29 October 1984 ZCPR3 NEWSLETTER 008 Z3 TIPS: CLEANDIR and UNERASE go together like a hand and custom tailored glove. Running CLEANDIR does principally two things: sorts the directory of a disk, making for faster other-program usage; and cleans out de-allocated CP/M file block data from previously valid, but now removed files. If UNERASE finds blocks with names the same as the file to be unerased, there is little hope of a successful unerase. CLEANDIR removes all de-allocated names as well as compacts the entire directory area, leaving only presently active data. The problem with attempting to recover accidentally deleted files is with potential previous disk/edit operations; many de-allocated disk data blocks with the same name creates the impossible task of reclaiming the desired ones of the present file. If you have run CLEANDIR and then accidentally erase and attempt to recover, odds are near 100% the attempt will be successful. Floppy Disk File Access Speed Increase Tip: Copy to a freshly formatted system disk, one with CP/M on it, the files you most often use. The copy to be singularly performed, one file at a time in the exact order they are normally used. A boot disk for ZCPR3 might be ordered: STARTUP.COM first, then LDR.COM, SYS.*, MYTERM.Z3T, followed by application MENU.COM and MENU.MNU. Then your editor/wordprocessor, etc. Such system-disk preparation may greatly increase access speed--files are all grouped close together on disk tracks, eliminating need for lengthy disk-drive read/write head seeks. Change of pace...we are looking at an excellent example of aggressive ZCPR3 menus, from user John Gliedman, New York City, containing long command lines. They appear especially useful in automating magazine-article and book writing. The concepts are applied to a dual-drive Osborne with RAM disk, using two versions of WordStar, MENU, IF, ELSE, GOTO, FI, REG, ECHO, ALIAS, SAK, ZEX, etc. We plan to devote an entire newsletter to describing such techniques, but for now just a little tickle showing the ramdisk load and status commands, L and R, entered from the main menu. Lif ex a:-diskname.001;b:user b:ws.com 1;b1:ramdisk c,y,df00; b:mcopy b:ws*.* q;b:user b1:ws.com 0;else;a:user a:ws.com 1; a1:ramdisk c,y,df00;mcopy a:ws*.* q;a:user a1:ws.com 0;fi Rif 9 9;if 8 8;echo ramdisk active and wordstar loaded;sak /p1; else;echo ramdisk active but wordstar not loaded;sak /p1;fi;fi; if ~9 9;echo ram disk inactive;sak /p1;else;fi USER is a set-to-user-area program written by Michael Rubenstein. Ramdisk activates ram storage, starting from DF00 and names it C:. MCOPY copies quietly with trailing q. Registers are set using REG in several conditional STARTUP files, for example: STARTUP: ldr sys.env,sys.fcp,sys.ndr,myterm.z3t;reg s7 1; if ex a:-diskname.001;reg s7;else;fi;fi;start2 START2: if 8 8;mcopy menu.mnu;c:;else;fi;fi;menu Drive C0: is defined as BACKUP so MCOPY default directory search works. Almost any computer task you think of is automatable using menu and alias generation, and multiple commands per line capability of ZCPR3, and such is accomplishable so swiftly. The tools are there--a little thought puts them into action and to work. A Note from Richard Conn -- "The BOOK: ZCPR3: The Manual is almost done, at long last. To brief you on what has been going on, three editors have been working on the book. Two are literary editors, and their job was completed some time ago. The third editor is a technical editor, Chris Terry, formerly of Microsystems magazine, has agreed to act as a technical editor for the book, and I think he has done a marvelous job. He is currently reviewing Z3- Dot-Com and is placing a section into the book on it. He has helped to clarify several of the points stressed in the book and has really devoted a lot of time and attention to it. I really appreciate what Chris has done and feel that the book will be much better for it. "Chris should complete his final review very soon. At this time, he will send the book back to me on floppies, and I will run Star Index over it one last time and perform a last-minute review. I will then send the Star Index output back to Chris, who will print it out for the publisher [Zoetrope] to typeset. We are running approximately one week later than the last posted schedule, so the book is still set to go out around the end of October, first of November." Be assured, Echelon ships as soon as books come from printing presses! DISCAT Reminders: Things DISCAT users may find useful: 1) Put all CAT programs in A8: and using MKDIR name that directory CAT. 2) Again using MKDIR create a directory called BACKUP for auto Master Catalog copying (para. 3.1.3 of DISCAT manual), as a second file, to another disk--good protection from Master Catalog lose. Command #3 from the DISCAT menu erases the temorary backup created on A8:CAT>. CATUPD also defaults to updating disks to selected catalog from directory BACKUP (para. 4.2.8). So please make a named directory with that name. If you don't, the default drive is B: as it is for disk copying. 