a bottle of champagne 2. Attach to the cable a 25- bly be surprised at just how pin male-to-male gender spreadsheet metaphor, on the side of The HP Palm­ powerful it is. The macro menuing capability, and top Paper, and may the sail­ changer, a 25-pin female­ language in 1-2-3 Version to-male null modem, and, database functions make ing be smooth. 2.2 (the version included many programming tasks Larry Lefkowitz finally the GVC modem. with the 95LX) is vastly im­ 3. Modify modem side of the easier than in Basic. As an Small Systems Software proved over earlier versions. added bonus (for me), what­ CompuServe ID [76137,155] gender changer. I con­ It can be used to develop nected pins 6 and 20 ever developed can be shared almost any small applica­ with other 95LX owners. using a small wire and tion. solder. One CompuServe For those looking to get * Available on HP Palmtop Paper on I used Lotus macros to started using the Lotus mac­ message said to connect process, read and reply to Disk - Fall 91. See page 35·36 for more pins 4 and 20 instead. ro language, a book such as information.

2 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 incredible computer. I also {There indeed are many MAC ATTENTION INTERNATIONAL USERS have a MAC and would love HP 95LX users, and we hope to to be able to connect the HP serve them with this newsletter. 95LX to my MAC. For HP 95LX-to- MAC solutions Please tell us how we can best serve you in these pages. see "Most Frequently Asked This newsletter is intended for all HP 95LX users wherever In this regard, the only reason I did not initially Questions" article, page IS, and you reside on this planet. Send us your tips, your sugges­ subscribe to your publication the Nuvotech advertisement on tions, any feedback that will enable The Palmtop Paper to page 32. is that it seemed a bit '"guru­ The free Subscribers Disk hetter assist international users. ish" to me if it is mostly We will be using the international ICON appearing on will contain software useable on IBM and DOS-related mate­ the HP 95LX independent of tJ he top of this box to flag information that particularly rial, then it is too guruish. I whether the owner has a MAC, applies to users outside the U.S. wasn't even sure what disk an IBM compatible, another size I should select for the computer, or no computer. We Subscribers Disk or more are open to providing the Sub­ importantly would it be of scribers Disk on any format. 1-2-3 Bug, of utilities available from any use to me with my MAC. Many of the newer MACs read Block Cursor EduCalc (800-677-7011 ) by I do believe the MAC IBM 3 1/2 inch disks. However, I discovered a serious bug in Richard E. Harvey for community will be a sizeable upon request we can supply the $27.95. I especially like user of the HP 95LX, and Subscribers Disk (and other the HP 95LX version of 1-2-3 materials) on disks with other along with several work­ WINK.SYS, a utility that hopefully you and other changes the 95LX cursor formats, or if there is a de­ arounds. The 1-2-3 Plint-to­ 95LX vendors will realize mand, on a RAM or ROM card a-File does not work proper­ from a line to a box for only this. near cost. Subscribers should lyon the HP Palmtop! 512 bytes of memory. Thanks for bearing with tell liS of your reqlle.~ts. Bring up a Lotus file Gerald Fuller me. Any help you can be to a Finally, I would be open to and try the following com­ Pleasanton, TX diehard MAC user will be having "MAC Connection" arti­ mand: MENU print file templ greatly appreciated. Best of cles or a regular column similar RETURN range a1..clO. Press The HP95LX luck with your new publica­ to the DOS Connection column FILER and then look up and the MAC tion. in this issue. Please contact me, TEMPl.PRN. You will find I have had my HP 95LX for Bob Fischer if any reader wishes to contrib­ the file listed, but with 0 a month, and it is indeed an Westlake Village, CA ute or be in charge of it. - Hal} bytes! The reason why you may not have noticed this is that upon exiting Lotus ,MENU quit yes), the proper data does get sent to the TEMP1.PRN file. However, one of the nice things about the HP 95LX is the ability to go from one application to another without exiting. Many users will want to work on the PRN file in MEMO without exiting. I discovered a solution: print to another file. For example, perform a similar operation, but this time, print to TEMP2. A check to FILER reveals that TEMP1.PRN is now as it should be and TEMP2.PRN has 0 bytes. (When you exit Lotus, you will probably want to delete TEMP2.PRN. You should not delete it until you exit Lotus, or you will be in danger of seriously corrupting your RAM disk!. I've also discovered that the SparCOffi'" HP 95LX doesn't always go I into sleep mode after five minutes. I don't know why, but I suspect it has some­ thing to do with having TigerFox loaded or too many applications running at once. The way to reactivate power save seems to be, close all For more information call (503) 757·8416. FAX (503) 753·7821 appl ications and reboot Sparcom Corporation • Corvallis, Oregon 97330 • USA , CTRL·ALT·DELJ. There is also a neat set

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 3 NEWS FROM HP: The NewsStream Receiver

connects to a computer via the The HP 95LX and the RS232 serial port. The unit mea­ Motorola NewsStream Receiver sures 5.1 cubic inches and weighs 3.5 ounces. The integrated HP 95LX Attach this small wireless receiver to your HP 95LX and palmtop computer and NewsStream have mail, appointments, and Lotus spreadsheet updates package can be carried in a Day­ timer-type notebook, a briefcase or sent to you wherever you are. purse. The NewsStream receiver can be connected to the computer or detached and carried in the user's pocket for notification of inbound messages. The N ewsStream can inform the user that a message has been re­ ceived by several means. The News­ Stream can announce a receipt of a message through the sense of sight (a flashing green light), or sound (volume controlled beep). If the NewsStream and the HP Palmtop are connected and the Mobile Data Link software is installed and ac­ tive, messages are transferred to the HP 95LX automatically. The NewsStream receiver atta­ ches to the right end of the HP 95LX. with the HP Mobile Data Link cradle. The cradle has a U­ shaped channel, into which the 95LX. slides from one end, and the receiver slides into from the other HP 95LX and Motorala NewsStream Reciever in Cradle end. Between the 95LX and the receiver is a "bulkhead." By Hal Goldstein Mobile Data Link software and This bulkhead has a plug on cradle, and a pager service. both sides - one plugs into the Soon, an HP 95LX. Palmtop user - 95LX. serial port, the other plugs automatically, instantaneously, and The Hardware: into the receiver's serial port, thus wirelessly - will be able to receive The NewsStream connecting the receiver to the serial mail, have appointment and phone Receiver and Cradle port of the 95LX. To allow use of books updated, and receive updates The Motorola NewsStream receiver the 95LX's serial port when the to Lotus sales, portfolio or other is a stand-alone unit. When connect­ receiver is connected, there is a custom spreadsheets almost any­ ed to the HP 95LX. through an HP serial port connector on the back of where. This miracle of modern tech­ custom-designed cradle, the News­ the cradle, which electrically discon­ nology will be accomplished by use Stream offers wireless one-way nects the receiver when you plug of the wireless Motorola News­ communications to the HP 95LX. anything into it. There is also an AC adapter plug on the back of the Stream Receiver (formally named Palmtop. cradle, allowing the 95LX. to be pow­ "DataStream"), the Hewlett Packard The NewsStream receiver (a one-way radio frequency modem) ered by the AC adapter while in the cradle. Finally, there is an IR (infrared) transparent deck that fills the cavi­ ty under the NewsStream that al­ lows IR communciations to still work even in the cradle and even HP 95LX HP Mobile Data Link Cradle NewsStream Receiver with the NewsStream in place. No functionality is lost when the HP

4 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 cradle is added to the HP 95LX. Mobile Data Link software is Sys­ What Happens Connecting the receiver to the tem-Manager compliant: that is, it There are a number of ways to HP 95LX in this fashion creates a runs in conjunction with other built­ download messages into a News­ solid I-piece unit that is 2.7 inches -in software such as MEMO or HP Stream receiver. With a modem and longer than the basic 95LX. CALC. The main Index screen looks either a PC or 95LX someone can This cradle is general purpose something like the PHONE main send messages to a paging service mating hardware which lets you screen, with one line given for each phone number. The service sends attach other devices to your HP received message. The first column the message via radio wave to your 95LX, in addition to the receiver. It contains an asterisk if it has not receiver. Once the receiver is con­ will be interesting to see what been read. The next column displays nected to the 95LX and the software third-party products get developed the date and time the message was installed, the message is processed for the cradle. A modem or an addi­ received. The remainder of the line inside the 95LX. tional RAM card drive would seem shows as much of the message as is You may also use a touch tone like excellent candidates. possible. The highlighted entry may phone to dial the service and enter be viewed in its entirety by pressing additional digits. Those digits get The Software: ENTER. sent to the 95LX and, based on a The software looks much like decode file previously set up in the Mobile Data Link Software the other built-in HP 95LX soft­ The software comes on a 128K ROM 95LX, result in a message to you. ware: function key labels occupy the For example, a common ap­ card. It can also can be run from bottom two lines and pressing proach is to use seven digit phone the built-in RAM disk on the C MENU brings up menu options numbers as the message code. So, drive, from a RAM card, or directly across the top of the screen. Func­ from the ROM card. Messages flow tion keys let you Delete, Copy, Tag, for example, 234-5678 might be the from the receiver to the HP 95LX and Undelete entire messages. The code meaning "call the office," as whenever the Mobile Data Link MENU command brings up File, well as the actual office phone num­ software is active. If the 95LX is off, Print, Append, Config, and Quit ber. Similarily, 789-0123, your home it automatically turns on to receive options that operate similarly to phone, would tell you to phone the message, then turns off again. other 95LX software counterparts. home. The NewsStream receiver func­ Without going into much detail, Suppose your secretary and tions independently of the HP 95LX. here are three examples of messag­ your spouse both dialed the service It holds up to 32K of data and up to es you might receive: and then entered the 7 character 56 messages. A message is a file codes. When you checked your main containing optional initial charac­ PHBK, "Personalized Software" "515-472- message file, you would see two new ters that get decoded by Mobile ·6330" "PO Box 869, Fairfield, IA 52556, entries: Fax: 515-472-1879" Data Link Software. When the re­ 2/14/92 11 :42 A 234-5678 OFFICE ceiver is connected, these messages APPT 91/12/3 9AM-10AM "Board Meeting" 2/14/92 1:37 P 789-0123 HOME flow into the 95LX. "Note: Don't forget to bring your seminar Mobile Data Link software was notes." Who Will Use It specifically designed for the HP The NewsStream Advanced Infor­ 95LX. It knows about the 95LX PARTLST, A4 .. B5 "Blue Widgets" 57.50 " Red Widgets" 39.50 mation Receiver creates the oppor­ built-in appointment book, phone tunity for a variety of new services. book, and Lotus 1-2-3. When the The "PHBK" in the first message Users could receive important radio message enters the HP 95LX, it is cues the Mobile Data Link software mail while away from the office on stored as a temporary file. The first to add an entry to the phone book. their HP 95LX and NewsStream few characters of the message are This message contains the name, receiver. The NewsStream allows number, and address fields required compared against a list of user-spec­ for wireless update of electronic by the built-in PHONE application. ified message tags kept in a configu­ spreadsheets or the updating of ration file . If there is no match, the The "APPT" message sets up an appointment for you with the first calendars as late-breaking informa­ message is placed in an incoming tion is received in the office and message file so that the user can quoted string being the title. The second string is the attached note. transmitted to executives on the read it and manually handle it (it's move. A broad range of information treated just like regular E-mail). Finally, in the third message, "PARTLST" is that name of the services could be delivered to the On the other hand if there is a NewsStream receiver, including matching message tag, the various parts list the 1-2-3 WKI file set up previously in the configuration file. company news (i.e., sales, pricing, processing options may treat the shipment statistics, etc.), business message as an appointment or to-do The 1-2-3 data is entered in row order and will be entered as follows: news (the economy, stock market, list entry, a phonebook entry, or a etc.), world news, or news that is spreadsheet update. Other options A B useful in one's life (weather, traffic, are available and others may be 4 Blue Widgets 57.50 sports, etc.). added in the future. 5 Red Widgets 39.50

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 5 HP: Nl'U'HSlrl'alll

MotoJ'Ola believes a variety of users The Mobile Data Link, part HP through a 1200 bps RF signal in 70 will gravitate to this impOl-tant new FlO06A, retails for $119.95. It in­ metropolitan areas nationwide. technology. Traveling business exec­ cludes the cradle and the software (EMBARC begins operation in De­ utives, who rely on electronic mail to connect the HP 95LX with the cember 1991 and will expand into 01' develop their view of the world NewsStream receiver. Canada and other U.S. markets in from spreadsheet models, will be We understand that the News­ 1992.) early users of NewsStream Ad­ Stream receiver from Motorola will SkyTel currently provides ser­ vanced Information Receivers. Real retail for $299.00. To locate the vice in over 200 US markets and estate agents away from the office NewsStream distributer nearest allows users to send messages need the latest listing updates or in­ you, or for pre-sale questions, call through a 1200 bps RF signal. terest rate quotes. Contractors jug­ EMBARC or SkyTel at the number For local service check check gling multiple subcontractors, costs listed below. your Yellow Pages under "Paging and job sites will seek out this wire­ Important: Each NewsStream is Services" and ask them if they ser­ less technology. built to receive a fixed frequency, so vice Motorola products. Other local Investors keeping an eye on the choose your paging service provider and regional services for Motorola's ever-changing economy need the prior to purchasing NewsStream. NewsStream receiver will be avail­ latest information. Sales representa­ The system requires a paging able in early 1992. tives will be able to match the criti­ service (approximately $20 - $80 . International paging services for cal needs of their customers with per month). Actual prices may vary NewsStream's European users will the ever-changing schedules of their based on carrier chosen, types of probably not be ready until some­ companies. As computer hardware information received, and usage. time in 1992. For further informa­ from other manufacturers becomes EMBARC (800-362-2724) and tion, contact: Motorola GmbH, Inter­ available, the Motorola NewsStream SkyTel (800-456-3333) are national national Paging Products Division, receiver is equipped to work with carriers. EMBARC, a service of Hagenauerstrasse 53a, 6200 Wies­ them as well as the HP Palmtop. Motorola's Paging Division, will baden-Biebrich, Germany; (+49) Further, as unique software applica­ allow users to send messages 611-3611555. tions develop from third-party pro­ viders, even more classes of users will emerge. Radio Common Carriers (paging ------_. service providers) can provide city, --- -~---~--- regional, and national radio cover­ age. International coverage will evolve in coming years. A system could even cover users within a single building, shopping mall or business complex. Thus, coverage could be tailored to the onsite, local, regional, national and international needs of the portable computing FAMILY NEEDS ANALYSIS public. SOFlWARE* The Future Motorola and Hewlett-Packard are working with a number of third­ party developers to produce applica­ • Survivor's Income Needs Analysis • Education Funding tions for the HP 95LX and N ews­ • Retirement Planning • Disability Income Analysis Stream. Expect to see some won­ drous, imaginative, yet useful prod­ Establish Insurance Need at the Point of Sale ucts chronicled in these pages in the Link Data to Comprehensive Financial Needs Program, FINPACK*B coming years. 95LXD For more ill/orlllll/iou. F·D·P 21-111 S. Di.tie 1111')' ••• I//(/II/i, [o'L 33133 Ordering Information (.'all or write: FINAN CI AL DATA Tel: (3115) 858·821111 Mattllell'Sclliff PLANNING [0'(1.\: (3115) 858·72112 The NewsStream receiver and the CORPORATION Mobile Data Link software is sched­ ASK ABOUT FOP'S ILLUSTRATION SYSTEM II DATABASE LINK uled for release in December, 1991. AU 10-0991

6 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 NEWS FROM HP: DictionarylThesaurus ROM Card

Dictionary/Thesaurus ROM Card word is not spelled correctly. Press Accept (@) to replace the entered for the HP 95LX word with the word you have high­ lighted in the alternative spellings More than just a spelling checker, this ROM card works word list. You can then use any of in stand alone mode or with the built-in Memo Editor to commands on the newly selected check spelling, look up definitions, and find synonyms. word. Dict(@]) Checks dictionary for entered word, and lists hyphenation breaks, part of speech, primary and alternate ~ Hewlett-Packard Co. 1991 All Rights Reserved. definitions, and related words (ad­ ~T~rig~~r~e~il~~~;Electroni c verbs, nouns, etc.). If you looked up Electronic Thesaurus ~ 1987 ~YIH~~~~t~nR~~~~0~~.company. "power" you would see the following: Electronic Thesaurus U.S. Pat. Ho. 4,724,523 '1 Ie es UU l Dictionary entry for: Hel Sell AnQrm power

pow · et~ In this screen you are then prompt­ noun 1. The ability or capacity to act or perfo,-m effect ively. ed: "Enter a word:". 2. A specific capacity, faculty, or aptitude: had the power of Mter doing so, select one of the concentration. ve,-b: pow -ered, pow' ~r . i ng, pow' wers seven function key commands listed To supply with power, especially mechanIcal power. on the bottom of the screen. They jjfow'er'ful -- adj ective are as follows: mIHe l Prln$HIli Help(lliJ) The Down Arrow in the upper right Accesses a simple Help Screen. of the screen indicates that there is more information on the word than Wild (~) By Richard Hall can fit on the screen. Press W to Is a wildcard function that lets you scroll down to that information or search for words for which you have This nifty little ROM memory card press W to scroll back up. turns your HP 95LX into a portable a partial spelling. When entering a dictionary and thesaurus with over word to search for, you must use Anagram(@) 116,000 words from the American one of the wildcard characters * or Lists any words that can be formed Heritage Electronic Dictionary and ? to perform a wildcard search. by rearranging the entered letters. 500,000 synonyms from the Hough­ For example, enter yar* and For example, if you enter the letters ton Mifflin Electronic Thesaurus. press (.!!J to search for all words of "artp" and press @ you get back a To show you the features of the any length beginning with "yar." list with the words "part," "rapt," ROM card, we'll take you through Enter yar?? and press r-m to search and "trap" in it. Press Accept (@) the DictionarylThesaurus menu for all five-letter words beginning to replace the entered word with the options. with "yar." When the search is com­ word you have highlighted in the pleted you are presented with a list anagram word list. of words. You can use the arrow Of course, we would never sug­ Installation keys to move the highlight bar gest using the Anagram feature to Installation of the Diction­ through the list. Press Accept ([E) cheat at Scrabble! arylThesaurus is simple. Insert the and the word you have highlighted Thes((i:s ) ROM card into the HP 95LX card will replace the word you have en­ slot and press ~ -[MEM'J). Because tered below the "Enter a word:" Lists a definition of the word en­ DictionarylThesaurus is a "System­ prompt. You can then use any of the tered and a list of words having a Manager-compliant" application, it DictionarylThesaurus commands on similar meaning as the entered may be accessed when in any of the the newly selected word. word. Press rE or [3J to move the built-in 95LX applications by press­ The Wild function only lists highlight bar to the synonym of ing~ -(MEM'J). words, it doesn't give definitions or your choice and press Accept (l!:D) list synonyms. to replace the entered word. You Stand-Alone Operation can then use any of the Dictionary/­ Thesaurus commands on the newly When you enter DictionarylThes­ Spell (l£.U) selected word. aurus, you'll see the following Checks the spelling of the word en­ For example, if you entered screen. tered and lists alternatives if the

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 7 HP: Dic:tionary / Thesallru .~

"power" and pressed (ill you would function key menu at the bottom of ble for not guessing the secret word see the following: the screen. Specifically, four func­ in time. To access this System-Man­ tion keys have been added to the ager-compliant game from within Thesaur us entry for: Definitions: 4 power ~ MENU: any other built-in application, press 1. (H) Effective Means of influencing, ij~~lling, or punishing. [CTRL)-[MEMO). You see the following • weight Muscle SpDoe (@) This performs a spell check of the screen: document from the current position of the cursor. Press @-@ to

'aIr check the entire document regard­ Hel Acce l Print less of where the cursor is. ABC D E F G H I In the upper right of the screen you When SpDoc comes across a J K L MHO P Q R STU V W x v Z see "Definitions: 4" below which is a word that is not in the dictionary, Score: 0 Down Arrow key. This indicates you get the following prompt: "Not in dictionary, enter correct word:". that that "power" has four defini­ L!UI H.. I I ~ ord QIJ I et G3roe tions. If you want to look at the You can either press (ill to accept synonyms for the other meanings, the word anyway, enter the correct word, or press [ill to get spelling press or Hangman Screen C!J aJ· alternatives for the word. From (ill use the arrow keys to go to the Quit ([!!D) The dashes at the top of the screen desired alternative and press (ill to Exits the Dictionary!I'hesaurus. indicate the number ofletters in the replace the word in question. secret word. Guess a letter by press­ Each of the above functions except Spell (@) ing the corresponding key. If you Help and Quit have a Print (rID) The same as the Spell function in are correct, all occurrences of the function for sending the output to a stand-alone operation. Spell checks letter will be indicated at the top of printer through the 95LX serial the spelling of the word the cursor the screen. If you are wrong, the port. is on. If the cursor is on an empty little man takes a step up the gal­ space, Spell checks the first word lows, towards his fate. prior to the cursor. Spell gives you a For a new game, press Game list of replacement words to select [ill. To silence the sometimes an­ from. noying beeping, press Quiet GIl Diet (rE), Thes (@) Press Quit @ to exit the game. The same as the Dict and Thes functions in stand-alone operation. Overall Impressions and Recommendations Pressing (Q) with Spell «(ill), Dict This is a very functional and rela­ (Q[) or Thes (@) lets you use tively inexpensive diction­ these functions as in the stand­ ary/thesaurus that provides a refer­ alone option (i.e. you are prompted to enter a word for these functions). ence that is complete, and easy to The Dictionary!I'hesaurus card learn and use. It slips in and out of only works with the MEMO Editor, the 95LX in a jiffy, and other than or as a stand-alone option. However, finding the start-up command ([Ell - you can spell check documents from (MEt.())) you hardly need to use the other programs. Save your files in documentation. If you use, or need ASCII (text) format and read them to use a dictionary and thesaurus into the MEMO editor. For example, when away from your desk, and you HP DictionarylThesaurus Card 1-2-3 users can print a worksheet to don't want to carry around a book, a file by pressing [MENU) print file, this is the obvious choice. and then read the file into the Availability ...... 12191 Using Dictionary/ Memo editor to find spelling errors. Medium ...... Memory Card Thesaurus withm MEMO Runs under System Manager ...... Yes Playing Hangman Pricing ...... $149.95 Insert the Dictionary!I'hesaurus Hangman is word game that pro­ Company: Hewlett-Packard. Available Card first and then call up MEMO through dealers carrying HP 95LX products. and you'll see some changes in the vides the most severe penalty possi-

