BYTE Vol 11-10 1986-10 Apple II GS

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Turbo Pascal Progranuning!

LearnSec;fi

Stratefl'^'"

Theory

$10.00 Scratch 'n Win Rebate!

$70.00 Scratcli 'n Win Rebate!

Turho GameWorks®

Also recently released, Turbo GameWorks is what, you think It is: "Games" and "Works." Games you can play right away (like Chess, Bridge and Go-Moku), plus the Works—which is how computer games work. AH the secrets and strategies of game theory are there for you to learn. You can play tie games "as is" or modify them any which way you want Source code is included to let you do that, and whether you want to write your own games or simply play the off-the-shelf games, Turbo GameWorks will give hours of diversion, education, and intrigue. George Koltanowski, Dean of American Chess, and former President, United States Chess Federation, reacted to Turbo GameWorks like this: "With Turbo GameWorks, you're on your way to becoming a master chess player!' And Kit Woolsey writer, author, and twice Champion of the Blue

Ribbon Pairs, wrote, "Nowplay the world's most popular card game—Bridge.., even program your own bidding and scoring conventions" Suggested retail: 169.95. Use a $10.00 Scratch 'n Win Rebate and you're talking an incredible $69.95! Minlmtjm memory: 192K

Turbo GameWorks' Cttessboard

■ ■ ^

2^

iHBi

Turbo Graphix Toolbox®

It includes a Ubraiy of graphics routines for Turbo Pascal programs. Lets even beginning programmers create highresolution graphics with an IBM, Hercules," or compatible graphics adapter. Our Turbo Graphix Toolbox includes all the tools youTl ever need for complex business graphics, ea^ windowing, and storing screen images to memory. It comes complete with source code, ready to compile. Suggested retalL $69.95, but with a $10.00 Scratch 'n Win Rebate, only $59,951 Minimum memory: 192K

$10.00 Scratch 'n Win Rebate!

Recogmlion tor Borland Interndltonal has come Irorrt business trade, and media, and includes both producl awards and awards lor lechnical excellence and markeling -America's Cup. ComirrQ Saont

arninQ '^"'^^

Turbo Tutor® 2.0

The new Turbo Tutor can take you from "What's a computer?" throtrgh complex data structures, assembly languages, trees, tips on writing long programs in Turbo Pascal, and a high level of expertise. Source code for everything is Included. New split screens allow you to put source text in the bottom half of the screen and run the examples in the top half. There are quizzes that ask you, show you, teH you, teach you. You get a 400page manual—which is not as daunting as it sounds, because tmUke many software manuals, it was not written by orangutans. Suggested retail: $39.95. Use a $10.00 Scratch 'n Win Rebate and you're down to an unheard of $89.95! Minimum memory: 192K

How to use Scratch 'n Win Rebates

It's really simple. You purchase the product between 9/5/86 and 3/31/87, and return the license agreement along with dated proof of purchase and your rebate card. We'll mail you a check lor $10.00 on single product purchases or a check for $15.00 when you buy an advertised "bundle"—which means our Turbo Pascal Jumbo Pack, or Turbo lightning and lightning Word Wizard, or Reflex: The Analyst and Reflex Workshop, or SideKick and Traveling SideKick. (Restrictions do apply. Rebates are not valid in combination with any other Borland or dealer discount. See Official Rules on back of Instant Winner card).

Send a buck to the boat!

If you'd like to help America's effort to recapture the America's Cup from Australia, you can make a tax-deductible donation to "Heart of America" Challenge, 11 South laSalle St., Suite 1670, Chicago, Illinois 60603

RiSCAL

Co(i/fiOi:l 19B3 l.(ci)ti!iC!tl-MJil<»fi(il-P(ijtjr,itn (itoporty cl BORLAND liitufniilionnl, tnc. .t5a& SrotLt Valioy OiivQ. Scons Valioy. CA 05066 Unaulhiiimoi) im. tluplicfltion cw tlisifibulronis atitcily pfomii-wd b/ rmloral Law,

ratio"

$10.00 Scratch 'n Win Rebate!

Turbo Prolog'

"Borland International, Inc. is gunning onto the fast track in the artdflGial inteUigenoe and englneering-language-Boftmre race, riding ahmd a new 199 Turbo Prolog," says Tom Schwartz In Electronlo Engineering Times. Aad so we are. Our new Turto Prolog has drawn rave reviews—which we think are Wei deserved—because Turbo Prolog brings 5th-generatlon language and supercomputer power ta your IBM PC and compatibles. Turbo Prolog Is a highspeed compiler for tiie artificial Intelligence language, Prolog, which Is probably one of the most powerful programming languages ever conceived. We made a worldwide impact with Turbo Pascal and you can e^q^ect the same results and revolution from Turbo Prolog, the natural language of artificial intelligence. Danjd Rubin, writing in AI Expert said, "Tiffto Prolog offers generally the fastest and most approachable implementation of Prolog." Suggested retail, $99.95. Use a $10.00 Scratch 'n Win Rebate and that goes down to only $89,951 Minimum memory: 384K

Tecfinicsl Specilications:

TURBO PASCAL 3.0 Minimum memory 128K. includes 8087 and BCD lealuies lor 16-bit MS-DOS and CP/M-86 systems CP/M-80 yersion minrmum memory 48K, B087 and BCD lealures not available TURBO DATABASE TOOLBOX Minimum memory 128K CP/M-80 minimum memory m Requires Turbo Pascal 2 0 or later TVRBO GRAPHIX TOOLBOX' Minimum memory I92K Requires PC/MS-DOS 2 0 or later. Turbo Pascal 3.0. and IBM CGA. Hercules Monocllrome Card oi equivaleni ruflflo rUTOfl Uinimurn memory 192K CP/M-80 version minimum memory 48K Requiies PC/MS-DOS 2 0 or later and Turbo Pascal 3 0 rtyflflO fD/rOfl rOOiflOX* Minimum memory I92K Requrres PC/MS-DOS 2 D or later and Turbo Pascal 3 0 TURBO GAUIBWQRKS' Mrnrnum memory 192K flequires PC/MS-OOS 2 0 or later and Turbo Pascal 3 0 rt/flflO/'flOtOG" Minimum memory 38 4K REFLEX: THE ANALYST'Mmmm memli 384K Requires IBM CGA, Hercules Monocbrome Card ot equivaleni Worts with InleTs AboveBoard-PC and -AT. AST's RAMpager and RAMpager AT. Ouadram's Liberty-PC and -AT, Tecmar's 640 PliB, IBM's EGA and 3270/PC, ATST's 6300 and many olbers REFLEX IVOfltrSWOP" Minimum m.emory 384K Requires Retlex Tbe Analyst /"(/flSO t/CtfrWWG" Minimum memory 256K Two disk drives required Hard disk recommentled LIGHTWNG WORD WIZARD' Minimum memory 256K Requires Turbo Ligblning Turbo Pascal 3 0 required to edit source code S/DW/CX* Minimum memory t28K TRAVELING SIDEKICK' Minimum memoiy 256K SUPERKEY' Minrmum memory I28K "For IBM PC, AT, XT, PCir and true compatibles only, running PC/MS-DOS 3 0 or later

rORTbOLBOK

jiiBod rnnlofiat, Piogiam ptoporty ol BORLAND Inlofnolional, loc, -iSBi. S 4Q&D66.UnBuU)«liBduw,ilupik:atOTW(llitrttKiUonissblctlvprohlbtlM

Turbo Pascal Prograinimng!

$10.00 Scratcfi 'n Win Rebate!

Turbo Editor Toolbox"'

Recently released, we called our new Turbo Editor Toolbox a "construction set to write your own word processor." Peter Feldmann of PC Magazine covered it pretty well with, "A 'write your own word processor'program for intermediate level programmers, with lots of help in the form of prewritten procedures covering everything from word wrap to pull-down windows!' Source code is Included, and we also include MicroStar, a full-blown text editor with puH-down menus and windowing. It interfaces directly with Turbo Lightning to let you speU-check your MlcroStar flies. Jeny PoumeUeofBYTE magazine said, "The .new Tiff to Editor Toolbox is the Turbo Pascal source code to just atout anything you ever wanted a PGcompatible text editor to

da" Suggested retail; $69.95. Use a 110.00 Scratoh 'n Win Rebate and you'll get all this for only $59.95! Minimum memory: 192K

MicmSlai tile direclory accessed by pull-down menu

Borland's Business Productivity Programs: Rellex: The Analyst' Arralylical dalabase maTiageT, PTOvides coinplele, tiew look at dala noTTrrally hiddeti by progTams like 1-2-3" and dBASE," Besl repoTt generator for, and complement to, 1-2-3.

Rellex Workslwp ' Important new addition to Retlex: Ttie Analyst. Gives you 22 dilferenl templates to run your business rigtit.

SideKick' Complete RAI^-resident desktop management includes notepad, dialer, calculator and more.

Traveling SideKick' Electronic version of business/personal diaries, daytime organizers: works with your SideKick files: important professional tool.

SuperKey' Keyboard enfrancer. Simple macros turn 1000 keystrokes into 1. Also encrypts your files to keep confidential files confidential.

Borland's Electronic Reference Programs:

Turbo Lightning' Works witfi all your programs and checks your spelling while you lype\ Includes 80,000-word Random House* Concise Word List and 50,000word Random House Tfresaurus. Forerunner of Turbo Lightning Library."

Lightning Word Wizard ' Includes ingenious crossword solver and six otfier word challenges. II you're into programming. Lightning Word Wizard is also a development toolbox and the technical relerence manual for Turbo Lighlning.

All Borland products are registered trademarks or trademarks ot Borland International, inc o' Borland/Analytica. Inc Turbo Ligblning Library is a trademark ol Borland tnternatronal Inc AST TurboLaser. RAMpager AT. AdvantagePremium. SixPakPremium, 3G Pak and RAMpagei are trademarks ol AST Researcb, inc LoIlb 1-2-3 is a registered ttademaik ol Lotus Development Corp PBASE is a registered trademaik ot Astilon-Tate IBM rs a registered trademark ol international Business Macbines Ccvp Random House is a regisleied traoemark ot RanOom House, Inc Hercules is a trademark ol Hercules Compuler Technology CP/M rs a registered trademark ol Digital Researcb, Inc Travelrng SideKick is not in any *ay associated witb Traveling Software, Inc. ot Seattle. Wasbington Copyrigbt 1986 QorlanO international BI-1075

i9j

jWews from Borland International! Vol. 1 No. 8

How Borland is helping bring the America's Cup back to America!

"I think: those who grasp the technology will prevail"

Bin Shore, President, Shore Sails Co., Newport, BJ

Borland's Philippe Kahn al the helm ol America's Cup challenger "Heart ol America," with Shore Sails' President Bill Shore

^ HLAKT OF AMERIGO

r

Sail-making is traditional—a craft—but I think we're huge steps ahead of the competition when we get involved with higher technology," says Shore.

He and Shore Sails' 17 different franchiBsd sail lofts in the U.S. are in what Shore describes as a "highly competitive business, whether it's America's Gup racing or any race." And he adds, "You guys (Borland) do good stuff that's affordable, which is one of the reasons why we wrote all our sail design programs in Turbo Pascal.*"

"These days," he says, "there are many parts to a sail, and Turbo Pascal lets us arrange aU the parts properly. We design what the garment industry calls a 'marker'-and rely on Turbo Pascal to do ^ critical things like getting thread 1 in the same direction as load line We take the diskette to our: $250,000 laser cutter, wMch follows the Pascal program precisely, draws out the sail and cuts out the sail. We glue and sew and you've got the best there is."

"Heart ol America" surfing downwind. Santa Cruz. Calilornia

"The wrong sails will sink your chances—if not your boat —so we wrote Turbo Pascal programs"

The right saJl design, at the right price, right now, has to happen in 17 different Shore Sails Lofts across America.

It had to happen with America's Gup challenger Heart of America which carries Shore saUs—and It has to happen with the (currently) 70b different boats that Shore SaUs has In their Turbo Database TDolbox"

Sail design, sail pricing and "beating the handicapper" are aU done at Shore Sails with Turbo Pascal.

In case you don't know the sharp end from the blunt end of a boat, the right sail design for any boat is more than design and price. It's tactical advantage. Designing sails that take the greatest advantage of the boat's basic design and rigging without getting stuck with a heavier-than-desirable Official Handicap. (Handicaps can eat your chances faster than a Great White.)

The "right sail" design bends but doesn't break the

Win Fowler, Shore Sails Co., PortJand, Maine.

racing rules written by, amongst others, MORR (Midget Offshore Racing Rules) or lOR (hitematlonal Offshore Rules). Turbo Pascal spUIs out "right sail" designs for Shore Sails so their customers tend to "handicap" the Rules Committee Instead of the other way around.

Shore Sails' connection with Borland doesn't end with Turbo Pascal and our Database Toolbox.

Shore's Fowler has also written SuperKey* macros for "eveiy file we have" and says, "We'd be lost without them."

He uses SideKlck* to dial every phone call and SideKick's Notepad to communicate between all the Lofts, saying, "That way we don't need a word processor." Shore Sails also uses Woo Lightning* and Reflex The Anaiyst."

So why so many Borland products In one company?

Win Fowler says. We d be sunk without them!"

"There is

" Omar

Bradley

^ BONLAND

'tCoyyijQ'il 'SUli Lit«iit,£H)-Miiiotiiii.|'«n)'iim (>nHmv HOHlANO lnlrmiilii>tial, Inc, 45rt'j Sforia Wliy OI.VB, Seons Voli"/, CA OiiOtMl Uri,iuiiiun/ei) iiuo.ihipWftlun nr disirrpiircinia Mi telly iHoTntmoil by FtHiC'tiil U*

Borland's Instant Winner Game

Scratx3h this card now and you could instantly win 2 free round-trip airline tickets to Australia for the America's Cup Race!

First Prize (110,000 value!) includes $10,000 '^"^^^ accommodations for two in Perth, Australia

during the final America's Gup races, which _ jpss^ ^^^^^^

start January 31,1987. See America win it back after our only loss in 134 years! There's more than one instant winner in Borland's Instant Wnrner Game, because you could win one of two new $6,895 4-WD Suzuki Samurai convertibles, or a $4,995 AST TurboLaser'"

printer, or a $4,499 '^^^^ Toshiba T3100,^" or a $2,399 Toshiba Tl 100^" Plus^ or a $595

AST SixPakPremium^", or a $69.95 Traveling SideKick,®or any one of hundreds of other Borland products—and at the very least a Borland Rebate Coupon, good for $10 off any single product or $15 off any bundled product offer!

$4,499

$69.95

See Official Rules on the back of this card for details.

Don'i delay! There will be a second-chance drawing for the trip If not claimed by 12/30/86. There's alao a second-chance drawing for the two Suzukis If not clalme( by S/S6/87. AH rebate coupons are good for products purchaeed 9/5/86-3/31/87. Product prices above are suggested Ust prices.

Rub the silver box to reveal whether you win a prize or get a rebate coupon. Then lill in the second-ctiance entry blank to the right

Second-Chance Sweepstakes Entry!

We're running two SecondChance Sweepstakes drawings to award the trip and cars. They will be won by someone—it could be you! Fill in the entry coupon and mail it now. Winners will be notified immediately, because the final America's Cup races start in Australia on January 31,1987, and you'll have to pack in a hurry.

(You will need a valid passport and the ability to comprehend Australian versions of the English language.)

li?

OFFICIAL RULES- BORLAND INSTANT WINNER GAME

1. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY:TttpartkiftalR ymimaypbiamagsmBcanlinsertBttMollmO^^E^, Oe^int»r, orJamiwyissuBpf Ihetplhmirif masazhiBs; PCVVJiriit Byti; PCTBch^uinal; PCMagazinK YourinyalsoolHainagaine card by mailing a self-addressed, stamped envelope Ik Borland IntematiDnatiGame Card, P.O, BoxSfO, Wlhofr, Ct 06897. (Washmgton State residems send seK-addressed erivetDpe.) Lirrilt oriegarn An requests must be received bv January 15, 1987.

2. TO PLAV: Remove the rub-oH area on the game card lo reveal wliat pii;e or rebate offer you have oblamed

3. PRIZES/REBATES: Beneath the rub-off area one of the following prizes may be revealed Trip for Two lo America's Cup Haces or SI 0.000. 1986 Suzuki4W Samurai Convenible oi SB,895, AST Turbo laser, Toshiba 1100 Porlahle Computer Toshiba 3100 Ponable Computer AST Six Pakpremium; AST Advantagepremium; AST3G Pak: AST Rampage. AST Ranipage AT. Free Borland Product or you may obtain the tollowing rebate offer: S10 rebate offer on any mdividual product otS15 rebate offer on any single advertised Borland bundle (See rule #11 for prize details ).

4. PRIZE CLAIMS: If you oblamone of the prizes stated m Rule #3, sign your full legal signature on the game card and send via certified mail | copy should be made for your records] along with YOUr name and addnsstK Boiland (ntemational Prize Claim, 196 Danburv Road. Wilton, CT 06897. All prize claims must be received or postmarked by February 1 5, 1 387 |See Rule #12 for Trip for Two to America's Cup exception.)

5. REBATE CLAIMS: Rebates are good lor products purchased from September b, 19B6 through MarchSl. 1987 The SI 0 rebate is good for any individual Borland product andtteSIS rebate is good foiffiiyadvertKedBvtand software liuncle To receive your rebate you must return your completed license agreement liom the manual, this game card and dated proof of purchase to BorlBnd International, Game Card Rebate. 458fi Scotts Valley [hive, ScottsVallev. CA9506^. Upon recnptoif the license agreement game card and proof of purchase. Borland will send your check Rebate is not valid with any other rebate or pramolian offered directly from Borland.

6. VERIFICATION; All game materials are subjecl to verification Game materials are void and will be rejected if nol obtained through authorized, legitimate channels, and may be rejecled if any pan is reproduced, counterfeited, torn or altered in any way, Qi <f materials contain printing, typographical, or mechanical errors Decisions of the Redemption Center are final Game pieces liom any game other than the Borland Instant Winner Game may no) be used in this game.

7. CONDITIONS Of PARTICIPATION: Material submitted becomes the property ol Borland Internalionat The submission of game pieces is the sole lesponsibilily of the individual seeking verification, who is solely responsible for losl late, or misdirected mait. All taxes, registration and inspection fees are the sole responsihihly of the verified winner Winners may be required to execute an affidavit of eligibility and name and likeness publicity release By participating m the game you accept and agree to be bound by these rules and the decision of the Official Rerlemption Cenlei which will be final

B. ELIGIBILITY: Participation is open solely to residents of the United Slates IS years of age and over, except employees and agents of Borland International, service agencies, and individuals engaged in the development, production or distribution of game materials. The Merrin Group. Inc. and their immediate family or members of their households. Void in Vermont and where prohibited by law.

9. GAME SCHEDULE AN OA WARD OF PRIZES: The Borlandlnstant Winner Game will commence on or about September 5, 1986 and end on January 30.1987 It will officially end. however, when allgame pieces are distributed Verified game prizes will be awarded within Ihiny(30) days from the dale of then receipt for venticaimn at the Official Redempnon Center A mator prizewinners' list can be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Borlandlnstant Winner Game Winners List P.a Box 7083, Wilton, CT 06897.

10. ODDS CHART: The odds of vvlnnmgjmzes .»ebased upon obtuning the one rare game piece among the applicable number of game pieces PRIZE Qty. Total Value Qdrls of Winning Trip for Two to Amarlea's Clip or$l:D«QOO I S 10,000.00 Im 6,458.000 Suzuki 4W Samurai C0nvattibleJA ar.$S,89S 2 S 13.790 00 1 m 3,229,000 AST Turbo Laser 1 S 4.995 00 1 in 6,458.000 Toshibi Ponible Computer 2 S 6,898 00 I m3,229,000 AST MemoFY Boards 25 S 15.025 DO 1 in 258,320 Borland Products 1.000 S149.0Q0 00 1 in6.458 OVERALL TOTAL 1,031 5199,708 00 1 in 6,264

All remaining game cards will contam a SIO rebate good on any individual Borland piuduct oi a SI 5 rebate ^nod tot^atd any advertised Borland software bundle

11. PRIZE DETAILS: Trip for two lo America's Cup Races (or SI0,000} will include coach seating round trip airfare on regularly scheduled commercial airline from San Francisco. California to Perth. Australia and up lo two weeks hotel accommodations in Perth. Australia plus 84,500 spending cash. Winners will be responsible for obtaining visa, passport and all other travel documents Trip does not include meals, taxes, excess baggage charges and olhei hotel chargss Minor must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian

Suzuki4W Samurai Convertible JA Standard Equipment Package! oi 56,8961, verified winner will he responsible for all retjisliatmn insinance, .jnd licensimj fees AST Turbo Laser; Toshiba Portable Computer Model # Tl 100; Toshiba Portable Computer Model # T3100, AST Memory Boards andFreeBorlandProductsarenon-subslilulmnalexceplby sponsor itue to product availaliility ^nd all warranties and guarantees aresub|e:l to manufacluiers terms AH prizes are non-Iransferrable Winning consumer is responsible for all local slate and federal taxes

12. SECOND CHANCE SWEEPSTAKES: There are two Second Chance Sweepstakes drawings scheduled to be conducted on December 31, 1986 and FebruaryZS. 1987, Random drawing from all entries received by December 30, 1986 will award trip (or two to America's Cup Races (or SI0,000) Random drawing from all entries received by February 26, 1967 vifill awaid two (2) Suzuki4W Samurai (or $6,895). All [emaning prizss that are unclaimed aftaf February 15,

1987 will remain unclaimed.

If you have any questions coni:erning the Borland Instant Winner Game, cell: 1-800-451-4471.

TheWorK'*''"'

Turbo Pascal Programming!

Versio"

$10.00 Scratch 'n Win Rebate!

Turho Pascal^ 3.0 "FortheJBWPG, the benchmark Pascal compiler is undoubtedly Borland International's Turbo Pascal," ss^ Gaiy Ray of KJWeeif. We and

more than 500,000 other people around the world think Mr. Ray got that right. Since launch, Turbo Pascal has become the de facto worldwide standard in high-speed Pascal compilers. Described by Jeff Duntemann of PC Magazine as the ''Language deal of the oentuiy" Turbo Pascal is now an even better deal than that—because we've Included the most popular options (BCD reals and 8087 support). What used

$70.00 Scratch 'n Win Rebate!

Turbo Database Toolbox"

A perfect complement to Turbo Pascal, because It contains a complete library of Pascal procedures that allows you to

search and sort data and build powerful database applications. Having Turbo Data-base Toolbox means you don't have to re-invent the wheel each time you write a Turbo Pascal program. It comes with source code for a free sample database—right on disk The database can be searched by key words or numbers. Update, add, or delete records as needed Just compile it and it's ready to go to work for you. (Shore Sails has

to cost $184.95 is now only $99.96! You now get a lot more for a lot less: the compiler, a completely integrated programming environment, and BCD reals and 8087 supportall for a suggested retail of on^f $99.95. And with a Scratch'n Win $10.00 Rebate, you pay only leaSS-whichreaDyis the "language deal of the century"! Minimum memory: 128K

more than 700 boat designs and rigs in their

TbolboxSee frontpage stoiy.) Suggested retail $69.95. With a $10.00 Scratch 'n Win Rebate check back from us, on]y$B935l Minimum memory: 128K

SPECIAL

PRICES

AMAZING

VALUE

!ACT

NOW!

and mats a deal'

_ Rebale!

SideKicklo'oni'

,$150" Rebate'

S125 00

,0 only $184.95!

j110.00a(lefa

Scfalcl

n Win

YES!

I want the best!

For credit card orders or the dealer nearest you

call (800) 255-8008

in CAcatI (800) 742-1133 Copies Product Price Totais

. Turbo Pascal 3 0 wISOS? 8 BCD

$99.95 I_

69.95- S_ 199.95- J_

99.95 69.95 69.95 69.95

39.95 J_

_ Rellex: Wie Anaiysl _ Rellex Workstiop _ Reliex, Rellex Worl(st}op ._ Turbo Prolog

Turbo Pascal lor CPIM-80 — Turbo Database Toolbox _ Turbo Grapbix Toolbox _ Turbo Tutor 2.0 „ Turbo Editor Toolbox _ Turbo GameWorlis _ Turbo Ligbtnlng _ Lightning Word Wizard _ Turbo Lightning,

Lightning Word Wizard _ SideKict< _ Traveting SideKicti _ Sidet<ick,

Traveling SideKick

_ SuperKey

Outside USA add $10 per copy OA and MA res add sales tax

Amount enclosed

Prices include shipping to alt tJS cities Caretulty describe your computer system: Mine is: —8-bit _ /6-M I use: _ PC-DOS .^CPIM-80 — MS-DOS —CPIM-86 My computer's nime and model is:

69.95 69.95 99.95 69.95

M9.95 84.95

m.95

125.0069.95

fte disk size I use is: □ □ 5'/<' □ S' Payment: VISA MC Money order Check

Credit card expiration dale I

Card a I I I I I I 1 I 1

I I I I I I I

NOT COPYPROTECTED GF15 ■'60-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE

Name:

Shipping Address

Cily .

Telephone

CODs andpufcti3se ortiers WILL NOT be accepted by Borland. OuiSKle USA make payment by bank dralt. payable in US dollars drawn on a US bank 'Limiled Time Oiler

"YES. il wtihtn 60 iJays ol purchase you lind that this product doss nol perlorm in accordance wilh oui claims, call our customer service depanriKnl and we will gladly arrange a retund. All prices are suggested lisl puces and are subject la change without notice.

BORLAND

I N I r R N A r I 0 H ■\ i

4585 SCOTTS VALLEY DRIVE SCOTTS VALLEY. CA 95066 (408) 438-8400 TELEX: 172373

Inquiry 48 for End-Users. Inquiry 49 for DEALERS ONLY.

CONTENTS

152

2 BYTE' OCTOBER 1986

FEATURES

Introduction 82

Product Preview: The Apple II GS

by Gregg 'Williams and Richard Grehan 84

The 65C8I6 processor brings the Apple II into the 16-bit world.

CiARciA's Circuit Cellar: Build an Intelligent Serial EPROM Programmer

by Steve Garcia 103

This new and improved device includes an on-board CPU and intelligent firmware

Programming Proiect: Safe Storage Allocation

by lonathan Amsterdam 122

Some techniques to avoid the dangers involved in allocating memory

Sound and the Amiga by David D. TAiel 139

The amount of RAM available to the sound system provides the limit of what you can do.

Programming Insight: A Useful Property of 2" by Robert C. Arp ]r. 145

Exploit the powers of 2 for simplified flag testing and input comparison.

THEME: PUBLIC DOMAIN POWERHOUSES

Introduction 152

PD PROLOG by Robert MoreiM 155

A fifth-generation language for MS-DOS and PC-DOS environments.

An Icon Tutorial by Ralph E. Griswold and Madge T. Griswold 167

This high-level, general-purpose programming language emphasizes nonnumeric computation

Enhanced Console Driver by Anthony lackin 183

You can create a user-friendly interface for DOS with this ANSI.SYS replacement.

Abundance by Roedy Green 193

A FORTH-based database language that can run backward in time.

Z80MU by Robert A. Qaumann 203

This program for the IBM PC emulates the Zilog Z80 and CP/M 2.2.

CP/M Hall of Fame 6y Brock N, Meek 219

A roundup of some of the best public domain CP/M software.

REVIEWS

Introduction 226

REVIEWER'S Notebook 6y \on Edwards 229

The Commodore Amiga Tom Ikompson 231

This machine features spectacular graphics and useful peripherals.

The Compaq Portable 11 Sian \^\as[kowsk\ 239

A version of the Portable 286 that comes in four configurations.

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COVER PHCfTG BY PAUL AVIS

Four !4-inch Tape Backup Units by Malcolm C. Rubel 243

Systems from Alloy, Sysgen, TSllgrass. and Ttecmar offer a variety of features and capabilities.

MuLlSP-86 by Robert I. Schalkoff 249

The successor to muLISP-83 and the short-lived muLISP-85.

ITC's Modula-2 Software Development System by Mark Bridger 255

A compiler and editor package for IBM PCs and compatibles.

Microsoft Word Version 3.0 by Malcolm C. Rubel 261

Powerful word processing that is easy to learn.

The Norton Utilities PC Tools, and Super Utility by Rubin Rabinmitz 265

Three programs for data recovery and file management.

Review Feedback 273

Readers respond to previous reviews.

KERNEL

Introduction 276

Computing at Chaos Manor: The Show Goes On? by \erry Pourtielle 279

lerry attends NCC where his worst fears are'confirmed.

According to Webster: Bit by Bit Putting It Together

by Bruce "Webster 293

A wedding announcement and a look at Advanced Tl'aceSd.

Applications Only: Shareware by Ezra Shapiro 297

Ezra looks at some programs for MS-DOS machines.

BYTE Japan: Taiwan s Computex 1986 by 'William M. Raike 307

Bill travels to Taipei and sees numerous IBM-compatible machines.

BYTE U.K.: BASIC to C by Dick Pountain 311

CGEN provides an efficient means of translating Microsoft BASIC programs into C.

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Atari ST 328

IBM PC and Compatibles 333

Editorial: Signs of Vitality 6

MiCROBYTES 9

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Ask BYTE 52

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S-100 338

Circuit Cellar Feedback 58

Book Reviews 65

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BOMB Results and Next Month in BYTE 389

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i

smARTWORK® lets the design engineer create and revise printed-circuit-board artworl< on the IBM Personal Computer. You keep complete control over your circuit-board artwork —from start to finish.

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□ Single-sided and double-sided printed circuit boards up to

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□ IBM Color/Graphics Adapter with RGB color or black-andwhite monitor

□ IBM Graphics Printer or Epson FX/MX/RX series dot-matrix printer

□ Houston Instrument DMP-41 pen-and-ink plotter

□ Microsoft Mouse (optional)

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At $895, smARTWORK* is proven, convenient, fast — ond guaranteed. Call us today And put smARTWORK' to work for yourself next week. Try it for 30 days at absolutely no risk. That's smart work.

Wintek Corporation Inquiry 327

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"smARTWORK", "Wintek" and the Wintek logo are registered trademarks of Wintek Corporation.

EDITORIAL

Signs of Vitality

Several recent and anticipated developments point to signs of renewed vitality in the personal computer industry. Following are comments on some of these developments.

The Trend to Open Hardware

The new Apple II GS featured on this month's cover has something the attractive and compact Apple 11c was supposed to render obsolete: internal expansion slots. It is widely believed that the new Macintosh will have slots as well. Amiga developers expect a more powerful version of that machine with internal expansion slots. Expansion slots will make all these machines more adaptable and therefore more appealing.

80386-BASED COIVIPUTERS

The Intel 80386, described in considerable detail in our special issue (the Fall 1986 Inside the IBM PCs) to be published later this month, is beginning to appear in personal computers. Programmers who have battled the segment registers of the 8086 and 80286 are rejoicing at the ability of the 80386 to use a vast linear address space. Simplified memory addressing and greater raw computing power will at last make Macintosh-like applications perform at high speed on IBM PC-cpmpatible machines.

68020'-BASED Computers

A new generation of personal computers based on the Motorola 68020 will also appear during the next several months. Apple is hard at work on an open-architecture Macintosh. Commodore seems to. be weathering its difficulties and is preparing new versions of the Amiga. Some new Amigas are believed to have 68020s. Atari executives have often spoken of a 3 2-bit UNIX workstation under development there. The 68020 will make this new generation of machines far more powerful than current models.

JBM's Need to Offer Something Better

IBM's vulnerability to inexpensive IBM PC compatibles may force the industry leader to lead through superior technology. If

IBM is forced to compete on the basis of new technology, computer users everywhere will benefit.

What exactly will IBM do? Most of the talk in the industry suggests a short-term approach featuring a new round of 80286based PCs with an operating system that uses the protected mode and supports large memory. The new 80286 machines will bundle in everything provided on the best-selling combination boards today IBM's new 80286 machines will raise the hardware standard for workhorse machines but probably won't convince anyone that IBM has more to offer than other vendors—particularly if other vendors are selling 80386-based machines at prices comparable to IBM's 80286-based machines.

More dramatic departures will come in IBM's 80386 machines—originally scheduled for February 1988 but now more likely to appear in mid-1987. The IBM 80386based systems will incorporate a great deal of proprietary technology. According to one line of speculation, IBM actually has obtained the rights to the masks of the 80386 and can extend the chip's functionality in proprietary ways. Speculation can run rampant on this theme.

A second line of speculation says that IBM will equip its 80386 machines with ROMs and systems software that implement the LU 6.2 and PU 2.1 protocols of the Systems Network Architecture (SNA) standard. These protocols support peerto-peer communications, as distinguished from host-to-terminal communications. Large corporations that own IBM mainframes would love to have IBM solve the problem of connecting PCs, minicomputers, and local area networks to mainframes in a convenient way Bundling LU 6.2 and PU 2.1 would help. The protocols are complex enough that other companies would need at least a year to implement compatible systems. This would give IBM a big advantage in the corporate market.

Success in the Home

In the eyes of some, the failure of the IBM PCjr doomed the market for home computers. But significant stirrings are again occurring in the home computer market.

The software house Electronic Arts, which has never lost its faith in the home computer saw its revenues grow 55 percent in 1985 and another 100 percent in 1986. The TSndy 1000 EX is the first of a new kind of IBM PC compatible intended for the home. Highly compact, attractively packaged, and relatively inexpensive, this machine will be an appealing home computer for people who use a desktop PC compatible at work. (For more details, see What's New, page 31.)

Open systems, the arrival of personal computers based on the 80386 and the 68020, a new line of workhorse machines from IBM, pressure on IBM to offer end users valuable new technology, and even signs of life for computing in the homeall these will make the next year a watershed in personal computing. We'll do our best to keep you abreast of changes. In addition to coverage here in BYTE, we will host events on BIX for interactive discussion of new developments.

BIX Events for October

The following special conferences will take place this month: The Apple II GS: First Users' Early Impressions: New Generation Laptops: Compatible Computing on the Go: The IBM RT PC: Which Niche for RISC?; Publishing Your Own Software; and Macintosh in the Sciences.

—Phil Lemmons Editor in Chief

Free BIX Time for Apple II GS Owners If you're an owner of the new Apple, you may be eligible for a free BIX membership and 10 free hours of connect time. The only qualifications are that you have accepted delivery of an Apple 1! GS; that you are willing to share your experiences with the new machine by participating in this month's BIX Special Event on the II GS; that you can provide your own modem and telecommunications software; and that you are one of the first 10 persons to call in response to this announcement, Tb participate, please call Associate Ttechnical Editor Curt Franklin at (603) 924-9281 during normal East Coast business hours.

6 BYTE • OCrOBEE 1986

Maxell Corporation of America, 60 Oxford Drive, Moonachie, NJ 07074 k

rhe world of computing has much in common with nature: Those who adapt to their environment flourish. Those who can't—go the way of the dinosaur.

If your computing environment includes mini computers, you can access tliem using standard terminals. But the smarter alternative is an IBM* compatible PC* and SmarTerm terminal emulation software—an advanced species of communications software.

Persoft began where most terminal emulation software companies strive to end—with exact, feature-forfeature emulation. Then Persoft took SmarTerm software to the next stage of evolution: superiority.

SmarTerm 240, the latest in the SmarTerm series, not only provides the ReGlS* and Tektronix* graphics capabilities of a DEC* VT240* terminal, but adds capabilities that are only possible through the power of a PC.

Features like error-free data transfer (using Kermit or XMODEM protocols), on-line help screens, remappable keyboard layouts, and programmable softkeys.

SmarTerm 240 is just one example of the most advanced line-up of DEC, Data General and Tektronix terminal emulation software in the industry.

Make the "natural selection." Ask your local dealer about SmarTerm terminal emulation software. Or contact:

smartErm

The Communications Software That Knows You Can't Ignore Evolution

Persoft, Inc. 465 Science Drive Madison, Wl U.S.A. 53711 (608) 273-6000 Telex 759491

i a a s

Visit Booth #8624 Hilton Pavillion West COMDEX/Las Vegas

persofT

" Inquiry 233

•SmarTrrm is a registered Irademark of I'ersolt, Inc. IBM and IBM I'C are regislerod Irndcmarks ol liii Corpiiraliun. Teklronix i.s a registered trademark ol Tektronix. Inc. i fersii/l. !i)H6, Ail rights

SmarTerm Terminal Emulation Software ... The Natural Selection

lal Busiiirss Machines (jirporalion. DF.C, VT' and firdl.S are tradeniiirks (li PiRiUil Eiiui|)tiienl

i

MI

CROBYTES

Staff-written fiighlights

of developments in technology and the microcomputer industry

Bell Labs Develops Optical Logic Device, Draws Nearer to Light-Beam Computer

The staff of the optical research department at AT&T's Bell Labs (Holmdel, N|) reports they've drawn closer to building a computer that uses light beams instead of electrical signals. Alan Huang, division head, claims electronic computers are outrunning the capabilities of integrated circuits; an alternative technology would process data with optical rays rather than electrical impulses. An optical computer could conceivably run 1000 times faster than conventional electronic machines.

One of the biggest obstacles Huang and crew faced was coming up with a device that could control light beams the way transistors control electrical signals. But that problem was at least partially solved when Bell Labs developed a breakthrough optical logic device. Called a SEED (self electro-optic effect device), the optical transistor functions as a NOR gate and, according to Huang, matches electronic logic elements in speed and power. The chip is made of gallium arsenide and aluminum gallium arsenide.

Huang, who's examining alternatives to electronic elements, says that while extensive work remains, his group hopes to build a functional optical computer within three years.

Softguard Working on VM Operating System for the 80386

What do you do if your company's premier software product (in this case, copy-protection systems) is becoming increasingly less popular with both users and manufacturers? Well, if you're part of Softguard Systems (Santa Clara, CA) and you're a former IBM mainframe programmer, you try to get your favorite operating system, VM, running on a microcomputer.

By the second quarter of next year Softguard hopes to have available for the new 80386-based machines a virtual operating system very similar to that of IBM's VM mainframe. The system will be able to play host to several other operating systems, including MS-DOS and UNIX, and run multiple copies of each of these at the same time. The system should also be able to emulate extended memory systems. Thus, according to Softguard, the VM system will obviate the need for a multitasking version of MS-DOS that can break the 640K-byte memory barrier

Modeled after IBM's VM/370, the system should be able to run on several of the new 80386-based computers, expected to be available shortly, It should also be able to run on 80386 speedup boards for the IBM PC, XT and AT Softguard will make its VM system available only to OEMs, but the company expects the end user to pay under $200.

Jay Miner, general manager at Commodore-Amiga (Los Gatos, CA), says the company is working on an improved version of the Agnus and Denise chips, two of the three custom chips in the Amiga 1000 that provide many of its advanced features. The improved chips will not work in existing Amigas but will be used in a future Amiga-family machine.

The Agnus chip is being upgraded to address 2 megabytes of display memory (the memory that must be used to store all video images) independent of the expansion memory. The current Agnus controls 5I2K bytes of memory. The bimmer (bit-mapped image manipulator) in the Agnus chip will be able to address 4K pixels at one time, up from the current chip's 1 K-pixel capability. The new Agnus and Denise chips will also support higher-resolution, noninterlaced graphics.

Commodore-Amiga has also redesigned its Genlock peripheral to meet FCC radiofrequency interference specifications. (Genlock enables the Amiga's display to overlay an external video signal.) Barring production problems the firm expects to have the product in the stores by November

Commodore Improving Amiga Chips; Has Redesigned Genlock

[conlinued]

OCTOBER 1986 • BYT E 9

i

MIT's Media Lab Produces Holographic Image Generated by Computer

The Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge) has demonstrated a small monochromatic hologram of a car While the hologram in itself is not exactly extraordinary, the car is: It was entirely computer-generated. The so-called "synthetic hologram—a hologram not of an actual object, but of a computer-generated model of an object—was created by interpolating 130 different views of the car onto a piece of film.

After the film was exposed, it was processed into a semicylindrical hologram, which allowed observers to look at the image from any point within a 180-degree viewing angle. Stephen Benton, associate professor of media technology at the lab's Spatial Imaging Group, described the image as "completely projected into space, suspended." He said the technology involved will someday let architects show buildings in true 3-D instead of on a flat drawing board and let surgeons examine images of body parts before operating.

According to Tim Browne, associate director of the Media Lab, a significant amount of development work remains to be done. The researchers hope to shorten the processing time of the hologram to 24 hours. The process currently requires approximately one week.

They also hope to enlarge the dimensions of the image from its present 8-inch by 4-inch size to something large enough to represent a human body. Other goals include adding fullcolor images (the car demo is green), 360-degree viewing, and transporting the graphics imaging software to a personal computer

The researchers expect that a commercial implementation of the technology may be ready within five years.

Manhattan Graphics Claims Desktop Publishing Package Signals "Next Generation"

Manhattan Graphics Inc. (Valhalla, NY), maker of the Ready Set Go page-maker package, is working on what it says will be a "next generation" advance in a Macintosh desktop publishing program. The firm hopes to release the software before Christmas. "Basically it's a major extension of WYSIWYG [what you see is what you get] for desktop publishing," said Ken Abbot, company president. Some packages have a preview mode that lets you view a document in WYSIWYG format before printing. The Manhattan Graphics program will have only one mode, which always provides a WYSIWYG display.

"We see the future for desktop publishing in having one mode [so that] you work with a simulation of the thing |you want to produce! at all times, " Abbot said. "The question of one mode is how far you can go and still get professional typographical features."

The forthcoming package is capable of word wrap and hyphenation in real time and in six languages; it will let you choose a range of text and change it from English to Spanish, for example, on the fly (with a menu selection) and have it all fit in the document according to the design parameters in place. The company is considering porting the program to other workstations and to IBM PC AT-style machines under Windows.

NANOBYTES

A spokesperson at Microsoft (Redmond, WA) said the company's next-generation operating system for personal computers will have a special high-bandwidth interface to keyboard, mouse, and video. Besides a very high-performance subsystem for user interaction, the operating system will provide networking in a transparent form that can always be present in the background.... Sources within Motorola's microprocessor group (Austin, TX) confirm that two new central processing units will be released by that company in the near future. Slated for autumn arrival is the 68030, an integrated version of the 68020 microprocessor This chip reportedly will include a memory management unit and a math coprocessor. Due in the first quarter of next year is the 20-MIPS 78000 CPU. Sources said the 78000 is a RISC processor that represents an evolutionary progression of the 68020.... AT&T Technology Systems (Berkeley Heights, NJ) has developed a chip it says is key to implementing an integrated services digital network (ISDN). The new chip, called UNITE, can be used by any builder of telecommunications equipment. It will allow fully digital transmission and reception of voice, data, video, hi-fi audio, and other types of communications over the same wires that carry regular phone calls.... A reliable industry source says IBM may attempt to stave off compatibles companies by implementing its SNA in ROM in its new personal computers. IBM could then extend its operating system to take advantage of the ROMs. According to the source, builders of PC compatibles would have trouble developing comparable systems quickly. The SNA implementation would simplify connecting IBM's microcomputers with its larger machines.

10 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

\fen-Tel clears the path

to2400baud.

Trying to install a 2400 baud modem in your PC can make you feel like you're trying to get through a maze.

With most 2400 baud modems, you'll wade through pages of documentation ... only to learn that you must set dozens of parameters and reconfigure your software. Even buy all new software.

Ven-Tel 2400 baud modems eliminate the barriers. Just plug one in, and you're ready to transmit your data twice as fast. Using whatever

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modems in either our convenient desktop, or Half Card " internal, versions. Each requires minimal installation and will automatically connect with 1200/300 baud modems and services. And each is available with or without X.PC error correction built-in. Like all of our PC products, Ven-Tel 2400 baud modems are backed by a free five-year warranty. No other major manufacturer even comes close. So when you decide to shift into high gear, do it with a Ven-Tel 2400. We give you the speed

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Modems

Our free 24-page booklet, "How to Select The Correct Modem" contains specific information about our full line of Ven-Tel 1200 and 2400 baud modems.To request your copy, call 800-538-5121. In California, call 408-727-5721.

Inquiry 316 OCTOBER 1986 -BYTE II

I

In 1950America future m

America grew up listening to Packard Bell radios. Then Packard Bell television entertained the nation. Today Packard Bell has launched the products that provide American business

The VT 286 Business Compuler. PC/AT compalibie. Ultra fast, ulti

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software developments. It is a system so versatile it will optimize the hardware and software the user may have already invested in. It is, indeed, a total business system solution.

The EGA Color Monitor. Super high resolution. 64 color capability. EGA, CGA, MGA compatible.

In 1986it stUl does.

As the future unfolds, Packard Bell will continue to develop the products and services needed by the business and professional user. Products that perform reliably, economic

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the value not often provided

The 1200 or 2400 bps modems are Hayes compatible.

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America began listening to Packard Bell in 1929. Since then Packard Bell has become a familiar name...a name that has stood for * quality. It ,!!'^ still does. It always will.

The high speed laser printer provides superb letter quality at the rate of 8 pages per minute.

America grew up listening to Packard Bell. It still does.

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Inquiry 222 for End-Users. Inquiry 223 for VARS,

LETTERS

Screaming Computers

In all the discussions about the possible health hazards of VCQS, I have seen no mention of what is, for me, an obvious and serious discomfort: the piercing audio shriek that is emitted by all standard VITIfe. Apparently, most people cannot hear this 15.75-kHz whistle. 1 belong to the minority that avoids certain intersections where "ultrasonic" motion detectors are deployed and that gets headaches in airports due to the VDIfe that are hanging everywhere.

Engineers who design VDTfe, switching power supplies, security systems, and so on—please remember that some people do hear all the way to 20 kHz. Please design things so as to lessen the emission of high-frequency audio waves (stiffer flyback transformers?). And please hurry up the transition to higher-resolution video, which is linked to higher scanning rates. For example, the 3 5-kHz scanning rate in the Atari ST monochrome monitor was a major factor in my decision to go with that system. Having gotten used to it, I can hardly believe that I used computers at all before.

MOSME BRANER

Ithaca. NY

Horizontal Sync

While trying to prepare myself for the shock that will surely accompany my first telephone bill after 1 start using BIX, i have been reading the Best of BIX section with great interest.

I own an Atari ST and was interested to read that Dave Ivlenconi (July, page 399) was having the same problem 1 had a couple of months ago. The monochrome monitor often moves the screen horizontally, so that one side of the screen wraps around to the other side.

This is not a problem with the ST but with the monochrome monitor. It is easily fixed by opening up the monitor and twiddling a small pot marked "Horizontal Sync." For accuracy this is best done when the monitor is on and connected to the ST. Of course, this can be dangerous unless extreme care is taken. A plastic screwdriver is essential. The adjustment could also be made on a trial-and-error basis when the monitor is off. It would

14 I f f S » OOaaER 1986

then be turned on to test the position of the screen.

I have just completed my first piece of commercial software for the ST series and

1 could certainly have used the help of the BlXen during the early days. 1 hope to be BlXing soon!

Andrew R. Bennett Harrogate, North Yorkshire United Kingdom

Mathematics OF Programming

May 1 commend you for your selection of "Mathematics of Programming" by C. A. R. Hoare (August). In addition to the specific points made (lucidly!) by the author it provides some hope that what good analysts and programmers know intuitively can someday be taught to future toilers specifically

Hoare's approach would be a significant addition to (and in many instances a substitution for) the variety of mathematical and logical courses now provided wouldbe analysts/programmers. Many of the current courses are merely dogmatic exercises in complexity

Seth S. Grossman Delmar, NY

Mathematics of Music

We are glad to see that Charles Dodge and Curtis Bahn ("Musical Fractals," June) have made it known to your readers that fractal mathematics is not limited to the graphics screen. We would like to add that there are a great many possibilities not touched upon in that article.

In 1981, Hologramophone Research was formed for the purpose of exploring the possibilities of computer-assisted music. Since then, with the help of the ideas of Benoit Mandelbrot {The Fractal Geometry of Nature) and Douglas Hofstadter {Goedel Escher. Badn: An Eternal Golden Brautj we have discovered many ways to take advantage of music's inherent mathematical nature. The computer can be programmed to fractalize real-time acoustical events in any number of ways, so it is valuable as an improvisational (as well as a compositional) tool.

We have found that much of the great music in history can be described by simple fractal formulas, right down to the sounds the instruments make. We believe the fractal concept to be responsible for much of the beauty in nature, and we expect that the next generation of synthesizers will embody a deeper understanding of these possibilities. We would be delighted to correspond with any of your readers who are interested in this field, which, though small, presents boundless potential.

Justin Parker Peter McClard Hologramophone Research 316 Sena St Santa Fe. NM 87501

Updates for ATOMCC

The response to my article "The ATOMCC Tbolbox" (April) has been good. Many have approached me for the source code of the program. There must be many more who have obtained the executable and object files from BYTE.

The purpose of this letter is to inform users of ATOMCC that 1 have found and fixed several important bugs. Of course, all programs of such size will have some bugs, and perhaps some users will simply work around them. However, some of the bugs are rather severe

Bug #1

While doing research on differentialalgebraic equations (DAEs), I found that the ATDMCC compiler did not properly search all the binary tree branches for certain types of equations For example, the following input equations will produce messages of "undefined operator number

{continued)

LETTERS POLICY: To be considered for publication, a letter must be typed double-spaced on one side of the paper and must include your name and address. Comments and ideas should be expressed as dearly and concisely as possible. Listings and tables may be printed along with a letter if they are short and legible

Because BYTE receives hundreds of letters each month, not all of them can be published, letters will not be returned to authors. Generally, it takes four months from the time BYTE receives a letter until it is published.

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0" and gaps in the object program:

DIFF(X,T,1) = X«X

Y = 2*(X H- 1 -)- EXP(-T))/X

$

$

$

$

The tree for the second equation is as shown below, where all the nodes are circled and labeled a to g. The original processing saved all the right branches as nodes and processed the left branches as it went along. Therefore, the nodes pushed down on the stack (MSTK) are, in order, b, d, and e. The correct order of processing sequence is f, g, e, d, c, b, and a. However, since node c was not saved on the stack, the actual processing was c, g, f, e, d. b, and a, which created havoc.

Figure 1: TVee/or Y=2-(X-i-1-i-EXP(-T))/X.

The result was that e did not connpile properly, and errors were produced in the object code.

The fix is to force saving onto a stack all the nodes of the binary tree. A subroutine within ATOMCC called FORMAT has

{continued)

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Inquiry 190

LETTERS

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been rewritten. The processing is now done correctly without missing any node.

You can work around this bug by breaking up the second equation into smaller parts, such as shown below. You must simplify any equation that may invoke the error message as given above.

DIFF(X,T,1) = X*X

Y = 2'PARTA

PARTA = PARTB/X

PARTB = (X -I- 1 -I- EXP(-T))

Bug #2

let Propulsion Labs has had a copy of ATOMCC for over a yean and mathematicians there have made some extensive comparisons of this method with other methods. They have produced a paper on this subject. The bug in question here arose when they tried to submit the entire solar system including relative corrections to ATOMCC. There were over 900 equations. As anyone doing ti-body problems knows, in such problems there are many exponentials such as (Sun Earth)"2.

When ATOMCC was first written, we had planned on only a handful of these exponentials. So, the design was to move a certain stack for triplets (MTRPL) up by 50 to make room for these exponential functions. When this number of 50 was exceeded by IPL, the triplets on the stack wrote over onto themselves and produced an infinite loop.

The fix is to use another stack for the input stream (1N0UT2), which happens to be the same size as (MTRPL) and which contains the input stream that can be discarded at this stage. Thus, the new design can handle as many of these exponentials as the user may wish to enter For users who need to solve very large systems of equations, there is no way to work around this bug.

Bug #3

While working on the other bugs. I decided to test the implementation of some of the functions. One of them proved to have an error There was a misalignment in the output code for the arc tangent function. If you wish to use the arc tangent function, you must obtain the new version of ATOMCC.

Bug #4

In testing ATOMCC, jet Propulsion Labs used a certain parameter (HMAX) to control the accuracy of the results. IPL had an earlier version of ATOMCC that retained this parameter

Once I got wind of this, I realized that

there was a bug in the RDCV subroutine. The accuracy of the results produced by ATOMCC is properly controlled only by ERRLIM.

The algorithm in the RDCV subroutine comprises three parts. The first part, called three-term analysis, is used to calculate the position and order of a singularity on the real axis. The second part, called six-term analysis, is used to calculate the position and order of a pair of conjugate singularities in the complex plane.

The third part, called top-line analysis, is used to estimate the distance of a simple pole with unknown position and order. The first two analyses are based on sound fundamental mathematical bases. The topline analysis is only an estimate. This estimate is used only when the other two analyses fail.

When the parameter HMAX is used to limit the step size and control the error the effect is only to reduce the step size when top-line is being used, because the step size is large only when the solution point is between singularities and the other analyses fail. Therefore, there must be an error in top-line. This is a severe bug.

The fix is to completely rewrite top-line. You can raise the parameter MPRINT to 6 or 8 and observe whether top-line is being used appreciably. If it is being used a lot, the accuracy of the results is in doubt. You must then obtain the new version of ATOMCC This leads to the next bug.

Bug #5

The version of ATOMCC mentioned in the article was version 7.10. It contained a significant advancement over previous versions in that stiff equations could be solved. As mentioned in the user manual, stiff equations are solved only in double precision. What I am leading up to is that I have left a developmental flag in the DRDCV subroutine. This is sort of like a mechanic leaving a screwdriver inside the air conditioning duct propping open an air valve.

What was the purpose of this flag? It was used to bypass the three-term and sixterm analyses. What is the result? The result is that only top-line is being used in this subroutine. Examples 3 to 17 of the user manual will not yield any result in double precision. Since three-term and six-term analyses are bypassed, therefore, in double precision, version 7.10 of ATOMCC has poor error control as explained above. This is the most severe bug. The user must obtain version 7.20 if there is much intent to solve problems in double precision.

[continued]

18 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

I/O Meets EGA

Announcing The AST-3G Pak' ' For Single-Slot EGA Graphics And I/O.

AST-3G Pak packs it all...complete four-mode graphics and popular input/output features...in a single-slot.

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LETTERS

Added Features

Since Jet Propulsion Labs expressed a desire to solve systems of more than 900 equations, I have made some changes in ATOMCC to accommodate, if the user has sufficient memory capacity (at least a megabyte of RAM would be required), he can use ATOMCC version 7.20 to solve up to 9000 equations or perhaps even more.

Version 7.20 also has an automatic KTRDCV feature where only those

variables with the smallest radii of convergence are fully analyzed in the subroutine RDCV. This yields an appreciable savings of computational time in instances when the system of equations to be solved is large.

Another added feature is where the ATOMCC compiler prints out the amount of Internal stack spaces being used for each problem versus the total stack spaces

available. The user can then see just how much resource is used and how big

FoxBASE wins the dBASE race!

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Tongue-Tying voicewriters

In order to clear away hype and set standards. I suggest that the following text be read in clear measured tones to all devices purporting to function as "voicewriters":

"Cap Ten and my caftan." kept on crying the Captain, "Cap Ten!" Of numbered caps. Cap Ten suited the Captain. He had numbered them as the numb bird landed, "l^nd dead ahead!" called out the Mate to cawing from the numb bird. Would its gnaw tickle? It cawed, but it was caught on the carpet, "Correction!" the Captain would carp pettily, "Your nautical law has no tickle. We've three types of wreck: surface, deeper, core. Sir, fuss deeper, weave, hear the screw's deep purr. This ship's an old seesaw!" The Captain capped an epigram: "Old sea saw: Correction! Core wreck shun. Cap Ten and my caftan! 1. as a Copenhagen Captain, coped on a captstan and kept on coping!"

If the device makes more than five or six errors in transaiption (or about one per twenty words dictated), some careful examination of the voicewriting concept may be in order

While it may seem that this text has been contrived to place a fairly high strain on such machines, the difficulties it presents are not only normal but inevitable. Similar ones are found in everyday spoken English, where not only isolated homonyms but the ordinary internal phonetics of words and phrases can create obstacles to sound and word recognition. In some foreign languages, particularly Chinese and other members of the Sino-Tibetan family this problem is many times more difficult than in English,

A few years ago there was a great deal of noise to the effect that computers would soon replace "analog," or human, translators. This was before it was realized how difficult the problems of translating natural languages actually are, and now those companies involved in machine translation talk of working with, rather than replacing, the translator

Some of the same problems involved in machine translation are also present in transcribing spoken words, in some ways in even more acute forms. Hence, it may be a bit premature to talit of replacing

(contmued)

20 BYTE • GOOBER 1986

Inquiry 116

lANGUiUiES THill ARE CAUSING 1HE NGGESI PROGRANUIIIING BACKLOGIN HISTORY ARE ALSO EATING NKE BIG HOLB IN OUR POCKETS.

Whether it's BASIC, COBOL, Pascal, "C", or a data base manager, you're being held back.

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In the real world, there's pressure to do more impressive work, in less time, and for more clients.

We've been given some incredibly powerful hardware in recent times, but the languages aren't a whole lot better than they were 20 years ago.

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A file may have as many keys as it needs. Each key may be composed of any fields in any order. And key files are updated whenever the value of the key changes.

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FILER will also automatically rebuild existing files to match a changed file structure. It creates a new record for every existing record, copying the existing fields and initializing new ones.

unds pretty complicated, huh? Not with CLARION'S documentation and on-line help screens. If you are currently competent in BASIC, Pascal or "C" you can be writing CLARION applications in a day. In two days you won't believe the eloquence of your CLARION programs. Okay, now for the best part of all. You can say it in CLARION for $295.00—plus shipping and handling. All you need is an IBM® PC, XT, AT or true compatible, with 320 KB of memory, a hard disk drive, and a parallel port. And we'll allow a full 30 day evaluation period. If you're not satisfied with CLARION, simply return it in its original condition for a full refund.

u you're not quite ready to take advantage of this no-risk opportunity, ask for our detailed 16 page color brochure. It vividly illustrates the elegance of CLARION. Consider it a preview of programming in the fast lane. Either way, the 800 call's a freebie.

BARRINGnHI SYSmillSlINC ISO EAST SAJHIPU ROAD POmPANO BEAOj FIORIPA 33064 305/785-4555

IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. CLARION™ is a trademark of Barrington Systems, Inc. ©1986 Harrington Systems

Inquiry 34

OCTOBER 1986 • B Y T E 21

LETTERS

secretaries and stenographers with voicewriting devices.

Alex Gross New York, NY

Combining Languages

I would lil<e to comment on the remarks in the lune Best of BIX about the similarities and differences between Ada and Modula-2 (pages 376-378).

I believe that the real debate between the proponents of each language should not rest upon whether one should have an "everything but the kitchen sink" philosophy or a "do the rest by yourself" philosophy The real debate is on how much information a programmer can absorb in learning while remaining proficient at the job and how to increase programming efficiency

The first philosophy (that of Ada) creates an environment where programmers must absorb an incredible amount of information. They must remember not only the keywords of the Ada language but also a very sophisticated syntax.

In this philosophy programmers are easily overwhelmed, especially if they already know another language. On the

other hand, this philosophy provides an identical environment for all Ada programmers. An Ada programmer can move from one environment to another with very little difficulty

The second philosophy (that of Modula-2) represents a language stripped down to its essential parts. It becomes a pure and simple tool. What is the problem with that? you might say There is the lack of an identical environment for all Modula-2 programmers. Having a module capability provides access to independently written functions for doing all sorts of work.

But this capability if left completely free, can have harmful effects, too. For example, each time Modula-2 programmers have to change systems, they have to relearn the graphics procedures of the other environment. This is a matter of philosophy not implementation, because, although it would be easy for Modula-2 to define the workings of certain external modules, this clashes with its minimalist philosophy

Still, the learning problem remains. We become victims of what is commonly called the "tyranny of large numbers" by

electrical engineers. This problem arises in the construction of VLSI chips. These chips contain around 200.000 components. It has now become impossible for an engineer to design and lay out one of these chips without the help of logic simulators, circuit simulators, and a slew of computer-aided engineering tools.

If you compare the situation of electrical engineers to that of todays programmers you see that, although programmers are faced with tasks of ever-greater complexity they do not have the computer tools that will help them perform their jobs with the greatest possible efficiency Programming as a discipline has not changed since 1959. In other words, we are using 27-yearold technology We are still entering our programs by hand, still designing them (sometimes) with pencil-drawn flowcharts, and still using simplified documentation systems (i.e., comments). Can you imagine an electrical engineer spreading out a large sheet of paper on the kitchen table to design even a very simple microprocessor? Yet many programmers are faced with tasks of this complexity

What programmers really need is not a

[continued]

Effortlessly.

Inquiry 110 for End-Users. Inquiry III for DEALERS ONLY.

That's how easy it is to implement on the Apple Macintosh the enormous volume of applications written in dBase III for the IBM PC, Using dMac III, you can develop applications on the Macintosh and transfer them to the PC where they can be implemented under dBase III. With dMac III, the IBM PC and the Apple Macintosh work as a smooth running, tireless team.

• dMac Ill's nearly limitless range of power includes:

•Up to 2,000 procedures per procedure file •Up to 2,000 memory variables •Up to 2,000 fields per record •Up to 253 bytes per field

• Like dBase III, dMac HI features a powerful programming language that offers Macintosh users the abihty to create professional business applications.

• dMac III shares data with other major Macintosh software packages.., in both directions

• To run dMac III you need:

•Apple Macintosh or Macintosh plus with 512 KB RAM 'two disc drives or one disk drive and a hard disk

• dMac III is immediately available at a suggested retail price of $495.00

For your authorized dMac III dealer contact:

FORMAT SOFTWARE, INC, 11770 Bernardo Plaza Ct. Suite 217 San Diego, CA 92128 (619) 487-6946

IBM is a iwdemark of tlie IBM Corporauori, Maeiniosh is a iraderiiaik Ikcnsod to ApplL- Conipuier, Iik. dBase 111 is a tradoiiiaik of Asliioii-Tati.-. Ini.,

dMac III makes the exchange smoothly and in stride.

Ten Good Reasons to Buy an Amazing Things^'' Model "A" Series™ Modem

1. Amazing Things Modems Provide Access to a Wealth of Information through Databases.

You can access over 2,500 informational databases with an Amazing Things Modem. Research topics from astrology to zoology, stock quotes, news, weather, sports, legal references, medical information and more.

2. Amazing Things Modems Networl<.

Connect your personal computer to any other personal computer in your office or in the world.

3. You can Telecommute with Amazing Things Modems.

Work at home and send your data to the office via telephone. Observers believe that 15-20 percent of the office work force will be telecommuting by 1990. A. Amazing Things Modems are Direct Links to any Mainframe.

Access your company's mainframe from your office, from your home or on the road with an Amazing Things Modem.

5. Amazing Things Modems Overcome Incompatibility Problems.

Send documents from one personal computer to another, even if the systems are incompatible.

6. Amazing Things Modems Bring You Electronic Banking and Shopping.

Many banks now offer banking and investment services over the telephone. And you can shop for thousands of products — from cameras to clothing — with electronic catalogues.

7. You Can Send and Receive Electronic Mail with Amazing Things Modems.

Send letters and memos instantly. Mass mail them automatically, across the office or across the country.

8. Amazing Things Modems are Inexpensive Alternatives to the Telex.

Send and receive volumes of information overseas at a fraction of the cost of a Telex.

9. Amazing Things Modems are Fun. Through various bulletin boards, you can join clubs, exchange software, advertise, meet people, find jobs and much more.

10. Amazing Things Modems are Inexpensive.

The Amazing Things Model "A" Series I200B Modem is priced at $149.95 — about one third the price of an equivalent Hayes Modem. And the 2400B is priced at only $289.

• 300-1200 Baud $149.95

• 300-2400 Baud $289.

• Half-Card

• Auto-Answer, Auto-Dial

• Hayes'"-Compatible

• Full or Half-Duplex

• Two-Year Warranty

• For Leading Edge*^ Personal Computers, IBM and Compatibles

For a dealer near you or to order direct, call 1-800-835-0139, (617) 551-0880 in MA. MasterCard and Visa accepted.

Amazing Things Inc. 57 Providence Highway Norwood, MA 02062

Amazing Things and Logo and Model "A" Series are trademarks of Amazing Tilings, Inc. Hayes is a registered trademark of Hayes Microcomputer Products. Inc. IBM is a registered trademark o( International Business Machines Corp. Apple is a registered trademark of Apple Computer Inc. Leading Edge is a registered trademark of Leading Edge Products. Inc.

Inquiry 163

LETTERS

single "do it all" language but an environment providing tools for creation, verification, and documentation of programs. Who cares if the program is written in five different languages if each one is used to perform a task it is intended for. The goal of a programmer is not to program in a certain language but to produce a program. Loyalty to a programming language is ridiculous! The end justifies the means. It would seem logical to call these systems computer-aided programming (CAP). Un

fortunately, these systems do not have widespread use. Instead of worrying about user-friendliness, how about worrying about programmer-friendliness a little bit? If programmers are given better working conditions, they will find it easier to produce user-friendly interfaces It seems evident that more effort will be put into designing something if the design process becomes simpler.

You may be wondering why I wrote this letter. I am an 18-year-old student and I

find it difficult to understand why grown men can be such crybabies when it comes to computer languages. I also find it hard to believe that, after 27 years, we do not have commercial CAP systems readily available for many machines such as the IBM PC or the Macintosh. At a time when businesses talk about "efficiency" and "productivity" I find this aberrant.

Although I have voiced a number of strong opinions, 1 would like to thank you for producing the Best of BIX column. It provides an excellent forum for user feedback and lets many of us. who do not access BIX directly, benefit from the experiences of others. Although 1 do not always agree with many of the comments, I enjoy reading them very much.

Ronald J. Perrella St. lean de Braye, France

Accessing Foreign On-line Services

I have been following the discussion of international access to data networks, and I'd like to add my part of the story.

I have called different on-line services from Argentina, where the organization of telephone lines, as well as the access to data networks, is government-controlled, as in Europe.

The rates are S12 an hour, plus $.58 per kilosegment, plus the call to the local node, about $.60 an hour.

There's no membership nor minimum usage and neither annual nor monthly fees. I noticed that some readers had complaints about some on-line services billing a surcharge for the network usage within the U.S., which added to the service fee plus the international access, which increases the overall cost even more. There is, however, an on-line service that not only doesn't surcharge for network usage, but also has a flat, 24-hour fee for international users. This system is Delphi, which is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts,

Anyway all the letters up to this point have been about access to the U.S. What about access from the U.S. to foreign online services? I moved to the U.S. last December, and since then I haven't been able to call the Argentinian systems. Maybe a reader can come up with some idea? I called the network's customer support numbers without success.

Javier Henderson Alta Loma, CA

Inversion Divergence

After reviewing "Inverting Large Matrices" by Thomas E. Phipps (April), we ran the program on page 186 without lines 150

{continued]

CONSIDERTHISJUSr ABRIEFAUOmON.

ACTOR™ is a new, interactive programming system, the first with Microsoft* Windows. You have Windows when you write a program, cind users have'Windows when they run it.

Moreover, ACTOR is a new, objectoriented programming language.'Winding objects up and turning them loose is a lot easier more productive, and more fun than old fashioned programming.

Thanks to a new method of "in

ACTOR offers all the features of

cremental garbage collection," ACTOR an ideal artificial intelligence language,

never has to slow down to clean up but in a familiar, Pascal-style syntax,

memory like other advanced languages. Which makes artificial intelligence pro

You can even use it for real-time con- gramming easier And what could be

trol. It's that fast. smarter than that?

From a brief audition like this, you really can't see how much better it is programming with ACTOR. ACTOR is more than just a research tool. It's an effective language for developing real applications. For more information, write us at the address below or call 312-491-2370. It'U help you appreciate the performance.

TheWliitewaterGroup

Technology Innovation Center 906 University Place, Evanston, IL 60201

24 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 324

YNCmodem is your iH^or BSC Ga^aly

/ ^\ \ Fjeatures: / /

...

eatures: / /

PC/XT/AT'bus compatible Auto-d i a 1 /a uto-a n s we r/ Tone or pulse dial Supports Bisync or s6lC links

Description:

SYNCmodem is an IBM PC, XT or AT lSus compatible interface card capable of operating as a synchronous modem or as a synchronous interface card.

SYNCmodem is ideal for remote PC-tomainf rame or PC-to-PC communications. It comes fully integrated with 3780PluS™, CLEO-3270 SNA or BSC, and CLEO-5250 SNA software packages.

3780P1US allows fast and efficient file transfers, over common phone lines, between your PC and any micro, mini, or mainframe that supports 2780/3780 Bisync protocol.

CLEO-3270 SNA or BSC and CLEO-5250 SNA allow your PC to emulate a remote 327x or 525x terminal device. All you need is a phone line.

The 212/201 modem includes the Mirror asynchronous software package in addition to your selected CLEG SNA or BSC package.

For details call 1(800)233-CLE0. In Illinois 1(815)397-8110.

CLEO Software ^~~'-^®

a division of Phone 1, Inc. 1639 North Alpine Road Rockford. IL 61107 TELEX 703639

CLEO Is a registered trademark of CLEO Software. SYNCmodem and 3780Plus are trademarks of CLEO Software.

Inquiry 62

LETTERS

and 160. We found that the technique was highly oscillating in nature and diverged within 5 iterations. With the above lines, the program converged in 5 minutes, 20 seconds with 14 iterations. We would like to hear the author's comments on this.

H. V. Ramakrishnan Bombay, India

Dr. Ramakrishnan is quite correct about the instability of the published algorithm for the case in which entries fwhether

random numbers or user-supplied numbers) are all of one algebraic sign. This took me completely by surprise, since I had assumed that random signs would stress the algorithm more, and I failed to check this unwarranted assumption. Other users of the program have reported occasional instabilities of largematrix inversions.

The cure for all such problems is immediate if we recognize that the plain Newton's iteration is always stable. The

trouble lies in my "improvement" on that algorithm—particularly in my choice of parameter value m = 4 in equations 12 and 13, in figure I of the article (page 182). The smaller the m value, the greater the assurance of stability. The choice m = 1 provides a reliable compromise between speed and assurance of stability for inverting matrices whose real-number entries are all of one sign, (m = 2 also works, but m > 2 is unsafe.) Thus, in the program listing one just changes line 380 to read

380 FOR 1=1 TO N:X(I,I)=1 + E(I,I):NEXT

For greater flexibility, I find it useful to rewrite the program to make m an optional input parameter.

Thomas E. Phipps )r.

Urbana, IL

New Chip Shipped BY Request Only

After visiting COMDEX in Atlanta this spring, we were immensely impressed with the new Star Micronics NX-10. It is without a doubt the best sub-$300 printer available. Having owned a Star GeminilOX, we were cognizant of Star's exceptional quality, cost, and performance. Immediately, we each ordered one and we were startled at what we received.

The problem was that the print quality and print fonts were completely different from, and substantially inferior to, what we saw at COMDEX. Fortunately, we had retained a sample printout from the printer at COMDEX and quickly notified Star of our displeasure. After first denying the problem then taking our names and telephone numbers, the people at Star assured us they were aware of the problem and action would be taken.

Approximately four weeks and three phone calls later the new EPROM chips arrived. They were labeled version 1.3 and replaced version 1.2. The print is nearly identical to that of the COMDEX display

Finally we asked how long someone would have to wait in order to purchase an NX-10 with the new chip from a local computer store. The technical representative said Star has no plans to update this chip in the NX-10, and if you want the new chip you have to call Star and ask for it.

How do you tell which version your NX-10 has? Simply remove the ribbon cartridge and look through the plastic cover at the chip beside the two banks of DIP switches. The number is printed on the chip. Our advice is to call Star and ask what action to take for replacing the chip.

Dale S. Owens Arthur ). Faske Atlanta, CA ■

^PEED\NARE

A DIVISION OF AMERICAN AFFORDABLE SOFTWARE CORPORATION

PRESENTS

Turbo Debugger'" Features

• User-Definable custom windows — Change window sizes or colors

• Single-step tracing with "Back-Tracing" up to 100 instructions

• In-Line relocating Assembler with non-destructive insert capability

• Fully Symbolic, Create Comments and Line Labels, Keyboard macros

• Dual Monitor support, with Screensave

• Specify several Breakpoint conditions with the built-in Assembler

• Use NMI Breakout switchor • User-definable / hotkeys jj

• Read, Write anai Modily, EXE ffle?^

Turbo Editasm'" features

• Integrated WordStar compatible Editor Integrated Microsoft compatible Macro Assembler

< Full 8088, 8086, 8087. 80186, 80287.

80286(R) & (P) support

• Full Macro expansion capability

• Built-in Calculator & Xreference

Capability

• Limited DOS command support

• Supports In-Memory Assembly

TURBO TEAM '

Inside Calilomia (800) 334-3664 • Outside California |800) 443-6190 ■

nm m I I Turhn Edilasm'" '

$99.001 J Turbo Editasm " $89.00 □ Turbo Debugger'" I

r„rt J 1 1 1 II 1

1

1

I

„, I

Dealer and Education Discounts Available. ^Jj

id? us* JdO ID^ jnO ™io (lyiiitr

26 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 20

New Line of Everex Cards For Your AT

Everex announces a new line of add-in peripheral cards that increase the power and performance of your IBM AT ™ or compatible. Magic I/O ™ The Everex Magic I/O is a half size multifunction board that is just right for extra I/O. You get one standard RS-232C serial port, an optional serial port, and a parallel printer port. Extra I/O at a low price!

Maxi Magic EMS™

The Maxi Magic EMS gives you the maximum amount 4MB of RAM in a single slot. This expanded memory card supports the LotusIntel-Microsoft expanded memory specification. You can configure the memory any way you like with user-selectable memory addressing. And there's split memory addressing so that you can use some of the RAM to upgrade your PC to 640K.

RAM 3000 ™

The RAM 3000 is an extended memory board that grv^es you up to 3MB in user-assignable RAM, using either 64K or 256K RAM chips. This board is perfect for UNIX and those applications that require direct memory addressing. Magic Card 16 ™ This multifunction has it all! Two megabytes of RAM that lets you customize the memory to your existing memory. One standard serial port and a parallel port, plus an optional serial port handles all your I/O problems. There is also a game port, and included is word processing, Ramdisk, spooler, and Form Manager software. Call your local dealer for a demo, or call EVEREX to get all the facts on our new line of AT peripheral cards.

