, Inc. is In 1978, North Star introduced the North Star has enjoyed rapid growth C located in Berkeley, Califor- Horizon® computer. The Horizon is a since its beginnings. We have moved nia, and was incorporated in high-performance three times in as many years to 0 June, 1976. The company system with integrated accommodate increased production offers the Horizon computer memory, and includes North Star demand and have grown from two ·- and other high-performance, BASIC and Disk employees to well over a hundred. high-quality microcomputer (DOS) on diskette. With the latest move, North Star has u products, both hardware and tripled facilities to over 50,000 square ::::s software. The North Star feet of manufacturing and administra­ reputation is based on the tive space. quality, performance, reliabi l­ 'C As North Star grows, our commitment ity and cost-effectiveness to technical innovation and services of its products. North Star to our dealers and customers will intends to maintain its repu­ e grow with us . tation for delivering well­ ... designed microcomputer c products by continuing to - use only the best compo­ nents available, assuring a high de­ gree of quality control , and providing maximum service to its customers through carefully chosen, well-trained Authorized Dealers and Service Centers throughout the world . In its relatively short corporate history, North Star has become one of the most successful enterprises in the The Horizon was designed for a wide young microcomputer industry. The range of applications, and quickly company began as a small opera­ became one of the most popular units tion, manufacturing a single circuit in the personal computing market­ board that would perform numerical place. As the market for small com­ 2 calculations nearly 25 times faster puters expanded, the Horizon was than any other firmware or software put to use in ever-increasing ways: then available. This Floating Point in business offices, schools and Board found an immediate market, universities, research laboratories, and was followed by a new product and manufacturing plants. North which revolutionized the personal Star has expanded its product line in computer industry, and assured several ways to meet our customers' North Star's future success. This growing needs. We now offer a Hard second product, the Micro-Disk Sys­ Disk System which allows users to tem , provided an economical disk store large amounts of information, storage system that was fully inte­ and we provide several application grated with a complete operating software programs for a variety of system and BASIC programming business needs. These include a language software. word processor, information manage­ ment system, general ledger, ac­ counts receivable and accounts pay­ able programs. Other professional and business programs are being tested and evaluated to fill our cus­ tomers' future needs.

Horizon® is a registered trademark of North Star Computers, Inc.

Z80A® is a registered trademark of Corporation.

CP/ M® is a registered trademark of Digital Research.

© North Star Computers , Inc., May, 1980. ... In keeping with our high The North Star Newsletter includes Ii.. standards of quality, reliabil- technical articles about North Star tn ity and service, North Star products, general information arti­ supports our products and cles, listings of software available for ... 0 customers in several ways: North Star equipment, and informa­ c: tion on North Star Users Groups. c. 1. AUTHORIZED DEALERS. CD Q. North Star is represented 4. SOFTWARE UPDATES. North Star ... throughout the world by its is continually upgrading and improv­ ... .,J Authorized Dealers. Our ing its software products. New re­ c: 'ft dealers are carefully selected leases of software are made available VI to provide our customers for a nominal charge to all customers 0 with high-quality products, who wish to take advantage of the service and support. We pro­ improvements. New software re­ 0 vide our dealers with hands­ leases are announced in the North on training on all our prod­ Star Newsletter, and are available Introduction ...... 2 ucts, both hardware and through local Authorized Dealers. Product Support ...... 3 software, so they can effec­ 5. HARDWARE UPDATES. North Star Systems ...... 4 tively service and support the has a general policy of supporting Major Hardware Components . . . . 6 customer. Most dealers can its existing customers. When a new Application Software ...... 11 provide you with in-warranty product makes an earlier product and extended service for System Software ...... 14 obsolete, we try to make upgrading both hardware and software. Sub Systems ...... 17 convenient. Authorized Dealers have 2. TECHNICAL HOTLINE. a complete list of currently available North Star provides a special upgrade products. Technical Hotline for customer prob­ 6. WARRANTY. North Star offers a lems that dealers cannot immediately 90-day factory limited warranty on all solve. Customer service engineers products. The details of the warranty are available on these lines to answer for each specific product are in­ technical questions about North Star cluded with the documentation sup­ Hardware and Software. The Techni­ plied with that product. For printer cal Hotline number is (415) 524-9202. and terminal products, the warranty 3 3. CUSTOMER NEWSLETTER. North is honored at the original manufac­ Star publishes a quarterly customer turer's service facilities. newsletter and sends it to all cus­ tomers who fill out the subscription form included with each product. ~ft North Star SOFTWARE. North Star offers the PRINTER. The NEC Spinwriter is a VI Horizon System widest range of application and sys­ letter-quality printer for all your print­ The Com­ tem software of any microcomputer ing needs. It is especially designed puter System is a complete, manufacturer. Our own Application for applications where typewriter E Software and System Software are quality printing is required. The Spin­ "\ high-performance, easy-to­ ~ use microcomputer system regarded as the finest available. writer will print up to 55 characters ... designed to fit a wide variety Those whose software needs are not per second. met by North Star's own software of business, educational, Additional information on each com­ t/J will find other Horizon-compatible ...... _ scientific and industrial appli­ ponent in this system is provided software available through North Star ...... , cations. The basic system in separate sections of this Catalog. dealers. 'ft includes: Complete documentation and in­ VI HORIZON. The North Star TERMINAL. The Hazeltine CRT Dis­ struction manuals are provided with Horizon computer is the heart of the play Terminal is a cost-effective, full­ each component. You can learn as system. The Horizon is a high-quality function terminal. Standard features much, or as little, about the technical microcomputer with two mini disk include a 24 line by 80 character dis­ aspects of your system as you like. drives and 64K RAM. Its Z80® micro­ play, addressable cursor, and a high­ Your Authorized North Star Dealer processor provides the processing quality keyboard with cursor controls can help you decide which available power. Operating a Horizon is simple; and numeric pad. This terminal has options most suit your individual there is only an on/off switch and a many features which make it easy needs, and can provide you with full start button. Programs and data are to use with all the North Star Applica­ service and support. stored on floppy diskettes. tion Software.

