The fA©®®
University of Minnesota Twin Cities April 1986
ComPUting Reflections
Seymour Cray's Machines (Part 1)
Lawrence Liddiard
Seymour Cray is known as the man the CDC 1604 (serial number 50) functional units, floating point who has been the chief architect of and CDC 160 computers, new in arithmetic with infinite and seven remarkable computers since 1962, the CDC 6600 (serial indefinite values, a sequential 1958. The seven machines are number 16), new in 1966, a slightly instruction stack, and it only cost the 1604, 160,6600, and 7600 used CRAY-1 (serial number 12) $7 million. In fact, the $7 million I systems of Control Data Corpora- acquired in 1981, and the CRAY-2 price tag seemed to be the right tion (CDC) and the CRAY-1, -2, (serial number3), new in 1985. price during 1966-1976 for a and -3 of Cray Research lncorpo- The CDC 1604 retired in 1968, the leading-edge computer, since it rated (CRI), and all of them, except CDC 6600 was replaced in 1974 by also was the approximate price for the 7600, were, are, or will be part its twin sister the CYBER 74, which the CDC 7600 and the CRA Y-1 . The CDC 7600 added the "00 of the computing resources used finally retired in 1983, and the l at the University of Minnesota. CRAY -1 will be put out to pasture in concepts of "pipe lined parallel 1986. arithmetic units" (the precursor of The first director of computing at vector units on the C RAY -1) and Minnesota, Dr. Marvin Stein, once The CDC 1604 made major the associative instruction stack. A told me about a conversation he advances over previous machines, minor aberration was introduced on had with a former Electrical such as the 48-bit word length that the CDC 7600 because it had both Engineering graduate of the gave floating point numbers a 10 to fast small and slower large core University in the late '50s. During the 616 exponent range, memories for single and eight-word 1 that visit, the graduate, Seymour compared to the 10 to the 76 loads/stores. Core memory was the Cray, offered the University a range on competing systems, and speed bottleneck in the design of chance to share in the develop- the current IEEE standard single the 7600 and represented 80 I ment of a new 48-bit word precision. In other respects the percent of the component cost. computer made with transistors. CDC 1604 combined elements of Lacking the necessary funds (a the earlier UNIVAC 11 03, besides Cray corrected this deviation from common University problem), using memory banking and the right path in the CRAY -1, which Dr. Stein turned down that offer, packing two instructions per word. used chips for memory that other and Mr. Cray went on to be the manufacturers had used only for architect of CDC computers. But the CDC 6600 was the first of high-speed register files. The Cray's major scientific computer CRAY-1 introduced "vector Not withstanding this early advances: It included a simpified registers" with corresponding ; rejection of Cray's work, the instruction set, register files, pipelined parallel vector functional University of Minnesota acquired parallel operation both with 1/0 units, returned to a uniformly fast processors and arithmetic Continued on page 50 I If April1986 49 i l r Continued from page 49 (3} "Hardwired control provides for divide instruction, a harder the fastest possible single-cycle process, did not have a /4 cycle memory, and extended operation. Microcode leads to corresponding lower command to the exponent range to 10 to the slower control paths and adds to produce the division remainder, 4960 while adding a post interpretive overhead." and thus a fairly long sequence of operation floating point error commands was needed to detection and recovery. (4} "Relatively few instructions and produce the answer for a double addressing modes facilitate a fast, precision divide. simple interpretation by the control Simplified Instruction Set engine." Seymour Gray was always looking for the fastest execution rates, and In the early 1980's the concept of (5} "Fixed instruction format with normal arithmetic rounding reduced instruction set computers consistent use eases the hard requires that the round bit be (RISC} as opposed to the then wired decoding of instructions, added after any normalization in an current complex (CISC} machines which again speeds control paths." additive or multiplicative operation began to be promoted within to correctly produce the rounded academia. The first VLSI chip (6} "More compile-time effort offers result. Since this can add several using that concept was called the an opportunity to explicitly move cycles to a command, the 6600 RISC I in a journal article by a group static run-time complexity into the and 7600 were designed to have at the University of California, compiler." the round bits added before the Berkeley. In that article, 1 the operation took place in the additive authors wrote: From that proposed definition of a (1/2 bit} and divide (1/3 bit} RISC, it does seem that Gray's operations. Since a post Since architects of new machines machines from the 6600 onward normalization down-shift of 1 bit build on the work of others, we could be considered RISC types. can occur, the rounding for those believe it is important to trace the That same reference shows that cases is sometimes only by 1/4 bit genealogy of RISG I. . . . The the RISC I register file, organized or 1/6 bit respectively. CDC initially leading proponent of reduced as a series of overlapping registers delivered 6600s with the rounded instruction set computers for that enabled fast procedure calls, multiply adding a 1/2 bit before the floating-point data is [Seymour] was a large part of the performance post-normalization, which caused a Gray. For the last 15 years, he has improvement seen on that system. bit to be added in the lowest combined simple instruction sets Perhaps the GRAY -2 should have position for product results that with sophisticated pipelined organized its local memory to have shifted up the one-bit maximum. implementations to create the most similar procedure call speedups. This meant that integer products powerful floating-point engines in At ACSS we have always such as 1*1 received an answer the world. While Gray concentrates considered the CDC 6600 and 1/2** 47 too large. All of the 6600s on impressive floating-point rates CYBER 74 as the world's largest were corrected to round only by a at impressive costs, RISG I and fastest micro engines. 