OCTOBER 1986 - BYTE 27

1-800-821-0806 1-800-821-0807

In the USA In California

48431 Milmont Dr. ^^^^^^^^

Fremont, CA 94538 ~=

(415) 498-1 111 EVER tor Excellence

Magic I/O. Maxi Manic LMS. m\ 100(1, anil Magic Caul 16 are Iradcmarks of MREX S'iSTEMS. INC. IBM AT is a trailcmark of inlemationa! iitisiiiess Machines Corp.

Inquiry 104 for End-Users. Inquiry 105 for DEALERS ONLY.

Tech Personal Computer's

Tech PC Twin Multiuser Starting From $1699

Tech PC/XT base unit with 640K, and two 360K disk drives.

Two high resolution monitors, two selectric style HiTek keyboards, 50 feet of shielded cable to separate the two stations.

System supports up to sbc printers.

Full software support with multi-level file, security, electronic message facility to send and receive messages between users, password logon system, and system operator command level.

System supports all popular software such as Wordstar, dBaselll, Lotus 123, Multimate, etc.

Tech PC Triad MuUiuser Starting From $2599

Tech PC/XT base unit with 640K, and two 360K disk drives.

Separate Intel 80188 microprocessor running at 8 MHz and 512K for each terminal.

Tlnree high resolution monitors, three Selectric style HiTek keyboards, 50 feet of shielded cable to separate the three stations.

System expandable to 32 workstations. System supports up to six printers.

Full support for multitasking multiterminal use with print spooling for multiple printers, background monitoring of the system, dial up bulletin board support, passwork protection, and fOe/record locking supporting PC Network protocol.

System supports all popular software such as Wordstar, dBaselll, Lotus 123, Multimate, etc.

THIRD PARTY MAINTENANCE

AVAILABLE THROUGH

MOMENTUM SERVICE CORPORATION

IBM, IBM XT are registered trademarks of International Business Corporation.

Multiuser Systems...

Tech PC Quad Multiuser Starting From $4499

Tech Turbo PC/AT base unit in portable or desktop configuration witli 512K, multiple serial ports, three Tech PC terminals, connecting cables, and networking software.

Four users expandable to nine users over dumb terminals or PC's with terminal emulation software.

Capacity for up to 16 printers at remote sites with up to 6 local printers attached to the main unit.

Each user can access 512K of RAM with memory expansion boards.

Full support for multitasking multiterminal use with print spooling for central or terminal printing, background monitoring of the system, dial up bulletin board support, password protection, and File/Record locking using PC etwork protocol.

System supports all popular software such as Wordstar, dBaselll, Lotus 123, Multimate, etc.

Tech PC Turbo Quad Multiuser Starting From $5999

Tech PC/XT base unit in portable or desktop configuration with 640K, multiple serial ports, three Tech PC terminals, connecting cables, and networking software.

Separate NEC V20 8088 Intel compatible 8 MHz CPU and up to 1 MB RAM for each terminal on the system.

Two fully functional serial ports per terminal.

Four users expandable to 32 users over dumb terminals or PC's with terminal emulation software. Capacity for unlimited number of local printers.

Full support for multitasking multiterminal use with print spooling for multiple printers, background monitoring of the system, dial up buEetin boai-d support, password protection, and File/Record locking supporting PC Network protocol.

System supports all popular software such as Wordstar, dBaselll, Lotus 123, Multimate, etc.

Open

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NETWORK VERSION AVAILABLE

INTRODUCING OPEN ACCESS' 11

THE FULLY INTEGRATED BUSINESS SYSTEM WITH THE WORLD AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Open Access il is a new, super-program which can perform virtually every managerial and business task you'll ever need with performance and ease-ofuse unheard of in the industry.

Open Access II combines an extremely powerful relational database and superior spreadsheet with data communications, word processing, 3-dimensional graphics, and time management. Information is conveniently changed from module to module.

Open Access H's Database features an effective and flexible report generator and user definable screens. "Programmer," our new Database language, features simple interacting English-like commands to produce your customized applications.

Open Access H's Spreadsheet offers a unique combination of business problem solving capabilities; including goal-seeking, and an advanced table look-up command. Professional business presentations are easily produced by the enhanced graphic capabilities.

Open Access H's improved Word Processor can merge data from Spreadsheet or Database easily to produce reports, mail merge and graphic presentations.

Inquiry 280 for End-Users. Inquiry 281 for DEALERS ONLY.

Open Access H's data communications provides you with the capabilities to handle any of your micro computer communications needs. Allot Open Access H's modules work together and data is easily communicated to the rest of the world.

BEST OF ALL, THE PRICE

(SOS

«^ U.S. Version Only

Open Access H's super program is also available in the network version. Ask for details. Gall (619)450-1526 inCalifomia,or(800) 521-3511 if outside California for your nearest authorized dealer or distributor and expand your business base with Open Access II, the fully integrated business system.

SPI

SOFTWARE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL

10240 Sorrento Valley Road

San Diego, California 92121

(619)450-1526

For Your Authorized Dealer

In California

(800)621-7490

Outside California

(800)521-3511

i9SeSoiiMaieProi

Opoi Access'% a refliSlereiJ IratJemark o( So'lwaie P'oducls InlatnaliDnal. Inc

Open Access II \% a liademariio< Soflwave Products inlemaltonai, Inc

Lotus 1^3 and SymphonyaietegisiereillrailcinarksQf LoiusDevelopmenlCorp.

Fiamewoik is a tegisie'eail'adema'k ol AEWon-Tate.

EnaDieisa IraacmarKotTtieSolIwareGraun

Small IS a liademark cl InnovaliveSolIware, Inc.

■Price: U.S. Veision Only

WHAT'S NEW

l^ndy Announces Five Systems

Tandy Corp. has introduced five computers, including two PC compatibles, an XT compatible, an AT clone, and a new version of the Color Computer.

The 1000 EX, a PC compatible which sells for $799, is a one-piece unit that resembles a wide Apple lie. The EX'S dual-speed 8088-2 runs at 7.16 or 4.77 iVlHz. The machine comes with one 51^-inch floppy disk drive (an external 3/2- or 5!4-inch floppy drive is optional): 2 56K bytes of RAM (expandable to 640K): three Pius expansion slots; and a new version of DeskMate, called Personal DeskMate, that has a graphical interface similar to Microsoft Windows. A monochrome monitor costs an extra $129.95: a color monitor, $299.95.

The TSndy 1000 SX, priced at $1199, a PC compatible that physically resembles the current Tandy 1000 and comes with two 5!4-inch floppy disk drives, 384K bytes of RAM, five PCcompatible expansion slots, DeskMate II, MS-DOS 3.2, and GW-BASIC. The computer uses the same processor as the EX. An external 3'/2-inch floppy disk drive costs $279; monitor options are the same as with the EX.

The first of the new 3000 series, the 3000 HL. uses an 80286 but is not fully compatible with the IBM PC AT Tandy bills the $1699 machine as an XT compatible. The HL comes with 512K bytes of RAM, one 360Kbyte floppy disk drive, and

seven expansion slots. Hard disks are optional: a 20megabyte unit costs $799 (plus S399 for the con

troller), and a 40-megabyte model costs $1799 (plus the $399 controller). A monitor is extra.

The 80286-based 3000 HD is an enhanced version of

the AT-compatible T^ndy 3000. Priced at 34299, the HD comes with a 1.2-megabyte floppy disk drive, a 40-megabyte hard disk drive. 640K bytes of RAM, 10 expansion slots, and a realtime clock. An optional parallel/serial adapter costs $79.95. A monitor is extra. The system will run XENIX System V, which will enable its memory to be expanded to 12 megabytes. Iomega Corp. says its new Beta 20 internal disk drive, which utilizes 20-megabyte 5/4-inch removable cartridges, is available as an option with the T^ndy 3000 HL and 3000 HD

The Color Computer 3, priced at $219,95, uses a 6809E processor with clock speeds of 0.87 or 1.7 MHz. It comes with 128K bytes of RAM (expandable to 512K) and a memory-management unit: 15-and 30-megabyte hard disks are available as extras. The machine displays 640 by 192 pixels. 80 characters by 24 lines, and four colors (out of a possible 64) on its CM-8 color monitor, which costs $299.95. The CoCo 3 can run the OS-9 Level 2 operating system, which gives it multitasking capability and it's software- and hardware-compatible with the CoCo 2.

T^ndy said it is discontinuing the Model 1200 and the old TSndy 1000. For more information, contact Tandy Corp./Radio Shack, 1800 One TSndy Center, Fort Worth, TX 76102, (817) 390-2129. Inquiry 550.

Icontimed)

OCTOBER 1986 -BYTE 31

WHAT'S NEW

The PAL System, an expansion unit for the Amiga.

Amiga Expansion Chassis

The PAL System, an expansion chassis for the Commodore Amiga, enables you to add extra RAM, hard disks, and other options to the computer In its base configuration, the unit sells for $1795. This includes I megabyte of RAM, which is located in the Amiga's reserve memory and can be autoconfigured: a batterybacked clock/calendar: and five DMA expansion slots that conform to the computer's 100-pin connector architecture. The chassis can hold three half-height drives and comes with a 200-watt power supply and fan.

Units with 20- and 45megabyte hard disks are available for $3195 and $3995, respectively Optional expansion cards include prototyping cards ($63) and a 2-megabyte RAM card ($1195) that can be upgraded to 8 megabytes. For more information, contact Byte by Byte Corp., 3736 Bee Cave Rd., Suite 3, Austin, TX 78746, (512) 328-2983. Inquiry 551.

PFS Products Replaced with Series

The PFS:Professional series for IBM PCs and compatibles combines four individual programs for database management, word processing, spreadsheet analysis, and network capabilities. The programs work with other common office software, exchange data with each other, and read current PFS files directly.

PFS:Professional File, the database management program, has searching and sorting capabilities and offers global updating and reporting with up to 64 sorting levels, crosstab reports, and mailing labels. It requires 2 56K bytes of RAM

and MS-DOS or PC-DOS 2.0 or higher and sells for $249.

PFS:Professional Write, the word processing program, offers a 70,000-word spelling checker with a thesaurus that has 20,000 keywords and 120,000 synonyms. Other features include an address book for mail merge, a line-drawing capability single- and double-spacing of the same document, and block editing capabilities. It requires 320K bytes of RAM and MS-DOS or PC-DOS 2.0 or higher and is priced at $199.

PFS:Professional Plan, the spreadsheet program, combines recalculation ability and expanded spreadsheet size with analytical graphics. Its formulas are cell- as well as row/column-oriented, and its 94 formula keywords provide date, logic, mathematical, statistical, string, financial, if-then-else, and table lookup functions. Professional Plan requires 384K bytes of RAM and MS-DOS or PC-DOS 2.0 or higher The list price is $249.

The series also includes PFS:Professional Network,

which sells for $499, and enables multiple users to share Professional Series programs on a network. Requirements for Professional Network, as well as any of the series when used on a network, include 512K bytes of RAM and MS-DOS or PCDOS 3.1.

For more information, contact Software Publishing Corp., P.O. Box 7210, Mountain View, CA 94039, (415) 962-8910. Inquiry 552.

Two Token Ring Networlcs

3Com introduced a line of networking products, called TokenPlus, for connecting computers and workstations to a 3Com or IBM Token Ring network. The products include the Rin^p ($95) and TokenPlus Cabling System, connectors and cables for hooking computers and workstations to a Token Ring network: prices for the trunk cables start at $50, The TokenLink Plus, an 80186-based adapter card that sells for $1095, provides 2 56K bytes of RAM for a computer or worksta

tion connected to a network. The Token Connection ($1295), an expansion card for 3Com's 3Server. connects the file server to a Token Ring network and can act as a gateway between a Token Ring and an Ethernet network.

The company's 3^- network operating system software provides support for an Ethernet or Token Ring network: 3+NetConnect, a 3+ software module, connects Ethernet and Token Ring networks.

A TokenPlus Starter Kit. which contains three TokenLink Plus adapters, three Rin^ps, and associated cabling, sells for $3755. For more information, contact 3Com Corp., 1365 Shorebird Way P.O. Box 7390, Mountain View, CA 94039, (415) 961-9602. Inquiry 553.

Univation's LANscape is an Ethernet-based local area network for IBM PCs and compatibles that provides links to Token Ring and UNIX systems The 10megabit-per-second network supports NETBIOS applications and uses Novell's Advanced Netware 2.0 operating system software, to which the company has added menu-driven diagnostics, monitoring, security and software loading functions.

The system consists of the FS 2000 Series file server, which is based on a 10-MHz Intel 80286 and is available in capacities from 30 to 1200 megabytes. The unit can support up to 100 workstations. The network can also convert existing personal computers to file servers. A second component is the NC 516 Network Interface Card that connects computers, workstations, and file servers to Ethernet

[continued)

32 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

TIME

MACHINES

TheFacit "C4ine" includes the 400 cps, 15-color C7500 and the 250 cps. 7-coter C5500

The 400 Cps report is finished. You press a button and the printer is ready for a single sheet, 15-color business graphics. Then you change to a multifont NLQ printout from a second connected computer. At the same time, you also change the paper path for document-on-demand. Then you...

The Facit C7500 and C5500 Matrix Printers not only handle a multitude of different applications. They permit instant switching from one application to another.

Printout options (including NLQ, multi-fonts and graphics), paper handling and all set-up parameters are changed in a matter of seconds using the "Yes" and "No" keys. Two entire parameter sets can even be pre-defined for instant selection.

All at the touch of a key.

IBM and Epson are reg. trademarks ^■■■B ^H^^ ^^^H^^ ^^^^HB

Head Office: Facit AB,S172 91 Sundbyberg. Sweden. Phone: 468 764 3000. USA: Facit Inc P.O. Box 334, Merrimack. NH03054. Phone-. (603) 424-8000

AUSTRAUA:EM Electronics Associates Pty Ltd., 427-3322. AUSTRIA: Ericsson Information Systems GmbH. 0222-613 fi41. BELGIUM: Ericsson S.A,. 02-243 8211.

Facit Canada Inc.. 416-821-9400. CYPRUS: LBM (I.illytos) Ltd 516 46 34. DENMARK: Facit A/S, 02-63 3311. FINLAND: OY Facit. 90-420 2L FRANCE: Facit S.A.,l-47807117.C«£>irfifl/rA/MFacit0634-402080.G/?££C£';ComputerAppIicalionCo.lJd..01-6719722.HONGArOyVG:Gilman&Co^

Gisli'J. Johnsen HE 354-641222.INDIA:Forbes Forbes Campbell & Co. Ltd.. 22-2048 081. IRELAND:Ericsson Information Systems Ltd.,7530 93. ITALY:Facit Data ProductsS.P.A..039-636331.yAPAW.-EIectroIuxUapan)Ltd..03-479-3411.TOMM.K.D.C.Corporation.723-8555/8236. r//£A'£r//£y?L/lA'D^^^ Systems B.V., 03480-70911. NEWZEALAND:Northvop Instruments and Systems. 501-801.501-219. NORWAY:Kricsson Information Systems A/S,02-35 58 20. PORTUGAL: Regisconla Sari, 1-56 00 91. SINGAPORE:Fiir East Office Eqpts Pte Ltd.. 745 82 88. S/MW:Facit. 91-457 9081. SWfiOSMEricsson Information Systems Sverige AB. 08-2828 60. SWITZERLAND: Ericsson Information Systems AG. 01-3919711 WEST GERMANY: Ericsson Inforination Systems GmbH. 0211-61090.

INSTANT PAPER LOADING AND SWITCHING

To save more time, paper loading is fully automatic with a choice of three different paper paths. This enables accurate feed of multi-part invoices and paper tear-off without losing a single form. You can even hold a continuous form in stand-by while cut-sheets are printed.

To facilitate easy integration in your system, both parallel and serial interfaces are provided as standard along with Epson FX/JX or IBM Graphics Printer emulation. You can use the pre-defined set-ups to alternate between different hosts, if required.

For a demonstration of how the Facit C7500 and C5500 boost the efficiency of your computer system, contact your nearest Facit representative It will be a real timetrip.

WHAT'S NEW

based networks. The NC 516 is equipped with 16K bytes of memory: the half-size card plugs into a single expansion slot in an IBM PC, XT. AT or compatible.

The system's software includes Novell's Netware 2.0 with drivers for the Univation hardware, along with a Workstation Shell that the company says provides transparent access to file servers and supports DOS commands. An optional NETBIOS Emulator supports applications written for IBM's PC and Token Ring networks, and the UNIX software implements the TCP/IP protocol, which enables nodes on the network to communicate with UNIX or other TCP/IP-based systems.

A five-user system without a file server sells for $4665: with a 30-megabyte file server $12,260. Contact Univation Inc., 1231 California Circle Milpitas. CA 9503 5, (408) 263-1200. Inquiry 554.

Two- and ThreeDimensional Business Graphics

EnerCharts lets you create up to four bar, pie, or line charts on one screen in both two- and three-dimensional display This business graphics program from Enertronics is compatible with over 3 5 printers and plotters, as well as with the Polaroid Palette for creating 3 5mm slides or photographs.

With EnerCharts you can customize your presentations by adding text, lines, and symbols: by changing font, size, color, slant, angle, or text: and by framing lines of text or the whole chart. On-screen prompts and popup help screens facilitate your editing.

The program runs on IBM PC X'fe, A'ft, and com

EnerCharts presentation graphics package.

t File Edit Criteria Que&llon TeKt Font Control

EHamples: decision

Rule: decision

Ouestlon lulndoiu

Is the Shuttle

Ulithin the desired trajectory enuelope

RND Controllable?

□ No

□ Ves

-■LX : noauto -■XL : noauto --SS : stab

;—xstab : noauto '•—stab*: mag

!—0 : ni l_

—S ; aut(

SuperExpert expert-system development interface.

patibles with at least 384K bytes of RAM running MSDOS or PC-DOS 2.0 or higher. A color graphics card and monitor are required. EnerCharts is priced at $395. For more information, contact Enertronics Research Inc., #5 Station Plaza, 1910 Pine St.. St. Louis, MO 63103, (314) 421-2771. Inquiry 555.

80386'based Board Runs LISP

Gold Hill Computers and Al Architects have introduced an Intel 80386-based board for IBM PCs. X'R. ATS. and compatibles that runs the Golden Common LISP (GCLISP) Developer. The

board, called the 386 HummingBoard, executes GCLISP five times faster than an IBM PC AT the company claims, and is tailored to run large LISP applications.

The board's 32-bit 80386 processor runs at 16 MHz. and its directly addressable on-board memory is expandable to 24 megabytes with I-megabit DRAMs or to 6 megabytes with 2 56K-bit DRAMs. The HummingBoard offers 32-bit data paths, 2K line high-speed cache memory and multibuffered nonsuspensive I/O that enables it to compute in parallel with I/O operations, the company says. Also provided is an interface for

sharing expanded memory with the computer's base processor as well as optional support for Intel's 80287 or 80387 floatingpoint coprocessor

The GCLISP 386 Developer that runs on the board includes a compiler, an interpreter a GMACS editor, an on-line help facility and a tutorial. With 6 megabytes of RAM and the 386 Developer the HummingBoard costs $7000. For more information, contact Gold Hill Computers, 163 Harvard St., Cambridge MA 02139, (800) 242-5477 or (617) 492-2071: or Al Architects Inc.. One Kendall Square. Suite 2200. Cambridge, MA 02139, (617) 577-8052. Inquiry 556.

Expert-System Development Paclcage witli SpreadsFieet-lilce Interface

SuperExpert is an expertsystem development package written by Donald Michie's group at the Hiring Institute in Glasgow, Scotland.

With SuperExpert. you use a spreadsheet-like interface to enter and adjust information. You can enter a set of examples and let SuperExpert induce its own rules. And the query system is in natural language, so nonexperts can understand it.

The program runs on IBM PCs. XTS. ATs. and compatibles that use PC-DOS or MS-DOS 2.0 or higher and have at least 2 56K bytes of RAM. An Apple Macintosh version is also available.

SuperExpert comes in three levels. The most powerful version is Level 3 ($1199). which lets you enter up to 1000 examples for each problem, up to 50 logical or integer attributes per problem, and up to eight levels of attribute subproblems. Level 2 ($599) lets icontiinied]

34 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 207 tor End-Users.

Inquiry 208 for DEALERS ONLY. —♦

Clipper is the fastest dBase III and dBase III Plus^'^ compiler available. Nothing else comes close. When performance counts, experts rely on Clipper for more speed, more power, and more creative freedom. You can, too. Call for details.

• Clipper compiled programs run 2 to 20 times faster.

• No royalties...no runtime fees.

• Source code security.

• User defined functions.

• Arrays.

• Simple menu commands.

• Context sensitive help can be included with programs.

• More fields; more memory variables.

• Call C and Assembly progra

• CompJete debugging facilitie

• Multiple file relationships.

• IBM PC, XT, AT, 3270 compatible^'^.

• Multi'User capability.

if- /

CUPPER. THE dBASE COMPILER.

A WINNING PERFORMANCE EVERY TIME.,

Niintiicket^"

Nantucket Corporation 5995 South Sepulveda Boulevard Culver City, California 90230 (213) 390-7923

Outside California call toll-free: 1-800-251-8438

illfiiHi-, dhiiHL- III, ami illlurit: III V\m arc iriiJcinarkR of AfihtoH'TiiU'. Iiif.

IhM I'C. XT, AT. iiiul U70 arc crmlcniarks (if Iriurrniidoniil Miiniiicfin Muchinc!i C»rpurullon. Clipper and Naniiickct arc trademarks of Nitnluckct Corporation.

WHAT'S NEW

you enter up to 200 examples per problem, up to 31 logical or integer attributes per problem, and up to four levels of attribute subproblems. With Level 1 ($199), you can enter up to 50 examples per problem, up to 31 logical or integer attributes per problem, and up to two levels of attribute subproblems.

For more information, contact Softsync Inc., 162 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016, (212) 685-2080. Inquiry 557.

CADKEY Version 2.1

CADKEY, a computeraided design and drafting system for IBM PCs and compatibles, is enhanced with new font files, entity grouping, and two- and three-dimensional cubic parametric splines. The new version supports highresolution color graphics cards, color printers, and plotters.

Version 2.1 costs $2695. It requires a minimum of 512K bytes of RAM, a color graphics card, and an input device. For more information, contact Micro Control Systems Inc., 27 Hartford Tlirnpike, Vernon, CT 06066, (203) 647-0220. Inquiry 558.

Imagraph's Hi-Res Graphics Boards

Imagraph Corp. has released the Imaging series of high-resolution graphics controllers and a display adapter that works with the controllers. Based on the Hitachi HD-63484 Advanced Graphic Chip, most of the controllers consist of a single board that plugs into an IBM PC. XT, AT RT or compatible. The boards can display 8- to 24-bit two- and three-dimensional shaded images, as well as 8- to 12-bit gray shaded medical images.

The controllers are available with five display resolutions: 512 by 480, 640 by 480, 768 by 480, 768 by 576, and 1024 by 1024. Each resolution offers pixel depths ranging from 8 to 24 bits per pixel and provides a programmable palette of 16,8 million colors. All of the boards support a display refresh rate of 2 5/30 Hz interlaced: a 60-Hz noninterlaced refresh rate is also available.

Priced from $1995 to $3495, the boards feature a draw rate of 40,000 vectors per second and an image update rate of 5 million 8-bits/pixel per second: according to the company this is equivalent to loading a 512 by 512 by 8 display buffer at 20 frames per second. Software drivers for Media Cybernetics' Halo and GSS's VDl are available.

The company's SingleMonitor Graphic Adaptor (SGA) board, which sells for $895, is compatible with the IBM Color Graphics Adapter, The SGA lets you combine a CGA monitor and highresolution monitor in a single system and enables you to switch between CAD and CGA-compatible software via software com

mands. The board accepts RGB video signals: its horizontal scan rate is 50 kHz or 64 kHz. For more information, contact Imagraph Corp., 400 West Cummings Park, Suite 3600, Woburn, MA 01801, (617) 938-5480, 938-5480. Inquiry 559.

Portfolio Management on the Apple

Compusec is a portfolio management program for the Apple II family that sells for $79.50. It performs 18 functions automatically according to the manufacturer. Some of the functions include calculating compound growth rates between any two earnings-per-share figures, calculating years required to earn back market price, showing daily volume, and recording the date and time of the quote,

Compusec requires one disk drive, but you do not need a printer, as the program gives you the option of viewing reports instead of only printing. For more information, contact Compunetics Inc., 6601 River Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817, (301) 320-5820. Inquiry 560.

Webster's New World Writer

Aword processor, thesaurus, and spelling checker are what you get with Webster's New World Writer. The on-line thesaurus has more than 120,000 synonyms and phrases. The word processor offers a graphics key so you can draw lines and boxes around your text, and another key recovers copy you've accidentally deleted.

You'll need an IBM PC, XT AT, or compatible with at least 2 56K bytes of RAM and MS-DOS or PC-DOS 2.0 or higher (3.0 with an AT). TV/o floppy disk drives or one floppy and one hard disk drive are required, along with an 80-column color or monochrome display With an IBM Enhanced Graphics Adapter, the program can support a 43-line display The list price is $150, Contact Simon & Schuster Computer Software, Gulf & Western Building, One Gulf & Western Plaza, New York, NY 10023, (212) 333-2882, Inquiry 561.

WordPerfect Enhanced

WordPerfect Corp.'s WordPerfect version 1.1 includes an install program, a 50,000-word speller, and support for proportional printing. The word speller checks a word, page, or document and lists a variety of spellings to help you find the correct one.

WordPerfect 1.1 runs on the Apple He and lie with 128K bytes of RAM. The price remains at $179. Contact WordPerfect Corp.. 266 West Center. Orem, UT 84057, (801) 227-4020. Inquiry 562.

{continued)

36 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE SEDUCED BY POWER Aim MOMY.

Admit it. You're intrigued with the idea of C programming. You may be workiiig in BASIC, Pascal or Assembler now But you're drawn to the power, portability and flexibility of C. And if money is what motivates you, imagine having it all for just $75 with Mark Williams Let's C"

EVERYTHmO YOU COULD ASK FOR A C COMPILER.

Let's C is no mere training tool. It's a complete, high quahly C compUer. With the speed and code density to run your programs fast and lean. It won't get you sidetracked on some quirky aberration of C; Let's C supports the complete Kemighan & Ritchie C language-to the letter. And it comes from the family of Mark WiUiams C compilers, the name chosen by DEC, Intel, Wang and thousands of professional programmers.

POWERFUL UTILITIES ARE A REAL BONUS

Let's C doesn't stop with being a high performance C compiler. It includes utOities you'd expect to pay extra for-like a linker and assembler plus the MicroEMACS fuU screen editor with source code included. Having the source code not only allows you to customize the editor, it offers a close up, fully commented view of C programming at its best.

REVIEWERS ARE SOLD ON LET'S C, TOO.

"Let's C is an inexpensive, high-quality programming package.. .with all the tools you wiU need to

Features

• For the IBM-PC and Compatibles

• Fast compact code plus register variables

• Full Kernighan & Ritchie C and extensions

• Full UNIX compatibility and complete libraries

• Small memory model ■

• Many powerful utilities including linker assembler, archiver, cc one-step compiling, egrep. pr, tali, wc

• MicroEMACS full screen editor with source

• Supported by dozens of third party libraries

• Upgradeable to C Programming System for large scale applications development

• Not copy protected

Let's C Benchmark Done on an

IBM-PC/XT no 8087.

Program: Floating Point

from BYTE, August. 1983. Exec Time in Seconds Let's C 134 MS 4.0 147

MARK WILLIAMS LET'S C $75

60 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

create apphcations." -Wilham G. Wong, BYTE, August 1986.

"Let's C is a thoroughly professional C environment loaded with tools and programming utilities... another fine Mark WiUiams product." -Christopher Skelly, COMPUTER LANGUAGE, February 1986

J ' 'The performance and

' 3?:; documentation of the $75 JI Let's C compiler rival those of

C compilers for the PC currently being sold for $500... highly recommended..." -Marty Franz, PC T^Cfl" JOURNAL, August 1986

ADD THE csd DEBUGGER AND CUT DEVELOPMENT TIME IN HALF.

Invest another $75 and you've got Mark Williams revolutionary source level debugger, csd lets you bypass clunky assembler and actually debug in C. That's a big help when you're learning C and indispensable when you're programming, csd combines the interactive advantages of an interpreter with the speed of a compiler, sHcing development time in half. This is how Byte Magazine summed it up: "csd is close to the ideal debugging environment." Wilham G. Wong, BYTE, August 1986

ARE YOU STILL RESISTING?

If there's any doubt that now's the time to get your hands on the power of C, consider Mark Williams 60-day money back guarantee. You can't lose. But with Let's C and csd, imagine what you could gain.

Ask for Let's C and csd at your software dealer's, in the software department of your favorite bookstore, through the Express Program at over 5500 Tandy stores or order now by calling 1-800-MWC-1700.*

'In Illinois caU 312-472-6659

WMIiams 'vKr Company

1430 West Wrightw?ood, Chicago, Illinois 60614

Inquiry 183

© 1986, Mark Williajns Company

Let's C is a registered traderaarlc of tlie Marii WUliams Company UNIX is a trademark of Bell Labs.

MARK WILLIAMS LET'S C. ONE? $75.

WHAT'S NEW

SYSTEMS

S-100 Board Based on 80186

The Thunder Plus 80186, an S-lOO-bus singleboard computer, runs on an 8-MHz 80186 microprocessor. The board is equipped with 1 megabyte of zerowait-state memory, two RS-232C serial ports, a parallel port, and a floppy disk controller that can control 8- 5Va-. and 31/2-inch drives. Available as options are a 10-MHz processor and an 8087 math coprocessor.

The board, which sells for $1195. comes with Concurrent DOS. For CAD applications, the company also sells fully configured systems based on the Thunder Plus. Contact Lomas Data Products Inc., 182 Cedar Hill St.. Marlboro. MA 01752, (617) 460-0333. Inquiry 563.

XT Compatible with Voice Control

Microphonics Technology has announced the VOX/COM PC, an IBM PC XT-compatible computer that incorporates the company's Pronounce voicecontrol system. The Pro

nounce system gives you the ability to operate PC-DOS and MS-DOS software using spoken commands.

Priced at $2495, the computer operates at speeds from 4.77 to 14 MHz. Standard features include a 20-megabyte hard disk and a 514-inch floppy disk drive. A monochrome graphics display adapter, AT-style keyboard, and internal Hayescompatible 1200-bps modem are also included. For $199, you can upgrade the modem to 2400 bps.

The computer provides communications functions such as automatic redialing of busy numbers, password security call progress tone detection, and an electronic mailbox buffer. A Touch-Tone decoder enables the computer to accept data input from Touch-Tone phones. With an optional speech synthesizer connected to the computer's audio input jack, the system can read messages to callers at remote locations. Using the concurrent software provided, you can create voice macros that perform like keyboard macros but instead are invoked with words.

Contact Microphonics Technology Corp., 2 5 37th

St. NE, Suite B. Auburn, WA 98002, (800) 32 5-9206. Inquiry 564.

AT Compatible Equipped for Color

MicroDirect has introduced the SST 286/C, an IBM PC AT-compatible computer with full color capabilities. Priced at $4786, the 6- or 8-MHz machine comes with an EGA-compatible graphics adapter, an NEC Multisync color monitor, and an NEC P56 XL 24-pin dot-matrix color printer.

Standard features of the base model include 1 megabyte of RAM. a 1.2-megabyte floppy disk drive, and a 30-megabyte hard disk drive. Two serial ports, a parallel port, and eight expansion slots are also standard.

The computer is bundled with PC-DOS 3.1; also included in the base price is a one-year warranty and onsite service contract. According to the company the computer is compatible with software and networks designed for the IBM PC AT Contact MicroDirect Inc., 180 Bent St.. Cambridge, MA 02141, (617) 494-5300, Inquiry 565.

Multibus Board Runs on NEC V30

Comark's MV30/35 is an 8-MHz Multibus singleboard computer that features a NEC V30 microprocessor and up to 1 megabyte of dual-ported paritychecked RAM. The system provides sockets for an 8087 floating-point coprocessor, an 8089 DMA controller, and four 28-pin EPROMs (up to 256K bytes). Its I/O support includes two 16-bit-wide SEX connectors and programmable parallel and serial ports.

Other standard features include three independent counter/timers, a programmable interrupt controller, a programmable PROM disable, on-board status LEDs, and a 4-bit page register. The MV30/3 5 is compatible with Intel's iSBC 8630 and iSBC 8635: it is also available with Concurrent DOS and a 10-MHz processor.

With 128K bytes of RAM, the board costs $1067: with 2 56K bytes, $1139: and with 1 megabyte $13 55. For more information, contact Comark Corp., 93 West St., P.O. Box 474, Medfield, MA 02052, (617) 359-8161. Inquiry 566.

PERIPHERALS

I/O Interface for Apple lie

The Simple Interface lie System lets you connect Apple He computers to a variety of test and measurement devices. Priced at $46.95. the system consists of a plug-in card and external interface unit and optional special-function conditioner boards.

The interface enables you to connect up to eight switches and eight loads, including lamps, relays, and small motors. The card plugs

into a slot in the computer: connections to various devices are made through signal-conditioning circuits that are housed in a cartridge case connected to the card with a cable. The unit can be operated with BASIC or machine language programs and is accompanied by a sample program disk.

Available plug-in conditioning boards include optoisolated I/O conditioners, terminal strip boards, relay output boards with up to

7-amp control capability 3-channel 8-bit A/D converters, and temperature sensors. Contact Proteus Electronics Inc, RD 2, Spayde Rd., P.O. Box 693 Bellville OH 44813, (419) 886-2296. Inquiry 567.

Hard Disks for Laptop PCs

The Diskit Portable Series of hard disk drives works with the Zenith Z-171, Kaypro 2000, and IBM PC Con

vertible portable computers. The series features an autobooting 20-megabyte hard disk with battery backup and an average access time of 65 milliseconds.

The Z-171-compatible drive plugs into an expansion port on the computer and works on AC power or with an optional DC adapter. Its controller lets you add a second drive or drives with a capacity of up to 180 megabytes. The Kaypro-compatible drive works with 100/ [continued]

38 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

MASK WILLIAMS C. AN ENLHjHTENING lEVELQFMENT FOR mm ST USERS.

If you've tried your hand at developing applications on the Atari ST, you know the problem. Programming tools aren't only hard to come by they're hard to use. One might even say primitive. But now for some enlightening news: you can have all the power, portabihty and versatihty of the C language from a leader in professional C programming tools, Mark Williams.

BRING YOUR PROGRAMMING UP TO SPEED.

The Mark WiUiams C compiler produces fast, dense code and supports the complete Kemighan & Ritchie industry standard C. You'U have access to OEM's AES and VDI libraries for programs using graphics, icons and the Atari mouse. And Mark Wilhams C lets you take advantage of the full 16 megabytes in Atari's 68000 microprocessor

STREAMLINE DEVELOPMENT WITH POWER UTILITIES.

Mark Williams C is loaded with everything you'll need for professional development. Bring the power of the UNIX environment to your Atari ST with our

Features

C compiler

• Complete Kernighan & Ritchie C plus extensions

• Up to eight register variables

• Full access to AES and VDI libraries for programs using graphics, icons and mouse

• Complete UNIX-compatible libraries allow easy portability to and from UNIX development environment.

• Over 300 Atari-specific routines

• One-step compiling, linking with cc command

• English error messages

• Lint-like error checking

Microshell Command Processor, powerful UNIX style shell includes I/O redirection, pipes, command substitutions

MicroEMACS Full Screen Editor with commented source code included

Make Program Building Discipline Complete symbolic debugger with single-step, breakpoints and stack traceback Assembler, linker and archiver Powerful Utilities Package: egrep, sort, diff. cmp, pr, tail, unig, wc and more

Over 600 pages of documentation including 120 sample C programs Not copy protected

MARK WILLIAMS C FOR THE ATARI ST $179 95

60 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

Microshell Command Processor including pipes, I/O redirection and more. Edit your program with the highly acclaimed MicroEMACS full screen editor Accelerate and simplify compiling with make which finds and recompiles only those modules affected by your changes. Then, when you're ready for debugging, call on our db Symbohc Debugger with single step, breakpoint and stack traceback functions. Over 40 commands, including a Unker and assembler, provide a total development package for your Atari ST.

DEPEND ON A NAME WITH A HISTORY OF PERFORMANCE.

Mark Williams C for the Atari ST is part of our growing line of C compilers. A hne that includes the C compiler chosen by DEC, Intel, Wang and thousands of professional programmers. Now our Atari C compiler is earning its own reputation:

"Finally a great C compiler that exploits the power of the ST"-Sigmund Hartmann, President, Atari Software Group

"The all-around best choice for serious software development on tiie ST"-Douglas Weir of ANALOG COMPUTING

GET WHAT YOUR ATARI ST HAS BEEN WAITING FOR.

Mark Williams C is just what your Atari ST was made for: powerful, professional programming. So now that you can have Mark WiUiams C for just $179.95, what are you waiting for?

Ask your Atari dealer about Mark WUhams C or order today by calhng 1-800-MWC-1700.*

•In Illinois call: 312-472-6659

llllll wflliams

' Company

1430 West Wrightwood, Chicago,

© 1986, Mark Williajns Company UNIX is a trademark of Bell Labs.

linois 60614

Inquiry 184

AT Power, Toshiba-Style.

The Toshiba T3100.

Try tucking this into a drawer when you're done! Until now, you had to be tied to your desk in a tangle of cables and hardware to get AT power. Toshiba's T3100, on the other hand, puts AT performance anywhere you want.

Specifications:

IBM PC-AT compatible

80286 processor, running at 8MHz

or 4 IVIHz

640KB RAM, extendable to 2.6MB

Built-in 10MB hard disk

Built-in 720KB 3¥>" diskette drive

MS-DOS 2.11 operating system

High-resolution gas plasma display

IBM Color Graphics Adapter (CGA)

compatible

80 X 25 character display 640 X 400 bit-mapped graphics display

RGB, parallel, serial and external diskette drive ports Carrying case, MS-DOS,'" BASIC included Full-sized 81-key keyboard 110/220 VAC switch-selectable power supply

12.2" W X 3.1" H X 14.2" D All this—and only 15 pounds

Toshiba technology improves on AT functionality: The T3100 gives you the power of an IBM® PC-AT"" in a lean, 15-pound computer that looks superb on your desk, and slips into a drawer when you don't need it. Take it home, take it to a meeting, take it around the world— wherever your work takes 3'om.

Don't let its size fool you.

The T3100 is less than a third the size of the Compaq '" Portable II, yet every bit as powerful. It uses the saine 80286 microprocessor as the AT, and is fully IBM-compatible, so you can share data with the other desktop computers in your office. The T3100's 10MB internal hard disk gives you ample storage for sophisticated applications. A dual-voltage power supply lets you plug in and go to work just about anywhere in the world. And Toshiba built in an advanced gas plasma screen, to give you the clarity and brightness of a CKF display— without the bulk.

Compact is as compact does: The T3100 is less than a third the size of the Compaq Portable II.

More memory for more applications.

The TSlOO's full 640KB RAM lets you work with the most popular IBM PC/XT"' and AT softwai-e: Integrated financial and analysis programs, large spreadsheets, lengthy documents, electronic filing and more. A built-in 720KB diskette drive handles the new industry standard SYz" diskettes. Each IBMcompatible pocket-sized disk holds twice as much information as a conventional 5/4" diskette! And you can easily transfer data to and from other desktop computers using Toshiba's optional external SVi" diskette drive.

Trademarks; PC-.AT, PC/XT—ImeniaLioiia! Business Macliiiies Corporation; Compaq—Compaq Compuler Corporntion; MS-DOS—Microsoft Corporation. Registered Trademarks: IBM —Inlcniatioiiiil Business Macliines Corporation; Ha>'es — Hares Microcomputer fVoducts, Inc.; SuperKey and SideKick— Borland Internationa!, Inc.

"Big" system expansion options.

Like any full-function desktop system, the T3100 grows with your computing needs. Toshiba offers a full line of internal

multlmale adrantaos

Dollars

Software, everywhere: The T3100 runs

the most popular applications written for the

IBM PC/XT and AT

and external options, including an expansion chassis with 5 IBM-compatible slots, and an internal 300/1200 bps Hayes®compatible modem.

The next generation of computing is here. And it sure would look great on your desk. Or away from it.

Desktop computing will never be quite the same again, thanks to Toshiba's advanced CMOS and proprietary gate array LSI technology The T3100 is backed by our reputation for high quality electronics, and by our 110-year commitment to technological excellence.

See where desktop AT power is headed.

The T3100 is here now! Call

1-800-457-7777

for your nearest Toshiba dealer.

Now! Includes SideKick and SuperKey.

In Touch with Tomorrow

TOSHIBA

TOSHIBA AMERICA, INC., Infomiation Systems Division

WHAT'S NEW

PERIPHERALS

220-volt AC power or with a cigarette lighter adapter.

Retail prices for the drives range from $1095 to $1295. For more information, contact Systems Peripherals Consultants 9747 Businesspark Ave.. San Diego. CA 92131, (619) 693-8611. Inquiry 568.

Plug-in lEEE-488 Controller

Designed for test and measurement applications, the BusMate instrument controller enables computers with an RS-232C or RS-422 serial port to control up to 14 instruments. The $695 unit contains firmware that enables it to operate as an lEEE-488 bus

controller and run programs written in BASIC. FORTRAN. Pascal, and other languages. The controller accepts the instructions you write and generates the appropriate IEEE-488 control commands and codes: a demonstration disk and instruction manual are packaged with the unit. For more information, contact ICS Electronics Corp., 2185 Old Oakland Rd., San lose CA 95131. (408) 2634844.

Inquiry 569.

Peachtree's Hard Disk for the Mac Plus

Peachtree Technology's S-20Plus hard disk drive offers 20 megabytes of storage capacity for the Apple

Macintosh Plus. The external drive connects to the computer's SCSI port and provides a controller and selfdiagnostic capabilities Retail price for the drive is $1395. For more information, contact Peachtree Technology Inc.. 3120 Crossing Park, Norcross GA 30071. Inquiry 570.

Centronics Laser Printer

Centronics announced its first laser printer, the PagePrinter 8, which prints at a rate of eight pages per minute. The standard model comes with 256K bytes of memory which enables you to print 3 square inches of graphics at a resolution of

300 by 300 dots per inch. To print a full page of graphics at 300 by 300 dpi, you can add a memory board that upgrades the printer's RAM to 1.5 megabytes.

The $2495 printer offers a choice of three interfacesparallel, serial, and IEEE488—that come on plug-in modules. The resident font is Courier 10: other fonts and character sets are available on plug-in cards Standard emulations include Diablo 630 and Epson FX-80. with Diablo 630 ECS, IBM ProPrinter, and IBM Graphics Printer emulations available as options Contact Centronics Data Computer Corp.. One Wall St., Hudson, NH 03051, (603) 883-0111. Inquiry 571.

A D D - I N S

Boards Combine 2400-bps Modem, Display Adapter

Emulex's Persyst Division is selling enhancement boards for IBM PCs, XTs, ATs, and compatibles that combine communications and display capabilities on a unit that holds a 2400-bps modem, a display adapter, a parallel port, and a clock/ calendar. Modem Combo cards are offered in two versions: the Modem Mono Combo, which provides a monochrome display adapter and lets your machine run software written for IBM's CGA, and the Modem Color Combo, an IBM-compatible color display adapter.

The async full-duplex modem is compatible with the Hayes Smartmodem and responds to the AT command set. The serial port is dedicated to the modem. Communications parameters are set using software. Because no jumpers are

needed to set parameters, you can configure your computer using a batch file, Persyst says. Both modems have a parallel printer port that's compatible with a Centronics or Dataproducts interface. You can configure the bidirectional I/O port for custom devices that require two-way communications.

The monochrome version supports a 7- by 9-dot character in a 9- by 14-dot field and provides an 8-character by 2 5-row display. The color display adapter supports a

7- by 7-dot character in an

8- by 8-dot field. Both boards include IBM's 256character set and work with a light pen.

Suggested list price for each Modem Combo card is $899, Contact Emulex Corp., 3 545 Harbor Blvd.. P.O. Box 672 5, Costa Mesa. CA 92626, (714) 662-5600. Inquiry 572.

Recoverable RAM Disk for Mac Plus

MacMemory's MaxSave recoverable RAM-disk system for the Macintosh Plus combines a card with RAM disk and print spooler software. In the event of a system crash, the company says, you only have to press the computer's reset button to recover the RAM disks data: MaxSave intercepts the reset signal to preserve RAM disk information while rebooting.

The unit plugs into the Mac's ROM sockets without modification and uses the machine's internal memory it can fully use 1-megabyte or larger memories.

The system's MaxRAM software automatically creates the RAM disk when you boot up the machine and copies your files to it. MaxRAM works with hard disks. 400K- and 800K-byte drives, and memory sizes from 512K bytes to 4 megabytes. MaxPrint. a desk

accessory print spooler, handles graphics as well as text. It enables you to spool several documents at once and change applications while printing. It can also spool to a hard disk.

The MaxSave System sells for SI 19. You can buy MaxRAM and MaxPrint as a separate package for $49.95. Contact MacMemory Inc.. 473 Macara Ave,, Suite 701, Sunnyvale, CA 94086. (408) 773-9922, Inquiry 573.

Card, Software l^t PCs Read Apple Disks

The Matchpoint-PC package, which includes a card and software, lets IBM PC users read from and write to Apple DOS, ProDOS, SOS, and CP/M disks The half-size card fits in a PC expansion slot and in

icontimed)

42 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 262 —»

Where to look to find over 600 software programs

Introducing the 1987 edition of Radio Shack's software reference guide.

Now there's no more searching for the "right" program. The new 1987 Radio Shack Software Reference Guide is all you need for one'Stop shopping. You'll find hundreds of programs for all our

computers—from XENIX® and MS-DOS® lines to portables.

This catalog features the most comprehensive software selection available. Essential business programs such as accc^unting, database management, and business graphics are available, as well as a variety of word-processing, entertainment and educational software programs.

1987

Radio Shack" Software Reference Guide

Over 600 programs listed by category and available off the shelf or through our Express Order" service.

llftl:T:1|jilj;Uli]llHHl

■,IJj:l:l.l!l,t.iL...'!ml

Radio fhaek

COMPUTER CENTERS

A DIVISION OF TANOV COnPORATlOM

lid

We've got the program for your specific need

There is a variety of industryspecific programs from which you may choose regardless of whether you are a doctor, a lawyer or other professional.

And of course, there are dozens of programs and utilities specifically for progammers, including the popular XENIX Development System, and Microsoft MS-DOS languages like COBOL, Fortran, and Pascal. We also included such utilities as Superkcy'", which customizes and automates your software, and XMENU"", a XENIX utility that gives your system a menu-driven interface for the system administrator.

We offer you the software you need most—whatever the application. So visit a Radio Shack Computer Center today—it's your one-stop software store.

Radio/haek

The Technology Store"

A DIVISION OF TANDY CORPORATION ;

Taiiriy/Rcgistered TM Tamly Corp. XENIX and MS-DOS/Regislered TM Microsatl Corp. SuperkeyriM Borland Inlernational. XMENUATM Telexpress.

I

WHAT'S NEW

A D D - I N S

eludes connectors and cable to hook it to the floppy disk drives.

Besides Matchpoint software, the package comes with UniForm-PC (version 2). which makes the computer read CP/M disks as if they were PC-DOS disks. Used with the Matchpoint board, it also lets you use Apple SoftCard and North Star CP/M disks on a PC.

MatchPoint-PC retails for $195. Contact Micro Solutions inc., 12 5 South Fourth St., DeKalb, IL 60115, (815) 756-3411. Inquiry 574.

Memory Upgrade for Atari 520ST

ZRAM 520, a 512K-byte memory upgrade for

Atari's 520ST, raises RAM to 1 megabyte. Terrific Peripherals says the kit is designed for simple installation. You make the 13 solder connections on a template, not on the motherboard. The kit comes with a high-speed digital signal cable, and the memory banks are fully decoupled with high-frequency ceramic capacitors.

The upgrade kit has a suggested retail price of $199

and is covered by a 180-day warranty. Contact Terrific Peripherals, 17 St. Mary's Court, Brookline, MA 02146, (617) 232-2317. Inquiry 575.

Multiuser Converter Adds Serial Ports

Control Electronics has a line of multiuser boards compatible with Software Link's MultiLink and with UNIX-based systems. The MultiSerial-4 and MultiSerial-8 add multiuser capabilities to IBM PC ATfe

and compatibles through the use of fully wired 25-pin RS-232C asynchronous ports. Each serial port can support either a modem or a terminal. The ports are fully programmable for start bits, stop bits, parity bits, and data-transmission rate. You can address as many as 64 ports.

The MultiSerial-4 port board lists for $2 59; MultiSerial-8 lists for $359. Contact Control Electronics Inc., 37450 Enterprise Ct.. Farmington Hills, Ml 48018, (313) 553-3400. Inquiry 576.

SOFTWARE • PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES AND AIDS

AC/FORTRAN Compiler for the Atari 520ST and I040ST

Absoft Corp. designed its ANSI FORTRAN 77 compiler with debugger to run mainframe programs downloaded to an Atari 520ST or 1040ST AC/FORTRAN is a disk-based compiler, requiring 46K bytes of RAM, which enables you to develop large programs on a standard 2 56K-byte machine.

Native object code for the MC68000 is generated by AC/FORTRAN. Development tools support of overlays and virtual arrays and dynamic linking of programs at run time. Included are a full-screen source-level symbolic debugger, linker, library manager, single- and double-precision floatingpoint software, complex number support, and a C interface. According to Absoft. there is no limit on code or data size.

AC/FORTRAN is sourcecompatible with Microsoft's FORTRAN compiler for the Macintosh and AC/FORTRAN for the Amiga. The program is not copy-protected and

44 BYTE • OaOBER 1986

sells for $199.95. For more information, contact Absoft Corp., 4268 North Woodward, Royal Oak, Ml 48072, (313) 549-71 11. Inquiry 577.

C Library Support Package

CTools Plus consists of over 200 functions supplied in source code that run on the Microsoft and Lattice 3.0 C compilers. A utility is included that formats the source code listings for printing.

The program supports the IBM Enhanced Graphics Adapter, and you can create applications using more than one display adapter and monitor at a time. Other features include screen handling, windows, interrupt service routines, DOS directory and file handling, memory management, and string functions.

You can write memoryresident routines by accessing DOS functions from within an interrupt service routine. A sample program is provided that dumps the

screen to a disk file.

To use C Tools Plus, you must have an IBM PC, XT AT or compatible with MSDOS 2.0 or higher, and a Microsoft or Lattice 3.0 (or later) C compiler. C Tools Plus sells for $175. For more information, contact Blaise Computing Inc., 2 560 Ninth St., Suite 316, Berkeley CA 94710, (415) 540-5441. Inquiry 578.

Program in C

Using English Syntax

Programming in C is possible without knowing C, according to cLine. The language cEnglish uses English-like syntax and compiles your programs into Lattice C-compatible source code.

Programs in cEnglish run on IBM PCs with MS-DOS or PC-DOS 2.0 or higher and a hard disk. They also run on the AT&T 3B series running UNIX, the ITT XTRA, XL, and XP series running XENIX, and the DEC VAX series.

The cEnglish Data Base Interface Library's functions provide access to C-ISAM and compatibility with PCNET and any other MS-NET

file-sharing system, the company reports. The price of cEnglish is $795. Contact cLine Inc., 3 550 Camino del Rio N, Suite 208, San Diego CA 92108, (619) 281-5593. 281-5593. Inquiry 579.

Pascal Cross Compiler

The CP-97 Pascal Cross Compiler for the 8097 16-bit microcontroller on a chip runs on IBM PCs and compatibles. The CP (Control Pascal) system includes a screen editor, cross compiler, interpreter, translator, terminal driver, and run-time support software.

Compiler output is in intermediate p-code, which is later translated into 8097 object code. The editor, compiler and interpreter are integrated into a single menu-driven module.

The CP-97 system costs $200. Contact Allen Systems, 2151 Fairfax Rd., Columbus, OH 43221, (614) 488-7122. Inquiry 580.

{continued)

Inquiry 192 —►

THE

GREAT ESCAPE!

FROM IVORY TOWERS AND COED COMPUTER ROOMS TO I HE WARMTH OF YOUR OFFICE.

Arlilirial inlcllicence lor business lias arrived in a revolulioiiary new pnxliiet. . . (iiirii.

At last, artificial intelligence designed especially for business! Guru brings together expert system capabilities of artificial intelligence, the productivity of familiar business computing tools and the ease of communicating with your computer using menus, commands or plain English. All available in a single, integrated program.

Guru works like human experts, considering uncertainties, reasoning through forward and backward chaining, asking for more information when needed, and explaining its recommendations.

Guru's expert system works hand-in-hand with all the familiar business computing tools like spreadsheets, statistical analysis, business graphics and a programming language, always available for both expert consultation and your everyday business computing needs.

Best of all, you won't need to learn LISP or PROLOG or buy fancy computers Guru runs on your PC and communicates in plain English! Guru is artificial intelligence that means business.

For more information, call or write Micro Data Base Systems, Inc./Marketing & Sales, P.O. Box 248, Lafayette, IN, 47902, 317/463-2581, Telex 209147 ISE UR.

A l{ I I F 1 C I A I. IN r K L I- I <; K N (. K T II XT IW K A N S |{ H S I N K S S .

mdbs is a registered Iradeninrk nnd Guru is ii Irndumark ol Micro Data Base Sysloms, Inc . PO. Box 248. Lalayollo. IN, 47902

WHAT'S NEW

SOFTWARE • SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING

EE Designer circuit design CAD package.

TUTSIM Linked with FFT

FANSY is a program that analyzes the time response of a TUTSIM model on the IBM PC and compatibles. Developed at the University of Waterloo in Canada, FANSY stands for frequency analysis and synthesis.

TUTSIM is a computer simulation program that uses block diagrams to implement system equations term by term. You can vary the model design, add or delete blocks, change interconnections, and vary parameters and values at any time during a simulation. Conversion of a filed time response of a TUTSIM simulation to the frequency domain is done by FFT routines.

FANSY requires the IBM Color Graphics Adapter to show gain and phase plots versus frequency TWo versions of FANSY come on one disk: Both run on the IBM PC, but one is for the PC with an 8087/80287 coprocessor. FANSY is priced at $185. For more information, contact Applied i, 200 California Ave., Suite 214, Palo Alto, CA 94306, (415) 325-4800. Inquiry 581.

Data Acquisition and Display on the Apple He and lie

You can perform numerical operations on large sets of data on an Apple lie or lie with Vidichart-IV. The program enables you to define four data sets of up to 8192 values, each with its own scaling information that transforms the raw data into physical values in any units you choose.

On a high-resolution screen (560 by 192 pixels).

you can display up to four windows of any size at any position. Each plot is labeled with numbers and text labels along the axes, and you can superimpose additional labels anywhere on the screen. You can plot or overlay any data set in any window, using dotted or solid lines or filled-area plots in white on a black background. In any window you can shift, compress, or expand the x or y scale, or you can zoom in on a region framed by the cursors. The cursor displays any value along a curve.

You can enter data from the keyboard, disk, or joystick, and output data to the screen, disk, or printer Menus list options, and online help screens are available for any commands. The program includes utility numerical, normalization, baseline definition, and peak integration commands. You must have an Apple lie with a 64K-byte extended 80column card or an Apple lie. The price is $165. Contact Interactive Microware Inc., P.O. Box 139, State College, PA 16804- 0139, (814) 238-8294. Inquiry 582.

EE Designer Enhanced

Visionics announced enhancements to its EE Designer CAE/CAD software for circuit design and printed circuit board layout. It now supports the Enhanced Graphics Adapter in 640 by 3 50 resolution in 16 colors. And it supports the bus version of the Microsoft mouse and compatibles as well as the serial mouse.

The $97 5 package runs on IBM PCs, XTS, ATS, and compatibles. Contact Visionics Corp., 1284 Geneva Dr., Sunnyvale, CA 94089, (800) 22 5-5669: in California, (408) 745-1 551. Inquiry 583.

Three-Dimensional Graphics on the Atari ST

CAD-3D is a computeraided design program for the Atari 520ST and I040ST. It can create solidmodel animation sequences and three-dimensional scenes in color, with shading from adjustable multilight sources.

The software uses Digital Research's GEM interface and comes with four sample scenes. It is priced at $49.95. For more informa

tion, contact Antic Publishing Inc., 524 Second St., San Francisco, CA 94107, (415) 957-0886. Inquiry 584.

Mainframe Statistics Package on the AT&T UNIX PC

P-STAT has been converted from mainframe software to a package that runs on the AT&T UNIX PC (Model 7300). It manages and analyzes data by combining data and file management, data display statistical analysis, survey analysis, and report-writing capabilities.

P-STAT features an on-line help facility, an interactive editor, flexible data entry and validation, relational database capabilities, macros, and statistical procedures. The program consists of a single source file of about 300,000 lines of FORTRAN code and costs $995. For more information, contact P-STAT Inc., P.O. Box AH, Princeton, NJ 08542, (609) 924-9100. Inquiry 585.

Uni CAD for MS-DOS Systems

Xysys announced that Uni-CAD, a computeraided design program, is now available for IBM PC X'K, Alfe, and compatibles. Uni-CAD supports systems with Color Graphics Adapters or Enhanced Graphics Adapters and one monitor, or it will run with two screens.

Uni-CAD requires PC-DOS or MS-DOS 2.1 or higher 640K bytes of RAM, a graphics adapter, and a plotter. Prices start at $1695. Contact Cyber/Source, 24000 Ttelegraph Rd., Southfield, Ml 48034, (313) 353-8660. Inquiry 586.

[conlimed]

46 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

{

THIRD GENERATION PROGRAMMERS FROM GTEK

\v

GTEK MODEL 9000 (E)(E)PROM/MPU PROGRAMMER

If time is money, then let us save some for you. The new model 9000, using its quick puise algorithms, can program a 2764 in 10 seconds. The 9000 offers higher performance than the competition has even begun to think about. Baud rates to 57,600. Supports thru 1024K standard, 8 meg wordwide parts with adapter. Cypress proms, mpu's. NO personality modules. As with our other programmers, RS232, ASCII data formats, and flexible handshaking make the model 9000 compatible with virtually any computer. Introductory price $749.

MODEL 7228 (E)EPROM/MPU PROGRAMMER The standard by which other other programmers are judged. With thousands in the field, the time proven 7228 has become our most popular programmer. Intelligent algorithms standard. Programs a 2764 in one minute. Supports devices thru 512K. mpu's. eeproms. cmos. NO personality modules. ^ Price $599

MODEL 7956 GANG (E)EPROM/MPU PROGRAMMER

The 7956 can program eight 2764's in one minute using intellit algorithms. Standard support thru 512K, eeproms. cmos. mpu's. A must uction emvironments. Available in

ily configuration for $979

terface for $1099

ger

produ

232 i

MODEL 7128 (E)EPROM/MPU PROGRAMMER The programmer that won't die Thousands manufactured since 1982. Supports thru 256K. PRICE REDUCED to $389 including free PGX communications software, a $95 value.

MODEL 705 Motorola 68705 family programmer. Transfers object code to 28 and 40 pin mpu's. Single key stroke operation $299

MODEL 7324 PAL PROGRAMMER The 7324 has a built-in compiler. It supports 20 and 24 pin pals by MMI, NATIONAL, and TI, including the new shared product parts 20S10, 20RS10, 20RS8, 20RS4. It operates stand alone or via RS-232 with PALX communications package. Functionally tests parts after programming and securing. External compilers are supported thru JEDEC and AHS object formats $1499

MODEL 7322 Same as 7324 but no stand alone capability $1249

UTILITY PACKAGES PGMX High Speed Communications Package. For IBM PC. AT and compatibles. Bidirectional data rates to a scorching 57500 bps. Provides flexible manipulation of Intel Hex files, both Sand 16 bit formats, and binary files. Use with model 9000 $149

PGX Utility Package. For PCDOS, CPM, TRSDOS, ISIS, MSDOS. Use with 9000, 7956. 7228, 7128 $95

PALX Utility Package. Provides communication, download of Palasm source, JEDEC and AHS object files to models 7324, 7322, 7316 pal programmers $95

CROSS ASSEMBLERS and SIMULATORS

You name the cpu, we've got the assembler. Simulators allow target software development and testing on your computer. Versions available for PCDOS, MSDOS, CPM. . Startat $250

ERASERS-We stock both Ultra Violet Products and Spectronics for your selection.

MODEL CHIPS TIMER LAMP PRICE

DE4 8 N Tube $80

PE14T 9 Y Tube $139

C25 25 Y Grid $350

C50 50 Y Grid $600

ACCESSORIES

CABLES-serial $30, parallel $30,

custom Call For Quote MODEL481/482/483 8048family

adapters $98

MODEL511/5128051 family adapter $174 MODEL 755/756 8755 adapter... $135

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS? Call Us For A Quote On Custom OEM Programmers.

Run CPM Software on Your IBM or IBM Compatible

Call GTEK's CPM Hotline 1-601-467-9019

If you are a CPM user who wants to convert to MSDOS or PCDOS or a PC user who would like access to the thousands of CPM programs in existance. here is the perfect solution to the problem: CPMulator from GTEK. CPMulator is the only field proven emulator which emulates the complete Z-80 instruction set. Terminal attribute emulation is Televideo, Lear Siegler, or the ANSI standard. CPM .COM programs reside under PCDOS and are executable under PCDOS as well as 8086 programs.

Comes complete with COPYCPM. a disk conversion utility which allows transferring data and programs to and from 54 different CPM disk formats. Free CPM utility programs are also included.

For speed use the 8080 CPMulator along with theNEC V20 or V30 chip.

PRICE REDUCED Z80 CPMulator, DR5PC-EMZ80 ... $ 99,00 8080 CPMulator. DR5PC-EMV205 $ 99.00' Z80, 8080 CPMulator,

DR5PC-EMZV205 $149.00'

■Requires NEC V20 or V30. NEC V20 (5Mhz) $ 12.00

Single Board Computer Model 2010

• 64 to 256K bytes data or program ram.

• Use 2764 or 27512 eprom or eeprom program memory.

• Uses single ended 9V @ 500 ma supply.

• Use 8031, 8032, 8751, 8752 mpu.

• 40 bit programmable I/O lines.

• Expansion interface connector.

• Baud rates to 57,600 baud.

• Built in 5 volt regulator.

• Built in rom monitor.

• Small — 3.5 x 7 inches.

• 8052AH basic option.

ONLY $299.00 WITH MANUAL

MODEL 8014 PRINTER BUFFER/SWITCH OK is $99, 128K is $339, and 256K is $399

TEK

Development Hardware & Software P.O. Box 1346, Bay St. Louis, MS 39520 U.S.A. (601) 467-8048; TELEX 315814 (GTEK UD) , INC.

Inquiry 128

GTEK, PALASM, CPM, MS-DOS, PC-DOS, ISIS, TRSDOS, & CPEmulator are registered trademarks.

OCTOBER 1986

BYTE 47

WHAT'S NEW

SOFTWARE • BUSINESS AND OTHER

Palantir's window-oriented spelling checker.

Design and Paint with Atari ST

The GEM-based package PaintPro lets you design and paint on the Atari ST. it supports up to three active windows and comes with free-form si<etching, lines, circles, ellipses, boxes, fill, copy, move, spray zoom, undo, and text capabilities.

PaintPro works with most dot-matrix printers, the company reports, and it works with either monochrome or color systems.

The price of the program is $49.95. For more information, contact Abacus Software, P.O. Box 7211, Grand Rapids, Ml 49510, (616) 241-5510. Inquiry 587.

Amortization in C

MicroCost Software announced Effortless Interest, an amortization program written in C that runs on 64K-byte RAM CP/M-80 systems or IBM PCs and compatibles with PC-DOS or MS-DOS 2.0. The company reports that the program is accurate up to 14 significant digits.

With Effortless Interest, you select daily weekly, biweekly monthly quarterly, semiannual, or annual payments on a loan, or compounding interest on a loan. Up to 36 combinations of time periods are possible. You can also value a monthly payment as an annuity on the assumption of monthly payments and compounding of discounts, for as many months as you select.

Effortless Interest costs $25. For more information, contact MicroCost Software, 22015 Marine View Dr, S. Des Moines, WA 98198. (206) 878-2796. Inquiry 588.

Spell-Check Windows

Palantir Software's Windows Spell was created for use with Microsoft Windows, but it will work with most windows documents, the company reports.

Windows Spell can check spelling in long documents while you work on another application. It will flash when it spots a spelling error. The program comes with a 65,000-root-word dictionary and it will display guesses to help you correct misspellings.

Suggested retail price of Windows Spell is $79.95. It runs on IBM PCs and compatibles with 5I2K bytes of RAM. For more information, contact Palantir Software, 12777 lones Rd., Suite 100, Houston, TX 77070, (713) 955-8880. Inquiry 589.

Printer

Command Control

The memory-resident program Key Print from Instant Data Processing Inc. lets you send commands to keypress. You can set the trigger keys and printer commands although the program has predefined files that you can use or reconfigure.

IDPl claims that the program supports all printers. It is compatible with the IBM PC family and requires MSDOS or PC-DOS 2.0 or higher. The minimum memory requirement is i28K bytes of RAM.

Key Print sells for $18. For more information, contact Instant Data Processing inc., 411 East Commercial Way La Habra, CA 90631, (213) 691-0216. Inquiry 590.

Business Database for IBM PCs

TeleMagic! maintains your database of contacts, telling you who to call and when, and even dials the phone. You can produce labels, letters, order forms, invoices, packing slips, envelopes, phone lists, and customer names with one keystroke. A scripting feature enables telemarketers to run through a sales presentation, making changes as necessary according to the customer's response.

The list price of TeleMagic! is $95. Contact Remote Control, P.O. Box 2861, Del Mar, CA 92014, (800) 992-9952: in California, (800) 992-5228. Inquiry 591.

Small Business Accountant

PC Accountant enables you to keep track of your small-business income and expenses. It can print and address checks, balance your bank accounts, and track accounts payable and receivable. It can also provide reports on income and expenses. PC Accountant can handle up to 200 names and addresses, 200 accounts with balances, and 1500 transactions per month. Menus and windows guide you through the program.

You need an IBM PC or compatible with 128K bytes of RAM, MS-DOS or PCDOS 2.1 or higher, a monochrome or color monitor, an 80-column printer and one floppy disk drive.

The program costs $39.95 plus $5 shipping. Contact Business Applications Inc., 3211 Bonnybrook Dr N, Lakeland, FL 33803, (813) 644-5026. Inquiry 592.

WHERE DO NEW PRODUCT ITEMS COME FROM? The new products listed in this section of BYTE are chosen from the thousands of press releases, letters, and telephone calls we receive each month from manufacturers, distributors, designers, and readers. The basic criteria for selection for publication are: [a) does a product match our readers' interests? and [b] is it new or is it simply a reintroduction of an old item? Because of the volume of submissions we must sori through every month, the items we publish are based on vendors' statements and are not individually verified. 1/ you want your product to be considered for publication [at no charge), send full information about it. including its price and an address and telephone number where a reader can get further information, to New Products Editor, BYTE. One Phoenix Mill lane, Peterborough, NH 03458.

48 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

EVENTS AND CLUBS

October 1986

Events

PC Expo, McCormick Place II, Chicago, IL. )im Mion. PC Expo, 333 Sylvan Ave, Englewood Cliffs, NI 07632, (800) 922-0324: in New Jersey, (201) 569-8542. Octofer 7-9

ECCO's Sixth Annual Educational Computer Fair-THe Computer Connection: Using the Computer in the Classroom, Cleveland, OH. Alice Fredman, Educational Computer Consortium of Ohio 1123 S.O.M. Center Rd.. Cleveland, OH 44124, (216) 461-0800. October 9-10

Sixth Annual Symposium on Small Computers in the Arts, Philadelphia, PA. Symposium, P.O. Box 1954, Philadelphia. PA 19107. October 10-12

Fifth International Electronic Imaging Conference & Exhibition, Arlington, VA. Conference Management Corp., 17 Washington St., P.O. Box 4990, Norwalk, CT 06856-4990, (203) 852-0500. October 14-15

Second Annual Conference: Computer

TtCHNOLOGY/SPECIAL EDUCATION/REHABIL

ITATION. California State University, Northridge. Dr Harry Murphy CSUN Office of Disabled Student Services, 18111 Nordhoff St.. Northridge, CA 91330. (818) 885-2578. Oaober 16-18

UNIX Expo, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. New York. NY. National Expositions Co Inc., 49 West 38th St., Suite I2A, New York. NY 10018, (212) 391-9111. October 20-22

iNFOMATics 86, Sheraton Centre, Tbronto, Ontario, Canada. Infomatics 86, International Information Management Congress, P.O. Box 34404, Bethesda, MD 20817, (301)

983-0604. October 20-23

Second Annual Symposium for Microcomputers IN Law Enforcement. |acksonville. FL. Russ Arend, Institute of Police Ttechnology and Management, 4567 St. Johns Bluff Rd. S. Jacksonville, FL 32216. (904) 646-2722. October 21-23

Ergodesign '86: The Evolution of the Electronic Workplace, Montreux, Switzerland. Ergodesign '86, P.O. Box 122, CH-1820 Montreux, Switzerland, telephone: (21) 63 04 40, telex: 453 254 mtx ch. Oct(^r 21-24

TViiRD Annual Flat Information Displays Conference, San Jose, CA. International Planning Information Inc., 465 Convention Way Suite 1, Redwood City, CA 94063, (415) 364-9040. October 22-23

International Computers 6 Communications 1986-2000. Washington. DC International Computers & Communications.

P.O. Box 17392, Washington, DC 20041, (703) 476-2604, October 22-25

Fourth Annual Computer TtcHNOLOGV FOR the Handicapped International conference. Minneapolis. MN. Closing the Gap. P.O. Box 68. Henderson. MN 56044, (612) 248-3294. October 22-26

Medinfo 86: Fifth World Congress on Medical Informatics, Washington, DC. Medinfo 86, Secretariat: Office of CME, George Washington University 2300 K St. NW, Washington, DC 20037. (202) 676-8929. October 26-30

Fifth Annual Pacific Northwest Computer Graphics Conference, Eugene, OR. Pacific Northwest Computer Graphics Conference, University of Oregon Continuation Center, 1553 Moss St.. Eugene, OR 97403, (800) 228-6891: in Oregon. (800) 824-2714 or (503) 686-3537. October 27-28

Ninth Northeast Computer Faire,

Boston, MA. The Interface Group Inc. 300 First Ave., Needham. MA 02194. (617)

449-6600. October 30-November 1.

1986 National Conference-East: Computers & Reading/Learning Difrculties. Philadelphia, PA. Diane Frost, Educational Computer Conferences, Dept. N, 1070 Crows Nest Way Richmond, CA 94803. (415) 222-1249. October 'iO-November 1

1986 International Workshop on FORTH and Its Applications, National Taiwan Institute of Ttechnology T&ipei, Republic of China. FORTH Interest Group, P.O. Box 8231, San Jose. CA 95155. (408) 277-0668. oaober 31-Nove»i&er 2

1/ you send notice of your organization's public activities at least four months in advance, we will publish them as space permits. Please send them to BYTE (Events and Clubs). One Phoenvi Mill Lane, Peterborough. NH 03458.

Clubs

Nashville Macintosh Users Group, c/o Clark Thomas, 2305 Ellison Place #C-5, Nashvilte TN 37203, (615) 327-1757.

PC-SIC News, 1030 East Duane Ave,, Suite D, Sunnyvale, CA 94086, (418) 730-9291.

Wjrld wide ST Users Group, WW STUG. 77 Kenton Place. Hamburg. NY 14075.

Satronics Information Exchange (satellite TV SIG), Mark Miller, P.O. Box 52261. Philadelphia. PA 19115. BBS at (215) 698-1905.

Hot Flash (newsletter for UNIX users), Unisource Software Corp.. Donna Wbznicki, 23 East Street, Cambridge, MA 02141. (617) 577-8383.

Southwest APL Users Group (SWAPL), Jim Fiegenschue, 120 Oak Grove Circle, Double Oak, TX 75067-8461. (214) 539-9281.

Unker Atari Computer Enthusiasts

(TACE), P.O. Box 19456, Oklahoma City, OK 73144.

Calgary Hyperion Users Group (CHUG). David T&nsey 3411-33 Street SE, Calgary. Alberta, Canada T2B 0V9.

Green Country Computer Association, Michael S. Keller, P.O. Box 497, TUlsa, OK 74101.

MS-DOS User Group (MUG) of Olympia, Brian Geppert, 1321 Skyridge Street SE, Lacey WA 98503.

ThE Carrier (journal of the Tfelecommunications Users Group), RO. Box 45254. Seattle, WA 98145-0254.

CodeWorks (magazine devoted to problem solving with BASIC), 80-Northwest Publishing Inc., 3838 South Warner, TScoma. WA 98409-4698, (206) 475-2219.

Laserboard, New York's Electronic Mac User's Group, Stuart Gitlow, 1212 Fifth Avenue, Suite 15C, New York. NY 10029-5210. (212) 831-6413 (voice). 348-5714 (data).

THE SEf/riNEL (newsletter for TI Professional users), Dick Mitch, Box 635, Dunlap. CA 93621, (209) 338-2472. ■

OCTOBER 1986 • byte 49

Princeton. The

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nonglare screen. The lines are crisp, the characters sharp, and the colors even, so you're more productive. Controls are located on the front, where you can reach them.

Reliability. Princeton monitors are designed and manufactured to meet your most demanding needs. Only the finest components are used. The result: dependable performance day in and day out.

Value. No other monitor gives you more for the money than Princeton. Compare for yourself. Feature for feature there's not a better value around.

Availability. Princeton monitors are as easy to get your hands on as they are easy to use. You can find them at computer stores around the world.

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IBM is a trademark of International Business Machine, Inc. Compaq is a trademark of Compaq Computer Corp. Wall Street Journal is a registered trademark of Dow Jones, Inc.

