Micro_Cornucopia_#46_Mar89 Micro Cornucopia #46 Mar89

Micro_Cornucopia_#46_Mar89 Micro_Cornucopia_%2346_Mar89

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No. 46

THE

$3.95

March-April 1989

TECHNICAL

MICRO

Software Tools
OK, you asked for it, an issue dedicated
(mostly) to software.

The Art of Disassembly

page 8

Using Sourcer to create commented,
assembly source from object files.

Handling Interrupts
WithAnyC

page 16

Hacking Sprint:
page 36
Creating Display Drivers

Annual C Reviews
Comparing the latest,
greatest C compilers.

page 40

And More ...
Turning A PC Into An page 24
Embedded Control System
Bringing Up A Surplus
68000 Board

page 28

Part 2 of Karl Lunt's cheap 68000 project.

Plus:
Practical Fractals
Shareware you must register
And Much, Much, More

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2 MB EMS
MEMORY BOARDS
~

configurations:
towenase, color, etc. 0 0 0 0 0 0 • SCan
DTK 8 MB RAM card 0 0 0 0 • 0 • 0 •• 99
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XT SYSTEMS
Include: 640K RAM, serial/parallel/
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with amber/green monitor. 1 yearwarranty.
FREE assembly and testing.
4.77/10 with 2 Floppy ••••••••• 790
IFD and 1 Miniscribe HD:
4.77/10 with 20 MB HD •••••••• 995
4.77/10 with 30 MB HD ••••••• 1010

AT SYSTEMS
Includes: 640K RAM, 1.2 MBFD, 1
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12 mhz •••••••••• , ••••••••• 1495
Color options for any kit (includes
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CGA Color •••••••.••••••••• 175
CGA/EGA Color •••.••••••••• 380
VGA (analog) ••••••••••••••• 650
CGA/EGAlVGA Multisync ••••• 450

PC/XT
Floppy Controller ••••••••••••• 19
Multi-f\..inction-1 ser/par/
clk/game/2 floppy ••••••••••• 47
640K RAM (0K) ••••••••••••••• 25
150 Watt Power Supply ••••••••• 50
Slide case lock, LED ••••••••••• 38

AT
200 Watt Power Supply ••••••••• 75
AT/386, Lock, LED •••••.•••••• 65
Tower AT/386, Lock,
LED & 200 Watt ps •••••••••• 239

MOTIlERBOARDS
XT/Turbo 4.77/10 ............. 79
AT 6/10 Award/Phoenix!
DTK Bios •••••..••••• 0 •••• 249
AT 6/12 Award/Phoenix!
DTK Bios •••••••• 0•••• 0 ••• 299
Baby AT 6/12 AMI/DTK ••••••• 279
803868/20 DTK Bios. o ' • • • 0 ••• 937
XT/AT Memory 0.......... $CALL

SOFfWARE
MS DOS 3.21 w/GW Basic 0••••• 49
DR DOS 3.3 w/GEM 0 0•• 0 •••••• 49

PCXT&AT
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Game .•••••••••••••••••••••• 14
Parallel (LPT 1, 2 or 3) ••••••••• 18
Serial Port Card - 1 installed
Switchable Com 1, 2, 3 or 4 •••• 18
Kit for 2nd SerialPort •••••••••• 18
Multi I/O
Serial/Par/Game •••••••••••• 32
2nd Serial Kit ••••••••••••••• 30
Multi Drive Controller •••••••••• 39
Supports 1.44, 720K, 1.2, 360K drives

DISKDRlVES
Teac/Toshiba 360K •• 0••••••••• 80
Teac/Toshiba 1.2 MB •••••••••• 105
Teac/Toshiba 3112" 720K •••••••• 99
Teac/Toshiba 3112" 1.44 MB kit. •• 139
XT 20 MB Miniscribe
8425 (65ms) 0.............. 279
8425 w/controller ••••••••••• 319
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DISK DRIVES (Continued)
AT 40 MB MiniScribe
3650 (61 ms) 0 0 • 0 00 • 00 0 0 0 • 0 0339
AT 40 MB MiniScribe
3053 (25ms) • 0 0 • 0 0 00 0 •• 0 0 0 0489
AT 71MB MiniScribe
6085 (28ms) 0 0 0 • 00 • 0 • 0 0 0 0 • 0649
AT (MFM) HD & FD
Controller card DTK 000.000.110
WD ..... 0 0 0 .127
AT RLL HD & FD
Controller. 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 • 0 0189

MONITORS
EGA/CGA
(Autoswitch .31 dot) 0 0 • 0 • 0 •• 385
CGA/EGA/VGA
MultiSync (.31 dot) 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0495
CGA Color • 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 • 0 0 0 0 0249
Amber 12" TTL 00000000000000089
Green 12" TTL 0000.0000.0.0 •• 89
VGAAnalog
(Mitsubishi .28 dot) • 0 • 0 0 00 • 0549
Color/Graphics/Par. 0 •• 0 0 0 00 0 0 049
Mono/Graphics/Par 0 0 • 0 00 0 0 0 • 049
CGA/EGA/VGA (640x480) 0 0 0 • 0 169
VGA Analog, STB Extra 0 0 •• 0 0 0235

KEYBOARDS
Chicony Click 101 ••• 0 •• 0 • 0 0 0 • 049
Keytronic KB101 00 •••••• 0 0 0 0 • 067
Focus 101 Tactile,
Switch able, Control Caps Lock,
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MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989

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Soft-ICE uses ZERO bytes of memory in the first 1MB of address
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Works with your favorite debugger
Soft-ICE can be used as a stand-alone debugger or it can add its
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You can continue to use your favorite debugger until you require
Soft-~CE. Simply pop up the Soft-ICE window to set powerful
real-tIme break points. When a break point is reached, your
debugger will be activated.

Solve tough systems problems too
Soft~ICE

is ideal for debugging TSRs, interrupt handlers, self
bootmg programs, DOS loadable device drivers, non-DOS
operating systems, and debugging within DOS & BIOS. Soft-ICE
is also great for firmware development because Soft-ICE's break
points work in ROM.

CodeView is a great integrated debugger, but it
uses over 200K of conventional memory.
MagicCV uses advanced features of the 80386
microprocessor to load CodeView and symbols in
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Code View using less than 8K of conventional
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If you are closing in on the 640K limit and would
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Even if you're not closing in on the 640K limit,
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is running with a couple of TSRs loaded.

How MagicCV works
MagicCV uses the 80386 to create a separate
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between 4K & 8K of conventional memory as a
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MagicCV is easy to use
If you are a Code View user, you already know how
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CV; everything else is automatic.

Save $86

How Soft-ICE Works
Soft-ICE uses the power of the 80386 to
surround your program in a virtual machine.
This gives you complete control of the DOS
environment, while Soft-ICE runs safely in
protected mode. Soft-ICE uses 80386
protected mode features, such as paging, I/O
privilege level, and break point registers, to
provide real-time hardware-level break points.

"Soft-ICE is a product any MS-DOS
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Dr. Dobb's Journal -May 1988

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Both require 80386 AT compatible or IBM PS/2 Model 80. MagicCV requires at
•••
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MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

$199
$386

MagicCV
with Soft-ICE
Using Soft-ICE with CodeView gives you the features
necessary for professional
level systems debugging.
MagicCV and Soft-ICE can
work in concert with CodeView to provide the most
powerful debugging
platform you will find
anywhere.

THE

MICRO

TECHNICAL

J 0 URN A L

MICRO CORNUCOPIA
MARCH/APRIL 1989 - ISSUE NO. 46

B. H. Flusche, Jr.

The Art of Disassembly

Disassembly has long remained one of the black arts: black
because few do it well, black because of its hacker
reputation. However, it's a skill that will serve you well.
Very, very well.

C'ing Clearly
The great C comparison for 1989.

86 World
Laine creates packed and unpacked screen fonts.

ShareWare
Tony reviews PC-File:dB and PC-Write 3.0.

The Culture Comer
This column is for adults only.

On Your Own
Kent Peterson starts a computer newsletter.

Units And Modules
Absolute precision using rational numbers (via irrational
means).

CP/M Notes
Sources of CP/M products.

Tech Tips

Tidbits
Graphing your data with Slide Write.

LastPage
Go.

Sam Azer

Bruce Eckel

Handling Interrupts With Any C
Some Cs support interrupts elegantly, some support them
barely. Here's how to interrupt with any C in style.

Turning A PC Into An Embedded Control
System
Bruce goes back to hardware and produces an EEPROM
board. This is the first of a series on embedded controllers.
AS
AS
A7
M

AS
M
A3

Data 0
Data 1
Data 3
Oa184
n ••• ~
08186

2
3
4
5
8
7
8

AI
A2
A3
M
AS
M
A7

Bl
B2
B3
B4

B5
B6
B7 .

18
17

18
15
14
13
12

OATAO
DATAl
nATAl'
OATA3
OATM
·DATAS
OATM

/V
-/V
-/V

/V
/V
/V

OATA2
OATA3
DATM
OATA5
OATA8
OATA7

Karl Lunt

Bringing Up A Surplus 68000 Board
What would you do with a fancy, but undocumented,
68000-based processor board? Figure out how to make it
run, of course.
I

Larry Foggi

Practical' Fractals
What does a,fractal have that'~ practical? What does a
fractal have in common with the Deschutes River? Larry
brings us the answers to these burning questions.
Brett Glass

Hacking Sprint: Creating Display Drivers
Now that you've hacked everything else you might as well
write a display driver for a text editor. (You'll, of course,
use the editor's interface language. Right? You knew
about that, I know you did.)

Cover illustration by Paul Leatherwood

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989 3

THE

MICRO

TECHNICAL

By David J. Thompson

JOURNAL

MICRO CORNUCOPIA
Editor and Publisher
David J. Thompson

AROUND
THE BEND

Associate Editors
Gary Entsminger
Cary Gatton

Returning SOG To
Its Roots

Technical Department
Larry Fogg
Director of Advertising
& Distribution
Jackie Ringsage
Accounting
Sandy Thompson
Order Department
Tammy Westfall
Graphic Design
Carol Steffy
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ISSN 0747-587X

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

This has probably been the most difficult editorial
I've had to write. It's been difficult because I've had to
make some hard choices, and it's been difficult because
I can't explain everything that went into those choices.
Over the past couple of SaGs (Semi-Official Get-togethers), a number of you have approached me about
future SaGs. Would there be future SaGs? Was I as exhausted as I appeared?
"Of course," I said, "there will be another SOG."
"Yes, I'm exhausted," I added, ''but this is a wonderful time, the highlight of my year. Sure it's fun to write
for 30,000, but it's ten times more exciting to speak with
400."
However, I'm not sure I'd survive another SaG. The
Monday after SaG VII, Laura Logan left Micro C. It
wasn't a bad leaving, she'd always wanted to live on
the Oregon Coast. However, when she left, we lost our
SaG organizer. She planned to continue the project, remotely, so we announced SaG VIII. But finally, as
things became busy for her there (making waves, I presume), she bowed out.
For SaGs I and II, loss of a key person wouldn't
have been a problem. One hundred people showed up
at our house for a day of potluck food and potluck discussions. Sure, it was a long day - two days, really, but
it was wonderful.
However, SaG has grown to 400 people, too many
for any facility short of the local college. Laura made
sure there were rest rooms, dorm rooms, motel rooms,
and classrooms. She also set up rafting, volleyball nets,
food services, apple barrels, and that myriad of wonderful, soggy things that had to be done.
We no longer have someone who has either the time
or the experience to effectively handle another SaG, so
I've been mulling over some options.
Charge for SOG. That way we could afford to hire a
convention manager or service. But who pays? It's a
family event with activities for spouses and kids and
babysitting and all that. So far we've not charged for
admission. (If we did charge, who'd patrol the corridors
to make sure everyone had paid?) Plus, everyone from
staff to speakers donated their time. That really made
SaG unique.
End SOG. That's it. Kaput. No more. When I mention this option to folks who call in, I always get a
stunned silence. (Thanks.) But some have offered to
Continued on page 72

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Reader Service Number 129

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989

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Reader Service Number 108

Oops Indeed
I thoroughly enjoyed Micro C's Object Oriented Programming issue (#44). Indeed, I am one of the religious fanatics of
the WWLFSOG (We Who Live For SOG) sect that Micro C
caters to so well. But I seem to be suffering from an acute case
of Groping for Acronyms Syndrome (GAS).
In issue #44's articles and advertisements, the letters 00,
OOP, or OOPS are used for the same phrase - Object Oriented
Programming. Zak Urlocker calls it OOP on page 18, Bruce
Eckel calls it 00 on page 32, the Digitalk ad on page 12 uses
OOPS (the picture on page 13 does include the word "system"),
and the Zortech ad on the inside back cover uses both OOP and
oops (oops?).
First, I think 00 is incomplete (maybe Bruce saw fireworks
as he bathed in the Pleasure of Object Oriented Programming
(POOP». Then there's OOPS. What's the "S" for? Software?
System? Or is it just Silent? I suspect some advertisers think it's
cute or has a nice ring. But, frankly, oops is something I say
when I've made a misteak.
. I can only hope these Fanatical Object Oriented Language
Sellers (FOOLS) drop the "S" before we all Generate Adverse
Gossip (GAG).

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Larry Hollibaugh

2714 SE 19th Ave.
Portland, OR 97202

A Dose Of Reality
With all the Object hype being published, there is one article
which I fear will not get the attention it deserves. In the May '88
issue of IEEE Software, the creator of c++ published an article
titled, ''What is Object Oriented Programming?"
Before some readers groan, "Oh God, not another one," I
must say this article is different. I may do it injustice, but to brutally sum up the article:
In the beginning there was flat programming a hi BASIC, but
it had a,b,c wrong with it. Trying to fix a,b,c gave us Pascal and
procedures. But now we had d,e,f problems. Trying to fix d,e,f
yielded modular programming, but with problems g,h,i. Fixing
g,h,i yielded abstract data type programming, but with problems j,k,l. We fixed j,k,l with object oriented programming, but
now we have problems m,n,o, and we have no idea how to fix
these!
The article goes on to say much more, but the fact that it
showed objects as part of a progression rather than being
brought down off the mountain carved on stone tablets just

Continued on page 80

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The Art of Disassembly;
Getting To The Source Of The Problem V\'hen The Object's The Data

~ -"~

it;,

~.
"-

'\:.

"'-

~\;

Disassembly is largely misunderstood.
Many folks think it's some kind of reverse
voodoo. Others think it's a nefarious sport
better left to hackers. But the reasons to disassemble are many: including silencing an
irritating bell, or recreating source after a
hard disk crash.
've divided this article into two parts.
In the first I do a general disassembly
of disassembly; in the second I use a
disassembler called Sourcer.

What Is Disassembly?
Disassembly is the process of taking
machine code and translating it back into
assembly language. The program that
does this is called a disassembler. There
is no requirement that the original code
be written in assembly, but no matter
what language was originally used, disassembly will only produce the assembly
translation of the machine code. An example of a disassembler is DEBUG's unassemble command.
The disassembler can translate
numeric instructions into assembly mnemonics, but not every byte or word in an
.EXE or .COM file is an instruction. There
are tables for data, embedded messages,
and so on, so it's often up to a human to
make the disassembler's output useful.
A knowledgeable operator can greatly
improve the quality of the final disassembled code by making multiple passes,
each time gleaning new information. This
new information can be fed back to the
disassembler to improve the quality of
the next run.
Why Disassemble?
Now the question, why on earth
would anyone but a hacker want to disassemble code? There are many reasons.
First, to find out how the program
works. To practice safe computing, you
may want to check out any new pro-

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

By B. H. Flusche, Jr.
3892 E. Geddes Ave.
Littleton, CO 80122

grams to be sure they do not contain a
virus.
Once you know how the program
works, you can modify the program. I
have a utility program called "browse"
which allows me to view an ASCII file. It
can move though the file one line at a
time, or one page at a time.
However, to search for something, I
must page a screen at a time until I find
it. Tedious. So I disassembled the program and added a string search feature.
A third reason is to document a program. Sometimes programmers produce
only object code as their finished product. With a disassembler, the company
can at least regain the assembly code.
You can also reverse engineer a program. However, be very careful since
distributing the results would probably
be illegal.
How A Disassembler Works
There are two types of disassembler
programs. The first assumes that every
byte or word it reads is an instruction.
This works until the disassembler reaches
the first data area. The "unassemble"
command in DEBUG is a good example
of this kind of disassembler.
Figure 1 is a printout from DEBUG. Is
this data, instructions, or both?
The main disadvantage to this method
is that it requires a great deal of highly
skilled operator intervention.
More sophisticated disassemblers also
assume the binary code is all instructions,
but they can later correct themselves and
determine which addresses are data and
which are instructions. But even these
disassemblers will sometimes need help.
Sourcer falls into this category and the
intervention it requires is discussed in
detail later.
A Different Type Of Disassembler
The second type of disassembler
makes no initial assumptions about data
or instructions. In this case the operator

knowledgeable
operator can
greatly improve the
quality of the final
disassembled code
by making multiple
passes, each time
gleaning new
in·formation.

Figure 1- DEBUG
Unassembly of Simple.com
118B:0100
118B:0102
118B:0103
118B:0105
118B:0106
118B:0107
118B:0108
118B:0109
118B:010A
118B:010C
118B:0101:
118B:010F
118B:0110
118B:0112
118B:0115
118B:0117
118B:0119
118B:011B
118B:0110
/***/

EB61
90
OAOO
48
65
6C
6C
6F
2C20
706C
65
61
7365
206561:
7465
7220
796F
7572
206E61

JMP

NOP
OR
DEC
DB
DB
DB
DB
SUB

JO
DB
DB
JNB
AND

JZ
JB

JNS
JNZ
AND

0163
CL, [OIl
AX

65
6C
6C
6F
AL,20
017A
65
61
0177
[OI+61:] ,AB
017C
0139
018A
018F
[BP+61] ,CH

must tell the disassembler the entry point
into the target program. The disassembler then starts translating instructions
from that point until it encounters an unconditional jump or a subroutine return.
It then stops translating and stores the
beginning and ending addresses that define this portion of the program as instructions.
As the disassembler translates, it notes
the destination addresses of all conditional jumps and subroutine calls that it
encounters. It stores these addresses in a
table and uses them as new entry points
into the program since it can be sure that
these addresses are for instructions.
The disassembler goes back and forth
through the code until it has used up all
the destination addresses. Thus, it generates a map of the instructions. It assumes
everything else is data.
What this disassembler calls instructions, are usually instructions. However,
the rest isn't always data. Instructions
will be missed if they aren't called by the
rest of the program.
There are two primary causes for uncalled code:
1. Multiple external entry points to the
program.
2. Non-accessible code produced by
compilers.
The non-accessible code is not important since it is never executed. However,
multiple entry points should be caught
by the operator.
The listing produced by the diSassembler should be in a standard assembler
format. If not, you will have more difficulty reassembling the program after
modifications. A good disassembler will
even add the assembler directives.
The disassembler has no knowledge
of what the program does or how it does
it. The listing will be labeled for the explicitly called data and instruction locations,
but they will have some sequential format such as "loc_12" or "data_24" instead of intelligible names like
MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

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SOURCER'M creates detailed commented source code and listings from memory
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multiple segments and provides detailed comments on interrupts and subfunctions,
110 ports and much more, Determines necessary assembler directives for reassembly, Complete supportfor8088 through 80286, V20IV30, 8087, and 80287 instruction
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SAMPLE

OUTPUT

Fully
automatic
Program
header

resetprn,lst

Detailed
comments

Simulator
follows
segment
changes

Easy to
read
format

19-Apr-88

4:05 pm

Page I

PAGE 50,132

RESETPRN
Created:
Version:

data.le

- OOOS

15-Apr-88
1.01
: (0040:000S-37Sh)

equ

:------------------------------------------------------------ seg.a ----seg.a
selllllOnt para publiC
assume cs:seg.a, ds:seg.a, ss:stack.seg.b

Assembler
directives
Determines
data areas
and type

Sourcer Listing

ResetPRN vl.OI

558E:0000
658E:0000
658E:0002
658E:000S
658E :OOOE
658E:001l
658E:0013
658E:0019
658E:00IF
658E:0025
658E:0025
658E:0026
65SE:0027
658E: 002A
658E:002C

resetprn
start:
EB 23
52 55
52 4E
30 31
0040
00 OA
74 20
74 65

73 65 74 50
20 76 31 2E
00
52 65 73 65
50 72 59 6E
72 3F 20 24

data 2
data)

OE
IF
,BA 0013
.B4 09
CO 21

proc

far

J"I'
db

short loci
'ResetPRN·vl.OI', ooh

dw
db

40h
ooh, OM, 'Reset Printer? S'

push
pop

cs
ds
dX,offset data 3 : (658E:0013-ooh)
ah,9
•
21h
: 005 Services ah-functlon 09h
: display char string at ds:dx
ah,l
21h
: 005 Services ah-Iunctlon Olh
, get keybd char ai, with echo
al,79h
: 'y'
loc 3
: Ju"l' If not equal
dS,aata 2
: (558E:001l-40h)
: (0040:000S-378h)
dx,ds:data Ie
dX,2
•
ai,S
dX,al
: port 37M, pr I nter-2 contro I
: al - 8, Inlttallze printer
cX,BOOOh

IIIlV

Int

658E:002E B4 01
658E:0030 CO 21

IIIlV

658E:0032
658E:0034
658E:0036
658E:00lA
658E:003E
658E:0041
658E: 0043

3C
75
BE
88
S3
BO
EE

c"l'
Jne

658E:0044
658E:0047
658E:0047
658E:0049
658E: 004B

B9 BOOO

Int

79
16
IE 0011
16 OOOS
C2 02
08

IIIlV

add
IIIlV

out

loop

E2 FE
BO OC
EE

IIIlV

out

65SE:004C
658E :004C 84 4C
658E:004E CO 21

IIIlV

Int
resetprn
seg.a

"geCrs232_inpuf' or "screen_offset."
One of your major tasks is to work
through the code, figure out what's happening, and change the sequential labels
to meaningful ones, This process is complicated if the disassembler mistakes data
for instructions or vice versa.
Most of the commercial disassemblers
ad vertise a feature called. commented.
code where the disassembler automatically puts comments in the listing. This is
not really as useful as it seems. Remember the disassembler does not understand
the target program. So its comments can
only tell you a bit about what is happening, not why.

locloop 2
al,OCh·
dX,al

: Loop If cx • 0

ah,4Ch
21h

: 'L'

: port 37M, prlnter-2 control
: al - OCh, Inlt I strobe off
; 005 Services ah-functlon 4Ch
; terminate with ai-return code

endp
ends

These three
goals, deciphering
program logic,
adding comments
and labels, and
.
ensunng accuracy
are synergistic. As
you improve one,
it's easier to
improve the others.

:------------------------------------------------------- stack seg b ---stack.seg.b segment para stack
• •
db
192 dup (OFFh)
ends

6593:0000 OOCO[FFJ

stack.seg.b

end

start

(Source code output and inline cross reference can also be selected)

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Reader Service Number 62

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

For example, Sourcer will comment a
LODSB instruction with ";string [si] to
aI." This helps if you're an inexperienced.
8086 programmer who would otherwise
have to look it up, but what you really
want to know is the purpose of the instruction. In this case, it might be "; get
byte from filename for parsing."
How The Disassembly Process Works
Now that we have seen what a disassembler does, and doesn't do, lefs look
at the overall disassembly process, The
basic steps are:
(1) Examine the machine code using
DEBUG.
(2) Feed the machine code to the disassembler.
(3) Examine the disassembler's output.
(4) Determine new settings for the disassembler.
(5) GOTO step (2) until the listing is
satisfactory.

Steps (2) and (5) are self-explanatory
and step (4) is disassembler specific, so
we will concentrate on steps (1) and (3).
In step (1) you use DEBUG to dump
the target code. This is to give you a
general idea which addresses contain
data. Look for ASCll strings and initialized data areas.
ASCll strings are readily recognizable
from the dump listing. Record their
beginning and ending addresses so that
you can tell the disassembler that this is a
data area. (It will appreciate all the help
you can give it.) By looking closely at the
strings, you will be able to glean additional information.
If the strings end with a zero, they are
in the ASCIIZ form. This means the program was probably compiled with a high
level language (for instance, C uses
ASCIIZ strings): If the strings end with a
$, then the source was probably an assembly program.
You will be able to recognize the initialized areas if you get large areas of the
same byte. In particular an area initialized to zero is easy to notice.
If you are not sure, use DEBUG to unassemble the code. If you get the same
instruction 100 times, then it's probably
data. Two in a row, well, they could be
data or instructions. When in doubt, assume instructions.
Step (3), examining the disassembler's
output, is the hardest part of disassembly. This is a job for an experienced
assembly programmer. The key to
successfully disassembling the target program is to examine the listing, instruction
by instruction, to decipher the original
program logic.
Deciphering The Listing
You must understand the target program so that you can add labels and
comments, and ensure the disassembled
version is an accurate recreation of the
original. The mechanics of deciphering
the listing vary, but I have found the following effective:
1. Start at the beginning and follow
the program flow. When you come to a
conditional jump, try to figure out why
the jump exists. Record the conditions
and take both branches. You may not initially know why the jump is there, but by
comparing the instructions following
both branches you can figure it out.
2. When you get to a subroutine call,
note the contents of the registers, then go
to the subroutine code. Try to determine
the purpose of the subroutine. Record
which registers it uses for input and
which it uses to return values.
3. Don't try to get everything straight

Figure 2 - Simple.com Object Code
2EEO:Ol00
2EED:Oll0
2EED:0120
2EEO:0130
2EEO:0140
2EEO:0150
2EEO:0160
2EEO:0170
2EED:0180
2EEO:0190

EB
73
60
68
63
20
20
CD
4F
2E

61
65
65
6F
6F
20
20
21
01
01

90
20
3A
77
60
20
20
BA
B4
CD

OA
65
20
20
70
20
80
25
02
21

00
6E
24
64
75
20
16.
01
E3
B8

48
74
OA
6F
74
20
03
B4
07
08

65
65
00
20
65
20
01
09
AC
4C

6C-6C
72-20
57-65
79-6F
72-73
20-20
B4-09
CD-21
8A-00
CD-21

6F
79
6C
75
3F
20
CD
8A
CD

2C
6F
6C
20
OA
20
21
OE
21

20
75
2C
6C
00
20

70
72
20
69
24
20
BA 40
4E 01
E2 F9

6C
20
24
6B
15
20
01
32
B4

65
6E
2C
65
00
20
B4
ED
09

61
61
20
20
20
20
OA
BE
BA

. a ... Hello, plea
se enter your na
me: $ .. Well, $,
how do you like
computers? . $ ••
..••••. !.M .•.
.! .!is •••• ! .. N.2 ••

O••••••••• 1 •••••
... ! .. L.!

1***1

Figure 3 - Initial Definition File, and Listing
--------------- Section 1 Control Information -----------------keep segments = def
Input filename = simple.com
--------------- Section 2
begin
end
default
seg:off
off
ds
es
sega:Ol00
sega:Ol03
sega:0163

0102
0162
0198

Range Definitions -------------------seg
type

sega sega
0000 0000
sega sega

code
data
auto

--------------- Section 3 Reference Definitions ---------------seg:off type
options and label
sega:0103
sega:0125
sega:012e

simple. 1st

msg1
msg2
msg3

da
da

Example disassembly

Sourcer Listing vl.68

Page 1

Editor's note: We've taken some small liberties with this listing
to make it fit on the page. Please excuse the line wraps.

14Eh

= 014E
; (OOOO:014E=O)

codeseg
segment
assume cs:codaseg, ds:codeseg

81BF
81BF
81BF
81BF
81BF

0100
0100
0102
0103
0104

EB 61
90
OA
00 48 65 6C 6C 6F

81BF
81BF
81BF
81BF
81BF
81BF
81BF
81BF
81BF
81BF

010A
0110
0116
011C
0120
0125
0126
012C
012E
012F

2C
73
65
72
60
OA
00
20
2C
20

81BF
81BF
81BF
81BF
81BF
81BF
81BF
81BF
81BF

0135
013B
0141
0147
014B
0140
014F
0163
0163

6F 20 79
6C 69 6B
6F 60 70
72 73 3F
00 24
15 00
0014[20)

20
65
72
20
65

70
20
20
6E
3A

6C
65
79
61
20

org

100h

simple

proc

start:
jmp
db

msgl

far

short loc 1
90h
db
OAb
db
OOh, 'Hello, please
enter your na'

65 61
6E 74
6F 75
24

msg2

db
db

mag3

db
db

57 65 6C 6C 2C
24
68 6F 77 20 64

'me: $'
OAb
OOh, 'Well, $'

,,,
' how do you like
computers?', OAb

6F 75 20
65 20 63
75 74 65
OA
db
db
db

OOh, '$'
15h, 0
20 dup (20h)

lea

dx,msgl

loc_l:
80 16 0103

continued on page 12

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

the first time. Get as much as you feel
you can, then rerun the disassembler
with the new information. You will be
surprised at how much easier the second
examination will be since the new listing
will have some descriptive labels.
Instead of trying to remember that
"sub_23" reads a sector and "sub_1S"
writes a sector, you will have changed
the labels to "read_sector" and
"write_sector." If you can make the disassembler put comments in its listing, do
so. You want as much information as
possible on the listing.
4. As you examine the listing, be sure
that the data is really data, and that the
instructions are really instructions.
Ideally you could check this before the
detail exam, but unfortunately the exam
is the only real way to know.
These three goals, deciphering program logic, adding comments and mnemonic labels, and ensuring accurate
translation have a synergistic effect. As
you improve one, it's easier to improve
the others. Conversely you cannot
complete one until the others are nearly
complete. Working on these three simultaneously is the secret to disassembly.
Sourcer
Now that we have thoroughly examined general disassembly, let's look at
Sourcer. In the rest of this article, I'll explain how Sourcer works, how to use it,
and some things about it not mentioned
in the operators manual. If you haven't
read Sourcer's user manual, the last section may be hard to follow.
How Sourcer Works
Sourcer is a multipass disassembler
where you set the number of passes from
2 to 5. On the first pass Sourcer assumes
all the code in the target program is
made up of instructions. As it goes
through the code, it stores the symbol
addresses for use in the next pass. It
maintains three symbol tables; one each
for data, locations, and subroutines. On
the next pass it looks at the symbol tables
and makes sure the item referenced is
valid.
With each additional pass, Sourcer refines the symbol tables and its ability to
distinguish instructions from data. The
number of entries in each table may
decrease as invalid entries are recognized
and removed. On the last pass it writes
the listing to disk.
Sourcer works through the program
sequentially. It does not take any jumps
or subroutine calls, and as it works
through the code it maintains a set of
simulation registers which it tries to keep

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Continued from page 11

SlBF:0167
SlBF:0169

B4 09
CD 21

SlBF:016B
SlBF:016E
SlBF:0170

BA 014D
B4 OA
CD 21

SlBF:0172
SlBF:0175
SlBF:Ol77

BA 0125
B4 09
CD 21

SlBF:0179

SA OE Ol4E

SlBF:017D

32 ED

SlBF:017F
SlBF:01S2
SlBF:01S4

BE Ol4F
B4 02
E3 07

SlBF:01S6
SlBF:01S6

SlBF:01S7
SlBF:01S9

SA DO
CD 21

SlBF:01SB

E2 F9

SlBF:01SD
SlBF:01SD
SlBF:01SF
81BF:0192

B4 09
BA 012E
CD 21

SlBF:0194
SlBF:0197

BS 4COS
21

(SlBF:0103=OAb) Load effective addr
mov
ah,9
int
21h
DOS Services ah=function 09h
display char string at ds:dx
mov
dx,14Dh
mov
ah,OAb
int
21h
DOS Services ah=function OAb
get keybd line, put at ds:dx
mov
dx,125h
mov
ah,9
int
21h
DOS Services ah=function 09h
display char string at ds:dx
mov
cl,ds:data_1e
(OOOO:Ol4E=O)
xor
ch,ch
Zero register
mov
si,l4Fh
mov
jcxz
JUDq? if cx=O
locloop 2:
-lodsb
String (si] to al
mov
dl,al
int
21h
DOS Services ah=function 02h
display char dl
loop
locloop 2
Loop if cx > 0
10c_3:
mov
ah,9
mov
dx,12Eh
int
21h
DOS Services ah=function 09h
display char string at ds:dx
mov
ax,4C08h
int
21h
DOS Services ah=function 4Ch
terminate with al=return code
simple endp
codeseg ends
end

start

/***/

Figure 4 - Original Program Simple.asm
codeseg segment
assume cs:codeseg, ds:codeseg
org
100h
start: jmp
begin
msg1:
db
msg2a: db
msg2b: db
name buf:
-

db
db

begin:

lea
mov
int
mov
mov
int
mov
mov
int
mov
xor
mov
mov
jcxz
disp_char:

OAb, ODh, 'Hello, please enter your name: $'
OAb, ODh, 'Well, $'
" how do you like computers?', OAb, ODh, '$'
db
21
o
ibuffer for ,name input
20dup ( " )
dx,msg1
iask for users name
ah,9
21h
dx, offset name buf
iget name via string inp
ah,OAH
21h
dx, offset msg2a
iwrite 1st part of response
ah,9
21h
cl, byte ptr name buf + 1
iget char count to cl
ch,ch
;count in cx
si, offset name buf + 2 iget buffer addr
ah,2
iset up for char disp
done
icheck for null string
lodsb
iget char from buffer

mov
int
loop
done:
mov
mov
int
mov
int
codeseg ends
end

dl,al
21h
disp char
ah,9dx, offset msg2b
21h
ax,4C08h
21h

;mov to dl for service 2
;loop til all char displayed
;write rest of msg
;terminate process

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updated. These registers are used in producing comments or finding the address
of jump tables.
Since Sourcer does not jump or loop,
the simulation register will be incorrect if
the program changes a register and then
jumps to a previous location.
You control Sourcer via a command
menu or a definition file.
Definition File
The definition file has three sections.
The first is for control information and
duplicates all of the commands available
from the menu.
Section two is for range definition and
it specifies how Sourcer processes a
range of bytes.
The third section is for reference definition. It specifies how a particular
address is to be treated. Figure 3 has
sample definition files.
The range definition tells Sourcer
which portions of the target program are
data, which are instructions, which are
unknown, and which are ROM. Sourcer
will read these directions, and it will skip
the data areas during the first pass. This
prevents bogus labels from being entered
into the symbol tables.
Reference definition allows finer control. You specify individual addresses
and direct how Sourcer is to treat those
addresses. For data you can specify a

byte, word, dword, ASCII, or even a
structure. If you tell Sourcer that the data
item is an offset, it will add the offset
directive and target label. '
Sometimes Sourcer will override your
range definitions. This can happen if you
miss a data area, and Sourcer erroneously translates the data as a jump to
the area you defined as data. Sourcer will
then believe the bogus jump and label
the area (you previously defined as data)
as instructions.

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Example Disassembly Using Sourcer
Let's look at an example disassembly
process using Sourcer. Figure 2 is a
DEBUG dump of the program
"simple.com." This is the same code as in
Figure 1. Note the possible data areas.
Figure 3 is the define file derived from
looking at the DEBUG dump and
Sourcer's output based on that definition
file. Compare the disassembled listing to
the original program in Figure 4.
Sourcer Secrets And Tips
(1) Some of the definition file control
commands are sequence sensitive. For instance, the "Header" command must be
after the "Input filename" command or
you'll get the default header. The "keep
segments" command must be before the
''Input filename" command.
(2) Sourcer will accept almost any

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MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

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Reader Service Number·72

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

string as a label, but it's a good bet your
assembler won't. H you plan on reassembling the code, save yourseH some pain
later and use only labels acceptable to
your assembler.
(3) H the target program contains an
!NT 20H, Sourcer does not recognize this
as the end of the procedure and does not
put the required "endp" directive into
the listing.
(4) Sourcer has a number of built-in
labels which it uses when it feels the
need. They include: "copywrt" for a
copyright statement, "start" for the program's entry point, "int_XXh_ext" for external interrupt entries, and "strategy"
and "interrupt" for device drivers. You
have no control over these labels.
(5) H you use the "repeat" option to
define a data area and you miscount the
number to be repeated, Sourcer will add
bogus bytes as needed. This can rear its
ugly head if you have defined ASCII text
and it contains a copyright. The built-in
copywrt label will be applied, and your
repeat count will be wrong.
(6) When you define segments via the
range definition section, you must explicitly specify the last byte's address. There
is no end of code operator. The best way
to find the address of the last byte is to
load the program with Sourcer then note
the last address as shown on the main
menu. Since Sourcer will process all the
addresses you specify, it will stop where
you told it regardless of the length of the
program.
(7) The addresses in the range defini- .
tion section should be contiguous. H
there is a gap, Sourcer will skip over the
gapped code and generate an org statement. This ensures the subsequent
addresses are in their proper place, but
the gapped code is removed.
(8) H two range definitions overlap,
Sourcer will process the overlapped code
twice. H the first range is a data definition, and the second is code definition,
Sourcer will output both the data and
code. Figure 5 illustrates this.
(9) The "keep segments" command is
not explained well. It tells Sourcer which
of two sets of range definition to use. The
first is internal to Sourcer and is created
as Sourcer processes the binary code. The
second is the one you write in the definition file and is optional. The ''keep segments" command tells Sourcer to use
either: its internal definition (FILE), the
one from the definition file (DEF), or to
use both (BOTH).
H you haven't written a range definition, use the default FILE option. H you
have written a range definition that includes the target program's address, use

the DEF option. H your range definition
contains only addresses outside the program's areas (such as the BIOS data
area), use the BOTH option. Sourcer will
process the code twice if your range definition covers the program's address
space and you specify BOfH.
(10) Labels can be added to the disassembly listing at will. However you
should restrict their use so that they are
present only when they are the target of
an instruction. For instance, if you add
extraneous labels to instructions, it will
be unclear which labels are decorations
and which are the destinations of jumps
and calls. Unfortunately Sourcer requires
you to specify a label in order to add a
comment. I recommend you use a
sequential label notation so that each
label is unique and is distinguished from
functional labels.
(11) H Sourcer's analyzer makes a mistake and translates data as instructions,
these bogus instructions can cause
trouble farther down the line. Any
addresses the bogus instructions reference as data will be marked as data, even
if they are really instructions. Bogus
jumps or calls will mark the destinations
as instructions and these second generation bogus instructions can cause additional trouble. H you find that Sourcer
made a mistake, don't just fix the part
you found, backtrack until you find the
root cause. The cause will always be
bogus instructions.
(12) The more passes you specify, the
better the analyzer can separate data
from instructions. Five passes will produce the best resolution, and you can use
the cross reference option. By using cross
references, you can backtrack to the
source error.
Sometimes a label will not have a
cross reference. This indicates the label
was created by a bogus instruction that
the analyzer has converted back to data.
You can find the cause by reducing the
number of passes and then using the
range definition to fix the problem.
Sourcer
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Reader Service Number 93

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, lt46, Mar-Apr 1989

Handling Interrupts
With Any C
A Detailed Look At Supporting Interrupts
Micro C is famous for cramming lots of
useful information into very little space.
This article may be too long to qualify as
"little space" but it's so crammed with information on implementing interrupt service routines (ISRs) that you've got to read
on. (Find a spot where you won't be interrupted.) This is a great one, folks.
ne idea which Borland added to
Turbo C really bowled me over
when I first saw it. It's their "interrupt" type modifier! Hooray for Borland, but not everyone uses Turbo when
working in C.
I found another simple but impressive
idea hiding in a listing for a low level
driver. (I don't remember where I saw
the listing.) The listing contained assignments to CPU registers! What incredibly
nice code to read - no structure references full of obscure object names. Very
neat!
I decided to combine these two ideas
into support headers and library functions. The CPU registers were easy. A
long list of #defines did most of the job.
Adding support for high level interrupt
handlers wasn't too tricky either, and it's
turning out to be more useful than I expected.
In this article, I'll describe two main
modules, each module a group of functions. The first group supports existing
system interrupt and far call functions.
The second group contains support
routines to allow standard C functions to
service interrupt requests or be called by
external programs.
Everything was written to be compiled with Manx Aztec C 86, version
4.10a. Other compilers might run into
minor problems handling the assembly
code, but it shouldn't be anything serious.