1/4 bit before the post concentrates on improved normalization, giving a resulting performance at lower cost for round of 1/2 or 1/4. Numerical integer programs written in HLLs analysts have included these Gray [Higher Level Languages]. Floating Point Arithmetic: arithmetic rounding anomalies in Rounding programming puzzles and articles Not all agree that RISC is the wave on how not to design rounded of the future,2 but some observers In the CDC 6600 and 7600, there arithmetic. propose "the following elements were hidden 96-bit registers used as a working definition of a RISC":3 in computing the full product, In our FORTRAN compilers (MNF addition, or subtraction results of and M77}, running a program with (1 } "Single-cycle operation two 48-bit mantissas of floating rounded arithmetic usually facilitates the rapid execution of point values. The instruction set produces more accurate answers simple functions that dominate a had separate commands to obtain and, combined with a run with computer's instruction stream and the upper or lower 48 bits of these unrounded arithmetic, quickly promotes a low interpretive results. Then double precision shows if loss of significant digits is overhead." arithmetic could be done, taking occurring at a cost penalty of only approximately four times longer two (i.e., often cheaper than (2} "Load/Store design follows than single precision with short converting to DOUBLE from a desire for single-cycle sequences of these upper and PRECISION or INTERVAL operation." lower precision commands. The arithmetic}.
50 April1986 Next month I will continue to Notes SIGMICRONewsletter, Vol.14, examine Seymour Gray's No. 4 (December 1983). machines, discussing some of the 1 David A. Patterson and Carlo other innovative ways Cray solved Sequin, "A VLSI RISC," IEEE 3Robert P. Colwell, Charles Y. floating point arnhmetic problems Computer, Vol.15, No.9 Hnchcock Ill, E. Douglas Jensen, and also examining some of the (September 1982). H. M. Brinkley Sprunt, and Charles interesting features of his machine P. Kollar, "Computers, Complexity, designs. 2William C. Hopkins, "HLLDA and Controversy," IEEE Computer, defines RISC: Thoughts on RISCs, Vol. 18, No.9 (September 1985). CISCs, and HLLDAs," ACM
PrO!)rammjag Languages
Programming Languages on the VAX 8600: An Overview
Jim Miner and Janet Eberhart
Wnh the advent of VAX 8600 services. This all adds up to a VAX Ada is a validated service, we are introducing some versatile and powerful environment implementation of the ANSI- and I new language processors and for developing and maintaining DOD-standard language. It is "' upgrading the existing ones as sophisticated applications. integrated into the VMS Common well. FORTRAN and Pascal are the Language Environment. All VMS perennial favorite languages on system services and utilities are our systems, and we have a new Ada® thus available to programs wrnten version of each. There is also a in VAX Ada. VAX Ada supports new version of COBOL and new Ada is a powerful, general-purpose VAX Record Management Ada, Common LISP, and OPSS language wnh integrated facilities Services (RMS). VAX Ada processors. Each of these supporting many modem programs can invoke modules processors is described below. programming practices. Ada written in other VMS languages, Version 1.0 will be available for and programs in other languages In addition, we are installing several educational use only. can invoke VAX Ada modules. other new programming and data management tools that augment The U.S. Department of Defense the facilities provided by the sponsored the design of Ada. COBOL language processors. New tools Among the requirements the DOD include DATATRIEVE (a query and established for the language were VAX COBOL will be upgraded from report system), the Common Data features that would reduce Version 3.0 to Version 3.2. The Dictionary (COD), Code software costs by making software versions are upwardly compatible. Management System (CMS), more easily maintainable and Module Management System evolvable and increasing reliability VAX COBOL is based on the 197 4 (MMS), and the Language and portability. Ada provides ANSI COBOL standard X3.23- Sensitive Ednor (LSE). language features for multi-tasking 1974 and includes many of the such as tasks, rendezvous, features planned for the next Because of the careful design of priorities, and entry calls. It also COBOL standard. It is designed to the VAX/VMS system, the various allows modularization and separate meet the low-to-intermediate level programming languages share a compilation. Other features of Ada requirements of the U.S. Common Run-time Library and include strong typing, data government. Additionally, some most can access the VAX Record abstraction, concurrent modules are designed to meet Management System (RMS) and processing, generic definnions, Level2 requirements: Nucleus, the complete range of VMS system and exception handling. Continued on page 52