50 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

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inquiry 239

OaOBER 1986 -BYTE 51

ASK BYTE

Conducted by Steve Ciarcia

Foreign-Language Daisy Wheels

Dear Steve,

A letter by Chris Leiss in the November 1985 BYTE (page 48) attracted my attention. He Is using a Brother CE-50 typewriter to print Arabic: I'm using a Brother HR-15 XL printer (which uses the same daisy wheels) and a BASIC program to print in various European languages (generally European versions of American word processors do not permit you to mix several languages in the same text).

I would liice to know who sells Russian and/or Greeic daisy wheels that fit the Brother printers.

|. Dings Pisa, Italy

You're in lucid I found a distributor that can obtain Russian and Greek print wheels for your printer

Mr. Peter Neidenbach PrinterLand Inc. 210 West Roosevelt Rd. Villa Park. IL 60181 (314) 833-5074

Mr. Neidenbach stated that he could obtain other foreign-language print wheels as we//.—Steve

C Compilers

Dear Steve, At present, I am doing some initial work

using a BASIC compiler 1 am not satisfied, however, because the resulting programs are far slower than I expected (besides, the version I have does not support the 80287). 1 would like to use a C compiler instead, and I need one that meets the following requirements'

• Optimized for the 80286/80287 instruction set

• Supports virtual memory

• Graphics support for the IBM Professional Graphics Adapter (PGA)

• Can address more than the 640K-byte memory limit imposed by PC-DOS

• Has a friendly and effective editor and debugger

Also, I recently acquired an OEM board of an IBM PC AT-compatible computer.

This machine is equipped with an 8-MHz 80286 and 80287. I intend to use this

machine for real-time 3D graphics animation. Could you help me find references for further study? I am also very interested in fractal geometry Do you have any suggestions?

Anthony Cayetano Paranaque, Philippines

The January 1986 Issue of PC Ttech Journal reviewed a crop of C compilers. Rather than pick one out of the list for you, i d suggest that you go through the article and match them against your requirements. However, some caveats are in order

None of the compilers will generate code for the 80286 in protected mode because DOS doesn't support this. Therefore, all of your programs will treat the 80286 as just a faster 8086. Similarly the 80287 will be run as a faster 8087.

The 640K-byte limit imposed by DOS is. unfortunately, rooted in hardware: That's all the space that's left after you account for ail the display adapters and whatnot that share the address space with the system RA1\4. The 80286 can address up to 16 megabytes in protected mode, but you can't get there from here. The new Lotus/Intel/Microsoft Expanded Memory Specification boards allow you to stuff up to 8 megabytes in a PC, but it's bankrswitched using four l6K-byte windows inside the 640K-byte limit and isn't handy for your project.

Similarly virtual memory is handled by the operating system rather than the language. PC-DOS, as you might have guessed by now, doesn't support virtual memory.

Support for the PGA isn't part of the compiler but Is provided as either a set of library functions or a device driver Given the complexity of the PGA, the support code Is only now starting to appear and i don 't have any recommendations on any packages.

The basic reference for fractals is The Fractal Geometry of Nature by Benoit B. Mandelbrot (W. H. Freeman, 1982). It's not particularly helpful with programming, butit0ves you a good understanding of last what fractals are. The Com

puter Recreations column of Scientific American has had several fractal and 3D programs lately.—Steve

New Life for

LiL' Orphan Adam?

Dear Steve.

I am planning to buy a Coleco Adam. It's cheap, comes with a word processor in ROM and a printer.and has a keyboard that feels comfortable to me. However, I like to program in C. and since the machine does not come with CP/M or a disk drive, 1 must find a way to port a C compiler over to the Adam.

I have decided that the easiest way to do this is to write a macro assembler in Coleco's SmartBasic, use the assembler to write a TIL (threaded interpreted language)-based operating system, and then write a C compiler in TIL code. The compiler that 1 have settled on is the Small-C compiler, I have the source code for this compiler in The Small C Handbook by Hendrix (Reston, 1984). Unfortunately the compiler uses a standard function library as well as an "stdio.h" file, and the source code for either file is not listed in the book. Where can 1 get an example of the source code for a Z80-based system?

Also, I was recently reading a copy of Computer Shopper magazine, in which 1 ran across an advertisement for a subscription to a magazine called Compulersmyth. I cut out the return slip and purchased a money order for a two-year subscription, but

[continued]

IN ASK BYTE. Steve Ciarcia answers queslions on any area of microcomputing. Tfie most representative questions received each month wilt be answered and published. Do you have a nagging problem? Send your inquiry lo

Ask BYTE

do Steve Ciarcia

P.O. Box 582

Glastonbury CT 06033 Due to the high volume oj inquiries, personal replies cannot be given. All letters and photographs become the property of Steve Ciarcia and cannot be returned. Be sure to include "Ask BYTE" in the address.

The Ask BYTE staff includes manager Harv Weiner and researchers Eric Albert. Bill Curlew. Ken Davidson, \eannette Dojan. ]on Elson. Roger lames, Frank Kuechmann. Dave Utndberg. Edward Nisley. Dick Sawyer, Andy Siska, and Robert Stek.

52 BYTE" OCTOBER 1986

COPYRIGHT © 1986 STEVEN A. CIARCIA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

MICROSOFT LANGUAGES NEWSLETTER Vol. 1, No. 10

News about the Microsoft Language Family

Compiling With The cl Interface in Microsoft® C Compiler

Tlie cl interface is an alternative driver to msc that comes with the Microsoft C Compiler It is very similar to the XENIX* and UNIX™ cc driver cl will not only compile your program, but will also compile and link multiple source files, object files and libraries, aU in one step, cl looks at the file name extension (.c or .obj) and determines whether it is necessary' to compile and link or just to link.

Example:

cl-Ox-FPa-F 2000-Zi main.c sublohj-link mylih.lib

Tliis example compiles main.c, creating main.obj, then links main.obj file with subl.obj, the alternative math library (/FPa) and mylib.lib. /Ox sets maximum optimization, with stack checking off. The executable stack size is set to 8K (decimal) with /F 2000(hex). FuU symbolic information for use with Microsoft CodeView™ is enabled.

As with rase, cl will automatically use the PATH, INCLUDE, TMP and LIB environment variables. This allows you to set up specific search paths for your executable compiler files, include files, temporary files and library files.

All of the options available with msc are also available with cl The default options for the Microsoft C Compiler Version 4.0 interfaces are as follows:

—As Small Model.

—FPi Generous floating point calls; selects emulator math library

—Ot Controls optimizations; favors execution time.

—Ze Enables language extensions, such a cdecl, far, fortran, huge, near, pascal.

The defauk for the —Ox option has been changed to favor execution time.

In addition, cl will automatically invoke the linker and use the default C libraries. The following are some of the options that are available from cl:

—link'libraryfield" The linker is invoked; linker options and alternate library names may be given.

—c Suppress linking.

—Fe Names the executable file.

—Fm Creates a map file.

Third-Party Libraries Available For Microsoft FORTRAN Compiler

Microsoft FORTRAN for MS-DOS® provides a number of utilities and math libraries in the product itself, but there are a number of additional subroutine libraries that can be obtained through third-party software vendors that could speed your development even more. There are a whole range of graphic libraries such as plotting libraries (ATC, Microcompatibles, OSS), 3-D graphics (Microcompatibles), ANSI/ISO graphics (OSS, ATC), image processing (Werner Frei) and general graphics (Media Cybernetics). If you need data management, Softcraft provides Btrieve for ISAM support and Microrim provides a Microsoft FORTRAN program interface to their RBase product. Although Microsoft FORTRAN math support is already extensive, there are other more specialized math libraries available such as modelling (Mitchell &. Gauthier), FFT (MicroWay, Wiley), vector, matrix numerical analysis, signal and image processing libraries (Wiley Quantitative Technology Corporation, Systolic Systems), statistic (Wiley IMSL, MAGUS, LMSL), and broad engineering/scientific math libraries (Wiley NAG). General purpose libraries are available through MEF that provide communications, file management, graphics, DOS, screen handling and string handling support all in one package. Even very specialized libraries such as IEEE 488 Support (Tecmar) are available.

Contact these third party vendors for more information on their libraries for Microsoft FORTRAN or receive a copy of the Language Support Directory by contacting Microsoft.

For more information on the products and features discussed in the Newsletter, write to: Microsoft Languages Newsletter 16011 NE 36th Way Box 97017, Redmond, WA 98073-9717 Or phone:

(800) 426-9400. In Washington State and Alaska, caU (206) 882-8088. In Canada, call (416) 673-7638.

Latest DOS Versions:

Microsoft C Compiler Microsoft COBOL Microsoft FORTRAN MiCTOsoft Macro Assembler Microsoft Pascal Microsoft QuickBASIC

4.00 2.10 3.31 4.00 3.31 2.00

Micrmofl, MS-DOS and XENIX are registered trademarks and CodeView is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. UNIX is a trademark of AT&T Bell Laboratories.

Look for the Microsoft Languages Newsletter every month in this publication.

V

ASK BYTE

before 1 could mail it out, I lost the slip of paper with the address on it. Can you help?

Derek A. Benner Missoula, MT

Woof! You ve certainly got a project in front of you!

The original source for Small-C was Dr. Dobb's Journal in 1980. Version 2 of the language was presented in that magazine in December 1982 and January 1983. with source for a small library. An expanded library was printed in May and June of 1984, and a variety of additions, corrections, and modifications have come out since then. Most of the library functions are in C rather than assembler so you may well be in luck. Also, you may want to look at Dr. Dobb's Toolbook of C, a recently published book available from M & T Publishing Inc ((415) 3663600, ext. 216).

In all seriousness, I think that your project is too big for an Adam. Given the amount of software you're planning to write and the amount of debugging required to get it all running, you're going to spend an unreasonable amount of

time watching those little tape drives whir You can get a single-board CP/M system for about the same money, so an orphan Adam doesn't make sense.

Computersmyth caters to hardware tinkerers of all flavors and has had a variety of interesting articles in the first four issues. The address is

Computersmyth P.O. Box 176

Peterborough, NH 03458 —Steve

Computerizing Model Railroads

Dear Steve,

One of my hobbies is model railroading. For many years 1 have wondered about the practicality of using a computer to completely control a model railroad (including switching operations), which I could scale up to a railroad of arbitrary size. I think that I have solved all the engineering problems except one, and perhaps you can help me with it.

The problem is train sensing. Most train sensors I know of merely detect whether railroad cars are in track blocks. I need

more precision. I recently had an idea to use strain gauge sensors in the track, possibly across rail gaps, to sense when train wheels pass points on the railroad.

Using wheel counting and a real-time clock (and software that 1 believe I can write), I could get very precise measurements of train position and speed. 1 could even sense derailments and broken trains

1 know very little about strain gauges. How sensitive are they? I need to sense the presence of % ounce (3-ounce model railroad car divided by 8 wheels). Thanks for any information you can give me.

David W. Roscoe Chelmsford, MA

Strain gauges are very tricky components, and you can make them as sensitive as you need. They are used in microgram analytical balances, which are more sensitive than any beam balance. They provide millivolt signals, however and require complicated amplifiers and very effective noise shielding to work properly.

I would recommend that you try another approach to train sensing. An op

{conlimed)

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Corona PC Call

Multltech 900 Accel

IBM AT Compatible, 512K, expandable to 1 MB on the mother board, one 1.2 MB drive, 195 watt power supply, MS/DOS 3.1, clock, 6 or 10 MHZ key selectable, soft white monitor, AT style keyboard, 1 year TRW warranty Call

Multltech Turbo

IBM Compatible Computer, 256K, dual drives, 8 MHZ, portsparallel-serial-clock, 5151 type keyboard, graphics board (sim ilar to Hercules), mono monitor DOS 3.1, 6 month national warranty Call

Sharp Portable Call

TERMS: Add 3% for C.O.D. orders. Shipping on most software is S5.00. AZ orders +6.7% sales tax. Personal check - allow fourteen (14) days to clear. We accept purchase orders from authorized institutions. All returns are subject to our approval. There will be a 20% restock fee. Minimum phone order S50.

No Charge for Master Card or Visa

3

vrs*

TOLL-FREE ORDER LINE 1-800-421-3135 WAREHOUSE DATA PRODUCTS 2701 West Glendale Ave. • Phoenix, AZ 85051

Hours 7 A.M. lo 5:30 P.M. M.S.T. - Mon. thru FrI. SalurdaylO:OD A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

Inquiry 318

OCTOBER 1986 -BYTE 55

ANYONE CAN BUlU) AaONE,BUL.

ONDTPiANASONK

GIVES YOU A BUSINESS PARTNER

Everyone seems to be jumping on the bandwagon. Today, companies that weren't there yesterday and may not be there tomorrow, are building computers from easily assembled components.

The result is a sea of computer clones widi little to distinguish one from another.

THE PANASONIC DIFFERENCE-A POWERFUL BUSINESS AllY. Our approach to offering you a computer was entirely different. We looked at what woixld work best for you and your business.

The result is the Panasonic Business Partner and Panasonic Business Partner 286. Two powerful business allies, designed to answer your most demanding computer requirements.

YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE PANASONIC MAKES. With our long, unparalleled heritage in video technology, you get high-quality, high resolution monitors. An optional Panasonic CGA PLUS board is switchable to let you use a color or monochrome display for both graphics and text.

BUILT-IN FLEXIBILITY. No two businesses run exactly the same way. So you can configure the Business Partners to your own individual needs. In addition to

their built-in floppy disk drives, you can add a hard disk drive, additional half-height drives—even a magnetic tape drive. SPEED AND PERFORMANCE. The Business Partner 286 is built with maximum power and speed. Its 80286 processor runs at 6 MHz or 8 MHz, with the ability of addressing up to 15Mb RAM.

The Business Partner, with its 8086-2 processor, runs at 4.77 MHz, and for projects that need added acceleration, it will run up to 716 MHz.

FUTURE GROWTH. Both Business Partners have been designed to grow as your business grows. Extra

slots are built in to offer

you the flexibility— now and in the future— to add on cards for high resolution graphics,

communications accessories and other peripherals.

•IBM is a registered Iradetiiark of the Internatiotial Business Machines Corp.

POWER TO SPARE. As your business grows, you'll put greater demands on your Business Partner. Don't worry, it can handle it. With 130 watts on the Business Partner and 220 watts on the Business Partner 286, you'll be able to drive additional peripherals and expansion boards.

IMPORTANT DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS. The deluxe, detachable keyboards on both models have been designed for comfort and ease of use. We've separated the cursor keys and numeric keys for quick, convenient access. Swivel monitors adjust for each operator. On the Business Partner 286, you can lock the cabinet with a key to help prevent tampering and prying.

SOME REASSURING LAST WORDS. You 11 find the Business Partner compatible with the IBM* PC/XT. And the Business Partner 286, with the PC/AT. So you'll be able to mn the most popular software. You'll also get compatibility with Panasonic's wide range of quality peripherals, for the complete Panasonic office. And more importantly, both Business Partners are from Panasonic, the company firmly committed to building a high-quality and dependable reputation in computer products. So both are backed with a full-year limited warranty

For more information, and the location of the dealer nearest you, call I-800-PIC-8086. Or write: Panasonic Industrial Company, Computer Products Division, Two Panasonic Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094. And discover how the right Business Partaer can make running your business easier. You'll see: THE EASIER, THE BEHER.

Panasonic^

Office Automation^^^v^^

Inquiry 224

ASK BYTE

tical sensor placed under the track would work very well. If you want to sense wheels, you could put sensors on opposite sides of the track, just peeking over the top of the rails. You could put these in housings that would look very much like standard railway equipment so as not to be unrealistic. A sensor under the track could sense available room light, while the wheel sensors could use paired infrared emitters and detectors. A third approach would be to use the

USRobotics' COURIER 2400" ...The most dependable at 2400- or 1200-bps

You get 2400/1200/300-bps data communications and every first-class feature you'd expect in an auto-dial, autoanswer modem...at a surprisingly affordable price.

But a modem at any price is only as good as its performance...And that's wtiere Courier 2400 really shiines. Don't take our word for it. Ask any of the nearly 2,000 electronic bulletin board system operators wtio have chosen the Courier 2400 for one of the most demanding modem applications imaginable.

Listen to the unanimous chorus of praise for the Courier 2400 from tough reviewers at more than a dozen highly respected computer magazines.

Consider Courier 2400's performance record—(ess than one percent of all Courier 2400s sold have been returned for service, a record we challenge the industry to match. And we back up our confidence in Courier 2400

58 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

reflective sensing emitter-detector sets and put a bit of aluminized plastic tape on the bottom of each car that could be sensed from below the track. To get really fancy, put a bar code on each car and have the computer keep track of individual cars and locomotives.

If the sensors are infrared phototransistors, the interface to TTL levels can be a transistor or a comparator The comparator gives more sensitivity and a way to set each sensor for the optimum

withi a full two-year parts and service warranty.

Quality, performance, value—your modem should be this good. It is, if it's the Courier 2400 from USRobotics.

BKHobotics

Ttie Intelligent Choice in Data Communications

8100 McCormick Blvd.. Skokie. Illinois 60076 Phone loll Iree 1 (800) DIAL USR

In Illinois (312) 982-5001

To learn more, send for our FREE booklet: "24 Questions and Answers on 2400-BPS Modems!'

NAME

ADDRESS

CITY

STATE ZIP

COMPANY

TITLE

PHONE! )

PERSONAL USE O BUSINESS USE D

Inquiry 313 for End-Users. Inquiry 314 for DEALERS ONLY.

threshold to compensate for mechanical, optical, and component variations (which are rather large in LEDs and photodetectorsl.—Steve

Using an IEEE-488 Port

Dear Steve.

I have a Zorba CP/M computer that has, annong numerous other features, an IEEE-488 port installed. I am interested in using this port to drive peripherals such as speech synthesizers, voice recognition units, and nonwire communication links (light beam, radio, etc.) to robots and other computers. There seems to be a dearth of information on this port in the popular literature.

Have you had any experience using the IEEE-488 port? Can you refer me to any sources of information on it? From what I have seen, it has been wrongfully neglected.

BiLLY R. Rogue Lake Havasu City. AZ

The IEEE-488 bus is an 8-bit parallel bus that was originally designed to connect test and measurement instruments to early programmable calculators to form production test systems in factories The document. IEEE Standard 488-1978, Digital Interface for Programmable Instrumentation, can be obtained from the IEEE. Another source is the Intel Component Data Catalog. The section on the 829i. 8292. and 8293 circuits has much information on this bus and describes interface circuits as well. Intel calls the IEEE-488 the CPIB (general-purpose interface bus) and l-lewlett-Packard originally called it the HP-IB. Intel in Phoenix (16021 997-9695) or BFA in Scottsdale 1(602} 924-54001 should be able to get you the Intel catalog.—Steve

CIRCUIT CELLAR FEEDBACK

LED Graphics Display Panel

Dear Steve,

1 am interested in building a light panel with incandescent or LED lamps (colored, if possible) that 1 can use as an advertisement board. I would like to construct a panel ranging in size from 3 feet by 4 feet to possibly 12 feet by 12 feet, capable of displaying text, graphics, or animation,

I presently have an Apple lie, an 80column card, Duodisk, Imagewriter. and a green monochrome monitor I have seen

{continued)

$2000?

That's Too Darned High!

over 50 plotters. Compatibility with most graphics adapters, digitizing tablets, and mice. Compatibility with most display adapters. Compatibility with any software that can produce HP plotter commands. Compatibility with mainframe CAD systems (IGES). All at no extra charge! (You can also get an AutoCAD Interchange Utility for $99 that converts drawings to or from the AutoCAD format.)

What additional hardware do you need? None! An IBIVI PC compatible and 512K RAIVI are all you need. ProDesign II produces high resolution drawings on your dot matrix printer - better than .005" resolution on an IBM/Epson compatible printer. And you don't have to get a mouse or digitizing tablet. ProDesign II is designed for easy and efficient keyboard use. You won't even need a math coprocessor, although it is supported. From a small drawing on a dot matrix printer to an E-Size drawing on a large plotter, ProDesign II is the one to use!

ProDesign II — Affordable, Compatible, and Usable!

Where do you get it? See your local dealer or contact: American Small Business Computers, Inc. 118 South Mill Street Pryor, OK 74361 918/825-4844

PRODESIGN II — ONLY $299!

Inquiry 24 OCTOBER 1986 • B YT E 59'

Why should a CAD package cost more than a Word Processor? It shouldn't! Lots of people ask how we can offer a CAD system as good as ProDesign II at a price as low as $299. It's easy. A PC Software Package does not cost $2000 to manufacture. It doesn't even cost $200. It makes us ask the questions, 'Why do comparable CAD packages cost $2000 and more?" "What makes a CAD package cost rhore than a Word Processor?"

ProDesign II doesn't. ProDesign II is the complete CAD package you get for $299. With ProDesign II, you get such advanced features as Auto Dimensioning, Area Fill, Fillets, Mirroring, Isometrics, Curve Fitting, Object Snap, Attributes, Drawing Merge, and many, many more. Features once available only for $2000 or more. Features you get at no extra charge with ProDesign II.

But there is another, very important reason you should get ProDesign II. ProDesign II is very unique among CAD packages. It is easy to learn and use. When we call ProDesign II "The Easy To Use CAD System", we're not joking. You will be productive with ProDesign II in an hour or two instead of a week or two.

What else does ProDesign II offer? Compatibility. Compatibility with over 100 printers. Compatibility with

Inquiry 6

How to tackle a 300 page monster.

Turn your PC into a typesetter.

If you're writing a long, serious document on your IBM PC, you want it to look professional. You want MicroTEX. Designed especially for desktop publishers who require heavy duty typesetting, MicroTgX is based on the TgX standard, with tens of thousands of users worldwide. It easily handles documents from/ smaller than 30 pages to 5000 pages or more. No other PC typesetting software gives you as many advanced capabilities as MicroTgX.

So if you want typesetting software thaf s as serious as you are about your writing, get MicroTEX. Call toll free 800-255-2550 to order or for more. information.* Order with a 60-day money back guarantee. ''^

MicroTEX

from Addison-Wesley

Serious typesetting for serious desktop publishers.

'Dealers, call our Dealer Hot Line: 800-447-2226 (In MA, 800-446-3399), ext. 2643.

Copying diskettes wiD never be easier than pushing one button.

WhDe your computer is busy doing other things, your Victory Duplicator can be making as many as ei^t copies of a diskette at once —producing up to 400 copies in an hour DualMaster™ models can even make multiple copies of two different diskettes simultaneously. Just insert the diskettes and press one button.

Copy different formats, flawlessly.

An automatic format analysis program makes it possible for the Victory Duplicator to

copy virtually any 5%, SVi or 8-inch diskette. The system tests for quality and accuracy at every stage of the process.

It practically services itself.

Each drive has a separate controller to maximize uptime. Single diagnostics to verify drive alignment and industry standard drives allow you to maintain your system without waiting for outside service.

All at an attractive price.

Victory Duplicators offer fast copying, serialization.

Come see us at FaU COMDEX

copyprotection, a communications port, a four-month wanranty and much more— all for one low price.

CaU 1-800421-0103.

Call today for more information. (Inlexas, can51245O080L)

Yiciomr

ENTERPRISES

Technology, Inc.

8910 Research Blvd.. Suite B2 Austin, Texas 78758

CIARCIA FEEDBACK

software from Broderbund called Fantavision that does color animation on the He and is reportedly able to do up to a three-hour show.

I know a little about electricity and would like to build a small panel to experiment with. Can you give me any information on this?

Kent Barnard Wayne City. IL

Volume II of Ciarcia's Circuit Cellar (BYTE Books. McGraw-Hill) contains details on a self-refreshing LED graphics display panel The circuits shown in that article could be readily adapted to the Apple lie (you could drive them using a parallel port). This would allow you to experiment with the fundamentals

The April 1984 Circuit Cellar column featured a scrolling LED display driven by the Z8 control computer This display could also be driven by a suitably equipped 4pp/e—Steve

Testing and Recalibrating Floppy Disk Drives

Dear Steve,

I am in charge of the PC Laboratory at the Weizmann Institute. We have over 100 IBM and IBM-compatible PCs and two of us to give advice on purchasing hardware and software, hooking it all up, arranging for maintenance, etc. 1 wonder if you could help us with one of our biggest maintenance headaches—floppy disk drives. ■ As a research institution, we are exempt from custom duties on most laboratory equipment that we buy. Therefore, we often buy mail-order equipment from the United States (often from advertisements in the back of BYTE), since it can be cheaper than ordering from a dealer here. This has had mixed results in terms of the quality of the hardware we purchase. For instance, we have ordered drives that, when we receive them, don't work until we play around with the little jumpers on the drive circuit board (eg.. DSO, DSl, MS. HS. etc.). Of course, the drives never come with documentation, so 1 am working in the dark. 1 have been forced to pay an outside laboratory to adjust some drives that I couldn't get to work.

1 also find that heavily used floppy disk drives go out of calibration. There is a laboratory here that repairs drives, but it seems a shame to pay them $75 to calibrate a drive that costs $100 new. While we do not intend to become a facility for repairing drives, I would like to be able to recalibrate them here.

Could you recommend a book on floppy disk drive maintenance? Also, perhaps

tantimed)

60 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 317

I

With all these SoftLogic Solutions, you could run out of problems.

Now there's a whole family of low-cost, easy to use Softlogic software for the IBM PC, XT, AT, and compatibles. They'll save you time, aggravation, and lots of money. Got a problem? Check out these Softlogic Solutions.

Software Carousel—The easy way to move from one program to another.

What a hassle. Saving, exiting, loading, retrieving—just to move from one application to another. With Software Carousel, you can keep up to ten programs loaded and ready to run. Best of all, you can use all your memory in each and every one. Supports AboveBoard™ and RAMpage™ too.

Disk Optimizer—Speeds up your disk by cleaning up your files.

You may not notice, but your hard drive is getting slower. Because your files keep getting fragmented and scattered on your disk. Reading, writing, everything takes longer, because your disk is working harder. Disk Optimizer puts back the speed by putting your files back in one piece—where they belong.

Cubit—Packs more of your data onto less disk space.

Filling up your hard disk again? Don't run out and get a bigger drive. Get Cubit, and get up to twice the storage capacity from the drive you already have. Cubit compresses and decompresses word processor, spreadsheet, database, all kinds of files—quickly, safely, invisibly.

DoubleDOS —The multitasking software that takes less of everything.

You can spend more money, load more memory, and read more manuals with systems like TopView™ or Windows™ Or you can get DoubleDOS, the amazingly simple concurrent software environment that lets you and your computer each work on different tasks at once. Nothing could be easier. And nothing costs you less.

Put your problems behind you. Order these SoftLogic

Solutions today.

$

49

95*

Each

*Plus $5.00 shipping h;i[ulliny.

So why put up with problems? Especially when you can get dependable SoftLogic Solutions for just $49.95* each. Ask for SoftLogic products at your computer dealer. Or order directly from SoftLogic Solutions by calling 800-272-9900 (603-627-9900 in New Hampshire).

SoftLogic

SOLUTIONS

Order today: 800^272^9900

SoftLogic Solutions, Inc. 530 Chestnut Street Mancl-iester, NH 03101 800-272-9900 (603-627-9900 in NH)

Inquiry 277

OCTOBER 1986 -BYTE 61

Now In Our 8th Year"

In The World of PC Upgrades

1 VCnR lUflRRflNTV, 30 DRV MON€V 3RCK GURRRNT€€

ORD€fl UN€ 800-228-08911

1 V€Rfl lURRnflNTV, 30 DflV MONCV1

l|. Micro Design InternotionQl. Inc.

vr baas: I InluarAlIu RniilnunrH U/lntar Pnrk PtnrlHii fl97fl9 .inR.fiyT.flnan

69BS University Boulavard, Winter Park, Florida 32792 30S'677'8333

Inqiiil \

CIARCIA FEEDBACK

you could suggest what sort of equipment we would need to keep drives calibrated?

Samuel Gamoran The Weizmann Institute of Science

Israel

The minimum equipment you need to test floppy disk drives is a computer to run the drive, an alignment disl<, and an oscilloscope to read the output signals produced by the alignment disk.

PC Tech lournal reviewed five floppy disk drive diagnostic disks in the May 1985 article "Testing 1,2,3.4.5" by fames Chumbley. These disks provide data on speed, alignment centering, head backlash, etc. Of the five, only the following vendors provided quantitative data:

Interrogator Dysan Corporation 1244 Reamwood Ave. Sunnyvale, CA 94089 (408) 734-1624

Memory Minder J & M Systems Ltd. I5100A Central Ave SE Albuquerque, NM 87123 (505) 292-4182

ReadiScope

ReadiWare Systems Inc. P.O. Box 515 Portage, Ml 49081 (616) 327-9172

Recent issues of Computer Shopper magazine carry ads for disk drive service manuals from

Consumertronics Co. Attn.: Computers 2011 Crescent Alamogordo, NM 88310

and a drive tester, the EX2000 Disk Drive Exerciser, from

Proto PC

2439 Franklin Ave. St Paul, MN 55114 (612) 644-4660

—Steve

Music Project for the IBM PC

Dear Steve,

1 am interested in using an IBM PC-type computer for music synthesis and audio editing. Ideally, such a system would be capable of digitizing input data on a single channel with 12-bit resolution and 50-kHz sampling rate. It should also be capable of synthesizing two channels with a 12- to 16-bit dynamic range at the above sampling rate. A 40-megabyte hard disk could store six minutes of input data and three

{conlinued)

ATTENTION

JOB INVOICE

r

South Seas Shipping Company

Novembor 20.1986

Ma. Cathy Lyons

Import Oflicof

Bolonicol Resoarch Lid.

55 Wowflk Ro.id

Moresby. Papua, Now Guinea

Dear Ms. Lyon:

Wild L

This lolls. conli,ms Ihe »a.«n,.nl we reachod al ou. meoll-ig l.sl voek i„ S... Francisco. Bolanlcal H=saa,ch, Lid. will recommend ll>o oplimal condllions fc- shipping palm Iruil and palm oil. .moonant .ss.;os foroo,.sido»6on are: ,on,pc,M,o Our/ng sHppingand toal"

■•' romploted by Juno l, 1987.

South Sea<5 ■

^"'PO'^'e ofoa!"'"' °°"'P='ny °'Sa™«Iio„a/ Char,

.«o» '"fi^sirf »":i£ \

I Ca<*'

of

^^''^ « J f"* "Vi* <" , \c>n>. ° lo- >"\,-jiU n»>' nv.«S'".V , com"'' u««' ^

IK*'"*

YOU COULD PRINT EVERYTHING ON THIS DESK FROM A BUSINESS PC?

The world's best-selling desktop laser printer has pometliing in store for just about eveiy business that's ever dealt with the printed word.

Beaiuse the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet Printer is the only printer of its kind spedficiUy designed to work with over 300 software programs. And since it hooks up to abnost any business PC, it's right for all kinds of users—not just tlie art department. So you can print everytliing on tliis desk—from simple memos to your life's memoirs. And get high-quality, professiorral-looking output.

Combined with our very fast, very versatile HP Vectra PC (it's IBM PC/AT compatible) and tlie softu'are of your choice, the HP Laserjet is the cornerstone for a complete desktop publishing solution. One your whole company can easily use.

Of course, the HP LaserJet also works with IBM PC's and compatibles. As well as software like Lotus 1-2-3, WordStar and diBASE II. And, for around $3,000, it's the laser printer you can afford.

We can't print all tlie reasons our hp i*<tra k HP LaserJet is the printer of choice. Butif you stop by an authorized HP dealer or call us at 1800 367-4772', Dept. 276D for the one nearest you, we'll show you why HP qualit)' printing makes very good business sense indeed.

ftBil sumptes iModuccd on a Loser Jot Piuswih Ihe lollowing .sollwoto packages. SluOio SoHwme Spelltiinder* Deswop PiiOdshcf MicinProWord.St()r2W0*ia\us}-2-3*andFofrnMakeiN'"Ht'\feclrore is0irodenmitiolHewtetl-ftjctord IBM PC IS a (egisleiBd ITOfleniorl* ol Intemolional Business Maciiiiias Corp uilus 17 3 r:p registeied trodoniorkol iDtus (Jevtilopmenl Corp WordSJof is a loiistsfed Irodfjuoiti ol MicioPio Inlernolonol d BASE 11 is a regtsleteO Irodamo/lt 01 AsnlMi Tale © IB66 HBwkiil Packord Co

HP LaserJet

mLJ!!M PACKARD

Business Computing Systems

Inquiry 137

PG601BT0

C Compiler, Version 3.

There's never been a better time to buy Lattice C. Professional programmers the world over have made Lattice C the standard compiler for serious MS-DOS programming. Now Version 3 offers even more of the features that have made our previous versions so popular, Our new compiler features include:

ANSI language constructs including, unsigned as a modifier, void data type, enum data type, structure assignments, structure arguments, structure returns, and argument type checking.

The compiler also contains better aliasing algorithms, more efficient code generation, and more flexible segmentation, in-line 8087 code generation, and 80186/ 80286 code generation.

The library contains more than 200 new functions, including; ANSI/UNIX/XENIX compatibility; extended support for MS-DOS; extended support for networking including file sharing, file locking, and I/O redirection; and flexible error handling via user traps and exits. Plus the library has also been re-engineered to produce much smaller executables.

Try the new Version 3 C Compiler from Lattice. Because C-ing is believing.

Lattice, Incorporated P.O. Box 3072 Glen Ellyn, IL 60138 312/858-7950 TWX 910-291-2190

INTERNATIONAL SALES OFFICES: Benelux: Ines Datacom (32) 2-720-51-61 Japan: Lifeboat Inc. (03)293-4711 England: Roundhill (0672)54675 France: SFL (1)46-66-11-55 Germany: (49)7841/4500 (49)8946/13290

64 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986 Inquiry 161

Lattice

CIARCIA FEEDBACK

minutes of stereo output. Obviously, the data transfer rates would be quite high (200K bytes per second), requiring specialized hardware such as a dual-port memory buffer. Are you aware of any commercially available option boards for the PC that might perform these functions? If not, do you have any interest in developing such a board?

David ). States San Diego, CA

I don't have a music project like you requested in ttie worfo at this time for the IBM PC. There are a few AID boards capable of sampling at rates of 50 kHz or more; a couple of vendors are

Metrabyte

440 Myles Standish Blvd. Taunton. MA 02780 (617) 880-3300

Data Ti-anslation Inc. 100 Locke Dr Marlborough, MA 01752 1617) 481-3700

If you can reduce the 50-kHz sample rate, you might get by with an IBM PC with a hard disk. I calculate a data rate of lOOK bytes per second, assuming the 12-bit data is stored as 16-bit words to save time (I don't have a calculation for the compression time). This is a little fast for a PC. The Norton Utilities Disk Test can read an entire lO-megabyte hard disk with an interleave factor of 2 in just about 2 minutes, or 83K bytes per second. This isn't up to the specified data rate of 5 megabits per second for this drive/controller but it is consistent with wait states for the PC DMA controller and a little processing by the controller, and, thus, is probably close to what you can expect in real applications.

A PC AT or one of the faster clones might be better If you want real speed, you might consider an array processor of the type available from Data TYanslation or Datacube as well as other companies. These are usually used as highspeed graphics processors but are quite adaptable.—Steve ■

Over the years I have presented many different projects in BYTE. 1 know many of you have built them and are making use of them in many ways.

I am interested in hearing from any of you telling me what you've done with these projects or how you may have been influenced by the basic ideas, "^rite me xitrGtrcuit Cellar Feedback, P.O. Box 582, Glastonbury CT 06033, and fill me in on your applications. All letters and photographs become the property of Steve Ciarcia and cannot be returned.

AN OLD RESPECTED NAME. A BOLD NEW LOOK.

Computer Mail Order is one of tlie oldest computer mail order companies in the country. We've succeeded where others have failed, because year after year, weVe delivered to you the most product performance for your dollar and given you the attentive service you desire and deserve. This month we launch a new look. We hope youll find it as easy on your eyes as Computer Mail Order has been on your pocketbook. We also hope you'll do us the honor of calling us C-M-0.

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AT&T from $1699.00

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AST

Six Pak Plus PC/XT $169.00

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Advantage IBM/AT 339.00

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DCA

IRMA PC-3278-l/0 849.00

Everex

Bf-mO EtiSp Card 259.00

Hercules

Graphics Card 219.00

Graphics Card Plus 219.00

Color Card 169.00

IDEAssociates

IDE-5251 Emulation Board 589.00

Intel

1110 PC-Above Board call

2010 AT-Above Board call

8087, 80872, 80287, 802878 call

Paradise

Modular Graphics Card 269.00

Color/Mono Card 139.00

Multidisplay Card 179.00

Polaroid Pallette

Computer Image Recorder 1399.00

Quadram

Quad EGA Graphics Adapter....369.00

Expanded Quadhoard. 149.00

Silver Quadfaoard 239.00

STB

EGA Plus w/Dr. Halo 319.00

Video-7

Vega Video adapter-EGA 339.00

Zuckerboard

Color Card w/parallel 89.99

Monochrome Card 99.99

576-Memory Card 59.99

CM Only!

5th Generation

Fast Back

CM Only!

Amdek

3lt)A Amber Screen

$139

CM Only!

Paraiiise

Auto Switch EGA Card

$359

CM Only!

Hayes

Smartmodem 1200 External

^79

CM Only!

20 MB Kit

wA/Vestern Digital Controller

$399

CM Only! IBM-XT

$1I%CIQ

w/Americare Awww

CM Only!

Toshiba

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$1749

CM Only! Canon

LPB8

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When you want to talk computers. When you want to talk price. Call toll-free: 1800233^50.

Outside the U.S.A. 717 327-9575 Telex 5106017898 CMC. 477 East Third Street, Dept. AllO, Williamsport, PA 17701 All major credit cards accepted

CMO. Doing business-to-b

Person to person.

Not too long ago, I got a call from a new customer with an unexpected problefn-we had delivered his order too quickly. He had placed a COD order with one of our sales consultants on the 14th. It went through our system and was shipped the 15th. When the shipment arrived, the customer called. He said he hadn't expected it so soon and hadn't fiad time to arrange for payment.

It turned out the customer had worked as a sales rep for a competitor of ours. He said it takes them 3 or 4 weeks to complete most orders. Consequently, he didn't think there was any hurry to get a check ready for the CMO order

"They must have a lot of cancelled orders," I said.

He said yes, that In a typical month they only ship 40% of what's ordered.

That surprised me. I told him we ship 90% of our orders the next day. And we have very few cancellations.

Well, everything worked out. I apologized for our promptness. He laughed and said he'd be ready for us the next time he ordered.

And we'll be ready for him.

CMO is committed to its customers. We operate an IBM System 38 with state-of-the-art software to help expedite the tens of thousands of orders we receive.Thanks to this system CMO is able to provide customers with up-to-the-minute information about their orders.

Ansa

Paradox $499.00

Ashton-Tate

d-Base III + 429.00

Fvawework II 429.00

Borland

Reflex 59.99

LightenlngA/Vord Wizard ,...,99.99

Central Point Software

Copy II PC , 24.99

5th Generation

Fastback , see special

IIVISI

Mouse w/Dr. Halo 119.00

lUS-Sorcim

General Ledger 299.00

SuperCalc III 329.00

Super Project Plus 299.00

Lifetree

Volkswriter III 149.00

Lotus

Lotus 1 •2»3 ., , 329.00

Symphony 449.00

MECA

Managing Your Money 119.00

MicroPro

Wordstar 2000 + 299.00

Wordstar Professional w/GL Demo189.00 Microrim

R:Base 5000 ..,359.00

Micro Soft

Micro Soft Word 289.00

Micro Soft Mouse/Serial 139.00

Micro Soft Mouse/Bus 139.00

Microstuf

Crosstalk XVI 89,99

Multimate

Multimate 3.3 229.00

M u Itimate Advantage........... ..289.00

Norton Software

Norton Utilities... ., ,.„.57.99

PFS

First Cfirtce.,,.i,...... ..^., iS.9t

Professional Write 129.00

Professional File 159.00

Satellite Systems

Word Perfect 4.1.... 219.00

The Software Gioup

Enable ..369.00

MODEMS.

mmtm

Amdek

Color 600 RGB, IBM CGA $399.00

Color 722 RGB, CGA/EGA 499.00

Color 730 RGB Analog.... ..,..699.00

Magnavox

8CM515 RGB Monitor 80 289.00

7BM623 PC Monitor 80 99.99

NEC

JC-1401P3A Multi-Sync 599.00

JB-1280 TTL Green 139.00

JB-1285 TTL Amber .,....,,,....139.00

Princeton Graphics

MAX-12 Amber 169.00

HX-12 16 Color 429.00

HX12e 64 Color 509.00

SR-12e Super Hi-Res 589.00

SR-12e RGB Analog 649.00

Taxan

640 RGB Hi-Res 539.00

Anchor

Express! 1200 Half Card $149.00

Everex

Evercom 920 1200 Baud 139.00

Hayes

Smartmodem 1200B .359.00

Smartmodem 2400 599.00

Smartmodem 2400B 539.00

Practical Peripherals

Practical Modem 1200SA 179.00

DRIVES.

CMS

Drive Plus 20 MB Card $499.00

T-120 20 MB Tape-Backup 469.00

T-160 60 MB Tape-Backup 699.00

Iomega

A210H 10 + 10 Bernoulli Box...1899.00 A220H 20 + 20 Bernoulli Box...2499.00 Mountain

Drive Card-20 689.00

Drive Card-30 949.00

Priam

Innerspace ID-60AT .,..1349.00

Seagate

ST^026 20 MB Hard Drive 689.00

ST^038 30 MB Hard Drive 739.00

Thomas A. Penfieid Sales Manager, CMO

1

Presenting PC TOOr Only from CMO.

When you think of tailor-made, you think expensive, right? Think again.

Now CMO can offer you a 20 Mb PC-compatible—one we assemble in our Pennsylvania lab just for you.To your specifications. With the attention to quality and performance you've come to expect from CMO. All for just $999.

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For $999, you get: A 20 Mb, PC-XT compatible that runs thousands of programs, including Lotus 1 -2-3™ A 4.77 Mh chip speed An XT chassis with 256K (expandable to 640K) ■ A 20 Mb hard drive S A 360K floppy drive A floppy disk and hard drive controller A150 watt power supply (not just 130) ■ Open architecture with 8 expansion slots (not just 7) ■ And an 84-key, XT-style keyboard.

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CMO. Policies and particulars.

Next day shipping on all in-stocl< items. • Free technical support from our own factory-trained staff. •Toll-free order inquiry

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SHIPPING. Add 3% (minimum $7.00) shipping and handling on all orders. • Larger shipments may require additional charges.

• Returned items may be subject to a restocking fee. • All items subject to availability and price changes. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: 1 800 221-4283

When you want to talk computers. When you want to talk price. Call toll-free: 1800 233-8950.

Outside the U.S.A. 717 327-9575 Telex 5106017898 CMO. 477 East Third Street, Dept. AllO, Williamsport, PA 17701 All major credit cards accepted

BOOK REVIEWS

CD ROM:

THE NEW PAPYRUS Steve Lambert and Suzanne Ropiequet, eds. Microsoft Press Redmond, WA: 1986 619 pages, $21.95

PROGRAMMING PEARLS )on Bentley Addison-Wesiey Reading, MA: 1986 195 pages, $14.95

ADVANCED UNIX PROGRAMMING Marc j. Rochkind Prentice-Hall

Englewood Cliffs, N|: 1986 265 pages, $24.95

CD ROM: THE NEW PAPYRUS

Reviewed by Paul E. Hoffman

Very few technologies come with their own fanfare before they are generally available to the public. The possibilities for CD-ROMs (compact-disk

read-only memories), however, have intrigued so many people that the announcements and pronouncements on their future have preceded their commercial use. Industry prognosticators often use phrases like "revolutionary medium" and "huge acceptance" when they discuss CD-ROMs,

CD ROM: The New Papyrus is a hefty collection of papers on all aspects of CD-ROMs, ranging from the technical aspects of how data is stored and retrieved to the commercial aspects of CD-ROM technology. The authors of the papers are active in the CD-ROM industry and they speak with the authority and enthusiasm that you would expect from people in a cutting-edge field. Fortunately Tfie New Papyrus is not simply a glowing report of how wonderful the CD-ROM will he; it includes a number of

skeptical views and warnings about what needs to be done to encourage consumer acceptance of the product.

Overview

CD-ROMs are very similar to audio compact-disk players except that they hold data instead of music (for an extended discussion of CD-ROMs, see the May BYTE theme articles). A single CD-ROM disk can hold more than 500 megabytes of information, or half a billion characters of text. Unlike floppy disks, CDROM disks can be read from but not written to. These two features, huge storage capacity and no capability for modification, force hardware and software manufacturers to treat CD-ROMs very differently from current magnetic media.

The New Papyrus covers a wide latitude of subjects and is thus a useful reference both for people new to the field and for those who already know something about it. Forty-five articles are arranged into sections by topic. The structure of the book makes it easy for readers to skip the familiar parts and get to the meat of each article. While some articles are highly technical, many are simply theoretical discourses on the future of CD-ROMs.

The book's introduction offers a useful overview of the current state of the CD-ROM industry it includes a fascinating article by Vannevar Bush, written in 1945, that predicted the technology of the CD-ROM medium before computers were even commercially available. The second section on the CD system covers the nuts-and-bolts technical issues of CD-ROM hardware and file systems. Other sections of The New Papyrus cover the steps in

[amlimed)

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volved in producing a CD-ROM (it's significantly more complicated than proiducing a floppy disk) and designing the data that goes on CD-ROMs. The authors of these sections explain in great detail the salient features of CDROMs that must be addressed before you can create a CD-ROM. Even though CD-ROM disks contain much more information than floppy disks, it takes longer to find information on a CD-ROM drive than with even an inexpensive floppy disk drive. This means that manufacturers must spend a great deal of time analyzing the best way to arrange the information on the disk before putting their data on a master for duplication. On the other hand, this necessity means that you can arrange data "neatly" which is more difficult on media like floppy disks.

The book's final sections cover the future of CD-ROMs in publishing and other applications. The publishing section discusses the importance of computer display technology to the public acceptance of CD-ROMs, since most people are happier with books on paper than on a computer screen. Most of the applications in the last section discuss CD-ROMs as giant databases for specific fields such as library science, medicine, and law. The use of CDROMs in vehicle navigation suggests the unexpected places that we may find CD-ROMs in the near future.

Coverage

Since almost every author represented in Ihe New Papyrus works in the CD-ROM industry you might expect all the articles to paint a rosy picture of the future of CD-ROMs. That is not the case, although many authors chose to ignore some of the major technical difficulties of CD-ROMs. The first two sections of the book were especially well balanced with respect to the strengths and weaknesses of the medium.

The technical articles go into great detail about both hardware and software. Instead of glossing over the technical points. The New Papyrus presents detailed descriptions of the servo systems and optics of the CD-ROM readers. The book also covers many system-level software issues such as error detection and correction and how to design file systems that exploit the medium's strengths while minimizing its weaknesses. You may find that the 60 pages of technical information alone are worth the price of the book. Other sections also contain technical detail that many readers are unaccustomed to in a book that is supposed to be an overview of a new technology For example, the article on cartographic databases includes the data structures for the maps that the authors describe.

Another example is the article on compressing digitized images: the author ably describes the technical problem and solution to getting as many images as possible onto a CD-ROM disk. Unfortunately other authors ignored the technical aspects of the system when they wrote their articles and ended up describing systems that would be excessively slow and clunky due to the long seek time of CD-ROM readers.

You may find The New Papyrus interesting reading if only to see the discrepancy between some of the suggested

[continued]

66 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 60 for End-Users.

inquiry 61 (or DEALERS ONLY.

THE FBOFBSSmDAL'S CHOICE

Lotus 1-2-3

$319

Paradox

$469

dBase III Plias

$389

Framework II

$389

MijltiMate Advantage

$269

Word Perfect 4.1

$209

Software

Word Processing Editors

FANCY FONT $139

FANCY WORD $109

FINAL WORD II $219

MICROSOFT WORD 3.0 $279

MULTIMATE $219 MULTIMATE

ADVANTAGE $269 OFFICE WRITER/

SPELLER $239

PFS: WRITE $ 89

SAMNA WORD III $2S9

THINK TANK $109

TURBO LIGHTNING $ 65

VOLKSWRITER 3 $159 VOLKSWHITER

SCIENTIFIC $259

WORD PERFECT 4.1 $209

WORDSTAR 2000 $249

WORDSTAR 2000* $289

WORDSTAR PRO $259

XYWRITE III $239

Database Systems CLIPPER CONDOR III DBASE III PLUS KMAN 2 PARADOX PFS: FILE/REPORT PLEASEI Q & A

QUICKCODE III QUICKREPORT R BASE 5000 REFLEX REVELATION

Graphics

CHAHTMASTEH DIAGRAPH DIAGRAM MASTER ENERGRAPHICS 2.0 FREELANCE GEM DRAW GRAPHWRITER

COMBO IN-A-VISION MAPMASTER MS CHART PC DRAW PC PAINTBRUSH PFS: GRAPH PICTURE PERFECT GRAPHICS PRINTSHOP SIGNMASTER WINDOWS/DRAW

NEC Miilti^yiio

$529

$359 $339 $389 $339 $469 $169

$99 $219 $159 $159 $359

$89 $499

$219 $309 $199 $339 $209 $149

$299 $259 $239 $189 $209 $ 99 $ 89 $245 $ 49 $149 $119

Spreadsheets/ Integrated Packages

ENABLE

FRAMEWORK II

JAVELIN

LOTUS 1-2-3

MULTIPLAN

OPEN ACCESS

SMART SYSTEM

SPREADSHEET AUDITOR

SUPERCALC 3

SYMPHONY

TWIN

Network Applications

DBASE III LAN PAK KMAN 2

MICROSOFT WORD

MULTIMATE

MULTIMATE

ADVANTAGE OPEN SYSTEMS R BASE 5000 REVELATION SAMNA WORD III WORD PERFECT

Desktop Environments

DESOVIEW MS WINDOWS GEM DESKTOP SIDEKICK

Project Management HARVARD TOTAL

PROJECT MANAGER MICROSOFT

PROJECT PROJECT SCHEDULER

NETWORK QUICKNET 500 SUPERPROJECT + TIMELINE 2.0

Communications/ Productivity Tools

CARBON COPY CROSSTALK PROKEY RELAY GOLD REMOTE SMARTERM SMARTCOM II SUPERKEY

Statistics SPSS/PC+ STATGRAPHICS STATPAC GOLD

WALONICK SYSTAT-NEW

MouQtain Drivecard 20

$719

$349 $389 $419 $319 $135 $259 $439

$ 99 $209 $449 $ 79

$639 $899 $Call $639

$749 $459 $799 $999 $799 $450

$ 69 $ 69 $ 39 $ 39

$249

$339 $539 $269 $239

$129 $ 89 $ 85 $149 $109 $Call $ 99 S 49

$575 $449

$399 $499

Languages/Utilities

Display Boards

CONCURRENT DOS

$179

GENOA SPECTRUM

COPYWRITE

$ 45

HERCULES GRAPHICS

086 C COMPILER

$319

CARD

FASTBACK

$ 99

HERCULES COLOR

LATTICE C

$269

CARD

MARK WILLIAMS C

$319

PARADISE MODULAR

MICROSOFT C

GRAPHICS

COMPILER

$249

OUADRAM EGA*

MS BASIC COMPILER

$249

SIGMA EGA 350

MS FORTRAN

$229

SIGMA COLOH 4U0

NORTON UTILITIES

$ 59

STB EGA PLUS

QUICK BASIC

$ 65

TECMAR GRAPHICS

SUPERKEY

S 55

MASTER

TURBO PASCAL

$ 49

TSENG ULTRA PAK

TURBO PROLOG

$ 69

TSENG ULTRA PAK-S

XENIX

$Call

ZERO DISK

$ 70

Emulation Boards

Accounting

AST 5251-11 +

AST 5251-12

BPI

$309

AST BSC

GREAT PLAINS

$479

AST SNA

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IRMA

ONE WRITE PLUS

$159'

SMART ALEC 5251

OPEN SYSTEMS

$409

PEACHTHEE

$259

Modems

REAL WORLD

$399

AST REACH 1200

STAR ACCOUNTING

$529

HAYES 1200

PARTNER II

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Hardware

*

TRANSNET 1000 VENTEL1200

Multifunction Boards AST ADVANTAGE (128K) $349 AST I/O MINI $139 AST MP MINI $199 AST 6 PAK PLUS (64K) $169 AST 6 PAK

PREMIUM (512K) $359 AST RAMPAGE PC $249 AST RAMPAGE AT $459 AST SHORTRAM (OK) $159 GOLD QUADBOARD (OK) $419 INTEL ABOVEBOARD PC $279 INTEL ABOVEBOARD AT $439 INTEL ABOVEBOARD PS

(64K) $329 JRAM AT-3 (OK) $239 JRAM3(0K1 $179 ORCHID CONQUEST

(OK) $279 ORCHID ECCEL (OK) $399 PC TURBO 286 (1MB) $799 PC TINY TURBO 286 $459 QUADBOARD (64K) $139 SILVER QUADBOARD

(OK) $219

HALF CARD VENTEL 1200 PLUS WATSON

$239

$199

$159

$259 $369 $379 $449 $339

$399 $429 $369

$649 $499 $489 $599 $799 $699

$359 $389 $349 $579 $549 $279

$369 $300 $339

Mass Storage/Backup IOMEGA 10*10 W/INTFC $1999 IOMEGA 20+20W/INTFC$2599 IRWIN 120D 2aMB TBU $599 IRWIN 145AT 40MB TBU $699 MOUNTAIN DRIVECARD

20MB $719 PLUS HARDCARD 10MB $569 PLUS HARDCARD 20MB $719 PRIAM 42MB AT $949 SYSGEN SMART IMAGE

20 MB (INT) $625 TALLGRASS $Call TECMAR OIC-60AT TBU

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Networks AST PC NET NOVELL

ORCHID PC NET 3COM

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Monitors AMDEK 310A AMDEK 600/722 NEC MULTISYNC PRINCETON HX-12 PRINCETON MAX-12E PRINCETON SR-12 PRINCETON HX-12E PRINCETON HX-9 SAMSUNG TAXAN 122 AMBER

Quadram Hayes 1200B r -o am at EGA ^ i/g Card ^ ^^"^

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$159 $429/539 $529 $449 $179 $499 $539 $529 $C«II $159

TAXAN 630/640

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Printers/Plotters

BROTHER TWINWRITER $939

DATAPRODUCTS

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DIABLO 635

$1149

EPSON FX-85

$399

EPSON FX-286

$549

EPSON HI-80

$349

EPSON CH-420 1

$1569

EPSON LQ-eOO

$589

EPSON LQ-1000

$729

HP 7475A

$Call

NEC 3550

$799

OKI DATA 182

$249

OKIDATA 192

$379

OKIDATA 193

$519

OKIDATA 292

$539

OKIDATA 293

$589

TOSHIBA P321

$565

TOSHIBA P341

$829

TOSHIBA P351

$1069

Input Devices

KEYTRONIC 5151

$179

KEYTRONIC 5153

$299

MICROSOFT MOUSE

$129

PC MOUSE/PAINT*

$139

Accessories

CABLES $Call CURTIS SURGE

PROTECTORS $Call DATASHIELD BACKUP

POWER $Call DATASHIELD SURGE

PROTECTORS $Call

GILTRONIX SWITCHES $Call

MASTERPIECE PLUS $135 MICROFAZER INLINE

BUFFERS $Call

256K RAM SET $ 39

8087 MATH CHIP $135

80287 MATH CHIP $199

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lEMA Board

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Checks—allow 14 days to clear Credit processing—-add 3%. COD orders—cash, M.O or certified check—add S5.00 Shipping and handling UPS surface—add $3.00 per item (UPS Blue $8.00 per item). NY State Residents—add applicable sales lax. All prices subject to change.

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Inquiry 276

OCTOBER 1986 • B Y T E 67

Inquiry 31

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applications and the limitations of the medium. It is clear that many authors were enamored of the capacity and ignored the access-speed problems. Only a few of the articles address how the CD-ROM will fit in with the current state of computers where users expect to be able to save information in their own formats for future use. Some authors assumed that consumers would want to be able to access vast quantities of data on a computer, while others noted that the assimilation of computers has already slowed and that the expected boom in electronic publishing has failed to materialize to the extent predicted a few years ago.

The New Papyrus describes the important features of CDROM use. A great deal of space is devoted to a discussion of how the user will interact with such a large quantity of data. Appropriate warnings are given to people designing CD-ROM applications: If they do not do a great deal of planning, their products will go unused. Since many of the proposed applications for CD-ROM technology involve people who haven't used computers before, the user interface for handling such a huge amount of data will be very important.

Some of the articles go off on tangents that detract from the overall quality of the book, but they are easy to skip. Most of the book is well grounded in facts and concepts that the readers can use. One criticism, though, is that the authors' biographies are at the end of the articles instead of at the beginning. Many articles describe commercial products, and it is disconcerting to find at the end of an article that some of the products described are produced by the author's company. While some authors are candid about their company affiliations, others slip in references to their products without indicating their legitimate biases about them. The skeptical reader should read the author biographies before reading the articles.

Summary

CD ROM: The New Papyrus contains enough information to give any reader an in-depth view of the CD-ROM market. Considering how few CD-ROM players are in commercial use, this collection covers an incredible amount of information from a wide variety of sources. It will be a valuable reference over the next few years as CD-ROM technology matures.

Paul E. Hoffman (2000 Center St.. Suite 1024, Berkeley. CA 94704) writes and edits books. He holds two degrees from MIT, and he is the editor of Ttext In Computers, a new scholarly journal.

PROGRAMMING PEARLS

Reviewed by Michael O'Neill

Jon Bentley's column "Programming Pearls" has appeared in the journal Communications of the Association for Computing Machinery (CACM) since 1983. This popular feature presents interesting and useful programming tech

{contimed]

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niques gathered from a variety of sources: journals, programmers' folklore, the author's own experience, and that of his friends and correspondents. Programming Pearls consists of revised and expanded versions of thirteen of these

columns.

AMPLE Choice

Bentley usually presents more than one application of each technique; Column 2 and Problem 2.2, for example, explain some not widely known applications of the widely known binary search technique. Bentley often presents more than one way of solving a given problem as well. For instance, in Column 11 he shows five different ways to perform one task, and he details the conditions under which one or another approach would be superior.

Programming Pearls contains some awfully clever tricks. My favorite is the combination of tricks that is used to store the dictionary for a commercial spelling checker program. Doug IVlcIlroy the program's author, managed to store 7 5,000 English words in 52K bytes, less than a fifth of the space required for storing the dictionary as ASCII characters. (Sorry, I don't have the space here to tell you how he did it.) Column 2, 'Aha! Algorithm," and its associated problem set contain several very clever tricks, too. There are many more. But Bentley does not present cleverness for the sake of cleverness; each of his tricks provides increased efficiency, comprehensibility or both.

The book, however, is not just a bag of tricks; Bentley has tried, with some success, to organize his material into a coherent whole. While there may be many books on programming, there are few collections of tricks of the trade. Programming Pearb is the best collection I've seen.

STRUCTURAL SCHEMAS

The book is divided into three parts: "Preliminaries," "Performance," and "The Product." The first section contains material dealing with what might be called pre- and postprogramming issues. Here Bentley offers program planning and verification techniques. "Performance" contains the columns that concern ways of producing efficient programs. "The Product" consists of four columns in which Bentley presents applications of the previously given techniques to more involved programs such as the spelling checker. This organizational scheme is very approximate; there is considerable overlap of material from section to section, and the assignment of columns to sections is somewhat arbitrary.

Bentley imposes a second form of organization by highlighting certain motifs that recur throughout Programming Pearls. Each column includes a section called "Principles" in which the author lists the motifs that appear in the column. Some of these motifs are programming techniques such as binary search; others are general principles such as "Keep it simple" and "Work on the right problem." This organizational scheme effectively links the individual columns together and is more successful than the previously mentioned three-part schema.

Bentley inGludes a section of hints and solutions to

[continued)

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selecte(d problems and a catalog of the algorithms containecJ in the book (classifiecJ by type).

Different Approaches

1 have two suggestions about how to read this book. First, the epilogue, in which Bentley interviews himself, is the best summary of the purpose of the book and the themes that run through it; read it first. Second, each problem set has many practice problems closely related to the material in its associated column. Try to do each problem set before reading the column because it may be too easy afterward.

Ion Bentley has produced a fascinating collection of programming tricks. He obviously enjoys programming, and his enthusiasm and writing skill make this book fun to read as well as educational. By emphasizing recurring motifs, Bentley stresses techniques and rules of thumb that are of general usefulness for writing programs that are correct, fast, compact, and easy to understand and maintain. If you are a programmer who wants to improve the quality of the programs you write, Programming Pearls is well worth reading.

Michael O'Neill (2227 Dwight my #4, Berkeley, CA 94704) has been programming computers for 20 years.

ADVANCED UNIX PROGRAMMING

Reviewed by Brian Edginton

Here, at last, is a book that can be put on the shelf next to definitive standards such as Kernighan and Ritchie's The C Programming Language (Prentice-Hall, 1978) and Kernighan and Pike's The UNIX Programming Environment (Prentice-Hall, 1984). Marc Rochkind has given us a technically coherent and complete guide to programming in the UNIX operating systems. System 111, System IV, Berkeley 4.2, and XENIX. He has demonstrated the differences in programming techniques between the different systems and has conveniently included information relating specifically to XENIX.

System Calls

Most programmmers write applications for end users that require little, if any direct or visible interaction with the operating system. In fact, most of the common operating systems other than UNIX require that system calls and operating system interfaces be written in assembly language, a skill few COBOL or FORTRAN programmers have or want. The UNIX operating system requires the full use of system calls to display its entire range and flavor. These calls give the programmer very fine control over the operating system and the functionality of the programs.

The chapters divide the system calls into logical groups. These include a review of fundamental concepts, file I/O, terminal I/O, signals, processes, and interprocess communication. The book concludes with a collection of miscellaneous system calls and two appendixes that contain a

(continued)

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BOOK REVIEWS

summary of subroutines and System V process attributes.

An excessive number of technical books on the shelves today spend an inordinate amount of time telling you "how to." There are books on programming and systems design that contain hundreds of lines of code but spend very little time explaining why and when to use the skills they teach. Advanced UNIX Programming goes beyond the normal how-to mindset and teaches the philosophy behind the different system calls. Rochkind very capably describes when to use the system calls that parallel each other in function and details the most common side effects of each call so that readers and programmers can decide which best meets their intended purpose and goals. This is very important when you are dealing directly with the operating system and when you want to avoid hours of debugging the results of an undocumented "feature."

Terminal I/O

Programming in UNIX involves the use of some complicated techniques to exhaust all the features available with a true multitasking system. And since this is still an evolving operating system, the ability to add or modify existing support and application programs that depend on the hardware peculiarities of new and enhanced peripherals is of primary importance to the systems programmer.

Terminal I/O is a complex topic that is handled very thoroughly in a chapter by itself. Tferminal communications in UNIX take place through programs called device drivers. The user makes a request to the kernel for data transfer through a particular device, and that request is passed off to the appropriate device driver for processing, completion, and error detection and recovery if necessary or appropriate. This means the device driver must be very comprehensive and must fully use a great many of the available system calls.

The chapter on terminal 1/0 is indicative of the completeness and depth found throughout the book. With more than three structure types and 50 different flags to deal with in working with the typical communications line, the information is well presented and easily understood.

Multitasking and Processes

A full chapter is devoted to multitasking, one of the main features of the UNIX operating system. TWo chapters are devoted to interprocess communication. Rochkind takes the reader through a tutorial on the environment and explains how to use system calls to read and write to the process environment, a feature that allows users to customize features of their shell. He also explains how to use other application programs that read environment variables.

Since almost everyone who uses UNIX is familiar with the shell and how it operates, the author demonstrates the system calls exec, fork in its various forms, and related calls by building a small shell. The detail and complexity of the shell and its features are developed and matured as more and more system calls are discovered. This is an excellent way to learn to use the system calls because it

{continued^

76 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 288

^ The C for Microcomputers

PC-DOS, MS-DOS, CP/M-86, Macintosh, Amiga, Apple II, CP/M-80, Radio Shack, Commodore, XENIX, ROM, and Cross Development systems

MS-DOS, PC-DOS, CP/M-86, XENIX, 8086/80x86 ROM

Manx Aztec C86

"A compiler thai has muni/ slreiiglhs... quite valuable for serious work"

Computer Language review, February 1985

Great Code: Manx Aztec C86 generates fast executing compact code. Tile benchmark results below are from a study conducted by Manx. The Dhrystone benchmark (CACM 10/84 27;10 pl018) measures performance for a systems software instruction mix. The results are without register variables. With register variables, Manx, Microsoft, and Mark Williams run proportionately faster, Lattice and Computer Innovations show no improvement.

Execution

Code

Compile/

Time

Size

Link Time

Dhrystone Benchmark

Manx Aztec C86 3.3

34 sees

5,760

93 sees

Microsoft C 3.0

34 sees

7,146

119 sees

Optimized C86 2.20J

53 sees

11,009

172 sees

Mark Williams 2.0

56 sees

12,980

113 sees

Uttice 2.14

89 sees

20,404

117 sees

Great Features: Manx Aztec array of well documented proi and features. Optimized C compiler AS86 Macro Assembler 80186/80286 Support 8087/80287 Sensing Lib Extensive LT^IX Library' Large Memory .Model Z (vi) Source Editor -e ROM Support Package -c Library Source Code -c MAKE, DIFF.and GREP-c One year of updates -c

C86 is bundled with a powerful ductivity tools, library routines

Symbolic Debugger LN86 Overlay Linker Librarian Profiler

DOS, Screen, & Graphics Lib Intel Object Option CP/M-86 Library -c INTEL HEX L'Ulitv' -e Mixed memory models -e Source Debugger -c CP/M-86 Library -c

Manx offers two commercial development systems, Aztec C86-C and Aztec C86-d. Items marked -c are special features of the Aztec C86-c system.

Aztec C86-C Commercial System S499

Aztec C86-d Developer's System $299

Aztec C86-P Personal System $199

Aztec C86-a Apprentice System $49

All systems are upgradable by paying the difference in price plus SIC.

Third Party Software; There are a number of high quality support packages for Manx Aztec C86 for screen management, graphics, database management, and software development.

C-tree $395 Greenleaf $185 PHACT $250 PC-lint $98 HALO $250 Amber Windows $59 PRE-C $395 Windows for C $195 Windscreen $149 Fir^ime $295 SunScreen $99 C Util Lib $185 PANEL $295 Plink-86 $395

MACINTOSH, AMIGA, XENIX, CP/M-68K, 68k ROM

Manx Aztec C68k

"lAbrary harulling is very flexible... documentation is excellent ...the shell a pleasure to work in ... blows away the competition for pure compile speed... an excellent effort."

Computer Language review, April 1985 Aztec C68k is the most widely used commercial C compiler for the .Macintosh. Its quality performance and completeness place .Manx .Aztec C68k in a position beyond comparison. It is available in several upgradable versions.

Optimized C Creates Clickable Applications

Macro Assembler Mouse Enhanced SHELL Overlay Linker Easy Access to Mac Tbolbox

Resource Compiler UNIX Library Functions Debuggers Terminal Emulator (Source)

Librarian Clear Detailed Documentation

Source Editor C-Stuff Library

MaeRam Disk -c UniTools (vi,make.diff,grep) -c Library Source -c One Year of Updates -c

Items marked -c are available only in the Manx Aztec C86-C system. Other features are in both the Aztec C86-d and Aztec C86-C systems.

Aztec C68k-c Commercial System $499 Aztec C68d-d Developer's System $299 Aztec C68k-p Personal System $199 C-tree database (source) $399 AMIGA, CP/M-68k, 68k UNK caU

Apple n. Commodore, 65xx, 65C02 ROM

Manx Aztec C65

"The .\y.TIX C system is one of the finest sofhvare packages I have seen"

NIBBLE review, July 1984

A vast amount of business, consumer, and educational software is implemented in Manx .^ztec CBS. The quality and comprehensiveness of this system is competitive with 16 bit C systems. The system includes a full optimized C compiler, 6502 assembler, linkage editor, UNIX library screen and graphics libraries, shell, and much more. The .Apple II version runs under DOS 3.3, and ProDOS, Cross versions are available.

The .Aztec C65-c/128 Commodore system runs under the C128 CP/M environment and generates programs for the C64, C128, and CP/M environments. Call for prices and availability of Apprentice, Personal and Developer versions for the Commodore 64 and 128 machines.

Aztec C65-C ProDOS & DOS 3.3 S399 Aztec C65-d Apple DOS 3.3 $199 Aztec C65-P Apple Personal system $99 Aztec C65-a for learning C $49 Aztec C65-C/128 C64, C128, CP/M $399

Distribution of Manx Aztec C

In the USA, Manx Software Systems is the sole and exclusive distributor of Aztec C. Any telephone or mail order sales other than through Manx are unauthorized.

Manx Cross Development Systems

Cross developed programs are edited, compiled, assembled, and linked on one machine (the HOST) and transferred to another machine (the TARGET) for execution. This method is useful where the target machine is slower or more limited than the HOST, Manx cross compilers are used heavily to develop software for business, consumer, scientific, industrial, research, and educational applications.

HOSTS: VAX UNIX ($3000), PDP-11 UNIX (S2000), MSDOS (S750), CP/M (S750), MACINTOSH (S750), CP/M-68k (S750), XENIX ($750).

TARGETS: MS-DOS, CP/M-86, Macintosh, CP/M-68k, CP/M-80, TRS-80 3 & 4, Apple II, Commodore C64, 8086/80x86 ROM, 68xxx ROM, 8080/8085/Z80 ROM, 65xx ROM.

The first TARGET is included in the price of the HOST system. Additional TARGETS are $300 to $500 (non VAX) or $1000 (VAX).

Call Manx for information on cross development to the 68000, 65816, Amiga, C128, CP/M-68K, VRTX, and others.

CP/M, Radio Shack, 8080/8085/Z80 ROM Manx Aztec CU

"I've had a lot of e.\-pericnce with different C compilers, but the .Aztec CHO Compiler and Professional Development Sy.'item is the best I've seen."

80-Micro, December, 1984, John B. Harrell III

Aztec C n-c (CP/M & ROM) $349

Aztec C n-d (CP/M) $199

C-tree database (source) $399

Aztec CSO-c (TRS-80 3 & 4) $299

Aztec C80-d (TRS-80 3 & 4) $199

How lb Become an Aztec C User

To become an Aztec C user call 1-800-221-0440 or call 1-800-832-9273 (800-TEC WARE). In NJ or outside the USA call 201-530-7997. Orders can also be telexed to 4995812.

Payment can be by check, COD, American Express, VISA, Master Card, or Net 30 to qualified customers.

Orders can also be mailed to Manx Software Systems, Box 55, Shrewsbury, NJ 07701.

How lb Get More Information

To get more information on Manx Aztec C and related products, call 1-800-221-0440, or 201-530-7997, or write to Manx Software Systems.

30 Day Guarantee

Any Manx Aztec C development system can be returned within 30 days for a refund if it fails to meet your needs. The only restrictions are that the original purchase must be directly from Manx, shipped within the USA, and the package must be in resalable condition. Returned items must be received by Manx within 30 days. A small restocking fee may be required.

Discounts

There are special discounts available to professors, students, and consultants. A discount is also available on a "trade in" basis for users of competing systems. Call for information.

Inquiry 181

To order or for information call:

800-221-0440

UNIXliio««}im.r«lTMo(B«IIUboiaWriw, UKice TM Ljitllc* Inc., C-UoelM Paircom, Inc. PHftCTTM PH«:r>\SSOC. CtOpimiimaCBO TMConi|)i-tm Inrwvnlionft, Inc . MACINTOSH, APPtC 1M APPLE, INC .Pffl-C, PUNK BJ^TMPHOENIX, HAUOTMMecllBCyhmnfflKa, inc,0*fp>(*C-lmlTMQIMPL6 SotTware. WinfluaBen, SunScfWtn TM Siinrec. PANEL TM RoundtitltCompulWSyKtoms UO-, WINDOWS FORC TMCf«niivfl SolulionB, XENIX, MSTM MlCnoSOn INC, CP/M TM DRI. AMIUA, C64,0128 TM COMMODORE Inl.

Inquiry 84

PCIVI

Fullscreen Editor for MS-DOS (PC-DOS)

Looking for an Ultra-Powerful Full-Screen editor for your MS-DOS or PC-DOS system? Are you looicing for an editor FULLY COMPATIBLE with tlie UNIX*Vi editor?Are you looking for an editor which not onlv runs on IBM-PC's and compatibles, but ANY MS-DOS system? Are you looking for an editor which provides power and flexibility for both programming and text editing? If vouare. then look no further because PC/VI IS HERE!'

The following is only a hint of the power behind PC/VI: English-like syntax in command mode, mnemonic control sequences in visual mode; full undo capability; deletions, changes and cursor positioning on character, word, line, sentence, paragraph or global basis; editing of files larger than available memory; powerful pattern matching capability for searches and substitutions; location marking; joining multiple lines; auto-indentation; word abbreviations and MUCH, MUCH MORE!

The PC/VI editor is available for I BM-PC's and generic MS-DOS based systems for only S149. For more information call or write:

Custom Software Systems

RO. Box 678

Natick, MA 01760

617-653-2555

The UNIX community has been using the VI editor for years. Now you can run an implementation of the same editor under MS-DOS. Don't miss out on the power of PC/VI!

*UNIX is a trademark of AT&T Bell Laboratories.

BOOK REVIEWS

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Advanced UNIX

Programming is an invaluable aid in creating more efficient programs.

exercises the programmer's skill and imagination in a learn-by-doing situation.

Although this book is directed toward experienced programmers who have already perfected their own bad habits, the style and consistency of the code examples will be a help to anyone who chooses to use this work as a guide or text.

Interprocess Communication

By the end of the fifth chapter, the author has covered most of the system calls used in programming and still has four more chapters to go. I say most because the calls used in interprocess communications are rarely implemented because of the lack of understandable documentation available before now.

Pipes are generally understood at a lower level because shell programmers have always been able to use the "|" symbol to connect the output of one program with the input of another. In completing the shell started in the chapter on processes, Rochkind goes into detail on the construction and use of pipes. Bidirectional pipes are explained, along with examples of where a pipe can be used and several examples of where pipes should not be used.