8 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 NEWS FROM HP: HP Products

Products from Hewlett­ Serial Interface Cable Packard for the HP 95LX Connect the HP 95LX to a serial device such as a printer or modem HP supplies a number of products that enhance or other PC. Comes with a 4.9 ft. cable with a 9-pin female serial the useability of the HP 95LX. connector. Same cable that comes with the Connectivity Pack above. By Richard Hall Product No ...... HP FI00IA Requires adapter kit, HP 82224A or Medium ...... floppy disk equivalent to connect with modem All products listed below are Runs under System Manager ...... NA or printer. available through dealers who sell Pricing ...... $99.95 the HP 95LX. For additional HP Availability ...... NOW 95LX see products from third-party RAM Cards Product No ...... HP 82222A vendors beginning on page 37. These plug-in cards act as electronic Pricing ...... $35.00 RAM disks for file storage. Use Mobile Data Link them like floppy disks. When un­ ACAdapter This cradle and software is used to plugged, a card saves your informa­ This 110 V, 50-60 Hz adapter is connect the HP 95LX to the Moto­ tion using power from its own long­ recommended for those using the rola NewsStream receiver. See lasting CR2025 battery. Designed 95LX for frequent datacomm activi­ article beginning on page 4. for the HP 95LX to keep power ty. Helps conserve battery life. consumption at a minimum. Availability ...... 12191 Availability ...... NOW Product No ...... HP FI006A Availability ...... NOW Product No ...... HP 822241A Medium ...... ROM Card Medium ...... RAM Card Runs under System Manager ...... Yes Pricing Pricing ...... $15.00 Pricing ...... $119.95 128K CHP FI002A) ...... $199.95 512K CHP FI003A) ...... $399.95 Serial Cable Adapter Kit Connectivity Pack Adapt the HP 82222A serial Transfer files between your HP Dictionary/Thesaurus card interface cable. This kit includes a 95LX and IBM-compatible PC. The HP offers a DictionarylThesaurus ROM card for the 95LX. For a pre­ printer adapter and a modem pack includes software, serial inter­ adapter. Each adapter has a 9-pin face cable, and a 9- or 25-pin cable view of the DictionarylThesaurus adapter to make a connection to card see page 7, this issue. male connector and a 25-pin male connector. your PC. See lead article, "Most Availability ...... 12191 Frequently Asked Questions" (Con­ Medium ...... ROM Card Availability ...... NOW nectivity, page 14) for more. Product No ...... HP FlO005 Product No ...... 82224A Runs under System Manager ...... Yes Pricing ...... $15.00 Availability ...... NOW Pricing ...... $149.95

HP 95LX SUPPORT technical support staff provided the HP 95LX Information and Support remainder of this article. The article consists of the answers to the most [Editor's Note: Where can you about the HP 95LX support offered on frequently asked questions fielded by turn to get your HP 95LX questions CompuServe. (l am a "regular" on the the HP technical support personnel. answered and learn more about HP forum: that means you can tell me We appreciate the efforts of T.H. and 95LX capabilities? The Palmtop Paper directly - publicly or privately - what his colleagues who spent many eve­ is one such source. We'll look at sever­ you like and don't like about this nings and weekend days preparing al other excellent resources for HP newsletter.) this article for The Palmtop Paper 95LX support in this section of The There is also HP 95LX support readers. Palmtop Paper. information on other electronic servic­ Next issue we will publish part II First we'll learn about the es such as PRODIGY. We welcome of frequently asked technical support CompuServe Information Service. The reader input on PRODIGY and other questions. We will also continue our CompuServe HP Systems Forum systems that actively support the HP discussion about HP 95LX contains an extraordinarily active and 95LX user. CompuServe support services. In addi­ informative HP 95LX message section The second part of this article on tion, in upcoming issues we will ex­ with a library full with HP 95LX­ HP 95LX support describes services amine books, magazines, and other related files. Ted Dickens, the HP offered by Hewlett Packard to 95LX learning materials that should in­ Forums "System Operator" (e.g. head users. crease your effectiveness using the HP "honcho ") authors the following article The Hewlett Packard HP 95LX 95LX. - Hal}

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 9 HP 95LX Support: CompuSerue

The CompuServe quent the HP 95LX message area In other words, it's a user's group. HP 95LX Forum and contribute interesting insights, Only there are no meetings to at­ tidbits, firmly held opinions, and in­ tend and all communication is done The HPSYS CompuServe Forum depth technical discoveries. If you electronically. Each of the more provides HP 95LX users with a feel shy at first or are pressed for than 10,000 HP forum members wealth of support and up-to­ time, just eavesdrop and "download" gets to tailor this user's group to his (copy to your computer) those mes­ date product information. or her individual needs. sages and files of interest to you. The forum is a great place to get However, don't be shy too long. The questions answered, keep up with By Ted Dickens, fun of CompuServe is participating the latest information from HP and HP Forum Sysop and sharing information and ideas. other vendors, get software updates, CompuServe # [76701,272J Expect a reasonable learning and tap into the wealth of public Introduction by Hal Goldstein curve and to make a few mistakes domain and shareware software for CompuServe # [75300,2443J "online" - no one minds much - your HP product. (The HP 95LX we've all been there. The HP Forum palmtop is just one of many HP Introduction SYSOP - the individual who is in products covered in the HP Forums.) charge of the forum - Ted Dickens, And unlike HP's support channels, Those of us who use computers (and is excellent. He'll help you with any the HP Forums are open 24 hours a now the HP Palmtop) in our daily initial problems using the forum. day, seven days a week. activity are pioneers of sorts. We Also, he is an extraordinarily know­ If you have used an electronic have all suffered trying to make ledgeable and active 95LX user with bulletin board system (BBS), most of some piece of software or hardware lots of answers to your 95LX ques­ the forum concepts will be familiar. conform to our will. Our reward has tions. In addition, from time-to-time Each forum has three main areas: been a new set of tools that make you'll find some of the engineers • Message boards, where you can our every day activities more effec­ who designed the HP 95LX on the read and write messages; tive and powerful. The investment forum and willing to answer some of of time in learning computer tech­ your questions. • Libraries, where you can find files and download them to your nology has given us a significant The HP Palmtop Paper and system; competitive advantage over those CompuServe compliment each other • Conference rooms, where you who are not computer literate. nicely in how they support HP 95LX can "meet" on-line with other I feel the same can be said users. One of the fundamental sets users and talk interactively. about electronic networks such as of opposites in nature is continuum CompuServe. If you are willing to vs. discrete; dynamic vs. stable; tolerate the expense and the initial fluid vs. solid. CompuServe is more Message Boards bit of frustration in learning a new fluid and dynamic while The HP Instead of one big message board, tool, you will be rewarded in many Palmtop Paper is more stable and each forum is divided into sections; ways. solid. On CompuServe pose a 95LX each section is devoted to a single Participation in CompuServe problem and watch the thread of topic. The sidebar lists all of the forums means access to a whole new discussion and different angles in sections for each of the HP Forums. Of particular interest to HP Palm­ world of useful knowledge. It pro­ finding solutions. When the dust readers: The HP 95LX sec­ vides an opportunity to "meet" peo­ settles or to see a crystallized solu­ top Paper tion of the HP Systems forum. ple in all walks of life with whom tion to a common problem look to If you have a question about you would never come in contact. The HP Palmtop Paper. I highly your HP 95LX, post it in the 95LX Furthermore, CompuServe is great recommend both. section. The next time you log on, fun. Talk to me on CompuServe - you'll probably find at least one In particular the HP 95LX my ID is [75300,2443]. I am inter­ response. No matter how arcane the Palmtop section of the HPSYSTEMS ested in your feedback about The question, it seems that someone forum is, perhaps, the best source HP Palmtop Paper and other HP 95LX-related issues. See you there! always knows the answer off the top available for quick responses to your of their head - or knows where to HP 95LX questions. HP Forum Getting Started: find it. SYSOP (system operator) Ted Dick­ The other way to benefit is to Why the HP Forum? ens writes in the article that fol­ simply read the messages posted by lows: "Post your HP 95LX question, The HP Forums on CompuServe others. It is a great way to learn and the next time you log on, you'll have two goals - to allow users to about the HP 95LX. Because not probably find at least one response, talk to each other and to augment only do you get answers to your no matter how arcane the question." HP's support mechanisms. questions - you'll get answers to Hundreds of HP 95LX users fre-

10 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 questions that hadn't yet occurred chance to "talk" to special guests. to you. That's particularly valuable Folks from the HP lab, support, and THE PRACTICE FORUM: when it helps you avoid making a marketing groups have been guests. Learning on mistake. We learn from our mis­ So have the leaders from PCMCIA - CompuServe's Nickel takes; the HP forums can help you the group responsible for the RAM learn from the mistakes of others! card standard used in the 95LX. Make your introductory membership One of the things that sets a Future conferences will cover credit last even longer by using use the CompuServe forum message section specific facets of the 95LX (like apart from a typical BBS is that power management) and there may GO PRACTICE command to get into forum messages are "threaded." be an ongoing series of conferences the Practice Forum. Not only will you find When you ask a question and I send on software design for the 95LX. a "Sysops" (knowledgable person in a reply, my reply is automatically charge of the forum) who specialize in linked to your question. Reply to my What Is CompuServe? helping new users, you find lots of files of reply and the "thread" gets longer. The CompuServe Information Ser­ tips and tricks - and it's all free to any If several people reply to your mes­ vice (CIS) is a public-access comput­ user. While you are in the Practice Fo­ sage, all of those replies (and replies er system that provides information rum, CompuServe suspends the normal to those replies) are added to the services. The breadth ofinformation connect charges. So you can learn to thread. Not only does this make it available from CIS is staggering. read and write messages, upload and simple to read all of the related There are 1400 different informa­ download files all without paying for it. messages in the proper order, it is tion services. No matter what your easy to pick out and read only the personal or professional interests II (Overseas users, beware. Network threads that look interesting. I'll may be -- there is something on CIS charges are not suspended. In much of talk more about this in a future that you will find valuable. North America and some international issue of The Palmtop Paper. In a future article, I'll try to put sites, network charges are only 30 all the information services into cents/hour. But for other places, the Libraries perspective. For now, I'll focus on network charges can be significant.) Each section has a corresponding the personal computer items. CIS library where you can find appli­ forums cover the full range of hard­ cation notes, product announce­ ware, software, and even "paper­ Section names ments, software upgrades, answers ware" (magazines). Besides the to frequently asked questions, pub­ forums for HP, you'll find forums for HP HP Systems Forum PerIpherals Forum lic domain and shareware utilities, IBM, Apple, Microsoft, Lotus, Bor­ captured "threads" on interesting land, Novell, and more. In the HP 1 General 1 General topics, and more. All told, there is Systems Forum you'll find coverage 2 DOS related 2 Mass Storage about 1.5 MB worth of information for the 95LX Palmtop. In the Palm­ 3 VecIra 3 PCLUlilities in the HP 95LX section. tops forum, you'll also find Casio, 4 HP1501 4 LaserJet Each file is accompanied by a Sharp, Poqet, Traveling Software... Touchscreen 5 DeskJet one line title, a paragraph or two of All told, there are more than 200 5 HPllOJPortabIe+ 6 PaintJet 6 Analytical 7 ScanJet & FAX description, and a list of key words computer companies active on 7 Networking 8 FAX products to help you decide which files are of CompuServe. 10 NewWave 9 HPs for Apples interest to you. 11 HP Applications 10 Other peripherals The files for the 95LX include Accessing the 12 Minis 11 3rd party several on-line conferences with the HP Systems Forum 13 Handhelds products HP lab engineers, a description of 14 95LX Palmtop 15 Direct-Connect If you already have a CompuServe API the 95LX hardware, an updated list account, you can access the HP Sys­ of available software packages, tems Forum by typing GO HPSYS. If several games, and a group of inter­ you don't have a CompuServe ac­ esting graphic images that can be count, you can obtain a free Intro­ Country Toll free Normal used as "top card" opening screen ductory Membership. Call 800-848- displays. For example, the files United Kingdom 0800289378 (+44) 272 255111 -8199, ask for representative #231. Germany 0130 37 32 (+49) 89-66550-111 MACDT.PCX and WINDOW.PCX will Switzerland 15531 79 make your 95LX opening screen look ~ International users can call Japan 0120-22-1200 03-3221-7363 like a MAC or Windows screen. Pro­ the non-800 number in the U.S. Australia 008-02-5240 (+61) 02-411-8603 grammers can find documentation (614-457-0802) or one of the New Zealand 0800-44-6113 and utilities for writing system numbers listed below. The Intro­ manager-compliant applications. ductory Membership comes with a Strategies manual, instructions for getting CompuServe is not free service. The Conference Rooms signed on, and $15 of free connect basic V.S. connect rates are listed Electronic conferences offer you a time. on the next page:

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 11 Support: CompuSerue

$6.00Ihour up to 300 baud is dramatic. Instead of me being on­ just plain fun. There are some real $12.50Ihour up to 2400 baud $22.50Ihour up to 9600 baud. line for an hour reading and writing characters, not all of them ASCII. In messages, ATO does the same work the midst of a discussion on why But using very simple strategies can in a few minutes of connect time. some 95LX's make faint clicking keep your monthly bill down - and We'll cover the automated pro­ noises when running on batteries, the value up. grams in more depth next issue. we had some highly imaginative The first strategy is to decide explanations - including "little how you are going to use CIS. Do Summary green men who get in through the you just want answers to your ques­ Whether you need an answer to a door on the card slot." tions, or do you want to keep up specific question or want to stay Try it out! with what's going on in the field? If abreast of the latest information, the former, you only need to log on the HP Forums on CompuServe [Ted Dickens writes PC software when you have a question. For the offer something to every 95LX user. for Niche Designs Corporation. He latter, you will need to log on at Joining is easy and in no time at became a forum user in 1984, was least once a week. (Messages are all, you'll be a CIS veteran. While "demoted" (Ted's comment) to Sysop kept in a first-in, first-out queue; CIS is not free, by using some sim­ in 1987, and has spent the last two messages disappear after about a ple strategies, you can get the most years in a room with a PC, modem, week.) for your money. and fluffy white walls - Hal.] The second strategy is to choose Besides being a great source of your baud rate carefully. If you are information, the forums are also going to log on interactively, consid­ er 300 baud. That's roughly 300 words per minute which most of us can read comfortably. Use the faster rates only if you are going to be D CD 1\ IC'\ 'th UP. downloading files or using an auto­ LJLI II V Cd. a compact WI more n, . mated access program. (More on that in a bit.) In fact, while you are learning to use CIS, 300-baud is ideal. The $15 usage credit in the introductory membership will pay for 2.5 hours of access at 300 baud. That's enough to learn your way around. The third strategy is to be selec­ tive. In each forum you can select sections of interest. CIS will then only show you messages from those sections. Further, you can "scan headers" and only read "threads" that sound interesting. The final strategy is to use an automated access program. These are programs written specifically to access CIS. These programs (Autosig and Tapcis for the PC, Navigator for DERIVE~ . A Mathematical Assistant is now available for palmtops through 486-based PCs. the Mac) have different user inter­ faces but share an underlying de­ The DERIV& program • Displays accepted math notation. System requirements sign philosophy: Do it off-line. With solves both symbolic and Autosig* (ATO for short), the pro­ • Performs arithmetic to PC version: MS-DOS 2.1 or numeric problems, and it thousands of digits. later, only 512Kb RAM and gram logs on to CIS, visits each of plots beautifully too. • Simplifies, factors and one 3.5' or 5.25' disk drive. the forums I use, downloads all the • Symbolic math from algebra expands expressions. Suggested retail price $250. through calculus. new messages - then logs off. And • Does exponential, logarith­ ROM-card version: Hewlett­ it does this at the full speed of the • Plots in both 2-D and 3-D. mic, trigonometric, hyperbo­ Packard 95LX Palmtop • Simple, letter-driven menu lic and probability functions. computer. Suggested retail modem. Then I read the messages price is $289. and compose my replies off-line. interface. • Taylor and Fourier series • Solves equations exactly. approximations. Contact Soft Warehouse for When I'm done, ATO logs back on to a list of dealers. Or, ask at upload my messages. The difference • Understands vectors and • Permits recursive and itera­ your local computer store, matrices. tive programming. software store or HP calcu­ • Split or overlay algebra and • Can generate Fortran, Pascal lator dealer. Dealer inquires * Available on Palmtop Paper on Disk· Issue 1. plot windows. and Basic statements. are welcome. See page 3S for more information.

2000 years of Soft Warehouse. Inc • 3660 Waialae Ave MathematIcal Knowledge 11...,1 loft Wa,ehoule~ Sle 304 . Honolulu. HI. USA 96816-3236 Dna Disk _HONOLULU-HAWAII Ph (608) 734-5801 . Fax (608) 735-1105 12 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 Support: Questions

Continued from front cover. can be either polarity. I get "PACKED FILES The AC adapter made by HP is CORRUPT" when I try the power to the serial port back on the same one used for the HP installing the HP 95LX when it is required for the built-in 82240A Infrared Printer. Connectivity Pack on my PC. applications). IE International versions of this This may happen to those with DOS 5.0 on their PC. To fix the What is the proper procedure adapter are made to accommodate the AC power in various countries: problem go to the DOS A:> prompt for changing batteries? (or whichever drive has the Connec­ Before you change batteries, HP B2241 A for USA/Canada (110v 50-60Hz) tivity Pack disk) and type loadfix save the files from your open appli­ HP B2241AB for Europe (220v 50Hz) HP B2241AU for UK (240v 50Hz) install. For those interested, the DOS cations. Make sure all applications HP B2241AJ for Japan (100v 50Hz) 5.0 documentation provides informa­ are closed and the HP 95LX is OFF HP B2241AG for Australia (240v 50Hz) tion on the LOADFIX command. before removing the batteries. Remove the main batteries Connectivity Converting Phone ONLY if the backup battery is in­ Pack Installation Directories Into stalled. The backup battery provides HP 95LX Phone Format the power to maintain RAM disk I keep getting the ''SYSTEM memory. If you take both main and RESOURCE MISSING" How can I convert my backup batteries out, all of your message when I type APP95 database of customer internal RAM memory will be at the DOS prompt on my PC. information into erased. You have installed the Connec­ an HP 95LX Phone book? tivity pack on a drive other tJ;1an C: From your database print out a My HP 95LX shuts down or a directory other than CPACK. file with the name, phone number, without giving me any This is okay if the APP95 program and address fields delimited by warning and won't restart. can find where.you've put the Con­ quotes and separated by commas. After I change the main nectivity Pack modules. To find the Use the translate utility in the batteries it starts right up. modules, APP95 looks to the DOS Connectivity Pack to convert this What's wrong? environment for a variable named CD I-formatted file into the HP The HP 95LX should give you a PIMS, which should be set with the 95LX phone book format. See the warning "MAIN BATTERY LOW" path to the Connectivity modules. Connectivity Pack manual page 4-9 while your system st~ll has enough The command to de'fine this vari­ for additional information. battery left for you to save your files able is set pims:c:\cpack (you should and close all open applications. If replace C:\CPACK with your own When translating my CDl your HP 95LX runs out of battery path). (Conventional Data) file into power without giving a warning, To display the current values of the HP 95LX phone book then it is malfunctioning. You can the DOS environment file, type set format, I get 99% complete send the HP 95LX to the HP Ser­ at the DOS prompt. PATH and and then the Translation PIMS should both contain the path vice Center for your area and the utility stops and displays the to the Connectivity modules. unit will be repaired. The last page message "INVALID FILE of the Users Guide identifies the The SET PIMS command should FORMAT." What do I do? appropriate HP Service Center. be in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The problem may be that the SET PIMS Some programs attach an End­ Of-File marker when they produce The AC Adapter command is not executed during the start-up process be"cause it is pre­ an output file. To fix this, start the What is the required voltage/ ceded by the execution of another Memo application and open the CD1 current for the AC adapter? program. To fix this, put the SET file. Page down to the end of the file. There you should find some The adapter should output ei­ PIMS command nearer the begin­ ther AC or DC at 9 volts. If the out­ ning of the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. special characters after the last record. These characters will look put is AC, then the minimum cur­ After this is changed, save the rent is 350 milliamps. If the output AUTOEXEC.BAT file and reboot the like one or more horizontal arrows, is DC, then the minimum current is PC. Mter rebooting, type app95 and ((cmL}-Z). Use [Bill to remove these characters. Save the file. Run the 175 milliamps. The DC output plug press ( ENTER ).