April1986 51 Continued from page 51 environment. All VMS system optimization might cause an old services and utilities are thus value, held in a register, to be used Table Handling, Sequential I/O, available to programs written in rather than the current value of the Relative 1/0, Segmentation, VAXFORTRAN. VAXFORTRAN variable or array. Library, lnterprogram supports VAX Record Manage Communication, SORT/MERGE. ment Services (RMS). VAX Unformatted WRITEs of FORTRAN programs can invoke NTEGER*2 Parameter Constants. VAX COBOL is supported by both modules written in other VMS In the old version, if an INTEGER*2 the VAX Common Run-Time languages, and programs in other constant declared in a Library and the VAX Symbolic languages can invoke VAX PARAMETER statement was used Debugger. VAX COBOL supports FORTRAN modules. in an unformatted WRITE state access to VAX DBMS data bases ments in a routine compiled with and also to common record With the exceptions noted below, the /14 qualifier, a long word definitions stored in the VAX the old and new versions provide (4 bytes) would be written. This Common Data Dictionary. Object upward compatibility at the source, problem has been corrected. modules produced by VAX object, and image levels. COBOL can be linked with object modules produced by other The new optimatizations LISP languages, including FORTRAN implemented for Version 4.0 and Pascal. All VMS system introduce the small chance that the VAX Common LISP, Version 1.0, services and utilities are available to run-time behavior of some will be available. programs written in VAX COBOL. FORTRAN programs may change. VAX COBOL programs can invoke LISP has been used extensively in modules written in other VMS Boolean Evaluation Order. The artificial intelligence programming. languages, and programs in other order of evaluation of Boolean It is characterized by symbolic languages can invoke VAX expressions might have changed expressions, simple syntax, COBOL modules. in some cases in the new version. representation of data by multi The order of evaluation of logical level lists, and the representation expressions in IF statements may of LISP programs as LISP data. FORTRAN change from release to release. VAX LISP is an extended VAX FORTRAN will be upgraded Subtle Bounds Errors. Programs implementation of the COMMON from Version 3.5 to Version 4.3. that address beyond arrays or LISP language defined in string bounds are incorrect, and if COMMON LISP: The Language VAX FORTRAN is an not carefully written may work by Guy Steele, Jr. (1984). implementation of the full differently in the new version. COMMON LISP is an attempt to FORTRAN-771anguage. It Such programs may appear to work define a portable, powerful, includes optional support for properly under the old version, but efficient, and expressive dialect of programs conforming to the may fail at run time under the new LISP that is reasonably compatible previous standard (ANSI X3.9- version. The /CHECK=BOUNDS with several older implementations, 1966). option can be used to find such specifically ZET ALISP, MAC LISP, out-of-bounds references. and INTERLISP. VAX FORTRAN provides many extensions to FORTRAN-77, DMOD More Accurate. The VAX LISP supports many including composite data accuracy of the DMOD function is extensions to COMMON LISP declarations, additional data types, improved. In particular, in some including: explicit specification of storage cases where O.ODO was returned allocation, and language elements in the old version, a number very • Access to DCL (DIGITAL for keyed and sequential access to close to the first argument is Control Language). VAX RMS multikey ISAM files. VAX returned in the new version. Debugging facilities. FORTRAN can also make use of Ability to call routines VAX Common Data Dictionary Use of VAX'VMS Real- Time written in other languages. information, VAX Symbolic Features. Variables and arrays that • An error handler. Debugger, and it has a multi-phase are used to communicate with the • An extendable editor. optimizer. operating system, such as Asynchronous Systems Trap In addition, some of the functions, VAX FORTRAN is integrated into (AST) service routines, should be macros, and facilities defined by the VMS common language declared VOLA TILE. Otherwise an COMMON LISP are modified for
April1986 52 I
the VAX LISP implementation. Pascal including variable-length character I VAX LISP does not support strings, access to VAX RMS complex numbers. VAX Pascal will be upgraded from relative and multikey indexed files, ) Version 2.5 to Version 3.2. The a module facility for separate j 1 versions are upwardly compatible. compilation, and a value ! ~ OPS5 initialization section. VAX Pascal is Pascal is a small, general-purpose integrated into the VAX Common ! OPSS will also be available on the language that supports systematic Language Environment, giving it tj 8600. programming with structured support for interlanguage calls, j statements and data types. It is access to all VMS system services f OPSS is the most widely used simple and easy to learn, yet and the VAX Common Run-time general-purpose expert-systems powerful, supporting user-defined Library, and use of the VAX I language for production-system data types, recursion, and strong Symbolic Debugger, Language I programming. (Production-system type checking. Initially designed Sensitive Editor, and Common programming is designed to for teaching, Pascal has found Data Dictionary. tl ! simplify rule-based programming, widespread use for implementing ,'l and is one of several techniques portable software. for solving difficult industrial ® Ada is a registered trademark of the f VAX Pascal supports both the ISO United States Government (Ada Joint f problems.) l (international) and the ANSI/IEEE Program Office). 4 ' VAX OPSS is highly efficient and (American) Pascal standards. It has an easy-to-program interface to provides numerous extensions iit t all other languages available on ~ VMS. ll ~ J' Choosing a FORTRAN Compiler for your Job