FIFOs, semaphores, and shared memory are the advanced interprocess communications techniques that have been developed and carried across the System 111 and System V families. Communications that were developed for the Berkeley family are not as portable or as easily understood as AT&T's and are not covered in this book.

FIFOs are fancy pipes with names and attributes like files so that they can be used by different processes, and quite a bit of time is spent developing the proper use of FIFOs in a database management system application. The coverage of this topic is quite lively, and several primitives or functions are developed and supplied to the readers for their toolboxes.

I have covered only half the information in this book: its depth and comprehensiveness go farther. The information is presented with thought and humor, and the author displays a genuine understanding of the subject matter. There are exercises at the end of each chapter that can aid in developing skills in using system calls effectively. No matter what version of UNIX you work with, the information in Advanced UNIX Programming will be an invaluable aid in creating more efficient programs.

Brian Edginton (551 Ramona Ave., Salt lake City, UT 84105) is a consultant for UNIX, XENIX, PC-DOS, and networking applications, u

78 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 165

The Shape. Sharp. Sleek. And amazingly adaptable. The Genicom 1000 Series Desktop Printers. Ready for anything from business forms to spreadsheets; word processing to heavy-duty data processing. With letter quality printing at 100 cps. And data processing printing at 200 cps. Open the clamshell casing and look inside. Discover just how simple the future can be.

The Personality. IBMf Epsonf Diablo"-the Genicom 1000 can be all of these printers and more. Because we've built their personalities into plug-in cartridges. Changing personalities is as easy as changing your mind. Simply plug in the personality cartridge of your choice, and your Genicom 1000 is off and running. Working with almost any PC or software program you care to mention. Effortlessly.

Express your personality With font cartridges that plug right into the front of the printer. Pick your type; you've got hundreds of fonts to choose from. Insert up to three cartridges at once, and vary type styles within the same document. The Design. The Genicom 1000 is the first desktop printer designed with common sense, right down to its built-in printer stand.

The unique design also makes paper loading faster and easier than ever before. Feed tractor paper straight through the bottom. Or from the rear. With Genicom's automatic, zero

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tear-off bar, no matter how you feed it never waste a piece of paper again.

When you want to print on letterhead, just feed single sheets of paper, typewriter style. You don't even have to remove the tractor paper.

But the 1000 Series was designed for more than ease of use. It was also designed for performance. Its 18-wire printhead delivers high resolution graphics and word processing printing that can only be called letter quality.

The Controls. Easy to adapt. Easy to use. And easy to control. With the Genicom 1000's front panel, total command is at your fingertips. Choose fonts, character spacing, line spacing, form length and print quality with the push of a button. No dipswitches. And no fumbling inside the printer.

The Track Record. When it comes to reliability Genicom stands by its record. We've created a full line of printers: from desktop models to machines that print 800 lines per minute. Our printers have proven their rugged dependability performing for some of the world's largest corporations. Now we're ready to prove it to you. So stop by your authorized Genicom dealer today and ask for a demonstration of the new 1000 Series; the 1025 and the 1020 for wide column printing. We think you'll agree, these printers are a radical departure from the crowd.

For the Genicom dealer nearest you, call 1-800-437-7468. In -1170.

IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corp. Epson is a registered trademark of Epson America, Inc. Diablo is a registered trademark of Xerox Corporation,

Inquiry 118

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26.50*

a

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w/Fire Button for lie

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6.00*

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44.50"

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29.50*

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56.97"

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ATI Intro to PC DOS Vol 1 & II or BASIC

S23.00'

Microsoft Flight Simulator

27.00*

Bluechip Millionaire Oil Baron or Ti-coon

28.99"

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59.9S

Broderbund Lode Runner

17.25*

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CBS Goren Bridge Made Easy

40.00*

Pinpoint Publishing Micro Cookbook

21.00*

CBS Mastering the SAT

50.00"

Scarborough Master Type

19.75

CDEX Training lor Wordstar

37.25"

Sierra On-LIne Crossfire

18.00*

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32.00*

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24.75'

Davidson Math Blaster. Word Attack!

21.50*

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1B.00

Davidson Spaed Reader II

31.00*

►Spinnaker Alphabet Zoo. Ktnder Comp.

15.97

Haydon Sargon III

26.00*

Story Machine. Face Maker. Hey Diddle. Diddle.

Individual Pralessor DOS

29.75"

Rhymes & Riddles

Individual The Instructor

24.50"

►Spinnaker Delia Drawing or Most Amazmg Thing

20.75

►Infocom Zork 1 or Witness

20.00*

Sublogic Jet

27.50*

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S24.00*

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19.25'

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Beagle Brothers Macro Works 21.00"

Borland Turbo Pascal 35.00"

Borland SideKick (Protected) 26.00'

Borland SuperKey 34.50"

BPI G/L, ARor A/P 305,00"

BPI PcrMnal Accounting 43,75"

Breakthrough Timeline 203,00"

►Central Point Copy II PC 20,00'

Computer Associates Supercalc IV 239.95'

Digital Research Gem Desktop 26.00'

Digital Research Gam Draw 128.00"

Enertronics Energraphics 147,00"

FGS Fasiback 65,00"

Funk Sollware Sideways 32,00"

►Harvard Harvard Project Manager 190,00' Harvard Total Project Manager

►Hayes Smaricom ll—New VT100 Emulator

MicroPro Wordstar 2IXX} +

MicroRIm RBase 5000

Microsoft C Compiler

Microsoft Word^LatesI Version 3 0

Microsoft Mulliplan

Microsoft Mouse

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Monogram Dollars & Sense ►Multlmate Mullimale (Latest Version) Norton Norton Utilities 3 f Open Systems P O Sales Afl INV G-t

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Lifelree Volkswriler fll 126.50* Software Group EnaWe

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MDBS Knowledgeman/2 229.00" MicroPro Wordstar 2000 210.00'

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S259.00" 215.00230.00" 229.00'

98.00' 107.00*

55.00*

87.00' 180.00"

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with 256K & printer pon ►THK *H720 Mono Mono Graphics

610.00* 219.00* 323.00"

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Apple Macintosh Base System ►Cenlrai Point Laser 128

Apple lie and lie Compatible AT4T 7300 Unix PC

10MB Hard Disk I Floppy. 512K COMPAQ DeskPro w^56K

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►COMPAQ Hard Disk Portable $1,910,00* (4126)

20MB Hard DisK I Floppy 256K ^\BtAPC Base System 2SDD FDC 256K 1.025.00* (22 14) (79901 ►IBM PC Prolessionat Hard Disk 1.337.00' (28 88)

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60.00"

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Okidata 24 w P Pacemark 350CPS CALL

Panasonic KX-1091 1207522CPS 220.00' (4.75)

Panasonic KX-1092 180CPSw>Tractor 329.00' {7.11}

Toshiba P341 2WCPSn32COL 714.00" (t5.42)

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Features

Product Preview: THIS MONTH OUR FEATURES SECTION starts with a Product Preview. Tiie

The Apple II GS product in question, the Apple II GS, is the most recent incarnation in the

by Gregg miims and Ricfiard Qrehm .... 84 rather long and curious line of Apple lis. In their article Senior Tfechnical Editor

CiARciAs Circuit Cellar: Gregg Williams and Technical Editor Richard Grehan examine a preliminary

Build an Intelligent Serial EPROM version of the machine and consider its potential. A complete review of the

Programmer ^pp|g ,j Qg JqHq^ g subsequent issue.

by Sieve Qmaa 103 g^^j^ February 1985, Steve Ciarcias Circuit Cellar project was a serial

Programming Project: EPROM programmer. Steve intended it as an experimenter's project that would

iTSl^msiZ*™' 122 ^f^^y ^ certain core of supporters yet enlighten the larger audience of readers

about EPROM programming in general. This proved to a miscalculation. It Sound and THE Amiga j.^ ^^^^^ received than Steve thought it would be. Unfortunately, he

bu David D. Tfiiei 139 , , , , , . ■^\--^x j i c

hadn t arranged to have it made into a printed circuit board. To mal<e up for

rSswuLTROPE^^oF 2" 2^^^^ returns this month with an improved serial EPROM programmer

by Mert C. Arp Ir. 145 that includes an on-board CPU and intelligent firmware.

All useful programs need storage to go about their business, and Jonathan Amsterdam's "Safe Storage Allocation" explains how to avoid the dangers involved in allocating memory This Programming Project focuses on four storage allocators that are available to readers in a variety of formats.

In our ongoing coverage of 68000 machines, this month we look at the Commodore Amiga. David D. Thiel's "Sound and the Amiga" explores the Amiga's enhanced, hardware-assisted, digital-to-analog converter approach to sound. Within processor and RAM limitations, says the author you can do whatever musical flights of fancy you are clever enough to conceive.

Finally, in his October Programming Insight, "A Useful Property of 2"." Robert C. Arp Ir. discusses how he solved the problem of a shortage of user flags by exploiting a property of summations of 2".

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 83

PRODUCT PREVIEW

The

Apple II GS

The 65C816 processor brings the Apple II into the I6-^/t world.

Editor's note: The following is a BYTE product preview. It is not a review. We provide an advanced look at this new product because we feel it is significant. A complete review will follow in a subsequent issue.

The Apple II has a curious history. It was originally designed by Steve Wozniak and Alan Baum in 1976 as a homebrew computer that squeezed maximum features out of minimum parts. Over the years, it evolved into the Apple 11+, then the lie, then the lie. Once, Apple tried to kill it off with the Apple 111 (which itself died) and, later with the Macintosh and the lie. Despite corporate attempts to ignore it and retard its evolution, the Apple 11 continued to bring in the major part of Apple's income. Finally, in May 1984 Apple acknowledged the reality of the Apple ll's success when it titled its day-long introduction of the Apple lie "Apple 11 Forever" (Despite Apple's wishes to the contrary the lie continued to sell better than the nonexpandable lie—people wanted their expansion slots.) By mid-1985, though, the Apple 11 began to lose its sales appeal, and Apple engineers were already working on a product called, at various times. Phoenix, Columbia, Cortland, and Granny Smith: the Apple 11 GS.

The Apple 11 GS looks back to the past and forward to the future, and

the machine might best be summarized by saying that it takes a giant step in both directions. Its new styling and modularity (see photo 1) foreshadows a day when Macintosh and Apple II products will use the same keyboard and 3 !/2-inch disk drives.

System Description

Here are the most important features of the Apple II GS:

• Apple 11 compatibility: The Apple 11 GS will run most Apple II software and expansion cards. It can run at normal Apple II speed or at a higher rate that makes most software run two to three times faster [Editor's note: \n this article, "Apple 11" refers to the traditional Apple II computer as defined by the Apple 11, 11-t-, We. and llc.j The Apple II GS composite video signal has been corrected so that it will be recorded correctly by a videotape recorder. Apple lie owners can upgrade to complete 11 GS compatibility by replacing the motherboard and back/bottom plate with a 11 GS retrofit kit.

• A 16-bit, 6502-compatible processor: With a 16-bit address bus and 8 "bank address" lines, the Western Design Center's W65C816 can address 2 56 banks of 64K bytes each, for a total of 16 megabytes. It can also go into a 6502 mode, where it emulates the 65C02A used in the Apple lie and 11c. The processor's accumulator stack pointer and all its registers are 16 bits wide, and its instruction set includes 11 new addressing modes.

• Greatly expanded memory capacity: The machine's architecture reserves space for 8 megabytes of user RAM and 1 megabyte of system

ROM. It comes with 2 56K bytes of RAM, I28K bytes of system ROM, and 64K bytes of dedicated sound-waveform memory but you will have to wait for new programs to use most of the memory above the first 128K bytes. Apple currently has plans for 1- and 4-megabyte expansion cards, although an 8-megabyte card is possible.

• New graphics capabilities: The

Apple 11 GS adds two "super hi-res" graphics modes: 200 by 320 pixels with a 16-color palette and 200 by 640 pixels with a 4-color palette: the colors come from a color set of 4096. The machine can use up to 16 palettes per screen and change palettes and resolution on a line-by-line basis. Programmers can use two experimental modes: a 640- by 200-pixel, 16-color (with restrictions) palette mode, and a high-speed "fill mode" variation of the 200 by 320, 16-color mode.

• New sound capabilities: The 32

voice Ensoniq Digital Oscillator Chip (DOC), used in the Ensoniq Mirage sampled-sound music synthesizer and system firmware can drive the

{continued]

Gregg "Williams is a senior technical editor at BYTE: he bought his first Apple 11+ in 1980 and now owns an Apple lie. Richard Grehan, who has owned an Apple 11+ since 1985, IS a technical editor at BYTE. They can be reached at One Phoenix Mill lane, Peterborough. NH 03458.

84 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

BY Gregg Williams and Richard Grehan

Deluxe Paint drawing program. {Photo by Electronic Arts.) Writer's Choice Elite word processor [Photo by Activision Inc.)

Photo 1: The Apple II GS.

PHOrOGRAPHY BY PAUL AVIS

OCTOBER 1986 'BYTE 85

THE APPLE II GS

chip to produce up to 15 musical "instruments."

• Mouse, keyboard, ar\d disks: A one-button mouse and a detachable

keyboard with keypad are standard equipment. The Apple II GS does not have an internal disk drive, but you can daisy-chain up to two 800K-byte 3 •/2-inch drives and two 140K-byte 5/4-inch drives to the disk drive port on the rear panel. The system software will come on 3i^-inch disks, which silently but forcefully indicates Apple's intent to phase out the 5!4-inch floppy disk.

• The Toolbox: Application programs can use built-in code (some in ROM,some in RAM) to provide a mousedriven desktop environment and orderly use of system resources.

• The Finder: Finder software, supplied with the basic system, allows users to interact with disks and files using windows, icons, and a mousedriven cursor (as popularized by the Apple Macintosh).

• Desk accessories: The Apple II GS makes available Macintosh-like desk accessories; some are available from all programs, and others work only with programs specifically designed for the Apple II GS. The Control Panel, accessible from any program, allows the user to change the date, slot assignments, operating speed, and similar parameters.

• New languages and tools: For the software developer, Apple will offer a 6502/65C02/65816 assembler and versions of C and Pascal; the three languages share a standard editor and linker and allow object code modules from any source to be used together. For the hobbyist, Apple has extended the Apple He monitor to work in the Apple I! GS 16-bit environment and has added new functions to it.

• No enhanced, built-in language: Like the Macintosh (and unlike most other computers), the Apple II GS contains no built-in language (such as Microsoft BASIC) that interacts with the machine's new features. Applesoft BASIC is available in system ROM, but it has no way of directly interacting with the new Apple II GS features.

• A new 16-bit operating system: ProDOS 16 extends Apple's ProDOS (which runs on the Apple IJ-i-, He, and

lie) to be the standard Apple II GS operating system; it runs on the 65816 in native 16-bit mode, is functionally similar to the 8-bit ProDOS, and shares an identical file structure with ProDOS. Apple has also made slight modifications to the 6502-based ProDOS so that it will run on the Apple II GS's Apple II emulation mode; this operating system is named ProDOS 8.

Two Machines

The case of an Apple II GS contains, in a sense, two machines: the full Apple I! GS, with all its memory and new features, and a 128K Apple He. Much of this article will explain the design elements that allow these two "machines" to exist together. You may want to refer to figure I, which is a block diagram of the Apple II GS.

The Mega II

The Mega II is a custom CMOS chip containing about 3000 gates and a 2K-byte by 8 ROM (for the character generator). It replaces the following chips from the Apple He and 11c; character generator ROMs for eight languages, several TTL chips that perform logic functions, and the MMU (memory management unit), lOU (input/output unit), TMG (timing generator), and GLU (general logic unit) custom chips.

In previous Apple 11 designs, the refreshing of memory was tied directly to the Apple II video mode. The Mega II includes an 8-bit counter for refreshing the 128K bytes of (slow) memory associated with the Apple Ile/IIc model; it does five cycles of RAM refresh during the horizontal retrace of each video scan line and refreshes the 128K bytes of memory in 3.25 milliseconds. By taking care of RAM refresh, the Mega II chip opens the Apple II design to new video modes that were impossible before.

Speeding Up the II GS

The Apple II GS designers had many conflicting goals. They wanted to make a machine that runs as much existing Apple II software as possible and to make it run software (both old and new) faster than on an Apple II. In order to accomplish this, they changed the memory map and em

ployed a technique called shadowing.

Figure 2 shows the Apple II GS memory map. Remember that many memory areas in the Apple II are special; the memory-mapped "soft switches" in the COOO-COFF hexadecimal region control many key functions, interaction with the peripheral cards occurs through locations in the CIOO-CFFF hexadecimal region, and several areas of memory determine what graphics and/or text are shown on the video display Many of these areas are limited by the original Apple II design to being accessed at 1 MHz. A straightforward expansion of the Apple II design would put the slow memory in banks 00 and 01, their location in the Apple He and He. (A bank is defined as the 64K-byte ,address space from hexadecimal location XXOOOO to XXFFFF Actually, the two 64K-byte banks of memory in the Apple He and He are called simply the main and auxiliary banks, but you can imagine the bank select as the 17th bit of the corresponding Apple II GS memory address.)

Instead, the designers put the slow memory (with the corresponding control circuitry) in banks EO and El hexadecimal and assigned fast memory to banks 00 through 7F This gives you 8 megabytes of linearly addressed memory (something new to Apple II programmers), and all existing Apple II programs (which must run in banks 00 and 01) will run in fast, not slow, memory (The 65C816 runs at 2.8 MHz, but the overhead of dynamic memory refreshing slows the average speed of RAM memory access to about 2.5 MHz; ROMs are accessed at the full 2.8-MHz speed.)

This scheme gives us speed but not compatibility. Programs that do 1/0 using the peripheral slots and video display write to addresses in banks 00 and 01, but the hardware they need to interact with is tied to the slow memory in banks EO and El hexadecimal. How can we get this scheme to work?

The answer is shadowing. The Apple II GS engineers designed the Fast Processor Interface (FPI) custom chip to monitor any attempt to write to the area to be shadowed (in bank

[mtinuedi

86 BYTE' OCTOBER 1986

Figure 1: A block diagram of the Apple II GS.

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 87

THE APPLE I! GS

00 or 01), then slow itself down to

1 MHz and write to the location and its equivalent in bank EO or El hexadecimal. In many locations (video display memory, for example) read operations from the same location

have no timing constraints and can proceed at the higher 2.5-MHz speed. Because other locations (like the ones associated with peripheral card I/O) must always be written to and read from at 1 MHz, the speedup of Apple

II software depends on the memory locations the software uses.

Note that this scheme gets two things done. First, it allows existing Apple II programs to write to bank 00 and 01 locations at the correct speed and have the associated hardware perform the expected interaction. Second, it allows programs to execute in the fast 2.5-MHz memory, slowing down only at specific times.

By default, the Apple 11 GS shadows text page 1 in both banks, hi-res pages 1 and 2 in bank 00, a 32K-byte area (2000-9FFF hexadecimal) in bank 01 used for the new super hi-res graphics modes, and the 4K-byte section of memory at CXXX hexadecimal in bank 00. However, programs can access a "shadow register" that can disable shadowing in individual areas. This speeds up program execution and allows the program to use the unshadowed areas and their EO/El (hexadecimal) counterparts for other things.

(The bit that shadows the CXXX jhexadecimall area also uses the actual memory in locations COOO-CFFF hexadecimal to hold the 4K-byte alternate language-card areas for both banks. When this shadowing is turned off, the language cards of banks 00 and 01 are no longer present, and the 65C816 sees a completely linear address space in banks 00 and 01. [However, all Apple system software requires the CXXX shadowing to be enabled.] The FPI chip controls shadowing and, in general, the intercepting and translating of all the address requests from the 65C816.)

Slots and Ports

The II GS's expansion slots are identical in function and configuration to the Apple lie's slots with the exception of one added signal, /M2SEL, which appears at pin 39, replacing the 6502 SYNC signal. /M2SEL is an active-low signal that indicates when the II GS is executing at slow speed (I MHz) and the address lines AO-AI5 are valid (i.e, the II GS is talking to the slow RAM or I/O). In some ways, this signal is redundant with the old lOSEL and DEVSEL signals in the W+IUe. and boards that use these signals should have no problem operating in an

Language card area I/O card space

High-resolution screen 2 High-resolution screen 1

Text and

low-resolution screens

Fast 2.5-MHz RAM

00 01

Slow 1-MHz RAM

EO El

02-7F

8K

8K

4K 4K

4K 4K

Expansion RAM

Shadowed 32K-byte video buffer

- Super

high-resolution screen

FO-FD

FE

FF

Expansion ROM

System ROM

Figure 2: The Apple II GS memory map. Shaded areas indicate shadowed memory, where any write operation is duplicated to the corresponding location in banks EO and El hexadecimal. The super hi-res screen does not need shadowing, but it is included as a convenience to Applesoft and 6502 programmers, who can only work with banks 00 and 01. Memory areas are not drawn to scale.

88 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

THE APPLE II GS

Apple II GS. Control-signal generation and clock-signal buffering on the ports are handled by the SlotMaker custom IC

Associated with each I/O expansion slot are built-in circuits and firmware that form an "invisible" port. The default settings for the seven slots are

Slot I serial printer port Slot 2 serial modem port Slot 3 80-column display Slot 4 mouse Slot 5 3!/2-inch disk drives Slot 6 5!4-inch disk drives Slot 7 Appldfelk

It is as though you had an Apple He with boards for all the above devices already plugged in. Unfortunately this wealth of built-in interfaces carries with it some restrictions, the most severe being that if you have an expansion board you want to run in your II GS, you must give up the built-in port of whatever slot you plug the board into. (You use the Control Panel to choose whether a slot is using its associated default port or a plug-in board; this information is retained in battery-backup RAM.) The serial ports of the Apple II GS appear on the rear of the cabinet in the form of a pair of 8-pin mini-DIN connectors. They are pin- and signal-compatible with the serial connectors on the back of the Macintosh Plus—in fact, the USART in the 11 GS is the same as the Macintosh's: a Zilog 8530 serial communications chip. If you access the serial ports through the firmware, they "appear" identical to the Apple Super Serial Card (SSC), even though the BSC uses a different UART, a 6551. This has dire consequences for software that talks directly to the serialport hardware on Apple lis equipped with SSCs. Such software—and this includes practically all of the commercial communication packages—will certainly fail on the II GS.

Programs that bypassed the SSCs firmware did so to break the speed limitations of the firmware's noninterrupt-driven, unbuffered I/O routines, which were virtually useless for dependable communications at 1200 baud. The II GS's serial port firmware solves these troubles: It is interruptdriven, and each serial port has input

and output buffers that default to 2K bytes each but can be set to up to 64K bytes each. The Apple II GS's built-in disk port

is a 19-pin miniature D-type connector in the middle rear of the machine. You can daisy-chain up to four drives, up to two 3/2-inch drives followed by up to two 514-inch drives. Owners of Apple lis who might want to use their drives on the II GS can simply plug their Disk II controller into slot 5 or 6 and override the default setting for that slot.

Memory Expansion Slot

The Apple II GS motherboard has a special memory-expansion slot designed for a card with up to 8 megabytes of RAM and 896K bytes of ROM (bringing the system's total ROM to 1 megabyte). The RAM maps into banks 02 to 7F hexadecimal, and the ROM maps into banks FO to FD hexadecimal. It is easiest to design I- and 4-megabyte RAM cards (using 2 56Kbit by 1 chips and 1 megabit by I chips, respectively), but the II GS engineers said that, with a few extra chips for interfacing, you could design an 8-megabyte RAM card; however, since the machine is not designed to hold user RAM above bank 7F hexadecimal, an 8-megabyte RAM card would be unable to access the top two banks (12 8K bytes) of its memory.

SmartPort

SmartPort is a set of assembly language routines (held in firmware) for accessing block and (as yet undesigned) character I/O devices on the Apple 11 GS. The SmartPort routines provide support for 3'/2-inch disk drives, a RAM memory disk (called the /RAM device), or a ROM memory disk (5'/2-inch drives, though part of the daisy chain, are controlled by the Disk II firmware, and future hard disks can be designed to respond to SmartPort routines without being part of the daisy chain).

SmartPort handles I/O in blocks of 512 bytes: since the routines permit up to a 4-byte block number SmartPort can manage devices with storage capacities up to 2,199,023,255,552 bytes. SmartPort's basic functions include get device status, reset a device,

format a device, read a block from a device, write a block, and send control information.

Any I/O expansion card that adheres to SmartPort conventions will have signature bytes at specific locations in its on-board ROM. The II GS's firmware will hunt for and recognize these at boot-up time, just as ProDOS currently does on the Apple II.

As its name implies, the ROM disk is the equivalent of a RAM disk emulator in nonvolatile read-only memory. This could come in handy for keeping frequently used programs like assemblers, compilers, or the like on hand for rapid execution. The II GS memory space has eight 64K-byte banks set aside for ROM disk expansion, located just beneath the firmware ROM in banks F0-F7 hexadecimal.

Desk Accessories and the Control Panel

You can think of a desk accessory as a mini-application that can be run from within another program. Macintosh owners are already familiar with desk accessories—those utility programs from the menu bar that appear when you click on the apple symbol. The II GS supports two types of desk accessories (with a tip of the hat, perhaps, to Coca-Cola): classic desk accessories (CDA) and new desk accessories (NDA). A classic desk accessory can be activated only by a keypress. Classic desk accessories can be run with older Apple II programs (such as Appleworks) and new II GS programs. A new desk accessory runs in the II GS's desktop environment and is available from a pull-down menu similar to the Macintosh's deskaccessory menu.

One classic desk accessory is built into the 11 GS: the Control Panel. You call up the Control Panel by simultaneously pressing open-apple-ControlEseape, which presents you with a menu containing the following system configuration options:

• Display selects color or monochrome monitor display width, and colors for text, background, and border

[continued)

OCTOBER 1986 -BYTE 89

THE APPLE II GS

• Sound displays two "slider switches" used to adjust tiie 11 GS speakers pitch and volume.

• Speed selects 1.0-MHz or 2,8-MHz ("normal" or "fast") operation of the 65C816 CPU.

• Clock sets the 11 GS system clock time and date.

• Options alters parameters of the II GS's keyboard: keyboard layout, keyboard buffering on or off, repeat speed and delay and others.

• Slots lets you indicate for each of the 11 GS's seven 1/0 slots whether the slot is running an "invisible" port or a plug-in board.

Other selections from the Control Panel let you set parameters for the serial ports and enable a RAM disk. You can use the Control Panel from within any program; we even used it in the middle of a disk access with no adverse effects.

Video Modes and the VGC

Because the Apple 11 GS emulates the Apple II, it contains all the text and graphics modes of the Apple 11: 24 by

40 text, 24 by 80 text, 48 by 40 lowresolution and 48 by 80 mediumresolution graphics with 16 predefined colors, 192 by 140 hi-res graphics with 6 predefined colors, and 192 by 140 double hi-res graphics with 16 predefined colors and 192 by 560 monochrome graphics. (Apple claims double the above numbers for hi-res resolutions in the horizontal directions, but the numbers here more accurately reflect the true nature of hi-res graphics because of the color limitations between adjacent pixels.)

As stated earlier removing the banks EO and EI (hexadecimal) dynamic RAM refreshing from the video display circuitry makes new video modes possible. A new custom chip, the Video Graphics Controller (VGC), implements both old and new video modes as well as unrelated support functions for the built-in clock chip, the disk drives, the interrupt system, and built-in chip and board testing routines. The VGC enhances current text modes by allowing the user to choose from the Control Panel

the color (or gray scale value) of the text, its background, and the border outside the active text/graphics area. These modes are available only when using an RGB color or monochrome monitor

Super Hi-Res Graphics

The new modes are called "super hires." Actually there are three modes that can be used in four ways: two of them are pretty straightforward and useful, while the other two are more experimental.

Associated with the super hi-res modes is a 32K-byte chunk of memory in bank El ranging from addresses 2000 to 9FFF (assume that the addresses in this section are hexadecimal and the quantities are decimal). The pixel map occupies the range from 2000 to 9CFE an important set of pointers occupies locations 9D00 through 9DFF and color palette information fills the remainder of the area, from 9E00 to 9FFF (To get into these modes, write CI hexadecimal to location C029, and write 41 hexadecimal into it to restore the Apple II modes.)

The pixel map contains exactly 32,000 bytes arranged as 200 rows of 160 bytes each. Apple 11 programmers, who have always struggled with a convoluted pixel-to-memory mapping scheme, will be surprised by the fact that the super hi-res modes are completely linear, with a row-first stream of pixels corresponding to an unbroken, increasing progression of memory addresses. In other words the first pixel on the first line uses the high bits of location 2000, while the same pixel in the second line uses location 20A0 (160 bytes later), and so on.

There are two super hi-res modes. Both have 200 lines per screen, but one has 320 pixels per line (see photo 2), while the other has 640 pixels per line. Since each line is represented by 160 bytes, each pixel has 4 bits of memory in the 320 mode and 2 bits in the 640 mode (see figure 3). This scheme gives you 16 colors in the 200 by 320 mode and 4 colors in the 200 by 640 mode, with no restrictions on the color of adjacent pixels (a prob

[continued]

Photo 2: Apple super hi-res graphics (200 b\j 320), fill mode, and lineaddressable mode switching. The top (green) portion of this photo is in fill mode, while the bottom is not. Note that the colored outline of the cube determines what color a given face will be painted in fill mode. Note also the green line running down the left side the screen; this line makes the background color of the screen green. \Courtesy of Apple Computer.]

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lem that complicates the Apple II hi-res modes).

With the olci Apple II hi-res modes, the electronic characteristics of both the Apple II and its video display, determined the colors that were available; for example, the hi-res mode gave you the colors violet, blue, green, orange, black, and white. The Apple II GS, through the VGC chip, gives you more control over the colors in your graphic display. The super hi-res mode lets you choose your palette of 16 colors from a color set of 4096.

But which of these 16 colors are used in the 640 by 200, 4-color mode? The answer is all of them, the details of which lead us to one of the experimental super hi-res modes. The two bits of a pixel in this mode can have four values, so they are used in this mode to choose from 4 colors in the 16-color palette. Which 4 colors? Apple II programmers will recognize

the answer as yet another convoluted video mode in the Apple II tradition: The 4 colors available for a pixel depend on its position within a byte (see figure 3b).

Palettes and Pointers

Actually the Apple II GS defines a 512-byte area starting at location 9E00 hexadecimal; this area contains 16 color palettes of 32 bytes each, numbered from 0 to F hexadecimal. Each color in a palette is defined in 2 bytes, using 4 bits each to describe the red, green, and blue components of the color The first byte contains the values for green (bits 7-4) and blue (bits 3-0): the second byte contains the red value (bits 3-0), with the remaining bits set to zeros.

Why are there 16 palettes? Because each scan line can use any of them in any order This brings the total number of colors that can appear onscreen to 16 X 16 = 256 colors. Ex

pect to see some uncharacteristic graphics as soon as programmers learn their way around the machine.

The final surprise of the super hi-res graphics modes comes from the pointer area. The pointer byte at location 9D00 hexadecimal corresponds to the top line of the video display, with each successive scan line getting

the next byte: 9D01, 9D02 etc.

This byte is read and interpreted during the horizontal retrace of the previous video line.

Within each pointer byte, bits 3 through 0 determine which of the 16 color palettes is to be used. Bit 4 is not used and should be set to 0. Bit 6 does nothing if set to 0. If it and an interrupt register at address C023 hexadecimal are both set to 1. the VGC generates an interrupt at the beginning of the line: this will allow the advanced programmer to wring extra performance out of the super hires screen by altering palette values (or making other useful changes) "on the fly"—that is, while the machine is drawing the video display Bit 7 determines the resolution: 0 for 320 pixels. 1 for 640.

This leaves bit 5, which does nothing if set to 0 but which activates the final, experimental super hi-res mode, called fill mode (see photo 2). In fill mode (which works in 200 by 320 resolution only), you have access to 15 colors (numbers I through F, hexadecimal). A pixel value of 0 means that its color is the same as the last nonzero pixel to the left. In other words, pixels with the values

3000 2 00000009000

would appear as colors

3333222222229999

and you could change the large area painted with color 2 to, say, color 5 by changing one pixel (the fifth one) from a 2 to a 5. (Note that the first pixel in a line must always be nonzero.) This mode will be good for drawing large areas and changing their colors very quickly.

Sound

The heart of the II GS's sound system is the Digital Oscillator Chip manu

(a) Pixel data byte format, 320 by 200 mode

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Selects 1 of 16 colors for 2nd pixel

Selects 1 of 16 qolors for 1st pixel

(b) Pixel data byte format, 640 by 200 mode

7 6 5 4 3 2 10

Selects from colors 4-7 for 4th pixel

Selects from colors 0-3 for 3rd pixel

Selects from colors C-F for 2nd pixel (hexadecimal)

Selects from colors 8-B for 1st pixel (hexadecimal)

Figure 3: {a) Pixel decoding in the 320 by 200 and (b) 640 By 200 super

hi-res modes.

92 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

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OCTOBER 1986

93

THE APPLE II GS

factured by Ensoniq and used in the Mirage digital synthesizer. The DOC is attached to its own personal bank of 64K memory into which programs store wave tables that the DOC uses to generate sound. This memory is accessible only through special registers in the Sound General Logic Unit, a custom chip that acts as an interface between the DOC and its memory and thus allows sound generation to proceed independent of other processing in the Apple II GS. Additionally registers within the Sound GUI chip regulate the gain of the II GS's audio amplifier providing control of the speaker's volume.

The Ensoniq DOC contains 32 oscillators that the II GS firmware operates in pairs to generate a tone. Since one of the oscillators is used by the system to generate a time-slice interrupt for the DOC, the Apple 1! GS can produce up to 15 independent tones simultaneously

A wave table is a series of bytes in the DOC'S memory such that each byte represents the instantaneous value of the amplitude of the sound's output waveform. An oscillator on the DOC will step through this table fetching bytes and passing them to an onchip digital-to-analog converter that produces the analog waveform that, after filtering, goes to the speaker. This technique allows generation of a theoretically limitless range of sounds, bounded only by the amount of memory available. The limit of 64 K dedicated memory is no impediment, since the II GS allows you to fill one portion of a wave table while the DOC is fetching information out of another

The II GS passes the unamplified monophonic signal of the sound system's output to a mini stereo phone jack on the back panel of the machine. This output is capable of driving a pair of Walkman-style headphones or, with the proper adapter cable, the input of a stereo amplifier The designers of the 11 GS have also provided a connector on the motherboard that gives direct access to several useful DOC signals, including an unfiltered audio output, channel selection logic signals (can be used to implement eight independent audio channels), and an input to the DOC's

analog-to-digital converter (for a sound sampler/digitizer).

The Apple II GS toolbox

In the past, the Apple II could be almost completely described by its hardware features. The Apple II GS ends this tradition with its inclusion of significant amounts of system software in both ROM and RAM meant to be available to all programs. It is not accidental that these routines are similar in name and function to those in the Macintosh computer The Mac toolbox is an elegant, powerful system proven to work and improved by two years of intensive use.

The Apple II GS toolbox implements the most useful Macintosh toolbox functions, though sometimes it does so in a different way: the Memory Manager, for instance, works quite differently from its Macintosh counterpart because of the way the Apple II GS's memory is divided into 64K.-byte banks. However, the Apple II GS doesn't duplicate all of the Macintosh toolbox.

The code in the Apple II GS toolbox is divided into tool sets, and the individual routines are called tool calls. The tool sets that are in ROM are the Tool Locator Memory Manager, SANE (Standard Apple Numerics Environment) Numerics, Desk Accessory Manager Event Manager Sound Manager Integer Math Tools, Text Screen Tools, Scheduler and Miscellaneous Tbols. QuickDraw II is divided between ROM and RAM.

The remaining tool sets are stored on disk and loaded into RAM by the application that needs them. Once in memory they are indistinguishable from tools stored in ROM. They are the Menu Manager Window Manager Control Manager, Line Editor, Dialog Manager, Scrap Manager, and Print Manager.

Tool Set Structure

The Apple II GS tool set has no fixed routine entry points and only four fixed addresses associated with its toolkits, yet any program can execute any toolbox routine in RAM or ROM, even if a routine is changed or moved to a different location after the program is written. Both tool sets and

tool calls are numbered (starting with 1), and any tool call can be executed by the following assembly language sequence:

push inp1 Idx #CalllD jsl Dispatch

This pushes any input onto the stack, loads the 16-bit X register with a call ID constant that has the tool call number in the high byte and the tool set number in the low byte, and does a subroutine jump to a fixed entry point. A high-level language would compile a normal procedure call as a series of 0 or more push instructions, followed by a jump to a different location that performs the above function while handling an extra 3-byte return value on the stack. The Apple II GS designers estimate that this type of call has an overhead of about 118 microseconds. Parameters can be passed in several ways, based on the needs of the individual routine: on the stack, in a known block of memory, or in the A, X, and Y registers,

To increase the usability and extensibility of the II GS, its designers provided an identical but parallel structure that allows programmers to build and use their own tool sets without "borrowing" tool set numbers that Apple may later use. The only difference between the two is a different entry point, "UDispatch" instead of "Dispatch."

TOOLKIT Memory Usage

Many tool calls need their own memory—sometimes page zero locations to speed up their execution, sometimes other memory for passing parameters or sharing or storing data. The Apple II GS designers resolved the conflicting memory needs of many different tool calls by regulating memory usage as follows: The program using the tool sets will itself allocate page zero memory and tool sets will allocate the other memory they need by asking for it through the Memory Manager. They can then point to it with the WAPT (Work Area Pointer T^ble) entry reserved for that tool set, and their tool calls will always

(continued)

94 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

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THE APPLE II GS

be able to access that memory in whatever way they wish.

QuickDraw II

QuickDraw II deserves mention because of its importance for desi<top-based Apple II GS software. It is a tool set, partly in ROM and partly in RAM, that provides a standard set of useful graphics routines for drawing window/menu-oriented screens. Wherever possible and appropriate, it attempts to work equivalently to a subset of Macintosh QuickDraw routines. The pre-release documentation lists 146 QuickDraw 11 tool calls, of which 114 are listed as being the same as their Macintosh equivalents, 22 are listed as being similar, and 10 are entirely different or absent. The degree of consistency between QuickDraw and QuickDraw II will be very important to Macintosh software developers attempting to convert their software to the Apple II GS.

ProDOS

Apple has crowned ProDOS Ihe operating system for the Apple II series of computers, and the company will be guiding ProDOS along a carefully controlled development path that proceeds as follows:

• ProDOS 1.1,1 will continue to be supported for the Apple lie and lie computers and many ProDOS 1.1.1 programs will run on the II GS.

• ProDOS 8, an altered version of ProDOS 1.1.1, will become the standard 8-bit operating system for the Apple II. It will work on the He, lie, and II GS.

• ProDOS 16 will be the 16-bit operating system used for Apple II GS software. Version 1.0, supplied with the machine at its introduction, is built on a ProDOS 16 framework but is implemented by a ProDOS 8 core surrounded by a shell handling ProDOS 16-style calls. ProDOS 16 version 2.0 will be released in the first quarter of 1987.

The Finder

We did not see the Finder working when we saw the Apple II GS, but its preliminary documentation describes it as "a combination Program Selector/Disk Utility for managing docu

Extended Apple II GS Coverage on BIX

BYTE magazine has a lead time of several months, but the lead time on BIX (BYTE Information Exchange) is measured by how fast we can type. By the time you read this, we will have active a special 'Apple II GS event " on BIX that will include further technical details, exact prices, BIX users giving their impressions of the machine as it

comes out of the box, and more. Much of this information will be excerpted in the Best of BIX section of BYTE as soon as our lead time allows.

For more details about the special Apple II GS coverage in BIX, log on to BIX, type join apple, and then join the first topic with 'GS' somewhere in its name.

ments and directing traffic between the user and storage devices." It seems to be a pretty faithful imitation of the Macintosh desktop interface, with several exceptions.

First, the "Special" menu has two new items—"Check Drives" and "Format." The first causes the Finder to update its knowledge of what disk is in each drive (remember that, in an Apple II system, you can change the floppy disk in a drive without the computer knowing what you've done). The second will eventually allow you to format a disk in either ProDOS, Apple Pascal, DOS 3.3, or Apple CP/M formats: the initial release, however, will only format disks for ProDOS.

Second, the Finder will interact most fully with ProDOS disks and programs. Since only the ProDOS operating system has subdirectories, only ProDOS disks will have folders in their windows. When you exit a ProDOS program, it will return you to the Finder.

Third, the Finder does not support custom file icons. Each icon will have a shape determined by its file type.

Finally, the Finder will support rudimentary printing of text files,

A future version of the Finder will probably add the Macintosh MFS (old) and HFS (hierarchical) disk formats, Apple Pascal 1.3, and Apple CP/M to the file types supported.

Apple Desktop Bus

The Apple Desktop Bus (ADB) is used for the generalized connection of the computer with up to 16 input devices

daisy-chained to a single connector on the back panel: it currently supports multiple keyboards (for educational and other programs) and a mouse (ending the daisy chain), but the design can accommodate other kinds of devices. Devices are connected through a shielded 3-conductor cable using mini-DlN-4 connectors.

The ADB is controlled by a dedicated 8-bit processor called the ADB microcontroller (abbreviated here as ADBM): in addition, the mouse and keyboard are controlled by custom microcontrollers that interact with the ADBM. The ADBM and the intelligent devices "talk" on a bus where only the ADBM can issue commands: the devices reply as appropriate with data or requests for service.

In general, the ADBM handles lowlevel interaction with the keyboard, mouse, and other input devices, thus freeing the 65C8I6 processor from having to handle such tasks.

AppleTalk

Unlike any other Apple Computer product, the Apple II GS includes built-in ApplelSlk code in RAM and ROM. Through the Control Panel, you can configure slot 7 as Appldalk: the II GS then uses one of the two serial ports as its AppldTalk port.

The II GS implements the bottom two (of seven) levels of Appl^lk protocol: Link Access Protocol (LAP) and Datagram Delivery Protocol (DDP). It also implements enough of the next

{conlimed)

96 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

Explore AI on your PC

Smalltalk/V transforms your PC into a versatile AI workstation

Only Smallt;ilk/V lets you experience the thrill of a responsive AI workstation while learning artificial intelligence techniques and using them to create practical applications.

"Smalltalk/V gives me the feel of an AI workstation on my PC."

—Dam! Rubin, Technical Editor,

AI Expert

Magazine

Watching someone use an At workstation is a vision of what the computer was meant to be. Fingers dance across the keys as windows dilate, shift, overlap, and disappear on the hit-mapped display. Ideas spring to life as program fragments execute, are modified, expanded, combined and tried again in a creative arabesque of text and graphics. The interface vanishes, man and machine are one. Smalltalkj'V brings that experience to your IBM-PC.

"We use Smalltalk

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—Dr. John Pugh Director, School of Computer Science Carleton University

Of the three main AI languages, Smalltalk, LISP, and Prolog, only Smalltalk was intended for individual use on a personal computer. Only Smalltalk was designed to provide a match between human and computer models of reality. Only Smalltalk is easy to learn, easy to read, and ea.sy to use.

"We found Smalltalk/V excellent for developing advanced decisionsupport tools based on decision analysis and AI techniques."

—Dr. Samuel Holtzman, Professor, Stanford University

Smalltalk/V is pure object-oriented programming — a powerful tool for designing frame/scriplbased knowlege representations, inference engines, expert systems, simulation etivironmenLs, intelligent interfaces, network control software, coninnmicalions interfaces, and much more.

Methods, our character-based Smalltidk, is now available for $79. It has ;dl of the features of Smalhalk/V except graphics, rules, source-level debugger, and object-swapping. However, it supports color, includes the coinmunication package, and does not require a mouse.

BYTE and BIX are Iradimarks of Mcllran-lllll. inc. IBM. IBM-PC, mi IBM PC..AT are iradumarks iif Internalional Business Machines Corporalion. Unix is a Iradeinark of Bell Lalioralories.

Inquiry 92

"Smalltalk/V is the highest performance object-oriented programming system available for PCs." —Dr Piero Scarufft Chief Scientist Olivetti Artificial Intelligence Center

Smalltalk/V Features

• High-performance object-oriented programming

• Integrates object-based and rule-based programming with object-oriented Prolog

• A user-extensible, open-ended environment

• A responsive graphical user interface

• Supports exploratory programming and prototyping

• Class hierarchy with inheritance creates highly re-useable code

• Smalltalk source code included, with browser windows for easy access and modification

• A huge toolkit of classes and objects for building a variety of applications

• Object-.swapping creates virtual memor)' on bard or RAM disk

• Bit-mapped graphics with bit and form editors

• A sophisticated source-level debugger

• Automatic change log for easy recovery from errors

• Powerful directory/file browser system for organizing DOS flies

• Optional communications interface to Unix™ and other .systems

• Access to other languages and DOS functions

• DOS command shell

• Detailed owner s manual designed for both beginners and advanced progranmiers

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1

THE APPLE II GS

two levels, Name Binding Protocol (NBP) and Appl^lk lyansaction Protocol (ATP), to boot the II GS from a remote file server (thus allowing it to be used in a network environment without its own disk drive).

Pricing

The price for the Apple II GS had not been set at the time of this writing, but we expect the price for a starter system with one 3'/^-inch disk drive

and a monochrome monitor to be in the $1400 to $1600 range.

Compatibility

For many users, especially current

owners, software and hardware compatibility will be the make-or-break factor in their decision to buy an Apple II GS. The II GS engineers did an incredible job of designing a new, more powerful computer that is largely compatible with the existing body of Apple II hardware and software. One engineer estimated the II GS's hardware compatibility at "about 80 percent" and its software compatibility at "95 to 99 percent."

Complete software compatibility is impossible, largely because of the completely unregulated way the Apple II has been programmed in the last 10 years. People wrote code that jumped into the middle of ROM routines, used machine language op codes that were unimplemented in the 6502 (but that are in the 65C816), and implemented countless copyprotection schemes, many of which depended on particular hardware details that were replaced in later Apple II designs.

The final verdict must wait until we get to test a production-line machine, but we tested several Apple II game and business programs and found two that fail trying to execute formerly unimplemented op codes (THE Spreadsheet and Serpentine) and one (HomeWord running under ProDOS 1.1.1) that doesn't work because the 65C816 does not completely emulate the way the 6502 wraps an X-register address from FFFF hexadecimal to 0000 (it wraps to 10000 hexadecimal).

Most peripheral cards that do not implement "phantom slots" (where a multifunction card appears to be

98 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

several cards in different slots) will work, but some cards won't; we were told, for example, that the Mountain Computer Music Card set won't work because of the way it uses interrupts.

As with previous enhancements to the Apple 11 line, such differences cause problems for the first year or so, then they fade from consciousness as companies revise their products and users find patches or workaround measures for products that don't work. In general, the more recent your Apple II software or hardware, the more likely it is to run properly.

Caveats

We wrote this product preview in luly 1986, after two days with the Apple I! GS engineering staff, much study of seven volumes of developers' technical documentation, and subsequent telephone conversations with the engineers. When we saw the Apple II GS, the firmware was about to be "frozen," and the machine itself was in "final preproduction": only minor changes are likely to be made at this point. We did not get to see the Finder software, but we had several hours of hands-on experience and ran several impressive sound and graphics demos.

(We wish to thank Rob Moore. Harvey Lehtman, and many other Apple people for their help.)

Conclusions

What do you say about such innovative energy that has been directed primarily toward preserving a hardware design that is 10 years old? The Apple II GS designers' achievements are remarkable, but the burden of the classic Apple 11 architecture, now as venerable (and outdated) as COBOL and batch processing, may have weighted them down and denied them any technological leaps beyond an exercise in miniaturization. Also, the 65C816 may prove to be an IC of mixed blessings: While it does provide a means of supporting the 6502 within a processor that also operates in a 16-bit mode, to programmers it represents yet another instruction set that has to be learned and whose oddities will have to be dealt with.

The Apple II GS affirms several trends in microcomputer design that we should not ignore; improved graphics and sound, larger processor and memory capacity and the use of a mouse and a desktop/icon/windows user interface. The machine also follows a trend but breaks new ground in the Apple II line by including large amounts of system firmware that is as important as the machine's new hardware features.

Because Apple perceives itseW as a "premium label," its pricing will not be as aggressive as many users would like it to be. Apple is becoming—dare we say it?—more and more like IBM, selling more on name, reputation, and installed base of software and hardware (not a strong selling point, in the case of Apple 11 software) than on computing-power-per-dollar value.

The Apple 11 GS, hog-tied by Apple II compatibility approaches but does not match or exceed current microcomputer capabilities. The 8086-like segmented memory of the 65C816 is not as elegant as that of the 68000, used in the Apple Macintosh, the Commodore Amiga, and the Atari 520ST In addition, the 65C816 lacks the hardware multiply and divide instructions available in both the 8086 and the 68000 processors. The Apple II GS's graphics, though now competitive, do not offer any advantages over the Amiga's or the Atari ST's, nor is its price competitive with either Its only clear superiority is in its sound capabilities, which for many buyers will not outweigh graphics and price.

Ironically the Apple II GS will suffer from the traditional lack of software and hardware upon its introduction. Vendors will take longer than they expect to come out with new products, and many will enhance existing products for the Apple II instead of writing new software that fully exploits (and is limited to) the Apple II GS. Granted, a tremendous amount of software is already out there, but the Apple lie and lie will run it with fewer compatibility problems and at a significantly tower cost. As with new machines before it, people will buy the Apple II GS because they see the unrealized promise of its new features. ■ .

L

Microsoft FORTRAN.

The overwhelming favorite.

How did MicrosoffFORTRAN get so popular?

It could be the mainframe compatibility. Our compiler makes porting applications a cinch with overlays and the ANSI features you need.

It could be our support for arrays and COMMON blocks larger than 64K. So you can tackle mainframe-size problems.

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M 18 1 : 1,S191 fUlCSd) : ,IHII. » 91 1:1,8in

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Cut your da'dol)ment time dramatically. T/ic Symbolic Dehu}' utility, pan of the Microsoft Macro Assembler, lets you debug your FORTRAN progiarm using your origir\al source code or the raulting disassembly. For example, you can set breakpoints on line numbers, observe tlxe amKnu oj variablei and expressions, and examine the contents of the stack.

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It could be the XENIX'^' and MS-DOS* source-level compatibility. Or the direct interlanguage calling to Microsoft C, Pascal and Assembler Or the ability to work with our Macro Assemblers symbolic debugger

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Why is Microsoft FORTRAN the most popular FORTRAN? All the above.

Microsoft FORTRAN Compiler Version 3.3 for MS-DOS and XENIX 286

Microsoft FORTRAN Compiler ♦Implements most ANSI 77 standard features, plus extensions.

♦ Easily port mainframe/minicomputer programs with little or no modification.

♦Overlay support in the compiler and linker ♦Common blocks and arrays greater than 64K. ♦Supported by the largest number of third party libraries.

♦ Includes a full set of math libraries to select from:

♦8087/80287 emulation. ♦8087/80287 coprocessor support.

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♦Link your FORTRAN routines with Microsoft C Compiler (version 3.0 or higher), Microsoft Pascal (version 3.3 or higher), and Microsoft Macro Assembler.

♦MS-DOS 3.1 network support and IBM*local area network support.

♦Source code compatible between MS-DOS and XENIX 286.

♦ Do source level debugging with the Symbolic Debug Utility, available separately with Micrasoft Macro Assembler

Object Code Overlay

♦Simple overlay linker combines relocatable object modules createci using Microsoft languages into a single program.

♦ Link very large programs (over 1 megabyte) using overlays. Library Manager

♦Create, organize and maintain your object module libraries

created with Microsoft languages. Microsoft EXE File Compression Utility (MS-DOS only)

♦A utility to pack EXE files for smaller size on disk and

faster loading at execution time. Microsoft EXE File Header Utility (MS-DOS only) ♦A utility that allows you to display and modify the fields

in EXE file headers.

For the name of your nearest Microsoft dealer call (800) 426-9400. In Washington State and Alaska, (206) 882-8088. In Canada, call (416)673-7638.

Microsoft.

The High Performance Software™

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Finally, a language worth

For years BASIC has been everyone's first language. And for almost as long, they've been tempted by other languages. Lured by promises of more speed, more power

We have a solution. A new language that's a substantial improvement over BASICA. Faster. More structured. Finally, a compelling reason to leave BASIC.

Introducing Microsoft's QuickBASIC Compiler, Version 2.0.

At last, you can have the latest programming techniques, combined with the solid foundation of BASIC. Our new compiler is as compatible with BASICA as you can get. At the same time it offers the extra speed and power you've been looking for

Run faster with compiled code*

If there's one thing you've asked for, it's speed. And Microsoft® QuickBASIC simply blazes. Old BASICA programs will run up to ten times quicker once they've been compiled. Sometimes even faster

Everything you need* Built-in.

Making programs run faster is only part of the story, though. The new Microsoft QuickBASIC Compiler includes a full-screen editor, built-in. So now you can make the jump from writing to RUNning in no time flat. Edit your program, compile it, and run it. Faster than any other BASIC compiler around. All without leaving our on-line help and prompts.

theta = 8 TO 2if

CALL DrauStar(c

xt i

Search |30^^HHI

Pini...

Selected Text t Repeat Last Find F3 Change•••

Ubel

end

end

DrauStar(cx,cy,radius,theta) STATIC dx = radius * cos(theta) dy = radius * sin(theta) 1 irie(cxjcy)-(cx+dx,cy+dy) ,2

sub

NEXT without FOR

Next Error

li

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On the rare chance your program doesn't run 100% the first time out, we've got another surprise for you. The Microsoft QuickBASIC debugger Our full-screen tracing lets you debug your programs while watching the source code execute. A line at a time, or with breakpoints. As easy as can be.

Our compiler is also smart enough to save you time. First, by finding any errors in one pass. Second, by putting your editor's cursor on the problem. Automatically. So you don't have to get lost in a maze of error codes and line-numbers.

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Speaking of line numbers, let's not. Because line numbers are strictly optional. And Microsoft QuickBASIC lets you use alphanumeric labels as well. Now you can GOTO ErrorCheck instead of line number 6815.

Or you could stop using GOTOs altogether There are a variety of options that coulcf make the GOTO an endangered species. Features like multi-line IF-THEN blocks. And named subprograms. Now your BASIC programs can be as structured and organized as you want.

We've only just begun to talk about the virtues of Microsoft QuickBASIC. There are dozens of enhancements to your favorite language. Things like larger arrays. Local and global variables. Reusable modules that let you create libraries of your most often-used routines. All explained in a revised manual that includes a complete language reference.

Making your quick escape.

If all these features follow your BASIC instincts, then zip on down to your nearest Microsoft dealer That's where you'll discover the best surprise of all. The price. Only $99 for the best reason to leave BASIC.

For the name of your nearest Microsoft dealer, call (800) 426-9400. In Washington State and Alaska, (206) 882-8088. In Canada, caU (416) 673-7638.

Microsoft® QuickBASIC

The High Performance Software™

Microsoft QuickBASIC Compiler Version 2.0 for IBM" PC and Compatible Computers.

BASICA Compatibility

♦ Sound statements including SOUND and PLAY. ♦Graphics statements including WINDOW VIEW DRAW

GET PUT, LINE, CIRCLE, LOCATE and SCREEN. ♦Support of EGA extended graphics modes. NEW!

♦ BASICA structures are supported including WHILEAVEND,

IF/THEN/ELSE, FOR/NEXT GOSUB/RETURN, and

event handling. .

Microsott

Results of Sieve Benchmark BASICA 3.1 QuickBASIC 2.0 Seconds per iteration 78 0.52

Complete Programming Environment

♦ Built-in Editor that places the cursor on found errors automatically. NEW!

♦ Compile entirely in memory at speeds up to 6000 lines per minute. NEW!

♦ Link routines once when starting a programming session and no need to link again when changing programs. NEW!

♦ Built-in debugger with single-step, animate, and trace modes. NEW!

♦Create stand-alone programs. Alphanumeric Labels

♦ Can be used to make your programs more readable. Line numbers are not required but are supported for BASICA compatibility

Structured Programming Support

♦ Block IF/THEN/ELSE/END IF eliminates the need for GOTO statements. NEW!

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Modular Programming Support

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Microsoft is a registered trademark and The High Performance Software is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.

I

Multiuser & LAN Solutions

For IBM PC/XT/AT

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scan/ASCII codes.

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QUARTET2 4-port I/O card,

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LAN

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Addressable users: Up to 255

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Operating systems:

PC-DOSi/MS-DOS= 2.0 or later

Dedicated file server: Not needed

Multiuser solutions supported: Muitilink Advanced^, PC-Slave/16^ PC-Slave'^

Other features: message communication and print spooling

Retail price: $395.00

WORKSTATIONS

KW-l 8088, 4.77 MHz, 256 Kbytes Retail price: $995.00

KW-2 8088-2, 8 MHz, 256 Kbytes Retail price: $1,195.00

KW-3 80286, 6 or 8 MHz,

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All the above include: AT style keyboard, 8 slots, built-in K-Netwith remote boot. Upgradeable to "complete" PC. Monitors, video boards, additional memory, and other keyboard layouts are also available.

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BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 157 for End-Users. Inquiry 158 for DEALERS ONLY.

CIARCIA'S CIRCUIT CELLAR

BUILD AN INTELLIGENT SERIAL EPROM PROGRAMMER

BY Steve Ciarcia

Steve's new and improved device includes on-board CPU and intelligent firmware

"^^^■^^l I don't like admitting that ^^^^1 1 made a mistake, but apparently I did. Well, not ac^^^k tually. You see, 1 was

^^^^L dragged into... l^t me

^^^^^^ start from the beginning. ^^^^^^ My February 1983 Circuit Cellar article was a project on how to build a serial EPROM programmer, about which I said: "The latest Circuit Cellar EPROM programmer is a serial-port programmer that has the speed of a turtle, the intelligence of the mightiest computer (that is, it has absolutely no smarts of its own), and is as functional as a doorstop between uses. On the positive side, it's fully documented, universally applicable, and easily expandable to accommodate future EPROM types."

What a mess after it was published! Everybody must have built this programmer. BYTEnet almost shut down the Peterborough phone company as people downloaded the BASIC listings, and my staff developed "postage tongue" replying to the correspondence. Needless to say, the project was well received.

In truth, it was an experimenter's project intended to satisfy a certain core of supporters yet enlighten the larger audience of readers about EPROM programming in general. Because 1 could not gauge its potential reception, and also because 1

COPYRIGHT © 1986 STEVEN A, CIARCIA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

didn't see it as having any greater performance than low-cost bus-compatible programmer boards, I didn't arrange to have it made into a printed circuit board as are most of my projects. I'm embarrassed to say that even after all these years I underestimated the number of experimenters who wanted to build a serial EPROM programmer

It's too late to go back now, but I have to make up for past indiscretion and find some way to save face. 1 know that there are warmed soldering irons all across the country waiting for me to apologize appropriately I trust you'll accept this improved rendition on an old theme as proper recompense.

As the title indicates, this programmer is still intended for serial-port operation. Thus, it retains computer and bus independence. The primary difference between then and now, however is the addition of a microprocessor that greatly enhances its functions. The new Circuit Cellar intelligent serial EPROM programmer (CCSP for short) programs more types of EPROMs faster and

icontimed]

Steve Ciarcia {pronounced "see-ARE-see-ah") is an electronics engineer and computer consultant with experience in process control, digital design, nuclear instrumentation, and product development. The author of several books on electronics, he can be reached at P.O. Box 582, Glastonburg, CT 06033.

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 103

i

CIRCUIT CELLAR

more reliably. It also functions as a stand-alone programmer for copying or verifying EPROMs. (See photo 1.) The following is a list of CCSP features;

• RS-2 32-compatible (no handshaking necessary)

• internal V^p power generation

• menu-selectable EPROM types (no programming configuration jumpers)

• default power-up selectable data rates

• automatic power-down of EPROM for installation/removal

• stand-alone or computer system/terminal-connected operation

• menu-driven operation

• single-byte or full-buffer write modes

• 32K-byte on-board memory buffer

• read, copy or verify EPROM

• Intel hexadecimal file upload/download

• verify after write

• verify EPROM erasure

• screen dump by page or byte

• BASIC driver that can be modified by the user

• program EPROMs in standard 50

millisecond and 1-ms fast algorithm modes

• support Vpp settings of 2 5, 21, and

12.5 volts

• program all 27xxx 5-V single-supply EPROMs, including 2716, 2732, 2732A, 2764, 2764A, 27C64, 27128, 27128A, 27C128, 27256, 27512, and any functional equivalents

Obviously a list this impressive would take a great deal of effort to put together as a single month's project. The potential software development nightmares of assembly language serial drivers, menu displays, and table manipulations hardly made it worth adding a microprocessor to my original BASIC-language-manipulated unit. Besides, how could it be done in one month?

BASIC allowed a significant level of interactive menus and help displays while requiring little software overhead. Unfortunately using a highlevel-language interpreter to simplify software development is of little value when the primary goal of producing a better programmer requires fast data manipulations that are best ac

complished in assembly language.

Rather than be thwarted by this apparent dilemma, 1 decided to design a hybrid system that used both BASIC and assembly language. The obvious choice was the BASIC-52 computer/ controller 1 presented in the August 1985 project. With the help of software guru and friend Bill Curlew, the CCSP was designed, built, and tested in two weeks flat.

The CCSP uses an Intel 8052AHBASiC microprocessor that contains an 8K-byte ROM-based BASIC interpreter. Besides manipulating strings, tables, and menus, the BASIC contains serial communication drivers and easily links to assembly language routines. It seemed the perfect engine for a quickly designed user-modifiable project,

A Hybrid Approach

The CCSP is a stand-alone microcomputer with an application-specific I/O configuration. It supports 40K bytes of operating system and buffer RAM and 16K bytes of program ROM. It uses six parallel 1/0 ports to drive the programming-pin level-shifter voltagecontrol circuitry EPROM address and data lines, and user-interactive buttons and display The CCSP can be used by itself to copy EPROMs or, when connected to a terminal or computer, as a full-function programmer/ verifier. It requires no programming jumpers or personality modules and is completely automatic. It programs/ examines/verifies all 5-V EPROMs from 2716s through 27512s in both standard and fast modes (on applicable devices).

In the sections that follow, I'll describe the configuration of the microcomputer and its unique I/O structure. Once you have the hardware in hand, I'll describe the system software and how the different modes operate. First, I'll go over some EPROM basics.

A Review

A personal computer, even in its minimum configuration, always contains some user-programmable memory or RAM, usually in the form of semiconductor-memory integrated circuits. This memory can contain

Photo 1: Finished printed circuit prototype of the serial EPROM programmer. The digital section and memory buffer are at the bottom center. The analogvoltage-level switching section is at the top center.

104 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

i

■t,

CIRCUIT CELLAR

both programs and data. Any machine-word-level storage element within the memory can be individually read or modified (written) as needed.

Any of several kinds of electronic components can function as bitstorage elements in this kind of memory TTLrtype 7474 flip-flops, bistable relays, or tiny ferrite toroids (memory cores) are suitable, but they all cost too much, are hard to use, and have other disadvantages.

In personal computer and other microprocessor-based applications, the most cost-effective memory is made from MOS integrated circuits. Unfortunately data stored in these semiconductor RAMs is volatile. When the power is turned off, the data is lost. Many ways of dealing with this problem have been devised, with essential programs and data usually stored in some nonvolatile medium.

In most computer systems, some data or programs are stored in ROM. A semiconductor ROM can be randomly accessed for reading in the same manner as the volatile memory, but the data in the ROM is permanent. The data in a mask-programmed ROM is determined during the manufacturing process. Whenever power is supplied to the ROM, this permanent data (or program) is available. In small computer systems, ROM is chiefly used to contain operating systems and/or BASIC interpreters—programs that don't need to be changed.

Another type of ROM is the PROM, which is delivered from the factory containing no data. The user decides what data to put in it and permanently programs it with a special device. Once programmed, PROMs exhibit the characteristics of mask-programmed ROMs. You might label such PROMs "write-once" memories.

The ultraviolet-light erasable EPROM is a compromise between the "write-once" kind of PROM and volatile memory. You can think of the EPROM as a "read-mostly" memory used in read-only mode most of the time but occasionally erased and reprogrammed as necessary. The EPROM is erased by exposing the silicon chip to ultraviolet light at a

wavelength of 2 537 angstroms. Conveniently most EPROM chips are packaged in an enclosure with a transparent quartz window.

How AN EPROM Works

EPROMs from several manufacturers store data bits in cells formed from stored-charge FAMOS (floating-gate avalanche-injection metal-oxide semiconductor) transistors. Such transistors are similar to positive-channel silicon-gate field-effect transistors, but with two gates. The lower or floating gate is completely surrounded by an insulating layer of silicon dioxide, and the upper control or select gate is connected to external circuitry

The amount of electric charge stored on the floating gate determines whether the bit cell contains a 1 or a 0. Charged cells are read as Os; uncharged cells are read as Is. When the EPROM chip comes from the factory all bit locations are cleared of charge and are read as logic Is; each byte contains hexadecimal FF.

When a given bit cell is to be burned from a 1 to a 0, a current is passed through the transistor's channel from the source to the gate. (The electrons, of course, move the opposite way) At the same time, a relatively high-voltage potential is placed on the transistor's upper select gate, creating a strong electric field within the layers of semiconductor material. (This is the function of the tl2.5-V, -1-21-V, or +2 5-V V^, charging potential applied to the EPROM.) In the presence of this strong electric field, some of the electrons passing through the source-drain channel gain enough energy to tunnel through the insulating layer that normally isolates the floating gate. As the tunneling electrons accumulate on the floating gate, it takes on a negative charge, which makes the cell contain a 0.

When data is to be erased from the chip, it is exposed to ultraviolet light, which contains photons of relatively high energy. The incident photons excite the electrons on the floating gate to sufficiently high-energy states that they can tunnel back through the insulating layer, removing the charge from the gate and returning the cell to a state of 1.

When data is

to be erased

from the chip, it is exposed to ultraviolet light.

The 27xxx EPROMs contain bitstorage cells configured as individually addressable bytes. This organization is often called "2K by 8 " for a 2716 or "8K by 8" for a 2764. The completely static operation of the device requires no clock signals. The primary operating modes include read, standby, and program (programinhibit and program-verify modes are important primarily in high-volume applications).

Control inputs are used to select the chip and configure it for one of these operating modes. In the program mode, particular bit cells are induced to contain 0 values. Both Is and Os are in the data word presented on the data lines, but only a 0 causes action to take place. For example, the 27128 is in the programming mode when V„ input is at 21 V and CE and PGM are both at TTL low. The data to be programmed is applied 8 bits in parallel to the data output pins. For regular programming, CE should be kept TTL low at all times while V^^ is kept at 21 V. When the address and data are stable, a 50-ms (55 ms maximum) active-low TTL program pulse is applied to the PGM input. A program pulse must be applied at each address location to be programmed.

Standard vs. Fast

In the old days, all we had to contend with were 50-ms timing pulses (neglecting obsolete 1702 and 2708 EPROMs). Tbday the newest EPROMs can use a fast dosed-loop programming algorithm that lessens programming time (realize that a 27512 takes about 1 hour to program in 50-ms increments). The CCSP supports fast programming.

(CORtlKUeti)

OCTOBER 1986 • B V T E 105

CIRCUIT CELLAR

The fast algorithm uses closed-loop margin checking. To ensure reliable program margin, the fast algorithm utilizes two different pulse types: initial and overprogram. The duration of the initial PGM pulse(s) is 1 ms, which will then be followed by a longer overprogram pulse of length 4x ms; some

chip types use 3x [x is the number of initial 1-ms pulses applied to a particular location before a correct verify occurs). Once it is verified, four times that number of pulses are applied to the same location to permanently burn the data. If 15 (some chip types require 25 pulses) 1-ms pulses are ap

(a)

PIN#

2716

2732

2764

27128

27256

27512

1

N/C

N/C

Vp~

1 21V

12.5V

—lev

Vp~

1 21V

12.5V

—'bv

Vpp~~

1 12.5 V

A15 JUv

28

N/C

N/C

Vrr*

"UC

(—5V

Vrr* VCC

1 SV

Vrr *

VCC

1

—'5V

—1 5V

—1 SV

—i SV

27

N/C

N/C

PGM

PGM

A14

A14

"IT"

LJ OV

LJov

ju-j

26/24

Vcc

Vcc

N/C

A13

A13

A13

SV

sv

23/21

Vpp

All

All

All

All

All

1 2SV

—I5V

22/20

OE —1 5V

OE/Vpp

1 26V

21V

—Iqv

OE

OE —|5V

OE —1 5V

OE/Vpp 1 12.5

1 ov

1 ov

' ov

1 OV

—Iqv

20/18

cl

CE

CE

CE

cl

CE

—1 1—ov

—1 l_OV

—|5V

1 ov

—|5V

1 ov

LJov

5V LJov

♦6.0 VOLTS ONLY ON EPROMS THAT ALLOW FAST PROSRAMMING

plied to any single-byte location with: out reaching the margin, the overprogram pulse is applied automatically.

•The entire sequence of program pulses and byte verifications is performed at V„ = 6,0 V and V„ = 21.0 V (V„ may be 12,5 V on some EPROIVls). When the fast programming cycle has been completed, all bytes should be compared to the original data with = V„ = 5.0 V.

The fast algorithm may be the preferred programming method since it allows certain EPROMs to be programmed in significantly less time than the standard 50-ms-per-byte programming routine. Typical programming times for 27128s, for example, are on the order of 2 minutes, a sixfold reduction in programming time from the standard method.

Configuration Maze

The first problem encountered in any EPROM programmer design is to compare the pins of the various EPROMs (see figure lb). Among the 28 defined pins (four are unused on 24-pin devices), 21 are used for the same functions (address and data). Evidently, semiconductor manufacturers never thought very far ahead or talked to each other, because the remaining seven pins are a complicated switching maze. Among the different EPROMs, the same pin location can

(b)

27512

27256

27128

2764

2732A

2716

A15

Vpp

Vpp

Vpp

C

A12

A12

A12

A12

C

A7

A7

A7

A7

A7

A7

C

A6

A6

Ae

A6

A6

A6

C

A5

AS

A5

A5

AS

A5

C

A4

A4

A4

A4

A4

A4

C

A3

A3

A3

A3

A3

A3

C

A2

A2

A2

A2

A2

A2

c:

Al

Al

Al

Al

Al

Al

c

AO

AO

AO

AO

AO

AO

c

00

00

00

00

00

00

c

01

01

01

01

01

01

c

02

02

02

02

02

02

c

GND

GND

GND

GND

GND

GND

c

27XXX

28 □ 27 □ 26 □ 25 □ 24 □ 23 □ 22 □

21 □ 20 □ 19 □ 18 □

17 □ 16 □ 15 □

2716

2732A

2764

27128

27256

27512

Vcc

Vcc

Vcc

Vcc

PGM

PGiS

A14

A14

Vcc

Vcc

N,C.

A13

A13

A13

AS

A8

AS

AS

AS

A8

A9

A9

AS

A9

A9

A9

Vpp

All

All

All

AU

Al 1

OE

OE/Vpp

OE

OE

of

OE/Vpp

AlO

AlO

AlO

AlO

AlO

AlO

CE

CE

CE

CE

CE

CE

07

07

07

07

07

07

06

06

06

06

06

06

05

05

05

05

05

05

04

04

04

04

04

04

03

03

03

03

03

03

Figure 1: (a) EPROM programming-pin functions by EPROM type, (b) The great EPROM fnn-oui mm, UluArati'ng the configuratm of those EPROMs the CCSP is designed to handle.

106 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

CIRCUIT CELLAR

supply power, address, or programming pulses. Figure la illustrates the differences in detail.

In inexpensive programmers, configuration jumpers are frequently used to select the specific wiring configuration for different EPROM types. Wire jumpers rather than semiconductor switches are used because of the high currents involved. Thke pin 26 (pin 24 on 24-pin EPROMs) with either a2732 or 27128 installed, for example, in both cases, the voltage level is 5 V. On a 27128 it is a TTL A13 address line; on a 2732 it is a 150-milliampere V„ power line. Similarly, pin 22 (all pin numbers are referenced to a 28-pin layout) has to be set at 0 V, 5 V. 12.5 V. 21 V, or 25 V at currents ranging from 400 microamperes to 50 nnA, depending upon the EPROM.

Fortunately, only five of the seven configuration pins require elaborate voltage and current control. Rather than use mechanical jumpers, I designed a voltage-control circuit that could be preset to the voltage limits of the desired EPROM type and easily pass high current when required. Figure 2 illustrates this basic circuit that is duplicated for each of the five pins (pins 28, 26, 1, 22, and 23).

The level shifter uses an LM317 voltage regulator as a programmable voltage controller. The basic LM317 output voltage is set by two resistors: Rl between the adjustment pin and ground and R2 between the adjustment pin and the output. As the formula shows, with Rl=665 ohms and R2=221 ohms, the output is 5.0 V.

In this configuration, various Rl resistors can be connected from the adjustment pin to ground through open-col'ector 7407 drivers. These were used since they operate at up to 30 V (don't substitute a 7417). The four drivers from top to bottom set 5 V, 12.5 V 21 V, and 25 V respectively (not all sections are required for each EPROM pin). Their inputs are fed by a parallel output port.

Normally, the regulated output of an LM317 is 1.2 V to 32 V An additional two-transistor control circuit is added to allow the output to go to 0 V on command. Rather than providing a resistance path to ground, however, this is accomplished by apply^

ing a negative 1.2 V to the adjustment pin. Because there is no way to know how many of the control circuits will be set to 0 V at any one time or if the

7407 drivers are enabled concurrently the -1.4-V bias source is itself a regulated supply

The CCSP level-shifter circuit can simulate a variety of programmable conditions. For example, by setting the 7407 driver that limits the output to 5 V and pulsing the 0-V enable line, we have a TTL-level PGM, OE, or CE control line. (In the tests 1 conducted, the circuit easily responded to control input changes of 20 kilohertz with little overshoot on the output. At those speeds, however, the output filter capacitor should be small.) Since the circuit is also capable of supplying 500 mA at 5 V, it is also appropriate to use this same circuit to supply and control V„.

