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=Eche1on¶ Inc. 15 October lf984

ZCPR3 NEWSLETTER 007

Answers to Newsletter 004 Generated Questions: l) Both President Larry

Boucher and New Business Developíríent Manager, jim Kurinsky, of Adaptec, 580

Cottonwood, Milpitas, CA 95035, 408/'346-8600, are happy to send you literature

on their company's fast controller boards and on companies that use them 2)

Prices for hard disks were given as less than $3000 for 10 to 40 megabyte

packaged units. A10 megabyte unit goes now for about $900. We're presently

looking for 80 megabytes for less than $3000! The up-to-$600 for quarter

megabyte of RAM is for aplug-in board, not the price of loose chips! (Thanks

to Robert Heckert, Fullerton, California, for high1ighting potential misunder-

standing caused by our phraseologies.)

Our position, restated, is: very useful programs need use no more than

20 or 30 kilobytes of RAM, of Transient Program Area. Using overlays and

chaining permit programs of any size to run fast, very fast, if afast,

correctly installed, Winchester is used for program-module storage. Such a

philosophy means that BIOS or CP/M-system size is not of much importance.

It seems there is some emotionalism involved in setting up ZCPR3 systems

with, say only 48K TPA. (We always assume RAM to be full 64K-bytes.) Our

experience suggests few CP/M programs need more than a48K TPA. We have run

both T/Maker and WordStar in 44K and, subjectively, can see no chance in

operating speed caused by reduced buffer allocation space. Who wants to

conduct measurements of time taken to scan files, run spreadsheets, etc., with

various sizes of TPA? We'll report your findings here.

Additionally, someone (you) should, in our opinion, do an in-depth

article comparing the Lasting-Value Softvaret1n nature of ZCPR3 to PC-DOS and

Unix. Any takers among you writers? We'll supply our experience, our facts

to support your trade-study writings; and surely you'll have no trouble

getting such an article published. Comparisons of this nature are hard to

come by. We'll help, if need be!

Important 8—Bit Program: Outline processing is amind expanding computeraid;

kamas is just that. The acronym comes from Know1e¢Íge And Mind Amplification

System, apiece of software destined to mark our B-bit world: outline

processing, wordprocessing, telecommunications, information retrieval, and a

Forth-like programming language, all-in-one. The system is somewhat command-

line-completion driven. Sounds like an ideal program for control by VFILER,

MENU, and VMENU. ZCPR3 could make KAMAS turn-key, from aseries of chained

(up to 255), custom, easy-to-alter menus. For $175.00 KAMAS sounds like

something we would like to push. CP/M-80 software development is alive and

well, thank you. But no thanks to many others. KAMAS is produced by Compu-

sophic Systems, 2525 SW 224th Street, Aloha, OR 97006. Write, orgive them

(Adam Trent, President) acall at telephone 503/649-3765. (Ezra Shapiro has a

four-page Preview of program in September issue of BYTE, starting page 123.)

Some think we don't write (and talk) enough about ZCPR3, but our attitude

is: we have asuper operating system and it's atool to be used to solve

every day prcMems. ZCPR3 provides the environment to integrate application

programs that work hard, provides auser-interface adaptable (throuüt VMENU,

MENU and VFILER) to the experience level of the console operator. k"e speak

and write of those programs and hardware ideal for the ZCPR3 environment, that

provide amore-than-competitive, cost effective solution to our problems. But

it seems our pronouncements cause astirring in certain intellectual circles,

ZCPR3 Newsletter 007

among those who know the truth of these matters, but are not following through

vith beliefs. They squirm and turn, sleep comes not,..are we tools of

commercialism and consumption? Are we part of this syndrome; amirror is in

the bathroom, but only look if you're not aZCPR3 user.

Z3 TIPS: Take alook at what XDIRcan do. It's so powerful that most of us

never think of using things it can do, because we don't remember all its

power. The Utrailing option enables displaying all files in all User Areas.

The ability to log disk directory files into afile and then compare other

directories to that file is extremely useful and atime-saving feature for

scanning lots of disks to find differences among them. The negate option

permitting display of all but the listed files is novel in the CP/M world.

Study of options possible and comparison table below provides information on

its features. The table indicates why it is so difficult to describe with

mere words all features of directory display programs provided with ZCPR3.

Command: XDIR Version 2.0

Syntax: XDIR dir:afn ooo...

or XDIR /OOO...

Function: XDIR displays adisk directory on the console or printer

and is afile name scanner.

Options:

Aa -Indicate attributes of files to be selected

a=A for All Files (System and Non-System)

a=N for Non-System Files [default]

a=S for System Files

D-Send Output to Disk File XDIR.DIR

Ff -Enable aFile Scanner Function

f=L to Log File Names to FNAMES.DIR

f=P to Print File Names Stored in FNAMES.DIR

f=S to Scan Disk and Compare to FNAMES.DIR

I-Inspect Logged Files (use with FL option only)

N-Negate Selection of Files

Oo -Select Output Features

O=A to Disable Display of File Attributes (R, S)

o=F to Form Feed Printer when Display Done

O=G to Group Files by Name and Type

o=H to Display Files in Horizontal Format

P-Send Display to Printer

PF -Send Display to Printer with Trailing Form Feed

U-Select All User Areas

Ahardcopy printout (assuming you have aprinter) of all characteristics and

features of DIRS (as well as any other help HLP file) can be obtained using

the HELPPR program. Enter:

HELPPR <helpnamejlLP> <optíons> <cr>

Options for HELPPR are obtained by entering the customary double-slash after

the command name: HELPPR // <cr>

Not to s1ight other ZCPR3 directory display programs, let's compare them

to XDIR using amatrix table of features and functions. Z3 DIR is the

intrinsic assembled in the CP, RCP DIR is in the Resident Command Package, and

DIR, XD and XDIR are transient COM programs.

Page 2

ZCPR3 Newsletter 007

Directory Display Comparison Table

Attribute Z3 DIR RCP DIR DIR XD XDIR

Program Size N/A N/A 2K 4K 8K

Sort File Names No Yes Yes Yes Yes

Select Sort Order N/A No Yes Yes Yes

Select SYS Files Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Select All Files Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Negate File Select No No No No Yes

Display Attributes No No No Yes Yes

Horiz/Vert Format No No No Yes Yes

Printer Output ^P ^P No Yes Yes

Form Feed No No No Yes Yes

Select All Users No No No No Yes

Disk Output No No No No Yes

File Scanner No No No No Yes

And now to an equally important program: PRINT. Convenient printer fomatting

and extreme flexibility are main features. (PAGE, for output to console, has

similar features; remember PAGE and PRINT can replace intrinsic built-ins,

TYPE and LIST.)

Command: PRINT Version 2.0

Syntax: PRINT dir:afnl,dir:afn2,... o...

Function: Prints afile on the LST: device, like LIST does, but

offers many more options. Prints aheadirtg, pages

file, numbers pages, numbers lines, places date/time

stamp on output, puts file name on output, and more.

Optíons:

E-Exact Print (Expand Tabs, Form Feed, No Line or Page

Numbers, No Heading)

F-Toggle default of file name display on page header

(default is ON, so Fturns off name display)

H<delim>text<delim> -Define Heading text to appear at the top

of each page (deliin =@, for example)

I-Inspect Files (user selects files before printing begins)

L-Enable numbering of each line

M-Disable Multiple Run Flag (if multiple run is ON, then no

"Set Top of Form" message appears for each file and PRINT

moves from one file to another unattended) default is

with Multiple Run ON

N-Disable numbering of each page

On -Offset from left each line n-spaces to the right

Sri -Start printing on page n

T-Toggle date/tinie stamp in the header of each page (a TIME

subroutine must be assembled into PRINT to enable stamp)

GLOSSARY and ZCPR3 COMMANDS reference cards, presently shipped with our

software, have been sent complementary to all Echelon customers. We care

about your well beiríg and believe these two items assist every day use of

ZCPR3 B-bit CP/M software, both during initial learning and for promoting

fuller retention. These cards at computer-side permit quick operator assist

to forgotten commands and word meanings.

Z3 Bug Report: Two more come from Peter Lyman of Pasadena, California. FINDF

and UNERASE both will not do their jobs if the files searched for are the

Page 3

ZCPR3 Newsletter 007

first four in the directory on track two of the floppy disk. Also from Peter,

HELP doesn't expand tabs because of direct use of BIOS calls, instead of using

BDOS calls. So text HLP files using TAB for indent and big spaces don't look

too goocí! Quick solution is to not use TAB in HELP text files, but five (or

eight) spaces instead. We're 1ooking for asatisfactory long-term solution.

Magazine Articles: Page 396 of BYTE, September 1984, gives alittle history

of ZCPR3 and points to where it's going; stated at article's end, "to be

continued." InfoWorld, 17 September, 1984, starting page 59, carries an

excellent review piece by Allen Mehr about Ampro Bookshelftm Series 100

Computers, as well' as kind words describing ZCPR3 and Shell Friendlytn1. The

machine received hitghest ratings in categories Setup, Ease of Use, and, most

important, Performance. (Please don't miss Echelon's full page ads in Issue

#10 of User's Guide andOctoberComputer Language magazines.)

Part One of aZCPR3 article by Richard Conn appears as keystone piece in

October Computer Language, November for the second part. An in-depth,

independent review of ZCPR3 also appears in the November '84 issue.

The Dr. Dobb's journal article on SYSLIB3 by Robert Blum appears in the

November 1984 issue. That same issue of DDJhas an interesting write-up on

about making files public (9ioba1, from any directory, access of both command

and text files) using alicensed DISK7tm program for special displaying and

copying of pUB1ictm files, as well as normal files. Bridger Mitchell of

Plu*Perfect Systems, Box 1494, Idyllwiid, CA 92349, 714/659-4432, has a

thoroughly developed approach to public files under CP/M. We are considering

implementing afeature like public files under ZCPR3 if we can preserve

directory password security.

IBM versus AT&T: Microsoft wins over Digital Research, we must report. Xenix

(Unix System 3) wins over AT&T System 5. System 3is the standard now, and

IBM has taken Unix development away from the erstwhile monopoly, bureaucracy-

infested AT&T. IBM is competition-tough. The PC-AT (Advanced Technology)

with Local Area Network (LAN) from Sytek, Mountain View, California, is the

product big-business wants, and probably needs and deserves. (IBM has rights

to purchase 5% of Sytek, which in turn is 51% owned by General Instrument!)

IBM appears to not be going the time-share approach of mainframes and minis

using Unix. LAN is efficient, we said this in several ways before. ESD

(Entry Systems Division) wins over other divisions; Florida leads the struggle

against other parts of the IBM world. AT&T should have established System 5

as the standard before it came out with computer hardware. Apple is dead in

this market, good night Lisa, or is it Irene? DRI Concurrent DOS is still-

born, nary amovement detected! Who needs sales to Fortune 500 companies

anyway? Ahuge, savvy marketing staff cuts the mustard. That's our musings.

Digital Research, if any single company can be given such credit, caused

the microprocessor to become popular with its virtual-machine operating system

for B-bit 8080 cpu's. But just when the going got competitive, got rough, its

leadership was found wanting. New leadership of late has done no better.

johnny-come-recentlies know little of what they need to know. They miss the

boat--see not the patch for the code! We sorrow, again and again. Blood

comes from our pores but, as we all know, we reap what we sow; natural law

cannot be circumvented.

Another IBM move having profound industry consequences is their endorse-

ment of Graphic Systems Software, Wilsonvilie, Oregon, graphics operating

system. This move, similar to the way IBM adopted Microsoft's MS-DOS, means

good-bye GSX from ORÍ! Mindset Corporation, Sunnyvale, California, saw the

wisdom of GSS when taking it on for their super PC clone. (But we wonder how

long such clones can be around with the PC-AT priced the way it is.)

Page 4

ZCPR3 Newsletter 007

Wyse Technology, our favorite terminal manufacturer, located in San Jose,

California, has done so well (last year's sales of over $17 milliom they are

goiríg public with an offeriñ9 of 1.8 million shares of stock at approximately

$8.00 per share. Asuccess in Silicon Valley. coming from customer-insight,

courage and simple hard work; westcoast good news! And now for...

Bad News: Sadness darkens our faces with the knowledge that Ziff-Davis is

cance1ling publication of Microsystems magazine. We are charter subscribers,

remember the first issue produced with aDiablo daisywheel. The magazine's

demise signals another bow-wave in the microcomputer incÍustry--publishing

power moving from East to West. ComputerLanguage and Dr. Dobb's more than

fills the gap vacated by Microsystems, and User's Guide, so unique in our

industry, continues as the journal of new computer users, and of those who

desire an in-depth understandim of popular computer programs. Weekly Info-

World completes the quadrangle with timely micro-news and product reviews.

Four influential--thus powerful--journals westcoast produced! (Let's not

forget both Unix magazines, UnixWorld and UnixReview, are from this same

coast.)

Also, Mícrocomputíng magazine is finished after much twisting and

churning. BYTE more than covers whatever small void created by one less such

publication. And furthermore, BYTE, seeing the handwriting on the wall, is

covering CP/M-80 activity with renewed vigor. Gee, that's good news!

About two years ago we proclaimed, while many seemed not to know what we

we were tUkim about, "There's something sick with an industry that requires

so much money spent in advertising products. Company managers funneling

stockholder (or vc) equity capital to pay for ads before products succeed, or

much less make money--such paths lead to Chapter Eleven." Comes time now to

pay for short term views, for so little soul exhibited. We need more

constructive ideas from people, less copy-cats. Too many clone-magazines, too

few impressed and inspired readers, too many ads with mind-numbing and

language-altering word: Íngs! The industry yields to natural karmic

retribution. (Maybe magazine subscription prices are too low, ad prices too

high, management decisions lack insight; something certainly has been and is

far less than whole.)

We presently favor four magazines and their editors:

I. User's Guide 2. Dr, Dobb's journal

POB 5245 2464 Embarcadero Way

Redwood City, CA 94063 Palo Alto, CA 94303

3. Computer Language 4. BYTE

131 Townsend Street 70 Main Street

San Francisco, CA 94107 Peterborough, NH 03458

Please support them by making known your feelings, your likes and dislikes,

and subscribing. Echelon has ads in two of them now and will have in them

all, if business justifies. Our attitudes could change if their editorial

policies ever promote other than ahealthy climate in which we can learn and

in which we can grow--1earning, growing, that's what we call living! See you

down the lines...

Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

RCP/M & BBS Modem: 408/258-8128

Page 5

ZCPR3 Newsletter 007

Trademarks: CP/M, Digital Research; Z3-Dot-Com, Alpha Systems; Bookshelf,

Friendly, Ampro Computers; Lisa, Apple Computer; 280, 2i1og; Unix, AT&T Bell

Laboratories; ZCPR3, SYSLIB3, TERM3, EMSG, Richard L. Conn; DISCAT, Lasting-

Value Software, DISK7, Echelon; PC-DOS, IBM, Int'l Business Machines; WY-50,

Wyseword, Wyse Technology; KAMAS, Compusophic Systems; PUBlic, Plu*Perfect

Systems.

Newsletter 007 is Copyright 1984 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permis-

sion to reprint granted automatically if source credit is given to Echelon.

Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

=i Echelonjnc. 12 November 1984

ZCPR3 009

Z3 TIPS: CD and ST haven't been discussed much and presently appear to be

little used features of ZCPR3. But that should change when we understand the

environmental flexibility attained with them. CD (change directory) is used

to change from one directory to another with password access security. That's

useful, but another most important task it perfOrms is automatically running

ST.COM (if exists) on entering the requested directory! ST (start) is an

alias file (a series of commands known by ashort name) that is used to change

from aprevious environment to another, one more useful and efficient for

present tasks. For example, ST loads new SYSn.NDR file as well as new RCP and

FCP files! Then MENU may be auto-entered as we recommend doing with DISCAT

and its global alias, CAT. (ST is an alias command; NDR, RCP, and FCP are

system segments loaded by LDR.COM and are memory resident.) Thus the environ-

ment is tailored with those tools to perform work efficiently; we go to a

different area for this reason. Alittle thought and p1anning applied to all

tasks envisioned, convenient work space set-up for each--that's advanced

coirtputing! An environment is: specifically desKned work space.

Each named directory, SYSn.NDR, (with optional password access) is

created using MKDIR. ALIAS.COM is used to create custom ST.COM'S. Alias ST

must always have the name ST (that's the only file CD auto-runs), but NDR'S

may have any name as n= as the type is NDR. If you are careful, all can

have exact same file name, but don't copy them from directory to directory--

one overwrites another! Thowh with same name their contents are different;

they each produce change, creating desired local environment, e.g.:

B0: wORK>cd text:<cr>

PW? mypass<cr>

C7: TEXT> (ST has been auto-loaded)

As distributed, ZCPR3 permits 14 (fourteen is an odd number, but adozen

never seemed enough) named directories simultaneously in memory (though it's

easy to allocate more memory buffer space if that's desired, 18 bytes per

name). But by running ST adifferent named directory file can be loaded for

each directory entered, permitting up to 448 names per (1ogical) drive (14

names x 32 areas). Certainly such alimit places few bounds on most planning

activities and resultant environments!

We've come up vith aversion of ZEX not requiring assembly to install on your

system. Advantage to those who don't own MAC and SID/ZSID is obvious.

Hurrah! Now installation of all ZCPR3 utilities is identical using Z3INS.COM,

SYS.ENV (or Z3.ENV if running Z3-Dot-Com), and ZCPR3.INS. The program object

file is on ZCPR3 RCP/M as ZEX.OBJ. Rename to ZEX.COM before installing with

Z3INS. (DDT-patching at standard location 1OAH is single-file quick way.)

More programs on the RCP/M: Ted Emigh (Raleigh, North Carolina) dev-

eloped aZCPR3 tool called FINDERR. Warning and fatal errors from M80

assembly sets ZCPR3 registers; ZEX processing, and the like, react accord-

ingly. Other transient (application) programs probably can use FINDERR tech-

niques to advantage, trappiíi9 error conditions under ZCPR3. The five files of

FINDERR(inc1uding upgradecí M80.ZEX) are on the ZCPR3 RCP/M as FINDERR.LBR.

Also LDR11 is there! It's finally fully fixed, we really believe.

Additionally, latest version of DU3 can be downloaded as DU3.OBJ. Seems

some CP/M BIOS implementations didn't like the way the internal help text was

being processed. Hopefully new version takes care of that problem.

ZCPR3 Newsletter 009

ZCPR3 BBS and RCP/M Comments: David McCord has been sensational ¿;etting the

ZCPR3 board up and running, and with such dispatch. (Isaac Salmnan, North

Hollywood, California, 213/615-6410, and his ZCPR3 RCP/M were an inspiration.)

Tim Gary's METAL message system employed has many bells and whistles; truly a

desirable interface that's easy to use.

When 1oggii: íg on for first time, record all dialog (with your modem

program) so you can later study the transaction offline. Be sure to retain

list of system commands and instructions going into CP/M area. And remember,

after entering CP/M area, to type PHD (print working directories) so you see

(and know) names of all available directories. Here's how you go from one to

another--you name them! The command line prompt appears: AO: COMMAND> and

you go to another disk/user area by typing desired directory name.

AO:COMMAND>ZCPR3: takes you to the ZCPR3 directory area. It's not too much

different than our homebase computer systems! You can use TCSELECT to install

your terminal on the system, and then take advantage of screen-oriented

utilities (HELP, etc.) found there!

Dave intends (with Tim's assistance) to collect adatabase of BBS users'

terminals, characteristics auto-activated after initial log-on. Such a

feature is afirst, to our knowledge, for BBS's. ZCPR3 sets news standard!

Here's what you see if Hor ?is entered while in METAL message system:

++

:***ZCPR3 BBS HELP ** * :

+e+

"B" =Display system Login bulletins (important info).

"C"or"CPM" =To go to CP/M with extensive help shown before entering.

"E" =Enter a new message into the message data base (prompted).

"G" or "BYE" =Log off from the system through Metal BBS (comments req.).

"H" or "?" =Repeat the display of this message (9Ft help).

"K" =Kill a message to you (only) in the data base.

"LIST" =Inquire about auser of this system (last logirí date, etc).

"O" =Show alist of other systems near this Metal BBS.

"Q" =Show aquick listim (by subject) of current messages.

"R" =Retrieve aspecific message by number (repeatiñ9).

"REPLY" =Reply to amessage in the data base (fills in 'to' portion).

"RP" =Read new messages"since last login, in order with prompting.

"RS" =Read any messages in order with prompting.

"S" =Show alisting of messages with author and date info.

"U" =Change your password, or User parameters.

"W" =Re-Display the system Login Welcome Message.

"X" =Select the expert mode (short prompts) of operation.

"Y" or "CHAT" =Call for the System Operator (6:00 p.m. to 10: 00 p.m.).

"#" =Show vital numbers like high msg., caller #, etc.

Control Sor S=Suspend output for viewing, any key to restart scrollirm

Control Kor K=Cease current command and return to command mode.

Commands may be separated by a space or asemicolon to have more than one

command on one line. Example :R;234 would retrieve message 234.

All outputs will pause after 23 lines, type any key to continue when you

see the [mre) prompt.

Entering Cor CPM at the command line takes you to the RCP/M portion of

the system, where you upload and download files using Ward Christensen's

XMODEM error checkirig and correcting transmission protocol. TERM3 has this

protocol, plus...that's another story.

Page 2

ZCPR3 Newsletter 009

New-Users-of-CP/M Corner: The quickest and simplest way to get ZCPR3 up and

running (next to havint: aCP/M Assembly Language guru living with you) is to

install Z3-DOT—COM; installation takes four (4) minutes or less. After

instal1ing and having become somewhat familiar with the new environment, the

trick setup results from ptittiríg the command Z3 in your CP/M CCP command line

buffer. (Use DDT to do this.) Then on cold-boot the machine comes up in

ZCPR3 and not plain vanilla CP/M.

Here's how--SYSGEN your system disk outer tracks into memory (use of

SYSGEN is described in CP/M documentation received with your computer), SAVE

40 CPM.SYS <cr>. Then DDT CPM.SYS <cr>, display hex and ASCII code using D

<cr> repeatedly 'till Digita1 Research copyright notice shows:

-D<cr> (sixteen lines of hex and ASCII appear for each D<cr> entered.)

0980 C3 5C DF C3 58 OF 7F 00 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20

0990 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 43 4F 50 59 52 49 47 48 COPYRIGH

09AO 54 20 28 43 29 20 31 39 37 39 2C 20 44 49 47 49 T(C) 1979, DIGI

0980 54 41 4C 20 ..... etc. TAL RESEARCH ..

The important task is firÁiñ9 two "C3'"S (JMP instructions) separated by two

characters each, followed by"7F" and"OO" in the line ahead of the DR copy-

right notice. (Some computers, like Morrow or Radio Shack, use location I1OOH

or some other address, instead of standard DR DDT image address of 986H, for

command line buffer address.) Now using DDT'S S(set) command, do this:

(your console keyboard entries are in bold)

-S986<cr>

S986 7F <cr> (carriage return retains present hex value.)

S987 00 2 (numbers of characters in cmd, <cr> after each entry;

S988 20 5A then the command name in hex. Z3 =5A 33.)

S989 20 33

S98A 20 O(NULL for end of command sequence,

S98B 20 .aperiod to terminate Scommand, then last <cr>.)

^C (ctrl-c to exit DDT.)

Next, again SAVE40 CPM.SYS and SYSGENsaved file to system tracks. You now

have your"system" bothondiskboot tracks and as adisk file: CPM.SYS. And

more importantly you have Z3-Dot—Com up and running! Now you can experience

the range permitted by this epic program and environmentally enhanced

operating system.

If you have problems putting Z3 :in your command buffer and haven't been

successful after seven (7) tries, call your nearest good-neighbor helper, or

call us and we'll do what we can to talk you through the operation.

Two versions of Z3-Dot-Com are available: one for Z80 machines and

another for 8080/8085. The latter version is ideal for CompuPro/Zenith dual

operating system computers.

Z3 Bug Report: VFILER'S CMD-file menuhas aproblem. You can't execute#-

menu commands (user numbered) from the ill menu, but only from the directory-of-

files display! We've located and fixed the biig (undocumented characteristic).

The code change fix will be distributed within the fortnigPít.

Program bugs are gettirig few and far apart--that's been our goal from the

beginning of our software design and development activities. Let us know if

you find anymore of these pesky little things. We'll be using the ZCPR3 BBS

to release fixed object files and occasionally source. The board is the

quickest way to transmit and receive messages and programs to and from ZCPR3

users--we're atight community on the move.

Page 3

ZCPR3 Newsletter 009

From Author of ZCPR3, Richard Conn:

WHAT MAKES APROGRAM INTO A ZCPR3 TOOL?

There are many good programs in the public domain, and several ZCPR3

tools duplicate these programs in terms of functionality in one way or

another. For example, the PO offers the directory display programs D, SI), DI),

and others, while the ZCPR3 toolset offers the programs DIR, XI), and XDIR.

Why duplicate the effort in the ZCPR3 toolset--why not simply use available

public domain programs?

The programs in the public domain are not consistent in their syntax or

method of use, by and 1arge. Icreated the ZCPR3 tools to be consistent in a

number of ways:

1. The public domain tools which were not associated with

ZCPR3 did not know how to deal with the ZCPR3 environment.

Named directories, like PASCAL: ,could not be referenced,

and the command search path had no meaning to them, for

instance.

2. Aconsistent syntax was not supported. Some tools

required their arguments to be prefixed by"-", others by

"$", others by nothirig at all or aspace, etc. All of the

ZCPR3 tools prefix their arguments with a"/" if afile

reference is not provided, or aspace or a"/" if afile

reference is provided.

3. The built-in help feature was not universally

supported. Some programs told you how to use them if you

typed in their name with no arguments, others did not

provide any internal documentation at all, etc. Ididnot

succeed in making all of the ZCPR3 tools consistent in this

sense, but the attempt was rr,ade. Many, but not all, ZCPR3

tools contain built-in dOcumentation which is acquired by

typing tool's name followed by two slashes, like "XI) //".

4. The tools didn't support lists of files as arguments

when it rrtade functional sense to. I'm really astrong

advocate of this; if Iwant to print five files, for

instance, Iwould rather issue one PRINT command with five

files named (or one AFN and then perform an inspection) and

let it go than issue one PRINT command with one file name,

and then another PRINT command, etc.

Iencourage everyone to enjoy their ZCPR3 system, write tools for it, and

contribute them to the user community. Ifeel, however, that a program is not

aZCPR3 tool unless it abides by the rules specified above as much as possible

(rules 3and 4sometimes don't apply or are simply waived). SYSLIB, Z3LIB,

and VLIB all contribute toward providing the support necessary to make the job

of tool consistency and adherence to these rules less of atask.

Page /4

ZCPR3 Newsletter 009

Utility Update Note from Rick: The new DPROG (Version 1.1) is significantly

different from initial Phase 2release version, thanks to one simple change.

Instead of simply programming devices from afile using commands like: DPROG

ASM to program a terminal (function keys, user message line, etc.) to support

the user inAssembly Language programming, the new DPROG also allows words

(defined in the indicated file) to be specified on the command line like:

DPROG EPSON ELONG FONT2

Such capability greatly extends the utility of DPROG. In the above

example, DPROG will read in the file EPSON.DPG, process it (inc1udim the

definition of whatever words are contained in this file, such as ELONG which

commands the printer to go to elongated print and FONT2 which selects some

character set/font numbered 2), and then pass over the words (or strings)

specified in the command line. By writing afile which programs your printer,

whether it is an EPSON, OKIDATA, TOSHIBA, etc, you can use DPROG to select

printer output attributes.

Included with the new DPROG is ahe1p file (DPROG.HLP) which documents

this new feature and several sample *.DPG files, The file P1350.DPG programs

my Toshiba P1350 printer and should serve as an example to users on how to set

up a DPG file for their own printers.

Echelon ships DPROG, Version 1.1, as part of new Core, Utility, and Phase 2

orders. DPROG.HLP and *,DPG files are on the ZCPR3 BBS within the fortniüit.

Alarm Bells Ríngíng...tools, program fixes and improvements to be considered

for official distribution must come to Echelon first! We are configuration

managers for all ZCPR3 related software. Please do not put fixes onto

RCP/M'S: they confuse too many users as to their status and validity.

Another ZCPR3 Utility Program: Xpert Software (8865 Pol1and Avenue, San

Diego, CA 92123) has announced that their XtraKey utility is ZCPR3

compatible--most other "key" programs are not. Tom Geldner and Robert

Greenlee (company co-founders) have amost economical, complete CRT console,

printer function-key generator; we have not seen better. The CP/M 2.2

universal package goes for $39.95. Now that's value. Order (Visa/Mastercard

accepted) by calling them at 6!9/268-0112 orsend checkormoney order plus

$3.00 shipping (California residents add 6% sales tax). We add this program

to our Lastíng—Va1ue Software list.

Coincidently, aZCPR3 user has developed afunction-key program running

as a ZCPR3 system segment I/O (input/output) Package! We presently are

reviewing this package and probably will license its use to ZCPR3 users for a

small fee.

HELPus correct mistakes if you think we made some. If you placed an order

forDISCAT, Phase2, etc. and think it shouldhave arrived by now, andhasn't,

let us know. These computer database systems we use for order entry and

shipping are not perfect; especially not perfect are console operators keying

characters into them--we admit that's ourbiggest problem. SCi if you think

delivery is taking too long, write us añote stating your concern. (ZCPR3:

The Manual, CP/M Apple ][ and Epson QX-lO disk formats, and TERM3 are not

shipping presently, so don't write of them. Presently they receive our

highest priority.)

Page 5

ZCPR3 Newsletter 009

Nev Dísk Operating System (DOS) takes advantage of extended functions of Zilog

new Z800 chip! The DOS is called 2RDOS, 280/800 Replacement DOS. 2RDOS mates

with ZCPR3's Wheel Byte and is fully compatible with all CP/M-80 software.