Janet Eberhart
ACSS has made five FORTRAN M77 is well suited for student use conform to the 1977 standard will compilers available to our users. and debugging. It provides avoid a conversion effort in the They are: excellent error messages and nearfuture. Third, FORTRAN-77's compiles very quickly, so errors are control structures, such as the University of Minnesota's less costly. FTNS may be the best block-IF statement, make programs M77andMNF choice for production runs on the more understandable and easier to Control Data's FTNS and CYBERs. Most programs will modify. If possible, try to stick to FTN execute more quickly under standard features when writing Digital Equipment's FTNS(OPT =2) than under M77. new programs. FORTRAN Since M77 compiles more quickly than FTNS, it may be to your In choosing one of these advantage to write and debug Benchmarks compilers, you should consider production programs using M77, execution speed, compilation than recompile under FTNS to As shown in the accompanying speed, compatibility with existing generate efficient object code for graphs, we ran several benchmarks routines, and/or portability. The production runs. on the FORTRAN compilers we cost and effort of transferring data currently have available at ACSS. between machines may also be There are several reasons to use important considerations. And the 1977 standard. First, Figures 1 and 2 show the results of familiarity or ease of access may be FORTRAN-77 increases the these tests, as run on the CYBER of prime importance if you intend to portability of FORTRAN programs. CA, the MERITSS ME and MD, and use a program only once or are (Note that the VAX no longer the VX (the new VAX 8600). Keep selecting a compiler for classroom maintains a 66-standard compiler.) in mind that the choice of a projects. Second, writing programs that Continued on page 54
April1986 53 Continued from page 53 differences. For most jobs, the Manager to process files, so benchmark test is always actual job cost is a weighted sum of binaries can be intermixed. subjective; a different set of tests CP seconds, mass storage used, Version 2.7 uses dynamic file ' might well have generated file transfers, and off-line costs. opening. (See the January significantly different results. The Other hidden costs include file Newsletter.) benchmarks we chose for this storage and data transfer between comparison are heavily slanted machines. Costs of running on a We normally recommend the use toward numerical analysis; they do VAX will vary depending on how of the current version; if, however, little 1/0, and, in order to run the heavily loaded the system is and you suspect a compiler error, try same programs on all compilers, how much workspace is acquired. the future version, because the they do not use any of the 1977 future version is upgraded as new standard features. bugs are discovered and fixed. CYBER FORTRANs M77TS, the interactive subsystem, Figure 1 compares the sum of the uses the same compiler as the compilation times in CP seconds. M77: M77 was written at the batch version. M77 conforms to Figure 2 compares average University of Minnesota. It is based the 1977 ANSI FORTRAN execution times in CP seconds. on MNF, the University-produced standard and contains extensions These give an approximation of the 1966 FORTRAN compiler. M77 is to maintain compatibility with MNF. cost involved in using the actively maintained at ACSS. For a detailed look at the compilers. Since the billing Three versions of M77 are available differences between M77, MNF, structures are different on the on our CYBERs: past (2.6), current and FTNS, see the on-line different machines, the CP (2.7), and future (2.7). All three document WRITEUP(M77) on the seconds only estimate the actual use the Michigan State Record CYBERs.
Figure 1: Average Compilation Times
14 12 10 8 CP seconds 6 4 2 0 FTNS M77 MNF FTN FORTRAN
Compiler
I• CA 1111 ME II MD [ffi] vx I
April1986 54 Figure 2: Average Execution Times
14 12 10 9 seconds 6 4 2 0 FTNS M77 MNF FTN FORTRAN
Compiler I• cA 1111 ME m Mo rn vx I )
MNF: MNFwaswrittenatthe FTN5: CDC actively maintains recommended. Control Data Universtty of Minnesota. It FTNS, Control Data FORTRAN provides a conversion aid, F45, to conforms to the 1966 FORTRAN VersionS. It conforms to the 1977 assist wtth the conversion of FTN standard. Currently four versions standard and uses the standard programs to FTNS. FTN conforms are available at ACSS: fetch, past, Cyber Record Manager (CRM). to the 1966 FORTRAN standard current, and future. The fetch FTNS has several extensions, and uses the Cyber Record version uses its own 1/0 routines, including optimization levels. Manager. so it is not compatible with any These different optimization levels other version. The past and perform almost as different current MNFs both use the compilers. OPT =0 must be used VAX FORTRAN Michigan State Record Record for debugging runs, but it runs very Manager (MSUIO). The future slowly and it is usually better to use Digital Equipment fully supports version uses the Cyber Record M77 for debugging. OPT =2 VAX FORTRAN, Version 4.3. See Manager (CRM). The differences produces very good production the article elsewhere in this issue between the past and current MNF code. on VAX languages for more result from bug fixes, so current information. MNF should be used. We are FTN: FTN, Control Data retaining MNF to provide users an FORTRAN Extended Version 4, is easier transition path and for the no longer maintained by Control convenience of tts many users. Data. Its use is generally not New programs should generally not be written in MNF.
