Great Stufffor MS/DOS and CP/M Computers! LONG& ~BTOr LOUDI INew for Morrow! I Sideways &Banner Profiles magazine wrote, "PRESTO still Printing Utilityfor has the edge over Write HandMan in Dot-Matrix Printers features andgeneralpolish... rr And now we've improved it even more! PRESTO adds features to any program For anyCP/M or MS/OOS you run. Just hit a special trigger key computer (IBM compatibility Is and PRESTO suspends your current not required), just... program and opens a window on-screen. You can then call up a calculator, a $34.95 notepad, a Rolodex™, a perpetual calendar and perform screen dumps. Special Offer: one MS/OOS and Hit another key and you're right back one CP/M version for only... where you left your original program. $49.95 PRESTO! (Version 3) uses almost 5K We've improved our popular TWIST & SHOUT! package and given it a new name! less memory than previous versions, LONG & LOUD! Version 2.0 is easier to use and install, includes new fonts in both yet includes great new features like: LONG (now with four sizes) and LOUD (Times, Sans Serif, Olde English, Script and NEWCP/M Commands: From within any Symbols - in both upper and lower case) and supports more printers. Many new program you can now do a directory, featuresll Supports every printer capable of graphics. If your printer doesn't work, copy and rename files, erase files, and we'll make it work - or your money back! To upgrade, send your old disk and $5. type files to the screen. LONG & LOUD! is two great pieces of software at one low price! LONG lets you NEWKeyboard Macro Processor: print out your spreadsheets or any text file the long way (sideways) on your dot Throwaway SmartKey and XtraKey , matrix printer. No more cutting and pasting to put together a fragmented printout. because PRESTO now includes its own LOUD prints giant banners in letters from two to eight inches high using five special key processor. The keys module type styles. Make banners, posters and signs with ease. includes powerful features like the ability to automatically load special key definitions for each program you use. Solve ComputerIncompatibility! And best of all - the price remains the same. Just $39.95 for all Morrow, MEDIA MASTER lets your CP/M computer (Osborne or Kaypro) or IBM Osborne, Kaypro, Epson and Otrona compatible (PC, XT or AT) read, write and format up to 200 different disk formats. CP/M computers. Specify computer. With MEDIA MASTER, you can exchange information and programs with other computers. $39.95. Write for our latest catalog which contains a full format compatibility chart. MILESTONE Business Project Planner MEDIA MASTER PLUS has all of the file transfer capabilities of MEDIA MASTER plus it gives your 16-bit computer the ability to actually run CP/M software. Originally $295 - Nowjust $99.951 Now your new IBM PC, XT, AT or compatible can read your Morrow disks (and up to Now plan and execute complex tasks 200 other formats) and run your CP/M software. Let your Morrow CP/M software with ease. You easily input manpower, ease your transition to the MS/DOS world. Just $59.95. costs and time requirements for a series of tasks and MILESTONE does the rest ACCELERATE 8/16 includes every feature of MEDIA MASTER PLUS, plus an - creating a detailed workplan, upgraded emulator and a special easy-to-install NEC V20 chip. The V20 chip lets identifying critical paths and analyzing your PC or XT compatible run your CP/M software at speeds as much as 350% alternatives. Our catalog has full info. faster than MEDIA MASTER Plus. Chip & software is just $99.95. (IBM AT or AT compatible users, use MEDIA MASTER PLUS only.) For allCP/M, MS/DOS or PC/DOS.
We accept VISA, MASTERCARD and AMERICAN EXPRESS - - Order by mail or call our 24 hour toll free order line .. -- -- .... -. from anywhere in the US or Canada: TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 800-628-2828 (Extension 918) Technical questions, orders: 818-716-1655 (9-5 PST) 22458 Ventura Blvd., Suite E Add $4 per order postage/handling. Overseas, add $12. VVoodland Hills, CA91364 US funds only. CA residents add 6% tax (LA County 6.5%) MORROW OWNERS' REVIEW P.O. Box 5487 Berkeley, CA 94705 (415) 644-2638 MCI Mail: MREVIEW (ID 217-1566) MOR BBS: (415) 654-3798 Last Word with George 13 Backgrounder II 31 Editor & Publisher The Past and Future of Morrow RickChames Sypko Andreae Lets You Run Two Programs Simultaneously Managing Editor The Amstrad PC 14 Ssrge Tlmacheff Mike Allen StatPac 37 Crossover CP/M - DOS Capability Operations & Advertising Georgia Babladelis Greg Smith A Statistical Software Package for the Adventures of a layout/Art Morrow Lisa Beerntsen. C-Faring Programmer 17 SysopfTech Support Brian S. Vagi Borland's Turbo 36 Steven Wartofsky Learning To Love the C(Language) Pascal Tutor Bruce Gowens .MORROW OWNERS' REVIEW (USPS CP/M as aBusiness Tool 23 Powerful Teaching Tool 765-130, ISSN 0888-5087) is published KenGrymaIa bimonthly, starting with February, by the MORROW OWNERS' REVIEW, P.O. Box 5487, Still Effective in the Office 2920 Domingo, Ste. 201 B, Berkeley, CA 94705. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the MORROW OWNERS' REVIEW, P.O. Box Investing with 5487, Berkeley, CA 94705. Second class Your Computer postage paid at Berkeley, CA, with additional 25 mailing offices at Fulton, MO. Jules Brenner From The Mailbox 4 Copyright © 1987, MORROW OWNERS' REVIEW. All rights reserved. Reproduction in Identifying Market "Swings" with Your Morrow Bill Steele whole or in part without express written consent is strictly prohibited. Readers' Forum The opinions expressed by writers are not necessarily condoned by MOR. nor does MOR vouch for the technical accuracy of the articles. While MOR makes an effort to screen Forever Z 7 advertisers, MOR cannot be responsible for quality or delivery of merchandise advertised; StarJet 28 RickChames nor does MOR verify the accuracy of claims Ben Cohen made in ads. Investigate before buying. If Valuable Info for the Z-System Enthusiast problems arise, write to the advertisers A Printer Driver That Just Might Answer explaining your complaint, and send MOR a Your Problems copy of your letter. We assume all rights in letters or other Tools for Tyros 9 communications sent to MOR as uncondi tionally assigned for publication, and copyright Mike Allen purposes are subject to our unrestricted right to The Cover 1. SypkoAlldreae Getting Started the Right Way edit and to comment editorially. On 2. George Morrow SUBSCRIPTIONS: Subscriptions cost $18 By Robert Johnson 3. Bill Steele per year, $32 for two years. Add $8 per year for 4. Mike Allen Canada and Mexico. For all other countries, add 5. Ed Niehaus $7/yearfor surface mail and $16/yearfor air mail. ~ MOR is delivered by second class mail in the 7.6. n"'eBlockArtZemon U.S.; for first class mail, add $8 per year. 8. Ken Grymala Letters to the Editor 2 MOR is published every other month, @ 9. Bmce Gowens starting with February. We must receive your :; 10. Rick Chames Editorial 3 subscription application before the 15th of the 11. Rob"" Johmo. For Immediate Release 12 preceding month in order to begin your j IJ) ® subscription with the next published issue. To MOR Products 19 ensure continuity of your subscription, renew at G least one month prior to the expiration month Floppies of the Bimonth 20 noted in the upper right corner of your mailing ®w Special Credits 39 label. The number preceding that date is your Subscriber Number. Use it in all corres G) @ Advertisers' List 39 pondence. Please allow two months for a Important Announcements change of address to take effect. 40 Classified Ads 40
Dec,87/Jan~8B--Vol.4,#6 1 Letters to the Editor
MDHD Revival Project Future Format MOR BBS (415/654-3798) is the only Sorry to read ("The Future of Conversions way to get quick help and post a ur MOR," Oct/Nov '87, p.17) about I read in the Aug/Sept '87 MOR is gent mail order. Get a modem and tune your problems in keeping MOR sue that many ofyour readers are hav in.-Ed.) going. The best support I could think ing trouble obtaining CP/M software ofwas to send you an order and check, in the Morrow format. As a service to herewith. I hopeothers do similarly. your readers, I would be glad to con Running CP/M on a Clone You are providing a valuable ser vert from any of 80-odd 5-1/4" and 8" vice and we need you. Efforts like the CP/M80, and MS-DOS disk formats The article "CP/M to DOS" in the MDHD Revival Project are particular to the Morrow SSDD or DSDD for MOR August/September 1987 issue ly important. My wife and I are asso mat for a nominal fee of $5 for the (p.31) discusses software which allows ciated with a small, private elemen first disk and $2 for each additional you to run Z80 CP1M software on an tary school. We have a MD3P for disk. I will supply the new floppies IBM PC or compatible. In addition to" home and portable use, plus one and return your old ones. If the disk the software-based emulations dis MD 11 and two MD16's at the school, you provide is in a format that I can cussed in the article, a hardware emula for all administrative and financial not read, then I will refund your mon tion is available. For about $10 you work. Although we have as yet had ey. Write to Future Communications, van replace the Intel 8088 processor no problems with our hard disks, the 128 Midway Road, Decatur, GA chip in your PC with a NEC V20 very existence of your MDHD Revi 30030, or call (404)373-4831. chip. val Project has given us the confi Todd Merriman The V20 provides hardware emula dence to plan on keeping these ma Decatur, GA tion of both the 8088 and the Z80. A chines going indefinitely. We hope shareware program called V2080 ac you are able to continue the MOR. cesses this Z80 mode and will allow Stephen Troy Tune in to the MOR BBS you to run most of your Morrow CPj Severna Park, MD Very glad to see the new software M software. The V20 processor is available on the BBS. I had not signed available from most the electronic on for awhile and was very pleasantly mail order outfits. The V2080 is avail (MOR will stay in business and surprised to see all the new items. able on many BBSs or direct from give support through MOR Mail or Keep up the good work!! This is be U.S. Digital Corporation, 5687 S.E. der and MOR BBS. We just can't af ginning to look like a real, full-fledged International Way, Milwaukie, OR ford to publish and maintain an office top-of-the-heap BBS. I'm proud to be a 97222. with staffany longer. Check the Edi member of this users' community!!! Scott Isensee torial, Important Announcements and Robert Dollins Pineville, NC the Product Pagesfor details. -Ed.) Pulaski, TN Glorious Backgrounder II Well, it worked today! Maybe it's I just got Backgrounder 11 ana am A Big Hand for Greg my lucky day. This BBS is just great. getting it going on my SB 180. What I am writing to bring to your at I do appreciate the help you offer, and an advanced-featured program it is for tention the outstanding job Greg had it not been for MOR and BAM CP/M compatible computers! Take a Smith of your staff has done in heip DUA I would probably be working look at it. Some good overview infor ing me with my problems. He has with a CLONE. Thanks again. mation is to be found in some recent taken his own personal time to do ex Bruce Colbert "Z-NEWS" newsletters, which is a tra research for me. Not too often do San Francisco, CA great reading source for MOR ZCPR you run across such a hard worker. users. Chris J. Terry (Now that the MOR office is closed James Bottom Elmhurst, NY and the phones are pulled out, the Salem, OR
2 Morrow Owners' Review Editorial
The Final Edition aging editors - Shoshana Tembeck, Four years after MOR's inception Marilyn Werden and Serge Timacheff we have come to the end of the line: - made unique contributions that rai This issue is the last in a series of sed the quality of the magazine to its twenty three. With resources and sub current level. Subscription coordina scriptions running low, it is no long tors Margo DeMello and Kirsten An watching MOR develop so beautiful er possible to keep publishing. As sad dreae managed the data base and the ly. as this may be, it doesn't mean the growing mail order department with a Before founding MOR, I didn't end of the community of Morrow us minimum of confusion and great dedi know what publishers and various ers that grew up around MOR. You cation. Every Tuesday Steve Wartof types of editors did. Now I do. As pu won't be abandoned, so don't panic as sky tackled an enormous number of blisher, I always paid the staff and the one gentleman did. He called the other technical problems. He provided the bills on time, but I could never afford day and said, "Send me all you've main drive behind the MOR BBS, the to pay myself. MOR's finances were got!" Not only are we keeping MOR's FLOBs and the MD222 project. We always too marginal. While working mail order department open and its could not have done most of our cher fulltime at MOR, I also worked half BBS on line, but we have developed ished projects without him. Then there time at my original job as a software an array of fulfillment choices for the is Greg Smith, the only staff member engineer so I could pay my personal remainder of your subscription (see who could do everyone else's job and bills. Only recently did I discover that p.21). stayed friendly under the most trying hardly anybody in the MOR communi We think you will agree that MOR circumstances. Greg could handle any ty knew this. As it turned out, it was has been a great success over the kind of phone call. He really under far too big a load, especially recently years. Many thanks are in order for stands what Service means. when I had to return to fulltime work those who made it happen. George We don't have enough space to at my outside job. Morrow started the process by creat thank all who have been involved with I realize now how many things I ing an honestly engineered computer. MOR, but we must mention three re had to let go to publish and edit MOR. Ed Niehaus and John Seamster, both cently dissolved MUGs. By donating I must admit that, with those duties formerly of Morrow Designs, con their left over cash to MOR, the Sacra over, I look forward to free weekends vinced us of the financial feasibility mento, Washington, D.C. and Diablo and evenings, more time with friends of a national magazine and followed Valley MUGs made this final issue and close ones, reading and writing for up with strong support. possible. Their gifts - about $1000 myself, and maybe even flying. I used Within the users' community, we each from the first two and $400 from to do that a lot. first wish to thank all the authors. the third - paid the printing and mail MOR often felt like a flying experi They flooded MOR with a stream of ing bills. ence to me. It was always exciting, of articles of ever- increasing quality. ten beautiful, sometimes dangerous MOR never lacked for copy, all writ On a Personal Note but always satisfying and a lot of fun. ten on a volunteer basis. We owe spe MOR has been a joyful challenge Now the flight of MOR is coming to cial thanks to the eight columnists to me. I had no idea what I was start its inevitable end. It's time to come in who have served the magazine mag ing, but soon realized it would be a for a landing. Fasten your seatbelts, nificently over the years. You'll rec marvelous adventure. There were many but rest assured, the touchdown will be ognize them on the cover of this is things to learn, everything from run so smooth. You'll nary feel a bump, sue. ning a small business to managing a and we'll slowly roll to a stop. I hope Loud cheers of thanks are due our small staff so they would work happi you had a good flight with MOR. MOR staff for their enthusiastic and ly together. Such a staff provides the Thank you one and all, and may you hard work. They must have loved key to success and the pathway to fare wei..!...-----c:s 11 their jobs because they weren't in it quality. Despite the long, hard hours -=---~ ~ for the money. Each of the three man- of work, I found great satisfaction in
Dec,87/Jan,88-VoI.4,#6 3 s you read this you proba great! "But I can't figure out how to bly know more about the tell it to hear my function keys (pI to A exact future of MOR than I F9 and the backslash). I had pro do as I write, about a month earlier. grammed them to work with Smartkey What I know for sure is that this will on NewWord, but WordStar 4 doesn't be the last MOR in its current form. leave enough memory for Smartkey to My understanding is that we will still From the work and still be able to print docu have a Mailbox column in the new, ments. I tried the patch routines in the merged newsletter, and that I'll proba PATCH.LST file, but there doesn't bly be in charge of it. So, if you have Mailbox seem to be any correspondence be more questions or answers send them tween them and the Morrow key along just as before. If it turns out by Bill Steele board." The function key feature of I'm not the person you ought to write WS 4.0 works just like the one in to I'll forward everything to whoever NewWord; it creates a table listing the it is. How's that for meeting uncer when he attempted to use OSB.COM "burst" of characters sent by the func tainty with confidence? to copy the program disk onto a Mor tion key, followed by the string of Speaking of uncertainty, a lot of row format disk, he got an error mes characters you want the key to repre the,mail this time is about WordStar sage from CP/M. Several, actually, sent. The only difference is that in the 4.0. I haven't got mine yet, so I am after trying various approaches. He new WS you don't have to patch the indebted to the tech support people at tried reading another Osborne-format strings in with DDT or the patcher; Micropro for helping with some of disk with no problems. My guess is you get a menu that lets you program the answers. that somebody slipped the wrong disk each function key separately. You Jay C. Wood of Port Hue in the sleeve, and you've actually got still, however, have to enter the hex neme, CA ordered the Osborne a Kaypro or Televideo version, or values of the charact~rs. WS comes SSDD version of the new WS, but maybe even an MS/DOS disk. The with the "burst" characters already en question is moot, however, since Mi tered in the format found on most ter cropro is now supplying WordStar minals: a three character sequence We're more on our own than ever, so 4.0 in Morrow SSDD format, thanks (e.g., 01 40 OD) for unshifted FI). if you know a solution to a problem, to our collective gripes. They tell me This is called "Televideo Mode." Mor don't assume ·someone else will write they're really pleased that we are so row MDT60 and MT70 terminals are in; there are not so many of us that interested in their product. It would be usually set to send a two-character se you can count on that. Whether you interesting to try out your disk with a quence (IC 40 for unshifted FI). This have questions or answers, keep them copy of Uniform and see what format is called "Morrow Mode." You have to coming: Bill Steele, P.O. Box 782, it really is, if any. Bill Schlesing do one of two things: either go Ithaca, NY 14851, 607/273-2132; er of EI Paso, TX had no such through the table and enter the Morrow Mel: WSTEELE, 254-5833. problems, and says the upgrade is Mode burst sequence for each key or