Dennis L. Wright, (no relation to Joseph W. Wriüít, but they are friends,

which"estab1ishes relationship) author of this striking code, is one who loves

B-bit economy and efficiency. Since Digita1 Research has apparently abandoned

our world (a reaction to Microsoft MS-DOS and Xenix capture of 16-bit

operating system market), Echelon has decided to fill the small generally

unnoticed void presently existing. (We recently received DR'S utility

proposal and found it non-responsive to our needs; Microsoft never took us

seriously.) Therefore, we intend to market afull set of B-bit operating

system, development and support software using Echelon-sponsored ZRDOS, macro-

relocating assembler with linker and librarian, translators, and debuggers.

Now we search for acompetent set of programs to replace MAC, RMAC, LINK,

M80 and L80...end one era, beginanew. Much creativity is coming from many

small, humble companies and from clever individuals; we prepare to explore and

use this creativity.

Down stream we plan to machine translate all our released programs

presently using Intel mnemonics to Zilog. Public domain program XLATE may be

able to effectively perform the job; we're looking into this program plus

other translators, like ITOZ (Intel to Zi1og) and ZTOI from RD Software

(Founder, Robert Doolittle, Pacific Palisades, California). Furthermore, RD

Software ZDM/ZDMZ should handle our debugger needs for Assembly Language

software development work. As you see, lots of B-bit activity...

OEM/VAR'S may inexpensively obtain directly from Echelon licenses to

resell complete operating and development system packages; Echelon, your

single source for ZCPR3 related software. Remember, both ZCPR3 and ZRDOS are

downward compatible with CP/M software. Those interested can obtain asample

agreement and more technical details by writing us (please don't telephone,

thanks).

Lower—than—expected-demand for IBM PC'S has created agrey/black market of

discounters for the product. Suchpractices turnbusiness-1ike blue of Big

Blue into agrubby, tattered banner--one filled with short-term greed and lack

of wholeness. Despite IBM'S seemingly good intentions, the market they took

control from pioneers is more than amess, it's aquagmire!

Real leadership would demand an immediate stop to contractually illegal

selling (dumping) by their big dealers to unlicensed houses; but, IBM'S over

production is so great they covet every potential avenue for buyers, no matter

the status or money willim to be paid. Of course, the PC-AThas alot to do

with present low demand for the vanilla PC's and XT'S. Contrast this market

flux with record October 1984 sales by Ampro Computers, Inc. of Mountain View,

California.

As an aside, ínost popular mainframe IBM 4381 computer memory, using their

256k-bit chips, sells for (get this) $10,000 per megabyte--that's economy? We

guess $9,000 is for service-after-sales, $1,000 for hardware...there is no

free lunch!

Long Live B—bit machines...

Page 6

ZCPR3 Newsletter 009

What is Echelon's Business? Microcomputer pioneer, George Morrow, recently

asked asimilar question about his company: Morrow Des: Ígns, Inc. Well, EI is

in the business of learning, becoming more conscience of ourselves and our

environment (no pun intended). We experience rewards from study, work, play--

mentally, to us, all the same. From these experiences, occasionally we try to

communicate knowledge, those things found valuable, hopefully, to all of us.

But recently we've come to realize that knowledge (especially its cousin,

understanding) cannot be transmitted, but data and information can. So we do

that instead. These latter act as catalyst to those former, moving from level

to level, aswirl of intermingling, dynamic energy. We first give with little

concern for what is to be received--but lo, we receive seven-fold. Reception

occurs at several levels simultaneously, mental, intellectual, material,

emotional...

The national economy and our industry appear reacting to an earlier-

caught dose of malaria, which has become chronic, giviw us recurring bouts of

chills and fever--booms and busts--recession and inflation. Base our business

on satisfying sound needs of human nature and our business is sustained. We

try to do this.

Send your thoughts concerning these matters; we'd like to know them.

Without you, our customers, we learn painfully slow!

Fragment of Letter recently received from Edgar Allen Poe: The grave is not

all that bad! Three square meals aday, clean linens...no nightly yakkiñ9

black birds or daily hassles from Federal IRS...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research: directed efforts supposedly to make

life easier. The 19-company AI grouping (Microelectronics &Computer

Technology Corp. in Austin, Texas) is an example of what's lacking in

humanity-—a mass of indirection, no willfulness, no leadership! How can we

discuss such asubject (AI beim one never defined, except by egotism of

highest order) without knowing what intelligence is, much less its bogus

aspects: the artificial!

The japanese noble-challenge to US technology leadership requires our

ascendiné: effort, not descending; certainly not degenerate as it now appears.

Easy comes by opening our consciousness, neverby masking off reality.

Remember we are biologica1 life and we live, or at least we should. Who

claims to be aZombie? Who set making life easy agoaH MadisonAvenue,

those not knowing what good-life is about and seemingly trying to make sure we

don't find it for ourselves? Always leading us to mindless consumption.

See you down the lines... Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

zcpr3 bbs &rcp/m: 415/489-9005

Trademarks: CP/M, Digital Research; Z3-Dot-Com, Alpha Systems; Bookshelf,

Ampro Computers; Z80, Zi1og; Unix, AT&T Bell Laboratories; ZCPR3, Sys1ib3,

Term3, Richard L. Conn; Discat, Lasting-Value Software, Disk7, Echelon; pe-

dos, ibm, Int'l Business Machines; MS-DOS, Xenix, Microsoft; WY-50, Wyseword,

Wyse Technology; ZRDOS, Dennis L. Wright; Metal, Delphi Data Systems; Xtrakey,

Xpert Systems; ITOZ/ZTOI, ZDM/ZDMZ, RD Software.

Newsletter 009 is Copyri¿;ht 1984 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permis-

sion to reprint automatically granted if source credit is given to Echelon.

Page 7

Ei Echelon, Inc. 11 February 1985

z-más 105

ZTIPS: From ZRDOS author, Dennis· Wright (joseph Wright wrote ZRDINS semi-auto in-

stallation program): "Several apparent problems and questions regarding ZRDOS Version

1.0 have come up. Ihope the following information will help to clarify these

questions.

"It has been found that at least one system (CCS 300, 400) uses part (the last 16

bytes) of the BDOS image area in the SYSGEN image for cold boot configuration

information. Installation of ZRDOS overlays this area. The solution is to first

install ZRDOS into the sysgen image and then reinstall the BIOS hex file. This will

cause no problem for ZRDOS as the last 48 bytes of the image is stack area. The ces

system uses the information contained there to configure the system during cold boot.

Once the cold boot occurs this information is no longer needed and will be overlaid by

ZRDOS.

'The ZRDOS installation instructions contain an example SYSGEN image installation

based on a standard CP/M SYSGEN image (ORiG 980H). Some systems use adifferent image

base address. So be sure to calculate the correct offset when instUliW the

ZRDOS.BIN file.

"ZRDOS is the replacement for astandard CP/M 2.2 BOOS. Non-standard BOOS imple-

mentations are not [and cannot be] supported.

"Some public domain utilities have been found to function incorrectly under

ZRDOS. In all cases reported so far the utilities were using undocumented internal

features of CP/M 2.2 BOOS. ZRDOS supports only the Digital Research documented

features. The utilities reported so far are ARCHIVLCOM by Kelly Smith which requires

apatch to BOOS, and SDIR.COM which modifies BOOS error vectors. ARCHIVE is not

needed under ZRDOS; AC.COM fcalled COPY.COM in the early issues] does the same job.

SDIR should be modified to use the ZRDC)S set and reset cold boot trap functions

(Functions 50 and 52) that are provided to handle these needs. [joseph Wright updated

Super Directory (SD97): it works with ZRDOS; it's been distributed to BBS network]"

jay Sage (Newton Centre, Massachusetts) has corrected ERR£R1/2 to run under ZEX

command-failure conditions. He also made the single-command error display more mean-

ingful. At same time he worked over DU3. His updates are in file Z3SAGEJJB& This

file plus ZRDOS HLP and six utility files are presently on our Z-Nodes. (ZRDOS util-

ities only run if you're using ZRDOS.) Incidentally, jay is becoming, along with Al

Hawley, full Z-Aode. You Boston locals try jay's system at 617/965-7259; Los Aingeles

folks try Al's at 213/670-9465. (Many more Sysops are signintg up to become Z-Nodes.

Their access numbers will be given as the relationships firm.)

While Zílog mcrves slowly to with advanced 2800 B-bit chip, Hitachi America

(2210 O'Toole Avenue, San jose, CA 95131, telephone 408/942-1500) announces volume

March 1985 shipments of their new HD64180 (sampled last year as piece-part W62801).

We are investi¡gating its instruction set and other features: 512k-byte RAM control,

dual UART, CTC, and DMA controller, plus B-bit multiply and block memory move, on

chip. Additionally, atwo-way clocked hi9h speed serial port (CSI/O) provided makes

for interesting Local Area Networking (LAN) possibilities, direct 40Ok-baud com-

munications at 8mHz clock rate. (We presently finish our Zport to it, should be

complete when you read this newsletter!)

Specifications point to not one, but two super B-bitters beii: ig available to run

Z-based software! (Thowh these newer chips run 8080/280 instruction sets, and even

more, neither is physically pin-for-pin compatible with older chips—you can't simply

unpliug one and replace with other. Printed circuit board redesign is necessary.)

Hitachi's HIJ64180 is 80186 of eight-bit world, as Z800 is the 80286 (chip used by

IBM AT). Tony Moroyan (Stí"ategic Marketing Manager, Hitachi) said, "Many would prefer

better performance in eight-bit, and compatibility to present software." His

co1lea¿;ue, Sarv Thakur (Microprocessor Group Marketing Manager), indicated present

Z-News 105

high B-bit demand by stating, "We expect this market to remain for many years to

come." Remember, Echelon is here now with advanced Z0perating System (ZCPR3 combined

with ZRDOS3) ready to support high-techriology microprocessor architecture.

These new high-integration chips are superior in níany ways to their 16/32-bit

counterparts, and can be used without sacrificing incredibly large base of existing

8080/Z80 software and programming know-how! The Z800, because of high clock rate

capability and superior design, should run circles around Intel 80286. This not

witMtmdiw, Hitachi's chip sets astandard for cost effective, high performance

computer designs. Here are bench marks running BYTE Magazine "Sieve" under MBasic

(HE64180 clock at 6.144 mHz and one wait state; other computers, as delivered):

Apple lle —2806 seconds (6502)

IFS-80/II —2250 "(Z80)

IBM PC —1950 "(8088)

Unannounced Computer —1322 "(Ht64180)

Apple Macintosh —1214 "(68010)

Over twice as fast as Apple II, nearly as fast as Macintosh (32-bit?), and much

faster than IBM PC (16-bit?)! The production HF64180 units are said to run at 10 mHz

clock speed increasing,above performance by more than 50% to 806 seconds, leaving

Macintosh in road dust! Just guessing, IBM AT likely does Sieve in 600 or so seconds.

We understand Hitachi is offering acompanion, high thru-put graphics processor: 2

mega-pixels per second, both for full-color and monochrome. Now that's more than

state-of-the-art (NEC eat your heart out)! S-lOO and single-Hard computer manufact-

urers, which of you are first with aboard using one of these great new chips?

Eight-bit microprocessors continue to be designed into new systems, and in

acceleratiñ9 amounts, with little notice from popular press. We predict such systems

will be around as long as they serve well so many applications—they provide unusually

Mgh overall performance because it's so easy to stay with Assembly Language, instead

of having to move to inefficient high-level languaiges. (Somethirg is never received

for nothing...learn alittle each day and reduce alittle anxiety and frustration.)

Usiw Richard Conn's Syslíb3 for standard subroutine functions makes program writing

efficient and fast, both in-doing and in-results.

It's ngw so clear that IBM's selection of pseudo 16-bit Intel 8088 for their PC

has distorted normal development progress of microcomputers. What awaste! We also

sense asmall backlash from deception and lack of editorial leadership of popular

press. Who likes to feel duped! But who takes blame for poor leadership? Leader or

followers? Let us (and them) know your fee1irtgs. What you do is infinitesimal, but

it's infinitely important that you do it!

Z-TtK)lstm are shippiug! Some highlights of Z80 ZDM/ZDMZ debuggers: twenty-one (21)

commands versus DOT's 12. One of these commands (B) permit string searches (in both

hex and ASCII) over a specific memory block range. Others enable monitor and complete

debiigger, patcher operations. Command line prompts ease operator mental overhead.

ZDM P (print) command is toggle expecting no trailing arguments. The effect is

to send all output to printer as well as to console. It is turned off by asubsequent

Pcommand. Whenever Ptoggle is on, a 'P' will be displayed as part of X(examine and

alter current cpu state) or T(trace) display. jump (J) command is also togg1e

without arguments. It only affects subsequent Tor U(untrace) commands. If jhas

been executed then Tcommand displays only conditional and unconditional CALLS, JUMPS,

RETURNS, RESTARTS, PCHL (IX or IY) and relative JUMPS. The Tn form of trace is

usually used where nrepresents actual number of instructions to be traced. Whenever

the Jtoggle is on, a 'J' will be displayed as part of the Xor Tdisplay. QI and QO

permit input and output of byte value to selected I/O port while DI and EI permit

interrupt disable and enable.

Any ZDM command may be cancelled by pressing the rubout (DEL) key. Works with

Page 2

Z-News 105

both extended Intel and Ziio9 mnemonics. ZDM, asuper-value tool for $50.00 plus S&H.

REVAS3: superb documentation is monument to understanding Assembly Language and

disassembly of object code to source 1istiñ9. Enough here for everyone to learn some-

thiiríg from, enough for you advanced hackers and program designers. Major features

include interactively assisting you analyze your software for modification, dis-

assembling files as large as 64k-bytes, assigning real labels to subroutines,

inserting comments to disassembled code, and generation of cross reference listings.

Atool of great prize at $90.00 plus S&H!

IToz-mDI-TToI-ITUT: these four (4) Zilog/lntel/TDL (Xitan) mnemonic and pseudo-

op code translators make source code conversions so easy compared to hand translating

with atext or program editor—night versus day. Atool-value similar to ones above:

$51.00 plus normal S&H.

(Z-News next hi9h1ights our Cadil1actm, IND, Dynamic Screen Debrigger selling for

$195.00 plus S&H. Also keystone of'our software development system, versatile and

fast Zas, with Zlink, is featured.)

Shipping dates for Echelon items not presently shipping (all calendar '85):

Zas with Zlink —18 February

D¢3D —25 February

ZRDOS2 (and Z-Com2) —28 February

ZCFB3: mXunal —March

Term3 —second-quarter

ZCER3: 7Ík2! Liblrari! —second-quarter

ZRDOS3 —third-quarter

Emsg —third or fourtlrquarter

IFM (MaintMqn) —not scheduled yet

Please stay (and learn) with us—we move as fast as a shoe-string permits; eag1es

wish such speed!

Amateur Computeríst Corner: The joy of learning is enhanced when using Z-System—

everywhere you tum is another surprise; another useful, but until the moment, uriknown

welcomed feature! You go for months like this, thinking each new discovery is the

last; but surprise, it seems to never stop...beat goes on!

Alternate telephone services seem to be giving lots of us trouble when atteínpting

to access Z-Nodes and other BBS'S. Apparently the signal level is too low to permit

carrier detection circuits to work correctly. Under conditions where you get an

indication of connection followed by immediate lost of remote carrier, try the con-

ventional, high-priced long-distance telephone service: AT&T! No entity (search the

Cosmos, if you will) provides quality telephone service like erstwhile Ma-Bel1.

AT&T profits not too bad! Divestiture company earned $1.4 billion last fiscal year

(ending 31 December 1984), versus projected $2.1, on sales of $33 billion. For a

company haviríg $40 billion assets, return on investment should be much better, but

could be worse. Present calendar year should see battle lines fully drawn between

them and IBM. (AT&T'S personal computer is said to be twice as fast as IBM's; that

makes it as quick as our S-1OO 4mHz Z80 systems.) what will the future hold? Lo!

Behold! the future is now!

See you down the lines... Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

ZCPR3 BBS &Z-Node: 415/489-9005

,¥ Page 3

l

Z-News 105

Trademarks: Z80/800, Zilog; Ht62801/64180, Hitachi; 80186/286, Intel; Z-System, Z-

Tools, ZCPR3, ZRDOS, Z-Com, Z3-Dut-Com, Discat, Syslib3, Éiñs9, Term3, Zas, Zlink, IN),

ZDM, ITUZ, Revas3, DMM, Lasting-Value Software, Echelon and their respective owners

and authors; IBM PC, AT, IBM Corp.; Macintosh, Apple Computer; TRS-80, Tandy Corp.;

CP/M, our, &ita1 Research; MBasic, Microsoft; Cadillac, General Motors.

Zsets yo u FREE!

.

~A

Z-News 105 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc. All Rights "Áeserved. Pehnission to

reprint automatically granted if source credit is given to Echelon.

Echelon, Inc. ;" :':'" '\·""""" ;%i' '

,^ P"'"I.- ·-¶

101 F/rst Street k1,,4 ', :. "" '""" """" i="" "

Los Altos, CA 94022 Z" ."', ,.\·" "'" """—- '" ·t,'r: F¿µ.- USA" """

:

P.- .

'".'"¡:í1' ,m" 2Oc

"'"··"" "" -i'

·' 7'~~=ma

jud Newell

Toronto RCP/M Systems

4691 Dundas Street W

lslingtion, Ontario CANADA

-- -.-,/

"j

®Echelon¶Inc.

25 February 1985

z-ms 106

ZTIPS: VMENU, apowerful shell under Z, has features somewhat different, and perhaps

at times more useful, than MENU. Significant differences between these two and

another Zshell, VFILER, indicate blending all three as most useful:

Feature VMENU MENU VFILER

1. Show directory of files

along with menu yes no yes

2. Optionally lock user into

menu system yes yes no

3. Show macro commands to

be executed no yes no

4. Use macro comnands from sirrgle

keystrokes shown on menu yes yes yes

5. Programter speed mule

(no menu shown) no yes yes

6. Operate on file currently

pointed to yes no yes

7. Either page-out or scroll

menus no yes no

8. User-generated menu syntax

checker for quick debWiw yes yes no

g. General disk system house-

keeping good fair best

An argument for universal use can be made for these Zshells. Your directory system

could contain each, in tum, deperidiríg upon dominant task for aparticular directory

environment. Environment is created by ST (alias-script containing segments and

commands) beiirtg loaded automatically by CD, used to exit previous environment and

arrive at present.

Afully secure system (one requiring password access to directories and protected

ERA, REN, etc. utilities) could use MENU as main user-interface driver; other two,

VMENU and VFILER, used to speed genera1"computer activities: word processing, spread-

sheet, telecommunications, database management, accounting, programming—you name it.

Secure systems are ideal in office (and home child-occupied) areas where many people

have access to unattended machines.

Some Zusers have not realized that Richard Conn has greatly extended our library

functions by addiW V1ib and Z3lib to complement Syslib3. Six-disk package, with full

source code for each subroutine, sells for only $45.00: our free-will donation to

structured Assembly Language advancements. Package is Item 27 on EI new price sheet

effective 28 February. Syslib3 (Item 26) alone, still only $29.00 on 4disks!

Z-TbK)lstÍn Featured: Zas, Z80 macro relocating assembler with Zlirk, Zlib, Zcon, and

Zref, does it all. Well, not all but nearly! Center-piece of our tool collection,

Zas forms basis for structured, maintainable Assembly Language program generation. Use

Sys1ib3, Vlib and Z31ib as source for hundreds of linkable, efficient and proven sub-

routines. We combined popular features to make Assembly Language program writ: ing

easier. Amacro expanding assembler using Intel, Zi1og, DRI, TDL, and Microsoft

syntax, mnemonics, and pseudo-ops creating at command-line option either Digital

Research HEX or Microsoft REL object code. HEX files are converted to executable

files with M1oad or with DRI Load; REL files are linked with modular library sub-

routines and loaded with Echelon Zlink, DRI Link or Microsoft L80 (Link-80). Standard

IRI sorted symbol table is optionally produced for use by EI DSD and DRI SID and ZSID

debuggers. Zas works faster than conventional assemblers, as does zlink.

Z-News 106

Zas comes with alibrarian, Zlib, to build and manage linkable REL libraries, and

Zcon, The latter converts extended Intel (TOL) memonics to Zilog. Symbol and label

table cross referenced, with statistics, to source line numbers is produced by Zref.

Additionally, many TOL pseudo-ops are also correctly converted, translated. (Zas is

Item 10 on our price sheet: $95.00, complete.)

We cannow all convert our 8080 coded programs to Z80 and assemble them with Zas!

Bravo! Patrick O'Conne11, our faith in vou has been fully justified! (Being not a

perfect world, we're sure minor changes to sorne prograrús will be required because of

syntax inequalities. So be it!)

DSD, Dynamic Screen Debugger, provides features previously not seen on micro-

computers, Version we ship works with both extended Intel (set produced using DRI

Z80.LIB and MAC, essentially TOL) and Zilog mnemonics. DSD uses ZCPR3 environmental

descriptor for automatic program installation, as other Zutilities are installed with

Z3INS and your SYS.ENV (or Z3.ENV if using Z3-Dot-Coíri) file.

DSD Software In-Circuit-Emulator provides many expensive hardware I.C.E features

but it doesn't require attaching any wires. Single step and breakpoint in ROM, write

protect RAM, set code execute only, protect the stack from overflowing, catch illegal

instructions and watch memory locations and cpu registers, The emulator can break-

point on arbitrary conditions or identify when aLDIR instruction is going to write

over protected locations before writing occurs! Not even hardware I.C.E. can provide

such capability.

Full support provided for symbol files as generated by Zas, Mac, Rmac, M80

(Macro-80), and other popular 1anguage translators—complete symbolic, full-screen

editor debugging! DSD runs on 8080, 8085, NSC800 and Z80 computers—soon will take

full advantai: e of Hitachi HD64180, and when-available Zi1og 2800, super B-bit micro-

processors.

Other DSD features include: online help, save memory into afile, single step

over subroutines, string searching, port I/O, viewing files. And it only takes 16k-

bytes of memory! (You C-Language programmers eat-your-hearts-out.) It's Item 25 on

our current price list.

By the way, each EI software line Item retains its number as price lists are

updated, acting as excellent double-check when orders are received. If we need num-

bers for more than 99 items, heaven forbid, we'll use over-1OO number categories.

FLASH! Richard Conn featured as speaker at upcomiw Trenton, NJ Faire, 20-217 April!

Rick speaks on software development system environments: ZCPR3 (Z), Unix and Adm

Nev Computer Magazine Appearing: Sol Libes produces an every-other-month magazine

called Micro/Systems journal, first issue is dated March/April 1985! Dave Hardy has

joined him but continues his column with Micro Cormcopim Randy Reitz has written a

review of ZCPR3 features and we should see it in sol's May/june issue. (Mail M/SJ

subscription orders to Box 1192, Mountainside, NJ 07092; $18.00 per year, six issues;

$32.00 for two years.) Wonder where Chris Terry, erstwhile writer, as are above, of

defunct Ziff-David Microsystems magazine, will show up next.

Abou.t EI Manuals: Echelon documentation is intended to be placed in 3-ring, loose-

leaf, binders (ZCPR3: The Manual is exception). We don't already supply such holders

because of shipping weight and bulk. Good quality binders are so dense, postage would

exceed their down-at-your-local-stationery-store price. On the other hand, many have

asked us to produce aspecial binder with"Z" printed on its front along with program-

and tool name page dividers—we may do this, if we can get awholesale deal that's

attractive to you, our customers.

Standard size, 81/2" by 11", loose-leaf folders are most efficient, best for

reading, studyirig, learrLing from. IBM-standard (5 1/2" by 8 1/2") are simply too

small (a backward way to do things); and holders of these little folders make access

from desk-top atwo-handed procedure. Only one hand is needed with conventional,

Page 2

Z-News 106

large, without-being-in-a-box, loose-leaf binders. But, Oh! how the herd has gotten

into line: each one following the other, waitiñ9 for aturn to sip nourishment froíu a

much-used troúÜL

Z-News Numbering System consists of trailing three digits; first cii9it representing

Volume number and last, the Issue. Middle digit is inert and used only because file

is sent "squeezed" to various message systems in middle-digit-always-Q form. So this

Z-News 106 (1Q6) is Volume 1, Issue Number 6. (We started with Volume O; zero is a

useful number sometimes, isn't it?) Each Volume consists of nine (9) Issues, decimal

modulo before cycle is repeated, except there's never an Issue O. We felt no neces-

sity to key issues to earthly months since it's published fortnightly. When we've

published 90 issues, we'll change the numbering system (we may go to hexidecimal--no,

just kidcjing). Some of you asked about numbering; you now have our considered answer.

An ancient once said, "A picture is worth athousand words." Icons special are

pictures, two-dimensional symbols, presently in vogue. Icons permit humans and com-

puters to communicate. L,ong, long time ago, we used hierog1ypÍís and then cuneiform to

communicate among ourselves, we early homo sapiens. Then after struggle, an alphabet

developed. Now we go back to pictures, icons. How many glyphs can we remember; 50,

lOó, 5,000! Echelon predicts Enüish words and phrases will be found best interface

between humans and machines. We recognize symbols as powerful, but we still must

learn what each symbol stands for! Icons presently are produced using common, every-

day symbols easily associated with common computer functions. But day draws near when

the number of functions gets so large, new non-everyday symbols have to be created—a

whole new language 1earrling would then be necessary—which is something we don't think

appropriate! It's up to us to generate phrases that permit quick learning, asso-

ciation with that known, to what is momentarily desired.

Computing machines using icons, Star, Lisa, Macintosh (name of arain coat, not a

variety of apple, providing insight to mentality of founders of acertain company) are

so easy to learn—pray tell, but what have you learned? Such machines are fadiirig even

now. Touch screens, dead (sorry HP); mouse pointers (and track balls, joy sticks

digitizing pads), have aplace if heavy graphics are necessary; high-resolution light

pens (painter's brush) could be next big fade. No universal solution to user/machine

communications is possible; each of us have our needs of the moment. Remember, we

can't even reliably talk to opposite gender (sex), how our computing machines!

Four-year programmers wish only command-line completion features; one-week in-

terested users, Macintosh's; two months, IBM PC'S; ten year, protect your you-know-

what big-company managers, IBM PC, XT and AT'S. As we see more, as we learn more, our

needs move from plateau to plateau. There's no free lunch!" It's only throíigh work

(intentional doing, conscious thought—not mindless, repetitive action) that our béiñ9

is altered to see, to know more of what's goirig on. Get kmw1ecÍge, get afriend or

two (compadres, we call them here on the west coast), get money (and power over

others); but whatever is done, get understanding, get wisdom!

Appreciate, accept, our Universe is about releasing energy from matter—you are

its center (did you think it was about matter beirtg created from energy, you silly

savage). Let no one push you aside! Ask questions--answers are not too important,

asking questions is! From your questioning develop your own answers; become asphere

of power—a sphere of action, not reaction!

See you down the lines...

Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

ZCPR3 BBS &Z-Node: 415/489-9005

Page 3

Z-News 106

Trade-marks: Z30/800, Zilog; HD62801/64180, Hitachi; Z-System, Z-Tools, ZCPR3, ZRIX)S,

Z-Com, ZJ-Dot-Com, Discat, Syslib3, Enisg, Termj, Zas, Zlink, DSD, ZDM, ITOZ, Revas3,

Lasting-Value Sof tware, Echelon and their respective owners and authors; Star, Xerox;

IBM PC, XT, AT, International Business Machines; Lisa, Macintosh, Apple Computer; our,

Sid, Zsid, Rmac, Link, CP/M, Digital Research; Macro-80, Link-80, Microsof t.

Zsets y o u FREE!

--= ~

~

4^~

^"·

"~-. '

--...

Z-News 106 is copyright 1985 Echelan, Inc. All Ri9hts Resemed. Permission to re-

print, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is given to

Echelon, Inc.

t: ft, igj"¢y'%: 'j7'í

Echelon, Inc. q0KNC'S,\ I/\ L'ii g

>

¿I j: ," 5--

101 First Street z'-PM o^''"

k. '"""

'°" ^"°"' '^ "°" t' 'jjj'¿d )U!!C f-d==: I

jud Newell

Toronto RCP.·'M Systems

4691 Dundas Street W

Isling'tion, Ontario CANADA

=Echelon, Inc. 11 March 1985

107

ZTIPS: FOKE&GO1.DOC, presently on Z-Nodes, exhibits unusually high creativity by its

author, Bruce Morgen (Ivyland, Pennsylvania). The Alias and Zex files described by

this DOC file indicates what can be done using vast power designed into ZSystem

(neither CP/M nor MS-DOS have such power.) Alittle thought goes a long way if

concentrated to come up with something useful. Idea here is to change to-be-run

program where and after it's been loaded. Various temporary versions are created,

M9., of WordStar with different default settings, by an RCP (Resident Command Pack-

age) pokil% specific addresses using different Alias files and aZex file. Here's how

Bruce described his inspiration:

"If your ZCFR3 system supports the GO command and you have an RCP with the FOKE

command, you can easily make extensive run-time modifications to a program. The

terminal session below is avery simple example of the technique. The entire process

is an alias script, ZEX is used to load and exit WordStar, the WordStar addresses for

right margin and initial mode are poked to the desired values and the now-modified

WordStar is run with an optional command tail. The regular RCP (without FUKE) is

loaded on exit. Much more extensive changes could be made this way, including some,

like page lergth or different control strings for different printers, which cannot be

done from the console once inside NordStar. You can use WINSTALL to make amodified

copy of WordStar, use DIFF or equivalent to find the poke locations and off you go—

2k-bytes for the alias (lk-bytes if you have CMDRUN and put it in COMMANDLBR), 2k-

bytes for WS35.ZEX--a savings of 14k-bytes over separate versions of WordStar.

Additional aliases 'cost' only 1to 2k-bytes extra per WordStar version because only

one ZEX file is needed. If you don't have ZCER3 I/O redirection, you can manipulate

the IOBYTE with apoke, not to mention the ZCPR3 external Path and Wheel Byte, much

faster than with utilities (PATH or WHEEL)—c1umsy technique for console input, but

fine for alias-controlled routines. Similar stuff can be done from a menu shell in

lieu of an alias. All this assumes that WordStar is patched, or BOOS modified, so

that WordStar can find its overlays properly if you want freedom to wander around user

areas. Have fun—Bruce Morgen."