\ I 1 I i April1986 55 Artificiallntelliaence AI Notes
Tom Rindflesch and Ron Zacharski
If you would like to find out more Professor Bonnie Weber of the Clearinghouse for AI about artificial intelligence (AI), you University of Pennsylvania is the Software Information will be interested in an featured speaker. Registration organization called TCSIGART and fees, which include lunch and If you have had experience with a symposium it is co-sponsoring. materials, are $60 for IEEE or any AI software, we are interested TCSIGART members, $40 for in knowing your opinion of the students, and $80 for others. For product. In this way we can serve TCSIGART more information and registration, as a clearinghouse of information call Dr. Alicja Ellis (541-2063) or for people who are interested in TCSIGART (Twin Cities Special Michael Kramer (631-3175). purchasing software. We are Interest Group for Artificial interested in the expert-system Intelligence) holds monthly shells people are using and the meetings, usually on campus, Golden Common LISP: $130 experiences people have had with which feature lectures by people in various implementations of LISP academia or industry on a topic in Golden Common LISP runs on IBM and PROLOG (and FP and HOPE). AI. The lectures describe current PC compatible machines with a So far we have received positive research in AI or commercial minimumof512Kmemory. This comments on Texas Instruments' products being developed. For implementation of LISP has version of SCHEME (a dialect of information on the May meeting received very good reviews (see LISP) and negative comments contact Tom Rindflesch or Ron BYTE, December 1985, pp. 317- about Expertelligence's version of Zacharski at the address or number 21) and is used by a number of LISP for the Macintosh. below. universities and research laboratories. The package Any information you provide may includes the interpreter, an on-line be of service to others. Please feel AI Symposium help system, and a GMACS editor. free to call or write us. If we can find University purchasers IEEE and TCSIGART are for 12 copies, the price would be Tom Rindflesch sponsoring a day-long symposium $100 per copy, plus $30 for each Ron Zacharski on AI to be held on May 10 at the set of documentation. The usual 124 Shepherd Laboratories University Radisson Hotel in university price is $350. If you 376-2944 Minneapolis. The topic of the would like to know more about GC symposium is "Natural Languages LISP or are interested in and Man-Machine Interfaces." purchasing a copy, please feel free to call us. Text Processing CYBER Full Screen Editing
Steven Brehe
FOn SE, Control Data's Full Screen The May issue of this Newsletter For a complete description of FSE, Editor, has recently been installed will also include an article on using refer to the Control Data user's on the CYBER CA, ME, and MD. FSE. guide, NOS Full Screen Editor, To learn the basics of using FSE, available at the Electronics Desk in the Minnesota Book Center, see the short on-line document On theCA, some FSE commands WRITEUP, FSE on all CYBERs or wor1< but produce error messages Williamson Hall. You may also examine a copy in the ACSS our free printed document, the anyway. This will end when the CA FSE Brief, available in the ACSS isonCDCNET. Reference Room. Reference Room, 128A Lind Hall.
April1986 56 User Services ) The HELP-Line: Past and Present
Tom Kovarik and Jill McAllister
All users of ACSS systems-faculty, as techniques for efficient file users who have come to rely upon staff, student, or corporate users structuring and retrieval in COBOL and trust the timeliness and may call the ACSS HELP-Line at or subtle and unusual bugs in accuracy of problem resolution (612) 376-5592 any work day FORTRAN or COMPASS from our consulting staff. between the hours of 8:00a.m. programs). and 5:00p.m. and ask any Consider these statistics: During question, however simple or Because of this, our callers are also the month of January 1986, an complex, in reference to any not easily typified. For example, a average of 86 people called the software or any hardware in use at user may call who is attempting his HELP-Line each work day, and a ACSS.If the HELP-Line consultant or her first logging onto the VAX caller could expect a wait of 73 on duty cannot answer the system and who has no mainframe seconds (while listening to music) question, solve the problem, or experience. This call may be before speaking to a consultant. give suitable advice immediately, followed by a call from a user who Because HELP-Line staff have the consultant will call the user has fifteen years of fulltime access to a complete library of back with the required solution as programming experience and who manuals and microfiche for all soon as possible, usually w~hin a is dealing w~h a delicate issue in ACSS systems and a terminal day. linkage of libraries and logged into all ACSS systems subroutines. Other FORTRAN simultaneously as the master user users call us with problems with number over all other user Beginnings arrays, overlays, using external numbers, most of these calls were files, and files not being rewound. satisfactorily resolved immediately, The HELP-Line began eleven Pascal programmers call especially whereas on the average 8 calls per years ago, on February 10, 1975, for problems with 1/0 (READ vs. day required a call back to the user when former staff member Richard READLN) and on how to do for an unusual or very difficult Franta instituted the telephone exponentiation. problem. consulting service in much the same form as we know~ today. Tape problems also get a good Rich even created the mnemonic representation. There are ques Special HELP-Lines for our HELP-Line phone number, tions on utilities such as EXAMINE, 6-5592, which, when dialed, spells TBLOCK and UNBLOCK, and ACSS also sponsors specialized out MKJWB, an abbreviation for COPYCH, plus questions on HELP-Lines, such as the Data My Kronos Job Went Bananas. (At character set conversion and what Base HELP-Line, the Statistical that time, the CYBERs were error messages mean. Likewise, Packages HELP-Line, the Micro running the KRONOS operating people call us when they've lost HELP-Line, and the HELP-Line system.) files, when they need to know how for text processing and analysis to kill a job, and when they need and artnicial intelligence. These permission changes. Users also HELP-Lines are staffed by Range of Questions ask about our graphics packages specialists in these fields, at and statistical packages reduced hours in proportion to Since then, the HELP-Line has frequently. their usage. Their telephone been open every work day and numbers and hours are listed serves thousands of users each Perhaps ~ is because of this variety inside the back cover of this year. It is impossible to quote of questions from our diverse Newsletter. "typical" questions, because we community of users that the HELP receive such a wide range, from Line staff finds consulting so We have contact with many the simplest (such as the challenging. The popularity and computer users and vendors in telephone numbers for dialing into success of the HELP-Line is best government and industry who are the CYBERs interactively) to measured by its volume of usage impressed with the concept and difficult, complex questions (such and the recurrance of calls from Continued on page 58 April1986 57 Continued from page 57 successful implementation of a principal way ACSS reaches out to w~h your next problem, or just call generalized HELP-Line that all our users during their more in and tell us who you are and what ' attempts to answer all questions critical and sometimes frustrating you plan to do on our systems. from all users on any ACSS computing endeavors. We urge system. We see this facility as the you to use this resource: Call us
Gettina Output Using the Lind Hall Laser Printer
Parker Johnson
ACSS has recently installed a new laser printer at the 1288 Lind Hall Input/Output station, and we are removing the Lind Hall impact printers. The laser printer is now the default printer for all jobs. To get files printed at Lind, use the ROUTE or PRINT commands. For details about the PRINT command and laser printer capabilnies, see the article on PRINT in the March NewsletterorWRlTEUP, PRINT.