4 Morrow Owners' Review change the dip switch setting on your Pearl to write a file that SC 2 can but if it allows you to patch in specif terminal to Televideo Mode. You'll read? ic codes you should be able to get it to find the list of function key codes and Jack Curtin of West Chester, run the SMARTTEAM modem; look info on the dip switch settings in your PA also has WS 4.0 and laments the in the SMARTTEAM manual for the terminal manual. I would choose Mor fact that it doesn't display underlining codes you need. Again, if the row Mode myself, since the two on screen as NW did. Well, it's sup SMARTTEAM emulates something, character sequence takes up less memo posed to. You may not have installed select that from the REACHOUT me ry in the function key table area. Also, it correctly for your terminal. More on nu. This is assuming that the if the table they provide is similar to this after I get my copy and try it. Mr. SMARTTEAM modem is physically the NW table, it only goes up to shift Curtin also has modem problems: he O.K. One way to test it is with the ed FlO, so you'll need to enter addi has both MITE and REACHOUT soft "Simple Modem Program" in MaR tional bursts for the rest of the keys no ware, both of which work fine with Vol. 1, No.3, Aug. 1984, which al lows you to send characters directly to the modem from the keyboard. Try sending through the commands in the modem manual and see what happens- e.g., tell it to go online and pick up the phone and see if you hear a carrier. Tell it to tone dial a number and see if you hear tones. Meanwhile, last time I talked to CTS (about a year ago), they said they would repair and return an MM300 for a flat fee of $25. I sent them mine at that time and had it back in about a week. They also may have a few new ones left in stock. Finally, matter which mode you use. I'm told his MM300 modem, and neither of Mr. Curtin is looking for scriptwriting you don't have to do anything to tell which works with his SMARTTEAM software for CP/M. (See MOR Vol. 4, WS you're using two-character bursts modem. Now the MM300 has died. #5, Oct/Nov, 1987, p. 25, instead ofthree-character ones, but read The MM300 has its own built-in "Shakespeare Meets Morrow," by the instructions. (The backslash?) cable. The MITE manual says that an Roger Danchik. -Ed.) I know two Micropro tech support also tells MD uses a non-standard cable when amateur playwrights who use Smart me that the PATCH.LST file (a disk connected to another modem. The MD key for this, as described in the last is equivalent of the old User Area Listing manual implies that it uses a standard sue of MaR. in the back of the manual) is a sort of cable. Since all I've used is the Glen Ellenbogen of New "universal" listing that doesn't always MM300 I can't testify on this one. Al York, NY had trouble with BACK correspond exactly to all versions of so, however, to get a comm program FIELD, and got the new version as we the program. Regarding the memory to work with a particular modem you suggested. He now reports some prob shortage, you are supposed to be able have to install the program by telling lems. First "It informed me that there to streamline the print driver file; see it the codes the modem expects to see was 483K of space remaining on my the reviews in the previous MaR. Mr. for various activities, like tone dialing, disk and that I should subtract that Schlesinger also writes "My Pearl do pulse dialing, etc. The MM300 codes number from 5000, then divide by 400 cumentation says I can make a file are not standard, so a program installed to determine how many floppies I compatible with SuperCalc 2, but the for the MM300 probably won't run needed. [Why didn't it tell me] to sub Pearl disks only work with LogiCalc. any other modem without being rein tract from 11,000, since I have an How can I get the two to work? Is stalled. This involves selecting the 11MB hard disk?" there an update of Pearl that will do correct modem from a menu, and I Then the monitor displayed the job?" When Morrow switched from don't think the SMARTTEAM is list "Backing up 1,434 directory en bundling LC to SC2, I assume they ed in the MITE installation menu; tries...Memory constraint--duration ex changed Pearl as well; sounds like you hopefully it emulates something else, tended." He asks "What's with this got the new manual and the old Pearl. and you can select that. There is noth memory constraint stuff?" It's telling I'll throw this one to the Pearl experts, ing in the manual about patching spe you it doesn't have enough memory to because a lot of users upgraded to cific codes into MITE. I don't know hold the whole directory at once so it SC2. Is there a way to get the old how REACHOUT installation works, will have to shuffle back and forth be-
Dec,87/Jan,88-VoI.4,#6 5 tween memory and disk, with the re destroying everything, and you don't rough edges. Les Oliver of John sult that the process will take longer. want to do that until you have a for stown, PA writes about Richard Finally, "Everything stopped. No sure backup. I am told that the public Rose's problem of garbage from his new tracks appeared on the screen and domain program FINDBAD will work modem: "Years ago I was working no prompt appeared saying the floppy on a hard disk to lock out bad sectors, with a terminal tied into a VAX about was full... The screen showed a whole but I won't suggest you use it until 200 miles away. We paid a large set of missing tracks. I would guess we have assurance from someone who chunk of change for a 'data condi that the missing tracks mean there is knows that it won't also destroy exist tioned line.' 2400 baud made a good something the matter with certain are ing files. It doesn't on a floppy, but random character generator; 1200 was as of the hard disk. Is this correct and in this business it's dangerous to rea possible maybe two days out of three; what can I do about it?" son by analogy. According to Nina 300 usually worked, but I could crank I defer to others on hard disk ques Seco of Seattle, W A, her prob numbers on my pocket calculator fast tions. (Note again my confidence that lems with Uniform described in our er. The only thing complaints to the there will be more columns in which I April/May column were hardware phone company produced was getting can publish the answers!) I do know based. "Some day I will learn to look to know their technicians by their that Morrow's FORMAT program is there first," she says. Good advice. first names." No help there, but con supposed to lock out bad sectors so She passes on a plug for a program firmation of my suspicions. And on they won't be used to store data, and it called HEADLINE ($35 from Micro that cautionary note we sign off. If may be that BACKFIELD ignores Cost, 22015 Marine View Drive there is no future column, I'll be those lockouts - quite likely, since it South, Seattle 98198) which prints checking into the MaR BBS from works by tracks rather than by files. If 24, 30 and 36 point upper and lower time to time to throw in my two so, how do we make BACKFIELD case letters on a daisy wheel printer, cents. We sure could use a BBS on work on a disk with bad sectors? Note by assembling the letters out of peri the east coast, though. Anyone have that you can't run FORMAT after ods. The samples she sent look a lot an old hard disk machine to donate to there is data on your hard disk without like Leroy lettering with slightly the cause? n
TheZ S stem ~ Y By Echelon, Inc...... -' You Never Had It So Powerful! Ready to Run! If you're really Now you can get a complete, ZCPR3 greatly enhances your serious... ready-to-go replacement for computing abilities on the CP/M and your MD3 ... the Morrow Computer. Here"s your Get the ZCPR3 Supplement ZCPR3 kit. chance to improve your package ... including four The ZCPR3 kit runs all disks with the BIOS and computing and work! conventional CP/M programs, Utilities source code. and includes: - Library Files Group All for only - ZCPR3 for Morrow together commonly used -ZRDOS $39.50 utility programs into a one from MOR. Order Product •Z System User Guide single entry file. #803 on page 28. an 80 page text -Three different • On-Line Help Disk menu systems Create ZCPR3 - THE MANUAL is the definitive guide to ZCPR3, - Extended command custom menu-driven "front ends" for your computer. No with 350 pages packed with processing Searches useful information. Order more "A" prompts! other disks and user areas product #804 on page 23 for when typing CP/M commands ~\\\09~· SO from MOR -- Order Product only $20. with PATH function. $ S -#801 on page 28 of this issue!
6 Morrow Owners' Review (Continued From October! limit, all capable of being acted upon November) by PERFORM. This combination Forever Z provides a very powerful command All this activity is said to take By Rick Charnes structure with which we can greatly place on the "shell stack" and '$x' is automate many of our operations, and then called a "shell variable." PER I am very grateful to Mr. Nielsen for FORM.COM places itself on this his bountiful work. shell stack, just as do our more famil While we're exploring the command iar "menu"-based shell utilities, ECHO PROCESSING CHERHIL...;NW line buffer this is a good time to make VFILER, VMENU, and MENU. One CHERHIL;CORRECT CHERHIL; « a quick digression into explaining it as easy way to see this visually is by GMK one of the fundamental differences be simply adding the command 'SHOW' CHERHIL;FILTW CHERHIL;AC CHE tween ZCPR3 and CP/M. When a anywhere in the above line. When RHILBACKUP: !A warm boot occurs in either CP/M or· SHOW.COM loads choose the "s" op ZCPR3 a fresh and virgin copy of the tion and you. will be given a "real This command line in itself will command processor is loaded from time" view of what the shell stack keep us busy for quite a while, but of disk. The significance of this is as fol looks like. course when it finishes it will move lows: in CP/M the command line re So now we're beginning to see us automatically on to BOSTON and sides directly in the command process what will happen. On the first loop the rest, repeating the entire series. We or. When a warm boot takes place, through, our command line will have may spend two or three hours inside of such as when a program exits, this resolved to: NewWord working on each file. All therefore flushes (wipes out) the com the while the above command sequence mand line. This is why CP/M 2.2 can is sitting patiently in the command not support multiple commands. With line buffer, waiting for us to exit. ZCPR2 and ZCPR3 the command line Rick Charnes bought his MD-2 When we do, it is immediately ready was removed from its location in the many years ago when he thought of and available to go to work for us with command processor and placed in a himselfprimarily as a writer. Now a the next command. specially protected area of memory self-admittedfledgling technical type, This is really a very simple use of known as a buffer. This way the com his computer has turned from tool to these tools, nor does it even require mand line can maintain its integrity toy. His immense love affair with NEXT.COM. FOR can create a list across warm boots and return as we ZCPR3 leaves some occasional time not just of files but of all user areas, like to do our bidding. for mundane things like work. He is named directories, command lines, or I'd also like here to pass on a tip president ofBAMDUA. simply integers up to a user-specified that I have found very helpful in a
Dec,87/Jan,88-VoI.4,#6 7 number of circumstances in which I to peek into the fully expanded com appears on the screen. We answer need to debug a command script I have mand line. The use of MU3 as a de "CORRESPO" and the following written. It's ideal for aliases inside AL bugging tool has tremendous general command line is generated: IAS.CMD, macro scripts in VFIL applicability; in most circumstances ER.CMD, MENU.VMN, etc. and as we needn't concern ourselves with the NULU -0 CORRESPO -A well with our PERFORM command above matters. LETTER.TXT -X;ERA LETTER.TXT line in case something had gone More new programs: Jay Sage, wrong. What we do is load the ZCPR3 the author of ZCPR33, has developed program MU3 (Memory Utility) prior ZFILER v.10f, a Z33-enhanced ver NULU can accept all this on its to anything else on the line. Once sion of VFILER, our general daily in command line, so it works beautifully. MU3 loads, we can then scan to the terface with the command processor, But, you ask, do you have to repeat aforementioned special area in memory that allows for "group macros." Until the process six times for each of your (the command line buffer) where our now we were limited to running our files? With VFILER you do; with command line is kept, and simply scripts on a single pointer file. With ZFILER you don't. Simply tag all view it. The beauty of this technique ZFILER1OF we have the capacity to your files, run the new "group macro" is that even though MU3 is the first run a macro script on all tagged files. command, hit "I" again, and stand back command in the iine, the command This is a tremendous enhancement and and watch while one by one six com line will have already been built/ opens up all sorts of possibilities. mand lines are generated and each file generated by the time MU3 loads, and ZFILER scripts are 95% compatible is inserted into CORRESPO.LBR. all the rest of commands have already with your VFILER.CMD scripts with There's more: Jay, in his usual bril been placed in the buffer and we are one major change: the '$' is used in liance, has thought of everything. The able to see the finished product. We stead of '%' for the pointer file param above technique is slowed considerably see exactly what the command process eters. by time spent loading and re-Ioading or sees and therefore our job ofdebug Just to whet your appetite: sup NULU six times from disk. For those ging is made most easy. pose, for instance, you want to insert wanting to experiment with the resi In our customized Morrow Z 6 different files on your disk into a dent GO command here is your oppor System configurations the MCLB single, already existing library. You tunity. By preceding a command script (multiple command line buffer) is pre write an easy macro in your VFIL with the symbol'S!' GO is substituted cisely at location FF04 in memory. ER.CMD; let's call it "I" for "Insert": for the command verb (here 'NULU') So we precede our line with 'MU3 on every run but the first. GO of FF04' where 'FF04' is a parameter to I nulu -0 $"Name of library file course runs whatever is in TPA mem MU3, and this takes us directly to ([DIR:]LIBNAME): " « -a $f -x;era $f ory without having to pull it off the where we wish to go. In aliases it disk, so its speed is astonishing. The should be placed as the very first For those who haven't yet discov technique works flawlessly and is item. In the above example and any ered V/ZFILER's $" symbol, it re breathtaking to watch. example with shell variables, howev quests user input before anything else The latest on the Z280 front: I've er, we want to see the buffer after runs in the script. It then inserts the had considerable contact with Zedux, PERFORM or whatever shell pro user's response into the final, expanded Inc., the southern California manufac cessor we are using has substituted its command line precisely at the location turer of the generic Z280 add-on board variables and transformed '$1' into ';', between the $" and the terminating" that I mentioned last time. They do in so we put it as the very first item in (double-quote mark). When this script fact have a ready-to-run multi-tasking PERFORM's command line: runs the very first thing that happens operating system called RP (Remote is that we are queried for the name of Partition) for their Accel 280, and I PERFORM MU3 FF04$IECHO PRO the LBR. We respond, hit 8 Morrow Owners' Review s you can see from my new That is a real plus. There are some re address I have just complet ally helpful people (George Borys and A ed another move. I am a Rick Charnes to name a couple) who Field Engineer with a large electronics can be contacted there regularly and firm and moving comes·with the job. seem to be always ready to answer a I like the Southwest and I think that question. I'll be checking in at least I'm going to like Las Cruces, a town once a week. Morrow specific pro of about 45,000. My biggest com grams are available and a lot of techni plaint is that PC-Pursuit is long cal information can be found both on distance from here,El Paso, TX. That the BBS and in the Mail Order items. will cut down on my MOR and Is there a future for the MDs? I BAMDUA BBS time a little. think ~o, at least for a while. These are I left Baltimore in mid-August and very solid, utilitarian machines, some took a leisurely drive out here, stop thing like the VW Bug. They "work ping in Cocoa Beach, FL to visit my fine last long time." They will do folks (they're doing fine, thank you. Tools for Tyros most anythmg you ask of them. No, I'm going to their 50th wedding anni they don't have color or fancy graph versary celebration in November.) and by Mike Allen ics and won't run those huge financial then on out here. management programs, but how After finding a place to live and many of us use those things? Yah, I unpacking my MDs I started working column and enjoyable. know, the color graphics is nice for on my promised column on NewWord What can I say about the demise of playing games, but my reactions are and WordStar installation. I then re MOR. It, perhaps, was inevitable. too slow to do anything except get ceived the disturbing news that this is There were only about 30,000 MDs frustrated. (Besides, I have an Atari to be the final issue of MOR. After sold and I'm sure many have been rele 800 for that!) But ifI want to write or recovering from the shock (although I gated to the basement, donated to cha telecommunicate I'll stack my MD had wondered how MOR could sur ritable groups or just gone as Burnt against the newer machines anytime. vive on so few subscribers) I filed Offerings to the Electron Gods. In What if I want to program? C, Pascal, away that half a column for future use spite of what Brian can do at Silicon Fortran and Modula II compilers are and decided to use this column for Valley Surplus there just won't be that available. Forth83 is in the Public some personal thoughts, prognostica many "new" MDs arriving. MOR Domain. There are versions of LISP tions and other strange stuff. needed a certain number of subscribers and PROLOG around and of course Right off the bat, I want to say to continue and when the decision was the old fall back, BASIC, came with that I've really enjoyed writing this made to stop the number of subscribers my machine as well as PILOT. As far column and even more the communi was approaching half the survival as assembly language goes, ASM cations with you readers. (I must number. Sypko, Serge and the whole came with the floppy MDs and MAC/ blush at this point-when packing up staff, you did one hell ofa job and I sa RMAC came with the MD-lIDs. my stuff in Baltimore I found 3 letters lute you. Thanks for the effort. There are HUGE numbers of ma that had slipped behind my desk and Well, where does that leave us, the ture, debugged, public domain pro hadn't gotten answered. They will be, dyed-in-the-wool MD user? All may grams available. None of this free/ belatedly.) I have had some wonderful not be lost. It seems that the remainder shareware stuff, but honest-to communications with the full range of the MOR subscription will be filled goodness public domain programs. I of Morrow users, from neophytes to with another publication of a more still haven't seen anything to match obvious computer professionals, all general CP/M orientation. I don't have the MEX and IMP modem programs of which were friendly, useful to the the full details, but I have volunteered on the commercial MS-DOS world. to continue this column in the other PLOT33 allows you to make mar Send your questions and comments publication if there is sufficient inter velous charts and graphs on most dot to Mike Allen, 301 North Roadrunner est. matrix printers and is easy to use with Parkway, #109, Las Cruces, NM MOR will continue the MOR BBS Pascal, Fortran and BASIC programs. 