/ 7 to=, Look at what is in this issue: 19M u Add an internal 40MB hard drive to your 4P, by Roy Soltoff v How to make a Model 4 FILTOMAT, by Christopher Fara uw The "C" Language, by Earl C. Terwilliger uw An Environment for MC and LDOS/LS-DOS, by Richard N. Deglin and Roy Soltoff
L4C
-,'
Pr 00 ooO - 0 0 1)
Volume Vll.ii $10 springi 9/93 CLOSEOUT PRICE LIST - effective March 1, 1993
TRS-80 Game Programs (Items on Closeout: NO RETURN) Product Nomenclature Mod III Price S&H AFM: Auto File Manager data base P.50-310 n/a $10.00 0 Comsoft Group Game Disk: Bouncezoids, Crazy Painter, BackRest for hard drives P.12-244 P-12-244 $10.00 Frogger, Scarfman, Space Castle (M3) M.55-GCA $20.00 BSORT/ BSORT4 L-32-200 L42-210 $5.00 Kim Watt's Hits (M3) P-55-GKW $10.00 CP/M (MM) Hard Disk Drlvera(drlv. specific) H-MM-fl? $10.00B Lair of the Dragon (M3/M4) M-55021 $10.00 CON8OZ/PRO-CON8OZ. M-30-033 M-31-033 $5.00 Lance Mikius' Hits (M3) P-55-GLM $15.00 diskDISK/LS-dlskDISK L-35-211 L-35-212 $10.00 Leo Cristopherson's (M3) P-55-GLC $10.00 DoubleDuty M-02-231 $25.00 The Gobbling Box (M3/M4) M-55420 $10.00 DSM5I / DSM4 L-35-204 L-35-205 $10.00 DSMBLR/PRO-DUCE M-30-053 M-31-053 $10.00 MSDOS Game Programs EDAS / PRO-CREATE M-20-082 M-21-082 $10.00 0 Lair of the Dragon M-86-021 $10.00 Filters: Combined I & II L-32-053 n/a $5.00 B GO:Maintenance n/a M-33-100 $15.00 B GO:System Enhancement n/a M-33-200 $15.00 B GO:Utility n/a M-33-300 $15.00 B Hardware interface Kit n/a M-12-110 $5.00 HatFORTH/PRO-HatFORTH M-20-071 M-21-071 $10.00 B Hardware ('" indicates Closeout: NO RETURN) LOOS 5.3.1 Modi Upgrade kit M-10-133 n/a $20.00 B 'Power Supply, 40WT Aztec AC8151 H-PS-A40 $40.00 0 LOOS 5.3.1 Mod3 Upgrade Kit same M-10-333 $20.00 B 'Power Supply, 68WT Aztec AAl2310 H-PS-A68 $50.00 D LS-DOS 6.3.1 Upgrade Kit- M4 n/a M-11-043 $20.00 B 'Floppy Disk Controller M3/M4 H-MM-FDC $35.00 F LS-DOS 6.3.1 Upgrade kit - M2112116 M-1 1-002 $25.00 B 'Double Density Controller (DDC) Ml H-MM-DDC $40.00 F LED / LS-LED L-30-020 L-30-021 $5.00 RS232 Serial Card M3/M4 H-MM-SPC $40.00 F LS-Host/Term n/a L-35-281 $10.00 RS232 Serial Card Kit M31M4 H-MM-SPK $45.00 F LS-UTILITY n/a L-32-150 $10.00 'TeleTrends T1512P modem (M4P) H-4P-512 $49.95 MC / PRO-MC M-20-064 M-21-064 $79.950 Floppy drives (5.25' 360K 1/2 ht) H-FD-360 $75.00 Mister ED n/a M-51-028 $10.00 B Floppy drives (3.5" 720K 1/2 ht) H-FD-720 $85.00 MRAS / PRO-MRAS M-20-083 M-21-M3 $30.00 D 'Floppy Drive Case (2-1/2 ht drives) H-FD-2SV $30.00 Poweroot (Epson or Tandy) P-32-21? n/a $5.00 MSCSI HD, 20Meg M31M4 H-HD-020 $395.00 PowerDraw P-32-220 n/a $5.00 MSCSI HO, 40Meg M3/M4 H-HD-040 $495.00 PowerDriver Pius (Epson). P-50-200 P.50-200 $5.00 MSCSI Hard Drive joystick port option H-HD-JSO PowerMail Plus P-50-003 P-50-004 $15.000 $20.00 MSCSI Hard Drive hardware clock option H-HD-RTC $20.00 PowerMail Plus TextMerge P.50-100 P-50-100 $5.00 Aerocomp HD- 20 Meg M31M4 H-MM-020 $350.00 PowerSipt P-50-142 P-50-142 $10.00 B Aerocomp MD -40 Meg M31M4 H-MM-040 $450.00 PRO-WAM n/a M-51-025 $50.000 Hard drive: Seagate ST225 (20M) R-HD-020 $200.00 G PRO-WAM Toolkit n/a M-51-225 $15.00 B Hard drive: Seagate ST251-1 (40M) R-HD-040 $250.00 QuizMaster L-51-500 n/a $5.00 Hard drive: Seagate ST-351AX (IDE) R-HD-140 $195.00 RATFOR-M4 M-21-073 $10.00 D 'Cable: dual floppy extender H-FD-2EX $10.00 SuperUtilityPlus P-32-132 P-32-104 $15.000 Cable: 4Ft floppy (1 34EDC each end) H-FD-004 $12.50 Supreme HO Driver (PowerSoft-AS) P.12-113 P-12-113 $15.00 'Cable: 4Ft M3/M4 printer H-RC-PM4 $20.00 TBA / LS-TBA L-21-010 L-21-011 $5.00 D Cable: 4Ft Radio Shack hard drive H-HD-CT4 $20.00 THE SOURCE 3-Volume Set sold out Cable: 4Ft MISOSYS hard drive H-HD-004 $20.00 Toolbox/Toolbeft P.32-203 P-32-245 $10.00 B Cable: 26-1069 internal floppy H-FD-2NG $20.00 UNREL-T80 same M-30-054 $5.00 Cable: 26-1069A/26-1080 internal floppy H-FD-2GA $20.00 UTILITY-1 L-32-070 n/a $5.00 Cable: 26-10801A internal floppy H-FD-24P $20.00 XLR8er Software Interface Kit (M3 mode) M-12-11X B $5.00 'Standby Power System: 200 VA sold out 'MD Controller: Adaptec 4010A H-HD-CA4 $45.00 'HO Controller: Xebec S1421A R.Rfl ftwr H-HD-CX2 $45.00 'HO Controller: WD1002S-SHD H-HD-CW2 DISK NOTES from TMQ (per issue) $45.00 $10.00 T80 to SCSI host adaptor H-HD-MHA $75.00 HDPACK: Disk De-fragger n/a M-33-400 $29.95 LB Data Manager-PM (Ver 2.3) n/a M-50-510 $99.00 0 PC-Compatible Hardware LDOS/LSDOS Reference Manual M-40-060 M-40-060 $30.00 0 ZOFAX 96/24 Fax/Modem (PC XT/AT) R-Z1-FAX $125.00 G LDOS/LSOOS BASIC Reference Manual M-40-061 M-40-061 $25.00 D 'Infochip Systems Expanzi (PC) R-IC-EXP $99.00 G LOOS 5.3.1 Diskette - Mi M.10-110 n/a $15.00 D.J10 Tape Backup (PC) R-TD-D10 $199.00 G LOOS 5.3.1 Diskette - M3 M-10-130 $15.00 0J20 Tape Backup (PC) R-TD-D20 $265.00 G LS-DOS 6.3.1 Diskette-M4 n/a M-11-243 $15.00 AB1 1 Tape Adaptor (PC) A-TO-All $45.00 0 EnhComp / PRO-EnhComp Diskette M-20-072 M-21-072 $23.98 KE1O External tape adaptor/case (PC) R-TD-K10 $110.00 F RSHARD - R/S HO driver M-12-013 M-12-013 $15.00 Tadiran TL-5296 AT 6V lithium battery R-PB-TL6 $19.95 B SSCSI - SCSI driver for H-HD-MHA H-HD-SWS M-HD-SWS $25.00 B
The Fine Print MSDOS Software (" " Indicates Closeout: NO RETURN) Freightcodes: A -$3.50; B -$4.00; C .$4.50; 0 -$5.00; E $5.50; LB Data Manager 2.3 M-86-510 $99.00 0 F -$6.00; G -$7.00; H $1 2.00;? -varies; All unmarked are $3.00 DED-86 [Disk/Memory sector editor] M86-020 $29.95 0 each; Canada/Mexico add $1 per order; Foreign use US rates times 'RATFOR-86 M-86-073 $10.00 0 3 for air shipment. Virginia residents add 4.5% sales tax. We accept HartFORTh86 M-86-071 $10.00 0 MasterCard and VISA; Checks must be drawn on a US bank. COD's 'SAJD-86 [Text Editor] M86-040 $15.00 are cash, money order, or certified check; add $5 for COD. Super Utility PC P.86-407 $29.95 B TRSCROSS (transfer <> Mod 111/4 P-86-212 $89.95 B FM-86 (File Manager) L-86-050 $10.00 Lair of the Dragon M-86-021 $10.00 Volume Vll.ii THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume VILii
The Blurb Letters to MIS OSYS TMQIndex...... 2 LDOS 53.1 Type Ahead ...... 7 Upcoming atMISOSYS ...... 2 SAID and LDOSS3.1 ...... 7 Points to Ponder...... 2 DIRCHECK & BACKUP ...... 8 Trade-in Policy ...... 4 Product Queries...... 9 In this issue ...... 4 sscanfO bug in MC...... 10 TMQ Schedule...... 5 PRO-MC dintO fix ...... 10 MISOSYS Forum ...... 5 LOBO MAX8OHD Boot...... 10 DISK NOTES 7.2 ...... 5 Code updated?...... 11 LB Templates ...... 5 FDC Card Installation ...... 11 DOSManuals ...... 5 Discontinued Products...... 12 MS-DOS Products ...... 6 File conversion...... 14 SCSI Driver ...... 6 MLIB, Double Duty, LB ...... 15 FAX Number ...... 6 LBCONV Revision (MS-DOS Closeouts ...... 6 version) ...... 16 Hardware Clearance...... 6 LB86 and extended characters ... 16 Used Software...... 6 Converting PowerMAIL data to Binders...... 6 MS-DOS & LB ...... 17 LB Selecting & Sorting ...... 17 LB86 and Tandy 2000...... 18 : Inside TMQ
-- 4P40M A 40 Megabyte 4P...... 19 How to Make a Mod -4 FILTOMAT ...... 24 THE "C" LANGUAGE ...... 27 %0 0 0 00 DOS Environments ...... 41
List of Advertisors
MISOSYS, Inc. IFC,44-48 Microdex Corporation 23 Pacific Computer Exchange 26 Pacific Computer Exchange 26 TRSTimes magazine 14
List of Patches in this Issue Patch to Model ifi SAID 1.1 8 Procedure for booting MAX-80 from WIN Hard Drive 11 Revised uname() for MC [only on Disk Notes] *
The Blurb - 1 - The Blurb Volume Vll.ii THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.ii
TMQ Index
With the introduction of the TMQ Index, From my observation, DeskMate was articles and other material which has ap- names for Microsoft's Access can be ob- modeled as a chareacter-based version of peared in past issues of TMQ can be tained by the following weird procedure: Windows. So I feel that a good grasp of ordered as a re-print. The index lists the Create an Access table, save it as Cirrus. number of pages associated with each re- development under DM will aid in grasp- Select HelpAbout, hold down the control- ing the intracies of Windows. If readers print; a standard fee of $1 per page will shift, put the cursor on the key icon and feel that they would be interested in read- prevail. By the time you read this, thes click the right mouse button twice. You'll index will be available in three forms: ing of my DeskMate development experi- see ducks sitting on a pond. The idyll is ences, give a shout. shattered when two lightening bolts anni- Aprintedcopy-$10+$4S&H; hilate the ducks. Paradox - get it? Then you get the developers. • An LB Database file set on floppy disk - $10 + $3S&H; Points to Ponder With the downturn in the world military market, many defense industrials are be- • An LB Database file set avail- ing forced to rapidly migrate to consumer able for download from our products. Programmers, who seem to sur- CompuServe Forum (as long vive on Jolt cola and pizza, may soon be Here's help for free-lance programmers: able to get that pizza as quick as a Pentium as the forum remains avail- A new Programmers Registry has been able). processor. Texas Instruments Inc.'s De- established by Solutions Software Corpo- fense Systems & Electronics Group have ration to create a database identifying been hard at work trying to perfect an oven part-time at-home and full-time program- that will cook restaurant-quality pizza in mers. The Registry will contain informa- Upcoming at MISOSYS about a minute. The ovens were designed tion on the types of programming services byTurbo-ChefpresidentPhilipR. McKee, that these individuals can offer on a part - who said, "Forging into areas that previ- time and/or full -time basis to clients. ously were not considered high-tech or Retirees, students, homemakers and oth- defense oriented will become increas- ers with the spare time and the skills Over the past six months, I have been ingly necessary as this country attempts to available to providing programming ser- working off and on at'porting the LB86 reap the peace dividend and pull in the vices are asked to request a free Listing Database Manager to the Tandy DeskMate reins on defense spending." Questionnaire. The Solutions BBS may environment (that's the MS-DOS version). be accessed at no charge by calling 407- Version 3.3 of the DM development sys- Texas Instruments is in the news from tem has been used; however, version 3.5 321-6119(8-N-1). Go to File Library and another new angle - angling mirrors. It has been acquired to continue the effort. I download QUEST.ASC. The completed recently demonstrated live video based on listing may be uploaded to the BBS or via am currently targeting a release of the DM its digital micro-mirror (DMD) technol- version of LBDM by summer. mail or fax. For more information, con- ogy. The DMDs, which are micro-me- tact: Solutions Software Corporation, 1511 chanical spatial light modulators, are alu- Now Tandy has discontinuedall DeskMate Kastner Place, Sanford, FL 32771; 407- minum mirrors about 17 microns wide, development for at least a year; their 321-79 12; Fax 407-321-3098 or407-323- attached to poles at two ends, and sus- emphasis currently is on multimedia un- 4898. pended over static RAM. The mirrors tilt der Microsoft Windows. If you keep your 109 to the right or left, depending on Remember the Randy Cook copyright eye on the PC marketplace, you should whether the SRAM cell under the mirror message accessible in Model I's TRS DOS easily see that Windows as taken over like is holding a 1 or a 0. A large 640 x 480 1 by holding down certain keys during the Blizzard of 93. In any event, an LBDM2 array of the mirrors is assembled which booting? Well according to has been planned for quite some time and provide pixel resolution of a VGA screen ShadowRAM's column in Computer Iwanted to complete thatas a steppingstone in a projector device. In the projection to a Windows version of LB. Reseller News, the developer's list of system, light is beamed through a
The Blurb -2- The Blurb Volume Vll.li THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume VI1.1I condensor lens, and then through a red- ment companies including: AT&T, Integral Peripherals, who introduced the green-blue filter wheel which is synchro- Panasonic, Time-Warner, MCA, andElec- world's first 1.8" drive well over a year nized with the video information fed to the tronic Arts ago, is up to 85MB in their Cobra model DM1) chip. The filtered light is then pro- - which incidentally withstands an operat- jected onto the DM1) chip, whose mirrors And for those 3D-fans out there who are ing shock of 100g. At $475 in small quan- are deformed according to the digital in- tired of the red-green glasses, Electronic tities, the drive may prove attractive for formation that has been written to the Buyers' News reports that Reveo Inc. has PCMCIA-compatible peripherals [don't chip's SRAM. The image is reflected a technology for recording 3D color-im- ask about the mnemonic - it has to get from the mirrors through a projection lens age data in one image, called a spatially changed so it can be pronounced!]. onto a large screen. TI has plans for DMD multiplexed image (SM1). The technol- arrays up to 2,048 x 1,152 mirrors for use ogyis known as multi-mode stereoscopic Stepping up in size, Toshiba is sampling a in HDTV systems. imaging (MMSI),anditproduces 3- color 2.5" drive with a capacity of 340 mega- images using only one display device, bytes at 12ms average seek and an PCAT Video compression schemes are hot! Ac- such as a projector, a video monitor, or or SCSI interface. TMQ's columns are a cording to Electronic Engineering Times, even a printer. The user demultiplexes the hair less than 2.5 inches from hairline to a bold breakthrough was demonstrated image using passive glasses. Underlying hairline. via closed-circuit TV at this winter's Con- MlvlSI is a device called a micropolarizer sumer Electronics Show by video startup, (1iPOL), invented by Dr. Sadeg Fans, If you want to store gigabytes, Micropolis 31)0. The 3D0 interactive multiplayer Reveo's founder. The iPOL is a polymer has a5.25" full-height 8-platter drive which system "took a still image, pasted it onto sheet with an orthogonally polarized stores 3.6 gigabytes. That company rings the visible faces of a cube, then rotated the checkerboard pattern. The pPOL, placed nostalgic for me; my first floppy drive cube. It then made the cube transparent, so over the CCD (charge-coupled device) pack was made by Micropolis. It con- that the still image could be seen on all six imaging array in a camera, for example, sisted of two 35-track one-sided floppies faces as the cube rotated. It then bounced modulates the pixel image the camera is in a beautiful blue case. I haven't used it the rotating cube around the screen, dis- seeing into left and right pixels; the cam- in years, but it was so pretty, that it may torting it to make it appear to be a graph- era has circuitry that does the modulation never be discarded. Two gigabytes are ics-laden block of Jell-0." They "also into left and right images. Multiplexing also available in a3.5" drive from Hewlett- took a live feed from a camcorder, then circuitry then combines the modulated Packard manipulated 15-frames-per-second video, images into one - the SMI. The displayed squeezing, twisting, peeling and stretch- full-color image can be viewed in 3-D Blue lasers jump out again in the news ing multiple representations of a 3D0 using a pair of passive glasses equipped [see TMQ Vll.i, page 4]. IBM, looking for employee's face. Next, the machine pre-' with a pPOL, or directly when a pPOL is ways to stem the tide of red ink, is now sented an image of a revolving globe laminated over a printed image. Reveo prototyping a high-density optical storage made of 120 facets, and sent it bouncing has built a 7-pound flat-panel overhead device using a new blue laser capable of around inside a three-dimensional room; viewing screen priced at $7,995 that can producing 50 mW of 428-run blue light. as this was going on, it orbited a graphic display 260,000 colors; competing de- Since the diameter of the blue light is representation of a light bulb around the vices cost upwards of $30,000. capable of being focused to one-half the globe, rendering the appropriate shading diameter of previously used infrared light, in real time. The architecture capable of My points to Ponder column seems to storage density should quadruple. Coher- performing such feats at consumer prices always have something to say about hard ent, Inc. has licensed the technology hop- is an indication of what is to come." disk drives. That's because drive technol- ing to produce a commercial product in ogy is zipping by. This issue is no differ- about a year. "The core of the system is a pair of ent. Western Digital's new Caviar drive is animation-cel engines working in paral- claimed to be the first to market to pack High-cost optical drives also appear in lel, each a complex graphics pipeline, 212.5 megabytes into each platter of a 2- pleasant packages. Ricoh Corp has re- capable of 3-1) transformation, shading platter 3.5" sub-13ms seek time drive. cently released arecordable compact disk and lighting, transparency control and That's 425 MB for an OEM single-unit (CD-R in lieu of CD-ROM). Atan average texture mapping. The engines can ma- price of $700. access of 500ms and 150 kilobytes/sec- nipulate a theoretical peak of 64 million ond data transfer, its no speed demon. But pixels a second, according to 3D0 presi- Meanwhile, 42.6 MB are being stored per disks recorded on it can be played back on dent and CEO Trip Hawkins. platter on a2-platter85.3MB 1.8" drive by standard CD-ROMs. For those who need Aura Associates. The drive, destined for the capability, its yours for a little over Lining up behind 3D0 are many of the lap-tops, withstands an operating shock of $4,000. world's largest electronics and entertain- lOg.
The Blurb -3- The Blurb Volume Vll.li THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume VII.il
Now foran enviroiunentalpickup, Toshiba into plain vanilla PCs to enable real-time database product and you can purchase Corp has developed a highly efficient, computer recognition of objects which LB orLB-86 for$49.50 plus S&H. How's non-polluting method of turning plastics are in motion.. that for a deal? It doesn't matter for what into fuel oil. One industry observer in system or operating environment your Japan said, "Turning mixed, chloride- And Computer Reseller News reports that trade-in was designed for. This offer does based products into oil is the modern HP will shortly be releasing a 3-pound - not extend to products re-sold by equivalent of turning lead into gold." It is notebook computer with Microsoft Win- MISOSYS or products on sale. estimated that Japan currently generates dows 3. 1, DOS 5.0, Winword, and Excel 5.6 million tons of plastic wastes a year, - all in ROM! Nicknamed the Lion, the approximately 86% of thermoplastic suit- portable will have two PCMCIA slots, one able for the process. With the process of which will support HP's Kittyhawk In this issue..... claimed to turn 1 kilogram of plastics into personal storage module. Pricing? How's one liter of gasoline, kerosene, or a mix- $1,500-$2,000? ture of the two, [get your calculators Out for this one], Japan alone could recover Now for the truly bizarre, the Hitachi 11.54 billion gallons of fuel per year. Cambridge Laboratory and the Cavendish The long-awaited re-print of Earl Lab at Cambridge have demonstrated a Terwilliger's six-part series on the C lan- Fuzzy logic has come a long way since I memory device structure utilizing the guage finally appears in this issue. This C first made mention of it a few years ago. Couloumb Blockade effect they believe introduction should help put the language For those really interested, there's a bul- will eventually be used to store a bit of into perspective. As the original series letin board maintained by Motorola which information with just one electron! This terminated prematurely after the 6th part specializes in fuzzy logic. Try 512-891- was reported in Electronic Engineering because the LSI Journal folded, perhaps I 3733 at 300-9600 baud, 8,N,1. Times of February 22nd - not April 1st! To may just continue the series next time with put this into perspective, current 16-Mbit new material on data structures and func- Did you know that Smith-Corona is the memories use about 500,000 electrons to tions. only domestic supplier of portable elec- store one bit. Where 100 m2 of space and tric typewriters - not that they're manu- 10 kW of power would be required to store Also sitting in the TMQ input box for a factured here in America. SC's now re- one terabits of memory using 16M-bit few years has been Rich Deglin's imple- quired to pay a dumping duty of 16% on devices, a C-B device would need but one ment of an environment for LDOS and typewriters it imports from its production square inch of space and 0.1 W. LS-DOS. Primarily designedforMC,Rich facility in Singapore. Who's that Russian put together stand-alone DOS commands comedian with the famous line, 'America, Finally, theproduction of 386-based com- which could access the environment. All what a country?' Brother International, a puters is grinding to a halt. With Intel the source code is on Disk Notes; thus, Japanese company has moved their type- dropping the 386DX chip, and X86 cus- non-C-based programmers could intro- writer production to Tennessee while our tomer demand of 90-95% for 486-based duce the environment access to their pro- American Smith-Corona moves produc- systems, expect to see few 386 machines grams - if they so choose. Rich did the tion to Asia! by fall 93. code, and I put together a short piece of text to present the concept of an environ- According to Electronic Products, the ment. Oak Ridge NationalLaboratory with joint research by Eveready, has developed a Trade-in Policy Chris Fara, of Microdex, also begins ex- thin-film battery which can be fabricated posure of his expertise in TMQ. Look for on semiconductor processing equipment his article demonstrating a different slant to be included directly into an IC such as on fllter.installation.. a computer memory chip. With the closeout of most TRS-80 prod- Finally, in the last issue of TMQ, I piqued According to Electronic Engineering ucts, our trade-in policy exists solely for your hard drive interestby my reference to Times, Sarnoff Research Center, after ten our LB database and remaining MSDOS- the upcoming SCSI driver. Well it's com- years of research, has spun off a unit to related products. The policy, where appli- plete, and this issue provides complete market their "Smart Sensing" vision tech- cable, is to just send in an original Table specifications on how I turned my Model nology. At the heart of the operation is a of Contents page from an equivalent non- 4? into a 40 megabyte machine. With its pyramid image-processing chip named MISOSYS software productwith the trade- XLR8er speed and 40M capacity, all I the PYR-1. The goal is to create low-cost in fee which is 50% of the price of our need do now is find a way to add a hires board level products which can be plugged product. So for LB 2.3, trade in any other graphics board...
The Blurb -4- The Blurb Volume Vll.ii THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.ii
I handle support via that facility. You can STREK Star Trek collection in- also submit an order either by a message ventory TMQ Schedule saved as PRIVATE, or via EMAIL. VU) Video Tape and Laser MSDOS users can even request an order disk library for selected products be EMAILED as a ZiPed file for nearly instant service (manu- als to be shipped separately). LB Template Disk 2 The MJSOSYS Quarterly is mailed ap- AUD Catalog of audio disk/ proximately every three months. Note tape collection that your mailing label usually has the COMPUTER Catalog of owned com- expiration date of your subscription. For DISK NOTES 72 puter equipment instance, those with "93/03" complete CREATURE Catalog of adventure their subscription with this issue. The game creatures renewal fee to continue with another four LIB Library card catalog issues is covered on page 1. MAILFILE Address mall list / LB Each issue of The MISOSYS Quarterly database example Some folks have asked me if TMQ is contains program listings, patch listings, MIS OSYS Customer information going to continue past issue Vll.iV. Right and other references to files we have database now there are about 260 subscribers -40 placed onto a disk. Where feasible, the or so non-US. To mail at 3rd class bulk text accompanying an article is also on To use any template, simply copy the files rate for US subscribers, it requires a mini- DISK NOTES. DISK NOTES 7.2 corre- to your data drive, create a path file using mum of 200 pieces. Each annual renewal sponds to this issue of TMQ. The disk is LB menu option 14, then add your data. has resulted in a 20% reduction in sub- formatted usually for TRS-80 LDOS/LS- To create a template for others, simply use scribers. That trend implies that Volume DOS users at40D1 (that's40 tracks, double LBMANAGE to duplicate your database, VIII would not have a sufficient base to density, one sided). MS-DOS users can then copy the new set of files to another continue 3rd-class mailing. So unless request a 5.25" 360K disk. If you want to disk. Submit your templates to MISOSYS something changes to project areversalof obtain the fixes and the listings, you may for publication. They are available at $10 the downward subscription trend, con- conveniently purchase a copy of DISK per disk + $3S&H, or free for download sider that TMQ will cease publication NOTES priced at $10 Plus S&H. The from our CompuServe forum. An MS- with issue VII.iv. S&H charges are $2 for US, Canada, DOS 360K disk will hold a pair of tem- and Mexico, $3 elsewhere. plate disks.