Files printed at Lind Hall will be printed by default in landscape mode with 66lines per page. You may also get 88lines per page, portrait, or reduced output printed at Lind Hall by means of the PRINT command. You may not, however, specify duplex, three-hole punch, or shifted output for files printed at Lind. If you want these printing options, you should designate Lauderdale as your printing site (use UN=BC as a parameter in your PRINT command), and have your output delivered to Lind (using the UJN parameter). The turnaround time is about an hour.
Compared with the Xerox 8700, the Lind Hall printer offers few special features. The Lind Hall printer can only do underlining, while the Lauderdale printer can do other kinds of special effects (such as boldface, ~alics, or overprinting). Users requiring these features should use the PRINT command to send their files to the Lauderdale printer (UN=BC). The Lind Hall printer will print 136characters per line in landscape mode. You should assume that all lines longer than 136 characters will be truncated.
Examples
To send a file to the Lind printer, you may use either the PRINT or ROUTE commands with essentially the same parameters. For example, the following command will print the file myfi le in standard landscape mode to be delivered to bin 450 in 1288 Lind Hall.
print,my£i1e,un=ea,ujn=ea*450 If you add parameters such as SH oro to this command, your file will be diverted to the printer at Lauderdale where shifted or duplex printing is taken care of, and the output will be returned to bin 450 in Lind. The following ROUTE command will also get your file printed at Lind Hall:
route,my£i1e,dc=pr,un=ea,ujn=ea*450 For further information and examples, especially on using the PRINT and ROUTE commands and the Lauderdale laser printer, see WRITEUP, PRINT.
April1986 58 Math and Statistics Packa.aes ) BMDP83
Bruce Center
At the end of Spring Quarter, we will make BMDP 83 the current version of BMDP on the ! CYBERs and BMDP 82 the past version. BMDP 81 will no longer be available.
You can get more information on BMDP 83 by referring to the on-line CYBER document WRITEUP, BMDP • I r New Features in BMDP 83
Ii Many new transformation functions have been added. These include a crude RECODE function, date and time functions, ability to replace missing values by linear interpolation, and numerous summary statistics within a case, including sum, mean, median, standard deviation, interquartile range, linear interpolation, trend, t-value, and the correlation coefficient. These transformations and others are documented on p. 52 of the BMDP Users Manual.
BM DP Save Files may optionally be written as a formatted file (rather than a binary file). A formatted file can be visually inspected and is easier to transfer to other non-BMDP programs. Seep. 69 of the BMDP Manual.
Many bug fixes have been supplied, especially for BM DP1 T and BMDP2T.
Changes and Incompatibilities
The program known as BMDQ3M (Block Clustering) in BMDP82 has been replaced by BM DP3M in the 1983 release. The old program BMDP3M is no longer available. Users may still access it by typing PAST, BMDP 3M.
Thecommandparameterso, s, AI,MF, andAF are no longer permitted in BMDP83. Attempting to use them will result in a CPU Abort with the dayfile message:
ILLEGAL PARAMETER
Instead, these file names are communicated to the BMDP programs by means of control language directives described below. This usage is consistent with the BMDP 83 Manual.
The broadly applicable parameters:
I [INPUT] lnputfile
L [OUTPUT] Output file
B [none] User-supplied relocatable binary
w [10,000] Decimal workspace available
are still permitted. Default values are in brackets.
Continued on page 60 April1986 59 Continued from page 59
File Use in BMDP 83
Local file names are specified directly within the BM DP control language. The standard input file is requested by specifying:
/INPUT UNIT = 5.
All other files must be referred to by a file name in the FILE = l:fn. sentence. The UNIT = n. sentence, used in previous releases, is not permitted in BMDP 83, except UNIT = 5. to refer to the standard input file. Note that this usage differs from that described in the BMDP 83 Users Manual.