88001. and the MOR Mail Order business. Public domain, of course. Dec,87/Jan,88-VoI.4,#6 9 BRADFORD and GEEFONT are list. SQ/USQ and CRUNCH/UNCR certain conditions. two quite different programs that al are file compactors and uncompactors. One of the weakest resident com low you to print text files in just SQlUSQ (SQueeze and UNSQueeze) mands that come with CP/M 2.2 was about any imaginable font on a dot have been around for quite a while. SQ the DIR command. It really doesn't tell matrix printer. It is hard to tell the generates those files of the type you much. Super Directory (SD) was difference between my MX-80 and an "xxxxxxXX.yQy" while USQ puts it one of the earliest utilities in the pub expensive letter quality daisy wheel back to it's original form. CRUNCH lic domain and has kept evolving. The printer using the "typewriter" font in generates the "xxxxxxxx.yZy" files latest version is 12.4. It sorts the file either program. The "Old English" and UNCR brings them back. names and displays them that way, and font in BRADFORD is lovely. GEE- CRUNCH/UNCR is newer and better checks any and all user areas. It will FONT allows fonts of different heights but is only slowly gaining acceptance. tell you what files are within a library. and widths. Underlining and bold is in One of the reasons CRUNCH/ It tells you the size of the files and corporated in both. Both programs al UNCR is so slow in driving SQlUSQ how much room is left on the disk. low you to design your own fonts. out is NULU. NULU stands for NU There is a super public domain Both are public domain, although the Library Utility. (So programmers can't word processor, called VDE261. It is guy who wrote BRADFORD wants spell. Shades of the old Chicago Tri small and fast. Small enough that you $15 for a printed manual- it's worth bune.) What NULU will do is take a can have several copies lying around of it. bunch of related files and combine various disks, where ever you might There is a massive bunch ofgeneral them into one library file. That file need a word processor. Itcan make and purpose utilities by Eric Gans in a file will be of the "xxxxxxxx.LBR" type. use WordS tar files or pure ASCII text called EGUTIL51.LBR. I mean there Because of the way CP/M organizes files. Truly a nice effort. is all sorts of stuff in there. There are files on· a disk, the library file will be There are database programs show many for text files such as a word appreciably smaller than the sum ofall ing up in the public domain. I haven't counter, a find-and- replace utility that the files contained within it. Now NU tried any of them so I hesitate to make is much faster than the "QA function LU was written after the SQ/USQ util any recommendations. But they are in WordStar or NewWord. There is an ities, but before the CRUNCH/UNCR there and at least worth a look. index-maker for NewWord (and Word utilities. It has the ability to view How about CP/M it self? It has Star) files. Back-up and catalog utili squeezed files and to unsqueeze them. long been known that there were lots ties, file manipulation programs and Itcan't do the same for crunched files. of things that could have been done on and on all written by Eric Gans. The all time favorite utility and one better. The problem is to improve CP/ What this guy has done is taken his that no one should be without is M and still not lose compatibility own personal "wish list" for CP/M, NSWP. This stands for New SWeeP. with "vanilla" CP/M. The· first thing which isn't too much different from What does it do? Well, damn near ev that people started improving was the everyone else's, and implemented it. ery file manipulation that you can Console Command Processor (CCP) Then he gave it to the rest of us. Take think of. A true general purpose utili part of CP/M. That is the part of CPt a look at it. I'm sure you'll find at ty. Copy, erase and rename files. Set M that takes the commands that are least a few things that you've been (or reset) them as Read Only or SyS typed on the console and executes wishing you had. tem files and many other things. It, them. The most successful of these is There are "keyboard enhancers" to too, can squeeze and unsqueeze files, ZCPR which is now up to version be had. What are they? Well, they al but can't handle crunch or uncrunch. 3.3. Things that can be done using low you to redefine certain keys on Another reason CRUNCH/UNCR is ZCPR33 are truly astounding. I won't your keyboard. What does this do for slow in taking off. go into them since Rick Charnes has you? Well you could set up a function There are two utilities for working been telling you about ZCPR for sev key to put your return address in a doc directly with files on the disks, DU eral months. What I will say is that it ument. Ifyou are a Pascal programmer and ZAP. Both allow you do look at will run circles around anything in the you could set up keys to type those re files directly on the disk and to change MS-DOS world with its versatility and petitive "begin" and "end" statements. them. They CAN get you into big ease of use. ZCPR has become a stan Lots of uses. Of course if you have the problems if you aren't careful, but for dard against which all other CCP re latest rom and bios revisions you have some things, like recovering corrupted placements must be measured. KEY.COM supplied by Morrow files, they are indispensible. Another Once the CCP had been fine tuned, which does some of those things. useful, but possibly dangerous, utility the other part of CP/M which was There are utilities all of us should is UNERA which stands for UNE supplied by Digital Research, the Ba probably have. NULU, SQlUSQ and RAse. It allows you to recover files sic Disk Operating System, or BDOS, CRUNCH/UNCR are at the top of the that you have accidentally erased under came under scrutiny. Those same peo- 10 Morrow Owners' Review pIe who gave you ZCPR now gave job of making it easy to add quad den you ZRDOS. What do we have now? sity 5-1/4" and 3-1/2" drives to the A CP/M compatible system that has MDs. Over 780k per drive. Steve War Is PCP'S nothing left that was written by Digi tofsky has made it simple to put inex tal Research! Truly amazing. ZCPR33 pensive 20 and 40 meg hard drives into Number Up? and ZRDOS are available from the the MD-HDs. Thanks to Brian at Sili MOR Mail Order for any MD-2 or 3. con Valley Surplus you can get a rev. Jim Bottom C. B. Falconer also has a CCP/ 2 motherboard to update your rev. 1 Low cost telecommunications BDOS replacement out in the public floppy MDs for a very reasonable via home computer is, once again, domain. It is called DOS+25. It, too. price. being challenged by the Federal does many things that CP/M 2.2 Let us not forget the Minnie Communications Commission couldn't. I have played with it and Winnie Hard Drive add on for the flop (FCC). They have proposed to in quite often use it in place of my stan py MDs. Another interesting possibil crease carrier access charges, a dard ZCPR1 and DR! BDOS combina ity that I haven't seen investigated is move that will likely kill comput tion. the SCSI adapter made by AMPRO. It er-based services like Telenet's PC There is a new BDOS replacement is supposed to plug into the Z80 sock Pursuit (PCP). out by Morrow User Carson Wilson et and, with some rewrite of the BIOS, Early in 1987 a similar proposal from Chicago. I haven't had a chance allow support of SCSI devices such as was defeated, in part, by Telenet to try it. but the initial results reported certain hard drives. There is also the and PCP users through a massive by Rick Chames sound good. possibility of networking using SCSI. mail campaign to the FCC. Now, Both DOS+25 and Carson's BDOS Another fertile field for some enterpri Telenet is asking users to prepare will support time stamping of files, a sing soul. for battle once again. In a recent feature long desired by CP/M 2.2 us Perhaps the most exciting hardware letter to customers. the communi ers. There are other ways of getting news to come along is the new genera cations company indicated that ac time stamping most notably Date tion of Z80 compatible chips, namely cess charges would require expen Stamper by Plu*Perfect Systems. the HD64180 from Hitachi and the sive hourly rates for PCP, which Most of these systems of date stamp Z280 from Zilog. There have been ru now costs a flat $25 monthly. ing can work without a clock, by put mors and blurbs about add-in boards to "PC Pursuit customers and other ting whatever date you set the system replace the Z80 in the MDs using one computer users would be particular to as the date stamp, but they work or other of these chips and giving us ly affected by these access charges," best with a clock such as the MACK vastly increased speed, memory and the letter said. "PC Pursuit's cur being offered by MOR for all rev. 2 capabilities and still maintaining com rent 'flat-rate/unlimited usage' ser floppy machines and all the MD-HDs. patibility with all out CP/M pro vice would have to be repriced on a These changes to the CP/M operat grams. I haven't seen anything con per-usage basis, incorporating a $7 ing system apply only to the MD crete yet, but there are a lot of really 9 per hour access charge. It is floppy machines that run CP/M 2.2. good people out there who are enthu doubtful that the service could sur CP/M 3.0 (or CP/M+ as it is also siastic about these chips. I expect to vive at this inflated rate." known) handled many of the problems see something in the not-too-distant Telenet promises to provide cus that these replacements for CP/M 2.2 future. tomers with details on the FCC were designed to correct. ZCPR is still So, as you can tell, I don't think proposal when the commission's better than the CCP in CP/M 3.0. that CP/M and our trusty Morrows are official Notice of Proposed Rule There is a replacement for the CCP in ready for the boneyard. There are lots making is published. At that time, CP/M 3.0 called CCP104. It does im of exciting possibilities on the horizon addresses and other information will prove the CCP in CP/M 3.0. but still and I think that if you keep in touch be made available for public com not up to ZCPR. (Whenever you with the community (via the MOR ment. Until then, Telenet asks for check into the MOR BBS you are see and BAMDUA BBS is probably easi user comments to be posted to ing CP/M 3.0 with CCP104.) There est) you might be surprised what is FCC.ISSUES on the PC Pursuit is hope for a ZCPR for CP/M 3.0, but happening. bulletin board, "Net Exchange," I wouldn't hold my breath. Keep in touch with me. The MOR reached through normal PCP sign Speaking of hardware, what can we BBS is easiest but I am also on Com on procedures. add to our MDs? Well there is, of puServe (PPN 74146.2717) and. if Stay tuned. course. the MACK for the MD-HDs worst comes to worst the, USPS. and the rev. 2 floppy MDs if you want Keep the faith. n a clock. George Borys has done a super Dec,87/Jan,88-VoI.4,#6 11 For Immediate Release... New TV Scriptwriting Program mentation for $30. Contact KaftorWare Corporation, Box TVScript is a word processing aid, helping scriptwriters 1674, Chicago, Illinois 60690, (312) 965-8144. produce work more efficiently. The manufacturer claims that TVScript "increases your creativity by eliminating distract MultiPath Offers 700 New Programs ing formatting mechanics." The program allows two col MultiPath, Inc. has added 700 new programs to its li umn television script entry in a "free-form," two-column brary of public domain and user supported software. The format utilizing a few commands entered as the script is collection now contains 3,000 of the latest CP/M, MS written. TVScript uses the editing power of word processors DOS and PC-DOS programs, and is growing by about such as WordStar, NewWord or Perfect Writer to create the 1,200 titles per year. Program prices range from $1 to $9 text. depending on size. A directory with program descriptions is For more information, contact (for CP/M-80) Compre available for $6. hensive Video Supply Corporation, 148 Veterans Drive, Contact MultiPath, Inc., Box 487, Montville, New Jer Northvale, New Jersey 07647, (800) 526-0242. For IBM sey 07045, (201) 575-5880. versions, contact SnowBird Software, 401 East College Av enue, Marquette, Michigan 49855, (906) 228-8705. The program costs $149 for CP/M versions and $89 for IBM. Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation Date of Filing: 9/30/87 Portable Computer Protection Title of Publication: Morrow Owners' Review Electronic Specialists has announced a new multi-threat Publication No.: 0888-5082 protection device for portable computers. It counters AC power line spikes, electrical noise, modem line spikes and Frequency of Issue: Bimonthly, six issue annually RFI plus static damage. Designed for the personal computer Annual Subscription: $18 "on the go," the threats often encountered in hotels and mo Complete Mailing Address 2920 Domingo, Ste. 201-B tels are easily subdued. Providing both standard and CEE~22 and General Business Office: P.O. Box 5487 electrical sockets, standard phone RJ-11 modular socket! Berkeley, CA 94705 plug and a static discharge plate, the model MPS(22)-2 Publisher, Editor & Owner: Sypko Andreae costs $185. P.O. Box 5487 Contact Electronic Specialists, Inc., 171 South Main Berkeley, CA 94705 Street, Natick. Massachusetts 01760, (800) 225-4876. Managing Editor: Serge Timacheff P.O. Box.5487 Berkeley, CA 94705 Extent and Nature of Circulation Average No. Copies Each Actual No. Copies of Single Isuue During Preceding Issue Published Nearest Twelve Months to Filing Date TOTAL NO. COPIES 3,863 3,430 Paid Circulation • Through dealers, et al. • Mail subscriptions 3,529 3,162 Good News for PC-Filers Total paid circulation 3,529 3,162 KaftorWare Corporation has announced a contract signed Total free distributi 97 62 with ButtonWare, Inc., to distribute a new CP/M version of Total distribution 3,626 3,224 Copies not distributed PC-File, called PC-File 80, Version 9.1. It upgrades the • Office use, unacct 237 206 original shareware eight bit CP/M PC-File Version 8.6 to • Return from agents include most of the facilities available in PC-FIle III MS TOTAL 3,863 3,430 DOS Version 3.0. The program is a menu-driven, full screen input "flat" database program. I certify that the statements made by me above are correct ------·-z~./'l The program sells for $49.95, and registered PC-File us and complete. __ /- A ers may upgrade to the new PC-File 80 software and docu- ~~UicJ~ 12 Morrow Owners' Review Last Word With George ANY of us have admired up by a larger Silicon Valley compa has this large record collection which the honest, solid engineer ny, where George now is employed he first catalogued on Personal Pearl. M ing from which our Mor part time, for a limited period. He is But when the database grew past 9000 row machines sprang. For this final keeping his options open. records Personal Pearl got severe hick MOR edition it seemed appropriate to What does he do with the rest of his ups. He then switched to dBase II, but have a last chat with George Morrow time? Well, he did a computer TV after record 32768 it wrapped around which happened on a recent Sunday af show for a while, writes regular col on itself and destroyed records. ternoon. umns for Computer Currents and Elec He transferred to a MS-DOS ma We found George in a relaxed tronic Engineering Times. There chine and repaired his precious data mood, telling us what he had been up maybe a third column next year. He al base using the famous Norton Utili to the last years. First there was his so does various kinds of consulting ties, something you don't have in CP/ new company, Intelligent Access, co and is getting to know people in the M. (Wait a minute: We have Super founded with Derrill Ticehurst, former legal field and venture capital world. Zap/-Ed.) He really loves the interac ly of Quest. They were going to de Useful contacts, indeed. tive spelling checkers unavailable in sign and market fast disk controller Does he still use his old MD11? CP/M. So the MD11 has been re cards, faster and much smarter than Oh, no, that was long ago. He has placed with a covey of Compaqs, IBM IBM s. But their company couldn't at nothing against the MD1!. Why, af clones and Zenith portables. Ah, the tract capital. Soon they were bought terall, isn't it nicely designed? But he Zenith 183! Such a wonderful ma chine. A grandchild of the old Pivot, you know. What does he like to work on most? Developing a product, that is re ally excit.ing stuff. Some day he may join or cofound a company and devel op product again. It's got to be inter esting; it always has been... Zedux Makes a Z280 Board The CP/M world is abuzz with the magical powers of the new Z280 chip. Scott and Peter Moore, a son and fa ther team, founded Zedux Corporation to do something about it. They are de veloping a tiny card that replaces the Z80 and plugs right in the Z80 socket. Scott, all by himself, wrote a new Z280 operating system, so the Z280 becomes actually useful. The work is not finished yet, but soon will be. Stay tuned. Dec,87/Jan,88-VoI.4,#6 13 The Amstrad PC Crossover CP/M - DOS Capability Mike Allen while back I had been wan in having an AMSTRAD to play boxes and found one book. It was dering through Sears, look with for a month so that I could write smaller than the Personal Pearl book A ing for shirts by Omar the a review. I jumped at the offer. Then than came with the Morrows. I sat Tent Maker, when I noticed in the Serge told me that it was AM down to read the book and find out ex computer section a machine that was STRAD's new entry into the IBM actly what I had. After reading the being touted as a "Word Processor." clone race, the PC-1512, that I would book, I still wasn't sure. The book left What it turned out to be was a CP/M be reviewing. Well, I had already said a great deal to be desired. More on that 3.0 computer. Unfortunately the in yes and besides something to play later. struction book for the demonstrator with is better than nothing to play I finally figured it all out. This was had been scarfed up by some unkind with. a PC clone with 512k of memory, ser ial and parallel ports, battery backed soul and I could learn very little about I was completely prepared to hate clock, mouse, two 360k floppy drives, it. I was impressed by what little I this machine. I'm not much of an ad built in CGA and three expansion could find out by "playing" and noted mirer of either IBM or MicroSoft. I slots. I later found out that the 8088 the manufacturer, AMSTRAD, in the had found the IBMs that I used at processor was running at 8 MHz. back of my mind for future reference. work less than satisfactory especially Nothing about that in the book. What I soon found out was that compared to my MD-5. AMSTRAD was Europe's largest The supplied software was also in home computer manufacturer. They Finally two boxes arrived at my teresting. It came with MS-DOS 3.2 had recently picked up what was left Baltimore hovel. I opened the first which was expected. What was more of Sir Clive Sinclair's computer em box, which said that it contained the exciting is that it also came with pire to consolidate their position. I al computer, and stared. Boy was there a DOSPLUS 1.2 from Digital Research. so learned that CP/M is not dead in bunch of stuff in there including a According to the book, DOSPLUS Europe. mouse and 4 batteries. At the bottom should be able to handle any applica Some time later Serge called me of all this stuff I found the computer tions designed for MS-DOS as well as and wanted to know ifI was interested itself. It looked small and felt light CP/M-86. Even more interesting is compared to other clones I had used. that it can run up to 3 CP/M-86 tasks Also I couldn't find a fan or an on/off in the background while running either Send your questions and comments switch. "Self' I said to myself "the a MS-DOS or CP/M-86 task in the to Mike Allen, 301 North Roadrunner time oflast resort has arrived. Read the foreground. What does this mean? One Parkway, #109, Las Cruces, NM book!" of the utilities supplied with the ma 88001. I rummaged around through both chine was a "tickler" program. I could 14 Morrow Owners' Review load dates, times and messages into the Back to the hardware. After unpack stick. I didn't have the opportunity to "tickler" and then proceed to run some ing both the computer and the monitor try it out. One more nice little feature other program. When the date and time I discovered why there was no fan and was a master volume control for the came up the "tickler" would send out a why the computer was light. The pow speaker. This can be really important tone and put a message on the bottom er supply is in the monitor. The moni in a work environment where there are of the screen. It turned out to be very tor mounts on top of the computer, many PCs beeping and booping and in general being obnoxious. I also liked the way the expansion slots were laid out. Instead of going front to back with the external connec tors in the back, they went from left to right. A simple slide off cover on top gave access to the slots. There was al so a slide off cover on the right side that would cover any connectors on the end of the expansion boards but with a cutout to allow cables to exit. After playing around for a while I took it to work since I had some pro gramming to do and was having a tough time getting access to a PC. I ended up using DOSPLUS most of the time, but not GEM. If I had had a hard drive I'm sure GEM would have stayed in, but there was just too much disk swapping otherwise. The color was beautiful and actually useful as I will explain later. It generated quite a bit of interest at work and many people wanted to try their favorite program on it. The only programs that I found that wouldn't run under DOSPLUS were those which check for the DOS revision lev el. One way or the other, I never found a program that wouldn't run. Yes, I tried LOTUS 1-2-3 and PCWrite. No, I didn't have a copy of Flight Simula tor to try. useful in a work environment. It kept covering the battery compartment and Most of the work I was doing was me from missing several meetings swivels left and right, up and down. "c" programming. I had the MIX "c" when I got engrossed in a program. There are two large, multi-conductor compiler, editor and tracer. I've been Also supplied was Digital Re cables that attach the monitor to the using the MIX "c" compiler on my search's Graphics Environment Manag computer, one for video and the other Morrows, but I tell you, I wish the er, or GEM. This is the same program