The heart of the CCSP is found in the analog switching system and the

management of the seven control lines in figure la. While I haven't ex

I designed a circuit that could be preset to the voltage limits of the desired EPROM.

plained yet how these level shifters are individually controlled, it still seems appropriate to show how they are ultimately configured. Figure 3a demonstrates how they are connected to the ZIP socket (zero insertion force programming socket), and figure 3 b outlines their power source connections.

8-BIT Microcomputer

Intelligence

As I mentioned earlier, the CCSP's intelligence is provided by an Intel 8052AH microcomputer. BASlC-52 is particularly suited for this application,

(continued)

+ 30V

35V ttl

R2

221 il 1%

Rla 665il 1%

Rib 1960fl. 1% -WV——

Rlc 3480S1 1% -WV—

Rid 4120il 1% -WV

[7407 I 2

I

I T I

2N2907

470il WV

-> OV. 5V, 12.5V, ZIV, 25V

-< 5V ENABLE

-< 12.5V ENABLE

-< 21V ENABLE

-< 25V ENABLE

-< OV ENABLE

VouT=VREF(l+Sr-) +IaDJ RlX

= 1.25 (1 + ^)+.00006 Rjx

Figure 2: Tl^pical programmable voltage-control circuit for EPROM pins 28, 26, 1, 22, and 23.

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 107

CIRCUIT CELLAR

Three control lines-

RD, WR, and

PSEN^are gated to allow 64K bytes of combined program

and data memory.

providing IF. . .THEN, FOR. . . NEXT. DO. . .WHILE/UNTIL. ONTIME, and

CALL statements as well as a broad repertoire of 8051 assembly language instructions. Calculations can be handled in integer or floating-point math.

The 80 5 2 AH contains an 8K-byte BASIC interpreter in ROM, 2 56 bytes of RAM, three 16-bit counter/timers, six interrupts, and 32 I/O lines that are redefined as a 16-bit address and an 8-bit data bus. A minimum of IK byte of RAM is required for BASlC-52 to function, and any RAM must be located starting at 0000 hexadecimal. (1 won't go into great detail on this computer since it closely resembles the BCC-52 presented in August 1985.) The microcomputer section of the CCSP is outlined in figure 4.

Three control lines-RD (pin 17), WR (pin 16), and P5EN (pin 29)-are gated to allow 64 K bytes of combined program and data memory The three most significant address lines (A13A15) are connected to a 74LS138 decoder chip, 1C4, which separates

the addressable range into eight 8K

byte memory segments, each with its own chip select (Y0-Y7). The four most significant chip selects are connected to 8K-byte 6264 static RAMs, ICs 7-10. This area is the RAM buffer for reading or writing EPROMs. 1C6, addressed at 0000 hexadecimal, must be another 6264 RAM for BASlC-52 to function. ICll {2000-3FFF hexadecimal) contains the programmer software and is intended for either a 2764 or 27128.

All together, 56K bytes of memory are defined on the CCSP if you use five 6264 RAMs (as ICs 6-10) and a 27128 EPROM in ICll. lb use the programmer, you need only the one RAM chip installed in IC6 (such a limited buffer area will require many passes to write or copy any large

(a)

+30V

+12V

(1C13-PB0) (IC13-PB1) (IC13-PB2) {IC12-PB7)

5V ENABLE

12.5V ENABLE

21V ENABLE

A15

Vpp/A15

(IC12(IC12(IC12 (IC12(IC12 (IC12 (IC12' (IC12' (ICIZ(IC12 (IC12 (IC12

PB4) ■PA7) -PA6) PA5) -PA 4) -PA3) ■PA2) ■PAl) ■PAO) •PCO) -PCI) PC2)

A12 A7 A6

A5 A4 A3 A2

Al AO

DO Dl D2 GND

PIN #1 LEVEL SHIFTER

28-PIN ZIP

SOCKET

28 27 26

25 24 23 22 21 20

19 IB 17 16 15

Vcc

+12V

PIN #28

LEVEL

SHIFTER

5V/6V ENABLE

POWER INH

PSM/A14

Vcc/Aia

AS

A9

All/Vpp

(IC12-PB0) (IC12-PB1)

+30V

OE/Vpp

AlO

CE

(IC12-PB2)

D5

(IC12(IC12(1012(IC12(IC12

PC7) PC6) PC5) PC4) PC3)

PIN #26

LEVEL

SHIFTER

A13

2 P6M

IC19 74LS5I

(1C13-PB3)

{1C13-PA3)

(IC12-PB5)

(IC13-PA2)

(IC13-PB6) (IC12-PB6)

(IC13-PB4) (IC13-PB5) (IC12-PB3)

PGM

(IC13-PB7) (IC13-PA2)

Figure 3: [a] Block diagram showing tfie connections to the ZIF socket. Note the level'Shifter circuitry connections for those pins that require programming voltages or that differ across EPROM types.

108 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

■if.

CIRCUIT CELLAR

EPROM). The memory cannot be expanded since the rest of the address space is decoded as 1/0.

The address range of 6000-7FFF hexadecimal is divided into two I/O strobes at 6000 and 7000 through IC17. {Editor's note: For the remainder of the article, all addresses will be in hemdedmal] 1\vo 8255A-5 peripheral interface adapters providing three 8-bit 1/0 parallel ports each are controlled by a strobe line. The three I/O portslabeled A, B, and C—and a write-only mode-configuration port on each 8255 occupy four consecutive addresses at 6000-6003 (IC12) and 7000-7003 (IC13), respectively. The ZIP socket and level-shifting circuitry outlined in figure 2 are connected to 41 of these parallel 1/0 bits. The lines attached to IC12 (the control PIA) are

used primarily for presetting the level shifters and providing the programming pulses. 1C13 (the address and data PIA) supplies the address and data bus lines to the EPROM. Figure 5 details the configuration and connection of the level shifters and power distribution.

The CCSP communicates with a terminal or host computer through an on-board serial port. The port's data rate is hard-coded in the program ROM and is preset at 1200 bits per second, but you can reprogram it to any standard value between 300 and 19,200 bps. (The 8052AH chip has the capability for automatic data-rate selection on the console port. Because the CCSP has both a local and a remote operating capability triggered by the GET command, the

Pomr supplies with the required output are readily available, so I excluded an on-board supply to keep costs lower.

automatic data rate cannot be used.) MC1488 and MC1489 drivers/receivers (ICs 14 and 15) convert the 8052's serial 1/0 line TTL logic levels to RS-232.

(b)

INPUT POWER

+12V ■ @200niA

+12V TO RS-232C

+5V ■ @S00mA

+ 5V TO ■CPU a MEMORY ETC,

+5V TO +30V

DC-TO-DC

CONVERTER

® 30 mA

-1.4V REGULATOR

PIN #28

LEVEL

SHIFTER

PIN #26

LEVEL

SHIFTER

-12V TO ■RS-232C

PIN #1 LEVEL SHIFTER

PIN #22

LEVEL

SHIFTER

PIN #23

LEVEL

SHIFTER

ZIF CONNECTION/FUNCTION AND VOLTAGE RANGE

ZIF PIN #28 ' 5V/6V/0V

ZIF PIN #26 5V/0V

Vcc

Vcc/A13

, ZIF PIN#1 Vpp/A15 5V/ 12.5V/21V/0V

ZIF PIN #22 OE/Vpp 5V/12.5V/21V/25V/0V

ZIF PIN #23 5V/ 25V/0V

All/Vpp

[3] CCSP pomr-distrli>utm bbck iiagrm.

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 109

i

iiiiim riiigssi nnur^

d

I—-> V

3§ SSSSSSSS

l5

S S S S! S

mum umiii imuii

33 SSSSSSSg

i i

Si

elf

Oil

i

J

II 1111111:

ii H'^i-i: ii iLriri. ' i-M:Mim

.1!

I MIILJ iiiiiut- :iiN.jj-n

J

siiss "'"ssssssss ssssssss

s - ~ 5 s s s

s a|s|a

"l-iM-lal-l^l"

J ^1

If

J :

I2

51^ r^e

rii15183

4

' of

K S 2 S « :

III ''F3|y

.11

Figure 4: QXrmt diagram of the CCSP's microcomputer section.

no BYTE' OCTOBER 1986

CIRCUIT CELLAR

Power for the CCSP is provided by an external supply that must deliver 4-12 V at 200 mA. +5 V at 800 mA, and - 5 V to -12 V at 30 mA. Power supplies with these outputs are readily available on the surplus market, so I excluded an on-board supply to keep costs lower In fact, a perfect unit is the Coleco computer power supply available from Radio Shack for $4.95 (part #277-1022).

Three V^^ voltages must be contended with: 12.5 V, 21 V, and 25 V. All are derived from the -f30-V output of the DC-to-DC converter circuit shown in figure 5. IC24 is a 78S40 switching regulator configured as a voltage multiplier This circuit is capable of producing 30 V at 50 mA from a 5A^ input. (For more information on this regulator and this specific

circuit, see my November 1981 article, "Switching l^ower Supplies: An Introduction.")

The user entry/display interface is shown in figure 6. It consists of a twobutton entry panel through which you operate the programmer in local mode, a local/remote LED indicator, EPROM power-on indicator and a seven-segment display through which the computer displays EPROM type and errors. Tb save I/O" bits, I used a somewhat unorthodox display driver rather than the usual parallel port and seven-segment decoder configuration. The seven-segment LED is attached to an 8-bit shift register that has each output connected to drive an individual segment and the decimal point, lb display a character, the seven-segment information is ex

tracted from a memory-resident table and quickly shifted into the shift register Ordinarily I wouldn't use such a software-intensive approach, but 1 didn't have to write the software.

Programmer Software

The CCSP is controlled by a program that is a combination of BASIC and 8051 assembly language. The BASlC-52 program provides all initialization and control functions, including local mode support and menu processing in the remote mode. The assembly language routines are used only where speed is critical, as in reading, comparing, verifying erasure, and programming EPROMs. In addition, the Intel hexadecimal file upload and download routines are written in

+1ZV0

+12VDC

LM317

1%

PIN #28

• 221fl 'C20 : 1% 3480ft 7407 1% -WSi

2N2222

NEGATIVE BIAS SOURCE REGULATOR

-12V o

LM337

^O.ZZfiF

-1.4VDC

El20ft

+

ZIF PIN #28

5V ENABLE

-< tlC13-PB3)

INHIBIT

-< (IG13'(>A3)

2N2907

LM317

PIN #26

r

22m ^

2N2222 /h 4.7K /h

5V ON/OFF

ZIF PIN #26

-< {IC12-PB5)

LM317

PIN #1

221^ „! IC21 I'h 665a

— VWi

1960il i 1% ( I—ws.—

ZIF PIN #1

0.01/iF

< (IC13-PB0)

».SV ENABLE ^(,„3.pg^^

21V ENABLE ^(|el3-pB2)

A16

-< (IC12-PB7)

2N2907

0©

Figure 5: Detailed schematic of the programmer's level-shifting circuitry.

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 111

CIRCUIT CELLAR

When working in local mode, you can copy any 27m EPROM by swapping the original and copy EPROMs multiple times.

assembly language to keep up with the attached ASCII terminal device. Figure 7 outlines the CCSP software logic flow.

The software that drives the CCSP is capable of running in two basic modes: local, where the CCSP acts as an EPROM copier controlled by but

tons, and remote, where the CCSP acts as a full-featured programming workstation serially connected to the user's terminal. When working in local mode, you can copy any 27xxx EPROIVI regardless of its size by swapping the original and copy EPROlVIs multiple times. The larger the RAM buffer is, the fewer times you will have to change the EPROMs.

POWER-UP AND RESET

When the CCSP is first powered up or reset, its software configures itself for a 2716 EPROM, the default type After setting up the hardware, the software outputs a 0 in the seven-segment LED display to indicate the EPROM type, turns on the local mode LED, and sizes the RAM buffer.

If no memory is located at 8000 (the buffer area), the CCSP allocates 4K bytes of system RAM in IC6 as the

buffer area. If it is unable to accomplish this, it will stop and display an alternating error code, E and 0, in the seven-segment LED display Pressing a button or sending a character to the serial port will force the CCSP to reattempt sizing memory (memory sizing is destructive). If you have RAM chips plugged into locations IC7 through ICIO, this will provide additional buffer memory. After memory is sized, the CCSP enters a loop to determine what mode you want the programmer to operate in.

During the mode-setting loop, the CCSP will decide if it is going to run in local or remote mode. The mode selected is determined by which event occurs first: If one of the buttons is pressed first, the CCSP establishes local mode: if a character is detected at the serial port first (via the BASIC-52 GET command), the pro

'«-5V»

DC-TO-DC CONVERTER 0.220. 1/2WATT

12

13

78S40

0.0047^F

/77

11

10

20K

!OKy

Vadj

MILLER 5506 OR 5507

30VDC

'35V

ALL RESISTORS ARE 1/4 WATT 5% UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

LM317

PIN #22

•22m „ AC21 :io^ 665fl / 7407

: 'E/^

1960A /

ZIP PIN #22

0.01/tF

IimSSSd („C13-PC0)

12.5V ENABLE ^„„3.pcl)

21V ENABLE ^(idg.pcz)

i5iL!!!*2tl_-<(,ci3-PG3)

—< (IC13-Rftl)

oe

LM317

PIN #23

ZIF PIN #23

:i;o.oi/iF

^5V ENABLE ^ „„3.pB,, ENABLE ^(,ci3.pB5)

^ (1C12-PB3)

All

Figure 5 continued.

112 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

CIRCUIT CELLAR

grammer enters remote mode. Once a mode has been selected, the CCSP must be reset or powered off/on to change modes.

Stand-alone Local Mode

In local mode, the CCSP is controlled by two buttons called Type and Start/ Next. Displays to the user are made via the seven-segment LED display. When local mode is initially entered, or at any point between completed programming cycles, you can change the designated EPROM type by pressing Type. Each press of the button steps the CCSP to the next EPROM type, and the seven-segment LED display is updated with the number that indicates the currently selected type. The designations are shown in table 1.

After setting the type of EPROM to work with, you begin the copy cycle by pressing Start/Next. At this point the seven-segment LED will display an alternating L and O, indicating that you should insert the original EPROM into the ZIF socket. You then load the original EPROM and press Start/Next again to begin the next step: reading the EPROM.

When the CCSP has read as much of the EPROM data as the memory buffer will allow, it signals you to remove the original EPROM and insert the copy EPROM by displaying an alternating L and C on the seven-segment display. After doing this, you again press Start/Next.

The CCSP will now attempt to program the contents of the RAM buffer into the copy EPROM. After verifying that the target area of the copy EPROM is erased, the letter "P" is displayed on the seven-segment display to indicate that programming is in progress (LED2 will be red, indicating that power is on to the EPROM and it should not be removed). When programming is complete, the contents of the EPROM are compared to the memory buffer contents. During this time the letter "C" is displayed on the seven-segment display (LED2 will be green, indicating power off).

If the target EPROM is not erased or the programming was not successful (bad compare), the seven-segment LED will display an alternating E and a numeral, either a 1 for an unerased

target EPROM or a 2 for a failed comparison. If an error does occur, you will be returned to the "between copies" state at the next press of the button.

Assuming all went well, the CCSP checks to see if the entire EPROM has been copied. If it has, the CCSP returns to the "between copies" state and displays the current EPROM type selected on the seven-segment display

If the entire EPROM has not yet been copied, the effective starting address of the RAM buffer will be incremented by the size of the RAM buffer, and the CCSP will prompt you to insert the original EPROM again. This time, the programmer reads the EPROM starting at the new address.

Figure 6: TAe CCSP's entry/display circuit.

The amount of data read will be either the RAM buffer size or the remaining bytes to be copied from the EPROM, whichever is less. After reading the original, the CCSP calls for the copy EPROM, and programming continues as described above.

These steps will continue until the entire contents of the original EPROM have been transferred into the copy EPROM. Using this approach allows any size EPROM to be copied, regardless of the amount of memory in the RAM buffer.

Remote Mode Operation

when used in remote mode, the CCSP turns into a menu-driven programming workstation, controlled by an

(continued)

(IC13-PA4) >

CLOCK

4.7K

■5V

L

(IC13-PA5) >

DATA

(|C13-PC5> >

(IC13-PA6) >

(IC13-PA7) >

(IC13-PC6) >

(IC13-PC7) >

+5V

CLR

DATA

QA QB QC QD QE QF OG QH

IC22 74LS164

1

330a

TYPIS) 14 —wv

-vw

13

13

o

LL

IC23 MAN74A

IC17 74LS00

IC20 ^407

ul^v^io

LEDl

Tl L 220

"LOCAL/REMOTE"

6if

12

/77

220n -wv

IC20 ^7407

+ 5V

+5V

+5V

.+5V <4.7K

+ 5V <4.7K

GREEN = POWER OFF

REMOVE/INSTALL EPROM

RED = PROGRAMMER PWR ON

DO NOT REMOVE/INSTALL EPROM

"START/NEXT"

"TYPE SELECT"

OCTOBER 1986 • BVTE 113

CIRCUIT CELLAR

All menus displayed on the terminal are

generated by the CCSP. A terminal-emulation

program is the only software necessary to use this programmer.

ASCII terminal. (See photo 2.) The data rate of the terminal must be hard-coded because the 8052 cannot automatically start the BASIC-5 2 program unless the data rate is defined.' Using the automatic data-rate feature causes the 8052 to wait for a "space" character from the serial port before executing any program stored in it; this would eliminate the local mode of the CCSP. The data rate is set at 1200 bps. but you can change it to any standard value by reprogramming the system ROM with the default datarate byte changed (details on this procedure are included with the software).

All the menus displayed on the screen of the terminal or computer are generated by the CCSP. No software other than a terminal-emulation program (if connected to a computer rather than a real terminal) is necessary to use this programmer. The remote mode menu provides the following options:

• read, compare, program, and verify EPROM

• display and change RAM buffer

contents

• download and upload Intel hexadecimal files

• set EPROM type

• set effective starting address of the RAM buffer

The menu screens contain enough information to guide you through the use of most of these functions. Other pertinent information on the various options is given below.

Read, compare, program, and verify

EPROM all depend on the RAM buffer, and they usually use the effective starting address and the length of the RAM buffer to determine the area of the EPROM that is being worked with. Think of the RAM buffer as a window into the contents of the EPROM. If the RAM buffer is not large enough to show you the whole EPROM, you can move it around by changing its effective starting address. Let's use an example. The EPROM

type is a 27512, which is 64K bytes, and the RAM buffer is 16K bytes. It should be pretty obvious that you can't get the whole 27512 into the RAM buffer at the same time. In this case, you would set the starting address of the RAM buffer to 0000 to work with the first quarter of the EPROM and then set it to 4000 to work with the second quarter, 8000 for the third, and COOO for the last. The READ, COMPARE, and PRO

Flgure 7a: Flowchart 1 of the CCSP's overall logic flow, showitig the pomr-up and reset routines.

^RESET/POWER^

ALLOCATE

STRING

AND

TABLE

SPACE

INITIALIZE

STRING

AND

TABLE ENTRIES

RESET

HARDWARE AS

IF 2716

EPROM

SIZE RAM BUFFER MEMORY

FLASH E-0 NO MEMORY AVAILABLE

SET LED TO EPROM TYPE 1. 2716

NO

CHART

ENTER REMOTE

2-A

MODE

ENTER LOCAL MODE

lU BYTE- OCTOBER J986

CIRCUIT CELLAR

GRAM commands would use the starting address of the RAM buffer to see where to read data from or write data to the EPROM. The greatest length of the transferred data would be the size of the RAM buffer or the remaining number of bytes in the EPROM, whichever was smaller.

Even though the VERIFY command does not care about the size of the buffer, its default start and end addresses are controlled as described

above. This is because VERIFY generally precedes a programming cycle (you use VERIFY to confirm that the EPROM is properly erased), and the RAM buffer addressing controls programming default start and end addresses.

The following functions—display and change RAM buffer contents and download/upload Intel hexadecimal files—are also tied into the RAM buffer. Since the RAM buffer is supposed

to mirror the equivalent area of the EPROM, displays, changes, and uploads/downloads must be addressed to the RAM buffer, just as they would be in the real EPROM. This means that the software will reject addresses outside the range of the current RAM buffer area, which is especially important when doing uploads and downloads. These loads must be broken up to fit into the current RAM buffer area

[contimed\

WRITE MAIN

SELECTION

MENU

THIS IS REMOTE MODE, VIA A TERMINAL

PUT OUT CIRCUIT CELLAR MSG

DO COMPARE RAM/EPROM ROUTINE

DO PROGRAM ROUTINE

DO VERIFY

ERASE

ROUTINE

DO RAM DISPLAY ROUTINE

SET ^ MEMORY \ NO START AODR^

DO INTEL FILE

DO INTEL

DO EPROM

DOWNLOAD

FILE UPLOAD

SELECTION

ROUTINE

ROUTINE

ROUTINE

DO RAM BUFFER STARTING ADDRESS SETUP

0

Figure 7b: Flowchart 2, logic flow for the remote mode.

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 115

CIRCUIT CELLAR

"ftble 1: Tfie CCSP's EPROM selection number and corresponding EPROM types. Note.that this list is of generic EPROM types, and other manufacturer designations should be cross-referenced to it. Also, since CMOS programming cycles are equivalent to those in standard EPROMs, separate 27Cxxx designations are not included.

Number EPROM Type Number EPROM Type

2716

2732

2732A

2764

2764A

25 V 25 V 21 V 21 V 12,5 V

27128 27128A 27256 27512

21 V 12.5 V 12.5 V 12.5 V

THIS IS LOCAL MODE. VIA BUTTONS

FLASH L-C. LOAD THE COPY

STEP TO

NEXT EPROM

RAM BUFFER

TYPE

START = 0

PROGRAM RAM BUFFER INTO EPROM

SET HARDWARE FOR SELECTED EPROM TYPE

SET LED TO

FLASH L-0,

SELECTED

LOAD THE

EPROM #.

ORIGINAL

YES

CALC. NEW RAM BUFFER START ADDRESS

SET LED TO CURRENT EPROM #.

YES

READ EPROM INTO BUFFER

Figure 7c: Flowchart 3, logic flow for the local mode.

address range. TVying to go outside the range will abort the display/ change/load processes.

The remaining two functions—set EPROM type and set RAM buffer starting address—let you deal with various EPROM types and manipulate the starting address of the RAM buffer Setting the RAM buffer address lets you change the location of the window into the EPROM. This should be necessary only if the size of the EPROM exceeds the size of the RAM buffer. Otherwise, there is no reason to change the starting addr^ from its default value of 0000.

Under the Covers

in order to handle the various combinations of sizes, programming voltages, and control lines used with different EPROM types, the software incorporates control tables. Four such tables are used in the CCSP:

• system global table G(x)

• LED character table L(x)

• EPROM string table $(x)

• EPROM data table E(x)

System Global Table

The system global table contains information about current values for critical system information. The table's entries are set up as is shown in table 2.

The values for these items change based on the type of EPROM you are using, how much contiguous memory is at address 8000 (or the 4K bytes stolen from system RAM), and the last bytes written to the 8255s.

LED Character Table

The seven-segment LED display is controlled by a serial-to-parallel shift register. In order to create a character in the LED, the bits for the various segments must be shifted out in the correct order This table contains the LED code byte needed to create the characters that can be displayed (see table 3).

EPROM String Table

BASIC-52 does not allow the mixing of text and numeric data in the same table, so the string table function is used to store this information. This

116 BYTE • OGTOBER 1986

CIRCUIT CELLAR

table contains the EPROM designator and the programn:iing voltage used with that type of EPROM. Actually, the programming voltage indicated in the table is only a reminder. You have to set the correct bits in the EPROM data table to ensure that the programmer uses the proper voltage.

EPROM Data Table

The EPROM data table contains all the information the system requires to work with the different EPROM types. The items in each record of the EPROM data table are shown in table 4.

Listing I illustrates how this is handled in BASIC. This data is maintained for the use of both the BASIC and assembly language routines. BASIC passes data from the EPROM data table to the assembly language routines via the free registers of the 8052 device.

The Assembly Language Routines

The CCSP software is a hybrid of BASIC and assembly language. Besides reading and verifying, the EPROM programming pulses are accurately timed in assembly language routines. The derivation of the timing's accuracy is given in table 5.

In Conclusion

At first look, the CCSP appears to be considerably more complicated than my programmer of 18 months ago. 1 think at this point I can change my new description to more accurately state that "this programmer is a serialport programmer that has the speed of lightning, the intelligence of the mightiest computer (on-board), and is far too functional to be used as a doorstop between uses."

In actuality only the explanation is more involved. With microcomputer intelligence, the CCSP achieves performance levels approaching kilobuck commercial units yet is flexible enough to be adapted to the next V^^ change when it happens.

I'm quite satisfied with my two-week miracle, but I still have to contend with a potential horde of builders. To make amends for my past indiscretion,

{continued)

Table 2:

Contents of the system global table.

Index

Use

0

Type number of the current EPROM.

1

Amount of RAM buffer available in 256-byte increments.

increments.

2

Current starting address of RAM buffer

3

Number of items in EPROM table entry.

4

Reserved.

5,6,7

Value of tile last data byte written to 1012 address/data PIA

(3 bytes, one for each port of the 8255),

8,9,10

Value of the last data byte written to 1013 control PIA.

11

Number of EPROM types in the EPROM string and data

tables.

Table 3: Contents of the LED character table.

Index

Use

0-9

Characters 0-9 (no decimal point)

10-15

Characters A-F (no decimal point)

16-25

Characters 0-9 (decimal point)

26-31

Characters A-F (decimal point)

32

Blanks LED

33

Character H

34

Character L

35

Character P

36

Character U

CIRCUIT CELLftfi SERIAL EPROH PROGRftMHER COP'ffilSHT 1986, CIRCUIT CELLftR INC.

PLEASE CHOOSE :

1 - REfiD EPROM DATA INTO MEMORY

2 - COMPARE RAM MEMORY BUFFER DATA TO EPROM

3 - PROGRAM RAM MEMORY BUFFER DATA INTO EPROM 4 5 6 7 8 9

VERIFY EPROM IS ERASED DISPLAY (DUMP) RAM MEMORY BUFFER CHftHGE RAM MEMORY BUFFER CONTENTS MMNLOftD INTEL HEX FILE FROM TERMINAL UPLOAD INTEL HEX FILE TO TERMINAL SET EPROM TYPE

SET m MEHORY BUFFER STARTING ADDRESS

CURRENT SETTINGS EPROM TYPE 2716 25U SIZE RAM BWFER STARTING ADDRESS

EJftER YOUR CHOICE ! ?•

0800H BYTES

laH , WITH 8192 BYTES AVAILABLE

Photo 2: Tljpical menu display presented when operating the serial EPROM programmer through a serial terminal or computer running in terminal-emulation mode.

OaOBER 1986 -BYTE 117

Inquiry

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• latest diskette

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Shareware means you can get PC-Write from a friend or user group to try, and give away copies yourself. Then register if you like it. No risk! />,

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Soon Version 2.7

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Oitfer PC-Write Today.

Satisfaction Guaranteed.

(206) 282-0452 219 Firet N. #224y Seattle, WA 98109

CIRCUIT CELLAR

T^ble 4: Contents of the EPROM data table. Index Use

0 1 2

3,4,5

6,7

8

9

10

11

12

Number of the EPROM.

Size of the EPROM in 256-byte increments.

The pin V„ is applied to, referenced to a 28-pin socket.

The initialization values for IC13 control PIA's ports A, B, and C. The programming mode values for ICIS's ports A and B. Logic true value of the programming pin (CE and PGM). Normal mode programming pulse width in milliseconds. Fast mode programming pulse in milliseconds (0 if no fast

programming allowed). Maximum number of fast programming pulses before forced

overprogram pulse occurs. Overprogram pulse multiplication factor.

Table 5: Derivation of the timing for the CCSP's 1-ms timing routine.

Frequency

Clock Periods

Label Instruction

of Execution

Used

PPLOOP EQU $

A

0

PUSH B

C

24

CALL ONEMS

C

24

POP B

C

24

DJNZ B,PPLOOP

C

24

RET

0

24

ONEMS EQU $

A

0

MOV B,#MSDLAY

C

24

MSLOOP EQU $

A

0

NOP

L

12

NOP

L

12

DJNZ B,MSL00P

L

24

RET

C

24

MSDLAY EQU 227

A

0

END

A

0

Frequency codes:

A—Assembler only, not executed

C—Executed once per 1-ms count

0—Executed only once per entry to subroutine

L—Executed in each loop of the 1-ms routine

Timing Calculations:

1MS=11059.2 clock periods (clock

s 11059200 Ht)

11059.2 = 24 + (24+24 + 24-(-24-l-24-K24) + N(12+12-^24)

11059.2 = 168 H- (N X 48)

(11059.2 - 168)/48 = N

N = 226.9 (round to 227)

Error for 1-ms pulse is 0.1 x 48 x

(1/11059200) = 0.000443 ms

Cumulative error for 100«ms pulse i

1105920-24-14400 _ .

—- = 227595 (use 227)

4800 ^

0.395 X 48 X (1/11059200) = 0.00171 ms

US BYTE* OCTOBER 1986

CIRCUIT CELLAR

Listing 1: The BASIC-52 code to initialm the EPROM data table.

14170 REM

U180 REM INITIALIZE EPROM DATA TABLE

14190 REM

14200 FOR X=0 TO A:READ E(X):NEXT X

14210 REM TYPE SIZE PWR 7XPA 7XPB 7XPC 7PCP 7PBP PLV NPL FP FXP FACTR

14220 DATA 2716,008H.026,0BBH,061H.001H.008H,000H,001,050.000,000,000

14230 DATA 2732.010H. 026, 0BFH, 051H. 001H. 008H, 000H, 000,050,000.000.000

14240 DATA 2732,010H,026.0BFH.051H,001H.004H,000H,000,050.000.000.000

14250 DATA 2764.020H, 028. 0BFH. 014H. 001H, 000H, 000H. 000,050,001.025,003

14255 DATA 2764,020H,028,0BBH,012H,001H.000H,000H.000,050,001.025,003

14260 DATA 27128,040H,028,0BBH,014H.e01H,000H,0e0H.000,050,001,015,004

14265 DATA 27128,040H,028.0BBH.012H,0eiH,000H,000H,000,050,001,015,004

14270 DATA 27256,080H,028,0BBH,052H,001H,000H.000H,000,050.001,025,003

14280 DATA 27512,0100H,028,0BBH,051H.002H,000H.000H,000,050,001,025,003

14281 REM SET UP EPROM NAME TABLE

14283

$

="2716

25V "

14284

$

="2732

25V "

14285

$

="2732A

21V "

14286

$

-="2764

21V "

14287

$

="2764A

12.5V"

14288

$

6

="27128

21V "

14289

$

7

="27128A

12.5V"

14290

$

8'

="27256

12.5V"

14291

$

9;

="27512

12.5V"

14295

RETURN

supply $199

3. Preprogrammed 27128 EPROM containing serial EPROM programmer system software ". $22

The serial EPROM programmer is currently available only in kit form. It is available assembled and tested only in volume OEM quantities (telex; 643331). Price and delivery information available on request.

All payments should be made in U.S. dollars by check, money order, MasterCard, or Visa. Surface delivery (U.S. and Canada only): add $5 for U.S.. $10 for Canada. For delivery to Europe via U.S. airmail, add $20. Three-day air freight delivery: add S8 for U.S. (UPS Blue), $25 for Canada (Purolator overnight), $45 for Europe (Federal Express), or $60 (Federal Express) for Asia and elsewhere in the world. Shipping costs are the same for one or two units. Connecticut residents please include 7.5 percent sales tax.

Most of the individual components are available from IDR Microdevices. 1224 South Bascom Ave, San lose, CA 95128. (800)538-5000,

To be included on the Circuit Cellar mailing list and receive periodic project updates and support materials, please circle 100 on the Reader Service inquiry card at the back of the magazine.

there Is Indeed a printed circuit board and kit for this programmer. For those of you with the components at hand and a desire for wire-wrapper's cramp, the finished code for the programmer is available on a 27128 EPROM or is downloadable from the Circuit Cellar BBS and BYTEnet Listings. The phone number for BYTEnet Listings is (617) 861-9764. This file contains the 12K bytes of executable code that should be put into a 27128 EPROM and installed in ICIl.

Circuit Cellar Feedback

This month's feedback begins on page 58.

Next Month

Build the GT180 professional graphic adapter for the SB180. ■

Special thanks to Bill Curlew for his software expertise.

There is an on-line Circuit Cellar bulletin board system that supports past and present projects. You are invited to call and exchange ideas and comments with other Cir

cuit Cellar supporters. The 300/1200/2400-bps BBS is on-line 24 hours a day at (203) 871-1988.

Editor's note: Steve often refers to previous Circuit Cellar articles. Most of these past articles are available in book form from BYTE Books, McGraw-Hill Book Company, P.O. Box 400, Hightstown, NI 08250.

Ciarcicfs Circuit Cellar. Volume I covers articles in BYTE from September 1977 through November 1978. Volume 11 covers December 1978 through lune 1980 Volume ill covers |uly 1980 through December 1981. Volume IV covers lanuary 1982 through lune 1983. \^)/u»ie V covers luly 1983 through December 1984.

The following items are available from

CCI

P.O. Box 428 Tblland. CT 06Q84

1. Serial EPROM programmer experimenter's kit. Includes PC board, 8052AH-BASIC chip, 11.05-MHz crystal, operating system software on preprogrammed 27128 EPROM, manual,

and detailed parts list $89

2. Complete serial EPROM programmer kit. Includes all board-mounted components, programmed 27128 EPROM. 8052AH microprocessor, and manual. Less case and power

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 119

Dear Customer,

Escort Refuses!

From: Drew Kaplan

Escort turned down our $10,000 head to head challenge described below. Escort says that Maxon's Radar Detector is "primitive", "bottom-end" and "an off-shore produced electronics 'gadget' ". I don't know about you, but to me these words conjure up visions of a cheap toy being produced off in the middle of a rice paddy somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

Escort, on the other hand, which is made in the U.S., exudes a high cost, quality image. Don't you just bet that it costs a fortune to build Escort and Passport (the smaller version)?

Well, we are going to challenge Escort AGAIN to a head to head 'duel to the death' on Maxon's electronic merits alone. And, we plan to win. But first there are a few things you should know.

Cincinnati Microwave, the company that makes Escort & Passport, is a public company. And being public, they have to file financial information with the SEC.

The public information they have published appears to show that in the year that ended Dec. 1985, Cincinnati Microwave with "substantially all of its revenues and profits derived from the sale of radar warning receivers" made an operating profit of about $45,810,000 on sales of about $1 1 2,605,000. Wow!

The $45 million profit is after all engineering, selling and General & Administrative expenses, but before taxes.

Their cost of sales (goods) was only about $40,027,000. So, if you divide $40,027,000 by $11 2,605,000 it doesn't take a genius to figure out that cost of goods represents an average of only about 35.5% of selling price. Wowl

I only bring up their profit to illustrate that a high retail price doesn't always

WAS SI 0.000

mean a high manufacturing cost.

There's no question in my mind that Maxon can manufacture cheaper in an offshore 'rice paddy', but if you pay $245 for Escort or $295 for Passport, it should be based on a head to head test with Maxon, not on perceived retail price points. FORGET PRICE COMPLETELY So, forget that Escort costs $245, Passport $295, and Maxon $99^°. Let's judge them on their own merits. And, let's look at just what Escort itself has to say about our challenge. (Please read DAK's and Escort's letters to the right.)

Escort says that, "Regardless of the results, such an event lends credibility to the challenger." Well, they are absolutely correct. That's why I put up the $10,000 in the first place. Fair is fair.

Plus, there are several radar detectors that claim to have won this or that ranking in "Independent Magazine Reviews." So, I'm ignoring any reviews and asking for a one on one, head to head test.

But look at what Escort says in their letter: "Range is the easiest detector quality to measure, but by no means the only important quality." Wow, I thought range was really important?? Escort refers to "goodness" being determined by things not so easily measured.

Well frankly, I don't know how to measure "goodness". Escort, in my opinion.

is a top notch company. They make a superb product I'd be proud to sell. And, they have great customer service.

DAK has great toll free technical and regular customer service. But, I'd be the first to admit that with over $45 million in profits. Escort can probably run circles around us in advertising, and maybe even in service. But, I don'tthinkthey can beat Maxon's Radar Detector. HOW GOOD IS GOOD? When Escort was introduced, it was revolutionary. But, you can only go so far. And in my opinion (someone else might object), radar detecting has gone about as far as it can go. So, while Escort has made improvements, it's Maxon who has moved mountains to catch up. DAK UPs THE ANTE TO $20,000 Now I realize that next to $45 million dollars, $20,000 isn't much, but it's a lot to DAK. And, I'll even go one step farther. I'll print the exact results of the test, win, lose, draw, or no-show in the first catalog I publish after January 1, 1 987.

Escort, the ball is now in your court. Below is the "NEW" version of my challenge with the time and amountchanged.

I don't know what else DAK or Maxon can do to prove that the RD-1 Superheterodyne Detector should be judged on its head to head performance against Escort, not on its selling price!

A ^tOyOOO Challenge To Escort

Let's cut through the Radar Detector Glut. We challenge Escort to a one on one Distance and Falsing 'duel to the death' on the highway of their choice. If they win, the $20,000 (was $10,000) check pictured below is theirs.

By Drew Kaplan

We've put up our $20,000 (was 10). We challenge Escortto take on Maxon's new Dual Superheterodyne RD-1 $99^° radar detector on the road of their choice in a one on one conflict.

Even Escort says that everyone compares themselves to Escort, and they're right. They were the first in 1 978 to use superheterodyne circuits and they've got a virtual stranglehold on the magazine test reports.

But, the real question today is: 1) How manyfeet of sensing difference, if any, is there between this top of the line Maxon Detector and Escort's? And 2) Which unit is more accurate at interpreting real radar versus false signals?

So Escort, you pick the road (continental U.S. please). You pick the equipment to create the false signals. And finally, you pick the radar gun.

Maxon and DAK will come to your highway with engineers and equipment to verify the results. And oh yes, we'll have the $20,000 check (pictured) to hand over if you beat us by more than 1 0 feet in either X or K band detection.

BOB SAYS MAXON IS BETTER

Here's how it started. Maxon is a mammoth electronics prime manufacturer. They actually make all types of sophisticated electronic products for some of the biggest U.S. Electronics Companies. (No, they don't make Escort's).

Bob Thetford, the president of Maxon Systems Inc., and a friend of mine, was explaining their new RD-1 anti-falsing Dual Superheterodyne Radar detector to me. I said "You know Bob, I think Escort really has the market locked up." He said, "Our new design can beat theirs".

So, since I've never been one to be in second place, I said, "Would you bet

$20,000 (10) that you can beat Escort?" And, as they say, the rest is history.

By the way, Bob is about 6'9" tall, so if we can't beat Escort, we can sure scare the you know what out of them. But, Bob and his engineers are deadly serious about this 'duel'. And you can bet that our $20,000 (was $10,000) is serious.

. . .Next Page Please

. . .Challenge Continued We ask only the following. 1) The public be invited to watch. 2) Maxon's Engineers as well as Escort's check the radar gun and monitor the test and the results.

3) The same car be used in both tests.

4) We'd like an answerfrom Escort no later than December 31, 1986 and 60 days notice of the time and place of the conflict. And, 5) We'd like them to come with a $20,000 (was $10,000) check made out to DAK if we win.

into action in just 1/4 of one second.

Just imagine the sophistication of a device that can test a signal 4 times in less than 1/4 of one second. Maxon's technology is mind boggling. But, using It isn't. This long range detector has all the bells and whistles. It has separate audible sounds for X and K radar signals because you've only got about 1 /3 the time to react with K band.

There's a 10 step LED Bar Graph Meter to accurately show the radar signal's

SCWHAT'S DUAL SUPERHETERODYNE?

Ok, so far we've set up the conflict. Now let me tell you about the new dual superheterodyne technology that lets Maxon leap ahead of the pack.

It's a technology that tests each suspected radar signal 4 separate times before it notifies you, and yet it explodes

strength. And, you won't have to look at a needle in a meter. You can see the Bar Graph Meter with your peripheral vision and keep your eyes on the road and put your foot on the brake.

So, just turn on the Power/Volume knob, clip it to your visor or put it on your dash. Then plug in its cigarette lighter cord and you're protected.

And you'll have a very high level of protection. Maxon's Dual Conversion Scanning Superheterodyne circuitry combined with its ridge guide wideband horn internal antenna, really ferrets out radar signals.

By the way Escort, we'll be happy to have our test around a bend in the road or over a hill. Maxon's detector really picks up 'ambush type' radar signals.

And the key word is 'radar', not trash signals. The 4 test check system that operates in 1/4 second gives you extremely high protection from signals from other detectors, intrusion systems and garage door openers.

So, when the lights and X or K band sounds explode into action, take care, there's very likely police radar nearby. You'll have full volume control, and a City/Highway button reduces the less important X band reception in the city.

Maxon's long range detector comes complete with a visor clip, hook and loop dash board mounting, and the power cord cigarette adaptor.

It's much smaller than Escort at just SVi" Wide, 4%" deep and r/2" high. It's backed by Maxon's standard limited warranty. Note from Drew: 1) Use of radar detectors is illegal in some states.

2) Speeding is dangerous. Use this detector to help keep you safe when you forget, not to get away with speeding.

CHECK OUT RADAR YOURSELF RISK FREE

Put this detector on your visor. When it sounds, look around for the police. There's a good chance you'll be saving money in fines and higher insurance rates. And, if you slow down, you may even save lives.

If you aren't 100% satisfied, simply return itin its original boxwithin SOdays for a courteous refund.

To get your Maxon, Dual Superheterodyne, Anti-Falsing Radar Detector risk free with your credit card, call toll free or send your check for just $99*' ($4 P&H). Order No. 4407. CA res add tax.

OK Escort, it's up to you. We've got $20,000 (10) that says you can't beat Maxon on the road. Your answer, please?

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PROGRAMMING PROJECT

SAFE STORAGE ALLOCATION

BY Jonathan Amsterdam

How to avoid the dangers of allocating memory

The term "storage allocator" is an instructive misnomer, for the complexity of such a system lies not in allocating storage but in reclaiming it. If computer memories were arbitrarily large, storage allocation would be trivial. Because they aren't, the process can be complicated.

I will discuss four storage allocators. The first, the basic allocator, uses standard algorithms and is quite common, appearing in many implementations of programming languages that provide storage allocation, like Pascal. C. and Modula-2. The other three are all attempts to correct the problems of the first. | Editor's note: The four allocators in Modula-2 source code, along with their driver programs, are available on disk, and on BIX. The filenames are as follows: ALLOC.DOC (a "readme" file). AITESTMOD, ALLOC).MOD. ALLOCl.DEF, A2TESTM0D. ALL0C2.M0D. ALLOC2.DEE A3TESTMOD. ALLjOC3.MOD. ALLOCS.DEF A4TEST.M0D. ALLOC4.MOD. ALLOC4.DEE MYTERMIN, MOD. MYTERMIN.DEE MACHINES.MOD. and MACHINES.DEF See the insert card after page 320. Listings are also available on BYTEnet. See page 4.|

What Is Storage Allocation?

All useful programs need storage to go about their business. A program could not

accomplish much if it didn't use variables, and variables occupy space in the computer's memory Many programs can get by with a fixed amount of storage, an amount determined when the program is written and compiled. Most FORTRAN programs fit into this category. Other programs need to allocate storage while they are running but can get by with a stack-based allocation scheme like that provided by many highlevel programming languages—for example, a Pascal program that contains procedures with local variables. Some programs, however, not only need to acquire additional storage while running but also cannot deallocate that storage in the last-in. first-out manner demanded by a stack. Furthermore, they may require many pieces of storage of different sizes.

For example, the SIMPL compiler I presented in the December 1985. january 1986, and February 1986 issues of BYTE ("A SIMPL Compiler." parts 1, 2, and 3) must allocate storage for parse trees and symbol table records. These objects must exist for long periods of time, across the execution of many procedures, and may be deallocated in an order different from that in

iconiimed]

\onathan Amsterdam is a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. He can be reached at 1643 Cambridge St. #34. Cambridge. MA 02138.

ILLUSTRATION BY BARRETT ROCO'

OCTOBER 1986 • B Y T E 12J

STORAGE ALLOCATION

which they were allocated. So a stackbased scheme is inadequate. Something more general is needed; a program that allows the allocation and deallocation of memory parcels of various sizes in any order For the purposes of this article, such a program is called a storage allocator.

The Abstract Storage Allocator

A Storage allocator is a program that manages a contiguous region of memory called the heap. It allocates arbitrarily sized, contiguous segments of the heap, called blocks, when asked to do so by other programs in need of storage. The storage allocator also allows these programs to deallocate, or free, blocks that they no longer need. To these basic facilities, I add the ability to examine and change any location inside an allocated block. If you call the minimal unit of storage a word, you can characterize a storage allocator in the abstract as comprising these four operations:

• allocate: takes the number of words to allocate as an argument and returns either a block of the appropriate size from the heap or an indication that no block that size is available.

• free: takes a block as an argument and returns it to the heap for reuse.

• getWord: takes a block and a number n as arguments and returns the nth word of the block. (By convention, the block's contents are numbered from 0 to one less than the size of the block.)

• setWord: takes a block, a number n. and a word w as arguments and sets the nth word of the block to w.

The Basic Allocator

The first allocator organizes the heap as a linked list of available blocks called the free list. When a program requests storage, the allocator searches the list for a large enough block. If it finds one, the allocator removes the block from the list and returns a pointer to it to the requesting program. If no available block is large enough, the allocator returns a NIL, or empty, pointer. When a program frees a previously allocated block, it is returned to the free list.

This scheme, with minor variations, is used by many extant storage allocators.

For the scheme to work, each block must contain certain information. In my implementation, all blocks, whether free or allocated, contain a size field as their first word. The size is simply the number of words occupied by the block, not including the size field itself. So, for example, if a block has a size of six, it actually occupies seven words of memory. You can obtain the size of a block by calling the blockSize function, which takes a pointer to the block as its argument.

When a block is allocated, all of it except the size field is available for use through the setWord and getWord procedures. When a block is not allocated, part of its space is used to hold a pointer to the next free block in the free list. (If a block is the last one in the free list, its pointer is NIL.) The number of words occupied by this pointer is the smallest allowable block size you may have; any request for a smaller block will receive one of this size. In my implementation, the minimum block size is two words because Macintosh pointers are two words long (on other microcomputers, a pointer can fit in a single word). Hence, in my implementation, the smallest block actually occupies three words of memory; one for the size and two for the pointer

Initially, the free list contains a single block, which constitutes the entire heap. As blocks are allocated, the initial free block is broken up; when allocated blocks are freed, they are added back onto the free list. When a program requests a block of storage, the allocator chooses one from the list to satisfy the request. If the block is just the right size, it is spliced out of the free list and returned to the program. However if the block is larger than the amount of storage requested, it is split into two blocks: One is the requested size and is returned: the other is put on the free list.

The chosen block may be only slightly larger than the request. In particular, it may be small enough so that after splitting, the remaining portion

is too small to form a block of its own. For instance, if a program requests 10 words and the chosen block has a size of 12, the block cannot be split, since the two words remaining are not enough to form a block. In this case, the allocator returns the entire chosen block.

There are several possible strategies

for choosing a block of storage. In the best-fit strategy, the allocator searches the free list from beginning to end and chooses the block whose size comes closest to the request without being too small. While this scheme requires searching the entire free list, it seems likely to make a good choice. However if the chosen blocks are often slightly larger than the requests, then many small blocks are left on the free list. The allocator may then be unable to satisfy a request, not because there isn't enough storage in the heap, but because the storage is distributed among many different blocks, each of which is too small. This is called fragmentation.

In an effort to reduce fragmentation, you might use the worst-fit strategychoosing the largest block on the free list. Another strategy called first-fit, chooses the first block on the list that is big enough to satisfy the request. And Donald Knuth has proposed a next-fit strategy, which is similar to first-fit except that on subsequent requests, the search for a suitable block resumes from where it left off during the prior request instead of starting again from the beginning of the free list (see reference 1).

A lot of experiments have been done to see which of these methods allocates blocks most rapidly and results in the least amount of memory fragmentation. And the consensus on which one to use is that it depends. It depends on the order of allocation and deallocation, the size of the blocks allocated, and goodness knows what else. One thing's for sure, though: I. Robson has shown that for any allocation scheme that does not move blocks around in the heap to reduce fragmentation, there exists a sequence of allocations that will result In a request being made that cannot be satisfied due to fragmentation (see reference 2). Even if the sequence

124 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

STORAGE ALLOCATION

I

Algorithm FOR THE Basic Allocator

nitially: set the free list to point to a block consisting of the entire heap.

allocate: takes as argument the number

of words to allocate: returns a pointer to a block with at least that many words if it can find one: returns NIL if it fails. Begin

If there are no blocks big enough to

satisfy the request, fail. Otherwise, choose the first block b

big enough to satisfy the request.

If the block is big enough to split, then

split the block into two parts: c with the requested number of words and d with the remainder: put d on the free list, and return c. Otherwise, remove b from the free list and return it.

End.

free: takes a pointer to a block / as

argument.

Begin

Search the free list from the beginning until reaching a block b whose address is larger than the one

being freed. Let a be the block ahead of b on the free list. Put / onto the free list between a and b.

If / and b are adjacent, merge them

into a single block. If / and a are adjacent, merge them

into a single block. End.

getWord: takes a pointer to a block b and an offset n as arguments: returns the nth word of b. starting from 0. Begin

If M < 0 or H > size of b, then error. Otherwise, add n to the address of b to index the wth word, and return the word. End.

setWord: takes a pointer to a block b. an offset n. and a word w as arguments. Begin

If M < 0 or « > size of b. then error. Otherwise, add n to the address of

b to index the nth word, and store

w in the word.

End.

consists only of requests for one-word and two-word blocks, the allocator can fail when memory is only twothirds full. So all the methods have the same worst-case behavior. (Moving blocks around in the heap is not feasible for the basic allocator because the program allocating storage may have pointers to the blocks.)

The conclusion I draw is this: Unless you have a particular application in mind and understand its allocation pattern well, it doesn't much matter which strategy you choose. I have chosen first-fit for my basic allocator, since it is the easiest strategy to implement and has the undeniable advantage that it cannot possibly take longer to allocate a block than bestfit or worst-fit.

To deallocate, or free, a block, you could simply add it to the front of the free list. The speed of this process is hard to beat—two machine instructions on many computers—but it has a disadvantage. If two blocks occupying adjacent regions of memory have been freed, you want to merge them into a single block to reduce fragmentation. If you add freed blocks to the front of the free list, there is no easy way of checking for adjacency without searching the entire free list. You can do it if you incorporate more information into each block, but each word used in bookkeeping is a word denied the user. My method sacrifices time for space.

I maintain the free list in order of increasing addresses, so that the first block on the free list has the lowest address of any free block. When a program frees a block, the allocator traverses the free list until it finds the right spot for insertion. It is easy to check for adjacency now because the only candidates are those blocks on the list immediately before and after the insertion point. Using the size fields of the blocks and their addresses, it is easy to calculate if block boundaries coincide and the blocks can be merged.

The algorithm for this method is summarized in the text box "Algorithm for the Basic Allocator" above. The scheme is simple to implement, versatile, and has a minimum of overhead. But 1 come to bury the basic al

locator not to praise it, for it has a serious flaw. The problem is the wellknown dangling reference. For example, let's allocate a block and copy its pointer,

newPtr := allocate(IO); copiedPtr := newPtr;

and then free the block by using free (newPtr). Even if the free procedure invalidates newPtr (by setting it to NIL, perhaps), copiedPtr still points to the freed block. It is possible for the program to use copiedPtr to access a deallocated block. You can avoid this by providing a bit in each block indicating whether or not it is free and by modifying getWord and setWord so that they detect accesses to a freed block and signal an error.

But the real trouble occurs when the block is reallocated. Then copiedPtr can do some real damage, by changing portions of a block it shouldn't be pointing to, a block that may even belong to a different application.

I take this dangling reference problem very seriously Many programmers think it is a minor nuisance that must be endured for efficiency's sake. 1 disagree. 1 expect programming languages to do their utmost to protect me from myself—from the many stupid errors I am bound to commit when I program. Modern programming languages like Modula-2 have gone a long way in this direction, but storage allocation is still an area where they provide more than

(continued]

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 125

STORAGE ALLOCATION

enough rope to hang yourself. The rest of the article examines ways to shorten the rope.

The Tombstone Allocator

One solution to the dangling reference problem is never to reallocate a block once you have freed it. This is a little extreme, but a related solution might be worth exploring. When a block is freed, return all but its first word to the free list. Put a special value in the first word so that getWord and setWord can recognize it if an illegal access is made. 1 call these oneword markers tombstones. Tombstones are never freed; they are always there, ready to catch references to blocks that no longer exist.

You can easily modify the basic allocator to use tombstones. When a block is freed, you put all but its first word—the one containing the block's size—on the free list. Then you set the first word to zero. When getWord and setWord are called, they check the block's size field and signal an error if it is zero.

The tombstone scheme is simple to implement, but it too has a serious fragmentation problem. Each tombstone is an unreclaimable piece of

storage in the middle of the heap. Adjacent freed blocks, which might have been merged by the basic allocator, can't be merged because of the intervening tombstones. You end up littering the heap with tombstones.

The Indirect Approach

The dangling reference problem arises in the first place because several copies of a block's pointer may exist. You could avoid the problem altogether if you could ensure that only one pointer to a block would ever exist. It's unreasonable to demand that pointers never be copied, and you couldn't enforce it anyway but there is another way. When a program makes a request for a new block, the storage allocator allocates both the block and a pointer to it, called the master pointer. The allocator then returns a pointer to the master pointer, or a handle, rather than a pointer to the block itself.

Adding this extra level of indirection goes a long way toward solving the dangling reference problem. You can make as many copies of the handle as you want, but all references to the block go through the master pointer. When a block is freed, the allocator

adds it to the free list and sets its master pointer to a special value, say NIL. The allocator can then catch any subsequent references to that block. When the block is reallocated, a new master pointer is used. The technique is reminiscent of tombstones, but with one important difference: Master pointers need not be allocated in the middle of the heap. In my implementation, I start allocating master pointers from the top of the heap, and 1 try to confine them to a contiguous region. Blocks, meanwhile, are allocated from the bottom. The severe fragmentation problem of tombstones does not arise.

If this were the only benefit of double indirection, as the method is sometimes called, it would be worth implementing. However, since the storage allocator knows about all the pointers into the heap—the master pointers—it can play a couple of other useful roles as well. For one thing, the allocator can enable you to change a block's size, making it grow or shrink as you wish. To do this, the allocator allocates a new block of the desired size, copies the contents of the old block into it, and changes the master pointer to point to the new one. Any handles now reference the new block, and the original block appears to have magically changed its size.

More important, the allocator can perform compaction of the heap. Because it has the only direct access to the master pointers, the allocator is free to move blocks around in the heap. In particular, it can implement the following simple algorithm: First, find the allocated block with the lowest address (easily determined by scanning the list of master pointers). Copy the contents of this block to the bottom of the heap and update its master pointer to point to the new location. Then find the second-lowest block in the heap and move it to just after the first block. Do the same for all the allocated blocks. The result is a heap free of fragmentation with the allocated blocks at the low end, the master pointers at the high end, and the middle free. Figure 1 shows before and after pictures of a compacted heap. If you want, you can compact

{continued]

(a)

Block 1

Block 2

Block 3

Master pointers

□

Allocated

□

(b)

Block 1

Block 2

Block 3

Master pointers

Free

Figure 1: Compacting the heap: [a] shows the heap before compaction: [b] after compaction.

126 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

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inquiry 284

OCTOBER 1986 • B Y T E 127

STORAGE ALLOCATION

Algorithm for the Double

Indirection Allocator

¥ nitially: Set aside room at the top of the heap for master pointers. Set the free

list to point to a block consisting

1 of the rest of the heap.

allocate:

compact:

resize: takes a handle h and a new size

Begin

Begin

M as arguments.

Allocate a master pointer m, getting

Let 1 be the bottom of the heap.

Begin

a handle to it. h. If no master

While there is an allocated block

Allocate a block 6 of size n as in the

pointer can be allocated, fail.

that is higher in the heap than (:

basic allocator. If none is found, do

Allocate a block b as in the basic

copy the lowest such block, b. to 1:

nothing.

allocator. If none is found, com

update b's master pointer to point

If a block b is found, then

pact heap, and try again. If there

to 1:

let m be the master pointer that h

is still not enough room, fail.

set 1 to the address just after b.

points to:

Set m to point to b and return (i.

Set the free list to point to the re

copy the block pointed to by m

End.

maining free space.

into the new block b;

End.

set m to point to b.

allocate master pointer: returns a han

End.

dle (a pointer to a master pointer).

free: takes a handle as argument.

Begin

Begin

getWord, setWord: as in the basic

If there is room in the master pointer

L£t m be the master pointer that the

allocator, but take a handle instead of

area, allocate space for another

handle points to.

a pointer.

master pointer, and return a

Free the block that m points to as in

Begin

pointer to it.

the basic allocator.

If the master pointer that the handle

Otherwise, compact the heap.

Set m to NIL.

points to is NIL, then error.

If there is now room to extend the

End.

Otherwise, access the block as in the

master pointer area, then extend

basic allocator, using the master

it. allocate a master pointer, and

pointer.

return a pointer to it.

End.

If there is no room, left, fail.

End.

the heap every time a block is freed, thereby making a free list unnecessary But since compaction can be expensive, it is probably better to use the free-list method, saving compaction for the time when a storage request can't be filled.

The algorithm for this method is shown in the text box "Algorithm for the Double-Indirection Allocator" above. Macintosh programmers will recognize the scheme as a subset of the Macintosh memory manager. The Macintosh allocator allows reuse of master pointers, though, so it's not as safe as this one.

There are two problems with my implementation of the double-indirection technique. The first is implicit in the name: An extra indirection (memory reference) must be performed for every access to a block. Furthermore. getWord and setWord

have to check for a NIL master pointer on every access. You could do away with this check, but then an attempt to dereference the NIL pointer will make the program crash. If the allocator checks explicitly it can die gracefully and provide information about the error, but even an uninformative crash is better than no check at all. Another way to reduce the overhead of double indirection is to hand out pointers to the blocks themselves, rather than to master pointers, if specifically requested to do so. This feature should be used only where speed is of the utmost importance, and you should check carefully to be sure that no invalid copies of this direct pointer are created. If there is a chance that the allocator will perform a compaction while the pointer is in a programmer's hands, then the allocator must provide a facility for

locking a block in place so that it is not moved during a compaction. Providing direct pointers to blocks compromises the safety of the allocator, so 1 don't recommend it unless the application truly requires it.

The second problem with my double-indirection scheme is more serious. You can't reclaim a master pointer: once it's allocated, it's there for good. It can't even be reused. So every new allocation decreases the heap size by the length of one pointer. The list of master pointers will march relentlessly from the top of the heap to the bottom, bringing the allocator to a suffocating halt.

The Capability-based Allocator

My fourth and final allocator attempts to get around the problem of nonre

(conlinued)

128 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

^ith trial mem

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OCTOBER 1986 -BYTE 129

STORAGE ALLOCATION

1

Algorithm for the Capabjlity-based Allocator

nitially: Set aside room at the top of the heap for master pointers. Set the free list of point to a block consisting of the rest of the heap. Set the master pointer free list to NIL.

allocate: returns a capability c. Begin

Allocate a master pointer m, getting a handle fi. If none is found, fail.

Allocate a block b as in the basic allocator. If none is found, compact the heap and try again. If there is still not enough room, fail.

Set m to point to b. Set c's handle to h. Set c's generation count to m's generation count.

Return c. End.

allocate master pointer: returns a handle (a pointer to a master pointer). Begin

If the master pointer free list is not empty (NIL), remove the first master pointer on the list and return it.

If the master pointer area has room, allocate space for another master pointer, set its generation count to zero, and return a pointer to it.

Otherwise, compact the heap.

If there is now room to extend the master pointer list, then extend the list, allocate a master pointer, set its generation count to zero, and return a pointer to it.

If there is no room left, fail. End.

compact: as in the double-indirection

allocator

free: takes a capability as argument. Begin

if the generation count of the capability does not equal that of the master pointer that the capability points to. then error

Otherwise, free the blocl< as in the basic allocator; increment the master pointer's generation countadd the master pointer to the master pointer free list. End.

resize: as in the double-indirection allocator but takes a capability instead of a handle. Begin

If the generation count of the capability does not equal that of the master pointer that the capability points to, then error

Otherwise, proceed as In the doubleindirection allocator. End.

getWord, setWord: as in the basic allocator, but take a capability instead of a pointer Begin

If the generation count of the capability does not equal that of the master pointer that the capability points to, then error.

Otherwise, access the block as in the basic allocator, using the master pointer. End.

usable master pointers. It uses double indirection, but instead of providing a handle to a block, it returns a capability. A capability uniquely identifies the block: no two blocks ever have the same capability, not even if they occupy the same part of memory. When a block is allocated, a unique capability is associated with it. When the block is freed, the capability becomes invalid. Any block subsequently allocated, even if it comprises memory from the old block, will have a different capability.

A capability consists of a handle and a non negative integer that is a generation count. Each master pointer has its own generation count. When a new master pointer is allocated, its generation count is zero. When a block is allocated and associated with a master pointer, a capabiJity is returned to the re

questing program. That capability consists of a handle and the master pointer's generation count. When the allocator frees a block, it increments the generation count of that block's master pointer. When getWord or setWord accesses a block, it checks the generation count of the capability against that of the master pointer. If they are not the same, access is denied. The algorithm for this process is shown in the text box "Algorithm for the Capability-based Allocator " above.

In addition to the advantages of the double-indirection scheme, the capability-based method allows reuse of master pointers. When a block is freed, its master pointer can be linked into a second free list that is used for master pointers only There is nothing to worry about when you reuse the master pointer because the safety

checks are performed with the generation count, not with the value of the pointer.

when the generation count approaches an overflow condition, the simplest thing to do is to abandon the master pointer just before the overflow happens. When the allocator frees a block, it increments the master pointer's generation count, but if the new value is the largest possible value for the counter the allocator does not link the master pointer into its free list. This pointer will never be reused, but the generation count will still work to prevent access. The space occupied by the abandoned master pointer is wasted, but overflow should be a rare occurrence if you provide a large enough generation counter. I provide 16 bits, which makes overflow very unlikely unless the allocating program runs for days on end,

130 BYTE* OCTOBER 1986

STORAGE ALLOCATION

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You may wonder if you can implement the capability scheme with only a single indirection. Why not let a capability contain a pointer to the block, instead of a pointer to a master pointer? The problem then becomes where to put the block's generation count. You can't put it with the block, because it must remain even when the block is freed; you would have a variant of the tombstone allocator in which the merging of adjacent blocks is impossible. If you put the generation count somewhere else, you would basically have a second level of indirection. This might work, but 1 don't see how it would be superior to the capability scheme described here.

A minor implementation problem arises that illustrates an important technique. A capability is larger than a pointer: It is in fact a pointer plus an integer. An object that large is inconvenient to manipulate in most programming languages; for instance, you can't return it from a function. A more serious problem arises in a Modula-2 implementation that does not export the representation of capabilities. This opaque export of types, as it is called, is what you want, since to export the capability's data type is to allow other programs to manipulate it. But the catch is that in Modula-2, an opaque type can be no larger than a pointer. How can you store a pointer and an integer in the space for just a pointer?

My solution is to replace the pointer part of the capability with an offset, in words, from the start of the list of master pointers. Since Macintosh pointers are a hefty 32 bits, I can squeeze a 16-bit integer—the generation count—and a 16-bit word offset into a single pointer-size area. If your pointers are only 16 bits long, you'll have to economize more: perhaps an 8-bit generation count and an 8-bit offset. You can even do better than a word offset if you are willing to perform a multiplication on each access: Since all master pointers are the same size and they are allocated contiguously, you can treat the list of master pointers as an array. An offset of n can then be used to pick out the Mth master pointer, just like an array index. If the size of a master pointer

is s. then the tith master pointer is s X n words away from the start of the master pointer list (assuming « = 0 for the first master pointer). The wordoffset trick can also be used to shorten the master pointers: Instead of containing a pointer to a block, a master pointer could contain an offset from the beginning of the heap.

While the capability scheme provides the ability to reuse master pointers, it is not ideal. For one thing, you still can't reclaim master pointers. If the allocating program allocates 100 blocks without freeing any, then it must create 100 master pointers. If the program then frees 95 of the blocks, there are still 100 master pointers, and there always will be. The capability scheme also takes a lot of time. There is no getting around doing a comparison on each access of a block, unless you resort to the risky expedient of handing out pointers to blocks. (It is possible to provide facilities for accessing several words of a block with a single check, but in most programming languages these can't be made very general.) Finally the generation counts themselves occupy space that could be used for other purposes.

Although we have been coming closer and closer to a safe storage allocator, none of these approaches is perfect. All but the first of the allocators are safe, but at a price: slow access, in some cases severe fragmentation, and in all cases the inability to reclaim certain parts of the heap (tombstones or master pointers). There is also another problem: leakage. If the program allocates a block and then loses all references to it, that block can never be freed. If this happens frequently available storage leaks away until the program crashes, its memory source exhausted.

Implementing the accessing procedures in hardware would solve the speed problem, but the others won't go away so easily. If the storage allocator is implemented as a subprogram, or module, in a high-level language such as Modula-2, you can't do anything about leakage or about reclaiming tombstones or master pointers. Since the storage allocator doesn't have access to the internals

{continued)

OCTOBER 1986 - BYTE 131

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of the programs that invoke it, it cannot know when a block no longer has active pointers. Moreover, the allocator must always protect against attempted access by invalid pointers or handles. Thus, it needs some memory to note the invalidity of a particular pointer or handle value. Perhaps you could reduce the memory set aside to one bit per pointer but I very much doubt it; in any case, there must be some memory usage.

However, if the storage allocator does know about the internals of programs that invoke it—in other words, if the allocator is an integral part of the implementation of the programming language—then you can do something.

Garbage Collection

A Storage allocator that has access to the constants, global variables, and

stack of the program using it need not fear invalid pointers. It can periodically search the program's storage areas looking for invalid pointers and destroy them, allowing reclamation of tombstones or master pointers. And if it finds no references to a particular block, the allocator can free it. So leakage ceases to be a problem as well.

A storage allocator that frees storage without user intervention is called a garbage collector. It is possible to get by with garbage collection and nothing else, in other words, you can allocate storage but not deallocate it, leaving that job to the garbage collector. (LISP uses this solution.)

Garbage collectors eliminate the problems of dangling references and leaks and are even safer than the safe allocators for two reasons. First, while safe allocators can catch an illegal access and halt a program gracefully an illegal access can't even happen with garbage collection because the garbage collector won't free a block unless there are no pointers to it. Second, it is usually possible, especially in systems programming languages like C and Modula-2, to subvert a safe allocator For example, if you are using a double-indirection allocator, you can subvert it by dereferencing a handle only once, resulting in a pointer to a block. There is no ironclad way to prevent this subterfuge, and in

deed, you may even want to provide

pointers to blocks, because double indirection is slow. Garbage collectors can also be subverted, but it is more difficult and would only be done maliciously; there is no good reason to do it.

However, garbage collection also has its drawbacks. Unless you use special hardware to support it. the process itself can be slow (though references to blocks are not affected). Most garbage collectors cannot permit a user program to run while garbage collection is taking place, so noticeable pauses can occur when running a program that allocates a lot of memory Garbage collectors can also be difficult to write and debug.

Conclusion

On a fast machine that can support

it in hardware, garbage collection is definitely preferred. But on other machines, especially microcomputers, it is often desirable to let programs free storage as well, lb compromise, you can use one of the safe allocators presented here and occasionally perform a garbage collection to reclaim the space occupied by tombstones or master pointers and to free storage that has leaked. In fact, the tombstone allocator looks very good in this light: It allows fast access to blocks (a single indirection), and its fragmentation problems are greatly ameliorated by the garbage collector.

Unfortunately, you can't implement garbage collection as an extension to an already existing implementation; you have to build it into the language you are implementing. So if you are thinking of designing a programming language, think about storage allocation right from the start. Don't be one of those designers who, much to the chagrin of safety-conscious programmers, have left storage allocation to be dealt with as an afterthought; who, in effect, have said: "See you later, allocator."

REFERENCES

1. Knuth. Donald E. The Art of Computer Programming. Vol. 3: Sorting and Searching. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley 1973.

2. Robson, J. M. An Estimate of the Store Size Necessary for Dynamic Storage Allocation." JourHfll of ACM, luly 1971. ■

132 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

I

The most significaiit development in monochrome graphics

smce the Hercules Graphics Card.

Announcing the Hercules Graphics Card Plus.

Four years ago, the Hercules™ Graphics Card brought high resolution monochrome graphics to the IBM® PC for the first time. And revolutionized the world of personal computers.

Now, it's happening again.

Because now there's the Hercules Graphics Card Plus. A giant step forward in technology that creates a whole new standard for graphics hardware and a world of potential for software.

Three modes are better than two. UntU now, graphics cards have had

only two modes to work with: text and graphics.

Text mode is very fast, but it's limited to 256 pre-programmed characters.

Graphics mode, on the other hand, lets your software create as many characters as you want. But for text processing, graphics mode can be slow, painMly slow.

Enter a new, third mode.

Called RamFont:'

Two years in development, RamFont gives you the best of both worlds. It blends the blinding speed of text with the flexibility of graphics.

The lieart oftfw Graphics Card Plm: the V112 microchip, Hercules' next generation video jmcessoi' that makes tlie RamFont mode possible.

134 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

J

Enough flexibility to blow the doors off the 256-character limit of text mode.

Because RamFont can handle an astonishing 3072 different characters of various widths and heights.

Instead of 256 canned, unchangeable ones.

The future according to RamFont.

With all these characters and fonts to work with, software win never be the same again.

RamFont word processors, for example, will put italics, boldface, and scientific characters right on the screen with standard text. So you can see what you're about to print.

RamFont spreadsheets will use smaller characters to display larger amounts of infomation. So you

can get the big picture.

RamFont integrated packages will mix true text and graphics and turn your PC's screen into a fast-lane version of the Macintosh's.™

And if you happen to be one of those geniuses who's fluent in five languages, you'll be able to type a letter in aU of them.

Simultaneously.

A Herculean feat.

How did we manage to combine the radical new RamFont on the same card with Hercules' legendary sharp text and high resolution 720x348 graphics and stni be 100% compatible with the original Hercules Graphics Card? It wasn't easy.

In fact, it took two years and all of the sophisticated CAD tools at our disposal to create our exclusive V112 microchip*

This totally new generation of video processor is at the heart of every Hercules Graphics Card Plus.

It's also at the heart of a revolution in software that's beginning right now.

TVirn the page and you'll see what we mean.

*Patent applied for.

The Hercules Printer Cable a $Ji.O value, free mth each Graphics Card Plus.

Another Hercules innovation: the new LPTU2. It's a parallel printer poH on a chip.

Inquiry 129 for End-Users. Inquiry 130 for DEALERS ONLY.

OCTOBER 1986 • BY

Lotus 1-2-3 Rel. 2 in tlie RamFont viode oftlie Graphics Card Plus: fast scrolling, a 90-column by 38-row screen and a pop-up graphics window.

Software will never be the same again.

The trouble with most new hardware introductions is that there isn't any software available to introduce them to.

Not so with the new Hercules Graphics Card Plus.

It runs everything the original Hercules Graphics Card runs.

Better yet, it comes complete with the software you need to start using the revolutionary new RamFont mode right now with some of the world's favorite programs.

Lotus blossoms.

Of course, if you want to talk about the world's favorite programs, you have to start with Lotus-* 1-2-3! You won't recognize Release 2.

136 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

Because now you can put nearly twice as much information on your screen, scrolling right and left and up and down at speeds you'll remember nostalgically from the days of Version lA.

Another thing you won't recogTiize is that cute little graphics window. You can thank RamFont for that.

Now that RamFont is with us, you can pop up a graphics window any time you're in the mood and still keep your 1-2-3 spreadsheet in the background.

And you can do the same with Symphony,"' of course.

Or, if your tastes tend toward Ashton-Tate^'s Framework" II, you'U be pleased to hear that you can reaUy

RAMFONT

1h taRai™ mis oF tbe Borculss &a[4iln Card natal GS112 it a wsstila md FCHcrful Dou node. The 66112 frof Idas facllltis tir KiCiiMrs to easily acocnpllali In biRat lude, ■bat Bsed to require a groat deal of effort Id gi-apfalca node.

Nn *• I fa aapte: ef footi crested far MM Mil. «e all *is fort tte "UilW fort.

FROM HERCULES

Jk* nodt iUU njwjm !u fti jou ojoin..

r/ie Graphics Card Plus in RamFont mode showing multiple fonts created using FontMan]' a Hercules program that comes free with each Card.

Ashton-Tate's Framework II ibith italics and boldface and speed in the RamFont mode of tJie new Hercules Graphics Card Plus.

The progravmmble RamFont is so flexible, Symplumy can mix true text and graphics.

tie !• wuMfle ef the orliltMl veraloa of ntcroroft ft. *n •( tka kaadllat of text la doae la irarklca awda. *• (aa caa aM, tin cUracter aat la Idaatlcal to tU aaraal f>M ckaracter aet. kcaaae tke aortwra oferataa la graphlca aodat ttera am aoM iatereatlag raatareat

lite lUUa, ao rrailaa sae/ef »ic<ly viat'a Jlarr«'af hmtm.

■■Mfasa la aartkar attrlkata tht la kaadled ■ell t«

Tkle la aa axaiwla of ••r«'«>rlr>, ml ihiu .„t.„,„i.

firaphlca aoda la vertj Mtnful fur diaplaijluii charautnra and ckaractar attrUatoa that cannot \o diaplK^d tn nurvil text ■ad*. The prehlea with graphfcB auja occura when the text ■•ta te the hettaa of the dlaplay area and tke proiraa aeedl ta ecrall the acreaa. Aa yea are ahoat to aee. a iraphica

Cntmo: ■■I Can lelete Foraat Callerv Help Iniert Jaap Llhrarv

Mlaaa rrlat Halt leplace Search Traaarar Undo Uledoa ■elaot aptlea ar twa eeaMod latter

ra«a 1 {p> nicroaort Itord: TttTriU.MC

Microsoft Word in RamFont mode: italics, boldface and small caps—plus speed and lots of it, at last.

bum rubber with its word processor.