This new way of communicating file names allows greater flexibility in file use, since more than one file of any given type can be used per run. Consider the following BM DP job consisting of two problems, each of which reads data from its own raw data file:
GET,DATAl. GET,DATA2. BMDP3D . . EOR /PROBLEM /INPUT VARIABLES=5. FILE=DATAl.
/END /PROBLEM /INPUT VARIABLES=3. FILE=DATA2.
/END
In this job, the FILE=DATAl. sentence in the first problem specifies that raw data is to be read from the file DATA 1. Similarly, the FILE=DATA2 . sentence in the second problem indicates that data is to be read from OAT A2.
See WRITEUP ,BMDP for further conditions and examples of file usage in BMDP 83.
Library Changes and Additions
Mike Frisch
On Thursday, February 13, we corrected the problem with MATLAB that prevented it from running when it was called fort he first time. (People had wor1 60 April1986 Ii Microcosm ) Microcomputer Security Devices Dan Whealdon ACSS's Engineering Services group is now providing security devices for microcomputers and their associated peripherals. The standard installation includes five equipment plates, two cables, and a lock. This configuration is intended to secure the system un~. monitor, keyboard, and printer. (The fifth plate attaches to a desk, table, or some other su~able surface to act as the anchor point.) A large cable connects the un~s to the anchor point. A smaller, more flexible cable provides security for the keyboard while allowing a reasonable degree of movement. The standard security device configuration is $75.00, installed. Additional parts may be purchased according to the following schedule: Security plates $ 5.00each Standard (1 0') large cable $10.00each Standard (1 0') small cable $ 5.00 each Custom length large cable $ 1.25 per foot Custom length small cable $ 1. 00 per foot All prices include installation. If you wish to have a security device installed on your system, call Engineering Services at 376-1313, indicating the type of equipment you want to secure. University departments should also provide a budget number for the installation. As w~h many other theft protection strategies, these security devices deter theft, but cannot provide complete security. ACSS assumes no responsibility for the theft of microcomputer equipment equipped w~h one of these security devices. Expanded Microcomputer HELP-Li'ne Hours The Microcomputer HELP-Line hours have been extended. Effective now you can call (376-4276) or visit (125 Shepherd Labs) during the following hours: Wednesday & Thursday 9:00 a.m.-4:00p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday 9:00 a.m.-noon and 1:30-4:00 p.m. These extended hours should reduce the waiting time when you call or stop by. April1986 61 Graohics Dl-3000 Available on MD ' Michele Lewis The Precision Visuals Inc. graphics Metafile Translator allows an Guide and the Metafile System packages, Dl-3000 and the application program to create Metafile Translator, are now User's Guide are also available. metafiles, store them, and then Copies of the Dl-3000 available on the MD machine. post-process them on a device. These packages are also available documentation are located in the on the VAX 780 and CA machines ACSS Reference Room in 128A Documentation for the packages is Lind Hall. In addnion, WRITEUP, and will be on the new VAX 8600. available through a number of Dl-3000 is a library of FORTRAN Dl-3000 on theCA and MD and sources. The D/-3000 User's MOREHELP WRITEUP callable routines in which two- and Guide, provided by the vendor, is three-dimensional graphics are GRAPHICS on the VAX 780 available at the Minnesota Book provide the system-specific supported in both batch and Center in Williamson Hall on the interactive environments. The information needed to run an East Bank and at the H. D. Smith application program on the MD package is device-independent Bookstore on the West Bank. This and contains several advanced machine and the other ACSS manual describes both the machines. For help in using features such as retained underlying principles and segments, segment priority Dl-3000, call the HELP-Line, functional capabilnies of Dl-3000. 376-5592. control, and full 3D modeling. The The D/-3000 Quick Reference Spring Quarter Short Courses 1986 INTRODUCTORY COURSES Introduction to Computers McAllister April7-18 (MWF) 2:15-4pm $15,$25,$35 Beginning NOS 2 (Cyber OS) l(rmpotich Aprii21-May 2 (MWF) 3:15-5 pm $15,$25,$35 Introduction to VAXNMS Stearns Aprii22-May 8 (TTh) 2:15-4pm $15,$25,$35 Graphics Packages at ACSS McAllister May 5-14 (MW) 2:15-4 pm $15,$25,$35 ELECTIVE COURSES SPSS-X (Statistics Package) Alberg May19-23 (MWThF) 2:15-4pm $25,$35,$60 Magnetic Tapes in NOS 2 Oberg May20-29 (TTh) 2:15-4pm $25,$35,$60 Beginning FORTRAN Kovarik May 23-June 6 (MWF) 2:15-4pm $25,$35,$60 Programming SIR DBMS Seminar Oberg June 11-13 (WThF) 9am-4pm $100,$100,$150 If you need more information on short courses, call Jerry Stearns at 376-8806. 