for power. The AC cable and the off/ tracer was available for CP/M. The that runs on the ATARI ST series on switch are on the monitor. tracer was truly impressive on this ma with Icons, pull-down menus, etc. It The keyboard and the mouse plug chine. All sorts of color coded win will run under either MS-DOS or into the left side of the computer. Ok dows with various things shown in DOSPLUS but is best under DOS for the keyboard but lousy for the various ways. I had always thought PLUS. Two more programs were in mouse if you are right handed. The that color was a gimmick but the MIX cluded to run in conjunction with keyboard had a nice feel, if a little "c" tracer showed me how useful it GEM, a very nice structured BASIC mushy for my tastes. Much better than could be if used right. with windows and graphics and GEM the standard IBM keyboards. There was Later on during the project I got a Paint, a fancy graphics program. also a plug on the keyboard for a joy- Compaq with a 20 meg HD to use. Dec,87/Jan,88-VoI.4,#6 15 Even though the lack of a hard drive GEM and GEM Paint using it. the machine up and running from the slowed it down the AMS1RAD would By far the worst part of an other book. I didn't even try. She looked at hold its own. On programs that were wise excellent machine was the docu the book and couldn't even tell what not disk intensive theAMS1RAD ran mentation, or lack of it. The single they were talking about. And this is a circles around the Compaq. And after manual gave absolutely no technical sharp lady. using the color with the "c" tracer the information. The only way that I knew It is really a shame. This is a nice mono-chrome monitor was difficult to the 8088 was running at 8 Mhz, other machine with a reasonable software adjust to. than the performance, was from the package. The price is right with the Yup, I hate to admit it but I liked AMS1RAD ads. dual floppy version with color coming this machine. It was quiet, cool and Most of the book was devoted to in at a little over $1000. The color fast. Yielding to my inquisitive nature, MS-DOS and DOSPLUS. It was dis version with a 20 meg HD is about I opened it up. It was nicely built with organized, incomplete and in some cas $1250. These are good prices for a ma shielding allover the place. A service es wrong. Its coverage of the BASIC chine with the capabilities of the PC man might have a little problem get and GEM Paint was almost non- exis 1512. People using the manual are ting past the shielding to work on it. I tent. Only a couple of pages on GEM likely to give the PC-1512 a bad name don't know since I stopped with re Paint. Almost nothing useful on the since they will have one hell of a time moving the cover. BASIC. The coverage of GEM was realizing its full potential. On the negative side the keyboard spotty and confusing at best. Then Bottom line. If you know a little and monitor connectors are non-IBM they have the gall to tell you where bit about computers and are willing to standard. You have to use AM you can PURCHASE manuals for kick out a. few extra bucks to get the STRAD's monitor. I don't know if DOSPLUS, GEM, GEM Paint and manuals that should come with the you could plug an EGA card into it BASIC. machine it is a good deal and.a fine since the CGA is built-in. I mentioned One of the tests I was going to run machine. If you want to use GEM get before the positioning of the mouse was to take this machine over to a the HD version, otherwise you'll go connector. The mouse worked well, by friend of mine whose wife is a com batty swapping disks. Nice machine, the way, and it was fun to play with puter neophyte and see if she could get nice price, lousy documentation. n • 92 percent have ordered something The MOR (products, FLOBS, etc.) from MOR. • 85 percent would like MOR to carry more products. Questionnaire • 27 percent say they own an MD2, 50 per We would like to thank all of you who re cent own an MD3/3P, and 21 percent sponded to the MOR Questionnaire in the Au ownanMDHD. gust/September issue. Your input provided • 87 percent are male. us with valuable information used to serve • 23 percent claim to be technical, with two you in a variety of ways. percent claiming to be a "Total Techno Overall, about 300 people responded. The Whiz." results of selected questionnaire items are list ed below. We randomly chose five questionnaire re spondents to receive the entire set of FLOBs (percentages represent portions ofrespondents who from the October/November MOR. The win answered each particular question, not a portion ofall ners are: returned questionnaires.) • 52 percent own modems. Victor Boutwell, Topeka, KS • 24 percent use the Morrow BBS. Audrey Cole, Chico, CA • 40 percent would pay a fee to use it. Jack Eckert, Port Washington, WI • 13 percent are changing from CP/M to an Darlene NiBs, Lake Arrowhead, CA other system. Lloyd Schwartz, Alexandria, VA • 19 percent plan to change in the near future. • 45 percent say they do some programming. Congratulations! 16 Morrow Owners' Review Adventures of a C-Faring Programmer Learning To Love the C (Language) Brian S. Vagt , T all began during the fall of Life suddenly became sweeter. Pas Some C statements, especially the 1972. I was a junior in high cal made structured programming a looping statements, reminded me a I school, and my math teacher de- cinch. TURBO made it easy to develop great deal of Pascal. With a little cided to introduce the class to the com code. The speed of the programs on imagination, even some of the syntax puter. We were fortunate - our school my single-user Morrow blew the socks seems to be similar. Mter all, one just had two teletypes hooked into a DEC off everything I was accustomed to, needs to remember that the left and PDP/8 time-sharing system. Imagine, with the possible exceptions of the big right curly braces in C are used much a device that behaved like an IBM Se like the "begin" and "end" statements lectric typewriter but was hooked into in Pascal. It was no big deal to get a computer! Remarkably, we had the used to the macro-processor called the patience to wait for that noisy device C preprocessor. In spite of all this, my to slowly chatter out program output transition into C was terribly irritat on those long rolls of pale yellow pa ing. That inept C compiler would let per. Not surprisingly, we began pro me do things in my programs that gramming in BASIC. The real power Pascal would never let me do! All too ofcomputers dawned on me when one often my programs would bomb. One day I realized that I could save loads of time it would be a missing type con repetitive manual calculations on my version. Another time it would be us physics homework -I could have the ing an "=" where a "==" belonged. computer calculate all those function Countless times a pointer would get points for me! In this fashion I was in messed up and my program would end curably addicted to programming. up wandering aimlessly through all Much of my programming continued that wonderful Unix virtual memory. to be in BASIC. Even in graduate Stupid compiler! There were far too school, about nine years after that fate many things to remember. Why ful introduction, I analyzed my labora couldn't all programming be done in tory data with multiple- linear regres systems I have used at night when Pascal, especially TURBO Pascal? sion programs written in BASIC on an there weren't many other people using What's so great about C, anyway? IBM 4341 mainframe and a DEC VAX. them. It wasn't long until my pro 11/780 minicomputer. My love of grams became larger, more complex, I have programmed full-time in C BASIC continued after graduate and more powerful. I was in love with for two summers, and now love it. I school, until one day during the sum TURBO Pascal! To my great surprise, do as much of my programming in C mer of 1985 I read Stan Ahalt's review I found it rather distasteful to return to as is. possible. The C language allows of TURBO Pascal in the very first is the formerly revered BASIC language. the programmer to get as close to the sue of Morrow Owner's Review. Ior No matter, I had Pascal. I would be machine as he wishes. If you want to dered it directly from Borland Interna happy forever! My TURBO delirium dig down into the guts of the machine tional and was hooked on it immedi would never cease! Little did I know and do neat things, C makes it easy. C ately. that life and programming as I knew it syntax allows you to write very con were about to undergo a radical change. cise, streamlined code, thus eliminat That same summer I got a summer job ing much of the program fat necessary Brian Vogt teaches university chem as a programmer and software engi with other languages. C doesn't always istry when he is not playing on his neer. I was supposed to start program force the programmer to follow strict Morrow, which he has had since Janu ming in a language called C on a min rules. For example, you can switch ary" 1984. He lives in Greenville, icomputer using an operating system back and forth between data types very South Carolina. called Unix. I sobered up quickly. easily in C. Pascal, however, is so Dec,B7/Jan,BB-VoI.4,#6 17 strongly typed that you will get "type executable programs written in con linker is to search. At that time the mismatch" errors when you try to do ventional C can be constructed to sup linker goes through all of the specified some of the things that C allows. Here port only those functions your pro object files and libraries, extracts only in lies one of the essential differences gram uses. C does this by linking ob those functions needed, and links them between C and Pascal: C is much ject files together. Mter writing a pro together into an executable file named more flexible. It is this flexibility that gram in C, the compiler converts the "junk.com." Once again, only needed caused my initial difficulties with the source code to assembler code. The as functions are put into the final ".com" language. I was accustomed to having sembler program then converts the as file. If the linker doesn't find all the the Pascal compiler check everything sembler code to machine code, called necessary functions, it is either be for me. A good friend of mine sum object code. Another important point cause I goofed when writing the source marizes this succinctly when he states before we continue: C makes no dis code or I forgot to link the proper files that "Pascal is C with training tinction between functions and proce together. The linker approach to build wheels." He is a professional C pro dures. All routines in C are called ing executable files provides the pro grammer, he works in the Unix envi functions. Some functions behave like grammer with two primary advantages ronment, and he is NOT being deroga Pascal procedures and others behave over languages that don't work this tory. In fact, he likes Pascal. His state like Pascal functions. It depends entire way. First, if your functions are well ment is accurate, and it is akin to a ly upon how your write them. Let's written, your compiler and assembler statement in an old Spite Software cat get back to the linker. I could easily are efficient, and your C library was alog I have, in which the writer says code a function named "drawdashO" to well-written, your code can be reasona that "Pascal assumes the programmer draw a row of dashes across my termi bly short and fast. Second, and to me is usually wrong (requiring awkward nal screen and put the code in a file more important, you only have to constructs to get around the compiler) named "drawdash.c." When I compile compile commonly used functions whereas C assumes the programmer is the program, an assembler file once. For example, ifanother program usually right and doesn't straitjacket ("drawdash.asm") is produced, which is uses "drawdashO" I don't have to re you at all." Quite naturally, this flexi then assembled to produce my object compile it: all I do is link bility allows you to do very bad things code, "drawdash.o." Suppose I have a "drawdash.o" to my main program in memory. My experiences with program called "junk.c" that for some code. This advantage is particularly messed-up pointers are but one exam reason needs to draw a line of dashes important when you start working ple. Once you become used to not hav across the screen. I can then use the with large programs. Although TUR ing the "training wheels" on your "drawdashO" function in the program, BO Pascal is an exceedingly fast com compiler, the power available to you but the source code for the function is piler, it still gets in the way of pro more than makes up for the difficulty NOT included in· it. The compiler gram development when you have in learning the language. doesn't yell at me, either. After my bunches of "include" files because ev Being able to link C object files to main program is compiled and assem ery time you make even a teensy gether is another powerful advantage of bled, the "junk.o" code is linked to change in your code the whole pro C. With conventional Pascal compil "drawdash.o" by the C linker. Funda gram must be recompiled, including ers you always have the entire Pascal mental 10 routines and other basic rou all of the "include" files! With C you runtime library included in with your tines are found in what is called the C can write and debug one function at a final executable file. For example, library. The C library comes with the time. This means that if you have a with TURBO Pascal version 2.0 on compiler and is a group of object files program that uses fift~n functions and my Morrow, the minimum executable that have been put together in one file only one of them isn't working proper file size is 8k. The runtime library by some type of object-file librarian ly, all you have to do is modify that contains all the basic routines called utility. The user can also create his one function, recompile it, reassemble by all of the functions and procedures own libraries of functions. For exam it, and relink it to all the others that referred to in the manual, even if the ple, I have a library named have already been compiled andassem program doesn't use most of them. "mdt50.1ib," which contains functions bled. Once you get accustomed to the Different versions of TURBO Pascal to switch video attributes, clear the power of this arrangement you won't on IBM compatible machines have screen, position the cursor, and so want to give it up! larger minimum file sizes because the forth. I have another library named Finally, I have a confession to runtime library on those versions sup "draw.1ib" that contains functions to, make: I learned C not only on that ports many functions that my machine among other things, draw lines and wonderful Unix minicomputer, but al doesn't have, like bit-mapped graphics boxes on the screen. When I invoke so on my good old reliable Morrow. and comparatively sophisticated sound the C linker on "junk.o," I must speci It's a great way to learn! Try it, you capabilities. Unlike Pascal programs, fy which object files and libraries the might like it. n 18 Morrow Owners' Review MOR Products Original User's Manuals published by Morrow. ZCPR3 is a Morrow-bootable CPIM 2.2 replacement by Echelon for MD2s and MD3s. Complete with two Prod # Description Price disks and manual, the ZCPR3 kit provides an operat ing system superior to CPIM 3.0. For more informa 601 Correct-It User's Manual 8.00 tion on the ZCPR3, see article in MaR Vol. 3, #5, 602 CPIM 2.2 User's Guide 12.00 page 34. Please indicate your ROM Rev. and your (for MD2 &MD3) disk format (double-sided or single-sided) on the or 603 CPIM Plus Guides 35.00 der form. (for hard disk MDs; 5 books) 604 MBASIC User's Guide 12.00 t For more information on any of the Z Supple 605 MD Companion Guide 12.00 ment disks (Prod. 803, 806 & 807) send a SASE (for everyone who isn't compatible to MaR, attn: ZCPR3 Dir. with CP/M) 606 MD User's Guide (for MD2 &MD3) 12.00 Prod # Description Price 607 MD Hard Disk User's Guide 12.00 608 Morrow Software Sourcebook 8.00 801 ZCPR3-including: Z-System, 59.50 (1983 edition) 85 utilities, help disk and The Z- 609 NewWord User's Guide 12.00 System User's Guide. 610 Pilot User's Guide 12.00 803 t ZCPR3 Utilities source. Five disks 35.00 611 SmartKey User's Guide 8.00 with the source code to some of the 612 SuperCalc User's Guide 12.00 latest Z-System utilities. 804 ZCPR3: The Manual 20.00 805 Out-Think-Outline processor 45.00 Service Manuals to help repair or enhance your 806 t Z-System source code; Four disks 25.00 machine. (Even if you don't do the repair yourself, with source code to some of the sys- your repairman probably will need them.) tem segments and BIOS. 807 t ZRDOS. Assembled ZRDOS without 40.00 Prod # Description Price ZCPR3 plus HLP files. 808 SuperCalc 2 - Disk and manual. Ideal 39.00 700 Complete manual set (701-710) 80.00 for Morrow owners who want to up 701 Micro Decision Service Guide 25.00 grade from LogiCalc. wI schematics for Rev. 1.1 & 2.0 809 MDHD Revival Kit - Three replace 24.00 (for MD2 & MD3) ment CPIM distribution disks for ad 703 Hard Disk MD Service Guide 25.00 ding other hard disks to your MDHD. wI schematics (See MaR, Vol. 4, #5 p.23) Contact 704 SA 200 Shugart Mini Floppy Drive 15.00 the office for further ordering instruc- Preliminary OEM Manual tions. (for SS drives) 705 SA 455/465 Shugart Mini Floppy 15.00 ROM Upgrade Kits contain instructions, ROM Drive Service Guide wI schematics chips and software-everything you need to bring (for DS drives) your machine up to date with Morrow Design's last 706 MDT20 Terminal Reference 10.00 ROM release. (Some software that won't run on older Guide machines will run with an upgrade.) 707 MDT20 Service Manual 12.00 708 MDT50 Video Terminal Service 10.00 Prod # Description Price Manual 709 MDT60 Video Terminal Service 15.00 901 ROM Upgrade Kit for MD3 (Rev. 3.1) 35.00 Manual wI MT70 Video Terminal 902 ROM Upgrade Ktt for MD Hard Disks 45.00 Supplement (ROM Rev. 1.9, BIOS Rev. 2.0) 710 David Block's original MD Q&A book 6.00 903 Mike Aliens' Clock Kit (MACK). 64.00 Dec,87/Jan,88-VoI.4,#6 19 Floppies of the Bimonth Prod #4601 - December '87 Disk #1 With every issue of MOR, we compile floppies that Included in the library file CRUNCH24.LBR, is UNCR.COM in its contain public domain programs, short articles and ready-to-run form. UNCR.COM will allow you to uncruch any of the other interesting tidbits. Each Floppy of the BI other files that you may need in that library. month (FLOB) costs $8.00. Listed here are the FLOBs for this issue. A list of all FLOBs to date oARTIST.LBR Graphics design for Kaypro computers O+CRUNCH24.LBR Latest update of Crunch utility is available upon request. O+FANFLD11.LBR File formatter; radically reduces the amount of white space in afile, saves A Note on Using FLOBs printer paper. Some of the files on FLOBs have been compact Prod #4602 - December '87 Disk #2 ed to allow us to put more on a FLOB. When you receive your FLO B, you will need to return these O+FILECRD46.LBR Filecard free-form database system compacted files to their original form. The last three +PDFT1087.LZT Short list of Public Domain File Transfer letters in a filename (known as the extension), will system s as of 10/87 indicate how the file has been processed. To aid in determining how the varous files have been pro Prod #4603 - December '87 Disk #3 cessed, symbols preceding the filename indicate what you will need to return the files to their original O+FIRE12.LBR Update to RESTORE; works on both CP/M form. A list of the symbols follows: 2.2 and CP/M 3.0 O+RCPM0987.LBR Remote CP/M Systems list as of 9/87, in cluding some utilities and extra information " Indicates that a file has been squeezed. oSETDEFLT.LBR Utility for changing CPM3.SYS without NSweep (on FLaB #2401), UNSO, and a host re-compiling system software of other programs will unsqueeze files for you. Prod #4604 - December '87 Disk #4 + Indicates that a file has been crunched. UNCR +RCPM1087.LZT Complete Remote CP/M Systems list as of (on FLaB #4601) or LT (a library utility on FLaB 10/87 #4507) will uncrunch files for you. O+SD124.LBR Latest (last?) update of Super Directory. O+VDE261.LBR Latest (last?) update of VDE, fixes bugs Indicates that files necessary to this program o and adds features are in a "LBR" or library file. You will need to extract the files before using them. Addition Prod #4605 - December '87 Disk #5 ally, files within a library file are often squeezed or crunched. NULU (on FLaB #3301), LU, and LT (on FLaB #4507), are a few of the oWEATHER.LBR Weather forecaster in MBASIC. Surprisingly sophisticated programs that can extract the files for you. (LT O+WSTIPS.LBR Tips on using WS4 (written for the OBM has a built-in uncrunching facility). release, but most apply in the CP/M ver sion. Also includes useful templates for in For your convenience, each October '87 disk con voices, memos, etc. tains LT.COM, UNCR.COM and UNARC.COM, if O+Z80DOS10.LBR BOOS replacement combining features of needed. For complete documentation of these util DOS+25 and SUPRDOS2 ities, please purchase the appropriate FLOB (see notes above). 