CALLs&INTs
The functions in this group are super
simple. They do software interrupts and
far calls. The work is done by two functions in the CALL.C module, SEG86 and

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

CALL_80860. (See Figure 1.) They're
written in a mix of assembly level
spaghetti and C. The third function,
IN1N_80860, and fourth, regs_dump, I'll
describe shortly.
#include
unsigned int far call_8086( ri, ro )
__regs far *ri, *ro;
unsigned int far intn_8086( ri, ro )
__regs far *ri, *ro;
unsigned int far seg86( r )
__regs far *r;
void __regs_dump ( r )
__regs far *r:

ri and ro are pointers to _ Jegs structures; *ri contains the register values
passed and *ro contains the values returned.
calC80860 does a far call to the far
function at location ri->CS:IP. intn_80860
assumes that the desired interrupt number is in ri->IP, and does a software interrupt to that handler. Both functions return the result in the PSW register.
seg860 copies the DS, ES, CS, SS and
PSW
register
values
into
the
corresponding objects in the _ _regs
struct at *r. __regs_dumpO displays the
contents of the _ _regs structure *r on
STDOUT.
The _ _regs structure is typedefed in
the CALL.H header (see Figure 2). It's a
complicated structure full of unions of
structures of pointers and unsigned chars
and ints, representing the CPU registers.
The main difference between this structure and the ones included with most
8086 compilers is the organization of the
registers. You can directly access some of
the more commonly used register pairs:
ES:BX, DS:DX and DX:AX. I also used bit
fields to fully define the PSW (Processor
Status Word).
You'll see the list of #defines following the structure definition in CALL.H.
The list names each CPU register, its
lower and upper halves, plus some regis-

ter pairs and the PSW flags. Each register / flag name expands into the notation
required to get at it in a __ regs structure.
An almost identical list follows, only
this time the names expand into a reference to an object within the __regs
struct _REGS. Nothing called _REGS is
declared in the header, so you'll have to
declare a structure or macro by that
name before using any of the macros.
The point of the second list is to eliminate completely all structure/union notations so you can work directly with the
desired registers, register pairs and CPU
status flags.
The last group of #defines expands
into function calls. ca1l86(pc) does a far
call to the function at void (far *pc) 0,
int86(i) does a software interrupt to interrupt i, and pcdos(f) loads the DOS function number f into AH, then calls DOS.
Each macro expects to use the _REGS
structure for both the "input" and "output" registers.
ISRHs
When an ordinary C function gets
called, it expects the proper values in the
segment registers, expects parameters on
the stack, and expects the stack to be big
enough for automatic storage.
An ISR Handler can't expect anything.
To get a C function to handle an interrupt, you'll need to add some support
code between the interrupt and the function call (and before the return-from-interrupt).
I figured the easiest solution would be
to write a "straight" version of the support code, then have another routine
copy it into a data, structure for each ISR
handler. The file ISRHT.C contains this
"isr handler template." (See Figure 3.)
The ISRH data structure contains space
for the code, and variables are positioned
so you can modify the code.
This way, the function isr_installO can
install a C function as an interrupt handler, then iscrestoreO can put the previous vector back into the interrupt table
when the program's done. It's that
simple!

By Sam Azer
1405 Bishop St Suite 100
Montreal, PQ Canada H3G 2E5

Figure 1 - CALL.C far calls and software interrupts from C
#include
/*

SEG86
This function copies the 8086 segment register contents
into the __regs register structure pOinted at by rio

*/
#praqma vpindex seg86
unsigned int far seg86( ri
regs far *ri;

#include

void far *isr_get_vector( inum )
int inum

#asm
push
push
les
pop
mov
mov
mov
mov
pushf
pop
mov
pop

The file ISRH contains the typedef for
the ISRH data structure, the prototypes
for the functions in ISRC, and some support macros (see Figures 4 and 5). ISRC
contains all the support routines. The
listings are reasonably straightforward,
so I'll try to be brief here.
The ISR functions are:

es
es
bx, _RI
ax
_ES, ax
_OS, ds
_55, ss
_CS, cs

void isr_set_vector( inum, farfuncp )
void far (*farfuncp) ()i
int inum;
void isr_install( isr, inum, handler)
isrh *isr;
int inum;
void far (*handler) ();

ax
_PSW, ax
es

#endasm
}

void isr_restore( isr )
isrh *isr;

/*
This function calls the code at PC in *ri. It doesn't
check for messed up stacks, but is reentrant.

*/
#praqma vpindex call_8086
unsigned int far call 8086( ri, ro )
regs far *ri, *ro;-

#asm

do_it:

push
push
push
push

si
di
ds
es

;save C regs

les

bx, _RI

;get pointer to input regs

push

;we're going to need this later ...

push
mov
push

cs
;here's where the routine that we'll call
ax, offset retadr
ax
;will return

push
push

_CS
_IP

iput address to call on the stack

push
push

_ES
_BX

;can't touch these now ...
so put them on the stack

%:lOV

mov
mov
mov
mov

ax,
cx,
dx,
si,
di,

mov
mov
pop

bp, _BP
ds, _OS
bx

_AX
_cx

;load up the cpu regs

_OX
_51
_01

Continued on page 19

isr~et_vectorO returns the vector for
interrupt inum from the 8086 interrupt
vector table. isr_set_vectorO puts the vector farfuncp into the table.
isr_installO copies· the ''handler template" code into the isrh structure "isr. It
then modifies the code in that structure.
The far function "handler is installed as
the function that will handle the interrupt. The vector for interrupt inurn is
saved in isr->prev_hndlr.
If that vector is NULL, "isr will do an
lRET when "handler returns; otherwise,
"isr jumps to "isr->prev_hndlr on return
from "handler. The last thing isr_installO
does is point the CPU's interrupt vector
to interrupt inum at "isr; at which point
"handler will be called if an interrupt occurs.
isr_restoreO restores isr->prev_hndlr
to the interrupt vector table.
The template code does the following:
Stacks the CPU registers.
• Loads the correct data segment
value into the DS and ES registers. (You'll have to check your
start-up routine to find out what

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values you need in OS and ES.)
• Stacks a far pointer to the ISRH
data structure (Le., this routine.)
• Does a CALL FAR to your C handler function.
.• On return, pops the far pointer to
the ISRH structure off the stack,
discarding it.
• Restores the CPU registers.
• If your C handler used the
isr_iretO macro before returning,
then an IRET instruction is executed here. If it used the
isr_passO macro, or neither of the
two macros, the default procedure
at this point is to jump to the previously installed handler; or in the
absence of one, to execute an
lRET.
The isr_retfO macro can also be used
by functions that are called by external
programs; it causes the handler to execute a far return. This can be handy, for
example, when writing handlers for
mouse driver interrupts. The mouse
driver will intercept the interrupt, then
do a far call to the user's handler.
Using The ISR Functions
Since the CPU registers are pushed on

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the stack used by the C handler function,
you can access anything that's on that
stack as a parameter. A handler would
therefore be declared like this:
void far handler( *isr, bx, es, ex,
ax, dx, ds, di, si, bp, ip, es,
psw )
isrh far *isr;
unsigned int bx, es, ex, ax, dx,
ds, di, si, bp, ip, es, psw;

clear the caller's Carry flag to indicate
that you want your program to continue
executing, or set the carry flag to indicate
that you'd like to crash. An !NT 0x23
handler to ignore Ctrl-Break interrupts
would be set up like the following:
main()
void far int_23();
isrh isr_23;

{}

isr_install(&isr_23,Ox23,int_23);
/* your program */
isr_restore( &isr_23 );

Or, if your compiler supports passing
structures by value (most do)
void far handler( *isr, _REGS)
isrh far *isr;
isr_regs _REGS;
{}

void far int_23( isr, _REGS)
isrh far *isr;
isr_regs _REGS;
{

Again, CS:IP and PSW were pushed
by the CPU prior to calling *isrh, which
stacks isr and BX through BP, then calls
handlerO. On return from handler, *isr
pops BP through BX and isr. CS:IP and
PSW get popped off when an lRET is executed.
If, for example, you install an !NT
Ox23 Ctrl-Break exit handler, it can either

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

_--------_ _------------------..•

cur'!~;:;;~~·
editor_warning
save screen
display-warning
restore screen
editor_warning
insert blank line
adjust)ne join_line
editor_warning
adjusUine
delete_ediUine
editor line out
ediUine_oUt -

_CARRY = 0;
isr_iret(isr);

As you can imagine, if a program
puts other stuff onto the stack before
generating a software interrupt, your
handler would have access to that, too.
An !NT Ox24 Critical-Error handler

· would have a parameter list like this: (isr,
r1, r2). r1 was pushed by OOS before it
issued the INT 0x24. r2 was pushed by
DOS when it received control from your
program. To force 005 to retry the
operation, you'd have to set r1.AX to 1,
then do an IRET (return after an
isr_iret(isr».
A couple of side notes: See the IBM
Disk Operating System Technical Reference, chapter 5, if you need more info on
the Critical Error handler (and others).
The isr pointer is passed by the template code to allow the interrupt handler
to identify the source of the interrupt. I
did that to allow a general handler to intercept and identify illegal interrupts. If
you find you need the stack space, or
aren't suffering from spurious interrupts,
you can get rid of it by deleting the associated code in the template, in isr_installO and in the ISRH structure definition in the ISRH header. (Spurious interrupts aren't a problem most of the time.)
The Listings
CPU.H contains CPU related constants and the definition of the _ _flags
structure. REGSDUMP.C contains the entire __regs_dumpO routine, which is
kept separate to ensure that it's only
linked in if it's used (see Figures 6 and 7).
At the end of ISRC is a test routine
that gets compiled if MAIN is #defined.
As you can see, it installs handlers for the
keyboard, timer and CTRL-BREAK interrupts. Essentially, it displays the last scan
code received from the keyboard, and the
elapsed time since the program started.
It's not very easy to break out of since it
traps all attempts from the keyboard, and
tells OOS to ignore anything that might
come down a COM line if the console is
redirected.
Two other files, CALLER.C and CALLERH, contain improved versions of
code originally written as part of a big
project two years ago (see Figures 8 and
9). They served as the prototypes for
CALL.C and CALL.H. They're based on
a routine, callerO, that's faster, smaller
and uses less stack space than the new
functions. It also saves and restores SS:SP
to recover from routines that don't behave properly.
I didn't bother to discuss it here because it's not ROMabie or reentrant For
some applications, though, callerO would
do just fine, so those two files are included with the others in the file
!SRARe. Look for it on the Micro C BBS
or the Issue #46 disk.

Continued from page 17
pop

ret

ido the call

retadr:
here ...

iwhen the routine does a retf, we get
push
mov

bp
bp, sp

isave the current bp
imake it possible to get values off the

mov

bp, 2 [bp]

iget value of BP that we had before the

push
push

es
bx

isave the current value of ES
and BX

les

bx, _RO

iget pointer to output register structure

mov
pop
mov
pop
mov
mov
mov
mov
mov
mov
pop
mov
pop
pushf
pop
mov

_AX., ax
ax
_BX, ax
ax
ES, ax
-ex, cx

isave the current value of AX.
iget the returned value of BX
i
and save it too
iget ES
isave that .. .
iand this .. .

stack
call

pop
pop
pop
pop

:DX,
DS,
:SI,
_DI,

ds
si
di

ithen the BP that we last pushed

_BP, ax

iget rid of BP that we pushed before that
iand last but not least, save the flags ...

ax
_PSW, ax

irestore C regs

di
si

ftendasm
}

This function calls the interrupt handler pointed at by
element (IP) in the 8086 interrupt vector table.

*/
ftpragma vpindex intn_8086
unsigned int far intn 8086( ri, ro )
regs far *ri, *roi-

T-

ftasm
push
push
push
push

si
di
ds
es

isave C regs

push

iwe're going to need this later ...

les

bx, _RI

iget pointer to input regs

pushf
i simulate an INT nn
push cs
ihere's where the routine that we'll call
mov
ax, offset retadr
push ax
iwill return
mov
shl
shl

ax, IP
ax, '1
ax, 1

iinterrupt number is hidden in _IP ...

cwd

moves, dx
mov
bx, ax
push es:word ptr 2[bx] iput address to call on the stack
push es:word ptr O[bx]
les
jmp

bx,_RI
dO_it

irestore the es:bx pointer to RI
iuse the code in call_8086 ... -

ftendasm
}

/***/

ISRHNotes
The main thing to bear in mind when
MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr1989

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/* CALL.h
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to look like they work directly with CPU registers
and do call flints "naturally!" Works with the
functions in CALL.C/ISR.*

*1
#ifndef OP RETF
#include
#andU

/* These typedefs describe the types of structures
that are found in the final register structure at
the end.
These aren't intended to be used by humans ...
*/
typedef union
REG {
struct {
- unSigned char 1, h;
} b;

unsigned int
__reg;

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unsigned char far *p;
unsigned long 1;
} __regdp;
typedef union
REGPSW
flags bit;Unsigned int w;
} __regpsw;
typedef union
REG3R
struct {
- reg ax, dx;
unsigned int ds;
} rl;
struct {
reg ax;
:: ::regdp dsdx;
} r2;
struct {
regdp dxax;
unsigned int ds;
} r3;
} __reg3r;

typedef union
PCREG
void far (*x)(,>;
struct {
unsigned int 1, h;
} W;

} _ Jlcreg;
typedef union
REGDP
struct {
- __reg r;
unsigned int S;
} i;

20 MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

1* This is the main register file structure. The
interrupt handlers all push and pop registers in this
order, and the functions in CALL.C work with this
"register file" organization. Note that the stack
pointer isn't actually used. That object was included
in the structure for "completeness" andlor "future
expansion," etc.
*1
typedef struct
REGS
__regdp esbx; reg c;
:: ::reg3r dsdxax;

writing an ISRH is that your function
will be using whatever's left of the stack
frame that the interrupted code was
using (i.e., don't expect to have any stack
space available). Better still, don't use automatic storage at all - if possible, declare your local variables as static.
Make sure that your handler isn't
being interrupted, then called reentrantly.
If that's going to happen, be careful
about how you use static locals; they
might get wiped out by the reentrant call.
You might also have to implement some
form of mutual exclusion lock, or modify
the template code to use an array of stack
frames.
Often, you can avoid these hassles by
keeping a handler short and sweet. Let it
collect whatever information the main
program might need, execute a procedure, or whatever; but keep it simple,
and get out fast!
Remember that the compiler makes
assumptions about the structure of the
memory spaces that it works with. In
particular, it may assume that your stack
frame is in its data segment (especially in
the small data models), so it's wise to be
careful about pointers while servicing an
interrupt. If you've got a bug somewhere
and don't see any problem with your
source, check the assembly level output
from the compiler. Make sure that the
proper segment values are used in
pointer operations.
Not all ISRHs are going to be tricky,
but many will. In most cases, it won't be
possible to run them through a debugger,
and library functions like printf(} won't
work from within them. On the other
hand, they're useful enough to be worth
the extra effort!

•••

Continued from page 20

unsigned int di;
__regdp bpsi;
_ ycreg pc;
regpsw psw;
: :regdp stk;
__regs;
/* These macros are provided to
make it easier to access
objects in the above structure.
Use either p->AX or s.AX as
appropriate to keep the code
from looking too silly ...
*/

'define _REGSP ( C _regs far
*), CREGS»
'define _AX
,define _AS
'define _AL

CREGS.AX)
CREGS.AS)
CREGS.AL)

'define _BX
'define _BH
'define _BL

CREGS.BX)
CREGS.BH)
CREGS.BL)

,define _CX
'define _CH
'define _CL

CREGS.CX)
CREGS.CH)
CREGS.CL)

'define AX
'define AS
'define AL

dsdxax. rl . ax. x
dsdxax.rl.ax.b.h
dsdxax.rl.ax.b.l

'define _DX
'define _DH
'define _DL

CREGS.DX)
CREGS.DH)
CREGS.DL)

'define BX
'define BH
'define BL

esbx.i.r.x
esbx.i.r.b.h
esbx.i.r.b.l

ldefine _SI
'define _DI
'define _BP

CREGS.5I)
CREGS.DI)
CREGS.BP)

'define CX
ldefine CH
Idefine CL

c.x
c.b.h
c.b.l

'define _DS
,define _ES

CREGS.DS)
CREGS.ES)

'define DX
Idefine DH
,define DL

dsdxax.rl.dx.x
dsdxax.rl.dx.b.h
dsdxax.rl.dx.b.l

'define BPSI
'define :DXAX
'define _DSDX
,define _ESBX

(,YEGS.BPSI)
CREGS.DXAX)
CREGS.DSDX)
CREGS.ESBX)

Idefine DI

,define _PSW

CREGS.PSW)

'define 51
Ide fine BP

bpsi.i.r.x
bpsi.i.s
dsdxax.rl.ds
esbx.i.s

CREGS.PC)
CREGS.IP)
CREGS.CS)

'define DS
Idefine ES

'define _PC
Ide fine IP
Idefine :CS

'define
ldefine
Ide fine
'define

bpsi.p
dsdxax. r3 . dxax.l
dsdxax.r2.dsdx.p
esbx.p

'define STKPTR
Idefine -SS
'define :SP

CREGS. STKPTR)
CREGS.SS)
CREGS.SP)

,define
'define
'define
'define
,define
Idefine
,define
'define
'define

CREGS.OF)
CREGS . DIR)
CREGS. lUTE)
C REGS. TRAP)
CREGS. SIGN)
C REGS. ZERO)
CREGS. AUXC)
CREGS.PE)
CREGS . CARRY)

BPSI
DXAX
DSDX
ESBX

'define PSW

psw.w

'define PC
'define CS
'define IP

pc.x
pc.w.h
pc.w.l

'define STKPTR
stk.p
'define SS
stk.i.s
'define SP
stk.i.r.x
'define
'define
'define
'define
'define
'define
'define
ldefine
Idefine

OF
psw.bit.of
DIR psw.bit.dir
INTE psw.bit.inte
TRAP psw.bit.trap
SIGN psw.bit.sign
ZERO psw.bit.zero
AUXC psw.bit.auxc
PE
psw.bit.pe
CARRY psw.bit.carry

/* The macros here all refer to
something called _REGS, which
must be defined in your module.
It can either be a structure,
or another 'defined macro which
refers to a structure, etc.

_OF
_DIR
_INTE
TRAP
-SIGN
-ZERO
:AUXC
PE
:CARRY

/* The following functions are
in the module CALL.C.
Call 8086() calls the far
function at PC, while
intn 8086 () expects an
interrupt number to be in IP.
Seg86 simply fills the __r
structures' segment registers
with the values found in the
CPU registers at the time of
the call.

The idea here is that modules
that contain many DOS or BIOS
calls can put a __regs _REGS;
declaration at the start of
every function. As such, _AX
allows access to the AX object
in the structure, etc.
This makes the source code look
MUCH better!
*/

Listing continued on next page

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

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unsigned int far segS6 (
regs far *ri );
unsigned int far call S086(
regs far *ri, __regs far *ro );
unsigned int far intn-SOS6( - -regs far *ri, __regs far *ro );
void __regs_dumpC _regs far *rp);

_CH
_AX

These macros do what they seem to do ...

NOTE: the cast to (void far (*) (» for PC in the callS6() macro
doesn't work unless x appears before l,h in the typedef for PCREG
(Manx C S6, V. 4.10a.) */
'define callS6(pc)
'define intS6(i)
'define pcdos(f)

( PC = (pc), call SOS6 ( ( REGSP), (REGSP) »
( -IP = ( i), intn-SOS6( (-REGSP), (:REGSP) »
( :AH
f), intS6( Ox21

'asm
;If a C function is declared as being far, and having two
;far pointers ( RI and RO) to
regs structures as its
; first two parameters, the instruction "les bx, _RI" would
;set es:bx to point to the _RI __regs structure, and
; "les bx, _RO" would set es:bx to pOint to the _RO __regs
; structure.
RI
:RO

equ
equ

dword ptr 6 [bp]
dword ptr 10[bp]

_AH

equ
equ
equ
equ

es:byte
es:word
es:byte
es:byte

_DX
_DL
_DH

equ
equ
equ

es:word ptr OS [bx]
es:byte ptr OS [bx]
es:byte ptr 09 [bx]

_DS

equ

es:word ptr 10 [bx]

_DI
_SI
_BP

equ
equ
equ

es:word ptr 12 [bx]
es:word ptr 14 [bx]
es:word ptr 16[bx]

_IP
_CS

equ
equ

es:word ptr 1S[bx]
es:word ptr 20 [bx]

_PSW

equ

es:word ptr 22[bxJ

SP
-SS
iendasm

equ
equ

es:word ptr 24[bx]
es:word ptr 26[bx]

_AI.

ptr
ptr
ptr
ptr

OS [bx]
06[bx]
06[bx]
07 [bx]

/***/

;The following are offsets from ES:BX to the contents
;of the __regs structure.

equ
equ
equ

es:word ptr 00 [bx]
es:byte ptr 00 [bx]
es:byte ptr 01 [bx]

equ

es:word ptr 02 [bx]

equ
equ

es:word ptr 04 [bx]
es:byte ptr 04 [bx]

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Note: You'll find figures 3 - 9
on pages 74-79.

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MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Turning A PC Into An Embedded
Control System:
Phase 1 - Interfacing EEPROMs To The PC Bus
zao

Okay, guys, Bruce is hacking hardware
again. He's taken on a project that'll keep
him embedded in our hearts and minds for
some time. It's an unforgettable design project using EEPROM.
n the coming months, I'll be working
(piece by piece) on an ambitious project - turning a PC motherboard into
an embedded control system.
In this issue, I'll start by showing you
how to use nonvolatile memory (or EEPROM:
Electrically-Erasable
Programmable Read Only Memory) in your
Pc.

Embedded Controllers
Embedded controllers are standalone
systems generally dedicated to a single
task. They usually don't include monitors
or disk drives, but sometimes do have a
very simple keyboard or display.
You hear a lot about the microcomputers in telephones, toasters, toilets, and televisions. These embedded controllers on
a single chip have been optimized for
cost. Single-chip microcontrollers are
ideal for situations where you make thousands of products, because the design
costs can be spread out. These costs are
(of course) significant.
While I was at Fluke (in Seattle), I programmed a 4-bit microcontroller designed by NEC to drive a vacuumfluorescent display directly (like the one
on your VCR). This involved learning the
hardware characteristics of the chip and a
very arcane assembly language. We had
to develop and debug the assembler
while writing the code (with little in the
way of examples or English documentation).
All this work was expensive.
However, since it was going into a meter
with projected sales of 15,000 to 25,000
per year, the costs were insignificant compared to the price of using, for instance, a

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

with the necessary peripheral support chips.
Many companies can't justify the cost
of building everything from scratch, and
there's a rapidly growing industry which
supplies various types of PC-environment
embedded systems. These include normal
PC hardware with a special BIOS (which
doesn't look for disk drives, etc.) and
(often) a ROMed version of 005.
Systems like this allow you to develop
your embedded systems using the
powerful compilers and tools available on
the PC (you can, for instance, use C or
C++).
Commercial PC-environment embedded systems tend to be expensive; not as
expensive as most, other alternatives, but
often as expensive as an XT with a hard
disk. The prices drop dramatically if you
get into volume.
My favorite example is Intel's "Wildcard 88," which has the core of an XT
motherboard on a card 2" x 4". Unfortunately, there isn't any RAM (an Intel
spokesman said, "we don't make RAM,
so why should we put any on the
board?"), but these boards are only $50
apiece, in lots of 1000!
Since XT motherboards are under $100
(and you don't need the usual hefty
power supply since there won't be disk
drives), why can't we build our own
embedded controller (in quantities of one)
with the power and development environment of a PC for under $200?
We can, if we can negotiate the tricky
parts(1) Figuring out how to modify (or
write from scratch) the ROM BIOS.
(2) Using RAM - probably static
RAM, since it uses less power and
doesn't need refreshing.
(3) Establishing nonvolatile memory,
since we don't have disk drives (the subject of this article).
(4) Writing C or C++ embedded applications and burning them into EPROM.
This is a big tricky ticket, and it's

going to take us several issues before we
have all the nooks and crannies explored
and worked out. But that's where we're
headed.
EEPROM
EEPROM allows you to store information not lost when you power down. It's
like an EPROM which doesn't require an
EPROM burner - it gets "burned" right
in the circuit. EEPROMs take much
longer to write than they do to read. The
read cycle is on the same order as normal
memory.
You can only write to a memory location of an EEPROM a limited number of
times (for the chip I'll talk about here, it's
10,0(0). However, there's no restriction
on the number of times you can read it.
Normally you erase an EEPROM by writing over old data, but new crops of "flash
erasable" chips are showing up.
Embedded systems often use EEPROMs as long-term storage for state information (since there are no disks) or for
storage of information which can't rely on
the presence of a disk.
As EEPROMs get cheaper, it becomes
feasible to begin using them to store large
amounts of data. Several companies make
cards containing EPROM (with ROMed
005) and large amounts of EEPROM.
These cards look like bootable DOS
disks. You simply load your program
onto the EEPROM and install it in your
target system as drive A, so the computer
boots from the card. This looks like it
might be an alternative way to create an
embedded system from a Pc. However,
the price of these cards has always been
too high for me.
The Chip
I selected the chip for this project by
going to the back pages of BYTE and
looking for EEPROMs. I always try to use
easy to find parts, but sometimes people
still have trouble, so I felt this was the
safest approach.

By Bruce Eckel
Eisys Consulting
501 N. 36th Street, Suite 163
Seattle, WA 98103

This part is a Samsung KM2816A-25
(compatible with Xicor X2816A) 2K by 8
bit (i.e., 2K bytes) TfL-compatible 5-voltonly EEPROM. The "25" in the part designation refers to the 250 nanosecond
read time. It's available through Jameco
for $6.25, but they do have a minimum
order of $20. I suggest you get the data
sheet ($0.50 extra).

If you need a denser part, the 2865A30 is 8K bytes for only $9.95; it should be
easy to modify my design for that part.
Many EEPROMs require special hardware support for the extra-long write
cycle. Or they may have other interfacing
requirements (higher write voltages, for
example).
The 2816A chip was designed to interface directly to a microprocessor bus. It
only requires 5V for reading and writing,
and has internal hardware to latch the
write value.
You use the same kind of bus cycle to
write to the EEPROM as you do to a

Jameco Electronics
1355 Shoreway Rd.
Belmont, CA 94002
(415) 592-8121

RAM. (The pinout is the same as a common 6116 static RAM; you can just drop
it into the same socket if the bus timing is
within specs.) The only caveat is you
must wait 10 milliseconds between
writes.
In an embedded application with
hardware dedicated to a specific task, it
would be appropriate to take over some
of the PC's memory space for EEPROM,
some for static RAM (lower power, fast
- no wait states, and no refreshing necessary), and some for the program
EPROM.
On a general-purpose PC, however,

Figure 1 - PC Bus To EEPROM Interface
PC Bus
Slot Pin
All
A28
A27
A26
A25
A24

CARD
SELECl\
2
4
6
8
11
13
15

AEN Adrenab
Address 3
Address 4
Address 5
Address 6
Address 7
Address 8
Address 9

A23
A22

r-::::::<

-=
-=
-=
~ -=
~ -=
~
rL- -=
-=

rJ-

~
~

14
13
12
11
10
9
8

p.o

p1L-

p>o

Read Select
1
2
3

3
5
7
9
12
14
16
18

as
07

Address

...L<:

AS
A7
A6

AS
A4
A3
A2

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
19

--1....-

VO Read: BASE. 2

Gl
G2A
G2B

15
14
13

YO
Yl
Y2
Y3
Y4
Y5
Y6

VOWrite:BASE

t>*PH,-

BASE. 2

AI
A2
A3
M

AS
A6
A7
A8

Bl
B2

B4
85
B6
B7

18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11

2
5
6
9
12
15
16
19

r--

DATAO
DATAl
DATA2
DATA3
DATA4
DATA5
DATA6
DATA7

V
V
./V

DATAO
DATAl
DATA2
DATA3
A A4
DATA5
DATA6
DATA7

9
10
11
13
14
15
16
17

DO
Dl
D2
D3
D4
D5

OS
D7

AO
AI
A2
A3
A4

AS
A6
A7
A8
A9
Al0

G
DIR

ee-

74LS245
Data Bus Buffer

WE
2816 EEPROM
(Pin Compatible
With 6116 Static RAM)

110 Write:
BASE. 1

VOWr~.:

74LSI38
Address Decoder

Address 0
Address 1
Address 2
IORl I/O Read
IOWl VOWr~e

Data 0
Data 1
Data 2
Data 3
Data 4
Dala5
Dala6
Data 7

A
B
C

VC~

74LS682

Selects Data
Direction
A9

:#-:>B,-

Write Select
1
2
3

Comparator

A29
B14
B13

~
~
13

YO
Yl
Y2
Y3
Y4
Y5
Y6

74LSI38

01
02
03
Q4

(optional)

A30

Gl
G2A
G2B

4
5

-=~ Ad~

A31

A
B
C

VC~

P4
P5
P6
P7

17
AEN SEL
A3SEL
A4SEL
A5SEL
A6SEL
A7SEL
A8SEL
A9SEL

PO
PI
P2

r+~
r+-5
4
3
2
1
23
22
19
18

20
21

01
02
03
Q4
05

Dl
D2
D3
D4
D5

OC
CLK

3
4
7
8
13
14
17
18

DATAO
DATAl
DATA2
DATA3
DATA4
DATA5
DATA6
DATA7

.',
.",
.',,

d. Again, this
makes sense: D=d gives us straight lines
and flat planes - definitely not fractals.
Fractals In Oregon?
One of the nice things about living in
Bend is having a wild river running
through town. At least, the mink, otter,
and beaver seem to like it. (Our own
governor once refused to visit Bend ''The middle of nowhere" as he called it.)
What better place to try my hand at
fractalizing than on a nice crooked river.
No, I didn't actually pace the banks of
the Deschutes for a small scale measure: I
let my dividers do the walking on a map.
An afternoon of diligent dividing in the
Central Oregon Community College map
room generated the data I needed. It's
hard to come up with more than one
order of magnitude in scale variation this
way, but it does serve as an example of
the technique. (See Figure 1.)
By my approximation, the wanderings
of the Deschutes earned it a fractal dimension of 1.25 - not an unreasonable
value. I'm sure the otters (and Governor
Goldschmidt) will be glad to know.
Finding The Fractal Dimension
a know - sounds like an episode of
Flash Gordon: Flash Explores the Fractal
Dimension.)

By Larry Fogg
Micro C Staff

Given an object in the "3-0" real
world, The Real World for example, we
can look at its diameter at different
scales. Or we could consider the same
scaling effect on its surface area. Again,
the difference between mountains on the
grand scale and molehills on a lesser
scale gives us the information necessary
to find the fractal dimension of the
Earth's surface.
Gathering this data poses a difficult
task, but researchers have developed
methods for approximating the fractal dimension of a surface.

One possibility involves taking a horizontal slice of the surface (a contour line),
finding its fractal dimension, and adding
one. A fairly coarse approximation, and
one that may depend on the elevation of
the contour.
Or you could look at individual
points on the surface and investigate
their elevation difference vs. the distance
between them. Or you can choose from
other computationally intensive methods.
KC. Clarke came up with a simpler
method1. Overlay the surface with the
largest square that will fit. Take the aver-

age of the elevations of the four corners
and assign it to the center of the square.
Now find the total area of the four surfaces of the resulting pyramid.
This gives a first large scale measure
analogous to measuring a coastline from
space. Next, overlay four smaller squares
on the same surface and measure their
areas in the same way. The smaller scale
will yield a larger value for the total surface area since it will catch more of the
surface's details.
Continue this process to the lowest
limit of scaling (two pixels by two pixels

Figure 1 - Finding The Fractal Dimension (D) Of The Deschutes River

1.7
-1.0

1.6

......c

a; 1.5
.....

0
.....

"-"

C!:J

...J

Slope =

1.4

0.25
-1.0

D = 1 - (-0.25) = 1.25
1.3
-1.0

-0.5

LOG (unit length)

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989 33

for a digitized image). Then plot the log
of total area vs. the log of the area of an
overlaid square, for each size of unit
square. Very similar to the coastline
method described above, Clarke's
method saves a bunch of computer time
over other fractal surface dimension techniques.
A Practical Example
Professor Philip J. Hopke (of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Environmental Research Laboratory) and
his associates have used Clarke's method
in an effort to characterize particles by
their fractal surface dimension2. They
hope to use the fractal dimension as a
tool to identify the processes that form
airborne particles.
Hopke captures the particle's image
from a scanning electron microscope
(SEM). The SEM bombards the surface of
the particle with a tightly focused beam
of electrons. The surface, in turn, reemits
secondary electrons whose energy depends on the topology and composition
of the surface. This digitized secondary
electron image provides the data necessary to find the fractal dimension.
Particles of sodium chloride, sodium
sulfate, ammonium sulfate, and one unknown compound have been subjected
to this technique. Like most of the research I've seen, this application seems to
work well over a somewhat limited
range of scales. Hopke reports very consistent results at lower magnifications.
However,
high
magnification
(>l00DX) yields lower values for the fractal dimension. Nonetheless, a judicious
choice of magnification may yield useful
information.
To quote Professor Hopke, '1f we can
work out the remaining kinks in our
methods, fractals could prove to be a
valuable tool in investigating atmospheric particles."
Other Applications
Fractals have shown promise in a
wide variety of fields, often in finding a
quantitative measure of the irregularity
of some property, as in Professor
Hopke's research. Other areas are:
• Characterization of the roughness
of the ocean floor3.
• Distribution of earthquakes along
fault systems4•
• Optical diffraction analysis of particle clusters formed by diffusion
limited aggregation (DLA)5.
Fractal modeling of many processes
may also be possible. Candidates for this
application include:
• Clustering of stars6•

34 MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

• Spreading of diseases7•
• AC behaviorS.
• Growth of DLA clusters9.
• Simulation of lightning1o .
Data compression, linguistics, turbulent flow, population growth, and
most anything else you can imagine have
been explored with fractal techniques.
The list is truly endless.
.COMplexity
I wanted to do something keen like a
fractal measure of program complexity.
But this points out a danger: Not all objects and processes are fractal in nature. If
experimentation shows scale invariance
of some property, then by all means explore its fractal possibilities.
I'll keep thinking about it, but it
doesn't look like executable programs are
fractals. (Except, of course, fractal programs.)
The Bottom Line
A few years back, John Maddox
wrote, " ... this is an interesting case,
which seems to happen more and more
often, of how an explanation in search of
a phenomenon may lay claim to far more
territory than it can handle11 ."
This still holds true for the most part.
But while fractals remain the darling of a
large portion of the scientific community,
a healthy case of skepticism has set in. A
myriad of applications tease researchers
with promising results, but no one seems
willing to claim absolute success in modeling, characterization, or any other application of fractals (except graphics).
Still, it won't surprise me in the least
to see fractals become an increasingly important tool in the future.
Commercial Fractal Software
This here's a computer rag so let's finish up with a look at some software
available for interdimensional explorations. I know of only two commercial
fractal packages for the PC: Mande1brot
Explorer (ME), and FractalMagic (PM).
Both do a fine job of tying up your computer at a bargain basement price.
According to the Micro C Fractal Accessory Review Team (Allan Chambers,
Dave (that Thompson guy), and myself),
ME and PM do just about anything
you'd want with Mandelbrot and Julia
sets.
Both packages allow storing work in
progress for resumption at a later time.
(Handy if you occasionally use your system for such mundane tasks as word
processing.) They also let you define parameters for new plots by moving a window around an existing plot, or by enter-

ing parameters directly.
While both programs let you "animate," or dynamically change the color
map of an image, PM gives you more
control over the process. I could watch
an animated image for hours.
Finally, both support math coprocessors - a definite must for serious fractal
work.
On to the differences. PM has mouse
support, ME doesn't. I don't consider this
a deciding factor - the cursor keys work
just fine.
If you have a CGA system, get PM
since ME won't run on CGA. Better yet,
buy an EGA or VGA setup. I used a
VGA/386 system at MicroSphere to test
these programs and I'm hooked. I've upgraded the recommended minimum system to EGA. CGA and Hercules fractals
just don't cut it.
Mandelbrot Explorer
Mandelbrot Explorer sports online
help, very powerful control over color assignment, some picture editing capability, and tips on photographing screens.
In the PC tradition, ME accepts command line parameters and operates with
keystroke commands. The command line
capability means that you can easily set
up a batch file directing ME to do any
number of fractals unattended. Wonderful! Head off on a month-long vacation
while your computer sits home alone
scratching out fractals.
Another nice feature called Escape lets
you watch the dance of a point as it goes
through the iterative process.
I do not like ME's method of screen
boundary input. Instead of taking maximum and minimum values, ME wants to
see the coordinates of the center of the region and a "magnification." Very unnatural.
Fractal Magic
Written in Turbo Pascal, FractalMagic
comes in two flavors - regular, and
8Dx87. And if you want to create your
very own fractal set, Advanced FractalMagic ($25) lets you write new calculation routines that can be linked in with
the FractalMagic code. (You'll also need
Turbo Pascal v.4.D.)
PM uses pull-down menus to create a
very nice user interface. Screen parameter input follows the more standard
method of specifying maxima and minima. During operation PM shows a
bright dot at the point of calculation - a
very nice touch that makes it easy to see
where the heck you are.
The makers of PM also sell a screen
dump utility, T-shirts, and another inter-

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esting sounding graphics program called
KaleidoScope.
Which One?
A rough comparison using the full
Mandelbrot set gave FM about a 15%
faster rating. I didn't get a chance to compare the two on an 80x87 system.
I'd be hard pressed to make a choice
between the two programs. I prefer the
user interface of FractalMagic, and it has
the edge in speed. But Mandelbrot Explorer's batch ability and its slick Escape
feature tip the balance back towards
even.
Shoot, it's only money - buy 'em
both.

Mandelbrot Explorer $30
Peter Garrison
1613 Alvito Way
Los Angeles, CA 90026

References
Clarke, Keith c., "Computation of the
Fractal Dimension of Topographic Surfaces Using the Triangular Prism Surface
Area Method," Computers & Geosciences,
Vol. 12, No.5, pp. 713-722.
1

Hopke, Philip K, et aI, "The Use of
Fractal Dimension to Characterize Individual Airborne Particles," paper presented to the EPA/ APCA Symposium on
Receptor Models in Air Resource Management.
2

Lucchin, F., "Clustering in the Universe," Ibid., pp. 313-318.

Grassberger, P., "Spreading of Epidemic
Processes Leading to Fractal Structures,"
Ibid., pp. 273-278.
7

8 Liu, S.H., et aI, ''Theory of the AC Response of Rough Interfaces," Ibid., pp.
383-389.
9

Sander, L., ''Fractal Growth Processes,"

Nature, Vol. 322, August 28, 1986, pp. 789793.

Barenblatt, G.I., et aI, ''The Fractal Dimension: A Quantitative Characteristic of
Ocean-Bottom Relief," Oceanology, Vol. 24,
No.6, pp. 695-697.
3

4 Turcotte, D.L., "A Fractal Model for
Crustal Deformation," Tectonophysics, Vol.
132 (1986), pp. 261-269.

Allain, C. et aI, "Optical Fourier Transforms of Fractals," Fractals in Physics,
Pietronero, L. and Tosatti, E. editors, ISBN
0-444-86995-6,
(Amsterdam:
Elsevier
Science Publishers B.v., 1986), pp_ 61-64.
5

FractalMagic $35
Sintar Software
P.O. Box 3746
Belleview, WA 98009

Reader Service Number 119

10 Tsonis, A., et al, "Fractal Characterization and Simulation of Lightning," Beitriige zur Physik der Atmosphiire (ISSN 0005
8173), Vol. 60, May, 1987, pp. 187-192,
English language.
11 Maddox, J., "Gentle Warning on Fractal
Fashions," Nature, Vol. 322, July 23, 1986,
p.303.

•••
MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Hacking Sprint:
Creating Display Drivers
Brett was one of the original architects of
the IEEE 802.5 Token Ring LAN, and
coauthored Living Videotext's ThinkTank
2.0. He's also an instigator of the annual
Hackers' Conference, which makes him a
natural for hacking Sprint, Borland's flexible new word processor.

ife in the Silicon Valley isn't quite
as idyllic as it is in Central Oregon,
but it has its pleasures: the challenge of identifying smog-shrouded
friends from 6 feet and the romance of
the regional car crawl during rush hour.
My desire to do something other than
fight the gridlock one Friday evening led
me to crack the imposing manuals I'd received with Borland's Sprint (the word
processor).
As it turned out, the result justified the
effort. If you're picky about your editing
environment, learning how to hack Sprint
will give you unprecedented control over
the way you view or manipulate text.