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 13 Support: Questions corrected file back into the translate verter. These devices convert the MB if they follow PCMCIA 1.0 and utility. With these EOF markers serial signals from the HP 95LX JEIDA 4.0 memory card standards. gone, the translation should com­ into a parallel format that the prin­ plete successfully. ter can interpret at its parallel port. Before you purchase one of these Transferring Files Printing devices, be sure that you can disable from the HP 95LX with the HP 95LX hardware handshaking on the con­ to Other Computers verter. Try before you buy. My printer doesn't What do I need to respond correctly to the Programming transfer files to my IBM PC? HP 95LX print commands. on tne HP 95LX The Connectivity Pack provides What do I do? the serial cable and the FILER First make sure that the HP How can I program application software to transfer files 95LX and the printer are both set to theHP95LX? to and from the HP 95LX and the the same baud rate. Then check The HP 95LX is a computer PC compatible. that the HP 95LX printer driver that can execute compiled code writ­ The Connectivity Pack includes being used is one that the printer is ten in many languages. The easiest the Appointment, Phone, Calculator, able to emulate. To check this on way is to develop programs on your Memo, and Setup software which is the HP 95LX, start the SETUP PC and download the executable similar to the software on the HP application by pressing [Q)-[F1lER) files to the HP 95LX. 95LX, but will run on your PC. The and then press printer. This will Also, you can load your pre­ Connectivity Pack includes the display the settings that the HP ferred compiler or interpreter onto following software: Merge, Trans­ 95LX is using. Use the Serial Cable the HP 95LX. If it is compatible, late, and DOS connect utilities. Adapter Kit, part number HP 822- you can develop as well as run your The Merge utility merges phone 24A, to connect the HP 95LX serial programs on the HP 95LX. BASIC book files or appointment book files. cable to a serial printer. and C are the languages most often This is useful when you have a copy Next, check to see that hard­ used in this manner. Be advised on your PC and another on your HP ware handshaking is disabled on that most compilers and interpret­ 95LX. The Translate utility converts the printer. This is often done with ers require a large piece of your the phone and appointment file for­ DIP switches on the printer. Look in RAM disk. mats of Sidekick Plus, Lotus Metro, your printer manual for instruc­ and PC Tools into file formats the tions. Hardware handshaking is RAM Cards HP 95LX can use. usually done with pins 4, 5, and/or DOS Connect, also included in 20. These are not available on the When dol The Connectivity Pack, is software HP 95LX serial port. By disabling need a RAM card? that has the effect of letting the PC the use of these pins, printers are If you have allocated as much of use the RAM disks on the HP 95LX forced to look to pins 2 and 3 for the internal RAM to RAM disk as as its own additional drives. Using software handshaking-based com­ possible, and you need still more DOS Connect, the normal DOS copy munication with the HP 95LX. space to store files, you may need a command can copy files back and Finally, check to see that the RAM card. forth between the PC and HP 95LX. printer is set up to receive data in Moving files from the internal The Connectivity Pack does not the format that the HP 95LX sends RAM disk to the RAM card also include Lotus 1-2-3 or the COMM it: 8 bits, 1 stop bit, 1 start bit, and gives you space to re-allocate inter­ application software. no parity bit. nal RAM disk to system RAM. The Connectivity Pack can be A RAM card is also useful for ordered from your HP dealer using My printer has only a storing a backup copy of the files on part number HP FI00IA. parallel port. How can I the internal RAM disk. The cable alone can be ordered print from the HP 95LX? using part number HP 82222A. You can send the files to your How big a RAM card Files can be transferred between PC and print from the Connectivity can I use in the HP' 95LX? the PC and the HP 95LX without Pack applications. Or you could HP sells 128K and 512K RAM The Connectivity Pack by using the purchase a serial-to-parallel con- cards for the HP 95LX. The 95LX cable, COMM on the HP 95LX and can use RAM cards as large as 2 communications software on the PC.

14 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 I keep getting "Cannot ble CONFIG.SYS and ware handshaking. Check the mo­ Establish a Remote AUTOEXEC.BAT files. Then reboot dem manual or contact the modem Connection" when using the system. Start APP95. Try to manufacturer directly for instruc­ establish a remote connection. If it tions on disabling hardware hand­ FILER, from either the works, then something in your more shaking. HP95LX or the PC, to complete system setup is in conflict. transfer files to the HP 95LX. To find it, systematically add to the How can I use a Both systems must be running CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT battery-powered modem the FILER application for the con­ files on the floppy disk each item with the 95LX? nection to be established. There are which may be causing the conflict. The following modems can be a number of possible causes: Each time you add an item to the configured to operate in battery AUTOEXEC.BAT or the mode with the HP 95LX. These 1. COM port on PC not correctly CONFIG.SYS, reboot the PC, start modems are manufactured by US configured. The most common APP95, and try to establish a re­ Robotics, formerly Touchbase Sys­ cause of trouble is that the mote connection. When the connec­ tems. The brand name is WorldPort. FILER on the PC is trying to tion fails again, you have found US Robotics' technical support can communicate through COMI your culprit. be reached at 800-982-5151. and the serial cable is plugged into COM2. To test this, use the What do I need to transfer • WorldPort 1200 with any serial number. PC's FILER Remote-Set com­ files to my Macintosh PC? The HP 95LX supports file • WorldPort 2400 with a serial mand to tell FILER on the PC number greater than 50,000. to use the COM2 serial port transfers in the COMM application. Both Kermit and Xmodem transfer • WorldPort 2400 with a serial (described below). number less than 49,999 after protocols are provided on the HP To change COM ports from modification has been made to within FILER on the PC, press 95LX. If you have software on the Macintosh that transfers files using the modem by US Robotics. [ill) -IE[) (the PC equivilant of either of these protocols, you only pressing the 95LX MENU key). need the cable to connect to the HP How can I configure Then press remote-set config 95LX. The cable can be ordered my WorldPort 1200 to interface 2 (to select Com2) quit from your HP dealer by specifying operate with the HP 95LX? quit. The HP 95LX should be part number HP 82223A. Take the modem case apart and set to COMl, the 4 pin serial If you do not have communica­ change the internal switches. Set port. tions software for your Macintosh, switches 3 and 4 to ON. 2. Another PC program is running you may also order the "HP 48SX to and using serial port. Another Apple Macintosh" serial interface How can I configure cause of difficulty in getting a kit (part HP 822094A). This kit my WorldPort 2400 to remote connection is that anoth­ includes the serial cable and KER­ operate with the HP 95LX? er program running in the back­ MIT for the Macintosh, as well as Open the modem case and ground on your PC has control some utilities for the HP 48SX cal­ change the internal switches. Set of the COM port that the FILER culator. switch 3 to ON. [Editor's note: see page 32 for a is trying to use. To fix this, Next, plug the modem into the description of a third-party, 95LX.­ AC adapter power supply. Connect move the serial cable to another to-Mac file transfer product.] the modem to HP 95LX using the port and update the Remote serial cable, part number HP 82222- Settings configuration. (To up­ Using the HP 95LX A, and the serial cable modem adap­ date the remote settings, use with a Modem ter, part number HP 82224A. the same procedure as in the Set the baud rate to 2400 on the previous paragraph). After the How do I connect the HP 95LX. To do this press [C0t.t.4} , port has been changed, try HP 95LX to my modem? then press 1v.EN\J). From the menu again to get the FILER to estab­ Use the serial cable HP 82222A select settings config port baud 3 lish a remote connection. and the serial cable adapter kit HP (for 2400 baud) quit quit. This will 82224A to connect the HP 95LX to bring up the initial COMM screen. If you don't have another port, look your modem. Enter AT&DO&W (the modem com­ at your system to find the source of You will need to disable hard­ mand) and press ( ENTER ). the conflict. You can most easily do ware handshaking on your modem. The modem should reply "OK" if this by booting the system from a The HP 95LX supports only soft- it accepted the command. The floppy disk with the smallest possi-

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 15 Support: Questions

WorldPort 2400 should be able to switch 3 to ON. The switches are You should expand your RAM disk connect to the HP 95LX and operate inside the battery compartment. if you have no more space to store with or without the AC adapter From this point forward, follow files. after this command is accepted. the same steps as for the WorldPort You should expand your System (This command tells the modem to 2400. RAM if you don't have enough space ignore hardware handshaking. This to run your programs or your Lotus command is written to the modem's Using the 512K spreadsheet has the MEM indicator internal memory. Until you change of Internal RAM showing. You can also free up sys­ it again the modem should continue tem RAM for your Lotus spread­ to ignore hardware handshaking.) The HP 95LX comes with sheet by closing any Phone, Ap­ 512K of internal RAM. pointment, Comm, Calculator, or How can I configure What is the recommended Memo applications which are open. my WorldPort 2400 MNP to allocation for RAM disk (Part 2 of "Most Frequently operate with the HP 95LX? and System RAM? Asked HP 95LX Questions to HP's The 2400 MNP will NOT oper­ RAM disk is the area of internal Technical Support Line" will be ate with the HP 95LX in BATTERY RAM where files are stored. System printed in the next issue of The HP mode. However, it can be configured RAM is the area of internal RAM Palmtop Paper. HP Technical Sup­ to operate with the HP 95LX while where programs are executed. The port can be reached at 900-228-0025 it is connected to an AC adapter. default (an even split) is best until 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Pacific time, To configure the 2400 MNP, set you have a reason to change. Monday through Friday.)

HP 95LX SUPPORT: HP Sources

HP 95LX Support from Hewlett-Packard

By Hal Goldstein companies or individuals who tact the Corvallis Service Center have contracted and paid for at 503-757-2002, 1030 N.E. HP provides the following avenues this service. This plan is in Circle Blvd., Corvallis, OR of support: response to the difficulty many 97330, U.S.A. customers have in calling the • End users of the HP 95LX in all 1. Pre-sales information, dealer 900 from their offices. As we get locations, and recorded answers further information, we'll report European courtries should get support from the dealer where to commonly asked questions it in future issues of The HP they bought their HP 95LX. are available at 800-443-1254. Palmtop Paper. These dealers have been trained After calling the number, use 3. As described in the article on to give 95LX support, and in your touchtone phone to select page 10, there is an active user what pre-recorded information turn get direct support from community on the HP Systems you wish to receive. their local HP Response Center. Forum (GO HPSYS) in the HP If you wish to contact HP 2. The technical support group is 95LX section, available through directly, you will fmd HP local available at 900-288-0025 from Compuserve Information Servic­ phone numbers on the inside 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pacific Time. es. HP engineers frequent the back cover of The User's Guide There is a $2.00 per minute forum and often give tips when supplied with your 95LX. charge billed to your phone. other users can't help. In other countries contact The first minute is free. your HP sales office, dealer, or The HP Palmtop Paper has 4. Customers can write letters to the Tech Support Group (use the number in the back of your heard that HP is planning to address in back of the manual). User's Guide. You can also write offer an 800 number for HP the Corvallis Service Center at 95LX technical support. This 5. If your HP 95LX requires ser­ the address listed above for the number would be available to vice, in the U.S. you may con- location of other service centers.

16 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 THE DOS CONNECTION: File Compression

compression programs to maximize Gaining Disk Space on the HP the 95LX's available memory. 95LX Through File Compression Since there is no specific com­ pression software written for the HP 95LX users can save disk space using the 95LX, the first task in picking a free DIET.EXE compression program. This article, utility is to define those qualities most desirable when used with the assumes some working knowledge of MS DOS. unique structure of the HP 95LX. The qualities of an ideal 95LX file By Mark Scardina rary or permanent file storage. compressor include the following: Introduction by Hal Goldstein Some programs require extra sys­ 1. To compress and decompress tem RAM to perform compression. files automatically with a mini­ In most cases judicious use of com­ Introduction: mum of user intervention; pression techniques provide more What is Data Compression? 2. To compress and decompress benefits to 95LX users than detri­ Storage space on the HP 95LX, data files created by DOS appli­ ments. Often, performance penalties like precious real estate, can be cations and by HP 95LX built-in are not significant on the 95LX. expensive and limited. The use of software such as Lotus 1-2-3 Most often, proper application of data compression programs can and MEMO; compression techniques results in mean significant disk space savings 3. To compress application (.EXE, significant disk space savings. on the HP 95LX's A drive and C .COM, .EXM) files. (EXM files There are a number of data drive. are "system compliant" software compression techniques available, Data compression simply means applications that work in con­ each with their unique advantages storing the same information (data junction with HP 95LX built-in and disadvantages. Data compres­ files and program files) in less software); and space. For example, if we could sion techniques and approaches will reduce the size of every 1-2-3 or be a continuing theme in The Palm­ MEMO data file or our PHONE book top Paper through the years. Learn To Program 40%, we would have that much This article's author, Mark In Forth more space left over for other files. Scardina, is familiar with most Similarly, if we wanted to run our common file compression approach­ On Your 95LX favorite DOS application on the es for MS DOS machines. He feels Tum your HP 95LX into a portable soft­ 95LX, it would be great to be able to for generalized use, DIET.EXE* ware development system with urn.., a reduce the size of its main .EXE or offers the best data compression System Manager compliant implementa­ .COM file. approach for 95LX users (especially tion of the Forth language. since DIET's author makes it avail­ Exactly how data compression " Includes Forth compiler I decompiler, able for free) . . works is beyond the scope of this 8086 assembler I disassembler, and article. However, in general terms a user's guide with soun:e code examples data compression program "trans­ Criteria for Using a Compression Program on " Creates compact, System Manager lates" the "normal" way a file is compliant executable files, and stored and encoded into a more theHP95LX loaders for .COM or .EXE files efficient encoding scheme. PC capacity has been increasing " Small kernel of under 11K maxi­ There are two significant disad­ at a startling rate. We now have mizes space for data and programs vantages to data compression. First laptops with 16MB of RAM memory there is usually some performance and 120MB hard drives, and the m Free games, music and graphics tools penalty since a file must be decom­ notebooks are closing fast. This iii Uses text source files created and pressed before it can be used by an huge capacity has allowed users to modified with the 95LX memo application. For example, 1-2-3 only operate with little or no concern for editor or any ASCII editor knows about WK1 data files not space. Therefore, switching to the At just $70, UTIL lets you harness all compressed WK1 files. Therefore, 95LX can be quite an experience for the power of your 95LX. To order somehow compressed WK1 files the user who demands more than your copy, call today. must be decompressed before Lotus an electronic organizer from the . can use them. diminutive palmtop. This inevitably Essex Marketing Services Inc. Secondly, the compression/de­ leads one to search for data 272 Old Farms Road Simsbury CT 06070 compression program occupies some (203) 651-8284 disk space. In addition, it usually * Available on Palmtop Paper on Disk· Issue 1. requires extra disk space for tempo- See page35 for more information.

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 17 DOS: File Compression

4. To take up a minimum of sys­ available. For example, let's "diet" tem memory and disk space. the files in your \ _dat directory. Installing DIET.EXE 1. Enter DOS as before. on the HP 95LX. DIET.EXE on the HP 95LX 2. Type dir and make note of how One such program that meets these many "bytes free." The following instructions as­ criteria to a large extent is DIET by 3. Type diet c:'-dat\*.* and press sume no RAM card. If you use Terry Matsumoto. [ ENTER t. You will now see DIET one you can modify these in­ There are two files that come in action as it compresses the structions as appropriate. with the DIET program: DIET.EXE files in _DAT. and DIET.DOC. Only DIET.EXE You may want to repeat this 1. Copy DIET.EXE to C:\ of the needs to be copied to the 95LX. This command in any other directory HP 95LX. file requires 22K of disk space. The where you store 1-2-3 WK.1 files 2. You will need to create a text manual for DIET is DIET.DOC. (i.e. diet c:\*.wk1) since compress­ CONFIG.SYS file (or modify It should be printed for reference. ing 1-2-3 files can save a lot of your existing one). Using DIET can be used manually. disk space. MEMO. Type the following However, its real power is in its 4. Type dir again and see how line: shell=command.com Ip memory-resident ability, in which it many bytes you have saved. compresses files automatically. (empty space before "/p") Let's first look at a few exam­ Then save this file as DIET has several command line C:\CONFIG.SYS. ples of using DIET manually. We options that are discussed in detail assume you have already copied in the documentation. If DIET re­ 3. Next create (or modify) an DIET.EXE to your C drive. turns a suggestion to try the .y or ·i AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Within Diet compresses all types offiles option on a file, you may be able to MEMO type the following by using the command: compress it, but you will need room lines: diet [driye:)~path][file.exe) for a temporary file its original size. echo off If this happens to be a large file, prompt $p$g you may be better off leaving it un­ set path=c:\;c:,-sys;c:'-dat EXAMPLE 1: compressed to give you a net sav­ diet ·z .p ·tc:\ Compress a program file: ings in disk space. The temporary files created by DIET during opera­ $sysmgr 1. Enter DOS. (Do so by closing all tion (named _ DIET_.*) are usually Save this file as your built-in 95LX applications deleted automatically, but if you C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT. except FILER and pressing [MEMJt find them these files can be safely system. deleted. 4. Reboot (press Ctrl-Alt-Del) 2. Suppose you have an 80K soft­ DIET becomes most useful on and you are ready to start ware application file named the HP 95LX when it is used as a compressing. ROLODEX.EXE on the C drive. memory resident application. See Issue the command: the sidebar for the particular memo­ diet rolodex.exe ry resident installation instructions of DIET on the HP 95LX. the DOS application saves it. If you DIET then displays a message that Once installed, DIET will auto­ are running one of the built-in pro­ it is doing its thing. When it finish­ matically re-compress previously grams, such as 1-2-3 or MEMO, and es, you'll see a message telling you compressed files. This includes save a DIETed file, at first the file how much it was able to compress built-in software data files such as will not be recompressed. However, ROLODEX.EXE. The good news Lotus .WK.1 files, MEMO .TXT files, when you enter DOS and run any about compressing .EXE or .COM and HPCALC .EQN files. It even program (i.e. CHKDSK) the file will files is that once you compress them compresses system compliant exe­ automatically get recompressed. you do not need DIET.EXE. cutable .EXM files. Therefore, you might create a ROLODEX.EXE, now, say 50K, exe­ Files automatically get re­ simple batch file that you run from cutes just as before (perhaps takes compressed only if DIET initially FILER periodically using the RUN a half second longer to load while it compressed them. In other words if command (press Gil from FILER. first decompresses itself). you create a new 1-2-3 file named The file (named, say, COM­ BUDGET.WK.1, you must first enter PRESS.BAT) could contain the fol­ EXAMPLE 2: DOS and then type diet budget.wk1 lowing lines: Compress data files: before gaining any compression diet c:'-dat\*.txt advantages. Once a file has been diet c:\*.wk1 Standard DOS Command LINE op­ DIETed, it will automatically be tions such as wildcards (* and ?) are recompressed if you are in DOS and

18 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 The first command line above would smoothly. If you receive an "Insuffi­ JAGUAR, and it seems only fitting compress any new MEMO .TXT files cient memory" error, use CHKDSK to use a program called DIET to in the _DAT subdirectory. The sec­ to determine how much System keep it "lean and mean." ond command line would compress RAM you have. Then return to SYS­ all 1-2-3 .WIG files in the root direc­ MGR and use the SETUP function Ordering Information tory. At the same time any built-in «(Q)~) to increase your memo­ DIET is free and available on many software data files waiting to be ry. An extra 24K of system RAM is public bulletin boards or on Compu­ compressed would get compressed used by DIET to remain memory Serve. On CompuServe you can find automatically no matter in what resident. We will be interested in it in the IBMSYS forum, File Utili­ subdirectory on what disk drive reports from other users as to how ties Library. As of September, 1991 they reside. much total system RAM they need. it was named DIET12.EXE. To ex­ In creating your strategy for tract DIET.EXE and DIET. DOC type Problems Using DIET using DIET, you should keep the diet12 from the DOS prompt. The Possible problems in using DIET on following guidelines in mind: copy of DIET.EXE used for this arti­ the lIP 95LX usually can be traced First, DIET is as efficient as the cle was dated 8/20/91. to three areas: best compression utilities available. HP Palmtop Paper subscribers This also means that it will slow will receive DIET.EXE at no charge 1. NOT ENOUGH DISK SPACE down the loading and unloading of on the 1992 HP Palmtop Paper Sub­ If the HP 95LX beeps during a pro­ your programs. Speed this process scribers Disk sent with Volume 1., gram load and the program doesn't by being selective in the DIETing of No 2. issue (MarchlApriI1992). start, or indicates it can't load a file, your files. Finally, HP Palmtop Paper sub­ that is an indication that there is Second, anytime DIET requires scribers may obtain DIET.EXE as not enough disk space for DIET to a temporary file, that disk space part of The HP Palmtop Paper ON do its work. This usually occurs if (the original uncompressed file size) DISK, Issue 1. See page 36 for a DIET needs to create temporary cannot be used while the program is description of this service. files. The solution is to make more running. Therefore, you have to space, or un-compress the offending decide whether DIETing that file file (enter the command diet ora). gives you a net saving in disk space, HP 95LX Palmtop Software 2. USING TRANSFERRED as it takes up in disk space its com­ COMPRESSED FILES pressed plus original size. If your program is unable to run or Pocket. has trouble opening a file, try un­ A Final Warning compressing the offending file (enter I have used DIET for over a month Sales Force! diet ora) and re-compressing it on the without major problems. However, A powerful, flexible and interactive data­ 95LX. If this is still unsuccessful use backing up your files to a PC on a base program. Simple to use, it will in­ the SET command. For example, stantly control and plan the vital areas of regular basis is always a good idea. sales activity, lead and enquiry mainte­ let's say the program you are hav­ It's especially a good idea while you nance, contact follow-up dates, letters and ing difficulty running is ROLODEX.­ gain experience and confidence in mailshots. Improves customer servicing, EXE. You would use the command: using DIET. reporting and strategic marketing. This approach is experimental, • 20 fully user-definable fields, plus full set dietsize=rolodex,exe contact history. and although it seems to be very • Sophisticated single- and multiple­ before launching ROLODEX.EXE. effective, you should use it at your criteria search filters. • Hot-key access, compliant with HP You could also put the above SET own risk. If you have problems, or 95LX built-in applications. command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT find ways of improving this tech­ • Lotus 1-2-3 interface. file. nique, please send me or Hal Gold­ In copying files with DOS COPY, stein a CompuServe message, or Price: £99 96 DIET, if resident, will un-compress write The HP Palmtop Paper. Available Now! the files first. If you would like To Order, or for more information, contact: them to remain compressed, issue Conclusion the command: e M Software, To many people the 95LX's memory Business Unit I , diet -c . limitations may seem a throwback 33 Sandford Road, Littlemore, to the days of the original IBM XT. Oxford, OX44XT, United Kingdom 3. INSUFFICIENT SYSTEM What they need to consider is the RAM MEMORY efficient compression software devel­ Tel: (+44) 865 748875 Finally, in our experimentation we oped by many clever programmers Fax: (+44) 865 748873 find you need at least 170K of Sys­ since then. Hewlett-Packard's inter­ tem RAM in DOS for DIET to run nal code name for the HP 95LX was

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 19 THE DOS CONNECTION: Software that runs on the 95LX