4 North Star SOFTWARE. Whether you use the TERMINAL. The SOROC IQ 120 is an Horizon Hard Disk System Horizon Hard Disk System to develop economical CRT terminal designed The North Star Horizon Hard Disk your own software, or purchase a for use in many applications. Stand­ System gives you greatly increased system integrated with application ard features include a 24 line by data storage capacity and data ac­ software, you are assured of North 80 character display, addressable cessing speed. This system is de­ Star's reputation and our commitment cursor, and keyboard with cursor signed for those customers who need to software excellence. More system controls and numeric pad. and application software is available to handle, store and retrieve larger PRINTER. The Anadex DP-8000 is for North Star Systems than for any amounts of information and data than an economical dot matrix printer. other microcomputer system . can be maintained on floppy disk The Anadex prints 112 characters alone. This powerful, highly cost­ HARD DISK. The North Star Hard per second, and is capable of print­ effective system includes: Disk allows you to store up to 18 mil­ ing 84 lines per minute in a bi­ lion bytes of formatted data on each HORIZON. The North Star Horizon directional mode. disk. As your needs expand, you can computer is again the heart of this Additional information on each com­ add additional hard disks for up to system. With the addition of the hard ponent of this system can be found 72 million bytes capacity. The North disk, the Horizon's capabilities can in separate sections of this Catalog. Star Hard Disk has a unique Incre­ be expanded to meet your growing Complete, professionally prepared mental Backup and Recovery System system requirements. The Horizon's documentation is provided with each which makes it convenient and inex­ powerful controller takes full advan­ component. Your Authorized North pensive to save and restore the up­ tage of the high-performance charac­ Star Dealer can help you tailor this dated information on the disk. This teristics of the . system to meet your current and system uses the Horizon's 5V4 inch future needs. floppy disk drives. In a typical instal­ lation, you backup only information which has changed during a given session, and the backup procedure will take only a few minutes.

5 fn North Star Horizon North Star BASIC, merely plug in a • Two serial and one parallel input/ .... If you require an attractively CRT display or hardcopy terminal. output interfaces for connecting C packaged, disk-based com­ Operating a Horizon is simple; there is printers, terminals, modems, or hard A\ puter system with high per­ only an on/off switch and a restart disks. button. The North Star software is "' formance, reliability, and • A power supply more than ade­ automatically loaded from diskette C low cost, then the Horizon quate to power a full complement of within seconds after power on. is for you . 12 S-100 boards. The power supply is 0 The Horizon's versatility en­ Special features of the Horizon available for both domestic and inter­ c. ables it to adapt to an almost include: national power requirements. unlimited number of uses. • The North Star Z80A Processor • And North Star Software - BASIC, Over 15,000 Horizons are in Board with optional PROM . Disk Operating System (DOS), and E operation throughout the Monitor on diskette. North Star BASIC • The North Star RAM memory world in business offices, is regarded as the best BASIC avail­ 0 boards, which let the Z80A execute schools and universities, re­ able for . A full de­ search laboratories, and in­ at full speed, and include parity 0 checking. scription of BASIC and DOS appears A \ dustrial plants. The Horizon's in a separate section of this Catalog. "' uses range from word proc­ • The North Star Disk Controller • A professionally prepared manual ._ essing to highly complex Board, which can control up to four industrial monitoring. mini disk drives. covering operating procedures, ca maintenance, theory of operation, ~ Because North Star is com­ • Two double density or quad capac­ and troubleshooting for both the ;;:::llli milted to continually expand- ity mini disk drives. The double den­ hardware and the software. -C ing and upgrading our entire sity system can store up to 180K ._ product line, you will find the bytes of information per drive; quad Horizon always ready to meet capacity systems can store up to ca your present and future com- 360K bytes per drive. puter needs. :I: • The motherboard, which has slots ._ The Horizon computer is a for up to twelve S-100 circuit boards, complete, high-performance includes the 1/0 circuitry and disk 0 microcomputer system with drive power regulation circuitry, as •ca L integrated floppy disk mem­ well as a real time clock. 6 ory. To begin executing a turn- 1111:: key application program, or llllC: to begin programming in

• lliiMR Expanding Your Horizon Specifications Additional Drive Cabinet The Horizon is designed for use in a Power Requirements: North Star also offers an Additional wide range of application environ­ 115 volts, 250 watts, 60 Hz Drive Cabinet (ADC) which can be ments. It can be expanded and (U .S. Standard) used to add a third and fourth drive upgraded in many ways, with prod­ 230 volts, 250 watts, 50 Hz to your Horizon computer. The ADC is ucts from North Star as well as from (International) available in either a wood or metal other S-100 product manufacturers. housing to match the Horizon cabi­ Environmental Limits: Your Authorized Dealer can provide net. The built-in power supply of the Temperature: Operating 40°F to you with these additional North Star ADC is capable of powering one or 100°F (5°C to 40°C) products: two drives. As with the Horizon, either Humidity: 20% to 80%, double density or quad capacity • Additional RAM boards no condensation drives are available. A cable for con­ • Hardware Floating Point Board Dimensions: necting the ADC to the Horizon is • Hard Disk System 20" x 7.25" x 17.50" included. • Additional mini disk drives • 1K PROM option Specifications • Optional metal cabinet Power: Universal power supply, which may Application Software be set for either 115 or 230 volts, The amount of application software and 50 or 60 Hz. written to operate with North Star BASIC and DOS is extensive. North Dimensions: Star offers its own integrated applica­ 9" x 8" x 13.5" tion software suitable for a wide variety of business uses. Please see the section in this Catalog on Appli­ cation Software. Many independent vendors and North Star users groups also offer a wide range of application programs.