A Complete Word Processor
Sprint is the progeny of a long and
distinguished line of text editors and formatters that began at MIT and CMU with
Richard Stallman's. EMACS (Editing
MACroS) editor and Brian Reid's Scribe
text formatter.
Versions of these two programs, mainstays of the academic computing community, first appeared on microcomputers as
MINCE (''MINCE Is Not Complete
EMACS") and Scribble. These were the
foundations for products such as Perfect
Writer, Amethyst, and Final Word.
Sprint, derived from Final Word II,
provides almost every feature a user
could ask for. Imagine a text editor that
comes with nine user interfaces, four
built-in '1anguages," a text formatter, a
spelling checker, a thesaurus, a file format
converter, a mail merge, an automatic
save feature, and support for dozens of

36 MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

printers, screens, and terminals.
Sound intimidating? It might be, had
Borland not invested a great deal of time
and effort to hide much of the complexity
of this rich environment from the novice.
Sprint emerges from the box accompanied by a menu-driven setup, pop-up

desire to do
something other
than fight the
gridlock one Friday
evening led me to
crack the imposing
manuals I'd
received with
Borland's Sprint
(the word
processor).
menus within the editor, and well-chosen
defaults. Many of you will never need to
delve any deeper into the mysteries of
Sprint.
However, if you do get into the "advanced" portions of the documentation
(the Reference Manual and the Advanced
User's Guide), you'll discover that Sprint
has unmatched facilities for user customization and enhancements.
Figure 1 shows an overview of the
Sprint system. Note that, at every place
where there's an arrow in the diagram, a

user-accessible '1anguage" can create
new commands and menu text.
A C-like macro language controls the
interpretation of keystrokes and allows
redefinition of EVERY KEY COMBINATION. So the underlying EMACS-like
editor can emulate the user interfaces of
WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, and SideKick.
A configuration '1anguage" controls
how Sprint interacts with the screen and
printer. The Scribe-like formatting '1anguage" helps to organize your output.
And a record-oriented '1anguage" lets
you control the SprintMergemail merge.
This configurability makes Sprint a
hacker's editor par excellence.
Adapting Sprint To A New Screen
Each of the languages and interfaces
in Sprint deserves a small book of its
own. In this article I'll focus on one of
Sprint's more unusual features - its ability to run nearly any video display adapter or terminal.
During the course of my experimentation with Sprint, I've sent characters to
the screen via direct memory mapping,
software interrupts, the IBM PC BIOS,
MS-DOS, a serial port, and I/O ports all without major problems. Because you
can load specific processor registers with
selected values and call a software interrupt, you can write a TSR that does almost anything with Sprint's screen output.
To provide a real-world example, Earl
Hinrichs of PC Tech was kind enough to
let me borrow a high resolution monochrome video board and monitor to test
Sprint's configurability.
The PC Tech video board, which uses
a lMS34010 graphics CPU, produces a
736x1024 "portrait" display with up to 66
lines by 80 characters. (It looks as if it's
possible to get still more characters on the
screen, but this is the largest number currently supported without a special
driver.)

By Brett Glass

p.o. Box 817
Palo Alto, CA 94302-0817

I started out by reading Appendix F
of the Sprint User's Guide ("Build Your
Own Screen and Printer Drivers"). This
section describes the format of a Sprint
"library file" - a file which describes
screens and printers to the Sprint configuration utility (SP-SETUP).
A library file consists of ASCII "records" that define the characteristics of
printers, screens, and I/O ports. If you're
defining a printer device, there's also a
construct called a "subrecord" that defines fonts, character widths, attributes,
and character translation for a printing
device.
The Library Record Format
A record in a library file must begin at
the left margin and start with the word

"printer," "screen," or "port." Each record consists of the name of a device, followed by a comma and one or more
fields. Each field gives information about
the device, and consists of a field name, a
space, and a value (if required) for the
field. Commas separate the fields.
A record can span more than one line;
if it does, lines after the first must be indented. Comments, which begin with
double semicolons, can appear in a record; if they appear in the first' column,
the setup program displays them as you
configure Sprint.
Library records for screens have fields
that specify a large number of options.
Figure 2 shows an example of a library
record (taken directly out of Borland's library of screen definitions) for a screen

accessed via the IBM PC BIOS.
Let's examine this record bit by bit.
First, the word "screen" in the first
column indicates we're defining a screen
device; the name of the device, ".BIOS,"
follows immediately thereafter.
The fact that the name of the device
begins with a period has special significance. Devices whose names begin this
way won't appear on the setup program's menu, but you can create devices
that are visible on the menu with a record
likescreen IBM PC BIOS, as .BIOS

This record will cause an entry called
"IBM PC BIOS" to appear on the screen
setup menu, and the special lias" field

Figure 1 - Sprint System Overview

SprlntMerge
Templates
and Records

Macro/UI
Language

Text/Commands
Text/Commands

MICROCORNUCOPIA,#46,Mar-Apr1989

will invoke all the same field settings as
the hidden ".BIOS" device would.
The first three fields of the .BIOS record, "cur," "up," and "down," are set to
the capital letter "B." This setting has a
special meaning: It causes Sprint to use
the IBM PC BIOS to position the cursor
and move it up or down. It's also
possible to place strings in these fields
which convert the row and column into a
cursor positioning string to be sent to a
terminal.
The next group of fields, which includes "help," "infobox," "menufirst,"
"menu," "error," "status," "select,"
"plain" and a series of control characters,
selects the attributes used to paint the
screen. You can modify these hex numbers for maximum visibility, or simply to
suit your tastes.
Finally, the "reset" field tells Sprint
what to do when you exit the editor. The
string in our example manipulates the
IBM PC hardware directly via the H
(hardware
string)
construct.
The
sequenceO>AL o>cx l8S0h>DX 7>BH 6 int lOh

puts 0 in AL, 0 in CX, 1850 hex in DX, 7
in BH, and 6 in AH, then invokes software interrupt lOh. This causes the BIOS
to clear the screen.
Then, the sequence O>DX>BH 2 int lOh

puts 0 in DX and BH and 2 in AH, and
invokes Int 10h again. This positions the
cursor in the upper left-hand comer of the
screen, in preparation for the DOS
prompt to appear.
This example exploits only a small
number of the facilities available through
the Sprint library file "language." Other
features include a case construct, control
string formatting, binary arithmetic, and
direct writes to memory and I/O ports.
It's hard to imagine a screen control function you couldn't write with this language.
The PC Tech Monochrome Display
I installed the PC Tech Monochrome
Display in my PC almost without glancing at the instructions. The monitor has
an automatic on/off feature that causes it
to turn on when your PC boots. It
doesn't require a separate power switch
- a very nice touch.
I turned my PC on and the board
came up emulating an IBM CGA card.
(The emulation was good enough, by the
way, that even IBM's OS/2 Standard
Edition 1.0 - known to be sensitive to

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Figure 2 - ".BIOS" Screen Definition Record

screen .BIOS,cur B,up B,down B, ;; use "bios" calls only
help 7h, infobox 7h, manu first Ofh, manu 07h, error 070h,
status 070h, select 070h, plain 07h,
;; extra atributes
AA 070H, AB OFH, AC 070H, AD OlH, AE OlH,
AJ 020H, AK 070H, AL 07H, AM OlBH, AO 070H, Ap 070H, AQ 070H,
AR 01H, AS 070H, AT 01h, AU 01H, AV 070H, AW 070H, AX OlH,
;; to prevent clear, remove the line below ...
reset HO>AL O>CX l8S0h>DX 7>BH 6 int lOh O>DX>BH 2 int lOh
" clear screen on exit - to set color instead of white
;; use "%>BH" instead of "7>BH"
/***/

Figure 3 - PC Tech Display Screen Definition Record

screen PC Tech\, 66 lines,as .BIOS,
;; PC Tech mono display (66 lines)
map B800h,rows 66,init Cmovescrn\ C\ S\ 80\ 66,
reset HO>AL O>CX 4lS0h>DX 7>BH 6 int lOh O>DX>BH 2 int lOh
/***/

minute hardware incompatibilities didn't notice the difference.)
The display, which uses two bits per
pixel, maps colors to combinations of
black, dark grey, light grey, and white,
allowing most eGA programs to produce readable output despite the lack of
color. However, because the display was
acting like a CGA, it limited the text to 25
lines at the top of the screen - a terrible
waste of high-resolution display space.
Fortunately, you can expand the PC
Tech display to use more of the screen by
loading a special TSR, called TSRI0, that
communicates with the TMS34010
graphics processor. Once you've loaded
the TSR, the command MOVESCRN C S 80 66

maps more of the display area into the
PC's memory, yielding an 80 by 66 display.
However, at this point Sprint still
wouldn't have known that the display
wasn't a CGA. So I created a new screen
record (Figure 3) and inserted it into the
MAIN.SPL file on my Sprint program
disk.
This record contains several tricks I'd
picked up by looking at other device descriptions in the MAIN.SPL file.
First, I wanted the menu entry on
Sprint's configuration menu to show the
string "PC Tech, 66 lines." However, in
order to keep the setup program from
mistaking the comma for the one that
comes at the end of the device name, I
had to preface it with a backslash.

I then included the field "as .BIOS" in
the entry, since most of the IBM PC BIOS
calls (cursor positioning and scrolling)
work properly even on the larger display. This saved a lot of typing and kept
me from having to respecify all the attributes.
The comment immediately after the
first line begins at the left margin, so it
appears when the device is selected in
the setup program. This isn't absolutely
necessary, but conforms to what I've
done for other displays.
The map field tells Sprint the segment
address of the display, so that it can bypass the BIOS and write characters
directly to the TMS34010's dual-ported
memory. Like the CGA, the PC Tech
board resides at B8000h, unless it's
specifically remapped to emulate the
Hercules Graphics Card.
The rows field tells Sprint how many
rows the display has. This, combined
with the map field, defines the area of
display memory used by Sprint.
The init field tells Sprint to invoke
MOVESCRN as part of the initialization
sequence for the board. The backslashes
before the spaces in the command ensure
that the setup program won't mistake
them for the end of the command.
Finally, I set the reset field to a
sequence almost the same as that for
.BIOS - but not quite. By setting DX to
4150h rather than 1850h before invoking
the clear screen BIOS call, I cause the
BIOS to clear the screen down to line 41h
(65, counting from zero) rather than line
18h (24) when I exit the program.

When I invoked the SP-SETUP program, 10 and behold, the PC Tech display
was on the menu - and after selecting it
I was able to edit a whole typewritten
page of text at one time.
Even nicer, I could open eight files on
the screen at once and move back and
forth between them - excellent for
editing programs that span multiple files.
(Then, of course, I wrote a simple macro
that did a "make" on all the files I'd
edited. Sprint can be addicting.)
Special Fonts And More
Just displaying the fonts as different
shades of grey, black, and white (as in
this configuration) is still barely scratching the surface of what can be done with
the TMS34010 processor on the PC Tech
display board.
The graphics CPU is capable of displaying boldface, underlined, subscript,
superscript, strike-through, and other
fonts on the screen pretty much as
they're going to be printed, given only a
few enhancements to the software on the
board. (The Hercules RAMPont card already performs some of these functions
with Sprint, but since it does them in
hardware it may not be as flexible.)
At this writing, I haven't yet figured
out how to modify the software on the
coprocessor to display all the variations
on the fonts, but it's certainly possible and I hope the folks at PC Tech will lend
a hand.
Macros And Other Business
Sprint's configurability in one small
area (the development of display drivers)
gives a hint of what it's capable of doing
in others. I've seen Sprint editing macros
that play tunes on the PC's speaker, edit
your directory (veteran EMACS users
will recognize this as an adaptation of a
macro called "DIRED" on older EMACS
systems), and perform other functions
you might not usually see inside an editor.
The sheer size and scope of Sprint has
bewildered a few reviewers. But there's
no question that at least one class of user
(the ingenious hacker) will revel in the
possibilities. If you fall into this category,
or even if you don't, you may want to
put Sprint through its paces and see
what you can.create.

•••

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Reader Service Number 15

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Great C Comparison Of 1989!

By Scott Robert Ladd
P.o. Box 61425
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 322-7294

Here we go again. This is Version 2.0 of Scott's
"everything you ever wanted to know about C compilers." In this updated version you'll get faster
compiles, larger libraries, newer debuggers, and fancier manuals.
es, it's that time of year again ... when
my family wonders about my sanity,
my friends think I've disappeared, and
I find myself buried in boxes, disks,
and manuals. Once again, I'm reviewing the
great hoard of MS-DOS C compilers.
The lineup has changed somewhat. Last
year, I looked at 11 compilers; this year it's 12.
Nearly all of last year's compilers (the ones still
on the market) have undergone major upgrades. There are two significant newcomers WATCOM C and MIX Power C. Zortech now
sells what used to be the Datalight compiler.
Mark Williams' Let's C, a fine product I recommended in '88, is undergoing a major upgrade to full ANSI compatibility. The people at
Mark Williams did not want their old compiler
reviewed with a new product in the wings. As
soon as I get the new version, I'll cover it in the
regular column.
My methods have changed a bit. I've spent
the past year honing the process, and at SOG
VII several of you suggested things you'd like
to see.

The Latest Tests
Figure 1 summarizes the results of my latest
test. For the major benchmarks, I've listed the
top five finishers. Note that, as in the coprocessor run-time for GRIND, the compilers at the
top are only a few tenths of a second apart. A
compiler which did not make the top five may
still have been very close to the leaders.
All times are shown in seconds; EXE file
sizes are in K (the size of the executable image
divided by 1024). All times are the average of
five tests. For QuickC and Turbo C, I used the
command-line versions of the compilers. Compile and link times were done with optimizations turned off; after all, an optimizer usually
only runs in the final compile. I compared run
times after compiling for maximum speed.
40 MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr1989

"Em" means I used the software floatingpoint emulator, while 1/87" means I used the
math coprocessor. All tests ran under MS-DOS
v 3.21 on a 16 MHz 80386 PC with a 16 MHz
80387 math coprocessor and a 28 msec hard
drive. I packed the drive so all compiler components and source files were contiguous. I
used Microsoft LINK v 3.69 if the package
didn't provide its own linker.
Figure 2 summarizes the compilers' features.
It lists such things as ANSI compatibility, library features, memory models, and tools.
The Benchmarks
To begin with, the benchmarks have undergone major surgery. Where there were nine
benchmark programs last year, there are now
five. Only two of last year's benchmarks survived. The seven deleted benchmarks ran
under fifty lines in length, and supposedly
tested individual features of the compilers. In
reality, they tested very little.
Real-world programs do something, whereas
these tiny benchmarks were simple loops containing a few statements. Also, optimizing compilers cannot show their mettle on a tiny program. This year's benchmark suite consists of
longer, more complex programs - a better test
for optimizers.
DHRYSTONE 2 is a revision of the clar.sic
Dhrystone benchmark. The original author rewrote the program in C (the previous version
was a C translation from Ada). He also cleaned
up its logic and corrected some bugs. DHRYSTONE 2 contains a mix of statements designed to simulate a theoretically average program. Originally designed for comparing
different hard ware architectures, it's also very
useful as a compiler benchmark.
FXREF was here last year. (See Figure 3.)
This MS-DOS filter program creates a cross-reference listing of a text file. FXREF reads a file
from standard input, and breaks it into text
tokens. It then stores the tokens (along with
line number references) in a binary tree. FXREF
tests a compiler's I/O and dynamic memory allocation. The input to FXREF was its own
source code.
GRIND has undergone very few changes.
(See Figure 4.) It simulates a typical report pro-

Figure 1 - Benchmark Results

Borland
TurboC
v2.0B

CWare
DeSmet
v3.1e

Comp.ln
C86 Plus
v1.20D

EcoSoft
Eco-C88
v4.16

Lattice
C
v3.31

Manx
Aztec
v4.10C

Metaware Microsoft
HIGH-C C
v1.4
v5.10

Microsoft
QuickC
v1.01

MIX
PowerC
v1.2.0

WATCOM Zortech
C
C
v6.5
v1.07

Dhry 2 Compile Time6.1
Link Time
2.6
Em RunTime
20.3
Dhryl Sec
2463
Em EXE Size
9.5K

7.3
5.0
23.6
2119
16.5K

55.5
13.1
20.7
2415
14.8K

10.5
5.2
23.4
2137
12.8K

15.4
7.5
23.7
2110
17.3K

13.7
2.4
16.9
2959
7.7K

24.5
5.8
19.3
2591
26.1K

14.7
3.4
16.6
3012
10.7K

6.6
3.5
19.6
2551
10.9K

16.6
3.3
21.3
2347
18.6K

19.7
8.6
17.9
2793
9.5K

6.4
4.7
17.5
2857
10.0K

FxRef Compile Time
Link Time
Em RunTime
Em EXESize

4.9
2.5
41.3
8.4K

5.3
4.7
42.6
13.5K

37.2
14.3
38.7
13.1K

9.4
5.4
38.7
11.6K

10.7
7.4
42.8
15.6K

6.4
3.4
42.7
8.8K

22.8
5.8
39.4
21.2K

10.4
3.5
38.6
8.9K

5.8
3.5
38.6
9.0K

11.5
2.8
39.7
12.2K

11.6
9.7
39.1
7.8K

5.3
4.5
38.3
7.7K

Grind Compile
Link Time
Em RunTime
87 RunTime
Em EXE Size
87 EXESize

4.1
3.1
28.8
24.2
25.4K
15.8K

6.5
4.8
34.2
24.6
16.5K
14.0K

34.0
20.6
77.4
21.1
36.6K
19.6K

8.2
6.4
32.3
23.8
16.0K
16.0K

9.1
9.0
30.4
25.4
21.2K
18.1K

7.1
2.5
30.6
23.3
11.1K
9.8K

22.5
6.9
34.8
21.9
56.3K
50.2K

9.8
4.9
26.9
21.9
26.1K
18.4K

6.0
5.5
27.6
21.3
26.3K
18.7K

10.6
5.0
27.2
22.1
22.3K
19.7K

12.3
12.9
24.5
21.2
15.5K
12.9K

5.0
5.9
25.1
20.9
19.2K
19.1K

Sines Compile Time
Link Time
Em RunTime
87 RunTime
Em EXESize
87 EXE Size

2.8
3.0
138.4
9.6
20.0K
10.4K

4.0
4.0
69.5
20.3
7.5K
5.0K

13.7
13.5
302.2
10.5
24.1K
7.1K

4.8
3.2
62.4
15.4
4.3K
4.3K

5.5
5.8
62.7
10.6
7.7K
6.2K

4.1
2.4
76.0
23.7
5.7K
4.6K

17.6
4.7
114.6
7.9
10.2K
6.2K

6.4
3.6
120.0
5.3
16.9K
9.3K

4.7
3.6
156.4
10.1
16.9K
9.3K

5.4
2.6
37.5
22.7
5.3K
3.7K

6.5
10.2
25.1
11.0
9.7K
9.7K

4.2
3.6
46.4
9.7
6.3K
6.1K

3.7
3.7
4.5K

8.6
11.4
6.8K

4.1
2.8
1.7K

4.3
5.3
5.5K

2.8
1.8
1.9K

14.7
3.8
5.7K

4.9
2.4
2.2K

3.7
2.4
2.2K

4.4
2.1
2.1K

3.5
5.2
1.9K

3.7
3.7
3.4K

Empty Compile Time 2.4

Link Time
Em EXESize

2.3
2.3K

Emulator EXE Size Rankings

Coprocessor Run Time Rankings

Rank

Dhry2

FxRef

Grind

Sines

Empty

1
2
3
4
5

Manx
Borland
WATCOM
Zortech
Microsoft

Zortech
WATCOM
Borland
Manx
Microsoft

Manx
WATCOM
Ecosoft
CWare
Zortech

Ecosoft
MIX
Manx
Zortech
CWare

Ecosoft
WATCOM
Manx
MIX
Microsoft

Rank

Grind

Sines

Zortech
Comp In
WATCOM
Microsoft
Metaware

Microsoft
Metaware
Borland
Zortech
QuickC

2
3

Coprocessor EXE Size Rankings

Compile Time Rankings
Rank

Dhry2

FxRef

Grind

Sines

Empty

Rank

Grind

Sines

1
2
3
4
5

Borland
Zortech
QuickC
CWare
Ecosoft

Borland
CWare
Zortech
QulckC
Manx

Borland
Zortech
QulckC
C Ware
Manx

Borland
C Ware
Manx
Zortech
QuickC

Borland
Manx
WATCOM
QulckC
Zortech/C Ware

1
2
3
4
5

Manx
WATCOM
CWare
Borland
Ecosoft

MIX
Ecosoft
Manx
CWare
Zortech

Emulator Run Time Rankings
Rank

Dhry2

FxRef

Grind

Sines

1
2
3
4

Microsoft
Manx
Zortech
WATCOM
QulckC

Zortech
Microsoft
QuickC
Comp Inv
Ecosoft

WATCOM
Zortech
Microsoft
MIX
QuickC

WATCOM
MIX
Zortech
Ecosoft
Lattice

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989

gram. First, it reads a text file of 1000
floating point numbers. It then sorts
values and performs calculations. Finally, it writes the calculated values to a
disk file. GRIND tests II0 speed, loop
optimization, and floating-point library
speed.
SINES is a new benchmark. (See
Figure 5.) It calculates the sine of every
angle between 0 and 360 degrees. SINES
is unique in many ways. First, the only
variables in it are doubles. Second, it
doesn't use a single library function. It
primarily tests the speed of the floatingpoint code generated by a compiler. It's
interesting that some compilers which
have very fast math libraries create very
slow standalone floating-point code.
This test generates some surprising
numbers.
EMPTY is not a practical program.
The entire source for it is: mainO{}. It
was designed to show the size of the
compiler start-up code, and how
quickly a compiler could compile nothing. Like SINES, this test generated
some unusual results.
Ah, now on to the meat of this review! First, I'll look at each compiler.
Then, I'll discuss overall compiler performance, along with some recommendations and suggestions.
Borland Turbo C v2.0B
In two years, Borland has come from
nowhere to take a significant portion of
the MS-DOS C compiler market. While
it has had problems, version 2.0 is a
solid, complete product.
Borland gives you a lot of bang for
your buck.
For $150, the Standard package gives
you an integrated compiler/editor, a
command-line compiler, and several
programming utilities.
For $250, the Professional package
adds a command-line debugger and
macro assembler. As a beginner, a
hobbyist, or someone on a budget, the
Standard package is all you need. You
can always add the debugger / assembler package for $150.
Installation is simple and the package doesn't take a lot of room. In fact,
it's quite easy to use on a dual-floppy
laptop.
The environment is nice with everything accessed via pull-down menus or
hot-keys. Its biggest drawback is lack of
mouse support. You can easily customize the editor, a Words tar clone (like
all Borland editors).
Debugger: The built-in debugger,
while not as sophisticated as its stand-

42 MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

alone brother, certainly proves adequate
for most debugging tasks.
The debugger can execute source-line
by source-line. You can set watchpoints
and breakpoints and you can change or
examine variables. Once you solve a
problem, you merely edit the source
and recompile - all within the environment. It all works very easily and
quickly.
Help: The package includes a
memory-resident help facility. It loads
into memory and can be accessed from
within any editor via a hot key. The
help is somewhat context-sensitive.
Errors: Turbo C does a better-thanaverage job of warning you about problems. For instance, it will yell if you use
a variable before assigning it a value. It
warns you about unused local variables,
but not about unused formal parameters. You can control many of the warnings via compile options.
Documentation: The two paperback
books are reasonably well-written and
the tutorial section, friendly. You get
lots of examples and lots of information
about each function.
Unfortunately, Borland still puts
function descriptions one-after-theother, instead of beginning each on a
new page. The habit of cross-referencing
detailed function information to
another, similar function can lead to lots
of page flipping.
Library: The Turbo C library is large
and complete. It supports most of the
ANSI standard features and has all the
MS-DOS extensions we've come to expect in a PC C compiler.
Borland's Graphic Interface (BGI) is
one of the best graphics packages included with a compiler. It supports a
wide variety of adapters and (at least to
my mind-set) appears very well thought
out and organized. I especially like the
hardware-sensing option which lets you
(with some care) write a very portable
graphics program.
Finally: Turbo C is the fastest compiler in the review, although several
others come close. None of its execution
time or size performances were particularly exciting. On the SINES test, its
emulator came out third from last.
C Ware DeSmet C v3.le
This compiler has changed significantly since last year. Previously,
DeSmet followed the K&R standard, ignoring many of the new ANSI features.
Now, it supports the most commonly
used ANSI features, including function
prototypes.
This is the smallest compiler in the

group; a minimum configuration will fit
on a 360K floppy disk with some room
left over! The complete package requires only 600K. While there is no installation program, the manual clearly
describes the copying process.
Package: You get everything you
need in the basic package - an editor, a
linker, a compiler, an assembler, and a
librarian. (The optimizer is extra.) The
basic package only compiles to the
small model. The large model option
costs extra.
Environment: You can run the compiler from the editor and the editor will
point out compile errors in the source.
You can reconfigure the editor to work
with non-IBM compatible MS-DOS machines.
The assembler is not MASM compatible, but should be useful for creating
small routines and functions.
Debugger: You get a source-level
symbolic debugger. Although not as
fancy or sophisticated as some others, it
does everything you need to track most
bugs.
Documentation: The manual comes
in a single three-ring binder. With it
you get a sheath of update pages, which
you must integrate. The manual has one
big deficiency - no index.
Finally: While this compiler contains
some of the ANSI features, many are
still missing. For instance, it does not include any of the standard time functions so I had to write a special version
of the DHRYSTONE 2 benchmark. On
the plus side, DeSmet C has graphics
and direct-video-display functions.
This compiler runs fast and produces
very small .EXE files. The performance
of resulting programs, however, ranged
from average to below average.
Computer Innovations C86Plus vl.20D
C86Plus arrives with two three-ring
. binders. I wish I could recommend this
compiler. It has the most enjoyable
documentation to read, filled with anecdotes and humor. Unfortunately, compiler performance is the worst of the
bunch.
You can tell that this compiler is a
little different by the names they give
the tools. For instance, they've named
their linker program "Caro1." Their object-module librarian is "Marion." The
package has all the important tools except an editor and a debugger (an
empty chapter in the manual waits for a
future debugger).
Installation: You get an easy to use
installation program which lets you set
the locations of the compiler and tools.

Figure 2 - Compiler Features

Feature

Borland
Turbo C
v.2.0

Comp.lnn. C-Ware
C86Plus DeSmet
v.1.20D v.3.1e

EcoSoft
Eco-C88
v.4.0.16

Lattice
C
v.3.31

Y
Y
y

y
y

N
N

Manx
AztecC
v.1.4C

Metaware Microsoft
High-C
C
v.1.4
v.5.1

Microsoft
QuickC
v.1.01

MIX
PowerC
v.1.2.0

WATCOM Zortech
C
C
v.6.5
v.1.07

N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N

(8)
y
y
y
y
(3)
y
y

y
y
y
y
y
(3)
y

(3)
y

(9)
y
y
Y
Y

Utilities

environment(1 )
linker
librarian
debugger
editor
assembler
make
grep
profiler

y
Y

Models (4)
Tiny (.COM)
Small
Medium
Compact
Large
Huge
Mixed

y
y

(6)

N
N

Y
y

N
N

y
y
Y
y
y
y
y

y
y
y
y
y
y

Code Output

.OBJ files
OS/2 support
80x87 support
8087 sensing
186 support
286 support(2)
386 support(2)
ROMabie
Assembler

N
N
N

Y
y
y
y
y
y

y
y
Y
Y

N
N

y
y
y
y

N
N

(5)

y
y

N
N
N
N

y
y
y
y
y
y

y
y
y
y

N
y
y
y
y

N
N

y
y
y
y
y
y

(5)

y
(3)
y
y
y
y
(7)

Y
y
y

BBS
Commercial

y
N
y
y
N
N
N
(3)
y

$2,000
y

$150

N
N

y
y

y
BIX

N
N

y
BIX

Y
y

N
CIS

Support

N
N

y
y

$89
Y

$500
y

Y
Y

N
N

y
y

y
y
y
y
y
y
y

$50
Y

$150
y

y
y
y
y
y
y
y

N
N
N
N

N
N

y
y
y
y
y
y

N
N

N
(3)
(3)

Y
y

y
y
y
y
y
y

Y
y

N
N
N
N

Documentation

tutorial
lang. ref.

N
N

N
N
N
N
N

Source

library
start-up

y
y
y
y
N
y
y

Y
y
y
y
y
(3)
y

N
N

y
(3)
(3)

y
y
Y
Y
y
y
y
Y

y
y
y
y

N
N

N
N
N

N
N

$150
y

$10

$225
Y

$50
Y

y
y

N
N

CIS

y
y
y
N

y
y

Other

Req's HD
Notes:

(1) Borland, Microsoft, and WATCOM provide integrated environments with the compiler, editor, and debugger built-in. The other products provide an editor
which can also run the compiler (and possibly the debugger) while editing a program.
(2) Most of the compilers reviewed support protected-mode programming - only support for the speCial instructions available in real mode on these chips.
(3) Available at extra cost.
(4) Models

Tiny - code and data both in 64K (.COM model)
Small - small (up to 64k) code, small data
Medium - large (up to 1MB) code, small data
Compact - small code, large data
Large - large code, large data
Huge - large code, large data, individual data items can be 64k
Mixed - near and far items can be declared in one program unit

(5) Producing .OBJ files requires the use of a special utility.
(6) The compiler has limited, built-in make-like facilities
(7) 80386 protected mode support is available in a seperate product

(8) The large Microsoft Optimizing C compiler package includes Quick C. For example, the editor included with Microsoft C is actually the one from the Quick C
environment. Also, although MS C cannot be placed on floppies, Quick C can
(9) WATCOM C comes with Express C, a integrated editor/compiler designed for the educational market.

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989 43

C86Plus takes up a significant amount
of disk space, making it difficult to use
on a floppy-based system.
Library: C86Plus has a large, robust
library. The language conforms to most
of the early drafts of the ANSI standard.
And you get typical MS-DOS extensions
such as near and far pointers and direct
access to video memory. The function,
zorkO, returns a weird string (apparently) significant to the popular
computer adventure game.
Finally: Running C86Plus is simple;
it supports the Microsoft C compiler
switches. The product seems to be very
stable.
Performance left much to be desired.
Compiles were so slow I occasionally
wondered if the program had locked
up. The linker was no better. Programs
ran in average times although they did
very well on the coprocessor and
FXREF execution times. The C86Plus
floating-point emulator is very slow,
often twice as slow as any other emulator.
Ecosoft Eco-C88 v4.16
Ecosoft has produced C compilers
since the days of CP /M. Their MS-DOS
offering was one of the first compilers
to implement some of the ANSI features
such as function prototypes and void.
There have been few outward changes
in this compiler since last year; most of
the changes have been minor bug-fixes.
Documentation: This package's biggest weakness is the manual. Contained
in a three-ring binder, it's haphazardly
organized and doesn't contain much of
the information I looked for. For instance, the package will link several
different libraries with Ecosoft programs, but the manual provides little
explanation of when to use the libraries.
Installation: The installation program lets you select language components and their location. It also lets
you place the package on floppies.
This compiler uses more environment variables than any other. The environment variables show the locations
and names of libraries, compiler components, and header files. One environment variable, EPICK, sets the default
value for the "picky" flag (described
below).
Package: Eco-CBB includes the compiler, a simple source-level debugger,
and an editor. An object-module librarian is available separately. The package
does not include a linker, which can be
a problem if your version of MS-DOS
doesn't include Microsoft's LINK. The
debugger is nothing fancy - it doesn't

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

have the windowed interfaces of some
of the newer debuggers. Still, it does
what it needs to - it tracks down bugs.
The compiler contains several interesting features. It can use "make" logic
on the files specified, so that it will recompile any source files newer than
their object modules. This was provided
in lieu of a standalone make program.
Another compiler switch of interest,
the so-called "picky" flag, behaves like
the warning level switch found in other
compilers. Eco-C8B includes several lintlike capabilities, and the picky flag determines how picky the compiler is
about your code.
On the upside, Eco-C8B has a feature-rich library. It misses some of the
ANSI functions but contains other interesting routines, including functions to
manipulate binary trees and video displays.
It doesn't have a graphics library and
some "standard" extended functions,
such as the spawnO family, are conspicuously absent. Only Lattice provides less support for the proposed
ANSI standard than Ecosoft.
Performance-wise, Eco-C8B runs
about average. Though it generated
smaller than average code, it took about
an average amount of time to do it. The
programs were reasonably fast, and
Eco-CBB did come in fourth in the run
time of the SINES benchmark (using the
emulator.)
Lattice C v3.31
Lattice used to be king of the C compilers, but Microsoft passed them
several years ago and Lattice never recovered. At the rate they're going, they
never will.
Documentation: The manuals have
seen the biggest improvement from last
year. They're attractively typeset, well
organized, and bound in two three-ring
binders.
Installation: Installation is simple.
The installation program lets you select
which components to load to disk. The
choices lie in a documented configuration file.
Package: This is a complete package
with several tools, including the editor,
debugger, and some unusual items like
an OS/2 binder. Lattice is one of only
two C compilers supporting OS/2 and
Microsoft Windows (Microsoft, of
course, being the other.) Lattice does not
provide a linker. You can compile programs within the editor which will trap
and track errors.
Debugger: The debugger is very
primitive, basically a souped-up version

of DEBUG. Lattice promised a
CodeView-like symbolic debugger at
COMDEX in 19B7, but no one's seen it
yet.
Lattice C probably supports more
compiler switches than any other compiler in this review. Some of them are
unique. For example, the -R switch au-,
tomatically inserts the object modules
into a library.
Finally: On the box they state that
Lattice is an "ANSI" compiler. Unfortunately, nothing could be farther from
the truth. Of all the compilers reviewed,
Lattice is the farthest from compliance.
It doesn't even support simple features,
such as the new Pascal-like function
headers. And it lacks many of the ANSI
header files.
Lattice C's performance is nothing to
brag about. Its only claim to fame in the
benchmark tables was the performance
of its floating-point emulator on the
SINES run-time benchmark. Otherwise,
it compiled slowly and produced average-sized .EXE files.
Manx Aztec C v4.10c
Manx puts out compilers for everything from Apple lIs to 6BOOO-based machines. Its 80x86 compiler for PC compatibles comes in several flavors, ranging in price from $200 to $500. As the
price goes up, so does capability. This
review looked at the Commercial Package, the most expensive (and extensive)
version available. This compiler has
changed very little from last year.
Installation: Installation directions
are sparse and there's no installation
program, so you'll find it interesting
figuring out which directories to create
and which files to load. There's no excuse for not having at least a section
discussing the recommended way to install the product.
Documentation: The manual still has
two of the problems it had last year - a
too small binder and poor organization.
Manx adds additional documentation
for each release level. Unfortunately,
they don't integrate this information
into the manual. The inserts have
grown to the point that the three-ring
binder will not completely close. It's
often difficult to find information when
it's divided among two updates and a
two-part manual.
Package: This is one of the most
complete packages I've seen. It includes
every important utility. Though the editor won't call the compiler, the symbolic
debugger, SDB, is nearly as capable as
CodeView (or the Turbo Debugger).
Unlike CodeView, it allows an un-

C CODE FOR THE PC
source code, of course

NEW!
NEW!
NEW!

NEW!
NEW!

NEW!

MS-DOS File Compatibility Package (create, read, & write MS-DOS file systems on non-MS-DOS computers)
Bluestreak Plus Communications (two ports, pro&rammer's interrace, terminal emulation) . . . . . . . .
CQL Query System (SQL retrievals plus windows) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
GraphiC 4.1 (high-resolution, DISSPLA-style scientific plots in color & hardcopy)
........ .
PC Curses (Aspen, Software, System V compatible, extensive documentation) . . . . . . . . . . .
Greenleaf Busmess Mathlib (exact decimal math, formatting, depreciation, interest, cash flow, statistics)
Greenleaf Data Windows (windows, menus, data entry, interactive form design). . . . . . . . . . .
Assembler Kit (by John Zarrella; includes listing generator & loader; requires si~d license agreement)
Greenleaf Communi~tions Library (inteITUpt mode, modem control, XON-XO[''C'') . . . . . . . . .
ThrboTFX (TRIP certified; HP, PS, dot dnvers; CM fonts; LaTEX) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sherlock (C debugging aid) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Greenleaf Functions (296 useful C functions, all DOS services) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Essential C Utility Library, Communications Library, or Resiaent C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Essential Communications Ubrary (C functions for RS-232-based communication systems) . . . . .
WKS Ubrary Version 2.0 (C program interface to Lotus 1-2-3, dBase, Supercalc 4, Quatro, & Clipper)
OS/88 (U ..x-like operating system, many tools, cross-development from MS-DOS) . . . . . . . . . . .
ME Version 2.1 (programmer's editor with C-like macro language by Magma Software; Version 1.31 still $75)
Vmem/C (virtual memory manager; least-recently used pager; dynamic expansion of swap file) . . . . . .
Thrbo G Graphics Library (all popular adapters, hidden line removal) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ThrboGeometry (library of routines for computational geometry) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CB1tee (B+tree ISAM driver, multiple variable-length keys) . . . .
Minix Operati_ng System (U •• x-like operating system, includes manual)
PC/IP (CMU/MIT TCP/IP implementation for PCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B-'free library & ISAM Driver (file system utilities by Softfocus) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thle Operating System (ThleKernel, TeleWindows, TeleFile, & TeleB'Iree by Ken Berry) . . .
The Profiler (program execution profile tool) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
QC88 C compiler (ASM output, small model, no longs, floats or bit fields, 80+ function library)
Wendin Operating System Construction Kit or PCNX, PCVMS O/S Shells . . . . . . . .
C Windows Tholklt (pop-up, pull-down, spreadsheet, CGA/EGA/Hercules) . . . . . . .
JATE Async Thrminal Emulator (includes file transfer and menu subsystem) . . . . . . .
Polyglot Lisp-to-C 'Iranslator (includes Lisp interpreter, Prolog, and simple calculus prover)
MultiDOS Plus (DOS-based multitasking, mtertask messaging, semaphores) . . . . . . .
Kinetic Image Synthesizer (3-D animation system '" Saturday morning on your PC!) . . . . . .
XT BIOS Kit (roll your own BIOS with this complete set of basic in~ut/output functions for XIS)
TE Editor Developer's Kit (full screen editor, undo command, multiple windows) . . . . . . .
Professional C Windows (lean & mean window and keyboard handler). . . . . . . . . . . .
Heap Expander (use LIM-standard expanded memory as an extension of the heap) . . . . . .
lp (flexible printer driver; most popular printers supported) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Qumcy (interactive C interpreter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
P1tee (parse tree management) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
OBJASM (convert .obj files to .asm files; output is MASM compatible) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Icon-Thols (full-featured icon display and editing system) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Polyglot TSR Package (includes reminder, bookmark, virus catcher, cache manager, & speech generator)
HELP! (pop-up help system builder) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Multi-UserBBS (chat, mail, me~us! sysop displays; uses Galacticomm modem card) . . . . . . . . .
Make (macros, all languages, bUllt-m rules) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coder's Prolog (inference engine for use with C programs) . , .
Virtual Memory System (least recently used swapping) . . . . .
CeNotes (pop-up help for C programmers ... add your own notes) .
Heap I/O (treat all or part of a disk file as heap storage) . . . . .
Biggerstaff's System Thols (multi-tasking window manager kit) . .
OOPS (collection of handy C++ classes by Keith Gorlen of NIH)
PC-XINU (Comer's XINU operating system for PC) . . . . . .
CLIPS (rule-based expert system generator, Version 4.2) . . . .
Tiny Curses (Berkeley curses package) . . . . . . . . . . . .
Polyglot RAM Pisk (change disk size on the fly; includes utilities) .
SP (spelling checker with dictionary and maintenance tools) . . .
Clisp (Lisp interpreter with extensive internals documentation) . . . . . .
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U. S. Cities (names & longitude/latitude of 32,000 U.S. cities and 6,0 state boundary points)
Tbe World Digitized (100,000 longitude/latitude of world country boundaries) .
KST Fonts (13,200 characters in 139 mixed fonts: specify 1J3X or bitmap format)
USNO Floppy Almanac (high-precision moon, sun, planet & star positIOns) . .
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MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989

limited number of breakpoints and can
use keyboard macros. SDB does not
support a mouse.
The Commercial Package has
complete facilities for the creation of
ROMabie code. As the benchmark table
shows, Aztec C produces very small executable files.
Finally: I found Aztec C easy to
work with. The compiler has a simple
syntax and only a few switches. Environment variables locate headers and
libraries. My only problem came when
trying to change the stack size. The
manual documents three variables
which must be set when there are actually four LSTKRED must be set to the
minimum clearance between the stack
and heap.) Again, the documentation is
the weakest part of this package.
Aztec C did very well in the benchmarks. The compiler runs fast and
generates small programs. While not
amazing, the performance of the
generated programs is at least average.
Aztec C came in second in the execution
speed of DHRYSTONE 2.
Metaware High-C vl.4
This product hasn't changed from
last year. High-C's ads proudly proclaim that it was used to create several
popular products (including dBASE
III/IV and Q&A). However, it's quickly
losing ground in that arena to Microsoft, WATCOM, and others.
Installation: Metaware's installation
program copies the compiler components to any directory but there's no
way you can run this package from a
floppy. The compiler takes up over
600K!
Documentation: The manual barely
fits into its three-ring binder. Divided
into three sections, each with its own
index, this is one of the better manuals
in the group. It contains complete,
clearly written information.
Only High-'c supports "profiles,"
files which contain compiler directives
and instructions. You create specific
profiles for specific projects, thereby
customizing the compiler's behavior.
Library: Metaware doesn't provide
many utilities. It has no librarian or
linker. The only utilities included are a
GREP and a source code cross-referencer. While many experienced programmers don't use built-in utilities,
beginners usually find them very useful.
High-C implements many common
ANSI features, but it has a long way to
go before it's in full compliance. The library doesn't include any extras. This