A0: SYSTM>ALIAS WD

ALIAS, Version 1.1

Alias Name: WSD

Old Alias Comand Line:

1—" AO:;XX) TD SYSTEM DIRECKRY

2—> LDR SYS3.RCP; XÁ)AD RCP THAT HAS IIHE KKE comAND

3—> ZEX WS35; XAAD WRDSTAR & RUT (SEE WS35.ZEX, BELOW)

4—> POKE 036B 22; :SET RIGHT MARGIN m35 (ACTUALLY 34 DECIMAL)

5—> POKE 0378 DO; :su INITIAL KIDE mDOCUMENT NON-DOCUNNT

6—> $D$U:;:RESfIDRE ORIGINAL DIRECTORY

7—" GO $1; :RUN LOADED WORDSTAR WITH OPTIONAL FILENAME

8—> AO:;X3ACK TO SYSTR4 DIRECKRY ON UIT

9—> LDR SYS.RCP; Load REGULAR RCP

10 —> $D$U: :EXIT mORIGINAL DIRECTORY

Input Alias (RETURN to Abort)

—>

WSD alias listing cancelled by entering acarriage (cursor) returm The contents of

ZEX file used by WSD is shown by using the Type command:

Z-News 107

A0: SYSTEM>TYPE W35.ZEX

WS )RUN WORDSTAR

". ÍMAKE SURE ZEX LEAVES NO

^/É X'OOTPRINTS (FOR NEATNESS' SAKE)

X)EXIT TO ALIAS STEP //4

Either WSFIXASM or WSPAT-DM.ASM, on Z-Nodes, permit patching WordStar for use in

directories other than in User area where WS.COM and overlay files are.

Another idea: set-up alias with Ioop-ZEX (GOTO) using REG command to "print a

text file the number of times from-command-line declaration."

Chuck McManis, Sunnyvale, California, has contributed aneat improvement to

IF.COM perinitting wildcard file matches, and he added extensive built-in help. Chuck

also has some interesting nested alias examples to wet your appetite for setting up

and maintaining aZCPR3 Source Code Library of squeezed files. Alias GET and PUT uses

alias EXTRACT and INSERT, respectively. Get IF12.DOC and IF12.MAC for further

details.

Finally, good neighbor-helper John Dunsmuir, Scarborough, Ontario, has located

and fixed aknown bug in VFILER32, in the View command. It's fixed as Version 3.3.

john is presently completing addition of wild-card file taggirig and unsqueezing to

program, to be Version 3.4. To most, these are welcomed. Look for it as you read

this newsletter. (Others, namely jay Sage, Z-Node Sysop, and Bob Demron, have great1y

enhanced VFILER in parallel with john's effort; our task of combining all these

improvements into one Version 3.5 is cha11erigiríg. We may choose to have two different

versions, each following independent paths; more about VFILER in afortnight.)

FLASH: Famous message handling program added to EI product 1ine—METAL! Written by

Tim Gary (Los Altos, California) Metal provides lots of capability with convenience,

over 20 commands. Open and private message storage; easy and quick access to new

messages not previously read; catalog of users by name, city and ID number; plus full

statistics of file up/down1oad by date and user. Metal presently mátes with public

domain telephone answerer, BYE, and soon with yet-to-be-shipped (vaporware) Term3.

More details of METAL is found on page 2of Newsletter 009, dated 12 November 1984.

Z-Nodes oMine (or soon to be) include some big storage disks and high population

locations; but most importantly, these Sysops want to serve users:

I. Dave McCord -Fremont, CA -415/489-9005

2. Al Hawley -Los Angeles, CA -213/670-9465

3. jay Sage -Newton Centre (Boston), MA -617/965-7259

4. Don Buzzingham -College Station, TX -409/845-8931

5. Ronnie Stone -Lisle (Chiccí9o), IL

6. Andrew Hart -Palo Alto, CA

7. Tim Linehan -o1yrupia, WA -206/357-7400

8. Thomas Hill -Anchorage, AK

g. Larry Snyder -Winter Park (Orlando), FL -305/677-8086

10. Rea Williams -Carson, CA -714/855-0672

11. Mike Ward -Voorhees, NJ -609/428-8864

12. Norm Gregory -Seattle, WA -206/325-1325

13. Walt jung -Baltimore, MD -301/661-2175

14. Rich Rodeheaver -Reyno1dsbuv"g (Co1tunbus), OH -614/864-2673

15. Richard jacobson -Chicago, IL -312/649-1730

16. jud Newell -Toronto, Ontario -416/232-0442, 232-0269

17. Robert Tate -Altamonte Sprinngs, FL -305,'831-6049

1.3. john Rovner -Union City, CA -415/489-0388

Page 2

Z-News 107

Certainly we find our node collection gratifying--future holds much excitement from

nets and nodes for us, for our continent, and our Earth. We need total of 40 Sysops

worldwide for an effective network, have aways to go.

Dave McCord has been selected as Z-Node coordinator, withA1 Hawley as backup and

Los Angeles connection to Bob Finch, our ham radio packet network expert. These

gentlemen are prepared to answer your questions about communications and about message

systems.

Z-Nodes contain full message recording subsystems, ZCPR3 Core and Utilities files

available for transfer using Christensen (XMODEM) protocol; plus latest Z-System

program brg fixes and selected Echelon promotional material, list prices, and order

forms. Some Sysops have elected to be downloaders of our proprietary software. For

those wisMrig to buy Echelon programs (Discat, Z3-Dot-Com, ZRDOS, Z-Com, Z-Tools,

etc.) by downloading, contact closest Z-Node for procedural details. (Down1oading

from nodes solves our massive disk format problem.)

More Benchmarks: Comparing 16-bit multiply and 32-bit result from Intel document

"iAPX 88 versus Ziio9 Z80 Benchmark Report--August 1980" with Hitachi HD64180

similar operation indicates m®ern, superior B-bit des@i. Results:

8088 (5 itrHz -Owait states) =40.8 microseconds

Z80B (6 niHz -1wait state) =302.0 "

HD64180 (6.114 mHz -1wait state) =37.11 "

Z80 is slow because it lacks hardware on-chip multiply. For tests, HD64180 used

software routine to provide 16-bit multiply, but employed its internal B-bit multiply

instruction to get such quick results. The different clock rates and wait states of

8088 and HD64180 muddy final conclusions about absolute quickness, but here we see 8-

bit certainly MMim its own! Bench testing was performed by Tom Cantrell of Micro-

future, Fremont, California.

to IkmMh ard KeíthH~er of CP/M SIG Inc. (Broomfield-Denver, Colorado) for

their considerable article writing, corÁucting of workshops, and generally promoting

Echelon and ZCPR3. These educators are doiñ9 one Zof ajob acting as catalyst to

those wantiw to learm

Solutims From our begirlning we have tried to indicate, to point to

solutions to your problems. We could have just listed features of ZCFR3 and ZRDOS, Z

System; no, we have produced acontinuous stream of examples to show solutions to your

problems. Some we have received from you: thañks! What other solutions have you

come up with—don't be bashful or delay, tell us!

Many have asked why we buck trends, go not with IBM and K-DOS and Unix, the

popular microcomputer fashion. Well, we are not of mass movements, but about frag-

merits, remnants! Nonetheless we use only whole cloth, usually in dreadfully short

supply; most don't understand or appreciate what we do, but how they get upset.

We welcome Crusader, activist label placed on us by some few (others have used less

flattering expressions). You know, we don't go with flows, with crowds; but create

intellectual turbulence and mental eddies. We maneuver at near-virgin fringes of

human emotional exploration. join us!

See you down the lines... Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

ZCPR3 BBS &Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005

Page 3

Z-News 107

Trademarks: ZSO/800, Zilog; Iü64180, Hitachi; 8088, Intel; Z-System, Z-Tools, ZCPR3,

ZRDOS, Z-Com, Z3-Dot-Com, Discat, Sysiib3, Term3, Zas, Zlink, DSD, ZDM, ITOZ, Revas3,

Metal, Lasting-Valme Software, Echelon and their respective owners and authors; PC-

DOS, IBM Corp.; CP/M, Digita1 Research; WordStar, MicroPro Int'l; Unix, AT&T.

Zsets y o uFREE!

Z-News 107 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc, All Ri9hts Reserved. Permission to re-

print, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is given to

Echelon, Inc .

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Echelon, Inc. ·u::;"n 7-— S:'J:i'¿

101 First Street ""q^4."'

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Los Altos, CA 94022

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Jud Newell

Toronto RCP/M Systems

4691 Dundas Street W

Islingtion, Ontario CANADA

=o 25 March 1985

"I Eche1on,lnc. 108

ZTIPS: Robert Doolittle, author of ZDM/ZDMZ and ITOZ and is Z-Team Member (Pacific

Palisades, California), shows way to reduce BIOS size by over 100 bytes. Always, we

suggested full environment descriptor storage be included in your BIOS implementatiom

No, only apointer to the descriptor need be implemented! Bob has ri9htly pointed out

that Newsletter 003, page 3, listiñ9 of buffer space can be changed to indicate two

address pointers, and not include 128-byte environment data He reduced ex:istirig 14

lines to only 7and completely removed subroutine DEFHV code:

:IF Z3ENV NE O

:IF INITENV

:LXI D,DEFENV

:LXI H,Z3ENV :IF Z3ENV NE O

:MVI B,128 :LXI H,Z3ENV

:CALL É©VLDP :MVI 8,128+32

from: :MVI 8,32 to: :CALL ZERCN

:CALL ZEROM :LXI H,Z3CL

:USE :SHLD Z3ENV+24

:LXI H,Z3ENV :ENDIF

:MVI 8,128+32

:CALL ZEROM

:ENDIF

:ENDIF

Z3 command line buffer pointer is stored 24 bytes hi9her than Z3ENV base address.

The first command executed after cold boot should be LDR SYS.ENV—either manually or

by STAR7UP alias—followed by others necessary to set up computer system for desired

initial environment.

VFILER Update: Jay Sage and Al Dunsmuir independently upgraded Vfiler into version

3.3; yes, two of them! Pandora's Box was nearly opened—thañkfully not, thou9h we are

certain Pandora had anice box, among other things--by allowiw more than one

programmer to work on a program in parallel. Al has volunteered to incorporate Jay's

changes into version 3.5. Oh! we forget to tell of Al's version 3.4--it's

fantastic—presently on Z-Node Central. Features added from 3.2, last version with

released source, include wild card tag,/untag commands; unsqueeze files, individually

sending to file or by group command; viewing and printiñ9 squeezed files, without

unsqueezing; view command last screenbug fixed; and many suave program improvements.

jay's 3.3 extends screen high1ightiñ9, permits file-mask when changing

directories, and most importantly, is nearly twice as quick when it loads. Last item

is accomplished by technique of loading ashell, whichVfiler is, only once. If

nothirig else, Al must include this feature in 3.5.

New Policy: Files for erihancement or bw fiMm must be "checked out" before changes

can be considered for acceptance and distribution. We will allow only one person to

be working on a program at any one time. The effort required to merge two versions of

same program is significant, as Al will find out in combining two 3.3's and 3.4 into

3.5. We can't do the work ourselves: too extensive for our limited resources!

Aprocedure is beintg prepared and should be up on Z-Node Central as you read

this. Simply stated: you check out file you wish to work- on; while you have it, no

one else is permitted to update it. A109 will be kept to show which files are out

and ones available for updating. List consists of about seventy (70) source and

twe.ity (20) support help files. Obtain 'theckiW out and returning file" procedure

from Z-Nodes. File check out must occur from Z-Node Central!

Z-News 108

pKeytm is super keyboard enhancer and is shipped with source code! You edit source

for your cpu and terminal speed and maximum number of keys and their lengths, assemble

using Zas or Mac, load with Mload, then rename object file to filetype lOP. Here's a

good segment from which to learn lOP coding techniques. Twelve keys of 24-characters

each are possible, cleanly fitting standard ZCPR3 lOP 1.5k-byte memory space.

Many such segments may be created and saved with different file names and auto

loaded as appropriate within directory being worked; as Rick Com would say, 'Little

CD (ChaWe Directory) and ST (Start) does the trick." (See Newsletter 009, dated 12

November 1984.)

Programable Key allows creating and saving as many sets of loadable segments as

desired. One for word processor, another for communications, for spreadsheet,

database management, programming, you name it. PKey displays each key and its

conversion string, and prompts for easy string change, without ever affecting program

in TPA—an exceptional value. AlthouÜi designed to work with ZRDOS and Z-Coin, PKey

(along with I/OR and BPrinter) works perfectly with ZRIX)S2 and Z-Com2.

Z—Nodes swing! From all over Uobe come interest in our nodes. Gaffers, gripes, and

gophers make it possible, make it delZhtful. We wait day when seridirg amessage to

France is accomplished without direct cost. Nodes grow until Earth's people fully

communicate; add these to list:

19. Fred Townsend -San jose, CA -20. Dick Driscoll -Phoenix, AZ -

21. Robert Finch -Glendale, CA -ham radio packet 146.745 nHz

22. Themas R. Bowerman -Anniston, AL -23. Charles Boghosian -Ikirham, NC -

24. Barry L. Bowerrnan -Weaver, AL -

25. Douglas Thom -San Jose, CA -408/253-1309 (oMine 4/12/85)

26. Robert Kühmann -St. Martin de la Brasque, France -011+33"(90)-77-61-36

27. Charles Hoffman -Tampa, FL -813/831-7276

28. Stanley K. London -Aurora, CO -

ZAS ís the Z80 macro assembler being used to support all ZSystem programming

activities. Zas creates Intel HEX or Microsoft REL files permitting its usage in

place of Asm, Mac, Rmac, and Macro-80. Supporting program provided (Zcon) converts

Intel 8080 mnemonics to Zas Ziio9 format. Another (Zlib) permits creation of binary

REL subroutine libraries; addiírig, deletiw and replacing modules, and printing module

names and public symbols from alibrary are features.

Others (Zlink and Zref) permit COM file generation from REL modules and symbol-

label cross reference to numbered source code lines. Either Zas or Zlink optionally

produces DRI compatible SYM files for use with DSD, Sid, or Zsid.

By the way, DSD (with 55 commands!) ships in two versions along with in-context

(individual-command) online help. These versions run automatically with Z(ZCPR3 and

ZRDOS) after installing using Z3INS.COM. One handles extended Intel (similar to

TDL/Xitan) mnemonics; the other, Zi1og. Both run with either 8080 or Z80 micro-

processors. Under CP/M-80, both require patch-file editiw for your terminal and use

of debugger ZDM (or DDT) to overlay main DGD object file. Source provided permits

editing for your terminal code and after assemWiW into hex file, overlaying both

Intel and Zilog versions of DSD.COM.

Prices reduced for three Echelon products. We seek wisdom, not money (really?), so we

have reduced prices for these EI software packages: DtSD and both versions of Z-Com2,

Items 07, 08, and 25 (see attached List Prices, dated 15 March 1985). We wish we

could cut more prices but expenses must be covered. (Notice addition to list of off-

shelf Z-Msg—Metal message program for ZSystem—bulletin board, file and mail system!

Also, all versions of Z-Com and Z-Coin2 are supplied with I/O Package buffer space

allocated, so PKey and other segments are ready to load.) "

Page 2

Z-News 108

Amateur Z-User Corner: ZDM (or DSD and DDr) makes neat emergency «to COM file

converter. Load your HEX file (note last used address displayed under PC NEXT

message) using l<filename.HEX><cr> and R<cr>. Then exit and save number of hex pages

(x?dl) to <fi1ename.COM>. Number of pages (each two records, 256 bytes) to save is

determined by dropping the two ri9ht4iand dZits from PC NEXT address. For example,

if address is 124F, round off right two digits and use SAVE 12H <fi1ename.COM> as your

command line. But if address is 1200 (on whole page boundary), round down one and

save only 11H pages.

Z-Node Central has anumber of popular pre-configured ZCPR3 installation files:

ready to install for Kaypro, Osborne, Morrow, Epson, Xerox, Apple, Heath, iBex, and

Jade. Look for them in ARCHIVE directory of node. Shortly, all Z-Nodes will have

these files. If you are having trouble installing Z3 on one of these machines, study

files to obtain get-<)ver-stumb1ing-b1ock ideas.

Computers and Electronícs magazine publication termination announced by owner Ziff-

Davis (they cancelled Microsystems last October). Circulation is 600,000! Now we

ask: on what list should Z-D be placed? Do colors exist darker than black? Ceasirig

publication of one magazine in favor (to prop up sales) of another (m-named magazine

owned by Z-D, actually Creative Computíñ9) should produce afew subscriber reactions,

cancelations without further regard for any Z-D publication. We move away from such

business logic--such decision makers have no feeiiñ9 for what they are aMut—leadiY

to these actions. Managers and owners have every right to do as they think best; we

have ari9ht to contemplate Z-D going out of business a1together. The planet and

cosmos, in our opinion, need neither their outlook nor expertise.

MícYomWrter txxmt continues! Substantial 1985 gains (20% over 1984) predicted in all

areas, best likely is portables (their sales could double over '84, especially if flat

panel displays get easy to read). Next is home and then office desktops. Sales to

'hobbyist and tinker, beiW neither of majorities nor mainstreams, are down in noise.

And still, many vital niches exist for small companies; Echelon caters to those

wishing to learn no matter where (home, office, shop, or laboratory) they use

computers. We work on LAN (local area networks permitting computers to talk to one

another) concepts, AI (ai: tificial intell.úénc·¢) usefulness and what can be done with

more powerful (5th generation) software and databases, one computer/one user, and GSS

graphics, but learning (e>cpariding one's awareness) is above all else. You hobbyists

and tinkers, you remanence, come join and learn as ve learn!

Why we do what we do! Sometimes we think with words that are unwritedownable and

notsotalkaboutable. But clarity notwithstanding, you know we support hi9h performance

Z80 instruction set compatible microcomputers. Eight-bit systems are (to us) symbols

of neatness (simplicity) and efficiency (only if assembly language is used) and mental

challenge (must be creative to be competitive with 16/32-bit micros). Remember, each

letter and number in our alphabet is represented by 8bits (a byte) in each machine.

We provide screen upon which light shines. You are our light, you fire us up to

jet speeds, passing eagle and humming bird. Those who jump on bandwagons thinking

there is no viable alternative: not figuriríg things out for themselves, not continuirg

to learn, not becoming willful, not alive, are our li9ht too.

Capacity for enjoyment increases as we learn—that's why we do what we do. Joy

comes from simplest of accomplishments: abuffer loads, screen fills with text, data

viewed, abeginner overcomes ahurdle. Our bird—though caged—sings! See you down

the lines...

Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005

Page 3

Z-News 108

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Trademarks: Z80/800, Zilog; HD64180, Hitachi; Z-System, Z-Tools, ZCFR3, ZRDOS, Z-Com,

Zas, Zlink, DSD, ZDM, ITOZ, Lasting-Value Software, Echelon and their respective

owners and authors; Macro-80 Microsoft; CP/M, Mac, Rmac, Sid, Zsid, Digital Research;

Mload, Ni9htow1 Software.

Zsets y o uFREE!

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Z-News 108 is Copyright 1985 Echelon,- in ·"Al1 Right¶s- Eeserved. pesrjÁü,NíoY t9 -=,

reprint, wholly or"" partiaL1y, autom?tica"ily üáníeá' if soyrce credit 4tU@: 1o,..:"±Z"

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=Eche1on,lnc. 8April 1985

109

ZTIPS: Bruce Morgen (Jvyland, PA) makes Poke.&Go operate faster, improves his

original idea of altering an application program loaded in memory and then running

application. Here 'tis:

FUKE&GO2 -Improved version for ZCPR3 systerrs that suppcrt the GET ccnmiand. GET is

3/10/85 pretty economical in terms of code length within ZCPR3, so if you have a

macro assembler [like ZASÍ Istrongly reccmmend you implement it -makes

POKE&GO much faster and eliminates need for ZEX, using the following

ALIAS script {comnents right of vertical bar, :,are not part of alias]:

A0: SYSTEM>ALIÉS mD

ALIAS, Version 1.1

Alias Name: WSD

Old Alias Comand Line:

1—> AO: ;:GO TO SYSTM DIREC7URY

2--> LDR SYS3.RCP; Load RCP THAT HAS THE POKE C(»MAND

3—> GET 100 WS.COM; :LOAD WDRDSTAR WITH GET (PROGRAM DOES NOT RUN)

4--> POKE 036B 22; :mRIGHT MARGIN TO 35 (ACTUALLY 34 DECIMAL)

5—> POKE 0378 DO; :SET INITIAL X)DE TO DOCUMENT FROM NON-DOCUMENT

6--> $D$U:;:mmw ORIGINAL DIRECTORY

7—' GO $1; MjÑ LOADED WORISTAR WITH OPTIONAL FILENAME

8—> AC): ;X3ACK TÍ) SYSTM DIRECTORY ON EXIT

9—> LDR SYS.RCP; LOAD RCP

10 —> $D$U: EXIT IT) ORIGINAL DIRECTORY

Never to be outdone, Echelon staff produced two new aliases; first one reduces

clutter of files along system search path. As an example of concept, wiw HLP files,

put all help files in adirectory not used by other files and not along your search

path ísay Ai2: ). Rename HELP.COM to HLP.COM and place along the path Next create an

alias along path called HELP containing:

1--> Ai2:;Íyou could call this directory HELP:

2—> IF NUL $1;

3—> HLP ZCPR3; )defau1t entry point

4--> ELSE;

5—> HLP $1; )get declared HLP file using HLP.COM

6—> FI; j(endif)

7--> $D$U: R: eturn to original directory

After implementing above, help is obtained from any directory by typing the word HELP

followed by pressing cursor return, <cr>. Alias logs into A12: ,HLP ZCPR3 combination

runs. Then when finished viewing help screens, logs back into original directory.

Help file name need not be entered on command line, then ZCPR3 (or other entry point

specified by your custom alias, line 3) top-of-tree file is executed. But any name

may be specified to by-pass default file help entry point. Neat! Global aliases can

be created to speed just about any task you think of.

Next, who in the Zcommunity has created aPRINT command alias that direct

requested number of printed copiec> of afile be made? Desired quantity is requested

using comnand line traiiiüg attribute. One way it's done is using ALIAS, ZEX,

IF./ELSF/FT, GOTO, ECHO, REG and, of course, PRINT. Our staff developed below example

in about 20 minut.es (surely you have an example that's better). We called the

controjjing alias PR which contains few lines:

Z-News 109

I—> IF EXIST $1; ;pút printer to work if..

2--> ZEX PRINT $1 $2 $3: }..file existe.

3--> ELSE:

4--> ECHO ++ $1 NOT FOUND ""; lit not, tell!

5--> FI Íkeep balance

Nested batch file PRINT.ZFX contains sixteen c'onmaríd ]iííes.. but it's smart. land s(jiñc

of it is alittle tricky). OMine documentat Lou in IF, Z3UTIL2 "for REG), autj

CMDFTLES {for GOTO arid ZEX) describe what must be known fcjjc understanding:

*

y

;PRINT.ZEX prints declared copies of afile From PR alias

;^&suppress False IE'S

n

y

if NÜL $3 :

iií no PRINT options specified assume. .

reg SO $2 )..$2 contains number of copies.

else

reg SO $3 }set REG Oto number of copies from $3

f i )bajance 'if' wit-h 'endif'

;=again j'loop' entry repeats file pr: i-nt:ing

fiIkeep balance when looping

if O)REG Omust be one or greater to print

else

if NUL $3 Af options not specif i.ed drop $3 and. .

PRINT $1 )..use defaults of PRINT.COM.

else

PRINT "1 $2 :execute PRINT with declared opt i-ons

fi)keep balance under al }conditic'ns

reg MO Mecrement REG Oby one count (-] )

GOTO again lcontiríue printing (final FI in..

;:..controlling PR alias. )

;Printing Complete

*

f

For more one cr more printed copy of afile (aftrü" fñásirg; PR'tNT,ZEX aíid PR alias

along search path), type PEi <.fi 1ename> [options] '-number of ccpíes>«x>'. File to be

printed ÍñljSt be in current directory. An examµle: PR fmft e5pj"c3duc: ?s .f.iy.e "exact-"

copies of Erí.ft on vour printer; PR fn.ft 2prints 2copies ai: default PRINT settings.

PR.COM and PRTNT.ZEX could be in A15: (ROOT) directory and tn.ft in BO: tWORKl). We

used controlling alias simply to not have to type ZEX on ccmrr,and line. ZEX file could

be more structured by nesting conditionals—as is, works fine. Many ways exist. to do

"loopim" tasks--let's hear about yours! Zwaits for you to unleash its vast power!

Z—Node proliferation continues! Newest additions (more needed in areas of Atlanta,

New York City, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, and Houston):

29. Edward Unrein -Altamnte Springs (Orlando) ,FL -3G5 /' 295-0844

30. Ben Ramn -st. Louis, IK) -314i'42'j-7038

FLASH: Steve Ciarcia's "Circuit Cellar" of BYTE Magazine wtl! fully describe superior

singÍe-board computer called SB-180, useful in industrial control, desktop and

portable personal computing applications. (Also, hobbyist and tinkers will find much

here--it's aconstruction article--to expand their horizons.) Use of Hitachi CMOS

HD64180 super B-bit chip gives computer 16,'32-bit performance at extremely low prices,

and runs Z80 /8080 instruction set, CP/'M-80 sol' tware. Board is bundled with Echelon Z

sof t-ware. (See newsletters 105 and 107 for computer benchmarks.) SB-180, both

Page 2

Z-News 109

hardware and software, descriptions appear in two contiguous before-end-of-1985 issues

of BYTE.

Selling price for computer not presently established (should be around $400.00

assembled and tested, without power supply or disk drives), but froom performance

rating it'll be tops. Full ZSystem comes with it, ZAS and ZDM, macro assembler and

debugger tools included. BIOS handles popular 5.25 inch disk formats, as well as 8"

standard and ochers. RAM disk is part of BIOS for quick assemblies, edits, and

corrtµiles. Alsc, íjne paÍa: 1e! aíid two serial ports, SCSI hard disk expansion and local

area network parts, printer buffer opticm traded for RAM disk storage, plus software

configuration cjf hardware rescurces, number of memory waits states, 6.1 or 9.2 MHZ cpu

clock speed, I/'O channel baudrates, parity, word lengths, etc. Physical size permits

mounting on 5.2.5 inch floppy drive side. SB-!80 and bundled software is available

from Micromint, Inc. (25 Terrace Drive, Vernon, VT 06066) after first BYTE article

appears.

Echelon product delívery update: We have been experiencing significant delays in

shipping our off-the-shelf products because of large amounts of business activities

beyond üur staff's ability to handle. But Wait! We are getting on top of it--

patience! ZCPR3: The Manual has moved forward another step with Rick Conn approving

"galley" proofs produced by publisher, New York ZOETROPF.; shouldn't be too much more

waiting before we start book shipments to you, our customers. (Believe, we want book

as much as you.) Term3 moves slcwly—Rick is giving it all the attention he can—it's

worth waiting for! ZRIXJS2 should start shipping by middle of this month...more work

to finish it up than first calculated; but it nears completion, not much left

presently to do.

Texas Iotruments aM Kaypro (among others) eaCh annomce computers similar to IBM PC-

AT; AT&T announces voice/data computer, as does Compaq Computer. IBM ceases PC jr

production! King is dead—long live kings?

Voíce versus keytxjajnd ccmrctand and data entry is much discussed for present and future

control arid ease cjf computer operation. We think real issue is being missed.

Ideally, nur,bers íüLLSt be accurately entered; word, phrase and sentence carefully

choseu. SE}e ! Ú.ng, grammar and style checkers do agood job of catching typos and

loose woMage. but every riurübm cjf aspreadsheet had better be correct else results

could he veíy ríúsáeádirr". Moreover, if input data is in error results may look okay,

but. neither coruputer operator nor end-user of information know calculaticns were made

L"rorr, fau!íy iííput data. Risaster! And note the judgement: of what value results,

even if jm"recti.j/ developed and ij}}tainec}, if equations used to generate them are not

uríderstood'? É'Ok'éí comes frmrt 8ett.ing remilts and fully knowing how they were

obtaiüed.

The microcomputer is tüort' than tool to do familiar things faster than done using

older methods: by Deitymm-high, it's a means to personally grow and to learn of

fundamentals of Life, of thinkirig, of being. Don't equate microcomputers to

appliances, as if similar to automobiles that you need only learn to drive, to use;

and not know how they work, how they think! Yes, machines think—if you disagree,

wait ancther 2yeaí"s for evidence even "f lat-earthers" won't be able to repudiate!

Are not ideas more important than paper on which words (expression of ideas) are

printed? Are not users more important than tools or machines? Be more than drone or

clone--be master, be elitist using inner-direc t-ed imagination! See you down the

lines. . ,

Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005

Page 3

Z-News 109

Trademarks: HIJ64180, Hitachi; Z80 /800, Zilog; 8080/8088, Intel; Z-System, Z-Tools,

ZCPR3, ZRlX)S, Z-Com, Zas, Zlink, DCjO, ZDM, ITOZ, Lasting-Va1ue Software, Echelon and

their respective owners and authors; CP/M, Digital Research.

Zsets y o uFREE!

'+'- ~'

'

Z-News 109 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserv4m Permission to

reprint, wholly or partially, autoniatically granted if source c"5édit is given to

Echelon.

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Echelon, Inc. g>n c,

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Los Altos, CA 94022 ZPM ?j ~~~=" %i' -, :., ;tz

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®Eche1on, Inc. 22 April 1985

201

ZTIPS: We feel conditional testing aliases and IF12 submitted by Charles McManis

(Sunnyvale, CA) so important we reproduce some of his work here for your information.

Notice technique of indenting to indicate conditional nest level. Effective during

alias design, but code is entered as one long line when keystrokiríg in actual alias.

IF12.LBR is on Z-Nodes; extract IF12.COM and it's ready to run after irista11intg to

your Z3 environment.

"One small modification to IF.COM allows comparing wild card characters and ambiguous

file names (AFNS). Feature adds needed flexibility to some aliases. Charige affects

only fcb conditional statement: IF fcbl=fcb2, where now fcb1 and fcb2 may be AFNs and

still set IF state true if amatch occurs. Following statement is thus accepted:

IF $1=*.?Q? ;NOTE sets condition TRUE if $1 is asqueezed file.