MISOSYS Forum LB Templates DOS Manuals
I sponsor a forum on CompuServe. You can reach some "experts" on TRS-80 and Please note the availability of the follow- Don't forget that with our "LDOSTM & MS-DOS subjects by dialing in, then GO ing LB database templates: LS-DOSTm BASIC Reference Manual", PCS49, or GO LDOS. This is probably the which covers the interpreter BAS IC which oldest forum still-surviving from -ilia H Te-Wplate Disk 1 is bundled with LDOS 5.3.1 (even the Mdas. w see it ROM BASIC portion), the interpreter continue, how about popping on for achat DRA Dragon magazine ar- BASIC which is bundled with LS-DOS or a question. ticle index 6.3.1, and both Model VIII-mode and GAMEINY Role playing game in- Model 4-mode EnhComp compiler BA- The forum contains many programs to ventory SIC, you can purchase the disk version of download, as well as lively discussions LEAP Parent group address EnhComp for $23.98 plus $3 S&H. If which thread through the message sys- roster ordering the EnhComp disk, please note tem. You can direct a message to me at PROP Valuable property which version: Model I/ill or Model 41 70140,310. Post a message in private if record you don't want it "broadcast". PTA PTA roster STAMPS Stamp collection
The Blurb -5- The Blurb Volume Vii THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.li
MS-DOS Products FAX Number Used Software
MISOSYS is a reseller of products pur- If you want to reach us by fax, try 703- The following items of used software chased from Ingram Micro; thus, we have 450-4213. packages are available forpurchase. These access to a huge array of MS-DOS prod- are items accepted as trade-ins or other- ucts. So if you are looking for some hard- wise accumulated: ware or software to go with your MS-DOS system, why not get in touch with us for a Closeouts • Radio Shack C, 26-2230 $15 quote. Call, write, or FAX. • pfsFILE, Model 4 26-1518 $15 • pfsFlLE, Model 326-1515 $15 I still have some Tadiran TL-5296 6V • Series I EDTASM I/rn 26-2013$10 lithium batteries usable in most AT-class • Radio Shack ALDS 26-2012 $15 machines. Don't wait for your battery to MIS OS YS continues the closeout of most • Profile 3+ 26-1592 $15 fail and lose your configuration data. A of our TRS-80 software products. The • Compiler BASIC (III) 26-2204 $15 spare's shelf life will probably out last closeout products listed in this pricelist • ZEN EDTASM $5 your machine. will no longer be available from MISOSYS • Quikpro+ $5 after June 15th 1993. Note that no warran- • ZBASIC 2.21 $5 ties, returns, or support are offered on • Level I BASIC Instruction Course $5 these items. • Sargon II (cassette) $5 SCSI Driver • Interlude (Model 1) $5 • Gambiet 80 (mod-I tape) $5 • Macro-Mon (Model Ill disk) $10 Hardware Clearance • Personal Finance 26-1602 $10 • Blackjack/Backgammon (mint) $5 MISOSYS hasaSCSldriver,H-HD-SWS, • Microchess 1.5 26-1901 $5 now available for use with our H-ED- MHA Model ff14 host adaptor. The SWS driver is for directly supporting a Seagate Over the years, MISOSYS has accumu- SCSI drive or exact equivalent; it can lated TRS-80 hardware and related equip- handle a drive up to eight heads and 1226 ment in excess of current needs. The Binders cylinders (approximately 80 megabytes). following items are now classified as sur- Seagate drives which are in this capacity plus and are available for sale to the first range include the 48MB ST157N, the takers (shipping charges are additional): 60MB ST177N,and the 84MB ST1096N. These drives are out of production, how- • Tandy color 2000 e/w stand $150 I have one carton ofMlSOSYS 8.5" 3-ring ever, re-furbished drives should be avail- • Tandy 1000 & mono monitor $125 binders; these are the 1 "ones we used for able at reasonable prices (one source is • TRS-80 Model III (working) $35 our small User Manuals. First come first listed in the 40M4P article in this issue). • TRS-0 MqcielllI (working) $35 served at three for $10 + $5S&H (conti- Drivers for both Model III and Model 4 • Tandy DT-1 Data Terminal $25 nental U.S. only). modes are included. • 25-1061 3.5" External floppy for Tandy 1000EX (new) $50 • Amdek Video-300 Monitor $40 • BMC Monitor (for MAX orMl) $25 • 12 Meg Secondary (bad drive) $50 • DW-U Daisywheel (26-1158) $50 • Line Printer III (no printhead) $25 • Radio Shack Modem U $15 • DW-ll Tractor Feed (26-1446) $10
The Blurb -6- The Blurb Volume Vll.ii THE 1WISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.ii
LDOS 5.3.1 Type Ahead SAID and LDOS 5.3.1
0 Fm LE, Arlington,TX: Roy, I still have Fm DJK, Richmond, VA: For some time trouble with the type aheadbufferin5.3. 1. I have been using my SAID program with its built-in keyboard driver on my Model 44 10 A$=INKEY$:IF A$ = ... THEN 10 ifi. The documentation suggests that I 20 PRINT A$;:FOR 1=1 TO 5000:NEXT should be able to use KI/DVR that is 30 A=A+1:IF A<6 THEN GOTO 10 bundled with LDOS 5.3; but everytime I install SAID andby-pass the built in driver, If you run this program and hit any key 5 I get a "Can't find KI/D VR" message even times very quickly, it should print that key though the driver is loaded and active - at rj five times. The program produces the least as far as I can tell. I have attached a desired effect with a Model 4 and 5.3.0. It short Job Log printout to demonstrate the also works with the KI4JDRV and 5.3.x. problem.
Fm AM: Roy, I am convinced that Type My SAID program came bundled with my AheadonLDOS 5.3.1 does notwork. Jam EDAS program (Version 4.3.a, Serial loosing characters when I type at a normal #821280). The documentation update his- typing speed. This does not happen using tory notes that the disk/program was up- LDOS 5.3.0 with either its own KI/DVR graded to SAID 1.1 on 2/10/86, and patch or using K14/DVR. Type ahead will work SAIDIN5 1/FIX was applied to SAIDINS/ on LDOS 5.3.1 using KI4/DVR. All of CMI) on 4/17/85. No other patches or this is on a Model 4 running in Model III upgrades pertaining to SAID are men- mode. Since I discovered this, I have been tioned in the README/TXT file. testing LDOS 5.3.1 on my Model I's, and Type AheadDOES workfmeon the Model Iwould really like to use the KI/D YR with I with LDOS 5.3.1. Apparantly, there is SAID rather than having to reset *I(J some call within KI/DVR that is simply before using it. (Nasty things happen with bypassing the designed function. Would KIIDVR resident even with type ahead you please look at this? off.) TED has no problem recognizing the presence/absence of KI/DVR. Is some- iz Fm MISOSYS, Inc: Okay guys, you made thing wrong or am I missing something. your point. It involves a change made with the release of the 5.3.1 KI/DVR. There Fm MISOSYS, Inc: The problem is one was a short piece of code which was of syncronization: The LDOS 5.3.1 key- conditionalized FALSE for the Model III board driver was updated subsequently to version butTRUE for the Model Iversion. last implementation of SAID. SAID can't I have re-assembled KI/DVR and have it find the LDOS 5.3.1 KI driver because of available on the Disk Notes accompany- a number of reasons. First, the module ingthis issue. of The MJSOSYS Quarterly. name of the 5.3 driver was "KI3"or"KIl" I'll also make itaviilable for download on for the Model 15.1.4 version; the 5.3.1 CompuServe. By the way, it's not easily driver has a module name of "$KI". patched. Next, SAID needs to index the special character conversion table to change the code for the up arrow key from 5BH to OBH; the table was moved in release 5.3.1.
Letters to MISOSYS - 7 - Letters to MISOSYS Volume VU.li THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.ii
The solution to the problem is to patch Third, there was a post on Roy Beck's "bad" granules. (2) Next, if you have a SAID to introduce the search changes BBS in L.A. that you are getting out of the problem and use DIRCHECK to attempt necessary to find the $KI driver of 5.3-1. IRS-80 business altogether and selling repair, you know the state of granules The following patch should work for off your inventory at close-out prices. If allocated because of defects. (3) Lastly, Model ifi operation: so,I have received no such mailing. If you you should run HDCHECK (LOCK) after are leaving the TRS-80 world, I'm con- using DIRCHECK if granules allocated- • Patch to Model III SAID cerned about continued support for my for-defects were de-allocated. HDCHECK 1.1 MISOSYS hard drive and related soft- is provided with some of our hard disk • Allows finding $KI ware, Naturally, I don't wantyou to leave, driver packages. driver 35=113t but if you must, I trust there will be sort of D2A, 35="I";F2A, formal announcement, coupled with sug- Now with the diskDISK subdirectory fa- D2B, 38&'$KI" :F23, 38="KI1" gestions as to where people like me can cility available for $10, why would any- D2A,C8=A]. FE;F21C8=E7 FF one need someone else's? DiskDISK has Sof turn for support been available since 1983 (that's a good Fm MISOSYS, Inc: By now I have had 10 years) and BACKUP has never had a only one query concerning Goben's CN80 problem with DiskDISK's sub-disks! Per- piece - yours. [How many readers do they haps Goben needs to make sure that he have?] Since I have not read what he writes software which works correctly DIRCHECK & BACKUP wrote, I cannot comment on that. with the DOS? Or when he comes upon a problem, he could report it - I find it a To my knowledge, DIRCHECK does not difficult job to fix problems which remain free up locked out granules on floppies un-reported! Fm HAB, Jacksonville, FL: Dear Mr. which were locked out as flawed. In fact, Soltoff: By now you probably have had DIRCHECK warns you if a file is allo- Finally, concerning Beck's BBS post, several, queries from readers of Computer cated to a granule which is locked out due MIS OSYS is closing outmost of its TR.S- News 80 in which David Goben said in the to a flaw. 80 software. This was announced in the February 1993 issue that yourDIRCHECK TMQ Vll.i issue. You're a subscriber. The is dangerous to use because it frees locked- In the case of hard drives, there is no lock- issue was mailed in early January. Had out granules that should have remained out table. What has been common in the you not received it by the time of your locked out. As I am an owner of TRS-80 community of hard drives, is to letter (February 9)? There will be no fur- DIRCHECK, I'd like to know your re- allocate a flawed granule during an integ- ther support of software being closed out. sponse. I could see this as being a problem rity check of the drive partition. But since One can only speculate on other items. If with floppies, which give me far more this is done in the single allocation table, we continue to stay in business, you have problems with locked-out granules than there is no way for any utility or the DOS a source; if we close down, it is no differ- your hard drive ever has. Could this have to subsequently know that the granule is ent than thousands of other business es- contributed to my abort-and-trashing com- flawed compared to a corrupted directory tablishments which have closed down. plaint that you have never been able to with a granule allocated but not used. duplicate? I have found that it has freed up DIRCHECK will indeed deallocate any Fm HAB, Jacksonville, FL: First, I want hard-drive granules that never should have granule on a hard drive which is unused to say that, although received the winter been locked out in the first place; the only but allocated - however DIRCHECK issue of TMQ, I didn't pick up on the problems I have ever had with your hard prompts you to make sure of your in- significance of what you were doing with drive since I bought it in 1989 have been tended action. the closeout prices. I hope that, in some the result of directory glitches. way, you will stay with usTRS-80 users as The manual states, "Hard drive directo- long as you can, especiaypQpleiike.me Second, Goben says BACKUP has been ries differ from those founJn floppy who bought-your-hard drive and related flawed for years, but that it never mattered drives in that they have d6-lock out table software, and who at other times have until it encountered subdirectories cre- for flawed cylinders during formatting". purchased some of your fine utilities. ated by his software. It seems that the The manual further states, "It is not rec- problem has to do with the drive number ommended to use a diskette with a flawed I can add more detail to what David Goben register being properly set rather than directory. ... recover files by copying to a was saying now, having read his warning ignored. I haven'tboughthis subdirectory known good diskette." What I would rec- against your DIRCHECK a second and software, soft doesn't really matter to me. ommend is to (1) save a copy of the FREE then a third time: He was saying that your But someday I might, so I thought I'd ask. space map immediately after formatting a DIRCHECK inadvertently makes gran- hard drive so that you are aware of any ules within the directory available for
Letters to MISOSYS -8- Letters to MISOSYS Volume VILil THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.li accepting files. Here's the way he put it in number of granules on the cylinder. least once a week, I am reminded of an CN8O: DIRCHECK cannot possibly dc-allocate LDOS feature that I took for granted the unused allocated space beyond that (when it is impossible or difficult to do When a hard disk is formatted, the actually used by the directory under these with MSDOS). unallocated granules on a directory cylin- circumstances! I also examined the code der are locked out so that files can not in my other hard disk driver implementa- Ijust bought LDOS 5.3.1 for the Model I store data on that cylinder. This is the tions, MSCSI and RSHARD. Both con- that I use to replace the SOLEd LDOS proper thing to do... struct the DIR/SYS entry in a similar 5.1.3/5 that was used on both Model Is. I manner. sent a check for two 53.Os for the Model The DIR CHECK program supplied with I when it came out for the Ill. I used the HDPA CK optimizer will note jfgran- Okay, so how could Goben come up with MultiDOS 2.1 fora while until lgotLDOS ules are locked out on the directory cylin- this statement? One way could be if he has patched to 5.1.5.1 still use it occasionally der, and if it finds any it will then turn written a hard disk formatter which does because of a couple of utilities (ZAP, VFU around andfree them. What this means is not properly construct the directory entry & FMAP) that I'm not aware that exists that afile can later have this freed space for DIR/SYS. Another way could be if he for LDOS.I have and use FED/CIvID. I'm allocated to it, and this spells trouble! has done something which corrupted the looking for a disk zapper to handle the DIR/SYS entry. In the past, I have heard double sided drives. One of the features I have difficulty believing this would hap- of folks corrupting the DIR/SYS entry by that I would like is to be able to format & pen, as your DIRCHECK recognizes when opening it up as a file, then writing to it verify a single cylinder. Does MISOSYS it is being asked to work on a hard drive, using standard DOS file access service have one or did I mss it. I also have and I have to specify the H option if I want calls. Such methods are neither docu- enclosed a printout of FMAP. Do you it to proceed. Further, when I looked at my mented nor proper. have something like that. MAP/CMD. partition directory areas, I found no resi- doesn't tell me what file is in specific due of files that don't belong there. So if Finally, I would offer this suggestion: if granule. If a disk crashes (very rare to- I'm right, he's maligned your product. someone believes they have a problem day), I could look for that file on an- But if he's wrong with one of my products, the most sensible other disk or archive copy. thing to do would be to report the problem. On the TRS-MOD 134 national BBS echo, Publishing what may turn out to be erro- The Model4 is my primary machine using I have encountered hard drive owners who neous statements in CN80 about someone LDOS 5.3.0 90% of the time, LS-DOS didn't know about your DIskDISK and elses product without any prior notice or about8%,MultiDOS 1% andotherDOSes SubDisk and thereby were unable to uti- report just shows the lack of respect some 1%. lize all of the storage space if the directory folks stoop to. slots were full. I've told them about I have wanted DOTWRITER for years MISOSYS' solution. This shows you that which isn't available. I heard that I'll be in your corner as long as you have PowerDotis something like it. Where was a corner. And I hope you'll continue to it reviewed or where can I get more infor- reserve a corner for us. mation on its use and potential? I read Product Queries about GRASP that you sold years ago. Fm MISOSYS, Inc: I guess I will just Could this be used to enhance my Model have to disagree with Goben. DIRCHECIC 1/ffl/4 printing? Do you still sell it? will indeed dc-allocate any granule either not allocated to a ifie or belonging to a Fm MISOSYS, Inc: AsMarkTwainonce cylinder speciified with the "H' param- Fm RLH, Albion, NY: I was just reread- said, "the report of my death was an eter. However, a properly constructed di- ing the March 1988 CN80 where they said exaggeration". I don't know how that rectory DIR/SYS entry will show that an that you were getting out of the TR8-80 rumor of me getting out of the TRS-80 entire cylinder of granules is allocated; market. I know that you had to get into market started circulating. Perhaps that's MSDOS tQ continue eagiuLI'myery what they wished! directory, it should find all granules of the thankfiiITht you didn't completely aban- directory cylinder allocated to the direc- don us. The exact capability of FMAP is available tory. If you look on page 169 of THE for the Model 4 with our GO:MTC prod- SOURCE, Volume 3 - The Utilities, you I'm using MSDOS 2.11, 3.3 & 4.0. hike uct [M-33-100]; at it's closeout price of will find that lines 5350 through 5400 are some of the MSDOS software but the $15 + S&H, it's a steal because it also initializing the number of granules allo- DOS still hasn'tcaughtup toLDOS which includes DIRCHECK,FJXGAT,IOMON, cated to DIR/SYS; this number is the total we have had for more than a decade. At RAMTEST, and UNREMOVE.
Letters to MISOSYS -9- Letters to MISOSYS Volume VILli THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume VEil
To format and verify a single cylinder, revised copy of sscanf/rel on this disk of your best bet is Super Utility (where have yours. You need to replace the copy in you been all these years). SU should allow your libraries (LIBC/REL and MATH! you to also re-format a floppy disk without REL). Disk NOTES will also include the losing any data. relevant files. PRO-MC dintO fix GRASP was discontinued moons ago. Since you have to deal with LIBC, which PowerDOT is a drawing tool using block is a biggie, you may need to split it into graphics for displaybutcanprintin graph- two pieces. I provided a utility to do this ics mode to certain printers (mostly old a long time ago; it is called "splitlib". A Fm FS: I now have a fast assembly lan- ones but Epson compatibility keeps you copy of itis also included. lam giving you guage fix to the limitations of the present current). a copy of the text page from the TMQ dintO in PRO-MC. It requires replacing issue. Split rel libraries can be re-com- the FDFIX module in LIBA. However, bined with the DOS APPEND file ffle2 when I load liba/rel into MLIB, I get a (STRIP) command. "symbol table overflow" error. Is there any way to replace this module without As far as the frndO problem you were resorting to the kludge of putting the new sscanfØ bug in MC having, it is caused by your attempt to use FDFIX in a USERLIB? a single precision function in double pre- cision mode. The compiler "float" switch Fm MISOSYS, Inc: You would need to is quite clear on this aspect on page 3-7 split the library in two (use splitlib which where the "+f" switch is documented. It was given in apastTMQ). Then adjust the Fm Richard VanHouten: TEST1/CCC also refers you to chapter 5 where on pages half containing the revised module. Then and TEST1/CMD illustrate the bug in 5-5 and 5-6, the matter is discussed in append the two modules with the DOS sscanfO. As you can teilby running TEST1, extreme detail. What was happening was APPEND command (use STRIP). it locks up when trying to scan a 2 word the float argument was actually being string using "%s %s %s". I disassembled converted to a double, but the function As an aside, the STRIP parm of APPEND sscaxf and found that it passes pointers to was expecting a single; the value used by was put in specifically to append REL 2 subroutines to the main scan function, the function being the zeroed part of the modules - that was its exact purpose. It, of one for getting characters from the buffer number; hence your result. course, could also have been used to ap- and the other from ungetting them. I pend two SCRIPSIT documents by allow- found that the get subroutine returns OxOd I edited your test2/ccc program to cast the ing you to strip off the NULL from the first when it finds end of string, instead of value returned from frnd to a double, then one. Oxffff(EOF) as documented in the manual. re-compiled the test program using the When sscanf() is processing the space "+f" compiler option and it worked as (skip whitespace), the OxOd is considered advertised. I suppose in hindsight, those whitespace and the program locks up try- functions specifically supported only in ing to get past EOF. I have tried this with single precision could have had a note in and without #include
TEST2/CCC and TEST21CMD illustrate #include
Letters to MISOSYS _10- Letters to MISOSYS Volume Vll.ii THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.ii
Do you have any kind of list of software 5. Run the M80BOOT command. This that is known to work on the LOBO? Of changes the BOOT/SYS for M80. course, I refer to your own products, as FDC Card Installation shown on your price list. I'm most inter- 6.Apply the following FIXBOOT/FIX to ested in programming tools, like SYSO/SYS but only to the hard drive: DSMBLR. (My copy expects a tape). PATHSYS0/SYS.SYSTEMFlXBOOT Also, for my Model 4P, does RSHARD (O=N). Fm RTM: Ipurchased a Model ff14 FDC contain =drivers, as M80HARD does? Card from you on 01/19/93. There wasn't I got confused after reading the literature. D00,4D=21 DE 04 11 3F 100107 00 ED any insructions on how to install the card. I have a 5MB TRS80 unit. B021 3C 1000 Help please.
Fm MISOSYS, Inc: You're confusing D00,67=0 94 10 Fm MISOSYS, Inc: They aren't kits. To me! All MISOSYS Model ifi software venture into the world of electronic cards should work on the MAX-80 except SU - 7. If your hard drive has other than 4 for the TRS-80, you need to get your there is a specific MAX-80 version. physical heads, apply the following fix: hands on a Tech Manual for the machine. RSHARD is a MISOSYS product, thus it The FDC card we sell is simply a replace- contains our drivers. PATCH SYSO/SYS.SYSTEM ment. It takes a few pages of instructions (D0B,D7=XX:F0B,D7=04) to convey the best way to open up your As for the problem of direct booting from desktop Model Ill or 4 and lift off the top the MAX-80 hard drive, it appears that the where "XX" is the number of physical without risking breakage of the CRT. If original work was not complete for cer- heads (02, for instance). you do not know what to do, either get the tain configurations. Since I have recently Radio Shack Tech Manual (should still be put together a complete MAX-80 system 8.Move DIP switches 6,7, and 8 to the UP available from RS), or get the assistance for testing prior to sale - including a hard position. BOOT from the hard drive. of a knowledgable assistant. Conversion drive - I decided to dig into the difficulty. from a cassette machine requires many Follow these steps: other parts.
1.Apply the M80DVR/FIX which is on To help you along, the following informa- the 5.3.OM disk. Apply via, tion was provided by the LDOS Forum's Code updated? hardware expert: PATCH SYSO/SYS.SYSTEM M80DVR (O=N) Fm JB: If you don't have 2 or 3 spare power supply connectors (little 4 pin jacks), This will bring the driver up to Lobo's you will need either an extra 38 watt WIN product instead of the earlier UVC Fm MF: Roy, Has SuperUtility+ or power supply or a new 60 watt which product. ToolBelt[I'oolBox ever been updated to replaces your existing 38 watt. A single handle the 6.3.x directory structure (i.e., 38 wattpower supply is on a4"xS" PC card 2. Apply the following patch to the new dating)? Mine are from Powersoft on the front of your motherboard case. A SYSGEN module: days, and if the code's been updated I 60 watter is an 7"x9" card. If you have the should get new ones? largepowersupply butno connectors, you PATCH SYS7/SYS.SYSTEM may need cables. Check when the top is (DOA,75=0300773A:FOA,75=00000000) Fm MISOSYS, Inc: They were never off, but before you remove the CPU. If updated. I wo 'tnchthecodein SU+ you need power supply parts, put the durfe with aienfoot pole. As far as the toolbelt/ computer back together until you have Don't forget to build the BASIC "R01c1 toolbox, we have other products which what you need to complete the job. image" onto SYSO/SYS if you want it. Put operate similarly and are x.3 compatible. the DOS onto the drive partition with head 1. Place the computer on its rear panel, 0. using a towell to prevent scratching the case. Remove cables from the bottom and 4. Backup to the HD, then switch to it as rear of the computer. Remove 10 screws the SYSTEM drive. Then SYSTEM from the bottom, making a diagram of (SYSGEN) to place a config file on it. where the go by type and length.