Please, send us the results of your DOS Software on the HP 95LX experimentation: add to this chart; report in detail on useful DOS prod­ By Mark Scardina open. Products that have a ''Y'' in ucts for the HP95LX; or modify the "40 Col" column, naturally run, information on the chart. I have tested a number of pieces of or can be customized to run on the Please mail a description of your IBM PC compatible software on the 95LX 40-column by 16-line display. results on disk or paper to: The HP 95LX with varied results. I have The minimum files required to run DOS Connection, The Palmtop Pa­ been successful in using the follow­ the software are listed in "Files Re­ per, PO Box 869, Fairfield, IA ing pieces of software on my HP quired." The amount of disk space 52556. Send CompuServemail to 95LX described in the chart below. required by these files is listed in Mark Scardina, 71551,467 or to Hal Some of the software is free or is the "Size" column. If Diet is used as Goldstein, 72257,714. shareware available from bulletin described in the previous article, the Future articles I have in mind boards or CompuServe. Other prod­ "Diet Size" column reveals reduced will cover the following subjects: a ucts are commercially distributed. disk space requirements. 95LX Outliner; a 95LX Communica­ If the product is freeware or I have had success running each tions Program; using CONFIG.SYS shareware, the CompuServe forum of these programs on the HP 95LX. and AUTOEXEC.BAT; using your where it resides is listed as follows: However, I, of course, can make no 95LX as a Remote PC; great TSRs CIS: GO Forum. The name of the guarantees. Backing up your files for the 95LX. file to download is in parentheses. on a regular basis makes sense [Mark uses his 95LX for PIM, E­ (Note: the name of the file and the whenever experimenting with soft­ mail, entertainment, and program­ CompuServe forum and library can ware not designed for the HP 95LX, ming sophisticated audio / video sys­ change over time.) especially TSR software and soft­ tems. He is President ofAudio Video Products with a "Y" in the "Sys­ ware that uses the serial port. Entertainment Media, an A/V com­ Mgr" column are TSR (memory resi­ Hopefully, through the months munications firm. Those needing au­ dent) programs that can be made to we can collectively add to this chart dio / video equipment assistance can work while 95LX built-in software while discussing particular pieces of call him at 415-681-9672. His such as 1-2-3 or MEMO remai~ software on the HP 95LX in depth. CompuServe ID is 71551,467.1

SOFTWARE COMPANY PHONE DESCRIPTION TYPE SOURCE SYS 40 ALES SIZE DIET PROGRAM NUMBER MGR COL REQUIRED SIZE FastLynx Rupp Corp. 213-850-5394 Bidirectional File File Transfer Commercial N N FX.EXE 114K 74K Transfer program Expansion Box Rupp Corp. 213-850-5394 Allows Desk PC to Server Commercial N N EBOXSER.SYS 7K N/A be server to the HP95 PC·Outline· CIS: Go IBMAPP Outliner similar to that portion of Grandview Outliner Shareware N Y PCO.EXE, 74K 50K library 2: PCO.CFG, (PC0334.ARC)· PCOMAC.CFG Memorymale Broderbund 415-492-3500 Free form database Database Commercial N N MEMO.EXE, 12K 45K similar to Tornado MEMO.KEY , MEMO.DEF Grandview Symantec 408-293-9600 Outliner, Calender, Outliner Commercial N Y GV:, 420K 280K Organizer (. HLP opt) VDE· CIS: Go IMBSYS Powerful Text editor, wordprocessor Text Edilor Freeware N Y VDE.COM 57k 38K library 1: (VDE161 .ZIP)" Manifest Quarterdeck 213-392-9701 System setup and Diagnostic Commercial Y N MFT.EXE 75k 48K hardware analyzer Diet" CIS: Go IBMSYS All purpose fi le compression program Compression Freeware Y N DlET.EXE 22K NlA library 6: (DIET12.EXE)" KBFlx2· CIS: Go IBMSYS Caps lock control program Caps Uti lily Freeware Y Y KBFIX2.COM 7K 5K library 3: (KBF1X2.ARC)" EZ Cursor Seaside 714-278-3780 TSR to customize Cursor Utility Commercial Y N/A EZC.COM lK N/A Software cursor PCAnywhere DMA 800-468-6353 Remole access PC Remole PC Commercial Y N Uses Datacomm n/a N/A program thru modem Conlrol ANSI. SYS Microsoh Comes with normal MS-DOS System Driver Commercial N N ANSI.SYS 4.5K N/A Encore· CIS: Go IBMSYS DOS ulilities TSR Ihat allows recording of Macro Key Util Freeware Y N/A ENCORE.COM 2K N/A Library 3: frequently used key sequences. (pB18.EXE)"

* Available on The Palmtop Paper on Disk - Issue 1. See page 35 for more information.

20 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 Contact Management SoftWare For People on the MOVE!

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PC Magazine - Dec, '90 Success Magazine - Nov, '90 Personal Seiling Power - Sept. '90 'BCIM can help you communitale more effectively wilh your 'Usng BCIM is i ke eating popcorn. Once you slart, you can1 'Once you lransfer all your data inlo the program, (BCIM) you c1ienls wiIh a minimum of effort.' slop. Ifs easy 10 leam and fun 10 operale. You can cuslomize can write leHers from Ihe computer, personalize !hem in clienlaHributes for any induslry, whelher ~ be as common­ whalever way you choose, generale a variety of fonns and place as mecflCine or as arcane as zookeeping'. labels, prinl out by zip code al the prospects or cuslomers in PC World - Feb, '91 any araa you happen 10 be, do a mamng 10 Ihese people say a ' BCIM is a low cosl package aimed al sales people and own· week befora ¥,,"'re going 10 be in thai location, and allal a ers of small businassas. Its data base is futly cuslomizabla, lremendous lime savings. I consider thai well worth the $70 offering 100 user-defined fields and basic forms lools'. Independent Business -Jull Aug '91 i n~ia l lnvestmenr . 'BCIM can also be upgraded 10 ei!her of two beefier programs called Eightyl20 Advanced and Elghtyl20 Professional. Thai PC Today - April '91 way, users who reach BCIM's Iimil can slep up without having 10 r&-enler aN of Iheir informalion 10 a new program'. PC Computing - Sept. '91 'The hislory screen in BCIM lets you view a complele hislory BCIM is included in tha 'Besl Produor calegory out of 17 of your pasl ca", letters, and meetings wiIh the chnr. Contact Managemenl programs revieWed.

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DELETING BUILT·IN WK1 FILES when you want to enter time (and IILotus The bad news is that it is SPACE for "r to enter a date). EilCompuServe WHICH ADD-INS WORK impossible for U.S. HP 95LX users Hal Goldstein FILES IN THE 95LX LIBRARY Preliminary testing of 1-2-3 on the to delete the _·.WK1 templates that Editor, The Palmtop Paper Download HPSL 14.DES for one-line 95LX produces some disappointing come with the HP 95LX. The good descriptions of all files in the 95LX library (14). HPSALl.ZIP has same resu~s regarding add-ins. Add-ins news is that they do not occupy any BUG IN PHONE AND APPT that only implement new useable space, so they are just a FIND FUNCTION - SORT OF information for all of the libraries. @functions should work; others will cosmetic annoyance. Many readers reported a bug in the Ted Dickens (Sysop) probably not. We have tested the The HP 95LX was designed to PHONE and APPT FIND function. CompuServe ID: [76701,272) current versions of 14 popular provide enough space in ROM for They pointed out that if a string commercial add-ins. Here are the an English and a European can't be found, the system locks up ~Connectivity resu~ : language version of all the bui~-in and you must reboot (CTRL ALT These don't work: SeeMORE software. (Any software etched in DEL). In fact, if you wait long RUNNING DCS95 ON DESKTOP (Personics); @BASE (Personics); ROM is a permanent part of the enough (as long as 10 minutes or Run DCS95 on the desktop, and DC95 on the 95LX, and your 95LX Look&Link (Personics); Macro machine.) HP engineers finding more), you will regain control of extra space in ROM on U.S. your HP 95LX. suddenly has megabytes of disk Editor/Debugger (Personics); space! (You must have Sideways (Funk); Allways (Funk); versions of the HP 95LX kindly Hal Goldstein added unadvertised and Editor, The Palmtop Paper LASTDRIVE=I: in CONFIG.SYS on Noteworthy (Funk); Worksheet the 95LX to get this to work). Useful Utilities (Funk); 2D graphics (Intex); undocumented extras, including Lotus templates and other files (to for testing out whether PC progams 3D graphics (Intex); 4WORD are suitable to run on the 95LX (Symantec); Budget Express be discussed in future issues). Hal Goldstein ffiBattery without the hassle of clearing out (Symantec) your 95LX C: drive. These do work: Rescue (only Editor, The Palmtop Paper BATTERY CONSUMPTION The following is a listing of HP Ian Wells some parts) (Intex); @EASE CompuServe ID: [100020,734) (SpI~adsheet Soluljons) 95LX battery current consumption There are a variety of technical based on a working voijage of reasons. The two major reasons I!tAdapter 2.80V. These are approximations. Tips are: RADIO SHACK AC ADAPTER Unit off ...... O.79ma tloos 1. Most commercial add-ins hook I use an AC adapter from a Radio FILER active, serial off ... . 40-50ma YOU CHOOSE: into 1-2-3's jump table which is Shack part number 273-1455 for FILER active, serial on . . .. 50-60ma DOS OR SYSTEM MANAGER in the code segment. In the my HP 95LX. This same adapter FILER off, bui~-in apps on ., 3040ma Here is a little tip that I have played 95LX, the code segment is in also powers the HP82441A printer. Disk readiwrite ...... l40-l9Oma around with. Setup a CONFIG.SYS File transfer using FILER l50-2ooma ROM which makes it rather hard Gene Trottot and an AUTOEXEC.BAT file as to change I DOS Application open, idle .. . SOma follows using MEMO. Sparks, New York DOS Application open, activUlO-150ma 2. Some add-ins use their own Put the following command in the drivers. The 95LX has a ADAPTER SPECIFICATIONS I use a Poqet 512K SRAM card and CONFIG.SYS file: hardcoded driver set. The HP adapter for the 95LX find no steady state current outputs 9VAC, 13.5VA MAX. That's differences whether or not the card shell=c:\command.com /p It also appears that once you attach right: AC output. The 95LX has a an add-in, you should not detach it. is installed in the HP 95LX, and no (You MUST have an empty space full bridge rectifier. Obviously, DC matter nthe HP 95LX is on or off. between ". com " and "Ip" or you will We're doing some additional testing input is just fine, too. to narrow this problem, but at the Mark Scardina lock up your 95LX, and may lose The official HP transformer says: moment it appears that detaching CompuServe ID: {71551,467] the contents of your C drive.) Input: 120V AC 60Hz 20VA, Output: an add-in can quickly lead to a 9VAC 13.5VA MAX. system crash. HOW TO BLOW YOUR RAM DISK In the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, include Ted Dickens (Sysop) Pulling out a battery while the the following text: Ted Dickens (Sysop) CompuServe ID: {76701,272] CompuServe ID: {76701,272] machine is turned on is a sure-fire way to blow the RAM disk. echo off TESTING AN AC ADAPTER path C:\;C:lOAT SQZWORKS Ted Dickens (Sysop) There's a very simple 5-minute test CompuServe ID: (76701,272] prompt $p$G Other readers report Lotus add-in cis file compressor SQZ Plus works on to test the AC adapter. Plug in the power supply, tum on the 95LX and echo Press any key for buitt-in software the HP 95LX. wait. If, after 5 minutes, the 95 echo Press Ctrt-G to enter DOS Hal Goldstein, shuts itself off -- it was running on ~Carrying Cases pause Editor, The Palmtop Paper battery power, not the AC adapter. SOURCES FOR CASES $sysmgr Ted Dickens (Sysop) LOTUS WORKSHEETS Readers have reported a variety of With this procedure when I reboot (by CompuServe ID: {76701,272] ON COMPUSERVE sources for cases that fit the HP holding down CTRL and ALT and The home on CompuServe for 95LX. These range from a $99 pressing DEL), I have the option to 1-2-3 release 2.x worksheets is Sharper Image case to a Wal-Mart enter DOS (by pressing CTRL-C) or library 2 of the LOTUSA forum. We ~Appt $5.80 camara case. Also we've the bui~-in applications (by pressing have several checkbook heard that people use the Wizard any key). Here are some advantages management worksheets there and PRESS SPACE FOR COLON case as well as cases from other to this approach: much much more. When entering appointments or HP calculators. 1. Entering DOS this way saves me Mark Horvatich using the watch function, you do Hal Goldstein, Over 80K of main memory, which CompuServe ID: {76703,4163] not have to hunt for the ":". Just Editor, The Palmtop Paper is needed in many DOS type SPACE rather than colon applications.

22 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 2. It is often easier to get to OOS this indirectly discussed in the User's function key, F1 through F10.) If way then have to close clown all Guide. For example, to calculate the volume is on, you will hear a ~Phone my system manager applications fourth root of 16 in algebraic mode musical beep. You are now in User PHONElAPPT DEFAULT FILES and enter OOS through the FILER. type: 16" (1/4) and press~ I. Key Learn Mode (see the User's PHONE and APPT keep track of (I must be careful to have saved all =ein Guide, page 21-14). You are ready the last open file; they will H open files before rebooting). Editor, The Palmtop Paper to define a system macro - your automatically reload that file. So if I 3. If I later enter OOS from FILER, own custom function key that will use A:\MY.PBK, PHONE will the OOS PROMPT and the PATH ADVANCED make A:\ the default MEMO automatically load it. But if I use the will already be set up. TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS directory. File Open command - PHONE will 4. The only real penalty is an extra All the HP 19BII application books can Press the following keys in retum to the C:'-DAT directory. 1792 bytes is taken up by be used with the HP 95LX sequence: MEMO MENU File Open Ted Dickens (Sysop) COMMAND.COM loading before except that the 95LX lacks a Backspace (9 times) a:\ ENTER. CompuServe 10: [76701,272J $SYSMGR. forcasting exponential, power, Now turn off learn mode by USE LOTUS To get back to the buitt-in applications logarithmic function. H you need a pressing: Shift·CHAR·F1. You'll jump-start in the 95LX equation solver, here another two tone signal. The 9 FOR LARGE PHONE BOOKS from OOS, reboot again. Another way For those having large phone books is to create a one line batch file, buy the Advanced Technical SokItions backspaces erased: C:'-DAW.TXT. using HP SOLVE. EduCALC You now have a user macro. and do not want to divide them up S.BAT with the line: $sysmgr into separate files, consider using 800-6n-7001, carries ~ (stk 10:548 for Press CHAR F1, and you'll find Marty L Mankins Lotus. Lotus has database CompuServe 10: [75300,1 nO) $9.95). They have 3x3 simeq's as well yourself in MEMO ready to retrieve as triangle solutions, etc. F.J. Orantes, (open) a file from the A:\ directory. functions, can be programmed for Corona, New York Bob Weeks your personal needs, and is limited EXITING TO DOS only by memory. There may even Tim Schweikert CompuServe 10: [70143,3540J To enter OOS you need to use the be address book applications out MENU system command from FILER. CompuServe 10: [72037,754J there already. Check the Lotus and MODIFIED CURRENT FILE? Or you may try to run a program IBM CompuServe forums. directly with the F4 Run key. However, CENTIGRADEI There is a simple way to tell Larry Lefkowitz when you try, you often will get the FARENHEIT CONVERSION whether you have changed your CompuServe 10: [76137, 155J annoying message: "Cannot launch I have a simple centigrade to farenhe~ current MEMO file since the last file: Other applications are open. Press conversion equation in SOLVE in time you saved ~. After you save a ESC to continue." HPCALC: file, as soon as you type anything You now have to go back and F=C·915t32 within MEMO, an asterisk appears ~Printer close any open applications. The Hal Wyman on the second line to the right of RADIO SHACK problem is that you probably don' Seattle, Washington the file name. If you start a new file, SERIAL·PARALLEL CONVERTER remember which applications are the asterisk sits in the first column The 95LX has only a serial port and open. of the second line. many printers have only a parallel The trick is to first qu~ FILER Therefore, if you need to qu~ port. To translate from serial to (MENU qu~) . From there you will be mlnternational MEMO, look for the asterisk to see parallel data requires a separate placed in the previously opened The HP 95LX and the Connectivity if you need to save your work device. The Serial-Parallel application, which you can qu~ . In this Pack are available in the following before exiting. converter. The one caveat for way, continue qu~ng applications until local versions: German, French, Hal Goldstein buyers of these devices is that to you find yourself at the opening Italian, Spanish, Portugese. That Editor, The Palmtop Paper work with the HP 95LX it must be screen. means the keyboard and the capable of disabling the DTR Now, retum to FILER and ex~ to software are fully localized for the handshaking. OOS. language. These localized versions A Radio Shack device seems to Hal Goldstein are bilingual, that is, the English []Memory work with the HP 95LX. It's model # Editor, The Palmtop Paper software and keyboard mapping are DATA SPACE LIMITED TO 64K 26-2829 Tandy Serial-Parallel always available with the local Each of the built-in HP 95LX Converter at $99. Switch sellings: 1 on, 2 off, 3 on language and can be selected from system manager applications (9600 baud), 4 on (8 bit), 5 and 6 SETUP. (except 1-2-3) is lim~ed to 64KB of • Filer off (no pamy), 7 off (XonIXoff), 8 off data space. That 64KB holds the THE POWER OF ENTER KEY The localized versions are (serial to parallel transmission). programs variables and the entire The FILER becomes very useful as identical to the English version with Hal Goldstein soon as you discover the power of the the exception that some Lotus data file. That's why the limits exist. Editor, The Palmtop Paper ENTER key. Put the cursor line on a templates and the HB and TFOX A phone book file can be as large D.C. Mitchell subdirectory such as _OAT, press EXM files are not included. as 56KB. An appointment book is a Cincinnati, Ohio ENTER, and you'. be in the _OAT Hal Goldstein b~ smaller, a MEMO file can be just directory. Put the cursor on '" press Editor, The Palmtop Paper about the full 64KB. MAKE SURE SERIAL ENTER, and you'll be back in the root Ted Dickens (Sysop) PORT IS ON BEFORE PRINTING directory. Put the cursor on a file, CompuServe 10: [76701,272J Just a lillie lip for those using a press ENTER and you will see ~ 51 Memo word processing program from DOS contents IT ~ is a TXT (ASCII) file. MAXIMIZING SYSTEM RAM with the HP 95LX. Don't forget to Hal Goldstein MAKE THE A DRIVE The only files that must be on the reenable the serial port before you Editor, The Palmtop Paper THE DEFAULT C: drive are the various .ENV files print (sercll /w). I spent half an It is not possible to directly change in the ,-OAT directory. I was able to hour before I realized that the batch the C:\ OAT default MEMO get create 496KB for SYSTEM file that loaded my word processor directory.-However, here is a kludgy RAM this way. turned off the serial port, making mHP Calc solution to make the default the A Ted Dickens (Sysop) printing impossible. I thought I'd EXPONENTIATION drive. CompuServe /0: [76701,272J save someone else from the agony. Exponentiation can be done directly in H~ in sequence: Shlft·CHAR·F1 . David Hayden HP CALC, although this feature is only (You can actually choose any CompuServe 10: [70530,541)

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 23 T his Space Available

I f you offer a product or service for effectively reach HP Palmtop users the ACE Technologies ad on the users of the HP Palmtop, with your message. You only need to inside front cover.) there is no better place to advertise sell a few extra products to pay for than this publication, THE HP your investment in ad space! To learn more about running an ad in PALMTOP PAPER. THE HP PALMTOP PAPER, call us Here's why: 3. CREATIVE ASSISTANCE toll-free at (800) 373-6114. There is If you need help creating your ad, let no better way to promote your 1. 100% TARGETED MARKET us know. We'll put you in touch with products for the HP Palmtop! THE HP PALMTOP PAPER is the advertising group we use exclusively for users of the HP ourselves. They're fast, they Publisher of Palmtop. Our surveys show that our know marketing, they The HP Palmtop Paper readers'greatest interest is in understand technology, and learning about products that can they're affordable. We highly enhance their HP Palmtop. recommend them. Thaddeus (For examples of their Computing INC. 2. REASONABLE RATES work, see this ad, the back Our advertising rates are reasonable. page ad, the design of this P.O. Box 869, Fairfield, Iowa 52556 There is simply no other way to cost- newsletter as a whole, and (800) 373-6114 (515) 472-6330 FAX: (515) 472 - 187 ~ COLUMN: Looking Glass