20 Morrow Owners' Review Order Form o Check/Money Order o VISA o MasterCard Account no. Name _ Exp. Date Signature _ Phone (-J IMPORTANT NOTE: All prices include UPS or Address first class postage to domestic address. Due to weight constraints, some orders must be shipped City State_ ZIP _ UPS so please include a street address. Foreign shipments are additional, please inquire. Product No. Quantity Description Price Subtotal Please indicate your ROM Rev. and disk California residents please add 7% sales tax format when ordering Prod. #801 TOTAL ROM Rev. Double-Sided or Single-sided ~ --- Please send orders to: MOR, P.O. Box 5487, Berkeley, CA 94705 ----- Continuously Serving You . .. @@mlQU [P®Il@®U The MOR Bulletin Board System (BBS) Open 24 Hours Call (415) 654-3798 and MOR Mail Order Products to keep CP/M and your Morrow Running P.O. Box 5487 Berkeley, California 94705 Dec,87/Jan,88-VoI.4,#6 21 Is There Life After M0 R? The Morrow Owners' Review has recently suffered a sudden easiest conditions. When your MOR subscription runs out, large decline in subscription renewals. Additionally, the MOR you can join the MOR-ATLANTA Users' Group to keep receiv mailorder department doesn't generate income the way it used ing this newsletter. to. Display advertising has slowly ebbed away over the Four: You would like to receive MicroCornucopia maga months. Now we are at a point where MOR can't afford an of zine for the remainder of your MOR subscription. Published fice and a staff anymore, and that is why this very issue is bimonthly by David Thompson in Bend, Oregon, MicroCor MOR's last. nucopia is a bit more technical than MOR was and covers This doesn't mean, you faithful, die-hard Morrow user, that mostly MS-DOS oriented machines in addition to a bit of CP/ you will be abandoned. The MOR mail order department and M. A good choice if you go MS-DOS, while holding on to the MOR BBS will keep operating indefinitely. your Morrow at the same time. The MicrCornucopia folks are But what about your subscription?You have several choices. very friendly and competent, and would love to have you join One: You are generous, you are going to switch comput them. When your MOR subscription runs out they will invite ers anyway, or you lost interest in MOR already. But since you to renew with them. MOR did a nice job while you enjoyed it, you'll forgive MOR Five: Several large magazines have expressed an interest the remainder of your subscription. This will enable MOR to in fulfilling MOR subscriptions for those of you who are in pay the remaining bills and keep the BBS going. We say terested. But, because they are so large, they take a long time farewell and we go different ways. This is the default choice: to decide to go ahead with it. Considering MOR fulfillment If we do not receive your response to this by January 1st, are: Dr. Dobbs Journal, PC World, Macworld, Computer 1988, we'll assume that this is the option of your choice, and Shopper, PC Magazine and maybe some others. If this inter we thank you. ests you, indicate your choice below and MOR will get in Two: You intend to keep using your Morrow and you'd touch with you in January '88 or earlier to tell you what is like to have a CP/M newsletter, preferrably a Morrow user available. If none of these publications comes through you'll dominated one. The remainder of your subscription will in get the newsletter under option Two, and MOR will inform 1988 be fulfilled with a new publication, produced jointly by you. BAMDUA and BAKUP (a Bay Area Kaypro group). This news Six: You would like a bundle of back issues of MOR, still letter will be published on a bimonthly basis (six issues per missing in your collection. If you don't have 23 MOR issues, year), just like MOR. It will look very much like the current you don't have them all. If you select this option you'll re BAMDUA newsletter, using a booklet format of 8.5" by 5.5". ceive as many back issues as your remaining subscription al When your MOR subscription runs out, you can join BAM lows. Look at your label: If it says JUN88 in the upper right DUA to keep receiving this newsletter. comer, you can claim three back issues; if it says DEC88 you Three: You would like to receive the MOR-ATLANTA can claim six. Get it? Don't forget to tell us which back is Newsletter, instead of the BAMDUA/BAKUP newsletter. Other sues you'd like. If you do forget we'll send you our selection than that same deal as number Two. The Atlantans publish a (surprise, surprise!). very well done 8.5" by 11", 12 page monthly newsletter. The Seven: You would like a bundle of FLOBs, still missing remainder of your subscription will, in 1988, be fulfilled with in your collection. If you select this option you'll receive as this newsletter on a bimonthly basis. If you want the issues many FLOBs as the number of remaining issues in your sub inbetween then contact MOR-ATLANTA Users' Group for a scription. Look at your label, as in Six. Specify which special arrangement. They will welcome you warmly under the FLOBs you'd like. If you forget, we'll decide for you. ~ --- Please return before Jan 1.,1988 to: MOR, P.O. Box 5487, Berkeley, CA 94705 --- o 1. I forgive MOR the remainder of my subscription. Fulfillment Request o 2. I'd like to receive the BAMDUA/BAKUP joint Name: Sub ID#:------newsletter. o 3. 1'1 like to receive the MOR-ATLANTA MUG Phone: (_) _ newsletter. Address: _ o 4. I'd like to receive MicroCornucopia magazine. o 5. I'd like to receive one of the large magazines; if City: State:-_ZIP:------these deals don't materialize, I'll receive the For Options 6 or 7 _ BAMDUA/BAKUP joint newsletter. For UPS use only, my street address is: _ o 6. I'd like a bundle of MOR back issues (specify which issues in the space provided). I'd like the following MOR back issues/FLOBs: _ o 7. I'd like a bundle ofFLOBs (specify which ones in the space provided). 22 MOrrow Owners' Review CP/M as a Business Tool Still Effective in the Office Ken Grymala N the last couple of years, espe of computers meant for small busi is PC-File, a public domain program. cially since Morrow disap ness. We use the CP/M and MS-DOS ver I peared, the question of whether If we examine what most small sions. We have others, such as Person CP/M lives has been debated many businesses use their computers for, it al Pearl, dBase II and dBase III. How times. Instead, shouldn't we be asking probably breaks down to just a very ever, all we really need to do is work whether there is still a place in small short list. Most of the applications with are simple data files that can be business for CP/M computers? can very easily be handled on a CP/M sorted, matched, arithmetically manip I don't really believe that CP/M computer. Word-processing usually ulated. For larger applications, there can die at least not for many many tops the list, followed with spread have been thousands of dBase II appli years. I liken CP/M computers to the sheet calculations, data bases, and cation "templates" written for CP/M. small Ford farm tractors that were book keeping. Most small business These cover nearly every business you built over thirty years ago. There are es, whether they are farms, churches, can think of. Many of them are in the still many thousands of them working small insurance agencies, or service public domain. hard for their owners. Most of them .type businesses have needs for few All of our book keeping is still on have had several owners in their long other functions. For other applica the MD-11. We use James River ac lifetimes. These tractors were ex tions, there were thousands ofCP/M counting software. It too is very ade tremely good utility tractors that were software programs written, and many quate for a small business and it is easy to run and easy to fix. Even after are still available through dealers. still available. all these years, parts are still available For word processors, it is still hard In our small office we have an MD for them. For the small farmer, these to beat Wordstar. And every Morrow 2, an MD-11, a PC/XT clone, and a old tractors will do just as good a job owner is entitled to an $89.00 upgrade, Toshiba 1100 Plus laptop computer. at plowing, grading, mowing, directly from Micropro, for the latest Up until a couple of months ago, the spraying, or pulling as any of the version. The latest version is better clone and the laptop were used to do shiny new tractors. than ever. almost exactly what the MD-2 and the The good quality CP/M computers Lotus 1-2-3 may be the rage in the MD-11 had been doing for a long should have long and similar lives in IBM PC world. Nevertheless, my fa time. Because I must work with many small business. And like the tractors, vorite spreadsheet is still Multiplan, outside companies, I needed program these computers probably will, and and that's what we have on the Mor compatibility with my clients. And re should, have several owners over their row. Supercalc, which came with most cently I began to do all of my drafting lifetimes. Word- processing, spread of the Morrows is also an extremely on the PC. Now I'm even doing desk sheet calculations, and data manipula good spreadsheet program. Lotus per top publishing on the PC. tion are really no different on a CP/M mits fancy graphics and very large and I'm watching my clients go through computer than they are on the newest complex spreadsheets. But how many the same thing that we have been small businesses really need either of going through. The CP/M Televideos, these features? We sure don't need CompuPros, Zeniths, Tandys etc., are Ken Grymala is a former colum these features in our small business. still working hard every day, but they nistfor MOR. He lives in Virginia. Just about the only data base I use are slowly losing their places to newer Dec,87/Jan,88-VoI.4,#6 23 computers. In the past couple of years nesses that need basic computers to get entrepreneur, or a struggling volunteer there have been a lot of used CP/M setup for a very low price. For those agency. computers hitting the market. We're businesses that find CP/M adequate are If you give up your Morrow, help going to see a lot more in the next going to be able to expand their com make the new owner feel comfortable couple of years as corporations start to puter base for very little cash outlay. by sending all of your back issues of liquidate these computers in large MaR with the computer, and any quantities. They will be sold for next If you feel that you've outgrown newsletters that you may have. Most to nothing. your CP/M computer, feel satisfied of all, remember to bundle up all of that you have gotten excellent service the manuals and all of the software This may sound like CP/M is and an excellent education from it. you have with your computer. The quickly dying. However, I don't think You may not get much money for it, computer can have a great second life that is the case. I truly believe there is but also feel satisfied that it can pro with a new owner. a place for CP/M computers in small vide thousands of hours of satisfaction business. Now is the time for busi- to an aspiring young writer, a rising Good-Bye and Happy Computing! n Morrow Laser Printing They Said I Couldn't. But I Did. Lester Schonbrun I use NewWord on a Morrow to do cable, and then I brought the 50pound After hours of trying to input the legal word processing. Some briefs are machine back to the office, inserted the control codes, a bright idea occurred to over 200 pages, and heavily footnoted. toner (much like a copier) and fumbled me. Change the default margins in my Until December, 1986, we used a Sil with the switches. After a few tense installed NewWord! The normal con ver Reed printer with an output of one moments, paper seemed to come vention is a 66 line page with eight page every two to three minutes, flying out. The change from one-half spaces at the top and three at the bot which added up to eight or so hours of page to eight pages per minute was ex tom set aside for margins. That meant pure printing time for one complete hilarating. But wait - there was 55 lines of actual printing per page (66 letter quality draft oflengthy appeal. something wrong. My laboriously for minus 11 lines of margin). Since the With a deadline approaching, we matted brief was now breaking pages HP assumed a 60 line page, I changed shopped for a laser printer. I was told at all the wrong places, in the middle the top margin to three and the bottom bluntly by personnel in more than one offootnotes, etc. What the ----? After a margin to two, just using ordinary dot store that I couldn't hook a laser print search in the manual, I learned that the commands, and damned if it didn't er to a CP/M machine. It just wasn't HP assumes a 60 line page length. work. done. Other stores said we could, but Well, that's fine for new files, but I can now print a 200 page brief in how did I know who was right? what about all myoId files that were half an hour. It feeds single sheets just Encouraged by the NewWord based on 66 lines? The HP manual like a copier, and it is like the copier "Install" menu, which has an HP La deals with this, but not in any way I also in that there is no typewriter serjet option, a software technician could translate into English. It gives a sound - instead, just a very loud fan. from the NewWord developers and the bunch ofcontrol characters that change However, I don't mind waiting a min assurances of the MicroAge salesman, the assumed page length to 66, but ute for it to warm up when I want to we bought an HP Laserjet. doesn't explain clearly how to transmit use it, so I avoid the fan noise by . MicroAge made us a new printer these codes to the printer. shutting it off when not printing. 24 Morrow Owners' Review Investing with Your Computer Identifying Market "Swings" with Your Morrow Jules Brenner N April 21st, 1987, news move would appear sizable (see Chart a lesson in this. papers heralded a 61 point 1: the third "+" sign from the right to It's not only a matter of not listen O rise in the market, as the second one). On the other hand, if ing to the boy crying wolf. As we all though fears of interest rate hikes and you consider the high/low range day know, the real wolf may yet arrive. budget deficits were over. Would any by-day, the significance is buried in Perhaps the inference should be that thing less warrant front-page place the typical daily fluctuation. While you should always evaluate who's ment? closing price is undoubtedly ofpartic doing the crying. Better than that, The following day, the market re ular significance, complete perspec though, is being able to do your own treated 55 points. The news, this tive of a market's status requires the evaluation, with ready availability of time, was relegated to business sec full day's trading. market data and a means with which to tions. A brief analysis of Chart 2 reveals regularly chart that data. This phenomenon of magnifying that closings occur at or near the top, market movements out of all propor bottom and mid-range randomly. What Charts that can reveal what's really tion to their true significance is of no occurred on April 21st was a closing at going on in the markets should be value to anyone except the media the high following a closing near the composed of high/lowIclose bars and who all too often make news simply low. The apparent move, in these at least one more critical component of by reporting it as they do. Their thirst times of fiscal uneasiness, made it ap analysis - volume. As a measure for something to report exceeds their pear to the City Desk as though some ment of trend, the relationship between ability or desire to properly analyze thing portentous was happening. The these data values opens up a broad ar - particularly in areas where editorial subsequent trade range on the 22nd ray of powerful technical tools with training is limited. Unfortunately, the shows how foolish it was to make a which to look for patterns and emerg blind may be led by the blind. The front page issue of the matter. There is ing trends that allow you to prognosti- novice investor might make a very wrong trading decision based on such media magnification. If you are an investor who has been perplexed in the past by such hype, if you have a Morrow, and if you want to weed out the truth with actual knowledge of the marketplace (with the help of available and appro priate software), this information is particularly for you. First, let's see what an investor should look for. If one were to look only at the market's closin~ prices, the 61 point Jules Brenner is a market analyst living in Hollywood, California. He has written articles for Skin Diver magazine and also works as a cinema tographer in thefUm industry. Dec,87/Jan,88-VoI.4,#6 25 cate and trade with an increasing suc mind you, I'd want to see whether vol jerk reaction to an apparent 61 point cess rate. ume patterns support this interpreta move, it isn't, by itself, enough. Of course, it's not simply a matter tion. If, while price was going down, Minute-by-minute, markets are in of generating a chart on your screen. the volume was creeping up flux; they are among the most dynam The principles of interpretation are an (accumulation), I would not be so has ic environments on earth. To get a integral part of success and must be ty to sell. If volume was descending handle on the probabilities for the fu learned. But it doesn't take a Master's with price (distribution) I would know ture so that you can capitalize on it, degree in statistics to learn these prin that others interpreted the market as I you need to look further than the head ciples. It's largely a matter of making did and were taking whatever profIts lines. Surely you need to look at more the effort, and a little money in the they had. than a few days' closing prices to iden market does wonders in providing the The isolated phenomenon of a one tify that crucial event known as market motivation to make that effort. day 61 point rise in closing price can "swing." What's even more necessary Looking at the high/low/close bar be seen in this more complete context to identify: IN WHICH DIRECTION! chart of the Dow Jones Industrials as for what it is, and what it isn't. People To do so correctly, even once, could of April 22nd, what do we see? Going who read the headline and jumped in to be profitable enough to pay for the back to January, there was a steep rise buy are now licking their wounds. On software and send your child to col followed by moderating ups and downs the other hand, those who invest and lege. in a still ascending pattern. The truly steep drop on March 23rd was the fIrst ======> Compu/CHART <======real sign of trouble, even though its -~~~:~~~~v=_:_~~-~i~2~~~~~~-~~::~~:--2;22-~~-~~~-v-:_:-~~3~~~---~-:-~e::~-~:~~~2 range and steepness might have been 24~6 ++ 2372 ++++ ++ partially caused by programmed trad 2337 + ++ + ing. The price returned to the high lev 232~ + ++ ~ 23£15 + + -r-;:: (" el of before, but a higher high was not 2286 ++ +++ ++ + + +++ + pointf, 2253 + + + ++ + made. Notice that during the rally 2227 ++ + ++ +++ 2217 + + + (upward) phase of this market through 2183 + + ++ + + January and February, corrections 2166 ++++ + + + 2146 + downs were always followed by higher 21£17 ++ ++ highs. This time was different, and 2~94 + + 2~71 + this difference is what analysts (and ed 2~35 + 2~13 ++ itors) should be looking at. Is the mar 2~~6 + ... 