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

compiler has one of the most boring libraries in the group with operating system access functions, but no graphics library.
Finally: High-C's performance is mediocre. Its compile times beat only
C86Plus and it produces large executables. While High-C advertises as an optimizing compiler, it doesn't match the
performance levels of some non-optimizing products. High-C turned in its
best performances on the coprocessor
run-time tests for GRIND and SINES,
where it came in fifth and second, respectively.
Microsoft C v5.10
This is the industry standard. As a
leader, it has its critics (who have some
valid points). However, an overall view
shows that Microsoft C has not become
the standard merely because of the reputation of its parent.
Installation: Microsoft has continued
to improve its installation program. It's
very flexible, giving you control over
what's put where. You can even change
libraries without reinstalling the entire
package.
Documentation: The documentation
package includes three two inch thick
three-ring binders containing six manuals, along with a paperback reference
manual for QuickC. Microsoft's documentation is very thorough and liberally indexed.
Unfortunately they haven't integrated the upgrade for version 5.10 so
you have to look in at least two places
to be sure you have the correct information. I don't understand why companies
with looseleaf binders can't integrate
their updates.
Package: Microsoft includes a cornucopia (appropriate for Micro C) of utilities and tools with their C compiler. The
most extensive of these is QuickC, an
environment-based compiler sold separately (see the separate discussion of
QuickC below.) Recent additions include a powerful editor and a grep utility.
Debugger: CodeView is Microsoft's
windowing, source-level debugger. It
looks a bit long in the tooth when compared to products like Borland's Turbo
Debugger, but is still one of the best
source-level debuggers available.
CodeView lets you track and view data
throughout the execution of a program.
It does line-by-line and animated (slow
motion) execution. You can store debugger commands in a script file.
One CodeView feature is sadly lacking in other debuggers - mouse sup-

port. I still think of CodeView as a fine
prod uct, in spite of its reliance on the
archaic DEBUG and SYMDEB command set.
Editor: The Microsoft Editor (ME)
would be a much better product with
usable documentation (it's better for
quick reference). However, if you spend
the time, you'll find ME extraordinarily
powerful. In many ways, it resembles
Brief.
It does, however, have some unique
capabilities. Instead of a built-in programming language, ME lets you write
extensions in either C or Macro Assembler. You then compile them and they're
linked in at run-time. (They're lightning
fast.)
Using the Microsoft compiler is easy.
A large number of switches control
everything from code generation to the
listing format. No other compiler fully
supports OS/2, including multi-thread
programs and dynamic-link libraries.
I've heard through the C community
that Microsoft C 5.10 is buggy. It gained
this reputation with 5.00. Microsoft
rushed 5.00 to market, though that
package had a significant number of
bugs.
When 5.10 came out, it retained the
stigma of its predecessor. I've had no
problems with the compiler, although
there still could be some.
Of course, misunderstandings about
the optimizer could also generate bug
reports.
For instance, the lOa (included in
the catchall lOx switch) optimization
switch tells the compiler to ignore the
possibility of aliases in the program
code. You get an alias when a memory
location gets modified by more than one
variable. (Often occurs when using
pointers heavily.)
Aliasing makes C harder to optimize
than other languages. The programmer
needs to be aware of what aliasing is, to
be sure it's safe to use the /Oa switch.
Finally: Microsoft C performs very
well. It compiles slowly, but that
shouldn't be a problem with QuickC included in the package. I use QuickC for
most of my preliminary compiles, unless I'm using some features available
only in its big brother.
. Microsoft C generates fast code - it
won the DHRYSTONE 2 benchmark by
a considerable margin, though it produces larger than average .EXE files.
Probably its biggest failure was the
SINES benchmark, where its emulator
performance was very poor. It's only
fair to note that Microsoft offers an alternative math library -less accurate

than the emulator library, but considerably faster.
Microsoft QuickC 1.01
Microsoft's QuickC integrates editor,
compiler and debugger functions. By
the time this review reaches the stands,
version 2.00 will be out. Version 2 is a
complete rewrite of version 1.01, with
many new features. Therefore, I'll keep
this discussion short.
Quick C comes with a set of paperback manuals. Like the "big" Microsoft
compiler, Quick C installs easily. It
doesn't work well from floppy disksit simply requires too much disk swapping, even with the special overlay provided.
Quick C offers most of the features
of the big Microsoft compiler, though it
doesn't support most of the optimizations. Microsoft produced QuickC for
folks learning the C language. They
figure those of you interested in an optimizing compiler will buy the larger
package.
The package also includes a command-line version of the compilermerely a driver which runs the integrated environment. It also includes a
complete set of command utilities, along
with a make and a librarian.
Finally: Quick C really performs. It
compiles very quickly (as its name
would imply), and produces very fast
programs. QuickC out performs Borland's Turbo C (its most common rival)
in most of the .EXE run-time benchmarks. Its worst performance came on
the emulator run-time test for SINES,
where it ranked second slowest. (Microsoft doesn't offer an alternative math library for QuickC.)
MIX Power C vl.2.0
You won't find a less expensive compiler available, for any language. At $20
(basic package), Power C costs less than
most computer books.
Installation: Nothing fancy here, you
just copy the compiler to floppy disks
or your hard drive. Everything about
this package is budget-level, except for
the manual.
Documentation: MIX worked hard
to create a manual useful to the novice
C programmer. The tutorial contains
one of the best explanations of pOinters
I've seen.
The manual does have problems,
though. They've separated the information on compiler switches from the instructions on running the compiler. The
manual includes compile options that
don't work yet (the READ.ME file notes

Figure 3 - FXREF.C
/*
Program:

FXREF (File Cross-Reference)

Version: 1.10
Date:
21-Sep-1988
Language: ANSI C
Reads a file from standard input, and sorts and organizes each token·
(word) found using a binary tree, keeping track of the number of occurences of each token and their location by line and column. It then
prints a report to stdout.
Released into the public domain for educational purposes.
*/
'include
,include
,include
,include

"stdio.h"
"string.h"
"ctype.h"
"stdlib.h"

/* type definitions */
typedef unsigned short line_no;
typedef struct loc s
{
line no line;
struct loc s * next;
}
location;
typadef struct tok s
{
struct tok s * less, * more;
char * text;
struct loc s *loc, *last;
}
token;
token * root;
char * err_msg[] = {
"token table root",
"token text",
"location references",
"token record"

};

/* function prototypes */
int main(void);
void parae tokens(char *, line no);
void add tree(char *, line no);
token * find tree (char *);void show tree(token *);
void error(short);
int main()
{

char buf [256] ;
line no line=O;
if (NOLL == (root = ( token *)malloc(sizeof( token»»
error(O);
root->less = NOLL;
root->more = NOLL;
root->text = NOLL;
root->loc = NOLL;
while (NOLL != (fgets(buf,2S6,stdin»)
(

++line;
printf("'Su: 'a",line,buf);
parse tokens(buf,line);
}
printf("\xOC\n");
show tree(root);
return 0;
}

void parse tokens(char * buf, line_no line)
{
char tok [256] ;
line no pos;
while (1)

{

while «!isalpha(*buf» && (*buf != 0»
++buf;
if (*buf == 0)
return;
poa = 0;
while (isalpha(*buf»
tok[pos++] = *buf++;
tok[pos] = 0;

continued next page

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989

this). The error reference section merely
lists the error messages, there's no explanation of them.
Package: For $20, you get the compiler and linker - that's it. MIX's optimizer is part of the compiler's code
generator.
The compiler does support a wide
variety of floating point options but has
only one memory model- medium.
This is why I did Power C's benchmarks with the medium model while I
used the small models for other compilers.
Additional packages are available.
The CTrace debugger costs $19.95, as
does a database toolbox and a BCD
math package. The library source code
sells for $10 and contains a simple 8088
assembler as a bonus.
As with all advertising claims, the
comparative performance chart in the
Power C ads and on the back of its
manual are a bit optimistic. It compiles
fast, but nowhere near as fast as Borland and Zortech. It produces small,
swift programs, but not usually the
fastest. The most spectacular performance by Power C was on the emulator
tests for the GRIND and SINES. Only
WATCOM beats Power C's 37.5 seconds
on the emulator run time test for SINES.
WATCOMCv6.5
WATCOM gives Microsoft a run for
its money. A spinoff from the University of Waterloo in Canada, the company is well-known for its mainframe
FORTRAN compilers (WATFOR and
WATFIV). When they entered the PC
market last year with version 6.0 of
their C compiler, they made a splash
that is still sending ripples through the
MS-DOS C community.
Installation: WATCOM includes a
simple program for installing the compiler and its components onto a hard
drive. (Don't even bother trying it on
floppies.) As with most compilers, it
uses environment variables to direct the
compiler and utilities to needed files.
Documentation: They've divided
documentation into five spiral-bound
books. You also get a stack of quick referE:nce guides, one for each major program. All the manuals have complete,
and logical, indexes.
Package: This package has everything, though the editor isn't particularly exciting. It emulates the old IBM
mainframe editors by being slow and
clumsy. But at least it exists.
Debugger: The debugger is not as
easy to use as its competitors, but it has
plenty of features. For instance, I
48 MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

add tree(tok,line)i
}

void add tree(char * tok, line_no line)
{
token *temp tok, *new toki
location *t8mp lOCi short comp;
if (root->text
NULL)

{

if (NULL =- (root->text =
(char *)malloc«unsigned)strlen(tok)+l»)
error(l)i
strcpy(root->text,tok);
if (NULL
(root->loc =
( location *)malloc(sizeof( location»»
error(2)i
root->loc->line = line;
root->loc->next = NOLLi
root->last = root->lOCi
return;

}

temp tok = find tree(tok)i
if (comp = strcmp(tok,temp tok->text»
/* comp is true (non-zero) if they don't match */
{

==
==

if (NOLL
(new tok = ( token *)malloc(sizeof( token»»
error(3); if (NOLL
(new tok->text =
(char *)malloc«unsigned)strlen(tok)+1»)
error(1);
new tok->less = NOLLi
new-tok->more = NOLLi
strcpy(new tok->text,tok)i
if (NULL - (new tok->loc =
( location *)malloc(sizeof( location»»
error(2)i
new tok->loc->line
line;
new-tok->loc->next
NOLLi
new-tok->last
new tok->loCi
if (comp < 0)
temp tok->less = new toki
else
temp_tok->more = new_toki

=
=

else
/* if comp is false (0), the tokens match */
{

(temp loc =
( location *)malloc(sizeof( location»»
error(2);
temp loc->line = linei
temp-loc->next = NOLL;
temp-tok->last->next = temp loc;
temp-tok->last = temp lOCi if (NOLL

}

token *find_tree(char * tok)
(

short COmpi
token *nodei
node = rooti
while (1)
(

== (comp = strcmp(tok,node->text»)
return node;
i f (comp < 0)
if (node->less
NOLL)
return nOdei
else
node - node->lessi
else
if (node->more . . NOLL)
return nodei
else
node = node->more;
if (0

void show tree(node)
token *node;
{

location *lloCi
short POSi
if (NOLL
node) returni
show_tre.(node->less)i

printf("%-32s: ",node->text);
pos = -1;
lloc = node->loc;
while (lloc != NULL)
{

if (++pos == 7)
{

pos = 0;
printf("\n%32s: "," ");
}

printf("%5d ",lloc->line);
lloc = lloc->next;
}

printf("\n") ;
show tree(node->more);
}

void error(short err no)
{
printf("\nFXREF ERROR: Cannot allocate \
space for %s\n", err msg [err no]);
exit(err no+l):
}
/***/

Figure 4 - GRIND.C
/*
Program:

Grind

Version:

1.11

Date:

26-0ct-1988

Language: ANSI C

Tests all aspec~s of a C compiler's functions, including disk i/o, screen
i/o, floating point, recursion, prototyping, and memory allocation. It
should be a large enough program to test the advanced optimizers in some
compilers.
Developed by Scott Robert Ladd. This program is public domain.
*/
#include
#include
#include
#define MAXFLOATS 1000
struct tabent
{

ZoItech C vl.07
Zortech now sells what used to be
Datalight Optimum-C. In fact, they've
managed to improve the product.
Installation: An automated installation program lets you select files and
directories for this package. You can
also set an array of environment variables to configure the compiler. Zortech
C can easily run on a floppy disk-based

double val, vsum, vsqr, vcalc;
};

struct tabent table[MAXFLOATS];
char *errmsg [] =
"GRIND. TBL cannot be created",
"GRIND.TBL cannot be closed properly",
"GRIND. IN cannot be found",
"GRIND.IN has been truncated",
"GRIND.IN cannot be closed properly"
};

/* function prototypes */
short main(void);
void readfloats(void);
void sortfloats(void);
void quicksort(struct tabent *, short, short);
void maketable(void);
void writetable(void);
void error(short);

Pc.

short main (void)
{

puts("\nGrind (C) vl.10 -- A Benchmark Program\n");
readfloats();
sortfloats();
maketable();
wri tetable () ;
puts("\7End run GRIND!!!");
return(O);
}

void readfloats()
{

register short i;
char buf[12];
FILE *fltsin;
pr1ntf("--> Reading in floats. At #
"};
if (NULL
(fltsin = fopen("GRIND.IN","r"»)

couldn't figure out how to remove the
assembler trace window. The debugger
doesn't remember the video mode of
the program being debugged. If the debugger is in 43-line mode on an EGA,
so is the output from your program.
However, you can assign actions to
watchpoints, something sadly lacking
from CodeView and Turbo Debugger.
Express C is WATCOM's integrated
compiler. Often, it produces .EXE files
over 80K larger than necessary because
it includes debugging information.
However, as a prototyping tool, Express
C is very good. The editor and debugger are versions of the standalone utilities, and work well enough for a classroom. Express C runs much faster than
the main C compiler does.
WATCOM C has a very interesting
code generator. One of the reasons for
its sterling performance is that the compiler deftly uses AX, BX, CX, DX, 51,
and DI to store function parameters.
(You can disable this feature.)
Finally: The W ATCOM C compiler
runs relatively slowly but it produces
small, fast programs. (WATCOM C's
floating-point emulator is amazingly
fast.) WATCOM, however, has a problem compiling the SINES benchmark for
the coprocessor. When I forced it to use
inline coprocessor instructions (the -7
switch), the resulting program went into
an infinite loop.

continued next page

Documentation: You get a 600 page
paperback which includes a simple introduction to C, a description of compiler switches and components, and a
look at optimization.
Package: The only tool missing from
this product is a debugger. Zortech will
have a symbolic debugger available
sometime in early 1989. In the meantime, version 1.07 fully supports Microsoft's CodeView.
The ZED editor was designed for
programming. You can compile programs from within it, and track the errors in the edit buffer.
Zortech provides a memory-resident,
context-sensitive help facility. It will
work from inside any editor. Pressing
MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989

the help hot key will bring up a subject
related to the item at the current cursor
location. This way you get help while
working in your favorite editor.
Zortech C includes several utilities.
Many of these, such as the timer and
grep programs, come with source code.
Library: The Ii bra r y i s quit e
complete. It includes several standard
functions, such as strtokO and sleepO,
not mentioned in the manual. (I also noticed they'd left out or misplaced examples in the function reference section.) Zortech has supplied a graphics
library (as have other vendors) and
their Flash Graphics are very fast.
Unlike Datalight, Zortech doesn't include the source to the library functions.
Source costs you an extra $50.
Finally: On the benchmark tests,
Zortech C did amazingly well. It compiled very rapidly and produced small
.EXE files. Zortech showed up in almost
all the "top five" charts in the benchmark table. Its file I/O and floatingpoint emulator performed admirably.
Were I to rank compilers solely by performance, Zortech would lead by a
wide margin.
Considerations
If you expect me to tell you which
compiler to purchase, you're going to be
disappointed. The compiler you need
depends upon your resources and what
you're doing. Remember that these are
only benchmarks, not real life, and a
group of comparisons won't be as
thorough as individual reviews.
Microsoft C has slipped a bit (in
comparison to the other products) since
last year, but remains an excellent
value. It provides a robust environment
and good performance. You can pick up
this package for under $300 from many
mail order houses. (Watch for objectoriented facilities. They've scheduled a
new release for mid-1989.)
WATCOM C has taken the MS-DOS
C world by storm. If you work with
floating point, there is no other choice.
This compiler's biggest liability is compile time. Otherwise, it performs amazingly well. Watch for version 7.0, due
out in early 1989.
Borland's Turbo C is blazingly fast.
It doesn't produce the fastest executables, but it's still faster than average.
Borland's produced an amazing debugger and an excellent graphics library.
Manx Aztec C remains a good value.
It comes with a great debugger and is
optimized for producing ROMable
code. Anyone who works with
embedded systems should have Aztec

50 MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

error (2) ;
for (i = 0; i < MAXFLOATS; ++i)
{

printf ("\b\b\b\b\b%5d", i);
if (NULL == fgets(buf~12,fltsin»
error(3);
table[i).val = atof(buf);
}

if (fclose(fltsin»
error(4);
printf("\n") ;
}

void sortfloats()
(

putS(" __ > Sorting data");
quicksort(table,0,MAXFLOATS-1);
}

void quicksort (struct tabent
short left,
short right)

item,

while (item[i).val < x.val "
while (x.val < item[j).val "
if (i <= j)

i < right) i++;
j > left) j--;

(

= item[i);
item[i) = item[j);
item[j) = y;
i++;

j--;
}
}

while (i <= j);
if (left < j) quicksort(item,left,j);
if (i < right) quicksort(item,i,right);
}

void maketable()
(

sum = sum + table[i).val;
table[i).vsum = sum;
table[i).vsqr = table[i).val * table[i).val;
table[i).vcalc = sqrt(fabs(table[i).val» *
log10(fabs(table[i).val»;

void writetable()
(

FILE *fd;
register short i;
if (NULL == (fd = fopen ("GRIND. TBL" , "w+"»)
error(O);
puts ("--> Writing Table to File");
for (i = 0; i < MAXFLOATS; i = i + 10)
(

fprintf(fd,
"val = %5.2f, sum
table[i).val,
table [i) . vsum,
table[i).vsqr,
table [i) .vcalc);

= %5.2f,

sqr

= %5.2f,

}

if (fclose (fd»
error(1);
void error(short err no)
(
printf("\n\7GRIND ERROR: %s\n",errmsg[err_no);
exit(err no);
}
/***/

calc

= %5.2f\n",

Figure 5 - SINES.C
1*

Program:

Sines

Version: 1.00
Date:
29-Nov-19BB
Language: ANSI C
computes all of the sines of the angles between 0 and 360 degrees.
Developed by Scott Robert Ladd. This program is public domain.

*1
#define pi2rad 57.29577951

1* prototypes *1
void main(void);
double fact(double);
double power(double, double);
void main()
{

double angle, radians, sine, worksine, tamp, k;
for (angle = 0.0; angle <= 360.0; angle += 1.0)
{

radians
k = 0.0;
worksine
do

= angle

1 pi2rad;

= 0.0;

sine = worksine;
tamp
(2.0 * k) + 1.0;
worksine += (power(-1.0,k) 1 fact(tamp»
power(radians,tamp);
k += 1.0;

}

while (sine != worksine);.
}

1* Note: this function is designed for speed; it ONLY works when n is integral *1
double fact(double n)
{

double res;
res = 1.0;
while (n > 0.0)
{

res *= n;
n -= 1.0;
}

return res;
}

1* Note: this function is designed for speed; it ONLY works when
p is integral *1
double power(double n, double p)
{

double res;
res

= 1.0;

while (p > 0.0)
{

res *= n;
p
1.0;

C. This compiler would also be a good
choice in environments where code
must run on different architectures.
Power C is an excellent performer at
an unbelievable price. MIX has finally
worked the bugs out of their product,
making it one of the best values going. I
recommend this compiler to students
and beginners. For number crunchers
on a budget, it performs nearly as well
as WATCOMC.
However, with all those comments
aside, one compiler stands out in my
mind as an outstanding value. Zortech
C has continued the reputation it
earned as Datalight C, by providing excellent code quality and compile speed
for a small amount of money.
Zortech appeared in the benchmark
summary charts 15 out of 18 times; no
other compiler matches this performance. Many programmers interested in
the quality of the code they put out
have chosen this compiler. Those programmers looking to the future may
want to purchase the Zortech C++ package which includes this C compiler.
While you use their powerful compiler,
you can also learn about objects.
The Future of C
By this time next year, some vendors
will have upgraded their compilers
from C to C++ (or some other objectoriented variant of C). Zortech's C++
product is already on the market. Like
the move to structured programming in
the seventies, object-oriented programming will forever change how we write
programs. In the issues ahead, I'll look
at some of the reasons C is the basis for
the languages of the 1990s.
Next Issue
In the May /June 1989 issue, I'll talk
about the use of some of the tools and
utilities commonly associated with C.
I'll also discuss some of the differences
between the ANSI and K&R standards.
Some are more significant than you
might think.
Several of the manufacturers are
readying major upgrades as I write this
(the last week of November). So I'll talk
about these.

}

return res;

1***1

Micro Assembly
On Memorial Day weekend 1989
(May 27-29), we're holding a Micro Assembly here in Denver, Colorado, at the
Clarion Hotel (Airport). Registration
costs $35 before the convention, and $50
at the door. Get in touch if you're interested.

•••
MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989

Screen Fonts For Windows & Gem
Unpacking Bags & Bits

By Laine Stump
PC Tech
907 North 6th Street
Lake City, MN 55041

Wow, Laine's body may be in Minnesota, but his
mind certainly hasn't cleared customs. You'll hear
more as he unpacks. Meanwhile, on to the body of
his column.

o, I'm fresh off the boat, see? Well, off
the plane anyway - you know, newly
arrived in the country, ready to tackle
some hot high tech. I've been dreaming
of this for months. Yeah, get back to good 01'
PC Tech and maybe do something new and exciting. Like write a multitasking kernel for a
34010 ... a video driver for a high res board ...
a ROM BIOS for a 386. Maybe implement LIM
4.0 for a new version of the 16 Megger.
Anyway, I'm walking into the office, right?
First stop after the airport and a night on the
floor at La Guardia. Slept across the carpet
from an old guy named "Jackson." He had two
sweet rolls and a can of Blitz for breakfast and
said someone was coming to pick him up.
First chance to relax since sharing overnight
baggage watch duty with two Iranian senior
citizens who came in on the same flight. First
real moment of non-anxiety since being approached by a street dude asking me, "What
kinda stuff you got there, man? Got enough for
me?" (This happened while I was taking out
my contact lenses, sitting in the lounge chair
right across from the Piedmont check-in
counter.)
Where was I? Oh, yeah. So, I'm walking into
the office, okay? Well, "Earl," I ask, "What am
I gonna work on? Whaddya got planned for
me?"
So Earl says, "Well, I'm finishing the software for this new 34010 mono board with
Group 4 FAX image decompression built in
and ... " ("0h yeah!" I'm thinking. "This is
gonna be hot!!") " ... and I'm still using the 9 x
15 font from the 736 x 1024 CPT monitor, but
this new 2048 x 1536 Moniterm needs something larger, like about 12 x 23."
Whaatttt?? I just sold my X24/Rabbit
Portable for plane fare! I've left my friends and
life of sun and leisure! I've come 9,000 miles to
click dots on and off with a mouse?!?!?

52 MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

"I don't want you to waste your time clicking dots on and off with a mouse, though."
Earl continues. "What I really want is a program that converts between Windows and Gem
raster fonts, and our own internal 34010 format."
"Oh."
So, armed with the Windows Developer's
Kit, the Gem Programmer's Toolkit, Zortech
C++, and my favorite coffee cup (you must see
it to appreciate it), I set off on my week long
quest to understand binary images, discover
new storage methods, to boldly figure out what
the hell is going on.
So Where Was I?
Oh yeah ... fonts. That's it! Well, see, it turns
out that there ate hundreds of fonts in the public domain, if you just know where to find
them. Don't ask me; I don't know where to find
them.
Anyway, knowing that there's lots of free
fonts out there (seriously!) should give you the
desire to read on. Please?
Here at PC Tech, we got several fonts included with "GFX Fonts," a font display library
used with the GFX Graphics Library from a
company called C Source. I can't tell you much
about C Source or GFX Fonts, since I only
wanted to translate their fonts into another format.
All I can tell you is that their font editor
failed to run on a Hercules card (although it
ran fine on an EGA). And their font files contained deviations from the Gem standard they
were supposed to follow. But that's just first
impressions, so ignore it, huh? Besides, it includes all the source code, so you can change it
if you want.
Anyway, there are all kinds of fonts around.
Balloon fonts, cartoon fonts, Olde Englishe
Fonts. We even put a Cyrillic font into ROM on
one of the 34010 boards just for fun (we're trying to land a contract with the KGB, but don't
tell anyone).
If people just had enough information to use
these fonts ... (Hah! I knew I'd squeeze a topic
out of this somewhere!).

Figure 1 - Typical Simple Font Structure
typedef unsigned char[HEIGHT] character;
typedaf character[256] font;

/***/

Figure 2 - Unpacked Linear Format

bit
7

6 0
y
T 1

1A 1A

1A 1A 1A

E 2

1C 1C

1C' 1C 1C

10 10

2A 2A 2A 2A 2A 2A

28 28

2C 2C 2C 2C 2C 2C

20 20

20 20 20 20

2E 2E

2E 2E 2E 2E

28 28 28 28

Figure 3 - Packed Linear Format

bit

765

1A 1A

B 0
y
T 1
E
2

1C 10

1E 2A 2A

2A 2A 2A 2A 2B 2B 28 28

Abstract
The programs I ended up with are
too special-purpose (and too ugly) to
put on public display in their entirety.
But documentation and explanation of
the font files themselves are worth talking about. So I'll explain the format of
Windows raster font files and Gem font
files, and give you a couple programming examples so you can use them.
Then, as an example of "something
completely different," I will briefly describe PC Tech's own "PCT" font file,
newly created by a committee of 1.5. (I
asked Earl's opinion now and then, but
mostly ignored what he said.)
First I'll discuss a few different
possible font formats.
How To Represent A Character
When asked to come up with a data
structure for a graphics representation
of a character set (a font), most people
will whack out the definition in Figure
1. This is fine, if your characters are all
equal width, and this width is 8 or less.
What if your font were 9 bits wide? Do
you then switch from chars to ints?
You could, if you wanted to waste
nearly 50% of your storage. This would
only mean a loss of 256*Height bytes
(3840 if your characters are 15 high).
That's acceptable if you only use one
font, but some graphics applications use
more than 10 fonts at a time. Quite a
few of those fonts are much larger than
the font we're talking about.
Some other time I'll talk about the
pros and cons of different font storage
formats. For now let's just look at some
(but I'm sure not all) of the different
ways people have come up with to
store font bitmaps.
Figures 2 through 5 give a graphic
idea of the font formats, using a two
character 6 x 6 font as an example.
Unpacked Linear
This is the format of the definition in
Figure 1 (see Figure 2). The system
stores all the scan lines of a character together. Each scan line starts on a byte
boundary following the previous scan
line of the character. Therefore, the bits
for line y of character n start at the
beginning of byte:
«n * Height) + y) * CharWidthlnBytes

28 28 2C 2C 2C 2C 2C 2C

20 20 20 20 20 20 2E 2E

2E 2E 2E 2E 2E 2E

This format eliminates all those nasty
bit shifts required for extracting
characters in packed fonts (we'll discuss
this momentarily), but wastes an average of NumChars*Height/2 bytes per
font. This can add up.
MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46,Mar-Apr, 1989

Also, it takes a multiply to find the
beginning of the character. While an integer multiply takes only around 30-40
clocks (on a 286), all these multiplies
can add up (especially on an 8088,

where a multiply is > 100 cycles). What
if the font is large enough that the bitmap is greater than 64K? (Not an unreasonable idea.) However, a long multiply
takes multiple instructions.

Packed Linear
In this format, the system stores the
bits for a character together. Very together (see Figure 3). The bits for scan

Figure 4 - Unpacked Rectangular Format

bit

2A 2A 2A 2A 2A 2A

28 28 2B 28 28 28

2C 2C 2C 2C 2C 2C

20 20 20 20 20 20

2E 2E 2E 2E 2E 2E

B 0
y
T 2
E

To gat a charactar:
char* gat = bitmapstart + n «1;
1* location of lina 1 *1
for (int ct = 0; ct < Haight; ct++)
(

Put 16 bits from *get on screen;
gat += 512;
)

1***1

Figure 5 - Packed Rectangular Format

bit
7

bit

2A 2A

2A 2A 2A 2A

2B 2B

2B 2B 2B 28

E 4

2C 2C

2C 2C 2C 2C

20 20

20 20 20 20

2E 2E

2E 2E 2E 2E

B 0

y
T

To get a character:
int RowWidth = (NumChars * CharWidth);
int BytaOffsetlnRow = (n * CharWidth)/8;
int BitOffsatlnByta = (remainder of above);
char* get = BitMapStart + BytOffsetlnRow;
for (int ct = 0; ct < Haight; ct++)
(

put *qet shifted left by BitOffsetlnByta on screan;
get += RowWidth;
)

1***1

54 MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Figure 6 - Windows FNT Font File Header Definition
typedef struct
(

unsigned int dfVersioni
unsigned long dfSizei
char
dfCopyright[60]i
unsigned int dfTypei
unsigned int dfPointsi
unsigned int dfVertResi
unsigned int dfHorizResi
unsigned int dfAscenti
unsigned int dflnternalLeadingi
unsigned int dfExternalLeadingi
unsigned char dfltalici
unsigned char dfOnderlinei
unsigned char dfStrikeOuti
unsigned int dfWeighti
unsigned char dfCharSeti
unsigned int dfPixWidthi
unsigned int dfPixHeighti
unsigned char dfPitchAndFam11Yi
unsigned int dfAvqWidthi
unsigned int d£MaxWidthi
unsigned char dfFirstChari
unsigned char dfLastChari
unsigned char dfDefaultChar;
unsigned char dfBreakChari
unsigned int dfWidthBytes i
unsigned long dfDevicei
unsigned long dfFacei
unsigned long dfBitsPointeri
unsigned long dfBitsOffseti
) WinFontHeaderi

/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*

version I of font file format (256) */
file size in bytes */
vendor copyright notice */
type of font - bit 0 on if vector */
point size at which char looks best */
dpi at which font was digitized */
see above */
no. of rows from top to baseline */
Leading included in chars */
Recommended leading outside chars */
1 if italic font, else 0 */
1 if underlined, else 0 */
1 if strikeout, else 0 */
stroke weight on 1-1000 scale */
char set standard, FF for IBM PC */
width of char cell, or 0 if variable */
height of char cells & bitmap */
low bit set if variable pitch */
width of character 'X' */
widest character in var. fonts */
ASCII of first char in bitmap */
ASCII of last char in bitmap */
char to use if requested not there */
char that defines word breaks */
I of bytes in one row of bitmap */
disregard */
offset in file of font nama */
used internaly by Windows */
offset of bitmap in file */

/***/

Figure 7 - ReadWinFont
/*--- Read a Windows FNT file into global arrays ----------*/
WinFontHeader WinFonti
char bitmap[32767]i
/* watch out you don't read anything bigger */
int chofstable[256+1]i
char facenama[17]i
void ReadWinFont(char filenama[])
( /* note: for brevity I have removed all file error checking */
FlLE* fin = fopen(filenama,"rb")i
fread(&WinFont, sizeof(WinFont), 1, fin)i
if (WinFont.dfPixWidth
0) /* indicates a variable pitch font */
/* read character offset table */
fread(&chofstable,
(WinFont.dfLastChar-WinFont.dfFirstChar+2) *2, 1, fin);
fseek(fin, WinFont.dfBitsOffset, SEEK_SET);
int bitmapsize
WinFont.dfWidthBytes * WinFont.dfPixHeighti
fread(&bitmap, bitmapsize, 1, fin)i
fseek(fin, WinFont.dfFace, SEEK_SET)i
fread(&facenama, 17, 1, fin)i
fclose(fin)i
} /* ReadWinFont */

/***/

line y of a character tack right onto the
end of the bits for scan line y-1, regardless of byte boundaries.
The arithmetic for figuring out where
a scan line is located gets more complicated, if you're still talking in bytes. Addressing according to bits simplifies
things a little. However, except for the
34010, most processors have a tough
time dealing with bits.
The bits for line y of character n start
at byte:
«(n*Height) + y) * Charwidth)/8

and bit (7 - remainder) where remainder is the remainder of the division
by 8. It's (7 - remainder) instead of just
(remainder) because most PC graphics
adaptors consider the "left" bit of a byte
to be bit 7 (although bit 0 is the left on
34010s).
Packed Linear eliminates the waste
seen in Unpacked Linear format, but
makes for all kinds of unnecessarily
complex bitshifts just to get a character
out of the bitmap. The amount of shift
is not only different for every character,
but for every scan line of every
character.
And, just like Unpacked Linear, you
still have to do a multiply to find the
beginning of a character.
Unpacked Rectangular
In this format, the system stores the
first lines of all characters, followed by
the second lines of all characters, the
third lines, etc. Each piece of a character
starts on a byte boundary. In this format, line y of character n is at
«n*CharWidthlnBytes) +
(y*BitMapWidth) )

where BitMapWidth is CharWidthlnBytes*NoCharslnSet. I know this sounds
silly, but there are reasons for it. Really.
The advantage is that you can
successfully retrieve any character
without doing any multiplies (remember how much time a multiply takes).
For example, Figure 4 shows the algorithm to get the nth character in an unpacked rectangular bitmap with
character cells 16 bits wide.
Unfortunately, although fast, you
waste just as much space in Unpacked
Rectangular format as in Unpacked
Linear Format.
Packed Rectangular
Windows and Gem use the packed
rectangular format (see Figure 5). The
system stores all the bits for a certain
MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989

row packed together (paying no attention to byte boundaries) followed by the
bits for the next row of characters. The
bits of scanline y of character n start
somewhere in byte:
«y*BitMapWidth) + (n*CharWidth)/8)

where BitMapWidth is (CharWidth*NoCharsln5et) /8 rounded up to the next
byte boundary (actually the next word
boundary, for Windows and Gem).
Within that byte, you can find the bit
offset of the start of the character by
taking (7 - remainder) where remainder
is the remainder of (n*CharWidth}/8.
All bits from this bit to bit 0 are part of
the character. So if remainder is 0, all
the bits in the byte are part of the
character (unless the character is less
than 8 bits wide).
Now this looks screwy, doesn't it? It
can't be as fast as Unpacked Rectangular forma t (you've got to shift the
character data around to normalize it),
but it is more compact. It only wastes
an average of Height/2 bytes per font
(Height*1.5 if each row rounds to a
word boundary instead of a byte
boundary).
Let's investigate how we would get a
character out of this type of bitmap. The
algorithm in Figure 5 will get all the
lines of a single character, "n".
Realize that I'm simplifying things
quite a bit when I say "get shifted left
by BitOffsetlnByte." I admit I haven't
devoted enough time to this subject yet
to come up with a detailed algorithm.
I wouldn't want to make you suffer
through another bit-by-bit shift of the
character onto the display. Heck, Larry
already did that in the last issue. (If I
was being threatened with a snowball
down the throat of my X24 if I didn't
show you something that worked, I
would probably show you the same
chunk of code.)
Back to the subject '" Well, this looks
like the most speed inefficient storage
method yet. Look at all those multiplies.
At least the bit shift for all the rows of a
character is the same.
Notice the first multiply is constant
. as long as you use the same font. You
could do it once when you load the font
and then forget about it. Both Gem and
Windows include RowWidth as part of
the font header record, so you never
have to do it at all.
The second multiply is different for
each character in the font. There are at
most only 256 characters in any font, so
we can easily build a "character offset"
table when we load the font. Gem in-

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Figure 8 - Gem Font File Header Definition
typedef struct
{

unsigned int gfID:
unsigned int gfPointSize;
char gfName [32] :
unsigned int gfFirstChar;
unsigned int gfLastChar;
unsigned int gfTopLine;
unsigned int gfAscentLine;
unsigned int gfHalfLine;
unsigned int gfDescentLine;
unsigned int gfBottOmLine;
unsigned int gfMaxWidth;
unsigned int gfMaxCellWidth;
unsigned int gfLeftOffset;
unsigned int gfRightOffset;
unsigned int gfThickening;
unsigned int gfUndlSize;
unsigned int gfLightMask;
unsigned int gfSkewMask;
unsigned int gfFlags;
unsigned long gfHorOfsTable;
unsigned long gfCharOfsTable;
unsigned long gfBitsOffset;
unsigned int gfFormWidth;
unsigned int gfFormHeight;
unsigned long gfNextFont;
} GemFontHeader;
/***/

/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*
/*

Font type ID */
size in points, don't use */
name of font */
ASCII of first char in bitmap */
ASCII of last char in bitmap */
distance from baseline to top */
height of capital letter*/
height of small letter */
depth of descenders */
distance from baseline to bottom */
widest char in font */
widest char cell in font */
used for tilted fonts */
see above */
# of pixels to thicken for bold */
thickness of line for underline */
BitMask for lightening, (5555h) */
???? (5555h) */
bit 3 set if monospaced */
???? don't use */
offset of char offset table in file */
offset of bitmap in file */
# of bytes in one row of bitmap */
height of chars and bitmap */
ptr to next font, used internal to Gem */

Figure 9 - ReadGemFont
/*--- Read a GEM font file into global arrays ----------*/
GemFontHeader GemFont;
char bitmap[32767];
/* watch out you don't read anything bigger */
int chofstable[256+1]:
void ReadGemFont(char filename[])
(

FlLE* fin = fopen(filename,"rb"):
/* read header info */
fread(&GemFont, sizeof(GemFont), 1, fin);
/* read horizontal offset table */
fseek(fin, GemFont.gfCharOfsTable, SEEK_SET):
fread(&chofstable,
(GemFont.gfLastChar-GemFont.gfFirstChar+2) *2, 1, fin);
/* read bitmap */
int bitmapsize = GemFont.gfFormWidth * GemFont.gfFormHeight;
fseek(fin, GemFont.gfBitsOffset, SEEK_SET);
fread(&bitmap, bitmapsize, 1, fin):
fclose(fin);
} /* ReadGemFont */
/***/

cludes this table as part of the font file,
and with Windows it's an optional addition to the file (used if the font has
variable width characters).
The divide ... well, everybody knows
that a divide by 8 is nothing more than
a shift right by 3.
So, by fooling around a bit, and by
using 516 bytes more memory (514 for
the character offset table and 2 for RowWidth), we have eliminated all multiplies from the operation of putting a
character on screen.
I guess that's why the makers of the
two most widely accepted graphics interfaces adopted the same format.