I soon discovered that all built-in Through the Looking Glass applications use the grey division key to enter a front-slash character. Ed Keefe shares his initial discoveries wi~h the However, when in DOS, pressing 95LX, including a procedure for extracting a [t.el.Jl will enter a front slash. vertical rectangle ofcharacters from a MEMO file. Look What They've By Ed Keefe fascinated with them, ever since my Done to My Spreadsheet first taste of Fortran programming, I explored all the built-in 1-2-3 Why use the title, "Through The back in 1960. templates and found them to be Looking Glass," for a column about Since that time, I have contin­ quite well written. Having tested palmtop computing? Why that par­ ued to use computers in my teach­ them thoroughly, I decided to delete ticular title rather than something ing of logic, math, and physics. I them, only to find that I could not. more computerish? currently teach hundreds of stu­ The .WKI files in the C:\ directory I suppose the reason I chose this dents how to begin using computers. are write protected. I transferred a title is because Lewis Carroll, the I show a select few the subtle se­ program called CHANGE from my author of Alice Through the Looking crets of computer programming. desktop computer to the 95LX and Glass and Alice In Wonderland, is My real pleasure comes in shar­ tried using that program to change one of my favorite literary figures. ing with others my fascination with the write protected status of the Few people know that Lewis Carroll computing. I enjoy participating in Lotus files. The program failed to do was really Charles Dodson, a uni­ people's initial frustration with the job. The computer told me that versity instructor in math and logic. computing and watching them, the disk, itself, was write protected. He lived and wrote in the 19th eventually, master the machine. It turns out that there are files century, long before the invention of The feelings of frustration and in the Root (C:\) directory that are computers. fascination, along with a sense of built-in and reside in Read Only Yet, I sometimes wonder how mystery and mastery, are my daily Memory (ROM), while others reside Lewis Carroll would have reacted to cup of tea. I get these feelings every in RAM. Here is a great mystery. I a modern computer. Would he have time I face a new computer or pop have not figured out how HP made only seen his face in the looking the shrink-wrap on a software pack­ this happen. I've been working with glass screen of a computer, or would age. MS-DOS since 1982 and I've never he have gone through the looking As an instance of both frustra­ seen anything like this before. Fas­ glass and envisioned how a comput­ tion and fascination, let me tell you cinating! er worked? Would he have fully about my initial reactions to the While working with 1-2-3, I appreciated that computers are the Hewlett-Packard 95LX. pressed [em!.) and saw the words crystallized version of the logic he "COPY PASTE" appear on the bot­ loved to teach? Would he have Look What They've tom of the screen. I thought I had guessed that millions of people Done to My Keyboard found a glitch. I'd never seen any­ would use such logic machines to Soon after getting the HP 95LX, I thing like this in all the years that write books, play games, cook their tried entering a sample spreadsheet. I've used 1-2-3. Out of frustration, I meals, keep track of their daily I was on a roll until I got to the put a question to the folks on the schedules, or solve math problems? @avgO function. It me a long time HP Forum of Compuserve. They And what would Lewis Carroll to discover it, unshifted next to quickly informed me that this was have made of a computer that could [MOOl where it should be. no glitch. It was the normal method fit in the pocket of his waistcoat? Next I tried the MEMO Editor. to access the clipboard in 1-2-3, and Would his sole response have been It didn't take long to decide that I would I please "read the manual?" I "curiouser and curiouser" or would would not be using MEMO to write read it again and discovered a trick. he have learned to use it? Would he this column. I was doing all right in Suppose you have a text file, find delight in telling others about it until I tried entering a front-slash created in MEMO. Suppose, further, the marvels of his Little Black Logic character (/). All I got was a pop-up that you want to extract the first Box? menu. Eventually I resorted to ten letters in each of the first ten I don't know how Lewis Carroll using the grey, division key in the lines. How could you do that? would have reacted to computers. I number pad. This didn't seem right, Here's my recipe. Use 1-2-3 to do know that I have always been but it works. import the text file. Get into Lotus

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 25 Column: Looking Glass

by pressing G!iJ and then press long, they all appeared to be well something new is more fascinating [MOO' file import text. Then go to the under the 40 character limit - not than the computer itself. I'll be _DAT\ subdirectory to get a listing so! Even though the labels had less sharing more of this learning in of the .TXT files. You do this as than forty visible characters, it future columns. follows. If the message at the top of turned out that they also had more Until then, Happy Porting! than forty trailing blank characters. the screen says: File to import: C:\*.prn [Ed Keefe is an author, program­ The only way this showed up was mer, computer science instructor, use the arrow keys to move the when I pressed fill (EDIT key) and and long-time contributor to The highlight bar to _DAT\. Then press examined the labels. Sure enough, I EN'TER " type *.txt and press (ENTER ). the editing cursor landed far to the Portable Paper, our newsletter sup­ Otherwise you can type in c:'-dat\*.txt right of the last visible character. porting HP's other portable comput­ after the "File to import:" prompt This is something to be aware of ers. He is the president of the Fast and then press I ENTER I. whenever you adapt a spreadsheet Aid Company, 314 SW Logan, Next, press [ill to get a two to the 95LX's small display. Ankeney, IA 50021. Ed's Compu­ column listing of any and all .TXT From my point of view, learning Serve ID# is [73277-1064J.] files. (The NAME key ([ill} sure beats scrolling file names across the top of the screen, doesn't it?) Point at the MEMO file you want and MONEY press I ENTER I. This imports the file into the spreadsheet. Next press [MENU' worksheet global column 1 to MANAGER make the column widths all 1 char­ Portable accounting in acter wide. Press [eTRI_. to activate the palm of your hand the clipboard. While holding [CTRL) press @ to start the COpy oper­ ation. Move the cursor to the first character to be copied. Then press If you like carrying a the Period key to lock the start of a spreadsheet around in your block and use the cursor keys to highlight the characters you want to pocket, you'll love having extract. Press (EN'TER I when the range is set. Press (MEl.{)) and (E) to your accounts there too. PASTE the text into a MEMO file. Granted this is an offbeat discovery, but it is something unique to the HP 95LX. Fascinating. What other Use your favorite palmtop discoveries are yet waiting? computer to handle your Further Frustrations expenses, credit cards and To add to my initial frustrations, I tried getting my 1-2-3 "GradeBook" banking on the run. program to work. I use "GradeBook" on a daily basis in my teaching. It is replete with menus and "pick $59.95 lists" I've added during the five (Canada $69.95) years I've used it. It wouldn't work on the 95LX. The problem, as I soon discov­ ered, was that my Menu labels were ~AUTOBYTE too long. What was even more frus­ ~Corporation trating was that, when I looked at the lines that were supposedly too

26 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 COLUMN: Savvy User

The Savvy User tories included in the PATH com­ mand. \bin is a subdirectory that Our Savvy User discusses his initial experiments with many users including me use to his 95LX: getting to DOS, successes running DOS Soft­ store program files. The \_sys and ware, transferring files to other PC's without The \_dat directories are built into your Connectivity Pack, getting the WorldPort MNP modem to HP 95LX. Since by default MEMO work, and cutting and pasting. leaves files in the \_dat directory, you may wish to leave your BAT files in that directory. (The PATH By Thomas Page the 95LX. If you are using a 95LX command tells DOS where to look there is no way to be a 'power user' for program files.) Why Savvy User? but you certainly can be a "savvy The \_sys directory is hidden Since this is my first column in the user." and is not normally displayed by premier issue of The Palmtop Paper Like you, I have not had my FILER or the DOS DIR command. an introduction is proper. My name 95LX long enough to know every­ If you exit the FILER to DOS, you is Thomas Page and the name of thing about it. I am not a computer can easily take a look at \_sys by the column is The Savvy User. I professional, but I keep experiment­ typing: have written a column with the ing in order to make the HP 95LX same name for The Palmtop Paper's more useful to me. As you will see, cd lsys sister publication, The Portable I am not always successful in my dir Paper for almost three years. I live experimentation. Hopefully as you in Houston, Texas, where I am read Savvy User, you will find not From FILER you can see the \_sys employed by one of the nation's only my results, but the process of directory by pressing Goto «(ill) largest natural gas pipeline com­ getting those results of value. and typing _sys. panies. I am a long time user of microcomputers and in fact was Using DOS DOS Software on the 95LX perhaps the first user of microcom­ The 95LX's FILER is an effective You may not be able to go down to puters in the natural gas industry. file manager program. However, at you local software emporium yet Compared to the mainframe some time or another most of us and buy many programs for your computers often years ago, my 64K, will need to go to DOS to accom­ 95LX. However, there are a number HP-125 microcomputer was consid­ plish some task. Below is a batch of good programs available written ered a mere toy. I thought it was file to make getting into DOS easi­ for PC's that are well-suited for the wonderful. It was much more pow­ er. Name it ADOS.BAT or some­ 95LX. You may even have them erful than any calculator and turn­ thing like that to make it appear stashed in a box somewhere. For around was instantaneous in com­ near the top of the list of files when example, Directory Sort, File Find parison to the next day turnaround FILER is invoked. To run ADOS, many mainframe applications pro­ put the cursor line on ADOS.BAT and Quick Unerase from Norton vided. In 1984 I joined the front within FILER and press Run «(ill). Utilities version 3.0 are much smal­ lines of the portable computer ler than the current version and are echo off revolution by purchasing one of the almost as effective. cis original HP Portables. It was ridi­ In addition there are a number serctl/o culed and called a toy by the IBM­ of small public domain DOS utilities prompt $p$g -PC clique since it had only 296K of you might find useful. Two that path c:\jc:lsysjc:ldatjc:\bln memory and was not 100% IBM come to my mind are command compatible and could only run a few CHANGE.COM* and VDL.COM*. programs. I was not bothered. It ran Note the "serctl /0" command. Every CHANGE allows changing a file's 1-2-3, an OK terminal program, and time FILER is invoked the serial attribute. CHANGE lets you protect editor. The important thing about port is turned on and it does not a file from being modified or deleted any computer is not what it doesn't turn off on a DOS exit. Including by making it read-only. VDL works do but what it does do. this command in the batch file like the DEL command from DOS, Compared to the current stan­ turns the serial port off to conserve but prompts you with the names dard (386 CPU) for microcomputers the battery. If you want to print offiles and asks for verification be­ the 95LX seems a toy. Although the from a DOS application you must fore each file is deleted. 95LX is classified as a PC compati­ turn turn the serial port back on by ble, most programs designed for the entering serctl /w. * Available on Palmtop Paper on Disk · Issue 1. current PC standard are too big for Also note the three subdirec- See page 35 for more information.

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 27 Column: Savvy User

Transferring Files Between cided to try an old version (3.61) of "go South for the Winter" long be­ a 95LX and a Computer with­ CrossTalk XVI on my roommate's fore the end of Summer. A Saturday out the Connectivity Pack 386 PC compatible. Connecting the morning stroll down to Electrotex, The Connectivity Pack provides 95LX to the 386 was accomplished my other neighborhood electronics an excellent means for transferring by plugging the 95LX serial cable to supplier, produced a suitable re­ files between the 95LX and a PC a modem cable attached to the placement. compatible, but unfortunately my COM1 port of the 386. I loaded After I connected the battery primary computer is an HP Portable CrossTalk and the 95LX COMM eliminator I discovered I could very Plus, which will not run the Con­ program and was able to establish a easily control the modem from the nectivity Pack. As a result I had to link and transfer files between the 95LX's COMM program and had no find a different way to transfer files. two computers. trouble dialing and connecting with HP 95LX users with computers CompuServe. Since I am somewhat other than a PC compatible can use Using the 95LX with hard headed and am used to direct­ a similar approach. the WorldPorl MNP Modem ly controlling the modem with AT A short analysis of options led One the greatest powers of a com­ commands, I did not test the 95LX's me to the conclusion that I could puter is its ability to transfer data built-in dialing feature. After I connect the serial ports of the 95LX over great distances using a modem connected with CompuServe I went and any other computer using a and the telephone system. I was to the HP forum and tried down­ serial cable. I could then use com­ unable to immediately test the loading some files from the 95LX munications programs on each end 95LX with my WorldPort 2400 MNP library. I tried several times but I and transfer files using XMODEM modem since I did not have the was unable to download any files protocol. necessary adapter to mate the 25- · using the XMODEM protocol. Later Making the connection between pin female port with the 95LX seri­ I called back and tried to download the HP 95LX and the Portable Plus al cable. A trip to my neighborhood using Kermit. Again I was not suc­ was not difficult at all since the HP Radio Shack store yielded a 25-pin cessful but I must admit that I have 95LX serial cable (#: HP82222A, male/female null modem and a 25- no experience with Kermit. After $35) equipped with the 25 pin adap­ pin male/male gender changer. reading the HP 95LX manual I had ter mated perfectly with my Porta­ Although not especially elegant, no difficulty capturing data that ble Plus's modem cable. I loaded Re­ these two parts provided a suitable displayed on the computer's screen flection, my Portable Plus commu­ bridge between the end of the 95LX to a file, but I ~till could not down­ nications program and the 95LX's serial cable with 25-pin adapter and load files with XMODEM. built-in COMM application. I then the WorldPort. After using the modem with the made sure the serial port parame­ Since the 95LX, unlike my Por­ battery eliminated, I tried using it ters were set consistently, including table Plus and most other comput­ on battery again. setting the baud rate at 19,200. ers, does not provide a DTR signal, Again I had no luck. Next I issued commands in Reflec­ I had to adjust switch #3 in the I called U. S. Robotics, manu­ tion on my Portable to XMODEM modem to cause it to turn on in facturers of the WorldPort. They SEND a file and turned to COMM response to data transmission from told me that the 95LX is incompati­ on the 95LX and issued a command the computer. Switch #3 is the sec­ ble with the WorldPort 2400 MNP. to XMODEM RECEIVE a file. ond from the left as viewed through I am not convinced of this as I will After a few retries the comput­ the battery compartment. In my explain later. ers synchronized and the file was configuration all switches are down transferred. I transferred a number except #3 which is up. CrossTalk on the 95LX of files, but it seemed the 95LX Although the modem turned on I then decided to run a standard indicated an extraordinary number after I moved switch #3 from the communications program on the of retries before synchronization. down to the up position, I spent a 95LX and see how it would work. Since files were transferring I let it number of fruitless sessions at­ My choice for this was CrossTalk pass. I then tried transferring a file tempting to connect with Compu­ XVI, version 3.61. To minimize its from the 95LX to the Portable. The Serve before I decided I should try size I processed the program with file transferred almost instantly. connecting the WorldPort to AC LZEXE before transferring it to Since I could see a number of power to eliminate the problem of 95LX. [LZEXE reduces EXE and· situations when it might be desir­ turning the modem on. Plugging in COM files in the same way DIET able to swap files with a computer the WorldPort's battery eliminator does. See article on page 18 - Ed]. not equipped with the Connectivity causes the modem to turn on and This reduced its size from 80,308 Pack, I decided to try the XMODEM stay on as long as the battery elimi­ bytes to 41,735 bytes. The standard file transfer with another computer nator is connected. CrossTalk configuration file, and a different communications pro­ Unfortunately my WorldPort's STD.xTK, added an additional gram. Since it was available, I de- battery eliminator had decided to 1,196 bytes. I did not even think

28 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 about transferring CrossTalk's very protocol uses 8 bits, no parity. The rewriting it from scratch. You can large help file. HP-95LX should be set to use 8 bits, also use Copy and Paste to copy Although CrossTalk expects a no parity. The first prompt from information between applications. 25-line by SO-column display, I had CompuServe may look like garbage, For example, you can copy a Lotus little difficulty using CrossTalk on but the user ID should be entered range into MEMO. the 95LX. CrossTalk is my favorite anyway. CompuServe will detect It will be interesting to see how PC communications program and that you are using 8 bits, no parity, practically HP 95LX users will I've used it over seven years. I and switch to support that. implement this feature. avoided changing communications XMODEM transfers should now parameters by presetting them with work. Unfortunately, Tom's HP Next Issue the default configuration file. When 95LX serial port went "South for the Getting the most out of 1-2-3 on a it became necessary to enter a Winter" and had to be repaired computer with a small screen may CrossTalk command on the HP before he could test this.] . require some techniques you are not 95LX from DOS, I simply pressed currently using. Next issue I will ~~t(ill) ill to display the Cross- Cutting and Pasting share with you a few techniques a command line. Using Cross­ Copy and Paste are available within that work for me. I have become Talk I had no difficulty establishing APPT, PHONE, MEMO, 1-2-3, and fascinated with the Equation Solv­ a connection with CompuServe and HP CALC. They are listed on the ing feature of CALC. We will see downloading files. To provide maxi­ function key menu at the bottom of what I come up with worth sharing. mum control, rather than depending the screen. (You have to pres1E-d [Tom works for a natural gas on CrossTalk's built-in automation, to get these options in HP C pipeline company in Houston, Texas, I placed CrossTalk in 'local mode' and 1-2-3.) and was one of the first to use PC's and directly controlled the modem For example, in the Calculator in the natural gas industry. He been by typing AT commands. program you can duplicate an equa­ a contributor to The Portable Paper, Using this configuration, I ran tion in the Calculator's Solve Cata­ our sister newsletter, for the last the WorldPort MNP modem on log. This is especially useful since three years. Tom's CompuServe ID battery power despite what US editing an equation is easier than is: [76011,3655J'] Robotics told me! After this fortunate experience I took another look at my modem manual and discovered a recommen­ dation that the modem be config­ ured to ignore DTR if DTR is not being used for power-on. This is accomplished by sending the com­ mand, AT&DO&W, to the modem. I did this and then tried again using the 95LX COMM program and the mo­ dem on battery power. I achieved no better results. It looks like the 95LX terminal program needs improving or there is something more to learn about it. It does seem that if a 5- year-old version of CrossTalk will work on the 95LX, a program de­ As simple and convenient to use as a floppy disk signed especially for the 95LX ) drive, Adtron s SolidState Data Drives allow direct, should be just about perfect. effortless access to memory card technology. My experience with computer The SolidState Data Drives interface with standard 110 ports, RS-232 serial, line communications indicates that mag­ printer parallel and floppy disk controllers, allowing almost any computer to utilize ic is involved. If you discover the memory cards. They read and write battery backed static RAM memory cards and proper incantations please share incorporate programming logic control for EPROMIOTR FLASH and EEPROM memory them with us. technologies from major manufacturers including Epson, Fujitsu and Mitsubishi. [Editor's note: The HP 95LX Available in both internal and external versions, all models of the SOD family can support the MS-DOS file structure and the 68-pin PCMCIA and JEIDA 4.0 standards. COMM program can be made to For other applications, the SOD Interface Protocol allows systems developers to create work downloading CompuServe files their own drivers. withXMODEM protocol. The 95LX's Prices range from $295 to $350 in 1-9 quantities; OEM discounts are available. For free built-in configuration file for literature, caI/B02-926-9324 CompuServe communications sets the serial port to operate with 7 data Ai)t=tOn CORPORATION 128 West Boxelder Place/Chandler. Arizona 85224/602 926·9324 bits, even parity. The XMODEM

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 29 COLUMN: Programming

led this problem? Let us know. Programmer's Corner The graphics screen of the HP 95LX is somewhat unique as well. It is not like the screens found in most By Ed Keefe so much from putting text on the color computers. Rather it is a sim­ screen, but rather from getting the ple, bit mapped display. I suspect Introduction "right" text on the screen. Just that it behaves so~ewhat like a Are you a programmer or registered when we were getting used to writ­ monochrome display screen with a developer for the HP 95LX? If so, ing elaborate Help screens, full of Hercules card. However, in the case then this column is for you. pull-down menus and pop-up win­ of the 95LX, there is no plug-in Hopefully, this column will be­ dows, we are confronted with a card. You'll have to write your own come your special section of The screen that calls for brevity, clarity, screen driver to take advantage of Palmtop Paper. It will be a chance and conciseness. any graphics presentations. for you to pick up some new ideas, Here's a suggestion that may Here's an idea. Borland's Turbo pose a problem or solve a problem help you reduce the number of C and Turbo Pascal both use BGI from other programmers. words in a help screen without (Borland Graphic Interface) drivers Let me start by mentioning that losing any of its meaning. Try push­ for all of the current graphics I am a teacher of computer pro­ ing your text through a grammar screens. Borland also provides a gramming. I view this column as an checker such as QUE's RightWriter BGIKIT file for those who want to extension of my teaching activity. program. I've tried this with several write their own screen drivers. Is For me, teaching is just another help screens and found that I could anyone willing to experiment with word for learning. As a teacher, I say the same thing in one screen this to see if it is more than a blind have the privilege of learning from that originally took two. alley? The BGIKIT is available on some of the brightest students CompuServe in the Borland forum around. Graphics (go bproga). My style of teaching is more a If you like to use line graphics to Another intriguing approach to sharing of ideas and problems rath­ make a screen more eye-appealing, graphics on the 95LX is the use of er than a didactic presentation of you will run into another problem PCX graphics files. The opening facts. with the HP 95LX. screen of the 95LX ~ses a PCX file. If I discover a new idea, or run The HP 95 uses the Lotus Inter­ If you've found your way into the up against a knotty problem, I tend national Character Set (LICS) rath­ \_SYS directory, you've spotted to share it with others. My expecta­ er than the IBM character set. As a 1000.PCX and have prooably used tion is that I will learn more from result, you can't use many of the that as a novel replacement for the an exchange of ideas than by keep­ line graphics characters. In particu­ usual opening screen. If you haven't ing my knowledge, or ignorance, to lar, the line characters that mix tried this yet, just use the Set-Up myself. double and single line characters key and choose Owner, then Pic­ So, what you may expect to find are missing from LICS. ture. Enter the picture file name as here is a free exchange of ideas, For now, the best work-around C:\_SYS\lOOO.PCX and then quit problems, questions, and tentative is to stick with either all double-line back to the opening screen. answers. Over the life of this col­ or all single-line characters. So the double question is: where umn you may expect to see more of Now, here is a question for is the PCX driver program located? your own responses and less of my those who have dug deeper into Is there a way to hook into this ruminations. their HP 95 than I have. I recall program and use it in other pro­ I earnestly invite your respons­ that the HP 110 and HP Portable grams to display graphics? If this is es. Remember, you are the teachers. Plus had the ability to switch be­ a possibility, then we could use the I'm the learner in this column. tween the HP character set and the PC-Paint program, on our desktops, Let's begin by taking a look at IBM character set. I wonder if the to create some great graphics some of the problems that are pecu­ full IBM character set is buried screens for the 95LX. liar to the HP 95LX. somewhere in the memory of the And speaking of screen drivers: 95LX and, if so, is there a way to where is ANSI? Has anyone tried Once Upon a Small Screen use it? If not, is there a way to load installing ANSI.SYS or NANSI.SYS, The small screen of the HP 95LX the IBM character set from a font­ on their 95LX? What happened? may pose a problem for some pro­ file and use that in place of the grammers. The problem arises not LICS characters? Has anyone tack-