7

• lf.i§!:JI North Star as well as hard disk files; the Hard Average latency time: 18Mb Hard Disk Drive Disk Operating System (HOOS), 12.5 milliseconds The North Star Hard Disk Drive allows which includes a unique File Man­ Recording density: you to greatly increase the data stor­ ager responsible for maintaining the 7545 bytes per inch age capacity and processing speed data structures necessary to support Track density: of your Horizon computer system. The data storage and retrieval. Informa­ 182 tracks per inch North Star Hard Disk is a Winchester­ tion on this software is included in Data transfer rate: technology drive that holds up to 18 the section on System Software. 960 Kilobytes per second Recording method: million bytes of formatted data. To • Application Software: Existing soft­ MFM meet additional data storage needs, ware is upwards compatible for use Power-on start time: you can daisy-chain up to four hard with the hard disk. The North Star 3 minutes (worst case) disk drives for a total of 72 million Application Software is also available bytes of formatted data. Features of for the Hard Disk System. With the Specifications the North Star Hard Disk Drive include: dramatic increase in on-line storage Power Requirements: • A unique Incremental Backup and and speed, there will be a continually­ 115 volts , 60 Hz, 3.5 amps running , Recovery System, which makes it expanding library of readily available 12.5 amps starting (U .S. Standard) easy and inexpensive to backup all application software. 230 volts, 50 Hz, 2 amps runn ing , information stored on the hard disk. • Documentation: A thorough instruc­ 6 amps starting (International) This Backup and Recovery System tion manual is included with each Environmental Limits: uses the Horizon's mini disk drives, Hard Disk Drive. This manual covers Temperature: 50°F to 95°F, with and allows you to save data on disk­ operating procedures, maintenance, max. gradient of 18°F/ hr. ette only if you have changed the theory of operation, installation, and (10°C to 35°C) data since the last backup. In a typ­ troubleshooting for both the hardware Altitude: To 6000 feet ical installation , backup will take only and software. Humidity: 10% to 90%, a few minutes a day. no condensation • A 14-inch, Century Data Marksman, • Drive Operation: Single track positioning time: Dimensions: Winchester-technology drive, en­ 9" x 20" x 26" closed in a beige metal cabinet. Cen­ 20 milliseconds Average positioning time: Beige metal cabinet with beige tury Data is a recognized leader in plastic bezel the manufacture of hard disk drives. 60 milliseconds Maximum positioning time: Weight: 8 • System Software: An enhanced 130 milliseconds 80 lbs. version of the popular North Star Rotational speed: BASIC that will work with diskette files 2400 rpm

·- Terminals Hazeltine 1420 SOROC IQ 120 The Hazeltine 1420 Video Display Term inal is a cost­ The SOROC IQ 120 is an economical, full-function CRT effective terminal with all the features you need to support terminal suitable for use in many applications. The a wide variety of applications. It is designed with a SOROC IQ 120 has a standard RS-232 interface com­ typewriter-style keyboard and a crisp display to ease patible with the HORIZON , and includes an adaptability and reduce operator fatigue. This terminal auxiliary RS-232 port. Features of this terminal include: has special features which make it exceptionally easy to • 24 line by 80 character screen. use with the North Star Application Software. Features • Upper and lower case ASCII character set. of this terminal include: • Addressable cursor. • 24 line by 80 character non-glare screen. • Keyboard with cursor controls and numeric pad. • 95 displayable characters, including lower case. Specifications • 15-Key numeric pad. Power Requirements: • 12 Operator functions keys. 115 volts, 60 Hz (U.S. Standard) • User-controlled video presentation (high/ low intensity, 230 volts, 50 Hz (International) blink, or non-display). • Cursor addressing and sensing. Environmental Limits: •Self test. Temperature: 40°F to 100°F (5°C to 40°C) •All 128 ASCII Codes. Humidity: Up to 90%, no condensation Specifications Dimensions: Power Requirements: 1811 x 12.5" x 21 11 115 volts, 60 Hz (U.S. Standard) The SOROC IQ 120 is made available through North Star 220/240 volts, 50/60 Hz (International) by a special agreement with SOROC Technology. The Environmental Limits: SOROC 90-day limited warranty is honored at the SOROC Temperature: 50°F to 100°F (10°C to 40°C) factory in Southern California. Humidity: Up to 95%, no condensation Dimensions: 13.511 x 15.511 x 20.511 The Hazeltine 1420 is made available through North Star by a special agreement with Hazeltine Corporation. The 9 two-year limited warranty is honored at Hazeltine Service Centers. Printers NEC Spinwriter Anadex The NEC Spinwriter 5510-2 is a high-quality printer de­ The Anadex DP-8000 Alphanumeric Line Printer is a cost­ signed for applications where typewriter-quality printing effective, dot matrix impact printer. With a printing speed is desired . The Spinwriter will print up to 55 characters of 112 characters per second, the Anadex is capable of per second. Its unique printing thimble will last through 84 lines per minute while printing in a bi-directional mode. more than 30 million impressions, and enables the Spin­ The printer can be connected to the HORIZON using the writer to print in two different type styles without having to parallel output port, or one of the serial 1/0 ports. Features change the thimble. of this printer include: Features of the Spinwriter include: • Sprocket feed . • 9 x 7 character font . • High resolution plotting/graphing. • 1000 characters of FIFO storage. • Low operating noise level. • Double width printing. • Qu ick-change ribbon cartridge. • Print head life in excess of 100 million characters. • Quick-change print thimbles. • Prints original and up to seven copies. Specifications • Selectable 10- or 12-pitch characters. Power Requirements: • Line widths up to 163 characters. 115 volts, 60 Hz (U.S. Standard) 230 volts, 50 Hz (International) Specifications: Power Requirements: Environmental Limits: 115 volts , 50/60 Hz (U .S. Standard) Temperature: 40°F to 110°F (5°C to 45°C) 230 volts , 50/60 Hz (International) Humidity: Up to 85 %, no condensation Environmental Limits: Dimensions: Temperature: 40°F to 100°F (5°C to 40°C) 18.5" x 15" x 7" Humidity: 10% to 85 %, no condensation The Anadex 90-day limited warranty is honored at the Altitude: To 10,000 feet Anadex factory in Southern California, and at regional Dimensions: repair centers around the world. 