Letters to MISOSYS - 11 - Letters to MISOSYS Volume Vll.ii Volume Vll.li THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993
2. Place the computer back on its feet and press the mylar flex cable into 37, which 14.Use anLDOS, MS-DOS, orTRSDOS remove the black screw from the rear of will be near the upper left corner of the PC system disk in the bottom drive andreboot the compuer. This screw (a) prevents the board (looking from the rear of the com- your computer using the RESET button. If motherboard from breaking the monitor puter, which is the component side of the it doesn't boot, see step 13. tube socketif the computer is dropped and board). 38, near the top and to the right of
(b) provides a ground connection. Don't center, is for the RS-232board.Pjii jig on - lose it, and put it back when you are the left side of both 17 and 18. through. 9. Finish installation of the CPU boardby 3. Very carefully remove the top, with reversing the disassembly process. Use Discontinued Products monitor tube, by lifting slowly straight up your diagrams and wiring tabs to make and setting it aside to the left on a towell. sure that all screws and wires are properly The cable to the video board is short and replaced. Check your work. Have a cup requires that the top be laid down just to of coffee or a soft drink and recheck your the left of the comuter. Find the plug, note work again. Don't forget the sound board. Fm AM: Well, Roy, lam sad, but I know its connection, and unplug it. Set the top Remember all the grounding tabs. you have been very faithful to those of us aside. that are genuine "die hards". Thank you 10. Connect the FDC cable to the FDC for all (and I do mean ALL!) your contin- 4. The motherboard, FDC board, and RS- board. Pin 1 on the FDC board is on the ued fine support forthe TRS-80's! I hope 232 board are inside the vertical shielded left, looking from the rear. Pin 1 on the you will at least continue to fill orders for box at the rear of the computer. Remove cable is marked as the colored wire on one the older I/Ill products as long as you have the 6 screws which attach the cover/shield edge of the ribbon cable. stock available. When you released the to the rear of this box. Carefully peel away LDOS 5.3.1 for the Model I, you truly the tape at the bottom of the shield; this 11. Put the shield back on the rear of the thrilled my heart, and I know you revived tape is to be re-used on reassembly. CPU board. Use the floppy drive manual the interest of at least a few in the original to set the jumpers on the floppy drives Radio Shack jewel that started all this 5. Mark and remove the cables to the CPU properly. Jumper settings may vary ac- frenzy. Know that you will not be forgot- board (power supply, video, keyboard, cording to whether your floppy cable has ten, and as long asl draw breath, I will still cassette, RS-232, sound board). Remove a twist in a few conductors between the be tapping out .RSOLTOFF to gain access the 8 screws holding the CPU board, 3 at connectors or not. Jumper settings are to some file! Although I have never met the top and bottom and one at each side. identical to those for an IBM PC clone. you in person, I feel that I know you. Remove the CPU board gently. Use Install the disk chimney and mount the Happy New Year to you and yours! Will needle-nose pliers to compress any nylon floppy drives. Break out the dummy you continue to publish TMQ? retainers which hold the CPU board. floppy drive covers from the comuputer top, being careful not to harm the paint, Fm MISOSYS, Inc: TMQ will continue 6. Install an RS-232 board if your com- case, or monitor tube. Connect the power through issue Vll.iv (7.4) for those who puter doesn't have one. Get it from Roy. supply cables to the floppy drives. Con- don't speak Roman). The products listed Don't put your computer back together nect the FDC ribbon cable to the back of in TMQ VII.i as "closeout", will be even- without an RS-232 board. It's cheap, and the floppy drives. Attach all mu-metal tually removed from market by late spring you have to remove even the FDC board shields to the disk chimney. even if any manuals remain. I have to stop to install it. bothering with this IRS-80 market (as 12. F, himsh assembly of your computer by small as it is) and get a life (i.e. job) to • 7. Install the FDC board using #6 x 1/4" reveilsing the rest of the instructions. Use make some money. Many of the products screws and plastic spacer mounts. Attach your diagrams and recheckyour work. Be listed as closed out have not even sold one an unused power supply connector to 33. sure and replace the little black metal copy in the past year, snthere just cannot Press the flat 20 conductor mylar flex screw in the back. be any-legitimate fuss from anyone. cable gently into 32, making sure that it is aligned and all connections are made. Use 13.Boot your computer without a floppy. You or others may be interested in some TV tuner cleaner on the cable to ease the It should boot to ROM BASIC as before. other old stuff I have been digging up in installation andensure good connnections. Check out your computer to make sure trying to clean out the back room. I came Bend the cable so that it will go over the that it works as before. If not, disassemble across a Data Dubber originally sold by top of the CPU board. and redo any missed connectors or bad The Peripherals People. I also found a connnections. Remeber, I told you to brand new Omikron Mapper. I have a 8. Replace the CPU board. Carefully double check your work as you go. Micromation board with 8" floppy drives
Letters to MISOSYS -12- Letters to MISOSYS Volume Vll.ii THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.ii which was used toturnaModellintoaCP/ good answer to that! For one thing, ComputerNews 80 offers a M machine. There's the Stringy Floppy. I service of "freshening" original master also have a System 9710 by Micropheral Fm MP: OK, I'll try my best. First, the disks which can no longer be read. For Devices. That interesting box connects up most obvious is that the software would be another, they have a library of older soft- to a specially adapted IBM Selectric II free. Second, there will always be "new" ware and seem interested in keeping on typewriter to turn it into a printer. The people coming into the scene, even if it's with TRS-80s. thing connects up to the-$rallel printer only 1 a year. Itend to look towards the port. This wi used by some of the early future. What happens in 50 years when the Thank you for your long support. I use types in the business for doing UserManu- Antique Computer Club (or whatever) has MS-DOS machines, too, sokeepmeposted als. My early manuals were done on it. a swap meet, and the talk turns to, say, on your new endeavors. The Selectric II is still used here as a Bounceoids. No-one there has a copy, or typewriter. Some of this stuff may be knows where to get one because the com- Fm MISOSYS, Inc: To all those who offered to the Smithsonian. There's an old pany last responsible for it simply disap- have an interest, my recomendation for 10 Meg 8" IMl hard disk drive andapower peared. Or, on the other hand, maybe anyone interested in maintaining a collec- supply for it which is almost as big as a4P. everyone has a copy because the same tion of my discontinued software is to Interesting stuff. company donated it to the public domain consider setting up the way remainder before abandoning it. I have watched this book sellers operate. Publishers are al- Fm BP: Roy, I wouldn't say I was happen with CP/M software as the years ways closing out their old stock. There are "shocked" at your comment about re- have gone by. Companies have either companies which remainder discontinued duced emphasis on the Model I/Ill/IV dropped CP/M software, or gone out of products. software, with future support limited to business, and then 10 years later, I get Model 4 operating systems and a few messages on my BBS from people look- Right now, with the remaining stock I utilities, but I was saddened. That surely ing for Supercalc 2 or whatever. IfS orcim have left of user manuals, someone or will drive me, and many others, to theMS- had donated Supercaic 2 to the public some group could buy up all the stock and DOS world. And I still really like these domain before dropping CP/M support, have sufficient products to last for years. old machines. I'd have a copy to give these folks. So I There will not be a need to manufacture say: IF you are going to drop the TRS-80 new copies. All it takes is for folks to put Say, I'll bet there is a silver lining to this anyways, any littlepotential revenue from their money where their mouth is. I am one! Maybe MISOSYS will have a spe- the products is lost anyway. So why not getting out of the TRS-80 market for all cial on software! I could upgrade all my donate this stuff to the public domain so but a handfull of products. If some one or stuff to the "latest", and final, release. that future generations can benefit from group of folks want to buy out the remain- That's a plus. Now to take that overdue it? It won't cost you a cent. ing stock, make me an offer for quantities. inventory! You have my price list for closeout pric- Fm MISOSYS, Inc: Sorry, but I don't ing. lam certainly willing to sell whatever Any plans for one of those "Buy the Drive, necessarily have the rights to place all the quantity I still have on hand. But after Get the Software" Deals? software I sell into the public domain. June 21st, anything left will probably go Second, if folks, would take it for free, but to the recycler. Jam tired ofpaying to rent Fm MIS OSYS, Inc: The closeout prices are not willing to pay a reasonable price, warehouse space to store such items that Jsted in TMQ Vll.i; these are special then it shows you what its worth. I don't do not sell. price offered to TMQ subscribers buy that argument. Third, folks will still first. The Cbs u.ing has been adver- bug me over support, regardless. Fourth, As an example, I took over BASIC/S tised to others starting Mri. code within my programs is used in more when I acquired the Powersoftproducts in November of 1989. BASIC/S was then Fm MP: Roy, can we hope that when you am only stopping pliists &lad - along with all the other Powersoft drop the old IRS-80 stuff, that you'll at which no one seems to be buying ata price products - to my catalog at a price of least donate it to the public domain? -It is needed to make it worth my while. $29.95. For three years in a row, I spent a real drag when old software disappears money printing the data on BASIC/S in forever when it could have been placed Fm MF: Roy: If you don't want to donate my catalog; I also advertised all the into the public domain so the users will at to public domain (which is pretty risky Powersoft products in CN80 for a short least benefit from it. anyway), please consider transferring your spell. I never sold a single copy of BA- unsold stock and possibly source code as SIC/S - that's in three years. Now all of a Fm MISOSYS, Inc: If no one has bought well to the folks at Computer News 80, sudden I say it is being closed out for $5 an item in 1-2 years, why should I expect rather than throwing it away outright. and someone wants to buy it. I suggest that that folks will want it now? Give me a the product was not overpriced. If no one
Letters to MISOSYS -13- Letters to MISOSYS Volume Vll.ii THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume VU.iI wanted to buy BASIC/S for three years, it I now sell. When Powersoft wanted out, I tells you what the product was worth - at purchased the rights to PowerSoft soft- least in the minds of the user community. ware for nearly $25,000. When Aerocomp File conversion After three years of 'advertising' a prod- closed down, I acquired their remaining uct that wasn't selling, I junked it. No supply of FDC boards, RS232 boards, company in-their right mind 'would con- Model I Doubler boads (DDC), and hard tinue to offer a product which hasn't sold drive parts along with the CP/M hanidik for three years - let alone one year. drivers). For this I paid a few thousand up Fm DH: Any suggestions on höWto-trans front and owe a royalty on each unit sold. fer to a PS/2 a file that was created in -_ So folks, make me an offer. I will not In order to continue to support the TRS-80 Profile Plus on a TRS-80 Model 4? Are transfer duplication rights for items being market, I have put my money up front to there any DOS databases thatwould handle closed out. Remaindering is the only op- ensure that products remained in avail- this? tion at this point. When LSI decided it was ability. I think it only fair that for anyone no longer profitable for them to continue - or any group - who wants to purchase Fm MISOSYS, Inc: MISOSYS sells a in the TRS-80 market, I purchased their MISOSYS software should pay up front. product called TRSCROSS which should software and rights forwell over$ 100,000; There is no other option. run on thePS/2 andread the TRS-80 disks. royalties are still owed under certain con- You will need a 5.25" drive -which may ditions for Model 4 LS-DOS 6.3 sales. I have plenty of software stock left right not be available for the PS/2. When Teletrends wanted out, I purchased now to satisfy any demand for the next ten their supply of parts for the 175 12 modem years. Folks need to put up the money We also have a data base package called for over $5,000. I paid a royalty advance now! I've made some money in the past, LB86 which has a data base conversion up front of$1 ,000 to The Cornsoft Group so I'm not griping about the costs - only utility called LBCONV which can di- for their rights to the five Cornsoft games reflecting that in the business world, you rectly read your Profile data base file se betterbe prepared to investin ordertoreap. and create an LB file set. LBCONV can
Letters to MISOSYS -14- Letters to MISOSYS Volume Vll.li THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.ii also convert LB format to dBASE format. DDUTY 02.06.00, running under report as follows: This requires the Profile file set to be LSDOS 6.3.1: I have a special board transferred to the PC as binary images. If called EVM which is a microcomputer Loo ohm 2.2k you can TRSCROSS the files or modem without a keyboard or display. It has an LOOk the files, you can then directly handle the RS232 port so it can be used with a 74C245 Profile data with LBCONV. LB86 cur- computer. The software inside the board rently sells-for $99 + S&H; you can take has an assembler, a debuger, and a text Can be generated from the following data: 504off by trading in your Profile. editor. I'm making a program for the 100 ohm, 74C245, 100 ohm, 2.2k, 100k, TMS 7000 microprocessor. The text edi- 100k, 100 ohm, where all correspond to tors very limited, so ledit the source code the same field. (the value field). intheTRS-80 model4, then download the program to the EVM then assemble it for Regarding LB also, I have a question: debugging. That's when DDUTY comes How can I select records that have a field with no information entered?. I need to do MLIB, Double Duty, LB into play: In one partition I run COMM to download the program and to operate the it because at the time the record was typed onboard debugger. In the other partition I in some info, was not available and now, use the SAID editor, so I can go step by I needareportofthoseincompleterecords step checking my program using COMM to update them. Fm AM, Tecamachalco, MEX: Roy, I and, when I find an error, just switch to was reading my TMQ VI and I found it's SAID and correct the source code, then Where can I get a BIOS for my CPIM 3+9 time to renew my subscription. In addi- back to COMM to debug some other The one I have is the once sold by Radio tion, I want to buy some software, But section. It is very convenient to do it this Shack and is full of bugs and badly imple- first, I have some comments and questions way. I found that when DDUTY is switch- mented. about other programs I have: ing from one partition to an other and in that moment characters arereceived from Fm MISOSYS, Inc: Here's some an- MLIB 4.0 and UNREL l.Ob: I was trying the RS232 then a system crash occurs. swers which you may find useful: to take a look at some of the routines in the Due to the way theEVMbehaves, it's very library of the high resolution graphics for difficult to prevent that from happening Both MLIB and TJNREL require a library FORTRAN (ORPLIB/REL) and the from time to time. Of course, that night ifie to have an "end-of-file" indicator as fortran library using UNREL, so I tried to happen any time COMM is running on part of the relocatable module bit stream. separate them using MLIB but got the one partition and there is no control on the If you examine the technical information, error "invalid file format". The program other side of the connection. Is there any such a code will start on a byte boundary spent some time loading the libraries be- solution to this?. and have the sequence, 1001111. This fore the error was displayed, so I figured implies a trailing 0 to fill out the byte; that was some problem with the way the / LB 2.2.0: I have been using LB to main- thus, the end-of-file code is a 9EH. At one rel files terminated and MLIB expected tain a database of electronic components time when MLIB was sold as a separate to. I moved the /re! files to CP/M and used of a controller I designed. In each record product, the disk had a file called the LIB program and successfully sepa- are the component ID, (for example R203 "ENDREL/REL" which contained the rated any modules I wanted. I moved back for a resistor), the component value (100 single 9EH byte. A note indicated that you the separated modules to LSDOS. Then I ohms for example) plus other fields. could APPEND the ENDREL/REL file to tried to use UNREL but got a similar any foreign module which would not load message. Then, another idea ocurred to I need to generate reports, for example, of properly. That's the problem you are hav- me. Using SPLITLIB I created another the total of the 100 ohm resistors in the ing. I see that ENREL/REL may not have library equal to the first by specifying a database, so when I order material just made it to the MRAS or UNREL disks. large size so the result was a single file. multiply that total by the number of con- Simply create such a file (you could use Then I used MLIB successfully to sepa- trollersas "nrble-There-are about 150 the DOS BUILD command with the HEX rate the modules of this new file, and then ifiereñt types (values) of components of parameter), then append the file to any a total of about 350. Selecting them one by library you are having a problem with. question is: why L80, SPLITLIB, one will require going to the select menu DECODREL and the LIB (from CPIM) 150 times (!), and also know all the values DoubleDuty should be able to work prop- can read the files but MLIB and UNREL beforehand. What I'm trying to say is that erly with the COM/DVR provided by the can't, unless I "pass" them through beside sorting and selecting options, the DOS if the driver is installed before load- SPLITLIB? capability of making totals of the values of ingDoubleDuty. That's because the driver a field can be very useful. For example, a uses the serial port's received character
Letters to MISOSYS -15- Letters to MISOSYS Volume VII.li THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.li interrupt for receive data. If the COM minus signs and periods. Since the minus edit the field list to "X" out at least as driver was installed into a partition which sign is the lowest-valued ASCII charac- many fields as exceed 64 and convert to a was swapped out, a received character ter, the match string would be "*" new LB ifie name. This results in two would cause an interrupt which would be Another thing you could do is to turn on database file sets. vectored to a driver handler no longer the ADD index when you are adding resident. The computer would most likely records. You can then go back to those As_the_I-80 version had insufficent crash. If you are using a communications specific records by using the ADD index available memory tOxpand the dta ar- program which accesses the serial port during an editing session. eas to 99 fields, only the MS-DOS vrsiiY directly and which uses the interrupt, you has been changed. can not switch that program out of its As far as Tandy's CP/M 3+ which they running partition. Now since you are us- sold for the Model 4, it was always rated ing COMM. that implies use of the COW by users as just about worthless. Your DVR. So make sure the driver is installed better bet is to obtain a copy of Montezuma before DoubleDuty is installed. Micro CP/M 2.2 which should still be available from Computer News 80 in LB86 and Your need of a capability in LB for mak- Casper WY. ing totals of the values of a field is called extended characters a cross-tabulation. LB does not currently provide that capability. But I'll consider that as an item for a future release. Cross tabulation could also be done via an exter- Fm DMS, Queensland, AUSTRALIA: I nal utility. The data base structure is thor- LBCONV Revision am encountering aproblem with theLB86 oughly documented in the Reference Data Base Manager when attempting to Manual. One utility which operates on the (MS-DOS version) print Multiple Across Labels. The prob- data file was published in The MIS OS YS lem appears to be the use of a Control Quarterly, issue ffi.i (summer 1988). Cross Code \156 to print the POUND Sign. tabulation could be done simply by scan- Example 1 shows that on lines 2 and 3 the ning through the data records - perhaps Fm MIS OSYS, Inc: I had one LB86 user characters move one space to the right on according to an index file - accumulating who converted from a Profile 4 database the second label and two spaces on the totals on those fields you wish to cross which used about 80 fields. Since LB/ third label. Presumably this would con- tabulate. Obviously for each field, you LB86 support a maximum of 64 fields, tinue on subsequent labels. would need to construct a two-dimen- LBCONV likewise was coded to handle a sional array (one string element and one maximum of only 64 fields. It turns out However Example 2 shows that using the integer element) of the differing field that LBCONV, although only supporting # instead of the Control Code there is no contents so the diffeent values could be a conversion of 64 fields, did not safe- problem. grouped and totaled. A simple insertion guard against a source data set with more sort could be used to keep the various data than 64 fields. I would be obliged if you could offer any entries of a field; or a btree could be used. advise to overcome this situation. My Perhaps some budding programmer could I have therefore upgraded the LBCONV printer is a PANASONIC KX-P1 180. whip together such a tool before I have a utility to properly accept a Profile data- chance to - I'm tied up with abig develop- base file of up to 99 fields - which is the Fm MISOSYS, Inc: The use of control ment effort right now. maximum supported by Profile. LBCONV codes in LB86 (and equivalently, LB) is will display the field information for all for the control of printer functions, al- As far as selecting records which have no fields in.-the Profile database. However, though you have found that any character value, that is an easy one. Let's consider LBCONV will only convert the first ac- value may be generated with a control a literal field first Since an "L" field can tive fields it finds up to a maximum of 64 code. The reason why LB permits any contain any ASCII value, that represents - theLB limit. value to be a control code is that printers a range of from 20H (a space) through may use any character or sequence of 7FH. Therefore, if you select on the field Fields are"deactivated"by using the EDIT characters for control purposes; they do with a match string of "!*" and a select command of LBCONVto change the field not limit themselves to ASCII control criteria of "LT',that will pull in any record type to "X". To accomplish a conversion codes. that does not have a non-space character. of all the fields, convert the Profile file set For alphabetic fields, use a select string of and LB will take the first 64 fields. Then But the LB User Manual is quite specific "A*". Numeric fields allow digits 0-9,
Letters to MISOSYS -16- Letters to MISOSYS Volume Vll.li THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.ii in stating its treatment of control codes. the solution: Data 1 109,5 On page 98, the following statement re- Data2 114,12 veals your problem: "In printing control The TRSCROSS program can read the characters, LBDM will not count the char- TRS-80 Model 4 disk files directly on an With this set of specifications, LBCONV acters used to define the control code." MS-DOS machine. LB86 has a database will generate an LB database file set. You Therefore, not only are the sequence of conversion utility, LBCONV, which can would then be able to access your data characters within and including the directly generate an LB86 data file set using LB86. You can automatically gen- backslashes ignored for the purposes of from the PowerMAIL ADDERfi1e. Here's erate a view screen using LB's Define column counting, neither are any of the what you need to do: screen module. LB's Define print module character values generated from the con- has a facility for automatically generating trol code. Thus, your use of a control code 1.Copy all of your data file records into an mailing label formats as well as form with a value of 156 to print the British adder file; you may need more than one listings you can use. POUND sign will print as such on your adderifie to accomplish this dependingon printer, but LB86 does not increment its the number and size of your datafiles. The column counter. So when you are printing technique for doing this is covered in the multiple across labels, each succeeding PowerMAiL Plus Operator's Manual un- label across will shift that line by one der the topic, Creating subfiles from a column each time the POUND is printed. PMAILIDAT file. LB Selecting & Sorting Your solution is to code convert a print- 2.The record fielding of the ADDER file able character external toLB .That's pretty is discussed in the Technical Information easy on the TRS-8Oversion using a printer section of the manual. As you will see, filter; the FORMS filter's XLATEparam- each PowerMAlL Plus record is contained Fm WEH, Humboldt, TN: On June 4, eter could be used for this purpose. Under in 128 bytes (the record size). Note that 1988 you shipped me item no. L-50-510 MS-DOS, it would take a TSR to handle the manual has an incorrect value for the Model 4- LB Data Manager and item no. the character conversion. Since LB 86 sup- "Data 2" field - the size is "12", not "2". L-50-515 Model 4-LB Mtce Utility. ports only 7-bit printable characters, you The ADDER file also contains an addi- cannot simply enter and character value tional sector of data; however, since this is At about that time in my retired life, I greater than 127; thus, either a printable exactly 256 bytes, it can be thought of as became extremely occupied with volun- character needs to be converted exter- two fictitious data records. teer work for Lions Clubs International nally, or the control character facility and had no time to devote to any new must be used (which does not align col- 3.You would use TRS CROSS to copy the computer projects. I never took the above umns). PMAIL/ADD file(s) as binary images. mentioned items out of their package until That's just a mode you will specify in the a few a weeks ago. I am presently main- It sounds like a character conversion table TRSCROSS program. taining a mailing list of Lions members maybe a useful addition toafuture release names and addresses - about 1800 data of LB. But I'm not making any promises. 4. Once the ADDER file is moved to an sets - using the label printing technique of MS-DOS disk, you can then build an Allwrite. I cannot take all the data into LB86 database using the ADDER data memory ofaModel4-D at once and do not file. LBCONV needs to know the length have sorting capability. My data is main- of a record (128), and the type, starting tained in several files and insertions and position, and length of each field. All deletions have to be done manually at the Converting PowerMAlL fields with data usable by LB86 are ASCII proper places. information. The length and starting posi- data to MS-DOS & LB tion of each field would be as follows: Recently I decided to try to set up another data base which I maintain, using Little Last name 1,15 Brother. I have poured over the manual, First name 16,10 reading, re-reading and reading several Fm MISOSYS, Inc: We recently had a Company 26,20 times again, trying to understand the pro- query on how bestto migrate aPowerMAIL Address 1 46,20 cedure for setting up a data base. I have data base to MS-DOS. That problem is Address2 66,10 concluded that LB is an extremely versa- easily solved using two of our existing City 76,15 tile program and that the author of the products: TRSCROSS and LB86. Here's State 91,8 manual undoubtedly knows a great deal Zip code 99,10 about it. Unfortunately it has proved ex-
Letters to MISOSYS -17- Letters to MISOSYS Volume Vll.ii THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.li
tremely difficult for the manual to impart tion criteria. package as a template. When we released much help tome in setting up a data base. 2.0, we included that database template I have tried to setup an experimental file 2. Next, select on field one with a named MAILFILE. This template is dis- using data from two amateur radio clubs match string of "*A*"; do NOT cussed in the Getting Started section of for which I also maintain mailing lists. I add it to the sort siring; this will the UserManual. With releases 2.0 through have managed to set up passable field select any record if the status field 2.2, the template files fit onto the Installa- definitions, screen definitions and print has an "A" in it. The reason for the tion disk; however, with the added mod- definitions. Print- outs of some of the are both the [preceding and succeed- ules of 2.3, MAILFJLE no longer fit. We enclosed. I am stuck, however, at select- ing asterisks are to ensure the proper have various database templates available ing and sorting. selection if the status field has the (see current list herein). MAILFILE ap- membership status in any order. pears on the 2nd template disk. Because a The single letter identification of the two Then specify "OR" for the next third disk is now needed to provide LB for clubs are "A" and "H". There is much selection criteria. the TRS-80, we provide the complete overlapping of their membership. I in- TEMPLATE 2 disk for the MAILFILE tended to use Field No. 1-STATUS -tobe 3. Next, select on field one with a template. able to select the names and addresses for match string of "*H*"; do NOT either "A" or "H", "A" and "}F' combined add it to the sort string; this will and to add to either or both groups former select any record if the status field members "F" and prospective members has an "H" in it. "P". The resulting grouping needs to be sorted in ascending ZIP order (Field #10). 4. Lastly, there is no more criteria, so LB86 and Tandy 2000 Can you suggest how this can be done? designate an index file to use.
Recently I received from you an offer to If you wish to send a mailing only to obtain the latest 2.3 version of LB ata60% members of both the "A" and "B" groups, savings. Can I assume that the new manual then use an "AND" connective in step 3 Fm MISOSYS, Inc: Just a brief note to is even just a little bit easier to understand instead of "OR". This will tag the record those throngs stilipeckingaway ataTandy by one who doesn't know all about the only if the status field has both member- Model 2000.1 recently decided to put my subject than the original one? I have no ship states. color 2000 up for sale (see last TMQ need for calculated fields. I just want to issue). In order to do that, I had to put it maintain simple mailing lists from which If you wish to add in the former or pro- back together and test it out - I had previ- I can include or exclude certain groups of spective members to either of the above ously dismantled it to use the 80 track names. If you are willing to ship it to me selections, then you should simply re- drives over on a Model 4. Once back with the conditions that I may return it for quest an "OR" connective in step 4 with a together, it still worked. I then decided to arefund ifljustcan'tcomprehend the new match string based on where you have the try out version LB86 2.3. manual, lam willing to try it. My origina "F' or "P" status stored. If this is also kept index page is enclosed. in field 1, then you are selecting field one I discovered without great surprise, that athird orfourth time - thatis notaproblem the LB86 install program crashed due to Fm MISOSYS, Inc: From the description so long as you do not add a field to the the different video addressing of the Tandy of your existing database and your desire SORT STRING more than once. 2000. However, when I copied over a to extract member records based on the decompressed set of LB86 files, the data- STATUS field, your solution is really Once the index ifie is created, you use that base package worked without a hitch. quite simple. Here's what you can do... file with the PRINT command to print Even the color support up to snuff. So if only those selected records. I also recom- you still are playing around with a Tandy If you want to send a mailing to members mend creating a macro (JOB) file for the 2000 and want to acquire a database for it, who belong to either "A" or "B" (i.e. their sort/select set of commands so you can LB86 will work. All you need do is to status field is either an A, B, AB, or BA), automate the index tile generation for the ec that you need a custom decom- then use the sort/select command: next time you need to re-select. pressed set of L 86 files.