30 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 The Keyboard let you make the most of limited ies. This will limit you to 64K for The biggest problem with the key­ disk space and, if you know what code and 64K for data. board is its smallness, right? Other you're doing, it should also give you than that, it works fairly well. The the fastest running programs. Turbo Pascal 6.0 usual programming techniques for If you don't know Assembler, Turbo Pascal 6.0 has become my reading keystrokes work for the but do know "C," consider using the preferred programming language for 95LX. Spontaneous Assembly Library from the HP 95LX. It produces .EXE files However, many of the keys on BaseTwo Software, 11 East 200 that are smaller than comparable the 95LX return an extended scan­ North, Orem, UT 84057; 800-277- programs, written in Turbo C. code. If you're looking for a small 3625). If you want to incorporate win­ challenge, how about writing a Spontaneous Assembly contains dows and fast screen updates in program that will capture and dis­ over 700 different functions, written Turbo Pascal, be sure and use the play the scan and ASCII code, as in assembler, and callable by C­ CRT unit. well as the name for all the keys, sounding names. For windowing techniques, I including those preceded by the have found that the WIN.PAS and (ill), ~, [cnu, and [CHAR) key modi­ Oh Say Can You C? WIN.OBJ files that come with Tur­ fiers. The next most appropriate program­ bo Pascal 6.0 work very well and ming language would have to be C. give the best bang for the buck. Command Line I have been using Turbo C 2.0 Other windows libraries work well, Switches and Arguments for the past month to write several but they tend to add a lot of over­ One thing to keep in mind when game programs for the HP 95LX. head. writing software programs for the TC2.0 works well and yields reason­ Object Oriented Pascal and C++ 95LX is that you might want to ably small executable files. Bor­ are also useful, but, again, the ex­ avoid using command line argu­ land's extensions to ANSI-C, such tensions to the languages add over­ ments or switches in your programs. as "cprintfO" and "windowO" also head to the resulting .EXE files. Programs which require param­ work on the HP 95LX and produce eters like Grep, Pkzip, Pklite, and fast screen updates. An Oldie-But-Goodie: so forth, can't be run directly from HP recommends Microsoft C Turbo Pascal 3 FILER. You either have to shell out and Assembler. All of the examples If you have a copy of Turbo Pascal to DOS, or you have to use a batch and working code in the Developers' 3.02A languishing in a file drawer, file to run the program. Both alter­ Pac were apparently written using get it out, and dust it off. It will natives tend to be a nuisance. MS C 5.1 and MASM. work almost out-of-box on the HP Perhaps a better approach If you want to write System­ 95LX. would be to write programs that Manager-compliant programs, to­ The version of Turbo Pascal prompt the user for any input, such day, you are almost obliged to write 3.02A that I tried is for the IBMPC. as file names, when they start run­ them in MS-C. System-Manager­ It works on the HP 95LX like a ning. If your program has a lot of compliant programs let the user run charm. I used TINST to install the options, consider displaying these your program and then switch, via screen for "default mode" and to options before prompting the user a blue-key, to the built-in applica­ specifY that the error message file for input. tions such as MEMO or 1-2-3. could be found as C:TURBO.MSG. In my first attempt at writing a I then used the Norton Utilities How About TSRs? System-Manager-compliant pro­ program to make one slight modifi­ Should we avoid writing Terminate­ gram, I was unable to make use of cation to TURBO.COM. At offset Stay-Resident programs? the MS C routines in Turbo C. As 006B hex, I changed 19 hex to 10 For sure, the HP 95LX can time goes on routines for creating hex. This changes the screen size, handle TSR programs, but most System-Manager compliant code for the built-in editor, from 25 lines novice users cannot. It is all too may become available for free or as to 16 lines. Then I used DIET.EXE easy to start a TSR program from shareware in Turbo C, Turbo Pas­ to compress TURBO.COM to a 31K the FILER, by accident. When you cal, and other languages. file; ported both TURBO.COM and quit the FILER, there will be a hole System-Manager-compliancy is TURBO.MSG to the 95LX and tried in the computer's memory where a most important subject and will writing a simple program. The re­ the FILER was. The unsuspecting be dealt with in future columns. sults were favorable. Even the nor­ user could be headed for a crash. Those of you who have some experi­ mal writelnO function performed ence writing System-Manager-Com­ well. Screen updates were more Choosing the pliant applications, be sure to share than acceptable. Best Programming Language your experiences here If you want a high level lan­ I suspect that Assembler is the best When compiling C programs, guage that you can take with you in language for the HP 95LX. It will use the small memory modellibrar-

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 31 Column: Programming your palmtop, then Turbo Pascal programming challenge, without Let's Keep in Touch 3.02a seems to be the smallest, sacrificing any disk space, you As I mentioned at the beginning of "standard" compiler/ editor avail­ might try using DEBUG.COM. the article, I look forward to your able. DEBUG.COM is available in the responses, answers, reflections and C:\_SYS subdirectory on the 95LX. further questions. How About Basic? Past issues of PC Magazine con­ To reach me you can: send a BASIC programs should also work tain many useful articles that will letter to Ed Keefe 314 SW Logan, on the 95LX, at least if they are get you started using DEBUG. Ankeny, IA 50021; send a message compiled. I have not tried BASIC If you have an older version of to me via CompuServe at code on my 95LX. I'd be interested MASM, you should also find that it 72377,1064; leave a recorded voice in the experience of others who contains a copy of MAPSYM and message at 515-248-7500; or send a have tried using this venerable lan­ SYMDEB. SYMDEB is the big bro­ letter or fax to Personalized Soft­ guage on their 95LX. ther to DEBUG. The documentation ware, Programmer's Corner, PO Box for this program will give you some 869, Fairfield, IA 52556; Fax: 515- Getting Buggy: DEBUG more ideas of what you can do with 472-1879. Finally, if you want the ultimate DEBUG. HP 95LX Connectivity. Made Effortless. FOr Everyone. ------======------===== ~I

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32 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 - - .• . 00 - - -- . COLUMN: G(]tting Starteq

our 254K RAM disk to store our Built·ln RAM: phone book, Lotus file, and letter. Part 1 - The RAM Disk In the last paragraph we spoke of "files." We also alluded to the The concepts of RAM Disk, RAM Card, System RAM, built-in application PHONE, where we create our phone book; 1-2-3 Total Memory, Disk Drive, File, A Drive, C Drive, Byte, where we create spreadsheets; and Kilobyte, and Replacing Current File are explained in MEMO where we create letters. this column designed for novice HP 95LX users. The notion of "file" is probably the single most important concept to understand when using a computer. By Hal Goldstein the top of the screen (in an even To understand the concept of more important position than time, storing files on the RAM Disk let us The Vocabulary of Computers date and battery level) are three look at how we might store files on Computers can be frustrating even values. Total Memory equals 512 a desktop computer using floppy to the most sophisticated user. To a and is the sum of the values listed "beginner," the whole experience of disks. Most people have seen floppy for RAM Disk plus System RAM. disks - the 5 114" black floppy kind trying to make practical use of all 512 here means 512K which can be the built-in capabilities of the HP and the solid 3.5" colored disks. thought of the capacity to "remem­ Suppose we write a report on a 95LX can be overwhelming. ber" 512,000 alphabetic characters. In this regular column we'll desktop computer. When we finish review fundamental concepts and In Computerese we use the term for the day, naturally we want to procedures of which all HP 95LX "bytes" instead of "characters." The save our work so we don't have to users should be aware. These ideas "K" in 512K stands for "kilobytes," retype it all in again. On our desk­ will form the basis for our work on roughly 1,000 bytes per kilobyte. top, we could save our report by the HP 95LX and to a large extent, All HP 95LX users have 512K of giving it a name and "saving" it to our work on other computers. RAM, of Total Memory built in. the floppy disk physically located in Learning how to use a computer RAM is an acronym meaning memo­ a "disk drive." Once named and means learning a new way of think­ ry. On the HP 95LX there are two saved, our report becomes a "file" on ing. That way of thinking gets ex­ very different types of memory, long the floppy disk. Similarly, other pressed in what we can call here term and short term, or in comput­ information such as a Lotus spread­ "computerese," the vocabulary need­ erese RAM disk and System RAM. sheet, letters and memos, or our ed to describe computer-related The RAM disk is where we address book, could be stored as concepts. The challenge of learning permanently store information such files onto the floppy disk. this new vocabulary is the interde­ as the memos we write, the Lotus Because we can put a floppy pendent nature of the concepts. spreadsheets we create, our phone disk in our briefcase, it is easy to That is, to understand one term, we directory, our appointments, and conceptualize that our file is physi­ need to understand others, which in cally stored on the floppy disk. On turn often are defined by the first our HP CALC equations. System term. The only solution to this RAM is the temporary work space the HP 95LX we can also store files. Catch 22 situation is repetition. where we create or modifY the We store them to the built-in RAM Keep reading and rereading the memo, the spreadsheet, the phone Disk. According to what we discov­ manual and articles such as this, book, the appointment book, or the ered by looking at our Setup screen, keep trying things out, don't be equations. In this article we will we have a RAM Disk with enough afraid to make mistakes. Eventually focus on the RAM Disk. Next time room to store 254,000 (254K) worth the whole gestalt sinks in. we will look at System RAM and of characters. Understanding the concepts see how the two relate. The built-in RAM Disk in the presented in this regular column HP 95LX is said to reside in the geared for beginning and to some Built-In RAM Disk "C:" drive. extent intermediate users will en­ Let us say when we pressed Shift hance the practical daily use of our FILER, the screen showed we had a The RAM Card HP 95LX. This article will be suc­ If we purchase a RAM Card to fit in cessful if, when done, you have a 254K RAM Disk. A 254K RAM Disk means we have room to permanent­ the HP 95LX card slot, we have clear understanding of what "saving more room to store our files. Placing and replacing files to the RAM disk" ly store approximately 254,000 alphanumeric characters worth of a 128K RAM Card in the card slot means. We will define terms as they on the side of the HP 95LX, means are introduced. information. Maybe our phone direc­ tory takes up 25K, a Lotus spread­ we have room to store 128,000 addi­ sheet takes 15K, and a letter we tional alphanumeric characters Total Memory = (bytes) of information. just wrote in MEMO takes 10K. If RAM Disk + System RAM The card slot is the HP 95LX no other files were on our RAM Hold down the Shift key and press "A:" drive. Therefore, when we save Filer to enter the Setup menu. At Disk, we would have used up 50K of

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 33 Column: Getting Started files to the RAM Card in the card Let us say we add to the fied but did not save. You are being slot, we must save the file to the A NOTES file and decide to save it asked whether you want to bring in drive. For example, to save a again to be safe. This time we press[t.ENU1 the letter without saving your re­ MEMO file to the RAM Card, we File Save. MEMO asks if we if we cent work in NOTES. Answer n must save it as, say, A:NOTES want to save the file as and you will be back in NOTES, using the "A:" prefix. If we do not C:\_DAT\NOTES.TXT. (We'll talk where you can save the latest ver­ give the HP 95LX a disk drive let­ about the meaning of subdirectory sion with a [a) file save (ENTER) y. ter, the HP 95LX normally assumes \_DAT in a future article). We do, Answer y an you will lose your we are saving to the built-in C so we press (ENTER ). We are now latest work in NOTES as soon as drive. asked, "Replace current file? (YIN)". you bring in the letter. A RAM Card operates much like It is important that we under­ a floppy disk in that after saving stand what is happening when we Next Time files to the RAM Card we can re­ are asked to replace the current file. Next time we will continue this move it from our HP 95LX and put Currently, a file named discussion of Syste~ RAM and RAM it our briefcase for later use. (The NOTES.TXT exists on our RAM Disk. We will examine what System backup battery in the RAM Card Disk. That file contains none of our RAM is in more depth and will keep the files alive). recent additions. It contains only explain why we might want to re­ Technically, that RAM Card is the notes we had made up to the configure the System RAM / RAM also a RAM Disk. With a RAM time we originally saved the file. Disk ratio and how to do it. Card, we have a built-in RAM Disk Now we want to save our new In subsequent issues we will in the C drive and another RAM work. All our additions reside in also go deeply into procedures for Disk on the RAM Card in A. short term memory, in System safeguarding and backing up our A disk, whether it be a floppy RAM, not yet on the RAM Disk. work. There is nothing more frus­ disk, a RAM disk, or a hard disk (a Before our HP 95LX lets us trating then losing the work we did higher capacity disk found as part make those additions to on our computer. We've all lost of most desktop personal comput­ NOTES.TXT permanent, it asks work; however, there are definite ers), is a medium for permanently whether we want to destroy the prevention procedures. We will be storing files. This is the "long term" "current" version of NOTES.TXTon examining step-by-step approaches memory we originally spoke of. the RAM Disk in order to replace it for preventing such loss. with our latest version. It asks us If you have suggestions on pre­ Replacing Current File whether we want to "replace current venting data loss (e.g. specific back­ Let's look what happens when we file." In other words do we want to up procedures), please write. Also, save a file to the RAM Disk. Sup­ replace the current version of please send me feedback on whether pose we want to create a new file NOTES.TXT -- the one that exists you found this article useful and within MEMO. To do so, we enter on the RAM Disk from the first what you would like to see in this MEMO and press [~~ file new. If time we saved the file -- with the column in the future. we are asked to "Save hanges," we updated version we have been work­ enter y or n depending on whether ing on. We do, so we press y, ''Yes.'' we want to save our current work. The same sequence of key­ (The meaning of "save changes" will strokes occurs when we want to be clearer soon.) update our APPT file, our PHONE Now, we type some notes. For book, or our HP CALC work. Simi­ MEMORY safety sake, we decide to save those larly, when we modify our 1-2-3 notes even though we know we will work, we save the results by press­ Store up to 2 MB of data on your HP95LX be working on them again soon. We ing ~ file save (ENTEH I replace. with High performance, press [fi~ file save and type notes unfortunately note: MEMO credit card sized for the e name. Notice that now messages are confusing because Static RAM IC cards­ just below "Memo" on the top left of MEMO uses the word "replace" in available from 64KB to 2 MB. the screen is the name of the file we several ways. That is why you need Call or FAX just saved, "NOTES.TXT." The to understand what is going on NOTES.TXT file resides on the behind the scenes. Ai)t~On CORPORATION RAM Disk on the built-in C drive. Suppose you added a few more (602) 926-9324 (When MEMO saves a file, it sentences to NOTES. Then on im­ FAX (602) 926-9359 automatically adds the .TXT exten­ pulse you decided to finish a letter sion to the eight-character-or-less you had been working on. You name you give the file. Similarily, issue the (w.ou) file open command. APPT adds the .ABK extension, The message you get: "Replace file without saving? (YIN)". The file in CARDS PHONE adds .PBK, HP CALC adds .EQN, and Lotus 1-2-3 adds .WKl.) question is NOTES which you modi-

34 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 NEWS: Thaddeus Computing, Inc.

other topics of interest to HP News From 95LX users. Thaddeus Computing, Inc. 4. Article proposals - outline a possible article, and we'll give By Hal Goldstein Richard Umble of Bellevue, Wash­ you feedback. ington summed up our thinking for 5. Review products - if there is a [Editor's Note: In this issue you will the general thrust of The HP Palm­ particular class of products you see references to both "Personalized top Paper: feel especially qualified or inter­ Software" and "Thaddeus Comput­ ested in reviewing, contact us. "Please keep part of the maga­ 6. Software submissions - If you ing, Inc." In the future we will pub­ zine for the novice: Don't make lish 'The HP Palmtop Paper under have developed or know of free it too technical. The HP 95LX software, Lotus templates or our corporate name, Thaddeus Com­ Palmtop appeals to executives puting, Inc. macros, etc. that most or all HP who have little time or patience 95LX users would appreciate, for more complicated devices in The HP palmtor Paper - their lives. By subscribing to submit them to us for possible the magazine 1 want it to help inclusion on the 1992 HP Palm­ What to expec me use my HP 95LX to its full top Paper Subscribers Disk. Our aim is to make this expanded, capacity without having to 7. Beta test site - If there's a par­ free, first issue worth the sub­ become a programer. " ticular class ofHP 95LX-related scription price of The HP Palmtop product that you would be will­ Paper in itself. We expect future Finally, we see The HP Palmtop ing to test, contact us. We'll put issues to be even more valuable as Paper fulfilling the desire of Robert developers in contact with you. we get feedback and knowledge Bernardino of Campbell, Ohio: from our expanding readership "I would like to see Personal­ How to contribute base. Expect to see more discussions ized Software be the focal point Send your submissions or comments of HP 95LX- related products, more for getting software companies by disk (text in MEMO [ASCII] or tips for using built-in software, to port their programs onto the WordPerfect format) to: Thaddeus more ways of increasing your HP 95LX." Computing, Inc., PO Box 869, Fair­ 95LXproductivity. Even though this Our newsletter, devoted exclusively field, IA 52556; fax: 515-472-1879, issue contains a bit more editorial to the HP 95LX, should encourage or to our CompuServemail [75300, content than normal, expect sub­ developers to create products for the 24431. You may also contact Hal stantial information in each issue. HP 95LX. We intend to actively Goldstein or Richard Hall directly Our challenge will be to provide encourage the development of new at 515-472-6330 or 800-373-6114. as much useful information for as products and the porting over of many of you as possible. The chal­ existing products for the HP 95LX. What you get in return lenge is best expressed from the The satisfaction and fun of sharing comments of two readers represen­ your experiences, and the apprecia­ tative of the feedback we received: Contribute To The HP Palmtop Paper tion of your fellow HP 95LX users. "1 would especially like a col­ We ·view The HP Palmtop Paper as umn systematically covering The HP Palmtop Paper software architecture and per­ a chronicle of the collective wisdom ON DISK - Issue 1 haps details of hardware / con­ of HP 95LX users throughout the struction; design break­ world. As you turn through these This new service is not to be con­ throughs, 'inside the 95LX.' pages, you'll find that 95LX users fused with the 1992 Subscribers Document the debugger, and is like yourself created the tips, ideas, Disk which will be sent free to all there a built-in assembler / articles, and regular columns. The HP Palmtop Paper subscribers with disassembler?" "best stuff' comes from the day-to­ the May/June issue. (See following Warren Anderson, M.D. day users of the HP 95LX. article for more information on the Hawaii Subscribers Disk.) What you can contribute "PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, Contents of Disk PLEASE, have significant 1. Letters - on any topic. You space devoted to novices such as The HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK - myself." might comment on an item from Issue 1 will consist of: Jack Friou a previous issue, tell us your Columbus, Georgia experience with an HP 95LX 1. The editorial content of this product, thank or make sugges­ entire newsletter in a text Our attempt will be to supply tions to HP, or whatever. (ASCII) file, readable by any enough information to satisfy users 2. Tips - on built-in software or word processor. Having the con­ on both ends of the computer so­ other topics dear to the hearts tents of this issue on disk phistication spectrum. Fortunately, of HP 95LX users. means you can search for a key many articles such as product re­ 3. Articles - about uses of built-in word in your word processor views and tips on built-in software software, third-party 95LX and immediately find the infor­ appeal to almost everyone. products, technical details, or mation you need.

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 35 News: Thaddeus Computing. Inc,

2. In-depth descriptions of some of the products advertised or listed Software Included on The HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK - Issue 1 in this issue. 3. All free software and shareware 12 ~ listed in this issue along with APCALC Sys-Mgr compliant programmer's calculator Shareware 43 documentation. Note that if you ATO Automates CompuServe activities, saves money Free 12 decide to use the shareware, you CHANGE Changes Rle Attribute, protects data Free 27 are required to pay the share­ DIET Compresses files, saves disk space Free 17 ware author his fee (usually ENCORE Keyboard macro program, saves keystrokes Shareware 20 between $5 and $35). Also we GAMES 15 Games, adds spice Shareware 41 will be unable to support you in GVCMOD.95 How to get GVC modem to work with 95LX Free 2 your use of the software includ­ HPSL14.DES Description of HP 95LX CompuServe library files Free 22 ed on this disk. See the KBFB2 Cap lock control, makes keyboard more useable Shareware 20 accompanying chart for the MESSAGE Automates 95LX CompuServe access via 123 macros Free 2 contents of this disk. PCOUTLINE Outline program, organizes work Shareware 20 SKDL Graphics program, creates sketches Shareware 41 Note: some of these programs may TRAVELWARE Organizer for traveling Shareware 42 be selected for the 1992 Subcribers VDL Automatic deletion program. cleans up disk Free 27 Disk to be sent free to all 1992 VDE Compact powerful text editor MEMO altemative Shareware 41 subscribers to The HP Palmtop Paper. The HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK, Issue 1 is ready for shipping. cussed in this issue is a prime can­ Challenge 1 didate. As other utilities, programs, Many HP 95LX users would like to How to order The HP Lotus templates and macros come to go back and forth quickly between Palmtop Paper ON DISK our attention, they will become 95LX built-in applications and DOS candidates for the disk. Please send software. It can seem quite us your submissions or proposals for cumbersome to have to manually 1. SINGLE ISSUE - The HP Palmtop Pa­ per ON DISK (Fall 1991 issue described the 1992 Subsribers Disk. If you use close down all HP 95LX applications above and in box on this page). Price: or have developed a utility that you and save work before entering DOS. U.SJCanada: ...... $33 think other HP 95LX users would When returning from DOS, a user Other International: ...... $38 appreciate having, please send it to would like to automatically access 2. ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION - (Fall us as soon as possible on a floppy the MEMO, 1-2-3, and other built-in 1991 issue and all 61992 issues). Price: disk. application files he last worked on U.SJCanada: ...... $139 This free offering to all our Other International: . .... $169 before exiting to DOS. Send us your subscribers is not to be confused procedure for quickly going back 3. SPECIFY DISK SIZE - Please be sure with The HP Palmtop Paper ON and/or forth between HP 95LX to indicate the size and format of the floppy disk you wish (3.5" 720K; 3.5" DISK - Issue 1, described above. We built-in software and DOS 1.44M; 5.25 360K; 5.25 1.2M; Mac). will mail the Subscribers Disk to all applications. 4. SEND PAYMENT - Money Order or subscribers with (or about the same Check (in U.S. dollars drawn on U.S. time as) the May/June, 1992 issue. Challenge 2 bank) or Master Card, Visa (including Many of us are used to software card number and expiration date) to: The HP Palmtop Paper that creates a backup file upon The HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK, Issue 1, Challenges Readers saving. Such software renames the Thaddeus Computing, Inc, Box 869, Fair­ Here are several challenges for existing version of that file with a field, fA 52556; Fax to 515-472-1879; or BAK extension and then performs Call 515-472-6330 or 800-373-6114. savvy HP 95LX users. If you have a good solution or even a good partial the normal save. This procedure solution to share with other HP preserves the current version of a file along with its previous version. Free Subscriber Disk 95LX users, send it our way to: The HP Palmtop Paper Challenge, BOX Further, many HP 95LX users To All Subscribers 869, Fairfield, IA 52556. We'll pub­ for safety sake would like to One of the most popular and appre­ lish your responses in future issues. automatically store that backup file ciated aspects to our sister publica­ If any vendor would like to give to a different drive (e.g. store tion, The Portable Paper, has been away products as prizes for the best NOTES.TXT to C:\_DAT and the annual Subscribers Disk. We responses to our challenges, contact NOTES.BAK to A:\BAK) We would will fill a 720K 3.5 inch floppy disk us. We'll name your product and be interested to see a solution that (or several 5.25" 360K floppy disks) how it can be obtained when we would allow a user to save a file with the best free software for the describe the challenge and when we from any built-in 95LX application HP 95LX we can find -- and there is publish the response. If readers while at the same time auto­ and will be plenty to choose from. would like to pose other challenges, matically storing its backup file to a For example, DIET.EXE dis- please do so by writing us. second drive.