24.8" x 16.34" x 8.68" The NEC warranty is honored at the NEC factory in 10 Woburn , MA, or by contact with any NEC field office. North Star offers an inte­ The North Star Application Software both at North Star, and at actual busi­ grated line of application Packages are integrated. Each can ness sites. Each program comes software programs to satisfy stand alone, or be used in combina­ with a thorough, easy to understand a wide variety of your busi­ tion with the NorthWord word proces­ User's Manual which guides you ness needs. This software is sor to perform an even greater vari­ step-by-step through the program's backed by the same high ety of tasks. This eliminates the need various functions. standards as North Star hard­ to buy different programs from differ­ All North Star Application Software ware products, so you are ent vendors, and eliminates having to Packages require 56K of RAM, and assured of its reliability, high learn a whole new program for each two double density or quad capacity quality, hardware compatibil­ application. These integrated pro­ drives. Versions of this software are ity, and cost-effectiveness. grams allow you a degree of flexibility also available for use on the North In choosing your hardware impossible to find with other applica­ Star Hard Disk System. and software from a single, tion software. reliable source, you are also The following pages give descrip­ Our Application Software Packages assuring that your computer tions of the North Star Application have been designed in consultation system can be supported as Software Packages now available. c with experts in the various application a complete system. Authorized North Star Dealers can fields to assure that each program provide you with more detailed in­ •-0 All our software programs completely meets your needs- in formation, and complete product .... are designed for ease of use. word processing, accounting, and demonstrations. l'Pf. They are written with the first­ information management. Each pro­ '" time user in mind, but they gram has been extensively tested, (.) do not sacrifice the powerful •- features and flexibility of so­ - phisticated programs. All the programs feature a uniformity c. of language and instructional guidance. Each program c. guides you through its aper- .,,, ations, and tells you in easy ~ to understand language when you have made a mistake, and how to correct it. Once you learn one 11 of our programs, you will find the others even easier to use. North Word Mail Manager Info Manager NorthWord is a complete word proc- MailManager is a flexible mail list lnfoManager can provide your busi- essing system designed for a wide management system which enables ness with complete and instantly variety of office applications. It incor- you to compile and maintain com- accessible information records. Info- porates the most sought-after word plete, organized mailing lists. You can Manager is list-oriented, and allows processing features: easy editing, on- keep accurate, confidential, and up- you to specify up to 50 items of in- screen text formatting, simultaneous to-the-minute lists of your organiza- formation for each record in your list document printing, and much more. tion's clients, patients, subscribers, You can keep highly detailed informa- NorthWord increases office efficiency members or dealers. tion on clients, products, patients, sales representatives, or business by eliminating document re-typing You can easily enter your mailing lists organizations. time and cost You enter your text through MailManager. It allows you once, then make only the necessary to make changes, additions and lnfoManager also has the ability to changes or corrections. NorthWord deletions in minutes, and always select and sort information before allows you to completely control the keeps entries in the correct order. printing. You can divide your list into format of your document by specify- You can print your list on labels, indi- sub-lists to send letters to certain ing margins, justification, spacing, vidual envelopes, or in a compact groups, or to print special reports on page numbering, titles, and under- summary form. one or more sub-groups in the list lining. Because it is screen-oriented, your document will appear on screen MailManager is more than a mail list lnfoManager can also be used as a just as it will be printed. system. It allows you to specify and calendar management system. You add other information items in each can enter information about matters NorthWord's Activities Menu and individual record. You can list phone or projects you have to attend to on special Keyboard Overlay eliminate numbers, type of account, expira- certain dates. If more than one per- the need to memorize many control tion dates, account status- up to son is using the calendar manage- functions; all the information you 10 items which you specify to meet ment system, you can even sort and need to operate the program is al- your needs. list the projects by individual. ways right in front of you. MailManager can also be used with lnfoManager's flexibility allows you to NorthWord is also the central building NorthWord to produce a variety of put it to use in many ways. You can block for all the North Star Application standardized letter formats- so you adapt it to suit your individual appli- Software Packages. You can combine can do large numbers of letters that cations, and find new uses for it as NorthWord with MailManager to pro- don't look like "form letters." your needs grow. 12 duce large volumes of personalized correspondence. With NorthWord and Additional features allow you to: Additional features allow you to: lnfoManager, you can also create let- • Create several mailing lists with • Create several information files with ters or easily fill in often-used forms. different characteristics for different different characteristics for different NorthWord and GeneralLedger work purposes purposes together to produce customized financial statements and reports. • Locate a customer record by either • Locate any record in your informa- name or zip code within seconds lion file within seconds by using either Additional features allow you to: of two