"Both fcb1 and fcb2 may contain ?and *ambiguous characters. An example of use of

this new situation is shown in fo1lowing aliases that manipulate alibrary containing

squeezed ZCPR3 utility source files."

Alias: PUT -Store source file in SOURCES library

Usage: PUT <name> IEJ

where Eindicates external files are erased at completion.

Statements Comments

IF $1=*; Match filename with no type

IF EX $1.MAC; Check if file exists

SQ $1«MAC; Squeeze before storing

INSERT $1.MQC; Insert into library

IF $2=E; See if externals are to be erased

ERA $1.K?C: Erase squeezed/unsqueezed copies

FI;

ELSE;

ECHO $1.MAC NOT FOUND; Announce unable to find file

FI;

ELSE; Syntax reminder

'ECHO PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE FILETYPE.;

FI Done

Alias: GET -Retrieve source file from SOURCES library

Usage: GET <name>

Statements Comments

IF $1=*; Match filename with no type

IF EX $1.MAC; Check if file exists and..

ECHO FILE EXISTS!; ..do not overwrite if it does.

ELSE;

EXTRACT $1.MQC; Get named file from library

FI;

ELSE; Syntax reminder

ECHO PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE FILETYPE.;

FI Done

ZñNews 201

Now the single-line nested aliases:

Alias: INSERT -Insert files into SOURCES library

Usage: INSERT <name.typ>

Statement Comment

NULU -O SOURCES -A $1 -X Add file then exit

Alias: EXTRACT -Extract files from SOURCES library

Usage: ExTRAcr <name.typ>

Statement Comment

NULU -O SOURCES -Q $1 -X Extract file, unsqueeze

if necessary, then exit.

Of course, INSERT and EXTRACT could be placed directly in GET and PUT. Advantage

to having these outside (nested) is ease of change, and can be used alone, if desired.

(One day soon we will have afull editor to enter and alter alias command text, making

changes easily without having to completely re-do.)

IF12 contains built-in help, obtained by entering command name followed by ZCPR3

conventional double slash, //. IF12 //<cr>:

IF, Version 1.2 -Conditional Test

Syntax:

IF condition arguments —or- IF "condition arguments

where aleading """ negates the effect of the IF Condition

Possible IF Conditions are:

TAlways TRUE

FAlways FALSE

EMPTY <file 1ist> Tif Files are Empty

ERROR T if Error Flag Set

EXIST <file list> Tif Files Exist

INPUT T if User Hits T, Y, CR, or SP

NULL arg Tif No Arg Follows

tcap Tif ZCPR3 TCAP Available

wheel Tif Wheel Byte Set

reg value Tif Register reg =value

fcb1=fcb2 Tif the Two FCB values are =

Only first 2letters of keywords are required

The leading """ is effective with all conditions except fcbl=fcb2

Congratulations and thanks, Charles, for upgrading IF and providing such useful

aliases--super job!

Do remember, before using Charles' aliases and new IF.COM, to disable your

resident (Rcpj IF, if you have one; else use a different name, e.g., IF12, as upgraded

COM file name and as conditional (IF12) name in Alias and Zex files.

The above four aliases plus those we described in newsletter 109, dated 8April

1985, demonstrate automation ease using ZSystem utilities. Also, Z-Node #2 Sysop, Al

Hawley, has released afile (ALIAS.FUN) showing many tricks possible with aliases.

And Z-Team Member, Joseph Wright, wisely seeing need for less message display

from certain Z3 utilities, has produced a group of "silent" utilities responding to

QUTET.COM. These (CD, LDR, PATH, QUIET, WHEEL) are on Z-Node Central as SILENCE.LBR

and show no tnessages under QUIET--very useful for secure installations and many turn-

key applications.

Page 2

Z-News 201

Édditíam1 Z-Ncdes corning online:

31. Richard A. Peterson -El Paso, TX -915/755-3342

32. Allan E. Levy -Satellite Beach, FL -

33. Mark R. Evans -San Angelo, TX -

Doug Thom (San Jose, CA), Z-Node #25, wants all to know he is oMine now and desires

callers, lots of them. His modem number is 408/253-1306. Let him know you appreciate

his activities to support high performance B-bit computer developments.

EDIT by Mike Rejsa (Minneapolis, MN) is now supported by Echelon and bundled as OS

editor in our OEM packages (it's fully public domain, not copyrighted). EDIT is

adequate for short document creation and maintenance, and ideal for use in Zex or Sub

files. We supply an easy to read and learn from operator's manual. Look for COM and

summary command reference card on our Z-Nodes as files EDIT.OBJ/CRD.

EDIT is more than I) an editor: it's 2) afile patcher, 3) list to printer with

pagination, 4) hex dumper, 5) file size and disk status reporter, and 6) copy file to

another disk utility—in 2k-byte COM file! EDIT doesn't generally replace WordStar,

WordMaster, Mix, Vedit, etc.; nonetheless, it's quick and doesn't use much disk space.

We're using EDIT in aliases and Zex batch files 'cause it loads so fast; try it and

let us know what you think.

Apple (CP/M disk format) ZCPR3 Core, Utilities, Z3-Dot-Com and Syslib3 are shipping.

For so much patience, thanks Martin Rosenfeld, jerry Levy, Mike Damiani, julio Ibarra,

George Proctor, and especially, Lloyd Hogan. Also, the gang at Hughes Aircraft get

several gold stars for unusual forbearance.

Wyse Technology, our favorite peripherals company, returned aprofit of 2.2 million

dollars on sales of 22.3 wi11ion for last quarter. Increases of 385 and 238 percent,

respectively, over similar period last year! Their competitor, TeleVideo, didn't fair

well with loss of 8wi11ion on sales of 26.7 million--sales reduction of 38 percent

and loss of .19 cents ashare compared to last year's .14 cent profit. Perhaps their

new Model 955 terminal ($699.00) will put them into hunt, be what they need to get

going again.

Wyse has real winners with their WY-50, 75 and 85 terminals (they've sold nearly

200,000 of 'em), enough better to keep ahead of competition. Echelon wishes Wyse

President, Mr. Bernard Tse, and his team of spirited workers continued good fortune!

With IBM's image tarnished by pcjr production cancellation, time is ripe (interval

within the octave) for tñ9 position gains.

EXPECTATIONS: One main aCÍvantage of microcomputers is that you control

hardware/software without having an expert intermediary (priest) doing the work. But

to be effective you must dedicate yourself to learning how to efficiently use your

machine, to have it do constructive work for you! The two-edged knife: finding time

(simply by setting priorities there's always time) to become more than we presently

are—induced magica11y by learning, through self-discovery! We call everything WORK

that's conscientious effort and intentional suffering performed to improve ourselves.

"There's no free lunch!" So many think, act as if there were. What does free-lunch

mean to you?

See you down the lines.., Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005

Page 3

=O Eche1on,lnc. 6May1985

202

ZTIPS: Eagerly awaiting completion of VFILER Version 3.5, upgralde by Al Dunsmuir

(Scarborough, Ontario, Canada), we submit here what we think are useful VFILER notes.

But first, we show VFILER built-in help (menu of commands using screen hi9h1i9htim),

obtained by typiñ9 "?" or "/" (unshifted ?) toggle at VFILER Files display command

prompt. Last of three displays is Macro Menu (vFILacMD file).

BO: VKjRKI VFILER, Version 3.4 IZ-80 Codej Fn.FT

-- Tagging Commands -- --------- File Operations ----------

T-Tag File C-Copy File D-Delete File

U-Untag File F-File Size R-Rename File

W-Wildcard T/U Q-usQ File

G-Group Wpy/e1ete/FSize/usQ/Tag/Untag

-- Cursor -- -- File Print &View -- --- User Functions ---

"E P-Prínt V-View O-9 -Execute #-HELP

^S <-+—> ^D -- Movement Comnands -- --- Miscellaneous ---

v<SP> -File Forward A-Toggle Alpha Sort

"X <BS> -File Backward H-Help File

+-Screen Forward N-New DIRectory

-- Screen -- —-Screen Backward S-Disk Status

^A Left j-jump to aFile Z-ZC

^F Right E-Refresh Screen "C,X -Exit

Command (? =Files): m

When in Files display, command line shows as: Command (? =Help): .The dríve/user

area (directory name) is shown in upper left comer; current-file cursor points to, at

upper right. Commands may be executed from three (3) user interface displays: files,

built-in help and macro menus. Current File shows from all displays, even Macro Menu.

Instead of 6or 7seconds, vnm 3.5 loads in about 3seconds (thanks to Z-Noder

Jay Sage, Newton Centre, MA), using 8" DSDD drives, indicatirg areally useful, little

noticed utility. Observe internal macro command menu (User Functions) is obtained by

typing °W', fully releaving any necessity to remember the ten (ID) custom commands.

VFILER does things you want it to do: unsqueeze files to printer, console or to

another file, or unsqueeze on a wi1dcard and group basis. SinUe or group

tagging/untagging, copying, renaming, ¢Íe1eting, viewirig, and paginated with-header

printiñ9. Also wildcard tagging/urltagging of files for further processing—nothing is

as quick and as simple as VFILER for general disk and file housekeeping, and as macro-

conunandmainentry into turn-key menu/command-line drive computer system!

Now we design an example CMD macro command file (with Macro Menu) to manage ZCPR3

source files, by keeping them in asqueezed library called (by Charles McManis,

Sunnyvale, CA) SOURCES. Z-News 201 showed how library automation is realized from

ZCPR3 command line using aliases PUT, GET, INSERT and EXRACT. We use two of these in

our design and VFILER current-file pointer to insert/extract files into/from SOURCES,

plus additional aliases and commands assisting other activities.

Remember, several CMD files may be used in your system by placing each in a

different directory, using current directory and search path to access desired one.

The command lines of CMD are separated from Macro Menu by the "ir symbol, the same

symbol used to display menu. VFILERHLP contains information necessary to write

custom CMD files. While in VFILER, type Hto access this documentation; outside, use

command HELP ZCPR3 with HLP files akw your patlL

Z-News 202

;TITLE: Source Code Library (SOURCES) Manager

Oxdir %d°óu: *.* ogoh'Attributes (p=to printer): '

1get 100 ws.com;FKjke 392 ff;go %d: %f

2putit %$

3extract 'File name to extract (<fi1ename>.MQC): '.mqc'

4lu -o SOURCES -m

5CAT: ;catscan 'Master Catalog Search (e.g. *.doc): '*.*;WORK1:

6tmaker get incomelO.ei e:ac BACKUP: =°ód:income1O.ei la

7 modem7

8 mb %d: dims

9protect %$ 'Attribute (r=r/o, s=system, a=archive): '

#

>>> Z-System Source File LIBRARY Management Menu <<<

Files Squeezed/Unsqueezed On Entry/Exit

O-Directory of Current Disk (XDIR) -O

1-EDIT Current File (non-document mode) (WordStar) -1

2-Put MAC file into SOURCES Library (PUTIT) -2

3-Extract MQC file from SOURCES Library (EXTRACT) -3

4-Enter SOURCES Library (LBR) (NULU) -4

5-Scan Master CATALOG from Console (Discat CATSCAN) -5

6-Financial Tally (T/MAKER) -6

7-Telecorrununicate via modem (Modem7) -7

8-Database Management System (F1Basic +DIMS) -8

9-Set Current File Attribute (RIO, R/W, Archive) (PROTECT) -9

XDIR is set here to give adisplay horizontally sorted by file name (not vertically by

file type, the defaults for XDIR) of all files on current disk. Notice how trailing

command attributes are easily added to CMD command text to bring out features desired.

Text between apostrophes (prompts to user) may be nested, to be answered by user, one

following another!

WordStar 3.0 is poked at location 392H (a byte altered) to make sure non-document

mode is used for program source code editirig function (no high bit-7's set that way).

GO executes WS at standard Z(CP/M) location 1OOH. Program file is pointed to with

VFILER cursor arrow, passed to WS as %f file. Your ZCPR3 CCP must be assembled to

have GET and GO active.

Library program NULU (Martin Murray's replacement for LU and LSWEEP) has been

renamed to LU. PUTIT alias is: sq $1;era $l;insert ".mqc. INSERT and EXTRACT

aliases are from Z-News 201; sq is SQUEEZE program. (We learned GET alias name

conflicts with ZCPR3 resident, intrinsic GET, which loads afile without execution at

aspecified memory location—jUMP intrinsic runs program.)

Usirig 3to extract afile from SOURCES library results in prompt for file name of

MAC file desired. Only file name is entered without file type. File copy is auto-

matically unsqueezed exiting SOURCES library, details in EXTRACT alias.

Master disk and file catalog is scanned using Rick Conn's DISCAT (Echelon

proprietary) program (see Newsletter 008, page 2). Here's acase of shell-menu

controlled directory (CAT) beirig entered from shell VFILER The DISCAT menu permits

running VFILER and chaining back when finished. Of course, goirtg to HELP directory

from VFILER results in nested shells also. Where does it end--it doesn't! Disk BO:

is directory WORK1 (see Newsletter 104, page I).

Study the newsletters and HLP files and your ability to create macro CMD files

increases quickly. Try some--start slow and debug each command line before going to

the next--learn alittle, do, learn more. Aliases and Zex file in Z-News 109 and 201

set the mood! (Next newsletter covers Files display and adds more notes.)

Page 2

ZHews 202

Z-COM is big success! Now you can install Z-System on your computer in afew minutes,

with I/O Package Segment ready to use PKey and other I/O packages you or we develop.

You have all the functions of full-up Zwithout modifyirg your BIOS. Z-Com cold boots

as your operating system by using CP/M CCP patch technique described in Newsletter

009, but ZC is used as command instead of Z3.

Licensed users of Z3-Dot4Xm may upgrade to Z-Com (with I/OP) for $40.95 plus tax

(if any) and shippiñ9 and handling of $3.00 (a $99.00 value). Included is rose-pink

two-sided command and installation card, two disks of latest ZCPR3 utilities, alorig

with six (6) special ZRDOS utilities and full online HLP documentation. Notice

command 6in above CMD file, how auto-archiving (backup) of edited (changed) file

occurs using ZRDOS Archive Copy utility!

Z—Node Network nears completion in United States—need several nodes in Europe and

Asia. These apparently won't come automatically to us, so we will search them out!

25. Douglas Thom -San jose, CA 95129 -408/253-1309 (nímber correction!)

34. Rod L. Blackman -Visalia, CA 93291 -

35. Norman Beeler -Sunnyvale, CA 94086 -408/245-1420

Amateur ZUser's Comer: Where to go to efficiently obtain more knowledge, under-

standing of computer operations and usage—try your public library! We know our

writings don't completely cover your needs, but there's lots of books and magazines we

recommend reading and studying that will:

1. Soul of CP/M: Using and Modifying CP/M'S Internal Features, Mitchell Waite

2. The Programner's CP/M Handbook, Andy johnson-Laird, Osborne/HGraw-Hill

3. Inside CP/M, Dave Cortesi of Dr. Dobb's journal

4. User's Guide, P.O, Box 5245, Redwood City, CA 94063, 415/364-0108

5. The Computer journal, P.O. Box 1697, Kalispell, MT 59903, 406/257-9119

6. Micro Cornucopia, P.O. Box 223, Bend, OR, 97709, 503/382-5060

7. Micro/Systems Journal, P.O. Box 1192, Mountainside, NJ 07092, 201/522-9347

First seven issues of User's Guide are great for learning CP/M, WordStar,

Mai1Merge, SuperCalc, Modem7, dBASE II, T/Maker III and other popular B-bit programs.

These back issues are sold for $6.00 each. Exorbitant, you say; yes, but worth it!

It'll take approximately two (2) years of study and computer operation to feel

you know what's happening. After 1000 hours of activity you are above average in

capability to understand the new and to do, way ahead of majority in these days of

computer literacy—you know-you-know what's 9oiñg on. Wonder what a"power useí'

feels? Study no more than two (2) hours per day. Facts need to settle into your

bones, soul before more is laid on, a basic homo sapient learning characteristic.

Dígítal Research (Pacific Grove, CA) continues to demonstrate truth of harsh words

used (see 15 October 1984 Newsletter 007, page 4, next to last paragraph) to describe

their understanding of customers, of business, of life. (Yuppies and MBA's do not

make abusiness.) Their Unix activity is dissolved, as is their languages division;

neither 8nor 16-bit CP/M activity remains. All eggs are in GEM (Graphics Environment

Manager) basket...but will Apple Computers sue? We expect them to see really hard

times in less than six months (ORÍ founder Gary Ki1da1l deserves better; Gordon

Eubanks, author of EBasic and CBasic, would agree), unless amiracle! May their new

Concurrent DOS-286 take off. See you down the lines... Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005

Page 3

Z-News 202

Trademarks: HD64180, Hitachi; Z80/800, Zi1og; WY-50/75/85, Wyse; Model 955,

TeleVideo; 2-System, Z-Tools, zcm, ZRDOS, Z-Com, Zas, 21ink, IJSD, 2DM, ITD2, 2-Msg,

Lasting-Value Software, Echelon and their respective owners and authors; Unix, AT&T;

CP/M, GEM, Digital Researck

Zsets youFREE!

Z-News 202 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc. All Right"s Reserved. Permission to

reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted iZ --murce credit is given to

Echelon. :"' ""'""""

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203

Z TIPS: VFILER Files display! Asomewhat three-dimensional-display effect is

achieved as current-file pointer moves up/down/right/1eft, because file name in upper

right screen corner simultaneously changes. If more than 72 files are in adirectory,

simply pressing +or ^A and -or ^F moves display up/down to next screen,

respectively. (Newsletters 104 and 202 have more on VFILER operations.)

BO: WORKI VFILER, Version 3.5 IZ80 Codel CHECKS .IXJC

ANOTHER .TYP ANOTHER .ZZZ ABLE .100 AMOS .DOC

BASIC .TST --> CHECKS .DOC LTR .101 LTR .102

LTR .109

*

.(FTASH: 3.5 is on Z-Nodes)

Cormand (? =Help): M

VFILER sample display is shortened for space sake...actual is up to 18 file rows of

four columns (72 files per screen). (Yes, Version 3.5 is on Z-Nodes.)

VFILER is aZCPR3 shell. Shells are soft(ware) covers that provide different

interfaces from standard. Additionally, shells perform functions and execute commands

always knowing how to return to their origins. For example, VFILER uses aset of

single or double keystrokes to automate file and disk housekeeping operations. Also a

macro language permits complex series of events to occur from but asingle keystroke

entered by the user—yes, drastically changed interface from that available at Z-

System command line! Other important shells are MENU, VMENU, ALIAS, SH and HELP.

Each provide aspecial interface to quicken and ease tasks to be performed. We've not

discussed SH and HELP but they soon get their turn in Z-News.

The Zcommand line is always just akeystroke away while using VFILER (or VMENU

and MENU). Type Zand you are there! When your commands have executed, you return

automatically to VFILER Files display, ready to continue processing.

Next tip: Dreas Nielsen (Corvallis, OR) has used his imagination and created a

menu driven environment using aliases, Zex and Vmenu. His concepts demonstrate latent

power of ZCPR3, using GET, GO, REG, SH, SHDEFINE, SHCTRL, SHSET (makes a program or

alias into ashell), SHVAR, SHEXIT, SETFILE, IF/ELSE/FI/XIF, GOTU, and ECHO. WOW!.

Here's complete VMN menu used (four rows of four files per row display at top):

CO: BACKUP VMENU, Version 1.3 IZ80 Codej EXTRACT.CCM

No File ADDQ .ZEX DOMULT .ZEX EIASSO .DIJ

EITEAM .DIJ --> EXTRACT .COM GETIT .COM INSERT .COM

MENU .BAK MENU .VMN PUT .COM PUTIT .COM

Q.COM QM80 .ZEX QRUN .ZEX QSPECIAL.COM

Imore filesl

Arrow keys move current file pointer

FILE QUEUE MANAGER

QAdd file to queue RRun all files in queue

VView queue TType " " " "

E Empty queue AAssemble """"

XExit SSpecially process queued files

Co[FEand (CR=Menu) -M

Z-News 203

Q.COM starts menu display of MENU.VMN on your current disk with VMENU.CJJM and rest of

2CPRJ utilities abw your search path. He suggest putting them out-of-the-way in

A15: ROOT directory. Afile is placed in queue (tagged) for processing using Q, the

current file pointed to; pressing Ererrtoves all such files from queue.

VMENU shows sixteen files at once, with """ and "-" us: ed to get more. You can

log into VMENU using wi.ld card file declaration to select only those pertímeüt.

Bottom two-thi rds of screen is for single-stroke ínenu display; last. is comníaud line.

(See Z-News 106 for VMENU, MENU, and VFILER fea tuí""es corrtÉ)aris(jn.!

After queuing-up each fií.le by moving pointer and pressing n, t"i les are

"processed" by pressin" R, T. A, or S. If! S, you are prornpted fox" ccmmand nanie, e.g.,

PRINT.COM and tra tling opt-ions (µaramete·rs). Of cíjín"se, you may add other processes

arid commands may be added to the VMENU comí"i: and list for yo'jí" spec' 1-al needs.

Bravo! QUEUE takes Zti'ü"Y"'" to anüther level of tasklintc'rface a¿7stractic}tíé

Concept vorks best usiiz< RAM or fast haM disk! The ZJ í"cjgn?uÉ3i Ly has imch to ponCh"r,

learn f roríí ccntr.ibutioíts oÁ Ihras Nielson.

Look for flle QUEUE.LBR on Z-Nodes; Oreas' ccmplett: works are there. Ills al.i.mes

may be used as-are by install ing to your system us-iítg Z3!NS arid your ENV descriptor.

Z—Node #15 ríee& morí" callers! ¿hicago area coinputerisw have Xjcaí accesc to super

Kaypro BBS and Z-Node run by Sysop Richard Jacobson. He \lje]c(jr[!es callers from else-

where, toO! Try i-t--dtal 312!649-1 730 and behold treasurcs offered your modem µoc1.

36. Richard Mead -Pasadena, CA 9!105 -818 /' 799-!632

Software Support: If you have ZCPR3 conf jgured for your machine and your machine is

special and not in our ARCHIVE library of pre-configured files, please put collection

into LBR file (usirr" LU or NULU) arid upload tcí the nearest 7-Ncíde. (See Z-News 108,

pa"e 3, fcr what. we already have,) We'd like others tcj beríefit froni your work!

Programs and utilities for which we supply source code we welcome, we ínvite

users to upgrade...we don't expect fixes or upgrades to our proprietary programs,

programs for wbich we supply only ob ject code, like jjiscat, Z-Com, Zas, etc. {We are

fully responsible for fixirig bugs in atimely fashion and for improving these.)

We request you notify Z-Node Central (Dave McCord, Sysop) of ycur desire to

change aZ-System program; only one person at atime works on each file. You "check-

out" afile for up to amonth, return it for approval, and if accepted, changes you

made become official distribution.

Features you would like added to upcoming revisions of Core, Utilities, and

Tools, should be jotted down and sent to us. We'll analyze universal desirabili-ty of

suggestions and act accordingly. Thus, Zexpands as we grow together in under-

standing, creating acomputing environment para11e1ing our mental, intellectual

capacity. What other software company acts like Echelon? And what other company

handles the quantity of program code that we do?

Amateur Z USer's Corner: Automating your routine computer tasks is excitiw" and saves

much time in the long run. Remember when setting up, writing CMD, MENU, VMENU files

to always declare files as current directory, using $D$U: ,or have the files along

your search path. Also get afeel for difference between current and default drive.

Notice Zcommand line default versus what shows on VFILER Files display, upper left

screen corner. Change default by logging in drive, e.g., AO>B:<cr> or AO: BASE>B:<cr>.

It's never been made clear the difference between default (1om«i in) and current

drive. At operating system command line the default disk is determined; from

application programs, current.

If you haven't yet invested in an expensive text processor/editor like Vedit,

PMate, or WordStar, you may want to look into VEO, Version 2.5, by james H. Whorton.

It is full-screen, fast, memory-based, and has nearly same editing commands as

WordStar. Though not aword processor, it makes an efficient program editor.

Page 2

Z-News 203

Enhancements are presently on james' drawing board, so we can expect an even more

powerful editor soon. Complete VTXJ package (terminal install, documentation, and

object files) is on Z-Nodes for downloaóiing as file VDO25.LBR, and is hi.ghly

recommended by Echelon. (Ve also like split-screen, two-files-at-a-time MIX editor,

frout MIX Soft.ware, 2116 East Arapaho, Suite 363, Richardson, TX 75081, toll free 1-

800-622-4070, for $29.95 plus $5.00 shipping COStS.)

PLASH: Wyse Techríoiogy (3040 N. First Street, .San Jose, CA 95134, 408/946-3C75J

c'ontinues to íj.eHghtfuiiy surµrise um Their new WY-350, 64-coIor, 15" screen

tí'rm"iíza1, is 'iülly upward co:'npat ib!e with the 'NY-5CJ, The monochromatic att ributes of

the 'it) m"e a\It-í;r!!a1.ica! Ly converted to Qijlé of 16 d,eíault color couíbinations. Defaults

ucuntií2t" opc'rato"í" iontrol through palette selection. Thus, sof tware that runs with

µuµula.r Hi("jno-cf)1or terninai.s also work t:-ith the 'U3CJ! These Wyse terminals operate at

'3 'E ,--ñjCj üaud íccmplete sc reen re-write in ha j f second) with line CÍrawing graphics.

{?e?"t-aLniy hc'w is an alternate to slow bit-mapped Inonitc)rs. (¥yse has been shipping

1CL(ÑÓ termi rials ,i racmth, independent manufacturer leader.)

Spreadsheets, blessing and plague: In many cases, because of certain innate human

fee iinÉs íbased usual ly on non-unders canding) that computers can't be wrong, their

(jutµ[!t 1á3 iegarded far more authoritative, dependable (at least 'in our minds) than

actu-a1- results should warrant. Many seem to take results at face value, carirlg not

how they were obtained. (See Z-News 201 re judgement: of what valve results if 'we

dcm't understand how results were attained!) who set.-up the spreadsheet template? On

what principles was it formed? Where is description of design criteria? What

nuíinerica! ranges arc valid for calculations, zero to plus.ihinus infircity? who checked

resmlts with :"eal-wor1d, known-to-be-correct situations?

Dcj \Qé waíít tí' be users of tools without eí'!joyinE t.he fruits of more under-

stancli: 'íg, waj}t to be mechanical 'ircru's'? 'le think riot and w"e will ñcjt, if ue are

rniadful of what's happening!

Digi tal Research (?aciSÁc Grcjvt', CA) acts iike drunken sailors returning froíri leave,

back on ship reírienábering 'when pockets were full, girls across lap, beers on table.

Their expenditures Íc)i fancy buildings arid ríetworks are not stopping them from laying

off hundreds of employees oí stoppin¿; revenue loss, What has happened to them? They

crusaded without principle, worked to just make money? They cared not for the well

being cf their thousands of existing custoriers? What business principle has ORÍ

followed since coming out with CP/M-8b and Microsoft with MS-DOS? They position

Concurrent DOS-286 aminst UNIX System V? Lcts-a luck!

How we thrilled to see micros push and pull,

Flipping and flopping,

While IBM caved-in to distributed processing.

Yes, we love those days so splendid,

Full of unexpected and delKhtful treats,

When CP/M reigned tall and candid,

But now Z-System walks the streets!

We write Z-News froru beautiful hills of Los Altos...these hills are alive with sounds

of wcmdennent...we tread paths of new knowledge—join us!

See you down the lines...

Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005

Page 3

Z-News 203

Trademarks: HE64180, Hitachi; Z8Q/800, Zilog; WY-50/350, Wyse; Model 955, TeleVideo;

Z-System, Z-Tools, ZCPR3, ZRDOS, Z-Com, Zas, Zlink, DSD, ZDM, ITOZ, Z-Msg, Lastiñ9-

Value Software, Echelon and their respective owners and authors; CP/M, Digital

Research; MS-DOS, Microsoft; Unix, AT&T.

Zsets y o u FREE !

Z-News 203 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission to

reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is given to

Echelon.

g>ÑC/ .A,^n,-h;"|' .rí<

Echelon, Inc .<,¿ '9q ?4:. X3==-Á~; -

101 First Street ztPk" o.,~' --,,,------

Los Altos, CA 94022 4MAY ZD :-, ':=." 'r~~"~

J' 1985 "

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=Eche1on,lnc. 3june 1985

Z4NÍNS 204

Z TIPS: Here we go again! Howard Cripe has created an alias support program that

permits using your favorite editor to write aliases. Each individual command is

entered followed by acarriage return; later processing converts these returns to

semicolons, the ZCPR3 command separators, with line feeds ignored. Then after exiting

your editor, file produced is processed by Howard's ACREATE.COM using command:

ACREATE <editor-created text file name> <to-be alias file name>

An alias COM file is thus produced, ready to run. Another file called ALIAS,MAS

(should be on default drive along with ACRRATE.COM) is automatically used to make

final runnable alias. But first, ALIAS.MAS must be one-time installed to your SYS.ENV

file using Z3INS, Version 1.2 or later; else use ZDM (or DDT) to patch environment

base-page address (found using SHOW or Z3LOC) into MAS location IDA hex (then SAVE 4

ALIAS.MAS). Thanks tor your work, Howard; Zcommunity is grateful!

We suggested awhile ago that someone put acharacter/command editor into

ALIAS.COM, so re-doing the entire alias script wouldn't be required for each little

change. Howard did the next best thing in developing ACREATE--now we wait in

diminished pain for that internal editor. You who complete it, please call the

program MKALMS, name goes nicely with MKDIR.

Author of ZCPR3, Richard Conn, is updating SAK (strike-any-key) to permit

operator to cancel with ^C while within Zex batch command files. Presently ^C drops

you to next Zex command line. Other than in Zex files, SAK now works perfectly in

straight commands, in menus, and in aliases. Soon it'll work perfectly, period!

Robert Greenlee recently developed apatch for Z-System ZEX batch program to

permit running with Xtrakey and XScreen. Those using these programs and Z3 should get

patch documentation from Z-Nodes (file ZEXPTCH2.IX}C), or write/call Bob at Xpert

Systems, 8865 Polland Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123, 619/268-0112.