1. First specify field 10 sorted in as- The LB version 2 manual contains an cending order with equal to any- extensive section which takes you through thing (i.e. just ENTER); this is to the motions step-by-step of creating a cause a sort on the ZIP code. Then database. It illustrates this activity with a specify "AND" for the next selec- mailing list application included with the
Letters to MISOSYS - 18 - Letters to MISOSYS Volume Vll.ii THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.li 4P40M ___ A 40 Megabyte 4P by Roy Soltoff
When MISOSYS first designed its IRS- M[SOSYS T80 to SCSI host adaptor was 80 Model ff14 hard disk package, the born. most common drive available was the MFM drive (ST5061412 type of interface). Subsequent to the use of the existing con- MFM was the original drive type used trollers and MFM drives, drives with em- with the TRS-80 Model land III by Tandy. bedded controllers started to make their In fact, it was the only type available. way onto the scene. Two types of embed- Tandy used a custom hard disk controller ded controller protocols were ESDI and provided by Western Digital; however, SCSI. Since my host adaptor would be that controller was still quite expensive port-compatible with the SCSI drive, I and had limited availability. decided to explore writing a driver to directly support SCSI drives. The benefit Other common controllers used with MFM of this would be to lower the cost, do away drives were the Xebec S1410 (virtually a with the controller and subsequent power standard) and the Adaptec 4000. Both of consumption, and take up less space for an these controllers required a SASI (Shugart internal installation. Because of a require- Associates System Interface) port on the ment left undocumented in the Seagate host (Computer side) and presented an SCSI Interface Manual, the completion of MFM interface on the drive side. SASI the driver was delayed for well over 18 grew into SCSI (Small Computer Systems months; Seagate proved quite elusive in Interface) which is essentially electrically the area of providing technical assistance. compatible with additional software com- As was noted in the Vll.i issue of The mands. As an aside, due to the terseness of MISOSYS Quarterly, I had finally ex- the command set with regard to support- tracted from Seagate, the information ing more than just hard drives, SCSI grew needed to complete my SCSI hard disk spa into SCSI-2, and is on the verge of grow- driver. Unfortunately, the ST157N is no ing into SCSI-III. longer manufactured by Seagate; how- ever, re-furbished drives are available from As had been discussed in previous issues jb, TECHNOLOGIES, 5105 Maureen of the Quarterly, I had originally wanted Lane, Moorpark, CA 93021 [800-688- to use a new PC-compatible controller, 0908, FAX 529-60571 for $190. You may however, there never was a direct way to also need a 5.25" adaptor housing. I also control the sector size (available PC -XT have a small quantity of 20MB ST325N controllers were fixed at5 12-byte sectors). drives available for $150. Thus, I had turned t011ie surplus availabil- ity of S 1410-type controllers. An adequate My first thought of installation of the supply of Adaptec 4010 and Xebec 1421 Seagate ST157N drive was a configura- controllers was acquired (approximately tion internal to the Model 4P computer. 400). These could be easily associated That's a relatively compactunit, prized by with the MFM drive type. All that was most folks owning one. An un-modified needed was a host adaptor to couple the 4P has two half-height 5.25" drives in a TRS-80 50-pin external bus to the SASI drive bay to the right of the video tube. interface side of the controller. Thus, the Considering power consumption, each
Inside TMQ _19- Inside TMQ Volume Vll.ii THE MISOYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.li
original floppy drive draws 0.8 amps aver- 6.three feet of 50-conductor ribbon cable provision fora headerpin strip in common age at 12 volts (9.6 watts) and 0.8 amps (4 (* $20 for both cables) with the 50-pin expansion port edgecard watts) from the 5 volt supply. Peak current fingers. If you have ever looked ata Model draw from the 12 volt supply increases to 4 mainboard, you will observe the dual Optional parts 1.3 amps (15.6 watts) during motor turn- roLafhoi (25x2) just to the insid e of~ha on. The Seagate ST157N draws 12 watts 1. one switch: Radio Shack 275-636 edgecard fi .-These-hoIe1ere de- which is less than the total average power 2.20" red 22 gauge hookup wire signed for the installation of a header strip. of the Tandon TM50-1 floppy drive; how- 3.10" yellow .22 gauge hookup wire But Tandy never utilized the external port
ever, the information at my disposal does 4.20" 9-conductor ribbon cable (for joy- internally - and consequently never in- not isolate the power consumption be- stick) stalled the header. The through holes tween the two supply voltages. My host 5.one 9-pin male D-sub-miniature mc (that's the term applied to the holes going adaptor consumes about 1.5 watts from a connector (for joystick) through the printed circuit board) there- 5 volt supply; thus, the ST157N with host 6.one 10-pin header connector (for joy- fore become collected with solder during adaptor should easily replace a singlefloppy stick) the wave soldering of the boards. on a total power consumption basis. (* $10 for completed cable) I wanted my 4P to be able to continue the The 4P in which I installed the 40 mega- Before you begin availability of the external edgecard port, byte drive was equipped with Tandon so I decided to populate the header-holes TM50-2 360K drives and an XLR8er Before I began the installation, I decided with a header pin strip. This is useful to board. According to the Technical Manual, to also modify the 4P motherboard to add allow you to add some other non-compet- the TM50-2 should consume the same the port for external floppy drives. This ing external device needing the port. I use power as the original TM50-1 installed. modification was covered in Tsun Tam's the term non-competing from the stand- However, after installing the hard drive, I article, Upgrade your 4P with external point of the CPU ports used by the device. made the observation that the video screen floppy drives, originally appearing in 80 Myhostadaptoruses the same ports for the bloomed on access of the 5.25" floppy as Microcomputing and reprinted with their hard drive as does the Tandy hard drive; the motor turned on. Therefore, I decided permission in The MISOSYS Quarterly, thus, both could not be connected at the to reduce the power draw on the supply by issue IV.iii (reprints available). I would same time unless one wasn't electrically .replacing the remaining floppy with a 3.5" likewise recommend that anyone taking seen. Using an internally added header for drive as modem 3.5" floppy drives con- the time to install a hard drive into a 4? the connection gave me the opportunity to
sume very little power - in the neighbor- should perform the external floppy port connect, for instance, a different hard hood of 1.5 watts and only from the 5 volt modification at the same time if it has not drive (Radio Shack) to the machine with- supply. Besides, the 720K 3.5" drive would already been done. As the 4P I converted out having to switch cables simply by work better as a device to back up files was agate array model, the external floppy disabling the internal host adaptor with a from the hard drive. modification was exceedingly simple; all switch. Besides, trying to plug in an it took was the installation of four jumper edgecard connector to the external port The following material covers the meth- wires and the fabrication of thenew cables. from a cable snaking from inside the ma- ods I used to physically install the host The addition of the external floppy port chine is rather clumsy. On the other hand, adaptor and the hard drive into the 4P. also provided me an opportunity to re-use unless you have access to a vacuum de- Other methods could be used to mount in the two internal 360K floppies removed to soldering machine, you will not be able to a desktop installation (i.e. a 4 or 4D). allow room for the hard drive and 3.5" remove the solder from the through holes 720K floppy. I conveniently installed the to enable the addition of a header pin strip. two 1360K drives in one of my external But if you do have access to such a tool, I What you will need floppy drive cases. would recommend that you add the strip. To install a drive and host adaptor, you will need (* indicates part available from Because the4P upgraarticle detailed Installing the hard drive MISOSYS - we can make the cables): the procedure on opening up the 4P, I will not discuss that in this article. Please refer Physically mounting the hard drive is
1.two nylon standoffs, 2" in length (* $1) to your 4PSrvice Manual or the previous relatively easy - it takes no more effort than 2.two nylon nuts (see text) article. changing out the floppy. With the 3.5" 3.one 12" long Y power cable (* $5) 5T157N drive mounted in a 5.25" half 4.three 50-pin female header connectors When Tandy was designing the Model 4, height housing, the drive mounts verti- 5.one 50-pin edgecard connector or they originally wanted to allow for a hard cally just like a floppy. Vertically mount- 5. a fourth header connector and a 50-pin drive internal to the case. Because of that, ing the 3.5" hard drive on either edge (not header pin strip the motherboard was fabricated with a either end) is an acceptable mounting
Inside TMQ - 20- Inside TMQ Volume Vll.ii THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.ii
position according to the specification alignment of the holes for the 3.5" drive - the power supply. Place it on a work sheet. This will most likely require some if you are proceeding with that change as surface with the power connectors posi- fine tuning of the mounting holes in the well (recommended). This time, re-install tioned towards the right. Note the mylar drive cage to allow for proper positioning one of the drives (or install the hard drive) insulator between the power supply and of the drive bezel. into the closed side of the card cage and the panel. MakesureitstaysinpIewhenyou check alignment of the holes for the floppy re-mount the power supply to the panel. The mounting hole positions for 5.25" - aligning the front bezel with the front drives are a standard - all drives have bezel of the existing drive. If your 4P has a Tandy supply, "TANDY screw holes in the same location. But these CORP." is stenciled on the PCB to the positions are relative to the body of the Installing the Host Adaptor right of the large 220 pP capacitor. Note drive case. The problem with the 4P is that the hole which is above the right hand side the drive cage mounts with the front bezel The host adaptor is a small circuit board of the fuse, just beneath resistor R38 to the of the drive fitting flush against the case approximately 3.625' by 6.25" in size. left of the AC power connector. This is an front. Different drives have different thick- The only available position is in the area unused hole which becomes one of the nesses of front bezels - there's no standard containing the CRT, power supply, and holes for mounting a standoff. Another for that. If the drives fit through the front video board. Ipreferto have a solid mount- location for drilling a hole can be found 1- case, there would have never been a need ing; therefore, I decided to mount the host 1/8" from the bottom and 5-3/16" from the to modify the hole positions of the cage; adaptor above the power supply. I chose to right. Thatposition is between transformer however, because the holes must be posi- use 2" nylon standoffs connected to the Ti and inductor L5. If you look at the trace tioned according to their displacement power supply circuit board to provide a side of the supply, the location is just from the front of the case, drives with physical mount for the host adaptor. lused southwest of the part number 8709365. different thicknesses of front bezels will the same standoffs to mount the host adap- Hold the board up to the light and you require different locations for the mount- tor above the power supply in my original should be able to see the area vacant of ing holes. You can find the exact locations external hard drive design. The mounting both traces and components by looking for the holes somewhat easily as follows: holes in the host adaptor circuit board are through the PCB. Mark the location and in the positions utilized by the 60 watt carefully drill the hole. A 1/8" size is 1.After removing the drive cage from the supply of the Leadman case - which is also sufficient; however, it is best to start with 4?, remove the floppy drive which is on the same mounting locations for the 38 a much smaller drill bit first, then re-drill the closed side of the cage. This is the drive watt Astec power supply used in the Model with the 1/8" bit. I use a Black & Decker :1 floppy and it will be removed to provide ifi. The 4P, of course, uses the 68 watt high speed rotary tool for this job. a position for the hard drive. supply, which is larger, and therefore does not provide existing holes in the same The host adaptor will be positioned above 2. Now hold the hard drive on the outside positions. Here's where some ingenuity - the power supply with the H/A power of the cage so that you can see its mounting and daring - comes into play. connector above the power supply's power holes; align the front bezel of the hard connectors. Thus, the H/A mounting hole drive to coincide with the bezel of the I found that using two standoff mounts adjacent to the joystick port is used with remaining floppy. Mark the front-to-back provided sufficient stability to the host the standoff mounted in the hole nearR38. position of the holes on the cage. adaptor. In order to provide two mounting A hole corresponding to the drilled hole holes on both the power supply printed needs to be drilled in the H/A. The new 3. Now slide the hard drive into the cage circuit board and the host adaptor board, it hole is approximately where the "C" of the and check the displacement of the holes is necessary to find corresponding hole "SCSI INTE.." is stenciled on the H/A. from the closed portion of the cage (the locations which do not interfere with the Note that there are two traces on the drive electronics board will be adjaceutto circuit-traces nor the components. You component side of the board; you do not the mg-floppy--If-thaiiies do not must remove the power supply from its want to drill through them! Mark a posi- line up exactly, mark their displacement. mounting panel to drill the necessary holes. tion exactly 1-1/16" from the left edge of the WA and 1/4" from the bottom. Drill Typically, the needed holes will be rela- There are six screws (three on either side) the hole from the component side to mini- tively close to the existing holes; a small which mount the power supply panel to the mize any flaking of the surface which round file will allow you to expand the case. Remove the screws and tilt the panel could unseat the trace. Again, start with a existing holes to fit the mark. Please re- with the supply away from the case. Re- small drill bit (I use a #49 which is .0730" move the existing drives from the cage move the three power cables from the in diameter) then enlarge it to 1/8". before using the file. supply so that you can remove the panel. Four screws mount the power supply to the If your 4? has an Astec power supply, two The same procedure can be used to ensure panel. Remove them and you can remove holes have to be drilled as the available
Inside TMQ - 21 - Inside TMQ Volume VII.li THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume VILli unused hole near D5, R17, and R18 is too floppy drives and adding two components cage to minimize any chaffing of the cable far out of position. Incidentally, if you ever needing power, another power connector leads. You now have one power connector wondered why these holes are on circuit must be added. The cable powering the for the H/A and another for the hard drive. boards, sometimes the mechanical appa- floppies does not leave sufficient mom to Connect the male connector of the Y cable ratus used to manufacture printed circuit reach the hard drive, so the easiest solution to one of the floppy power coiectors. boards needs a hole for positioning the overall is to use a"Y"poweradaptorcable; board. Turn the Astec supply to see its I used a 12" adaptor cable. Recollect that If you are going to install a power switch, trace side with the power connector to the I wanted to be able to selectively power follow this procedure. Using the Y cable, left. One hole is marked 1-1/4" from the down the internal drive so that I could use cut the red and yellow leads one and a half bottom and 5/8" from the left. From the the external port with another drive. To inches from the male connector; red is the top, this is approximately where the ground isolate the hard drive from a signal stand- 5V line and yellow is the 12V line. There designation is stenciled to the rightofC24. point, it is only necessary to disable the is no need to sever the black leads which The other hole is marked 1-1/16" from the host adaptor - that's the only thing seen by are ground leads. Then extend the red/ bottom and 5-1/4" from the left. Looking the computer. Since the H/A uses only the yellow leads using two pieces of wire ten from the top, this hole is positioned above 5V DC supply, the H/A can be isolated by inches in length, from the male connector J2 (a jumper), to the right of C7, and to the switching off the 5V going to it. However, to the center poles of the switch. The left of R2. It is just below a toroidal trans- it is just as easy to add a double pole single female connector going to the hard drive former or coil whose designation I cannot throw switch to disconnect both 12V and can be wired to the other side of the switch. read because its covered up with glue. 5V going to the hard drive and host adap- Wire the yellow lead to the other side of the tor. I used a Radio Shack Mini Flat Lever switch using the same pole as the yellow In both the Tandy supply and the Astec Switch, part number 275-636 which re- coming from the male connector. The red supply, the holes are very close to traces. - tails for $3.39. Using a switch gives you lead from theotherfemaleconnectorwhich By using a nylon standoff, there is no the ability of powering down the drive. will be used to connect to the H/A needs to chance of shorting the H/A to the power be wired to the red side of the switch with supply. However, you must use either ny- The hard drive has about a half inch of free the HI) connector's red lead. Before you lon nuts on the standoff or create some space above and below it since it is a 3.5" wire that cable piece, snip both the yellow insulating washers. The nylon standoffs I drive in a 5.25" mounting. One of the lead and the black lead which is adjacent use are two inches in length, have a 4-40 locations can be used to mount a power to the yellow, as they will not be needed threaded shaft on one end, and are tapped switch on the front panel; the other posi- (remember the H/A uses only the 5V sup- for a 4-40 screw on the other end. The tion can be used to mount the 9-pin D-Sub ply); snip them close to the body of the threaded shaft is placed through the holes miniature connector used for the optional connector. Now use a ten inch extension from the component side of the power joystick. All you need to do is to provide piece of wire (you could get by with using supply, and tightened down with either some careful drilling and filing of the the unused yellow leadpreviously snipped) nylon nuts to avoid shorting together any plastic faceplate for the needed holes. Al- to extend theredlead of this cable to the 5V of the traces, or insulating washers and ternatively, you can use the original 4" switch pole along with the red lead from regular nuts. I did not have any nylon nuts faceplate and add some brackets made the HD power cable. I used heat shrink on hand, so I made some washers. I used with sheet metal to mount the switch and tubing to protect all the soldered connec- a double thickness of the static insulating joystick connector - that's what I did. tions; electrical tape could be used as well. bag which hard drives come in. This is a The power cable going to the host adaptor very thick mylar. If you do not have that If you do not want to add a switch, all you can be routed as noted previously. available, raid your kitchen for a freezer need do is use the Y cable intact. Connec- bag. A few thicknesses of that should be torgnders arereferenced according to the Connecting the signal cables sufficient. I cutout a small square of about coupling of the pins; thus, the Y has oni 0.5" then poked a hole through the center. mals and,two female connectors. One leg To connect the H/A-4e---the hard drive, This is easily done with a probe or a of th?Y is for the H/A which needs only the prepare a 50-pin ribbon cable 18 inches in standard sharp hardware awl. Place the 5V supply. Therefore, cut both the yellow length with two header connectors: one at washer over the thread then tighten down and black closest to the yellow from one of each end. The headers are positioned on a nut. The H/A can then be mounted on the the female connectors; also cut the oppo- the same side of the ribbon cable. One end standoffs with two 4-40 screws. I later site ends of that leg at the male connector will be plugged into the hard drive; the found nylon washers at Home Depot. side. You will use the small cutout to the other into the HRD DSK DRY CON- right of the fan to provide a means of TROLLER port (P4) on the host adaptor. getting that leg of the back to the power As the cable mustpass over the back of the Getting power to the parts supply compartment. Add a small piece of power supply/CRT cage, it cannot inter- Since you will be replacing one of the electrical tape to the edges of the metal fere with the bracket which supports the
Inside TMQ -22- Inside TMQ Volume Vll.ii THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.ii
carrying handle. Since the position where YES, OF COURSE 1 it wraps over the lip is exactly in that spot, simply fold the portion ofthecableoveron WE VERY MUCH DO TRS-80 1 itself to position it as close to the bottom of the case as you can. Th a mom for thatpositioning. To minimize the pres- MICRODEX CORPORA TION sure on the cable when the rear panel is SOFTWARE screwed into place, tape a spacer onto the CLAN-4 Mod-4 Genealogy archive & charting $69.95 lip of the cage on either side of the cable; Quick and easy editing of family data. Print elegant graphic ancestor and I used a double thickness of ribbon cable. descendant charts on practically any dot-matrix and laser printer (inquire about custom drivers for daisy wheel printers). True Mod-4 mode, fast 100% If you have installed a header pin strip on machine language. Includes 36-page manual. NEW1 the mainboard, prepare a 12" length. Us- ing the edgecard, it probably needs to be XCLAN3 converts Mod-3 Clan files for use with Clan-4 $29.95 about an inch or two longer. The connec- DIRECT from CHRIS Mod-4 menu system replaces DOS prompt $29.95 tors are on opposite sides of the cable. Design your own menus with an easy full-screen editor. Assign any command the orientation of pin 1 on the H/A is to any single keystroke. Up to 36 menus can instantly call each other. opposite to the orientation of pin 1 on the Command templates, auto-boot, screen blanking, clock, more. mainboard, the ribbon cable will need to undergo a 180 degree twist. Plug in the xT. CAD Mod-4 Computer Drafting $95.00 cables. The famous general purpose precision scaled drafting program! Surprisingly simple, yet it features CAD functions expected only from expensive packages. Supports Radio Shack or MicroLabs hi-res board. Output to pen plotters. There is one screw holding the modem Inquire about our new driver for laser printers! cover plate (or blank panel) onto the rear panel which is directly overhead the rib- xT. CAD BILL of Materials for xT. CAD $45.00 bon cable coming from the H/A. I recom- Prints alphabetized listing of parts from xT.CAD drawings. Optional quantity, mend you cut the length of this screw or cost and total calculations, customized invoice headings, footnotes. find a shorter one so that the screwdoes not CASH Bookkeeping system for Mod-4 $45.00 pmintothecable- or leave the screw out. Easy to use, ideal for personal or home business use. Journal entries are automatically distributed to user's accounts in a self-balancing ledger. Want a joystick port? FREE User Support Included With All Programs / If you intend on using the joystick port of the host adaptor, you need to prepare a MICRODEX BOOKSHELF cable to extend from the hostadaptor to the MOD-4 by CHRIS for TRS/LS-DOS 6.3 $24.95 mounting point. That cable has a 9-pin D- MOD-ill by CHRIS for LDOS 5.3 $24.95 sub-miniature male connector on one end MOD-ill by CHRIS for TRSDOS 1.3 $24.95 and a 10-pin header connector on the Beautifully designed owner's manuals completely replace Tandy and LDOS other. I mounted mine on a small bracket documentation. Comprehensive coverage of DOS, BASIC and interfacing to assembly language, all in one volume. Better organized, with more examples, just beneath the hard drive; it needed a written in plain English, these classic books are a must for all TRS-80 users. length of 20". The cable was routed into Now fully updated for LDOS 5.3. 1 and LS-DOS 6.3. 11 the power supply compartment using the same cutout as the H/A power cable. Note JCL by CHRIS Job Control Language for LDOS and TRS/LS-DOS $7.95 that since the cable is 9-conductor, make Surprise, surprise! We've got rid of the jargon and JCL turns out to be simple, sure you orient it properly (towards pin 1) easy, useful and fun. Complete reference and tutorial with examples. in the 10-pin header connector when you Fresh look at assembly language programming $9.95 are crimping the connectors. Z80 Tutor I mc Z80 Tutor II Programming tools, methods, memory modules, etc. $9.95 Z80 Tutor ill File handling, I/O ports, sorting, BCD math, etc. $9.95 With everything closed up, re-test the Z80 Tvtar_J(—Cfñj_Fe_te referétice to all Z80 instructions, flags $12.95 drive. You now have a 4P40M. and only common-sense assembly language reference for novice and ke. No kidding! Over 80 practical routines for Mod-III and Mod-4.
rAdd S&H. Call or write MICRODEX for details - Sawtelle Tucson AZ 85716 602/326-3502 N'
Inside TMQ -23- Inside TMQ Volume VII.ii THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume VILli
How to Make a
Mod-4 FILTOMAT Having had my "filter consciousness" raised on Model HI LDOS, I was often by Christopher Fara puzzled by the fuss of installing filters in Model 4 LS-DOS. In Model HI it's rela- tively simple. For instance to install a printer filter SIMPLE/FLT wewouldentec
FILTER *PR SIMPLE
That's all. To accomplish the same thing in Model 4 we must first dream up a name for the "filter device", make sure it's not a duplicate of an existing device name, and then issue two separate commands such an
SET *AA SIMPLE FILTER *PR *AA
Somehow this always reminds me of the famous "expletive deleted" Watergate tapes. Maybe it's the asterisks. Yes, yes, I know, there are good reasons for all that and it's a more powerful method alto- gether. Be itas it may, many long-distance chats about asterisks with customers who were not always quite comfortable with DOS procedures, led to"filtomats" or self- installing filters, apparently (?) a little Microdex special. To understand it we must first visualize a "normal" FLT-file. About the simplestpossible example might be aprinter filter that replaces one particu- lar character with another. Perhaps the rarely used "tilde", CLEAR SHIFT PLUS on Model 4 keyboard (ASCII 126), could print the "cents" symbol, code 222 on DWP-2101220 printers (Listing 1).
The SVC "macro" in the listing will be automatically recognized by most assem- blers, but if not then replace each "SVC number" with:
LD A,number RST 40
The labels and dies kxkc&JL the program's segments are admittedly rather------
Inside TMQ -24- inside TMQ Volume Vll.li THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.ii
The loader will replace the "dummy" char- acters $$ with the device name specified in the SET command. Since a filter normally is intended for one particular device (printer in this example), the name such as *PR can be pretty safely hard-coded into the loader. The "done" message is com- bined with the "filter" command string and displays both the name of the installed routine and the names of the involved devices.