key items • Print a selected group of records or • Identify each document with any a statistical sample drawn from the list • Specify up to five fields in a record name or number for sorting purposes • Print one or several mailing labels • Use automatic carriage return, across a page or on label forms • Do several printing runs after your word wraparound, and justification information has been selected and • Automatically print labels or enve- sorted • Automatically search and selec- lopes in zip code order to take lively replace words, phrases, or for- advantage of bulk postage rates • Delete a range of entries or mat statements group of entries that share specific • Copy, move, or delete in blocks characteristics of up to 20 lines • Merge standard paragraphs into any document General Ledger AccountsReceivable Accounts Payable The North Star GeneralLedger and With the North Star AccountsReceiv- The North Star AccountsPayable Financial Reporting Program allows able Program, you can establish up Program allows you to establish up you to maintain general ledger ac- to 1500 customer accounts with fle x- to 1500 vendor accounts and main- counts based on such inputs as ible account maintenance. Accounts- tain them on an open item basis. It checks, bank deposits and journal Receivable allows you to define your has easy-to-use addition, modifica- entries. You can use the information customer accounts as balance for- tion , and deletion of vendor accounts, in the general ledger to produce ward or open item . It answers in- and a flexible alphabetic or numeric customized financial statements quiries about account details using vendor account code format . and reports. your video screen, and automatically AccountsPayable has many powerful charges interest on accounts and The North Star GeneralLedger allows features. It accepts payment-due aging categories you specify. you to enter up to 900 tailored gen- date data and /or maximum amounts eral ledger accounts with flexible AccountsReceivable also lets you to be paid . It also accepts discount account code definitions. It accepts retain credit limits, year-to-date sales, terms with the invoice, or standard entry of accounting transactions from last year's sales, date and amount of discount terms can be stored in each virtually any source you wish, and last invoice and payment, and num- vendor's account. It can let you re- lets you add new general ledger ac- ber of outstanding transactions for quest a pre-payment register to en- counts or modify existing ones at each customer account. You can sure automatic payments are proper, any time. automatically transfer entries to the or defer payments to a specified date Plus , GeneralLedger can automati- North Star GeneralLedger Program. or make partial payments by invoice. You can automatically transfer ac- cally transfer accounting entries You can print a variety of reports counting distributions from Accounts- from the North Star AccountsReceiv- with AccountsReceivable: summaries Payable to the North Star General- able and AccountsPayable Programs. of detailed aged trial balances with Ledger Program. You can post and list a detailed gen- completely flexible aging calcula- eral ledger at any time, purge trans- lions; summary reports about one or The printing controls give you flexible actions from the system, provide a more customers; and , journals of printing specifications for checks and variety of printouts and reports, and interest charges. remittance notices. You can auto- automatically close income and ex- Additional features allow you to: matically print checks and remittance pense accounts to retained earnings notices for amounts due for pay- at the end of the year. • Detect errors with mandatory edit ment. Checks are automatically num- listings and complete audit control With the financial reporting feature , bered, and several invoices can be 13 you can define dollar precision • Maintain full retention of trans- printed on each check. You can also (rounding off to nearest dollar, etc.), actions for monthly statement printing print detailed aged trial balances, use multiple columns and define col- lists of past due invoices, and ven- • Define statement format, including umn contents, define sub- and grand- dor lists either alphabetically or by information placement, aging remind- totaling, and carry sub- or grand- account code. ers, and over-credit-limit reminders totals forward to other statements. Additional features allow you to: • Print reminders or advertising letters Additional features allow you to: to customers, as well as customer • Detect errors with mandatory edit • Store and report the net balance of mailing labels listings and complete audit control transactions for every account for • Easily handle addition, modification each of 24 months and deletion of vendor accounts • Enter up to 50 separate transaction • Print lists of invoices which are past batches at one time payment-due date • Let the program do extensive error • Retain for each vendor the invoices detection and validation of data, outstanding, total purchases and dis- with easy to understand reporting of counts taken during the current and errors found previous year, date and amount of • Use a special provision to post last payment, number of outstanding transactions to the previous fiscal transactions, and outstanding balance year after it has been closed "\ North Star BASIC, the Disk Versions of BASIC which use the Disk Operating System ~ Operating System (DOS) , North Star Hardware Floating Point The North Star Disk Operating Sys­ I.. and Monitor programs are Board (FPB) execute faster and re­ tem (DOS) provides access to the l'Pll. included on diskette with quire about 700 bytes less memory. information stored on diskettes either "" every Horizon computer or through COMMANDS typed from the Micro-Disk System. They are North Star BASIC includes the follow­ ~ ing features: computer terminal , or through SUB­ ;> not available as separate ROUTINES called by software. The products. General descrip­ • Strings and substrings (size limited operations provided implement a tions of these programs fol- only by available RAM) named file system; all files on diskette low. These programs are ex­ • String operators (concatenation can be referenced by the use of sym­ =0 tensively documented in the and relationals) bolic names of up to 8 characters. North Star System Software • Multi-dimensioned arrays Manual, which is also in­ • Multi-line user-defined functions The DOS has been designed to allow en convenient modification for inter­ cluded with the Horizon and • Formatted output facility Micro-Disk System. The North • Multiple input/output devices facing to an y computer 1/0 terminal Star System Software Manual • Machine language CALL with configuration. DOS diskettes shipped E is available separately argument passing with the Horizon computer will be "\ through Authorized North • Direct memory read and write initially set up to communicate with ~ Star Dealers. • Boolean operators (AND, OR, and the Horizon serial and parallel ports. NOT) At power-on, the bootstrap PROM in North Star BASIC • IF-THEN-ELSE and ON-GOTO loads the DOS from the diskette into ...... _ North Star BASIC is a popular statements RAM , where it awaits the typing of ...... , programming language that • Program renumber command one of the commands. For example, is an integral part of North • Calculator mode (direct statement) typing GO BASIC will load BASIC en Star products, although there operation into RAM and begin its execution. are many uses for these products • Powerful line editor Alternately, you may set the DOS for which do not involve BASIC. • Program load and store from disk "turnkey" start-up of any specified • Sequential and random access program at power-on. North Star BASIC, now in wide­ disk files spread use, was implemented for a • Error trapping capability The North Star DOS occupies 3.25K broad range of applications. The for­ of RAM . Versions of the DOS with matted output capability is similar to The set of North Star BASIC com­ non-standard origins are available as 14 the FORTRAN method , allowing val ­ mands includes: special orders. ues to be printed in fi xed or variable RUN LIST SCR REN length fields. Dollar signs, commas DEL EDIT PSIZE CONT The DOS commands include: and decimal points may automatically LOAD SAVE BYE APPEND CR Create a file be included in the output. AUTO CAT MEMSET NSAVE DE Delete a file The disk file processing features of The set of North Star BASIC state­ LI List file directory North Star BASIC have been de­ ments includes: TY Set file type signed to allow a maximum of flexi­ LET GOTO PRINT DIM LF Load file to RAM bility. Up to eight files on disk can be FOR NEXT INPUT EXIT SF Save file from RAM "OPEN " at one time. Both numeric STOP REM READ DATA GO Load file and execute and string values may be written to RESTORE GOSUB INPUTI LINE CF Copy file to file disk files. BASIC can also access DEF FNEND OUT END IN Initialize diskette IF ON RETURN FILL individual bytes in a disk file if neces­ DT Disk test CHAIN CREATE OPEN CLOSE CD Copy entire diskette sary. Random file accessing allows WRITE# DESTROY ERRSET READ# the BASIC program to set a file CO Compact file space pointer to a specified byte address Built-in functions include: RD Read from disk within a file before reading or writing . ABS SGN SIN COS ATN WR Write to disk RND SGRT LOG EXP FREE JP Jump to RAM address The number representation in North INT LEN VAL STR$ CALL Star BASIC is binary-coded-decimal EXAM INP CHR$ TYP TAB (BCD). This means that no invisible ASC FILE INCHAR conversion errors occur when the values used are within the precision of BASIC. The standard North Star BASIC has 8 digits of precision. You may order special versions of BASIC with 10, 12, or 14 digits of precision through Authorized North Star Dealers. North Star BASIC occupies about 12K of RAM , excluding the space for the user's BASIC program and data. Monitor Hard Disk System Software The Command Processor is loaded The North Star Monitor is a program An enhanced version of North Star from the disk when needed, and will which provides you with mainte- BASIC, a Hard Disk Operating Sys- ordinarily be overwritten when the nance and debugging functions. The tern , and Backup and Recovery user GOs into BASIC, or into any Monitor is intended to be used in System are included on diskettes other language or system. The Com- conjunction with the North Star Disk with the North Star Hard Disk. These mand Processor takes commands Operating System. programs offer all the features of the from the console terminal and exe- floppy-disk-based North Star System cutes them in a directly interactive Commands to the Monitor are entered Software, with the addition of many manner. The vocabulary of the Com- via the terminal using a format con- new features designed for the special mand Processor also includes all of sistent with the DOS commands. The capabilities of the hard disk. These the commands of the North Star DOS Monitor's command editing facilities programs are extensively docu- including those that are supplied by ' are compatible with the editing tea- mented in the Hard Disk System North Star as separate utilities in the tures of North Star BASIC . User's Manual, which is also avail- floppy disk system. Many new com- The Monitor occupies 2.5K of RAM. able separately through Authorized mands have also been added to take Copies of the Monitor are supplied North Star Dealers. advantage of the increase in power assembled at different origins. and flexibility of the Hard Disk System. Hard Disk BASIC The North Star Monitor commands Backup and include: The popular North Star BASIC has Recovery System CM Compare memory block been enhanced to work with hard contents disk files as well as diskette files . This North Star has provided a unique FM Fill memory block means that nearly all existing North Backup and Recovery System that MM Move memory block contents Star BASIC programs will work under allows the user a convenient and in- SM Search memory block North Star Hard Disk BASIC with little expensive way of saving and restor- TM Test memory block or no changes necessary. ing the information kept on the hard DH Display memory hexadecimal disk. North Star's unique Incremental An additional advantage of Hard Disk Backup System uses the Horizon's DA Display memory with ASCII BASIC is that it allows you to expand interpretation 5V4 inch floppy disk drives, and re- file sizes under program control, with quires no additional hardware. lnfor- DS Display memory and substitute the maximum file size being 16Mb. values mation is saved on diskette only if it JP Jump to program has been changed since the previous Hard Disk Operating System backup. Options are given for indi- OS Return control to the