The revealed Word.

Speaking of word processors, remember a couple of pages ago how we said they would be forever changed? Well, the change has already begun.

For example, the Hercules Graphics Card Plus v^th RamFont makes Microsoft" Word a whole new program.

Suddenly the italics, boldface, superscripts and subscripts scroll superfast. Which means you don't have to twiddle your thumbs waiting for the screen to catch up with your fingers.

More to come.

As time goes by, more and more major programs wiU take advantage

of the extraordinary capabilities of RamFont.

Which gives you two choices.

You can buy a Hercules Graphics Card Plus and look forward to getting your socks knocked off.

Or you can buy another card and watch while technology leaves you and your socks behind.

To help you make up your mind, we've prepared a little surprise for you on the next page.

Just make sure you're sitting down.

inquiry i3l for End-Users, inquiry 132 for DEALERS ONLY.

OCTOBER 1986 -BYTE 137

V

Shocked?

We thought you'd be.

Imagine, the new Hercules Graphics Card Plus with the power of RamFont plus everytlung that made the oripial Hercules Graphics Card the monochrome standard.

At about half the old price.

Now that's progress.

Call 1-800-532-0600 ext. 202 (in Canada caU 1-800-323-0601 ext. 202) for the name of an Authorized Hercules Dealer near you and well rush you a ficee info kit.

Hercules.

We)ce stxmg on gr^hics.

Address: 2SeO Ninth St., Berkeley, CA. 94710 Ph: 415 540-6000 O^lex: 754063 IWuieniwkg/Ownerg: IBII/IBM; Madntosh/Apiile; LOta^

138 BYTE* OCTOBER 1986 Inquiry 133 for End-Users. Inquiry 134 for DEALERS ONLY.

J

Sound and THE Amiga

The amount of RAM available to the sound system provides the limit of what you can do

While the Amiga's sound-producing capabilities surpass the primitive squarewave sounds of early personal computers, the machine still has limitations to overcome. Making sound with

microcomputers is sort of a trick. For example, when a microcomputer makes a clarinet sound, it actually produces a square wave. The result sounds like a clarinet because a clarinet's waveform is close to a square wave. But the waveform of a piano or a flute is more complex and can't be created easily with most microcomputers.

Sound data is a description of how you want to push air around with a transducer (speaker) so that the resulting fluctuations in air pressure are perceived by the ear as sounds. The amount of data involved in making complex, realistic sound events is tremendous. Consider the compact disk: 75 minutes of high-fidelity audio on a disk or 5 50 megabytes of 8-bit data: that's roughly 12K bytes of data per second. That much data can quickly swamp the capabilities of an 8-bit microcomputer.

Hardware-generated Sound

Before the advent of microcomputers, mainframe hackers had discovered that printing certain sequences of letters on a line printer would create certain pitched tones. Before long, enormous amounts of paper were being used to play Christmas carols.

The KIM-1, introduced in 1975, was not equipped to produce sound. But by 1976 hackers were connecting its hardware timer to an output bit at

[continued]

David D. Thiei is vice president of research and development for Free-Radical Software (1323 South Yale Ave., Arlington Heights. IL 60005). He is a musician turned programmer who has done considerable sound-programming work for coin-operated and home video games.

ILLUSTRATION BY CLAUDIA TANTILLO

OCrOBER 1986 • BYT E 139

SOUND AND THE AMIGA

tached to a speaker. This simplified the sound data to a waveform that the hardware could make. This technique produces the square-wave sound found in digital watches and computers like the IBM PC. The advantages of this approach are its low cost and the minimal software and processor time you need to control a sound.

With a little more hardware, you can control the amplitude of the voltage swing from low to high and thus the amplitude, or volume, of the sound. The combination of a timer-based square-wave generator with amplitude hardware is the fundamental building block of the hardware-based sound generation found in microcomputers ranging in complexity from the Commodore VlC-20 to the Atari 520ST A pseudorandom hardware bit generator can be added to produce nonperiodic sound information, commonly called noise.

There are several advantages to this type of hardware-based approach: You don't need to spend a lot on specialized hardware, little processor intervention is necessary, and you won't use large quantities of memory to store the sound data. However, there are also disadvantages: The sound has a computerlike quality, you have a fixed and limited number of channels, and you are limited to

coarse amplitude and frequency resolution.

Another Approach

In 1980, 1 started creating sound with microcomputers in a different way. I was given a 6502 microprocessor, 128 bytes of RAM, 4K bytes of ROM, an 8-bit DAC (digital-to-analog converter), and the assignment to "make a sound that goes boing." I quickly learned a technique that acknowledges the periodic nature of sound—using algorithms, tables of sound data, or some combination of the two. This technique requires a DAC for the microprocessor whose output (after signal processing and amplification) you intend to hook up to a speaker. The number of bits in the DAC establishes the range of amplitudes and, to a degree, the complexity of the waveform.

This approach is used in its simplest form on the Apple II, which has a 1-bit DAC directly under software control. Even though the Apple II has only two levels of output, you can precisely control the time between pulses, which allows an amazing variety of sounds, music, even speech. However while the microprocessor is producing sound data, there is little time for it to do anything else. Careful and meticulous interleaving of software tasks can give the appearance of two

things happening at once, but this is time-consuming and not a generalized solution.

The Macintosh takes the DAC approach one step further by integrating sound production with video processing. While the monitor's video beam moves back to the left edge of the screen for each scan line, the Mac's sound hardware takes a byte out of a fixed-length buffer and outputs it to an 8-bit DAC. Since the microprocessor is freed from having to interleave the sound-generation task with other tasks, the effect is a stable soundgeneration rate. However, the microprocessor still has to put sound data in the buffer ahead of the video beam for every frame (60 times a second).

There are trade-offs with the Macintosh's approach to sound. When the Mac creates four-voice sound, it uses about 50 percent of the microprocessor's throughput. This doesn't include waveform scaling for independent control of each voice's volume. Since graphics on the Mac are processor-intensive, it's difficult to create elaborate sound and graphics at the same time.

Sampling

You can also directly digitize sound from other sources, store it. and play it back through the DAC. This technique is called sampling, and it has the best potential for reproducing

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140 BYTE- oaOBER 1986

A

SOUND AND THE AMIGA

complex realistic sound with a computer. Once you have sampled the sound data, you can process it further for special effects, splice it, loop it, and set it up for random access.

One problem with sampling is the amount of sound data you need. The Mac's sampling rate, for example, is 22,300 samples (bytes of data) per second. For this reason, sampling has been used very little on the 128K-byte Mac.

Sampling also has the special problem of trying to produce realistic sound by pumping numbers through a DAC. You can get audio-aliasing distortion, or the "sonic jaggies" (the sonic equivalent of the lagged lines you get when you draw angled or curved lines on a raster display). You can get false harmonics if you use too slow a sampling period to reproduce sound of a given frequency

The Amiga

The Commodore Amiga offers an enhanced, hardware-assisted, DAC approach to sound. It has more than four times as much sound hardware as the Mac. Each channel is composed of an 8-bit DAC with 5 bits of amplitude control, and the microprocessor can output sound data to each DAC independently.

The Amiga has a low-pass filter that cuts out most output with frequencies

above 7 kHz. This eliminates the aliasing distortion that occurs above 7 kHz when sampling at 28,800 samples per second. While not high-fidelity, the sound is good for a personal computer The usable sampling period in terms of the filter is 14,000 to 28,800 samples per second. This range can be used for one octave of musical notes reproduced faithfully up to 7 kHz. In actual practice the sampling rate can be as low as 7000 samples per second for some applications where waveform data space is at a premium.

The Amiga's hardware design philosophy is to leave the processor free as much as possible. The direct memory access (DMA) hardware for sound generation complies with this rule. The Amiga uses four variable-period DMA channels. You can vary the sampling rate from 28,800 samples per second to one sample every two seconds. These samples can be anywhere in a 512K-byte address space and can be as short as 2 bytes or as long as 2 56K bytes. The output of each DMA channel is processed by a low-pass filter that becomes effective at 4 kHz and cuts out sound frequencies greater than 7 kHz.

To generate sound on the Amiga, you must load the DMA hardware registers with the starting location of the sound data, its length, and the

The Amiga has four times as much sound hardware

as the Macintosh.

sampling period. When enabled, the Amiga generates sound until it gets to the end of the sound data; then it resets the location and length and repeats the process until it is disabled. This frees the processor from the majority of the work typically associated with audio sampling.

The DMA hardware retrieves each byte of the sound buffer sequentially. Since every byte in the wave table is pumped out, the length of the wave table determines the highest fundamental frequency that the channel can play. For example, to play the musical octave from A (at 440 kHz) to G# (at 830 kHz) without the distortion of aliasing, the waveform length must be 16 bytes. This is not a lot of resolution with which to describe a complex waveform. The waveform length for the next octave can only be 8 bytes, and so on. Therefore, reproducing the sound range of the upper half of the piano keyboard is subject to

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OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 141

SOUND AND THE AMIGA

Substantial software exists to support

the use of sound hardware in the

Amiga's multitasking environment.

some compromise.

The DMA sound hardware also has the ability to seamlessly join waveform data together. When the audio DMA hardware reads its registers, it copies them into internal registers and an interrupt occurs. At this time you can change the data pointer and length so that when DMA starts the process again, it could be accessing a new and different piece of sampled data. This has many exciting ramifications. You can simulate a musical instrument's sound by sampling its attack and splicing that to its waveform. This saves a great deal of space and opens up a whole new world of hybrid instrunnents.

In addition, the Amiga has the first standard left and right stereo outputs in personal computer history. The four channels of DMA-driven sampling hardware are output through the lowpass filter and routed through fixedassignment stereo jacks for connection to external audio equipment. By using two complementary channels, you can position sound in left-to-right space with software. Obviously, there is a trade-off between the number of discrete channels desired and the stereo spread, but it is a lot of fun to put explosion sounds together with their visual counterparts. If you are using a monaural monitor, attaching a Y-connector makes it possible to hear all four channels.

The Amiga's sound hardware also has the capability to modulate one channel's period and/or volume by the output of another's. You disable the modulating channel's audio output and then use its data to modify the modulated channel's frequency

142 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

and/or amplitude. Used in its simplest

form, this relieves the load on the processor for effects like tremolo (amplitude modulation) and vibrato (frequency modulation).

Software Sound Synthesis

In 1973, Dr lohn Chowning published a paper in the ]ourml of the Audio Engineering Society entitled "The Synthesis of Complex Audio Spectra by Means of Frequency Modulation." This FM model of sound synthesis has become the basis for several professional musical instruments, including the Yamaha DX-7. If you use channels to modulate other channels, the Amiga can achieve a variety of the synthesis models proposed by Dr. Chowning. While this mode uses up all of the Amiga's sound resources, it can create one very complex voice that rivals those of dedicated hardware synthesizers.

Substantial software exists to support the use of sound hardware in the Amiga's multitasking environment. Since many tasks can run concurrently—each assuming that it "owns" the machine—there needs to be a way of arbitrating who gets the sound hardware. Audio software support on the Amiga follows the same device model established for all peripherals on the system.

The Amiga allocates virtual audio channels on a priority basis and supports all of the above-mentioned hardware features. It also supports interrupt processing for waveform splicing with a queue that stores the sound requests for a particular channel until it can process them. While the audio device is flexible, it is complex to use. For certain types of sound synthesis, direct access to the hardware registers is more processor-efficient.

One sound innovation on the Amiga is its support of voice synthesis as a standard peripheral. Without any additional hardware, the narrator device does an understandable simulation of the human voice. The SoftVoice program, which is the heart of the narrator device, provides all the elements for phonetic speech generation, In addition, there is a text-tophoneme program called TVanslator that you can use to create phonetic

strings for input to the narrator device. The only costs for using speech as part of the man-machine interface are some RAM and some processor time.

RESOURCE LIMITATIONS

It is important to remember that sound is data to a computer. This is the key to using the Amiga to produce sound. You must make major tradeoffs in space and processor utilization. Unfortunately Commodore has marketed the Amiga as a 256K-byte machine. Full utilization of its sound and graphics hardware requires a lot of memory A wave table for six octaves of a good string sound takes 32K. bytes. If you wanted to have six different instruments available for random access in a music program, and if your program required 70K bytes, the waveform data and program together would need 262K bytes; in other words, they wouldn't fit.

In my experience in recreational software, the resources allocated to sound production are usually oneeighth of the total. In the coinoperated video-game world of Reactor and Q*Bert, the sound program required 4K bytes of EPROM compared to 32K bytes for the game computer. In a Commodore 64 program, 3 K to 6K bytes were set aside in RAM for sound. If this ratio holds true, then the available RAM for sound samples and the sound system on the Amiga is 32K of its 2 56K bytes. These numbers do not take into account the Amiga's multitasking nature that makes the available RAM an indefinite concept. The point is, the amount of RAM available to the sound system provides the limit of what you can do with sound and the Amiga.

To overcome space limitations, you can use the Amiga's 68000 to create sound data "on the fly;' This approach trades space for speed and is not usually acceptable unless you plan to dedicate the machine to sound production. The really exciting part of the Amiga's sound system is its hardwareassisted software-based approach. A DAC is to sound as a bit map is to graphics. A software approach is open-ended. Within processor and RAM limitations, you can do whatever you are clever enough to conceive. ■

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OCTOBER 1986 'BYTE 143

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Inquiry 179

PROGRAMMING INSIGHT

A USEFUL PROPERTY OF 2

BY Robert C. Arp Jr.

Simplified flag testing and input comparison by exploiting powers of 2

WHILE WRITING FEDERAL tax programs for my HP-41CV calculator recently, I repeatedly needed more than the II available user flags. Because I have the Extended Functions/Memory Module (EF/MM), I considered a suggestion from the owner's manual to increase the number of apparent general flags by using the X< >F (X exchange flags) function.

For reasons I will discuss, I was not satisfied with the results. However, this exercise led me to observe a remarkable property of summations of 2".

I do not intend to offer a rigorous mathematical proof of the 2" property; I have simply verified that the property functions wiliun the limits of my calculator.

I have studied many math and computer books during my career but I cannot recall ever having seen reference to this property. However, if there is someone to whom credit should be extended, then I apologize for the oversight.

The Problem

/ had been designing a system of programs for federal taxes that would permit updating of totals in a spread

sheet fashion. Because of the required number of schedules and forms, I was using the status of flags to branch to labels in order to implement various options. The HP-41CV has 11 general-purpose flags. I needed more.

The EF/MM owner's manual suggests the use of X< >F to increase the number of apparent generalpurpose flags. This is possible because executing this function sets the status of flags 0 through 7 according to a status code previously entered into the X register. Simultaneously, a code representing the former status of those flags is transferred from the F register to the X register. A numeric code for each of the eight flags is shown in table 1.

You set one or more of the flags, 0 through 7, by forming a sum of the numeric codes for each flag affected. For example, to set flags 1 and 2, you set the sum to 2+4=6. The sum 255 is required to set all flags; 0 is required to clear all flags. Flags whose numeric code is not an addend of the sum are cleared.

You can realize the apparent increase in available flags by calculating several summations and storing them

in separate registers for later recall and comparison. In this manner, a combination of flag statuses is understood to represent the status of an apparent flag. For example, if the sum 6 were stored in a register, by recalling its contents and comparing it to the contents of the X register after an execution of XoE you could determine if and only if both flags I and 2 were set.

I felt that I could tolerate the clumsiness of the operation; however, I could not afford to devote one register for each of the required status codes. Memory in the HP-41CV is organized in registers of 7 bytes in size; most instructions require only 1 or 2 bytes. Of course, registers used for storage cannot be used for programming.

While reviewing the X< >F function, I had noticed that the numeric code for each flag n was 2". I am sure that it was this observation that prompted the lateral thinking required

[amlmued]

Robert C. Arp ]r (278 San Tomas Aquino Rd.#\. Campbell. CA 95008) holds a B.S. in electrical engineering. He is currently conducting independent research in natural and artificial intelligence.

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 145

POWERS OF TWO

for the unconscious formulation of a satisfactory method of generating any number of flags.

The Question

Because computers use the binary system and because powers of the base must certainly be associated with the system, I wondered if there was a property of 2' that could be exploited to create an association between the presence or absence of a particular 2".

The Investigation

After playing with numbers for a while, I made the following supposition; If a E 2"' is divided by X = 2", andX<i;2', then the quotient will be odd when X is an addend of E2' but will be even otherwise. If this is true, then quotient modulo 2 will be 1 or 0.

The example in figure 1 shows what happens when a E2' is divided by an arbitrary 2". Suppose that the summa

tion is composed of random addends that are each 2". if m = 0, 3, 7, then E2'' = 20-l-2'+2^ = 14-8-1-128 = 137. Notice the quotients for the following divisions, where E = 137.

Note also that whenever 2" is an addend of the summation, the integer portion of the quotient is odd. 1-iowever whenever 2" is not an addend, the integer portion of the quotient is even (0 is considered to be even). Thus, performing rrtodulb 2 on the integer portion yields a 1 when 2" is an addend but yields a 0 otherwise.

Keeping in mind that n has remained positive throughout the example, these observations and conclusions may be summarized, as they are in figure 2.

At this point we have verified that there is an association between a summation of 2's and its addends that enables us to determine whether a particular 2" is one of the addends. Furthermore, a mathematical calcula

■Rible 1: Hu.mnc code for each of eight flags.

Flag

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Numeric Code

1

2

4

8

16

32

64

128

L . 20

137.000

E 21

68.500

E

22

34.250

E

23

17.125

E

24

8.563

E

— S

25

4.281

E

28 "

2.141

S 27

1.070

E

28 °

0.535

Figure 1: This example shows what happens when a E2' is divided by an arintrary 2".

Hf)]

MOD 2

1, 2" an addend of E2' 0, otherwise

Figure 2; Keeping in mind that n is positive, these conclusions can be made.

tion will produce a 1 if the test is true and a 0 if the test is false:'

Usage

The discovery of the association between a summation of 2's and its addends was only a beginning. Now 1 had to determine a method of setting, clearing, and testing the condition of flags that does not depend upon variable assignment limitations of the programming medium.

The following concept-level algorithms are limited only by the largest number that can be processed by the programming medium:

Setting a flag:

1. Input a flag number, «.

2. Compute X = 2".

3. Add X to E2'.

Clearing a flag:

1. Input a flag number, «.

2. Compute X = 2".

3. Subtract X from E2'.

Ttesting a flag condition:

1. Input a flag number, «.

2. Compute X = 2".

3. Recall E2'\

4. Compute Y = E27X.

5. Extract Z = integer portion of Y.

6. Compute state = Z modulo 2 .

These concept-level algorithms represent minimum algorithms. Caution is required when setting and clearing flags because an erroneous sum would be accumulated whenever setting a flag more than once or whenever clearing a flag not previously set.

These minimum algorithms may be used in cases where attention is being paid to flag conditions during programming. Alternately you may test the condition of a flag before setting or clearing. Exercising this caution alters the algorithms as shown below:

Set flag if clear:

1. Execute test-flag algorithm.

2. If state = 1, then end,

else continue.

Clear flag if set:

1. Execute test-flag algorithm.

2. If state = 0, then end, else continue.

The three algorithms expect an in

{cmtimeiti

146 BYTE* OCTOBER 1986

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To the user,

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must be set,

cleared, or tested.

teger, n, as a passed parameter. To the user, M is a flag that must be set, cleared, or tested. Each algorithm raises 2 to the power of n. The set-flag algorithm accumulates 2" as a component of a sum consisting of addends 2', where each i is a member of the set of ail flags that you have set previously but not cleared. The clearflag algorithm subtracts 2" from 1)2'. The test-flag algorithm divides 1)2' by 2", discards the quotient's fractional component, and uses remainder division to. report the condition of flag n.

When executing the test-flag algorithm, there may be times when you want to test for 2"<E2'' before performing the division. When this condition is false, a 0 may be returned by the algorithm immediately. Furthermore, the subroutine is not restricted to the use of a single E2''. Any of several summations could be used depending upon the validity of some particular condition.

An added attraction of the process, whether it is useful or not, is the fact that all components 2' of any E2' may be extracted by processing each 2" less than or equal to E2'' and noting those that produce a 1.

Additional Uses

1 also discovered that in addition to solving my problem of inadequate flags, I was able to simplify an aggravating problem associated with the correctness of keyboard input and input-driven processing.

Like most other computers, the HP-41CV permits the programmer to process alphanumeric input by the detection of key codes. There are actually two sets of codes associated with HP-41CV keyboard inputs. One code represents the topographical location of keys; the other is an internal representation of character codes based on ASCII.

I had been executing certain options that depended on keyboard input, and 1 was using both of the key codes. In doing this, I had to verify the correctness of user choices and establish the numerous branching and subroutine calls. All of this was dependent upon the complexity of the tax system itself and upon unpredictable user selection. The test-flag algorithm immediately simplified the process.

In use, to prevent the summations of 2' from growing too rapidly, I first converted the HP-41CV codes to something more palatable by subtracting a base number from particular inputs. For example, the ASCII equivalent codes for letters A through Z are numbers 65 through 90. After any alphabetic input, 1 simply subtracted 65 from the ASCII equivalent code for the input. This produced equivalent codes 0 through 2 5.

It is easy to see that 2" = 33,554,432, which is the largest possible 2" with the modified code, is much less than 2'" = 1.238 x 10", which would have been the largest possible otherwise.

1 then passed the resultant n to a keytest subroutine along with the required L2', in which each i was a permissible code. I included a provision for detecting codes less than zero, because they were possible (the conversion uses subtraction) but illegal. All codes producing values of 2" that were not addends of E2' would then return a 0. In the calling program, a 0 would cause a branch to an error subroutine. This adaptation is shown below.

Keytest:

1. Input n.

2. If n<0, return a 0, else continue.

3. Compute X = 2".

4. Compute Y = i:2'lX.

5. Extract Z = integer portion of Y.

6. Compute Z modulo 2,

Thereafter, this algorithm became a valuable programming tool, providing many simplifications that could not have been realized otherwise. Eventually the input detection function became as important as the process for which I developed the original algorithm. ■

148 BYT E ' OCTOBER 1986

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Inquiry 231

OCTOBER 1986 -BYTE 151

BVTE

Public Domain Powerhouses

PD PROLOG I BEGAN MY "RESEARCH" on this theme last December by placing a call

by Robert Morein 155 for submissions in the Fixes and Updates section. Within weeks, readers sub

An Icon Tutorial mitted over a hundred programs. 1 have considerable regret that we can

by Ralph E. Criswold highlight only five of these, though I think you will agree that they are indeed

and Madge T. Griswold 167 powerhouses

Enhanced Console Driver Bob Moreins PD PROLOG is a public domain implementation of the fifth

by Anthony Tackin 183 generation language for MS-DOS and PC-DOS environments. Bob wrote the

Abundance syntax to conform closely to the Edinburgh syntax, but his implementation

by Roedy Green 193 contains several notable extensions.

Z80MU Ralph and Madge Griswold present a tutorial on Icon, a high-level language

by Robert A. Baumann 203 that emphasizes the processing of strings and structures. The language was

CP/M Hall of Fame originally implemented under UNIX, but it has been transported to other oper

by Brock N. Meeks 219 ating systems, including MS-DOS.

Anthony Zackin has written an enhanced console driver that will allow you

to create your own user interface for DOS. This replacement for the ANSl.SYS file performs all of that file's functions plus many, many more. Read and be informed.

Roedy Green's Abundance is a FORTH-based, data-entry database, screenhandling language that performs a variety of housekeeping tasks automatically The language was originally designed to serve charities, but it is now a complete business programming language.

Bob Baumann has written a Zilog Z80 and CP/M 2.2 emulator. With it, you may well be able to run some CP/M software on your IBM PC or compatible. We therefore asked Brock Meeks to summarize some of the best public domain CP/M programs. His selections are included in a "CP/M Hall of Fame."

There is a tremendous amount of code associated with this theme. Abundance, for example, comes on 15 disks. BYTEnet, BIX, and the disk copy service will be able to provide most, but obviously not all. Please read the editor's notes in each article carefully for instructions on how to obtain the programs.

In my mind, a much larger problem is that we cannot feature many more of the programs that were submitted. Although it was not ready in time for this issue, we hope soon to provide a new portable implementation of the SAIL language called PSAIL, which produces C code and uses run-time packages also written in C.

Other submissions are available now, and we are placing many of them on BYTEnet and BIX. These include New York Word, a fine shareware word processor for the IBM PC family and a TUrbo Editor, VTIOO emulator, and Mandlebrot utilities from Tim McGrath. In addition to these programs, we have uploaded the text of an interview that Dave Betz and I carried out with Richard Stallman. the author of GNU (GNU's Not UNIX), a UNIX-compatible software system.

After reviewing a tremendous number of programs, I am pleased to report that the public domain is as vibrant and potent as ever.

—]on Edwards, Senior Technical Editor

OCTOBER 1986 "BYTE 153

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A Subsidiary ol Square D Company Inquiry 307 for End-Users.

154 BYTE' OCTOBER 1986 Inquiry 308 for DEALERS ONLY.

PUBLIC DOMAIN POWERHOUSES

PD PROLOG

BY Robert Morein

A public domain version of the fifth-generation language

PD PROLOG, an implementation of the Edinburgh syntax of Prolog, was a prototype for the commercial Prologs of which 1 am also the author. I intended the syntax of PD PROLDG to conform so closely to the Edinburgh syntax that it would be possible to execute PD PROUDG successfully with only W. E Clocksin and C. S. Mellish's Programming in Prolog (Springer-Verlag, 1981) as a companion. Only two things distinguish PD PROLOG by their absence: debugging facilities and the definite-clause grammar syntax. And it contains several notable extensions- to the Edinburgh syntax. {Editor's note: For an introduction to Prolog, see "Prolog Goes to Worfe" by Clara Y. Cuadrado and ]ohn L. Cuadrado in the August 1985 BYTE, "Lo^ic Programming" by Robert Kowalski in the same issue, and Prolog for Programmers by Feliks Kluzniak and Stanislaw Szpakowicz (hcademic Press, 1985).!

PD PROLOG runs under MS-DOS and PC-DOS and uses all memory allocatable by DOS. There is a definite advantage to having 640K bytes of RAM, so coresident programs that use a lot of memory should be excluded from the system.

PD PROLOG is not a completely in

tegrated programming environment

in the manner of BASIC because the edit and execute modes are distinct. You compose a Prolog program using a text editor (this can be done from within the Prolog environment), "consult" the program, and then execute it by giving goals. Users of small resident auxiliary editors or "notepad" programs will find the process considerably streamlined and fairly interactive. Also, the latest version of PD PROLOG comes with a screenoriented text editor

That is not to say that PD PROLOG is not a conversational language—the system prompt is ?-, which is the equivalent of "I am ready for your questions." A structure that you enter at this point is not construed as new knowledge to be entered into the knowledge base—rather, it serves as the initial goal of the backward-chaining inference engine, which is Prolog's inherent form of reasoning.

The fundamental Prolog statement is the Horn clause, or simply clause, which has two manifestations:

head( params ) :- body( params ).

and

unlt( params).

In the first type of clause, a rule, the head is true if the body is true: hence the head is the consequent and the body the antecedent. The unit clause, also known as a fact, has no body and is always true if selected. The params are optional variables or structures that, when present, pass and return values to the clauses and allow Prolog's pattern match to discriminate among clauses by embedded structure. A set of clauses with the same name, if they have the same number of params in the head, is variously referred to as a module or function.

Pattern Matching

The selection process is guided by the resolution principle, one of the pillars of the Prolog computational process. The resolution principle is derived from predicate calculus and is closely related to proof by negation. But the basic operation is nothing

(continued)

Robert Morein is president of Automata Design Associates (1570 Arran Way, Dresher, PA 1902 5) and a physicist with an interest in non-von Neumann architectures and symbolic computation. He is the author of PD PROLOG and commercial Prolog development systems.

OCTOBER 1986 • B Y T E 155

PD PROLOG

more than pattern matching. Thus Prolog would match the structure

alpha( 1, X).

with the structure

alpha( Y, 2).

and the structure

'has a feature' (chimn^, door, window).

with the structure

'has a feature' ( X, Y, window ).

Logic has no regard for computational complexity or the methods of finding the solution; it merely rigidly prescribes the correctess of the proposed solution and in this regard is hopelessly detached from the realworld considerations of finite resources and time. The method universally used for finding a solution is the backtracking depth-first search, which proposes to find the solution with the least expense, although it can be misled, which causes the program's downfall. '

The backtracking search is a mechanical maze-searching procedure that can best be described visually. Imagine the clauses constituting a program as a tree, the search tree, through which Prolog will run, searching for satisfaction like a mouse searching for cheese. The ends of the tree are terminated witK unit clauses, which are true if matched. The question becomes, is the tree finite or infinite?

Consider the following set of clauses:

a :- b. b :-c. b.

c :- b.

if you give the program the goal "a" at the system prompt (i.e., if you ask, "is a true?"), the search will recurse infinitely, an example of misleading the backtracking inference engine. The set of clauses should be reordered:

a :- b.

b.

b :- 0. c :- b.

so that the system will see the

economical solution: a if b, b is true, therefore, a is true.

Variables

Prolog variables are denoted by a capital first letter. Thus. X, Varsym, and Param3 are legitimate variable

names. A variable's scope is limited to the clause in which it appears and to the particular instance of usage of that clause. In the clause

a( X, Y ) :- b( Y X )

the values of X and Y are entirely private and are not seen even by other calls to that clause elsewhere in the search.

The binding of a variable to a value, known as "instantiation." is temporary in the following sense: The backtracking search requires that Prolog run in reverse as well as forward, and a variable must frequently be returned to the unassigned state. In forward search, the value of an instantiated variable cannot be reassigned, as it can in a conventional language. Prolog variables are "polymorphic'—they may be bound to a structure, list, number, or anything at all. Once bound, the variable itself disappears, being transparent to the resolution algorithm.

Lists

A list is a data structure of the form

[elementi, element2, elements, ... ].

The elements may themselves be lists or other data structures. The vertical bar, or list extraction operator, combines the virtues of LISP'S car and cdr operators. For example, [X|Y] is the list with a first element of X and a remainder list of Y. Prolog's pattern matcher matches the two structures

[X|Y] = [a,b,G,d]

so as to set X = a, and Y = [b,c,d].

A functor-argument set is a basic structure: We take a group of structures separated by commas, enclose them in a set of parentheses, and give them a functor name, such as

alpha( X, 33, beta( xxx), [a,b,c]).

Structures

A classic example illustrates how Prolog constructs data structures, thus

leaving the realm of passive tree searches.

Clause 1:

append( [], L, L ). Clause 2:

append( [X|List1], List2, [X|List3]) :

append( List1, List2, Lists).

The general scheme is this: The definition consists of one fact and one rule. The rule will be used over and over again until what little is left of the goal given matches the fact. The (| stands for empty list.

The question that serves as the initial goal is

append( [a,b,c], [d,e,f], Result). Clause 2 is invoked with arguments

([a,b,c], [d,e,f], Result).

Clause 2 is invoked again with arguments

([b,c], [d,e,f], Lists ).

Clause 2 is invoked again with arguments

( [b], [d,e,f]. Lists ).

The arguments are now

([ ], [d,e,f], Lists ).

Clause 1 now matches. Since it is a unit clause, the search terminates.

How does this cause a list to be constructed? The key is in the third argument, which returns the constructed list to the uppermost, or first invoked, rule. The inference engine matches it to [X| Lists] in clause 2. Now let's trace this (in figure 1) as clause 2 is successively invoked.

In clause 1. L is [d,e,f] for the following reason: Notice that clause 2 never alters List2 but supplies it to whatever clause it invokes. Thus, L in clause 1 is the original List2, or [d,e,f].

This example would not have worked if the order of clauses 1 and 2 were reversed. The backtracking, depth-first search strategy which always attempts to use the first clause encountered, would have looped forever.

Built-in Predicates

Built-in predicates are required to make PD PROIjOG a programming

{continuedl

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PD PROLOG

system. In one category of such builtin predicates is tlie cut. symbolized by an exclamation point, which modifies the search behavior. Without the cut, implementing the resolution principle would be practically impossible, ivlaintaining the search tree in such a way that backtracking is possible is feasible only for portions of a Prolog search. Once the program ascertains that the path chosen is a correct one, committing the system so that backtracking is not possible permits reclamation of large amounts of memory. It would be very desirable to use the exclamation point in conjunction with append in the following way:

modified append( X, Y, Z ) :

append( X, Y, Z ), !

Thus, nnodified append recognizes that there is only one way to append lists, and backtracking information need not be retained. The 1 means that memory used need not be proportional to the amount of time spent in forward search. The cut is an extralogical feature, one that compromises Prolog's claim to be an implementation of predicate calculus, but it is necessary for practical programming.

Other built-in predicates construct data structures or have residual side effects. Accomplishment by side effect is typical of the way that parsers, or expression recognizers, construct data structures while seeming to

answer the useless question "Is this a sentence in the language?" This is not a new idea. The predicate read creates a new structure in response to keyboard input or input from a file. The predicates asserta and assertz add new clauses to the database. Thus, if you were interested in adding integrated editing capability to PD PROLOG (so that you could add clauses without exiting to an external editor), you might write the following clause;

add :- read( X ), assertz( X ). rem :- read( X ), retract( X ).

Input

The predicate see tells the PD PROUDG shell to accept goals from a file in place of the keyboard. You could write a form of another built-in predicate, consult, with the following primitives:

consultfile( Filename) :see( Filename ), repeat, doread( X), assertclause( X), var (X ), see( Filename), see( user), I.

doread( X ) :- read( X ), !.' doread( ).

assertclause( X ) :- assertz( X ), I. assertclause( ).

Clause 2

Clause 2

Clause 2

Clause 1

Result

[X I Lists]

i \

a [X' I Lists']

b [X" i Lists"]

Remarks

(List 3 = [b,c])

(List 3' = [c])

End.

^:i..c''^ "j-ssttsr.-.

(List 3" = [ ], the empty set)

(in Clause 1 L = [d.e.f])

Figure I: The successive invocation of clause 2 (defined in the text of this article) with the end result L = [d,e,f].

Note that repeat always succeeds upon backtracking. This causes the read.. . assert loop. The form of loop control depends upon the nature of the parameter of doread. When end of file is reached, the read predicate fails, and doread returns an uninstantiated variable. This is accepted by assertclause although assert fails, so the variable test var is executed. If end of file has not occurred, var fails because X is a bound variable, so control backtracks to repeat which always succeeds, causing another clause to be read. If end of file is reached, var succeeds, the input stream is closed by see( user), and consultfile suc^ ceeds.

The Control Strategy of Prolog

It has been thought by some that the backward-chaining inference engine built into Prolog prescribes and limits the method of problem solving. This, the opponents say, implies that a language like LISP which manipulates structures on a lower level, is better for serious work because you can build an inference engine especially for the problem at hand.

I would argue, however, that while backward chaining is always conveniently available for problem solving, it can be viewed on another level as simply a control structure. All languages have control structures, which simply represent the bottom end of the capabilities of sophisticated inference engines. No one would suggest that the if, for do, or while statements of the C language delimit what can be written in the language.

The simplest inference engine you can construct in Prolog is the one used by Prolog Itself:

g( true ) :- I.

g( (E1, E2)):- !, g( El ), g( E2 ). g( E ) :- clause( E, Antecedents ), interpret( Antecedents).

The I in the first clause modifies the behavior on backtracking so that the Prolog system never attempts the other g clauses. This is desirable because true is a Prolog quantity that is, by definition, true. The second clause simplifies a logical expression

{contimedi

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PD PROLDG

by subdividing it into two smaller problems, or goals, while the cut blocks the third clause from ever trying to satisfy a logical goal. The third clause actually searches the database with the built-in predicate clause and tries to satisfy the antecedents of what it finds. In most cases, the third clause will be invoked first, then the second, and the first possibly not at all.

Thus, if you have a database of facts

alpha( X, Y ) :- beta, alpha.

alpha( X, Y, z ).

and you give the Prolog system the goal

clause( alpha( Var, const), Body )

a search will be made for clauses in the database matching the descrip

tion given to clause The only match would be

Var = X, Body = beta.

Backward chaining means to reason from a presumed form of the solution to find the proof that the solution is true. But this is only the basic motif of programming. Prolog is not a true implementation of predicate calculus

^cotitinucil\

A Prolog Strategy for Telecommunications Routing

In my work for a:large corpbration?!' I was able to solve a common telecommunications problem in a flexible way This corporation uses a private telephone network to communicate between various divisions located throughout the United States. The switching algorithm is handled locally utilizing routing tables prepared by a Prolog program. Optimal routing computed by an intelligent strategy is more efficient than a rjglcl; star .network topology.

BY Ll SU

My program implements these concepts in PD PROLOG. In figure A, the large boxes represent corporate divisions, and the small boxes represent telephones, numbered 1 through 16. The short lines represent local (directconnect) phone lines, and the heavy lines represent long-distance lines. The phones connected by long-distance lines are gate phones between the individual offices.

The rules for inaking a -call are as follows:

Figure A: Ewmple layout for a private pfione network with 16 telephones in four offices.

1. If two phones are connected to the same local line (e.g., PHOl and PH02), the call will be routed through directly One local call is charged.

2. If two gate phones are connected by a long-distance line (such as PH04 and PHI3), the call will be routed through directly One long-distance call is charged.

3. If two phones are not covered by the preceding cases (such as PH05 and PHll), the call will first be connected to the local gate phone. One local call is charged. Then the call will be connected by a long-distance line to the next gate phone (it is picked by the Prolog program). One long-distance call is charged. The rest of the handling will be in the same manner until the call is finally through. The total charges for the call will depend on how many intermediate connections are made. This is one of the advantages of using local switching.

A text file contains a list of divisions, phone numbers, and gate phones. Another text file contains all the physical connections between two divisions and the type of each connection. The reason for keeping two text files is that adding or removing a phone number will have no effect on the physical connection's. On the other hand, changing the physical connections will not impaet::the phonfe: nuffifaers;

Li Sh (729 East 77th St. #301, Richfield. MN 55432) is a systems analyst working in the area of net\^pr,k management.

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PD PROLOG

and in fact has a procedural as well as logical interpretation. The side effects of a Prolog proof, which may intentionally never be completed, are usually the most important part. These effects are the accumulated irreversible effects of the built-in predicates, which can change the state of the system over time. The assert and retract predicates allow a Prolog program to modify the source code as a routine procedure and let you construct systems that learn.

The general problem solver notion (GPS) of Newell and Simon can be implemented easily in Prolog and exemplifies a forward-chaining inference engine (see listing 1). This is schematic code that ignores the great problem of all forward-chaining engines, which is to narrow down the search space and obtain optimal solutions. But consider for a moment a "travel" problem. You have a map of the United States. You wish to travel from New York to San Francisco. The road map

is a network of nodes, each consisting of the intersection of two or more roads. Permitted moves are along roads. The procedure is roughly this:

1. Find a town closer to the destination.

2. Qualify the move. Is the town accessible by interstate, for example?

3. Select a method of travel (a road and conveyance).

4. Add this to the route that is being

constructed.

5. Repeat this procedure unless the goal has been reached.

The monitoring of large systems can be easily handled through the statevariable approach. In such cases it does not suffice to consider only the variables local to a particular subprocess, since the goal is to avert hazardous conditions as well as recognize them. A Prolog system obtains a complete characterization of state, which is saved in added clauses. A logical analysis and recharacterization suc

ceed each other indefinitely. The example in listing 2 gives the Idea.

PROLOG Operators

Prolog is a simple language compared to something like Common LISP. Possibly jealous of LlSP's complexity syntacticians worked arduously to complicate Prolog's syntax. The user-definable operator really a functor in disguise, was found to serve very well. A simple Prolog clause might be

alpha( arg1, arg2 ) :

arg1 = arg2, arg1 > 40.

but if we declare it as an operator

op( 40, yfy, alpha )

where op is a built-in predicate, 40 is the precedence, and yfy describes the associative properties, it becomes possible to write

arg1 alpha arg2

arg1 = arg2, arg1 > 40.

In DECsystem-10-compatible Prolog it also becomes possible to write complex expressions like

a op1 b -t- c

- d op2 u XX v

- y ** d op3 op4

To translate this, Prolog uses the display predicate, which displays operator-loaded expressions in functor format. Note that an operator performs no function by itself but is merely food for Prolog's inference engine, just like a functor.

An exception was made for arithmetic expressions. Evaluation of expressions containing the operators -i-, -, *, and / can be forced by the builtin predicate is. The goal

X is 3 + 4

which is really the same as

'is'( +(3,4), X)

results in X = 7, while the goal

X = 3 + 4

or

'='( +(3.4).X)

gives the surprising result

X = 3 + 4.

The dual mode facilitates symbolic manipulation of arithmetic expres

(amanued)

Listing 1: A simplified general problem solver algorithm.

progress( Current, Goal, Path_sofar, Path_sofar ) :Current = Goal, i.

progress( Current, Goal, Path_8ofar, Flnal_path ) :

find_move( New ), qua 1i fy( New ),

select_op( Current, New, Method ),

add_to_path( Path_sofar, New, Method, New_path_sofor ), progress( New, Goal, New_path_sofar, Final_path ).

Listing 2: The state-variable monitoring approach.

monitor_process :repeat,

get_state_of_system,

checl<_olarm,

fail.

get_state_of_system :

retractall( state_of_systei11 ), read( Temperature ), read( Pressure ),

assert^ state_of( temp. Temperature ) ), as8ert( state_of( pressure. Pressure ) ).

check_alarin :

state_off temp, T ),

state_of( pressure, P ),

Max is T * P,

Max > 340,

a Iarm_operator.

check_aI arm.

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PD PROLOG

PIE: A Prolog Knowledge

BY Simon Y. Blackwell

While experimenting with modeling theories of knowledge via a computer, I found that no affordable expert system tools were flexible or powerful enough to meet my needs. Hence, 1 wrote PIE, a Prolog Inference Engine and TVuth Maintenance System, using ADA Prolog (the commercial version of PD PROLjOG).

Various versions of PIE have provided mechanisms for forward and backward chaining, consistency checking, and dependency-based truth maintenance. However one of its most interesting features is an editor and compiler based on user-defined Prolog operators. Such an editor/compiler is outlined below.

To implement the editor/compiler, you write Prolog rules in which the goals are the same as the syntax of a higher-level language developed to represent the knowledge. (The design of the higher-level language is left to the reader.) The antecedent conditions should be a series of Prolog predicates that assert Prolog clauses to the Prolog database.

Suppose that only if is a logical connector in the higher-level language. Declare only if as an operator and define a rule as follows:

Rule 1

Consequent only if Antecedent :- asserta(Consequent:-Antecedent).

This rule will accept input from either the user or a stream opened using the Prolog predicate see(<file>). For example,

boy(X) only if (male(X),human(X),young(X)).

would result in

boy(X) :- male(X),human(X),young(X),

You can take this several steps further by declaring another operator @. This will allow you to name rules and assign a certainty factor to them, as in

Rule 2

Rule @ Certainty @ Consequent only if Antecedents :asserta(rule(Rule,Certainty,Consequent,Antecedents)), asserta(Consequent :- Antecedents,!,

low antecedent cert(Antecedents,L),

Cons-cert is ((Certainty * L) / 100)) asserta(Consequent), asserta(fact(Consequent,Cons-cert,Rule))).

Note the Prolog rule that is asserted in Rule 2, A rule of such a form takes full advantage of the built-in Prolog inference engine. A programmer might be tempted to write rules or have the compiler write rules of the form of Rule 3.

Rule 3

fact(boy(X),Cert)):-fact(male(X),Cert1)), fact(human(X),Cert2)), fact(young(X),Cert 3)), low_antecedent-cert([Cert1,Cert2,Cert3],L), Cert is ((< rule-certainty> • L) / 100).

Inquiry 41

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164 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

,;0

PD PROLOG

Base Editor and Compiler

Such rules are not efficient because they generate a large list to be searched, the list of all structures with the functor fact.

Rule 3 may also have to be resatisfied if the goal fact(boy(X),Cert)) appears in several rules. Note, however that all goals in Rule 2 are asserted once satisfied. This prevents them from having to be satisfied multiple times. Asserting the satisfied goal to the top of the database stack is very important: otherwise subsequent calls to the goal will reinvoke the rule, since the rule will be higher in the search stack.

The assertion of rule(Name,Certainty,Consequent,Antecedents) in Rule 2 gives you the ability to retrieve, print out, reason about, or reference rules easily. The assertion of fact(Consequent,Cons-cert,Rule) allows you to track the certainty of and provide justification for the facts.

I have left the definition of the predicate low_antecedent ^cert to the reader

Given the Antecedents, the predicate should return the lowest certainty by retrieving their fact forms with attached certainties.

Cons-cert is ((Certainty * L) /100) multiplies the certainty in the rule by the lowest antecedent certainty to determine the certainty in the consequent. I've arbitrarily chosen a scale of 1 to 100 for this example.

The efficiency of certainty propagation could be improved by tagging each fact directly, for example, boy(X,Certainty). Such an implementation removes the need to search for certainties after satisfying the antecedent goals. Howevgctlis is at the expense of considerably complicating the editor/compiler.

A final modification of the editor/compiler will allow a threshold certainty to be placed on the rule. If the certainty in the antecedent conditions is below a set limit, the goal will then fail. This is accomplished by

Rule @ Certainty @ Threshold @ Consequent only if Antecedents :asserta(rule(Rule,Certainty,Threshold,Consequent,AnteGedents)) assert(Consequent :- Antecedents,!,

low_antecedent_cert(An(teGedents,L),.

L < Threshold,

Cons-cert is ((Certainty * L) /100),

asserta(Consequent),

asserta(fact(Consequent,Cons-cert,Rule))).

This rule will accept Iftput of the form

rule-1 @ 100 @ 75 @ boy(X) only if (male(X),human(X),young(X)).

As a result. boy(<something>) would never be asserted with less that 75 percent confidence.

The same principles, with some embellishment, can be used to convert input like X is a boy into boy(X), create a frame-based inheritance system, or implement dependency tracking and forward-chaining mechanisms. For example, for a general forward chainen you would declare an operator implies, define your own assert predicate, aiid utilize rule facts like those asserted by the editor/ compiler outlined here,

Simon Y. Blackmll [Inference Corp., 2777 Summer St.. Suite 402, Stamford. CT 06905) is a knowkd^e erigmgering consultant. ^ '

Editor's note: PD PROLOG is available on LOG.DQC, PROLOGED.COM, and PRdisk, and on BIX. See the insert card after CONF.EQE, as well as USQ.EXE, which page 320 for details. Listings are also avail- you will need to decompress them. Simon able on BYTEnet. See page 4, You will need Blackwell's expert system shell, PIE, is also m IBM PC or compatible with 256K bytes available. The files are KNOW.POO, of memory and MS-DOS 2.0. There are four PIE.POT, and KOPS.QQQ, which must also compressed files: PDPROLjOG.EQE, PRO- be decompressed with USQ.EXE. ■

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166 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 219

PUBLIC DOMAIN POWERHOUSES

AN ICON TUTORIAL

BY Ralph E. Griswold and Madge T. Griswold

Ah expression can produce a sequence of results if it succeeds^or none at all if it fails

ICON IS A high-level, general-purpose programming language that emphasizes nonnumeric computation, that is, the processing of character strings and structures. It is written in C. Originally implemented under UNIX, Icon has been transported to other operating systems including DOS and VAX/VMS. It runs on machines ranging from personal computers to mainframes. Its application areas include artificial intelligence, expert systems, symbolic mathematics, text generation, editing, analysis, string processing, program generation, cryptography, language translation, molecular genetics, and others. {Editor's note: Versions for MS-DOS, UNIX, and VAX/VMS are available from the authors in executable and C source code. Tfw MS-IX5S executable code and some sample programs are available on BIX and BYTEwet under the following filenames: ICONREADME, ICONT.EXEC ICONX.EXE, iLlNK.EXE. ITRAN.EXE, HELLO.ICN, CROSS.ICN, CROSS.DAr, MEANDER. ICN, MEANDER.DAT, ROIVIAN.ICN, WORDCTN.ICN, OVERVIEW.DOC, EXTEN.DOC, RUN.DOC, REGISFRM, and TROUBLE.FRIVI. See page 4 and the insert card folbwing page 320 for detaib. For the source code, write to the. Icon Project.

Department of Computer Science, The University of Arizona, Tkcson. AZ 85721.]

The design of icon stresses ease of programming, which permits short, concise programs. It has two major characteristics: expressions that can produce sequences of results and a goal-directed evaluation that automatically searches for solutions. In addition to a large repertoire of simple string operations, Icon has a high-level string-scanning facility for pattern matching.

Its data structures include lists with stack and queue access, sets that can have members of any type, and tables with associative lookup. A data structure can have values of various types. For example, a list can contain both integers and strings—and even lists. Icon also has automatic storage management: it creates objects at run time instead of during compilation. And you don't need type declarations: Icon has run-time checking and automatic type conversion.

General Aspects of Icon

You may not notice anything unusual if you look at an icon program. It looks a lot like a Pascal, C, or PL/I program. It is not distinctive in ap

pearance. Icon's distinctive aspects lie in its unusual expression-evaluation mechanism, its data structures, and Its emphasis on high-level processing of character strings.

An Icon program consists of a collection of procedure declarations within which are the expressions that carry out the program's various computations. The simple program

procedure main() write ("welcome to outer space")

end

does what you think it would—it writes out "welcome to outer space."

(mnttnued)

Ralph E. Griswold, a professor of computer science at The University of Arizona, was one of the originators of the Icon Programming Language. He has a B.S. in physics and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering, all from Stanford Universiti/,

Madge T. Griswold is a freelance writer and consultant on computing applications and computer'based publication techniefues. SAe has a B.A. in history and journalism from Syracuse University and an M.A. in history from The University of Arizona.

The Griswolds can be reached at the Department of Computer Sdmce. The Uruversi'ty of JAr^m. Tucson. AZ 85721,

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE

167

ICON TUTORIAL

The syntax of expressions in Icon is similar to that in most other programming languages. There are the usual operations, both unary (prefix) and binary (infix), function calls, reserved words for control structures and declaration components, and so on. This article does not contain details of the syntax, but the examples given provide the general idea. A precise description of Icon's syntax is found in reference 1.

To understand icon, you need to have a general idea of the types of data it supports and the operations it performs on that data. In addition to integers and real (floating-point) numbers, Icon supports many less conventional data types, including strings (ordered sequences of characters), "csets" (unordered sets of characters), lists (ordered sequences of values), sets (unordered sets of values), and tables (unordered sets of value pairs). Icon even considers procedures to be data types.

You can represent integers, real numbers, strings, and csets literally The syntax is conventional; for example,

i := 20 n := 3.14159 greeting := "howdy" vowels := laeiou'

Identifiers are sequences of letters, and the : = operator indicates assignment. Strings and csets are enclosed in double and single quotes, respectively. Many operations compute values for the various data types.

Since Icon has no type declarations, any variable can have any type of value at any time, depending on what happens during program execution. For example, you can write ■<

X := 1

X "hello"

Icon takes care of type checking and conversion; you don't have to specify them when writing your program. You

can even use types that are collections of values. A list, for instance, may have values (elements) of different types. An example is city := ['Tucson",500000,1986]. The square brackets enclose the three list values.

one of which is a string while the other two are integers, This ability to have heterogeneous structures often allows programs to be written more concisely The freedom from type declarations certainly makes it easier to write programs albeit at some expense in efficiency and error checking.

Expression Evaluation

One thing that distinguishes Icon from other programming languages is the method it uses to evaluate expressions. In most programming languages, an expression always produces a result—one result. It may be difficult to imagine how this could be otherwise. After all, computation means the production of a result. On the other hand, every programming language has conditional operations. An example is if i < j then write(i). Usually, a conditional operation such as i < j produces a Boolean value, either true or false, depending on the specified relation. (Some languages use nonzero and zero integer values in place of Booleans but with the same meaning.) Control structures then test these values.

Icon takes another view of this situation: In Icon, if the relation does not hold (if 1 is not less than j, for example), the corresponding expression does not produce a result: it fails. However, if the relation does hold, the expression does produce a resultits right argument; it succeeds. Thus, i < j fails if i is not less than j and produces no result: but it produces the value of j if the expression succeeds, that is, if i is less than j. Correspondingly control structures in Icon are driven by the success or failure of their control expressions rather than by Boolean values.

These conditional operations appear exactly the same as they do in conventional languages, but Icon offers other possibilities. For instance, control expressions are no longer limited to those that produce Boolean values. In Icon, you can use any expression as a control expression. It may produce a meaningful result, or it may fail. Since the result is not limited to being Boolean, you can use it in another computation. Consider,

for example, while line := read() do

write(line). The function read() produces the next line, if there is one, from standard input but fails at the end of the file. The value it produces is used in assignment, but the loop terminates at the end of the file. This has two important side effects. First, it eliminates any need for end-of-file testing: it follows automatically from the read function. Second, it is not an error for an expression to fail to produce a result; it is a normal consequence of computation.

In Icon, failure is "inherited," since, if an expression fails, there is nothing to operate on and no result can be produced. Thus, you can write this example more concisely if you omit the do clause and combine the read and write as in while write(read()).

The distinction between success and failure in Icon's expression evaluation is only the beginning. In some situations, a computation may have more than one possible result. For example, the following function produces the position of one string that exists as a substring of another:

s := 'There are several errors" find('ler",s)

The string, or substring, "er" occurs at three different places in the string s. Most programming languages solve this ambiguity by picking one of the three results—usually the first one. Of the three positions—3, 14, and 19— two would be discarded. If the discarded possibilities are needed, they must be obtained by using substrings or some similar mechanism. In Icon, however, an expression can generate a sequence of results if that is appropriate in context. There are two contexts in which this may be appropriate: iteration and goal-directed evaluation. The control structure every exprl do exprl performs iteration and causes exprl to produce all its results in sequence. For every result exprl produces. Icon evaluates expr2. For example, the function find can generate all positions, so that for the value of s given above, every i: = find ("er",s) do write(i) writes 3, 14, and 19. Generation, like failure, is inherited; therefore, you can write this expres

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ICON TUTORIAL

sion more compactly as every write {fincl("er",s)).

While iteration forces an expression to generate all its results, there are many situations in which you need only one result. Therefore, i := find ("er",s) assigns the value 3 to i. This method generates no more results since they are not needed. Thus, conventional expression evaluation occurs automatically if you don't use a context that generates more than one result.

Another possibility: There are often several possible solutions to a problem, but they don't all satisfy a larger goal. A simple example would be determining whether "er" occurs in both s1 and s2. It may occur in several positions in both, but locating a commn position is laborious in most programming languages. Icon automatically forces expressions to produce results If they are needed to satisfy a condition in an enclosing expression. An example: find("er",s1) = find ("er",s2) succeeds if and only if "er" occurs at the same position in s1 and s2 (the operator = compares for numerical equality).

The mechanism is simple and automatic, if the left and right expressions produce results, but they are not equal. Icon generates the next result from the right expression. This process continues until either the comparison succeeds or the right expression has no more results. If the right expression has no more results. Icon generates the next result of the left expression, and each of the results for the right expression is generated again. It is simple and natural and straightforward. Much of the conciseness of Icon programs comes from the use of this facility—and it is completely general; it applies to all expressions and to all types of results in all contexts.

Given the idea of expressions that can produce sequences of results, there are all kinds of possibilities. For example, i to j is an expression that generates the integers from i to j. Thus, you can write a for-style control structure using every. . .do, as in every 1 := 1 to 10 do f(i). The rigid format of the for-style control structure in conventional languages is not

Listing 1: Am Icon procedure to produce the larger of two numbers.

procedure max(l,j)

!f I > J then return I else return J

end

Listing 2: An example of how a procedure can fail.

procedure greater (i,j) if i > j then return i else fall

end

Listing 3: A procedure to generate the successive powers of a number I.

procedure powers(I) j := 0 repeat \

suspend I ^ J

j 1

\

end

needed. You can write this expression more concisely as every f(1 to 10).

Another control structure that follows naturally from having sequences of results is alternation: exprl I exprl produces the results for exprl followed by the results for exprl. In conditional contexts, this amounts to logical disjunction. For example, if find ("er",s) = (4 I 14) then write(s) writes the value of s if it contains "er" at position 4 or 14. In iterative contexts, alternation has the effect of "exprl then expr2." For example, every w/rite(find{"er",s1 | s2)) writes all the positions of 'ter" in si followed by all the positions of "er" in s2.

Procedures

Procedures provide a way of extending Icon's built-in repertoire of operators and functions. For example, Icon has no function for producing the larger of two numbers. The procedure in listing 1 does this. You call such a procedure exactly the same way you call a function: write(max(i,j)).

It can also fail the same way a function can fail (see listing 2). In this case, if i is not greater than j, the procedure fails.

An Icon procedure can also be a generator, by using suspend instead of return to produce a result. When a procedure suspends, its environment is left intact and you can resume executing the procedure to produce another result. For example, the procedure in listing 3 generates the successive powers of a number. The expression i") produces K The procedure suspends for the first time when i is raised to the zeroth power (i.e., is equal to 1). If the procedure resumes to obtain another result, j is incremented (j -i-:= 1 is an abbreviation for j := j -I- 1). The repeat control structure is a loop that never terminates. Thus, the procedure powers next suspends when j is raised to the first power, then when it is squared, cubed, and so on. For example, powers(2) generates I, 2, 4, 8, 16, and so on. Note that this generator produces an infinite sequence (or could, except for arithmetic overflow). An infinite generator presents no problem unless you use it in an iterative context. There is also a control structure apr\ \ exprl that limits the number of etpri results to at most the value of e]icpr2. Thus, every write(powers(2)) \ 5.writes 1, 2, 4, 8, 16.

String Processing

After considering the possibilities of Icon expression evaluation, character

string processing may seem mundane. Nonetheless, much computing involves string processing, and conventional programming languages have limited facilities for such computations. Icon has two levels of string processing: analyzing and synthesizing strings based on character position, and pattern matching, which lets you scan strings without worrying about the details.

First, while strings are sequences of characters, Icon has no character data type. Strings can be arbitrarily long, limited only by available memory space. The underlying character set of Icon is ASCII-based. Any 8-bit ASCII character (including the null character)

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ICON TUTORIAL

can occur in an Icon string. Thus, Icon can process binary data as if it were string data. Icon strings are not arrays of characters. You cannot change a character within a string, although there are many ways to create new strings from old ones. This property lets you think of strings as atomic objects that cannot be corrupted.

Since a string is a sequence of characters, concatenating two strings to form a longer one is a natural operation. In Icon, concatenation has the form si II s2. For example, the sequence

s1 := "welconne aboard"

s2 := "mate"

S3 := s1 II ", " II s2

produces the value "welcome aboard, mate" in s3. Since Icon handles storage management automatically you don't need to know—or worry about—how long a string is. (The operator *s produces the length of s in characters if you need it.)

Icon has a number of other operations for constructing strings. For example, repl(s,i) produces i number of concatenations of s; and left(s,i) constructs a string of length i with s positioned to the left and padded with blanks to the right if needed.

Much string processing involves analysis—locating the positions of substrings—or extracting specified

Figure i: A string's character location numbers start to the left of the first character.

d y

t t t ttt

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0

Figure 2: String positions can also start from the right and decrease in number. However, character referencing still begins from the left.

positions from a string. A string's character locations are specified by positions that are between the characters, starting at 1 (which is prior to the first character, as in figure 1). A substring within another string is specified by its bounding positions. For example, if the value of pet is "Rowdy", then pet[1;4] specifies the substring "Row". If you need only a single character, you can omit the second position, so that pet[1] specifies "R". You may assign this substring to

another string, as in nicknanne : = pet[1,4]. This expression assigns a new string "Row" to nickname; it does not change the value of pet.

Since Icon cannot change the characters in a string, it has a convenient abbreviation that appears to do this. If you assign a substring of a variable. Icon constructs a new string to replace the value of the subscripted variable. For instance, pet[1] := "D" appears to change the value of pet to "Dowdy". Icon really performs a concatenation; pet ;= "D" II pet[2:6]. Consequently the first character of pet has not really been modified; pet has been assigned an entirely new string. A moot point, perhaps, but a different approach nonetheless.

If you don't know how long a string will be when you write a program, you can specify string positions in a decreasing fashion starting from the right as illustrated in figure 2. Thus. pet[-1] is "y" Note that although the numbering starts from the right, the position number for a particular letter still commences from the left.

While strings are useful for representing all kinds of textual material, there are situations in which the order of characters is not important but the properties of the character set are. Csets provide this facility and can be

[continued]

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ICON TUTORIAL

specified literally.

Built-in csets are keyword values (values of special importance to Icon). A keyword name begins with an ampersand: for example, some csetvalued keywords are &lcase, &ucase, and &cset The first two have cset values consisting of the lowercase and uppercase letters, respectively. The last, &cset, is the set of all 2 56 ASCII characters. You can perform set operations on csets. For example, the cset union &lcase ++ &ucase consists of

Tcible 1: Tfie input file used for the mmples in this article.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of ftiolishness.

all the lowercase and uppercase letters in the alphabet. Similarly, the cset difference &cset — &icase, consists of all ASCII characters except the lowercase letters.

Both strings and csets are used for analyzing textual material. The function find(s1,s2) is an example. A similar function, upto(c,s), generates the positions of the characters in the cset c that occur in s. For example, the code in listing 4 writes 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, and 22. Both find and up

T&ble 2: The output from the code in listing 5 when table I is its input.

It

was the best of

times it

was

to have an optional third argument that tells Icon where to begin. If you don't specify that argument. Icon assumes it is position 1, the beginning of the string being examined. However, you can specify any other value. For example, every write(upto {'aeiou'.s,10)) writes 12, 14,16, 19, and 22, the vowel positions beyond the tenth position, for the same s. Another function that uses csets is nnany. For example, nnany(c,s) will skip as many characters as it finds at the beginning of s and produce the position in s following those characters.

You can use the functions upto and nnany, which produce positions, in combination with subscripting operations. For example, if you define a word to be a sequence of uppercase and lowercase letters, the program in listing 5 will break a text file into individual words and write them out individually For each line, i starts at 1. The position of the first letter is assigned to j; then i is set to the position of the last letter starting from that point. The value of line[j:i] is the word itself. The process continues until there are no more letters starting at 1. Then another line is read and processed, and so on. For example, if the input file consists of the data in table 1, the output of the program will appear as in table 2.

This typifies low-level string analysis: It computes positions, determines substrings by position, and so on. String scanning handles much of this detail automatically. In a stringscanning expression, which has the form exprl ? exprl, the string value of exprl provides the subject for analysis—corresponding to line in the example—and ex.pr2 contains matching functions that operate on this subject, automatically changing position as they find specified substrings. The position starts at 1. One matching function, tab(i), sets the position to i and returns the substring located between the old and the new positions. Since 1 is a position, it can be provided by a function like upto, which assumes it is examining the current subject if you omit its second argument. Using string scanning, you can rewrite listing 5 as listing 6, and you don't need to

{amtinuedt

Listing 4: The kon code to generate the positions of the various vowels in s.

s :> "There are several errors" every wrIte(upto('aeIou',s))

Listing 5: The Icon code to break a text file into its individual words and write tfiem out one at a time and one to a line.

procedure matn()

letter ftlcase •)■+ &ucase while line read() do { I 1

while J := upto(Ietter,Iine,I) do \ i :>• manyC letter, line, j) wrIte(Hne[J:I])

end

Listing 6: A rewrite of the code in BUng 5 using string scanning.

procedure niain()

letter := ilcase ++ &ucase while line := read() do

line ? while tab(upto(letter)) do wr?te(tab(many(letter)))

end

174 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

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ICON TUTORIAL

specify the subject of analysis within the scanning expression.

Structures

Different values often have a common property or are considered part of an aggregate of values. Conventional programming languages provide arrays or vectors for grouping values that occur in sequence and are referred to by position. Icon provides such a facility in its list data type. It also has sets, which are unordered collections of values, and tables, in which pairs of values can be associated. All of these aggregates are themselves data values and are constructed during program execution. Therefore, you can compute their sizes as you need them rather than having to specify them when you write the program.'

Lists. A list is a sequence of values. You can construct a list by specifying its elements explicitly or by specifying its size and the initial values of all its elements. For example, tabulation := list(1000,0) assigns a list of 1000 zero values to tabulation. You can reference list elements by position by using their subscripts, and you can change them by assignment, as in tabulation[30] := 10, which changes the 30th element of the list to the value 10.

A list element is a variable and, like other variables in Icon, can have any type of value, for example, tabulation[1] := "first place". Since a list is a sequence of values, it is natural to have a generator (la) produce this sequence. For example, every w/rite{!a) writes out all the values in a. Since a list points to the aggregate of its elements (the address where the elements are kept), a list element may also be a list. For example,

node1 := ["a",0] node2 := ["b",0] node1[2] := node2 node2[2] := node1

The zero values are place holders that are then replaced by list values. Figure 3 depicts graphically the resulting structure. Therefore, you can use lists in Icon to represent graphs and other structures that have connections between various objects. Note that these

Figure 3: A grapfiic representation of the structure of an Icon list.

Listing 7: The Icon code to read

in all the lines in a file and write them out again in reverse order, last line first.

procedure maln() Iines := []

while push(l ines.readO) while wrlte(pop(llnes))

end

lists are heterogeneous, consisting in this case of a string value and a list value.

Arrays in most languages are fixed in size and can be referenced only by position. Icon supports stack and queue access to its lists to allow them to grow and shrink. The function push(a,x) pushes the value x onto the beginning (left end) of the list a, increasing its size by one. The function put(a,x) puts the value of x onto the right end of a, also increasing its size by one. Correspondingly, pop(a) removes the leftmost value from a, whatever it may be, and fails if a is empty. The rightmost value is similarly removed by pull(a).

You can use push and pop in combination to make a list look like a stack—a last-in, first-out data structure where you add and remove values at the same end. The function get is synonymous with pop; therefore, you can use put and get to make a list look like a queue—a data structure where you add values to one end and remove them from the other.

Often a program reads data from an input file and puts it into a list for processing, yet you don't know the number of ipput lines you will have when you write the program. You<:an handle this by starting with an empty

list (indicated by [ ]) and pushing or putting input lines into it. For example, the program in listing 7 reads in all the lines of a file and writes them out in reverse order, last line first. This kind of program is practical only if the file is small and can be stored in a list in memory at one time.

Sets. Sometimes a collection of values has no particular order. Instead, the values have some common property such as being words from an input file, icon provides sets for such purposes and supports the usual set operations: membership testing, insertion and deletion of values, and the union, intersection, and difference of two sets.

The function set(a) creates a set from list a. For example, articles : = set(['the","a"]) creates a set with two members. You can insert, or add, a member to a set, as in insert(articles,:"an"); adding a member more than once has no effect. The number of members in a set is limited only by the amount of memory available. Sets also share several other characteristics with lists: The operator !s generates all the members of set s; a set value is a pointer to one of that set's members: and sets can have members of different types. A set can even point to itself as a member! For example,

s := set(a) insert(s,s)

There is no paradox here since a set value is just a pointer; the challenge is to find a constructive use for this capability.

The program in listing 8 illustrates one use of sets; it writes a list of all the different words that occur in the input file. The function sort produces a sorted list, so that the words are written in alphabetical order (see table 3). Each word appears only once regardless of the number of times it appears in the input file. Note that "It" appears before words beginning with lowercase letters because uppercase letters precede lowercase ones in the ASCII collating sequence.

Tables. While lists deal with sequences of values and sets handle unordered collections of values. Icon uses tables containing value pairs to

176 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

ICON TUTORIAL

Listing 8: An illustration of one use of Icon sets. This program writes a sorted list of all the different words that occur in an input file.

procedure main()

letter := &lcase ++ &ucase

words := set([])

while line := read() do

line ? while tab(upto(Ietter)) do insert(words,tab(many(letter))) every write(!sort(words))

end

T^ble 3: The output from the program in listing 8 when table 1 is its input.

It

age best

foolishness

It

of

the

times

was

wisdom

worst

associate two values—for example, the number of times a word occurs in a file. One value, such as a word, is used as a key to index the table; the other value, such as the number of times the word occurs in the file, is associated with the key. Keys are unique in any table; only one value

can be associated with a given key To create a table, you use table(x), where x is the default initial value automatically associated with new keys. Tables are initially empty To add pairs to a table, you subscript the table with a key and assign a corresponding value. Thus, if t is a table.

t["the"] := 1 assigns the value 1 to the key "the" in t Tables grow automatically as you assign values to new keys; the size of a table is limited only by the amount of memory available.

Since you can compute keys, you may need to find out what keys are

{continued)

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ICON TUTORIAL

Listing 9: Ah illustration of one use of Icon tables. This program lists alpfiabetically all the words in the input file mth a count of fm mny times each one occurs.

++ &ucase

)

do

>le(0)

procedure main() letter := Slcase wordcount := tab! wh i 1/9 I ine := rec line ? whi

wordcount[tab(many(Ietter))] +:= wordlist := sort(wordcount,3) while write(get(wordlist), " : ", get(wordl!st))

end

lile tabfuptofletter)) do 3unt[tab(many(I

1

Tkble 4: The output from the program in listing 9 when table 1 is

its input.

It; 1 age : 2 best: 1 foolishness: 1 it: 3 of: 4 the : 4 times : 2 was : 4 wisdom : 1 worst: 1

in tlie table: To do this, you can produce a corresponding list in which keys and their values alternate with a := sort(t,3). where sort (with a second argument of 3) produces a list sorted on the keys. (Other second arguments for sort will produce different kinds of sorting for tables.)

The program in listing 9 illustrates the use of tables; it lists all the words occurring in the input file with a count of how many times each one occurs. The output is shown in table 4. Note that the initial value for a new key is 0. The final line of the program uses get(a) to extract alternate keys and their values. The function write may have several arguments; if it does, they are automatically concatenated on the output line.

Other Features. Icon also has a number of other features worth noting (see reference 1 for a complete description).

• Icon has an extensive repertoire of functions and operations for performing numerical computation, string analysis and synthesis, and list processing.

• You can call Icon procedures recursively, allowing you to handle recursively defined structures, like trees, in a natural way. Generators also can be

recursive.

• You can declare records whose elements are referenced by names. This lets you extend Icon's repertoire of built-in data types.

• You can contain expressions in coeKpresaons, so that generators can pro

duce their results as needed throughout a program.

IMPLEIVIENTATIONS

Icon includes a translator, alinter, and a run-time system. The translator converts an Icon source program to an intermediate form that consists of instructions for a "virtual" machine. This virtual machine can be thought of as an Icon machine, although it is implemented in software, not hardware. (A description of the implementation appears in reference 2.) The linker combines virtual machine code from separately translated modules and produces a binary output, much like an assembler produces executable binary code from assembly language input.

When an Icon program executes, the binary code is read into memory and interpreted. Using an interpreter rather than executing compiled machine code provides portability and flexibility. In addition, the interpreter is only slightly slower than the compiler that was originally used. Compilation does not provide a big performance improvement because many Icon operations are executed in compiled run-time subroutines. This is true regardless of whether the source program is compiled into executable machine code or translated into a machine-independent form for interpretation.

In Conclusion

Icon is a multifaceted, multifunctional, character-string processing language

available in the public domain. Its method of evaluating expressionsproducing a result (or sequence of results) if the expression succeeds, and no result if it fails—distinguishes it from other high-level programming languages. Since Icon is written in C, it runs on a wide range of computers with little or no modification; you do, however, need a production-quality C compiler and library to compile it from source code. If you don't have a C compiler, executable binary files for DOS 2.0 or higher are also available.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

\con is a result of ongoing research in programming languages supported by the National Science Foundation and The University of Arizona.

REFERENCES

1. Griswold, Ralph E., and Madge T. Griswold, The kon Programming language, Englewood Cliffs, NI: Prentice-Hall, 1983.

2. Griswold, Ralph E., and Madge T Griswold, The implementation of the kon Programming Languor, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Tb appear.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Fonorow. Owen R., "From SNOBOL4's Founder

Comes kon," Computer language, vol. 3, no.

7 duly 1986), pages 73-84. Fonorow, Owen R., "Users Press icon into

Commercial Service," Computerworld, vol.

XIX, no. 46 (November 18, 1985), pages

75-92.

Griswold, Ralph E., and Madge T Griswold, "High-Level String Processing languages: COMIX SN0B0L4, and Icon," Abacus, vol. 3. no. 4 (Summer 1986), pages 32-34. ■

178 BYTE • OCIOBER 1986

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1986 1987 1988 1989 1990

HVENUES SovLrce: Fu.t-ure Computing

This image was printed with an ordinary color dot matrix printer and the ImagEnhancer PC add-on board. With a monochrome printer, you get the same high resolution in black and white.

SO ORDER TODAY.

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Phone: Send _

- ImagEnhancer(s) at $595 each*

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Mail to: Alps America 3553 North First Street San Jose, CA 95134 Or caU(800) 828-ALPS In California, (800) 257-7872

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BM's Personal Computer is the standard of the industry, but a Thomson monitor gives your IBIVI's great body a beautiful face. A Thomson monitor atop your IBM simply outperforms the IBM Color Display Here's proof:

FEATURE

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Dot pitch (in mml

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Screen

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Thomson is a iradematli of Thomson S.A. IBM is a regisieied l/ademrk al International Busmss Machines Corp. IBM model nambet 5153. Ustpiices in effect on Feburary 18. 19.

182 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 301 for End-Users. Inquiry 302 for DEALERS ONLY.

PUBLIC DOMAIN POWERHOUSES

ENHANCED CONSOLE DRIVER

BY Anthony Zackin

Create a user-^friendly interface for DOS with this ANSI.SYS replacement

ONE OF THE most important functions of an operating system is to provide centralized support for I/O devices. When doing an input or output operation via the operating system, a program normally needs only to identify the device—the operating system then handles the details. For example, writing to the console and writing to a printer are similar and may, in fact, be performed by the same high-level language program statement, but from the operating system's point of view they are quite different. Consequently to handle the differences between computer I/O devices the operating system must provide a set of routines called device drivers, usually one per device type, that handle the peculiarities of each device. These drivers are resident extensions of the operating system, which can call them as needed.