So far so good. But once we were on the simplification binge, the next question was: why bother the user with the SET syntax anyway? Could the installation of the filter be done by simply entering its personal: for example I like to have the The first idea in our effort to make the name just like any DOS command or body of the module at the beginning of the installation simpler for the user was this: program? Well, maybe. Remember that listing, so I can immediately see what it after the loader has installed the routine, the loader checks the CAflag and jumps to does. But readers familiar with filters will why couldn't it also process a FILTER NOSET when bit 3 is zero. This may easily recognize the standard components command? This way the user would need happen when a creative user enters described in Roy Soltoff's bible "The to enter only one command from DOS, SIIvIPLE/FLT. The DOS will execute it Programmer's Guide toLSDOS/TRSDOS such as: like any other program, but the filter Version 6". Filters are just like any wouldn't work without a "device" estab- "memory module" files: the LOADER SET *AA SIMPLE lished by SET. Most likely it would bomb relocates the HEADER plus FILTER into the system, because we'd "stuff' all kinds high memory (adjusting, any fixed ad- We know that the SET command estab- of funny bytes into wrong places. So it's a dresses by the distance of the relocation) lished a Device Control Block (DCB) for good safety valve. and lowers HIGH$ to protect the module. the filter and stored its name (such as AA However, one peculiarity of filter loaders in our example) in bytes 6 and 7 of that But instead of complaining "Install via (and drivers for that matter) is a test of the DCB. Since register IX already points to SET", the NOSET code could perhaps C-flag and the jump to an error message if DCB, we can easily fetch that name, stuff make itself a bit more helpful and just do the program was not invoked via SET it into a FILTER command string, and it without talking so much. So let's revise command (lines 3-5 of the LOADER). execute that command. So let's rearrange this code snippet (Listing 3). We'll get back to it later. the end of the loader (Listing 2). Almost home. The user needs to enter only:
SIMPLE/FLT
and the rest happens automatically. In effect the program gets executed twice: first to find that the SET command was missing, and then again to do it right. But since filter files are typically very short, the time is of minor concern compared with the convenience. Convenience? Then why bother with the FLT extension? Con- sider: the SET command assumes "de- fault" extensions FLT or DRy, but any extension can be used if it's spelled out. So if we rename our file SIMPLE/CMD, and add the CMI) extension to the "noset"
Inside TMQ - 25 - Inside TMQ Volume Vll.li THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.ii
string: always do a "manual" SET, using any suitable for "mnemonic" purposes. But device name (and now remembering to what ifwe ran uptoZ and still find nofree 'SET *AA, sIMPLE/cz.ID' spell out the CMI) extension). But that name? Give me abreak! If you managed to brings back the expletives and kills the have 26 devices in the system, all starting then the user needs to enter only: whole idea. A smarter deal would be to with the same letter, you deserve the prevent the "in use" error from happening trouble. SIMPLE in theflrstplace. So let's revise the NOSET code one more time (Listing 4). Ina full-blown "ffltomat"forpublic distri- Simple indeed. No asterisks, no syntax, no bution we'd have a few other embellish- fuss. ments (making sure that the same filter is Now, before executing the SET command, not installed twice, high memory test, There is a problem, though, if the name we cycle through names AA, AB, and so copyright notice, and such). But otherwise which we have hard-coded (such as our on, and use SVC 82 @GTDCB to find a that's all there is to the basic scheme of *AA) is already used by some device. The name which is not .assigned yet to any self-installing filters, invented under the installation fails with another cryptic com- device. We could just as well start with PA practicalpressure to supply customers with plaint "Device in use". Of course we can or VA or whichever initial letter seems simpler software.
RADIO SHACK TANDY OWNERS! Find the computer equipment that TANDY HARD DRIVES FOR SALE no longer sells. PACIFIC COMPUTER EXCHANGE Genuine Radio Shack Drive Boxes with Controller, buys and sells used TANDY Power Supply, and Cables. Formatted for TRS 6.3, TRSDOS installation JCL in- XENIX cluded. Hardware MSDOS write protect op- COMPUTERS & erational. Docu- PERIPHERALS mentation and We sell everything from Model 3's and 4's to Tandy 6000s, 1000's to 5000's, Laptops, new copy of and all the pnnters and hard disks to go with MISOSYS RSHARD5/6 included. 90 day warranty. them. It we don't have it in stock, we will do our best to find it for you. We have the largest data base of used Radio Shack equipment to draw from. All equipment 5 Meg $175 10 Meg $225 15 Meg $275 35 Meg $445 comes with warranty.
Shipping cost add t9 all prices PACIFIC COMPUTER EXCHANGE Roy T. Beck The One Source For 2153 Cedarhurst Dr.. Used Tandy Computers 1031 S.E. Mill, Suite B Los Angeles, CA 90027 Portland, Oregon 97214 (213) 664-5059 (503) 236-2949
Inside TMQ -26 - Inside TMQ Volume Vll.ii THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.ii
As you can see, many of the "C" state- ments are the same as those found in other languages. (For examples: if, for, goto, etc.) Did someone say they can't find the keywordenum in the backofK&R's book? I'll pretend l didn't hear thatfornow. New things come later!
"C" hereinafter referred to as C (I got tried of typing "), is characterized as a "low level" language. A C source program is compiled (assembled) into an executable machine language program. This is not, however, why it is called a low level language. It is called that because it deals with data items much the same way as machineinstructions do. Machineinstruc- dons deal with characters (bytes), num- bers and addresses. These objects are what C deals with also. To illustrate this, we'll take a look at C's data types.
There are only four data types: The following was originally written by gramming. Structured programming does Earl tC' Terwilliger, Jr. and published as not mean the absence of the GOTO state- • char a single byte (one char- a 6-part series in The LDOS Quarterly ment. In fact, the "C" language does imple- acter) and subsequently the LSI Journal. It has ment the goto statement. However as been re-edited and brought up to date by Kernighan and Ritchie (K&R) state in mt an integer RoySoltoffforpublication 1n The MIS OSYS their book, the GOTO is "infinitely- Quarterly. abusable". When I discuss the control and float floating point (single flow of a "C" program I'll talk more on the precision) A brief history of "C" topic of structure. (Motto be confused with the C concept of structures, i.e., records.) double floating point (double "C" was developed byBrianW. Kemighan precision) and Dennis M. Ritchie of BELL LABO- The 'Basics' of C RATORIES. "THE C PROGRAMMING The hit data type can be further qualified LANGUAGE"authoredby Kemighan and "C" was designed to be a portable lan- to be short int, long hit or unsigned ult. Ritchie is the ultimate reference document guage. Its not very heavy at all! Many "C" The length of these number data types is for the "C" language. A wide range of programmers will say, it is light in some computers now have "C" compilers. features. Most programmers are amazed specific to the machine for which the C (TRS80, IBM PC, PDP11, IBM/370's, when they see how relatively few identifi- compiler was designed. etc. "C" runs on various operating sys- ers (statements or keywords) that "C" has. tems.) "C" has been called a systems pro- Here is all there is: You might be wondering, at this point, grammers language since it is useful in about how "high level" tasks are per- writing operating systems. In fact, the auto break case char formed. Or for that matter, how is any task UNIX operating system (a trademark of const continue default do accomplished which other languages per - BELL LABS) was written in "C". Fre- double else enum extern form but for which you don't see a C vocabulary word? You say you don't see 4UefluJyafly given implementaiion of the float - for goto if anyread, write (l/O), string manipulation, "C"languaj&btesularvNr( mt long register return or array processing statements in C's above version. (You don't, however, have to short signed sizeof static listed vocabulary? Iexpectnot! Such things write an operating system to take advan- struct switch typedef union are specific to a particular machine. You tage of "C".) unsigned void volatile while can of course invent functions to do these "C" lends itself well to structured pro- "high level" tasks and explicitly call them in C. Usually you don't have to invent
Inside TMQ -27- Inside TMQ Volume VILii THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.ii
them, however, since they are provided as is unnecessary in this sample program For examples: functions in the C run time or the installa- since the program would "fall through" tion (computer specific) library. The in- and end normally at the last brace without char c, d, e; stallation specific functions,run tiinefunc- it. (It is usually a better practice to return mt x; lions and functions of your own design aid a value upon ending a function.) short b; in creating a more structured program. string [100] ; The printfO function prints the values One might expect (and rightly so) that the passed to it in the format specified. (Its c, d, and e are declared to be each a single main body of the structured program is counterparts in the FORTRAN language character. x is declared as an integer. b is also a function! It is in fact and is called are the WRITE and FORMAT statements; declared as a short precision integer, and mainO. (The parentheses 0 are used to a BASIC counterpart would be PRINT.) string is a character array of 100 charac- denote main as a function and can option- ters. (C numbers theelements starting atO. ally enclose variable names representing The arguments of a function are passed as So this array has elements 0 through 99, parameters passed to the function.) There copies of the values of the arguments. This each one character in length.) must always be a mainO function in your is "call by value" versus "call by refer- C program as it is always the entry point. ence". The function gets its own copy of Variables not only have a type associated the variable and can't change the original with them but also a storage class. The Braces "fl" enclose all of the statements passed value held by the caller. "Call by scope ("lifetime") of a variable is the part that make up a function. C statements are reference", that is, passing the addresses of, or range of the program in which the expressions, such as x = 2 followed by a of the variables can be achieved in C if variable is defined. There are basically semicolon. The semicolon is used as a pointers (addresses) of the variable argu- four types of storage classes for variables: statement terminator. Statements maybe, ments are passed. Having the addr,ess of extern, auto, static and register. An impor- if you wish, grouped together (com- the variable, the called function can then tant concept to introduce before explain- pounded) into blocks. A block is a state- change the value. This "call by reference" ing these four types is the difference be- ment or many statements which are en- is actually how array names are passed. tween the declaration and the definition of closed in braces. This block or compound When an array name is passed as a vari- a variable. When a variable is declared, statement is treated as a single statement. able, it is actually the address of the first properties of the variable are assigned element of the array. (It would be imprac- (type, size, etc.). When a variable is de- Braces surrounding the statements of a tical to copy the entire contents of an array fined (done only once) storage is assigned. function, such as mainO also form a block and pass these separate copies as is done Except for use with external variables or compound statement. with other variables.) these terms (definition and declaration) are almost synonymous. Functions are invoked by their name fol- Any of the four data types (mt, char, float, lowed by an optional argument list in double) can be represented in C by a Automatic (auto) variables are variables parentheses. Taking a look at a simple C variable. Numeric and character constants "local" or "internal" to a single function program, the use of the all these symbols are also used in C as data values. A vari- only. This is the default for variables de- "0 ()" can be illustrated: able is symbolically represented by a name. clared within a function. Auto variables This name is composed of letters and have a scope or "lifetime" only within the main() digits. The first character of the name braces or block in which they are defined. must be a letter and although large names Variables declared as or defaulted to auto, ( 1* C sample program *1 are allowed, only the first 8 characters of appear as a function is called and disap- /*to print HELLO! */ the name are significant. AC convention pear when the function ends. Since they /* and return back to *1 is to use lower case for variable names and have this dynamic "local" nature they are 1* the DOS prompt *1 uppercase for symbolic constants. NOTE: said to be "automatic". printf ("HELLO!"); C keywords (reserved words) must be in exit (0) lower case. External (extern) variables are "global" in nature. They are permanent and are acces- Variables must be declared before they are sible throughout the entire range of aC Note that comments in a C program are used In declaring a variable, the data type program. They can be shared between delimited by a "/*" and an "I". In this the variable is to represent is stated. functions of a single C program and be- sample program three functions are refer - tween many C source programs. Only one enced; mainO, printfO, and exitO. The of the C programs would define the vari- exit function passes back to the operating able, the others would have to only declare system the return code of 0. This function it as extern. An external variable defini-
Inside TMQ -28- Inside TMQ Volume Vll.ii THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.ii
tion appears outside of any function. This In C, a function, like a variable name, has The first example of the return statement actually defines the variable as external associated with it a storage class and type. returns without passing back a value. The (extern). External variables are defined A C function with no explicit declaration return (0); which could also be written as outside of any function and declared in the is by default external (extern). External return 0; returns back the value zero. The function which uses them. functions can be called from multiple last example returns the character Y. source files. A function may also be de- Although we haven't learned about the Static (static) variables are stored in a clared as static. Remember, if declared as expression below, I'll let you ponder over fixed memory space. They can be external static, a function can only be called from it just to show how an expression can be or internal in nature. When declared to be within the source file where it is typed in used in the return statement: internal in nature they are like auto vari- (defined). The type of a function can also ables except they remain in existence in be specified. Are you thinking that func- return (a ? b : C); their fixed space. External static variables tions are a collection of expressions, and are global in nature but are only accessible wondering how can they be assigned a Functions can also, optionally, be passed within a single C source program. Static storage type? Well, actually, the type asso- parameters. Remember that these param- bles represent private permanent storage. ciated to a function refers to the value, if eters are passed by value rather than by any, it returns. Functions, unlike vari- reference. Except for arrays, and other Register (register) variables are stored in ables, need not but can be declared before parameters representing addresses of vari- machine registers. They are used to store they are used. The C compiler knows the ables, each function gets its own private heavily used variables in order to improve difference between an undeclared variable copy of the variable. These parameters are performance of the C program. and a function by the left parenthesis '(' enclosed by the mandatory parentheses immediately following the function name. denoting a function. it is the parentheses Here is a sample of some variable defini- Here are some examples of declaring a immediately following a variable name tions and declarations: function: that denote it as a function rather than a variable (data type). The optional param- auto mt c; static char lnth(a,c); eters passed to a function can be declared extern char b; void compute (len, wid); by default but it is a better programming register ri; mt testO; practice to explicitly declare them. static xl; The function lath is declared to be only The left and right brace "{]", which en- As you can see, the storage class and data known within a single source module and close the expressions or logic performed type can be used to specifically determine returns a character value. The computeO by the function, are the next ingredients to the properties of a variable. function returns no value whatsoever. The completing a function. The expression(s) function test is known among multiple enclosed by the braces is/are called ablock. Expressions, functions, and source modules and returns an integer (Blocks are not necessarily limited to use operators value. It could have also been declared as: in functions. As we will see later, they are also used in the main body of a program. Functions in C are analogous to subrou- extern mt testO; Enclosing braces are merely used to asso- tines in other programming languages. ciate an expression or groups of expres- They conveniently group commonly used The optional return statement is how the sions as a single entity.) expressions together. Frequently used logic function returns a value back to its caller. instructions, instead of being typed in It is optional; i.e., the function does not A complete example of a function is: multiple times throughout the body of a have to pass back a value. Even if the program, need only be typed in once as a function does not return a value back to its mt prtval(c) function. The function can then be called caller, it is good programming practice to mt c; whenever its logic process is needed. It is include the return statement. If no return thus that functions can hide confusing is found, control of the function "falls printf ("The parameter
— 4etailsi the main body of thru"to the end of the function by reaching value passed was %d", a); FollowinffimIj n the ending-right brace. Any expression return; much easier. The programmer can see (value) can follow the return statement. immediately what is going on and yet need Examples of the return statement: not be concerned as to how things are The function prtval is passed a parameter being done (C lends itself well to struc- return; "c" which is declared to be an integer. tured programming techniques). return (0); Within the braces of the prtval function, return ( 'x' ) ; another function printf is called. The printf
Inside TMQ -29- Inside TMQ Volume Vll.0 THE MISQSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume VU.ii function is part of the standard C function for each successive parameter) is actually EQUATE directive functions toanassem- library. It is passed two parameters in this a pointer to the parameter. The "*" before bler. (One line macros!) In the above example. The address of the string of the variable argv is a unary operator. It examples,wherever MAXIMUM is found characters enclosed in double quotes is the says that the variable it precedes contains in the C program it is replaced with 1000. first parameter. The second parameter an address. It uses this address to fetch the Hex number constants are preceded with a passed to printf is the value of c. (More will contents SW!) "Ox" or "OX". Octal number constants are be discussed later about printf and stan- preceded by just a 0. Another compiler dard C functions.) If necessary, functions directive can be used to include a file Variables, Constants, and containing multiple #define statements. can call themselves. This process is called Expressions recursion. For example: Let's move on to the next topic, that of As previously mentioned, the main body variables, constants, expressions and op- #include " file. ext" of a C program is itself a function called erators. Variables in C, and in any lan- mainO. It can call functions as needed to guage, are used to manipulate data in This tells the compiler to include the con- perform designated tasks. This main func- storage. A variable name is composed of tents (statements) in the file "file.ext". tion (the program itself) can have param- letters and characters and optionally the Usually there are many "standard" con- eters passed to it. If parameters are passed "_"character to improve readability of the stants, declarations and/or expressions to the C program, the following syntax is name, as you can see: which you will include in most all of your used to declare them and the main() func- C programs. This being the case, included tion itself: char byte_of_storage; with a C compiler is usually a "standard header" file of the most common con- main (argo, argv) Don't forget to define (declare) variables stants. This ifie is what you will #include jut argc; before you use them. Also, don't choose a in most of your C programs. char *argv[]; variable name that is the same as a C reserved word (keyword or statement). If A character constant is formed from a program statements you do, don't worry, the compiler will tell single character enclosed in single quotes. Certain special characters are represented } you! with an "escape sequence" to denote it as You are probably wondering, why only Constants are used in C, for the same a special character. Here are some ex- two parameters inside the "0" after main? reasons they are used in other languages. amples: Do I hear you asking what happens when C allows for several types of constants, i.e., I type in a command to tell the operating number, character and string constants. 'x' /* single lower- system to execute my program and I pass case character x *1 it more than two parameters? You should It is usually goodprogramming practice to 'A' /* single upper- be asking! For example: use a special feature of the C compiler to case character A *1 define constants. As you'll discover, '\r' 1* return *1 myprog p1 p2 p3 p4 "equating" a constant to a name will make '\n' 1* newlixie *1 it easier to change later on. Just update it '\O' /* null */ Since this is a command line given to the where itis "defined" and every occurrence '\t' /* tab *1 operating system, there are actually five of it will also be updated automatically by '\015' 1* return *1 parameters or arguments. The program the C compiler at compile time. Here are '\\' /* backslash */ name itself is the first parameter and the some examples of the compiler directive four others are: p1, p2, p3, and p4. The #define: The last example shows how to generate main() function for the C program, myprog, any character you want. it is the "\" fol- would be coded as is done in the example #define MAXIMUM 1000 lowedby one to three octal digits. A string shown above. The declarations for the #de fine TRUE 1 of characters is represented by characters variables argc and *gj suffice for-all #define CR 015 /* Octal enclosed in double quotes. In Ca string in parameters passed to the C program in the value for -a --cariager always terminated with aNJLL or '\O' command line. The variable argc contains return *1 character. Itneed not be typed in the siring the number of parameters passed (includ- itself since the C compiler adds it on ing one for the program name itself). The Note that constants, if given a name, are automatically. An example? variable argv is actually a pointer to an generally by convention represented by array of pointers. Each element of the upper-case names. The #deflne compiler "Earl C. Terwilliger" 1* array (one for the program name and one directive functions to the C compiler as an My name as a string *1
Inside TMQ -30- Inside TMQ Volume Vll.li THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.ii
Note: the above string has a length of 19 and a size of2O. Don't forget the terminat- ing NULL added by the C compiler!
Operators Operators are the next topic. They specify what is to be done to variables and con- stants. Operators when combined with variables and constants are called expres- sions. As an expression is evaluated, there is a precedence or order of evaluation. It is important to know the order of evaluation when the different types of operators are combined in an expression, especially if you want a correct result! Below is a chart of the operators available in C. Itshows the relative order (level) of precedence, and the associativity of operators of equal pre- cedence. (The associativity is given to show how expressions are evaluated if operators of an equal level of precedence are found side by side.) The actual work- ings of each operator (with some sample expressions) will be covered later. The Operator Precedence chart is presented below.