'T~rget to BUY: $2~87.16 to SELL: $286£1.51 ket running out of steam? Are we in (3)EN~ ==SELECT: (1)NW AVGS (2)REGEN (4)LNG TRM (5) A v (6)EXAD (7)EXIT == for a drastic correction or, worse, the Close: 2285.94 beginning of a bear market? Let's look for more evidence before we panic. The next event ofparticular signifI who also own Morrows or other com Interpretation of Charts cance is the mid-April low. The fact puters can put themselves in a posi Chart 1 is a closing-price only that it is lower than the March 23rd tion to immediately distinguish be chart of the Dow Jones Industrials cov low supports the caution raised by the tween the phantom of a buying op ering the 3 l/2-month period from ear "double top." Now, rebounding off portunity and the real thing. ly January to April 22nd, 1987 on a that low, we seem to be in a corrective Nothing is better suited for this daily basis. The symbol used for clos rally upward, but caution remains in purpose than the computer. The crea ing price is the "+" sign. The last place until we get a higher high. The tion of analytic tools is a matter of (rightmost) symbol occurred on the pattern being described would portend number crunching with tested, prede last day of that period; the one before, that the high of April 22nd could be fined formulae - a task for which the the preceding trade day, and so on. The the last of the highs for a while. In computer is eminently well-suited. chart is generated by proportioning fact, if I owned an option on a market Pattern recognition is at the heart of each price value (high, low and closing index, I would have taken as much as I defining market trends, be they indices price) onto its appropriate line, taking could have gotten for it on the 22nd. such as the Dow Jones Industrials, in the full range- into consideration. The The downward-looking progression is dividual stocks, commodities, funds, prices in the left column are the last too much to sustain any objective bonds, T-bills, Ml, your business re actual prices for the value on that par hope - headlines about one-day up ceipts or whatever. The path of closing ticular line, so may not be evenly in moves notwithstanding. prices is one of many patterns to cremented. Within the range assigned Before making my move to sell, watch. As we've seen from the knee- to each line, however, they appear in 26 Morrow Owners' Review ======) Compu/CHART <======recent lows shows support level and a -~~------v=_:_~~-~i~2~~~~~~-~~::~~:--2;22-~~-~~~-v-:_:-~~3'2~---~-:-~e~~~-~~~7~2 change in trend direction from the pat 24.06 II+r-:------239.0 I1I1 +1111 tern which persisted earlier. The line 2372 ++++1 II ++11 I 2337 +1 I + II 1++1 +1 paralleling it above is the resistance 232.0 II 1+1 1+++ II I11I1 line which, ifpenetrated, would signal 2286 ++1+111 ++11 +11 +1++11+ 227.0 1111 I +11+1++++III ~ ill+ a resumption in the bull market. Until 2227 ++++1++1+++1 I I I ~ . 2217 III+II II I 1I +II+III .....:- that occurs, we should expect to re 2183 1I 1+++1++1+1+1 main in a corrective phase, and be sen 2166 + ++++111 1+1+1 1111II1 II sitive to the possibility of a long term 21.07 1+++1++1 2.077 ++ III II correction or a new bear market. The IIII fundamental key to this may we reside 2.035 111+1 2.013 +++1 in the dollar decline and the deficit. I ... ·····Target to BUY: $2fl87.16 to SELL: $286fl.51 The author's expectation is that these ==SELECT: (1)NW AVGS (2)REGEN (3)ENV (4)LNG TRM (5) ~ v (6)EXAD (7)EXIT == negative influences will not bring on a Open: 2285.94 Hi: 2353.13 Lo: 2282.1 Close: 2285.94 bear market in the near term. It's inter esting to note that the pattern indicated correct relative terms. The dots and Note that the prices in the left column, by the high/low/close chart is essen dashes below the price line describe on as well as the placement of the closing tially repeated in the purely closing of the moving averages (not discussed price symbols, may proportion them price trail. Nevertheless, the full price here). selves somewhat differently than when range provides the more complete and Chart 2 covers the identical peri only closing price is considered. The objective picture between the two. a od, but with the addition of high and idea is that whatever range of prices low prices for each trading day. The must be encompassed will be propor Charts generated by the vertical bar is the symbol for the non tioned within the space of your CRT. Morrow version of Compu! close values within each trading day. The line drawn between the two most CHART 3. ("II~@'@ ~ = ~@~@~ • Outline Processing r~ By Kamasoft • Word Processing Logically Outlines ·Information Your Thoughts and Work • Retrieval Out-Think is a powerful idea processor that takes full • File Management advantage of CP/M. Capture your ideas and organize them ... • Documentation Out-Think supports your thinking process by naturally working the same way your mind does. eC\9.\ • Brainstorm. Track your S~t\C0 $45 thoughts with full screen editing. Out-Think retails elsewhere for • Develop your thoughts into almost $70, but outlines that follow a through MOR you natural, logical flow. get almost $25 off! • Collapse the details and Order MaR Product take an overall look. #805 on page 22 of this issue. Expand the outline to see detail. WordStar is a re~istered trademark of MicroPro, Inc. CP/M is a The Outline processor is simple, easy to use, and will registered trademark of Digital Research, Inc. Kamasoft and Out appeal to all users -- Mark Renne, InfoWorld Magazine Think are trademarks of Kamasoft, Inc. Dec,87/Jan,88-VoI.4,#6 27 StarJet A Printer driver That Just Might Answer Your Problems Ben Cohen tridges, including proportional spacing (PS). NewWord, StarJet however, can't justify proportionally spaced text. Control-C Software, Inc., 9205 Southwest Gemini Dr., Suite A, Beaverton, Oregon StarJet: A SOlution 97005 . I kept watching INFOWORLD for LaserJet printer drivers ... all were for MS-DOS computers. Finally came an an Send Inquiries to: Control-C Software, Ltd., nouncement of a program, StarJet, for CP/M (as well as 55 Peach St., Wokingham, Berkshire, UK MS-DOS) computers. StarJet prints justified proportionally RG112DW spaced text and does boxes, horizontal lines and vertical Telephone 734-780019 lines. You can combine graphics with text. I'm using it on an Osborne Executive, which has CP/M 3.0, and a friend is using it on a Morrow MD-3, with CP/M 2.2. StarJet prints on each line what you see on the screen on The Problem that line, neatly justified and proportionally spaced. It The Hewlett Packard LaserJet was the fIrst moderately achieves a near-typeset look and you can tell just how many priced laser printer on market. The LaserJet, with a list price lines your text will be before printing. of $3,495.00, brought laser printing to the masses. Soon You still have to be careful about a few things. Large the street price was $2,700 and today it's under $2,100. As a blocks of text in all caps will be all crunched together, or in lawyer, I sometimes print long contracts or court briefs. I extreme cases will extend beyond the end of the expected line jumped on the LaserJet at almost the fIrst chance. Instead of length. But with boldface and italics available, use of all a page in a minute and a quarter on my daisy wheel printer, I caps text is hardly necessary. thought I'd be able to get eight pages a minute! WordStar is not up to LaserJet speed ... it sends text to the printer at four pages a minute. There is no printer driver for CP/M versions of WordStar, so utilizing the many fonts and capabilities of the LaserJet is next to impossible. A public domain program, ANYCODE, allows the embedding of the long ESCape sequences required by the LaserJet, but neither WordS tar nor NewWord recognizes these as embedded commands and it is necessary to remove them before revi sing and reformatting, and then put them back in ... not my idea offun. NewWord, the WordStar clone bundled with many Mor Using StarJet rows has a LaserJet printer driver, AND it sends most text to StarJet is a post-processor for WordStar files. The term the printer at a rate of eight pages a minute. It supports means what it says: a separate program that processes files most of the features of the LaserJet and its various font car- after you have created them with WordStar. It works equally well with NewWord files. From the CP/M prompt, simply enter "StarJet 28 Morrow Owners' Review ceeds to print the file. .*WT wait for carriage return StarJet isn't as fast as NewWord, or even WordStar, but .*** send characters sent to printer to it's doing much more to justify the text. Depending on the screen amount of text on a page and whether or not you've used graphics, it may take as long as 90 seconds to print a single There is a special commands for columnar text, which page. can be a problem with PS since characters vary in width. Extended symbol sets provided by some Lasedet fonts are Creating Files to Print with StarJet accessible. Sub- and super-scripts, strike-outs, non-break StarJet recognizes most WordStar/ NewWord dot com space, overstrike character, overstrike line and underscore all mands and embedded print controls. Merge print dot com work as with WordStar/NewWord. mands are not recognized. To merge print files with StarJet you first merge print the file to a disk file, then print the Selecting Fonts disk file with StarJet. The dot-star commands that control font selection refer to StarJet also adds its own special "dot-star" commands, numbers listed in the manual for each font and the resident similar to "dot commands," utilizing a dot and an asterisk or Lasedet fonts. I use the Lasedet's "B" font cartridge, which, "star." The dot-star commands are listed below (for simplici together with the resident fonts, gives me these choices: ty's sake I have omitted the optional parameters). No. Font Description 5 HelvBold 14.4 point ·*AF select all fonts 6 Tms Rmn 10 point ·*BF select bold font 7 Tms Rmn 10 point bold ·*EF emphasis font 8 Tms Rmn 10 point italic ·*FF footer font 9 Tms Rmn 8 point ·*HF header font oCourier ·*TF text font 1 Courier, Landscape 10 Line Printer, Landscape . *BX draw a box .*SH draw a shaded box I can have three fonts readily available at anyone time, ·*HL horizontal line the "text" font, the bold font and the emphasis font, in addi ·*VL vertical line tion to separate fonts for headers and footers. I can change ·*RD set raster density each font at any time with a dot-star command. This makes it easy to prepare documents for StarJet printing, since there .*CE center lines is little new to learn. .*CL print as multiple columns ·*TW set text width Controlling Line Height ·*RD set raster density Line height is controlled with the ,r.LH" command, in in ·*RJ right justify crements of l/48th of an inch. Setting line height to 7/48ths of an inch (.cw 7) leaves line height control to StarJet. If ·*EP end page when printing you mix HelvBold into your Tms Rmn 10 point text, or .*SP start page when printing Tms Rmn 10 point in Tms Rmn 8 point text, StarJet will ·*NC print multiple copies in page automatically adjust the line height to accommodate the in order termixed font. You can, of course, adjust line height to your .*SC print multiple copies of each own liking to add white space for easier reading or to fill al page located space. ·*LC load paper from the cassette Lines and Boxes ·*LE load an envelope A box is made with".*BX"; a vertical line with".*VL"; .*LP load paper manually a horizontal line with ".*HL". Parameters select the thick ness of the lines (in increments as fine as 1/150th of an inch ·*CC concatenate files when printing from l/150th to one half inch), the length of the line or di .*DM display a message mensions of the box, the column where the line or box will ·*OF output formatted text to a file be, and fine tuning adjustments up or down and left or right. .*PC print a character non- Boxes can be as small as a letter or as large as the printa proportionally ble page. As editor of a user group newsletter I created a lo ·*US continuous underline on or off go consisting of a box about 1 x 8 inches with a series of Dec,87/Jan,88-VoI.4,#6 29 horizontal and vertical lines inside, all enclosing and setting version of "WYSIWYG" (What You See Is What You Get), off the name of the newsletter in HelvBold (repeated three simply justifying on a line the text that's on that line. times for emphasis since it's only 1/5th of an inch high), the name of the group, the date, the volume, the issue num "True" Proportional Spacing? ber and the whole number of the issue. The LaserJet's mem Dale Alan Clark explained proportional spacing well in ory limits me to one of these on a single page. the Apr/May 1986 issue of MOR, and I won't repeat that. For each page of the newsletter I generate a large box But neither the undocumented proportional spacing feature in with a line down the center, adding the group's name, the WordStar, the LaserJet support from NewWord, StarJet nor newsletter's name, and the page number at the bottom. The PropStar do "true" proportional spacing. They all adjust the text is printed with StarJet, trimmed, waxed, and laid in spacing according to a proportional spacing table, but do not place the old fashioned way. For the back page I have two adjust the number of characters on a line according to how boxes, one for the upper half (into which meeting informa wide the characters on the line are. tion and a map are laid) and one for the bottom half which With "true" PS the printer counts character units until it holds the mailing label, a notice about changes of address, a fills up a line, regardless of how many characters there are return address, a bulk mail indicium (in its own box) and the on a "line" in the file, then prints that line. True PS then standard running footer. continues with the next line, counting character units until Creating boxes, especially combined with text, requires a it fills the line, and prints that line. You would almost never bit of planning. It's not like using MacDraw, where you can get the same number of characters on the printed page that see the lines on the page and type the text in the middle of you have on a line on the screen. True PS gets more charac them. Instead, you have to measure and calculate. Even then ters on a line in most instances. you'll probably find that when you print you need to do a bit The advantages of true PS include denser print in general of fine tuning, unless you use it for these purposes every and no problems generated by too many capitals in one line. day. On the other hand, once I laid out my boxes for the This gives a typeset appearance, because real typesetting uti newsletter it takes no great effort to make the necessary lizes true PS. The disadvantage is that unless you have a changes in text each month. computer screen that shows you the text on the screen pro portionally spaced, what you see on the screen will not be what you get on the printed page. That means you will often The Manual have to adjust the text after the first printout, especially if The 104 page StarJet manual is a fine example of Star you are trying to fit within or to fill out a particular space. Jet's capabilities. The only deficiency I noted in the Version There is only one program I know of for CP/M comput 1.5 manual was its failure to note that text justified with ers that does true proportional spacing, Magic Series (a ver WordStar or NewWord will be printed justified. Version 2.0 sion of which was reviewed in the Apr/May 1986 issue of has the same omission, but adds a dot-star command to jus MOR). Text printed on the LaserJet with Magic Series tify, so text need not be justified before printing. An index looks better in general, prints words with the letter "f' better makes it easy to find whatever information you need. and allows you to overcome PS table problems with kern Mter you've used StarJet a while you'll find everything ing, the ability to adjust the amount of space between indi you want quickly in the pocket size quick reference manual. vidual characters, in increments of 1/720th of an inch. On the other hand, Magic Series is more difficult to learn, to Problems and Limitations create files for and to debug defective files. I've noted only two problems with StarJet. The character table for the letter "f' results in too much space to the right Conclusions of the character in most instances. Words with two "f's look StarJet is a generally successful post-processor for Word especially odd. Too many capital letters in a single line can Star, NewWord or ASCn files that have been justified with make the text crunch together or even run beyond the width WordStar or NewWord, providing justified proportionally of the rest of the lines. For the latter the solution is to avoid spaced text with a pleasing appearance. It's not typeset, or all caps -- use italics or bold. For the former there doesn't "true" proportional spacing, but it is easy to learn and use. seem to be any solution within StarJet. When the text doesn't come out the way you wanted it, it's Another user reported to me some problems with pagina easy to "debug" the source file. tion on long documents, something of which I haven't done To obtain a copy of StarJet, you must contact the British much. The report indicated that in some instances pagination office of Control-C Software. The Oregon office won't even on the printed page varied from what was seen on the screen give out prices. If the overseas office tells you that they earlier. don't have your disk format or that they have only 8" disks StarJet can't do bold italics (NewWord does). It doesn't do for CP/M (as they did with one friend of mine) be insistent. "true" proportional spacing, but sticks with the WordStar They have provided it in both Osborne and Morrow formats. n 30 Morrow Owners' Review Backgrounder II Lets You Run Two Programs Simultaneously Rick Charnes I've been using Backgrounder II (or BGii as it's affection Backgrounder II ately called) for about six months now on my 20 meg Mini Winnie-equipped MD3. It's interesting for me to think back $75, from Plu*Perfect Systems, P.O. Box to the days before I added BGii to my personal computing 1494, Idyllwild, California 92349 system, because it makes me realize how much I've since (714) 659-4432 come to take for granted; it's always hard to keep a "beginner's mind." I can easily remember, however, the ini tial motivating factor for my interest in BGii. Sitting at my In thinking about writing this review, I realized early on desk is and always has been an "in/out" box hugely full of that I was going to need to wax a bit philosophical, because papers. Through the course of any week,as I work with my it is only in that state of mind that one can begin to appre computer and experiment with various new techniques and ciate what this program is all about. Backgrounder II is a programs)I am constantly taking notes and writing things "task-s~itching" utility for Z80 (CPjM- compatible) com down: questions to ask others, ideas to try at a later date, puters. Fundamentally this means that a user can "swap" etc. I very often have questions or comments on ZCPR3 back and forth between two running programs without programs I am using and later upload these to Z-Node BBS's leaving either of them. The fIrst application stays sus in order to share these with others. pended while you go to the second, and when you return it I remember -very distinctly one day being particularly is there exactly how you left it. Switching back and forth puzzled by one program I was working with and frantically between the two is as easy as a single command or even a writing down my experiences with it on a piece of paper to single keystroke. be ultimately sent as questions to its author. As I became With Backgrounder, for instance, there IS no longer any more and more involved with taking these notcs it suddenly need to exit NewWord ifyou need to do some file manipula hit me: here I was using this advanced and sophisticated tions with NewSweep or get some information from dBase. piece of technology and yet I was writing the results of it all If you have a HELP file for a program you don't have to on this piece of paper! The funniest thing is that I would al leave the program to view it! Or you can, if you have a ways later transfer everything from paper to computer disk; screen driver, transfer calculations between SuperCalc and it was my first intimation of the possibility of eliminating the report you're writing in NewWord. But before I give the middle man. away all the applications, let me muse a little bit as prom Running BGii on your system gives you a curious sensa ised. tion of having two computers. It's a delightful feeling. Right now I'm writing this in NewWord. Let's suppose that Rick Charnes is president ofBAMDUA and is an MOR I temporarily forgot some arcane technical point ofBGii and columnist. He lives in the San Francisco Bay area and can remembered that someone left a message about exactly that be reached on the MOR BBS or at (415) 826-9448 or 821 on a BBS halfway across the country. Without even needing 4345. .to AKD to save my work I hit a single key called the Dec,87/Jan,88-VoI.4,#6 31 32 Morrow Owners' Review defining at no extra use of TPA. It even has a feature not Of BGii's two major features, task-switching is only fea found in other key redefiners I've worked with, the ability to sible on hard or ram disk systems. When the swap command "attach" a set of definitions that are automatically loaded is given, it takes some time for the screen/memory image to along with a specified application program. Since the above be written to