Versions 2.0 and later of MS-DOS and PC-DOS allow user-defined device drivers. You can define drivers to support new devices or replace existing DOS device drivers. An additional device driver for the console, which includes the keyboard and the display, comes in the EX3S distribution package. This driver, ANSI.SYS. sup

ports a subset of the American National Standards Institute cursor control sequences for terminal control. You can use these sequences, for example, to clear the screen, position the cursor, set display attributes such as foreground and background colors, and reassigji the meaning of the key* board keys.

Replacing ANSI.SYS

I've written a complete replacement

of the ANSI.SYS driver that provides

the same functions and supports many more. I've also developed a utility to make programming the driver a simple matter My driver, the Enhanced Console Driver (ECD), has a 2000-byte key definition buffer, which is almost seven times larger than that of ANSI.SYS. [Editor's note: Tf\e ECD and associated files (CONDRV43.SYS. CU.EXT. README. AUTOEXEC.BAT. CONFIG43.SYS. MENU25.BAT. STDKEYS.CU, C0NDRV.DOC MENU43.BAT. MENU2.BAT. STDFKEYS.CU. and MENU.BAT) are available on disk and on BIX. See the insert card following page 320. Listings are also available on BYTEnet. See page 4. You will need an IBM PC or compatible with DOS 2.0 or later.] The ECD also provides for a more

friendly user interface to the operating system. It does this by adding an on-screen clock with alarm, a Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Print Screen indicator, and the ability to define text windows, which may be displayed by either an application program or the operating system PROMPT command.

You control these functions in a manner similar to controlling ANSI.SYS—via special control sequences that start with an Escape character (ASCII value 27) followed by a left bracket (|, ASCII value 91). However, valid control sequences are never shown directly on the display device. The ECD examines all DOS output to the screen, looking for this sequence. If a control sequence is found, the ECD examines the remaining characters for a valid command and executes that command; otherwise, the output is displayed normally on the console.

Because device drivers become

{mtinuedt

Anthony Zackin, an assistant vice president with Citibank N.A. (399 Park Ave.. New York. NY 10043), has an M.S. in computer science from Rutgers and more than 12 years of professional programming experience with IBM mainframes and assorted micros.

OCIOBER 1986 * B«TB IWt

ENHANCED CONSOLE DRIVER

resident extensions of DOS, you can issue commands to the ECD at any time. Tiie only caveat is tiiat you must execute the commands via the operating system so that the console driver recognizes them. Thus, you may execute the ECD commands in any program that updates the display through a DOS function call (interrupt 21H). Since there are many programs that avoid DOS for performance reasons, the ECD has the additional capability to support programs that do their console output via the system BIOS. However, programs that write directly to the display adapter are not supported by the ECD,

Windows

Probably the most useful feature of the ECD is its ability to define windows in memory and then display them instantly on the console. One 80-column by 25-line text screen (4000 bytes, including 1 attribute byte per character) is available as a private

screen buffer for storing windows. The ECD can also take advantage of the extra memory on the IBM Color Graphics Adapter (CGA). The CGA contains 16K bytes of memory of which only 4K are needed in the 80-column text mode. You may use the remaining 12K as three additional buffers to store more windows; unlike the ECD's private buffer, however, this 12K-byte area cannot be guaranteed across all program calls.

A window is nothing more than a set of four coordinates defining the upper left and lower right window corners relative to the display buffer. Each set of window coordinates in a buffer has a number, which you assign, and each buffer can hold up to eight windows. You place window text in a buffer by passing to the ECD a color attribute, a row and column coordinate, and a string of text, lb display a window, you select the appropriate buffer and pass the window number to the ECD. The ECD instant

ly displays the window during the vertical retrace interval.

Other Display Options

You don't have to use the windows, however, to take advantage of the ECD's other features. The ECD can also display the current time anywhere on the screen and, if you have a color display in any color. In a similar manner the ECD can display the seven-character (including spaces) string " C N P" to indicate the toggle settings for Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Print Screen—where the individual letters are displayed only when the corresponding setting is on.

The time display is a familiar hoursand-minutes format that you can easily move or switch on or off. For example, Lotus 1-2-3 version lA does not display the current time, but with the ECD you could place the time display in, say, line 25 using the same colors as the other 1-2-3 status items.

(continuetti

"IF YOU'RK LKARNING C AND ifddUl^i NOT USING ECO-C88, YOU'RE « IIBII^J

inrii?«s2fli

ECO-C88 is a full C compiler for MSDOS machines. Everything you need is included in the low price of $59.95, including a full-screen editor. Here's what some reviewers are saying about the Eco-C88 C Compiler:

"Eco-C performed well on all the benchmarks, generating code that was quite comparable to that of compilers 10 times as costly." Christopher Skelly, Computer Language, Feb., 19S6

"This compiler does handle syntax errors much better than average - no avalanche of spurious messages here." mi/iam Hunt, PC Tech Journal, Jan., 1986

"ECO-C88 is a high-quality package... convenient to use..." Dr. David Clark, Byte. Jan., 1986

"Eco-C is definitely a bargain... it includes both the compiler and an excellent Turbo-style editor... a useful compiler for advanced applications, and will serve far tieyond the beginning phase." Gary Entsmingcr. Micro Cornucopia, April-May, 1986

The compiler comes with a standard library of over 200 functions, cc and "mini-make" utilities. ANSI language enhancements (e.g., prototypiniil. expanded user's manual, plus much more, all for the low price of only $59.95. Also ask about our support products!

If ordered with the compiler, the C library source code (excluding transcendentals) is $10.00 and the ISAM file handler (as published in the C Programmer's Library, Que Corp) in OBJ format is an additional $15.00. Please add$4.00 for shipping and handling. To order, call or write:

Ecosoft Inc.

6413 N. College Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46220 (317)255-6476 ■ 8:30-4:30

1-800-952-0472 (orders only)

We've continually improved Microstat since it was introduced in 1978, and the latest release Includes many new features you've wanted.

Interactive and Batch Processing

Expanded Data Management Subsystem with New Data Transforms

Reading data files created by other programs (e.g., Lotus)

3 types of Analysis of Variance

Time Series

Crosstabs and Chi-Square

Factorials, Permutations, and Combinations

Hypothesis Tests

Data sets that can exceed memory

Multiple Regression (including Stepwise)

Scatterplots (including best fit regression)

Correlation Analysis

12 Nonparametric tests

8 Probability Distributions

Descriptive Statistics

Easy Installation

MIcrostat's algorithms have been designed to prevent numeric overflow errors and yield unsurpassed accuracy. MIcrostat's price is $375.00 including the user's manual and Is available for the Z80, 8086, 8088 CPU's and CP/M80, CP/M86, MS-DOS, and PC-DOS. To order, call Or write.

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Trademarks: Eco-C88, Microstat (Ecosofil, CP/M (Digital Research), MSDOS (Microsoft). PC-DOS (IBM), Z80 (Zilog), 8086,8087,8088 (Intel).

184 B Y T E • OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 342

Inquiry IS5

ENHANCED CONSOLE DRIVER

The CU Command Syntax

The following is a list of the commands supported by the Console Utility. Variables that you supply are indicated with variable words written in lowercase. Items in square brackets refer to optional fields: items separated by a vertical bar (I) indicate alternatives, one of which should be used. Bracketed fields followed by an ellipsis mean that zero or more occurrences of that field are acceptable: for example, [ [attr] string ]. . . means that any number of occurrences of a character string or a string preceded by an attribute or any combination thereof is valid.

An attribute represents the color or brightness of a character displayed on the console. It consists of two letters, one for the background color and one for the foreground color A capital letter usually sets a blinking field for the background color and high intensity for a foreground color Valid color values are V(/|W = white biB = black. u|U = blue, r|R = red. g|G = green, y = brown (Y = yellow), c|C = cyan, and m|M = magenta.

Commands

row [,] col [attr] string [ [attr] string

or

@ NEXTROW i NR [,] col [attr] string [ [attr] string ]. , ,

locates text in the current buffer. If multiple attributes and strings are specified, they will be placed in the next buffer position following the preceding specified string. The row value should be between 1 and 2 5 inclusive, the column value (col) between 1 and either 40 or 80 inclusive depending on the current screen mode. If NEXTROW or NR is used instead of a row number, the number used will be equal to the row value of the previous @ command + 1.

ALARM [ [AT | @] hfi[:mm][xx] [ [DISPLAY] [WINDOW] number ]

ALARM [ [AT | @] hh[:nnm][xx] [ [DISPLAY] [attr] string [ [attr] string ]. . , ]

hh:mmxx represents the ASCII value of the time on a 12- or 24-hour clock: if the former, xx should be am or pm: if omitted, hours between 8 and 11 inclusive will be assumed am, all others pm. The window number should be a value between 0 and 7 inclusive. If a window number is specified, then every time the alarm sounds, that window in buffer ZERO is displayed. If a string is specified, then up to 80 characters of text will be placed in row 2 5 of screen buffer ZERO and assigned to window 7: this is equivalent to issuing the three commands ALARM hh:mmxx 7; DEFINE WIND 7 AS 25,1 THRU 25,80 AT 24,1; @25,1 attr "This is the message text." Note that the message is placed in line 2 5 of the buffer but is displayed in line 24 because the latter is less likely to contain system status information. The alarm will sound approximately every 30 seconds until explicitly reset: this may be done by typing CU ALARM RESET or more simply by pressing both the left and right Shift keys simultaneously (this will also reset a pending alarm). If no arguments are specified, the alarm will be sounded once.

ALARM RESET

turns off a currently ringing or pending alarm. BIOSTRAP OUTPUT | NONE

OUTPUT means that output operations to the console via the BIOS will be trapped: that is, programs that bypass DOS calls using direct BIOS calls instead may issue console driver commands via their escape sequences, NONE means that BIOS call trapping will be turned off if set.

{continued)

Math CAD

The Engineer's Scratch Pad

■■][t]ll;llil;M:W):

FOURIER RECONSTRUCTION; SQUARE WflUE

:-- 40 j B ..N

1 - 2 iS(j - 20)

Reconstruct function, using first two terns of Fourier series

40 points step

function

i 1,3 .,3

4^1 - > - sin n -i—' i

i2ir'

1.5

R ,S J J

-1,5

A powerful computation and documentation tool for your IBM-PC.

With MathCAD you simply and interactively create, edit and display formulas on the screen the way you are used to writing them. Equations are instantly computed and the results displayed on the screen as a single number or a plot. Text may be added to the screen and everything may be printed out as an integrated document. MathCAD has built-in hyperbolic and circular functions, performs all calculations with real and complex numbers, performs iterative calculations, handles all units, performs error checking and dimensional analysis and much more...

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To order send check, p.o., call us with your MasterCard number or call us for the nearest dealer

I.BOO.MathCAD or 617.577.1017

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One Kendall Square Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139

OCTOBER 1986 • B Y T E 185

Inquiry 230

PC-SIG Library

Keeps on growing.*.

New disks recently added to our library of user-supported and public domain software for the PC:

□ #471 Present VS.1 Make your own slide shows for business or home using your color monitor

□ #477 Name Gram/Break Down/Fone Word

Do anagrams, find whal words your phone number makes.

□ #480 PC-Oulllne Outline and organize information, much likeThinktank.

□ #481 Still River Shell Makes DOS easy to use.

□ #483 Mall Master Keeps track of multiple lisis, sorts and prints by city slate, zip and name.

□ #485 Icon Maker and FX-MatrIx Ivlakes graphics characters like the MAC for your screen and you can paint them on your EPSON printer

□ #487 Reflex Point An action game modeled alter Ihe ROBOTECH cartoon series.

□ #492 Nutrient Tracks your diet and its calorie/ nulrient value.

□ #494,495,496 The World DlgitUed Find over 100,000 different locations in the world and display them on screen.

□ #498 DOS-a-MatIc Load different programs and manipulate them with single keystrokes.

□ #499 PROCOMM Communications with XMODEM, KERMIT, ASCII protocols, supports IBM3101, DEC VT52/1000, ADM-3 and ANSI.

□ #501 & 502 Saleseye Tracks prospects, leads and memos and prints letters with that information.

n #503 Reliance Mailing List Keeps track of multiple lists, sorts and prints by specific groupgood for custom mailing.

□ #506 Bibliography of Business Ethics and Moral Values The regularly updated master bibliography for those doing papers and research involving business ethics.

□ #507 PC-SprInt Software and instruction on how to cheaply speed up your system 2-3 limes

□ #5084509 Statistics Tools Factorexperimenis, "FORGETIT" plots, simultaneous confidence intervals, randomization tests, expected mean squares.

n #510 Visible PASCAL Compiler Learn to

program PASCAL and watch Ihe internal functions

of PASCAL as it runs, n #511 TUrbo Sprites and Animation Create,

maintain and animate your own images in TURBO

PASCAL.

RECENT DISK UPDATES

□ # 5 PC-File Ver 4

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n #402 IBM 370 Cross Assembler Ver 11

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1030-D East Duane Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94086 213

ENHANCED CONSOLE DRIVER

BUFFER fiumber

sets the current buffer: number should be a value between 0 and 3 inclusive: default = 0. All subsequent commands affecting a buffer, namely, @, CLEAR, DEFINE, and DISPLAY, will use this buffer until it is explicitly reset.

CLEAR [attr] row [,] col [THRU | THROUGH] row [,] col

clears a portion of the current buffer and resets its attribute bytes.

CLEAR EOL

"clears" from the current position to the end of that line by filling it with blanks using the last specified attribute. (The current position is the location in the buffer immediately following the last character written by the @ command.)

CLOCK [attr] [BLINK] [SUPPRESS number] [ [AT | @] row [,] col ] displays the time as hh:mmxx (xx=am/pm) at the specified location. The row value should be between 1 and 2 5 inclusive, the column value (col) between

1 and either 40 or 80 inclusive depending on the current screen mode. BLINK determines whether the colon will blink. SUPPRESS will suppress the next number clock calls so that this call may be effective even though a subsequent call to display the clock is made via the system PROMPT string: a value of 255 will keep the clock off until a subsequent CLOCK SUPPRESS call with a value <

2 55 (e.g.. 0). If the [AT row.col] specification is omitted, the time will not be displayed until the next CLOCK command with an AT row.col parameter. If the CLOCK is not set by the PROMPT string, then typing CLOCK alone turns off the display: if the CLOCK is set by the PROMPT use CLOCK SUPP 255 to temporarily turn off the display.

CLOCK DISABLE

releases all control of the system clock and is useful to enable other programs to get control of the clock interrupt: the next CLOCK call without the DISABLE option will reenable control of the system clock. CLOCK DISABLE can be used to temporarily give up control of the system clock to allow a timer-sensitive application to get precedence. Control of the system clock is initially disabled.

DEFINE [WINDOW number] [AS] row [,] col | [THRU | THROUGH] row [,] col [AT I @] row [,] col

defines a window (default is 0) in the current buffer for a subsequent display The row values should be between I and 2 5 inclusive, the column values (col) between 1 and either 40 or 80 inclusive depending on the current screen mode. The AT parameters refer to the location on the screen where the window will be placed.

DISPLAY [WINDOW number]

immediately displays the specified window (0 if omitted) of the current buffer. This command may also be used as the redefinition value of a key.

EXIT

takes you out of the CU program (needed only in the interactive mode). HELP [PRINT] [string]

HELP string displays a summary of all commands whose names start with the specified string: commands include @, ALARM, BIOSTRAR BUFFER. CLEAR. CLOCK, DEFINE, DISPLAY EXIT LOCKS READ STACK, or KEY for key redefinition information. If HELP ALL or HELP PRINT ALL is specified, the full document is listed or printed. If PRINT is specified, the output will be directed to the printer.

KEYDEF SUPPRESS number

KEYDEF SUPPRESS n will set the DOS keyboard redefinition suppress count: 0 = interpret redefinitions. 1-2 54 = suppression count. Keyboard redefinition should be suppressed prior to running programs that use DOS I/O and need to read the keys you have redefined for DOS. KEYDEF SUPPRESS 255 will

[conlimed]

BALANCE OF POWER.

Introducing the new power in AT-cIass personal business computers. The NEC Advanced Personal Computer IV.

You're the kind of person who's very serious about personal computers. The kind of person who will never settle for just a powerful machine. Or just a compatible machine. Because you want them both. You're a Power User.

And the NEC APCIV™ is the one machine that strikes a perfect balance between compatibility and power.

Because the APC IV offers both 6 MHz and 8MHz processing speeds. So you can run all the industry standard software. Like Lotus 1-2-3.™ dBase III.™ Multiplan.™ Windows.™ You name it.

Plus the APC rV has the power of NEC behind it. The $ 10 billion leader in computers and communications. So you never have to worry about support. The new NEC APC FV. Because sooner or later, you're going to have to take it to the limit. For more information, call NEC at 1-800-343-4419 (in MA 617-264-8635). NEC Information Systems, Inc., Dept. 1610, 1414

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SEC

^^g^^^ Computers and Communications

Inquiry 213

OCTOBER 1986 • B Y T E 187

Inquiry 142

DRIVE INN

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ENHANCED CONSOLE DRIVER

decrement the keyboard redefinition suppress count if it is nonzero (i.e.. keyboard redefinition has been suppressed): KEYDEF SUPPRESS -1 may be specified instead for clarity This corresponds to Esc[136;255:, which normally should be part of the system prompt as $e[136;255: to explicitly decrement any nonzero redefinition suppress count. Note that this suppression count should be 1 greater than the count used in the other commands (e.g.. CLOCK), since the count will be decremented explicitly by the system prompt prior to the use of any redefined key

LOCKS [attr] [SUPPRESS number] [ [AT | @] row/ [,] col ] displays the current toggle status for Caps Lock. Num Lock, and Print Screen (set/reset via Ctrl-PrtSc or Ctrl-P). SUPPRESS will suppress the next number lock display calls so that this call may be effective even though a subsequent call is made via a user-defined PROMPT string: a value of 255 will keep the locks off until a subsequent LOCKS SUPPRESS call with a value < 2 55 (e.g., 0). The row value should be between 1 and 2 5 inclusive, the column value (col) between I and either 40 or 80 inclusive depending on the current screen mode. If the AT row.col specification is omitted, the lock display will not be displayed until the next LOCKS command with an AT row.col parameter. If the LOCKS are not set by the PROMPT string, typing LOCKS alone turns off the display: if the LOCKS are set by the PROMPT use LOCKS SUPP 255 to temporarily turn off the display

LOCKS DISABLE

releases all control of the keyboard and is useful to enable other programs to get control of the keyboard interrupt: the next LOCKS call without the DISABLE option will reenable control of the keyboard. LOCKS DISABLE can be used to temporarily give up control of the keyboard to allow a keyboard-sensitive application to get precedence. Control of the keyboard is initially disabled.

MODE screen-size-number [SUPPRESS number]

screen-size-number should be 2 5 or 43. MODE 43 sets the number of screen lines to 43 for use with the Enhanced Graphics Adapter or equivalent. MODE 25 resets the number of lines per screen to the standard value. SUPPRESS will suppress the next number mode calls so that this call may be effective even though a subsequent call is made via a user-defined PROMPT string: a value of 2 55 will disable subsequent MODE calls until one with a SUPPRESS value < 255 (e.g., 0) is issued. (The console driver window buffers are still limited to 2 5 lines even in 43-line mode.)

READ [device:][path]filename [ ,[device:][path]filename ]. . . accepts CU input from the specified file or files This command can be specified only from the parameter string or the keyboard: that is. a READ file cannot contain another READ command.

STACK string

puts the specified string at the end of the DOS keyboard input buffer This command is useful for providing a predefined response for applications that use DOS commands to read keyboard input. READ should be either the only command or the last command in a file processed by CU READ since it causes CU to terminate.

The ECD clock also includes an audible alarm. The alarm has a distinctive sound, which you can use in lieu of the standard bell, for example, to signal the end of a batch file. Or, of course, you can set the alarm for a specific time. You can even have a text window display a message on the console when the alarm goes off. (If the alarm goes off when the display

is in graphics mode, the text window will not be legible.) Once activated, the alarm will continue ringing until you turn it off by issuing a command sequence to the ECD or by pressing both Shift keys at once. In the latter case the ECD sounds two beeps to indicate the alarm has been reset. For systems with an IBM Enhanced

(conlinMd)

188 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

WhyDoTh^Lock

So ESfoent But Cc6t AboutThe Same?

i

i This is Toshiba 24 pin letter quality.

1

Thi

i s 9 pin p r " i n t & r q i.\ a 1 i t y,

When we developed the P321 and P341 3-In-One™ dot matrix printers, we had just two goals in mind.

Superb 24-pin letter-quality reproduction. And a price that's as close as possible to standard 9-pin models.

One look at the print sample shows you we succeeded. So will one look at the price.

In fact, we were so successful, we gave these 24-pin printers with the 9-pin price a special name: The Affordable Class.

And we included features—starting with type font cartridge capability—that put them in a class by themselves.

Both the Toshiba P321 and P341 printers produce letter-quality documents at 72 CPS, drafts at 216 CPS and high-resolution graphics at 180 X 360 dpi.

Each printer has our industry-standard P351 command set for more sophisticated word processing and high-resolution graphics.

And each printer has standard application compatibility with the entire IBM-PC' line of products.

Options include downloadable disk capability and type font cartridges for an unlimited range of type styles, a one- or two-bin sheet feeder

P321

as well as continuous forms tractor feeder

The affordable and compact P321: If your budget is less than compatible with your business and correspondence needs, you need our popular P321.

You get letter-quality reproduction in a printer that looks great on die bottom line.

The affordable extended-carriage P341: If you need to do full-size spreadsheets, you need our wide-carriage P341.

Like the P321, the P341 uses our 24-pin printhead that lasts up to four times longer than other printheads, and has made us the number one seller in the business.

So buy a Toshiba Affordable Class P321 or P341 printer today You'll get letters that look perfect every time.

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For the name and location of the Toshiba printer and computer dealer nearest you, call 1-800-457-7777.

1. IBM-PC is a registered trademai'k of International Business Machines Corporation. *Offer expires 2/15/87. See yuur Toshiba dealer for details. Or call 1-800-457-7777

f

mm

P341

Inquiry 310

In Touch with "Tomorrow

TOSHIBA

Tbshitxi Aniericii, Inc.. Information Systems Division

OCTOBER 1986 -BYTE 189

ENHANCED CONSOLE DRIVER

Programming the Keyboard

In addition to the standard, typewriter-like keys on the keyboard, you can also redefine any of the special keys listed below. All nannes preceded by an A, C, or S refer to the concurrent typing of the Alt, Ctrl, or Shift keys respectively— except for names beginning with CU, which refers to the arrow (cursor) keys on the numeric keypad. For example, CULE is the cursor left (arrow) key; CCULE is that key plus the Ctrl key; Al is the 1 key plus the Alt key; SFl is the Shift key plus the Fl key, etc. Some of the keys can be specified in more than one way, for example, CCULE or CCURSORLEFT. These special key names may also be used in the redefinition string to reset a special key to its original value. You should not use quotation mark delimiters when entering these key names.

A-, AO, Al, A2. A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9, A=. AA, AB, AC, AD, AE, AF, AFI, AFIO, AF2, AF3. AF4, AF5, AF6, AF7, AF8, AF9, AG, AH, Al, AJ, AK, AL, AM. AN, AO, AP, AQ, AR, AS, AT, AU. AV, AW, AX, AY, AZ, BACKTAB, CCULE, CCURi, CCURSORLEFT, CCURSORRIGHT CEND, CFl, CFIO, CF2, CF3, CF4, CF5, CF6, CF7. CF8, CF9, CHOME, CPAGEDOWN. CPAGEUP, CPGDN. CPGUR CPRTS, CPRTSC CUDN, CULE, CURl, CURSORDOWN, CURSORLEFX CURSORRIGHT, CURSORUP CUUR DEL, END, Fl, FIO, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8, F9, HOME, INS. PAGEDOWN, PAGEUP, PGDN, PGUP, SFl, SFIO, SF2, SF3, SF4, SF5. SF6, SF7, SF8, SF9, STAB .

Examples

lb define the key combination Alt plus function key Fl so that it changes the current directory to one named WP and invokes a program named WORD, you could use any of the three following statements (the Enter key can be represented by either "013 or }):

AF1 CDVWP'OISWORD-Oia

AF1 "CD\WP -013 WORD -013"

API CD\WP}WORD}

lb undefine (return to its original state) the key combination Alt plus function key Fl, use AF1 AF1.

Graphics Adapter or equivalent the ECD provides 4 3-line support. This feature is useful primarily for certain DOS operations, but you can also use it with programs that are easily modified, such as WordStar 3.3, to take advantage of the additional display lines. Most DOS commands, unfortunately expect a 25-line display, but many, such as MORE, for example, can be patched to work with 43 lines. Others, including DEBUG, work great in the 43-Iine mode. Switching between 25and 43-line modes is easy.

Displaying Menus from the PROMPT Command

Because the DOS PROMPT command can send an escape character to the console via a special meta string ($e). you could use PROMPT to

completely control the ECD. This means that every time your computer would normally display the standard system prompt, the ECD can automatically display one or more windows. Such an ability lets you easily create a shell screen for DOS. For example, you can have help information or menus appear on the screen—in effect, just a fancy system prompt—and you can still issue all DOS commands normally.

When used with its key assignment feature, the ECD even lets you invoke a program with a single key Thus, the prompt menu could list each program and the associated key or key combination that invokes it. When you terminate the program, the PROMPT command also ensures that a new menu is displayed; that way, you

always know what programs are available and how to run them.

PROGRAMMING THE ECD

As with ANSl.SYS, the native ECD command syntax extensions were designed for computers, not for people. For example, to put a red-on-white "HELLO" followed by a magenta-onblack "THERE" in the first positions of a memory buffer you would have to send the following escape sequences to the ECD (where Esc refers to the 1-byte value of the escape character, ASCII value 27):

Esc[2;116;1;1;"HELLO": Esc[66;5;"THERE":

You could issue the sequence from a file using the DOS TYPE command (assuming the file contains embedded escape values) or an ad hoc program, which might translate every occurrence of $e to an escape character or you could simply use the system PROMPT command. In any case, the syntax is unwieldy and certainly hard to remember.

Hence 1 developed the Console Utility (CU)—a program that accepts less cryptic commands for controlling the ECD functions. In general, with the help of the CU you have to use native ECD commands only for functions controlled by the system prompt. Otherwise, the CU provides a much easier way to issue ECD commands either directly on the DOS command line or as part of a batch file. It also provides help information for all the commands as well as general information about how to use the program. (Type CU HELP ALL for a full list of commands and options.) See the text box "The CU Command Syntax" on page 185.) If the CU is run widiout command parameters, it will prompt you for commands with a question mark.

When issuing CU commands from a batch file, you can specify an entire set of commands by separating the commands with semicolons. One of the CU commands, READ, enables the CU to read and interpret one or more command files; consequently, you can create complicated window definitions with just one call of the CU program.

(continued^

190 BYTE' OCTOBER r986

New GPS Series: Tek sets the pace with SmartCursors and push-button ease.

Work faster, smarter, with two new general purpose scopes from Tektronix. The four-channel,.100 MHz 2246 and 2245 set the new, fast pace for measurements at the bench or in the field. They're easy to use and afford, by design.

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SmartCursors'" track voltmeter measurements in the 2246 and visually indicate where ground and trigger levels are located. Or use cursors in the manual mode for immediate, effortless measurement of waveform parameters.

Both scopes build on performance you haven't seen at the bandwidth or prices. Lab grade features include sweep speeds to 2 ns/div Vertical sensitivity of 2 mV/div at full bandwidth for low-level signal capture. Plus trigger

Festures

2246

2245

Bandwidthi

too MHz

100 MHz

No. of ChannGis

4

4

Scale Factor Readout

Yes

Yes

SmartCursors

Yes

No

Volts Cursors

Yes

No

Time Cursors

Yes

No

Voltmeter

Yes

No

Vertical Sensitivity

2 mV/div

2 mV/div

Max. Sweep Speed

2 ns/div

2 ns/div

Vert/Hor Accuracy

2%

2%

Trigger Modes

Auto Level, Auto, Norm, TV Field, TV Line, Single Sweep

Trigger Level Readout

Yes

No

Weight

6.1 kg

6.1 kg

Warranty

3-year on parts and labor including CRT

Price

$2400

$1875

sensitivity to 0.25 div at 50 MHz, to 0.5 divat 150 MHz.

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Inquiry 299

Copyright = 1986, Tektronix, Inc. All rights reserved. TTA-469

ENHANCED CONSOLE DRIVER

Key Assignments

The CU also provides an easy method to redefine the keyboard. You can assign a character—letters, digits, special characters such as ~,!, /, ?, and so forth—to any of the single-character keys (the white keys in the center of the keyboard) or to a combination of keys.

To redefine a key you need only specify that key in quotation marks.

followed by a space and the new definition string of characters, which needs to be delimited by quotation marks only if the string contains embedded spaces. You can specify any ASCII character with a tilde (~) followed by the three-digit ASCII value of the keystroke. You can represent the Enter key either by the closing brace character (}) or by ~013, In addition to the standard, typewriter-like

keys on the keyboard, you can also change assignments for any of the

keys listed in the text box "Programming the Keyboard" on page 190.

You can also display a window with an appropriately designated key or combination of keys, such as CtrlHome. To display window 1, for example, every time the Ctrl-Home key combination is pressed, specify CHOME DISPLAY WINDOW 1.

Creating a Prompt Command TO Display the Menu

Tb create a menu display you can use the CU input file like the one in listing I. Once the CU file has been processed, you can turn the menu display on or off by creating a new system prompt with a batch file like the one in listing 2. which sets the system prompt to display window 0 of the private buffer After that batch file has been executed you can type MENU ON (or just MENU), and from that point on, the ECD will display window 0 of the private buffer in its designated position; the key toggle settings and the time will appear in the upper right corner (The remainder of the sequences in listing 2 are standard ANSl.SYS codes that display the current drive and subdirectory in the upper left of the screen and place a " >" as the DOS prompt in the first column of line 2 5.) TVping MENU OFF turns off the menu and places the time display at line 1, column I, the key toggle indicators in line 1, column 8, and the current device, directory, and " >" starting in column 15.

1 designed the Enhanced Console Driver to provide a simpler user interface than the normally terse DOS system screen. The ECD achieves this at a relatively small cost—about lOK bytes of storage with no noticeable performance degradation. And in combination with the Console Utility the ECD provides an easy way to define menu screens and redefine the special keys. Of course it won't become a threat to the new multitasking windowing environments, but for anyone who does not want to invest the extra money and system resources in one of those sophisticated commercial programs, the ECD is a useful tool. ■

Listing I: A sample CU command file that creates a mem and redefines associated keys. To execute the file, you should place the line CU READ STDFKEYS.CU in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. \n addition to the standard ANSI.SYS-tt/pe sequences that control the display colors used by DOS and the cursor position, all other ECD functions are accessible from the prompt ^ring using the $e specification to represent an escape character.

STDFKEYS.CU

AF1 "CU LOCK SUPP 2 @ 25 67-.CLOCK SUPP 2 @ 25 74{

CD\XTALK|XTALK{" AF2 "CU LOCK SUPP 2;CL0CK SUPP 2{CD\FW{FW| AF3 "CU LOCK SUPP 2;CL0CK cb BLINK SUPPRESS 2 fi 25 35{

CD\L0TUS{123{" AF4 CD\DBASE|DBASE}

AF5 "CU KEYDEF SUPP 3{CD\ROL{ROLODEX{"

@ 1.64 wr "

@ 2,64 wr " " @ 3,64 wr " " @ 4.64 wr " " @ 5.64 wr " " @ 6,64 wr " " e 7.64 wr " "

@ 2.65

mW

"aFI

' cW

" Crosstalk

It

@ 3,65

mW

"aF2

' cW

" Framework

II

@ 4,65

mW

"aF3

' cW

" 123

II

@ 5.65

mW

"aF4

' cW

" dBASE

II

@ 6,65

mW

"aF5

' cW

" Rolodex

II

DEFINE WIND 0 1,64 THRU 7,80 AT 1,64

Listing 2: This sample batch file sets the system prompt to display window 0 of the private buffer. Once the batch file has been executed, you can enter MENU ON or just MENU at the DOS command prompt to create a new system prompt that will display the menu created by listing 1.

MENU.BAT echo off

if .%1 =- .off goto OFF ' if .%1 == .OFF goto OFF rem

rem Set menu ON rem

PROMPT $eri36;255:$e[10:$e[128:$e[1;31;40m$e[1;1H$p$e[14:206 ;1;67:$e[76;14!1;74:$e[37;44m$e[25;1H$e[K$g

goto DONE :OFF

PROMPT $e[136;255:$e[2A$e[8$e[14;206;1;8:$e[76;14;1;1:$e[1; 15H$e[K$e[31;4em$p$e[e:1;37:44in$e[K$e[u$e[B$g

:DONE

192 BYTE' OCTOBER 1986

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PUBLIC DOMAIN POWERHOUSES

ABUNDANCE

BY RoEDY Green

A database language that can run backward in time

ABUNDANCE IS a public domain, FORTH-based, data-entry, database, screen-handling language that automatically handles the routine "housekeeping" that accounts for a major part of interactive application code. It does not use artificial intelligence techniques: it simply performs these tasks as a side effect of the work you explicitly ask it to do. If you want to take control of any of these tasks yourself, you can.

Abundance was originally designed to serve charities working to create an abundance of food, water, and shelter on the planet; hence, its name. But because of its features, it has become a business programming language and has been used in production environments since 1981. Although Abundance was designed for the computer-naive volunteer worker, it is responsive enough for a business environment.

[Editor's note: The Abundance package of 15 disks includes source code in IBM ?>ackuplRestore format for Abundance itself, a 32-6it FORTH compiler, a postfix assembler, a screen editor, some sample applications, documentation, tutorials, and more. Since it is too large for BYTE to distribute, it is avail(Me mhi by mail for $75 US. cash, cheek,

or money order (the cost of duplication) from the author at his address.\

A Rich Language

Abundance is a rich language with 600 verbs of its own. 400 from Forth

83, 300 from assembler and 900 hidden ones. It can open files, validate data entry convert values back and forth between binary and ASCII, keep track of how many elements in an array are in use, read from and write to disk, and lay out fields in columns on an appropriately labeled screen—all without being explicitly asked.

If you recompute a variable currently displayed on the screen, Abundance, like a spreadsheet, automatically refreshes the screen with the new value. It understands the zip code system, the telephone numbering system, and the states of the union and can cross-check all three; it can perform similar cross-checks for other countries as well. Abundance knows that phone numbers need a dash in the middle and that area codes are enclosed in parentheses. It also knows that 555-1212 is not the phone number of any real person. It knows the calendar; it knows that 1900 was not a leap year and that 2000 will be.

And it knows that the people in India use the date format DD/MM/YY while Swedes use YY.JVIM.DD. IVlost important, however. Abundance takes the initiative and uses this knowledge without your having to explicitly ask for it.

Abundance also understands the limitations, quirks, and control sequences of at least 20 brands of printer. It lets you think that you have the perfect printer, one that can print in any pitch, any type style, and any of the 256 accented and special characters. You can use words like ITALIC, BOLD, and WP-QUALITY. and Abundance will do the best it can with your actual printer. It can also number your pages I of 20, 2 of 20, etc.

Abundance can speak in English, French, Swedish, or Esperanto, and you can key all the accented characters without resorting to the numeric keypad. It can also interface with other packages, including Btrieve, Lotus 1-2-3, VP-Planner, Microsoft

{continued]

^edy Green is president of Canadian Mind Products (11-3856 Sunset St., Bumaby, BC,

Canada V5G 1T3). He has a B.S in mathematics from the University of British Columbia.

OCTOBER 1986 -BYTE 193

ABUNDANCE

Word MailMerge. Ready!. Optimum Data External Sort, SuperKey, and

ProKey.

In addition to its main features, Abundance has many other novel features with colorful names like humps, jives, combos, anchors, gauntlets, living fields, fast forwards, variable variables, moods, promises, safes, riktnummers, and graceful bailouts.

The User Interface

Because Abundance is a superset of both 8086 Assembler and 32-bit Forth-83 and because the hidden verbs that form the language itself are available to you, you can interface with it at any level you choose.

When you use Abundance, you see a traditional full-screen arbitrary layout, often in columns or rows with boxes, color, and data labeled with the appropriate variable names. Each time an Abundance application expects you to key in data, it highlights the field in reverse video and puts an oversized blinking cursor on the first character of the field. It then produces a uniform prompt message containing the name of the variable being keyed, its upper and lower acceptable bounds (or a list of choices), what sort of data it wants (name, date, etc.), and usually some other explanatory information. In addition. Abundance maintains the Caps Lock. Shift, and Num

Lx)ck keypad indicators. You can use the backspace, arrow,

and function keys to edit the data in such a way that they mimic your favorite word processor. If you get lost, you can hit the Oops key (the FIO function key) to put the field back the way it was. Abundance usually detects any errors in keying as soon as you make them. It makes various sounds for different classes of warnings and errors that indicate immediately what you did wrong. Abundance works in the background, inserting the Shift key when you forget to, jumping over the dash in a phone number, and keeping numbers right-justified (calculator-style) as you enter them.

If you realize you made a mistake in a prior field, you can hit the up arrow to make the program "run backward in time." Then you can enter a new value for the prior field and use the down arrow to carry on where you left off. You can also hit the Escape key at any time. In general, this stops the application in an ordedy fashion so that files are kept logically consistent and no data is lost.

lAUNTING

launting is the ability to run backward in time. It is simply a streamlined version of the IBM OS/370 checkpointing facility When you key in a field. Abundance secretly takes a "snapshot" of

the state of the application program. When you hit the up arrow, it finds the appropriate old snapshot of the application and restores it to the current view. The application then carries on as if it had never been any further than that.

launting has no perceptible overhead. It is quick because you don't need to save all of RAM. just the data stack, the return stack, and a few critical internal-state variables. As in FORTH, the data stack holds temporary variables and parameters passed to procedures, and the return stack keeps track of which procedure called which procedure.

Surprisingly the values of the variables are not saved as part of the snapshot. If Abundance did save the variables and then restored them to the old state after jaunting backward, you would lose the data you had entered since then. When the application program wakes up after its jaunt, the values of the variables keyed just prior to jaunting are intact. You might think it would confuse the program to find the variables it is about to. request already present, but in practice this rarely causes any problem.

MUSTS AND WARNS

launting has some wonderful fringe benefits. For instance, an Abundance

(continued)

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194 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 52

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ABUNDANCE

application can assert thiat a certain expression must be true, for example, that three fields must add up to 100 percent. If the program detects that a MUST has failed, it jaunts the program back to the first input involved. As a programmer you can optionally provide hints as to which field yoU think is wrong, but even if you guess wrong, the end user can hit the up and down arrow keys to correct the real culprit.

There is also a variant of the MUST called the WARN that makes an "eh?" noise—I am Canadian—and asks you to confirm that an unusual condition is indeed correct. If you answer "No." the program jaunts backward the way a MUST would.

Implicit Array Subscripts

In traditional programming languages, for every array you declare, you must also declare three other variables: ArrayMax, the maximum size the array can be: ArrayHighWater the number of array slots currently containing data; and Arraylndex. the array element you are currently working on. Then you refer to Array[ArrayIndex] over and over again. You rarely use any other subscript. When you do, it's usually by mistake, and you spend a long time trying to find the bug in your program. In addition, you must manually maintain ArrayHighWater and make sure that Arraylndex stays safely within bounds. And you must explicitly mention Arraylndex and ArrayHighWater every time you loop through the array elements—yet another place for bugs to creep in.

Abundance dispenses with all but the array index. It invisibly maintains ArrayHighWater and ensures that the index remains within bounds. You don't need to write [Arraylndex] each time: it is assumed. And you don't need to mention anything other than the array index in a <« FOR loop since Abundance keeps track of the array's upper limit.

You can convert a program that handles a single record to one that handles an array of records simply by changing the declaration. You don't need to change any procedural code: you need only add one line of code to set the implicit subscript. (The

From:

1 1000 «<FLEX

My-lndex

To;

"CiMyFllaDat"

1 1000 «<SEQ

My-lndex

Figure 1: The only change necessary to convert a program from one that keeps its data in an array to one that keeps it in a file.

equivalent changes in Pascal would require modifying a great many lines of code.)

File Handling

To an Abundance application, a file is simply a large array too large to fit into RAM. You read and write the records by changing the implicit array subscript that indexes the record you want to work on. Abundance automatically handles blocking and deblocking, reading, writing, opening, closing, caching, and "dirty" bits. It does everything it can to avoid doing physical disk I/O. It handles standard DOS files with fixed-length records, but it also has other higher-performance options.

You can convert a program from one that keeps its data in an array to one that keeps it in a file by changing the word <«FLEX in the data definition area to <«SEQ and adding an external DOS filename (see figure 1). (The equivalent change to a Pascal program would require almost a complete rewrite.)

Scaffolds

There never seems to be enough room on the screen to simultaneously display everything you would like to show. You may only have room to show the details of four transactions when you would like to show 40. The ability to scroll lets you show any of the 40 that you want, four at a time. In traditional languages, handling this scrolling can be very complex.

In Abundance, scaffolds come to the rescue. You simply write the name of a particular scaffold in the declara

tion of a variable array element. A scaffold might have a name like 2x6 for two rows of six columns or 4Deep for rows with a maximum of four elements. From then on. Abundance monitors the implicit subscript of the array. It makes sure that the current element is always visible on the screen. As the subscript changes. Abundance scrolls the display automatically so you can always see the current, some preceding, and some succeeding elements in the array

Other than in the declaration, the application code is totally oblivious to this scrolling. Abundance makes sure that the array element you are keying or computing is always visible. In addition, scaffolds can take any shape you can describe; they don't need to be simple rowed windows.

What You Need

To experiment with Abundance, you need MS- or PC-DOS 3.1 running on

an IBM PC, XT AT or a close clone You need at least 3 2 OK bytes of RAM and a hard disk. The applications you write can run on floppy disk systems, however

You need to know FORTH. 1 recommend practicing with a 16-bit FORTH compiler using Leo Brodie's book Starting FORTH (Prentice-Hall, 1981) if you are currently unfamiliar with the language. Sooner or later you will probably want an assembler to generate customized versions of the BBL FORTH compiler and a text editor to edit the assembler source code. Depending on how you use Abundance, you may also want other packages, such as a keyboard enhancer an external sorter a B-tree handler a form-letter generator, or an automatic means of transferring a database into Abundance.

What You Get

Abundance and its documentation come on floppy disks in IBM Backup/ Restore format. You are strongly encouraged to copy the disks and give them to your friends. There is only one restriction on how you may use the package: You may not use it for any military purpose. You are welcome to create your own dialects of Abundance, sell it, or cannibalize it. ■

196 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

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Inquiry 271 for MS-DOS Products. Inquiry 272 for all others.

When 1-2-3® was first introduced it quickly became the best-selling, best-working software in the industiy. Tbday it's practically an iiulustrj'- all by itself.

An example: there are more than 1000 independent software developers who have created and continue to create specialized applications for 1-2-3... steadily adding value to the product for people in all areas of business. Tbday 1-2-3 is the engine that drives an industry M\ of software tools designed for such specialized jobs as constmction management, tax planning, business modeling and more.

Add to this Lotus supported companion products such as 1-2-3 Report WriteC Freelancef Graphwriter®—and soon-to-be available products such as Lotus HAL"' and others—aiid ft's clear that you're looking at an entire system of products to help you work more productively with 1-2-3.

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The biisi7iess software integrating spreadsheet, graphics and database.

© 1986 Lotus Developmenl Corporation. Loliis, 12 3. KrcclaiuT-aiKl (irapliwrilcraro rogislered tradeinarks of Louis Development. Corporation. 1-2-3 Report Writer and Lotus HAL are iradcmarks of Lm ii.s I )fV('!()|iMti'ni Corporation. "Lotus HAL is disLin^uislied from HAL. whirli is a tradeniari< nf Qanlcl for it.s Hnii'l Li'Ishh' Snfi ware'.'

There are enough copies of Symphony® software in use today to make Symphony, by itself, tlie fourth largest independent microcomputer software company in the world. Now let's discuss why

It's a truly complete workstation for the modem manager... incorporating 1-2-3's® powerful spreadsheet capability with Symphony's own word processing, graphics, database aird cormnunications. All of them worldng together, all in one program.

As your computer taiowledge grows, so Symphony grows. The more you use Symphony, the more you find you can do with it. And with a growing line of Symphony add-in products fi^om Lotus® (Tfext Outliner, Spelling Checker, Symphony Link"' etc.), Symphony offers steady and seemingly endless potential for expairsion.

A workstation. Thorouglily integrated. Geared for growth.

That's why Symphony is one of the world's most successful business software programs for IBM® personal computers and compatible products.

And that's why you ouglit to get a complete demonstration.

Lotus Symphony

A complete general-purpose software tool built around the world's leading spreadsheet technobgy.

© li)8li Lotus Development Corporation. Lotus, 1-2 :! and Symphony arc registered tradeniarl;5of l.nliis Development Corporation, Symiiliony Link is a trademark of Lotus DevelopmeiU Corporal ion. IBM is a reKislcred trademark of ItUeriialional Biisine.ss Machines Corporal ion.

10 MHz 286 TURBO

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Western Computer Corp. has built a strong reputation in the Microcomputer Industry by sticking to a few basic principles. We call it the "Code of the West" and it goes something like this:

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202 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

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i

PUBLIC DOMAIN POWERHOUSES

Z80MU

BY Robert A. Baumann

This program for the IBM PC emulates the Zilog Z80 and CP/M 2.2

E80MU ("the Emulator") runs on the rBM PC and emulates the Zilog Z80 processor and CP/M 2.2. It can be used as a Z80 development system whether or not the final Z80 code is designed to run under CP/M. The Emulator requires PC-DOS 2.0 or higher. While memory requirements vary depending on which Emulator facilities you use, if a CHKDSK of your system shows at least 2 56K bytes of free memory you have room to run the Emulator. Computerwise Consulting Services developed the Emulator and decided to release it to the public domain for three reasons: it's good advertising for the work we do, we've benefited from public domain software in the past and this is one way to return the favor, and we get the benefit of hundreds of testers. {Editor's note: Ike executable code jor the Z80MU runs on an IBM PC. The archive file Z80.MU3 lO.ARC contains six files, including the emulator and a user's guide. See the insert card following page 320 for details. The programs are also available on BYTEwet; see page 4.|

The heart of the Emulator is a carefully coded "Z80 engine" (written entirely in 8088 assembly language) that emulates Z80 op codes, the CP/M

BIOS and BDOS functions, and a VT52 terminal for full-screen CP/M applications (e.g., WordStar dBASE II, etc.).

Around the Z80 engine is a whole lot of high-level code (written in Lattice C) that provides the user interface, debug commands, PC-DOS interface commands, a full Z80 disassembler and RESOURCE facility, and environment control.

How Accurate an Emulation Is It?

The Emulator's Z80 engine emulates the Z80 almost perfectly down to an emulation of all six flag bits in the flags register. Even the seldom-used half-carry and add/subtract flag bits are emulated. But for faster execution, the Emulator ignores the two unused bits in the flags register, so these will not act exactly as they would on a real Z80.

I/O instructions (the INs and OUTs) perform everything except the actual strobe of the I/O data lines. The data transfer has been disabled because it is dangerous to have Z80 code accessing I/O addresses that mean something entirely different on the IBM PC. But setup, auto-increment of registers, and flag effects have been

emulated even for the INs and OUTs.

We took a less precise approach when emulating CP/M 2.2. We wanted to keep the interface close to CP/M s but weren't interested in emulating the limitations of CP/M. We wanted to include many of the benefits of PCDOS and to add many more built-in commands than were available with CP/M. We also demanded the largest possible Ti-ansient Program Area (TPA—the amount of memory available to be used by a Z80 program).

So we decided to support only "well-behaved" CP/M applications. A well-behaved CP/M program is one that accesses the disk via CP/M's file BDOS functions and doesn't look too closely at the reserved fields of the file control block (FCB). It doesn't use the Z80 IN or OUT instructions. It performs device I/O (to the screen, the printer, etc.) via BIOS or BDOS calls.

The program interface (via the BIOS and BDOS) is exactly the same as CP/M's. Some BIOS and BDOS func

{continued)

Robert A. Baumann, the owner of Computerwise Consult'mg. writes custom software for the IBM PC, mostly in assembly language and C. He can be contacted at P.O. Bax 813, Mclean. VA 22101.

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 203

k

Z80MU

tions that are hardware-specific—or expect disks to have the CPlM format—are not supported.

The handling of commands and command arguments (the command "tail") appears to the Z80 application exactly as it would on a real CP/M system. The default FCB at 005C is formatted with the filename implied by the first command-line argument, and the FCB at 006C with the second argument. (All addresses are hexadecimal unless otherwise noted.) The byte at 0080 is set to the number of characters in the command tail and is followed by an uppercase version of the command tail as typed by the user. The Emulator has a TPA of 65.022 bytes, more than is available on most "real" CP/M systems.

We built a pseudo VT52 terminal into the Emulator, since many CP/IVl applications (especially those doing full-screen editing) assume that they are being run from a serial ASCII terminal. A list of some of the CP/M applications that we have successfully run is shown in table I.

What Wont Run Under the Emulator?

Some hardware-specific CP/M programs cannot be run under the

204 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

Emulator or must be run carefully to

avoid functions that examine the hardware environment. STAT.COM, for instance, interrogates the physical layout of the disk and interprets it as if it were formatted for CP/M. Since PCDOS disks aren't in CP/M format, STAT is immediately aborted by the Z80 engine. WordStar's SpellStar won't work, either It tries to call CP/M's console command processor (CCP) within the 64K-byte CP/M segment. In the Emulator, however, there is no CCP in the CP/M segment.

Some CP/M programs look too closely at the "reserved" fields of the FCB and thus ought not to be emulatable at all. We have added special code to the Z80 engine that tries to keep the FCB looking as though it was being manipulated by CP/M, not PCDOS.

ivioviNG CP/M Programs to the IBM PC

There are two ways to transfer a CP/M program to a PC-DOS file format. The first is to use a PC-DOS utility that runs on the IBM PC and is capable of reading the foreign CP/M disk format. TWo such utilities are Convert (from Selfware Inc., Fairfax, Virginia) and Xenocopy (from Vertex Systems Inc.,

Los Angeles, California). This approach is nice, but only certain disk formats are recognized by each of these utilities. Apple 11 CP/M and North Star Horizon CP/M disks, for example, cannot be read on the IBM PC without special hardware.

Another approach is to transfer the CP/M files to the IBM PC via a communications line. If you have a CP/M system and an IBM PC, you can directly connect the two machines' serial ports and transfer files at 9600 baud. Otherwise, you can make the transfer over the phone at whatever speeds the respective modems can handle. In either case, the CP/M system (running BYE and XMODEM/MODEM7) sends its files to the IBM PC, which may be running any of the public domain communications programs that support the XMODEM protocol. The major advantage of this approach is that you don't need to know the disk format, if the CP/M system can read its own disks, the files can be transferred to the IBM PC. This works well when transferring Apple II CP/M and North Star Horizon CP/M files.

CP/M and PC-DOS files are similar enough that we have never had to alter a file that was transferred using the second approach (XMODEM), but Convert and Xenocopy don't always create a PC-DOS file of the same size as the CP/M original.

The biggest problem is remembering which files are PC-DOS files and which are CP/M files. If you transfer a CP/M file called DUMP.COM, for example from a CP/M system to the IBM PC's disk and accidentally invoke DUMP.COM from PC-DOS, the IBM PC's 8088 will attempt to execute the Z80 op codes and it will be time to reach for that Big Red Switch on the side of your PC. You must run such CP/M command (.COM) files under the Emulator.

One way to keep things straight is to store CP/M files under separate PCDOS directories. The Z80PATH environment string makes this particularly convenient.

The Emulator Environment

The Z80PATH environment string is equivalent to the PC-DOS PATH com

[continued]

Table 1; Some CP/M applications that have run successfully under the Emulator.

Standard Digital Researcli Programs:

ASM

LOAD

ED

DDT

DUMP

PIP

Compilers, Assemblers:

M80 L80 LIB

MBASIC

LASM

MAC

Telecon C

Software Toolworks C Others:

WordStar 3.0 and 3.3 and MailMerge (but not SpellStar!)

dBASE II

PMATE-80 rev 3.02 Chang Labs MemoPlan LU version 3.00

i

Princeton Graphic Systems wins World Class competition three years running.

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Inquiry 240

OCrOBER 1986 -BYTE 205

Z80MU

mand. It allows you to tell the Emulator where to look for Z80 .COM

files. You give it a string that is a list of fully qualified names of directories that are to be searched when the Emulator is looking for a .COM file to load and run. If there is no Z80PATH string defined in the PC-DOS environment, the search stops with the current disk drives current PC-DOS directory. If no matching filename is found, the Emulator indicates that it doesn't know what you mean with the same terse error indication that CP/M would.

How Do I USE IT?

For the most part, all you do while using the Emulator as a standard CP/M system is invoke various CP/M programs. The Emulator prompts you for input the same way that CP/M does—by displaying the currently logged drive with the string Z80 in front of the drive name, to remind you that you are using the Z80 and CP/M Emulator and not PC-DOS.

The Emulator includes CP/M's usual built-in commands, although the output display may vary because this really is a PC-DOS file system. An effort has been made to accept both CP/M and PC-DOS versions of the same command:

Z80 A>dir Z80 A>stat *.* Z80 A>type foo.txt Z80 A>era b:*.* Z80 A>delete *.foo

You can also add a few PC-DOS options, since these commands are ac

tually passed to PC-DOS for handling:

ZBO A>dir /w

ZBO A>dir >foo

Z80 A>dir b:\cpnn\ *.*

Z80 A>rename *.c *.bak

Z80 A>copy foadoG Ipti;

if a command starts with an exclamation point, the rest of the command line is passed to PC-DOS for handling. This is for PC-DOS commands that have no CP/M equivalent. You can use it to change working directories, invoke your favorite PC editor, or even "drop into" PC-DOS for a while You do this by invoking C0MMAND.COM and returning to the Emulator via the EXIT PC-DOS command,

Z80 A>!mkdir foo

Z80 A>lcd foo

ZBO A>!cd \cpm\test

ZBO A>!chkdsk

ZBO A>!ws

Z80 A>!format b:/s

ZBO A>!command

A> (you're in DOS now)

A>WS (invoke WordStar)

A>EXIT

ZBO A> (back in the Emulator now)

Advanced Features

There's far more to the Emulator than

the simple CP/M environment. A host of special built-in commands gives the Emulator power beyond CP/M s. Some of the miscellaneous Emulator commands are shown in table 2.

Some of these built-in commands control the Emulator environment. To tell the Emulator that you want illegal Z80 op codes to cause a visible fault

with a proper error message, for example, you use the illop built-in

command:

ZBO A > illop fault

To tell the Emulator to not fault on illegal Z80 op codes but to treat them as NOPs, you say:

ZBO A > illop nop

The Emulator's debug facility is built into the Emulator, which means that debug commands are always available when using the Emulator. T^ble 3 shows some of the debug commands.

Disassembly and RESOURCE Commands

RESOURCE is short for "regenerating source code." Ward Christensen wrote the original RESOURCE many years ago for CP/M. The basic idea is to automate the disassembly of object code into source code, complete with labels and comments.

if you simply disassemble a piece of Z80 object code, you get a primitive type of source code. There are instruction mnemonics, so you can at least tell what instructions are involved. But addresses are just hexadecimal numbers.

You can explain to the Emulator's disassembler as much as you know about some object code, it will use this information in subsequent disassemblies, resulting in much more understandable displays. The first thing that you usually want to see are symbolic labels instead of hexadecimal addresses. The label directive (abbreviated as =) enables you to assign symbolic names to Z80 addresses:

Z80 A > label 5c first_fcb ZBO A > label 6c second_fcb ZBO A>= 5 BDOS

Now an instruction sequence like

0253 LD DE,005Ch 0256 CALL 0005H

will disassemble as

0253 LD DE,first_fcb 0256 CALL BDOS

The next most useful thing to do is

{continued)

Table 2: A sampling of the commands available under the Emulator.

Long

Short

Meaning

delete

del

Delete flle(s}

erase

era

Delete file(s)

Stat

dir

Display file(s) in directory

type

ty

Type contents of file to screen

copy

CO

Copy file(s)

rename

ren

Rename file(s)

help

?

Get on-line help

illop

i

Control Z80 illegal op codes

exit

e

Exit the Emulator to PC-DOS

howfast?

speed?

Calculate effective Z80 speed

coldboot!

cold!

Cold-boot the 64K-byte CP/M segment

submit

sub

Switch input to file

206 BYTE* OCTOBER 1986

SimEPRIHTEl^

m BUFFER PRINT JOBS

IV/7W ONE VEmmi UNIT

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Because Print Master is a very flexible device, you can set it up to fit your application, even if your application changes.

YOU SET UP

THE IN-OUT PORTS

You configure Print Master's ports for any combination of printers and computers by answering questions from easy-tofollow menus. For example, with the ten port Print Master, nine computers can share one printer, eight computers can share two printers, seven computers can share three printers, and so on, to one computer which can share nine printers. You can also menu-select the disconnect time-out, form feeds, etc. and on serial models, the configuration of individual ports to translate for printers and computers using different configurations.

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■ f-CWER

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be sent on a first-job-in first-jobout basis to the selected printer. If you need more memory than 512K, Print Master is optionally available with one megabyte buffer.

If several users are sharing one printer, printer sharing via Print Master is completely automatic. TTiere are no codes to send. You simply perform your normal print operation. If you are sharing several identical printers, connection is also

Typical

application using the Model 7IOC

automatic. Again, you perform your normal print operation and are connected to the next available printer on a first-comefirst-serve basis. Print Master will send data to all printers simultaneously to keep your printers running at full capacity.

If you are sharing several different printers, such as a laser-jet, a dot matrix and a plotter, and you wish to select a specific printer, you do your normal print routine and also send a printer select code (which you can define yourself) before the first characters of your data. The data is then routed to the selected printer. It's that easy.

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WANT DETAILS?

Call or write BayTech at P.O. Box 387, Highway 603, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi 39520, USA. Telex 910-333-1618. Phone 601-467-8231 or

800-523-2702

Inquiry 37

Z80MU

assign comments to certain addresses. This is done with the built-in command comment (abbreviated";"):

Z80 A>comment 253 "Point to FCB" Z80 A >; 256 "open the file"

Our example sequence (when disassembled) then looks like;

0253 LDDE,first_fcb;Point to FCB 0256 CALL BDOS ;open.the file

One common problem in obtaining a

sensible disassembly of object code is that of embedded data being misinterpreted as instructions. You can use the control command (abbreviated c) to control whether the disassembler interprets object code as data or instructions. Several types of these "control breaks" can be associated with an address:

Instructions—Z80 instruction mnemonics are used.

Bytes—DBs are used. Words—DWs are used (multiple DWs per line).

Table—DWs are used (one per line). Storage—DS is used.

For example:

Z80 A>control 253 instructions

Z80 A>c first fcb bytes

Z80 A>c bios_table table Z80 A>c 80 storage

Finally there is the disassembly command itself—list (abbreviated I). You use this to list whatever object addresses you like As the code is listed,

it is disassembled according to whatever you've explained about the code.

Expressions

Many of the built-in commands accept arguments. In general, these arguments can be numbers (in hexadecimal, decimal, or binary), ASCI! characters, or symbolic labels that have been assigned via the label command. Additionally they can be expressions made up of two or more such values joined by "-I-" or**'-" operators. This can make things considerably easier for the poor befuddled user when it's three a.m. and he's hot on the trail of a bug. Instead of having to disassemble a piece of code with something cryptic like

Z80 A>dump 5c 6b Z80 A > list 700 740

he can type

Z80 A>dump first_fcb

first fcb-i-fcb size

Z80 A > list table_start-HA

table offset+A

Emulator Internals

when you type in the name of a CP/M program, the Emulator searches for the corresponding .COIM file according to the Z80PATH PC-DOS environment string. When the program is located, it is read into the 64K-byte CP/IVI memory segment starting at address 0100. The default FCBs at 005C and 006C are formatted from the

■feble 3: Debug commands built into the Emulator.

Long

Short

Meaning

save

sa

Save memory (starting at 0100 hexadecimal) to disk

btrace

bt

BDOS trace control or display

break

b

Set, clear, or display breakpoints

dump

d

Dump memory in hexadecimal and ASCII

find

f

Locate pattern in memory

go

g

Continue execution of Z80

patch

p

Patch memory

xreg

X

Display/modify Z80 registers

trace

t

Trace Z80 instructions

notrace

n

Invisibly trace Z80 instructions

pctrac^

pd?

Display traceback of Z80 PC values

move

m

Move memory

math

ma

Evaluate expression

args

ar

Set default FCBs at 005C and 0060 hexadecimal

read

r

Read file into memory

write

w

Write memory to file

command arguments, as is the command tail at 0080. The Z80 stack is set just below our BDOS hook at address FEFE, and a word of zeros is pushed onto the stack so that if the CP/M program exits by a return, it will go to address 0000, which is a jump to the Warm Start entry in the BIOS table.

Once Z80 code is loaded into the 64K-byte CP/M memory the guts of the Emulator—the Z80 engine—takes over. It fetches op codes from the CP/M memory and "executes" them by emulating what the Z80 would do with them.

Z80 AND 8088 Register

Equivalents

For speed, the Z80 engine keeps in 8088 registers emulated copies of the most-used Z80 registers, as follows:

Z80 Registers 8088 Registers

A register AL

Flags AH

B register CH

C register CL

D register DH

E register DL

H register BH

L register BL

Stack pointer BP

PC SI

The Dl and ES registers are available for temporary use by the Z80 engine. All emulation of Z80 op codes is performed either by manipulating emulated Z80 registers that reside in 8088 registers or by using Dl and ES to access and manipulate RAM. Seldomused Z80 registers are kept in RAM within the Z80 engine. Because these are in RAM and not in 8088 registers, it takes longer to access them. Fortunately these particular Z80 registers are not used very often. They are

• the alternate registers AF', BC", DE". and HL

• index registers IX and lY

• the interrupt flip-flops IFFl and 1FF2

• the interrupt mode flip-flop IMF

• the interrupt register

• the refresh register

While the Z80 engine is in control, the 8088 DS register points to the

64K-byte CP/M memory segment. The 8088 stack registers SS and SP are not

(onttinued)

208 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

i

Casio challenges you to find more power. At any price.

The amazing Casio FX-4000P pro grammable scientific calculator. In power, it's comparable to the most highly touted calculators on the market today.

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Memory

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Formula Replay

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Inquiry 57 OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 209

Z80MU

It is not enough to use the 8088's LAHF and SAHF instructions to emulate the Z80 \\ags.

altered and are used to maintain linkage with the calling C progrann.

Z80 Op Code Fetch AND Emulation

The Z80 engine works as follows:

1. Fetches a Z80 op code from the 64K-byte CP/M memory segment. 2 lumps to the code to emulate this

op code.

3. Updates the emulated Z80 flags per this op code.

4. Goes back to step 1.

The 8088 SI register emulates the

Z80 program counter. To execute the next Z80 instruction, the byte that the Si register points to is read from memory It is then used to index into a table of 2 56 possible op codes, and the routine to handle this particular op code is jumped to (not called, as that is just too slow).

Each of the 2 56 primary Z80 op codes has a i 6-byte 8088 routine that emulates it. Fixing the size of each handler at 16 bytes eliminates the need to use a real table to look up the address of the op code's emulation routine and speeds things up considerably. Some op codes just can't be

fully emulated in 16 bytes. The 16-byte handlers for these few exceptions are simply jumps to larger routines elsewhere within the Z80 engine. IVlost Z80 op codes, however, can be handled in 16 bytes— assuming some very careful coding of the routines.

The main dispatch code is shown in figure 1. Notice that the label INTERP_TRAP is normally a NOP. if you press Break on the IBM keyboard, the Break interrupt handler (part of the Z80 engine) changes the NOP to a single-byte 8088 breakpoint interrupt (INT 3). When execution gets back to INTERP_TRAR the breakpoint interrupt in turn causes 780 emulation to halt, with a return from the Z80 engine to the main C part of the Emulator. This is how to interrupt the Z80 between Z80 instructions.

The 16-byte handler that is jumped to via the above dispatch code does whatever is necessary to emulate its Z80 op code. This includes adjusting the Z80 program counter (held in the 8088 SI register). The Z80 NOP op code handler, for example, increments the Z80 PC by 1. A Z80 CALL op code causes the Z80 PC to be set to the value of the called address.

When emulating an op code, the Z80 flags must be emulated identically to the way a real, hardware Z80 would, it is not enough to use the 8088 LAHF and SAHF instructions. Once the 16-byte interrupt handler has finished executing its assigned op code, it jumps back to one of eight different flag-updating routines, each of which updates the Z80 flags in what

ever manner the true Z80 op code would have done. Each of the eight flag-updating routines ends with a jump back to INTERP_TRAR thus completing the Z80 emulation loop.

CP/M BIOS AND BDOS HOOKS

If a Z80 HALT op code occurs in the CP/M memory segment below address FEFE, the Z80 engine saves all emulated Z80 register values and returns to the main C program. Such a HALT can be used as a debug breakpoint, or it may be a bug in the program. If the HALT occurs at an address above FEED, some CP/M function is being requested by the executing Z80 program. To understand why and how, it is necessary to backtrack a moment.

When the Z80 engine first formats the 64K-byte CP/M segment, it zeros most of that memory The first page, however, is formatted the same way that CP/M would fonmat it. At location 0000 there is a jump to the CP/M BIOS Warm Start entry which is itself just a jump within the BIOS vector table. This is the same BIOS organization that CP/M uses. Unlike CP/M, however, each BIOS vector table entry in Z80MU's CP/M memory does nothing but jump to a specific HALT higher up in memory. The address of the HALT tells the Z80 engine that the BIOS vector table entry was called.

At location 0005 is placed a jump to the BDOS function handler, which is just a HALT at address FEFE. So a HALT at this address means that the Z80 program is requesting a CP/M BDOS function. The Z80 engine looks at the address of the HALT determines which CP/M function is being called, and emulates that function.

Emulating CP/M BIOS and BDOS Functions

A common misconception is that since PC-DOS was derived from CP/M, all you have to do to convert CP/M functions to PC-DOS functions is move the Z80 C register to the 8088 AH register, move a few other registers around, and call PC-DOS via INT 21H. In reality it's not that simple. First, let's review the various CP/M functions a Z80 program can call.

[amtinueii

INTERP_TRAP;

NOP

INTERP2:

MOV DI,AX

;SAVE Z80 AF

MOV AL,[SI]

;FETCH Z80 OP CODE FROM MEMORY

XOR AH.AH

;CLEAR REST OF AX

SHL AX„1

■TIMES 16 BYTES PER HANDLER

SHL AX,1

SHL AX.1

SHL AX,1

ADD AX.OFFSET CGROUP.OPOO ;ADD FIRST HANDLER'S ADDRESS

XCHG AX.DI

iRECOVER Z80 FUGS AND A REGISTER TO AX

JMP Dl

;GOTO 16-BYTE OP CODE HANDLER

Figure 1: Ihe main dispatch code for the Emulator's Z80 engine.

210 BYTE* OCTOBER 1986

TRANSEC NEW PRODUCTS

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V

Z80MU

The basic BIOS calls generally do low-level I/O to various devices. The Z80 calling sequences here have no direct PC-DOS equivalents. What's worse, many of them deal with the disk drive in a way that is incompatible with PC-DOS disks. In ZSOMU's Z80 engine, the disk BIOS calls are unsupported and cause an abort of the Z80 program that invokes them. Any CP/M program that uses the disk BIOS

calls just won't make sense on the PC. Rather than be sneaky about this, the Emulator displays an obvious error message explaining that the Z80 program invoked an unsupported BIOS call and has been aborted.

The low-level nondisk BIOS calls, on the other hand, are turned into IBM PC ROM BIOS calls that correspond in meaning. The CP/M "return LIST status" BIOS call, for example, gets

translated into an IBM PC ROM BIOS INT 17H to check the status of LPT!:. The status returned by the INT I7H is translated into the format of a real CP/M BIOS routine and given to the Z80 program. The "write character to PUNCH" BIOS call is translated into an IBM PC ROM BIOS INT 14H call to output the character to COMl:. The other nondisk BIOS calls are handled similarly.

Then there are the vanilla BDOS calls. These are used when a function number is placed into the Z80 C register and then a CALL 5 executed to get CP/M to perform that function. Such BDOS functions fall into three general groups: (I) character I/O to the terminal, the printer, etc., (2) disk file I/O, and (3) overhead (get/set lOBYTE, get allocation information, etc.).

The functions of group I are easily converted to their PC-DOS equivalents just by exchanging a few Z80 and 8088 registers. The functions in group 3 are generally irrelevant in the PCDOS world. The functions in group 2, however, are the guts of a real CP/M emulator. They must be done absolutely accurately. This is where we spent most of our development time, at least as far as the Z80 engine is concerned.

Results Returned by CP/M

The first problem faced by a CP/M emulator is one of conventions. How is information provided to CP/M and returned by it to the Z80 program?

The first part, fortunately, has been clearly defined by years of software development for CP/M, A function number goes into the Z80 C register, an FCB (if used) is pointed to by the Z80 DE register, and so on. But results coming back from CP/M (like "Hey, 1 opened your file, OK?") come back in at least two places: in the Z80 A register and in the Z80 HL register.

When we tried to run LLJ version 3.00 (a popular CP/M utility) under early versions of the Emulator, we got garbage. A quick debug session determined that when LU checked the results of a BDOS function it ignored the A register, looking instead at the Z80 HL register. A check of every CP/M system we could get our hands

[conlinued]

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212 BYTE- OaOBER 1986

inquiry 97

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Inquiry 117

DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED

Z80MU

The way PC-DOS uses and updates an FCB varies from the way CP/M does it

on revealed that they all did the same thing. They returned results in two places (the Z80 A register and the HL pair), and the Z80 program could check whichever it pleased. So we changed ZSOMU's Z80 engine to return results in both places, and now HI works just fine under the Emulator.

Differing Use of the FCB

The biggest trap lies in emulating CP/M's use of the FCB. The way PCDOS uses and updates an FCB varies considerably from the way that CP/M does it. This is further confused by the fact that various versions of PC-DOS handle the FCB differently.

Never minding that CP/M keeps allocation groups in "reserved" fields of the FCB and that there's no reason in the world to emulate that behavior, there are still important differences in the use of those FCB fields that the Z80 program is "allowed" to access.

When CP/M opens a file, for example, it uses byte 12 of the FCB—the extent field. In the early releases of CP/M (before random I/O was officially added to it), programs like WordStar's install program used this byte to do random I/O. by opening various extents within a given file. PC-DOS ignores byte 12 (and in some versions zeroes it) when opening the file but uses it thereafter So the Z80 engine's emulated CP/M "open file" function saves byte 12 across the PC-DOS call to open a file and restores it after PCDOS is done modifying the various fields that it modifies when a file is opened.

FCB byte 13 is a reserved field in CP/M, but it is the low-order byte of the current block number in PC-DOS. The Z80 engine zeroes this field before giving the FCB to PC-DOS.

FCB byte 14 is also a reserved field, and while byte 15 (the "record count within this extent" field) is not clearly

marked reserved, it ought not to be looked at by well-behaved CP/M programs. But both of these bytes are looked at (against all CP/M rules of proper software development) by some CP/M code written by Microsoft. We received calls from users of the Emulator who were having trouble running some CP/M software that had been written in a certain Microsoft compiled language. We debugged the code and found that the Microsoft subroutine library was looking at FCB bytes 14 and 15 instead of checking the CP/M return value in the Z80 A register. Rather than patch Microsoft's code to work properly we changed the Z80 engine to keep FCB bytes 14 and 15 current according to the way CP/M would update them. This can be tricky as PC-DOS uses FCB bytes 14 and 15 as the logical record size.

PC-DOS version 2.0 introduced extended FCBs. If the byte at FCB-7 is OOFF hexadecimal, PC-DOS assumes that this is an extended FCB and uses FCB-i as an attribute byte CP/M FCBs, of course, don't use this questionable convention. So when a Z80 program calls CP/M to do some operation on a file, the Z80 engine makes sure that the CP/M FCB doesn't sit 7 bytes after a byte that just happens to be OOFF hexadecimal.

CP/M FCBs are 36 bytes long; PCDOS's basic FCB is 37 bytes long. Unless something is done by the Z80 engine to address this situation. PCDOS will blindly use whatever byte happens to follow the 36-byte CP/M FCB as part of the random record number.

For these and other reasons, the

Z80 engine copies each CP/M FCB up to a safe spot in high memory and touches it up before calling PC-DOS to do something with it. When PCDOS is done the modified FCB is edited to look once again like a CP/M FCB and is copied back where it originally came from so the Z80 program can examine it as if it were a plain old CP/M FCB.

Different File I/O Error Return Values

Some CP/M programs don't really examine status returns from CP/M file operations except to check for zero

or nonzero. Others actually do check for specific CP/M error returns as

follows:

01 = reading unwritten data

03 = cannot close current extent

04 = seek to unwritten extent

05 = cannot create new extent

06 = seek past physical end of disk

PC-DOS file operations return completely different error values. So the Z80 engine translates an error returned by PC-DOS into the corresponding CP/M error value before passing it back to the Z80 program.

Handling EOF

Many CP/M programs check for Control-Z (end of file) on sequential input files. PC-DOS, of course, doesn't need a Control-Z at the end of a sequential file. It knows the exact size of the file, regardless of file contents.

So if a CP/M program (which expects Control-Z for end of file) reads a PC-DOS sequential file that doesn't have a Control-Z, the results can be rather odd. Some CP/M programs will report an I/O error. Others blindly assume that end of file was reached when any read error occurs.

For this reason, the Z80 engine keeps a sharp eye out for the PC-DOS "end of file" or "partial record" error returns. If either is found, the Z80 engine returns to the Z80 program a buffer that is filled out with Control-Z characters. So things work out just fine, regardless of the presence or absence of Control-Z characters in the input file ■

CP/M BOOS FUNCTIONS THAT Differ in PC-DOS

The CP/M "search for next" BDOS function does not require an input argument. The search continues per data saved from the last search that was done (usually a "search for first" that provided an FCB). The PC-DOS "search for next" function, however, does require an FCB as input. So when the Z80 engine emulates a CP/M "search for next" BDOS function, it passes to PC-DOS the updated FCB that was used for the previous search. The FCB is kept in a special area reserved just for this purpose.