Let's take a look at a sample C program which is a multiple file LIST utility. The syntax for running it is:
LISTEM filel/ext file2/ ext file3/ext Operator Precedence Table Operators Level Type Associativity Each ifie name passed in the LISTEM command will be passed to DOS to ex- -> . 15 Primary left to right ecute for each file name parameter. The () [] - ++ - - 14 monadic right to left commands builtandpassed to DOS forthe (type) * & sizeof 14 monadic above example would be: right to left * / % 13 arithmetic left to right LIST fUel/ext + - 12 arithmetic left to right << >> LIST file2/ext 11 shift left to right < <= > >= LIST fUe3/ext 10 relational left to right == ! 9 relational left to right As you look, at the sample program below, & 8 bitwise logical left to right review the conceptsjenetL.Notaliof 7 bitwise logical left to right the programs statements will be clear, but I 6 bitwise logical left to right & & see how much you can understand. Look- 5 logical left to right ing at the comments may prove beneficial. I I 4 logical left to right 3 conditional right to left += -= *= /= %= 2 assignment right to left >>= <<= 2 assignment right to left 1 comma left to right
Inside TMQ - 31 - Inside TMQ Volume Vll.il THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.ii
Operators Side effects come into play when there are values. Later, we will see how to force a no explicit C rules as to how an expression type conversion using the cast operator. The C language is very rich in its capabili- is to be evaluated. In this article, a chart is - ties of data manipulation. Operators per used to summarize the rules of precedence Now that these points have been men- form this data manipulation. In the C and associativity for the various operators. tioned, let's get back to more on expres- language, operators are usually grouped sions. Man expression is evaluated, there into categories. These categories (or types) If no rule of evaluation applies, the C is a precedence or order of evaluation. It is are shown in the operator chart. compiler is free to evaluate an expression important to know the order of evaluation or sub-expressions as it sees fit. Theresults when the different types of operators are Operators specify what is to be done to (expected or not) are called side-effects. combined in an expression, especially if variables and constants. Operators, when To overcome side-effects, break up larger you want a correct result! Remember the combined with variables and constants, expressions or statements and use explicit chart of the operators available in C pre- are called expressions. When an expres- "temporary" lvalues. sented previously. It shows the relative sion is followed by semicolon itbecomes order (level) of precedence, and the asso- a statement. In the next article we will see When expressions involve arithmetic with ciativity of operators of equal precedence. more on expressions, statements and the different data types, a conversion (or pro- The associativity is given to show how logic control and flow in the C language. motion) to a common data type occurs. expressions are evaluated if operators of Since both data types are of a common an equal level ofprecedence are found side Before I goon, I would like to clarify a few type, the result is also of that type. Since by side in the same expression. things you will encounter in the C pro- "lower" datatypes areconvertedto "higher" gramming language in dealing with ex- pressions and operators. Basically, these types, the process is called promotion. Of Since variables must be declared before course there is asetof rules for this conver- they are used, I will declare a few so they pointsinvolvetheconceptsoflvalue,rvalue, sion or promotion. The "ladder of promo- can be used in our sample expressions. "side effects" and type conversions. tion" (if I can be allowed to invent a phrase) is shown to illustrate this promo- mt a, b, c, d; An ivalue (left hand value) is an expres- tion: sion which references storage in the com- Variables can be initialized in their decla- puter. In C, an object is a manipulatable double ration statement. As you might guess, an area of storage. An lvalue is an expression float operator (the equals sign) is needed to which refers to that object. An lvalue is the unsigned long accomplish this. For example: only value which can be on the left side of long an assignment statement. An Ivalue or an unsigned int, unsigned short a = 10; rvalue can be found on the right side of an mt hit, short mt b = 5; assignment statement. An expression unsigned char c = 2; which is not an Ivalue is sometimes called mt char an rvalue. An rvalue doesn't refer to an An easier way to initialize the above vari- object (area of storage). An example? Besides arithmetic expressions, type con- ables is: Consider the following C statements: versions can take place when a function is called. After all, a function argument is an mt a10, b=5, c=2; mt C; expression. Conversions can also takeplace C = 0; across an assignment statement. When (Well... anyway it takes less lines in your this happens the value on the right side is program.) On the other hand, you may ForZ80 based machines, if the HLregister converted to the type on the left side. The want to use a separate line for each defini- pair was used to obtain the value of c from above promotions can occur or the reverse tion in order to document the use of the the stack, you might see the following process can also occur. (Demotion!) A variable by means of a comment string. instruction (among others) generated as a word of caution! The C language guaran- result of compiling the above C state- tees any character in the machine's stan- accompljsh-the iniliuiizatiOn, the vari- ments: dard character set will never be negadv6 able name is followed by an equals sign when used in arithmetic expressions. How- and aconstant. The constant's value serves LD HL,0 ;Load HL pair ever, C does not specify whether variables as an initializer. Multiple initializations with 0 of type char are signed or unsigned. So, be can be performed in a single statement (as careful when using various bit patterns is done above) when separatedbyacomma. The 0 is contained in the instruction and (other than the standard character set) The comma, used in this way as a separa- doesn't take up any data storage. because you may be dealing with negative tor, is not an operator and does not man-
Inside TMQ -32- Inside TMQ Volume Vll.0 THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.li date the rules of evaluation as does the tures. The "." operator is called the struc- increment or decrement value is based comma operator. Some variable types, ture member operator because it connects upon the storage TYPE of the operand! external and static, are automatically ini- the structure name and a member name. tialized to zero by default of the C com- Pointers to structures are very frequently -a piler. However, as stated by MR, it is used, due to the restrictions imposedby the better programming practice to state their C language. (These limitations imply that This is the unary minus operator. It re- initialization anyway. If automatic vari- structures are not to be dealt with as a verses the sign of a. After -a, since a was ables are not initialized, their values will single unit. This limitation does not hold declared to be 10, the result is now a -10. be of an undefined value. (Garbage!) You forpointers to structures. Thereforeashort- (There is no unary + operator.) should note that for external or static hand operator, ->, is used to make pointers variables, the lnhllaIi72hOfl is done only once. to structures and structure members easier myfunc((double) c); to use. In the examples above, birth is a For automatic variables which are initial- structure of type date, month and day are The variable c was defined as an integer ized in a function, they are re-initialized members of the structure and pdate is a above. If the function myfuncO needs tobe each time the function is called. pointer to a structure of type date. More passed a double precision floating-point later on structures! (As you can see, we variable, c can be coerced into that type. I may need to declare a few more variables haven't yet discussed the "i" and "&" This construct of forcing a variable into to illustrate all of the operators. However, operators!) another type is called a cast. In this ex- I will do so when each individual operator ample, c is cast into type double. is introduced. Let's begin! Operators ! - ++ -- - (type) * & sizeof char name[] = "marl C Operators 0 [] ->. Terwilliger Jr."; All of these operators are unary or mon- char *ptr printf("C is a very adic operators. This means they need only ptr = &name[0]; useful language to one operand. ]cnow!\n"); The"&"operator obtains the address ofan !a object. (The & operator applies only to The "0" is called the function call opera- variables and array elements.) The "" tor. The left and right parentheses sepa- The truth value of "a" is reversed. If a was operator precedes an operand containing rate any optional arguments passed to the TRUE (non-zero) it is now FALSE (zero). an address. This address is then used to called function. If a was FALSE it is now TRUE. Since I fetch the data stored there. A lot more will declared a to be 10 earlier, after the! a, the be said about these operators when point- Square bracket "[I" operator(s) is used for result returned will be FALSE (zero). ers and arrays are discussed in greater arrays. In this example, an array of char- detail! acters, whose name is buffer, is declared to -a have 100 elements. The "[J" is used to sizeof (a) reference (index or subscript) elements of The one's complement of the operand "a" the array. In this example, the elements is returned. Just invert each bit of the This operator returns the size of any ob- are buffer[0} through buffer[99]. In the operand. If a bit was a one switch it to a ject. The value returned is determined by index starts at 0. Be careful about your use zero and if the bit was a zero switch it to a the number of units contained in the ob- of these subscripts, since the C compiler one. ject. Each "unit" or "byte" has the same does not check to see if the subscript you relative size as type char. use is within the bounds of the array. ++a --a a++ a— Operators * / % + - struct date { mt month, These are the increment ++ or decrement day, year;) birth; — operators. They may prefix or postfix d = a * b; struct date *pte; the operand. If the operator prefixes the d = a / b; operand, its value is taken after the incre- d = b % c; pd=&birth; mentordecrement.Iftheoperatorpostfixes d = a + b; birth.month = 10; the operand, its value is taken and re- d = a – b; pdate->-day = 3; turned by the expression before it is incremented or decremented. These op- The ', I, +, and - operators perform the The "." and the "->" (period and arrow) erators do not necessarily mean to add one arithmetic functions of multiplication, operators are usedwhen dealing with struc- or subtract one from the operand. The division, addition and subtraction respec-
Inside TMQ -33- Inside TMQ Volume VEil THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume VEil
tively. Since integer division in C trun- Operators & A These operators represent the assignment cates the fractional part, use the & or operators. They were seen before without modulus operator to obtain the remainder. res = a I OxOl the equals sign. In the assignment expres- (% can not be applied to float or double res = a & OxOf sions, a op= b is equivalent to the operands.) (Note that parentheses are also res = a ' Oxf 0 expression a = a op b. They make used around expressions to specify order expressions such as: a = a * 5 much of evaluation. Watch out! The C compiler easier when written as: a *= 5. Usually can sometimes rearrange a parenthesized These operators provide C the capabilities the resultant assembler (machine) code computation. For some associative and of bit manipulations. Bits of the left oper- produced as a result of these operators is commutative operators (remember your and can be ORed C'I"), ANDed ("&"), or more efficient too. They are especially arithmetic for * and + ?) the C language exclusively OReci ("A') by bits in the right helpful if a long complicated expression is does not specify the order of evaluation. operand. on the left of the = and needs to be used to Use explicit temporary variables to over- the right of the =. come this, if in fact this re-arrangement Operators && H makes any difference. Operator, && /* and */ Operators <<>> I I / or */ The comma is used in C as punctuation. It is seen separating expressions in declara- a >> 2 / a shifted These operators logically connect their tions and it is seen separating arguments right by 2 bits */ operands. (They should not be confused passed to functions. The comma separator b << 4 1* b shifted with the & and I bitwise operators.) These is different from the comma operator. The left by 4 bits */ operators can be used to connect expres- comma operator is usually found used in a sions. For example:. for statement. An example of a 'for' ex- These shift operators perform left and pression? OK! right shifting of the bits in their operand. (a2) II (a3) The number of bits shifted is the right (a ! 0) && Cc = 2) for (i1; i != 50; ++i) operand. When an operand is shifted left, vacated bits are filled with a 0. Right Operator?: Logic, control, and flow shifting an unsigned operand causes the vacated bits to be filled with zeros. Right (a=b) ? (c=1) : (c=2) The specific C language vocabulary words shifting a signed operand may bean "arith- that will be used in this discussion are: metic" or "logical" shift depending on the This"? : " construct is a ternary (three) machine and the C compiler. operator. It provides an alternative to the for while if else IF ... THEN ... ELSE.., type logic. If the switch break continue do Operators < <=> >= == expression to the left of the "?" is TRUE goto then the expression immediately follow- rat = a < C ing the "?" is evaluated. If the expression In conjunction with the above logic, con- rat = a <= a to the left of the "?" is false then the trol and flow vocabulary words, state - rat = a > a expression after the ":" is evaluated. ments and blocks of statements accom- rat = a >= C plish the tasks designed into a C program. rat = a = a Operators = += -= *= 1* %= Let's take a look at these C vocabulary words and their use in a C program. Each of these operators takes two oper- ands and returns the result of the compari- a + 1 But first, a quick reminder about (expres- son: a less than c, a less than or equal to c, a —= 3 sions) statements and blocks! Remember, a greater than c, a greater than or equal to a 5 aC statement is an expression followed by c, a equal to c; the result is TRUE or a 1= 2 a semicolon. For examples: FALSE (1 or 0). The result is based upon C %= 2 the relationship of the two operands. (Note: a 1= 0x80 a24; one of the more frequent errors by new C C -= 0x02 a = getcharO; programmers is the failure to differentiate C &= Oxf 0 printf("%d \n",e-18); the = operator from the = operator. The a >>= 2 = operator tests for equality while the = C <<= 4 These are all examples of C statements. always sets equality.) Each expression is ended with a semico-
Inside TMQ -34- Inside TMQ Volume VILu THE MISOSI'S QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.li
Ion. It is used in as a statement termina- cause of the way the above compound if statement tor rather- than--a separator. (You might statement is indented, you may be led to else also note in the above example with the falsely believe that the else should be statement printf() function a general rule in C. Wher- paired with the if it is aligned with. An- everitispermiuedto use value ofsome other important point to mention here Both examples work the same but are of type of variable, it is also permitted to use deals with indentation. Itis generally prac- different styles. Perhaps the most popular an expression of that type. Hence the e-18 ticed to have the else aligned with the if to or common style (used in the K&R book) expression is used instead of having to which it belongs. Thus the following is is represented via the second example. assign it to some intermediate variable. more readable: Example 1 may look nice too, but consider You can save a lot of coding using this how long the actual expressions and state- rule, but be careful! You can also make if (a = 2) ments may be. If they are quite long, the your program confusing!) if (c = 2) style of example 2 may appear nicer. d=2; Whichever style (method) you choose, it is Whenever it is necessary to group state- else a good rule to be consistent. ments (declarations, etc.) and treat them d=4; as one, they can be enclosed in braces " ( ) ". If you noticed, the above two examples This creates a "block"or"compound state- If the else was in actuality to be paired with demonstrate a generalized way of writing
ment". This block enclosed by the braces the first if, then the () can be used to force a multi-way decision. If any expression is is not followed by a semicolon even though the proper association as follows: true, its associate statement is executed the enclosed statements are treated as one. and the whole else-if chain is ended. If The need for blocks or compound state- if (a = 2) none of the expressions are true then the ments will be seen as the C logic, control { statement after the last else is executed. and flow vocabulary words are explained. if Cc = 2) This represents the "default case". Any of Shall we begin K&R does with the if the statements can bea block of statements statement? in the braces. The last else could also be else missing and there would be no default The general format (syntax) of the if state- d4; statement executed. ment is: The else is thus paired with the first if. The Another way of making a multi-decision if (expression) second if is contained in a "block" and is in C is with the switch statement. The statement-1 the statement_i referenced in the general syntax for the switch statement is: else format of the if statement. Of some note statement-2 also is the placement or "style" of placing switch (expression) the braces and their alignment in the (You will note the importance of differen- above if else statement. Each C program- case constant: tiating between a statement andan expres- mer develops a way of placing and or statement; sion!) The if-else statement is used to aligning if-else, else-if and the braces. break; make decisions. The expression is evalu- Consider the following two examples: case constant: ated. If it is true (i.e., has a non-zero value) case constant: then statement-1 is executed. The else is 1* EXAMPLE 1. *1 statement; optional. If it is present and the expression if (expression) state- break; is false (i.e., has a zero value) then state- ment case constant: ment-2 is executed. Since the else is op- else if (expression) statement; tional and can be omitted, you could be statement - - - break; confused by the following: se--if (expression) default: statement statement; if else statement break; if (c = 2) d2; 1* EXAMPLE 2 */ else if (expression) The switch statement is followed by an d4; statement integer expression and a block enclosed in else if (expression) braces. The logic of the switch statement The rule in is that the else is associated statement is to evaluate the integer expression and with the closest previous else-less if. Be- else if (expression) compare its value to the constant case
Inside TMQ -35- Inside TMQ Volume Vll.li THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.il values. Each case is "labeled" by a con- The syntax of the while statement is: to the FORTRAN DO loop or BASIC for- stain expression (usually an integer or next statements. character constant). If a case matches the while (expression) value of the expression, that case begins { The syntax of the do-while is: the execution. Statements after that case statement are then executed. If a break statement is } do encountered the switch statement (block statement; within braces) is exited. If no cases match If the expression after evaluation is true, while (expression); the expression then the default case begins the statement is executed. The expression the execution. The defaultcase is optional. is then re-evaluated and if true statement The difference between the do - while and The cases and default can occur in any is executed again. This process is repeated while is a subtle one. With the do - while, order, but the cases must all be different. If until expression is false (zero). the statement is always executed at least no cases match and no default case is once. The expression is evaluated at the present, nothing happens at all. (Nothing The syntax of the for statement is: bottom of the loop instead of at the top. happening at all has been described as "the sound of one hand clapping"). it is good for (expression 1; ex- Remember the break statement from the programming practice to put the break pression 2; expression switch? It can also be used in the for, while statement at the end of a case. If a break is 3) or do-while to exit. Another statement, the not present, execution "falls through" to continue statement is related to break. It the statements which follow. This may not statement; does not exit from a for, while or do-while be the desired action! An example of the statement but causes the next iteration of switch statement follows: the enclosing loop to happen. An illustra- Expression 1 and expression 3 are typi- tion for you to ponder: switch (answer) cally assignments or function calls and expression 2 is an expression to be evalu- for (i0,j0; s[i]; ++i) case 'y': ated as true or false (a relational expres- { case 'Y': sion). if (s[i] = 'a') printf ("The answer continue; 1* was YES!"); Another way to write the logic of the for Skip this character *1 break; statement using while is shown as follows: if (s[i] = '\n') case 'ii': break; /* Exit case 'N': expression. 1; for if new line */ printf ("The answer while (expression 2) was NO! "); break; statement; default: expression 3; In the above for statement, the only ways printf ("Enter only } for it to end are ifs (i] equals 0 or the Y or N!\n"); newline character. Note that the relational break; From the explanation of the while, you can expression is (s[i] != 0), but it can be see how the for statement works. In the for and is shortened in this example to statement the expressions could be mul- (s [i] ) . That's because any zero value is The above switch statementcouldpossibly tiple expressions separated by commas. interpreted as FALSE and any non-zero be used to test for a Y
Inside TMQ -36- Inside TMQ Volume Vll.ii THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.il recommended, except for possibly branch- initialize or assign a value to them. An elements can be referred to individually ing out of some heavily nested logic. equals sign and a constant expression are via number[0], number[1], ..., thru num- used to initialize simple variables. (Arrays ber[9}. C also supports multi-dimensional Initialization, Blocks, Pointers, and structures are initialized differently, arrays. For example: and Arrays as we shall C later.) Here are some ex- amples of simple initialization: mt a[10][20]; Several computer languages are block- structured in the sense that they allow mt a = 5; This declares a two dimensional (rectan- functions to be defined within other func- mt b = c = d = e = 0; gular) array. Elements of a multi-dimen- tions. C does notallow this. In C, functions char g'x', h, i'y'; sional array, in C, are stored by rows. are always "external" since they are not char f = Viewing storage as linear, elements of the inside of other functions. I am alluding to jut d = 45 * 67; array are seen in storage order if the right the fact that functions are blocks of C code most index varies the fastest. Now, how and a block is enclosed via braces "()". As you can imply, this initialization saves can arrays be initialized? These braces enclose functions and other "extra", sometimes unnecessary, assign- blocks. After the "("comes variable defi- ment statements which assign a value to a Arrays are initialized differently than other nitions, if any. Variables in C, are thus variable. K&R call this shorthand for as- variables. Only external and static arrays defined in a block-structured manner. signment statements. Remember what was can be initialized, automatic arrays can Variables can be declared following the just learned about blocks and how vari- not be initialized. External and static ar- brace that begins any compound state- ables can be declared within them? Well, rays are initialized as shown in this ex- ment. Also after the brace that begins a variables declared within these blocks (or ample: function, variables can be declared (de- functions) can also be initialized. This fined). initialization takes place each time the static mt numbers[10] = function or block is "entered". External { 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 }; If more variables need to be declared, later and static variables are initialized only in the function, they can be, by declaring once. (Are you wondering why this is? Remember, in the absence of explicit ini- them after the left brace which begins a External and static variables are of differ- tialization, all elements of external and block. These variables can even have the ent storage class and scope than automatic static arrays are initialized automatically same name as other variables. Their dec- and register variables. Think about how to zero. larations "supersede" the identically named and when these variables come into exist- variables in outer blocks. They exist only ence and when they go out of existence (if In initializing external and static arrays, within the block in which they are de- they do)?) Also, for automatic and register fewer initializers can be used than there clared. Don't forget or confuse what you variables, the initialization can be done are elements. In this case, the remaining have learned previously about variable via any valid expression. This initializer is elements will be zero. C also disallows storage class and what you are learning not limited to a constant expression. more initializers than elements. Wouldn't now. The above comments on variables it be nice to be able to repeat an initializer declared within blocks hold true for exter- Before I discuss how arrays can be initial- or just to initialize specific elements and nal variables too. Now can we look at how ized, shouldn't I discuss what they are and ignore others? Well, sorry, C does not variables can be initialized? (No freedom how they are declared (defined)? For ex- provide a means to do that. of choice, is there?) ample: Here is an example of a character array Initializers mt nuxnber[10]; and its initialization: If you would like to assign an initial value This declares an array of size 10. In es- 1* to a variable when it is defined, C will sence, this is a "block" of 10 integers • . .5. ..10.. .15.. .20.. allw1tAs an h1teresngpninI,C4oes together-Likewise: *1 initialize certain variable classes for you. static char me[] = If you do not specifically assign an initial char name-C12]; "E.C. Terwilliger Jr."; value to an external or static variable, C will initialize them to zero for you. How- declares a block (an array) of 12 charac- Quick! How many elements does the array ever, automatic and register variables are ters. Each member of the array is called an me have? (Use the comments ruler line to not initialized automatically for you by C. element. Each element is numbered or help you count.) Did you guess correctly So, don't count on them containing any- indexed. In C the index starts at zero. For with 2 1? Each character between the quotes thing worthwhile unless you specifically example, in the number array above, the is an element plus the'L) which is added by
Inside TMQ -37- Inside TMQ Volume Vll.li THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume VILIi the C compiler to terminate the string. Did address of its object. The & operator ap- Having the address of a variable is very you notice that the size of the array, i.e., the plies only to array elements and variables. useful. Remember from a previous part number within the 0 was omitted? If you Consider the following: that C passes copies of variables as argu- do not include it, C will compute the size ments to a called function. This is "call by of the array for you based on the number of char a; value". The called function can not alter a initializers. Another way to initialize a char *ptr; variable in the calling function. (Actually, character array is as follows: it could if the variable used in both func- a = 25; tions was an "external" variable.) Now char name(] = { 'E', ptr = that you have learned about the & operand, 'W" 'R' , 'L' , I%Or} ; you can use it to pass, as parameters to a In the expression: ptr = &a, ptr is function, addresses of (pointers to) vari- Notice that it is so much easier to use: assigned the address of a. By the way, there ables. The called function can declare the is no such thing as just a pointer. In C, arguments passed as pointers and alter the char name [] = pointers are always pointers toaparticular referenced data! data type. As shown above pir is a pointer Are you thinking that the initialization of to type character. The "i" operator de- Looking back over the above discussion on a character array is like a "string copy"? If notes indirection, it treats its operand as an arrays, do you remember the problem of so, be careful in your evaluation of the address. It accesses this address to obtain assigning values to an array? Consider following statements: the contents stored there. For example: this, now that you are familiar with arrays and pointers: static char msg(5]; char *ptr, a, b; meg = "TEST"; b = char *myname; ptr = myname = "Earl C. This is not a string copy! C does not a = *ptr; Terwilliger Jr."; provide any operator for string copying or dealing with an entire string of characters In the above examples, b is assigned the This also is not a string copy! But it is a as a single unit. Also, msg is the name of value Y. ptr is assigned the address of b. valid expression. myname is a pointer and an array, it is -a constant. it is not an ivalue a is assigned the value of the character it is assigned the address of the string! and the above expression using it as such pointed to by ptr, which is Y. *ptr is a C Comparing these two C statements with is ILLEGAL! How then can elements of an mnemonic declared in this example to be the ones shown to illustrate arrays, you array be assigned values? The answer is by a character. The combination of the * and should be wondering about the relation- individually assigning values to each ele- ptr denote a character just like the above ship between an array and a pointer. Actu- ment. To "blank out" a character array, variable b does. When a pointer is de- ally an array name is a pointer expression. examine the C code which follows: clared, the type of data it points to is stated. However, keep in mind that a pointer is a The pointer is limited to point to data of variable but an array name is a constant. If char message (20]; that type. Also, pointers and pointer refer- an array name is passed as an argument to ences are lvalues and can appear on the left a function, what is actually passed is the for (i0, i<20, ++i) side of assignment statements. Above, the location (address) of the beginning of the pointer ptr is seen appearing on the left of array. (Using the & operator on just an *ptr message[i] = I an assignment statement. Below, is array name is invalid. C does however, shown on the left of an assignment: allow the & operator to take the address of } an array element, for example Also, note that the message array does not char *ptr,,a, b; &myname[4]. The & operator applies only necessarily have to be external or static. It b = to variables and array elements!) could be an automatic array! ptr = *ptr=b; - A called function, whpassed-an arra- name is an argument, can declare the Pointers After the above statements are executed, a argument as a pointer and reference thru Next, onward to pointers! A pointer is a C will contain the same value as b! *ptr is a the elements of the array. Would you like variable which contains the address of pointer reference. In the case above it an example? another variable. I can hear you thinking! actually references a. ptr contains the ad- You are no doubt asking, how does the dress of aand *ptr references the character pointer get the address? The unary opera- stored at the address in ptr. tor &mentioned in an earlierpartgives the
Inside TMQ -38- Inside TMQ Volume Vll.li THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.ii
to the beginning of the allocated storage. If storage can not be allocated it could return a NULL (zero) value indicating an error of some type occurred.)
Consider the statements below for the discussion following:
char *ptr;
static char a[5]= 11test 11 ; ptr = a; ++ptr;
ptr is a pointer to type character. ptr is initially set to the address of the array a. This is written as &a [Q] or simply a. Next, ptr is incremented to point to the next element of the array. This is written as ptr++. (Otherpossible ways to code it, The function scount will return the num- and —subtracted one from its operand. Be in this example, could have been *ptr++, *++ptr, * (++ptr) or* (ptr++) .Note ber of occurrences of a given character in careful applying this to pointers. The "one" that (*ptr) a given character string (array). The two referred to which is added to or subtracted ++would create a different undesired result than *ptr++ The ++ parameters passed to it are the address of from a pointer is actually a scale factor. the string to search and the character to This scale factor is dependent on the type and * operators are of equal precedence and associate right to left.) From the above search for. If you follow the logic, pay the pointer points to. That means it is statements, you can conclude that array particular interest to the *ptr++ expres- scaled by a size equal to the data type subscripting can be done by incrementing sion. The value printed after the above length. This holds true for all "pointer code is executed should be 3! arithmetic". (For example, in a Z80 based a pointer. You can also conclude that the machine the scale factors are 1 for char, 2 following two expressions are equivalent (What? You don'tbelieve me? Type in the for mt.) code and try it out on your favorite C ptr = a; ptr = compiler.) There are some rules to follow when doing arithmetic in C using pointers. it is legal to: (Note that in effect, an array name is a Pointers, Arrays, Structures, pointer expression. Note also that using and Common Errors add an integer to or subtract an pointers rather than array subscripting Could you use somePOINTERS on how to integer from a pointer, usually results in more efficient code.) STRUCTURE better C programs? Oh? As general rules: You thought when you read the word subtract a pointer from a pointer, POINTERS and the word STRUCTURE that this part would really be discussing compare a pointer to another • a[n] is equivalent to* (a+n); techniques for improving your C code? pointer. Hal Well... OK, not to disappoint you, • *(&aEn]) isequivalentto*(a+n); included in this part is a discussion of the All other conceivable arithmetic, includ- most common errors or "things" not to do ing shifting or masking is illegal. (Note, a &a [n] is equivalent to&a(O]+nis equivalent to a+n; in a C program. Will that help? pointer containing NULL or o is a special case. The C language guarantees that if a pointer points to valid data, it will not Perhaps if I spelled Out how to "pro- -- Pointers and Arrays contain 0. The 0 value is usually used to nounce" some of the expressions used in You justsaw an expression *pt r++. Were indicate an error condition. An example of the general rules above, these rules might become more clear? you puzzled? Remember back when the this would be when a storage allocate ++ and - operators were introduced? It function is called. This function may have was stated that ++ added one to its operand been designed to return a non zero pointer means the address
Inside TMQ -39- Inside TMQ Volume VII.il Volume Vll.ii THE MISOS QUARTERLY - spring 1993
means the data at test -1 myfile/dat struct payroll
{ a [xi] means element n of array a If you compile it and try it using the above char name[30]; invocation, you should see the - printed. mt age; &a [xi] means the address of ele- (Try it with different argument values and char sex; ment n of array a. different numbers of arguments.) Of what int pay; value is this? Well, actually this program }; * (&a [xi]) means the data (element) at might be used as part of a larger program the address of element n of and the argv[0][0] could be used to test for The struct keyword is used to declare a array a. This says the same a "switch" such as + or - in front of a structure. An optional name or tag can thing as element n of array a parameter. In the example invocation follow the structkeyword. In this example, above, lincluded the myflle/datparameter lused the tag of payroll. The tag names the * (al-n) means element n of array a to suggest some possibilities for you to structure and can be used as a shorthand ponder! method for the complete structure declara- a + xi means element n of array a tion. For example, to declare two more The argv function parameter, is a pointer structures of type payroll, it might be done Did the above help? to an array of pointers. Here is a list of as follows: possible ways or forms in which you might If you have been looking at some sample C see it used: argv, *argv, argv[n], *argv[O], struct payroll personi, programs, you may have seen by now that (*argv) [0], argv [0] [0]. Having some person2; sometimes an array name is written as a[] trouble "visualizing" what each repre- or *a when used as parameters in a func- sents? Look at a possible storage map The variables declared in the structure are tion. Rather nice don't you think? The (chart) of argv: referred to as members. Structure mem- function, when passed an array name, can treat it as an array, as a pointer or both. If you have some doubt, look at the C code argv address below:
main (argo, argv) mt argo; char **argv; argv[O] or *argv address
( address *gv[o] if (argo < 2) or { address argv[01[01 printf ("Error - no parameter was given!");
exit (1) ; siring data Edt:ig ++argv; bers or tags can have the same name as prmntf("%c\n",argv[O] 103); Ihope the above map will be of some aid. Try and fit into the above map all of the other simple variables. The C compiler } ways of using the function argument argv. can tell them apart due to the way they are The arguments argc and argv are not new Enough of this for awhile! Let's switch used. Members of a structure are refer- to you, they were described previously. As topics and introduce structures. enced as follows: you noted, argv is treated as an array and . as a pointer in the above program. Are you A nice feature for a language is the ability structure-name curious about the argv[0] [01 expression to group variables of different types and used in the printf function? What will treat them as one. This grouping of vari- The "." is called the structure operator. It print is a single character, the first charac- ables, called a structure in C, is called a connects the structure name to a member ter of the command line argument after the record in other computer languages. Here name. program name. If the above program was is an example of the declaration of a called test, to invoke it and pass it an sample C structure: Now, as promised, is a list of many of the argument, you might type: most common errors found in a C pro-
Inside TMQ -40- Inside TMQ Volume Vll.ii THE 1WISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.il gram. Keep these "mistakes" in mind as you code in C. Looking out for these pitfalls will help you design a more "bug free" program. DOS Environments
• Using = instead of = in an if An enhancement to LDOS and LS-DOS statement Code by R.N.Deglin • Thinking arrays start at index 1 Text by R. Soltoff instead of 0
Unclosed braces or brackets Back in the old days of the Model I (re- quence, or a SHELL specification. Essen- • Forgetting a; member them?), programmers had to de- tially, the environment in MS-DOS is velop tricks in order to pass data from one used to store the strings of data associated • Using I instead of program to another. Usually, they resorted with these specifications; uniform DOS to stuffing the data into high memory service calls can then access the data so • "Off by one" errors in looping or thereby making use of BASIC's HIGH= programs may know, at runtime, how the array indexing parameter in order to keep BASIC from user has established his or her machine using all of memory. The problem with configuration. Programs may also make • declaring function arguments af- this approach soon became evident when use of this space by adding additional terthe( other programs were written to relocate environment strings dynamically. In fact, memory modules to high memory hoping in the latest version of LB 86,1 make use of • Forgetting the precedence of op- to protect them from use by lowering the the environment by storing video configura- erators operating system's HIGH$ pointer. A great tion data which eachLB86 module can access. deal of consternation prevailed when high • Thinking C has built in string memory had to be used to load hard disk In the TRS-80 environment, one can ex- comparisons drivers and enhanced keyboard drivers. tend this concept of environment to set aside a block of memory whose contents • Using 'instead of To counteractsome of this difficulty, some can then be manipulated and accessed by DOS vendors provided a small (and I do a uniform set of procedures. In the Model • Using O instead of[] mean small) amount of space in lower 4 environment, it has been long estab- memory for use by non-DOS programs. lished that programs must honor the DOS • function arguments placed in the Unfortunately, a handful of bytes is by no high memory pointer; thus, reserving a wrong order means sufficient for most programs which portion of high memory for environment need inter-program communications space storage should be relatively safe. Even in • Not reserving an array element to utilize for that purpose. Wouldn't it be the Model III environment, the use of for the terminal \() great if there were a standard means of LDOS has fostered an atmosphere where providing such a inter-program communi- programs honor HIGH$. Forgetting about "side effects" cations region? Well, there just could be! The implementation of an LDOS and LS- As you read some of the above most fre- Most low-end C programmers should be DOS environment provided with the pro- quent C coding errors didn't you say to familiar with the two arguments passed to grams, routines, and functions accompa- yourself, YES I have done that before? If a main program: argc and argv. These nying this article were designed specifi- you did, you are not alone! Some of these arguments are the means to access data cally for use with the MC C-compiler, errors are caught by the C compiler, many passed to the program via a command line however, a programmer wishing to use the are not. Another program for detecting invocation. But in the world of C, there is underlying concept should be able to du- possible errors inC code is called LINT. It usually a third argument, env. plicate the environment access routines. typically better enforces the rules of C and reports more possible errors than does the MS-DOS users should be somewhat com- Not all of the modules making up the C compiler. fortable with the concept of an environ- environment package will appear in this ment. This is an area of memory set aside article; however, all of the modules are to store user-defined configuration data included on the DiskNOTES corresponding such as a PATH string, a PROMPT se- to this issue of The MISOSYS Quarterly.