Kaypro and ZCPR3 user, Fred Lieberman (Santa Cruz, CA) thought of amachine

specific alias we pass to you. He called jt BYE, the last command given as his

computer power is turned off. CLEANDIR;ECHO TURN OFF MODEM AND PRINTER;SAFTEY.

That's it. CLEANDIR keeps the directory tidy for possible UN~E use; message is

shown to remind to turn off hardware; SAFTEY is aKaypro program positioning hard disk

head to safe location for physically moving computer, intentionally or accidently.

ecíieián miwcr status: ZCFR3: TM Manual Mr. James Monaco, President of

New York ZOETROPE, publisher of the "book," has personally given us adelivery date—

21 June, if no further problems develop! Echelon has arranged to have the manual

dropped shipped by publisher to each customer in interest of quickest delivery after

off-the-press has occurred. Delays getting this book to our customers has caused some

ill-will, we know; but please hang-in with us—the book is worth it!

ZRDOS2/Z-Com2 Problems in software desigrí has lead to much delays in project.

Presently we change specification of these packages. Meeting orGinal specification

placed program into "too big" category for Z80's and 64k-byte memory spaces. So

Version 2is being reserved for HI: 64180'S and Z800's, schedule not yet determined.

For those who ordered ZRDOS2/Z-Com2, we will supply ZRDOS/Z-Com Plus, similar to

ZRDOS1 and Z-Com but with full single-level re-entrance. I/O Packages such as I/OR

and BPrinter work with Plus, Re-entrance results in very compact code for I/O tasks.

It's the best we can do for Z80-based 64k-byte machines.

Term3 Deep in beta testing, Term3 should be shipping soon, hopefully in a

month or less! Program is modular, uses ZCPR3 facilities fully, replaces BYE (public

domain automatic phone answering program used by most remote bulletin Mard systems),

Z-News 204

and mates hand-in-glove with Z-pís& Metal). Of course, it handles all your communi-

cations needs as well. Haviiw features and possibilities not previously found in any

such progrmrís, tirst. version is shipped with letter thanking everycne for their

extreme µat i.ence arid c-dtering free upgrade to µla"nríed second (auí^ final) versi-arí.

'"1)!'MO,PfB'U, jI"í DEffCíLBR í'nen"t im"ted. above, ccnt :íins aIwñ' useful Ternü (:r)rílí"íiand micros in

sµec la! ConiEíuR.ic: at.í(2l!s. Píeíiu-'·-a beg i}lrgir€¢)

sB-l% Update: Si=]c !: ca'u± [^cTrLE}uter using Flitci.chi pjm]: 20 and 'Z-Svstem is ")hysica!1v -

sized at 5" by 7" j{) Ír¿(-)Lír2t du side of 5.25" and J.5 üCrPPy di'"i': í_·s. Shipments start

Eirst week oí' August !985! Price: Sully assembled arid tested hoard with ready-to-

boot cperatiíiig systení arid other software bundled on four double-sided, double density

disks is $499.00. Price includes SuperBlOS with i92k-byte auto-RAM disk, MOVZ,

SYSGEN, CONFIG, FCV, ZCPR3, ZRlXlS, EDIT, ZDM, and ZAS. Same without OS software but

with SuperBIOS is $359.00; software alone is priced at $1%).00. An ancillary board is

being developed containiw afull 300/1200 bps modem plus other functions; more

details in amonth. To order or for more details, call or write Microínint Inc., 25

Terrace Drive, Vernon, CT 06066, toll-free telephone 1-800-635-3355. (See Z-News 109

for further SB-180 specifications, 105 and 107 for early benchmarks.)

Milestone Achieved: Lots of folks haven't worked with Z-System menus. To assist

getting started Echelon staff has developed an extensive set of coordinated, chained

menu scripts (text files) and display screens using MENU, VMENU, and VFILER. Menu

metliodology is explained in alengthy IX)C file--much caring went into menu pro ject.

Since Zis the definitive B-bit operating system and so few seem to understand it, we

thought it worth expending such energy. Stated another way, we know of no system that

permits production of menus and covers range of task automation as easily and as

efficiently as Z. (Similar menus are used to impress OEM'S potentially interested in

using Z-System, instead of using more expensive, less powerful software.)

Novice computer users may be shielded completely from learning Z-System commands;

experienced user's find convenience and task speed up; and consultants find organi-

zational power important.

Fruits of our work are in flle DEMO.LBR orí Z-Nodes; download, study, use; then,

write us what you think. Let's see your menu (and alias) examples! Our menu offering

is for a3-drive system; if you do one for two (2) drives we would especially

appreciate seeing your work.

While on sub ject of menus and screens, one of our customers, Fred Haines, in the

movie business, has automated screenplay writing and management using Z-System menus.

If interested in movie script control, contact him at 733 North King's Road #331, Los

Angeles, CA 90069, 213/658-8664, Work is called Speedball Movie Maker. Fred uses a

Morrow MD3 for computer activities and one of his beta-tester software friends has

plarmed, an article about it for Writer's Guild newsletter. Zgoes Hollywood!

Amateur ZUser's Corner: ZCPR3 has no direct file move conuriand, but CP and MCOPY are

there for file coping. (ZRDOS'S AC command with trailing Eoption is an effective

file ñlover.) Lacking ZRIXJS, asimple alias, call it MV, is created to move files from

one directory to another: MCOPY $1=$2 Q;ERASE $2 R;ECHO FILE(S) MOVED: $2. Because

versatile transients MCOPY and ERASE are available and used here, $2 may be wild-card

declared, and with several filenames separated by commas. Syntax is similar to normal

copying or renaming, except "space" delimiter is used instead of "=" sign:

BO :WORK1><MV> <di rectory to move to> [DIR: ]<fn.ft>{ ,fn2.ft2][ jl" .ft3]<cr>

mv $1 $2

Legend: < > =required operator entry, t ] =optional; fn =filename, up to eight

characters; ft =filetype, optionally up to 3characters; and, *=matches any set of

characters, one of two OS file-search wildcards (other is "?" which matches any single

Page 2

Z-News 204

character); $1 =first parameter passed after command name, $2 =second; <cr> =

RETURN, ENTER, DO, etc., keypress. Either DIR or DU directory forms may be used.

Conditional testing (using resident IF or transient IF12) for existence of files or

directories—-canceling or displaying message if not--could be added.

Microcímputer technical jargon is no more difficult to learn than that of other

l:rc6£e3sj.orLc. e.g., medicál or botanic-a!. .jargon develops as means to more eff icient-ly

comnunicate: one word may represent acomple? econcept greatly increasing speed and

eace íjf humaií interactions. But eve"rycme involved must understand language used; so

let's get tc meaning of seldom defined command line tails, trailing parameters,

variables and arguments, and expressions like "pass.ing." K"e already have an ñíental

image of shells as used in ZCPR3 context (read Z-News 203, page one, if you don't).

Mentally differentiate between flle scripts entered with editor and command lines

entered at OS prompt. Definitions by examples:

ECHO THIS IS ATEST. -"THIS IS ATEST." is comnand tail passed to

program ECHO to display on terminal. Moving

data from one memory area to another is called

"passing ."

$f ,$n, St, %f ,%n, %t -These are script variables used to indicate

®ether full fn.ft, or fn or ft is to be expanded,

passed and further processed. Used in shells.

So, $1, $2, $3 -Script parameters, expanded (resolved) name passed

fram coímnand line to program, shell, or alias.

May be filenames or trailing options (argíments) .

WS fn.ft -"fn.ft" is comnand tail for WordStar, file to edit.

PRINT fn.ft e-"fn.ft e" is comiand tail for comnand PRINT. "e"

is called trailing option of comnand.

FLASH! Quadrant Corporation (4355 International Blvd., Norcross, GA 30093, 404/923-

6666) soon comes out of beta testing with full-up, ready-to-boot from either 5.25" or

8" disk, s-lOt) buc single board computer. Board uses Hitachi super HIJ64180 B-bit

computer chip, and contains 512k-bytes of RAM along with floppy and hard disk

controllers, one parallel and two serial ports. Old timers have been waiting for

this, as we have. Look for it being ready for sale in July or early August! (Further

good news: 2ilog Z800 chip is not dead; it's coming but we won't say when! Samples,

with b1eniishes, are in hands of selected potential volume-user manufacturers.) Our

faith in and support for B-bit processors is slowly being materially justified.

Industry Brief :You know what IBM did to PC jr—they stopped production and it's

essentially an orphan. Well, PC2 is soon (in six months, more or less) to come out.

and guess what? Machine that's sold in millions is now to become an orphan! That's

Life? We write and speak no more of IBM (or ORÍ).

Fears Stifle Our Creativity: We simply hate to make mistakes, but also we fear being

seen a fool, beiríg criticized by our peers, beirig mislead or misused by others. We

fear standing alone with no one at our side, fear disturbing traditions or breakir€

taboos, not having the security of habit patterns, losing attention and love of our

work and social groups; and most of all, we truly fear beiríg an individual. Yet, we

claim being individual is unique, blessed strength of being human!

See you down the lines... Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

z-Node Central: 415/489-9005

Page 3

Z-News 204

Trademarks: SB-180, Micromint; HD64180, Hitachi; Z80/800, ZiioÉX WY-50/350. Wyse;

Model 951, TeíeVideo; Z-System, Z-Tools, ZCPR3, ZRDQS, Z-Cont, Zas, Zlink, DSD, ZDM,

ITOZ, Z-Msg, Lasting-Value Sof tware, Echelon and their respective owners and authors;

CP/M, Digital Research; MS-IX)S, Microsoft; PC jr, IBM; Unix, AT&T.

7j sets youFREE!

Z-News 204 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission to

reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is given to

Echelon.

Echelon, Inc. ,ÍJ-'"\ !, Z!$ ii' "MT:,

l0l First Street /d 'FM '"a j^E' ¿'ij)SL ''"'

Los Altos, CA 94022 AJUN tí "D ' !'JJI_ ©L-

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=i Eche1on,lnc. I july 1985

206

Z TIPS: Many have asked to have AC, archive copy program of Z-System, automatically

erase file if already exists on destination directory. Well, Dennis Wright, author of

ZRIX)S, says to simply add 'N' traiHntg parameter with"A" to have this feature:

AC C: =B:*.* IAN

automatically copies all changed files to Cfrom Bdisk, without prompts.

If troubles are experienced runniw acommercial application program with Z-

System because of insufficient memory, write the publisher. Ask him to please upgrade

his program to work in 48k-byte TPA (Transient Program Area) systems. Ask that he

organize the program to use available TPA, using disk-to-RAM swap buffers, or modular

overlays. When OKita1 Research (Pacific Grove, CA) produced MP/M, which allocated

48k-byte TPA, standard B-bit software design practice became: design applications

requiring only 48k. We think it was good idea then, still do, to promote efficient

code writing for our computing machines; we use few appliances for work, learning!

We are doiw our best to convince jim Whorton to make full-screen editor VDO a

ZCPR3 utility, one that keys terminal video requirements to the system environment as

other Z3 utilities do. Keep your fingers crossed.

GOTO, Version 1.2, has been updated (operates from aZEX line) to assure multiple

commands are cance11ed, if on sanie line. Update by ZCPR3 creator, Richard Conn, now

on Z-Nodes. Also don't forget to get Rick's SAK, Version 2.1, that cancels ZEX

processing with a^C. Here's how he describes these two utilities:

;GOTO is aprogram designed to be run under ZEX which permits

;branching within aZEX file. It accepts only one argument, alabel,

;defined within the ZEX file as aspecial comment of the form:

;;=1abel anytext

;The syntax of GOTO is:

;GOTO label

0

I

;GOTO always aborts the rest of amultiple command line when it

;executes; if it did not do this, commands following the GOTO would

;be executed before the GOTO is performed (control returned to ZEX).

;SAK (Strike Any Key) is used for the following purposes:

;I) to wait for user interaction before continuing

;and to allow the user to abort aMultiple

;Command Line

;2) to command the user's attention by ringing the

;bell at his console

;3) cancel ZEX command file in execution (2.1 -rlc)

0

r

;The SAK command line is:

;SAK /0... or SAK /0... text or SAK text

;SAK is invoked with following options:

;a-- DO NOT Allow User to Cancel MCL

;B-- Ring Bell

;Pnnnn -- Pause nnnn seconds and continue if no

;response by that time

;z-- Allow User to Cancel ZEX

Z-News 206

In original assemble/link M80.ZEX (or in ZAS.ZEX) file there's aline:

;Please Type $^C if Error(s) Exist -^?

possible by using ZEX'S built-in prompt capability. Line now can be replaced with a

SAK statement:

SAK lp6z Errors, cancel link (^C)?

Advantage here, link automatically commences if a^C is not entered by operator within

6seconds. But any keypresq starts link operation immediately, without waiting for

default pause limit. Change to 20 second pauge and add repeating bell alert if you

aren't attentive to console screen/keyboard after starting ZEX process; /BP20Z

provides difficult-to-ignore prompt if assembly errors occur.

MORE ZTIPS: Setting up comnand lines for VFILER CMD and VMENU files is fun. Both

programs have ability to point to afile, called Pointer File (PF), for further

processing. Normally, the name Current File is reserved for files established by

SETFILE or in SH.VAR, i.e., system files. (And don't confuse these with Current Disk

or User.) Aneat command line useful for editing files might be:

ECHO Use Pointer File (Y, T, <sp>, or CR=yes)?

IF INPUT

VDO $pf

ELSE

UDO "Filename to Edit? "

FI

which automatically prompts for file name to edit if pointer file is not to be used.

Responding to first prompt with Y(yes), T(true), space bar, or carriage return,

causes pointer file ($pf, %f for VFILER CMD) to be used by (passed to) editor. Tip

comes directly from Z-Node Central: was a Ínessage to Zuser, Wally Ottersbach, from

Sysop Dave McCord.

Z-Node Corner: Nodes licensed to download Echelon proprietary software help support

diverse computer disk forniats. Contact them for Z-Tools, Z3-Ikt-Com, Z-Com, DSD,

Discat, ZRDOS, Z-Msg, etc. After you satisfy (pay) Sysop (by check, money order,

credit card number, or other agreed-to payment method) and download, he sends your

name, address, and what you received to EI; we mail printed documentation and place

you on Z-News mailing list. It's simple, convenient, closed loop; everybody wins!

The Z-Team downloaders:

2. Al Hawley -Los Angeles, CA -213/670-9465

3. jay Sage -Newton Centre, MA -617/965-7259

7. Tim Linehan -O1ytnpia, WA -206/357-6757

10. Rea Williams -El Toro, CA -714/855-0672

14. Rich Rodeheaver -Reynohisburg, OH -614/864-2673

!5. Richard jacobson -Chicatgo, IL -312/649-1730

16. jud Newell -Is1ington, Ontario, CANADA -416/232-0442

17. Robert Tate -Altamonte Springs, FL -305/831-6049

19. Fred Townsend -San jose, CA -408/262-5150

29. Ed Unrien -Orlando, FL -305/295-0844

Announcements: I) Norm Beeler, Z-Node 35 (Sunnyvale, CA, 408/245-1420), is an

alternative if you're unsuccessful contacting Z-Node Central. Add Norm to others we

recommended in Z-News 205. But please, upload as well as download; more "go-fors"

provide more up-to-date files for more users. These alternates work only if we have

Page 2

Z-News 206

sufficient volunteers timely moving software from Central to other nodes. 2) Wow!

Another noder signs up. Welcome to:

38. Robert L. Paddock -Frañklin, PA 16323

Z-System Going Public: ZRIX)S is gettiñ9 modified to be controlled by aZutility to

permit (optionally) public files to be created and recognized. Fully compatible with

Andy johnson-Laird (Control-C Software) and Bridger Mitchell (P1u*Perfect Systems)

approach, Zsoon permits any directory to access a command file that uses overlays in

another directory. Without individual patchiñ9, programs that use overlays like

WordStar, dBASE, T/Maker, Mu1tiP1an, and The Word Plus, would be placed in, say,

A15: ROOT directory, with text and data files in other directories, e.g., BO to Bl5.

More as features mature.

But until Zhas public file capability we make do using SETDRU (and WS-FIX or

WSPAT-DM). Awhile ago Michael Rubenstein wrote this filter program permittirig an

application program to find its associated overlays in other than current/default

directory. It gets the job done for WordStar, The Word Plus, Perfect Writer, and

other applications. (We first mentioned SETDRU in Newsletter 008, there and then

called USERJ SETIRU13.LBR is presently on Z-Nodes and other remote access systems.

SB180 Song: The Micromint SBC continues as top-of-list, must-get item, for dyed-in-

wool B-bitters. SCSI hard-disk expansion interface, autostart aliases for RAM disk

make it so flexible. File-load and auto-archive aliases individually generated for

wordprocessing, database management, spreadsheet, communications activities make for

unbelievably quick and convenient processing. Z-System custom menus tie it (what you

want to do) together. Order yours now for early delivery (1St week of Augusst) by

calling Micromint toll-free 800/635^3355; phone number is good also for requesting

literature and complete pricing information on SB180.

Build one (buy fully assembled and tested SBC with ready to boot software for

$418.00; add case with power supplies, about $220.00; three half-height floppies—both

5.25" and 8"--and one fast 8" or 5.25" hard disk, $1000.00 or so; connectors and

cables, $100.00; and Wyse WY-350 color terminal) as your second computer, and it

quickly becomes your prime because of bri9ht, shining performance! WY-350 retails for

$1195.00; ouch! multi-hue costs money. Some may feel it's not worth it and use WY-50

"' for $695.00. Of course, these are retail prices and few pay that these days. Also,

lots of readily available used equipment (flea-market purchases) greatly reduce final

costs of any such project. (We noticed WY-lOO terminals for $195.00 from WW

Components, 1771 Junction Avenue, San jose, CA 95112, 408/295-7171.)

Micromint plans to produce astand-alone, ready-to—run, remote access system

using SB180 and amodem board they presently finish designirig. Modem board uses new

Xecoín (374 Turquoise St., Milpitas, CA 95035, 408/943-0313) MOSART module to handle

telephone/computer interface functions. Z-System, Term3 and Z-Msg will be bundled

with package. More in next newsletter.

We trust Dave Thompson (Micro Cornucopia Magazine) and Art Carlson (The Computer

Journal) publish articles that assist learning to build (and use) Hitachi HD64180-

based computers—the future is now!

California Proverb: If you tickle yourself you can laugh whenever you wish. Get your

pleasure from other than yourself, sometimes you have to wait before laughter comes!

We (you and I) work (and write) where palm trees meet pines, where water tastes like

wine! Miracles every day. See you down the lines... Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005

Page 3

Z-News 206

Trademarks: SB180, Micromint; HD63484/64180, Hitachi; Z80/800, Zilog; WY-50 /350, Wyse

Technology; Z-System, ZCPR3, ZRDOS, Z-Tools, Z-Com, Zas, Zlink, ZDM, ITOZ, Z-Msg, DSD,

Term3, Lasting-Value Software, Echelon and their respective owners and authors;

8088/86/186, Intel; 9580/81, Advanced Micro Devices; MOSART, Xecom.

ZSetSyOuFREE!

.

Z-News 206 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc. All'Rights Reserved. Permission to

reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is given to

'Echelon. ,"'7f. ',4

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zi Echelon,lnc.

29 july 1985

208

Z TIPS: AC, Version 1.1, has been placed in ZRDOS (or ECHELON) directory area of Z-

Nodes (AC works with ZRDOS and ZRDOS Plus only). ZRDOS author, Dennis Wri9ht, changed

archive copy program by eliminating prompt if file exits on destination. Now simply

using option la causes changed files to be automatically copied from source to

destination directory. Usinng Ian with Version 1.0 did the same thiw but file copy

remained unverified. Now program seems exactly what it should be. (Dennis is creator

of our three I/O Packages, Items 40, 41, and 42 on Echelon Price List.)

By the way, AC makes dandy file MOVE, as opposed to COPY, program using the

trail: iríg eoption. Command ac b:=fmft /e<cr> copies fn.ft to B: directory from

current, then erases fn.ft from current after coping has completed! Using AC and

ALIAS, ZRDOS owners can create a mv function for moving files, one having simple and

easy to remember syntax.

Richard Com, author of ZCPR3, has finished writing atutorial on I/O Packages.

Fifty-page document shows how to modify your BIOS for efficient input/output re-

direction. lOP concepts and design criteria receive detail treatments. We publish as

loose-leaf and offer for $9.95 plus shippiw and ¢d1iw, is Item 84 on price list.

On the other hand, tutorial is so important we placed it (as file IO/PLBR) on our

nodes for downloading—take it, but only if you want to learn things I/O.

Magazine Mícro Cornucopia has commissioned busy Richard to write an in-depth

article on ZCFR3 and Z-System, piece scheduled to appear in OCt/Nov issue, No. 26.

Certainly, we have been frustrated in our struggle, in our inability to explain

satisfactorily what Zis all about. Everythiw we speak and write seems to generate

more questions than answers. Of course, your interest is shown by all this, and we

rejoice! Nonetheless, Richard currently expends much energy on Micro Carticle hopiñ9

it fosters increased understanding, fewer questions.

ZCFR3: The Manual aM Term3 Statw: Yes, manual is shipping, slowly. Richard's book

certainly answers many pent-up, so-far unanswered questions. Term3 about to

ship...another fortnight and it should be...documentation taking longer than planned.

Softvare Musings: Zilog Z80 instruction set is so powerful that it's ashame,

historically, Intel 8080 common-denominator code writing started and has gone on for

so long. Now with HD64180 high-integration microprocessor chip availability, we start

to forget 8080 and take full advantage of Z80 (and National NSC800) hardware

architecture, especially since Zas relocating macro assembler is perfected (and is

only $69.00). Zenith and Viasyn (CompruPro) curse day they chose Intel 8085 (similar

to 8080) as co-processor, instead of Z80 or NSC800, in their S-1OO bus computers.

The RISC (reduced instruction set computer) concept, fostered by Prof. David

Patterson and his University of California at Berkeley (CAL) students and gettirg

coverage by trade press, means little to us here at EI. We use existing hardware

power to simplify software and increase computer through-put. Others play their games

to break hardware market strangle-holds created by Intel, IBM, et al; we won't!

Long live instructions DJNZ, INC, DNC, INI, INIR, EX, EXX, ADD, ADC, LDIR, SET,

RES, SBC, SUB, JR, and extremely versatile LO. And HIX34180'S MLT, IND, OUTO, OTIMR,

TST should prove of great value for compact, fast code production. Instructions LD

(HL),C or LI) C,(HL) require only one byte as object code. Load (copy) the contents of

memory pointed to (addressed) by register-pair HL into Cregister, all in one byte!

Many useful one-byte instructions exist; two and three-byte ones usually complete our

needs for fast-code writing. Seldom do we use four-byte op-codes. On average, two-

byte op-codes are required for typical programs, giving 6mHz Ht64180 (or 8mHz Z80)

through-put of one MIPS (million instructions per second)! Compare with through-put

(and with hardware/software COSts) of 16/32-bit Intel processors!

Z-News 208

Now that we have your full attention, consider: HD64180 double-precision

multiply bench mark reported in Z-News 107, pg 3, was obtained using short (54-byte)

assembly language subroutine. Listing comes from ayet-to-be-released Hitachi

application note. Interesting code works the way we multiply with pencil and paper:

;16-bit unsigned multiply with 32-bit result subroutine

MULTX: ld DE,(MEM1) ;16-bit unsigned arguments previously

LD BC,(MEM2) ;stored at locations 'meml' and 'mern2'

MLTXO: LD H,C ;use lower order byte of

LD l,e ;of both words for 1st mult

MLT HL ;l6-bit product stored

LD (RESULT),HL ;in 'result' location

LD L,EI

LD H,O

LD A,B ;save

LD B,D

MLT BC ;diagonal multiply

ADD HL,BC

LD B,A ;restore value

LD C,E

MLT BC ;diagonal multiply

ADD HL,BC

LD (RESULT+1),HL ;interim product stored

LD L,H ;ready to shift second line

LD H,O ;left then add to first

RL FI ;rotate left through carry

LD E,A ;origina1 b-reg value into e-reg

MLT DE ;multiply

ADD HL,DE

LD (RESULT+2),HL ;final 32-bit product available

RET ;return to caller

MEM1: DS 2;uninitialized area starts here

MEM2: DS 2

RESULT: DS 4;32-bit product (low-byte first)

Twelve bytes are removed if application program places data in BC and DE register

pairs before entry to subroutine (call to MLTXO, eliminate MEM1 and 2references).

Execution time: 37.1 usec (microseconds) with 6.144 mHz clock (0.!63 usec period), 42

op—code/operand fetches, 3clock cycles per fetch, 110 machine cycles and 185 states.

Recall, 280 processor took 302 usec (8 times longer than HF64180) to double-precision

multiply, 1acking MLT instruction.

Ready your order for SB180; call The Micromint at 800/635-3355. Incidentally,

stand-alone BBS package (see Z-News 206 and 207), tisiw SB180 and COMM180 (with MOSART

and SCSI hard disk interface), has been given name of TurñKey Bulletin Board System,

7KBBS. And glory-be, there's been no price increase! Full disclosure in upcoming

communications issue of BYTE magazine.

Using ZAS: Universal assemble-link-load is major Zas quality, as well as convenience

and speed. Here's afew general rules to follow when assembling an already-written

source listirtg: l) convert ASM, MAC, and LIB files that use Intel 8080 mnemonics to

Zi1og with supplied Zcon converter and translator. 2) Make sure, by scanning source

code with your editor, pseudo—ops don't start in column one but in operation/operand

columns, usually column 2through 32. Column one is reserved for labels, except

leadiw line comments may occupy this columm Normally, pseudo-ops start in column 9,

Page 2

Z-N~ 208

the first tab stop. 3) Comments start with a";" (semicolon) and not with "*"

(asterisk); neither ASM nor M80 permit other than semicolom (Unexpectedly, Patrick

O'Connell, author of Zas, made present version of Zcon convert leading *'s to ;'s.

Thank you, Patrick!) Errors fjagged by Zcon during conversion should be fixed before

assembling with Zas. .

Investigate errors produced during assembly, then fix. First error usually

causes many subsequent errors, so fix first then see what remains to be done, if any

thing. Always fix next first error of previous assembly.

Typically, changes in source statement form make for error-free assembly. For

example, listing pseudo-ops like $-MACRO and $"MACRO should be changed to .SAIL and

.LALL (or JXALL), respectively; M80'S .8080 and .Z80 statements should be "commented

out" (see Z-News 106, pg I, and 205, pg 3). Of course, all new programs should be

written using Zas User's Manual as absolute guide. If ZAS doesn't perform as the

manual indicates, fill out EI "Software Update Form" explaining trouble and return to

Echelom Moreover, these fill-in-the-blank forms should be used for program improve-

ment suggestions, for any EI product. We value your advice!

Amateur ZUser's Corner: Above Zas discussions suggests aquick-and-dirty alias to

assemble converted-to-Zilog files (using Zcon) and link/load to executable COM files.

ZAS $1;SAK lbp6 Errors, cancel (^C)?: ERA $1.bak;ERA $l.com;

ZLINK $d:$1,a:VLIB/,a:Z3LIB/,a:SYSLIB/;ERA $1.rel

No harm comes to file being linked if routines from invoked libraries are not needed.

Fast Zlínk is inte11igent enough to work quickly under such conditions.

Z-Node Actívíty: Rea Williams, Z-Node 10, installed a2400 bps modem and now uses Z-

Msg; try him by calling 714/855-0672. Also, Rea ordered aMicromint SB180 single

board computer and plans to quickly have it up as his node after arrival in August.

Tfiough not aZ-Node, Norm Feder is aZCPR3 enthusiast. His BBS--Lands End

RCP/M—is in Sidney, British Columbia, Canada; dialing 604/656-9115 gets his 300/1200

bps modem. Give our Great Northwestern neiQbor acall for achange of pace!

Oh, Happy Day! Z-Node Central up with 2400 bps communication capability,

starting today. David McCord, Sysop, obtained US Robotics Courier modem to reduce

your online time, your monthly telephone bill! Oh, Happy Day!

Silicon Valley (and other hi-tech regions) Brief: Ups and downs, peaks and valleys,

chills and fever (see Newsletters 007, pg 5, and 009, pg 7). Many Silicon Valley

companies (principally their management) appear suffering from lack of discipline,

knowledge, and understanding. Such suffering usually is caused by greed (we, human

beings, are yet perfected), aided substantially by short-sighted mental conditioning,

lack of significant education (indoctrinatión, yes). Who knows where we've come from,

where we're goirig? Lack: Íng knowledge, we take what comes.

Technology is no substitute for learning; yet, we seek push-bottom, instant

response and gratification! Life is to be lived—physical, mental, emotional life—

and from living, hkher levels of mdewt±iw come, feelings of satisfaction and

fulfillment obtained. Those who acquire power without regard for pain caused to

others in the process produce exactly what they sow: hostility and anguish! Sleep

occurs not only at night for these power-at-any-price holders but during the day.

Still, it's during the day consciously directed thoughts and locomotion are needed;

anxious, subconscious energy shouldn't control then. Wake-up America, Sun is hi9h in

sky! Breakfast, brunch on lush strawberries and white Zinfandel—enter realms of

enchantment naturally! See you down the lines... Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005

Page 3

Z-News 208

Trademarks: SB180, COMM180, ÍIKBBS, Micromint; H%3484/64180, Hitachi; Z80/800, Zilog;

8080/85/88/86/186, Intel; 9580/81, Advanced Micro Devices; WY-50/350, Wyse Technology;

Z-System, ZCPR3, ZRDOS, Z-Tools, Z-Com, Zas, Z1ink, ZDM, REYAS, Z-Msg, DSD, Term3,

Lasting-Value Software, Echelon and their respective owners and authors; MOSART,

XE1201/03, Xecom; NSC800, National.

++

ZSetSyOuFREE!

+ +

Z-News 208 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission to

reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is given to

Echelon.

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12 August 1985

Z-Nl5S 209

IXMble REVAS4 gets Hitachi HIJ64180 code disassembly capability—price stays at

$90.00! Al Hawley, REVÉIS (REVerse AS.semlber) author and Sysop for Z-Node #2 and ham

radio packet to 1and1ine network coordinator, just finished Hitachi version.