DOS The Hard Disk Operating System 15 IL vidual file or complete backup. In a Perform initial load from boot- (HOOS) combines the functions of strap PROM typical installation, backup will take the floppy-disk-based North Star only a few minutes per day. OD Assign output device number DOS and Monitor. The operations for the Monitor provided implement a named file The special advantage of the recov- ID Assign input device number for system; all files can be referenced ery system is that it allows a great the Monitor by the use of symbolic names of up deal of flexibility in recovering infor- to 14 characters. mation on the hard disk. Single files , or groups of files can be recovered HOOS includes low level read /write to their condition at any given date. routines to drive the hard disk, util- ities which provide access to floppy This unique feature gives the user the disk files in a manner compatible readily available alternate storage with North Star DOS, a File Manager, media that insures the integrity of and a Command Processor. the complete computer system . The File Manager is used to main- tain the data structures necessary to support storage and retrieval on the hard disk drive. File sizes on the hard disk can be changed dynami- cally; a file 's size can be changed any time the file is open and disk space is available. File sizes can range up to 16Mb, and each hard disk may contain up to 2000 files and/or accounts. The File Manager also supports diskette files, so you can still use existing programs using diskette files. North Star Pascal data of the elementary data types Other Software Pascal, one of the most popular REAL, INTEGER, BOOLEAN , and A large number of other useful soft- languages to embody the principles CHARACTER. Complete string- ware packages are available through of structured programming, is avail- handling facilities are also provided . the North Star Software Exchange able from North Star for use with the New data types may be defined by (NSSE) Program, and from indepen- Horizon and the Micro-Disk System. the programmer for special appli- dent vendors. cations. Extensive data-structuring North Star Pascal is a complete pro- facilities in the language permit The NSSE library consists of user- gram development system. Pascal organization of data into multi- developed, public domain software source programs are prepared us- dimensional arrays, records, sets, or that has been transferred onto disk- ing the screen-oriented editor. They files . Data files on diskette may be ette. NSSE diskettes are available are compiled and linked into fast- accessed sequentially or in random through Authorized North Star Dealers executing P-code, and executed by fashion . The availability of special for a nominal charge. NSSE diskettes a simulator called the P-machine. pointer variables in North Star Pascal include utility programs, math and At run-time, compiled P-code ver- promotes convenient manipulation of matrix routines, utility packages, a sions of Pascal programs execute complex dynamic data structures PILOT system assembler source about 10 times faster than equivalent such as trees and lists. code, many computer games, and programs under typical interpreter Pascal programs. NSSE listings systems. Internal representation of INTEGER appear in issues of the North Star quantities is 16-bit binary, providing Newsletter. The North Star Pascal is a special an INTEGER range of - 32767 to version of the popular "UCSD Pascal " 32767 REAL numbers are stored in- Independent software vendors sup- implementation, developed at the In- ternally in 32-bit binary floating-point ply hundreds of software packages stitute for Information Systems at the form , resulting in 71 digit precision. which can run on Horizon systems. University of California, San Diego. These include complete packages The language implemented is based When used for program develop- for nearly every small business com- on the Standard Pascal language. ment, the North Star Pascal system puter application. The CP/M® opera!- requires at least 48K of RAM memory, ing system is available for use on the North Star Pascal runs under its own and at least one double density or disk operating system, and does not Horizon, and opens up a wide range quad capacity drive. You may con- of CP/ M compatible systems and use the North Star DOS. However, figure the system to "boot up" into a Pascal programs may access and application software to Horizon users. specific application program. The Also available are time-sharing sys- manipulate disk files created under end-user needs only to interact with 16 DOS or BASIC. terns, several assembly language the application system. In turnkey development systems, and high-level Features of North Star Pascal include mode, the system can run with as languages such as FORTRAN and block control structure, long variable little as 24K of memory, depending COBOL. Lists of vendors marketing names, formatted numeric output, upon the size and data storage re- Horizon-compatible software local variables in procedures and quirements of the turnkey applica- regularly appear in the North Star functions, and provisions for pre- tion package. Newsletter. compiled library routines. The Ian- guage also includes a full set of aper- ators and functions for manipulating (/J North Star Specifications Hardware Floating Point Board Power: 1.7 amps @ +8 volts, unregulated. The North Star Hardware Floating Point Board The following timing table gives FPB execution times for E (FPB) is a single S-100 bus circuit board which the four operations at each of the allowed precisions. ~\ allows you to perform floating point add, subtract, "" multiply and divide with up to 14 digits of preci- FPB Execution Times1. 