Windows Fonts
The Windows font files I'm talking
about here are the ones that have an
FNT extension, not the ones on the Windows runtime disk which have an FON
extension. You produce FON files by
combining several FNT files with the
Windows Resource Compiler, which
shuffles the information around. The
FON files contain the same information,
they just don't follow the format given
in the Developer's Kit.
Also, I'm only talking about raster
fonts - those represented in the file by
bitmaps indicating which dots should
be on and off within a character. Vector
fonts (those represented by lists of vec-

Figure 10 - Font Conversion
/*-- Fill in a Windows Font Header from a Gem Font Header --*/
void ConvertG2W( )
{ /* assumes all data is in previously defined global arrays */
int numchars = (GemFont.gfLastChar - GemFont.gfFirstChar + 1);
/* Translate the header information */
WinFont.dfVersion = 256;
strnset(WinFont.dfCopyright,'c',60);
WinFont.dfType = 0;
WinFont.dfPoints = GemFont.gfFormHeight;
WinFont.dfVertRes = 72;
WinFont.dfHorizRes = 72;
WinFont.dfABcent = GemFont.gfTopLine;
if (WinFont.dfAscent == 0)
WinFont.dfABcent = GemFont.gfAscentLine;
WinFont.dflnternalLeading = 0;
WinFont.dfExternalLeading = 0;
WinFont.dfltalic = 0;
WinFont.dfUnderline = 0;
WinFont.dfStrikeOut = 0;
WinFont.dfWeight = 200;
WinFont.dfCharSet = 255;
WinFont.dfPixWidth = 0;
WinFont.dfPixHeight = GemFont.gfFormHeight;
WinFont.dfPitchAndFamily = 1; /* low bits indicates proportional */
WinFont.dfAvgWidth = chofstable['X'+l-GemFont.gfFirstChar]
- chofstable['X'-GemFont.gfFirstChar];
WinFont.dfMaxWidth = MaxWidthlnTable(chofstable, numchars);
WinFont.dfFirstChar = GemFont.gfFirstChar;
WinFont.dfLastChar = GemFont.gfLastChar;
WinFont.dfDefaultChar = Ox60 - GemFont.gfFirstChar;
WinFont.dfBreakChar = 32 - GemFont.gfFirstChar;
WinFont.dfWidthBytes = GemFont.gfFormWidth;
WinFont.dfDevice = 0;
WinFont.dfBitsPointer = 0;
WinFont.dfBitsOffset = «(sizeof(WinFont) && 1) == 1) ?
sizeof(WinFont)+l : sizeof(WinFont»
+ «numchars+1)*2);
WinFont.dfFace = WinFont.dfBitsOffset
+ (WinFont.dfWidthBytes * WinFont.dfPixHeight);
/* NOTE: The following is out of sequence because it depends on
other computed values in the header */
strncpy(facename,GemFont.gfName,17);
facename[16] = 0;
WinFont.dfSize = WinFont.dfFace + strlen(facename)+l;
} /* ConvertG2W */
/*-- Fill in a Gem Font Header from a Windows Font Header --*/
void ConvertW2G( )
{ /* assumes all data is in previously defined global arrays */
int numchars = (WinFont.dfLastChar - WinFont.dfFirstChar + 1);
/* Translate the header information */
GemFont.gfID = 2;;
GemFont.gfPointSize = WinFont.dfPoints;
strcpy(GemFont.gfName,facename);
GemFont.gfFirstChar = WinFont.dfFirstChar;
GemFont.gfLastChar = WinFont.dfLastChar;
GemFont.gfTopLine = WinFont.dfAscent;
GemFont.gfAscentLine = WinFont.dfAscent;
GemFont.gfHalfLine = WinFont.dfAscent/2+1;
GemFont.gfDescentLine = WinFont.dfPixHeight-WinFont.dfAscent-1;
GemFont.gfBottomLine = WinFont.dfPixHeight-WinFont.dfABcent;
GemFont.gfMaxWidth = WinFont.dfMaxWidth;
GemFont.gfMaxCellWidth = WinFont.dfMaxWidth;
GemFont.gfLeftOffset = 0;
GemFont.gfRightOffset = 0;
GemFont.gfThickening = 1;
GemFont.gfUndlSize = 1;
GemFont.gfLightMask = Ox5555;
GemFont.gfSkewMask = Ox5555;
GemFont.gfFlags = 0;
GemFont.gfHorOfsTable = 0;
GemFont.gfCharOfsTable = «sizeof(GemFont) && 1) == 1) ?
sizeof(GemFont)+l : sizeof(GemFont);

continued on next page

tors to draw) are a whole 'nother animal.
Yet another qualifier ... Although I
have used this method to look at the
FNT version of files as recent as Windows 386 fonts, my Developer's Kit is
for Windows 1.04. Microsoft has done
"something" with its font format in
newer versions of Windows, so this information may be out of date. Or not.
At any rate, you won't be able to
take this information and use it directly
to modify the fonts you got with
PageMaker, or the fonts you bought
from Bitstream.
If you have the Window's
Developer's Kit, it has a passable font
editor that runs under Windows. You
can also use this information to create
FNT files to compile into FaN files
yourself. (As long as the FNT file hasn't
followed the FaN file in changing format.)
See Figure 6 for a listing of the Windows font file header record. Figure 7
lists a C++ function to read a Windows
font file into a global header record, a
global bitmap, and a global character
width table, if there is a width table.
In ReadWinFont, I first read the
header record - always located at the
beginning of an FNT file. Next, for variable width fonts (as indicated by dfPixWidth being 0), I read the character offset table (it always follows the header).
The dfBitsOffset field of the header
record points to the offset in the file of
the bitmap. (Windows uses
dfBitsPointer after loading the font into
memory.) My next step is to seek to that
position in the file, then read
dfWidthBytes (the width of each row) *
dfPixHeight bytes into bitmap.
Finally, I seek to the offset of the font
name (stored in the header in dfFace)
and read it into facename. Then I close
the file (I wasn't born in a barn, YOll
know).
Gem Fonts
Yep. These are the same fonts you
see on the screen when you run Ventura. Every stinkin' one of them. I don't
know if it's legal, strictly speaking. It is
certainly physically possible to use
those slick-looking fonts, like Times and
Modified Boston Slang and Watusi Bold
and all the others, in your own applications.
Figure 8 shows the fields of the
header record of a Gem font file. Just
like the Windows font header, there's a
lot of stuff in a Gem font header that
most of us don't care about. Maybe
people writing Venturas and

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989

PageMakers care about internal leading
and external leading. I just want to print
something on the screen and don't care
about one dot this way or that, usually.
Figure 9 shows a c++ function to
read a Gem font into global memory
buffers similar to the function for Windows fonts. Gem uses different field
names (dfWidthBytes is gfFormWidth).
Also, the character offset table is not in
a fixed place in Gem fonts, while the
font name is.

c++ Function??
An aside here. When I say "a C++
function," I mean "a C function that I
com piled with Zortech C++, so it probably won't compile under normal C." I
haven't gotten into C++ yet, so these examples don't look too "plussy."
Don't think of them as examples of
C++ programming. Think of them as
examples of dealing with fonts in a high
level language.
Partial Character Sets
Both Windows and Gem support
fonts with any number of characters up
to 256. (It appears Gem will support up
to 65,535, but I haven't tried it). The
lowest character in the set is character
dfFirstChar (gfFirstChar for Gem) and
the highest character in the set is dfLastChar (gfLastChar).
To avoid wasting space on characters
that aren't even in the font, the system
stores the character "FirstChar" at the
very first position in the bitmap, and
the bitmap ends after LastChar.
Because of this, your character display function should always make sure
the character you want to display lies
somewhere in the range FirstChar LastChar. If not, you should display DefaultChar (or nothing).
Don't forget that you find character
"n" at position " n-FirstChar" in the bitmap.
From Windows To Gem And Back
The functions ConvertG2WO and
ConvertW2GO in Figure 10 show how
the fields of the two font types correlate.
Use them if you want to read both font
types, but write all your font processing
routines to use a single font format. The
bitmaps and character offset tables are
identical for both fonts.
Speaking of multi-compatibility, the
function IsWindowsFontO does a simple
check on a font file.and returns true if it
fits the rules of a Windows font file. It
only checks that the dfSize field equals
the length of the file in bytes, but that's
enough for mere mortals.

58 MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Figure 10 continued
GemFont.gfB1tsOffset = GemFont.gfCharOfsTable + «numchars+l)*2);
GemFont.gfFormW1dth = WinFont.dfWidthBytes;
GemFont.gfFormHeight
WinFont.dfpixHeight;
GemFont.gfNextFont = 0;
if (WinFont.dfpixWidth != 0) /* if fixed pitch in Windows */
MakeChOfsTable(chofstable, WinFont.dfpixWidth, numchars);
} /* ConvertW2G */

/*-- determine size of a file --*/
long fSize(FILE* fp)
{ /* this was written because there is not an ANSI */
/* standard fsize(). Every compiler has a different one */
/* This one uses only ANSI routines */
long tmpsize;
long pos = ftell(fp);
fseek(fp, OL, SEEK_END);
tmpsize
ftell(fp):
fseek(fp, pos, SEEK_SET);
return(tmpsize);
} /* fsize */

/*-- Determine if file is a Windows FNT file --*/
int IsWindowsFont(char filenama[])
{

int temp;
long size;

FILE* fin
fopen(filenama,"rb");
fread(&temp,2,1,fin); /* read past version */
fread(&size,4,1,fin):
/* read long word in byte 2-5 and see if = length of file */
temp = (fsize(fin)
size);
fclose (fin):
return (temp) ;
} /* IsWindowsFont */

/*-- Construct a character offset table --*/
void MakeChOfsTable(int ChOfsTable[], int Width, int NumChars)
{

for (int ct = 0; ct <= NumChars; ct++)
ChOfsTable[ct] = ct*Width;
} /* MakeChOfsTable */
/***/

As long as you're decently careful,
you can mix the use of Windows and
Gem fonts transparently. Just call
IsWindowsFontO on a file before you
open it, then read it into the proper
buffers and do the conversions. You decide which format to use internally. I
would use the Windows format, but
that's just because I figured it out two
days before Gem, so I'm more familiar
with it.
Even if you use Windows format internally, you should call MakeChOfsTableO for fixed width fonts in
order to find characters faster. Since
Gem requires a character offset table,
even for fixed width fonts, you have to
support character offset tables to be able
to display Gem fonts, anyway.
Character Offset Table
Speaking of that, I almost forgot to
explain the format of the Windows and
Gem character offset tables.

The character offset table has (dfLastChar - dfFirstChar) + 2 word entries
which give the offset in bits of each
character from the left side of the bitmap rectangle. You can find the width
of a character n by subtracting
charofstable[n+1] from charofstable[n].
Hence the extra entry at the end, used
to determine the wid th of the last
character.
As with the bitmap, the offset for
character n is at charofstable[n-FirstChar].
Putting It All Together
Okay, so I'm too proud to flick bits,
am I? I think it makes me look stupid
and old-world. I would just feel too
guilty leaving you with absolutely no
way of looking at those fonts you
ripped off from your buddy's copy of
Ventura.
The C++ function in Figure 11 writes
a character from a font onto the screen

Figure 11 - DisplayCharO
/*-- Crudely display a character of a font --*/
void DisplayChar(unsigned char ch, char* bitmap, int Height,
int BitMapWidth, int chofstable[)
printf("char: %02x, %d bits wide\n", ch, chofstable[ch+l)-chofstable[ch);
int const bitoffset = (chofstable[ch) & 7);
bitmap += chofstable[ch) »3;
/* byte offset of start of char */
for (int r = 0; r < Height; r++)
{

char* ptr = bitmap;
char workbyte = (*ptr++) « bitoffset;
int bcount = (7 - bitoffset);
for (int bitstoprint = chofstable[ch+l) - chofstable[ch);
bitstoprint > 0; bitstoprint--)
putchar(workbyte & oxeo ? '*':' .');
workbyte «~a 1;
i f (!bcount--)
{

workbyte = *ptr++;
bcount = 7;
}

} /* for b */
putchar('\n');
bitmap += BitMapWidth;
} /* for r */
} /* DisplayChar */
/*-------------------------------------------------------------------*/
main( int argc, char* argv[ ) )
( /* print all chars in Gem Font file given on command line */
ReadGemFont(argv[l);
for (int ch = 0; ch <= GemFont.gfLastChar - GemFont.gfFirstChar; ch++)
DisplayChar(ch, bitmap, GemFont.gfFormHeight,
GemFont.gfFormNidth, chofstable);
printf("Done.\n");}
/***/

as a bunch of asterisks. This doesn't do
much in practical terms, but at least it
verifies that you understand what's
going on. Two Brownie Points to the
first one of you who figures out how to
integrate this into Larry's printer
graphics library in issue 45.
If any of you have an algorithm
that's more efficient, I would be truly
honored to take a peek at it. If I get any
good ones, maybe I'll print them.
PCT Font Format?
Oh, yeah. I promised to tell you
about our own font format. The Unpacked Rectangular format now stores
the PC Tech font format. This is because
we use it only for the text mode display
on the 34010.
With our 34010s in text mode, there's
loads of extra memory sitting around.
(Even the smallest PC Tech 34010 has
256K of nondisplay memory and 256K
of video memory.) 50 space isn't a concern, but the fastest performance
possible is.
In PC Tech format, as with any other
semi-intelligent 34010 font format, the
systems stores all the bits within a byte
in reverse order from the Windows and

Gem fonts. That's because, as mentioned before, the 34010 is a bit
addressed processor, so the left bit is bit
O.
The header for PCT format fonts contains more or less the same information
that's in the Gem and Windows headers. Just less of it. The actual format
doesn't matter, since you'll probably
never see a file in this format anyway
(unless you get a 34010 board). Mainly I
just mentioned it to show you that no
single format is best for all situations.
Oh, and by the way, the entire internalloop of the algorithm I gave for
packed rectangular form is a single instruction on the 34010. Including the bit
shifts and masks.
You wonder what's kept Earl glued
to his screen for the last year ...

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•••

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46,Mar-Apr, 1989 59

PC-File:d8 & PC-Write 3.0
Definitely New & Definitely Improved •

By Anthony Barcellos
P.o.

Box 2249

Davis, CA 95617-2249
(916) 756-4866

For those of you tuning in late, Tony Barcellos is
software librarian and newsletter editor for the
Sacramento PC Users Group. In his spare time he
teaches math and writes study guides, but it's his
knowledge of shareware that has made him famous
among software authors and has brought him to the
pages of Micro C.
shareware columnist has no excuse for
writer's block. There's entirely too
much to pick from in this corner of the
computer industry. The usual problem
is deciding what to write about.
A couple of giants in the shareware business
made my job easier this month. ButtonWare released PC-File:dB and Quicksoft shipped version 3.0 of PC-Write. Both programs instantly
jumped to the top of my topic list.

Single File
There are plenty of competing database products out there, even if one forgets the high-end
products for a moment. (By "high-end" we
mean in terms of. price, of course.) Despite worthy competitors like ExpressWare's File Express, however, ButtonWare's PC-File continues
to attract the most attention.
Rightfully so. Jim Button's famous database
program was half of the dynamic duo (PC-File
and PC-Talk) that established the credibility of
user-supported software. While PC-Talk has
faded, PC-File is still going strong.
So what has Jim Button done for us lately?
Although his company's offerings have expanded over the years to include several other
programs (see the May-June 1988 issue of Micro
C), PC-File remains the centerpiece. Still stressing ease-of-use via menus, now enhanced by
context-sensitive help screens, PC-File calls its
new incarnation PC-File:dB. Guess what the
"dB" stands for.
"By making PC-File dBASE compatible,"
says Jim Button, "I can now offer dBASE users
an easy-to-use interface for their current data,"
Since ease-of-use is conspicuously missing
from the vocabularies of most dBASE users,
PC-File:dB goes head to head with AshtonTate's dBASE III Plus. (Now that dBASE IV is

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

finally shipping, Ashton-Tate can claim to
having addressed the ease-of-use problem.
However, since the file format remains the
same, PC-File:dB should be adaptable to
dBASE IV as well.)
Recent PC-File enhancements are still there,
of course. PC-File:dB's predecessor, PC-File+,
sported integrated graphics. Hence you can
whip up pie charts or bar charts with your ButtonWare database.
The bar charts come in several different
flavors, or you may choose line or scatter plots
instead. The pies explode (for your enjoyment,
of course) while bar and line charts offer
razzle-dazzle logarithmic scales. This is heavyduty stuff.
Keyboard macros, long a PC-File feature,
can be created by example within PC-File:dB.
Just turn on the macro feature and let PC-File
record your keystrokes. With a little ambition,
you can set up a macro that closes off data
entry, sorts the data, prints a report (perhaps
calling user-created report formats from disk),
and puts you back where you began.
Not only can you save report formats
(which PC-File has supported since much earlier versions), but now you can create them by
painting the layout of your report on-screen.
The PC-File:dB laundry list of features is impressive. PC-File:dB has five data types:
numeric, character, logical, date, and memo.
ButtonWare provides a few details about the
program: Maximum number of records per
'database: 1 billion; maximum record length:
4000 characters; maximum field length: 254
(with exceptions for special fields like date
fields, which have prescribed lengths); maximum memo field length: 5000 characters (even
greater than the standard record length); maximum number of fields per database: 70; maxi-

mum number of calculated fields per
database: 70; maximum number of relational fields per database: 70.
That should handle the Christmas
card list.
The power isn't free, however. PCFile:dB requires 416K of RAM and a
pair of 720K floppy drives. (A pair of
360Ks won't do it anymore.) As you
might guess, a hard disk would be even
better.
The other price is monetary, of
course. Here ButtonWare continues to
hold the line, offering a fully registered
copy of PC-File:dB for only $89.95 plus
$5 shipping and handling. This program conforms to the dBASE file standard - not the dBASE price standard.
PC-File:dB comes on three 360K diskettes. All three disks contain archive
files (in ButtonWare's own special archival format). There's a Program disk,
Utilities disk, and Documentation disk.
The latter contains the entire user's
manual, minus a few illustrations. The
registered version comes with two
nicely printed manuals - a standard
user's guide and a special beginner's
manual. (The documentation disk does
not include the beginner's manual.)
Manuals are perfect-bound, attractively printed, and come in an amusing
slipcase shaped like a giant B. The slipcase doesn't seem likely to hold up
under much wear and tear, though the
program's heritage argues that it will.

between DCA-RFT and PC-Write formats. Font Selector ($29) chooses and
downloads soft fonts to your HewlettPackard LaserJet+ or compatible laser
printer. Finally, there's the PageMaker
Import Filter ($10), which saves PCWrite files in a format PageMaker understands. (It preserves much of PCWrite's formatting.)
"PC-Write 3.0 is a giant leap in capabilities," says Bob Wallace. He's right.

PC-File:dB
$89.95 + $5 shipping
ButtonWare, Inc.
P.O. Box 96058
Bellevue, W A 98009-4469
(800) JBUTTON, Toll-free order line

PC-Write 3.0
$89
Quicksoft, Inc.
219 First Avenue North, #224
Seattle, WA 98109
(800) 888-8088 or (206) 282-0452

Write On!
The other entrant in the geriatric
shareware sweepstakes is PC-Write
from Quicksoft. Now at version 3.0, PCWrite hardly seems to be suffering from
old age. Big and beefy, PC-Write now
comes on three diskettes with a
complete user's manual occupying one
of the disks.
What has Bob Wallace done to his
warhorse word processor? After more
than a year of teasing about what PCWrite 3.0 would offer, Quicksoft reports
it has added over 500 features.
Here are a few of the major improvements:
• The old 60K file limit is gone. PCWrite 3.0 will use all available
memory for files.
• It supports and displays multiple
columns.

Archival Arch Rivals
The continuing legal dispu_te between System Enhancement Associates
(SEA) and PKWare over SEA's ARC
utility and PKWare's rival software is a
dismal thing to follow. As I mentioned
in my last column, the details of the
lawsuit's settlement became public
despite the agreement of the two parties
to refrain from commenting on it.
While PKWare's Phil Katz remains
the beneficiary of sympathy from most
of the user community, SEA's Thorn
Henderson has explained his grievances
in detail. He says his lawsuit was necessary to protect the integrity of his ARC
program. (I thank Michael Kaufman for
sending along the latest archive of bulletin board messages on the topic.)
Henderson claims that Katz copied
ARC's program code in creating

• You can grab rectangles of text
and delete, copy, or move them.
• It has menu-selected fonts and
special effects ..
• New quick keys bypass menu
operations for greater speed in
switching files and printing.
• Bob's integrated the editing and
printing modules. (And they remain in memory whenever
possible.)
Besides the word processor, Quicksoft offers companion programs like the
DCA utility ($29), which converts files

PKARC and PKXARC, utilities that do
all ARC's archiving functions (and then
some) with major improvements in
speed. Katz's defenders rebut Henderson by declaring that the compression
algorithms in ARC and PKARC derive
from the same public domain sources.
Henderson continues his argument
by asserting that Katz would be in violation of copyright law even if he
hadn't copied any of SEA's code (although Henderson is convinced that he
did).
Henderson argues that Katz's admission of seeing SEA's program code for
ARC establishes a presumption of infringement on SEA's copyright, even if
Katz then created PKARC and PKXARC
from scratch.
The original court settlement was in
SEA's favor, while the court of public
opinion seems to be coming down on
PKWare's side. Whether Henderson's
efforts to explain his position to users
will shift the tide in his favor remains to
be seen.
I'm sick of the entire business so I'll
just wait for the tragicomedy to come to
a conclusion. Somebody - anybody! get the hook!
Editor's note: See the Letters Column in
this issue for another point of view on the
SEA vs PK controversy. And, stay tuned
for more next issue.
Cards And Letters And Disks
My thanks to all of you who have
contacted me. It's a struggle to keep up
with it, let alone do justice to its
volume. Besides the letters and notes,
there are the stacks of disks and programs that I need to look over when I
find the time. (Time? Anyone have the
time?)
My forays into the stacks take on the
aspects of an archaeological dig.
Where's that program I wanted to write
about that does graphics in Encapsulated PostScript format (no "jaggies"
when you scale an illustration)?
How about that critically acclaimed
spreadsheet package that was withdrawn from the regular commercial
channels and relaunched as shareware?
(It's around here somewhere, along
with the nice cover note written by the
author.) Then there's the program that
purports to bring true 3-D CAD features
to shareware for the first time. And the
programs I talked about before keep
getting updated.
There's no way I'll ever catch up. But
the fun is in the trying. Keep sharing.

•• •
MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989

PersonalWare
Shareware You'll Want To Register

By Dave Thompson

"Beep!"
received a small brown package the other
day and inside I found a small black disk.
Nothing more. On the label someone had
scribbled "Personal Relationships, an Expert
System for Adults Only."
I fired up my system, popped in the disk,
and looked at the directory.
Aha, USEME.EXE.

Welcome to a new world of relationships. To take
full advantage of this software you must:
1. Find someone compatible.
2. Find a bottle of bubbly and two glasses.
3. Turn up the heat.
4. Turn down the lights.
5. And hit ENTER.
I ran upstairs, grabbed Sandy, found the
bottle of carbonated apple juice we keep for
medicinal purposes, and headed back to the
computer.
I hit ENTER.

Please enter your name.
DAVE

Please enter your partner's name.
SANDY

Please select the type of relationship you'd like to
develop.
• 1. Non-touching, mostly platonic. (e.g.
husband/wife)
• 2. Good friends (cheek kisses and hugs on
special occasions).
• 3. Very Good Friends (e.g. quarterback/cheerleader).
• 4. Consumate Roommates.
I selected 1. We'd already practiced that one.

I'm sorry, that selection is not available.
I cranked up my courage and selected 2.

I'm sorry, that selection is not available.
I've never tackled football but after 20 years
of matrimonial bliss, "Very Good Friends"
sounded like something we could work toward.
I selected 3.

I'm sorry, that selection is not available.
I bit my lip and selected 4.

Good choice.
From here on, I'll take the lead. Timing is critical
so please do not begin any activity before I tell you.
Continue the activity until I beep. At the beep, drop
what you're doing and read this screen.

62 MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

First, get comfortable. Put on a quiet record, take
off your shoes, loosen your tie or coliar, and take a
sip or two of the bubbly. The lights should be low.
Remove any distractions.
I dumped the cat off my lap.
"Beep!"

Now sit together side by side. DAVE, reach over
and grasp SANDY's hand. Gently.
Maintain that position. Do not speak.
"Beep!"

Now, DAVE, put your arm around SANDY.
Notice the warmth, DAVE, that begins where your
arm touches SANDY. Notice how that warmth
travels back down your arm and spreads througJiout
your entire body. Notice especially how that warmth
settles into your solar plexis.
I dumped the cat off my lap. Again.
"Beep!"

SANDY, notice the warmth from DAVE's arm.
Notice how it spreads, making your breathing
heavier. Almost audible.
"Beep!"

Now, before we begin the unbuttoning, DA VE
and SANDY, you need to enter your Personal Relationships registration code. If you don't have a number yet, you can obtain one immediately by calling
1-800-NDR-WARE. Be sure to have your VISA or
MasterCard handy.
Registration Fee:
For $100 you get the code immediately.
For $50 we call you back after you've cooled off for
5 minutes.
For $15 we call you back next week.
Note: Your shameless activity, DAVE and
SANDY, has been recorded in the system, along
with the time and date (you did, after all, select
number 4). If you attempt to exit the program at
this time (via reset, power switch, etc.) to avoid registering, this machine will, forever, at random, display the gory details of this tryst on the screen.
"Beep!"

Please enter your registration code:_ __
"Beep!"

Please enter your registration code: _ __
"Beep!"

Please enter your registration code:_ __
"Beep!"

•••

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Reader Service Number 101

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Building A (Small) Publishing Empire
From (Almost) Nothing

By Kent Peterson
Psion Interest Group
41 Greenridge Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
(914) 761-2196

You asked for it, more personal stories from "On
Your Owners." Well, this is personal. Kent talks
about his new start-up, a newsletter for a very small
computer. (Definitely not the Big Board.)
ast year I landed the kind of job my
mother always told me I wanted. I became a systems analyst for a fairly large
corporation which gave me job security,
a pension plan, full medical, and a fast AT with
almost enough disk space.
Still, the hacker in me wasn't content. I spent
more of my time in meetings than I did in microcode. My jeans and Nikes didn't look quite
right with my white shirt and tie. I knew there
was more to life, but I also needed the money
my "real job" provided. How depressing.
As usual, my wife, Christine, knew just how
to snap me out of my depression. "You need a
gadget," she said. She was right. Somewhere
among the megabytes and meetings, life had
stopped being fun. I had started in this business hacking on little machines and I missed
the challenge of pushing a little machine to its
limits.
Then, one fateful day, the boys down in accounting called up to tell me I hadn't claimed
enough of my miscellaneous moving allowance. I tried to explain that it hadn't cost
much for me to move, but they insisted that the
company owed me a couple hundred dollars.
Furthermore, if I didn't take it, it would screw
up their bookkeeping. Of course I refused their
offer (for about seventeen nanoseconds).
I spent the money on a funky little machine
called the Psion Organiser II. (Editor's note:
Psion is pronounced SIGH-on, a psemi-psimple
name.) This eight ounce box, billed as the
"pocket PC," was just what I was looking for.
The unit contains a 1 MHz Hitachi 6303X microprocessor (a CMOS version of the Motorola
6809) and 32K of RAM. It has a calculator-style
keyboard and a two line liquid crystal screen. It
runs a proprietary language called OPL.
The Organiser doesn't use disk drives; it
uses tiny packs that contain either EPROMs or
battery-backed CMOS RAM. It even reads from

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

and writes to these packs while communicating
through an eight-bit (proprietary) parallel port.
Psion also manufactures a device called a
CommsLink that converts this port to a smar~
RS-232C. In short, the Psion offered me enough ........... .
sameness along with enough weirdness to
.
stave off boredom for awhile.
After developing a relationship with the
little Psion, Christine and I wrote a few little
music routines and I managed to squeeze in a
text adventure. Then I got serious. I made it
talk to every other computer we had - the AT,
the Hewlett-Packard, and the Atari.
The Psion keyboard lacks some characters
that I consider essential (like the question
mark). So I dug through the tech manual until I
figured out how to re-vector the keyboard
lookup table into RAM to give me an alternative keyboard layout. What fun. I was having
so much fun with the little machine that I decided to do something crazy.
Thoughts Of Grandeur
"I'm going to become the Peter Norton of
the Psion Organiser II," I told my wife.
"Oh no," she said. "Does this mean you'll
start wearing pink shirts and ties and stand
around with your arms folded and your shirt
sleeves partially rolled up?"
I clarified my position. I wasn't talking
about a wardrobe change. I just figured I could
become the acknowledged expert on the Organiser. This would require staying current on
the latest developments in the Psion world, getting all the latest hardware and software, and
spreading that information within the Psion
community.
"Sounds expensive," Christine said.
"Not if we do it right," I countered. "I'm
going to make this machine pay for itself." She
just smiled. I've said that about every computer
I've ever owned and it's seldom proven true.

Newsletteritis
I decided to start a users group for the Organiser II and publish a small newsletter of
program tips, techniques, and reviews. I
figured membership dues would cover the cost
of printing and mailing the newsletter with

enough left over to keep me stocked
with the latest hardware and software.
I checked, there was no Psion users
group in the U.S. The British build the
little computer so there's an active
group there.
Jeff Etter, who'd sold me my Psion,
thought the U.S. market was rich
enough to support a group and offered
to help any way he could.
The plan we formed was simple. I'd
write the first issue of our newsletter.
Christine (a former editor) would proof
the copy and correct any misspellings.
When everything passed her inspection,
we'd print the script on a borrowed
laser printer. Then we'd take the laser
printouts to a local print shop. (The first
print run totalled 100 copies.)
I planned to send these copies, together with subscription forms and
pleas for contributions, to 100 of the
people who'd bought Psions from Jeff.
If we were lucky, we'd make back the
money we'd spent on the first printing
and be able to keep going. If not, Christine would hopefully remember she'd
married me for poorer, too.
Really Cheap Desktop Publishing
Our plan depended on desktop publishing, but we had no budget. We
didn't have Ventura, a scanner, or our
own laser printer. We did have PCWrite. This forced us to adopt a very
simple format for the newsletter: single
column, no photos, and no graphics
beyond the simple box-drawing
characters that PC-Write supports. This
no-frills approach gave us some unexpected benefits. Since we didn't have
one of those wisi-wonderful graphics
packages, I spent my time writing instead of playing around with graphics.
(It seems like whenever I get hold of a
mouse and a bit-mapped image, I spend
more time tweaking than working.)
Another benefit was that we could
print our proof sheets on the trusty old
Proprinter rather than use the laser
printer for everything. Finally, since PCWrite uses straight ASCII, the output
could be used in a disk version of our
newsletter. (Of course, most of this was
just rationalization. When Ashton-Tate
offered us a copy of BYLINE, we
jumped at it.)
PIGs
We immediately realized our users
group needed a name, so Christine and
I discussed possibilities: "We can't call
it the Psion Interest Group," I said.
"Why not?"
liThe initials spell 'PIG.' We can't

have a group called PIG. It isn't
dignified."
"I think it suits you," she said
sweetly.
I looked around my office at the
scraps of paper covered with program
fragments, the semi-random stacks of
books and computer magazines, the
empty Oreo bags and Pepsi cans.
"I still don't think it's a very good
name," I said. "Can't we come up with
something else?"
"You could always call it the Psion
International Software Society," she
chuckled.
"I guess PIG isn't such a bad name,"
I said.
"Oink, Oink," she squealed.
We set to work writing, editing, and
programming. We worked ideas into
programs and wrote articles to accompany the code. We pressed anything
with a keyboard and an RS-232 port
into service for the writing. The Psion's
small size and portability made it a natural for note taking. Anywhere inspiration struck, the Psion was there. (It's
amazing how many good ideas come to
you when you're in the bathroom.)
The Psion also served as a bridge

among different machines. They
couldn't agree on disk formats, so the
Psion served as an ASCII Esperanto that
they all could talk to.
Finally we finished our first issue,
sent out the 100 copies, and waited for
people to make PIGs of themselves.
They did. Not all, not a majority, but
enough. And, Jeff Etter kicked in some
cash to help with postage costs.
PICO magazine did a review of the
Psion and fortunately the review contained a technical error. I wrote a letter
correcting the error and mentioned our
users group. Lo and behold, more PIGs.
Greg Paul, the director of technical
support for Psion, USA, learned of our
efforts and directed people our way.
One of our members contacted the
British users group and we established
a publication swap with them.
We not only gained members, we
gained a few good writers and a couple
of hotshot programmers. Ideas came
pouring in. PIGs are mostly users, not
programmers. But the users have plenty
of ideas for keeping programmers busy.
I have always relied on the strangeness of kind people and the kindness of
strange people.

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Reader Service Number 105

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989

Problems
Of course, not everything went
smoothly. When I was ready to print
the second issue of our newsletter, the
laser printer was nowhere to be found.
It seems the guy who owns the printer
lent it to someone else. (That's the problem with relying on one of these generous types, you never know when
they're going to be generous to somebody else.)
A few frantic phone calls connected
us with a laser-printer owner who let us
print the 24 pages of the second issue
during lunch hour. To our relief, and
our subscribers' amazement, the second
issue hit the streets reasonably close to
its intended date.
A Conference
Before the third issue, our editorial
staff (and the kids) flew down to sunny
Florida for three days of sun, fun, and
tech-talk at Jeff Etter's Psion Conference. The conference was a meeting
ground for Psion VARs (Value Added
Resellers) and manufacturers of Psionrelated hardware and software.
It was our first chance to meet many
of the Psioneers face to face and discuss
what they would like from a users
group. We signed up subscribers,
played with gadgets, and met some
amazing people.
Shortly after the conference, interesting items began appearing in our mailbox. (Now I understand exactly how
Jerry Pournelle feels.) Psion programs
ranging from word processors and
database managers to celestial navigators began piling up in our apartment.
The most significant piece of software wasn't for the Psi on, however. It
was a copy of BYLINE, Ashton-Tate's
desktop publishing software. BYLINE
came to us courtesy of Ashton-Tate and
Jeff Etter.
Every Silver Lining Has A Dark Cloud
BYLINE turned out to be a mixed
blessing. Our third issue had pushed
PC-Write to its limits. (That issue included two simple illustrations and a
very simple circuit diagram.) BYLINE
promised to give us many more fonts
and sizes, along with the easy addition
of real graphics. The package was easy
to learn, very powerful, and gobs of
fun. Our fourth issue was only six
weeks late.
In fairness to Ashton-Tate, I have to
say that the delay wasn't BYLINE's
fault. BYLINE performed gallantly; the
problems I encountered are inherent in
any desktop publishing system.

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

First, I had to figure out what the
publication should look like. Should we
use Times-Roman or Bookman? Which
point size? How should listings look?
But I'd poured an issue's worth of
text and programs into BYLINE when I
discovered an even bigger problem. I
only had half a newsletter. Our new
typeface and multi-column format held
a lot more information per page.
Another problem was the art. They
say a picture is worth a thousand

have always

relied on the
strangeness of
kind people and
the kindness of
strange people.
words, but I found out that it's much
easier for me to write a thousand words
than to mousepaint a picture.
BYLINE could import art from a
paint program or a clip art library, but
the illustrations I wanted were not
available as clip art. A scanner would
solve the problem, of course, but my
budget didn't include a scanner.
Unexpected Features
Like any sophisticated piece of software, BYLINE has a few undocumented
"features." A personal favorite is the
way it inserts a space following the hyphen in hyphenated words. After I'd
tried the usual techniques of manualreading and hair-pulling, I stumbled on
the solution. I manually insert an invisible space after the hyphen.

Editor's note: Of course - an invisible
space! Why didn't I see that? (All oxymorons are obvious.)
I used a similar technique to get BYLINE to print a program listing containing a less-than sign followed by a quotation mark. BYLINE uses the <" and ">
as variable delimiters for things like
page numbers. It refused to print the
program listing until I inserted an invisible space between the < and the".
BYLINE gave us enormous layout
flexibility, but it did limit our printer
options. BYLINE supports both dotmatrix and laser printers so we could
still use the Proprinter for proofing.

Unfortunately a dot-matrix printer
has to do a digital hand stand to print
all those wonderful fonts and pictures.
So we got a lot of snack breaks while
the printer exercised. Of course, we did
most of the proofing on the screen, but
Christine insists on paper and red pen
for her final pass.
After more writing, rewriting,
editing, and playing, our fourth issue
got shipped in PostScript form to
Psion's U.S. headquarters. They
dumped it out on their PostScript laser
printer. (None of our local friends had
laser printers with PostScript or the font
support we needed.) Finally, for better
or worse, the issue hit the streets.
So How Are We Doing?
We're now at work on our fifth bimonthly issue and we have about 200
members in a dozen countries. Our
membership fees ($25 U.S., $40 foreign,
and $15 for students, senior citizens and
hard-luck stories) bring in enough to
cover printing, postage, and the occasional gadget.
If I figured out what I'm making per
hour on this venture, it would come to
somewhere around six cents. But if I
factor in the people I've met, the lessons
I've learned, and the fun I'm having,
I'm richer than I've ever been.
There is one little thing that bothers
me, though. I was really looking forward to being the Peter Norton of the
Psion Organiser II.
I neglected one little detail, however.
When Peter formed his company, he
called it Peter Norton Computing.
When I formed mine, I called it PIG. My
wife took note of the name and the
number of nights I spent at the computer and christened me "The Big
Boar." I have no idea what Peter Norton's wife calls him (or if she calls him
at am, but at least I don't have to wear
a pink shirt.
Psion Organiser II
Weight: 9 ounces
Dim: 6" long 3.8" wide 1.2" deep
Battery: 9 V transistor
Memory: 32K main memory
Language: OPL
Processor 1 MHz Hitachi 6303X
Price $250
Accessories
32K RAM pack (battery backed)
32K EPROM pack (EPROM burner built
into Organiser)
128K RAM pack available soon.