Registered REVAS3 owners may upgrade for $20.00 plus shipping and M1iw. Send

Echelon your master diskette.

T% III is shipping—one year in development, planned to take only four (4)

months. Program takes advantage of environment created by ZCPR3. Has what you would

expect from full-feature communications package plus much more. Term3 represents new

thinking aHut configurability, flexibility, ease-of-ee, performance, and modularity.

Z TIPS: VFILER36, VMENUI5, and MENU38 trio is released preliminarily. Al Dunsmuir

(Scarborough, Ontario) did it again; we thowht previous versions were great but

latest brings afine tune to assembly language programming. Forty-four code eñhance-

ments were introduced to the trio for: I) increased speed and quickness, 2) reduced

screen rewrites, and 3) increased overall flexibility. About the updates, Al said, "A

large effort was made to speed up the loading of VFILER and VMENU, and both VMENU and

MENU now are alot smarter (search for menu file along path, no extraneous

returns/checks of Command line status). VMENU now knows about the Command echo f1ag,

and System menus." Read *.INF within respective .LBR files for specific details, on

Z-Nodes now. Zcommunity owes Al much gratitude for his extraordinary attention to

detail, his continuing concern to establish ZCPR3 utilities best. He next tackles

ZEX, making it an improved (and proper) Z-System program!

Dennis Wright, Z-Team Member and author of ZRDQS, has upgraded Ted Emigh's

FINDERR to handle ZAS assembler errors. He also created anifty ZEX file to go with

it. The way Dennis wrote batch file, ZEX works without aglitch. Find ZASLINKZEX

and new FINDERR.MAC—it's Version 1.4—on Z-Node Central and other nodes.

Jay Sage checked out ALIAS for update, calling his screen-oriented version

VALÍAS, and Richard Conn works on MKALIAS. Therefore, we soon should have two super

make-alias programs with internal editors—good times continue to roll!

Rememorandum: Many computerists remain that haven't purchased Richard Conn's ZCPR3:

The Manual. What's the matter with you estimated 60,000 Z-System users? Bound,

typeset, 351 pages, 7.5" by 9.25" size, manual still sells for only $19.95, plus $4.00

for shippiñ9 and handling costs. Shipping from stock! You need not another source

for facts, information, knowledge? Satisfied? Please, think again!

And there's ZCPR3 and lOPs selling for $9.95, plus shipping and handling, or get

the tutorial as a series of files (from Z-Nodes as IOP.LBR) for download phone-time

cost. Fifty-page (50) loose-leaf document, written by Richard Com, explains ZCFR3

input/output redirection philosophy, shows how to modify your BIOS to include I/OP

segments, and how to use DEV, DEVICE, and RECORD Z-System commands.

Comment Line: We are encouraged by volume of mail we receive, indicating interest in

high-performance B-bit products, and perhaps, commitment. One problem: we don't have

the staff to individually respond to most of your questions.

Your efforts are appreciated; we thank you. Every letter is carefully read and

we react with what is felt appropriate. If you haven't received areply, don't think

we didn't receive and read your letter. Consider: it takes, on average, 20 minutes

of someone's time to draft a response; that time is worth, with our present corporate

overhead, about $60.00 per hour. Thus each response costs us $20.00, deeply cutting

into profits, profits so dearly needed to continue our developments. (MicroPro,

producer of WordStar, offers personalized telephone help at $90.00 for first hour, if

prepaid! After that it's $2.50 per minute!) Information costs money...

Z-News 209

It may be severe but printed material should be read seven (7) times before

concluding lack of understanding. Seven times is sufficient to obtain meat! It's a

law; from such reading technique, you move from echelon (level) to echelon, increasing

insight naturally.

Z-Node Activity: Richard Rodeheaver, C.O.ELE. Z-Node #14 Sysop, advises to use pass-

word RAVEN when 1oggirig onto his Reynoldsburg, Ohio, system. Richard's number is

614/864-2678. Another Richard, Petersen, but in El Paso, TX, has a new node modem

number: 915/821-3638.

New 1,024k-byte block transfer YMODEM and KMD programs and 2400 bps modems

exhibit increased through-put, reduced stay-time on Z-Nodes. One k-byte blocks

instead of 128-byte increase transfer through-put by about 30% with 2400 bps modems,

by 9% with 1200 bps. Actual results are determined by error rate of transmission

circuit. (US Robotics must make their 2400 modem less error prone or they will be

black-balled. The Hayes 1200 is poor enough, we can't live with further reductions in

quality. You OEMS listening?)

Echelon recommends temporarily using KMD (renamed to XMODEM, as suggested by its

author, Irv Hoff) along with BYE5 on all Z-Nodes, until such time Term3 replaces both.

While on subject of performance, Jud Newell, Z-Node #16, Islington (Toronto),

Ontario, CANADA, has all Echelon files and programs online. Both freely distributed

ones (non-commercial use) and proprietary items are handled. Jud is apopular

software downloader (see Z-News 206),and has special modem number for his node:

416/231-9202. If you need our products, here's aplace to download from!

Ái'Y<úw'" Z USer's Corner: Zas is distributed so assembly produces aREL file, one that

can be used for linking with subroutine libraries, like SYSLIB, Z3LIB, and VLIB.

(Change defaults by running "install" program.) Of course, REL files become COM files

using ZLINK and default code origin of lOó hem Add trai1iW 'lh" to command line to

togg1e output to HEIL An alias, we call it ZASH, to create COM files from HEX using

Ron Fowler's MLOAD program is:

ZAS $1 h:SAK lbp6 Errors, cancel load ("C)?;era $1.bak;

era $1.com;mload $1;echo;echo erase hex file created?;

if input;era $1.hex;else;fi

Note conditional test of HEX file erasure, in case you wanted HEX file retained for

later use. Command line is ZASH <fn><cr>. File type (ft) is assumed as .Z80 and must

not be entered as part of file name (fn). Such would be passed along with name. "era

$1.bak" would expand to "era fn.ft.bak" and that's not wanted!

Zilog mnemonics are easy—much easier than Intel--to learn, remember, and use.

Best example, LI) operation replaces five (5) Intel ones: MOV, MVI, PCHL, XCHG, and

SPHL. Additionally, LD handles operations beyond Intel's 8080 capability. You

quickly learn register, immediate, and memory operand (data to be worked on) notation.

Source of data to right of operand comma, destination to left; memory data in parerr-

thesis but immediate and register, not. So think not it difficult to learn

Zilog/Hitachi mnemonics, think paths (no pun intended) to efficiency, performance, and

speed.

Ikm't forget that one of the best ways to learn assembly language programming is

to disassemble working programs, ones you have source code for! And, we know of no

better disassembler than REYAS. Furthermore, REVAS4 handles new, destined-to-change-

microcomputer-world, Hitachi HD64180 instructions. (If this were a perfect world,

Intel's 8086/80286 would have been upward compatible with 8080/Z80 microprocessor; you

know it's not, and it isn't!) Unique REVAS manual (it's over 80 pages) guides you

throough all phases of disassembly and promotes quick code learning.

For those with limited disk space, David McCord (Z-Node Central Sysop) has

advice. "A good solution is the Z3 CMDRUN facility. This allows you to group .COM

Page 2

Z-News 209

files into alibrary (.LBR) file, where you will not be forced to dedicate storage

[either an allocation block or directory entry] for each file, because library files

store member files much more efficiently. To set this up, get the LRUNZ3 file in the

UTILITY: directory here. Rename the LRUNZ3.COM fi1e'to CMDRUN.COM and place on A15: .

Then, create alibrary file of the COM files you want named COMMAND.LBR and place in

A15: .You should now be able to invoke any of the COM files in COMMAND.LBR by just

entering it's name (e.g., SHOW<cr>) at the system prompt, just as tlíotigh it were not

really actually inside a.LBR file. Again, see the ARCHIVE: directory for some more

info on the CMDRUN function of ZCPR3." Please don't install (load) any of the four Z3

error handlers if you have CMDRUN.COM along file search path—there's alogical search

conflict!

OG

U\

"The timehascome." the Walrussaid, !,2) ,

__

7bspeakofmanythings. m= .

Ofshoesandshipsandsealingwar, -"

Ofcabbagesandkings." "-- _

r\ r.

Fúblic Drmaín Status of Echelon Software: Questions regarding domain status of ZCFR3

and other EI products are coming in again. Newsletter 103 discussed our position and

nothing has changed. Z3NOTE.MSG file on Z-Nodes also gives details of our status.

We are aware that several mail-order, for-profit, companies are offering packaged

ZCPR3 software for sale. If these companies don't have alicense from EI they are

probably unintentionally selling our software illegally. We hope they apply and get

on Echelon's team. You can help! Let such companies know that Echelon would welcome

signing them up with alicense arrangement to sell ZCPR3 (and ZRDOS) software.

Questíon AntythÍng Not Understood: Computer literacy, for many, appears to stifle

thinking, certainly astep backwards, not wanted. Though increased quantity of paper-

work always results, quality is something else. It's good to do some tliirígs

occasionally by hand, add acolumn of numbers now and them What we don't use, we

lose! And abrain is aterrible thing to put into such category. Z-News 109, pg 3,

and 203, also pg 3, let us have it in the teeth--question results, even those produced

by computing machines. Understand spreadsheet model's way-of-thinking. We say again

(thou9h, at times, we feel we plant daisies in South Pole ice): don't simply be an

end-user, be elitist, be best-of-class!

Business Management Character: Subconscious action, if fundamentals of Life are

Kckiw (never learned), leads to human fear (non-receptivity to thirigs new), bogus

milt (self-blame), lack of self-determination (simple re-action), and social detach-

ment (avoiding emotional pain). American big-business produces few individuals

elevated to far-sighted-ness, produces few who expend Cosmic Conscious energy. We

fall into trap thinking next-quarter profits more important than quality of life (if

any) our grand children (when grown-up) will experience. Long live principles of

Sílent Spr: ing author, Rachael Carson, and Stanford University Prof. Frederick Terman!

This Earth is substance more erÁuring (holy) than all bio1oUcal life--homo

sapiens are but asmall aspect of this life. Until each human becomes asphere, this

planet is our MO= and FATHF* the only commandment: HONOR! If we honor, all

falls/rises into place; else, face survival uncertainty, fi (endif).

See you down the lines...

Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005

Page 3

Z-News 209

Trademarks: SB180, COMM180, TKBBS, Micromint; HIJ63484/64180, Hitachi; Z80/800, Zilog;

8080/85/88/86/186, Intel; 9580/81, Advanced Micro Devices; WY-50/350, Wyse Technology;

Z-System, ZCPR3, ZRIXJS, Z-Tools, Z-Com, Zas, Zlink, ZDM, REYAS, Z-Msg, DSD, Term3,

Lasting-Value Software, Echelon and their respective owners and authors; MOSART,

XE1201/03, Xecom; NSC800, National.

++

ZS e tSyOuFREE!

++

Z-News 209 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc.. All Rights Reserved. Permission to

reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is given to

Echelon.

Echelon, Inc .:"%

,,~T 't

101 F:i-rst Street ·"" \usa

Los Altos, ca 94022 ,-<._)2!

mj ,,., IIIYIIIfllW|,.t,,

'?\

jud Newell

Canada Remote Systems

4691 Dundas Street W

Isíington, Ont CANADA M9A 1A7

Zi Eche1on,lnc. 26 August 1985

301

Z TIPS: From jim Whorton (Wichita, KS), VDO editor author, comes an alias to create

flavors of VDO, Version 2.5a, having different defaults. Using HJKE&GO technique

suggested by Bruce Morgen (Warminster, PA), two or more versions of editor are avail-

able with sin¿le copy on disk! See Z-News 107 and 109 for WordStar pokes. Alias,

call it VON, in sample command line: VIN [fMt]<cr>. Command elements of alias:

1—> GET 100 AO:VDO.COM Load VDO.COM into memory from declared drive

2—> POKE 1817 03; :Set help level, O1=expert, ó2=regu1ar, 03movice

3—> FOKE 1A5C DO; bet insert toggle, O0=OFF, 80=ON

4—> GO $1 :mVDO with any supplied argíments

Jim finishes aversion of VDO that uses ZCER3 Environment Descriptor (SYS.ENV, Z3.ENV,

and ZC.ENV) for terminal and system definition. Hope he includes recognition of DU

and DIR directory reference forms, as well as knowledge of system environment. Coding

with VLIB, Z3LIB, and SYSLIB subroutines makes these additions easy. We welcome his

fast, memory-oriented editor @s a proper Z-System utility.

Jay Sage's VALÍAS is big hit--breaks alias-creation/modification bottle-neck!

jay's program permits changing, or addim, individual commands without retypirg the

whole alias. And it's screen oriented with built-in, in-context help so easy to use.

Rumor has it that Bruce Morgen is tightening the code using ZAS and full Z-80

mnemonics. Meanwhile, Richard Conn's MKALIAS takes adifferent but just as fruitful

path. More about it as it matures. Can't wait to release both alias utilities!

During the same period, Richard has produced avirtual cornucopia of new Z-System

programs and updates. Look for just-out lrun, ldir, LHELP library utilities using

automatic unsqueeze techniques, updates to XI), CRC, DIFF, and more. Also anew set of

routines, LULIB, is being added to REL library trio SYSLIB, Z3LIB, and VLIB. Find

foursome source code on some Z-Nodes!

Simultaneously, he finished new SYSLIB, Version 3.3, offering many additional

routines. Stimulated by suggestions from cNtomer Don ljelwood (Columbia, MO), quick

Richard developed eighteen (18) computed-GO'ID and CASE routines. While at it, he

added aUnix-style (ARGV) string parser and several arithmetic IF routines. New

routines in Version 3.2 and 3.3 greatly assisted in writing Term3. SYSLIB grows in

strength, more to come (Richard still has "libraries" checked-out)!

On subject of libraries, Martin Murray (Austin, TX), author of NULU super library

file manager, is said to be making his program a full ZCPR3 utility—hurray!

Be sure to\get and try Paul Pomerleau's new VERROR handler. Has built-in

WordStar-like editor to alter unexecutable commands on the spot. Similar to ERROR23,

but for those with different taste.

So many new utilities support Z-System! It's worthwhile to read what Richard

Conn had to say about creating utilities, "I encourage everyone to enjoy their ZCFR3

system, write tools for it, and contribute them to the user community." Read his full

commentary in 12 November 1984 Newsletter 009, pg 4.

Z-Node Activity: Three new nodes started operation during fortnight. Chicago suburb

(Lisle) Sysop, Ron Stone, Node #5, has @-megabytes online. Such capacity shares

call-traffic with Node #15, Richard jacobson, in greater Windy City arem Contact Ron

(and Z-Msg) by dialing 312/420-1722. Richard's number remains 312/649-1730.

Z-Node #28 Sysop, Stanley London, informs us he is up and running inAurora

(Denver), CO. His mile-lÜgh number is 303/680-9825.

Welcome! Marvin Eyre, Z-Node #37 Sysop, is up...p1ans to expand soon to hard

disk operatiom Call his Robards, KV, node at 502/521-7011.

You asked for it! You now have it—a compiled list of current Z-Nodes (file Z-

NODESjST)! sysop name, city, state, zip code, and telephone number will be kept up-

Z-News 301

to-date. As RAS (remote access system, more accurate and descriptive than BBS expres-

SiOn; aZ-Node is aRAS) chames occur, we'll update in timely fashiom You help by

leaving message if you see inaccuracies in file.

Also don't forget, especially if you use Tandy machines, Jon Schneider in El

Paso, mJon joins Richard Peterson (The Pass Sysop) to handle traffic in southwest

Texas area. His number is 915/592-4976; Richard's, 915/821-3638.

Notice to DISCAT Owners: We found and fixed output-to-printer bug in CATSCAN. If you

return your original disk, we update free! This we owe you; it's not an upgrade or

enhancement, simply afix.

Amateur ZUser's Comer: New comers to computers expect much more than received, at

least on-surface, from their systerrs. Most want instant productivity increase, grati-

fication, to learn little from potential

=""""' --perpetual experience. Let it be proclaimed:

f: '"~ +: >¢"'Rw...~.,

,m"^,~"4": "'= L,'""" ,,G,. gratification comes from personal accomplish-

ái"j ~rnent thmWh work—work that changes, adds to

w'

,irI-'"" """"""'"""' |I lyour Being. Frustration over-come gracefully

".y eé1"\ F71( /~develops extended character, acharacter

if/ {\) C' ltender as a Lotus, tough as a stone. Happi-

,3:"' f"·- ness is path followed, not destination to

:':'')arrive at! It comes from each achievement

/L|É i—----— ,béiñ9 perceived as hkher (greater, of more

"\\>Á$ m

"'~4oí im?ortance) than any previous. So, when

mt^'\1 ,_7 thíngs don't go as planned, computer acts

")»

,,/ iLb" LL agaYist your intentions, relax—study again

—,S" "' ó

_available material--try again. From such

,

i/" j'

,Z), ¢l,j, efforts we learn what we don't know, what we

i~-7;" ,¥ ,i,/¥'are, how computer works, how we fit in! Z-

-y=. ^

.'T' )ft 'I, .Z> -' 1'System users are destined to be golden boys

:,-__

': '.' p" and girls of this marvelous decade.

"\ "" >. :)"'k 'We wait for early Spring (of Life), when

lm— \'{,flowers bloom and robins sing!

iC.,-\IÜI+—tt,j\ Now, disk drives and their number. A

+,6/ (El 0\ one-disk system is not easy to use because of

difficulty making backups. There are single-

.. ".~dríve copy programs that make operat1ons as

lconvenient as possible, but still process is

\^ _j JA >>" _time consuming and distracting. Atwo-drive

":J1'¿ N"G\ r:y=S: —-· system has been standard with most desktop

ES h"' "" '" """ ' computers. Here, disk swapping is greatly

"' K::' reduced, but still much removing of system

"Within, we find our Eagle!" disk (boot disk) with data disks occurs. The

ideal minimum for maximum ease of use is

three (3)! Drive Acontains system utilities and often-used application programs;

Drive Bholds working data disk with Drive Cused for automatic Drive Bbackup.

More than three drives (logical and physical) simply are needed as storage

requirements increase, otherwise making number of files per directory too large (Z

supports 32 directories per 1ogica1 drive). We personally prefer less than 100

entries per user area (directory, DU or DIR reference). VFILER handles up to 72 files

per screen display; more than 144 on adirectory slows down operations having to

switch throuigh three or more screens to cover all files.

Notice the situation represented by menus of MENU.LBR (128k-byte file on Z-

Nodes). AC of ZRDOS archives certain files after they chance without operator

concern. Of course, Drives Aand Bare normally 1ogica1s of sin¿le physical hard

disk; and C, high-capacity (greater than 36Ok-byte) floppy.

Page 2

Z-News 301

From Steven Hirsch (Bmlimton, VT): those needing help in understanding aspects

of ZCFR3 and Z-System should feel free to contact one of our good—neighhr helpers.

Riese volunteers are listed in file Z-HELPR8.BBS on Z-Nodes. All are ready to assist

pushing you over some hurdle. Steven is an Apple and Z3 expert. His number is

802/658-4793. Try him (and Doug Thom or Kevin McDonald, both Apple experts, at

408/253-1306 and new 408/462-3731, respectively) and other good-neighbor helpers

before calling us! They 'want your calls and letters, too.

Softvare Btig Reporting: We request that our"Software Update Form" be used for all

bug reporting plus suggestions relative to products or services. We simply cannot

efficiently comprehend from verbal inputs your requests. The form suggests the

information we need to act on your problems and enhancement suggestions. Please!

One More Time: ZCPR3 and ZRDOS programs (Z-System) are not public domaim..copy-

righted by Richard Com and Dennis Wright, assigned to Echelom While we welcome

users enhancing ZCPR3 programs (we fix ZRDOS), we are final authority as to accepta-

bility of changes. Procedure for updating: I) from Z-Node Central (either from

direct chat with David McCord or with posted message) obtain permission to work on

file, 2) then obtain latest version of program froin official area (ZCFR3) of Z-Node

Central, and 3) finally, return your updated version within agreed upon period of

time, or determine if extension is possible. So much extra work has been caused by

some few who have used other than latest versions, or didn't check file out first.

Only one version may be active at once! (If your ideas are sigriificant enough to

warrant separate program name, then proceed that way.) Understand, Echelon supports

these programs with OEM's and VAR'S (without which we cannot be in business) and must

maintain absolute control. So be it!

From Page One of ZCPR3: The Manual: "In the development of our understanding of

complex phenomena, the most powerful tool available to the human intellect is

abstraction. Abstraction arises from arecognition of similarities between certain

objects, situations, or processes in the real world, and the decision to concentrate

on these similarities, and to ignore for the time being the differences."

Iri addition to explaining over %commands, both resident and utility, manual has

individual chapters covering online HELP, MENU and VMENU, Shells, VFILER, and m.

Usiríg ZEX is make clear as well as how to use the four error handlers. Also packed

with details on how to inqtal1 and use Z3..€et your personal copy now! Still only

$19.95, plus shipping and handling. We offer a25% discount to those buying 5-49, 33%

for 50-249, and 40% over 249. Shippiñ9 from stock! Call 415/948-3820 to order with

Visa or Mastercard, or for UPS-COD.

Paradox? Farsightedness and 1iviñ9 in the-now go together, is not paradoxical. Plan-

ning is a now (present) functiom Using what's available presently (created by past

thoughts and doirigs) produces future environment. Detroit auto-industry started with

fuel-efficient four-cylinder engines to power their cars, moved to V-8's, and now has

returned to four's. Are you going along with crowds and popular movements? Are you

learnirg, becoming what you could be? Are you creating your efficient environment in

spite of contrary trends? (Tried California white Zinfandel?) When will resource-

conserving El-bit systems using assembly language coding gain popularity?

IT'S UP mYOU! Turbo-four or V-8, the same job gets done; but, one is substantially

more efficient, less brutish, more sapient. Homo sapiens, become thrice sapient! See

you down the lines... Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005

Page 3

Z-News 301

Trademarks: SB180, COMM180, ÍIKBBS, Micromint; HIK3484/64180, Hitachi; Z80/800, Zi1og;

8080/85/88/86/186, Intel; 9580/81, Advanced Micro Devices; WY-50/350, Wyse Techno1ogy;

Z-System, ZCPR3, ZRDOS, Z-Tools, Z-Com, Zas, Zlink, ZDM, REVAS, Z-Msg, DSD, Term3,

Lasting-Value Software, Echelon and their respective owners and authors; MOSART,

XE1201 /03, Xecom; NSC800, National.

Z..t. you FREE,

áÉ<

Z-News 301 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission to

reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is given to

Echelon.

,J,3 i" -,.j ,n "mD

b

-" Y-'Gt'\ >Á ~,él ii ' ·'L-: :,A'

4"" "~m¿:"

Echelon, Inc. /;j "fm "" It!.i-- .

"" }-.lisa"

l0l First Street ..: Á|.t..: ¿: "" j'u' '--

.,}_ 22

Los Altos, CA 94022 'i' ':"'-.i"" ÍJ qj: wá)±"

\'" YiiL,.

,' ''L·:

qií

j'h- jnj'í

J'íí

r' .-

y

~, ,..

'S,.,

jiíd K:c'\\'t"|} .3

(""'¿)l): q(ia Rernoie Systt-'i'm

j¢Í9l f..)}ir|(]as Strt"t't vc

lsli71gt,(-)]'í, l)lÚ can ·'íl"A ?ii19i\ 1á7

=iEchelon, Inc. gSftrl.('rn|)pr l'D3

z-ms 302

Z TIPS: An obscure and probably little understood feature oí ZCPR3 is th,-ü (}l itgrj¡"É.

CMD and SHSET commands. Any prograni is converted into ashell by usín¿·; Ñ!st"r (Ill it.

Command (verb) is used to permit application programs to know how tO !"t·'tÉÉt 't 1(1 t!'tr m-

selves (in addition to beirig user interfaces, accepting inputs, and ém"t Ut iu': ('{")j"!,--

mands). For example, SHSET WS<cr> makes WordStar into ashell and théíú">". ii') w: iy r:

get out of! it, short of cold booting your machine! Suddenly, CMD walk." (-ííj '-'i .ap;t',

lends ahand, and allows you to have your way with computer. Use SHSET WS;(MI)-'c: r:.' .iú

command or alias, then on existing WordStar, CMD runs. Ty'ping <cr> at ilti-·- µm.n(

exits shell (with ERROR message set, permitting directional flow changeu to occur it

more commands are on line). Try them, experiment, and see possibilities for iÍnµrQviIjE:

your environment.

VALÍAS is out! Get it from our nodes...jay Sage did truly reníarkabje job of

making aliases under Z-System easier to create and modify with this utility. H-is

TESTERR program, an alternate to FINDERR, is another for us who use ZAS arid the like.

It too presently is on many Z-Nodes.

Along the way, Richard Conn has finished (at least for now) our library support

tools. New era begins--they run only on Z80/NSC800/HD64180 computers using ZCPR3 (){

Z-System! LGET extracts files, LHELP processes HLP/HQP files from within library

files; LLF lists all files, and LX executes specified COM files in libraries. Tools,

on most Z-Nodes, are in file LUZ3.LBEL Richard and Martin Murray (Dallas, TY.) work

together to make NULU afull Z3 tool!

What makes aZCPR3 utility (tool) is described clearly on pages of 229 and 230 of

the ZCPR3 Manual. Routines in Z3LIB reduce task essentially to afew subroutine

calls! Let's get Ashton-Tate (dRAsÉ II), MicroPro (WordStar 3.0 and 3..3), Sorc"im/IUS

(SuperCalc II), T/Maker (T/Maker III), and Microsoft (Multiplan) to enhance their 8-

bit programs to full ZCPR3 tOO! status! Would you buy them as upgrades to youi

presently owned versions? We would! Enough said?

WOW! Article describing SB180 and Z-System in September BYTE Magazine hit the spot!

Thanks to all who contributed to make commentary possible, especially Mr. Steve

Ciarcia of "Circuit Cellar." (Eight-bit lives--move over 16-bitters and make space

for us!) But wait, there's much more to come; watch remainiw frow-now-to-end-of-year

issues of not only BYTE but many other magazines and newspapers.

We Get Letters: _From William A. Dunn, SpriIlgfie1d, OR, "I am pleased with the soft-

ware but was frustrated with your documentation. Iam looking forward to the manual

which Iordered last week." (Manual was shipped same day we received order.) "Keeµ

up the GREAT work!" commands Alan, Cathy, and Cynthia Foust, Leonia, NJ. And Vií"gi1

Cooper, Carpintería, CA writes, "Gracious Al Hawley responded to iny message by phoniríg

this evening... ." Larry Geller, Tokyo, JAPAN, observes: "I noticed that each issue

of Z-News is costing you about one dollar to mail...enciosed find check for $24.00 to

help cover those mailings... ." Thanks, Larry, wish more people understood as you!

Paul Naitoh, San Diego, CA, asks, "Do Ineed ahard disk to en joy Z3?" Nc), Paul ,

as you now know two drives, each with 360k-bytes or rnore capacity, are needed! Lot: ',

of Kaypro 4folks are enthusiastic users; magaz ine,/new,spaµer columnists ,Cd_i tors Bruce

Morgen (Warminster, PA) and Ted S"ilve1 ra (Santa Cruz, CA) are two such!

New Policy: You who receive hardcopy version of Z-News and also download it fror,í a 7.-

Node may notice that download version is available only after you have received mailed

edition. Thanks to Rea Williams (El Toro, CA) for instructing us about fairrlf!sgt:

those who pay for Z-News should receive it first! Those who obtain it- oríly froní Z-

Nodes, essentially for cost of phone call, get it later. Phasing set: Z-News mde

file is behind mailers by up to afortnight (two weeks]!

Z-News 302

Report Card: All books and copies of Terrii3 ordered have been shipped. These two

items were back-ordered for so long...if you have had an order with us for more than

three weeks, and haven't received it, please drop us a note. Our records are not

perfect, neither are we. Write us if you should have received an order and haven't.

Again we thank you for being patient--the ordeal is over for us, and for you.

Never again will we get ourselves into such ahelpless position of not being able to

control what we were responsible for creating (Frankenstein/monster syndrome).

Éúmteur ZUser's Corner: We repeat Lewis Carroll qj" -_

(Rev. Charles Lutw"idge Dodgson, 1832-1898) frag- ','".

l

,

merit, from Ms AHce ín WóMerland and TMuü9h <

the IÁK)kiug Glass series, because it repre- ' J--

ll

.;':'1·

sents so closely what we do: many d1scus_ ,(, ,-"

s:ion levels, abruptly shifting from para- 7-7-. .

CÍ "" The tune has come," the Walrus said,

grapÍi to paragraph; but w1th1n each, con_ °Á""" 'To speak of many things.

sistency is maintained. These shifts ;) m" /" "" "" "

always produce movement leadíng to "- -,í/ _-Of shoes and ships and sealing wax,

:-F7"Of cabbages and kings."

creatíon of mental sp: u"a1--never z_"l ,l

ki

línear, never to be understood as ups m,-

and downs, higPter or lower, as if

climbing or descendirg aladder, but l

rather like soaring over vast multi—

dimensional (more than four) terri-

tory—observing, feeling, and doing. You are center of attention and producer of

motion! Please don't forget what and who you (and we) could be. Act (not react)

while re-acting (feeling)!

We wish mad hatter (hacker) would convince his editor to send us samples of

(subscription to) their slick Canadian magazine (Computek). We may want to place an

ad, among other things. Magazine contains awonderful B-bit

,

-'" column written by one who cares, feels. Our kind of folk!

f_

yñí l'

,#7Z-Node Actívity: Welcome to mid-state Z-Node //34! Sysop Rod

-ABlackman, Visalia, CA, needs callers. You central Californ-

),Í),, )1¡' "\") ¿\ "" íans let hin know what you tlnnk of Z-System; 209/739-8303.