the lOOk swap file. On my Mini-Winnie hard configuration tends to be "scrimpy" on TPA as far as being disk system it takes 8-10 seconds to swap from one applica able to load the standard Morrow programs such as Smartkey tion to another. In the BGii documentation it mentions that or XtraKey that many of us have, the cost that we might average swap time on a Kaypro 10 hard disk with Turbo spend on anew, less TPA-intensive program is better saved ROM is four seconds. I was puzzled and a bit disappointed by spending a bit extra and getting BGii with its task in this and spoke with the author Bridger Mitchell about it. switching and print spooling thrown in for just a bit more! He mentioned that the'swap time is heavily dependent on the I must address the always-critical issue of TPA here. I quality of the BIOS and the TurboROM addition to the Kay have a program called TPA.COM written by the esteemed pro BIOS was specifically designed to "optimize" and Bruce Morgen of the Z-System SIG, that has been indis streamline it. He has suggested that the Morrow BIOS may pensable in my testing of various configurations. I have Da be one of those guilty of "buffer thrashing." My knowledge teStamper loaded in the only place it can properly run while of this subject is quite limited, but Bridger's description of BGii is active as well, in the location formerly taken up by some specific behaviors of some BIOSes that would defmite the ZCPR3 lOP at EB80. This means no lOP while running ly slow the swap time down is confirmed as an adequate re BGii. Of the three Input/Output packages that can run here presentation of the Morrow BIOS by our resident BAMDUA however, BGii duplicates the functions of two - NUKEY BIOS expert in the San Francisco area. Since I don't quite (key redefinition) and BPRINT (print spooling). I do, how understand it, I think the best thing for me to do is quote ever, miss having the capability of the third, RECORDER, Bridger: which provides a function that BG does not have, that of The BGii swap algorithm is, roughly: copy TPA "sector" recording console display to a disk file. The public domain to buffer; read 1 sector to TPA; write buffer to same disk program I/O-CAP is a good substitute here for low-TPA sector; increment sector number; repeat. projects. If the physical sector is greater than 128 bytes (most are BGii uses 4.75k of memory, 2k of which replaces the now, e.g. all double density, all hard disks), then [an opti standard command processor. The user's manual says that mized] BIOS will recognize that the second sector (i.e. the when run on ZCPR3 systems this is reduced to 2.25k by next 128 bytes) is still in the same PHYSICAL sector. It loading part of it, as I do, into buffers whose functions are will neither read nor write the disk for that information, but duplicated by BGii. rather just its "host buffer," which is one physical sector I have no independent confirmation of the TPA sizes I am large. This continues until the physical sector is exhausted, about to provide here other than TPA.COM, so I cannot and then a write/read is needed. But -- some BIOS's (Big vouch for their precise accuracy. Furthermore, bear in mind Board I is one) read and write EVERY time; the technical that in my system 2k is eaten up by my hard disk driver. term is "buffer thrashing." With DateStamper loaded at EB80h but no BGii I have ex- This scenario sounds plausible to me, especially as I have actly 50.25k. With DateStamper loaded at EB80h, and BG a report that swap time on an MD3 with a SWP Co running, I have 47.5k TPA remaining for programs, a differ Processor RAMdisk is 3.5 seconds which can be compared ence of 2.75k, just a tad more than mentioned in the BG do with 2 seconds on a Kaypro with an Advent Products RAM cumentation. This is adequate for virtually all of my applica disk or 1 second on a 6MHz SB180. In conversation with tions. The only work I can not do in this environment is the aforementioned BIOS expert I am given to understand when I am experimenting with the large Turbo Modula-2 that the difference in the ways various BIOSes do their disk programs I am writing with a series of public domain win reads and writes is simply a difference in computer philoso dows and graphics routines. MexPlus, a much larger memo phy; one way can be a asset in some situations and a disad ry hog than its public domain counterpart, runs fine and is vantage in others. While I do find the 10 seconds on the able to load a 12k script file on'top of itself. NewWord, slow side, it generally does not get in the way of my overall dBASE II, ZCPR3's ZEX all work fine. My guess is that enjoyment of the program. when WordStar 4.0 comes out I will not be able to run BGii From what I have been able to determine, Backgrounder and simultaneously take advantage of WS's calculator and is unfortunately incompatible with the WestWind Drive C2: block math functions, which require 50k. (By the way, Mi RAMdisk. The two programs simply are competing for the croPro has been trying to get the word out that their earlier same memory space and most importantly each wants the figure of 54lC is not correct; 50k will suffice.) I will simply. other to be loaded first. The SWP RAMdisk seems to be a tum BG off when I want to use these functions of WS40. little more flexible in this regard. I am not 100% sure about BG can be turned on and off easily and quickly with the the situation with the WestWind software and had only a LOADBG and BG OFF commands. friend's Drive C2: and some limited technical help; I would Dec,87/Jan,88-VoI.4,#6 33 encourage anyone with this RAMdisk to call WestWind and The counterpart to all this cutting and pasting is the speak with the technical support staff about it. SCREEN command, which sends the exact image of what is How feasible is it to run BGii on Morrow floppy disk on the screen to the printer. This has been a joy to use. It machines? As I mentioned previously having access to the has come especially handy when I am logged on to bulletin 37 resident commands is very valuable in itself even without boards and there is no easy way to repeat the message I have task-switching. MD2 and MD3 users would gain a consider just read. I just send it to the printer and I'm on my merry able advantage over what they have now in terms ofnumber way. of resident commands, key redefinition, print spooling and The FLIP command is quite extraordinary; this allows several other features. To be more precise I should explain you to "flip" back and forth between one running task and more completely that BGii is a command processor. It is a the screen/memory image of the second. You cannot actually command processor in the same manner that the CP/M CCP WORK IN the second task but only view it; it is not saved is, or ZCPR3. As a matter of fact, BGii is a ZCPR3-based to the swap file. Consequently the flips are instantaneous. command processor. BGii IS ZCPR3, or more accurately it Switching lightly and quickly from one task to the other in is actually ZCPR33! Jay Sage, the author of ZCPR33, col a repeated manner is truly a sight to behold and a most laborated very heavily in the final writing of BGii and in pleasant experience. cluded most of its features in it. In other words, when you Last but certainly not least in this pantheon of CP/M are running Backgrounder you are running ZCPR33 without memory- resident video adventures is the JOT command, and having to install or purchase it separately. So without the it is perhaps this that I use most. In a way I suppose JOT task-switching it still has quite a bit to offer floppy disk us takes me full circle to where I began when I originally felt ers. the need for BGii. This command does exactly what it says: Now for one caveat: BGii will not work under CP/M 3.0. it allows you to write to a JOTPAD while in the midst of It just won't and that's that; there's no way around it. That any other program. It is similar to the same function in pro eliminates all the Morrow built-in hard disk machines from grams such as Write Hand Man et aI., but at a much lower the picture. It's most unfortunate that Digital Research aban TPA penalty. The principle difference between this and us doned support of CP/M 3.0 so early in the game. The irony ing the SWAP command to switch to a memory-based editor of seeing all the good enhancements coming out to support such as VDE to jot down a quick thought is that no task only the older CP/M 2.2 has not escaped many of us. switching is involved; we're not actually swapping to anoth BGii has four or five advanced resident commands that de er program but simply using a memory-resident command to pend heavily on its ability to communicate with one's termi write into a file. Hence, again, it's practically instantaneous. nal hardware. They are very exciting to use and I will de These four advanced commands will not run without a scribe them below. They require the installation of some screen driver. A terminal's most crucial component for thing called a screen driver. A screen driver is a piece ofsoft BGii's purposes is the ability to send an image of itself to ware that allows BGii to interface completely and exactly the host computer, have the computer store it while the ter with one's terminal hardware and software functions. I ran minal is otherwise occupied (with another task) and then BGii for about a month before I realized I could use one of send it back when requested. My Qume 102a does it beauti the already-existing screen drivers. After loading the driver it fully, and I have been able to use the Televideo 950 driver increased my enjoyment of the program tremendously. These released by Plu*Perfect. Those with Wyse terminals also screen functions are one of those things that you don't miss have screen drivers already written for them. when they're not there because you don't expect them, but I believe the ADM20 terminal, especially those with the when you see them in action -- WOW!!! Absolutely incredi upgrade kit installed, would be able to support these extra ble. screen features and a screen driver could be written for it. For instance, I never thought I'd see the day that I did a That job remains to be done; there is sample source code full CUT and PAS1E from one program to another on my available. little vintage 1984 Morrow computer. When you see it it's I was not able to fully test the standard Morrow MDT60 quite beautiful. It works the way you'd expect it to: you and MDT70 terminals, which are inferior to the ADM20, highlight the text to be CUT with your cursor keys and hit Qume, Televideo 950 and Wyse in this regard, for support of 1\X to exit. Then go to your second task and position the BGii's advanced screen functions. I tried loading the same cursor where you wish your CUT text to appear. Press Televideo screen driver I use with my Qume on an MDT60 34 Morrow Owners' Review anyone interested in experimenting in this regard may sim similar in form to the familiar ZCPR3 Resident Command ply obtain the free, public domain demonstration version of Package. It can be as long as 4k and runs in the middle of Backgrounder. It is available from MOR on a FLOB. It the TPA, at 4000h. It takes up no TPA because it is loaded works exactly like the full version but will not allow you to by the BGii command processor (from the swap file) only access any drive other than A:. I would be most interested in when needed. Just before loading the OCP and running the hearing from anyone experimenting with these video func appropriate routine, BGii saves the 4k of memory starting at tions on any of the Morrow terminals. 4000h to the swap file, restoring it as needed when the OCP Ifyou have a floppy-based Morrow then with an advanced code is not running. Pretty simple, eh? Such is the simple terminal such as a Qume or Wyse or any of the others that stuff of genius... . have the ability to save a screen image and cursor position I should emphasize, by the way, that BGii is by no ing, I would unhesitatingly recommend your purchase of means something that is meant to run only on ZCPR3 sys BGii and that you simply do not use the task-switching tems. It runs on any CP/M 2.2 system, but will definitely component. Not only will you be running a full ZCPR33 tum your system into ZCPR33. system but these video and screen commands will bring you BGii's swap feature is not true "multi-tasking." Its print many hours of delight. spooling/queueing function is, however; two programs are As a final caveat it must be mentioned that use of one's executing simultaneously. We've all been hearing so much function keys becomes problematic. There exist function about multi-tasking from the MS-DOS world with their key drivers that work with keyboards whose function keys 80386 microprocessor and its operating system for which can send out characters above 7Fh. The Televideo 950 can do everyone is waiting (and waiting, and waiting...) that not this, along with a number of other keyboards; mine can't and enough people have stopped to realize that they don't really I don't believe the MDT series can. Other than that, as far as need such a feature. For a very large number ofpeople, espe I know one is left with one's terminal hardware. My Qume, cially the writers among us, BGii's extraordinary ability to for instance, can be programmed in hardware to send out 8 temporarily allow you to leave your word processor and the characters per function key. Since BGii provides extensive text you're working on and enter any other program from key redefinition for the rest of the keyboard one scarcely which you might need some important information, and misses having full function key redefinition. I don't know then gracefully return, is just enough ofwhat we need. how the Morrow KEY.COM program would work; I simply All in all I am very pleased with this program and its have been unable to test it. great number of features. It does give one the feeling of hav It should be pointed out, especially with the issue of ing a large new world opened up; one that seemed previously screen drivers, that BGii does all it can with the extraordi to exist only in the IBM-compatible world. Jay Sage, author nary plethora of CP/M hardware presented to it. Ifsome ter of ZCPR33 and Director of the Boston Computer Society's minals such as the MDT60/70 series are lacking in certain CP/M Computers Group, writes that BGii is "the most im functions that others have that BGii requires for its advanced pressive and exciting piece of software ever introduced for features, I think it is only fair to acknowledge a situation of CP/M (Z80-compatible) computers." I have seen similar a great difference in grades and sophistication of hardware. sentiments expressed many times elsewhere. The first time My Qume 102a can do gorgeous windows and graphics with you see a full task-swapping happen on your machine is a the Modula-2 package I mentioned previously; the MDT ser very special and quite exhilarating feeling. On the Mini ies can do nothing at all with it. They just do not have the Winnie or the SWP RAMdisk it is ideal. For floppy disk same kind of screen-save-and- restore-cursor feature that is owners wanting to get a taste of what it's like to have extra necessary. resident commands available without leaving a loaded pro One recently released feature of BGii bears some explana gram -- especially those users with the more sophisticated tion. An Overlay Command Processor is an absolute miracle terminals -- or even those simply wanting to see what of programming and I could scarcely believe it when I first ZCPR33 is all about but unsure if they are ready to buy the came to understand the concept. A series of OCP's began Morrow Z-System disk, I would encourage you to try the coming out a few weeks after I first began using BGii. I had free demonstration disk. a full complement of resident commands already and was BGii's main author Bridger Mitchell is an active and gen amazed that so much could be packed into 2.75k of memory. erous participant in the 8-bit user community. I have seen Then various OCP versions started coming out on the BBS his courtesy and friendliness in helping people with ques circuit that now provided command line recall and editing tions about his products, providing support to an extent far (BGHIST), an error handler (BGERRH), a resident copy greater than that of many other software companies I have command that supports date-stamping, and an echo com had contact with. This is an excellent product, brilliant in mand with extra code in it to display lower case letters --- all its originality and design, and one that makes a very impor at no loss of TPA! Bruce Morgen ofZSIG explained: tant addition to our still-expanding repertoire of 8-bit, CPj An Overlay Command Processor is a command package M-compatible software. n Dec,87/Jan,88-VoI.4,#6 35 Borland's Turbo Tutor Bruce Gowens The reason the new version has "Pascal" in its name is Turbo Pascal Tutor, Version 2.0 that Borland is now offering other "Turbo" languages in the $69.95 ($19.95 plus shipping, if upgrading MS-DOS world, and is preparing to offer "Turbo C Tutor" from lower version), Borland International, and "Turbo Basic Tutor" and "Turbo Prolog Tutor" and the rest of it. 4585 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley, Cal ifornia 95066 One of the disks includes TUTOR, a program that uses example source files (that fill a second disk) to demonstrate (408) 438-8400 principles. You chose from a menu and can see the example run on the top of the screen while you examine the source In my article "The Reluctant Programmer" (MOR, Vol. code below it. It's not really very flashy - you page through 4, #1, Feb/Mar 1987, p. 29), I recommended Turbo Tutor the source code and run it to see what happens as you figure version 1.0 for its useful disk of program examples while at it out. It's a neat idea that needs better execution. But the the same time I suggested other texts to learn the language. examples are in source code that you can print out and ex With the introduction of Turbo Pascal Tutor version 2.0 I amine to see exactly how it is done. have to do a pure 180. Unfortunately TUTOR is buggy. Mine has fallen in love The program examples are still there, 4 disks worth (SS/ with one of the examples, no matter which I select. Before DD - 186K), but this is obviously a "start- from-scratch this hot affair started I tried a number of them and felt they and-do-it-right" revision. And now it is the best text I have were targeted at the raw beginner. I'll try again when the af seen on Pascal. fair is over -- affairs never last, you know. The "jokey" nature of version 1.0 (which I enjoyed) is gone. I especially miss the "About The Author" page which The other two disks are examples from the text, plus a was a classic case of in-group foolishness (my bios are not much expanded listing program (the original compiled to so classic). Instead there are 398 pages plus index (version 10K, this compiles to 28K). 1.0 manual is about 260 pages) of clear concise instruction The README file is bigger than usual - covering lots that somehow manages to teach the beginner while offering of typos. I suggest you print it out, cut it up, and tape it in hints and possibilities to the experienced Pascal program the appropriate pages of the book before reading. Most of mer. And it's easy to read and understand. (A major accom the typos are obvious and minor to a programmer, but plishment in computer literature - let me give a bow to could be very confusing to a beginner. A number of them the uncredited author who should have his/her name on this. look like the fine hand of an editor (human, non I wish I could write like that.) Of course, this is adult litera programmer type) at work. ture. I've been using Turbo Pascal for a number of years and If you already have Turbo Tutor the upgrade is a steal at I thought I understood the language. I guess even old dogs $10.00 (you can pay more than $2.50 for raw disks without can learn. the great book). Even if you are not upgrading, this is now the text I recommend -- and the runnable source code exam Bruce Gowens is a Pascal andPearl afficionado. He can ples make it better than anything I know of in a college be contacted at P.O. Box 5367, Berkeley, California, bookstore. 