• ••

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PRICES

MOTHERBOARDS

CASE

I/O CARDS

XlIIOII
4.nt8mhz TURBO. 640K.OK ..........•... S69
4.ntl0mhz TURBO. 640K.OK ............. 76
4.ntl0mhz TURBO. 1mb. OK. SIW ...•.. 79
4. nt15mhz SUPER TURBO. wll mb MEMORY.
2/3 size. 110% faster than 6mhz IBM AT. 420
ATl2eS AT SIZE
6/10mhz. 1mb OK. DTK. Ows ............. 229
6/10mhz. 1mb OK. PC CALC. Ows ....... 259
6/12mhz. 1mb OK. PC CALC. ows ....... 289
6/12mhz. 1mb OK. EW. 12mhz CPU. Ows.. 289
6116mhz. 1mb OK. PC CALC. Ows ....... 399
ATI2IS Xl SIZE
6/10mhz. 1mb OK. DTK. Ows ............. 239
6/10mhz. 1mb OK. ELTECH. Ows ........ 229
6/12mhz. 1 or 4mb. OK. MS. Ows ...... 265
6/16mhz. 2 or 8mb. OK. NOVAS ......... 489
6/20mhz. 2 or 8mb. OK. NOVAS ......... 549
ATI38S AT SIZE
16mhz. w 11mb MICRONICS ........... 1399
20mhz. w 11mb. MICRONICS .......... 1449
20mhz. w 11mb. 287 + 387 SOCKET. MS.1415
20mhz. w 11mb. up to 16mb on M/B.l par.
1 ser w I 2nd opt ......................... CALL
20mhz MYLEX motherboard ............. CALL
25mhz 38C wll mb ........................ CALL

XT SLIDE .....•............................... S27
Xl/AT like Case .............................. 30
AT 3 Floppy Drive Front I 2 Button ........ 54
AT 3 Floppy Drive with Digital Disp ....... 72
Xl SLIDE Heavy Duty. Quality ..•.•......... 27
Xl/AT like. slide. heavy duty. Qual ......... 30
AT DT 3DR FT. 2 button. SOL .............. 48
AT DT 3DR FT. 2 button. AS ............... 54
AT DT 3DR FT. 2 button. DIG DISPLAY ... 72
AT DT 3DR FT. DIG DlSPLAYIPC CALC .... 75

Multi 1/0 Ser Par Cal Clk Game Disk ..... $48
Multi 1/0 Above (DFI) ..........•....•........ 66
Magic 1/0 Ser Par Cal Clk Disk Ctlr 360K. 720K.
1.2mb .......................................... 49
1/0 Plus .. Ser Par Cal Clk Game ........... 42
Parallel Card (Xl) .............. '" ...... '" .. 15
Serial Card 2nd Serial Optional ............ 18
Port Serial Card w/2 Port & Opt ........... 66
2nd Serial for XT ............................. 17
Game Card (2 Ports) ......................... 17
AT 1/0 CARD par. game. ser. 2nd ser opt. 42
2nd Serial Port for AT ....................... 19

HARD DRIVES

SPECIAL CASES
Transportable (case PS KB Mono Monit)S435
Transportable EGA VER ...... ............. 1250
LCD portable 640X400 Bracklite 181bs ... 759
Carrying Case for portables ................. 35
Tower Case 230W PWR SPLY. 6 half ht. 250
Tower Case w/digital display. 3 Dr. Front will
hold 7. 'hht Dr. 220W ..................... 225

POWER SUPPLY
150 watt XT Compatible
200 watt XT Compatible
200 watt AT Compatible
220 watt AT Compatible
250 watt AT Compatible

.................... S36
..................... 49
..................... 59
..................... 63
..................... 69

KEYBOARDS
84 KEY At Style Keyboard .................. S36
84 Key At Style Maxi Switch Keyboard .... 49
101 Key Enhanced Monterey ................ 42
101 Key Tronics Keyboard ................... 47
101 Maxiswitch Enhanced Keyboard ....... 64
101 Tactile Enhanced Keyboard ............. 49

ST·225 Seagate (DRIVE ONLY) .......... S215
ST·225 with CONTROLLER ..•............. 255
ST·238 Seagate (DRIVE ONLY) ............ 229
ST·238 with CONTROLLER .......•........ 275
ST·251 Seagate 40ms HARD DRIVE ..... 339
ST-251·1 Seagate 28ms HARD DRIVE ... 419
MR535 Mitsubishi RLL 65mb 28ms ..... 465
ST·125 Seagate 3·1h format 20mb ......• 245
Miniscribe 3650 40mb (61 ms) MFM .... 315
Miniscribe 3675 63mb (61 ms) RLL ..... 335
MAXlOR .... Call For Special Prices ... SCALL
TOSHIBA MK130 65mb RLL 3·'1'1 form .. 575
HARD CARD 20mb Plus Development ... 545
HARD CARD 40mb Plus Development ... 729

MOUSE
Logitech M·8 Button ........................ S35
Logitech C·7 Button .......................... 69
Logitech HI·REZ .............................. 86
Microsoft Bus Mouse + Paintbrush/Menu. 99
Microsoft Ser Mouse + PaintbrushlMenu . 99

VIDEO CARDS
Monochrome WI Printer Port .............. S39
Monochrome 132 Column & Print Port ... 53
Color Graphics Adaptor . .. .... .. .. ... .. . .... 39
Color Graphics Adaptor 11 print port ...... 53
Micro EGA Auto Switching ................. 129
Video·7 VGA .................................. 269
Paradise VGA Plus ........................... 259
Paradise VGA Professional ................. 389
Chips and Technologies VGA Card ........ 249

FLOPPY DISK DRIVES
Fujitsu 360K BLACK FACE PLATE ......... S64
Fujitsu 1.2mb BEIGE FACE PLATE ......... 83
Teac 360K ..................................... 73
Teac 1.2mb .................................... 86
Teac 720K with 5·V. mount bracket ....... 92
Teac 1.44 3·1h wi 5·% bracket ............ 110
Mitsumi 360K BLACK ........................ 63
Sony 720K 3·1h wi 5·V. bracket ........... 94
Sony 1.44mb 3·1h wi 5·V. bracket ....... 119
Toshiba 720K 3·'1'1 wi 5·V. bracket ........ 99
Toshiba 1.44mb 3·1h Wi 5·'1. bracket .... 119
Mitsubishi 360K .............................. 69
Mitsubishi 1.2mb ............................. 84
Mitsubishi 720K 3.5 ......................... 79
Mitsubishi 1.44mb 3.5 ...................... 95

MODEM
1200 BAUD with Software ... " ............ $52
2400 BAUD with Software .................. 95
Zoom HC 2400 wlProcomm Software ... 116
External 1200 wlPC Talk III SIW ............ 62
External 2400 WIPC Talk III SIW .......... 109
Everex External 2400 Modem ............. 179

CHIPS

Floppy/Hard Disk Controller
2 Drive Floppy CTLR (360Kt720K) ........ $17
4 Drive Floppy CTLR (360KmOK) ......... 34
2 Drive Floppy Master (360K/l.2mb) ..... 39
4 Drive FOC (360. 1.2mO. 1.44)SEF ..... 89
4 Drive Super Special FDC W/Cables ..... 89
WD FOX 2 Floppy Drive CTLR For AT ..... 57
WO WX 1 Hard Disk Controller 8 Bit ...... 57
WD XT/GEN Hard Disk CTLR For XT ...... 52
WD 27X RLL Hard Disk Controller ........ 59
WD WA·2 FO/HD CTLR For AT (MFM) '" 112
DTC 5287 FO/HD CTLR For AT (RLL) .... 154
NCL 5425 FDIHD CTLR For AT (MFM) '" 112
ADAPTEC 2372 FO/HO CTLR AT (RLL) " 179
16 Bit 4 Floppy/2 Hard Drive Controller
Modified 16 Bit DTC CTLR MFM & RLL. 295

TAPE BACKUP
Teac 60mb MT2ST/45 (CASS) INT ..... $539
Everex 60mb Wangtek INT (Cart) ......... 679
Colorado 44mb (Cart) Internal ............ 289

MONITORS
Goldstar Amber Monochrome 720X348. $58
Samsung 1252 Mono 720X348 TIUSW .. 66
Samsung 1464 EGB ......................... 219
Evervision 14 Amber Flat Screen .......... 119
Amdek 410A .................................. 139
Nec GS ........................................ 199
Taxan Composite Amber/Green ............. 89
Relisys EGA with TILT & SWIVEL ......... 339
Relisys Multi Scan .......................... 499
Mitsubishi 1410XC EGA .................... 379
Mitsubishi 1381A Diamond Scan ......... 539
Nec Multiscan II ............................. 569
Sigma Designs Laserview 1901·PC ..... 1749

CAD PRODUCTS
MITSUBISHI HA3905 19V120" MONITOR. ANALOGI
TIL. 1024 X 1024. 15.7 35.5khz ............. 51725

MITSUBISHI HL6905 19" MONITOR. 1280 X
1024. 30% 64khz AUTO TRACKING .... 2415
HIGH RESOLUTION VIDEO CARDS FOR CAD
ODPVIVA12801290X76816COLORS. $1289
OOP VIVA 2000 1024 X 1024 16 COLORS ..1559
aOPVIVA 2000 2 2024 X2024 16 COLORS.1895

(Prices Subject To Change)

V·20 8mhz (replacement for 8088) ....... $10
V·20 10mhz .................... ...... ......... 16
8088·2 CPU ..................................... 5
8087·2 MATH CO·PROCESSOR FOR XT. 149
8087·1 MATH CO·PROCESSOR FOR XT. 215
80287·8 MATH CO·PROCESSOR FOR AT. 229
80287·10 MATH CO·PROCESSOR FOR AI279
80387·16 MATH CO·PROCESSOR FOR AI.425
80387·20 MATH CO· PROCESSOR FOR Al CALL
64K 150ns DRAM .......................... 1.35
64K 120ns DRAM .......................... 3.25
64K lOOns DRAM .......................... 4.25
64K 120ns DRAM 4464 ................. 13.50
256K 150ns ................................... 10
256K 120ns ................................ 11.75
256K lOOns ................................ 11.95
256K 80ns ................................ 12.95
1mb lOOns .................................... 33
256K lOOns SIMM'S (SIP's) ............... 125
256K 80ns SIMM'S (SIP's) ................ 145
256K lOOns STATIC COLUMN RAM ....... 17
256K 80ns STATIC COLUMN RAM ........ 18

Desktop Publishing
Hi·Res 1024 15"MONITOR WlVideo Controller
1024 X 768 Resolution ................... $499

SCANNERS
Mitsubishi Hand Scanner Full Page MH216
200 DPI. 8.5" X 11" ...................... S638
Mitsubishi 400 DPI MH 130 ............. CALL
Mitsubishi Paper Feeder For Scanner .... 176
Abaton 300 FB Full Page Scanner ...... 1349

ACCELARATOR CARDS
MICRO 286·10 OK ........................ $269
SOTA 286i 10mhz OK ....................... 298
SOTA 2861 12mhz OK ....................... 359

MOTHERCARDS
SOTA 5.0 MOTHERCAROS wll mb, 10mhz.Sn9
SOTA 5.0 MOTHERCARDS w/lmb. 12mhz.879

Econo XT® Compatible
8mhz Turbo M/B,OK, case.
Keyboard. 150w PIS. FLOP CTLR. 1 360K
Drive. Mono video B.D.
MONITOR .................................. $339

. \;/

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Reader Service Number 130

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989 67

Turbo Pascal 5.0
And A Rational Number Toolkit

By Michael S. Hunt
845 E. Wyeth
Pocatello, ID 83201
(208) 233-7539

Herein Michael covers Turbo Pascal 5.0 and
unreal reals. I mean real integers. Or is it rational
real integers? Ah well, he'll tell you more precisely
than I can.
n this issue I'll briefly review Turbo Pascal
5.0. (This'll be brief compared to the extensive Modula-2 compiler review coming
next issue.) Then for those of you tired of
numeric roundoff error, check out the rational
number toolkit. It contains the basic arithmetic
functions to compute with rational numbers.
After convincing the post office that my
mail should be delivered to my house and not
E. B. Hunt three blocks away, I received some
reader mail. Remember you can write and
complain, explain, applaud or just shoot the
breeze. I'll even answer. I welcome any suggestions for topics or directions for the
column. I also check the Micro C BBS about
once a week.

Turbo Pascal 5.0
Well, I've had Turbo Pascal 5.0 for about
two months now. I like it, I like it. I upgraded
from version 2.0 so many of the features mentioned are also in versions 3.0 and 4.0.
At last, units. I'm a fanatic about reusable
code and problem solving tools. I've built and
used modules in Modula-2, but now my 5000
line Pascal programs can be managed instead
of manhandled.
Procedure passing is essential for truly
flexible tools. The classic example is a sort
procedure that can pass the appropriate comparison procedure in the parameter list. With
a few sort procedures, several comparison
procedures, and some carefully constructed
selection routines, you can build a very versatile sort package. Hmmm, sounds like a
possible column topic.
I have several programs in need of some
assembly language speed ups. The ability to
link .OBJ files and create .EXE files without
overlays is welcome. (You can still do overlays, though.)
Ever since I purchased Logitech Modula-2,

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

I've been addicted to debuggers. I could get
along without them, but I'd hate to. Debuggers, even rudimentary ones, are tremendous
time savers.
The integrated source level debugger in 5.0
is not full featured like CodeView. Borland
recommends that you buy Turbo Debugger
for industrial strength debugging. Scott Ladd
reviewed Turbo Debugger and Turbo Assembler and took a look at what debugging is all
about in his C'ing Clearly column. Look for it
in Micro C's January/February issue (#45).
You can purchase Turbo Pascal 5.0, Turbo Debugger and Turbo Assembler (as the professional package) for $250.
Turbo Pascal 5.0 supports the 80x87
numeric coprocessors. Compiled programs
are smart enough to use the 80x87 if present,
or emulate one if not.
This package can take advantage of EMS
for overlay files and the integrated editor. The
overlay manager can load the overlay file into
EMS memory so overlays load faster.
If you have 64K of EMS memory, the edit
buffer will be placed in EMS memory. This
frees up conventional memory and allows
you to debug larger programs. The integrated
editor is WordStar compatible with some extensions for special program editing features.
The editor is fully configurable so you can
customize the commands to mimic your
favorite editor.
Borland's Graphics Interface (BGI) unit
contains more than 50 graphics routines. BGI
supports CGA, MeGA, EGA, VGA, Hercules,
AT&T 400, 3270 PC and IBM-8514. BGI will
autodetect all but the 3270 PC and IBM-8514
graphics cards. You can link all the device
drivers and have the program automatically
choose the best resolution at runtime. BGI is
quite extensive and can help give your program that polished look.
The Turbo Pascal 5.0 package also contains
a make utility, a smart linker that removes
unused code, an integrated environment with
context sensitive help system, and well written reference and user guides. If you're writing in Pascal for IBM compatibles, I strongly
recommend Turbo Pascal 5.0.

Figure 1 - Rational Number Unit
unit Rational;
interface
type baseType = longint;
rat Type = record
n : baseType;
d : baseType
end;

Get Rational
I do a lot of work with floating point
numbers. I get tired of having my results turn out useless because of the accumulated roundoff error after repeated
multiplication. Even more subtle is the
error introduced when we subtract two
numbers very close to each other (Le.,
I a - b I =0.0000001) when we have only
six decimal places of accuracy.
Even though we think of computers
as being very accurate, floating point
numbers are just approximations. Integer and cardinal values can be represented accurately as sums of powers of
two. Since the computer represents
everything in binary (powers of two),
we can accurately represent integers
and cardinals.
The trick would be to represent real
numbers with integers. This is where
rational numbers come to the rescue. A
rational number is any number that can
be represented in the form alb where a
and b are integers and b is not equal to
zero. Since the rational numbers are
only a subset of the real numbers,
they're a bit limited. The square root of
2 and pi are not rational numbers.
If your math can be restricted to
rational numbers, you can avoid roundoff error. The unit Rational (Figure 1) is
a set of basic tools for arithmetic with
rational numbers. Figure 2 lists the
tools.

The Euclidean Algorithm
The real workhorse of the unit is the
GCD function, called by all the other
procedures and functions in the unit except ZeroRat. Using the Euclidean Algorithm, GCD finds the greatest common
divisor for any two numbers.
The Euclidean Algorithm decomposes a pair of numbers x and y, where
x and yare not both zero and x >= y, by
calculating r = x mod y. It then lets x =
y and y = rand repeats the process
until r = O. When r = 0, the previous r or
the last nonzero r is the greatest com-

(* shortint, integer, longint *)

(* numerator of rational number *)
(* denomenator of rational number *)

function GCD(x, y : baseType) : baseType;
function LCM(x, y : baseType) : baseType;
procedure LowestTerms(var a : ratType);
procedure ComDenom(var a, b : ratType);
procedure IncRat(var a : ratType);
procedure DecRat(var a : ratType);
procedure ZeroRat(var a : ratType);
procedure AddRat(a, b : ratType;var c : ratType);
procedure SubRat(a, b : ratType;var c : ratType);
procedure MultRat(a, b : ratType;var c : ratType);
procedure DivRat(a, b : ratType;var c : ratType);
implementation
function GCD(x, y : baseType) : baseType;
(* function GCD finds the greatest common divisor of the two numbers
x and y by the Euclidian Algorithm. *)
var r,
begin
if x
if y
if x

d : baseType;

< 0 then x := -1 * x;
< 0 then y := -1 * y;
< y then begin

= Ixl
= Iyl

*)
*)

(* swap x and y if Y > x
*)
(* algorithm expects x >= y *)

r := y;
y := x;
x := r

end;
if y = 0
GCD :=
else
begin
repeat
d :=
x :=

(* set x
(* set y

then
x

(* repeat Euclidian Algorithm until *)

x;
y;
r := y;
y := d mod r;
until y
0;

(* a remainder of zero is obtained

GCD := r

(* then set GCD to be previous remainder *)

end
end; (* GCD *)
function LCM(x, y : baseType) : baseType;
(* function LCM finds the least common multiple of the two numbers
x and y by determining the GCD of the two numbers and then applying
the rule la*bl = GCD(a,b)*LCM(a,b)
*)
var g : baseType;
begin
LCM := abs(x*y) div GCD(x, y)
end; (* LCM *)
procedure LowestTerms(var a
var g : baseType;
begin
if a.n = 0 then
a.d := 1
else
begin
g := GCD(a.n, a.d);
a.n := a.n div g;
a.d := a.d div g
end
end; (* LowestTerms *)

ratType) ;
(* if numerator then set denominator *)
*)
(* to smallest positive number
(*
(*
(*
(*

find the GCD of the numerator
and the denominator
divide numerator by GCD
divide denominator by GCD

*)
*)
*)
*)

continued next page

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989

Figure 1 continued from page 69

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70 MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

(* ~ind a common dena.inator .)
procedure ComOenom(var a, b : ratType);
(* ~or a , b and adjust thea .)
var m : baseType;
beqin
(* ~ind LeN o~ a.d and b.d *)
m :- LCM(a.d, b.d);
(* .et a.n to ne. value
*)
a.n :- a.n * (m div a.d);
(* .et a.d to LeN o~ denominator. *)
a.d :- m;
(* set b.n to new value
.)
b.n :- b.n * (m div b.d);
(* .et b.d to LCM o~ denominator• • )
b.d :- m
end; (* ComOenom *)

(* incr...nt a by 1 *)
procedure IncRat(var a : ratType);
beqin
(* add denominator to numerator *)
a.n :- a.n + a.d;
(* reduce a to lowe.t terms *)
Lo.e.t'l'erms(a)
end; (* IncRat *)
(* decr...nt a by 1 *)
procedure DecRat(var a : ratType);
beqin
(* subtract numerator ~roa denominator *)
a.n :- a.n - a.d;
(* reduce a to lowest terms *)
Lo.est'l'erms(a)
endi (* DecRat *)
(* set a to 0 *)
procedure ZeroRat(var a : ratType);
begin
a.n := 0;
(* set numerator to .ero *)
a.d := 1
(* set denominator to smallest po.itive number *)
end; (* ZeroRat *)

procedure AddRat(a, b : ratType;
var c : ratType);
var 1, g : base'l'ype;
beqin
(* reduce a to
Lo.est'l'erms (a) ;
(* reduce b to
Lo.est'l'erms (b) i
(* convert a ,
CollIDe nom (a, b);
c.n :- a.n + b.n;
c.d :- a.d;
(* reduce c to
Lo.est'l'erms (c)
end; (* AddRat *)
procedure SubRat(a, b : ratTypei
var c : ratType)i
beqin
(* reduce a to
Lo.est'l'erms (a) ;
(* reduce b to
Lo.est'l'erms (b) ;
(* convert a ,
ComOenom(a, b);
c.n :- a.n - b.ni
c.d :- a.d;
(* reduce c to
Lo.est'l'erms(c)
end; (* SubRat *)
procedure MultRat(a, b : ratType;
var c : ratType);
beqin
(* reduce a
Lo.e.t'l'erms (a) ;
(* reduce b
Lo.est'l'erms (b) ;
(* multiply
c.n :- a.n * b.n;
(* multiply
c.d :- a.d * b.d;
(* reduce c
Lowest'l'erms(c)
end; (* MultRat *)
procedure DivRat(a, b :
var c
begin
i~ b.n - 0 then
ZeroRat(c)
el.e
begin
Lowe.t'l'erms(a);
Lo.est'l'erms (b);
c.n := a.n * b.d;
c.d := a.d * b.n;
Lo.est'l'erms(c)
end
end; (* DivRat *)
begin
end.

1***1

ratType;
: ratType);
(*

add a and b and place *)
(* re.ult in c, a+b • c *)
(*

lowe.t terms *)
lowest terms *)
b to common denominator *)
lowest terms *)
(* subtract b ~roa a and place *)
(* re.ult in c, a-b • c
*)
lowe.t terms *)
lowest terms *)
b to common denominator *)
lowest terms *)
(* multiply a and b and place *)
(* result in c, a*b - c
*)

to lo.e.t terms
to lowest terms
numerators
denominator.
to lowest terms

*)
*)

(* divide a by b and place *)
(* re.ult in c, alb • c
*)

division by 0 then c - 0 *)

(* reduce a to lo.est terms *)

(* reduce b
(* invert b
(* a to qet
(* reduce c

to lowe.t terms
and multiply by
c
to lowe.t terms

*)
*)
*)

MODULA-2

Figure 2 - Rational Number Tools
baseType
rat Type
GCD

LCM
LowestTerms
ComDenom
IncRat
DecRat
ZeroRat
AddRat
SubRat
MultRat
DivRat

shortint, integer or longint
record of numerator and denominator of baseType
returns the greatest common divisor of two numbers
returns the least common multiple of two numbers
reduces fraction to lowest terms
converts two rational to a common denominator
increments a rational by 1
decrements a rational by 1
sets a rational to zero
adds two rationals
subtracts two rationals
multiplies two rationals
divides two rationals

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149

mon divisor, the greatest divisor of both
a and b.
001 = 357 * 2 + 287
357 = 287 * 1 + 70
287= 70 *4+ 7
70 = 7*10 + 0

In this case, the Euclidean Algorithm
applies to 1001 and 357. The last nonzero remainder is 7, so 7 is the greatest
common divisor of 1001 and 357. For
more on the Euclidean Algorithm, consult a book on Modern or Abstract algebra.
Two rational numbers must have the
same denominator before you can add
them together or find their difference.
The function LCM finds the least common multiple of two numbers. The least
common multiple of the denominators
is the smallest number they will both
divide into. This is the smallest common
denominator. ComDenom uses LCM to
convert two rational numbers to the
same denominator.
Inc Rat and DecRat increment and
decrement the rational number by one,
respectively. ZeroRat sets the rational to
zero. The numerator is zero and the denominator is one. AddRat, SubRat,
MultRat and DivRat each perform the
indicated operation on a and b and return the result in c.
These tools provide only the basic
arithmetic for the rational numbers. Try
writing a procedure such as ExpoRat
that returns a rational to an exponential
power. Or do operations on vectors and
matrices of rational numbers. Hmmm, a
matrix toolkit, maybe even sparse, that's
another possible column topic.

Warning!
The unit rational does have some
limitations. It doesn't detect integer
overflow or underflow. It makes an attempt to avoid these errors by calling
LowestTerms before and after operations on the numbers. This unit also
assumes a nonzero denominator,
ratType.d, and a nonzero deviser. You
can change the size and range of the
rational numbers by changing the baseType declaration. You can use the IEEE
integer type comp, but all div's must be
replaced with /'s.
I made no provisions for output or
conversion to and from real data types.
As Larry Fogg says: "But I leave these
as exercises for the reader. (The ultimate
academic cop-out.)"
Next Time
Next issue I'll have a Modula-2 compiler review, complete with benchmarks, compiler comparisons and programming environment summaries. So
far I have one CP/M and four MS-DOS
compilers, and I have a good lead on a
shareware compiler. After the compiler
review, I'll cover the graphics toolkit
that I've been wanting to work on for a
long time. Then on to ... well you decide. Tune in next time for the latest
episode of "Compiler Wars." (Music
fades. Lights come up.)

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Reader Service Number 140

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989

Around the Bend
help, to donate their time so we'll have another one. "I just attended my first SaG, people don't know what they're missing,
it's like nothing else." ... "I'll help, though I'm not sure what
I'd do from here."
Distribute SOG. We might make it like the SaG of old,
only spread out. That way a club (or even an individual) could
help by holding a smaller, more informal SaG. Ideally we'd
wind up with three to five regional events ... Northwest,
Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Middle-east (Midwest?).
If you've always dreamed of being surrounded by techies
and you know of a wonderful campground, assembly hall,
mountain top, farmer's field, picturesque community, seacoast,
or whatever - call.
By talking we might both decide your place is crazy or it's
perfect. Hopefully, we'll come up with locations people would
enjoy visiting. Places where we can gather for two or three
days of laid-back babble and technology, places I can write
about in Micro C.
Anyway, call with your suggestions. And call soon. (I hope
it's not too late this year to pull it off.) Anyway, we'll announce what we come up with in Micro C: times, dates, what
people need to bring (sleeping bags or credit cards), who to
contact, what to expect, lodging options and prices ...
If possible, I'll attend them all. After all, I haven't missed a
SaG yet. (The last three weeks in July, September, or November would work best for me.)
Send Us Your Tech Tips
As strange as it might seem, Tech Tips is the best read portion of Micro C. (Yep, that tiny little column that's written by
you.)
Unfortunately, each issue we scratch for good tips. I'd like
the column to be the longest (okay, the second-longest) in
Micro C. To do that we need your help.
The biggest question: what makes a good tech tip? Send us
things you've discovered about: servicing PCs, putting together new hardware, locating cheap parts, surprises you've
found in common assemblers or compilers, and things you do
to make your work easier.
Send them to:
Tech Tips
Micro C Dept. Of Information
P.O. Box 223
Bend, OR 97709
Send disk, paper, or both. Or leave a file or message on the
Micro C BBS, (503) 382-7643.
You'll be glad you did, because Tech Tip authors get: three
extra copies of the magazine (at least one of those goes to your
mother), and an author's T-shirt. (Non-authors have resorted
to bribery in their attempts to get one of these exclusive chest
covers.)
Theme Issues Can Also Be Interesting
After announcing the themes of upcoming issues, we've
gotten wonderful response from folks working in those areas.
For instance, an automated milling machine just offered to do
a piece for the robotics issue (it's about a cousin of his who
welds underbodies for GM). On the other hand, a number of

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Continued from page 4
you are waiting for a theme issue that fits your expertise.
Don't wait.
We're not limited to theme articles in theme issues. One of
our strengths is our mix of the weird and the arcane. So, for
instance, we have hardware articles in this (software tools)
issue. And, of course, we ran the." Assembler Is Better Than
C" article in the C issue. (Boy, did that generate mail.)
Anyway, if you have ideas, call us. Somebody's got to
make these theme issues interesting.
The Theme Issues Are Already Interesting
Robotics is going to be hot. I mean HOT. I'm talking front
burner. Loren Heiny is working on an article on visual recognition, and Bob Namsel is finishing up a cheap ($300) robot
complete with an ME (Mail-in EPROM). Based on the 64180
(Z80 look-alike), it'll be a maze runner complete with IR range
sensors, bumper switches, solid state compass, and so on.
He's proposing that groups build a single robot and have
members design and burn ROMs. Each group will hold competitions as members tryout their own ROM programming
prowess.
Then, the top ROMs from each group would be sent to Bob
for the national runoff (amazing). The best ROM wins.
Official Programmer's Diet
If you've been programming any length of time (Le. since
midnight, last Friday) you know the importance of maintaining your health. So you carefully plan your diet around the
seven hacker food groups - twinkies, cola, coffee, chips,
chocolate, cold pizza, and Rolaids.
However, I've got to pass along some of what I'm hearing
in Aviation Consumer, a small (but expensive) newsletter on
flying.
Pilots have to watch their health. They're not supposed to
have seizures, fainting spells, heart attacks, migraines, shortness of breath and such while they're flying. Distracts from the
job. Every year or two (depending on type of license), each
pilot gets a physical and during the exam he gets checked for
a whole list of conditions, any of which would send him to the
unemployment office.
We all know about chocolate, chips, and pizza. They're
good artery pluggers. But that's pretty slow and painless.
Now, it appears, some pilots are having trouble with NutraSweet, the sugary tasting stuff residing in just about every "reduced calorie" product on the market.
The problem came to light when a pilot wrote in saying
he'd spent several years and about $40,000 being tested. He'd
had a whole list of problems (including seizures) that had
ended his flying. He was a mess. Almost by accident he
stopped drinking six bottles of diet cola a day and stopped
using all other diet foods. In a week he was a new man.
Well, a NutraSweet official responded immediately, saying
this person's experience wasn't scientific proof of a problem
with their sweetener.
Then a physician followed up with a long treatise on the
chemical makeup of NutraSweet and the possibility of allergic
reactions. Another physician added a look at the effects of
large doses of caffeine. (Many of the pilot's complaints
matched the side effects of caffeine.)
Meanwhile, another pilot who'd been having similar health

problems reported he'd stopped using dietetic gum and candy
after reading the original letter. He reported that his problems,
too, disappeared after a week.
So, if you're weirder than you'd like to be (or weirder than
someone close to you would like), you might want to modify
your diet slightly. (Chitlins and sprouts with salsa?)

the pair. SpinRite will cost you $69.95.
One note. Use DISKCOPY to make one or more copies of
the SpinRite master disk before doing anything. Then use the
copy. If you ever use the master to create a working disk,
you'll only be able to use SpinRite on that system. (You'll find
the same instructions in the installation section of the manual.)

Hard Drive Relief
"Hello, Micro C?"
Yep.
"My 20 meg hard drive hasn't been booting dependably."
Yep.
"Should I get a new drive?"
Yep.
Actually you probably don't need a new drive - you just
need to give the drive you have a little help. Most drive problems show up after a year or so, and usually it's because the
unit's having a harder and harder time reading data. (Usually
the head's in one place, the track's in another.) The only way
to straighten things out is to do a real, low level, reformat.
Unfortunately low level formats are a pain. You back
everything off the hard drive onto ten zillion little floppies,
run DEBUG to get into the controller's formatter, run FDISK,
run FORMAT, and then copy all that data back onto the hard
drive. I'm talking hours, assuming everything works properly.
In issue #42 I wrote an article titled "Keeping Your Hard
Drives Running." In it I mentioned a package called Disk
Technician. Disk Technician watches for recoverable data errors. (Errors which MS-DOS ignores.)
When the package finds a track with errors, it stores the
corrected information in memory, reformats the track, and
then rewrites the data. You're supposed to run the program
every day and over a year you'll probably get a pretty
complete low level reformat (as it's needed).
I had two problems with Disk Technician. It was copy protected, and it worked best when run everyday. Also, it was designed for people who don't want any choice about what happens (micro-power users). (I should add that I just received a
new copy of Disk Technician and they've upgraded it a bit,
made it run on more machines, and they've removed the copy
protection.)
Anyway, in that article I also talked about H-Test and HFormat. H-Format tests your hard drive for optimum interleave and then does the optimum low-level format without
wiping out data. Wonderful package.

Gibson Research
22991 La Cadena
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(714) 830-2200

SpinRite
A month ago I got a copy of SpinRite. It's a pretty complete
combination of Disk Technician and H-Format.
It'll tell you the optimum interleave and do a low level reformat using the interleave of your choice (without wiping out
data). It'll thoroughly test your hard drive surface and (if you
tell it to) even recover tracks that you locked out during the
original format. Plus, it'll recover data from bad sectors (if
possible).
It has super displays - tells you a lot about your hard
drive - is trivial to use - detects, displays, and fixes bit errors (if possible) - and it runs fast. It's hard drive insurance
and a lot more. (Plus it's not copy protected.) Disk Technician
and H-Format sell for $99.95 each so you'd pay nearly $200 for

Better Graphics
As long as I'm talking about things I'm excited about I
might as well tell you about three new graphics packages.
Adobe Illustrator has been running on the Mac just about
forever and I'd heard serious rumors (press releases) that
they'd be showing their PC version at Comdex.
I looked for Adobe. No Adobe. I made a beeline for the
Apple room. No Adobe. (They were there last year.) I asked
the Apple staffers where I could find Adobe.
1/Adobe who?"
How quickly they forget. Illustrator must have sold thousands and thousands of Macs.
However, Digital Research (you remember them, the guys
who wrote CP / something) snuck in with an announcement of
Artline. I don't know Illustrator well enough to know whether
Artline is better or worse, but it looks wonderful. (In the
manual they show you how to draw an apple - draw your
own conclusion.)
Anyway, it lets you bend type, create shadows, sketch over
scanned images (you can't edit scanned images because Artline manipulates vectors, not pixels), draw, and fill, and all
those fancy things. (You have to have expanded memory to
store the pixel images you're going to trace.)
We've had a similar package called Designer, but Sandy
and Carol find it very difficult to use.
Finally, Arts & Letters also announced their Editor package.
It's very, very similar to Artline but includes a much larger library of vector drawings.
Artline runs under Gem. Arts & Letters runs under Windows.
We've received both Artline and Editor and Sandy used
both in this issue. Artline generated the Go board on page 96
(upper left-hand corner) and the diagram on page 37. The Arts
& Letters Editor generated the books on page 95 (lower lefthand corner) and the illustrations on pages 33, 53, and 54. She
had almost no trouble figuring out either program. (We have a
more complete report in the works.)
(Carol used Publisher's Paintbrush to create and edit the
robot on page 95. Paintbrush works very well for editing
scanned and other pixel images.)

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989

Handling Interrupts With Any C, Listings

vLIB
~!!!.!..~,~'?!.~~~.1.!...~!Zl~~E.
==> Develop applications fasterl

Continued from page 22

==> Use vLIB to give your programs

Figure 3 - ISRHT.C isr handler template.

a professional look with a
sophisticated and consistent
user interface!
vUB is a comprehensive, easy to
use library of over 175 custom C
functions for building sophisticated PC applications.
Windows • overlapping, tiled,
built-in window
management
• vertical, horizontal
Menus
pulldown, popup,
dropdown, arrays
• full screen or
Forms
popup data entry
with multiple field
types
Pop Ups • messages, prompts,
selection lists,
scroll bars
Mouse Support
Formatted Screen Output
Full Editing Input
High Speed Display
Color Control

lasm
dataseg
extrn
public
ISRHT LENGTH
:ISRHT:PTR_ -

codeseg

public isr template
isr_template proc far

push
push
push
push
push
push
push
push
push
mov
mov
mov
mov

push
mov
push

pop
pop
pop
pop
pop
pop
pop
pop
pop
pop
pop
jmp

Site

291 Madrone Avenue
Santa Clara, C4 95051

; flags
;CS
;IP
bp
si
di
ds

;save the callers registers

ax
cx
es
bx
ax, seg _Dorg_
ds, ax
es, ax

iget local data segm value

ax, 0
ax
ax, 0
ax

;push a pointer to the ISRH

call

Visa and MasterCard accepted. S5 shipping and handling. California residents
please add 7% sales tax.

Pathfinder Associates

segment para public 'code'

pl:

library with manual and
full source code . . . $149

call or write:

dw (offset p2 - offset pl)
dw offset pl
dw seg pl

;This code gets moved later to a structure in RAM.
;The correct SS and SP values, as well as the
;address of the C function to call, are installed
;at that time.

library with 280 page
manual . . .
. .$99

Demo disk with usable sample
programs and source is available.

_ISRHT_LENGTH_, _ISRHT_PTR

dataseg ends

... and much, much morel
Compilers supported: Microsoft
C and Quick C, Borland Turbo C,
WATCOM C6.5, and Lattice C. All
memory models.

No royalties or additional fees.
license available.

segment para public 'data'
_Dorg_:byte

iOS

will be replaced later

iisr_template also replaced
ax
ax
bx
es
cx
ax

;restore pOinter we pushed
irestore callers registers

ds
di
si
bp
isr_template

;jump to previous handler

isr_template endp
p2:
codeseg ends
lendasm

***

(408) 984-2256
DDS: (408) 246-0164
Reader Service Number 145

74 MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Continued on page 76

McTek

LCD
Portable
(Also available in
PlASMA PORTABLE)

(Including Hard Disk Only 19lhs.)

~j}j}IT286
The McTek Rabbit-286 LCD Portable
combines the fastest, most reliable
AT motherboard available with
most visible full-size LCD portable screen on the market
Running at a switchable 8
or 10 MHz ~ \Wit state, it
includes a 20MB hard
disk, nOKB 3W' floppy
drive, parallel & serial
ports, A\Wrd 3.03 bios, 640k & turbo
indicator LCD. The screen is a fantastically readable, electroluminescently
backli~ 8O-column by 25-line, high

monochrome monitor. Included
also is an external 51j.( floppy port
for reading and converting to 3V{'
disks (5 1A" external drive w/~:
$179 when purchased with LCD
Portable). The McThk Rabbit-286
LCD Portable comes fully assembled
with our one-year parts & labor
guarantee, and sells for an amazing,
resolution 640x400 super twisted LCD with adjustable
intensity and screen-angle. The screen size is 9.5"x6'~
It's as readable as a CRT. You can also plug in a digital
or analog color monitor or a digital or composite

Of~~~lete price
386-20 MHz
W/IMB

$17991
$27991

$139900

$209900

$239900

12MHzlO Walt State

16MHzlO Walt State

20MHzlO Wait State

Assembled & Tested IBM@ AT Compatible
MS-DOS@ OS/2@ Compatible .
.8028612/6 MHz
• Phoenix BIOS
• 640K of RAM Expandable to 4MB
• 0 Wait State
• 200W Power Supply
• 1.2MB Floppy Drive
• Ports: 1 Serial, 1 Parallel, 1 Game
• Dual Floppy/Dual H.D. Controller
• Monochrome Graphic Card
• 101 Key Enhanced Keyboard
• TTL Monitor 12"
• 20MB Hard Disk
Options:. ................................ Call

Assembled & Tested IBM@ AT Compatible
MS-DOS@ OS/2® & UNIX@ Compatible
• 80386 16/8 MHz Norton V4.0 SI17.6
• Phoenix BIOS
• 1MB expandable to 16MB RAM
• 80387 Coprocessor Socket
• 200W Power Supply
• 1.2MB Floppy Drive
• Ports: 1 Serial, 1 Parallel, 1 Game
• Dual Floppy/Dual H.D. Controller
• Monochrome Graphic Card
• 101 Key Enhanced Keyboard
• TTL Monitor 12"
• 20MB Hard Disk (28MS)
Options:. ................................ Call

Assembled & Tested IBM® AT Compatible
MS-DOS@ OS/2® & UNIX@ Compatible
• 80386 20/8 MHz Norton V4.0 SI 22
• Phoenix BIOS
• 1MB expandable to 16MB RAM
• 80387 Coprocessor Socket
• 220W Power Supply
• 1.2MB Floppy Drive
• Ports: 2 Serial, 1 Parallel, 1 Game
• Dual Floppy/Dual H.D. Controller
• Monochrome Graphic Card
• 101 Key Enhanced Keyboard
• TTL Monitor 12"
• 40MB Hard Disk (28MS)
Options:. ................................ Call

McTek Systems, Inc. -1411 San Pablo Avenue· Berkeley, CA 94702· 415-525-5129

DISK DRIVES

PRINTERS

MONITORS

PC/XT

PC/AT

MISC.

Fujitsu 360k..................... $69
Fujitsu 1.2MB ......•....•...... $89
Teac ................................. $75
Teac 1.2MB ..................... $95
Toshiba 3'12" 720K ........... $89
Teac 3',,,.' I.4MB ............ $105
20MB Hard Disk Kit ...... $279
30MB Hard Disk Kit.. .... $309
ST-225 ........................... $215
8425 Miniscribe............. $249
8438 30MB Miniscribe $259
3650 40MB Miniscribe $349
3675 60MB Miniscribe $379
ST-157 49MB 3'12" ......... $479

Citizen CD 120.............. $149
Citizen CD 180.............. $189
HPLASAR SeriaI2 ....... $1699
Epson LX-800 ............... $219
Epson LO·SOO ............... $379
Toshiba 321 XL ............. $519
NEC P2000 .................... $369
Call for prices of other brands

Samsung amber ............. $79
Samsung EGA color ..... $359
Samsung RGB color ..... $259
NEC Multisync .............. $559
Sony Multiscan ............. $619
HGC·compal.mono card.$49
Color graphic card .......... $49
EGA Paradise 480 ......... $149
VGA Paradise ................ $279
Genoa Super VGA ........ $299

640k TurboMothrbrd ....... $80
10MHz TurboMothrbrd ... $85
Multi 1/0 w/disk contrir ... $59
640k RAM card ............... $39
2MB Expansion card ...... $89
RS232 2-port card .......... $35
4-serial port card ............ $79
Game I/O card ................ $15
384k Multifunction card ... $69
FCC·app. slide XTcase .. $29
150W power supply ........ $49
XT keyboard ................... $42
Clock Card ...................... $19
Floppy Controller ........... $19

McTek286-20MHz ......... $449
Baby McTek 286B-AT
8/100-wait ................ $249
McTek 386-16MHz ........ $859
McTek 386-20MHz ........ $899
McTek 386-24MHz ........ $999
Locking slide case .......... S59
200W power supply ........ $65
Enhanced keyboard ....... $59
WO FD/HDC ................. $129
DTC FOC/HOC 1:1 ....... $189
3MB EMS (aK) ................ $99

Kingtech CRT Portable Kits:
XT/AT (power supply. case
keyboard. monitor)
..........................$380/$410
Eprom burner 4-socket$139
LCD Portable ................ $799
Plasma Portable Kits .. $1499
AC power strips .............. $15
Diskette file box ................ $9
Printer or serial cable ....... $8
Archive Tape Backup
40MB ......................... $339

DESKTOP

XT l00MHz 640k
2 Drive System .............. $759

MODEMS
Everex inl. 300/1200 ....... $79
Everex 2400 external ..... $195
Everex 2400 internal. .... $179

MOUSE
Logimouse C7 ................. $69
Logimouse HI Res .......... $99

Reader Service Number 42

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Continued from page 74

Figure 4 - ISR.H support for interrupt handlers

void far ( 1thandler) (»;
void isr_restore(isrh 1tisr);

#ifndef uchar
#include
#endif

/1t1t1t/

#Undef OP IRET
#include
#endU
#ifndef AX
#include
#endif

Figure 5 - ISR.C support code for ISRs

#define ISR.-HDR_LOADED

#include

/1t

REGS

- Structure of a register file.

A far pointer to this structure is passed to the

interrupt handlers by the traps. The CPO registers
are also passed in the order shown below.

#pragma vpindex isr_get_vector
void far 1tisr_get_vector( inum
int inum;
{

return (void far 1t) (1t«long far 1t) «long)
(inum 1t 4»»;

It's therefore possible to declare a handler like:
void far int_24_handler( isr, r1, r2 )
isrh 1tisr;
_ -pregs r1, r2;
{}

Which is much easier than the alternative ...
This only works if your compiler supports passing
structures by value (By now, there probably aren't
many that don't ... )

#pragma vpindex isr_set_vector
void isr set vector( inum, farfuncp
void far-( 1t farfuncp) ();
int inum;
(

#asm
mov
shl
shl
mov
mov
mov
mov
mov
cli
mov
mov
sti

1t/

typedef struct ISR_REGS
__regdp esbx;
reg c;
- -reg3r dsdxax;
unsigned int di;
__regdp bpsi;
_ -pcreg pc;
reqpsw psw;
1sr_regs;

ax,word ptr 4[bp]
ax,l
aX,l
dx,O
es,dx
bx,ax
dx,word ptr 8[bp]
aX,word ptr 6[bp]
es:word ptr 2[bx],dx
es:word ptr O[bx],ax

#endasm
/1t

The code to intercept an interrupt and call a C
function is copied into a structure of the following type for each handler that's needed. The
required patches to the code are then made.
isr install() sets up the interrupt vectors, and
returns. isr restore() restores the previous
handler, and-isr-paSS() calls the previous
handler.
The code for this trap is in ISRHT.C.