,'Here's achance to see íf coinmumty Aves: Mark R.

hr

,r"

,'.,, Evans, potential Node //33, is having trouble understanding how

-vI to get his system up as a RAS. He wants to learn; who wishes

¿:,¿,/ ,®Cj '

,,,/ to help? If you can offer assistance, contact him at 1720

DN

:Á'±" '! ·' 'l:l? 'lj Utah, San Angelo, TX 76904. Please!

·,,, 'um ,·" jli.,(l";l!j While at it, we might look into Thomas Hill, 200 Oklahoma

l·.'F7/l, C

Áf_t. ,

,,qj ')' tStreet, Anchorage, AK 99504; Richard Driscoll, 400 North 30th

Á====í> __. _Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008, 602/267-0504; and Robert Paddock,

E_Box 167A, RD //1, Summit Drive, Franklin, PA 16323, 814/432-

^a7"Á>==EEI 3647. These nodes may need assistance getting up.

Bob Finch, Node #21, our ham radio packet network expert,

"And now . . ." should have adial-in line soon; until then, you Los Angeles

area hams can cont.act him by radio for transfers. His call is

N5CXB-!, on 2-meter band frequency of 146.745 MHz OUT/DQWN 600 KHZ; IN N5CXB, Bob

Finch. Other metropolitan area hams, who presently operate packet networks, wanting

to tie landlines to radios using Z-Node concept should contact us, or Z-Node #2, Al

Hawley, voice: 213/649-3575. One day, when satellite repeaters are available, all

Earth will be tied together through Z-Nodes!

Wanting more traffic, jay Sage installed a2400 bps modem...try his Boston-suburb

Z-Node //3 for Z-System information and to get files: 617/965-7259. Remember, Jay's a

full downloader of EI proprietary programs.

Page 2

Z-News 302

U! again: Foot put into mouth! Suggesting (in Z-News 209, pg 2, first line) that

everyone read material seven (7) times, without simultaneously giviw full explanation

of why, has been big stumblirig block for many. So we deliver details to remove those

(mental) blocks; remember, read through explanation (and everything else) seven times:

Readirigs 1and 2. Skim material twice, quite rapidly. Use your finger to help

your eyes play over words, lines, and paragraphs. Key words and phrases, ideas, and

concepts begin to take from. You gain afeeling of the thought-flow, aframework

making next step more powerful.

Readirrng 3. Read material now from beginning, much more slowly and carefully.

Pause to re-read and ponder new ideas and deep thoughts. Use dictionary for un-

familiar words.

Readings 4and 5. Skim over material twice again, but not quite so rapidly as

first two times. Let key concepts sink in even deeper. This is amore leisurely

skim. Pause at any word looked up in dictionary and make sure you know both basic

meaning of word, and its meaning in present context. Sometimes the thought expressed

by aparticular word or phrase is so new that it's difficult to grasp at once, even

with dictionary help! IXj not worry at this point. Future readings add clarity.

Readiw 6. Now, read material from beginning again with extreme care. Now is

the time to really pause, to ponder, to digest, to impress deeply. Try to obtain

essential, inner feeling of messages, even thoiugh you may not understand them fully or

grasp completely at this stage. Try at this point to read material aloud!

Readiríg 7. It's aslow skim. Somewhere between your leisurely skim and your

first careful reading, #3. It is time to enjoy, to bathe yourself in new insights and

viewpoints opening up to you...new understanding comes (in next octave)!

There you have it—we do our best to explain. Never think that learning some-

thirig new, really new, comes quickly or easily. GREAT EFFORT IS INVOLVED! But keep

reading even if you think you don't understand—what comes later (down the lines)

explains what came before, following natural back-and-fill (smoothinú concept.

Leadership! Who leads and who follows? Bottom of page 5, Newsletter 007, 15 October

1984, we addressed clone-magazines, copy-cats, people with less-than—constructive

ideas. Our present observation is: too many editors put out cookie-cutter editions

of their publication. The mold is supplied by advertisers, and journal after journal

use it! As we scan 30 to 40 publications amonth we notice athread, one of indoctri-

nation rather than education. So few magazines have the staff to even edit anews

release much less investigate news and write their own reports. If the release wasn't

styled by producer for individual magazine format, it simply isn't run...sad! Oh! how

sad! Afree press? We wonder what is free in what they generally do...free1y leading

or freely following'?

Clearly our trade journals show little leadership; so many seem detached, un-

emotional, have little PURPOSE of their own (other than make money as prime goal).

They use pre-formed mold to produce their offerings. We are the losers for it, but

it's us who allow situation to exist.

Most magazines (but not all) follow standard Madison Avenue criterion for ad

space cost, keyed to numbers of paid subscribers. Consequently, subscription prices

are low—this results in main source of revenues coming from advertisers! Any wonder

who controls magazine contents? Roses don't grow on stalks of clover. When corn seed

is planted, peach trees don't come up! Is this observation faulty?

Time to take astroll, feel cool breeze coming in from the Pacific. Listen to

swaying palms and pines in coast town of Pescadero, and there sip some white Zinfandel

at Mrs. Duarte's restaurant and bar. See you down the lines... Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005

Page 3

Z-News 302

Trademarks: SB180, COMMISO, TKBBS, Microrríint; HD63484,'64180, Hitachi; Z80 /800, Zilog;

NSC800, National; 8080/85, Intel; WY-50/ 75 /85 ,' 350, Wyse Technology; Z-System, ZCPR3,

ZRDOS, Z-Tools, Z-Corn, Zas, Zlirik, ZDM, RF.VAS, Z-Msg, DSD, TERM III, Term3, Lasting-

Value Software, Echelon and their respective owners and authors; MOSART, XEl201/03,

Xecom.

Zsets youFREE!

L·

"~

Z-News 302 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission to

reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is given to

Echelon.

W'"JS-

Echelon, Inc. SK"Rj 'mn:-")' ^

101 First Street .- ,

{

,

^1 ·.,. ,)1 22—

Los Altos, CA 940?? '.'''M-- 7>-i=

""'. .' ? ·¿. . , Pr- .l t ,T" ,,,,, IIIfÉ[l!l'¶||I¶IíI

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4 November 1985

306

Heaven Forbid. We are asked to recommend high level languages (HUS) for application

program development under Z-System. We reply, if you must use an HLL (instead of

SYSLIB3, Z3LIB, and VLIB), these are best used:

CLanguage Compilers

BIE CBD Software, Inc. Fastest Execution

P.O. Box 2368, CaÍnbridge, MA 02238 Good Code Density

617/576-3828 Non-Unix C

C/80 Software Toolworks Best Code Density

15233 Ventura Blvd. #1118 Good Speed

Sherman Oaks, CA 91403, 818/986-4885 Non4jnix C

Aztec CII Manx Software Unix ccoI!fu)atibi1ity

P.O. Box 55, Shrewsbury, NJ 07701 Fair Speed

201/530-7997 Fair Code Density

Pascal Compiler

Turbo Pascal Borland International Hi9h Overall Value

4585 Scotts Valley Drive Interactive Structured

Scotts Valley, CA 95066 Program Development

800/255-8008 to order Neither Fast nor Dense Code

800/556-2283 for nearest dealer New Pascal Standard

Z TIPS. There's over a million ways (literally) to configure and assemble ZCPR3!

Standard ZCPR3 implementation (which we use here at EI) contains only SAVE, GO, GET,

and JUMP as intrinsic CP (command processor) commands; other resident (in-memory)

commands TYPE, LIST, m, REN, C(o)P(y),· FOKE, P(eek), ECHO, IF, ELSE, FI (endif) are

in dynamically loadable RCPS and FCPS. Normally, DIR is atransient, i.e., from disk.

CCP (console command processor, CP for short) occupies fixed 2k-bytes; but resident

packages, each of 2k-bytes, can be loaded when functional requirements demand dif-

ferent commands, e.g., DEBUGRCP (MU3 as segment) for debugging programs versus more

common SYS.RCP. Asysop's RCP is different from RCP loaded for public callers.

Of Cabbages and Kings. Harvest being in barn, November is season of thaiiksgiving in

USA culture. We wish here to reflect on things for which we are grateful. Our life

with continuous good health is one; but mainly we focus on you, especially you who are

learning while supporting what we do. By name, Marvin Eyre, Dennis Wri9ht, Dave

McCord, Kathy Stough, Patrick O'Connell, Robert Doolittle, Al Hawley, Jay Sage, Al

IMnsmuir, Charles McMannis, Robert Peddicord, Richard Mead, and Bruce Aschenbrenner.

And Dreas Nielsen, Bruce Morgen, Ted Silveira, Paul Pomer1eau, Tim Linehan,

Robert Tate, Rea Williams, Nug Thom, Norman Beeler, Norm Gregory, Marilyn Bailey,

Richard Jacobson, Terry Smythe, Ed Unrein, Charles Hoffman, Michael Ward, jud Newell,

Arrnon Tippitt, and finally, Richard Conm

More could be added, but these few we consciously believe have made possible what

we do. Those others get our thanks nonetheless, those workers who do in silence

without notice. We know they need not their names listed here. But without them, our

species would have long ago perished. We applaud our continued, but certainly un-

certain, survival!

Some few WONDER where our drive, courage (?), enthusiasm, comes from. WONDER no

more...we work from natural forces...forces flowing through you, from Eternity...

forces beyond TIME and space, beyond Mother Earth, Father Time of E.B. White's classic

Charlotte's Web...forces of LAW, law which cannot be broken but which regulates

All,..we were v'ague and general, now vivid and particular because of your energy.

Z-News 306

Ye Get Letters. " ...fdisk format} standardization is indeed much needed for B-bit

world. However, no details on formats were giverí... "declares Mark Sihlanick,

Forest, V& Sorry Mark, we are working on astandards document now, to be published

as soon as finished. Z-News 207 wanted to let everyone know we were fostering afew

disk formats we feel are best. Hardware manufacturers designing new B-bit computers

should use existing formats, the ones that are best for speed and capacity.

Dale Updegrove writes from Phoenixville, PA, "I find myself looking for your

latest Z-News before the two weeks are up...Echelon is more like aclub than a

business...is interested in supplyirig more support rather than [in making] more

profit." Thañks! we needed that. Dale, our major short-term task is getting you to

regard Z-System as we do; profits come from aspirations, attitude (see newsletter 009,

pg 7, to know an aspect of our business).

Z-Node Activity. Awarm welcome to new Z-Node #44 and Sysop Robert Gear. Bob's

Phoenix, AZ, number is 602/279-2762 and is afirst for us in Arizona. He is int.er-

ested in ham radio packet networks, as are other noders Bob Finch and John D'Ausilio.

Also, Bob's '%ktur's" node serves as central for despending medical information.

Ed Unrein wants more non-local callers. His RAS in beautiful central Florida is

awonderland in itself: 305/295-0844. If you can't travel there, you still can

telecommunicate (one-day, teleport I).

Amateur ZUser's Comer. Loggiríg into adirectory may be done two ways. l) Ikfault

log-in occurs when performed from command line, and 2) current log-in occurs when

performed from within application programs; on returning to command line, default

disk/user area is returned to, shows. Current can be made de-

"" :C' .·."'Z= :+ -3 fault by declaration, e.g., in VFILER CMD scripts, command

''i'j' f' 'j'"";'"¿¿ "±±?í-?:g\, clause "%d%u: ;" makes current directory the default. While

,)"jiÍ "," ;= "within VFILER, default is shown when "Z" letter-command is

Y. '

,\. .:" -.-- given and command line prompt shows at lower left of screen.

J"' '!== Current always shows at upper left, either from Files or built-

'· ,"—!.

'. :,: \"= _ín Help screens. Of course, current and default szmultaneously

:"_-?" " " "-may be same directory.

}"aj .:,

When dealing with other than Z-System application

d; ''i ".- programs, determine if application uses current (most don't) or

l"j :"' '?iÁ Eonly default directories. Then, write your macro command lines

,_ ,

,¿,r _accordingly .

'l '" ·b 3XNotice, in Z-News 305, bottom of pg 1, selective use of

J. -

',." .":qcurrent d1sk/user "%d" and "%u" and actual dr:i-ve letter ("a"

J.m,"" ""'.ij( therein) designation was required to freely move from directory

JJAS itt ^- l"7s to directory from within VFILER, to have WordStar and The WORD

3/_, '-".A Plus function correctly. When using with such application

"Ujj")@7- programs, advanced features of Z-SysYm are absolutely required

---- 4f' "for full automatíon and resource-ut111zat1on eff1c1ency. Uulx

". ..and my current and PC4X)S do not have these features.

became default ." Technically, for you budding hackers, default directory is

contained as two nibbles at location 04 of Z-System Page O,

memory space DO to FF hex. Current is stored locally within ZRDOS buffer area.

Our shells with their powerful user interface have made concept of current versus

default important. Principle under vanilla CP/M was little developed, not much

thotight of. Remember what user areas were like before SWEEP—they were simfy not

used! SWEEP, DISK7 started the ball rM1im for filer, vfiler, MENU, FRIENDLY m, and

VMENU. We now have better flexibility than PC-DOS or Unix!

Recap: default (some call it hom.e.) directory is the one shown by operating

system prompt. Application programs and utilities may move from default by internal

command (log-in to new directory, called current) but default is not changed, unless

changed at command line prompt, or by declaration in amacro command.

Page 2

Z-News 306

Z-Systm COMMA N D S

Frequently used commands are briefly described here. Online HELP facility gives full

details of these and remaining commands. At Zcommand line, immediate usage and

syntax help is available (if information is appropriate) by typiñ9 <Ci"/¢'";m"^'> //<cr>,

AC Archive Copy copies files from one location to another with verification

option, while setting file archive attribute. Only changed files need be copied.

(V)ALIAS The (V)ALIAS utility is used to create an Alias file and to display its

contents. An Alias is essentially atext script, expanded and resolved (with para-

meter passing) when the Alias program is run. Very complex command Lines, complete

with Flow Control (IF), can be included within an Alias.

ARIJNZ Extended command processor used to execute aliases within ALIAS,CMD files.

CD CD permits going from ORé directory to another, simultaneously running

environmental file (ST.COM) to establish the desired conditions in adirectory. CD

may require password to move to new directory.

CLEANDIR Removes ck-allocated references to files in the disk directory track area,

sorts the existing files in ascending or descending alpha order and packs the names

together. Used often nearly guarantees successful UNERASE.

(MIREN Default name for extended command processor used, e.g., to execute COM files

from COMMAND.LBR file.

Once entered all text typed at keyboard is ignored by operating system.

Useful to output text to printer while not having the computer attempt to act on it,

and in local area networks (LANS). Special "COMMENT"' prompt provided.

Compare two files disp1aying byte-for-byte match and difference. Split-

screen dísplay, showing match, differences, in both hex and ASCII, eases comparison.

crsu Selects one of two consoles and one of four printers known to system, and

line and page length, and whether form-feeds are available. Used by PAGE and PRINT.

=Runs aCyclic Redundancy Check on specified files, optionally creating a

file of the values. Useful to make sure files are identical.

DIR Sorted default or declared directory files with sizes (lengths) and disk

space used and remaining are displayed on console with this command, by file name or

type. Displays directory name, if one, and PUBLIC files in directories.

IFA Display file attributes: read-only, read-write, archive, wheel byte write-

protected, etc. Wild card file declaration permitted.

MJ3 Disk Utility provides full screen-oriented direct disk editor features.

Four screens of command information are internally available by typing "?".

ECIK) Text entered at the command line is typed to screen without the operating

system acting on it. Useful to display messages from Aliases and between commands of

amultiple command line.

ME The ELSE command is FCP-resident and toggles the Flow State. If the current

IF condition is TRUE, ELSE toggles it to FALSE, and vice-versa.

ERA The ERA utility is used to remove (de-allocate) files from disks. It is

resident in either the RCP segment or in the ZCPR3 CCP module.

RMSE The ERASE utility is the transient counterpart of ERA. It is more powerful

than ERA, containing many more options and features.

Five error handlers dynamically installed by entering their command name.

VERRDR and ERROR2 are screen oriented; recovery from anon-executable command in

multiple command lines is handled gracefully and quickly.

The current error handler is diseíigaged with this command.

FI FI is an FCP-resident command which terminates the current IF. FI is the

same as ENDIF in concept (there is no ENDIF command in Z-System).

FINDF Searches for declared files in all user areas and disks in system. Wild

card (? and *) and multiple file names permitted.

GUIU Unconditional branch in ZEX files; used in flow-controlled loops.

The HELP command provides oMine documentation. Typing HELP ZCPR3 or

ZRDOSI<cr> brings a menu of commands to peruse, covering all aspects of Z-System

operation. mKjs: and ZCFR3: The m~1 are used for further informatiom

IF IF is an FCP-resident command which tests acondition and sets the Flow

Control State to True or False. If the Flow Control State is False, only FCP-resident

commands are executed with all other commands skipped.

LX Run executable files from within library of files. Other library support

utilíties: LGET, LHELP, and LLF.

Page 3

Z-News 306

MCOPY MCOPY copies files to and from directoríes. It provides an easy way to

back—up files. (CP from an RC.P also copies and opt' ionai1y renames fil-es.')

(V)MFMJ These are menu subsyst erns under ZCPR3. MNU and VMN menus are created with

your editor following rules detailed in HELP L"ile systení.

~IR Narned di recttíries are created with MKDIR. Any Disk or User Area can be

given an up-to-eight-characteí name. An access password is opt.: iona1ly perníitted with

each named directory.

MJ3 Memory Utilíty provides direct local íueruory (RAM) editing. Useful to ob-

serve immediate changes tcj selected areas of memory.

NOTE Similar ttj COMMENT, but without special prorrípt arid active for only one line.

Text typed is not acted upon by computer.

PAGE The PAGE command sends text files to CRT console screen for operator view-

ing. More than one file may be viewed sequentially, skipped, with screen wordwrap if

line length exceeds screen wídth.

PATH Allows display and dynamic change of command-file search path.

FRÍNT The PRINT command provides full page printing of t.ext files on the printer.

CPSEL selects the printer characteristics. Page heading and numbering, and sequential

file printing, with wordwrap, are available.

FRUIECT Files are declared Read-Only, System, or Read-Write, singulax iy or in wild-

card file groups, with PROTECT.

FUBLIC Utility to declare directories global, files accessible frorn any directory.

END The PWD coínrnand Prints the names of available Working Di rectories.

QUIW Entering QUIET reduces text output from certain crucial utility programs,

CD, LDR, LX, PATH, REG.

REN Renaming files is performed with resident REN or with the more powerful

transient RENAME

SAK Strike Any Key is interactive glue, used in command lines to suspend exe-

cution for aspecified time or cancel next operat ion, alert uperator with console

bell, cancel, or if operator not available, proceed af ter delay.

SFA Set file attributes: read-write, read-only, archive, wheel byte write-

protected, etc. Wild card file declaration permitted.

SETFILE Allows declaring up to four system file names to be used with shell prog-

rams, MENU, VMENU, SAK, ALIAS, etc. SHOW indícates system files active.

SH Model shell program ready-to-use; internal commands are: ?for help, SHCMT

for comment entry, SHECHO for message text echo, and SHEXIT for exitiñ9 the shell.

SHCIRL Shell Control permits getting out of ashell, i.e., popping the stack.

SU SHOW prints a menu of options to permit recalling the status of the ZCPR3

environment. Buffer address locations, command line length, system cpu speed, maximum

drive and user areas permitted, all on 11 screens of information. SLK)W E<cr> installs

Show as an error handler.

=Er Makes any program into ashell; useful to control application program usage.

UNmsE The UNERASE command permits recovering accidentally erased files. Recovery

must be made before starting any further disk drive activities.

VFTM VFILER is Z-System screen-oriented file manipulation utility. Permits

pointing to files in directory and perform: Íng operations on them compute lengths,

view, print, copy, delete, unsqueeze, or tag (wild cards allowed) for group (mass)

processing. Ten macro commands from custom CMD menu, new CMD per directory possible.

File scanning utility permits forward and reverse text viewing with

controlled scrolling rate, string searches, quick goto bottom and top of file move-

ments, etc. Fully screen oriented with built-in in-context command help.

WHEEL permits chmUm the system from secure to unsecure. If secure,

passwords are needed to access established directories and certain utilities may not

be used: ALIAS, MKI)IR, PUBLIC, etc. The preset password is SYSTEM.

XDIR The XDIR command is most powerful of three supplied file directory listing

programs (transients). Optionally shows all files in ail directories (normal and

public), vertically or horizontally sorted by file name or type, to console, printer,

or file. Negate wild-card search and directory-to-file-buffer for directory compari-

sons are unique features.

XIP Exit (terminate) all pending conditionals (IFs) in flow command testing.

Useful in ZEX GOTO loops.

ZEX Extended command processor for versatile multi-command/program batch proces-

sing; interactive, user-prompts and message displays.

#4/#####//4/

Page 4

Z-News 306

Quack Separated From Duck: We who will be first to use Wyse WY-350 color

ASCII terminal to upgrade WordStar into amulti-hued word processor. With alittle

software modifications to the program buffer area, color could be used to indicate

status of text entries and changes. Different shades could represent I) original

text, 2) moved text, 3) newly inserted or added, 4) Hided or shadowed, 5) underlined,

6) font style changed, 7) text copied from or written to another file. We can think

of many other enhancements that would be valuable to console operators using PropStar

(see Z-News 304) to post-process WordStar files into alaser marking machine.

How do we overcome, justify cost of color terminal?

Straight-line drawing ability of modern ASCII terminals, monochrome or multi-

color, permits sharp, graceful menw to be formed—we simply haven't taken advantage

of graphics, yet. And saály, vast crowds these days go only for bit-mapped monitors.

We WONDERwhy!

MOSART. November BYTE MOSART (modem synchronous, asynchronous, .receiver, trans-

mitter) article gives an idea of where telecommunications is going. TurnKey Bulletin

Board System of Micromint, Inc., (see Z-News 207, top pg 5) uses this hybrid module,

and includes Z-Msg, Terín3, and Z-System to do software chores. Read TKBBS description

in December BYT& Call or write Xecom, Inc., 374 Turquoise St., Miipitas, CA 95035,

408/943-0313) for prices and literature describing MOSART module.

FLASH. S-lOO board using Hitachi HIJ64180 high-integration chip announced by Magnum

Digital, Inc., Route #2, Box 223, Stover, MO 65078, 314/377-4419. Unusual (perhaps

unique) CPU board may be either master or slave in multi-user/processor system. On-

board are two serial ports, 64k to 256k-bytes of static CMOS RAM, but co-board extends

to 2megabytes, I/O port drop—out timer for fail-safe operation, bus controller for

multi-processing, and many more features. Priced at $469.00 with support software;

call Mr. Dion Vaugh, MDI President, for additional details.

Industry Brief. Five (5) Japanese companies are currently sampling one-megabit

DRAMS; Hitachi, Toshiba, NEC, Fujitsu, and Mitsubishi. The sixth, Oki Electric,

starts next month. Toshiba has licensed Siemens (Regensburg, West Germany) to produce

their design. (Remember, you read it here first.) Many British people say, "We will

not change our life style to compete with Japanese industry." We say to these, 'Your

life style can only be maintained if you adapt to your changing environment. World is

effectively smaller and more accessible now then when you were philosophically (polit-

ically.' Number One." What do USAians say? Let's hear from matter releasing energy,

from s—u--b-s-t-a-n—c—e moving towards e-s—s-e-n—c-e!

By the Way, third force of triad active in Cosmos, in case you still woNDm is

represented by instability. This force is like awedge applied at atangent, never

orthogonally, near an object's base. Such directed energy permits, causes local and

Cosmic change (see logo/eagle discussion in Z-News 303, pg 5.) Anyone care to label

this particular force? Historically, it's been called by many names!

Now we taste Zinfandel wine and hear zydeco music, that marvelous mixture of

French, Cajun, Creole, Celtic, and African rhythms. Real people-music, this zydeco!

Bí"owht to our attention long ago, we believe in 1953, by Clifton Chenier (king of the

music), but made popular by Ida Guillory (Queen Ida). Chris Strachwitz, of Berkeley

radio station KPFA fame and founder of Arhoolie Records of El Cerrito, CA, 415/525-

7471, records and produces zydeco pressings and tapes for sale. It's our bon-teínps-

roulet music, along with music of Polish rebel Frederic Chopin. Zinfandel is native

Californim See you down the lines... Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005

Page 5

Z-News 306

Trademarks: SBl80, COMM180, TKBBS, Micromint; HD63484/64180, Hitachi; 280/800, Zilog;

NSC800, National; Friend1y, Ampro; Z-System, ZCPR3, ZREOS, Z-Tools, Z-Com, Zas, Zlirik,

ZDM, REYAS, Z-Msg, DSD, TERM III, Term3, Lasting-Value Sof tware, Echelon and their

respective owners and authors; CP/M, Digital Research; Unix, AT&T; MOSART, XEl201/03,

Xecom; PropStar, Civil Computing; WordStar, MicroPro.

+

'·7j iStheTEACHER!

+*

Z-News 306 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission to

reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is given to

Echelon.

Echelon, Inc. ,/íjj"j', r"""TU l%ÉV,

·'i- .-- 4

t

101 First Street .',, '"M '" "F""

,, ,,,, ,,,

I,) iÍJÍ,. -

?1'.' '"'i5!i

Los Altos, CA 94022 ,:-R5j -^. ,1 ''" '"' '"' 7?" "

,.- _'=

·-' .;: · ''_Z>.·- -m

·. -·-"'···· ,,,,, ii: I1!Ili'¶'|É.?'|:',!

®18 November 1985

307

Z TIPS. PUBLIC ZRDOS Plus, the only DOS, Version 1.2 (Item 12 on EI price list), we

currently offer, comes with many useful utilities; DUMP and MOVE are two. DUMP is a

screen oriented file display program showing both in hex and ASCII. Trailirrng options

permit line addresses relative to lOó hex, sending display to printer, pause after

declared number of sectors are shown. Any keypress continues the display for next set

of sectors. Ideal for us is DUMP fn.ft /p2m<cr> which displays two sectors (a screen

full) showing the addresses starting at lOOh. DUMP is amodern utility in line with

rest of Z-System tools, in vain of COMP, our file comparator.

MOVE, Z-System utility written by ZRDOS author, Dennis Wright, as were DUMP,

VTYPE, COMP, and others, is handy even thowh PUBLIC directories are available. Files

are moved from area to area on the same drive, and moved quickly! MOVE permits

wildcard filename declarations and also directory DU and DIR forms.

ZRDOS Plus comes with above four utilities plus VTYPE, the absolute best file

scanner we've seen (see Z-News 207, middle of pg I); PUBLIC described in Z-News 305;

VIEW, earlier file scanner; and DFA and SFA, display and set file attributes, covering

all available bits, archive, wheel-byte write-protect, read-only, etc.

Two screen-oriented command-line editors are currently available. VCED (video

command editor), Version 1.1, written by Paul Pomerleau (Chicago, IL), permits

editiw, executing, and recalling comiipands lines, both present and previous. Uses

subset of WordStar cursor commands (like and TALIAS), plus many more, to move

from command to command, undo erased commands, recall previous command, etc. Screen

oriented and aZ-System utility, it knows about paths, DIRS and DUS, and ENV files. A

neat VCED support program, WAIT, toggles "Strike Any Key" prompt to hold screen

display, as desired, before returning to

m.©« ©- U;^ ED

+m

—"="m= -r"a-'"«E2"T, echtor.

--0+"""""f ·^""" :""" -"|"?-T±.-= .qPaul has also finished his version

·.m. EZ'""·-. "

"" ""-""" Z_fe¿, "" =- "[T"g "µ= '" "_ :-3í. of ALIAS, called BALIAS, to join other

e~.". — _-:-—..- Sij ±.

,fC" '\ ""7± ":#""

_

"um alias generators and editors (VALÍAS and

-'mk ,^--" -

S" '

_=^m >'"é -=·"e TALIAS) in the stable.

F. --.

·Y' —

-·""'

7(A\ '"

,

"" I") """Z?" '" ""'' " fISH (command line History S.H,e11),

.%

"""r,:r».- . &

Vers1on 1.1 ,comes from Míchael

IT"=\'~\ ,- ,"Rubenstei.n, Galveston, TX, and carries

·I"'- "-command-tine editiW to elegant heights.

"'" Similar to VCED but with adifferent

t' X,¥

^t .·"" -<>d '-} flavor. DesignecÍ to be used primarily

pf;t ". m w, 'h

'/ "''''"-'i ·"

^"''"'·) 'with RAM or fast hard disks and written

'l'

""

,/ t"'',,ín CLanguage, HSH, is Bk-bytes long.

',,-—=- , - -ig' :.' ·y4 Comes with Z-System HLP file; it's one

.:' "" ))j'?)j

'A''nice tool! On Z-Nodes, everywhere.

",/ :">;' !'>

:í> i'"" "" piWilson Bent (Fair Haven, NJ) has

PO ' k.

,<

,^.-"" ":->= &_",_

made an interesting contribution with his

¿- "" 0t). "'m>{rI: "'}3(y3'!,.«

,, "'"r: ·,^",, büí "" LDGK named -directory program. By using

'leading dash in afile name the directory

". ..never be without your tools." becomes that name. Try it—you may find

LDSK to your liking, especially if you're

floppy-based. Compare with MKDIR described below...many ways to de-scale fish!

Our cup overf lows, cornucopia! Thanks, all, for your programming activities.

We Get Letters. Yes, we erred in Z-News 304; WSPATCH is still useful even if running

PUBLIC ZRDOS. It's quicker to use WSPATCH for numerous different terminals than to

re-install using MicroPro INSTALL. Thanks to all for pointirig this out.

'Your Newsletters and the BYTE articles on the HD64180 rekindle my interest in

expanding my knowledge of Assembly, ZCPR3, etc.--even thotigh all this is likely to be

Z-News 307

of little practical use to ine," Edward W, King, Ithaca, NY, writes of his stimulation

and doubt. Ed, any knowledge can be put into practice. Knowledge acquired from ZCFR3

activities goes along way to making one feel fu1fi11ed. Such work always pays coim

From james Couts, Sunnyvale, CA, "I am running CP/M and am trying to resist MS-

DOS." What's to resist? There's so much to be learned, if you get past surface

barrier, front capabilities of B-bit machines. Usirig and studyirg Z-System opens

learning portals wide.