Inside TMQ -41 - Inside TMQ Volume Vll.0 THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume VlLii
Argument strings within an environment extern char *getenv (char Environment Files should take the form: The following files associated with the MC environment support are included on putenv(char * N1ME=string extern mt Disk NOTES 7.2: envstring); The string name, "NAME", should be in CLEARENV/ASM [CLEARNVS/ upper-case text by convention. The string The getenvO function will return a pointer CMD, CLEARNV6/CMD] can be anything consisting of printable to the textstring which follows the varname AS CH characters (in the range 20H-7EH). if that name is found in the environment; A DOS-level command to clear all envi- To access the environment from a C pro- otherwise, it will return a NULL. The ronment strings. gram, it is necessary to simply supply the putenvO function returns a NULL if it third argument to main. For example, successfully added the envstring to the ENV/DEF environment and -1 if it was not successful. #ino].ude
Inside TMQ -42- Inside TMQ Volume Vll.li THE MISOSYS QUARTERLY - spring 1993 Volume Vll.il
MCMACS/ASM,MCMACSIMAC
MC macro files which define the ENVIRON option.
PRINTENV/ASM [PRINTNVS/ CMD, PRJNTNV6/CMD]
A DOS-level command to print the envi- ronment strings.
PUTENV/C CC
An internal C function referenced in the environment functions.
RMENV/ASM [RMENVS/CMD, RMENV61CMD1
A DOS-level command to remove the environment block.
SETEN/CCC
An internal C function referenced in the environment functions.
SETENV/ASM [SETENVS/CMD, SETENV6/CMD]
A DOS -level command to set an environ- ment string.
TEN VIRON/CCC
The C-level program which illustrates the use of the environment.
UNSETEN/CCC
An internal C function referenced in the environment functions.
UNSETENV/ASM [UNSETNVS/ CMD, UNSETNV61CMD]
A DOS-level command to remove an en- vironment string.
Inside TMQ -43 - Inside TMQ
Choose LDOS 5.3.1 or LS-DOS 6.3.1
I Both Model I and Model Ill LDOS support similar Both Model I and Model III support similar corn- commands; DOS commands are virtually similar to mands: all features of Model Ill 5.3.0 are In Model I I I Model 4 LS-DOS 6.3. 1 syntax where possible. 5.3. L That includes such facilities as DOS and BASIC I I help files, SETCOM and FORMS library commands, I The DATE command, Date? prompt on boot, and IED text editqF, BASIC enhancementsetc. All DOS I the ©DASyQw support a date range of 32 ' groomed for MOdè14 LS-DOS I fruar 198O through December syxaxW1i'possib1e ' I I ' , \ " UilZedprotecorcheme ,g Enable o disable tIdnter time-out and eio of6 3? LS-1O$63 pfracytcCtionI I generation wtf PflME=ONtQ1 " ; f mers -- 'e I , ' ' " ' , k . \ • , ' X$}&P ! I € Both ASCII and hdma}dspay outpt*hthe '' I LIST command l paged a sccn at a tlme øruu 3c1ist11able as I it non-stop underyw' nttoJ . z a 3Ql1$ke1te for I .. . ' ' '- t y . \ 4 MEMORY d1sp1ai3s (orprIntthe stus oftab1e < i I L toreturn Y1t1L master I memory banks knwh to theDOS a veI as'amap of modules resident In 110 ddver system hemøiy i sk5(s) with a 30-day I I and high memory. ' arrLy:written custoni'er support is available for I =d)8h 30 days from the purchase date4erslons o15.3. 1 for I Specify SYSTEM DRIt=d LSWAP the Model I ai4M&el III arele. Versions of I Ettaybthe system e and I drive dl for d2. 6.3. 1 forthe Mod4 and ModeIIava11ab1e; Model I aJob Control Language file may be active on either of I French and German versions are also available I the swapped drives . (specify 6.3.1 F or 6.3.1 D). Some Model I 5.3.1 I I The TED text editor has commands to print the features require lower case or DDEN adaptor. I entire text buffer, or the contents of the first block I I encountered. Obtain directories from TED. tool I I Have extended memory known to the DOS? The I I SPOOL command now permits the BANK parameter I I entry to range from 0-30 instead of 0-7. I Alter the logical record length ofa file with 'RESET
: Specify "RESET ifiespec DATE=OFP to restore a ( I I ffles directory entry to the old-style dating of II I I DOS and BASIC ( : system date and time. Referenc Manuals I I SYSTEM command supports removable and reus- able
it Double-density BOOT support for Model I with I embedded SOLE and FORMAT (SYSTEM). Supports mirror-image backup, too. Reworked FDUBL driver I eliminates PDtJBL and RDUBL and takes less memoiy, Two new reference manuals are available from MISOSYS. First, we I enhanced resident driver eliminates TWOSIDE. have the the 349-page "LDOS'' & LS-DOST 9 Reference Manual", I •I catalog numberM-40-060. This single manual fufly-documents both • i?e Model III version auto-detects Model 4 for Installation LDOS 5.3.1 and LS-DOS 6.3.1 in a convenient 8.5" by 5.5" format. I of 104 keyboard dr1ver. supports CAPS, CTRL, and Ifyou use one, or the other, or even both DOS versions, you may want I function key• to bring yourself up to date with a single manual. Gone are the many I pages of update documentation. Price is $30 plus $5 S&H. 'z SPOOL command offers Pause, Resume, and Clear parameters. (OFF) attempts toreclam memory used. We also publish the "LDOSn & LS-DOS' BASIC Reference I Manual". This 344-page book, catalog M-40-061, covers the inter- I F preter BASIC which is bundled with LDOS 53.1 (even the ROM I I BASIC portion), the interpreter BASIC which is bundled with LS- I ii / DOS 63 1,andbothModeljjlil.modeandModel4-mOdCEnhCOmP ' I P,O BOx23 compilerBASlC One convenient 8.5"bySi"manual covers allfour ...... S&H Since this new I I 2O17-O259 BASIC implementations for $25 plus $500 Ser.lixg, manual covers our compiler BASIC, you can purchase the disk I version of EnhComp for $23.98. i I I I I '---'.- / / -• I. TRS-80 Software and Hardware from MISOSYS Window Application Popup Z80 Assembler 8080 to Z80 Translator
PRO..WAM EDAS CON8OZ
This desktop manager gives keystroke access to 4 This powerful combined disk-based line editor and Z80 macro Asourcetranslatorto help you convert yourtntel8o8o fifes tozjlog resident pop-up applications and disk access of others. assembler assembles from one or more nested source disk files Z80 files. Converts CR-LFsequencestoasingleCR; Byusingthe Ion Key leis you Invoke DOS library commands. PRO-WA or memory butter; features nested conditionals with ten pseudo- CR-'c' parameter in the command line, the character 'c'wili be yourlRS-80 Into a powerful machine because it comes wr ops, nested 7-level MACROs with parameters both positional and interpreted as a logical line end. useful and powerful time savers and desk organizers. by keyword, cross reference listings; and a separate full screen some of what you get: text editor. Translates M' to '(HL)'; extended instructions (LDX); B, D, H, and PSW are changed to BC, DE, HL and AF; changes V CALCutalorgrves you 4-tunctlonsatyourfingertips. RPNCALC The labeling disassembler produces an assembler source from gives 7-functions In bin, oc4 dec, and hex. Z80 RELocatable Assembler in-memory code or directly from aCMD-typedisklile. Labels are generated for 16-bit references; a reference is any relative PSORT puts your PRO-WAM data files in sort order. E nstruction target address or a 16-bit target for load, call, jump, and IMPORT functions allow you to move data across w add, or subtract instructions. between applications and programs. There's even an MRAS/PRO-MRAS HELP facilityl The disassembler allows you to build ascreeni.ng data Retelling An advanced Z80 assembly package for the programmer who what segments of the program are to be interpreted as data PRO-WAM works with all programs which use standard DC wants a powerful and flexible development system. It includes a 'egions. You enter the addresses of the 'segments' alter arialyz- keyboard requests and honor the DOS high memory pointi macro assembler which generates either relocatable object rig the target program's disassembly. requires one 321< RAM bank, about 21< of high memory, and code modules or CMD tiles directly, a linker, a librarian, a full- small piece of I0wRAM. If you haveamodel4,thenyou musthar screen text editor, a utility for converting toltrom line-numbered RToutptd is in screen-sized pages. PRINTER output is paged with PRO-WAMI files, and across reference tool for cireetly generated CMD tiles. xihimn headings, page numbers and titles for print-outs that box MRAS generates M80 compatible REL files. Macro support or MRAEDAS (configurable for ethers), and is automatkelly sag- Includes REPT, IRP, and IRPC as well as standard macro netted into manageable file sizes. You ml even be prompted to parameters by both keyword and position. It supports nested hange the cutput file diskette wnen the disk becomes bill. PRO-WAM Application Pack Includes and a full range of nested conoltionals. MRAS incorpo- rates a fast binary-searched symbol table and the ability to enter symbol values from the command line. Labels can be any length Mister ED with 15-character significance. It has flexible output redirection of listing and symbol table. REL Disassembler Mister ED is loaded with editor applicatIons. M are full which make your editing jobs easy. Best otall,theseareall MUNK supports virtual memory bit-stream buffenrig. REL and WAM applications so they can pop up even when you are IRL library searching, direct generation of complex program UNREL other programs and applications. overlays, and does not generate disk space for DEFS regions in DSEGs and COMMONs. The linker can generate either a normal 'lore's one of those rare utilities designed for the programmer. V DED edits disk sectors; FED edits file records; and MED executable command tile (CMD) or a core image tile (CIM). JNREL will decode a relocatable object module which has been memory pages (even alternate banks). AU use a similar dis MLINK supports the following special link items: 0-3, 5-7, 9-11, issembled by either fUaosoft's M80 or MISOSYS' MRAS as- screen and strikingly similar commands to enable you to 13-15. temblers. The output is an assembler source tile compatible with anything. Get comfortable with one and you will know how to ARAS and M80. UNREL assumes anything macode segment is all three of these editors. MUB maintains both relocatable (REt) and Indexed relocatable xide, and anything in a data segment is data. It supports special (IRL) module libraries. You can add, delete, extract, or replace a Ink Items: 0-3,5-7,9-11,13-15. V VED lets you edit the video screen with CARD-type editing. module; and get module maps. You got cut & paste;with this, you can easily use it as the d!pboarc We bundle in SPLITUB which can be used to split a library into facility found on more expensive systems. SAID is an advanced full screen text editor, it can be used to separate modules. We also include DECODREL, for displaying generate your assembler source code, C-language source code, the bit stream of a REL file. This can be used to more fully V TED is just like the editor you get with LS-DOS 6.3; but a or edit any type of ASCII file. Model 4 1281< operation provides understand the actual bit stream. works from PRO-WAM while you are using other pro-gramsi multiple editing buffers. friendly, fast, and great for writing notes when you are right in UNREL should be the peilect professional assembler's tool for middle of a program you can't Interrupt. your bag of tricks. -45- TRS-80 Software and Hardware from MISOSYS Communications Terminal BASIC Compiler BASIC Sort Utility LS-Host/Term EnhComp BSORT This communications' package gives you the tools needed to This is an enhanced BASIC compiler released in 1986 and 's a high speed sort for almost any number of one or two- communications chores done quickly and effectively. reviewed in the March 1987 issue of 80 A&occmputing and nsional BASIC arrays: string, frrtege,, single and double October 1987 issue of COMPUTER SHOPPER. This compiler storm. When invoked from your BASIC program, BSORT will ADDS25 is set up to look like a Radio Shack DT-1 emu-latlng has lots of great features. It handles the bulk of Model III Microsoft inn the indicated soil, and execution will continue with the ADDS-25 terminal. Full cursor positioning, reverse video, BASIC and supports additional commands and functions. Stan- statement in your program. blinking fields are supported. dard is floating point with both single and double precision functions; random file access ('X mode for redens to 32767), Multiple k'a'mys may be specified; the sorting on each key can TERM6 allows one Model 414P to be used as a remote termi turtle graphics, pixel graphics, keyed array sort, multi-lined func- be done in either ascendingor desowmdingorder. Tag arrays that to another running HOST portion of LS-Host/Tenn. tions, user commands, IFTHEN-ELSE, REPEAT-UNTIL, printer do not affect the sort, but merely follow along may also be control, sequential to positioning, line labels and more. specified. BSORT can also create an imager rndararray, without HOST lots your 4/4P operate remotely with passnuztiaccess affecting the actual orderof the elements lnthe 'sortedanay. For log-In tro4'n another 414P using ADDS2. All video effects r A supervisor program automates the edit-compile-test phases string arrays, idsfrftmg parameters allow sorting based on a property transferred to the remote system. Inherent when using compilers; this makes using EnhComp portion ormldstring of the key array elements. BSORT goes tsr almost as easy to use as your BASIC interpreter. You also get beyond CMDO in capabilities and performance. We include a version of XMODEM for file transfer betwe CED, a ilne editor with string searcl*hange, partial load/save, systems using the MODEM7 protocol, as well as a utility ti renumber, copy, and move. converts to/from binary and HEX-ASCII binary repre-sentatil to/from INTEL Hex format and checksum files. Enhcomp has a built-in 280 assembler. You can easily create Disk Sort Utility hybrid programs of BASIC statements and in-line assembly code I which completely eliminate contorted string packing and DATA statement high-memory module techniques for your BASIC pm- grain to access a machine code module. 280-MODE so= ses Disk Sort Merge (DSM) Full C Compiler I BASIC's variablesl A high speed, disk virtual sorting utility that eliminates the You'll have to edit erlschg BASIC programs, but the power and burden of sorting from your applications software develop-merit MC/PRO-MC completeness of EnhComp make that an easytask. Requires our project. DSM will create and maintain index files for you. Since the BASIC Reference Manual sort is disk virtual, your only limitation is the amount of available It you are looking forafulI Ccomplier, lookno further. If you disk space, not available memoryl looking for a well stocked UNIX System V standard library, Ic no further. MC, reviewed in the January 1987 issue of Sorts almost any type of field in a random access file: integer, MICROCOMPUI7NG, is acompleteC compilerwhich adheres RATFOR Compiler single and double precision, and strings. Files can have 65,535 the standards established by Kemighan and Ritchie. The librr Irecords with an LRL up to 1024. Specify up to 24 select fields (12 of functions is extensive and System V compatible. The compi for DSM51). Relations (EQ, LT, etc) may be applied to your generates 280 relocatable macro assembler code (M80 or la.ltena. operators AND/OR may be used. MRAS). The libraries are files of relocatable object modules. RATFOR-M4 is a full-featured compiler for the discriminating programmed Sort ascending or descending; skip records that match a RATFOR reduces your programming time and effort dramatically deleted record value. Save atemp/ateof the specifications todisk MC supports command line 1/0 redirection for compiled pro- over that required when FORTRAN is used, because RATFOR to automate the son. This allows you toset upa sort operation that grams, wild-card file specifications, parsing for UNIX ? exten- coda is fully structured, facilitating modification and debugging, Is transparent to even a novice user. sions in file speciflcations, ove/faysupport (requires MRAS), a lull and because program flow is apparent from the overall appear- pro-processor, lots of options, and is designed for the program- ance of the program; comments are elm-pier and more versatile DSM is intended for use with user-developed applications soft- merwishing the ultimate in compilers. The package is supplied than in FORTRAN, simplifying self-documentation. This allows ware. Please note that DSM creates an index file, as opposed to with the compiler, pre-processor, an optimizer, assemblermaem changes without the subsequent debugging tolerated when modi- actually re-ordering the records in the data file. flies, Clibranes, aJob Control Language file, the headerliles, and fying FORTRAN. RATFOR compiles source code toan object of a 400+ page user manual. MC requires the use of either M-80 or FORTRAN; use your existing FORTRAN compiler to convert this MRAS, 2 disk drives, and upperliower ease. to executable. RATFORis free-field; blanks are significant as delimiters; numeri- Quizzes and Answers cal statement labels are mostly unnecessary; all 80 columns are available for statements; provides user-defined macros; and Structured BASIC I RATFOR provides powerful loop constructs. QuizMaster RATFOR is an excellent language for general purpose use, but it his an educational question and answer program that can also The BASIC Answer ls vastly supeflorto FORTRAN whenworklng with alarge number used as a game. It displays a question and four possible of modules without documentation, as is necessary when produc- were and scores the operator's response based upon speed The BASIC Answer is a text pro-processing utility that allot ing very large programs. I accuracy. OM comes with five subject files of up to 100 programmers to generate program code in astruc-furod manr rations each derived from grades 6-9 textbooks: U.S. informs- Source code iscreated with your text edftor, TBA is then used Extensions supported include the arIth macro to perform binary ;Geography; Math; General trivia as well as Fantasy and process this source code into ordinary Interpretive BASIC cc arithmetic operations, read and print macros for short form READ once Fiction trivia. that uses a minimum of memory. TBA utilizes labels in lieu of II and PRINT, and support of any valid FORTRAN expression for numbers; supports variable names to 14 significant cflaractei switch and case operands. I randomizes both the order of the questions and the order of allows the use of pseudo Global and Local variables (lot answers to prevent memorization. The question sequence is variables retain their value only in a unique subroutine); a This package includes the language translator, a batch file to er the same. Extended play provides a sudden death mode introduces the concept of Conditional Translation. This It automate compilation, a language Reference Manual, an Instal- lure for the skillful user. OM includes all the programs neces- feature allows ca-existence of 'machine-dependent! or 0th lation Manual, application programs In source code on disk, and yto establish and maintain your own series of mud/pie choice variable code within the same program source with the oreleve our LED text editor for source code preparation. tionson any subject. Five support programs we provided to sections lgnoredwhen processing the source to executable coc ate, extend, edit, print, and maintain the question & answer . All features are easy to use and easy to operate. TRS-80 Software and Hardware from MISOSYS Text Editor TRSDOS 6 Source books DoubleDuty doubles your Model 4 LED THE SOURCE, 3-Volume Set DoubleDuty A full screen text editor for almost any type of ASCII file, This will be the last time that these books will be made available DoubteDuty, published previously by Radio Shack (cat 26-2231), including ASCII program source code for BASIC programs, iBA for a grveaway price. THE SOURCE contains a vast wealth of is now available from MISOSYS. DoubleDuty divides your 128K source, as well as JCL and KSM tiles. The command menu may irilomiafion fortheassernbfy language programmer. THE SOURCE or greater TRS-80 Model 4 computers memory into three com- be displayed while editing text. This display includes all command Is not only informative, but also an excellent foaming toot plete and independent partitions. Two partitions each operate as keys, the filename, the cursor column, the character hex value, If they were there own 64K Model 41 This lets you run two and the available memory. These books contain the complete, commented assembler programs concurrently switching between either at the flick of a source code for TRSDOS 6.2, excluding hard disk support, the function key. It doesn't support multitasking, so only the fore- Cursor positioning uses the arrow keys. The game has two skill levels; the pace is fast; the sound it • RESTOREx lets you selectively restore some or all archived PUTS ZIP IN YOUR DRIVE the action is continuous. You can beat this bargain of a files to your hard drive. Even Stacey plays ill All ten modules come fully documented and are ready to install into your LDOS 5.3 or LS-DOS 6.3 system (or both). Adventure-type Game Hard Disk sub-partitions Lair of the Dragon If you thought the TRS-8O was dead, think again. Our 1,air. diskDlSK Qggi MegAdventure is unlike virtually any other Iiitera Mod 4 features for Mod UI fiction adventure that you have over played, for it will more Do you haveahard disk? lf so, you need dIskDISK,ThedIskDISK just paint its pictures upon the canvas of your imagination- utility allows the creation of logical disk partitions as flies on a slap the sweat right onto your forehead[ physical disk drive. This is indispensable for hard disk users. Once a dlskDISK file is instated into a logical drive slot, the Hardware Interface Kit If you truly believe that discovery is one of the finest points in diskDlSK can be used just like arty other physical drive; diskDlSK If you would like to test your ability to think logically to the liii provides for easy swapping of any currently active diskDlSK file. This will ailowyouaccesstoyourModel4haithva,eleatureswhile extent of your ability, If you would like to take the lat using LDOSs.3. Here's what you get: • Kl4keyboarddriveruses -47- TRS-80 Software and Hardware from MtSOSYS Model UI Utilities FORTH Compiler Cornsoft's arcade-type games HartFORTH MISOSYS has licensed the action games previously published by Utility Disk #1 The Comsoft Group: FroggermL, Scarf man, Bouncozoids, Crazy Painter, and Space Castle are exceptional action games with 14 utilities useful to novice and experienced IDOS users. HaitFORTH is a MI FORM that conforms to the 79-STAN- great video and Alpha joystick support (even the MISOSYS ND DARD. The Model lAllversion isan wtdirect threaded version; the joystick). All games are for Model 11111 (or 4 in Ill mode). All five V COUP is a file and/or byte-for-byte comparison utfluty. DOS 6 version is a direct threaded irnplemen-haon providing games are included on a single disk. RequIres a DOS disk. V DCT allows you to View or modify the Drive Code Table. greater execution speed of 10%-40% depending on the details of V DIRCHECK checks the directory on a diskette and corrects the actual program. The kemal contains some additional useful most recoverable directory errors. words and utilities which turn HartFORTh into a full-fledged V MAP displays or prints the allocation (granules orcyfindersand development system. sectors) of a file on a diskette. • RAMrEST Is a sell-relocating RAM memory test HatFORTH Is designed to mn under an operating system TRS-80 Mod I & UI GAMES • READ40 allows access to a 401 disk in an 801 drive. which is totally transparenttothe programmer or user. Thevistual • TYPEJN combines the functions of JCL and KSM. Allows Memory that It accesses for storage and retrieval purposes Is a programs such as Profile 3+HD to be totally automated. normal DOS file that is requested by the FORTH system when It Leo's Greatest Hits V UNKILL recovers flies accidentally KILLed or PURGEt Is first entered. IlotFORTH supports double length integers, string handling, cursor manipulation, graphics, random numbers, Animated Game Disk with sound and floating point. This is one of the greatest values in games ever produced. Leo Christopherson wrote the very first animated game for the TRS- Model UI Filters I 80 and the country went wild for ft. Android Not will make everyone laugh to watch these life-like creatures as they shake their heads up and down or side to side and blink ax you stupidly FILTERS maintenance as they wait for you to make a move. Then Leo invented how to make the TRS-80 produce sound and added 1110 NIM. He then This combines 23 filters and utilities from FILTER Disks 1 and followed Android Nim with the other games, even getting Radio with assembly source code at a clearance price. GO:MTC Shack to sell Dancing Demons, which is a real seam. The disk includes the famous games: ANDROID NIM, BEEWARY, DUEL- ING DROIDS, DANCING DEMONS, SNAKE EGGS, and ANI- V XLATE translation for 1/0 devices The GO:MTC program collection provides maintenance support MATED LIFE. All games feature full sound effects and some of V USTBAS print formatting for BASIC programs services for your computer operation. DIRCHECK performs an V STRIP7 removes high-order bit off all characters Integrity checkof yourdisksdirectoly and repairs certain kinds of them are even in 3-part harmonyl You and your family will just love this diskl Dancing Demon even features saving your song and V STRIPCNT replaces output >127 or <32 with a # symbol errors; FIXGAT re-constructs a corrupted Granule Allocation dance routines to disk and four of them are includedi The V MONITOR displays control chars in string form (%xx) Table; IOMON traps disk input errors: MAPPER checks the possibilities are endless and it is always entertaining. A great way V TITLE prints a this after form feed granulization of files: RAMTEST performs an exhaustive test of o 'show ofr what your computer can do and always fun. V UPPER converts lower-case character to upper case RAM; and UNREMOVE restores a deleted file. V LOWER converts upper case character to lower case V SLASHO translates zero to zero-backspace-slash V TRAP discards any user-defined character V LINEFEED adds or removes a linefeed after return System Enhancement I TRS80 Mod I & UI GAMES V PAGEPAWS pauses alter lormleed for TRS-80 Mod I & UI GAMES Model 4 Utilities I gore Model 4 Utilities LS-Utility Disk Lance Micklus' Greatest Games GO:CMD Ihis3-disksetisa great collection asft features space games Filters and utilities for DOS 6i: Space Trek)(adventure games (Dog Star Adventure), gambling The GO:CMD program collection provides adionaf utility for lamas (The Mean Ccps Maehin& which also includei • PRCODES gives control of boldface and underlining your computer operation: FASTBACK and FASTREAD for hard utorlal booklet on disk), board games (Mean crtectters Machine), • TRAP discards any user-defined characler. disklarge file arthlvehestore;PRO-CESS manipulates command as well as some dam useful programs that you might use for real • MAXLATE is a translation filter system for I/O devices. Dc files; COUP compares two files or disks; FED2 zaps disk or file urposes. Also has some educational games for the kids- 1:1 or :many; includes EBCDIC and DVORAK tables. sectors on a full-screen basis; IFC to interactively copy, move, V KSMPLUS Improves on the DOS; allows key re-definition rename, delete, and invoke files; ZCAT catalogs 6.3 disks. the 11y defines strings for the function keys. V READ40 allows access to a 401 disk In an 801 drive. VTYPEJN combines the functions of .JCL and KSM. ABe programs such as Profile 4 to be totally automated. -48- TRS-80 Software and Hardware from MISOSYS Mod 42 Internal 1200 bps modem Model III or 4 RS-232 Serial Card Model urn Data Base Manager TT512P Modem RS232 Serial Card or Kit Auto File Manager (AFM) MISOSYS has the Teleirends 30011200 bead Hayes