36 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 THIRD PARTY PRODUCtS

Planners. Vinyl or leather cases Products from non·HP vendors come in black or burgundy color in designed to work with a variety of styles and prices. the HP 95LX Availability ...... NOW Pricing ...... $8.99 - $149.99 COMPANY: Franklin International Institute, All known HP 95LX-related hardware, software Inc., P.O. Box 31406, Salt Late City, UT and connectivity products are listed and briefly 84131-0406, 800-654-1776; Fax: 800-242- described. 1492.

- - T" -. __ - ___ - _ __ By Richard Hall and Hal Goldstein Hardware , ,>Jr.ll . ',:,I'Jj'\"1 A number of manufacturers and and Connectivity In this section we list a series of developers have already created products to enhance your HP 95LX. products that allow HP 95LX users In order to bring you up-to-date, we to transfer information between the have listed all known commercial HP 95LX and other computers. products along with some of the Custom 95LX Cases Serial Cabling most popular shareware* products Available in leather or washable Hewlett Packard offers a HP 95LX available for the HP 95LX. Compu­ nylon, these cases incorporate a to AT compatible serial cable along Serve members can check the HP secure, zippered pocket for holding with an adapter kit for printers and 95LX forum library for additional IC cards, and a checkbook-sized modems. See products from HP listings of freeware and shareware. pouch for receipts, checkbooks, section on page 9. In order to list all products we notes, business cards, etc. Available have given only a brief discription of in black, blue, and other standard each product. We have done our colors. Custom colors and silk-scre­ All Purpose Serial Cabling best to list these products in an ening are available. This serial cable package allows you accurate and unbiased way as of to connect the 95LX with a printer, October, 1991. We apologize for any Availability ...... NOW modem, or other PC. The kit con­ omissions or incorrect data. For Pricing sists of a cable with "strain relief' more details we suggest you see the Nylon case ...... $24.95 Leather case ...... $39.95 for long-term reliability, and four advertisements in this issue or Deluxe case ...... $49.95 adapters. The cable has a 4-pin plug contact the distributor directly. COMPANY: Palm tree Products Inc., 51 Saw­ for the HP 95LX serial port on one In future issues we will discuss, yer Road, Suite 150, Waltham, MA 02154; end and an RJ-ll phone plug on the 617-891-3880; Fax: 617-647-4075. describe, compare, and review many other which fits into each of the of these products. If you wish to adapters. This allows you to carry share your experience with any of Professional Organizer Case one cable for many different jobs. these products with fellow HP 95LX The Pocket Professional Organizer The kit includes adapters for a users, please write us, and we'll do protects your palmtop PC and stores modem, a printer, a 9-pin PC serial our best to publish your comments. memory cards, credit or business port, and a 25-pin PC serial port. A Those interested in reviewing prod­ cards, or driver's license in any of ucts should write or call us telling public domain KERMIT disk is in­ 14 pockets. An additional sleeve cluded for PC file transfers. of your interests and background. holds pen or pencil and a zippered Finally, as you can already see, pocket protects important docu­ Availability ...... Now there are many HP 95LX-related ments. This leather case comes in a Pricing Cable, choice of 1 adapter ...... $30 products, and we may not be able to flat-black color. review or give a detailed discussion Cable, 4 adapters, KERMIT . . . . . $45 COMPANY: CMT, 413 SW Jefferson Ave., of all of these products, especially as Availability ...... NOW Pricing ...... , .. $99.95 Corvallis, OR 97333.503·752·5456; Fax: 503- the numbers grow. Please tell us COMPANY: Sparcom Corporation, 897 NW 752·4117. what product or class of products GrantAvenue, Corvallis, OR 97330;503-757- you are most interested in seeing 8416; Fax: 503-753-7821. HP Connectivity Kit discussed in these pages. See Advertisement, Page 3. See HP products section, page 9 for more information on 95LX to ' PC * Available on Palmtop Paper on Disk - Issue 1. Day Planner Cases Connectivity kit. See page 36 for more information. Cases designed to work with Day

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 37 Products: Hardware

95LX to Windows allows the user to run programs or Pricing ...... $141 access data directly from a standard Connectivity COMPANY: Adtron Corporation, 128 West IntelliLink is an MS Windows alter­ DOS 1.44MB 3.5 inch disk. The unit Boxelder Place, Suite 102, Chandler, AZ native to the software in HP's Con­ comes complete and ready to use. 85224; 602-926-9324; Fax: 602·926·9359. nectivity Pack. IntelliLink allows See Advertisement, page 29. direct importJexport capabilities to Availability ...... 12191 Pricing ...... $499.95 and from Windows applications on COMPANY: Sparcom Corporation, 897 NW Internal Drive your PC, with a few clicks on a dia­ GrantAvenue, Corvallis, OR 97330;503-757- Databook offers an internal Thin­ logue box. IntelliLink provides dy­ 8416; Fax: 503-753-7821. Card drive. The drive also programs namic update reconciliation for im­ See Advertisement, Page 3. FLASH ROM cards. An external ported appointments and phone card drive will be released in first

items with Personal Information ~ . - ,I quarter, 1992. Managers including with IBM Cur­ I' • 'I , ~ _ l 1 ., ... Availability ...... NOW rent, mainframe PROFS connection; 01. ::,'. ""/,,C"rjrie] ~ 'I,:,,~ ,·1"'i t· Pricing ...... $489 ..... - . - - - Sidekick 2.0 (running as a Windows _ COMPANY: Databook Inc., 10 Alder Bush, 3.0 DOS application; Polaris Pack­ Rochester, NY 14624; 716·889-4204; Fax: A number of companies make both rat; Asymetrix Daybook; Word for 716·889·2593; Modem: 716-889-2593. internal and external Card Drives Windows & AmiPro; MS Excel for for your desktop PC computer. Windows; Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows; These drives look like floppy disk Parallel Drive Paradox database; dBase database; m drives, and let you use your RAM or for Europeans Windows 3.0 Clipboard. The Intel­ ROM card like a floppy drive to DIP offers the Pico, an external card liLink package does not include a exchange data between your HP drive that connects to your PC's serial cable. 95LX and PC. Card drives generally parallel port. Availability . , , ...... NOW come with software "device drivers" Availability ...... NOW Medium ...... floppy disk that install onto the PC so the PC Pricing ...... £175 Runs under System Manager ...... Yes COMPANY: DIP Systems, 32 / Frederick (HP resident portion) knows how to handle the card drive. Sanger Road, Surrey Research Park, Guild­ Pricing ... , ...... $149.95 Here is a list of the card drive ford, Surrey, GU2 5XN ENGLAND; 0483 COMPANY: IntelliLink, Inc., 7 Parker Street, manufacturers of whom we are 301555; Fax: 0483 301434. Acton, MA 01720; 508·264·9943. aware. Expect a future article in HP 95LX to MAC, The Palmtop Paper that compares Parallel Drive For the U.S. the features and pricing of the vari­ PAMCO offers a small inexpensive Windows, and MS ous alternatives. external card drive that connects to DOS Connectivity Kits your PC's parallel port. Nuvotech connectivity kits link the Many Alternatives Availability ...... NOW 95LX to a MAC, Windows or DOS Adtron makes a whole series of Pricing ...... $149.95 PC. Each kit includes a 1.5 meter SolidState Data Drives including COMPANY: Pamco Electronics Inc., 377 HP 95LX serial cable, 9-pin to 25- external and internal single- and Carowinds Blvd., Fort Mill, SC 29715; 800- 255-6265 or 803-548-6740. pin adapter, software on 3.5" (and dual-card drives with serial, paral­ 5.25") disks, and an owners manual. lel, or PC Bus interface. The exter­ External Serial Drive nal drives connect to the PC either Availability ...... 11/91 Palmtree offers a RAM card reader Medium ...... floppy disk via the serial or parallel port; the that connects to the serial port of Runs under System Manager ...... No internal drives fit inside the PC. any PC-compatible, the HP 95LX, or Pricing (Specify which kit) ...... $99 PS/2 computer powered by an exter­ COMPANY: Nuvotech, 2015 Bridgeway, External Drive with serial interface nal AC adapter. Sausalito, CA 94965;800·468-8683,415·331· Availability ...... Now 7815; Fax: 415·331-6445. Pricing ...... $350 Availability ...... NOW See Advertisement, Page 32. External Drive with parallel interface Pricing ...... $229 Availability ...... NOW COMPANY: Palmtree Products Inc., 51 Saw­ Pricing ...... $350 yer Road, Suite 150, Waltham, MA 02154; Internal Drive with Bus interface 617-891-3880; Fax: 617-647-4075. Availability ...... NOW Single drive ...... $345 Dual drive ...... $640 Serial Drive ROM Card Programming Option The FD-200, battery-powered, PC (for external serial or parallel drive) compatible 3.5" disk drive weighs Availability ...... _ ...... NOW A number of third-party vendors are under 3 pounds. The drive connects Pricing ...... $100 PCIXT/AT ISA Bus Adapter offering RAM cards. Here's a listing to the HP 95LX serial port and Availability ...... NOW

38 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 BduCALC ... The one stop source for all your 95LX accessories. lliIlJr:IlmIJtj8 HP95LX ~8 Stock#HP95LX [palmtop Computer) List $699 ...... $499 Derive 2.06 Palmtree SolidState Data Drive SimpurJeS BIG AJgebraic: expressions for you. Features symbolic algebra, Connects to any serial port on a PC/Compatible. Up to 115,200 baud data derivatives, vectors, matrices, trig, statistics, finance, plus 20 and 3D plots! transfer rate. Stock 12348 (Derive 2.06, ROM Card) ...... $249.95 Stock #2362 [External Data Drive) List $299...... $279 Monev Manager Internal ThinCard Drive Program features banlOng, clJecklng, credit card, and expense functions. Include half-length PC board and Drive which fits into 3.5" or 5.25" Drives. Comes with 95 and PC versions; disk version requires 512K RAM card IUId Includes software Connectivity Pac. Stockn'M2000 [ThinCard Drive) .••.••.•..•••..•••••. "."..•. " ••.•••••••••••••••••...... • $289 Stock 12492 [95 Money Manager, 3.5" & 5.25") List $60 •••• " •••••••••••••••••• .$5.1.95 Stockl2494 [l28K RAM Card with MM Installed) ..•.••...•• " ...... " ...... $214.95 Touchbase WorldPort Modems UP's Suggested standard issue modem for UP 95LX communications. Connect your 95 to PC Windows with Stock#2461 [WorldPort 1200 Modem) List $159 ...... " ...... $134.95 IntelliLink Stock #2462 [WorldPort 2400 Modem) List $229 ...... $194.95 import/export to and from Windows at tlJe field level with a few clicks of Stock#2489 [WorldPort 24OO/V.42 BIS) List $349...... $299.95 your mouse. Requires serial cable and PC running Windows 3.0 Stock 12481 rrandy Acoustic Coupler 2) ...... $79.95 Stock 12517 (lntelllLlnk 2.1, 5.25" & 3.5") List $100 ...... $89.95 2400 bps miniModem Mechanical EnJ!ineerinJ! Equation Library This is a LOw Cost, pocket sized Solution from EduCALC. 160 of the most used equat'lOns for ME, Pius LOtus 1-2-3 spreadsheets. Stock#MM24B [2400bps mlDiModem) ...... $139.95 Requires Connectivity Pack. Diconix l80si Portable Printer Stock 12535 (ME Ubrary for HP 95, 5.25") ...... $29.95 Features Centronics and Serial interfaces. Uses UP Ink-Jet Prlntheads. 95 Utility Pack Stock #K150P [DicoDix Serial Printer) List $450 ...... $339 36 small, effiCient programs written for the 95 and its 40 column display. Requires Connectivity Pack. RAM Cards/Interfacing Equipment: Stock #2467(95 Utility Pack. 3.5 & 5.25 Disks) Ust $35 ...... $27.95 Palmtree Products Stock#2363 [1MB RAM Palmtree) List $649 ...... $629 FX-7 FliJ!ht Pak Stock 12364 [2MB RAM Palmtree) List $995 ...... $945 Includes Dight p'J8ns, DUATS weather briefings, E6B and weight and Hewlett-Packard balance. Requires Connectivity Pack. Stock #1002A [l28K RAM Card) List $200 ...... $159.95 Stock #2544 (FX-7 Flight Pak) ...... $194 Stockl1003A [512K RAM Card) List $400 ...... $319.95 Contact 95 Sparcom Contad Manager for UP 95 and Windows, featuring integrated appointment Stock #2368 [256K RAM Card) Ust $199 ...... $169 book with Hot Key access functions. Requires IMeg RAM card and Stock #2369 [1M RAM Card) List $500 ...... $459 Connectivity Pack. ACE card Stock #2559 (CONTACT 95, 5.25) ...... $199 . Stock #2521 [512K RAM ACE card) ...... $219 Stock #2522 [1M RAM ACE card) .••.• .-...... $429 TravelWare Stock #2523 [1.5M RAM ACE card) ...... $629 Keep all your trip records on the HP 95. Requires Connectivity Pack. Stock 12396 [2M RAM ACE card) •.••••.. " ...... -...... " ...... _ •• .$829 Stock #2555 (95 TravelWare, 5.25) ...... " ...... $29.95 Here's how you hook your 95 up to a PC, printer, or modem. Stock#Fl00lA [Connectivity Pack) List $100 ...... $79.95 ForeiJ!n LanJ!uaJ!e Translation Stock#82222A [Serial Interface Cable only) Ust $35 ...... $29.95 Sentence ))y sentence transl8i'ion including idiomatic expressions of Spanish, Stock #82224A [Serial Cable Adapter Kit) List $15 ...... $14.95 French, and German. Stock#2533 [95 Serial Interface Kit, 5.25") ...... " .••• .$36.96 Stock 12566 (95 Spanish, 2 cards) List $299 ...... $279 Stock #2567 (95 French, 2 cards) List $299 ...... $279 Nuvotech Stock #2568 (95 German, 2 cards) Ust $299 ...... $279 Stock #2556 [pC Connectivity Kit, 3.5 & 5.25) List $99 ...... $89.95 JetEye to LaserJet Curve Fit: Linear Regression Software Stock #ESI9500A (JetEye Interface) List $129 ...... $114.95 Enter up to 99 points and find area under the curve, do graphs and compare standard deviations for linear regression. ' Stock #SPX325 [Serial-Parallel Converter) ...... $106.95 Stock #2449 [Dual Purpose Cable) ...... $34.95 Stock #2545 (Curve Fit ROM card) List $260 ...... $235 95LX-UTIL FORTH Programming System Turn your 95 into a software development system. ~ Stock 12562 (95LX-UTlL, 5.25) List $70 ...... $64.95 Cases: Stock 12519 [Nylon 95 Carry Case, black) List $25...... $19.95 'l!s~fo!~!:.[~~!~!sf!!!{or the 95. Requires Connectivity Pack. Stock#2520 [Leather 95 Carry Case, black) List $40 ...... $27.95 Stock 2560 (95 muLISP, 5.25) ...... $399 Stock #2361 [Leather DeLuxe 95 Carry Case, burgundy) List $50 ...... $44.95 Stock#2354 [pocket Prof. Organizer) ...... $69.95 AdaDtors: Stock'2569 [Cigarette-Lighter Adaptor) List $40 ...... $34.95 Lotus in Minutes on the HP 95LX Palmtop Stock#8224lA [AC Adaptor, for USA) ...... $14.95 The essential commands and procedures of Lotus 1-2-3 in the 95, slIch as Stock #82241AB [AC Adaptor for Europe, 220v 50Hz) ...... $14.95 ~obal commands, formulas, macros, and databases. Stock#8224lAU [AC Adaptor for tlJe UK, 240v 50Hz) ...... $14.95 tock #2469, Lotus in Minutes, 124p softbound...... $8.95 Stock#8224W [AC Adaptor for Japan,100v 50/60Hz) ...... $14.95 Tne Answers You Needfor the HP 95LX Stock#8224lAG [AC Adaptor for Australia, 240v 50Hz) ...... $14.95 *CaJl us 8 to 5, Monday through Friday,West Coast Time, Palmtop PC for ordering and technical assitance. 30-Day money back The perfect, quick and easy reference book to keep on the desk beside your 95. guarantee; overnight shipping available.* Stock #2468, Answers for the 95, H2p soflbound ...... $8.95 EXDlorer's Guide to the HP 95 Palmtop PC FREE 1 Stoc~. #2534, Explorer's Guide to HP95,1l2p soflbo~nd ...... $17 .95 Send for Catalog: Ed:D 0~ALe USIng Your HP 95L~: l!ractlcal ~ 27953 Cabot Rd. Examples and ApplIcatIons IVISA I~ 11,11_ 1 Laguna Niguel CA 92677 More than 150 real-life examples from HP and LotllS experts - , • Stock #2564, Using Your lIP 95LX, 380p soflbound ...... $24.95 (800) 535-9650, ext. M Products: Hardware of the ones we've found with pricing as of October, 1991: What's to come in 1992, product-wise? HP 95LX users can expect a whole range of software and hardware products ACE Technologies Inc. designed for the HP 95LX. The Palmtop Paper will keep you abreast of Distributes RAM cards and other developments as these products become available. memory, I/O card technologies. Each Here are some guesses of just some of what we might expect: RAM card comes with a lithium STORAGE battery installed, and coupon for 4 more replacement batteries. 1. External floppy drives and hard drives that connect to the HP 95LX via the serial or infrared port. Availability ...... NOW 2. Additional RAM card drives that attach directly to the HP 95LX. (call for 1.5MB card availability) 3. Many kinds and sizes of RAM cards, Flash ROM cards, one-time programma­ Pricing ble ROM cards, and part-RAM part-ROM cards. 512K Card ...... $239 1MB Card ...... $459 PERIPHERALS 1.5MB Card ...... $669 COMPANY: ACE Technologies Inc., 2880 1. Expect to see peripherals connected to the HP 95LX via the serial port, the Zanker Road, #103, San Jose, CA 95134; infrared port, the RAM Card slot, and the Mobile Data Link cradle. 800-825-9977; Technical support: 408-428- 2. 2400 and 9600 Baud Modems, MNP modems, FaxlModems. 9722; Fax: 408-428-9721 . 3. Printers. 4. Products that enhance the Motorola NewsStream receiver, two way radio See Advertisement: Inside Front communication devices. Cover 5. Input and output devices such as monitors and keyboards that enhance the useability of the HP 95LX. ADTRON Corporation Offers the following low power con­ SOFTWARE sumption RAM cards. 1. Utilities will be developed Availability ...... NOW a. to exchange and merge data created in desktop PC applications or other 512K RAM ...... $238 pocket organizers with data created using the HP 95LX built-in 1MB RAM ...... $460 software; 2MB RAM ...... $867 b. to facilitate moving between built-in (system manager compliant) 95LX applications and DOS applications; COMPANY: Adtron Corporation, 128 c. to work around other HP 95LX limitations West Boxelder Place, Suite 102, 2. System manager compliant applications (e.g. software that works in AZ 602-926-9324; Chandler, 85224; conjunction with HP 95LX built-in programs). Fax: 602-926-9359. See Advertisement, Page 34. 3. A variety of applications specially suited for the portability of the HP 95LX. Such software will include contact management, money management, data base, games, and personal information management applications. DIP Systems m 4. A variety of vertical market applications for such industries as insurance, Offers the following RAM cards: real estate, engineering, medicine, education and so forth. Availability ...... NOW 5. Routines written in various programming languages to ease the development 128K RAM ...... £95 of HP 95LX applications. 512K RAM ...... £175 1MB RAM ...... £295 6. Popular IBM-compatible software redesigned for HP 95LX use. 2MB RAM ...... £490 COMPANY: DIP Systems, 32 Frederick San­ These product ideas represent only a small sample of what we will be seeing in the coming months and years as new technologies come to fruition. Expect to ger Road, Surrey Research Park, Guildford, see more discussion in The Palmtop Paper about what the synergy of pocket Surrey, GU2 5XN ENGLAND; 0483-301555. computing and new technologies will mean to each of us. Hewlett-Packard Offers a 128K and a 512K RAM up to 40% longer in RAM cards. card. See Products from HP section, 512K RAM card ...... $349 page 9. 1MB RAM card ...... $649 Availability ...... NOW 2MB RAM card ...... $995 Pricing COMPANY: Palmtree Products Inc., 51 Saw­ 256K RAM Card ...... $299.95 Palmtree Products yer Road, Suite 150, Waltham, MA 02154; 1MB RAM Card ...... $499.95 Offers 3 RAM memory cards. Meets 617-891-3880; Fax: 617-647-4075. COMPANY: Sparcom Corporation, 897 NW GrantAvenue, Corvallis, OR 97330;503-757- HP specification for low power con­ Sparcom Corporation sumption. 8416; Fax: 503-753-7821. Offer battery-backed RAM cards See Advertisement, Page 3. Availability ...... 11/1/91 engineered for the requirements of Pricing the HP 95LX. Extended battery life