Z—Node Actívity. Central had first birthday (10 October)! One year old, Z-Node #1

Sysop, David McCord, has enlivened h: Ígh-performmce B-bit computing. His substantial

leadership produces light when there is near darkness. Dave, keep your beacon on.

All Z-Nodes carry tremend~ traffic loads—we thank each sysop for extraordinary

efforts on Z-System community's behalf—what aconstructive team! Individually each

of us receive as we give, occasionally receiving seven (7) fold. Coming year Mids

much opportunity for hard-working teams!

Amateur ZUser's Corner. MKDIR is used to create and modify named directories.

Thou9h ZCPR3: The Manual (pages 65, 244, 299) is somewhat vague about doing this,

MKDIR'S complete built-in menus and prompts make using it easy and fast. After typing

MKDIR<cr> at command line, enter ?(or I) at tool command prompt to obtain main menu:

MKDIR Comnand (? for Help)? t

MKDIR Comnands are --

C-Change Directory (Add/Renarne/Delete Entries)

I-Initialize Directory

P-Print Directory

R-Read Directory

S-Status of MKDIR Environment

W-Write Directory File

X-Exit Program

MKDIR Cotmand (? for Help)? i

First thing to do, if modifying an existing NOR file, is read file into auto-allocated

buffer space provided and then display contents, Rfollowed by Pcommand. After

entering R, choose name of NOR to edit or create. The default is NAMES.NDR. We

distribute asample NOR file with name of SYSAIR. If updating this file and if it's

located in A15: ROOT directory, then enter A15: SYS.NDR<cr> as requested name at R

commandprompt.

After entering Pand seeing what you already have as names associated with

disk/user areas, enter Cto alter. And press ?(or l) for this screen:

MKDIR Change Mode --

You may issue the following comnands at this pñnt:

DU: dirname <--- Create/Rename DIR Entry

DU: <--- Delete DIR Entry

'(RETURN)' <--- Print Directory

X<--- Exit lleave Change Model

?<--- Print this Help

Directory Entry R<return> for Help)? I

Establish disk A, user area 6, with name of "private" by entering: A6: PRIVATE<cr>,

Next, prompt asks for optional password, up to 8characters, to access directory.

You take it from here...create and load (using LD&CCN) several trial NOR files

to gaiii experience (and confidence) using named directories. After, you are ready to

write ST alias files used by CD (please, read pages 23 and 24 of Z3 Manual). Are you

ready? Can you sense this long-expected moment, never-to-be-repeated opportunity?

Pcige 2

Z-News 307

Z-SYSTEM GOOD-NEIGHBOR HELPER (GNH) ROSTER

Mark Kolod Neal Koss

POB 68 3440 Lomita Blvd.

Glenview IL 60025 Torrance CA 90505

3l2/291-Í586 213/326Á770

Brian Leyton -Morrow joe Wí"ight -all

12613 Killion Street 711 Chatsworth Place

North Hollywood, CA 91607 San jose, CA 95128

818/766-3307 408/297-5583

Kevin McDona1d -Apple joe S. Vogler

P.O, Box 28162 112 Creekside Lane

San Jose CA 95159 Colorado Srings, CO 80906

408/37IÁ037 303/576-34k0

Doug Thom -App1e/CompuPro/Ampro Chuck Livingston -Vector Graphics

l4Cl5 Graywood Drive 412 Tierra Rejada Road

San jose, CA 95129 Simi Valley, CA 93065

408/253-1306 805/522-7322 or 584-3484

Isaac Salzman -Xerox 82C)-II Steve KaÉ!1in -Osborne/CCS S-lOO

5667 Corteen Place 11711 Mo at Avenue

No. HO11 wood, CA 91706 Tampa FL 33617

818./76l-4874 813/9g5-5611 (home), 813/974-2081 (work)

Charles Sanborn -all Francis Riesz

12702 Campos Drive 3228 South Broad Street, Apt. 5

Houston, TX 77065 Trenton, NJ 08610

john C. Smith -Kaypro Thomas A. F1emer -Morrow

100 Nashua Road 1730 Medallion Loop N.W.

Pepperell, MA 01463 Olym la, WA 98502

617/433-6383 206Á66-9787

Steven Hirsch -Apple CP/M Arthur Welsh -Osborne

124 Intervale Ave. 801 Airport Hts. #387

Burlington VT 05401 Anchorage AK 99508

802/658-4743 907/274-8Ó44

Alan D. Wilcox -CompuPro Jay P. Sage -all

60 South 8th Street 1435 Centre Street

Lewisburg, PA 17837 Newton Centre, MA 02159

717/523-0777 before 8pm EST 617/965-3552

Ed Unrein -Kaypro Richard Denicola

6373-8 Forest CAty Road 475 Vista Del Norte

Orlando, FL 32810 Walnut CA 91789

305/299-4283 714/66Ó-1800

Rick Swenton -H89/90 &Ampro John S. Casteel

19 Allen Street 611th Ord. C. Box 4364

Bristol, CT 06010 APO, NY, 09059 (from USA)

203/589-7297 Kaiserlautern, GERMANY

06373-4188

Al Dunsmuir -CompuPro Robert Kuhmann -all

30 Dentón Ave, Apt 807 Le Pavilion, Belle Etoile

Scarbourough, Ontario par St. Martin de la Brasque

MIL 4P2 CANADA 84760 FRANCE

416/669-49734 011/33 90-77-61-36

Roland Eriksson -all Phillippe P. Billotte -Northstar

Arbetshusgatan 58 A47 Rue Abou Dabi

802 24 Gaevle SWEDEN Quartier Oasis

Int+46 -"26" 128353 Casablanca, MOROCCO

Anyone wishing to assist new ZCPR3/ZRDOS users and potential users please send us your

name, address, expertise, and telephone number.

Page 3

Z-News 307

* * * * * *** * * * * * * * * *

*Full ASCII Character Set *

* * * * * ** * *********

——

OOOh NUL U! 32 20h SP 64 40h @96 60h "

1Olh SOH "A 33 21h ! 65 4lh A97 6lh a

2 02h STX ^B 34 22h " 66 42h B98 62h b

303h ETX ^C 35 23h # 67 43h C99 63h c

4 04h EOT "D 36 24h $ 68 44h D100 64h d

5 05h ENQ ^E 37 25h %69 45h E101 65h e

606h ACK ^F 38 26h &70 46h F102 66h f

7 07h BEL ^G 39 27h ' 71 47h G103 67h g

808h BS "H 40 28h (72 48h H104 68h h

909h HT ^I 41 29h )73 49h I105 69h i

10 OAh LE ^J 42 2Ah *74 4Ah J106 6Ah j

li OBh VT "K 43 2Bh +75 4Bh k107 6Bh k

12 OCh FF ^L 44 2Ch ,76 4Ch L108 6Ch l

13 ODh CR ^M 45 2Dh -77 4Dh Pi 109 6Dh ni

14 OEh SO ^N 46 2Eh .78 4Eh N110 6Eh n

15 OFh si "O 47 2Fh /79 4Fh oIll 6Fh o

16 lOh DIJE ^P 48 30h O80 50h P112 70h p

17 11h DCl ^Q 49 31h 181 51h Q113 71h q

18 12h DC2 ^R 50 32h 282 52h R114 72h r

19 13h DC3 ^S 51 33h 383 53h S115 73h s

20 14h DC4 ^T 52 34h 4 84 54h T116 74h t

21 15h NAK ^U 53 35h 5 85 55h U117 75h u

22 16h SYN ^V 54 36h 6 86 56h V118 76h v

23 17h ETB "W 55 37h 7 87 57h W119 77h w

24 18h CAN ^X 56 38h 8 88 58h X120 78h x

25 19h EM "Y 57 39h 9 89 59h Y121 79h y

26 lAh SUB ^Z 58 3Ah :90 5Ah Z122 7Ah z

27 1Bh ESC ^[ 59 3Bh ;91 5Bh [123 7Bh {

28 lCh FS ^\ 60 3Ch <92 5Ch \124 7ch :

29 1Dh GS ^] 61 3Dh =93 5Dh }125 7Dh }

30 1Eh RS "^ 62 3Eh >94 5Eh ^126 7Eh "

31 1Fh US ^63 3Fh ?95 5Fh 127 7Fh DEL

Legend: h=Hexadecimal; ^=CTRL (Control Key), except 94 =caret and

30 =<CTRL-caret>.

Notes: I. To obtain codes Oto 31, console Control Key is pressed while

simultaneously pressing Letter Key, e.g., <CTRL-G> is ^G, the

bell character.

2. Control Key subtracts decimal 64 (4Oh) from Letter Key pressed.

Page 4

Z-News 307

Ramblings. (We don't do what we think we must, but what we must; that written is

less important than that not.)

You've read and heard of robots (maybe seen or even used one), drones, and

cyborgs (cybernetic organisms). It would be surprise to find we were actually one of

these. But think, what makes us what we are? It's not flesh and blood, bone and

skin, or overall form. Sure, these are aspects of what we are, but there's more.

What constitutes the Whole?

Ponder mass of data and information we presently have access to. If you live in

alarge city, your local public library has more books than you could read in a

hundred lifetimes. One of these days soon, all this printed matter could be in

computer memories, perhaps be readable with your personal computer. But neither data

nor facts count for much unless you have means to interpret into knowledge and under-

standirig, get to the whole. We predict "desktop publishiW" mostly adds quantity to

printed-text equation, does little for quality, depth and breadth, does little for

substance. Unless we, individually and as a species, take alonger view of existence

we simply march in-place; each octave overlays exactly the previous. You know Beirig,

living, and learning rests squarely with you and me. Manikins we be not!

Is not the same alphabet used to form words, sentences that praise as well as

damn? The octave-oriented musical scale provides for production of sound-combinations

to make us both rejoice and weep. For every good there's acountering evil—yin,

yang; substantial universal stability in Cosmos. Third Force, neither female nor

male, we think of...for every student there already exists ateacher. From knowledge,

let's rise to next level of understandin&

You, think quality not quantity...each action, each thought has profound local

and Cosmic consequences. Waste not amoment with thoughts of greed or hurtfulness.

We humans are still quite coarse, with much to be refined. Let's get on with our

mutual task of learning! Be not paralyzed, but be on the Way to deep living, a norm

of all Life; this alone wears well.

We camp currently on a mountain top to pen these ramblintgs. We live at home,

though like atraveler on the road...find many things that each day teach us. Fools

there are that think their El Dorado is anywhere but where they live. But who keeps

book on such folly. We're here searching for that seemingly lost, to cÍíange our mood,

to taste of water turned into wine from stone...

From light and darkness, strength and weakness; heaven and hell, truth and falseness,

real and unreal; from the crown of thorns and the bed of roses, from the depths of

agony and the heKhts of sublime joy; from hate (both positive and negative), desti-

tution, despair, and destruction and love, faith, hope, and construction: we offer a

document we want you to owil We cannot give it to you (though we wish we could); you

must have worked for it. Thus we charge money, money which represents (see Z-News

305, all of pg 5) your past time and effort (labor, energy). The document, apearl of

great prize, is economy-priced at exactly $100.00. But we return half your money if,

after reading it seven (7) times as detailed in Z-News 302, top three-fifths of pg 3,

you feel it not worth amount paid. Make no judgments, simply read as detailed in 302.

Think! can you do these two things: read seven times and not judge. If so, order

Lesson Learnirg to receive something we trust you absorb and retain.

is not for everyone—only for those who are dissatisfied with present ways

of looking at, seeing thint: s--is for those who are anxious to learn new Ways, to

discard unsatisfactory. Please, do not order WONDER unless you expect the un-

expected...think thrice before ordering. See you down the lines...

Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005

Page 5

Z-News 307

Trademarks: SB180, COMM180, TKBBS, Micromint; H%3484/64l80, Hitachi; 280/800, 2ilog;

NSC800, National; WY-50/75/85/350, Wyse Technology; Z-System, ZCPR3, ZRDOS, Z-Tools,

Z-Com, Zas, Zlink, ZDM, REVAS, Z-Msg, DSD, Term3, TERM III, Lasting-Value software,

Echelon and their respective owners and authors; CP/M, Digita1 Research; Unix, AT&T;

MOSART, XE1201/03, Xecom; PropStar, Civil Computing; WordStar, MicroPro.

*"

FREE through Z!<

Z-News 307 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission to

reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is given to

Echelon.

Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Lqs Altos, ca 94022

jud Newell

Canada Remote Systems

4691 Dimdas Street W

Isñngton, Ont CANADA M9A 1A7

Zi

2December 1985

z-ms 308

HD64180 Computer Nmm XL-M180 S-lOO board, by Intelligent Computer Designs, does-

it-all. It's acomplete single Hard computer with 512k-bytes DRAM, tape, floppy, and

hard disk controller, local area network, and more. Write ICD at 9252 Garden Grove

Blvd., Garden Grove, CA 92644, or call 714/638-3622, to request literature.

Magnum Digital, Inc., opens new marketing headquarters at 3211 S. Providence

Road, Suite #302, Columbia, MO 65203. Call 314/449-7199 for information on their S-

IDO uíaster/slave computer (PRD-180), disk controllers, and memory boards. Mr. Marc

Strid, Marketing Manager, is ready to answer questions and dash literature to yow

MDI'S and ICD'S products open new era for S-l® bus, multiprocessing, multi-

tasking, and multi-user technology.

Bruce Morgen, erstwhile computer editor for Electronic Products magazine and

present User's Guide Advanced User columnist, places newsletter yoke around neck...his

NAOG (North American One-Eighty Group) signals bend in road...eight-bit computing

systems shall never die! Those of bigger/more-is-better mentality cannot not stop

us...deep-living alone wares well. (No-think leads to vegetable-like sleep, p1ight of

some popular magazine editors with neither focus nor long-sightedness.) Whoopee!

Subscription to NAOG newsletter costs $15.00 per year, 12 issues. To order: write

NAOG, P.O. Box 2781, Warminster, PA 18974, or call 215/443-9031. It's amust if you

own Hitachi HD64180 B-bit computer, either S-lOO or SBC. Others, especially PC-DOS

users, wouldn't find NÉdjG interesting unless they are thirikiW of upgradiííg...

ZCPR3 Game. The first game available, to our knowledge, using full Z3 environment

(doesn't run under CP/M) is called THEUÁ), is being offered by Tiger Computing, 8372

Morris Road, Hilliard, OH 43026. It's interactive, between one player and computer or

between two players, with goal of acquiring more blocks of space (pieces) than

opponent. Three levels-of-play are selectively provided. You gain as opponent

loses—lots of dramatic who-is-ahead reversals as game progresses. Program makes use

of screen half-intensity, cursor positioning, and B-bit computer speed. Very

impressive !

Demonstration of game playing against itself is on Z-Nodes in file THULDEMLBEL

Simply download, install as Z3 utility using Z3INS, and enjoy some of what can be--

then, for fun, order your fully playable copy. Presently supplied only on 8" SSSD

disk, THELLD costs a mere $10.00 plus $3.00 shipping and handling from TC

Z TIPS. Creating acomplex, long macro (multiple) command-line alias is quick and

easy if correct tools are available. Z-System has such tools. First, load (or

ERROR23) followed by HSH (or VCED), then run BALIAS (or VALÍAS) under HSH. Next, key-

in your long set of commands, editing as you observe typos. Execute the alias from

within HSH; notifies of unexecutab1e commands. Alter command text on-the-fly

from within noting changes that work. Last, re-execute, modify until each

command, entire alias, runs as intended. Wow! Of course, same technique may be used

to develop ZEX batch command files, or ARUNZ ALIAS.CMD files. We cMlleWe PC-DOS and

Unix users to compete in such interactive automation feats.

Command error handling, full-screen multiple command-line editiñ9 with present

and previous command recalling (up to the last lOó commands executed!), full-screen

creation of aliases consisting of alias nesting, multiple commands with extensive

variable passing, imlMim current directory. Again, Wow! Yet, many magazine

editors claim, fugue-like, there is nothing new to report from B-bit microcomputing

world—we WONDER why they think such non-sense.

Our Z-Node network is estimated to be handling over 35,000 callers per month. We

get words out about what we are doing, notwithstanding apopular press inclined to

ignore our community. Day soon comes when high-performance B-bit systems are publicly

proclaimed for usefulness, speed, and efficiency.

Z-News 308

We Get Letters. Newsletters 006 and 301 discussed machine resources required to

support Z-System. Some few of you seem to think we think Zcannot be used on systems

smaller than apair of 360k-byte floppy drives. Not true! More power to those who

arrange their resources to use but two 191k-byte drives and still get their work done.

Bravo! We are fully aware of performance provided by big RAM and fast hard disk

drives; but these devices are not necessary to gain substantial increased-productivity

benef its from using Z-System. Many ways to open oysters...we salute diversity of

thought, which always leads to improved technique. You know we stand against trooping

(see Zeffirelli in 304). Daniel Brogan, aprofessional writer, tells how he uses

19lk-byte drives, in file Z-ON-A-2.TXT on Z-Nodes everywhere.

Z-Node Activity. Welcome to Z-Node #45 and its sysop, Richard "Ken" Reid, in

Houston, TXJ Dick's Altos computer modem number is 713/937-8886. He fills Z-System

need in the great southwestern section of USA, reducing load on our El Paso nodes.

Z-node #41'S modem number is 301/254-6277. Its sysop, Larry Mansfield, in

Baltimore, handles traffic at one end of Maryland, while john D'Ausilio in Bladensburg

handles other end, 301/779-7986. State is covered!

Amateur ZUser's Corner. object code and source (ASCII) code are different according

to purpose .Ob ject code uses the full B-bits of abyte, needed to control

computer's processing unit registers. Assembler mnemonics (ASCII 7—

'!"" (OYQ bit) are converted (language translated) to machine operation code

"lfor register manipulation, getting the work done.

c) g" Aword processor or editor program usually produces ASCII 7-bit

:.>.>- j'ú code, except for programs like WordStar that uses the 8th bit (MSB,

-"'most signif icant bit) for soft-hyphen, etc., indicatiom

tr tT" Arunnable program is one that's been converted from lines of

'·text (statements) produced by you and your editor to ob ject code by

t' ')

'ty, "an assembler or compiler.

"i' """ gPrograms MENU, VMENU, ARUNZ, and VFILER process text flies for

"" i, cümputer task automation. You create MNU, VMN, and CMD files with

!4 \±yO i., ?\

,

your editor. Chapters 5and 7of ZCPR3: The Manual describes the

.!' "'''elements necessary to learn menu and command flle creatiom

l.The Manual has an excellent Appendix with aglossary of word

r

4/meanings. Learning from this glossary increases your understartding.

of 7

L· -" iWord meaning is important-—it's the only way w-e have to communicate

,.%" Á' with }'oil Word clarity leads to phrase and idea clarity. Clarity

th ,. ' ., ., leads to abstraction. For without abstraction we are unable to

.'; k'. .., .,,, Jh t'f"' understand thiirígs and communicate complex tlioughts.

,1,, '" ||lí\\mÁ||!l|ll)|\lll: )iil|l||!!llll|L Now to the SHOW utility...it shows important addresses and

"'"b "' 'l'i'i "l""i)") "'', ' " status of your system. Page 86 of The Manual describes níuch of what

.L iIyou need tcj know about SHOW. The base

·.,,

llI'

,.addresses oF all segment packages (RCP,

,Ñ <' '),' j,i 'PCP, ENV, NIN, etc.) and buffers are dis-

Z,'O ,' ii\i jÍ!\ ''"""É played. Ccínp1ete1y menu driven, 1l

'""' '""~ \""screens tell of message status (error,

.!mEÉb _

''! EZEX, etc.), shell stack condition, named

iidirectories, paths, full-screen memory

'// jib "Í,'i "content reporting, system file names, CRT

'"'""""""- '/^l jj 'l -"l .X ,

'and printer data Everythirig you wish to

'mAj?g,1 \' ., rkj Ec 'ÉL" know about your running ZCPR3 system is

"Pray, your Majesty, let our teacher available from one of SHOWS menus. A

quickly appear as we need him." correctly ruríniñ9 SHOW is agood indica-

tion, in addition to providing so much

information, that your entire Z-System is installed correctly. Don't foirget, SHOW can

be installed as an error handler, useful during system debugging.

Petge 2

Z-News 308

ZRGGMessage HaMlirg Prugram greatly expanded by author, Tim Gary, but keeps compact

size (only 26k-bytes). Newsletter 009 has our last words about Z-Msg. Version 1.3la

handles all popular real-time clocks and does more; for example:

oAspecial ZCPR3 ONLY addition allows the sysop of aZCPR3 system an extremely

flexible method of running other programs from Z-Msg command mode. Any number of

commands, including parameters, may be used for various user-type access setups.

oAn advanced user edit command facility has been added with these features:

."Sweep/Oisk7-like" operation allows System Operator (sysop) to quickly

step throuugh the users file, and edit, delete, or restore users.

.Direct seek to specified user number, and search for user name.

.Mass purge operation to delete users by selected criteria (times user

has called, date last 1ogged on, and user status).

.Displaying and restoring users that have been deleted, as long as a

new user hasn't taken the previous users "slot" in the users file.

oFrom within Z-Msg and with sysop-status, Control-P Cp) toggles operator's

printer on and off.

oAtemporary simulation of half-duplex operation may be performed by using ^E

(Control-E) to toggle the echoing of characters. Normally, message system echos

characters back as they are typed; this control turns off automatic echo character-

istic. Feature offers long distance callers amethod to avoid most of the delay

caused by time taken for characters to be sent and returned to their terminal.

oThe A.P,p1y command now automatically sets subject of message to something

resembling "*** New User Application ***",

oZ-Msg may execute a program before the user logs out from the message system.

Normally control is passed to telephone answer program (Term3's T3ANSWER and lOP or

BYE) which disconnects to modem, and prepares for next call.

oWhen editiñ9 aline of text while entering amessage, you may specify rest-of-

line as deleted in replacement text by appendirg a"IE' to new text. For example:

line 5text is "Mary had alittle lamb"; if line is edited with search string "little"

and replacement string "tñ9 e1ephant#", resulting line becomes "Mary had abig

elephant".

oGreater ability to upload text, like WordStar files, exists because message

system now strips (zeros) high-bit (bit 8) of byte (character) from typed text in more

places than in previous versions. Also, any linefeed character received is translated

into a space character. Thus upload: ing a message with embedded Carriage Return/Line-

feed characters, in that order, need not have the first character in each blank line

be a space.

oIf aclock is installed, the sysop may set aseparate timeout value for each

user type. Value determines time duration a user stays on system, before beirig auto-

logged-off, at Z-Msg command prompt. The following object-code routines are supplied

and installed from aZ-Msg menu:

MEC-5832.CLK -5832 homebrew clock MEC-LG2.CLK -Kaypro 2and Legacy clock

MEC-BBII.CLK -Big Board II MEC-KPRO.CLK -Kaypro 2and ProClock

MEC-CW.CLK -CompuTime/QT clock MEC-QX1O.CLK -Epson QXlO

MEC-KP4.CLK -Kaypro 4clock MEC-XERO.CLK -Xerox 820-11 clock

MEC-LGIO.CLK -Kaypro 10 and Legacy clock

MEC-SSI.CLK -CompuPro System Support Iclock

MEC-KCT.CLK -Kenmore Computer Technologies clock

Additional routines are possible using MECLKHIRASM file supplied, or with BYE 3/5

clock insert files,

Z-Msg has become so significant in our software stable we cancelled EMSG develop-

ment. Z-Msg takes us through the 1980's to Earth satellite relay packet networks.

Z-Msg, with BO-page loose-leaf, is offered for $99.95, plus $4.00 shippiw and

handiiñ9. Source code is an additional $100.00. Manual alone is $20.00, refundable

if program ordered later.

Page 3

Z-News 308

Use of DRUGS

Learn, know physiological results from taking hallueinogenie and nareotie drugs. Drug

abuse bares bitter fruits. Any who want to argue about the so-called beauty or

harmlessness must awake and start thinking. If drugs control you now, the habit

pattern may be so powerful you will need outside assistanee to break it, to find

another way to get through the day.

How Hallueinogenie Drugs Work in the Brain

Diagrams below are accurate representation of facts disclosed through micro-

photography within aliving human brain. Photos were taken during brain-cell proeess

of transferring a sensory message from one brain cell to another. Cells are directly

related in chain from input to senses to final action, thought, or decision made as a

result of that input.

Diagram I

In normal transfer of sensory signal from cell to cell, after an initial elect-

rical impulse, the brain cells do not actually touch; transmission is aeeomplished by

tiny, tiny grains of protein, called "transmitter granules", which cross tiny gap

between the two nerve cell endings. If, for instance, this particular signal is part

of ashade of green (hundreds or even thousands of cells would be involved in ascer-

taining el tree's shades of leaf color), the granules cross gap between correct nerve

endings and transmit that speeific, eorrect shade of green for which they were bio-

iogieally, genetieañy program med (through heritage).

Diagram II

Under influence of hallucinogenic or "mind-manifesting" drugs, these transmitter

granules are physically disrupted, broken up into hundreds or thousands of bits and

pieces. They then seatter all over the brain, indiseriminately hitting unrelated

brain cells. Semation of green may be mixed with some red. Bits may hit acell end

transferring impulses of "up" or "down" or danger, joy, pain, guilt, anger, and may

hit possible subeonseious fantasies of murder, great powers, suieide, and so on.

what seems to the drug-user as a "high" is really an all-time low, in terms of

correct, reality-oriented, significant information. And that can lead to incorrect

thoughts, feeiings, judgments, and irrational decisions and aetions—and non-action

when action is indicated.

This is the danger of drug-abuse: FEELING AND REACTING TO NON-REALITY!

Love and relationships cannot grow and mature between/among people inñueneed by

drugs. Alcohol, marljuana, coeaine, LSD, PCP, and heroin. Drugs, acause for

battering among family members, marital divorces, and broken friendships. Think

straight. Rise up! and become what you are capable of becoming.

I, Precise transmission II, Indiscriminate transmission :to an

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Page 4

Z-News 308

Nevsletter Policy. Z-News reprints (all back issues are available) are $1.00 each,

$8.00 for any 12, and $12.00 for any individual 24 issues, mailed as alot, postage

included in price. ayear's subscription remains at $24.00, for from 22 to 26 issues

mailed every fortnight. Thirty-five have been written thus far, imludiw 308. Z-

News 106 explains issue numbering system. We encourage those who receive Z-News from

RASs (and EI customers who know their 6-months initial auto-subscription has expired—

consider user-support, free-ware $35.00 donation suggested in Newsletter 103, pg 3,

Item 83 on our Price List) to subscribe to hardcopy versiom Publication has impact.

Multi—color papers, graphics and sketches, several font styles, headers and footers,

shadow and %1d characters, and word/phrase uriderlining make study and 7-times reading

easy. You miss much if you don't receive Echelon hardcopy version of Z-News.

Industry Bríef. Toshiba produces CMOS exact-replacement for NMOS Z80 chip. Dis-

sipates but 60 milliwatts at 4megaHertz clock rate, compared to over-a-watt for

conventional Z80. Mostek, Z80 supplier owned by United Technology, doors closed. Z80

without Mostek and its superior documentation and customer support would never have

become so popular; but now it's gone. Can western companies compete with Oriental?

japan's industry (attention to detail) fast overtakes USA'S. Such industry

forces Iktroit to improve their offerings—Oetroit has some ways to go! Reason we buy

Japanese imports is same reason they wouldn't buy ours, mmatter how fair and easy

the marketing channels. Ignore scape-goats, increase value.

Ramb1ings. (Still camped on mountain top, positioned among plants and animals, co-

inhabitants of Earth.) Creatures of habit, appetite, consumption, re-action, we

continue to be; business as usual, as we lose our economy, our mental and moral

advantages. Take alonger view, or become asecond class culture or perhaps worse,

extinct. Our enormous abdomens betray us-—tell of our true worship. Or are we

addicted to generating internal endorphins?

There's an infinite number of levels of druñkenness, ranging from an overdose of

beauty to an overdose of alcohol or heroin. (Yes, beauty causes us to linger, is a

major stuIrlb1iw block to learning, to becoming.) We are without much fancy or imagi-

nation—we lust for satisfaction, fulfillment without working for it.

Listen, there is no second-party salvation; it's up to you to make of what's

available, to tum substance into finer essence. There is no heaven but uhat's in

your mind. Heaven is not aplace; it's adimension added to your uríderstandiw (see

end of Z-News 304). The shell game is over—life starts and stops with you and me.

You may have heard it said "plagiarism is basic to culture, any culture." We

each use to advantage thirigs past. But, we must pay for such use by creating things

of equal value others can use. Such accounting adds to Life instead of death,

promotes local Construction (that echoes througtíout Cosmos), not destruction.

What constitutes the Whole (question asked in 307, pg 5)? Integrity. How can

any one be weak, false who dares to be at all? Even tender plants force their way up

through hard soil, and crevices of highway asphalt; surely, ahuman being, no material

substance can resist. What awedge, aforce, Third Force, is an earnest person! Can

he be resisted? The heavens are as deep as our aspirations are hi9h. So fúgh as a

tree aspires to grow, so high it finds an environment to nurture, to nourish it. Is

there one who dares not see clearly beyond, though only ahair's breadth beyond where

he currently stands? Z-System users, dare!

ti :do re me fa so la ti Tdo

See you down the lines... Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, CA 94022

Telephone: 415/948-3820

Z-Node Central: 415/489-9005

Page 5

Z-News 308

Trademarks: SBl80, COMM180, TKBBS, Micromint; WJ63484/64180, Hitachi; Z8O/800, Z: ilog;

NSC800, National; WY-30/50/ 75/85/350, Wyse Technology; Z-System, ZCFR3, ,Z-

Tools, Z-Com, Zas, Zlink, ZDM, Revas4, Z-Msg, DSD, Term3, Lasting-Value Sof tware,

Echelon and their respective owners and authors; CP/M, Digital Research; Unix, AT&T;

MOSART, XE1201/03, Xecom; PropStar, Civil Computing; WordStar, MicroPro,

"~gb·-

FLYWithZ!

-- .-. 7_

*

i

.

Z-News 308 is Copyx"ight 1985 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission to

reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is given to

Echelon.

Echelon, Inc.

101 First Street

Los Altos, ca 94022

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