3) If you wish to change the directroy (disk/user area) that receives disk names, change "catname" menu command line to that directory. The DISCAT menu command line ncatname C31:"Name of Disk -- " (page 60 of manual) controls these things. You may want to change the C31: to BACKUP:. Notice that MCOPY has a default search for directory BACKUP, convenient to use as backup copying for any file. That's why command lines like "bmcopy master.cat m" work. By using MKDIR to establish a directory named BACKUP, a disk/user area is defined for all your backup files. If you have a hard disk occuping A: and B:, then you may find it cleaner to keep all catalogs on B8: and the DISCAT utilities on A8:. Then B8: would be named CAT, as in the DISCAT manual. Good News: Phase 2 is shipping. Programs contained in this release catapult the ZCPR3 System into new domains of elegance. Screen-oriented utilities, easy-to-live-with computer resource control, each makes life pleasant for the console operator. The release is in two groups and purchased from Echelon for $8.00 per disk plus $3.00 shipping and handling. (California customers please add 6.5% sales tax.) The first_group, and probably more popular, is a two-disk set for $19.00, complete, contains: VFILER -- a screen-oriented file and disk housekeeping manager, with marco-command menu (CMD files) ability; a major tool to create streamlined, menu-controlled turn-key systems VMENU -- enhanced MENU with cursor addressing and partial DIR display capability (VMENUCK locates menu command lines containing syntax errors) DU3 -- video version of famous DU, Disk Utility; full disk editor with built-in help system MU3 -- Memory Utility allowing RAM changes on-the-fly, using screen cursor pointing to addresses be changed, in either ASCII or HEX; has built- in HEX calculator, a menu of commands, etc. CMD -- places a multiple command line into the command line buffer and executes SHSET -- makes a Shell of any application program, even WordStar or dBASE II CLEANDIR -- clears out de-allocated disk data from directory area, like public domain SAP but much faster; used often, permits UNERASE to work nearly every time DPROG.ASM -- device programmer, a tool file to initialize and setup CRT terminal, printer, or other device parameters; several may be used, each for different desired environments (for each DIRectory, using CD and ST) DEBUGRCP.ASM -- Resident Command Package (RCP) addition, useful during program development sessions; a cut-down version of MU3 but memory resident Screen-oriented features of above commands should impress. Each comes with an online help file consistent with ZCPR3 HELP System. These nine (9) utility programs round out ZCPR3's capability to create the computing environ- ment we dream about. The second_group of Phase 2 consists of the above two disks plus four more for $51.00, including S&H. If ordering from California, don't forget 6.5% state tax. The additional disks contain: Source Code -- for all object files on disks #1 & 2 of group one, on two disks VLIB -- library subroutine support for modern CRT screen manipulation, cursor motion, erase to end of line, clear screen, half- intensity, etc., occupies 1/2 disk Z3LIB -- subroutine library provides access to ZCPR3-specific features, environment descriptors, flow control, messages, and utilities, on 1 1/2 disks For those who ordered only the first group and now want the second, the price is $35.00, S&H included. These programs are of extreme value considering their usefulness, person- hours required to write and debug, and ease of extension using SYSLIB, VLIB and Z3LIB--that's quality, another example of Lasting-Value Software from Echelon. They, separately a series of small gains, combined create a revolutionary environment permitting modular application program development. Stay tuned for description of upcoming TERM3 communications program. If you like DISCAT and its blending with the ZCPR3 environment, you will love TERM3. (We start shipping TERM3 soon, hopefully within a month or so.) This application program, plus DISCAT, signals menu-driven, completely harmonious systems are now within your grasp, if ZCPR3 is used. And you control the menus, aliases, and macro command CMD files: you are free! Very Bad News: IBM pulls an Osborne-style blunder in announcing and pricing their new PC-AT (Advanced Technology) computer. In effort to cut AT&T off-at- the-pass and dominate the PC market, as it has so competently done in the mainframe business, the AT has been priced so low that sales of both the standard PC and the PC-XT are being dramatically curtained. Additionally, manufacturers of PC clones, super clones and supermicros just don't have the volume production or buying power to price down in the AT range--hard times ahead for them. But unplanned side effect is IBM being greatly impacted in short term because they can't meet demand caused by shortages (that will last for 9 months) of Intel 80286 chip used in the machine. Slow delivery of product has caused a wait-and-see attitude in perspective buyers of full-up PC's, IBM brand or otherwise. Potential customers presently inert waiting to see what happens with IBM-Xenix, Unix System III and System V, and wonder if a PC-DOS 4.0 with windows is soon coming to obsolete popular Xenix. IBM can weather a storm they (in error?) created, but many small- to medium-size companies are going to go under because of it. Unix future is still quite unclear, especially System V. If AT&T starts losing money, and there is chance it will, IBM big-victory is near. Next from IBM-ROLM come power moves in integrated telephone data/voice switch (PBX) market toward dominance. Can AT&T effectively, efficiently counter and be competitive? In straight voice switches they aren't well, 8% of market versus ROLM's 35%. In this pending calamity, an 8-bit Z800/ZRDOS/ZCPR3 combination could gain a small minority foothold in personal LAN computing. Zilog could take a path away from its present position of being fourth in a field of four in the 16/32 bit marketplace and make a real mark with a super performing 8-bit machine. The Z800 has the architecture to be that machine. OEM's, are you listening? The difference between predicting (foretelling) versus dictating (deter- mining) the future is interesting to ponder. The present is determined by history (the past): the