compa MISOSYS acquired the remaining stock of genuine Aerocomp AFM is a language that you can program your database IN The ible modem which slips right into the Model 4P's Internal mode serialcardsforyourModel III or4. Replace yourbroken serial card package consists of three integrated modules that can be callea slot. This has afuU "Ar command set capability. For now, yc with this brand new work-alike replacement: or get a kit to install from within each other. AFM - Auto Pile Manager- is the actual Model 4P folks can upgrade to a real Hayes-compatible mode a serial port in the computer without an existing one. data-base program, AFR - Auto File Reporter- is obviously the operating at 1200 baud, It's lust what you needed for your 4P. module that prints out your reports, and AFU - Auto File lJtiiit' - recovers space and keeps the Ides' integrity intact. Model 111/4 Floppy Disk Controller lisa free-form entry system, which means that you can enter Hard Disk Drives and Parts 'data in any way you wand You are = limited to a particular an format. In fact, each record can have its own individuar lay formatl Reallyl A unique feature is the ability to define the Floppy Disk Controller (FDC) o field repeatedly within a record. AFM's search routines will MISOSYS MSCSI Hard Drives every occurrence of a field within a record, no matter how MSOSYS acquired the remaining stock ol genuine M,ip floppy y times it is repeated. Genuine MISOSYS MSCSI hard drive kit packages plug intc diskcontialerbcards, 100 ripatblewth the original. Replaceyour Model 4/4P/4D and Model III computers. The 11" x 10'x 4.75 broken FoC card with abrand new ono. Complete ldfa with plated steel An AFM record can beupto 4096 bytes long (including field name (LWH) beige drive case has space for a half or full height drive, mounting towers and all necessary codes are available to convert a information), but each AFM record takes up only as much space 115V230V 30 wait power supply and fan, hard disk controller cassette machine into a disk powerlu.ieel as it needs. It the record must be expanded, then more space is (HDC), host adaptor (H/A), optional hardware real time cloci taken up on the disk. AFU will later allow you to recover unusea (RTC), LED status lights, and 50-pin SCSI female connector. space within an AFM database tile. The size of an AFM database Optional Joystick port with joystick. Includes software for one tie can expand to accommodate a full fifteen megabytes. DOS installed (Model III or 4), and 4-foot host cable, Floppy Drives and Parts AFMafiowsyoutoset printerparametersthroughaFORMScommana 20 Meg drive kit (ST225), complete very suallar to the FORMS caivnarrd of many popular disk operating 40 Meg drive kit (ST251-1), complete systems. This allows you to control your report formats. Totaiv 5.25" 360K 1/2-height; 3.5" 720K ri 5.25" frame; M5 drive i Single drive cable; Dual floppy extender cable "ndependeru of FORMS, is aCOLUMN parameterwhich is used trr case & P1S; Aerocomp Hard Drives Our Model 25V5 dual vertical external floppy disk drive case will the bmiating of your data for printing and display. Genuine FCC-certified (EZU5PU000) Aerocomp drives are now hold two 5.25" half-height disk drives. ' needed for one or two Sorting within AFM is automaixt. Cite the sort field has been deftnec. available from MISOSYS. These are new and complete units drives; "needed for two drives., every rd entered with that son field will automatically be ped in ready to run. The external hard drives are FCC Class B certified. the correct position reimvetothectherrecordsit1 the file. However, you They include continuous duty switching power supplies, filtered can list thecontentsof ANY field in sorted order it any time. In addition, forced air ventilation, effective EMI titration, and solid steel searching can be performed onthe maior key fields through the use ci construction. Five front panel lights indicate power, ready, read, Computer Power Supplies powerful relational operators =Aing AND, OR, GREATER THAN, write, and select. Drivers available for Montezuma Micro CP/M, LESS THAN, LDOS, or LS-DOS. Comes complete with 4-foot host cable. Astec AC8151-01: 40 -watt supply )AFM has a second module included called AFR (Auto File Adrocomp 5 Meg drive Hard drive Reporter), it is one of the MOST powerful report generators ever Aeroconip 20 Meg drive Hard drive made available forthe IRS-SO computer. Fully relational reports Aerocomp 40 Meg drive Hard drive Provides +5V @ 2.5A, 's.12V@20A and [email protected]. Size is Ican be generated by applying arty set of parameters doyourdala 6.25"x4"xl .75'; mounting holes are 3.125'x4.75. base. AFM also contains a BCD MATH Package which will allow Component Piece Parts: you to have a running total on numeric fields in reports if desired, Astec AC1 2310: 68 -watt supply lusing + - '/ operators. Accuracy is assured by using BCD math Instead of floating-point and output is automatically formatted. Seagate ST225 5.25" 20M drive, 65ms Seagate ST25I-1 5.25" 40M drive, 28ms Provides +5V @ 7.3k +12Vl2.5A, and [email protected] Size is MISOSYS SCSI H/A with software 7.69"x4.1 25"x2'; mounting holes are 3.75x7.25*. Direct replace- M contains numerous HELP screens, which can be invoked at Xebec 1421 Hard Disk Controller ment for Tandy Model 4 power suppty. touch of a key. The help screens are user-controllable and Adaptec 4010 Hard Disk Controller r definable; you may set up your own help screens for a power V cable ticular application it you wishi It is very easy to set something XI drive cable set (20P HDR-EDC.; 34P HDR-EDC) for people who don't use the system all the time. XLR8erd Model 4 In III mode Output of AFR is fully sorted by all fields and is fully relational. le can imagine ANY report that cannot be performed by AFR 'ou can field your data each with different field lengths. Model I Double Density Controller LDOS 5.3 XLR8er Interface Kit • FORM-LETTER output of AFMwltlallowyouto write documents This is based on our Hardware Interface Kit but Is for the 8er and have the data Filled inautomatically byAFR Double Density Controller (DDC) board operating under LDOS 53. The package includes: XLR2RAM, X14EMDISK, BANKER, V1DX, and SEIX 'RELXflONAL LOOKUP report allows multiple passes througn 80%morediskcapaciryiswhatyougetwhenyouaddAerocon the database white generating reports. You con utilize information DDC to your TRS-80 Model I. This controller has withstood )Q.R2RAM adds a batik handler for the extra 64K of memory and from ALL NINE drawers in the same report. test of time. All the others are gone, yet the DX endures. W the extended 256K of XLR8er board memory. The RAM disk Because it has proven itself as the only way to achieve refit driver can craze a RAM diskof from 2to27 banks: however, only MAIL labels eta are a cinch with AFRS -49- TRS-80 Software and Hardware from MISOSYS Floppy Disk Repair Utilities Hard Disk Drivers for A Major Enhancement for - Tandy disk systems SCRIPSIT 4,111 and I SUPER UTILITY PLUS Supreme HD Driver. RS PowerSCRIPT • Reads, repairs and works with all the popular TRS-80 operating systems Models 1,111,41 These hard disk drivers out-perform the Tandy drivers In many This modification for Radio Shack's SCRIPSIT program turns it ways. Our Powersoft drivers allow you to combine LDOS and into a POWERI1OUSEI Our program merges with your copy of It you use a TRS.80 with disk drives, then this is a must-have TRSDOS6on the same drive and boot from elthersystem (with SCRIPSITto create anew programl PowerScript allows you to program that you will wonder how you did without for so longl floppy disk). They run faster and take much less memory from add printer control codes directly in the body of your text! Now Super Utility is completely menu-driven with the most common the system. Only for use with Tandy Hard Drives. flis easy to add undertinIng, bold face, the different sizes of print, defafts built right in. it is configurable for all the popular IRS- etc. Initially set up for the EPSON type dot-matrix printers, it is 8O operating systems and will even allow you to set one drive br configureable to just about any printer during set-up. If you have one system and another drive for a different operating system more than one printer type, then just set upacopyofPowerSctipt and copy flies easily between the two. Even between Model I breath printer you have. PowerSctipt adds the ability loses an and Ill or 4, regardless of density, track number, number of SuperSCRIPSIT Printer alphabetized directory without exiting the program seeing how sides, or system used. Driver much free space you have, and others. It works on the Model I. lllor4versionsofSCRlPSll. ltwlil even rnakeaModell version Super Wily, removes or decodes passwords, reformats a disk of SCRIPSIT work on a Model Ill or 4 (in the Ill mode). Lastly, without erasing the data, fixes problems, backs up most pro- PowerSoript removes the limited copy lealure'ofSCRIPSITso tected disks, etc. Super Ullfty, has over 65 functions and PowerDriver Plus that you may make asmanycopies asyou need orcopy ittoyour Iealures.Does not work on hard disks. Our TOOlBOX orToolBelt hard disk without hassle. has similar features for hard drive use, as well as floppy. SU+ • Allows EPSON or compatible printers to be fully utilized does not support Ilewdos/8O double-sided disks. with SuperScripsft and SCRIPSIT PRO. Super Utility Plus 414P14D This is a replacement driver for the ones you got with SuperScnpsit. It fully supports the various Epson and Epson animated ThS-80 screen graphics! compatible printers to the limits of their capabilities. Model 1,111 The Model version of Super Utility has all the features of the 4 or 4 is supported in the same package. Easy to install. Model 11111 version, but uses the larger amount of memory for quicker operations, plus utilizes the three function keys. It boots PowerDraw right up in a Model 411 without having to first load the MODELW Ill ROM film PowerDRAW allows you to create graphics (mixed with text if Mailing List/Fixed Database desired) and save them to disk, It allows you to create up to 33 'framesotanimation and play' them like amovie. It also allows you to save the graphics in several modes, including BASIC listings, CMD file format, etc. These can then be merged into PowerMail Plus your own programs,, either in BASIC or machine languagel Hard Disk Check, Repair, & Modify Many of PowerSolt's opening screens were created with This program was because all the other mailing list/data base PowerDraw. In tact, it even creates animated opening screens systems couldn't keep track of all the types of data most folks to really pep up the program. It also allows you to print the LDOS ToolBox wanted to keep track at You needed speed, you needed hard screens on Epson-type and several other type of printers. drive support, and you needed a crash-proof data structure. Lastly, PowerDraw has the ability to load in many types of IRS- PowerMail+ was top-rated (5 stars) in several publications and 80 graphic's and convert them to BASIC listings like a BASIC If you own a hard disk and use LDOS, this is the perfect has never been topped. Works on floppies or hard diskunder all program generatorl insurance policy for your data. The LDOS TOOLBOX Is like a popular TRS-80 operating systems. Allows importing of data Super Utility+ for hard disks. Features Disk Check and Disk from several other once popular mailing systems to avoid re- Repair, Sector Modification, plus many, marry other useful typing. Written in machine language by the author of Super utilities that makes using a hard drive even easier. Each Utility, this program is FAST and sorts up to 10 levels very program contains a builtin help command, so many times you quickly. If you keep track of names and addresses along with Block Graphics Drawing dont even need to look things up in the manual -just press associated data for any situation, this is the one to use. Many Back/Rest This optional module for PowerMail allows you to create cus- tornlzed'form letters' oraistorn labels, lists, etc.wflh PowerMall BACKIREST has proven to be agreattime.saverforthousands Pius and any word processor that saves text in ASCII formal. of IRS-SO hard drive users. BACKIEST can back up 10 Very easy to use and really gets the effect you want. Allows megabytes in about 10 minutes and 2D meg in about 30-40 completely definable report generating from your PowerMall+ minutes. It also tells you how many disks to have ready. Works data. under LDOS orTRSDOS6 (both versions on same disk). Great utility for hard disk users[ -50- Let LB Data Manager solv your data storage problems LB Version 2.3: Modern up-to-date features provide this newest release of our Flat File Data Manager with a greater degree of flexibil29nd an increased level of ease-of-use. LB still provides strong e capabilitiesbas with absolutely no user programming! NOW WITH COLOR SUPPORT FOR PC USERS We've added many features asked for over the past few years by LB users; yet LB is still about the easiest, most flexible data manager you can use for managing your data. Absolutely no programming is needed to create a database with up to sixty-four fields; construct input screens for adding, viewing, and editing data; and create your own customized report. Quickly you define your data fields in response to LB's prompts, and then draw your data input screen using simple keystrokes - or have LB automatically create your input screen. In no time at all, you're entering data. Customize your printed reports with user-definable print screen definitions. Or use LB's define print autogen module to automatically create Table or Form reports, or over a dozen different address label configurations including a Rolodex card and a 3" by 5" index card. LB is just what you need in a data manager! We even have many database templates available for download on our Compuserve forum! Data capacity per database: database fields. You can customize the appearance of any view screen by a simple drawing process, or use LB's built-in auto gen LB supports up to 65,534 records per data base; 1,024 characters capability. View screen definition even provides an intelligent (64 fields) per record; and up to 254 characters per field. line-drawing mode so you can create lines and boxes to enhance Field types supported: the appearance of your screen image. If your computer supports a color video adaptor, each view screen can be configured to a LB allows ten field types for flexibility: alphabetic (A-Z, a-z), distinct foreground/background color arrangement to increase the distinction of it's data viewing. calculated (operations on "numeric" fields using +, -, 'i', I, with 2- level of parentheses), date last modified (YYYY/MM/DD auto- matically maintained), dollar (±dddddddd.dd), floating point Using a database password provides the capability of selectively (±dddddddd.dddddddd, literal (any ASCII character), numeric protecting fields from being displayed or printed without entry of (0-9. -, .1, right-fustfled numeric ,upper case alphabetic (A-Z, the correct database password, or they can be protected from being automatic conversion of a-z) ,and upper case literal (literal with altered. This is quite useful in a work-group environment. Fields automatic conversion of a-z). All field types utilize input editing may be selectively established to require a data entry before a verification so invalid data cannot be added to a record. Field name record being added or edited is saved. You can enable a special strings can be up to 19 characters long. index ifie to keep track of records being added. This can be subsequently used, for example, for a special mailing to newly Data entry and editing: added customers. Flexible editing includes global search and replace with wild-card character match and source string substitu- LB allows you to design up to ten different add/update view tion. Search and replace can be performed on all records, or on screens to provide extreme flexibility for selectively viewing your records referenced in an unsorted or sorted index file. Record selection and sorting: Report generation: You can maintain up to ten different index files to keep your data Report generation incorporates a great degree of flexibility. Your organized per your multiple specifications. Records may be report presentation can be totally customized through print defi- selected for reference in an index file by search criteria using six nition formats which you define on the screen as easily as you different field comparisons: EQ, NE, GT, GE, LT, and LE. You define the add/update view screens. You can truncate field data, can select on up to eight different fields with AND and OR strip trailing spaces, or tab to a column. You control exactly where connectives. Index files .can be left unsorted, or you can sort in you want each field to appear on your report. LB provides for a ascending or descending order. By associating a sorted index file, report header complete with database statistics: database name, any record can be found within seconds - even in a very large date, time, and page numbers. A report footer provides subtotaling, database. totaling, and averaging for calculated, dollar, floating point, and numeric fields; print number of records printed per page and per LB even includes a special Dup command which uses the report. sophisticated Ratcliff/Obershalp pattern recognition algorithm for automatically finding duplicate or near-duplicate records! Many report formats can be automatically created by LB's define Duplicates can then be either manually deleted or automatically print autogen module. You specify your printer type and character purged using the provided LBMANAGE utility program. size from a pop-up list-box. Select one of four canned report formats: narrow or wide carriage Table reports; a Form report; or Automatic operation: an address mailing label using one of six different sizes of labels including labels printed two, three, and four across. Label formats For automating your processing needs, LB can be run in an also include formatting for a Rolodex7 14 card and a 3" by 5" index automatic mode, without operator intervention. Frequently used card. Label formats automatically select the needed fields from procedures can be saved by LB's built-in macro recorder for future your database definition. use. Entire job streams may be produced, so that LB operations may be intermixed with literally any DOS function that can be For printing, associate any of the ten index files and you control batch processed. These named procedures are easily invoked via exactly what records get printed; even a subset of indexed records a pop-up list-box. can be selected for printing to give you a means of recovering from that printer jam halfway through your 30-page printout. You can Maintenance utilities: even force a new page when the key field of an index file changes To make it easy for you to grow your database as your data needs value. Up to ten different printout definition formats can be grow, we provide three utility programs for managing your maintained for each database. Reports may be sent easily to a database. LBREDEF allows you to construct a new database with printer, the console display screen, or to a disk file - useful for an altered data structure and populate it with data from your subsequent printing or downstream data export to other programs. existing database. This facility is great for adding new fields, or Report formatting allows for multiple across mailing labels, deleting fields no longer needed. Or you can use LBREDEF to multiple copies of the same record, or even form printing one redefine the field type of an existing field and convert the existing record per page for sales books. You can easily generate mail/ data. Another utility, LB MANAGE, allows you to duplicate your merge files of address or other data for your word processor. Or you database structure, copy or move records from one to another, or can use LB's built-in form letter capability. automatically purge un-needed records. Help is on the way: A third utility, LBCONV, converts toLB from pfsFlLE4,Proflle4, The main menu even provides a shell to DOS so you can tempo- DIP, dBASE II, dBASE ifi, and fixed record. It also converts to rarily exit LB to perform other DOS commands. LB provides DIP, dBASE, and tab or comma delimited files to enable easy extensive on-line help available from almost every sub-command. porting of LB data to other systems. A200-page User Manual documents every facet of LB's operation. Competitive Trade-up policy: Send in an original Table of Contents page from any MISOSYS, Inc. existing database program and get LB Version 2 for half price. That's only $49.50 + S&H! P0 Box 239 Sterling, VA 20167-0239 Ordering instructions Specify MS-DOS (and media size) or TRS-80/4 version. 703-450-4181 or orders to 800-MISOSYS LB is priced at $99 + $5 S&H US ($6 Canada; $7 Europe; $9 Asia, Pacific Rim, and Australia). TRSCROSSTM (Pronounced ThISS-CROSS) TRSCROSS runs on your PC or compatible, yet reads your TRS-80 diskettes! Copy files in either direction! The FASTEST and EASIEST file transfer and conversion program for moving files off the TRS-80and over to MS-DOS (or PC-DOS) or back TRSCROSSTm Copyright 1986, 1987 by MISOSYS, Inc. All rights reserved 1 - Copy from TRS-80 diskette 2 - Copy to TRS-80 diskette 3 - Format TRS-80 diskette 4 - Purge TRS-80 diskette 5 - Display directory (PC or TRS-80) 6-Exit Shown above is the Main Menu displayed when running TRSCROSS on your PC or compatible. TRSCROSS is as easy to use as it looks to be! The program is very straight forward, well thought out, and simple to operate. TRSCROSS will READ FROM and COPY to the following TRSCROSS has several "help" features built into the program to TRS-80 double-density formats: keep operation as easy as possible. Just pop your TRS-80 disk TRSDOS 1.2/13, TRSDOS 6.2*, LDOS 5,3*, into your PC and copy the files right to your PC data disk or hard DOSPLUS, NEWDOS/80*, &MuItiDOS. disk. It couldn't be anyfasrer or easier! All steps are detailed in the instruction manual. Advanced features, for those that desire DOS formats listed above flagged with * signify that earlier to use them include executing menu options right from DOS or versions of these DOS's are readable as well, but one or more from a batch file or macro. This can really speed up transfers sectors may be skipped due to a format problem in that version of when similar operations are performed frequently. the DOS. (Disks that were formatted with SUPER UTILITY'' or SUW4/4PTm do not have this problem.) TRSDOS 6.02.01, or higher should not have this problem. Disks formatted in any 5.25" TRSCROSS allows you to "TAG" all 80 track format, or single density are not supported; 3.5" 720K flies to be moved in ONE pass! disks are readable in a 720K 3.5" MSDOS disk drive. TRSCROSS Requires: PC or compatible computer, 128K and a TRSCROSS converts TRS-80 BASiC pro grams normal 360KB (40 track) PC or 1.2MB (80 track) AT drive. and SuperSCRIPS1T files In ONE PASS while Double-sided operation is fully supported. If you have more than COPYIng to MS-DOS! one disk drive, fixed drive, or RAM disk, operation will be much smoother. TANDY 1000 requires more than 128KB memory No need to save your programs or files in ASCII or run a separate (DMA). TANDY 2000 is not supported at this time due to a conversion program first before transferring. TRSCROSS reads difference in disk controller and floppy drives. "Special" data your tokenized BASIC program orSuperSCRIPSIT files directly flies (like PROFILE-i.) would need to be converted to ASCII on offyourTRS-80diskandperforms theconversionallinONEpass aTRS-80 first before they would be of use on aPC or compatible. while being transferred directly to your PC or compatible com- puter. Automatically converts most BASIC syntax, and lines If you use both types of computers, or you plan to retire your TRS- that need special attention can be listed to a printer. (Does not 80, this is for you. TRSCROSS will allow access to your TRS-80 convert PEEKs, POKEs, graphics, machine language calls or sub- diskettes for years to come. Copy your TRS-80 word processor routines.) data files as well as your Visicalc data files over to MS-DOS and continue using them with your new application. TRSCROSS will even FORMATa TRS-80 disk right on your PC! (Handy for those who use both machines!) Only $89.95 Former TRS-80 users who no longer have their TRS-80, but still have diskettes with valuable data.., this is exactly what you've Plus $4 S&H (U.S.) or $5 Canada or $6 Foreign been waiting for! Virginia Residents must add appropriate sales tax. 111'h Ill iII:h1 :h I I'1'''''liii II" 'III I III 'I With a 20 or 40 MB MISOSYS Hard Drive connected to your TRS-80 Model III or 4, your computer will sail through data access. MISOSYS has been shipping complete drive kit packages since September 1989 which plug into Model 4/4P/4D and Model ifi computers; let us build one up for you! Our host adaptor, which interfaces the 50-pin expansion port of the TRS-80 (host) to the 50-pin SCSI port of the HDC, sports a hardware real time clock option using a DS 1287 clock module. With its internal battery lifetime in excess of 10 years, never enter date and time again. It even adjusts for daylight saving time! Another option available is a joystick port and Kraft MAZEMASTER joystick with a port interface identical to the old Alpha ...... o.. Products joystick; thus, any software which operated from that joystick will operate from • Prices currently in effect: this one. Complete MISOSYS Hard Drive: • 20 Megabyte kit: $395 Software supporting the S 1421 and 4010A controllers includes: alow level formatter; an 40 Megabyte kit: $495 installation utility and driver; a high level formatter; a sub-disk partitioning utility; Joystick option $20 utilities to archive/restore the hard disk files onto/from floppy diskettes; a utility to park • Hardware Clock Option $20 the drive's read/write head; a utility to set or read the hardware clock; a keyboard filter • LDOS software interface $30 which allows the optional joystick to generate five keycodes; and a utility to change the SCSI software interface $25 joystick filter's generated "keystroke" values after installation. Optional LDOS 5.3 • Aerocomp Hard Drives: software is available. •20 Meg unit $350 :40 Meg drive $450 Twenty megabyte drive packages are currently built with a Seagate S1225 hard drive; • H/A with MFM software $75 Forty megabyte packages use a Seagate ST251-1 28 millisecond drive. Drive packages Separate Hard Disk Controllers are offered as 'pre-assembled kits'. Your 'kit' will be assembled to order and fully tested; all you will need to do is plug it in and install the software. Drive kits include a 50-pin host • Xebec 1421 HDC $45 interface cable and the hardware clock. Full implement of status lights included: power, • Adaptec 4010 HDC $45 ready, select, read, and write. Add a joystick or hardware clock for but $20 additional per • $45 option (see price schedule). : Drive power Y cable $5 • Xl' drive cable set $5 Aerocomp Hard Drives now available from MISOSYS Note: freight charges are additional. MISOSYS is also the sole source of remaining brand new Aerocomp hard drives. All • Prices subjectto change withoutnotice Aerocomp drives include status LEDs, software driver and formatter, power and host ...... •• . ••••••. cables, and installation Job ControlLanguage. We are building their20Mand40Mdrives. We also have Montezuma Micro CP/M Hard Disk Drive drivers available. ( Order any hard drive kit or unit from MISOSYS and we'll Pre-) I' install either LS-DOS 6.3.1 or LDOS 5.3.1 at no extra charge. MISOSYS, Inc. Contents: Printed Matter BULK RATE P0 Box 239 U. S. POSTAGE Sterling, VA 20167-0239 PAID J\- U.S.A. Sterling, VA PERMIT NO. 74 Attention Postmaster: Address Correction Requested Forwarding and return postage guaranteed