2, 3 ... sion. The North Star FPB enables you to perform PRECISION DIGITS: 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 these calculations nearly 25 times faster than with (/J ADD ...... any other Z80A software or firmware available. best 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 _..., The FPB can compute a typical 10 digit multipli- typical 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 ' ft cation in 111 microseconds; the best Z80A soft­ worst 10 10 10 11 11 12 12 ware takes 2.7 milliseconds to perform the same V I SUBTRACT operation. Number representation for arguments best 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 .C and results is binary-coded decimal (BCD) . typical 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 The North Star FPB implements a high-speed worst 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 :::::S microprogrammed processor specially designed MULTIPLY 'ft to perform fast floating point arithmetic. The FPB best 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 VI waits for a command from the Z80A or 8080 pro- typical 18 34 55 80 111 146 186 gram to start a floating point calculation. The worst 51 125 228 382 527 720 933 command indicates both the operation desired, and the DIVIDE precision. The FPB then receives the floating point values best 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 one byte (two digits) at a time, computes the result, and typical 39 70 109 156 211 274 370 returns the result along with a status byte indicating any worst 62 139 229 340 470 621 779 overflow or underflow conditions. The method of com­ 1. Times given in microseconds munication between the FPB and the computer permits 2. Execution times are a function of the input values values to be passed at the rate of 3 microseconds per 3. Times listed do not include transmission of input values and result byte using a Z80A. Floating point number representation: Byte 1: bit 7=(1 =negative number, 0= positive number) A special version of North Star BASIC which uses the bi ts 6-0=exponent in excess 64 binary representation FPB is provided with the Horizon computer and with bits 7-0=zero repre sents the zero val ue Byte 2: bits 3-0 = least significant digit of value in BCD cod ing Micro-Disk Systems. When you are performing extensive bits 7-4= next least significant digit of value Byte N: bits 7-4=most significant digit of value in BCD coding mathematical calculations, you can speed up North Star 17 BASIC by as much as a factor of 10 by using the FP B. bits 3-0=next most significant digit of val ue A complete reference and instruction manual is included. All values are normalized. North Star Micro-Disk System The controller allows transfer of be­ The data transfer rate is 250K bits The North Star Micro-Disk System is tween one and ten 512-byte blocks per second. This means that 16K a complete floppy disk system for of data between the diskette and bytes of data can be transferred in Z80 or 8080 S-100 bus computer sys­ RAM in a single revolution. Cyclic re­ less than one second, and that a sin­ tems. All you need for a disk-oriented dundancy error checking is done for gle double density diskette can hold computer system is the computer, each block read from disk. The con­ over 100 typical BASIC programs. troller automatically turns the drives memory, an 1/0 terminal, and the The quad capacity drives are com­ on and off to minimize head and North Star Micro-Disk System. You patible with the double density diskette wear. can begin executing our North Star drives, and operate with the same BASIC within seconds after power-on. The controller includes on-board controller. Quad capacity drives use The Micro-Disk System is available in PROM memory, pre-programmed both sides of the diskette. The disk­ several configurations, and consists to permit power-on start-up of the ette is formatted as 70 tracks with of a controller board, up to four dou­ computer. The PROM program loads 10 sectors per track, for a capacity of ble density or quad capacity disk the DOS from drive one into memory 360K bytes per diskette. The DOS drives, a wood or metal cabinet with and then branches to the loaded determines the side selection auto­ built-in power supply, and North Star DOS. The on-board PROM and the matically. Track-to-track access has BASIC, DOS, and Monitor on disk­ memory-mapped 1/0 together use 1K been enhanced to 5ms. of the computer address space, start­ ette. BASIC, DOS, and Monitor are Your Micro-Disk System can have a ing at E800 hex in the standard ver­ described in the section on System total storage capacity of 1.4Mb with sion. Non-standard origins are avail­ Software. four quad capacity drives. able through Authorized North Star The controller board is a single Dealers on special order. Specifications printed circuit board that interfaces Power: Each double density drive is hard­ the disk drives to the computer sys­ Controller: . 7 amp @ +8 volts sectored for 512 byte records. Each tem . It plugs directly into the S-100 Drive: .5 amp (typ) @ +5 volts, diskette can store 180K bytes of infor­ bus. Commands and data are trans­ .7 amp (max) mation, formatted as 35 tracks with ferred directly under software control .9 amp (motor on) 10 sectors per track. Track-to-track by the technique of memory-mapped @ +12 volts, 1.6 amps 1/0 (no 1/0 ports or OMA are used). access is 40ms and latency is 100ms.

18 North Star RAM Boards North Star ZSOA Processor Board No other memory board can surpass the features of the The North Star Z80A Processor Board (ZPB) brings the North Star S-100 bus RAM boards. North Star offers a 4MHz Z80A to the S-100 bus, and can 16K and a 32K RAM board, both designed using prime also be utilized for many single-board computer applica­ 200ns dynamic RAM chips. This enables the processor tions. The Z80A runs compatible programs at least twice to compute at full speed, even when it is a 4MHz Z80A. as fast as an 8080, and you can obtain even greater Special parity checking circuitry ensures a high degree speeds if you use the extended Z80A instruction set. of reliability. Additional features of the North Star ZPB include: North Star RAM boards include the following features: • An auto-jump feature which permits a branch to any • Parity checking circuitry. 16-bit address at power-on and reset. • Dynamic memory refresh done by on-board electronics. • An optional ZPB-PROM , allowing space to add 1K bytes • Addressability selected with an on-board DIP switch. of EPROM (2708 type), making it possible to perma­ • Ability to perform bank switching to expand the total nently store programs on the board. amount of RAM in a system beyond 64K, and to facili­ • The ability to implement an 8-level vectored interrupt tate time-sharing applications. capability. Specifications • A jumper option for adding a wait state to all memory used in the computer. Power: .6 amp @ +8 volts, unregulated. .4 amp @ +16 volts, unregulated. Specifications . 1 amp @ -16 volts, unregulated. Power: .7 amp @ +8 volts, unregulated .

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