62 April1986 'l PHONE NUMBERS l Access: Contract Programming ...... 376-1764 CYBER(CA)-10, 30 cps ...... 376-5730 Data Base Applications ...... 376-1764 -120 cps ...... 376-5706 Engineering Services ...... 376-1023, 376-8153 MERITSS(ME)-10, 30 cps ...... 376-7730 Equipment Purchase/Information ...... 376-8153 -120 cps ...... 376-7120 Lind Hall 1/0 ...... 373-4596 VAXIVMS(VA)-(autobaud) ...... 376-8070 Graphics Software ...... 376-5592 Accounts: HELP-Line ...... 376-5592 MERITSS ...... 373-7745 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday User Names ...... 373-4548 HOURS-line (recorded message) ...... 373-4927 Computer-Aided Instruction ...... 376-2975 Information, Wulling Hall ...... 373-4360 Computer Hours (recorded message) .... 373-4927 Information, Lauderdale ...... 373-4912 Consulting: Instructional Labs ...... 376-2703 HELP-Line ...... 376-5592 Instructional Services ...... 373-7745 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday Lauderdale Computer Room ...... 373-4940 Statistics Packages ...... 376-1761 Lauderdale Services ...... 638-0523 1-2 p.m., Monday-Friday Newsletter Subscription ...... 376-1491 Data Bases ...... 376-1761 Permanent File Restoration ...... 376-5605 10-11 a.m., Monday-Friday Professional Services Division ...... 376-1764 Microcomputers ...... 376-4276 Project Assistance ...... 376-1764 9:30 a.m.-noon and 1:30-4 p.m., Reference Room ...... 373-7744 Monday, Tuesday, Friday Remote Batch (RJE) Services ...... 376-2703 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesay, Thursday Short Courses ...... 376-8806 Text Processing & Analysis, Shuttle Bus Service ...... 376-3068 Artificial Intelligence ...... 376-2944 System Status (recorded message) ...... 373-4927 3-4 p.m., Monday-Friday Tape Librarian: see Lauderdale Services OPERATING HOURS CYBER(CA) Low Rate MERITSS (ME) MERITSS (MD) VAX (VA) M-F 7 a.m.- 4 a.m. 8p.m- 4 a.m. 7:45a.m. - 3:30a.m. 8:00a.m. - 1:30 a.m. 7 a.m.- 4 a.m. Sat 4 a.m.- 5:15p.m 4 a.m.- 5:15p.m. 7:45a.m. - 3:30a.m. 8:00a.m. - 1:30 a.m. 4 a.m.- 5:15p.m. Sun 4 p.m. - 1 a.m. 4 p.m. - 1 a.m. 4 p.m. - 3:30a.m. 4:00 p.m. - midnight 4 p.m. - 1 a.m. PUBLIC LABS- TWIN CITIES CAMPUS jLocation Batch Interactive Micro Location Batch Interactive Micro I I East Bank Walib9 X Arch 160 X CentH X West Bank ComH X AndH 170 X DiehiH207 X BlegH25 EltH 121,124 X BlegH 90 X EltH N640 X BlegH 140 X FoiH 14, 14a X x· X MdbH X FronH X OMWL2 X LindH26 X LindH 1288 X St. Paul LindH306B X BaH X MechE308 X Centlib 850 X Physics 69 ClaOff 125 X X PIH X SafH X • Research cluster; access to CYBER CA and VAXNMS Terr X in interactive column indicates access to MERITSS TerrH X VincH4 X For more information see WRITEUP(LABS) April1986 63 Contents 49 Computing Reflections 58 Getting Output 49 Seymour Gray's Machines (Part 1) 58 Using the Lind Hall Laser Printer 51 Programming Languages 59 Math and Statistics Packages 51 Programming Languages on the VAX 8600 59 BMDP83 53 Choosing a FORTRAN Compiler for your Job 60 Library Changes and Additions 56 Artificial Intelligence 61 Microcosm 56 AI Notes 61 Microcomputer Security Devices 56 Text Processing 61 Expanded Microcomputer HELP-Line Hours 56 CYBER Full Screen Editor 62 Graphics 57 User Services 62 Dl-3000 Available on MD 57 The HELP-Line: Past and Present 62 Spring Quarter Short Courses The ACSS Newsletter Direct comments, suggestions, articles, announcements, Apri11986 and subscriptions to the editors at the address below, or Volume 20, Number 4 call (612) 376-1491. On-campus address changes must include your department's name and your departmental Acting Director: Michael M. Skow address. Editors: Steven Brehe, Paula Goblirsch The University of Minnesota adheres to the principle that The ACSS Newsletter is published monthly by Academic all persons should have equal opportunity and access to Computing Services and Systems (formerly the University facilities in any phase of University activity without regard Computing Center) of the University of Minnesota, Twin to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, handicap, age, Cities. Deadline for articles is the 1Oth of the month or veteran status. preceding publication; deadline for short announcements is the 15th. The Newsletter is produced with an Apple Copyright 1986 University of Minnesota. Permission to Macintosh running Microsoft Word, MacPaint, MacDraw, copy is hereby granted, provided that proper and Aldus Pagemaker software, with camera-ready copy acknowledgement is given. produced on the Apple LaserWriter. Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage The ACSS PAID Minneapolis, Mn. Newsletter Permit No. 155 Academic Computing Services and Systems Technical Publications UNIVERSITVARCHIVES 5 Wulling Hall University of Minnesota 10 Walib 86 Pleasant Street SE Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 Deliver to current occupant. April1986