94705. A winner. n 36 Morrow Owners' Review StatPac A Statistical Software Package for the Morrow Georgia Babladelis pIes throughout. Truly, it lives up to the claims of being StatPac easy to learn. The three program disks comprising the pack $495, Walonick Associates, 6500 Nicollet age are called: Main System Disk (286k, 24 files); Execu Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota tion Disk (322k, 26 files); Utility Disk (84k, 10 files). Ob 55423 viously, with a hard disk you can copy all the files to your (800) 328-4907 or (612) 866-9022 hard disk, but with two double density floppy drives some swapping is necessary. Fortunately, the program is good -Special 20 percent discount to MOR sub about prompting you for swaps and minimizes the stress of scribers available upon request disk changing. By copying selected programs, you can create one double-sided disk as a minimum StatPac program I have been pleasantly surprised to find powerful statisti disk so that no swapping is necessary. You can run the pro cal analysis programs for CP/M. StatPac is a well gram with a single disk drive, but it is not advisable. planned, powerful statistical package that runs beautifully The Main System Disk contains all the file management on my 64k RAM MD3 dual disk drive system. (The compa programs. There is a main system menu available on this ny has other CP/M compatible programs that address even disk which allows you to choose all the functions you will more powerful statistical and data management problems. perform. it is the programs on this disk which permit you An even more powerful system is available for DOS ma to enter and edit your data, create and edit the codebook for chines.) StatPac can be installed for a hard disk, but does the data, create and edit a control file for the analysis of your not require one. data, and to print any of those that you want to print. The programs use about one megabyte of disk space, so The Main System disk contains all the file management some disk swapping is inevitable unless you are using a programs. There is a main system menu available on this . hard disk. The data file limits of StatPac are 5,000 records, disk which allows you to choose all the functions you will 254 variables and a maximum of 254 bytes of information perform. It is the programs on this disk which permit you per record. Only one- and two-way designs for analysis of to enter and edit your data, create and edit the codebook for variance (ANOVA) are permitted and some nice features are the data, create and edit a control file for the analysis of your missing, such as interactive prediction capabilities for re data, and to print any of those that you want to print. gression analyses. The Execution Disk contains all the analysis modules. StatPac runs in the batch mode, requiring you to specify There is a control program for all the analyses. The choice a series of analyses to perform and then submit them for to evoke the execution control program is made from the processing. As you can see, this makes it ideal for survey menu on the Main System Disk. The analyses you may and marketing analyses when you need to crunch lots ofdata perform include: frequency distribution, descriptive statis and perform several analyses in the same run. There is a tics, a breakdown of the data, crosstabs and chi-square, ban minimum of user interaction, so it is not a simple proce ner crosstabs, correlation and linear regression, matched dure to use the same data, change the parameters and run it pairs and independent groups T-test, stepwise multiple re again. StatPac contains low-resolution character graphics so gression (with a graphics option for the stepwise regres you can print out your data charts, such as frequency distri sion), probit regression, principal components analysis, butions and correlation plots. one-way analysis of variance for repeated measures or for in The programs are on three disks, accompanied by a hand dependent groups, two-way analysis of variance, multiple somely-bound manual in a three-ring notebook. The manual variable response by variable labels or by value labels, and a is superbly organized and very clear, with appropriate exam- procedure to sort or to list cases. Error trapping is good, and you can chain back to the main system menu after an abort. Georgia Babladelis is the editor of the Bay Area Micro As that's not enough, the Utility Disk provides you with Decision Users' Association newsletter and a psychology a menu of programs which enhance your ability to manipu professor at California State University at Hayward. late data. The utilities let you restructure or merge code- Dec,87/Jan,88-VoI.4,#6 37 books and data files, check the integrity of a codebook and trol file) must be created before you can run an analysis. data files, create an aggregate data file, generate sample size These three separate files must be given different file names or random numbers, concatenate records downloaded from a when created and can be stored on the B drive in a two drive mainframe, select cases by record number range, create a system. The master program, "Execute," controls the se weighted data file, and change the format ofa codebook and quencing of tasks and performs any requested options; the ac data file. tual analyses are carried out by the individual statistics mo I have run all of the statistical analyses available and all dules on the Execution Disk. All StatPac files are stored in of the utilities except for one (downloads from a mainframe) sequential ASCII format, so you will be able to use data and found every program to work smoothly and speedily. I created by other programs and/or to use data downloaded was impressed with the "extra" analyses provided; for exam from a mainframe to your computer ifit is stored in sequen ple, when running a descriptive statistical analysis, you not tial ASCII format. only get the usual information about range, all measures of To recapitulate, there are four steps required to run an central tendency, and all measures of variance (e.g., standard analysis with StatPac: deviation and standard error of the mean), but also unbiased • Create a codebook estimates of the population, the distribution of coefficients • Create a data file (e.g., skewness and kurtosis) and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov • Create a task control file statistic for normality. When running a correlation, you get • Execute (submit) the task control file for processing all the information about the mean and standard deviation of I did every step and used every analysis and utility (except the sample variables, degrees offreedom, slope of the regres downloading). Everything works well and fast. Examples are sion line, the correlation coefficient and the Spearman rank plentiful. There is even a nice section at the end of the man order correlation coefficient (and a graphic printout, if you ual about types of data and other important information for want it). AT-test of differences between two samples not persons engaged in doing statistics. An informative appendix only gives you the T statistic, but information about the gives you sources for formulae, critical values for many of means and standard deviations of your samples, standard error the tests used and a good list of BASIC error messages. of the mean, the probability of a one-tailed and of a two There is also a summary of editing functions and of analysis tailed test, the correlation coefficient, and the Wilcoxon test options. All in all, it is a well assembled and informative statistic. I trust that those examples give you and idea of the manual. wealth of information about your data that is available I did find a few things I didn't like. For example, there is quickly and easily with StatPac. I might add that I found it a no provision for a higher order ANOVA, such as a three- or nice bonus to be able to generate random numbers and com four-way test. This is mentioned in the package description. pute -sample sizes at will. I could not find out a way to choose a screen display only There are several steps in preparing your data for statisti (no hardcopy). cal manipulation. First, you must create a codebook, which You must always set up a control file. You can't opt to contains a description of the data file format and all the la run just one analysis. This is also mentioned in the descrip bels to be used on a printout. The program for creating and tion, but it annoyed me not to be able to just "ask for" an maintaining it is on the Main System Disk. Next, you analysis ofvariance (or whatever) ofsome data file. create a database of information to be analyzed. This raw data I could find no simple way to use the same control file can include test scores, questionnaire responses, etc. The Da for a different set ofdata and codebook. For example, if you ta Management Programs, which enable you to create and have a series of analyses you want to run on all data, there is maintain data files, are on the Main System Disk. You are no easy way to do it, such as merely inserting the name of given a choice of three data entry formats so that you may the new codebook and new data file when instructing the choose that which is most comfortable. The easiest is a for control file. I found that an irritating and unnecessary draw mat that that queries you for each data item. I found using back, even given the limitations of this package as de the one that emulates keypunch data entry the quickest for scribed. I am assured that it can be done by naming the new me to use. I never mastered the third choice, which involved data file you want to analyze the same as the data file that creating a screen template, but I think it is because I lost in was specified during the creation of the control file; that terest. A good step-by-step example would have helped tre doesn't quite meet my needs. mendously. Finally, you must create a Task Control File. Many of these problems are person-specific. Ifyour needs With this, you describe all the different analyses you want for statistical analysis center around a lot of data crunching and then submit them to be processed sequentially. Recall particularly suited to batch analyses, then most of my gripes that StatPac is designed primarily for batch processing. The will not be yours. programs to create and maintain a control file are on the MOR subscribers are eligible for a 20 percent discount on Main System Disk also. StatPac, bringing the cost to $396 plus shipping. Mention The files described above (codebook, data file, task con- MOR to qualify. a 38 Morrow Owners' Review best mathematical model for a process I'm studying SL-Micro - Effective by doing several runs of the data through the pro Number Crunching gram. You control each run with a prewritten com Robert D. Athey Jr. mand list in a special ASCII file made up according to the Kalush format guidelines. The program requires you to give it the name of the file with the com SL·Micro mands, and then it crunches away reading the com $250, from Questionnaire Service Co., mand file a line at at time - performing that com P.O. Box 778, East Lansing, Michigan mand, reading the next, and going on through making 48826 (517) 641-4428 up a new file called SLM.PRN, which contains the results. You can print the results by using VDO or For more sophisticated statistical data treatment, NewSweep (I prefer VDO in easel want to edit). you can write your own programs, rather than using a spreadsheet. While there are several in the public do Tips on Using SL-Micro main, I've tested some and found them wanting, so be 1. Use a spreadsheet to make up the data files, so careful. formatting is made easy (x values always in spaces 4 About two years ago, I ran across a program called to 10 in a column, for instance). Do remember to SL-Micro that met and surpassed all my expectations turn off the calculation mode of the spreadsheet to for CP/M statistical programs. It is a modular collec make input faster. tion ofprograms that run a massive data matrix - up 2. Print the data spreadsheet to file (that makes it to 3024 numbers in a rectangular array. It has mo ASCII). dules that do analysis of variance (automatically 3. Use VDO to make up the command file. checking linear and cross terms), regressions, correla 4. Run the analysis of variance (ANOVA) mode of tion matrices and other goodies for the statistically SL-Micro as the first trial, so you can choose the im sophisticated. Alice and Ray Kalush wrote the pack portant variables for the regression model equations. I age for use by social scientists, and were surprised was amazed to find that a model we'd been happy that "hard science" uses were possible when I re with in two paint journal publications was improved viewed it for MicroTimes some time ago. They pro upon by inclusion of cross terms by SL-Micro. vide phone support, but it pays to know statistics well enough to knot be wasting money on the phone bill when you should be reading the manual. Bob Athey has more than 20 years of experience SL-Micro is easy to use. You make up your data working on computers and runs his own company on set into an ASCII file of a rectangular array of rows chemical consulting and contract research. He can be and columns. each row can be one experiment, and reached at (415) 526-3541. each column is either a control parameter or a meas This article originally ran as a part of "Real ured result. My technique for using SL-Micro has de Science on CP/M Computers" in MicroTimes, veloped over the past two years into a search for the May, 1987, p. 124, by Robert D. Athey, Jr. Special Credits List of Advertisers Caricatures, pages 4, 7 & 9 Robert Johnson Cover Drawing Robert Johnson Echelon, Inc 6 Cover Idea Sypko Andreae Jacobs Computer Services .Inside Back Cover Photo, page 3 Jeff Weissman James River Group Back Cover Photo, page 13 (Morrow) .Jeff Weissman KamaSoft. 27 Photo, page 13 (Father/Son) Sypko Andreae Spectre Technologies, Inc .Inside Front Cover Photo, page 15 Serge Timacheff Dec,87/Jan,88-VoJ.4,#6 39 Classified Ads Important MOR MANUAL AND BACK ISSUE SALE. During Announcements January 1988 only: All (#600 series) User's Manuals half off. All MaR back issues half off, minimum 6 copies per order. All FLOBs half off, mimimum order of 3. WordStar 4 i... Morrow Format WordStar Release 4, CP/M Edition, is now also availa FOR SALE: MD11 computer, Wyse 100 terminal, manuals ble in the SSDD Morrow Format. If you want to exchange plus Basic Business accounting software and dBase II your current WS 4 diskettes for a set in Morrow format, call (manuals incl.), and 3 books. Asking $700. Call (415) 285 MicroPro at (800) 227-5609. They will mail you the Mor 8029 and leave message. row floppies right quick. The infamous underline bug that rears its ugly little head when - on installation - you se Morrow MD2 with terminal. WordStar Release 4 with all lect MDT60/MT70, is included at no extra charge. But here documentation + lots of older software. Best offer. Micheal is the simple correction patch, using WSCHANGE: (914) 332-4056. Address Was Should Be MD3 with MDT60 plus Z-System and ROM 3.1 - with 3CD DB D9 tons of software and manuals (incl. NW, Pearl, Uniform, 3D4 E1 DF SmartKey, LogiCalc, etc.). Hardly ever used - mint condo 3D7 E3 E1 $750. (714) 637-8830. 3DD E3 El 3E5· EA E8 Morrow MP100 Printer. $200. Call (707) 527-9137. MOR OFFICE SURPLUS SALE. To the highest bid der: MD3P, MD3, MD5, MDll, MD16, one MDT60 and The New MDHD Revival Kit many MTIO terminals. Wide carriage printers: MP-200 (SR The MDHD Revival Kit (MaR, Oct/Nov '87, p. 23) 550) with tractor, Epson MX-I00, acoustical printer enclo comes in seven flavors, called "standard configurations," us sure. Two 1200 bd modems, many ABC RS232 (DB25) ing 22 MB ST225 and 44MB ST251 disks from Seagate. switch boxes, EPROM burner, five phone sets and some Each kit costs $24. It is quite all right if you desire a special multi-line equipment. For the local folks: Large light table, configuration, but then you will have to pay extra. The waxer, various layout tools; folding tables, tired chairs, a standard configurations are: desk, various modular stacking storage units and a slightly disabled fan; calculators, portable radio, heater, desk lights, Machine A:disk C:disk Machine A:disk C:disk staplers, scissors, you name it. Surplus supplies: Thousands MD5+22 5Mb 22Mb MD22 22Mb of envelopes, size 24 letter, 9X12, 9.5X12.5, ten thousand MD11+22 11Mb 22Mb MD222 22Mb 22Mb paperclips and more. MD16+22 16Mb 22Mb MD224 22Mb 44Mb MD34+22 34Mb 22Mb MAKE MONEY WITH YOUR MORROW Compu/CHART 3 enables you to turn your MORROW into an investor's dream. You can watch the market indicators that professionals watch. PLUS on automatic updating from the least News About MOR Products expensive data source. Moving Averages, The MACK (Mike Allen Clock Kit, MaR #903) is now Price/Volume, Oscillators and Point & Figure a fully assembled unit, easy to install in your MD3 or MD charts are available. You'll never again need to follow your broker's advice blindly. HO. The first batch will have been shipped by the time you TAX-TIME SPECIAL read this. SuperCalc2 (MOR #808) is now available If you act now, we offer you a special discount through MaR for a very low price. It's recommended to from the normal price of $299.95: LogiCalc users who need a little more space and a more till December 31st ... only $269.951 powerful command set. ROMs from the ROM Upgrade We accept Visa, MasterCard, check, M.D. ($3.00 shipping Ii 6.5% Sales tax CA res.) Kits (#901 & #902) are now separately available for $15 Please specify CP/M or MS-DOS and $20, respectively. Also, check out the MOR Classifieds for the sale MOR NewTEK Industries, P .O.Box 46116R, Los is having on back issues, surplus office equipment and sup Angeles, CA 90046 (213) 874-6669 plies. 40 Morrow Owners' Review ______J1~~erv;ces COMPUTER MORROW PROBLEMS FACTS SOLVED That's right. Jacobs Computer Services deals in Facts. Computer Facts. Whether you're seeking reliable advice or reliable repairs, we'll take your problem seriously. We don't pretend that computer repair is an art, to us it's a science. If your computer doesn't work, we'll find out why and get you working again. Fact. No nonsense. Over the telephone or on site we'll Jurnish support for you; connecting modems and terminals, installing software, solving your hardware problems and helping you to understand CP/M. Now you know to call Jacobs Computer Services when you need help. That's a Fact. MPUTER SERVICES CLASSIFIEDS Morrow • Lear Siegler S100 • Liberty Freedom Micro Decision • Decision 1 ADM20 • MDT50 • MDT60 MT70 • Freedom 50 Pivot • Freedom 100 • Drives Hardware • Software Sales • Support Service ~COBS Jcomputer services P.o.Box 6092 • Albany· CA 94706 Call (415) 525-9425 anytime, day or night! ACCOUNTING integrated accounti meet professional sta fast and easy to use, with structions. Our manual (shown also includes helpful informatio bookkeeping and computers. GENERAL UDGER $U5 Try all 5 programs above (GL, AR, Ap, Allows up to 1,000 accounts & 1,000 IN, PRJ. Order our DEMO DISK for transactions/month. Retains mo/end $18.00 (includes shipping). Condensed versions of the programs give you the balances for Last year, This Year and "feel" ofdata entry and access. Includes Forecast. Includes Cash Disburse sample reports and instructions. Specify ·ments, Cash Receipts and General machine. Journals. Reports include Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Annual Will handle up to 100 employees with TRASHMAN (NEW) $145 Summaries and Journal Reports. six deductions per employee. Deduc The II tch-All" program. Filesany tions may be determined as fixed dollar typ formation t ickaccess. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE ...... $U5 amounts or percentages, or referred to Name or subject oriente with 15 lines Allows up to 2,500 customers and 1,000 a table for automatic look-up. Tax tables of notes per name. Use TMAN as a invoices per month. Invoicing can access are easily entered, or purchased sepa mailing list, filing sys~em, notebook, Inventory Module. Keeps customer rately. etc. lZan be~s~da\o,,,~')~ Nit!}; Statements can be printed at any time. SET OF FOUR < $895 SET OF THREE $325 HOWTO ORDER: Please specify machine INVENTORY:" ~' ••• '~·••• :-~ ••• ~it.:.~'- •••".'••••:~-~~:-: '-IUS and disk format. You can pay by check, Allows up to 4,000 parts. Keeps 3 RUN ON MOST CPM AND MSDOS by VISA or MasterCard (we need your month history of unit sales as well as expiration date and card number), or by year to date. With AR, can be used as Apple CPM IBM PC,XT,PC jr,AT Sanyo (all) UPS COD (add $2.50 COD charge). Our point of sale system (prints invoices, Columbia Kaypro (all) Tandy (all) price includes shipping. Minnesota resi Compaq Morrow (al/) TeleVideo dents, add 6% sales tax). We ship most handles cash). Reports include Inven Corona Osborne (alf) Zenith 100 & 150 tory Value and Stock Report, Internal Eagle (all) Panasonic 8 "CPM orders the same day. and Customer Price List. Epson aX·10 Radio Shack CPM Other compatibles or ORDER BY PHONE: 612·339·2521 1-800-654-6903 125 North First Street Minneapolis, MN 55401