1t/

typedef struct ISRH
uchar code1[17];
uint isrhs;
uchar code2[2];
uint isrho;
uchar code3[2];
void far (1thndlr) ();
uchar code4 [11] ;
uchar code jmpf;
void far (*prev_hndlr) ();
int isr num;
int count;
void far 1tstack;
isrh;
#define isr-pass(i)
#define isr iret(i)
#define isr:retf(i)

(i)-code jmpf= i-prev hndlr ?
OP JMPF-: OP IRET) (i)~code jmpf~ OP IRET)
(i)-Code:jmpf= OP:RETF)

void far 1tisr get vector(int inum);
void isr set vector(int inum,void far (1tfarfuncp) (»;
void isr:install(iSrh 1tisr,int isr_num,

76 MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

}

#pragma vpindex isr_install
void isr install( isr, isr num, handler)
isrh 1tisr;
int isr num;
1t
void far ( handler) ();
(

extern int ISRHT LENGTH;
extern unsi9ned char far 1t_ISRHT_PTR;
int i;
setmem{ isr, sizeof 1tisr, 0 );
/1t use long form of movmemO to avoid
problems with the different memory models •..
1t/
for ( i = 0; i < ISRHT LENGTH; i++ )
«char 1t)isr) [I] = _ISRHT_PTR[i];
isr->hndlr = handler;
isr->isr num = isr num;
isr->isrho = «long) «void far 1t)isr» , Oxffff;
isr->isrhs = «long) «void far 1t)isr» » 16;
isr->prev_hndlr = isr_get_vector( isr_num );
if ( !isr->prev hndlr )
isr->code_jmPf = OP_IRET;
isr_set_vector{ isr_num, (void far (1t) (»isr );

#pragma vpindex isr_restore
void isr restore( isr )
isrh 1tisr;

void far int_23( isr, _REGS
isrh *isri
isr regs REGSi
{CARRY = Oi
isr_iret( isr )i

#ifdef MAIN
volatile long Ci
volatile int ki

#endif
***
main()
{

isrh isrl, isr2, isr3, isrxi
void far int lc(), int 09(), int_23()i
int ascii i seg86( REGSP)i
__regs:dump( _REGSP ) i

Figure 6 - CPU.H CPU related #defs etc.

isr install( &isrl, Oxlc, int lc )i
isr-install( &isr2, Ox09, int-09 )i
isr:install( &isr3, Ox23, int:23 )i

/*
*/

printf("\nBet ya can't "C, "BREAK or \
CTRL-ALT-DEL out'a this one!\n");
printf("(hit ESC when you give up!)\n\n")i
ascii = Oi
do
{ printf("Tima: IUds, Last Scan code: %x
c * 101 / 1821, k )i
i f ( constat () )
ascii = conin()i
while ( ascii != 27 );

\r",

#define
#define
#define
#define
#define

/*
*/
#define
#define
#define
#define
#define
#define
#define
#define
#define
#define
#define
#define
#define
#define
#define
#define

isr restore( &isr1 )i
isr-restore( &isr2 )i
isr:restore( &isr3 )i

int coninO
{

pcdos( Ox08 );
return _ALi

int constat ()
{

pcdos( OxOb )i
return! '_ALi

= inportb(

Ox60 );

void far int 1c( isr, _REGS
isrh *isri isr regs REGS;
{c++;
isr.J>ass( isr )i

far jump instruction
far call instruction
far return instruction
software int instr.
return from interrupt

*/
*/
*/
*/
*/

CPU flag register bit masks
FLG_RESf
FLG RESe
FLG:RESd
FLG_RESc
FLG_OF
FLG_DIR
FLG_INTE
FLG TRAP
FLG:SIGN
FLG ZERO
FLG:RESS
FLG AUXC
FLG:RES3
FLG PE
FLG-RES1
FLG:CARRY

Ox8000
Ox4000
Ox2000
Ox1000
Ox0800
Ox0400
Ox0200
Ox0100
Ox0080
Ox0040
Ox0020
Ox0010
Ox0008
Ox0004
Ox0002
Ox0001

FLG OF
FLG:DIR
FLG_INTE
FLG_TRAP
FLG_SIGN
FLG ZERO
FLG:AUXC
FLG PE
FLG:CARRY

equ
equ
equ
equ
equ
equ
equ
equ
equ

/* unused

/* overflow
/* O=inc, l=dec
/* Int Enable
/* l=single step
/* l=result NEG
/* l=result ZERO

*/
*/
*/
*/
*/
*/

/* Aux carry flag

/* l=even # 1 bits

/* Carry Flag

0800h
0400h
0200h
0100h
0080h
0040h
0010h
0004h
0001h

#endasm

=
=

};

/*
/*
/*
/*
/*

Oxea
Ox9a
Oxcb
Oxcd
Oxcf

/* control key pressed */

if ( k
29 )
ctrl = 1i
else if ( k
29+0x80 )/* control key released*/
ctrl = 0;
else i f (ctrl " (k
46 II k
70 II k
83»
{
/* don't allow "c, "BREAK or "DEL */
outportb( Ox61, inportb( Ox61 ) I Ox80 )i
outportb( Ox61, inportb( Ox61 ) & Ox7f ) ;
outportb( Ox20, Ox20 )i
isr_iret( isr );
returni
isr.J>ass( isr );

OP JMPF
OP:CALLF
OP_RETF
OP INT
OP:lRET

#asm

void far int_09( isr, _REGS
isrh *isri
isr regs REGS;
{static int ctrli
k

8086 cpu opcodes

Structure of the PSW register ...

WARNING:
"There are a number of caveats that apply to (bit)
fields. Perhaps most significant, fields are assigned
left to right on some machines and right to left on
others, reflecting the nature of different hardware.
This means that although fields are quite useful for
maintaining internally-defined data structures, the
question of which end comes first has to be carefully
conaidorod ... "
- K&R, page 138.

*/
typedef struct __FLAGS
unsigned carry : 1i
unsigned res1 : 1i
unsigned pe : 1i

Continued on page 78

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Continued from page 77
unaigned res3
1;
unsigned awec
1;
unsigned resS
1;
unaigned zero
1;
unsigned sign
1;
unsigned trap
1;
unaigned inte
1;
unsigned dir : 1;
unaigned of : 1;
unaigned reac
1;
unsigned read
1;
unaigned re.e
1;
unaigned reaf
1;
__naga;

public _STlPTR_,_SP_,_SS_
_ESBX_ label
_BX_
label
BL
db
db

_ES_

label

word

db
db

?
?

label
label

ciword
word

db
db

?
?

label
label

dword
word

:os:

db
db

?
?

_OS_

_01_

label
dw
dw

dword

_PC_
IP
:CS:

label
dw
dw

dword

_PSW_

-CL-

:cs:
OXAX

-AX

:AL:
_AIL

OSOX
:OX_ OL

Figure 7 - REGSDUMP.C dumps a __regs structure
,include

_BPSI
SI
:BP:

'define err-printf printf
Ipragma vpindex
regs dump
void __regs_duq;Crp )__regs far *rp;
(

'define _REGS (*rp)
err-printf( "\ax-'OCx ex-,Ob si-'OCx bp-'OCx \
ds-'04x pc-'04x:'OCx pawh-'02x 'c'c'c'c 'c'c'c'c\n\
bx-'OCx dx-'OCx di-'OCx
ea-'OCx \
atk-'04x:'04x
1-'02x 'c'c'c'c 'c'c'c'c\n",

_PSW » 8,
rp->paw.bit.reaf
rp->paw.bit.reae
rp->paw.bit.read
rp->paw.bit.reac
_OF

OIR
-INTI:

:TRAP

? '0'
? 'd'
? 'i'
? 't'

?
?
?
?

, ,,

'1'
'1'
'1'
' l'

_PSW , Oxff,
_SIGN ? 's' :
ZERO ? '1:' :
rp->psw.bit.reaS ? '1'
AUXC ? ' a' : '.',
iP->paw.bit.rea3 ? '1'
_PE
? 'p' : '.',
rp->psw.bit.rea1 ? '1'
_CARRY? 'c' : '.' );
/***/

Figure 8 - CALLER.C does far calls
'aam
codeaego segment para public ' code'
public
public
public
public
public
public
public

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

?
?

:as:
CX

/***/

dword
word

?
?

S1'XPTR
-SP
-dw
dw
:SS:

label

aav_aa
aav_ap

?
?

dw
dw

dword

?
?

codeaego ends
'endasm
'pragma vpindex caller
unaigned int far caller() /* returna CPU FLAGS */
(

"am

puah
puah
puah
puah
puah
puah
push

bx
ex
ai
di
bp
ds
ea

mov
mov

aav_aa, aa
aav_ap, ap

mov
mov

ds, _OS_
ea, _ES_

mov
mov
mov
mov

ax, AX
bx,
ex, CX
dx, :OX:

mov
mov
mov

si, _SI_
di, 01
bp, :BP:

puahf
call

;in caae we're faking an interrupt
ciword ptr _PC_

mov
mov
mov
mov

_AX_' ax

mov
mov
mov

;aave the callera rega

:sx:

_BX_, bx
_CX_, ex
_OX_, dx
SI , ai

-01-, di

:BP:, bp

DS ,
:ES:,
SP ,
:SS:,

mov
mov
mov
mov

da
ea
ap
aa

Neural Net Models

puahf
pop
mov

ax
_PSW_, ax

mov
mov

aa, a av_a a
ap, aav_ap

pop
pop
pop
pop
pop
pop
pop

ea
da
bp
eli
ai
cx
bx

Introductory programs with source code
and the compiler used to compile them
Netwllrkz 1M A tutorial neural net model showing a simplifie~ associative
memory network. Uses DATA statements embedded in program to
represent neural processing elements. "... for the price and for a flexible
system, I have to recommend it." AI SIG Newsletter.

Connections' The Traveling Salesman

TM A loose derivative of
the classic Hopfield-Tank model with new algorithms and reduced solution
time. Gives alternative approaches and bibliography. " ... amazing
commercially available program ...Give DAIR a call." Neurocomputers.

pun Compiler TM

A fast system language compiler and its source.
PL/D self-compiles and has an extensive macro capability. It has been
applied to writing neural net models, compilers, and an EPROM-based
expert system. Review in July Computer Language.

'endaam
}

System requirements: DOS 2.0 or above; 256K PC, AT, or compatible or PS/2. Available
on 5.25 or 3.5 inch diskette. All packages include compiler object code and user manual.

/***/

To order, or for additional information, contact DAIR Computer Systems:

Figure 9 - CALLER.H header for CALLER modules

CPOREGS - Variables used as CPU reg copies.
The module "CALLER.C" contains the function
caller(), and a variable liat which is in its
code segment. Caller() loads the CPU registers
with the vars, does the call, then loads the
vars with the CPU registers. The way the vars
are defined, their contents can be accessed in
a number of ways; ergo the declarations below:
The macros int86(), call86() & pcdos() also use
caller 0 .

*/
extern
extern
extern
extern
extern
extern
extern
extern
extern
extern
extern

$79.95
87.95
124.95

Combinations at D!sc;ount
Netwurkz + Connections
Netwurkz + PL/D
Connections + PLID
Netwurkz + Connections + PLID

lifndef ISR HDR LOADED
'include 'enelif
/*

Sing!!: ItCm Prlccs
Netwurkz
Connections
PL/D Compiler

Ii' fA\. rllil Computer
l..:.I~lJ~ Systems
3440 Kenneth Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94303

....
-.

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shipped in 48 hours. Prices US funds on US bank or by credit card.

Reader Service Number 90

ICs PROMPT DELIVERY!!!
SAME DAY SHIPPING (USUALLY)

QUANTITY ONE PRICES SHOWN for DEC. 13, 1988

unsigned
unsigned
unsigned
unsigned
unsigned
unsigned
unsigned

char
int
long
char
char
char
int
void
unsigned int
unsigned char
unsigned int

far
far
far
far
far
far
far
far
far
far
far

AR, AL, BH, BL, CH, CL, DH, DL;
:AX,:BX,:CX,:DX,:SI,:DI,:BP;DXAX;
far BPSI;
* far -DSDX;
* far - ESBX;
_DS, _is;
(* far PC) ()i
_IP, _CS, _PSW;
* far _ STKPTR;
_SP, _SS;

unsigned int far caller(void);
/* the following spaghetti is a work-around ... */
'define
xxl (i) (+(ulong) «i) * 4»
'define - -xx2(i) «long far *)
xxl«i»)
'define - -xx3(i) (*
xx2«i»)'define isr get vec(inum) \
«void far (*)
xx3 «ulong) (inum»)

(» __

'define call86(farfunc) ( PC = (farfunc), caller()
'define int86(inum) ( call86( isr get vec( (inum) )
'define pcdos (func) (_AR = (func), int86 (Ox21) )

DYNAMIC RAM
SIMM }
1Mx9
80 ns
SIMM ** 1Mx9 85 ns
256Kx9
60 ns
SIMM
1Mbit
1Mx1 100 ns
41256
256Kx1
60 ns
256Kx1 100 ns
41256
51258 * 256Kx1 100 ns
41256
256Kx1 120 ns
41264 + 64Kx4 120 ns
EPROM
128Kx8 200 ns
64Kx8 200 ns
32Kx8 150 ns
16Kx8 250 ns
STATIC RAM
62256p-10 32Kx8 100 ns
6264p-12
8Kx8 120 ns

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/***/
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Reader Service Number 37

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Letters
might be a first. PeQple who. want a
sense Qf perspective shQuld read the article.
Don Taylor
13628 SE 20th Circle
Vancouver, WA 98684

SEA Defended
I nQrmally welcQme the delivery Qf
my Micro C and read it vQraciQusly
frQm CQver to. CQver. I appreciate yQur
irreverent editQrial style and make gQQd
use Qf the valuable infQrmatiQn in yQur
magazine. I feel cQmpelled to. write to.
yQU nQW because yQur irreverent style
has becQme irresPQnsible. I'm talking
abQut the Shareware cQlumn by AnthQny BarcellQs in issue #45.
The amQunt Qf misinfQrmatiQn flying
arQund abQut SQftware Enhancement
AssQciate's suit against PKWare is appalling. That yQU WQuld allQw the type
Qf idle, misinfQrmed speculatiQn that
characterized Mr. BarcellQs' cQlumn is
also. appalling.
I dQn't knQw all the facts surrQunding the suit between SEA and PKWare,
but I do. knQw that, quite prQperly, SEA
has nQt entered the fray while a CQurt
actiQn was pending. At the same time,
Mr. Katz has apparently mQunted quite
an effQrt to. try his case Qn the bulletin
bQards rather than in the CQurts.
The issue, as I understand it, is nQt
whether Mr. Katz has develQped a mQre
efficient algQrithm - it is Qne Qf theft,
pure and simple. Mr. Katz was alleged
to. have stQlen large amQunts Qf CQPyrighted cQde frQm SEA withQut signing
a licensing agreement.
I say allege because no. Qne will ever
really knQw what the truth Qf the matter
is in this case. SEA (which, incidentally,
is not a I I much larger" entity than
PKWare, as Mr. BarcellQs claims) had
an expert witness examine SQurce cQde
frQm ARC and frQm the PK series Qf
programs.
The expert witness testified in CQurt
that substantial PQrtiQns Qf the PK cQde,
PQrtiQns that had nQt, apparently, been
released to. the public, appeared to. be
. identical to. SEA's cQde.1t was just after
this witness had testified that, as I understand the situatiQn, Mr. Katz apprQached SEA's lawyers and asked fQr
an Qut Qf CQurt settlement.
Again, as I understand it, it was Mr.

80 MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Continued from page 6
Katz who. insisted Qn language absQlving him Qf any wrQngdQing and who.
also. insisted that PQrtiQns Qf the settlement be sealed. It is indeed unfQrtunate
that SEA is nQt a larger cQmpany with
the reSQurces to. see the suit thrQugh to.
its bitter end. That way I WQuld imagine
a IQt Qf questiQns, bQth legal and Qtherwise, WQuld have been settled by the
public recQrd.
All Qf this, Qf CQurse, is speculatiQn. I
WQuld, hQwever, claim that SEA has
perfQrmed a great service to. the micrQcQmputing cQmmunity. The cQncept Qf
self-cQmpressing archives is ingeniQus
and has taken the bulletin bQard scene
by stQrm. SEA is attempting to. maintain
a standard - Qne which will, eventually, Qperate Qn many different cQmputers and Qperating systems.
Is SEA hQgging the market? I WQuld
say no.. SEA asks fQr no. registratiQn Qr
mQney frQm private users. PKWare
dQes. SEA publishes their SQurce cQde
so. that prQgrammers wishing to. build
utilities cQnsistent with SEA algQrithms
may do. SQ. PKWare dQes nQt.
Quite rightly, SEA asks fQr a
licensing agreement to. use that cQde in
a cQmmercial prQgram. I have no. prQblems with this - it is, after all, their intellectual prQperty. In shQrt, I feel that
PKWare is the cQmpany that has dQne a
grave disservice to. the DOS cQmmunity.
Further, I feel that resPQnsible publicatiQns such as YQurs and PC World
shQuld go. Qut Qf their way to. CQver bQth
sides Qf an explQsive issue such as this
Qne fairly and evenly. Put the shQe Qn
the Qther fQQt, Mr. ThQmpsQn. If I were
to. take yQur magazine and resell it with
a different CQver, Qne which was perhaps mQre appealing to. the mass Qf appliance users Qut there, wQuldn't I hear
frQm yQur attQrneys rather quickly?
I WQuld hQpe in the interest Qf gQQd
jQurnalism that yQU WQuld CQver issues
mQre fairly in the future, Qr nQt at all.
Norman C. Saunders
The Osprey's Nest BBS
(301) 989-9036

Editor's note: Thank you for writing,
Norm. I understand that SEA will be
making a public statement now that things
have been settled legally. (The statement
should make the next issue of Micro. C.)
And, on the other side, I have contacted the
PK folks for additional information on

Tony's column. So far, they haven't responded.
MaxilPC PCB Update
Since I wrQte "ChQQsing a PCB LayQut System" in Micro C issue #45, I've
gQtten SQme experience with the RacalRedac Maxi/PC PCB layQut package.
To. fix the prQblems that I was having
with the sQftware prQtectiQn device
(key), I had to. purchase a secQnd serial
I/O card and dedicate it to. the key. This
was a majQr annQyance at the time and
delayed me abQut a week frQm getting
started with the package.
As a test fQr Maxi/PC, I entered the
PD32 circuit. FQr yQU neWCQmers, a
PD32 is a 32016 cQprQcessQr bQard that
plugs into. an XT bus and runs UNIX.
The bQard and sQftware were featured
at SOG V and in the OctQber INQvember 1986 issue Qf Micro C.
The PD32 was designed by GeQrge
SCQlarQ and the firmware and sQftware
were written by Dave Rand. The hardware design was dQnated to. the public
dQmain; the sQftware PQrt and UNIX, Qf
CQurse, were nQt.
The PCB is a full size XT bQard with
22 ICs and 8 256x8 SIPRAMs (fQr a tQtal
Qf 2 Megabytes Qn-bQard). It's a mQderately dense layQut and a gQQd test fQr
an autQrQuter.
.
I placed the ICs mQre Qr less in the
same IQcatiQns GeQrge chQse, but
mQved a few Qf the smaller ICs to. IQcatiQns which gave a better IQQking ratsnest. BefQre autQrQuting, I allQwed
Maxi/PC to. swap pins and gates. The
PALs, in particular, were pin-swapped
quite extensively. TherefQre, the bQard
is nQt wired exactly the same as
GeQrge's bQard, but hQpefully it's
equivalent.
The results? Well, there's gQQd and
bad. On the gQQd side: Maxi/PC rQuted
all but 25 Qf the 662 cQnnectiQns Qn the
bQard, and accQmplished this in abQut
20 minutes Qn a 10 MHz AT clQne with
a 10 MHz 80287 math cQprQcessQr.
HQwever, thQse last 25 cQnnectiQns
tQQk me abQut eight hQurs. This is because a IQt Qf the autQrQuted traces had
to. be rerQuted since the autQrQuter had
painted itself into. a CQrner. Perhaps a
rip-up and retry rQuter CQuld have
cQmpleted the jQb.
I really have to. give GeQrge a IQt Qf
credit. His layQut had Qnly abQut 75
vias and his traces fQllQW data and

address paths in a very regular pattern.
His traces flow in vertical, horizontal
and diagonal directions on both sides of·
the board.
The Maxi/PC autorouter, on the
other hand, uses an orthogonal router.
Any time it wants to change direction, it
drops in a via and continues on the
other side of the board. Vertical traces
are on one side of the board and horizontal traces are on the other side. As a
result, the autorouter generated 277
vias!
Why is this important? Mainly, the
issue is cost. There is a per-hole cost
when fabricating a PCB. So the more
vias, the more expensive the board will
be to produce. For low volume production, the extra vias may be acceptable.
The PD32 project was one which
generated a lot of excitement at the
time, but never really got off the
ground. I think this was partly due to
the cost of building a system.
The parts cost for a 2 Megabyte
board was about $400 (most of the cost
in the memory chips) and the UNIX
single user licence was another $500.
This is cheap for a UNIX system, but
apparently it was too expensive for the
hobbyist market at which it was aimed.
At this point I have no plans to fabricate the PCB layout described above.
However, I would like to revive the
spirit of the PD32 and I'd like to correspond with anyone who has any ideas
for a project like this.
Scott Baker
18185 West Union Rd.
Portland, OR 97229

Editor's note: Scott and I talked for quite
a while about the possibilities for a high-performance public domain UNIX system. I
suspect that a 68020 or 68030-based board
with space for 4 megs of RAM would make
a fine multi-user UNIX platform. There are
several variations of UNIX, including some
free versions. Contact Scott if you're itching
to do an operating system port for a new
piece of hardware.
Micro Museum
I just read my first issue of Micro
Cornucopia and am impressed almost
beyond words! Finally, a magazine
that's not afraid to talk seriously about
home brew hardware and with scarcely
a word on the latest and greatest soft-

ware for non-technical users. Be forewarned - most computer magazines I
have liked well enough to subscribe to
have failed within 90 days. May you be
spared this curse.
Several months ago I counted noses
and found I owned 27 computers.
Shortly thereafter I realized that my
self-assigned task in life is to save as
much hardware and documentation as
possible defining the early years (pre8088/32000) of the "home" computer.
To date I've added a number of units
and hundreds of books and periodicals.
I'm sufficiently serious about this to
have purchased land for a museum I
hope to build in 1990/1991. I can't
believe the collection will be complete
without all back issues of Micro Cornu-

copia.
Perhaps you have readers who
would like the gift of immortality. I
would be most grateful for help with
my collection. The more obsolete, underpowered, and obscure the computer
the better.
I'm especially interested in homebrew, kitbuilt or hacked commercial
systems - preferably accompanied by
something of the unit's history and the
owner's experiences. Obviously, I also
have an interest in periodicals and
books from the Golden Era. Can anyone
help?
Vernon 1. Goodwin
7917 Douglas Dr.
Charlotte, NC 28217
Shipping
c/o Support Systems International
8700 Suite K Red Oak Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28217

Editor's note: Find a large lake on a
windy day and look at what's tethering the
boats. At the end of those waterlogged ropes
you'll find 8" drives, linear power supplies,
and 5-100 mother boards. Best of luck with
your search.
By the way, I'm looking for a few good
copies of Micro C issue #27 myself. It
turns out I didn't put any aside before they
sold out.

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Reader Service Number 22

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Who's Alive In CP/M?
Part II
By Samuel Vincent
CP1M Special Interest Group
Pittsburgh Area Camp. Club
P.O. Box 6440
Pittsburgh, PA 15212

.. Verified 4/15/88"

Last issue we presented the first part of this list
of active CP/M commercial software vendors (compiled by Samuel and his friends at PACC). Read on
for the rest of that list along with public domain
software suppliers and Z-Nodes that sell CP/M products.
As before, a complete version (with prices when
available) lives on the Micro C BBS and the Issue
#46 disk. Please send any corrections or additions to
this list by writing to the attention of Samuel Vincent at the address shown above. You can also phone
at (412) 845-8613 (evenings only).

HURD Computer Systems

PRO MAIL, QWIZ WRITER,

6330 Lincoln Ave.
Cypree, CA 90630
(714) 525-0879

HOME INVENTORY PLUS,
RECIPE INDEX.
Free brochure available

.. Verified 7/29/88"
Hoyle & Hoyle Software,Inc.

QUERY III Dbase Manager

111 Sparrow Dr.

QUERY III Calculator/

Isle of Palms, SC 29451
(803) 886-5802
.. Verified 8/15/88 ..

Report Writer. Adventure

Irata Software

ALIST and ALIST Plus -

2562 East Glade
Mesa, AZ 85204

Simple database

Free brochure available
Leave msg on tape.

programs.

Dealer-upgrades, add-

(602) 892-0015

ons for Kaypro, Xerox,
Big Board, etc. QP /M,

.. Verified 4/15/88 ..

MicroSolutions

James River Group

products, and others.

125 North First St.

A/P, PayroIl, and

Free catalog available.

Minneapolis, MN 55401

Inventory. TMAN-General

Everton Publishers

MY FAMILY RECORD

(612) 339-2521
.. Verified 4/15/88"

data file manager.
Free catalog available.

P.O. Box 368
Logan, UT 84321
(800) 453-2707

genealogy program
Free brochure available

Kamasoft

OUT THINK - outline

P.O. Box 5549
Aloha, OR 97007
(503) 649-3765

processor program.
Free brochure available

Emerald Microware
P.O. Box 1726
Beaverton, OR 97075
(503) 641-0347
.. Verified 8/31/88"

(801) 752-6022
.. Verified 8/15/88"

Accounting - G/L, A/R,

Leave message on tape.

.. Verified 8/15/88"
EZ Systems, Inc.

Church membership/

P.O. Box 23190

finance software.

Ufek,Inc.

Nashville, TN 37202
(615) 269-6428

Demo vers available.
DateMate by FreshWare

P.O. Box 2399

Processor. Scientific
and Desk-Top Publisher

.. Verified 8/31/88"

Free catalog available.

Davis, CA 95617
(916) 758-3630
.. Verified 8/15/88 ..

Flashlite Software
P.O. Box 3535

FLASHPRINT
Lexisoft, Inc.

See L/Tek, Inc.

Lionheart

Statistical &

P.O. Box 379

Business programs.

Atburg, VT 05440

Free catalog available.

Printing utility

SPELLBINDER Word

versions also.
Free brochure available

Daly City, CA 94015

FreshWare Creative Sftwre
522 Glenpark Dr.

DateMate - calendar
program, appointment

Nashville, TN 37217
(615) 360-6181

organizer and telephone

.. Verified 8/31/88"

list.
Free brochure available

Future Communications

CHECInelndustrialWay

educational, pro, and

P.O. Box 1494

STAMPER, DosDisk and

Eatontown, NJ 07724
(201) 542-2121

commercial versions.

Idyllwild, CA 92349

JetFIND. Z3Plus (a Z-

Cross compilers to

• Verified 7/29/88 •
System OS for CP/M Plus
BBS 213 670-9465 leave msg for Bridger Mitchell.

(800) 221-0440 outside NJ

or from CP/M available.

• Verified 8/31/88·

Free brochure available
Poor Person Software

WRITE HAND MAN-Resident

Mendocino Software

EUREKA - Disk Catalog

3721 Starr King Circle

desk accessory program

P.O. Box 1564

program

Palo Alto, CA 94306

Note: Doesn't work with

Willits, CA 95490

(415) 493-3735

Wordstar v4.0 - does

(707) 459-9130

• Verified 4/15/88·

with earlier versions.

• Verified 4/15/88·
QuikData, Inc.

Dealer-Heath/ Zenith

P.O. Box 1242

software/hardware.

MicroSolutions Inc.

UNIFORM - Disk

132 West Lincoln Hwy.

conversion program.

2618 Penn Circle

Anapro, Software

DeKalb, IL 60115

UniDOS - Run CP/M

Toolworks, etc. Disk

(815) 756-3411

programs on MS-DOS.

Sheboygan, WI 53081
(414) 452-4177

• Verified 4/15/88·

Free brochure available

(414) 452-4345 (BBS - 300/1200/2400 bps)

MicroPro

WordStar Version 4.0

Update Order Department

CP/M Edition

conversion available.
Free catalog available.

• Verified 8/15/88·
R & L Micro Services

BOBCAT - Disk

P.O. Box 7C1l9

P.O. Box 15955, Station F

cataloging program.

San Rafael, CA 94901-7C1l9

Ottawa, Ontario

Free brochure available.

(800) 227-5609 ext. 761

Canada, K2C 358
(613) 225-7904

• Verified 7/29/88·

• Verified 8/15/88 •
MIX C compiler and

MIX Software
1132 Commerce Dr.

linker. MIX Full Screen

Sage Microsystems East

Dealer for NightOwl

Richardson, TX 75081

Editor.

1435 Centre St.

Software, Plu·Perfect

(214) 783-6001

Free brochure available

Newton, MA 02159

Systems, SLR Systems,

(617) 965-3552

and Z-System software.

• Verified 7/29/88·

(617) 965-7259 (BBS-3OO/1200/2400, PC-Pursuit)
Mountain View Press, Inc.

Forth language products

P.O. Box 4656

Free catalog available.

Mountain View, CA 94040
(415) 961-4103
• Verified 4/15/88 •

• Verified 7/15/88·
SLRSystems

Z80 assemblers,linkers,

1622 N. Main St.

librarian, and dis-

Butler, PA 16001
(800) 833-3061

CP /M software emulators

assembler-full screen.

NightOwl Software

MEX Plus-communication

(412) 282-0864

and co-processor cards.

Rt.lBox7

software. MEX Pack-MEX

• Verified 7/29/88·

Free catalog available.

Ft. Atkinson, WI 53538

Plus with terminal

(800) 648-3695

emulation and remote

Software Research Technologies

(414) .563-4013

capability.

c/o Heritage Software,Inc

SMARTKEY - Key redef,

• Verified 8/15/88 •

Free brochure available

3757 Wilshire Blvd.

SMARTPRINT- Printer

Suite 211

Control, TOUCH 'N' GO -

O'NeUl Software

ELECTRA FIND - Text

Los Angeles, CA 90010

Typing tutor

P.O. Box 26111

retrieval.

San Francisco, CA 94126

Software Toolworks

C, Lisp, games, utils,

(415) 398-2255

13557 Ventura Boulevard

spreadsheet,editors etc

• Verified 4/15/88 •

Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Free catalog available.

(800) 223-8665 or (818) 9f1l-6789 (Customer service)

Oasis Systems

The Word Plus-spelling

6160 Lusk Blvd.

checker and Punctuation

SuiteC-206

and Style - grammar

Somogyi Software

PUSH'N'PULL-Outline

San Diego, CA 92121
(619) 453-5711

checker.

P.O. Box 1009
Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Osborne

• Verified 8/15/88·

Free brochure available

• Verified 8/31/88 •

processor. Version for

(213) 318-2769
• Verified 4/15/88·

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989

Spectre Technologies, Inc.

Desk accessory,

22458 Ventura Blvd., Ste. E

Sideways printing,
MEDIA MASTER,

Woodland Hills, CA 91364
(800) 628-2828 ext 918
(818) 716-1655

The following companies and user groups distribute
Public Domain Software.

REMBRANDT,

Boston CP/M User Group

Business planner.

c/o Susan Schluckebier

.. Verified 6/15/88 ..

Public domain software.

Forsyth Dental Center
140 Fenway

Spite Software

An eclectic assortment

4004 SW Barbur Blvd.
Portland, OR 97201

of software/hardware

(800) 237-9111

products for CP/M.
Free catalog available.

Boston, MA 02115
(617) 262-5200 ext. 342
.. Verified 4/15/88 ..

(503) 228-8238

The C Users' Group

.. Verified 8/15/88 ..

P.O. Box 97

Public domain C software
in source code form, for
CP/M, DOS and UNIX.
Catalog available.

StatSoft Inc.

PSYCHOSTAT 3 - Data

McPherson, KS 67460
(316) 241-1065

2832 East 10th St., #4

analysis and statistics

.. Verified 6/15/88"

Tulsa, OK 74104
(918) 583-4149
.. Verified 4/15/88"

Canada Remote Systems
4198 Dundas St. West

Free mini catalog
Complete catalog on disk

Toronto, Ontario
SWC

FEDERAL INCOME TAX

Canada M8X 1Y6

P.O. Box 706
Santa Teresa, NM 88008
(505) 589-0999

SYSTEM. Tax Preparer's

(416) 231-2383 (weekdays 5pm - 9pm)
.. Verified 4/15/88"

version and yearly
updates available.

(800) 862-2345 - at 2nd dial tone, dial 792

Comal User's Group, USA, Ltd.

Comal Programming Language
Information booklet and

812 Pollaid Rd, Suite 8

T /MAKER-Integrated
software/word processor

6041 Monona Drive
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 222-4432
.. Verified 4/15/88 ..

Los Gatos, CA 95038
(408) 866-0127

database, spreadsheet.
Also avail for TRS-DOS.

FOG, International Computer User Group

.. Verified 7/29/88"

Free brochure available

P.O. Box 3474

Public domain software

Daly City, CA 94015
(415) 755-2000

for CP /M. Complete
catalog on disk.

.. Verified 7/29/88"

Free brochure available.

T/Maker Research Company

product listing with
prices - both free.

The Software Store
706 Chippewa Square

Communication, disk
manager, disk editor,

Marquetta, MI 49855

integrated data

(906) 228-7622
.. Verified 8/15/88 ..

manager, program cross-

INCA

Public domain software

reference generator.
Free brochure available

1249 Downing St.
P.O. Box 789

tested for compatibility
with the C-128.

Imperial Beach, CA 92032
(619) 224-1177

Free catalog available.

FI1.. Modula-2,WRITE word

Workman & Associates
1925 E. Mountain St.
. Pasadena, CA 91104
(818) 791-7979

processor, BDS C, MITE80 telecommunications,

.. Verified 8/15/88"

.. Verified 4/15/88"

POURNELLE ACCOUNTING.

International Software Library

Public domain software for

.. Verified 8/15/88"

Free catalog available.

c/o U.S. Computer Supply

CP /M, DOS and others.

Osborne software w / docs

511-104 Encinitas Blvd.
Encinitas, CA. 92024

Catalog available on disk.

Worswick Industries
4898 Ronson Ct.

Personal Pearl,

(800) 669-2699

SuiteH

SuperCalc 1 and 2,

(619) 942-1627 (Customer service)

San Diego, CA 92111
(619) 571-5400

dBASE II, Forth,

.. Verified 8/15/88"

.. Verified 7/29/88 ..

Spectre Technologies

most software by
M&TBooks

Small-C Handbook and

501 Galveston Dr.

Compiler. Small-Mac
Assembler. Small-Tools for

Xpert Software
8865 Polland Ave.

XTRAKEY - Key redef
XTRAPRINT-Printer fonts

Redwood City, CA 94063
(800) 533-4372

San Diego, CA 92123

SIDE 2 - Print sideways

(800) 356-2002, in CA.

Z80 Toolbook with disk.

.. Verified 6/15/88"

Free catalog available.

(619) 268-0112

XSCREEN - Copy screen

.. Verified 4/15/88 ..

to printer or file

ZedcorInc.

ZBASIC interpreter -

4500 East Speedway,Ste 22
Tucson, AZ 85712
(BOO) 482-4567

Micro Cornucopia

Public domain software for

P.o. Box 223

CP /M and DOS.

compiler.

Bend, OR 97709

Free catalog available.

Free brochure available

(503) 382-8048

(602) 795-3996
.. Verified 8/31/88 ..

text processing.

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

(503) 382-7643 (BBS - 300/1200/2400 bps)
.. Verified 8/15/88"

A two-billion-power
MandelbrotlJu lia microscope.
Fast!
Aim-and-frame, quick draft,
animate, recolor, retouch, multiple
palettes, save and retrieve, cloud
chamber, help and more.
Includes seven ready-made
pictures for immediate
gratification.

MANDELBROT
EXPLORER 2.6
$30
Peter Garrison
1613 Altivo Way
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 665 1397
16-color VGAlEGA to 800x600
Specify VGA or EGA, 1.2Mb
Overseas orders please add $4

Reader Service Number 112
NAOG/Z-SIG
North American One-Eighty Group
P.O. Box 2781
Warminster, PA 18974
(215) 443-9031
.. Verified 8/15/88 ..

Z-System public domain
software. No catalog
available. (info available
in back issues of group's
newsletter.)

NorthStar Computer Society
P.O. Box 311
Seattle, WA 98111
(206) 525-9487

Public domain software
for NorthStar computers.
Free printed catalog
available.

(206) 523-5355 (BB5-300/12oo/2400)

Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
.. Verified 6/15/88"

payable to the SIG/M Disk
Librarian.

TUG Products

Public domain TURBO Pascal

c/o Turbo User Group
P.O. Box 1510
Poulsbo, WA 98370
(206) 697-1151 (BB5-300/1200)
.. Verified 8/15/88"

programs in source code
form, for CP/M and DOS.

The following Z-Nodes sell products for use with CP/M
computers.

.. Verified 8/15/88"
Poseidon Electronics

Public domain software.

Ralph S. Lees, Jr.

Catalog lists compatibility
with C-128, C-64 CP/M
cartridge, or not at all.
Catalog ($5)

103 Waverly Place
NewYork,NY 10011
(212) 777-9515

The Cedar Mill Z-Node
12275 NW Cornell Rd, Suite 5
Portland, OR 97229-5611

CP /M software and hardware
Catalog available for down
loading-PRICES.OZf (short
(503) 641-6101 (voice)
file) or PRiCES.TZf (long).
(503) 644-4621 (BBS - 300/1200/2400 bps; PC Pursuit access)
"Verified 8/15/88"

.. Verified 4/15/88"
Public Domain Software Copying Company
33 Gold St., Apt. 1.3
New York, NY 10038
(800) 221-7372
(212) 732-4942
.. Verified 8/31/88"

Public domain software for
CP /M and DOS. Printed
catalog available ($4).
Some commercial CP/M

SIGIM
c/o ACG of NJ, Inc.
P.O. Box 135

Public domain software for
CP /M. Catalog available on
disk ($6). Make checks

Lillipute Z-Node
Z-System, NightOwl, SLR
1709 N. North Park Ave.
SLR Systems, and others.
Download catalog.
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 649-1730 (BBS - 300/1200/2400 bps; System I)
(312) 664-1730 (BBS - 300/1200/2400 bps; System II)
.. Verified 8/15/88"

software.
Newton Centre Z-Node

See Sage MicroSystems East

•••
MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989

Graphics Of A Better Sort

By Gary Entsminger
1912 Haussler Dr.
Davis, CA 95616

Gary's discovered presentation graphics, real
presentation graphics. They're not a bad sort of
thing to discover if you've got presentations to
make.
ll too often we need to convince someone (a client, a boss, a research institution) that we have significant information about something. In business for
example, we might collect data (numbers, that
is) which correspond to some monetary function, such as sales of Dr. Wooly windshield
wipers.
A researcher in pathology might want to
show a correlation between unsanitary living
conditions and the proliferation of the Bubonic
plague. (Fortunately, this one we already
know about.)
A programmer might want to compare the
efficiencies of algorithms.
In short, the sample and show scenario pervades most of the "real world." And, an excellent way to present data is to show it, as a
graph or a picture.
Although computers have been very good
at calculating, until recently they haven't been
very good at making graphs or pictures. It's
no laughing matter to PC dealers that potential
customers often choose Apple Macintoshes
primarily for their "better graphics."
But PC graphics are improving and have
neared parity (I believe) with the Macintosh in
many applications. One reason for my enthusiasm stems from a terrific program I started
using this week - SlideWrite Plus, from Advanced Graphics Software in Sunnyvale, California.

Performance Analysis
Let's suppose you and your colleagues are
analyzing the potential performance of critical
functions in a large program. Today you're
comparing algorithms for sorting objects.
Many smart (and shudder, "smarter") folks
have already tackled sorting, so you won't
have to figure everything out yourselves. If
you're lucky you can draw most of your conclusions from someone else's data, and spend
your time forging ahead.

86 MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Specifically, your program needs to sort
strings which represent names in a database.
So you face this situation (1) You haven't selected a specific sort nor
written it;
(2) You have the results of tests of sorts
(gleaned from programming books and journals);
(3) You don't know exactly how many
names you'll be sorting at a time, but you
know the range;
(4) You don't know what kind of order the
names will be in. You can probably manipulate the order, if you become convinced there's
a need for it. That is, you can maintain the
names either randomly, in order, or possibly
somewhere between, but it means revising
. your thinking about some other parts of the
program;
(5) The program must be portable, which
doesn't rule out assembly language techniques, but encourages you to find a solution
in a high-level language;
(6) You've designed a prototype, but you
haven't gotten into the programming yet.
Unfortunately, you find that the data
you've collected on sorts have a rather relative
nature.
Some of the tests were written in C, some in
Pascal, some in Prolog. Some use iteration;
some recurse. The codes for Quicksorts, insertion sorts, bubble sorts, tree sorts, and variations of all sorts are confusing. At this point,
you want to compare ideas first; then (assuming you get the approval of higher ups) you'll
give yourself a chance to write your own blazing-fast sorting functions.
What to do? What to do? One benchmarker, for instance, doesn't tell you what
kind of computer he used. No PC, XT, AT
mention. No clock speed.
You think you see a trend, but you're not
sure you could convince anybody. Maybe you
could with a picture.
Maybe SlideWrite Plus could help.
SlideWrite Plus
SlideWrite Plus does presentation graphics.
In other words, you can present data as: bar
graphs; charts; scatter, line, and area plots;
pies; etc.