40 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 SketchPad: A Drawing Tool* . ., Pocket Sales Force . IJ SketchPad allows drawing and edit­ .--~---.- A program for controlling sales ac­ ing pictures on the HP 95LX. You tivity, lead and enquiry mainten­ can type in different-sized fonts, NewsStream ance, contact follow-up, letters, See N ewStream article beginning on draw in three "colors," and "reverse" mailshot and label production. Cre­ entire pictures to negative, black­ page 4 for details on this Motorola I ate a fully personalized system, -on-white or white-on--black. HP collaborative effort. with 20 user-definable fields. Single SketchPad also allows copying sec­ and multiple criteria search filters tions (blocks), and various other across 25 fields for fast retrieval. editing procedures. SOFTWARE System Manager compliant with You can use SketcHPad to cre­ direct hot-key access to the HP's ate PCX files for use as your (top­ built-in applications. card) picture file on the sign-on It also provides multiple-choice screen. The PCX files created by pop-up list boxes for fast entry, SketchPad can be imported into your drawing package for printing. ACT! merge print records, time- and date­ stamped Notes history, output to ACT! automates the contact and Availability ...... NOW Lotus 1-2-3 and macros for repeti­ Medium ...... floppy disk calendar information of business tive tasks. Pocket Sales Force is Runs under System Manager ...... No Pricing ...... $15 people, integrating a contact data­ designed to be a complete solution base, scheduler and report genera­ COMPANY: Shareware. A vailable for the sales professional. Compuserve HP 95LX library. Dr. S. Rafaeli, tor. The 95LX version of ACT! will 13 Hahayil St., Jerusalem, Israel (Internet: be able to interface directly with Availability ...... NOW [email protected]). desktop versions of the software, Medium ...... ROM card/floppy disk Runs under System Manager ...... Yes VDE Editor for the 95LX* allowing easy information transfer Pricing ...... $200 The VDE Editor is a small word between the desktop and the 95LX. COMPANY: Richard Hill, CM Software, processor that runs on nearly all Business Unit 1, 33 Sandford Road, Little· Availability ...... 4th quarter 1991 more, Oxford, OX4 4XT, United Kingdom; MS-DOS systems; version 1.62 sup­ Medium ...... floppy disk (+44) 865-748875; Fax: (+44) 865·748873. ports the 95LX's screen and key­ (ROM version available 1st quarter, 1992.) See Advertisement, Page 19. board. VDE can be used as a full­ Runs under System Manager ...... No screen DOS file editor, an add-on Pricing ...... to be announced editor for telecom, database, and COMPANY: Contact Software International other application software, or a Inc., 1625 W. Crosby Road, #132, Carrollton, , I (I ( ~ f , ... _. TX 75006; 800·365-0606,214·418·1866; Fax: .. powerful word processor in itself. 214·416·2311. VDE requires 56K of disk space 15 Games* (38K after compressing the file with BeIM Palmtop Paper columnist Ed Keefe, PKLITE), and 128K or more system Business Contacts and Information makes this contribution to HP 95LX memory. It edits multiple files, with Manager is a sales and client man­ users. Games designed for the HP full block operations, find/replace, agement tool that manages time 95LX screen and playable on any undo, macros, file utilities, and and activities as well as files and PC compatible computer include: user-programmable keys. VDE offers automatic text for­ retrieves client profiles, correspon­ Checkers, Concentration, Fox­ matting, centering, justification, and dence, orders, and other vital data. hounds, Go-Moku, Mini-adventure, It includes word processing, mail full printer control including bold, Fastermind (like MasterMind), two italic, and other special effects; and management, and auto dialing fea­ versions of Reversi (Othello), Petals it handles files either in plain tures. Install BCIM on a desktop Around The Rose, Slot Poker, Poker ASCII text or in formats compatible and you can transfer contact phone Solitaire, Tetlix (like Tetris) Un­ with WordStar, WordPerfect, Xy­ and scheduling information to the scramble, Toggle-the-block, Fast­ Write, and Microsoft Word. 95LX. poet: free-form poetry writer. Availability ...... NOW Availability ...... NOW Availability ...... NOW Medium ...... , floppy disk Medium ...... floppy disk Medium ...... floppy disk Runs under System Manager ...... No Runs under System Manager ...... No Runs under System Manager ...... No Pricing ...... $30 Pricing Pricing ...... $29.95 COMPANY: Shareware. CompuServe DOS version ...... $69.95 COMPANY: Shareware. Check or MIO. IBMAPP or PALMTOP Forum. Eric Meyer, Windows version ...... $99.95 Available CompuServe HP 95LX library. The 3541 Smuggler Way, Boulder, CO 80303. E· mail address: CompuServe [74415,1305}.). COMPANY: Disk·Count Software Inc., 1751 FastAid Co., 314 SW Logan, Ankeny, IA West County Road 8., Suite 107, St. Paul, 50021. Add $10.00 for overseas shipment. MN 55113; 612·633-0730. Specify 5.25" or 3.5" disk. • Available on Palmtop Paper on Disk - Issue 1. See Advertisement, Page 21. See page 3S for more information.

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 41 Products: Software

Summary function lets you break­ terns. Load a 5-10 page file and Money Management down and total expenses by cate­ have it translated. Language output gory. The necessary files take be­ can be post-edited one sentence at a Money Manager tween 30K and 40K of disk space. time, or after an entire file has been Provides access to your financial TravelWare is user-supported translated. data, including bank info, checks, shareware. An evaluation copy Spanish/English, French! Eng­ credit cards, income, and expenses. along with 11 other shareware pro­ lish, and GermanlEnglish versions Money Manager features simplified grams can be obtained directly from will be available. reconciliation of bank and credit its developer. Availability ...... NovlDec 91 card information plus report print­ Availability ...... NOW Medium ...... ROM card ing functions to screen or printer. Medium ...... Floppy disk Runs under System Manager ...... No A PC and a 95LX version of the Runs under System Manager ...... no Pricing ...... $299 software are included so that you Registration price ...... $30 COMPANY: Globalink Inc., 9302 Lee High· can exchange your financial data Shareware evaluation price way, Fourth Floor, Fairfax, VA 22031; 800- 255-5660, 703-273-5600; Fax: 703-273-3866. between your desktop and palmtop 5.25" disk ...... $5 3.5" disk ...... $6 See Advertisement, Inside Back PC. COMPANY: RSE Variety Pak, 1157 57th Cover Availability ...... NOW Drive SE, Auburn, WA 98002. Phone in Medium ...... Floppy disk or RAM Card Mastercard/Visa orders to RSE at 206·939- Runs under System Manager ...... No 4105. Pricing Technical Disk version ...... $59.95 128K RAM Card version . ... $199.95 COMPANY: Autobyte Corp., Timex Building, Reference DERIVE: 95LX Route 11, Mooers, NY 12958; 514-637-6232; ''Mathematical Assistant" Fax: 800-465·4925. DERIVE is a menu-driven "comput­ See Advertisement, Page 26. The Bible on ROM The text of the King James Version er algebra" program that lets you Managing Your Money: of the Bible on Flash ROM card. apply the rules of algebra, trigonom­ Meca Software, Inc. The program includes word search etry, calculus, and matrix algebra to Managing Your Money is a best­ and verse display features along solve a wide range of mathematical selling personal financial with print-to-disk or file utilities. problems. DERIVE provides a non­ management software package. Future products to include English numeric approach to math that eliminates many of the problems Availability ...... Not Determined Concordance, Strong's Dictionaries, Medium ...... Floppy disk or ROM Card Strong's Concordance, and Hebrew associated with mathematical deri­ Runs under System Manager .. Unknown and Greek texts. Reduced price for vations. Pricing multiple orders. The 95LX version of DERIVE is HP 95LX version ...... $99.95 distributed on floppy disks until the 95LX and PC versions ...... $299.00 Availability ...... NOW manufacture of the ROM card ver­ COMPANY: Meca Software, Inc., P.O. Box Medium ...... 2MB Flash ROM card 907, Westport, CT 06881, 203·226·2400. Runs under System Manager ...... No sion is complete. The disk version Pricing ...... $300 requires that users have a 512K COMPANY: Dean Lampman, #5 Hickory RAM card for the 95LX and a meth­ Woods, Loveland, OH 45140. Personal od for transferring files from a desk­ Dictionaryffhesaurus card top PC (such as the HP Connectiv­ Information Managers ity Pack). DERIVE ROM cards are For details of this HP product see expected to be available in Novem­ article on beginning page 7. TravelWare Organizes Trips* ber 1991. When available, DERIVE TravelWare is a Personal Informa­ Authentic Foreign ROM cards will be sent to regis­ II tered 95LX users of the diskette tion Manager organized around the Language Translation activity of travel. TravelWare lets version at no additional charge. The Globalink Translation Systems you use the 95LX to access flight, Availability ...... NOW auto, lodging, and meal information. gives true sentence-by-sentence translations with results given in Medium ...... floppy disk In addition, you can keep To-Do (ROM card available 11191.) lists, a daily schedule, and expense the grammatical structure of the Runs under System Manager ...... No information. TravelWare's Expense target Language. According to the Pricing ...... $289 manufacturer, the product gives COMPANY: Soft Warehouse Inc., 3660 translation quality which is equiva­ Walalae Ave, Suite 304, Honolulu, HI 96816- * Available on Palmtop Paper on Disk - Issue 1. 3236; 808-734·5801 (after 11 AM, Pacific lent to that obtained from sophisti­ See page 36 for more information. Standard Time); Fax: 808·735·1105. cated desktop or mainframe sys-

42 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 II European Distributor: Dr. Bernhard A. Utilities Attention Developers Kutzler, President, Soft Warehouse Europe, Schloss Hagenberg, Linz, Austria, A-4232;43- of Products 7236-3297-81. Express for Mel Mail for the HP 95LX See Advertisement, Page 12. A communications manager for MCI UTIL: Forth mail originally developed by MCI Both Hewlett-Packard and The Palm­ Mail and Lotus. This version has top Paper can assist you in the devel­ Programming on 95LX been adapted for the screen con­ opment and marketing of your HP UTIL is an implementation of the straints of the 95LX. Express man­ 95LX-related products. Forth programming language for ages incoming and outgoing messag­ Qualified developers may regis­ the HP 95LX. Forth provides a pow­ es, and can send text and data files ter with HP. To qualify you need to erful set of commands and the me­ to E-mail users on public and pri­ be in the business of developing com­ chanism to define new commands to vate networks around the world. In puter-related products (the program suit the needs of your application. addition, Express allows messages is not for end-users). To register with UTIL Forth code is compact, to be delivered on any Group III fax Hewlett Packard and to become an allowing the creation of applications machine, or via the postal service or HP 95LX ISV (independent software which make efficient use of the overnight courier. vendor), you need to send HP the 95LX's limited memory resources. following information: Availability ...... Early 1992 Name, company, address, phone The UTIL kernel (operating system Medium ...... ROM Card and standard word set) requires just number, fax number, products work­ Runs under System Manager ...... No ing on, current products on the mar­ 8K of the 95LX's RAM. The full Pricing ...... $149 ket, areas of expertise (e.g. electrical development environment needs less COMPANY: Palmtree Products Inc., 51 Saw­ engineering, surveying, data collec­ than 28K. UTIL's screen driver is yer Road, Suite 150, Waltham, MA 02154; 617-891-3880; Fax: 617-647-4075. tion, etc.). configured for the 95LX's 40-charac­ In return ifyou are accepted into ter by 16-line display. In addition, 95 Utility Pack the program you will receive techni­ UTIL runs under the 95LX System Contains 36 small programs written cal information and other support Manager, so invoking it from anoth­ or modified for the 95LX and its 40- services to assist the development of er application is as simple as press­ column display. Adds many new your product. ing a key. commands to DOS 3.22. Gives you Send this information to: Rich­ memory information, battery status, Availability ...... NOW ard Kirby, Hewlett-Packard, 1000 NE Medium ...... floppy disk contrast adjustment, speaker level, Circle Blvd., Corvallis, OR 97330; Runs under System Manager ...... Yes keyboard state, and more. 503-750-2360 Fax: 503-750-3008. Pricing ...... $70 Availability ...... NOW COMPANY: Essex Marketing Services Inc., Medium ...... floppy disk 272 Old Farms Road, Simsbury, CT 06070; II Europeans, send this information Runs under System Manager ...... No 203-651-8284; Fax: 203-676-9481. to: Hanno Martin, Hewlett-Packard Pricing ...... $27.95 S.A, 150, Route du Nant-d'Avril, See Advertisement, Page 18. COMPANY: EduCALC, 27953 Cabot Road, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677; 800-677-7001. 1217 Meyrin/Geneva, Switzerland; Programmer's Calculator* See Advertisement, Page 39. Call 41 (22) 780.86.68; Fax: 41 (22) This system manager compliant 780.81.59. calculator program makes a nice The Palmtop Paper can also companion for HP Calc for program­ assist you in a number of ways. We mers. It performs number conver­ Vertical Markets will describe or review your product, sions (hex, octal, binary, decimal), sell you advertising space. We may has an ASCII display mode, and Insurance: FINPACK LX also be able to put you in contact does basic integer math functions. Family Needs Analysis Software for with our subscribers to Beta test Insurance Professionals performs your product. In addition, our parent Availability ...... NOW company may produce a catalog of Medium ...... floppy disk survivor's retirement, education funding, and disability needs analy­ HP 95LX products in the coming Runs under System Manager ...... Yes year, in which case we will consider Pricing ...... $10, $15 for 3.5" Disk sis. Links to FINPACK B, a more your product for that catalog. COMPANY: Shareware. HP 95LX Compu­ comprehensive desktop and portable Serve library. Andy Finkel, 59 Pond's Edge financial planning system. Must be Drive, Downingtown, PA 19335,Compuserve 70007,4173 loaded onto a 512K RAM card to Runs under System Manager ...... No run with the 95LX. Pricing ...... $149 COMPANY: Financial Data Planning, 2140 * Available on Palmtop Paper on Disk - Issue 1. Availability ...... NOW S. Dixie Highway, Miami, FL 33133; 305-858- See page 35 for more information. Medium ...... floppy disk 8200; Fax: 305-858-7282. (Must be loaded on 512K RAM card.) See Advertisement, Page 6.

FALL 1991 THE PALMTOP PAPER 43 Products: Software

Medicine: ComputerBooks Software For Physicians. These Products Advertised In The Palmtop Paper ROM card programs tum the 95LX ~ Product Page number into a physicians reference, diagnos­ ACE (RAM Cards) • ...... inskle front tic tool and patient management Adlron (Card Drives) ...... 29 system. Four stand-alone cards are Adtron (RAM Cards) ...... 34 available: Autobyte (Money Manager) ...... 26 C M Software (Pocket Sales Force) ...... 19 PHARMACEUTICLALS Disk-Count Software (BCIM Contact Manager) ...... 21 Essex Marketing Services (UTIL - Forth) ...... • ...... • .• • . •... . . •.. .. 18 A database containing over 1,700 EduCAlC (95l.X Accessories catalog) ...... 39 generic and trade named drugs with Financial Data Planning (Insurance SpecIalists: FINPACK'LX) ...... •.. . •. . •.. •. . 6 adult and pediatric dosages, warn­ Globalink (Foreign Language Translation) •...... •.. ..•.. .. inside back Nuvotech (MAC, Windows, DOS Connectivity Kits) ...... •.•... •..•. . •. 32 ings and contraindications, thera­ Soft Warehouse (DERIVE - Mathematical Assistant) ...... 12 peutic and pharmacologic classifica­ Sparcom (RAM Cards, Cases, more) . . .•.• . . .• ...... ••.•. • ...... • 3 tions, and information on how they Personalized Software (Subscribe to Palmtop Paper) ...... back are supplied. This drug database Personalized Software (Advertise in Palmtop Paper) ...... 24 can be easily searched by generic or trade name in addition to a drug's classification. VOR, RNAV or LORAN formats. The Answers You Need for Detailed leg-by-leg flight plans are the HP 95LX Palmtop PC PHYSICIAN'S REFERENCE I generated by the FX-7 showing Quick, plain English answers to An interactive program to assist magnetic course and heading, aver­ common questions concerning Lists, physicians with their diagnostic age ground speed and distance Macros, Printing, Plotting, Chart­ analysis. Contains a number of along with ETE and ETA. ing, and other topics are given in interactive, formula-based programs Flight plans and aircraft profiles this reference. with detailed information on each. can be stored and recalled for later Availability ...... NOW use. FX-7 comes with a complete Medium ...... 112p, softbound PATIENT MANAGEMENT U.S. navigational database includ­ Pricing ...... $8.95 Keeps computerized patient records ing every navaid (over 5,000), every COMPANY: EduCALC (see above) in your 95LX and lets you access intersection (over 12,000), and all See Advertisement, Page 39. them with easy search and retrieval public and private airports in the capabilities. Reminders and notes Explorer's Guide U.S. Selected navaids and intersec­ to the HP 95 Palmtop PC sections let you keep patient histo­ tions for Canada, the Caribbean, ry, your to-do list, or whatever pa­ Focus on using DOS on the 95LX. Central America and Mexico are Subjects include redirection and tient data you need. Store lab re­ also included. A typical configura­ sults in a simple, customizable piping file, directory management, tion occupies 170K of disk space and TSR's. Shows how to use spreadsheet format. (depending database size). Free CHKDSK, DEBUG, Hearts & DRUG INTERACTIONS information packet available. Bones, and the other version of Tiger Fox. Includes tables, charts, Provides instant access to drug Availability ...... NOW interactions. Select up to 20 drugs Medium ...... floppy disk sample programs, and program and/or drug classifications at one Runs under System Manager ...... No hints. time and obtain their interactions. Pricing ...... $195 Availability ...... NOW COMPANY: Paragon Technologies, P.O. Box Medium ...... 112p, softbound Availability ...... NOW 273511 Boca Raton, FL 33427-3511; 800- Pricing ...... $17.95 Medium ...... ROM Card 255-9411 or 407-369-7118. COMPANY: EduCALC (see above) Runs under System Manager ...... No See Advertisement, Page 39. Pricing Pharmaceuticals ...... $399 95LX Information on Video Physician's Reference I ...... $299 Books/References Over 16 hours of the 1991 95LX1- Patient Management ...... $399 Drug Interactions ...... $399 48SX Developers Conference are COMPANY: ComputerBooks, Newport Trade Lotus in Minutes on available on video. In addition a Centre, 20321 Irvine Avenue, Suite 2, PO Box the HP 95LX Palmtop PC three hour presentation on the HP 9167, Newport Beach, CA 92658-9986; 800- Plain English tutorial and quick 95LX by an HP engineer is avail­ 848-2023, 714-966-2023; Fax: 714-966-0117. able. The taping was done not as a reference for the essential com­ commercial project but in the spirit Pilots: FX·7 Flight Pak mands, formulas, macros, and data­ of making available valuable infor­ Provides pilots with a comprehen­ bases. mation. Pricing includes shipping. sive set of flight planning tools in­ Availability ...... NOW cluding: Flight Planning, DUATS Availability ...... NOW Medium ...... 124p softbound Pricing, 95/48 Conference ...... $25 weather briefings, E6B Flight Com­ Pricing ...... $8.95 Pricing, Engineer talk ...... $15 puter, and Weight & Balance. Plans COMPANY: EduCALC, 27953 Cabot Road, a "great circle route" for the pilot Laguna Niguel, CA 92677; 800-677-7001. COMPANY: Jake Schwartz, 135 Saxby Te r· automatically in either VOR-to- See Advertisement, Page 39. race, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003; 609-866-6331 or 609-751-1310.

44 THE PALMTOP PAPER FALL 1991 Foreign~

onanlCCARD for the HP95LX IMPOSSIBLE! That's the reaction from virtually everyone. But, it's true! Fully automated, grammatical translation capability comparable to mainframes or PCs, all in economical IC Cards designed for the HP 95LX palmtop computer or compatible. IIOb81ink, Inc. The Globalink Translation System gives you sentence-by-sentence translations with up to 90% accuracy. You can even load a file of 5 or 10 pages and have it translated while you read a book or watch a movie. Target language output may be post-editea one sentence at a time, or after an entire file has been translated. Some of the many amazing features the Globalink INSERT THIS SIDE UP translation IC Cards include: ACTUAL SIZE • Handling of idiomatic expressions. • Multiple translations of a single word in a sentence based on part of speech (noun, verb, adjective). • Comprehensive general dictionary of over 60,000 terms. • Input of foreign language accents on the English keyboard. • On-screen editing with 95LX Memo text editor. • Interlinear translation file. • These and many more.

There are dozens of ways this low-cost, high-quality translation system can be useful to you, either for production, informational or educational purposes. Whether you are at home, on an airplane, in a hotel, on vacation, in a meeting or in your office ... high-quality foreign language translation is available to you in minutes.

In production: Available in Late November 1991 * (Suggested Retail Price) • Spanish to/from English* $299 • French to/from English* $299 lobalink, Inc. • German to/from English* $299 *Two IC Cards per product 9302 Lee Highway, Fourth Floor Fairfax, Virginia 22031 Telephone: (703) 273-5600 • Telephone: (800) 255-5660 • FAX: (703) 273-3866 " ou've seen for yourself: unused portion of your payment • The HP Palmtop Paper will be promptly refunded. gives you a wealth of practical FREE BONUS REMEMBER ... knowledge that you simply can­ As an extra bonus, each year's Even one idea you gain from a not find anywhere else. subscription to The HP Palmtop single issue could repay your It's must reading for everyone Paper comes with a free copy of our investment many times over! who wants to get the most out Subscriber Disk for that year. Subscribe today. of their HP Palmtop. And this Each Subscriber Disk is packed issue is only the beginning! with useful software specially One year (6 issues) ...... only $39 Canada & Mexico: add $6 air SATISFACTION GUARANTEED selected for the HP Palmtop. Our Outside North America: add $18 air 1992 Subscriber Disk alone is worth Should you ever become dis­ Two years (save $9) ...... only $69 many times the price of your HP Canada & Mexico: add $12 air satisfied with The HP Palmtop Palmtop Paper subscription. Outside North America: add $36 air Paper, just let us know. The

NON-U.S. SUBSCRIBERS: You may pay by credit card, check, cash, or money order. Check or money order must be in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. banle Or order from one of our European distributors listed below: (Contact them for pricing in local currency.)

~ Elw1E EM Belgium & Luxembourg (BYfECOM) +32 (0)10223455 +32 (0)10241730 France (PaimSoft) 1.44.76.11.00 1 40.26.94.32 Germany (W&W Software Products) 022 02 I 42021 o 22 02 I 32794 The Netherlands (ELDATA) +31 (0)206247284 +31 (0)206325111

(More countries are being added. Write or Fax us for a current listing.)

PubU,h'''f• BULK RATE The HP Palmtop Paper i YiiJo . U.S POSTAGE PAID Thaddeus FAIRFIELD. IA Computing INC. PERMIT #21 8

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