future is determined by what is past and what we do now, the present. To dictate the future requires changing the past (present)! Very interesting considerings. Can IBM change history, the past or present? The thought chills. New-Users-of-CP/M_Corner: Lots of first-time computer users are getting acquainted with both CP/M and ZCPR3. The understanding to fully appreciate how computers work takes time to acquire. And study and work and study. But nothing of value is obtained unless we have been changed by the experience and work changes us. Learning to use computers and their software is a life-time adventure--one full of thrills and heart aches. But consider that solution to any problem we face is simply to relax, observe characteristics of the problem, think about it lightly, study more; the solution comes when we aren't thinking about it! Relax, and learn what learning is all about. Getting up- tight doesn't help--just wastes precious energy, energy to which access is limited. Relaxation opens channels to more energy, knowing, understanding. A human has untapped, strange powers never used in normal circumstances. Glimpses are recognizable during times of eminent adversity, tragedy or extreme danger. Necessity of survival drives forth to our consciousnesses the marvels lingering beneath the surface. Break the covering (through relaxation) and be surprised at the wonderments contained inside us. Truly the Infinite is already locked, vested profoundly internal and most of us sense it not. The next paragraph was prompted by many new users of CP/M, and potentially ZCPR. (Who said CP/M is dead!) What it takes to handle installation of ZCPR3: Command files required are MOVECPM, SYSGEN, DDT, MAC, ED, SID/ZSID, MLOAD, RELS.UTL, and EX. In addition, if alteration of utilities is desired, M80 and L80 are necessary. The public domain programs of the group (the last three in the list) are supplied, courtesy, their authors and Echelon. As reported previously, we're trying to negotiate a bargain deal to supply, with our documentation, MAC and SID/ZSID, and M80/L80, from Digital Research and Microsoft, respectively. Manual ZCPR3 installation (using DDT and MOVCPM) is easily handled by programmers with two years experience with Assembly Language and CP/M; the task is usually completed in four (4) hours. New computer users find the chore difficult, but possible if time is taken to learn what's not known. Echelon helps in this process whenever possible. Remember we are dealing with an epic, a package of software that is equivalent to Unix. You can't expect to understand it instantly (though Z3-Dot-Com installs almost instantly)! At any point in time, we doubt if anyone fully understands the complete system-- it's simply too massive for a human to remember. The ZCPR3 online HELP is competent aid to fallible organic memory. We are developing further aids to assist the console operator; the GLOSSARY and ZCPR3 COMMANDS cards are early products, already supplied to all our customers...it's a beginning. Shipping and Handling (S&H) Explained: We control overhead in every way possible. Minimizing paper work is one. We charge a nominal average for our shipping and handling. Thus a customer who orders a single disk is partially paying for the one who orders a large amount of documentation and multi-disk software. The large package is charged the same as the small. We feel the average is treated fairly with the extremes getting a better or worse deal. But our overall costs are lower with the reduced clerical and paper work. Our software, we surely suspect, is already a bargain so we hope few get upset at the sometimes high postage charged for a one-disk shipment. It's not a perfect world; many stumble along the path thinking it is! FLASH: New BBS and RCP/M now operates. This station is central, prime board for ZCPR3 news. David McCord, Fremont, California, is SYSOP. Computer was thoughtfully donated by Ampro Computers of Mountain View, California. The METAL message system used (the best in the business, we think) was provided by Tim Gary and Byron McKay of Delphi Data Systems, also of Mountain View. Dave's joining the ZCPR3 team speeds both reaction to customer questions and interchange of data and information, quickening knowledge and understanding of ZCPR3 and the ZCPR3 System. We welcome his vital assistance! Please make note of new modem number: 415/489-9005. Public message networks informally receive ZCPR3 Newsletter. Through wizardry Echelon customers receive the newsletter first-class US Mail. Those not customers but who which to receive it (multi-color, hardcopy) may subscribe at $24.00 annual rate. We promise twenty-two issues in any twelve-month period; don't forget it's a fortnighter. We further promise no dull newsletters, only newsworthy reporting, microcomputer-industry insider views, Z3 Tips & Bug Reports, and an editorial now and then. Send your Visa/Mastercard number and expiration date, or personal check, to Echelon to keep abreast of ZCPR3 and CP/M-80 happenings. See you down the lines... Echelon, Inc. 101 First Street Los Altos, CA 94022 Telephone: 415/948-3820 (NEW) RCP/M & BBS Modem: 415/489-9005 Trademarks: CP/M, Digital Research; Z3-Dot-Com, Alpha Systems; Bookshelf, Ampro Computers; Z80, Zilog; Unix, AT&T Bell Laboratories; ZCPR3, Syslib3, Term3, Richard L. Conn; Discat, Lasting-Value Software, Disk7, Echelon; PC- DOS, IBM, Int'l Business Machines; Xenix, Microsoft; WY-50, Wyseword, Wyse Technology; ZRDOS, Dennis L. Wright; Metal, Delphi Data Systems. Newsletter 008 is Copyright 1984 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permis- sion to reprint automatically granted if source credit is given to Echelon.