PerFormance and versatility For your CP/M Dr MS-DDS computer
- Q P I M - - - - - --Kaypro - - - - - - -IBM P C - - - - QP/M by MICROCode Consulting
Fed up with the message "BOOS error: RIO"? With QP/M, you'll
never lose another file because you changed a diskette. QP/M
offers full CP/M 2.2 compatibility with outstanding performance
and more commands WITHOUT eating up precious program
space. Get such features as automatic disk relogging, simple
drive/user selection using either a colon or semi·colon, 31 user
areas, drive search path, multiple program command line, archive
bit maintanence, and transparent time/date stamping; all in the
same space as CP/M 2.2. Installs from aconvenient customization
menu, no software assembly required. Bootable disks available
with CBIOS for Kaypro, Xerox (8" or 5W', ·1 or ·2), & BBI.
QP/M Operating System, bootable • specify system .... $ 64.95
QP/M without CBIOS (installs on any Z80 system) ..... $ 49.95

--Networks - - - - QP/M Network File System by MICROCode Consulting
QP/M Network File System is an efficient local area network
allowing up to seven CP/M computers to share peripherals and
data resources.
• Transparent operation at speeds up to 11,000 bytes/second
in syncronous mode
• Speeds of up to 1,920 bytes/second in asyncronous mode
• Local/remote disk drive and printer support
• Remote peripheral support for modems and real·time clocks
• All stations need not be on the network even though connected
• Local drive access protection and control
• Simple menu oriented configuration utility
• Extended DOS calls are provided for addition of custom net·
work utilities.
Works with interrupt driven Z80 systems such as Xerox 820,
Kaypro (KayPLUS & Advent ROMs), Eagle, and other computers
running QP/M, or CP/M 2.2
QP/M Network File System .................... $ 39.95

- - Hard Disks - - - Need more speed and storage on your system?
Improve the productivity of your Z80 computer with a hard disk.
HDS Host Board
This daughter board provides a convenient interface for connect·
ing a Western Digital WD1002·05 hard disk controller to your
computer.
• Plugs into the Z80 socket, no other wiring required
• 40 pin interface for a WD1002·05 (or HDO) controller board
• Switch selectable I/O port addressing
• Comes as bare board or assembled & tested
• Kaypro '84 host board also available
Winchester Connection by MICROCode Consulting
The most simple and comprehensive hard disk software package
available for CP/M.
• Designed for use with the WD1002·05 controller board
• Works with one or two hard disks· 5 to 64 meg
• Menu installed, no software to assemble
• Complete hardware tests and error handling
• Automatic swap, for warm boots from hard drive
• Software drivers install above or below CP/M
• Allows custom partition sizes and mixed drive types
• Independent block and directory sizes on each partition
• Includes manual, format, test, park, and swap utilities
Winchester Connection Software only ............ $ 39.95
HDS Board with Winchester Connection Software ..... $ 79.95
HDS Bare Board with software ................. $ 59.95
HDS Board, WD1002·05, and software ........... $245.00
Call or write for other priCing options
WD1002·05 HARD DISK CONTROLLER BOARD by Western
Digital
• Standard ST506 drive interface
• Same size as standard 5W' drive
• 40 pin interface to host computer
• WD2797 floppy disk controller interface on board
• Can control up to three hard drives
• Direct replacement for Kaypro 10 controller
WD1002·05 Controller Board ................... $185.00
Other Western Digital boards available
Prices subject to change without notice. VISA and Mastercard
accepted. Include $5.00 shipping and handling, $7.50 for COD,
UPS·Blue or RED Label additional according to weight. Please
include your phone number with all correspondence.

KayPLUS ROM Set by MICROCode Consulting
Want more performance and flexibility from your Kaypro? With
the KayPLUS ROM set you can have the advantages of a Kaypro
4 or 10, even on your Kaypro 2.
• Install up to four floppies and two hard drives
• Boots from floppy or hard disk
• Supports 96 TPI and 31/z" disk drives
• Can use any ST506 type hard drive· 5 to 64 Meg
• 32 character type·ahead keyboard buffer
• Automatic screen blanking (not avail. on 83 series)
.12 disk formats built·in, unlimited configurable
• Full automatic disk relogging with QP/M
• Internal real·time clock support
• No software assembly required
Includes manual, format, configuration, diagnostics, sysgen,
diskette customization utility, AND hard disk utilities. Available
for '83 and '84 series Kaypros.
KayPLUS ROM Set, specify model .............. $ 69.95
KayPLUS ROM Set with QP/M ................. $125.00
Parts and accessories for the Kaypro
Kaypro 2X Real·time Clock parts kit ............. $
Kaypro 2X Hard disk interface parts kit .......... $
Kaypro 10 or '84 series Hard Disk host board ..... $
Kaypro four drive floppy decoder board .......... $
Complete parts and repair services available

29.00
16.00
49.00
35.00

--Xerox 82D - - - PLUS2 ROM and X120 Double Density Board by
MICROCode Consulting and Emerald Mlcroware
About had it with single density diskettes on your Xerox 820-1?
Get unsurpassed versatility with our X120 Board and PLUS2
ROM package.
• Run up to four floppy disk drives at once
• Mix 8" and 5W' at the same time
• Software compatible with Kaypro and Xerox 820
• Built in drivers for most serial and parallel printers
• Get mini·monitor functions and auto-boot capability
• 19 built in disk formats, including Xerox and Kaypro
• Includes custom disk format definition program
• Banked ROM BIOS for more space in your TPA
• CompOSite video adaptor on X120 board
• Runs 48 TPI diskettes on 96 TPI drives
• Supports real time clock from Z80·CTC
• Works on the Xerox 820·1 and Big Board I
• Both ROM and X120 board are required for operation
PLUS2 ROM Set and X120 Board A&T .......... $114.95
PLUS2 ROM Set and X120 Bare Board .......... $ 49.95
PLUS2 ROM Set only ......................... $ 39.95
120 Bare Board only .......................... $ 15.00
Special
2 boards for $25, 5 for $50
Other kits, parts, and packages available

** *

* **

Parts and accessories for the Xerox 820
Xerox 820·2 CPU Board· new .................. $ 75.00
Xerox 820·2 Floppy Controller board· new ....... $ 65.00
Xerox 820·2 CPU board w/ Floppy Controller ...... $125.00
Xerox 820·1 CPU board· new .................. $ 75.00
Xerox 820 complete high profile keyboard ........ $ 65.00
Xerox 820 bare high profile keyboard· new ....... $ 25.00
Xerox 820 51/4" drive cable ..................... $ 9.00
Xerox internal video cable w/brightness control .... $ 9.00
Xerox 820 power supply ....................... $ 35.00
Power connector, specify board or cable ......... $ 2.50
Xerox parallel printer interface cable ............. $ 35.00
Dual Half Height 5W' Disk Drives· DSDD,
in cabinet with standard Xerox cable ......... $265.00
Complete parts and repair services available

(EMERRLO
(MICRONRRc)

P.O. Box 1726, Beaverton, OR 97075

,m,

(503) 641-0347

30 day money back guarantee on all products.
Reader Service Number 10

CP/M, NorthStar, Macintosh, Apple 1/,
MS·DDS, and PS/2· Don't let
incompatible diskette Formats get
you down, read them all with your PC.
UniForm·PC by MlcroSolutlons
How often have you wished you could use your CP/M diskettes
on your PC? Now you can access your CP/M disks and programs
on your MS·DOS computer just as you would a standard MS-DOS
diskette. Once the UniForm driver is installed, you can use
standard DOS commands and programs right on your original
diskette without modifying or copying your files. UniForm·PC
allows you to read, write, format, and copy diskettes from over
275 CP/M and MS·DOS computers on your PC, XT, or AT. With
UniForm·PC and the Compaticard, you can use 5W' high
density, 96TPI, dual format 31/z" (720kl1.44 meg.· PS/2), and
even 8" drives.
UniForm·PC by MicroSolutions ................. $ 64.95
Uniform for Kaypro and other machines .......... $ 64.95
CompatiCard by MlcroSolutions
Meet the CompatiCard, THE universal disk drive controller card.
This half card will let you run up to 16 disk drives (4 per Compati·
Card) on your PC or XT, including standard 360K, 96 TPI, high
density (1.2 meg, dual speed), 8" single or double sided (SO or
DO), and dual format 3V2" drives (720kl1.44 • PS/2). The combi·
nations are almost unlimited. Comes with its own MS·DOS driver
and format program for high density and 3V2" diskettes. Use it
with UniForm·PC for maximum versitility. 8" adaptor and addi·
tional cabling available.
CompatiCard Board .......................... $169.95
CompatiCard with UniFORM·PC ..
Special
$225.00
CompatiCard with UniFORM·PC & high density or
3V2" drive ......
Special
$350.00

* **

** ..
*** ......

MatchPolnt·PC by MicroSolutions
The MatchPoint·PC board for the PC/XT/AT works with your
standard controller card to let you read and write to NorthStar
hard sector and Apple II diskettes on your PC. INCLUDES a copy
of the UniForm·PC program, as well as utilities to format disks,
copy, delete, and view files on Apple DOS, PRODOS, and Apple
CP/M diskettes.
MatchPoint·PC Board ......................... $169.95
MatchMaker by MlcroSolutions
Now you can copy your Macintosh diskettes right on your PCIXT/
AT with the MatchMaker. Just plug your external Macintosh drive
into the MatchMaker board and experience EASY access to your
31f2" Mac diskettes. Includes programs to read, write, initialize,
and delete files on your single or double sided Mac diskettes.
MatchMaker Board ........................... $139.95
MatchMaker w/External Mac Drive .............. $325.00

Frustrated because your PC
can't speak CP/M?
UnlDOS by Micro Solutions
Run CP/M programs on your PC? Of course. UniDOS is a
memory resident program that can use the NEC V20 CPU chip
to actually RUN your favorite 8080 programs. Use UniDOS with
UniForm·PC, and automatically switch to CP/M mode as you
log on your CP/M diskette. Switch to emulation mode to run Z80
code programs or for systems without a V20. UniDOS directly
converts video and keyboard emulation for Kaypro, Xerox 820,
Morrow, Osborne, VT100, and eight other displays. All standard
CP/M system calls are supported. Note: The NEC V20 CPU is
a fast, low power, CMOS replacement for the 8088 CPU chip
that includes a full 8080 instruction set as well as the standard
8088 set. Systems using an 8086 may substitute a V30 chip.
UniDOS by MicroSolutions ..................... $ 64.95
UniDOS w/UniForm and V20·8 chip ............. $135.00
UniDOS Z80 Coprocessor Board by MlcroSolutlons
This 8 Mhz. Z80H half·card will run your Z80 and 8080 code
programs at LIGHTNING speed on your PC or AT. Functions
just like the UniDOS program, except NO V20 or emulation mode
is required to run your programs. Now includes UniForm·PC!
UniDOS Z80 Coprocessor Card ................. $169.95

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

You either enter or import data into
columns, and SlideWrite shows your
picture of choice. You can edit data,
zoom in and out of a picture, draw on it
(freehand), manipulate it, change fonts,
add text and legends, and· in many
other ways fine tune your creation (vary
tics, scale, orientations, rotations, and
other peculiarities).
When you want hard copy, you can
print, plot, or upload to a camera and
shoot a roll. If you've got the right
equipment (polorchrome film, a
mounter), you can make overheads and
slides right at your desk, or go into the
overhead and slide business. In a worst
case scenario, in most cities you could
shoot a roll of Ektachrome and have
slides the next morning.
Figure 1 shows a chart reproduced
from a slide created with Image Maker
(a camera) and SlideWrite Plus. Don't
let the black and white reproduction
disappoint you; the slide, itself, is in
near-living color.
Alternately, you can export your
charts to desktop publishing software
(like Ventura) or to slide service
bureaus. In other words, you can make
a pretty impression and maybe convince a few folks.
Plots Of Sorts
Take those sorts, for example. I
tested SlideWrite with the results from
several sorting algorithms from two
useful programming books - The C
Toolbox by William Hunt and Prolog Programming In Depth by Michael Covington, et al.
Covington, et aI, tested five sorts Insertion
Hoare's famous Quicksort (from 1962)
Difference-list Quicksort
Improved Quicksort
Treesort
Hunt tested Insertion
Hoare's famous Quicksort
Here's the pseudo code for the Insertion sortsrepeat (for each element after the
first)
(1) compare to sorted elements
to dete~ne where it should be
inserted;
(2) move sorted elements to make
room for it;
(3) insert it.
end.

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

tice C (and utilizes a few optimized assembly language functions). It's been an
ongoing project for programmer Larry
Daniel (now V.P. of Research &
Development) for about five years.
Larry told me that when he began
the SlideWrite project, his choice of a
programming language was more or
less obvious. Neither Microsoft nor Borland were C contenders then.
The excellent documentation (440
ring-bound pages) and numerous features are indicative of the work that's
gone into this program.
Figure 1 - Image Maker Slide
and the pseudo code for Quicksort (1) select a test value;
(2) partition the array or list
using the test value;
(3) sort the left subarray (or list);
(4) sort the right subarray (or
list) .

To complicate matters, I entered
Hunt and Covington's data into a Paradox database (of columns), then exported it as an ASCII file. SlideWrite
Plus read the ASCII file correctly and
created a chart in PCX format. Finally, I
zipped the PCX file via modem to
Micro C where Ventura imported it
directly as Figure 2. Phew.
The y-axis represents time and the xaxis the number of elements in the
database or array. The greater the slope
of the regression line (a power curve in
each of these cases), the more time it
takes the function to sort the data.
A glance at Figure 2 shows an already ordered insertion sort as by far
the most efficient (the curve is far less
steep). A randomly ordered insertion
sort is the most inefficient with an almost vertical curve. Random or ordered
quicksorts are similarly efficient (both
lie between).
In this example, I tried to fit several
kinds of curves (linear, polynomial, exponential, etc.) to the data before I
found the best fit - a power curve.
SlideWrite's statistical function (F5) informed me that the power curve was a
very good fit (accounting for 99% of the
variation).
You can refit and redraw very
quickly until you're satisfied with a description (or picture) of the data. Then
you can embellish, modify, and print
the charts you like.

Operation• all functions available through
menu, and most through Fkeys
also
Drawing• object-oriented (includes a picture
and symbol library)
• rotates objects
• zooms images (in and out)
Graph• creates bars, lines, pie, text, scatter, area, 3-D, mixed, multiple
graphs on one screen, free positioning of graphs, labels, and titles
on screen
Colors• 16
Fonts• 16 typefaces, scalable to any size.
Supports laser-printer cartridge &
downloadable fonts
Output• postscript
• HP laserjet & compatibles
• various dot matrix printer
• film recorder
• plotters
Other• Greek/math characters
• curve fitting
• equation plotting
• error bars
user-contolled line thickness
• automatically senses & uses a
mouse
Limits• 4000 data points
• 12 graphs in one drawing
Requires• 390K available memory
Data formats • TIFF
• PCX
• CGM
• ASCII
• WKS

• WK1
• WRK

Details & Features
SlideWrite Plus was written in Lat-

• WR1
Price - $445.

Figure 2 - Graphics Of Sorts Generated By SlideWrite

Insert
Ordered

Quick
Ordered

Insert

Random

•

CUd<.
Random

0.40

0.32

0.24

;

0.16

0.08
0.00

100

200

300

400

500

tUnber Of ObjeCts

It sounds like I'm impressed with
this program, and that's about right.
If you want to tryout SlideWrite
Plus with no commitment, call Advanced Graphics and they'll send you a
little (and very useful) manual and a
SlideWrite Plus demo disk which seems
to do everything the real McCoy does.
The demo is free.
For more information -

Advanced Graphics Software, Inc.
333 W. Maude Ave., Suite 105
Sunnyvale, CA 94086-4367
(408) 749-8620

References
Covington, Michael, et al. Prolog Programming in Depth. Scott, Foresman, &
Co. 1988.

Hunt, William. The C Toolbox. Addison Wesley. 1985.
A Good Place To Shop
I can't resist a good pitch"Isn't it the truth! Hardware engineers always blame the problems on
software while software engineers always blame the problems on hardware.
And marketing just wants to ship product.
"Well when I told my sister (she's a
programmer) about these mugs, she
said, 'That's exactly what they say!' So I
know these will be perfect. Buy one for
yourself or give one to your favorite opponent."
Picture two hardware and two software mugs, their handles shaped like
ears, alongside mini-reviews of "The
Fractal Geometry Of Nature" by Mandelbrot, and "Chaos" by the Royal
Society of London.

In the same pages (28 in all), I found
Escher puzzles and calendars, discussions of fuzzy math books, a consulting
column, rubber stamps that reject everything, a code listing from a Build Your
Own Assembler Project, OS/2, 80386,
MS/DOS, anq Unix programming
guides.
There are "far out" opinions and
things to buy.
If you want bizarre and interesting
access, subscribe to John's Picks, a "review catalogue" of books and things.
Even the index is good reading! $5 per
year fromMicrocomputer Applications
P.O. BoxE
Suisun City, CA 94585-1050
(707) 422-1465

And that's Tidbits.

• ••

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Diagnosing A Slipped Disk

Disk Change Solution
Issue #45 arrived yesterday, and as usual I
spent most of the evening with it. I found that
the letter from John Innes of New South Wales,
Australia, described some symptoms that
sounded very familiar.
I'm using an AT clone with the AMI 286
BIOS. When I installed a 3.5 inch 720K drive for
drive B and ran the BIOS SETUP routine,
everything seemed fine. The format command
worked, files could be read and written, etc.
However, upon changing disks, the directory
did not change. Of course, attempts to read
from the disk produced garbage. I wasn't brave
enough to try writing to the disk, but I would
expect a write to destroy its contents.
Since I use MS-DOS 3.2 (which supports
DRIVPARM in CONFIG.SYS), the solution was
easy once I figured it out. It appears that the
AMI SETUP utility sets up the disk parameter
table to look for the door open signal. This
causes a problem if the disk doesn't have a
door open switch or if the switch doesn't work.
DRIVPARM is described in the DOS manual
as having an option (lC) that "specifies that
change-line (doorlock) support is required."
What it doesn't say is that if the SETUP parameters specify change-line service, but the drive
doesn't support it, then it should be disabled by
using DRIVPARM without the IC option. I use:
DRIVPARM=/D:l

since the other default parameters are correct
for a 720K drive. Mr. Innes should use-

Bruce S. Campbell

DEVICE=DRlVER.SYS /D:O /F:l

56 Birchwood Rd.
Windsor, CT 06095

in his CONFIG.SYS file (unless his drive has a
broken door-open switch, which should be
fixed).
John R. Smith
609 E. Sacramento St.
Altadena, CA 91001
Editor's note: John presents a simple solution to
the "phantom directory" problem. But those who
just can't resist the opportunity for a little hardware
hacking should read on.

... And A Hardware Version
John Innes' directory woes come from MSDOS' method of handling disk swaps. The
operating system actually reads a directory
only once for a disk, storing this information in
memory for subsequent DIRs. Only when a
disk change is detected (through the diskchange or door-open signal from the drive) will
DOS reset the drive.
Until recently, most drive controllers ignored the wishes of DOS and did a reset with
each drive access. But newer controllers and
drives often use signals from the drive to detect
a disk change. So it's entirely possible to come
up with a combination which can't detect a
new disk. (AC will always reset the drives, but
who wants to type endless ACS.)
You can easily fool the controller into resetting with each access. If it has seen any activity
on the disk-change line (#2 on the ribbon
cable), the controller assumes a disk change
and resets accordingly. So just connect line #2
to the step line (#20) and the controller will see
plenty of "disk changes." Do this by cutting
line #2 and connecting the controller end to
line #20.
The mod couldn't be much simpler. But if
you're feeling lazy, Fujitsu and other companies sell a small adapter.
Editor's note: The preceding was gleaned from
John Heilborn's "Ask Dr. John" column in Computer Currents, December, 1988, Boston Edition.
The article came to us from:

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

Yet Another Hardware Fix
My 720K and 1.44M drives have XT and AT
jumper options. I've found that jumpering the
XT pins (even when the drive resides in an AT)
solves the directory problem.
I suspect that XT disconnects pin 34. According to my documents, disconnecting pin 34
between the floppy and the controller tells the
system to ignore pin 2 (the door-open line). So
the system would have to reread the floppy
each time it needs the directory.

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Most AT's and clones run their 80287 math coprocessors
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A pop-up (or command line) utility that
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Automatically translates Wordstar and
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Indlspenslble for quickly Identifying data.
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MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989

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$99 95

Mr. MOX
Unfortunately, the disconnection
might also force an AT to treat the drive
as a low density unit. Thus, a 1.2 meg
drive would only read and write 360K.
A 1.44 meg drive would only read and
write 720K. (Check this on your system.)
Rob Aprato
323 75th St. #17
Everett WA 98203
MASMTips
I just read the article on Microsoft's
Macro Assembler, version 5.1. ("86
World," Micro C, issue #45) I
completely agree with the author's positive comments. The new features make
it a real pleasure to use. However, I'd
like to mention some "gotchas." The
first problem has to do with the new
LOCAL directive, which allocates stack
space and generates macros for reference of local (automatic) variables. Do
not try to use a DWORD as the first
local variable.
That's because the assembler always
uses [BP-2] for the first local variable.
This is fine for a WORD, but if you
store a DWORD in [BP-2], it gets stored
in [BP-2] through [BP+1], thus clobbering the saved BP at [BP]. If I need a
DWORD, I declare the first local variable with the name DUMMY and the
type WORD. The DWORD declaration
then follows the dummy variable.

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

The second problem is not a bug, but
a technique. In C, it's quite easy to pass
the address of a local variable to
another function, so that the second
function can modify the local variable.
For instance, suppose you have a
routine that displays a menu. One of the
first things it does is save the contents
of the screen memory:

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show_menu ()
/* local variable */
char screen_buffer[4000];
/* pass address of array */
save_screen(screen_buffer);

I ran into problems when I translated
that type of C function into assembly.
Unfortunately, automatic variables are
allocated in the stack segment (referenced by SS), while static variables are
allocated in the data segment (referenced by DS).
If you program in the large model,
there's no problem because both segment and offset of the variable get
passed. However, the small model only
passes the offset and the function has
no way of knowing whether the offset
refers to the data segment or stack.
The only way around the problem is
to make sure that SS equals DS. In high

Reader Service Number 135

level languages, this is usually set up by
the compiler. In an assembly language
program, you do it yourself:
_main:
!nOv
mov
eli
!nOv
mov
sti

ax, @data
ds, ax
ss, ax
sp, OFFSET STACK

The CLI/STI instructions should not
be necessary, but a few early (buggy)
versions of the 8088 failed to disable interrupts when modifying SSe Note that
SS must be changed, then SP.
Richard Lamb
3016 Waverly Dr., Apt. #311
Los Angeles, CA 90039

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II]

GAMES

ARCADE GAMES (106) Has
Kong, 3-D Pac man, Bricks,
Pango. (Requires color.)
BASIC GAMES (107) Pacman, Lunar Lander, Startrek,
Meteor. Breakout. and others.
CARD GAMES (109) Canasta,
hearts, draw poker & bridge.
STRIKER (110) Defender-like
game. "Top Gun" In space.
FLiGHTMARE (112) Futuristic
fighter pilot game. (Requires
color graphics adapter.)
SLEUTH (117) Who done it?
DND (119) Like Dungeon
and Dragons.
ROUND 42 (120) Better than.
Space Invaders. 42 levels.
GAMES IN BASIC (124) Lander, biorhythms, desert. Phoenix, Star Wars, others.
QUEST (152) Role playing
adventure fantasy game.
(Requires CGA)
SPACE WAR (158) Dogfight In
outer space, using phasers,
photon torpedoes, etc.
BRIDGE PAL (171) Complete
game of contract bridge,
with tutorial.
FENIX (193) Just like the
famous arcade game.
PINBALL GAMES (197) Pinball, Rain, Twilight Zone,
Wizard, etc.
KID-GAMES (GAM8) Animals
math, clock game, alphabet. etc.
CHESS (GAM9) Incredible.
2D and 3D. Many levels. Play
back moves, store games.

WORD PROCESSING

BASIC

PC-WRITE 3.0 (434, 435, 436)
(3 disks) Newest verslonl
Very popular and complete.
Includes spelling checker.
PC-TYPE+ (421-423) (3 disks)
Excellent. Includes mall
merge, 100,000 word spellIng checker. Interfaces with
PC-File +, PC-SMe.

PC-PROFESSOR (1401) BASIC
tutorial. Good.
BASIC PROGRAM GENERATOR (1402) The menu driven
way to write programs.
B-WINDOW (140'7) Give windowing capabilities to your
Basic program.

GRAPHICS

UTILITIES

KEYDRAWCAD SYSTEM (1001,
1002, 1065) (3 disks) Popular. Also uses mouse. (Requires color graphics - CGA)

HOMEBASE (2608, 2612, 2613)
Complete desktop organIzer. Greatl
PROFESSIONAL MASTERKEY
(2805) Uke Norton's. Retrieve
deleted files. A lifesaver.
BAKER'S DOZEN (2821) 13
utilities from Buttonware.
AUTOMENU (3003) Make rC
menu driven. Incl. passwords.
SCREEN (3006) Save your
monitor from screen burn-in.
DOT MATRIX FONTS (30613062) (2 disks) Print your text
in different fonts. Works with
most printers.

NOnE

SCI PCllIl

1 11

SIDEWAYS (1007) Prints text
sideways. Useful for spreadsheets.
SIMCGAIHGCIBM (1027,
1062) (2 disks) Use with Hercules graphics cardl compatibles to run programs
requiring CGAon your monochrome PC.
IMAGE 3-D (1048) Create
and edit 3-D objects. Move,
scale, rotate and tip image.
FINGERPAINT (1050) Use keyboard or mouse to draw.
Like MacPalnt. (Requires
CGAorEGA)
DANCAD 3-D (1051, 1052) (2
disks) Creat~ 3-D graphics.
Rotate, magnify, etc. Runs
on CGA EGA or Hercules.

Don:::;:'C3D
EGA RISK (GAM11) World
domination in great color.
Includes EGA Asteroids.
PC PRO-GOLF (GAM27-28)
Great graphics. Complete
18 hole, 72 par course. (CGA)
PEARL HARBOR (GAM32)
Shoot down Jap Zeros before
they destroy U.S. Fleet. (CGA)
ULTIMA 21 DELUXE (GAM34)
Best Blackjack game around.
Includes Video Poker.
FORD SIMULATOR (GAM37)
Great driving simulation.
(CGA)

MUSIC

PIANOMAN 4.0 (301) Turn
your keyboard into a piano.
PC-MUSICIAN (302) Co'mpose, save, and play music.

···:ersiC'n 2
FANTASY 057) Create flowing graphic Images with
mouse or keyboard. (CGA).
FLOWCHARTING (1078-1079)
Complete system for flowcharts. organizational. electrical. etc., with symbols.
RELIGION

THE BIBLE (3301-3306) (6
disks) Old Testament. King
James version.
THE BIBLE (3307-3308) (2
disks) New Testament, King
James version.
WORD WORKER (3309-3310)
(2 disks) Bible search program. New Testament. King
James version.
BIBLEMEN (3330) Excellent
Bible quiz program.

ACCOUNTING/FINANCE

MARKET CGA (BUS17) Peiforms sophisticated analysis
on stocks, funds, etc. (EGA
version Is BUS16).

HELP DOS (1326) On line
DOS help with menus. Includes DOS dictionary of
terms and a hints menu.
SPREADSHEETS

A5-EASY-AS (505) Great. Includes screen help menus.
Utilizes function keys. A Lotus
clone that reads Lotus files.
PC-CALC+ (512-514) (3 disks)
Jim Button's famous lotus clone.
EDUCATION

AMY'S FIRST PRIMER (248)
Children's learning game
that teaches letters. numbers
and keyboard.
FUNNELS AND BUCKETS (201)
A fun way to learn math.
MATHPAK (202) Tutorial with
lessons In higher math.
PC-TOUCH (204) Learn typing.
BASIC TUTORIAL (208) Learn
programming with BASIC.
BEGINNING SPANISH (211)
Tutorial.
SPANISH II (232) Sequel.
BIBLEQ (214) Learn the Bible
with this Q-A tutorial.
FACTS 50 (239) Geography
lessons for U.S. Nice graphics.

Ullll·r·(~lIal(JlITlI)oQJII.

II.U.r----------,
11.8
1t.14
11.11
H.•

H.II
H.II
H.ll
H.H

n."
BILLPOWER+ (BUS40) Bill clients for time and materials,
advances, retainers, etc.
Computes taxes, past due
interest. etc. Has full G/L
CPA LEDGER (706-708) (3
disks) Complete general
ledger for corporations, partnerships or sole proprietors.
PERSONAL FINANCE MANAGER (715) Household budget manager. Keep track of
checking, savings. investments.
PAYROLL USA (725-726) Up to
2.000 employees in any state.
dBasel1l and Lotus compatible. Complete P/R system.
EXPRESS CHECK (786) Check
acount with running balance. monthly reports. etc.
Prints checks.
FINANCE MANAGER II (774775) (2 disks) For personal or
small business financial management.

DOS TUTORIAL (1301) Teaches
you to use DOS.
STILL RIVER SHELL (1304) Run
DOS commands from a
menu. Makes DOS easy.
BATCH FILE TUTORIAL (1305)
Utilize batch file processing.
MORE DOS TIPS (1318,1323)
(2 disks) More about DOS.

LOTTO PROPHET (2364) Best
Lotto program we've seen.
CITY DESK (2513) Simple
desktop publisher.
SPREADSHEET TEMPLATES

LOTUS MACROS (601) Save
hours of work. (Req. Lotus)
LOTUS SPREADSHEET TEMPLATES (602) Ready-made.
(Requires Lotus 1-2-3)
GOAL-SEEKER V3.5 (624)
Achieve ojectives by changing spreadsheet and seeing
result. (Requires Lotus.)
LOTUS TUTORIAL
Learn
Lotus (requires
ADULTS ONLY (2901)
Animated. Req.
CGA
MAXINE (2902)
credible. (CGA)
STRIP POKER (2903)
Pick opponent
.
(CGA)
~.\~
BAD-BAD (2904) Ad>~
venture game.
l,
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Track all your possessions.
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(2 disks) Create files and
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DR DATA LABEL (2327) Powerful mailing list program. Customize labels to size.

COPY PROTECTION I (1219)
Instructions for unprotecting
commercial software.
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More software unprotect.
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Additional software to unpro.
FLUSHOT (1225) Checks
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PC-FILE dB (801, 805, 837) (3
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MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr, 1989 93

Back Issues

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ISSUE'1 (8181)
Power Supply
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Video Wiggle
1I2PFM.PRN
16 pages
ISSUE 12 (10/81)
Parallel Print Driver
Drive Motor Control
Shugart Jumpers
Program Storage Above PFM
112 PFM.PRN
16 pages
ISSUE t3 (12181)
4 MHz Mods
Configuring Modem 7
Safer Formatter
Reverse Video Cursor
FORTHwords Begins
16 pages
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Keyboard Translation
More 4 MHz Mods
Modems, lync, and S10s
Undoing CP/M ERASE
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20 pages
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Word Processing
Two Great Spells
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Double Density Review
Scribble, A Formatter
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BBI EPROM Programmer
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6 Reviews Of C
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B811 EPROM Program
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40 pages
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CP/M Disk Directory
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Cheap Fast Modem
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44 pages
ISSUE 114 (10183)
BBII Installation
The Perfect Terminal
Interface To Electronic
Typewriter
BBI Video Size
Video Jitter Fix
Slicer Column Begins
Kaypro Color Graphics Review
48 pages
ISSUE 115 (12183)
Screen Dump listing
Fixing Serial Ports
Playing Adventure
SBASIC Column Begins
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48 pages
ISSUE 116 (2184)
Xerox 820 Column Restarts
BBI Double Density
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Kaypro ZCPR Patch
Adding Joystick To Color
Graphics
Recovering Text From Memory
52 pages

ISSUE 123 (4185)
Automatic Disk Relogglng
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86 pages
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C'lng Into Turbo Pascal
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48 Unes On A BBI
68000 Versus 8Ox86
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88 pages
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Why I Wrote A Debugger
The 32·Bit Super Chips
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104 pages
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Inside ZCPR3
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104 pages

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Kaypro EPROM Programmer
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60 pages

ISSUE 129 (4186)
Speeding Up Your XT
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104 pages

ISSUE 119 (8184)
Adding Winchester To BBII
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64 pages
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HSC 68000 Co·Processor
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72 pages
ISSUE 121 (12184)
Analog To Digital Interface
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80 pages
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Xerox 820·11 To A Kaypro·8
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88 pages

ISSUE 130 (6/86)
PROLOG On The PC
Expert Systems
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Building Your Own logic
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PC-DOS For Non-Clones
104 pages
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RAM Resident PC Speedup
Practical Programming In
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104 pages
ISSUE 132 (10186)
Public Domain 32000:
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Artlflc/."ntellgenc.
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96 pages

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Afou.e Control
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96 pages

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96 pages

ISSUE 137 (9/87)
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P.,..Uel Proceulng
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ISSUE 139 (1188)
PCG18phl"
Drawing The Mandelbrot And
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Designing A PC Work·
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Around the TMS·34010
96 pages

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96 pages
ISSUEt44(11/88)
Object-Dr#ented PfDg18mmlng
A Taste of SmaDtalk

Actor
thinking Objectively
Building MlcroCad
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Hercules Graphics Printer
Dump
96 pages
ISSUE 145(1189)
Computet' Aided o.lgn
CAD In A Consulting Business
Choosing PCB Layout Systems
BuDding Circuits With Your
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Secrets of Optimization
Finding Bargains in the Surplus
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MASM5.1
96 pages

ISSUE t40 (3188)
The Gre'" C I• .,e
11 C Compilers
Writing A Simple Parser In C
C++, An Object Oriented C
Source Level Debugger For
TurboC
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Capital Software . . . . . . . . 20
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145 Pathfinder Associates . . . . . . 74
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3 PC Tech . . . . . . . . . Back Cover
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90 Dair Computer Systems .... 79

17 Manx Software Inside Front Cover
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Micro Cornucopia . . . . . . . . 94
37 Microprocessors Unltd . . . . . 79
2 Microsphere . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
120 Micro Star . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
110 NuMega Technologies

......

127
108
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...... 2

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Issue #47

Robotics
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MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46,Mar-Apr, 1989 95

By Gary Entsminger
1912 Haussler Dr.
Davis, CA 95616

Computer Go Playing With Rules And Patterns
I remember watching the Go games in
the Tektronix lunchroom. Many of the cafeteria "masters" had novices pick up their
food so they could play an extra five
minutes.
Often the discussion would turn to computerizing the game, but the masters always
discouraged the idea. "Too complex," they'd
say. "Do something easy, like Chess." So
we'd go back to watching the boards and
fetching food.
very game has a set of rules
which separates it from its surrounding reality. Most games
have a simple set of rules and
simple behavior or potential board configuration. But some games (the most
intriguing ones) have a simple set of
rules which often lead to extremely
complex boards and patterns.
One of these, the Asian game "Go,"
has survived 4,000 years of human, and
20 years of computer attempts to master
it.
In Go, two players alternate in placing stones on a 19x19 grid. Once placed,
a stone cannot be moved, but it can be
removed (via capture).
You win the game by enclosing more
territory than your opponent. In the
process of enclosing territory, you may
capture an opponent's stones by surrounding them. Generally, the fewer
stones either of you has on the board,
the less territory you hold.
The rules of Go are much simpler
than the rules of chess, but a Go board
can be much more difficult to decipher
because of the incredible number of
possible board configurations (about
10761 ).
In chess, all pieces are placed on an 8
x 8 board before the game starts. Each
play moves a piece to a new location.
The number of legal options can increase or decrease as the game progresses.
The complexity of the "look ahead,"

MICRO CORNUCOPIA, #46, Mar-Apr 1989

-----------------------

------------

or "what if I do this, and you do that,
and I do this ... " scenario is complex in
chess (configuration possibilities about
1012°), but far less complex than in Go.
In Go, there's only one "play" you place a stone on an unoccupied intersection. At most (at the beginning of
the game), there are 381 possible plays.
Each move reduces the number of
possible plays by one, while increasing
the complexity of the board by a large
nonlinear factor.
Although the rules of Go are simple,
the staggering number of possible board
configurations (or patterns) make programming a "smart" Go game very,
very difficult.
Nevertheless, computer Go games
are improving thanks to the joint efforts
of AI researchers and "smart" programmers.
According to Walter Reitman and
Bruce Wilcox, the designers and programmers of two "smart" Go games"Skilled human Go play presumes
the ability to recognize and make inferences from many different kinds of
complex patterns - our Go programs
use a small set of basic scanning and
recognition mechanisms (rules) to deal
with these patterns."
Nemesis, Go Master
Recently, I had the pleasure of playing Bruce Wilcox's latest version of Go
- Nemesis, the Go Master (from Toyogo, Inc., in Lexington, Massachusetts).
Nemesis is a clone of POGO, created
by Reitman and Wilcox on an IBM
mainframe between 1972 and 1977. That
Go took seven person-years and 8,000
lines of LISP to create. It required 3
megabytes of memory to run.
Bruce writes (in Reflections on Building Two Go Programs) that a single game
of mainframe Go costs close to $2,000.
So eventually, even on an academic
budget, he had to give it up. Fortunately, a game with Nemesis on the
PC isn't so expensive.
It took Bruce one year and 13,500

lines of C to create Nemesis. Over 3,000
lines of that (almost 1/4) went into the
user-interface. It takes only 146
kilobytes and a PC to play it. At $79,
Nemesis is affordable (even for non-academics).
Nemesis is as good (or better) a
player than its mainframe ancestor.
I've had a blast playing (and learning to play) this incredible game. The
beauty of it is that Nemesis helps • Each time Nemesis places a stone,
it explains its motives, associating
them to a rule (or rules).
• I can ask Nemesis to help me
place a stone and to explain its
motives. '
• I can edit the board (to a new
position) and ask Nemesis to suggest moves.
• I can take back moves (and so can
Nemesis).
• I can practice (or learn) by playing Nemesis on smaller boards (9
x 9 and 13 x 13).
• I can save and resume games
later.
For more information Toyogo, Inc.
76 Bedford St., Suite #34
Lexington, MA 02173
(617) 861-0488

References
Reitman, Walter and B. Wilcox. Pat-

tern Recognition and Pattern-Directed Inference In a Program for Playing Go. Academic Press. 1978.
Wilcox, Bruce. Reflections On Building
Two Go Programs. SIGART Newsletter.
October 1985. Number 94.

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VERY HIGH PERFORMANCE'
Processors, Memory" and Display Adapters
The X24 High performance processor
•
•
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12 or 16 MHz 80286 with NO WAIT STATES!
Small size ("XT" height and length) passive bus design
1 to 4' Mbyte 0 wait state dynamic memory
Fully "AT" compatible Award BIOS
Runs DOS versions 2.2 and later, Xenix and OS/2

The X24 co mbines the best of motherboard and backplane designs in a 100% AT compatible system. Incorporating a 16 MHz 80286, the X24 processor Is designed to operate with the PC Tech Advanced System Motherboard , which contains the peripheral interfaces (hard disk, floppy disk, two serial ports and a parallel po rt). The
X24 processor can also be used wtth other totally passive bus backplanes. Most critical components including
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PC Tech X24 and ASMB
The PC Tech Advanced System Motherboard
• Built in "IDE" interface for AT interface type hard drives
• Fully AT compatible floppy disk support for 3.5", 5.25" drives, capacities of 360k, l.2m and l.44m
• Two serial ports and one parallel port
• 8 total expansion slots PC/XT/AT compatible (4 slots have 32 bit bus)
The PC Tech Advanced System Motherboard is designed to complement PC Tech's X24 and X32 high performance processor cards. It contains the m ass storage interfaces necessary for a complete system, plus the basic I/O required in most systems. Extra care has been given to FCC compliance by design.

34010 Monochrome Graphics Adapter II

PC Tech Mono-II

• Up to 384k bytes display memory
• Up to 2 Megabytes program memory
• Software is RAM based, allowing complete operating software
replacement and timing re-programming from the host bus
• 34010 program loader included. Assembler, debugger, and C
compiler available.
• Full hardware and software CGA, MDA and Hercules emulation
• Single bit shared memory bit-map with optional resolution up
to 2048 x 1536 (736 x 1008 standard)
• Very high resolution COLOR version available
• Custom 34010 software development available

The TMS340t 0 is a true general purpose graphics processor. PC Tech makes the total processing power of the 340t 0 available to both programmers and end users. O ur 34010 Monochrome Graphics
Adapter is designed to allow programming from the PC/XT/AT host bus. You can completely replace our 340tO software with yours to d irectly hamess the incredible image processing power of the TMS
34010 for your application. We make a complete set of development tools available, including an assembler, C compiler, program loader, 34010 debugger, and PC interface tracer/debugger. Our standard product includes support for extended CGA, MDA and Hercules emulation as well as a host addressable graphics bit- map. We also support and reco mme nd the DGIS graphics interface standard (from
Graphic Software Systems) for applications development as an alternative to native 34010 software development. Ready to run drivers are available fo r most major applications software packag es as well.

Custom Designs Available
PC Tech wi ll license most products for non-exclusive m anufactu re. We will also customiz e any of our deSigns to better meet you r needs on our in-house CAD systems.
All of our standard products are avai lable in private label ve rsions,

About PC Tech
PC Tech has been designing, m anufacturing and marketing high performance PC related products for over th ree years. Our standard product line includes processor,
memory, and video products. Al l products are designed , manufactured and supported in our Lake City, Minnesota facilities.

Designed, Sold and Serviced By:

High resolut ion fractal produced
on the PC Tech COLOR 34010
907 N. 6th St., Lake City, MN 55041
(612) 345-4555 • (612) 345-5514 (FAX)
PC, Xl, AT, OOIS, Hercules, and Award BIOS are tradem arks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

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