{continued)

214 BYTE* OCTOBE? I98i5

Soitstrip mSn^

COMPUTER READABLE PRINT « ^HHW. r A.' .^Sm

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Using the Softstrip System, Dr. Madsen's clinic is recording patient records on data strips. Those strips are filed in place of the written medical records, significantly reducing the amount of shelf space needed, as well as handling times. In addition, recall of medical records to the clinic's IBM PC computer can be done quickly using data strips. As Dr. Madsen observed: "Cost reduction is a vital national concern, If it can be accomplished in the administrative area, that many more dollars will flow to direct patient care. Everyone is looking for effective means to reduced administrative costs. This is one with promise."

iff

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Cauzin and Softstrip are registered trademarks and STRIPPER is a trademark of Cauzin Systems Inc. WordStar is a registered trademark of MicroPro Inlernalionat Corporation. Lotus and 1-2.3 are registered trademarks of Lotus Development Corporation.

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Inquiry 58

This data strip contains IBM2MAC, all the software you need to move your Lotus spreadsheets to Macintosh applications such as PageMaker. This program runs on an IBM PC and converts a Lotus text file to Macintosh format. Then, just print data strips of the converted file and read the strips into your Macintosh.

Z80MU

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The CP/M "buffered keyboard input' BDOS function returns when the buffer is full. The corresponding PCDOS function does not; It waits for Return to be pressed. So the Z80 engine sinnply can't call PC-DOS function 10. It must itself emulate the entire operation of this function, using low-level console I/O routines.

Summary

n this overview of Z80MU. the Z80 and CP/M 2.2 Emulator, my intent has been to give a feel for the capabilities of the program. More details, includng explanations of all built-in commands, reside in the user's guide that s distributed with the Emulator.

Response to the Emulator has been favorable. This reinforces our conviction that releasing the package to the public domain was the right thing to do. A few clear-cut bugs have been found by users in the field. These have been fixed. In addition, some excellent suggestions have been made as to features to be added.

Many other details need to be addressed by anyone who wishes to make such an Emulator. I have merely presented some of the most significant ones. Discovering the rest, quite frankly, is half the fun.

The Future

The Emulator is still in active development. At the moment, we are implementing the following changes:

1. The C part of the Emulator is being rewritten in Microsoft C version 3.00.

2. The user interface is being redirected to fast screen I/O routines, bypassing PC-DOS entirely.

3. The NEC V20 chip is being supported. This provides faster performance than with software-only emulation but is limited to 8080 op codes only.

4. The much-rumored NEC V2 5 chip (which executes Z80 op codes) will be supported if and when NEC announces it.

5. From all of the Z80 add-on boards for the PC, we will select one to be supported by the Emulator. This hardware/software combination will be the most powerful Z80 environment available. ■

216 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 210

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(Unformatted)

Inquiry 177

•Tokyo Tel.: (03) 582-9121/7 Tlx.: 2422711 (LGIJPN J) Fax.: (03) 584-6852 'Los Angeles Tel.: (213) 404-2626/9 Tlx.: 910-583-5719 (LGI lA) Fax.: (213) 926-0849 •Lotidon Tel.: 840-7111 Tlx.: 21765 (U3IUK G) 'Paris Tel.: 4734-52-06,4734-52-83 Tlx.: 201877 (LGIPAR F) •Frankfurt Tel.: (069) 6664083/5 Tlx.: 4185337 (LGIF D) Fax.: (069) 6666865

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An H&R Block Company Inquiry 70

PUBLIC DOMAIN POWERHOUSgS

CP/M HALL OF FAME

BY Brock N. Meeks

A roundup of some of the best public domain CP/M software

THERE IS A CORE of time-tested, quality CP/M public domain programs, programs that are candidates, if you will, for the CP/M Hall of Fame. (If sled dogs can have a Hall of Fame, why not PD software?) The programs outlined below are some of the best in the field and appear on practically any CP/M user's "must have" list.

ZCPR3.COM

ZCPR3 is a powerful program for turbocharging CP/M's console command processor (CCP). Created by Richard Conn, ZCPR3 (Z80 Command Processor Replacement) is an entire operating system. Besides being a replacement for your CCR ZCPR3 also offers a set of software tools, utility programs that use ZCPRB s special features.

ZCPR3 enhances some of the builtin commands of your present CCP. For example, under ZCPR3 TYPE will pause at every screen full of text (22 lines). Additional built-in commands such as LIST come with ZCPR3. LIST enables you to dump a file to the printer. Here are some of the more important functions of ZCPR3;

Hamed directories—AO: and B13: don't tell you anything about what pro

grams are in those user areas. With this system you can give AO: the name dBASE: or B13: the name TEXT:.

Search paths—If you specify a path, ZCPR3 will search for a particular program along that path until it finds it. For example, if you enter dBASE at the B> prompt, ZCPR3 will automatically search for it on drive A if it is not found on drive B. The pathways you specify can be quite complicated, a feature any hard disk owner will quickly appreciate.

System security—This utility allows you to effectively lock out certain drives or user areas. You can also eliminate the ability to run dangerous commands such as ERA *.*. This feature is known and loved by many bulletin board sysops.

ZCPR3's utility programs total 76, too many to list here. These are mainly for manipulating and maintaining how you use ZCPR3. For instance, PATH alters any previously defined search path, DIFF compares any two files, and FINDF ferrets out a file from all possible directories.

SDD.COM

This file directory program is often renamed D.COM and takes up 80K to

lOOK bytes of source code. It is loaded with bells and whistles. Figure I shows a list of available parameters called with the command SDD $?.

To get a listing of all files, in all user areas, dumped to your printer you would issue the command D SAP. If you wanted to have all files archived in libraries printed out as well, the command would be D $APL.

NSWP207.COM

New Sweep, as this file-maintenance program is called, is for people who can never remember the syntax for the PIP command. It was written by

Dave Rand and does so much that its menu (see figure 2) speaks for itself.

The TSg option lets you mark multiple files for any particular operation. You simply tag each file by pressing "T" after each filename. (When the program is executed, all files on disk are listed vertically.) When you've tagged all the files you want to work with, you can erase them, mass-copy

{continued)

Brock N. Meeks (8383 Center Dr.. Suite C, La Mesa, CA 92041) is a contributing editor for Profiles and Microtimes magazines He is the winner of a Computer Press Association award for outstanding miting.

OCTOBER 1986 'BYTE 219

CompuPro Solves the Network

Puzzle

together—our high performance multi-user systems simultaneously double as network servers for IBM® PCs. Move up to a true multiuser system and save your investment in existing PCs. To find out how CompuPro can solve your networl<ing puzzle, call today for the name of your nearest dealer.

fompuPro'

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Suggested list prices, subject to change without notice.

Tiademarl<s CompuPro 286/80. 286/40. 10 Plus. 816/C2. NET 100. NET lO.NETPC HYBRID HUB; Viasyn Corporation. IBM; Intecnatlonal Business Maclimes Corporation. ARONET: Datapoinl Corporation. CPLINK: CoinputerNet A/S.

220 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

GP/M HALL OF FAME

A—All users

R—Reset disks

C—Clear

S-SYS files

D—All disks

T—-No time&date

F-To file

P—To printer

H—Horizontal

Un—User n

K-PUB flies

V—No version

L--Llbrary

W—Wide (all tinnes)

N—No pause

Figure 1: The list oj parameters available for running SDD.COM, a directory

program.

A—Retag files

Q—Squeeze/Unsqeeze tagged files

B—Bacl< one file •

R—Rename file(s)

C—Copy file

S—Check remaining space

D—Delete file

T—Tag file for nnass

E—Erase T/U files

U-Untagfile

F—Find file

V—View file

, L—Lxig new disk/user W—Wildcard tag of files

.M—Mass file copy

Y—Set file status

P—Print file

?—Display .this help

Figure 2: The mem

of NSWP207.COM (New Sweep), a CP/M file-maintemnce

program.

IK-byte file might be allotted the minimum 4K bytes on a hard disk, four IK-byte files in a .LBR file would take up only 4K bytes, a saving of I2K bytes if stored individually.

NULU, Vi^ritten by Martin Murray, is an enhancement of the original LU (Library Utility) program by Gary P. Novosielski. This program lets you set up individual libraries on disk. The accompanying documentation file is 36K bytes long and explains in detail how the program functions.

NULU is a handyman for file manipulation. You can unsqueeze, rename, delete, add, and view file entries. It is also indispensable for transferring several related files via modem. You can pack your library file with squeezed files and send the single .LBR file to a remote computer in much less time than it would take to transfer each individual file.

MEX114.COM

MEX (Modem Executive), a communications program, is a direct descen

(COKtlKUOl)

them to a specified drive and user area, or squeeze/unsqueeze them.. (Squeezing a file compresses it, saving disk space or allowing shorter transfer times via modem. Unsqueezing restores it to its original form.)

The Print option dumps a file to the printer View lets you read a file on screen (even if the file is squeezed, which normally renders a file unreadable unless unsqueezed). The "Y" option allows you to assign any file a particular status (1-4,R,0).

NULU151.COM

This library utility helps you get around CP/M's limit of 64 filenames per floppy disk by allowing you to group a set of related files under a single filename. All your old tax spreadsheet files can be grouped in a library called 1985TAX.LBR. Since a library regardless of how many files are tucked inside, takes only one slot of the allotted 64 filenames, you can store many more programs on a disk. Also, when using a hard disk, a library file can save you space. Although a

Wve resolved the high cost of high resdution.

TheWyseWY-70Q ^1595. Monitor and board

1280 X 800 pixel clarity at a clearly sensible price. The WY-700 graphics subsystem is the one monitor that lets you run both standard IBM software and high resolution applications for the IBM PC, PC/XT, PC-AT, the WYSEpc and other PC-compatibles.

$1595. Complete. Monitor and board.

Now you can realize the full potential of Computer-Aided Drafting and Design packages like AutoCAD and Cadvance. The new graphics-based personal computing environments — MS Windows and G. E.M. — finally have the high resolution display they were made for. Desktop publishing packages get the screen treatment they deserve. And off-the-shelf IBM packages — Lotus 1-2-3, Flight Simulator —take on brilliant new dimensions.

Write Wyse Technology, Attn: Marcom Dept. 700, 3571N. First Street, San Jose, CA 95134. Or call toll-free, today, for more information.

CaUl-800-GET-WYSE

WYSE

I I I I

YOU NEVER REGRET A WYSE DECISION.

JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJU^^

Wvsi- is a registered trademark of Wyse Teclmotogy. WY- 700 and the "V"shaped d,-si>-)t arc trademarks of Wyse Technology. IBM PC. IBM PC/XT and IBM PC-AT an trademarks of hileriiatinnal Business Machines Corporation. AutoCAD is a trademark (if Autodesk. Inc. Cadvance is a trademark of CalCojup. Lotus 1-2-3 is a trademark of Lotus Devciopment Corporation. Flight Simulator and MS-Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. G.E.M. is a trademark of Digital Research Corporation. 'Vi /fWf) Wyse Technology.

Inquiry 331

CP/M HALL OF FAME

dant of the MODEM? communications package and has a widespread user base. A commercial counterpart of MEX is sold through Night Owl Software, but the public domain version doesn't lack many features of the commercial product.

MEX supports all the latest filetransfer protocols and even includes the ability to create script files (a series of commands that let the pro

gram automatically log on and interact with the remote computer once the carrier is detected). MEX calls these READ files. Overlays exist for virtually every CP/M system and modem.

A command called CLONE allows you to configure MEX for many different systems. The program can also store custom phone lists. If you type in a stored name, the modem will dial

the corresponding set of numbers (including any alternate carrier access codes, like for MCI or Sprint).

Other Candidates

In voting members into any Hall of Fame, there is always debate, controversy, and gnashing of teeth. My nominations will no doubt draw fire from those who think that other programs should be included. Here are some that could make it on the next ballot.

VDE—a superb 7K-byte screen

editor though word processor comes to mind immediately This little program is great for editing downloaded text files, and it can do several of the same functions as WordStar, including word wrap. It is also great for writing programs.

SODU (Screen Oriented Disk Utility)—has saved its share of crashed disks. A disk editor like this lets you examine or change the information on disk byte by byte. With it you can recover damaged files that other programs (like your word- processor) refuse to boot up.

MCAT—can manage that zoo you call a floppy disk file. The program automatically catalogs and records each filename on each disk. The associated file XCAT allows you to print out the listing,

EX—a small wonder that is the utility that CP/M's built-in SUBMIT program should have been. EX is quicker and more versatile than SUBMIT.

RESQ—recovers a text file from memory after you enter a word or phrase to search for. The file is restored from the first occurrence of the word or phrase to the end of the file.

UNERA—the ultimate recovery tool that will undelete files you just deleted from disk. It restores a file in full if you haven't written to the disk since erasing the file.

1 could mention many more programs, but you will find those listed above to be reliable and upgraded regulariy.

Editor's note: Owing to the size of these programs, the executable code for all the CP/M programs is available only on BYTE«et ((617) 861-9764) and on BIX. Readers may also want to contact the CP/M Users Group. 345 East S6th St., New York. NY 10028. ■

WHAT'S THE SECRET DEBUGGING WEAPON USED BY EVERYBODY FROM BORIAND TO ORACLE?

ANSWER FROM ATRON.

"WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT ATRON'S HARDWARE-ASSISTED SOFTWARE BUBBUSTERS.

PNUppi lOihR Urry Eillso

This is Ihe city saved by Ihe Atron bugbusters. Your city. Full of wizards, wilh hundreds of millions of dollars invested in wringing every ounce of intelligence and performance out of your PC. It used to be plagued with the toughest software bugs known to mankind.

PLA6UES OF BIBUCAL PROPORTIONS

The first and most difficult plague was impossible to trap with software debuggers. These were carnivorous bugs which randomly overwrote programs, data, even the debugger. Nastiest were the ones that slipped in once every few houis. or changed their behavior after each new compile. Forty days and forty nights of recompiling, trying something else, caused many a would-be resident of the city to run screaming into the wilderness, never to be heard from again.

Second came the plague of not knowing where (he program was, or where il had recently been. This cornpounded ihe firsi plague: How could anyone know what caused the random memory overwriies? Add lo this random interrupts and timing dependencies, and you begin to understand The Fear that gripped the city.

Then came the last plague, which brought the wizards to their knees before they even sljrted debugging. 'Hieir towering programs consumed so

much memory, there \v^n'i enough room for their symbol table, let alone debugging software. Even if they could get past the first two plagues, this one kUied their firstborn software.

ENTER THE HARDWARE-ASSISTED SOFTWARE BUGBUSTERS

The Atron solution came as a revelation: Monitor every memory reference and every instruction executed, by adding a hardware board to the AT or PC with an umbilical probe to the processor.

The result? Wham! The PC PROBE" and the AT PROBE'" saved civilization as we know il. The first plague was cured wilh PROBE'S hardware-assisted breakpoint traps on reading, writing, executing, inputting and outputting. These could be done on single or ranges of addresses, and could include particular data values. All in real time. Fot a mere software debugger to attempt this, a I-minute program would take 5 hours to execute.

The second plague, not knowing from whence you came, was cured with PROBE'S real-time trace memory. The histoid of program execution is saved on-board, in real time. Once a hardware trap has occurred,

Copyright C 1986 by Alton Coipi PC PROBE™ and AT PROBE" Atron. The other Riw cDmpanies meniioned ihniu^toui this adveniwmenl own numemu trademarks

PROBE displays the program execution in detail, including syms lUid source code tor C, Pascal, or assembly language proms Which shows how out-of-range pointers got that way

Ihe third plague, not enough room for the debugging symbol table to be co-rcsidcni in memory with a large program, was cured with ^TTrmf I-megabyte of on-board, hidden, writc-proSeSB lecled memory. System memory was then free ^fl^ for the program, keeping the symbol table and debugger safe firom destruction.

When the job of bugbusling was done, the wizards used their PROBEs as performance analyzers. So they could have both reliability and performance. So they CQuId send only [he best software into the Held.

IF TOU AREN'T AN ATRON CUSTOMER, ODDS ARE YOU WON'T BE MAKING THE TOP-TEN LIST.

On any given week, at least nine of the top ten best-selling software packages on the SoftSel Hotlist come from Atron customers.

Ever heard of Borland? "Without Atron," says its president Philippe Kahn, "there wouldn't be a SideKick™, Turbo Lightning" would be light-years away, and Turbo Prolog' ■ wouldn't be shipping today"

Ever use a spreadsheet? From Enable"* to Paradox"", their bugs were busied by Atron products.

Into DBMSs? Everyone from Ashlon-Tate lo Oracle owns at least one Alron bugbuster.

If you use a product from one of the companies in The City, you owe life as you know it to Atron. Our guess is that 99% of all PCs. XTs and ATs have at least one product debugged with Atron bugbusters.

FREE 44-PAGE BUGBUSTING BIBLE COULD MAKE YOU A PROPHET, AND YOUR COMPANY A PROFIT.

We've wi illen a complete tutorial on .stale-of-lhe-art bugbusling. And il's yours, free for the asking. Full of examples and illustrations, it will show you how (he wizards work ihcir magic.

If you're lircd of suffering the wrath of program bugs, call Atron today. You could be busting bugs, and sales records, tomorrow,

THE BUBBUSTERS

20665 Fourth Street • Saraidga, CA 95070 • 408/741-5900

Adv. byTRBA.

222 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 30

FOR PEOPLE MTMORE, BUTARENT mUNG TO BWTHE PRICE

Citizen™ just took all the features of a high-end printer and made a small change.

We put them into a low-^end printer T~he Citizen 120D. We aeated a dot matrix printer with more features and a lower price than any other printer in its class. One that produces clean^ precise letters at a draft speed of 120 cps, with superior correspondence quality at 25 cps.

We added little extras^ like a 4K-byte buffer, proportionally spaced printing, full graphics capabilities, and a unique paper loading system that's a small wonder And we gave it the ability to survive the long run widi most leading computer systems.

Because after 50 years of placing a world of precision on your wrist, we've come to realize something. Good things do come in small packages.

For more infomiation, call 1-800-556-1234 Ext. 34. Or in California, caD 1-800-441-2345 Ext. 34.

TheC ' Never has so much hi ! so many

ntejsthat run like clockwork,

MEET DESrriNGUIS

3 paper ieedin g con trols, plus paper-saving push/pull tractor feed.

\

Diagnostic self-test signals errors with flashes and beeps.

Go off-line to change type styles and modes without lengthy software commands.

POWER

ON LINE

ON LINE

ERROR

ADJUST

12 pushbuttons to control printing functions.

7

Lets you feed paper

lin e-by-lin e, by 1/216 -in ch

increments, or continuously.

This could be the most intelligent group of buttons ever assembled.

You'll find them on the front of every Alps Dot Matrix Printer. And you'll use them to do something most printers can't. Everything, Just push a

i

button on our front panel. You can change type styles and print modes,

load paper automatically, reprint data stored in the print buffer, even override your software to do things it can't.

All while using your PC for other work ^ at hand.

But of course, Alps printers are more than a bunch

' of buttons.

They're fast. The new P2100™ prints drafts at an amazing 400 cps, the

OUR

EIEDKNEL

Clears print buffer of data without printing it.

17 LEDs indicate functions in operation.

Choose three almost amazing P2000 speeds: 250 cps draft, 125 cps memo, or 50 cps letter quality. Price: $995.

Automatically reprints data stored in print buffer (4K expandable to 256K).

Select fan t cartridges, printing modes, print pitches and spacing quickly and easily.

Choose three amazing P2100 speeds: 400 cps draft, 200 cps memo, or 80 cps letter quality. Price: $1595.

P2000™at an almost amazing 250 cps.

They're versatile. They print everything from letters and graphs to six-part forms and 16-inch-wide spreadsheets. And they run with all the most popular PCs and software.

Best of all, they're reliable. Because Alps printers are among the most solidly built at any price. In fact, with normal care, they'U run five years or more without a breakdown. And their precision-engineered print

head will deliver over 200 million characters of superb output.

So don't just get a printer that does a lot of work. Get one that doesn't interfere with yours.

An Alps.

For our brochure and name of our nearest dealer, call (800) 828-ALPS. In CA, (800) 257-7872. _

We'll show you A | DC how to push all the m\EMA^ right buttons. AMERICA

Inquiry 17 for End-Users. Inquiry i8 for DEALERS ONLY.

P2000 and P2100 are trademarks of Alps Electric Co., Ltd. f1986 Alps America.

BVTE

Reviem

REVIEWER'S Notebook THE COMMODORE AMIGA is a special machine. Tom Thompson provides

by Ion Edwards 229 a detailed look at its capabilities and performance. In his view, the Amiga's

The Commodore Amiga spectacular graphics is the major strength of the machine, but the peripherals

by %m Thompson 231 and software also contribute to the system's viability. Still, he reports on the

The Combw Portable II quirks and problems that you will face with AmigaDOS and the multitasking

by Stan Miastkowski 239 operating system.

Four i/4-inch Tape Backup Units The Compaq Portable II is a compact version of the Compaq Portable 286.

by Malcolm c. Rubel , 243 Stan Miastkowski examines the Model 3, which has a single floppy disk drive,

MuLiSP-86 a 10-megabyte hard disk drive, and 640K bytes of RAIVI in a 26-pound case.

by Robert | Schalkoff 249 He has found that the machine is well built, highly compatible, and easy to

iTC's Modula-2 expand, but highly priced.

Software Deveiopment System It doesn't take long after you've purchased a hard disk to realize how

by Mark Bridger 255 vulnerable you are unless you back up your files. Malcolm Rubel reviews four

Microsoft Word Version 3.0 tape backup units and the Alpha Microsystems' Videotrax, a VCR alternative.

by Malcolm C. Rufel 261 j-jg concludes that the Ttecmar QIC-60 is a winner as far as speed is concerned.

The Norton Utilities, PC Tools, although the other units perhaps provide a better value or an easier environ

AND Super Utility ment for beginners.

by Rubin Rabmovitz 265 j^Q^g^f Schalkoff looks at the muLISP-86 LISP development system, which

Review Feedback 273 jg identical to Microsoft LISP He has found that the major strength of the

■—i^^"^"^^—^^^^^^ language is its suitability for use within the constraints of a microcomputer

environment.

Mark Bridger examines ITC's Modula-2, and he compares it to Hirbo Pascal. He recommends that you examine your needs before making the transition from Hirbo Pascal.

Malcolm Rubel also reviews Microsoft Word version 3.0. The application is full-featured, but he concludes that the word processor lacks some of the comforts and the speed that he has come to expect.

Finally Rubin Rabinovitz compares the latest version of The Norton Utilities to PC Tools and to Super Utility. He has found that The Norton Utilities offers the greatest number of features for file recovery and that PC Tbols is somewhat easier to use and is more reasonably priced.

OCTOBER 1986 •BYTE 227

UTSTAND NG

■o/yr; 1-B6

day: 23 aimunt: $168.88 fpo«: Assets Cash

Checking ftccount Check 0438 aiount: $188.88

to: Household Expenses

$167,727 $167, 627 8,422 8, 322

2,961 2,861

REVIEWER'S NOTEBOOK

Ioften wonder whether the time I spend shaping my woricing environment really pays off. 1 suppose that my work habits are now more efficient, and I certainly enjoy watching macros give me more command over the system. But my investment in time, if not in money is considerable.

On my IBM PC, 1 have an AUTOEXEC.BAT file that takes 3 minutes to boot and, despite having 640K bytes of RAIVl, I have less than 80K bytes for my work space. The reason may be familiar to you. I have a passion for RAM-resident software.

I use SideKick, SuperKey and TUrbo Lightning from Borland international, PopDOS from Bellsoft Incorporated, Kwic Query an excellent new RAMresident index of BYTE's back issues from Innovative Ideas Incorporated (1226 Holloway St., Dept. BPA, Lafayette, IN 47905, (317) 743-6416), two public domain applications (a digital clock and a print spooler), and a RAM disk to hold the Hirbo Lightning dictionary. But passions for RAMresident software can get you into trouble, especially when you load in several. For example, when I tried The Norton Commander last month, DOS commands no longer entered SuperKey's command stack. The Commander captured them all. Many utilities like PRD+ and SuperKey do not work together; in this case, 1 assume because they use the same interrupts. Consequently there are times when I have to change the AUTOEXEC file and reboot.

I was therefore excited to get Referee from Persoft (2740 Ski Lane, Madison, Wl 53713. (608) 273-6000). This product sets up environments in which you can specify which of your RAM-resident packages are active with each of your applications. You might set up TUrbo Lightning to be active when you are on-line (very useful

for avoiding cumbersome line editors) but inactive at the DOS level. Alternatively with memory to burn, you might load PRD-i- for use with your main editor and SuperKey for use at the DOS level and in other applications.

I can therefore recommend Referee, but it too introduced some incompatibilities. I found that once I had

loaded Referee, SuperKey macros could no longer call SideKick functions. The reason, according to Persoft, is that Referee employs two interrupts that SuperKey needs to recognize that SideKick is there. Of interest is Persoft s claim that a similar but as yet unavailable utility has the same problem.

Amiga owners are probably scoffing at this discussion, since the reason for having RAM-resident .utilities in a sense is to simulate a multitasking environment. Why struggle with incompatibilities among utilities when a multitasking operating system can solve all these problems by providing access to every application you desire?

Order, for example, is a desktop organizer software package for the

Amiga from the Northeast Software Group (165 Dyerville Ave., lohnston, Rl 02919, (401) 273-1001). It provides a telephone directory a 21-function calculator, a clock and message facility a 7-function scratchpad, a calendar, and a screen dump utility With a hard disk, you can call up these functions nearly as fast as on the IBM PC.

Like me, you may well be more interested in the Amiga's graphics and sound environment than its multitasking abilities. We just received FutureSound from Applied Visions Incorporated (15 Oak Ridge Rd., Medford, MA 02155, (617) 488-3602), This sound digitizer includes everything

you need to digitize voices, sound effects, and music, using up to four tracks at a time and at up to 28,000 samples per second. In a few minutes we were able to splice our own voices with a recording from "Star Trek." The software allows you to speed up, slow down, or reverse the playback, change the volume, and edit sounds. You can also incorporate recordings into your own BASIC or C programs by saving the digitized sounds in IFF format.

We also have Digi-View from NewTek (701 lackson St., Suite B3, Tbpeka, KS 66603, (913) 354-9332), a video digitizer that lets you capture, display and store images in the Amiga's 4096color hold and modify mode, in the standard 32-color IFF format, and in 640- by 400-pixel monochrome. DigiView plugs into the parallel port and uses a coaxial cable to connect to an RS-170 monochrome slow-scan video camera with two-to-one interlace. NewTek supplies the Panasonic WV-1410 camera as an option. Tb capture images, you use a color filter wheel that mounts in front of the camera. The process is fairly quick (about 30 seconds for full color), and the final quality is excellent.

Lest I forget my roots, I should mention a neat item for the Atari 800. Electronical Software (P.O. Box 803 5, Rochester, MI 48063, (313) 258-5455) offers YEMACYB, a color graphics printer driver that lets you make color printouts with your black-and-white dot-matrix printer. With this software and four-color printer ribbons, you can generate color printouts of any graphics-7 or 7-plus displays saved in Micropainter-file format.

Macintosh users, take heart. Next month I will report on the MacWorld Expo in Boston.

—]on Edwards Senior Technical Editor, Reviews

Inquiry 289

OCTOBER 1986 'BYTE 229

$345 m

iMysnc^aan Card

THE CARD FOR

Reason 1: More Memory

When you need more memory, the Abovefunction Card* from American Computer & Peripheral, Inc. delivers a full 2 Megabytes of RAM to your American, IBM* personal computers and compatibles.

The American Abovefunction Card can fill conventional memory to 640K with the remaining as expanded memory or install up to four Abovefunction Cards to provide the maximum 8 Megabytes of expanded memory for your PC system.

Reason 2: More Functions

In addition to expanded memory the American Abovefunction Card includes commonly used features, such as a serial, parallel and game port and real-time clock/calendar, all on one board.

The American Abovefunction Card has Cache Memory, an enhanced disk buffer software that is transparent to the user and gives up to four times faster hard disk access. RAM disk and print buffer capabilities are also contained on the EMM (Expanded Memory Manager)/Utility Diskette.

Reason 3: Maximized Slot Usage

Plan for the future with the American Abovefunction Card. One card provides your memory and multi-function needs in one I/O expansion slot. This frees valuable slot space for other enhancements. Reason 4: Compatibility

The American Abovefunction Card is based on Lotus*/Inter/Microsoft* specifications and is compatible with Intel's Above* Board. Reason 5: Price

And, one of the best reasons of all, the American value: $725.00 includes 2 Megabytes RAM) and $345.00 (0K)

AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTOR AND SERVICE CENTERS:

California Micro, Inc.

Los Angeles, CA (800) 792-6500

Imagine Computers

Goleta, CA (800) 344-2964

PC Land, Inc.

Tustin. CA(714) 730-6723

Computer Professionals

Lakewood, CO (303) 232-4009

Computer Peripheral Warehouse, Inc.

Oeerfield Beach, FL (305) 481-2170

5K Computers Orlando, FL (800) 624-3250 The Super Source Norcross, GA (800) 241-8579 Mid America

Carmel, IN (317) 846-3101 CPU Distribution, Inc. Burnsville, MN (612) 894-9310 Asibem, Inc.

Bluespring, MO (816) 229-2442

Computer Wholesalers Lincoln, NE (402) 466-1962 Micro Configuration East, Inc. Brooklyn, NY (718) 941-2512 Microsel

Oklahoma City. OK (405) 787-4354 Omega Data

Hillsboro, OR (503) 640-3995

Power House Sales

Sioux Falls, SD (605) 336-7181

American Computer Distributing Chattanooga, TN (615) 870-1073 Columbia Data Systems, Inc. Columbia, TN (615) 381-4650 Omega Data

Kirkland, WA (205) 823-9769 Inter-Micro Distributor. Inc. Alberta, Canada (403) 438-3997 Paris Sud Electronique Composant Paris, France (1)69.20,66,99

MAJOR DEALERS:

Computerland of Whittier Whittier, CA (213) 945-8321 Elek-tek, Inc.

Chicago, IL (312) 677-7660 Inacomp Computer Center Columbus, OH (614) 431-2230 Inacomp Computer Center Saginaw, Ml (517) 790-1360

COMPUTER & PERIPHERAL, INC.

See us at

»mi)iH/Fall '86

Noveinber 10-14, 1986

Corporate Office: 2720 Croddy Way, Sanfa Ana, CA 92704 USA • Tel: (714) 545-2004 • Fax: (714) 545-2146 Northeastern Office: 830 Busch Court. Columbus, OH 43229 USA • Tel: (614) 846-5433 • Fax: (614) 846-7656

"Abovefiinciion. IBM. Lotus, intol Above and Microsoft are tradsmarks o( American Compuior & Peripheral, Inlernalional Business Machines, Lotus Development, Intel and Microsoft Corpofations, respaclivety.

inquiry 21 for End-Users. Inquiry 22 for DEALERS ONLY.

SYSTE

EVIEW

The Commodore Amiga

BY Tom TViOMPSON

The Amiga from Commodore International is a business machine, a graphics workstation, a multitasking system, and a home computer. A bold statement, but the Amiga has a unique hardware design that gives it sufficient power especially when combined with some pricey peripherals and improved software, to meet most of these expectations.

Hardware

The basic Amiga comes with 2 56K bytes of RAM, and you can upgrade to 512K bytes easily with a 256K-byte RAM expansion cartridge that plugs into a slot behind a front panel. A built-in 3/2inch double-sided disk drive holds 880K bytes, and the machine has a connector for an external drive. The Amiga can support three additional drives—either double-sided 3'/2-inch or double-sided 5!4-inch. The system has programmable serial and parallel ports. TWo RCA jacks provide stereo audio output. The two joystick ports can be used to connect a twobutton optomechanical mouse.

The Amiga provides analog and digital RGB output for color monitors and a composite video output that can input directly into a VCR or color monitor The Amiga also has an RF modulator port for TV outputs, but you need an external RF adapter unit for this type of use. On the right side of the machine, a panel covers the expansion bus interface, a card edge into which you can attach additional memory or special peripherals. An important feature of the hardware is that you can synchronize the display to an external television signal, allow

The strong point of this well-designed machine is spectacular graphics

ing the possibility of receiving, viewing, and processing VCR or video camera input.

The Amiga uses a Motorola 68000 microprocessor chip running at 7.16 megahertz. Three custom chips handle the bulk of the display control, sound generation, and DMA (direct memory access) data transfers (see "The Amiga's Custom Graphics Chips" by Phillip Robinson, November 1985 BYTE). You can manipulate eight reusable sprites on two playfields with priority control and collision detection. Area-fill and bit-plane copying are also supported, and four programmable audio channels are available. For additional information on the Amiga's hardware, see "The Amiga Personal Computer" by Gregg Williams, )on Edwards, and Phillip

Robinson, August 1985 BYTE.

I was disappointed to find out that the Amiga doesn't have a battery-operated clock. Such clock circuits are not difficult to build, and with 880K bytes of data per floppy disk drive, a time stamp on a file is a requirement. The clock should be standard, but you can buy peripherals that contain a clock.

Display

The Amiga display has two resolutions. Low resolution is 320 pixels per line and 200 lines per screen, with a choice of 32 colors from a palette of 4096. High resolution is 640 pixels per line for 200 lines, displaying 16 colors out of 4096. An interlace mode allows you to double the vertical resolution: 320 pixels for 400 lines in low resolution and 640 pixels for 400 lines in high resolution. A special mode called hold and modify (HAM) allows you to use six bit planes in a controlled manner to display the entire 4096 colors simultaneously. This last mode is perhaps the most spectacular: Digitized pictures utilizing HAM have a televisionlike quality to them due to the range and subtle shading of the colors displayed (see photo 1).

The Amiga can present text in a variety of sizes, colors, fonts, and styles. You can also present text in 60 or 80 characters per line. The system ROMs contain two default system fonts; other fonts are stored as .font

[continued)

Tom Thompson is a technical editor for BYTE. He can be reached at BYTE, One Phoenix Mill Uine. Peterborough, NH 03458.

OCTOBER 1986 • B Y T E 231

REVIEW: COMMODORE AMIGA

files on disk. The operating system will recognize additional .font files if you copy them to the disk and then install them.

The Amiga has no problem with low-resolution displays, but an annoying jitter appears in the interlace mode and in high-resolution displays. A monitor with high-persistence phosphors could alleviate the problem but at extra expense. I also found that after using the 80-column text mode for several hours, my eyes began to burn. I found it much easier to endure the 60-column mode.

Commodore offers an optional monitor, the 1080, which has a composite video input, allowing it to serve as an output device for a VCR or another computer.

Keyboard

The Amiga has a detached keyboard with 89 keys. In addition to the usual alphanumeric keys you'll find Esc, Ctrl, Del, two Alt keys, two Amiga logo keys, ten function keys, and four cursor keys laid out in an intuitive cross pattern.

The keyboard can be read as processed input or as unprocessed (raw) input, depending on how the application has opened the console device.

The raw mode interprets the keyboard as keycodes, allowing you to have fine control over the input. For example, you can differentiate between the left Alt key and the right Alt key if your application requires it.

Disk Drives

I appreciated having an external 3'/2-inch drive, which increased the machine's storage capacity to 1.8 megabytes. The Amiga cannot boot off the external drive, but having an external drive eliminates some of the disk swapping that occurs with some applications and compilers.

A push button ejects the disk. This physical control appeals to some users, but you can destroy a disk's contents if you eject it prematurely. This shouldn't normally be a problem, but the Amiga seems to take a long time, sometimes several seconds, to flush the last of the data to a disk. The possibility of an accident seems great enough to justify your getting a disksalvage utility.

Operating System

The operating system is composed of 192K bytes of multitasking executive saved in 2 56K bytes of writecontrolled storage (WCS) RAM. When

the Amiga was first released, the operating system software design was not complete. The workaround provides the operating system on a floppy disk called the Kickstart that loads into the WCS at boot-up. The WCS uses its own memory: it does not use the 2 56K bytes of RAM that comes with the basic machine. You complete the boot process by inserting a Workbench disk (Commodore's term for the Macintosh-like window/icon user interface) or the system-installed Command Line interface (CLl) disk.

Improvements to the executive are issued through dealers at no charge. The current Workbench version is 1.1, with version 1.2 now in beta test. Each revision has introduced major improvements in the overall operation of the machine.

You have a choice of how to work with the Amiga. There is Workbench, a mouse-driven, icon-based windowing interface, or AmigaDOS, which is a sophisticated CLl. Workbench is actually "bolted" to the top of AmigaDOS: Actions performed on the Workbench call AmigaDOS functions. Either interface can start the other. From the Workbench you can doubleclick on a CLl icon to open a window with a simple CLl prompt, or from AmigaDOS, you can issue the LOADWB command, which starts Workbench. I performed all system benchmarks under both Workbench and AmigaDOS.

Workbench

Like the Macintosh desktop. Workbench has multiple windows, a menu bar, icons representing disks, and a TVashcan. You can move, resize, open, and close windows using the mouse. You use the left mouse button for operating on a window or its contents and the right mouse button to activate and make selections on the pulldown menus. It takes a little practice, but it is easy to get used to.

Various icons represent runnable applications. To execute them you double-click on the icon. You can also drag them to another location or to another disk, triggering a copy operation. Drawers correspond to Macintosh folders and, like the Macintosh

[conthmed]

Photo 1: A demonstration of the Amiga's hold and modify mode. {Data file courtesy of NewTefe.)

232 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

i

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EXE. files. BetterBASIC is not copy protected. Technical support is provided for all registered users. See for yourself why Dick Aarons of PC Magazine said "BetterBASIC may be the best of all BASIC programming worlds" and selected BetterBASIC as "Editor's Choice" (Oct. 29,1985).

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B^^IC

Inquiry 290

REVIEW: COMMODORE AMIGA

SYSTEM FEATURES

Amiga 1000 Company

Commodore International 1200 Wilson Dr West Chester, PA 19380 (215) 436-4200

Size

173/4 by 13 by 4^/4 inches 13 pounds

Components

Processor: 68000 running at 7.16 MHz Memory. 256K bytes of RAM (standard); optional 256K-byte RAM expansion card for a total of 512K bytes Mass storage: One 880K-byte doublesided double-density 3'/2-inch floppy disk drive

Keyboard: Detached QWERTY with 89 keys including 10 function keys; separate keypad for cursor keys; numeric keypad

Expansion: Expansion bus card edge I/O interfaces: One RS-232C serial port; one DB-25 parallel port; two DB-9 joystick ports; two audio outputs (RCA type); DB-23 RGB analog or digital output; composite video output (RCA); NTSC video output

Software

Amiga BASIC Tutorial (Mindscape) Kaleidoscope (Electronic Arts)

Options

1080 analog color monitor: $495 3V2-inch external drive: $295 RAM expansion card: $195 5y4-inch 360K-byte drive with IBM emulation software: $395

Documentation

116-page Introduction to Amiga 291-page Amiga BASiC

Price

$1295

MEMORY SIZE (K BYTES)

0 200 400 600 800 1000

■ 64/

28

DISK STORAGE (K BYTES)

■100 800 1200 1600 2000

1

880^800

1 1

■iB140/2eO

1 1

DISK ACCESS IN BASIC (IN SECONDS)

WRITE

20 AO 60

READ

100 0 20 40

20 • I 23*«

7

i

BASIC PERFORMANCE (IN SECONDS) SIEVE CALCULATIONS

0 50 100 150 200 250 0 50 100 150 200 250

'..i^aOMUH 66 * ^■^^■■169**

1

245

SYSTEM UTILITIES (IN SECONDS) 40K FORMAT/DISK COPY 40K FILE COPY

0 10 20 30 40 50 0 10 20 30 40 50

HB15t

9.6

521 .53 1 5B

t

SPREADSHEET (IN SECONDS) LOAD RECALCULATE

0 5 10 15 20 25 0 5 10 15 20 25

254

■i 6.5

-22

w AMIGA IBM PC h APPLE HE

* Amiga BASIC • • ABasiC t AmigaDOS 11 Workbench

The Memory Size graph shows the standard and optional memory available for the computers under comparison. The Disk Storage graph shows the highest capacity for a single floppy disk drive and the maximum standard capacity for each system. The graphs for Disk Access in BASIC show how long it takes to write and then read a 64K-byte sequential text file to a blank floppy disk. (For the program listings, see BYTE's Inside tiie iBM PCs, Fall 1985, page 195.) The Sieve graph shows how long it takes to run one iteration of the Sieve of Eratosthenes prime-number benchmark. The Calculations graph shows how long it takes to do 10,000 multiplication and 10,000 division operations using single-precision numbers. The System Utilities graphs show how long it takes to format and copy a 40K-byte

file using the system utilities. The Spreadsheet graphs show how long it takes to load and recalculate a 25- by 25-cell spreadsheet in which each cell equals 1.001 times the cell to its left. BASIC benchmarks were performed for both ABasiC and Amiga BASIC with only the benchmark program running. The ABasiC programs use a different syntax to open files, and Amiga BASIC requires a CLEAR ,30000,30000 command for the Sieve program to run. All System Utilities benchmarks were run under Workbench and AmigaDOS. The spreadsheet used was Lattice's Unicalc Spreadsheet version 1.0. All tests were done on an Amiga 1000 using Workbench 1.1 and AmigaDOS 1.1. The Amiga had two 880K-byte drives and 512K bytes of memory.

234 BYTE' OCTOBER 1986

4

REVIEW: COMMODORE AMIGA

Hierarchical Filing System, each drawer represents a subdirectory.

Although Workbench works well, it has a few quirks. To save a preferred arrangement of icons, you must select an icon and then choose Snapshot from the Special menu. You repeat this process until you've preserved the location of every icon, a very clumsy method. The Macintosh Finder saves the location automatically Also, new files generated by applications don't appear in a window until you first close and then reopen the window. This isn't a serious problem, but it can be confusing.

When you have multiple processes running in separate windows, you make a window active by pointing to it and clicking with the left mouse button. However, the active window doesn't come to the front of the screen. If it is hidden by other windows, it will stay that way. In fact, in some cluttered screens it can be difficult to use the front and back window controls, called gadgets, to bring the desired window to the front. Worse, clicking on a window's front or back gadget makes that window active. Once you've positioned the desired window at the front of the screen, it may not be the active window. You might therefore enter keyboard I/O into the wrong process.

AmigaDOS

AmigaDOS is the CLI interface to the Amiga. It's based on TVipos, a multitasking system written by Metacomeo in England (see "Tripos—The Roots of AmigaDOS" by Dick Fountain, February BYTE). Experienced computer users will probably rely on AmigaDOS, since all the development software, programming languages, and assemblers operate exclusively in this environment.

AmigaDOS allows you to assign logical paths, and an EXECUTE command lets you submit batch files with parameter passing. At boot-up the Amiga searches the s subdirectory of the boot disk for a batch file called Startup-Sequence and, if it is present executes it. This gives you a way to make logical device assignments to certain volumes or subdirectories, set the stack size, or prompt for the cur

rent time and date each time you start. You also select the operating

system you'll start under (Workbench or AmigaDOS) in this file.

Commands are programs stored in the c subdirectory on the boot disk. AmigaDOS scans this directory when you enter a command and loads the appropriate program into memory to complete the request. This slows operations because every command, including DIR, requires a disk access. You can rename these programs to suit your own preference.

AmigaDOS has a built-in RAM disk, RAM:, whose size is limited only by the amount of available memory. You can customize the Startup-Sequence file to load frequently used commands such as TYPE, DIR, and EXECUTE into the RAM disk and logically assign it as the command directory eliminating the penalty of accessing the floppy disk.

You can obtain help for some commands by executing them with no arguments. FORMAT, for example, provides you with a complete set of arguments and keywords to format a disk. Not all commands provide this feature: COPY instead tersely states "Bad arguments." I'd like to see all commands that require keywords or switches to provide some sort of selfhelp because AmigaDOS doesn't resemble MS-DOS in some areas.

AmigaDOS has quirks, most of which are due to its dissimilarity to MS-DOS. First, AmigaDOS handles wild cards differently mainly by not using the asterisk (*) as a wild-card delimiter. The COPY command requires an ALL switch to copy all the files on a disk or in a subdirectory. COPY does not perform concatenation: You must use a JOIN command, which doesn't offer self-help either. Second, AmigaDOS doesn't recognize the conventional Ctri-S/Ctrl-Q data throttle. To stop output, you hit a key; to restart, you hit Return, backspace, or Ctri-X.

I've crashed the machine under AmigaDOS by using COPY with the ALL switch to transfer files to the RAM disk. Everything proceeds smoothly until the Amiga runs out of memory at which point you get a fatal crash. This might happen to you by

The Amiga handles

multitasking quite well, but onlij if all the programs are mil behaved.

accident if you put a number of source files in RAM; during the development of a program. I don't know if this is the fault of the Amiga operating system or of the COPY command. It does show that the version 1.1 system software still has some rough edges.

Multitasking

The Amiga provides multitasking,

allowing you to run several programs simultaneously. The programs share system resources such as memory or disk drives without conflict. However, the Amiga multitasking executive does not support virtual memory: Either you have enough memory to load your applications or you don't.

With this fact in mind, how well does the Amiga handle multitasking? The display normally one of the most CPU- and I/O-intensive processes, is managed effectively by the custom chips. Other types of I/O like disk and serial port accesses tend to slow applications down, but primarily because of the speed of these devices rather than the overhead required. I've tried a mix of different programs in a variety of ways with no problems (see photo 2). At the same time, attempting to run a buggy C program I had written hung the entire system, taking with it all the programs that were running. The moral here is that the Amiga handles multitasking quite well, but only if all the programs are well behaved.

How much overhead do additional tasks add to the system? I experimented with running the C language version of the Sieve program with another graphics-intensive program running in the background. I chose this program to experiment with how

(continued)

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 235

REVIEW: COMMODORE AMIGA

much the custom hardware degraded performance when it had to cyclesteal heavily from the 68000 microprocessor. 1 used the bouncing ball demo, Boing!, plus the Robocity and amigaSd demos as background programs. The results are shown in table 1. The Sieve runs in roughly twice the time that it had previously, but with two programs, one with an extremely complex graphics display running simultaneously. Impressively the Amiga is also scanning both the CLI window and the Workbench for mouse clicks or keyboard I/O at the same time.

To make the most of multitasking, you need lots of memory and fast peripherals. The memory is required to hold every program you'll have run

ning plus what the operating system needs to manage I/O queuing and context switching. Since the display is already handled by the custom chips, the next I/O bottleneck is disk accesses. Of course, a hard disk will speed performance. The Amiga's performance with 1.5 megabytes of memory and a hard disk is superb: I've uploaded files to BIX at 1200 bits per second while doodling in Aegis Images. On another occasion I compiled four programs simultaneously with the Manx Aztec C compiler.

Software

It has not yet been a year since the Amiga's release, and already there is an impressive array of programming languages available for it: two BASICs,

two C compilers, and two assemblers, along with LISP, Pascal, Modula-2, and FORTH implementations.

The Amiga originally came with Metacomco's ABasiC. However, The machine is now bundled with Microsoft Corporation's Amiga BASIC. Owners who had ABasiC got a free copy of Amiga BASIC with their version 1.1 operating system upgrade. Both interpretive BASICs allow you to access many of the Amiga's graphics libraries. ABasiC opens a single window and behaves like a typical CLloriented BASIC with no mouse control and no windows. Amiga BASIC presents you with a command window and a list window. Several menus are available for the mouse user, or you can type commands in the command window. Cut and paste functions are available in the list window. Both BASICS fit neatly into the Amiga's multitasking environment, although you have to adjust the stack size within a CLI window to get ABasiC to operate this way.

There are several MacPaint-style drawing programs that allow you to use the graphics capability of the Amiga to produce color drawings. Graphicraft by Commodore was available at the machine's release date. Electronic Arts released its Deluxe Paint in time for the Christmas season, and Aegis introduced its Images program in the spring. All three programs use an Interchange File Format (IFF) data structure that allows a picture produced by Graphicraft to be read and displayed by Aegis Images or Deluxe Paint. This lets you download pictures from various bulletin boards without regard for which paint program you own.

Aegis provides two programs that give the Amiga serious graphics potential. The first is Aegis Animator, which can read IFF files to generate animated images. It provides a filmsplicing capability called storyboarding that can be of use to illustrators or small advertising studios. The second is Aegis Draw, a draftingstyle program that allows you to design scale drawings or blueprints, and it comes with a number of plotter drivers.

For business needs, Lattice offers its

Tcible 1: Increase in program execution time witfi

a graphics-intensive program

running concurrently. Programs were run with Workbench version 1.1 with one

CLI window open. Running times are in seconds.

Programs Running time

Percent increase

Sieve 6.18

Sieve with Boing! 9.23

49

Sieve with Robocity 12.39

110

Sieve with amigaSd 13.38

117

Photo 2: Multitasking on the Amiga.

236 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

i

MicroCom Systems

OUTSTANDING SOFTWARE

For IBM PC's and Compatibles ^

I

Unicalc Spreadsheet program. I used it for the spreadsheet benchmark timings.

DOCUMENTATION

The Amiga comes with two manuals: Mrodudion to Amiga and hmiga BASIC.

The introduction manual extensively covers the Workbench side of the operating system. Its strongest point is the information it provides for the slightly nonstandard pin-outs on the serial and parallel ports. The manual's only information on AmigaDOS is a note in the Reference section on how to enter the CLI.

Unless you copy notes out of the developer's manuals at your dealer you'll probably need to buy The Ami^flDOS Manual from Bantam Books (1986) for information on the CLI. This book actually contains three developer's manuals: the AmigaDOS User's Manual which covers AmigaDOS commands; the AmigaDOS Tecfmical Reference Manual, which describes the disk layout; and the AmigaDOS Developer's Manual, which provides useful information for program development.

Peripherals

The peripherals are effective but currently expensive. I used Tfecmar's Tcard and the 20-megabyte Tdisk with the Amiga. The T-card attaches to the expansion slot on the right side of the Amiga and provides an additional 1 megabyte of memory plus a batterypowered clock. The joystick ports are passed to two DB-9 connectors on the front of the unit, and a serial port and hard disk port are located to the rear The T-disk is small and compact, and it runs quietly An external power supply feeds both the disk unit and the expansion board.

1 installed the T-disk driver easily. Getting the Amiga to recognize the «ctra memory in the T-card was not so easy: The instruction manual had detailed instructions on configuring the hard disk port and the serial port but nothing at all on the memory setup, it took several tries to determine that it is necessary to select the memory option under the Devices menu, and then explicitly select "install this device" under the Edit menu.

Once properly installed, a script file

The peripherals are effective but currently expensive.

configures the operating system to recognize the additional memory and the hard disk at boot-up. By accident I trashed the hard disk the day after the installation; I've since rebuilt the disk files and have experienced no further problems, and it's been running forty hours a week for over a month.

Conclusion

For someone who plans serious use of this machine, I'd recommend getting the 256K-byte RAM expansion card and an external drive. Some compilers and programs need 512K bytes of memory to operate: you need at least that much memory to hold two or three large applications concurrently. The external drive will prevent disk swapping, and it adds a manageable amount of storage.

As far as software goes, the Amiga has a number of useful applications developed for it, with more being released each month. However if you plan on running a program concurrently with others, try using it on a machine that matches your system to check for possible compatibility problems.

The Amiga is a well-designed piece of hardware. Its expansion bus allows

you to add memory or useful peripherals. The Amiga's strong point is its spectacular graphics. I feel confident that the machine will hold its own as a graphics engine for artists and professional illustrators. The only real hardware shortcoming is the highresolution flicker

In terms of software, the Amiga has a long way to go. Its multitasking capability is good, but prone to break easily if memory is tight or if a program runs wild. The two operating system interfaces, Workbench and AmigaDOS, have problems. However if the machine's only real limitation is its software, you can bet that it will get fixeda

$350

PER DISK

$300

SMALL OUANTITIES FOR TEN OR MORE

11 OFF S DISKS OR MORE WITH THIS COUPON

□ CAD 1 — Allamira, an object oriented CAD program, and Supergraph 3.' Color gr. req'd.

□ COMM 1 - The ever popular QMODEM 2.0E modem communications program

□ COMM 2 - PROCOMM 2,3, an excellent modem program witli terminal emulation

n COMM 3 — Communications utilities to tie used with QMODEM or PROCOMM.

□ DATABASE 3 — The Plsase relational database manager with query language.

JT] FINANCE 1,2 - (2 disks) PC-Aocouhtant and a personal finance manager.

□ GAMES 1 — Chess, 3-D Pacl<man, Kong, Spacewar, Janitjoe, and more. Color gr. req'd.

□ GAMES 2 — Quben, Pango, Centipede, Monopoly, Zoarre, and more Color gr req'd.

□ GAMES 3 — Blackjack (you set rules], Arm Chair QB, and Empire (war game).

□ GAMES 4 — Star Trek, the original Collossal Caves ADVENTURE, and Castle,

□ GAMES 5 — The HACK adventure game from the universities Like Rogue.

□ GAMES 6 — PInball, Othello, Dragons, Sopwith (fly one), and more. Color gr. req'd.

□ GAMES 7 — Round42 (16 color graphics). Backgammon, Risk, and more Color gr req'd

□ LANGUAGE 2 - The renowned SMALL-C compiler and a C interpreter!

□ LANGUAGE 3 - 8086/8088 assembler, disassembler, and tutorials.

□ LANGUAGE 4 — 370 assembler language on the PCI A must for IBM 370 users.

□ LANGUAGE 5 — Turbo Pascal interactive debug, pop-up help, formatters, etc.

□ MUSIC 1 — Many clever tunes, and an excellent color graphics music editor.

□ ORGANIZER 1 - DESKMATE, a sidekick clone, and the JUDY calendar program.

□ ORGANIZER 2 — Menu driven project management using critical path scheduling.

□ ORGANIZER 3 - The PC-OUTLINE windowing outline editor/thought organizer.

□ PICTURES 2 — High res digitized graphics pictures. Color graphics required.

□ PINUP 2 — Provocative high res digitized graphics pinups. Color graphics required.

□ PRINTER 1 — Font and sideways utilities, spoolers, banner makers, and more.

□ SPREAD 1 - The PC-CALC spreadsheet program.

□ UNIX 1 — A Unix command shell and various Unix commands for DOS. Emacs, etc.

□ UTILITIES 1 — A collection of invaluable general purpose DOS utilities. A must.

□ UTILITIES 2 — More Invaluable general purpose utilities including NEWKEY.

□ UTILITIES 3 — A comprehensive set of debugging and diagnostic utilities.

□ UTILITIES 4 - The Ultra File Utilities; Norton-like utilities for diskettes.

□ WORD 2 - Waterloo Script (like IBM's SCRIPT) text formatter for the PC.

- NEW (LATEST) RELEASES [7] COMM 4,5,6,7 — (4 disks) Latest RBBS

Bulletin Board System 14.1A [7] DATABASE 1,2 - (2 disks) File Express 3.7,

menu driven database manager.

□ EDUCATION 1 — Interactive DOS tutorial for new PC users. Makes learning DOS painless.

n LANGUAGE 1 — The artificial intelligence languages USP (XLISP 1.6) and PROLOG.

□ LANGUAGE 7 - Pascal Interpre Great for learning/debugging Pascal.

□ PRINTER 2 — Letter quality print for your Epson compatible printer.

□ WORD 1 - PC-WRITE 2.6, a powerful and complete word processing system.

□ WORD 3 - The PC STYLE vwiting style analysis program.

Cost of Disks

CA Res 7% Tax

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Total Enclosed

$1.00

MleroCom Syitanw P.O. Box 51657, Palo AHo, CA 94303

OCTOBER 1986 'BYTE 237

i

ATTEPmON APPLE D USERS:

The Kache Board is an Intelligenthost adapter interface for liard disk drives.

KACHE BOARD DEVELOPMENT

It took over two years of research! and development, and long hours of testing to make this product a reality. Ohio Kache Systems dared to go tieyond RAM to bring hard disk users a new standard in performance — The Kache Board.

SUPERIOR TO RAN

If s superior to RAM disk, thanks to the use of Cadie Memory, Direct Memory Access (DMA), and an on-t)oard miaoprocessor. When you combine these features with the performance of hard disk drives, you're looking at an overall 25%-30% deaease in access time and the virtual memory environment of a minicomputer such as the VAX.

OKS, Kache Boald and the OKS logo are trademariu of Ohio Kache Systems, Inc.

Apple is a registered trademarit of Apple Computets, Inc. IBM is a registered trademailt of International Business Machines, inc.

Sider is a trademarl^ of Firat Class Peripherals, Inc. VAX is a trademark of Digital Equipment Coip,

KACHE BOARD PERFORMANCE

Load Time

Run Time

Save Time

■ Kache Board Performance RAM Performance

■ Apple Peifomiance with Hard Disk Drive

■ Apple Performance

comriNuousLY

INCREASING PERFORMANCE

As more data files reside in Cache, the performance of the Kache Board continues to improve beyond that of RAM disk. An increasing number of disk access requests are replaced by electronic data transfer from "real" cache memoiy (see graph above).

Inquiry 214

AIAILABLESOON

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The Kache Board is available exclusively from Ohio Kache Systems on a direct mall basis only For more information on the Kache Board write for our free brochure. Or call us toll free at:

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SYSTE

EVIEW

The Compaq Portable II

BY Stan Miastkowski

The Compaq Portable II is a slimmed-down version of the Portable 286 with several extras that will particularly attract business users. There are four configurations of the Portable II. The Model 1 includes a single one-thirdheight 360K-byte floppy disk drive and 2 56K bytes of RAM; the Model 2 includes two floppy disk drives and 2 56K bytes of RAM: the Model 3 has a single floppy disk drive, a 10-megabyte hard disk drive, and 640K bytes of RAM: and the Model 4 has a single floppy disk drive, a 20-megabyte hard disk drive, and 640K bytes of RAM, Prices range from $3499 to $4999, The unit I used for this review was a Model 3.

Features

Except for the disk drives and RAM, all four Portable II models are full-featured. In addition to the 80286 processor (running at either 6 MHz or 8 MHz), the system has a real-time clock, an RS-232C asynchronous communications interface, a parallel printer interface, and a built-in 9-inch green phosphor dualmode monitor that displays both text and graphics. The monitor board provides output for RGB and standard composite NTSC video monitors. It also provides RF modulator output for hooking up the Portable II to a standard television set.

The major selling point of the Portable II is its size and weight. At IV2 inches high by 171/2 inches wide by 14 inches deep, the Portable II is almost a third smaller than the original Compaq Portable and the Portable 286. This is a substantial size reduction

M 8-MHz IBM PC compatible in a compact, full-featured unit

considering all the computer's electronics.

In addition to size, Compaq designers have also trimmed the unit's weight. Depending on the model, the Portable II weighs between 23'A and 26K pounds. By comparison, the Compaq Portable 286 weighs 30'/2 pounds, and the Compaq Portable weighs 28'/2 pounds.

Inside the Case

With the cover removed, it's obvious that the Portable II is primarily a mechanical and engineering exercise in the reduction of space and weight. The system is modular, and taking it apart is time-consuming, though not difficult. Still, the modular design lends itself to easy upgrading (see below).

Removing a panel at the top rear of the system reveals the expansion slots and part of the motherboard. The Portable II has four expansion slots. Depending on which model you have, the first three-quarter-length 16-bit slot is used by Compaq's floppy-only or floppy/hard disk controller card. The second slot (which is 8-bit) contains a full-length Compaq video board. This leaves two full-length slots for expansion: one is 8-bit, and the other is 16-bit for IBM PC AT-compatible circuit boards.

The video display tube, its associated electronics, and the system power supply are located under another solid panel that should only be removed by computer service personnel. The components there are placed to take advantage of the airflow from the power supply's fan. The fan does a more than adequate job, I left the Portable II on for more than a week and the system never even became warm to the touch. The fan is also very quiet.

Compaq says the power supply is designed for a steady 120-watt load and can handle a peak drain of up to 165 watts. Next to the power supply is a small empty space into which your dealer can install an optional S89 power-switching board that automatically senses whether the Portable II is plugged into 120-volt or 220-volt

{continued)

Stan Miastkowski (P.O. Box 548, Peterborough. NH 03458) is a freelance writer, northeast bureau chief for Newsbytes, and editor in chief of the McGraw-Hill Microcomputer Handbook.

OCTOBER 1986 • B Y T E 239

i

REVIEW: COMPAQ PORTABLE II

Compaq Portable II Company

Compaq Computer Corporation 20555 FM 149 Houston, TX 77070 (800) 231-0900

Size

71/2 by 17V2 by 14 inches; Model 1: 23y2 pounds; Model 2: 25V2 pounds; Models 3 and 4: 26i/§ pounds

Components

Processor: 80286, 6 MHz or 8 MHz (switchable)

Memory: Models 1 and 2: 256K bytes on the main system board; Models 3 and 4: 640K bytes on the main system board; up to 2.1 megabytes without using an expansion slot; up to 4.1 megabytes using the 16-bit expansion slot

Mass storage; Model 1: One one-thirdheight 360K-byte 5y4-inch floppy disk drive; Model 2: Two one-third-height 360K-byte 5'/)-inch floppy disk drives; Model 3; One one-third-height 360Kbyte 5'/4-inch floppy disk drive and one 10-megabyte hard disk drive; Model 4: One one-third-height 360K-byte 5'/4-inch floppy disk drive and one 20-megabyte hard disk drive

Display: Built-in 9-inch green phosphor dual-mode; switchable text/graphics modes

Keyboard: Modified IBM PC AT layout Expansion: All models: One IBM PCcompatible slot and one IBM PC ATcompatible slot

I/O interfaces: Parallel printer; 9-pin RS-232C interface; RGB monitor; composite NTSC video; RF modulator; light pen

Optional Software

MS-DOS version 3.1:

$85

Documentation

Operations Guide Technical Reference Guide

SYSTEM FEATURES

MEMORY SIZE (K BYTES) DISK STORAGE (K BYTES)

0 200 400 600 800 1000 0 400 800 1200 1600 20OO

256/540 256/640

28

360/20Mb

. M. .140/280 1

DISK ACCESS IN BASIC (IN SECONDS)

WRITE

0 20 40 60

i

7

READ

0 20 40 60 80 100

SIEVE

BASIC PERFORMANCE (IN SECONDS) CALCULATIONS

100 ISO 200 250

50 100 150 200 250

1 54

'1

245

16

69

4

SYSTEM UTILITIES (IN SECONDS)

40K FORMAT/DISK COPY

0 10 20 30 40 50

40K FILE COPY

0 10 20 30 40 50

99

5.8

SPREADSHEET (IN SECONDS) LOAD RECALCULATE

0 5 10 15 20 25 0 5 10 15 20 25

28

11

IBM PC

B APPLE 1

E

Price

Model 1: $3499; Model 2: $3599; Model 3: $4799; Model 4: $4999

The Memory Size graph shows the standard and optional memory available for the computers under comparison. The Disk Storage graph shows the highest capacity for a single floppy disk drive and the maximum standard capacity for each system. The graphs for Disk Access in BASIC show how long it takes to write and then read a 64K-byte sequential text file to a blank floppy disk. (For the program listings, see BYTE's Inside ttie IBM PCs. Fall 1985, page 195.) The Sieve graph shows how long it takes to run one iteration of the Sieve of Eratosthenes prime-number benchmark. The Calculations graph shows how long it takes to do 10,000 multiplication and 10,000

division operations using single-precision numbers. The System Utilities graphs show how long it takes to format and copy a disk (adjusted for 40K bytes of disk space) using the system utilities. The Disk Copy test measures the time it takes to copy a 40K-byte file from one floppy disk to another On hard disk systems, tfie test measures the time to copy from the hard disk to the floppy disk. The Spreadsheet graphs show how long it takes to load and recalculate a 25- by 25-cell spreadsheet in which each cell equals 1.001 times the cell to its left. The spreadsheet used was Microsoft's Multiplan. Tests were run using the default 8-MHz clock speed.

240 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

REVIEW: COMPAQ PORTABLE II

power. This option would be iiandy for international users.

Memory

The 80286 processor is barely visible under the video board; the socket for an optional 80287 arithmetic coprocessor is easily accessible. The rest of the motherboard is hidden under the circuit boards, disk drives, and monitor/power supply case. A total of 128K bytes of RAM is soldered into the board, and there are 18 sockets for RAM chips. In Models I and 2. these sockets are filled with 64K-bit chips for a total of 256K bytes of memory: Models 3 and 4 have 2 56Kbit chips for a total of 640K bytes.

Adding RAM isn't a problem; you simply turn the unit over and remove another panel. There you can insert a special Compaq memory-expansion board that uses a pin connector instead of an edge connector The board comes with 512K bytes of RAM, and you can configure it for up to 1536K in 512K increments without tying up an expansion slot. You can also upgrade the unit to 4.1 megabytes of RAM by installing a 2048Kbyte Compaq memory-expansion board into the 16-bit expansion slot.

Keyboard

Compaq describes the Portable ll's 84-key keyboard as having a modified IBM PC AT layout. The full-size keyboard is compact because the function keys are at the top rather than on the left. You can adjust the audible key clicks from full volume to off.

Disks

The Model 3 that 1 reviewed had a single 360K-byte floppy disk drive and

a lO-megabyte 3'/2-inch MiniScribe hard disk drive. The hard disk "floats" on four- small rubber shock mounts that are designed to cushion the hard disk, r accidentally dropped the machine 21/2 feet onto a carpeted floor The case wasn't marred, and the g forces of the impact were well absorbed by the shock mounts. The Portable II worked perfectly after the drop.

Expandability

The Portable II is easy to upgrade. With the exception of the automatic

power-switching board, which must be installed by an authorized service center because of Federal Communications Commission and Underwriters Laboratories regulations, you can easily upgrade the Portable II yourself. Because of all the screws, panels, and parts that you must remove, the process may be time-consuming, but the Portable II's Operations Guide has excellent instructions complete with copious photographs for both disassembly and reassembly

If you have a single-drive Model 1 you can easily add a second 360Kbyte floppy disk drive or a hard disk. The most time-consuming task is upgrading the motherboard RAM from 2 56K to 640K on a Model 1 or Model 2. The change requires you to remove expansion boards and the standalone enclosure that holds the disk drives and replace eighteen 64K-bit RAM chips with 256K-bit chips. Compaq charges $150 for the 5I2K-byte chips.

Perforiviance

As you might expect, the Portable II runs software very quickly especially when you use the default 8-MHz clock speed. Compaq includes a list of several hundred software packages that run on the Portable II. 1 tested a dozen different programs, some of which were not on the list. I had no problems whatsoever All ran at 8 MHz.

You might expect that the 105-millisecond access speed of the 3 '/2-inch hard disk drive would provide slow performance compared to the 30-millisecond access speed of the fullheight hard disk in the Compaq Portable 286. However, the BYTE Disk Access benchmarks showed very little difference (see page 240).

1 found it hard to adjust to the 9-inch green phosphor screen, perhaps because I am used to a full-size monitor I had to sit closer to the screen than I normally do. 1 also found that the adjustable feet that tilt the Portable II upward were not sufficient on a standard-height desk. 1 finally placed the machine's documentation underneath the monitor to provide a better viewing angle, in addition, the two adjustable feet are so sharp

that, with the weight of the entire system resting on them, they gouged my teak computer table. I recommend placing the system on a harder work surface.

Software

The only software that comes with the Portable II is a demonstration disk that gives an animated, graphics-filled introduction to the system's features and options. Compaq sells MS-DOS version 3.1 for $85. in addition to the usual utilities and BASICA, MS-DOS version 3.1 includes several custom utilities. One utility controls the volume of the keyboard clicks: another regulates the speed of the processor. You can control these functions by pressing a series of keys, but the utilities allow you to control the functions by using batch files. The MSDOS disks also include an extensive diagnostics program. The tests fully check out the system, but they use cryptic test numbers with ■ no inprogress messages.

Documentation

The Portable II comes with an Operations Guide. It is a bit short on detailed information, although it is expensively produced and full of photos. The sections on upgrading the system are particularly well done. The Technical Reference Guide may be available by the time you read this review.

The MS-DOS manuals are complete rewrites of the IBM PC versions. They're much improved and do an excellent iob of explaining the intricacies of the more esoteric MS-DOS commands. ■

Summary

The Compaq Portable II is solidly constructed and compatible with the vast majority of software that runs on IBM PC systems. Though far from forging any new technological ground, it's a fine example of how modular design can provide a compact, full-featured system that is easy to expand and service.

Unfortunately the price of the Portable II is very high. But if you can afford the price and want the portability, you won't go wrong with the Portable II. ■

OCTOBER 1986 -BYTE 241

i

5 THE

EAL:

VIS

PORTABLE/DESKTOP COMPUTER

SERIES MPC-160V

• FULLY IBM-PC COMPATIBLE

• MS-DOS 3.1

• TWO SERIAL AND ONE PARALLEL I/O PORT

• RGB AND COMPOSITE MONOCHROME OUTPUTS

• 512K RAM. RTC ON BOARD ■ WEIGHS 11 POUNDS

- ONE 5 1/4" FLOPPY DISK DRIVE OPTIONS:

• SECOND FLOPPY DRIVE

• .3 SLOT EXPANSION BOX

• MONOCHROME OR RGB MONITORS

• 640K RAM

• HANDSOME CARRYING BAG

TITAN

SERIES MPC-2100

• IBM PC/AT COMPATIBLE

• 80286 CPU, SOCKET FOR 80287-8

• SOFTWARE-SELECTABLE 8- OR 6-MHz CPU SPEEDS

• MS-DOS 3.2 AND GW BASIC

• 640K RAM ON BOARD, EXPANDABLE TO 1MB

• ONE 1.2 MB FLOPPY DRIVE

• SIX AT SLOTS AND TWO XT SLOTS

• 84-KEY AT-STYLE KEYBOARD

• 192-WATT POWER SUPPLY

• REAL TIME CLOCK

SERIES MPC-160T

• IBM PC/XT COMPATIBLE

• SOFTWARE SELECTABLE 8/4.77 MHz CPU

• MS-DOS 3.2

• 640K RAM

• ON BOARD FLOPPY DISK CONTROLLER

• ONE 5 1/4" FLOPPY

• 84-KEY AT-STYLE KEYBOARD

• 135 WATT POWER SUPPLY

• REAL-TIME CLOCK

FAMOUS-NAME QUALITY, A GREAT PRICE, AND NATIONWIDE SERVICE.

THAT'S THE DEAL.

THERE ARE CHEAPER COMPUTERS THAN MITAC, BUT THEN...

...we don't make cheap computers. Mitac takes pride in maintaining some of the highest quality control and quality assurance standards in the industry. *

THERE ARE MORE FAMOUS COMPUTERS THAN MITAC, BUT THEN... ...if you buy a famous name, there's a good chance you're buying Mitac anyway. Mitac has been supplying major computer and telecommunications manufacturers with high-quality equiptment since 1974, producing over forty thousand systems annually.

LOOK AROUND. YOU WON'T FIND A FINER COMPUTER AT A FAIRER PRICE THAN MITAC.

What Mitac is offering is this: Major brand quality, a fair price, plus the support of Mitac's nationwide service network—we stand behind everything we make. That's the deal. If this makes good sense to you, do the sensible thing and call the toll-free number below for the name of the Mitac dealer in your area.

■ Each Mitac computer undergoes a total of seventy-two hours' burn-in and forty-eight quality auditing processes before release.

mitac

When reliability is a decisive factor

DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME

riiirriiiiiiTidilif"

NATIONWIDE SERVICE!

American Mitac Corp. 3385VisoCi,. SantdClarii. CA. 95054. TEL: (4081 988-0258. 988 7508. TOLL KREE; l-(800) 321-8344 TLX: 910-338-2201 MECTF.L: FAX: 408-980 9742. Mitac Inc. No. 585 Ming Sheng E Rrl . Taipei. Taiman. ROC. TEL: (02) 501-8231; TLX. 20261 MECTAC. 11942 TAIAUTO: l-AX: 886-2-501-4265.

li^M, PC, l^C.'X I , ANIJ PC/AT are registered Iraclemeirits of lnternrtllciii.il Hieiiiiess Machines, Iric MS.DO.S .mil CiW BASIC are registered trademarks of Microsoll Ciirji

242 B Y T E • OCTOBER 1986 Inquiry 203

J

HARDW

REVIEW

Four J4-inch Tape Backup Units

BY Malcolm C. Rubel

Hard disk technology has progressed to such an extent that you can purchase a 20-megabyte disk drive on an expansion card or a 140megabyte disk drive for under $3300. To enter this world without data backup is to invite disaster. A 14-inch cartridge backup system provides one of the best alternatives for averting catastrophe. 1 will compare two QIC (QuarterInch Committee) 60 drives, the Tecmar QlC-60 and the Sysgen Smart QIC-File, to the T^llgrass TG-4060, which uses the PC/T (Personal Computer 'tepe) standard, and the Alloy FT-60, which uses its own storage protocol. Tfesting was done on an IBM PC AT with 5I2K bytes of memory and a Priam 60-megabyte hard disk with a 30-millisecond average seek time.

For a look at an alternative to traditional tape backup systems, see the text box 'Alpha Microsystems' 'Videotrax—A VCR Alternative?" on page 246.

Four backup systems that have a variety of features and capabilities

on with the computer. The stiff piggyback connector does not make good contact, so Sysgen supplies an extra cable to be used between the system unit and the faulty plug. I wish Sysgen had simply redesigned the plug instead of adding yet another cable to the back of my machine.

The 'fellgrass unit is the only one that is too large to sit on top of the computer next to the monitor. The Alloy and TSllgrass units use round cables instead of the thick and nearly unbendable ribbon cables used by the other two units.

I had no problems with any of the user's manuals. I found that I could start using each system with only a minimal time investment.

Starting Up

Setting up the tape backup units was not difficult. The biggest problem installing the units was removing the five screws from the back of my IBM PC AT. All four units require a controller board, and all but the Alloy board will fit in a short slot. (Note that the Alloy system doesn't require the optional $195 controller card if you use it with a standard IBM PC or XT as it will run on the external connector of the floppy disk controller.)

The power arrangement for the Sysgen unit was less than satisfactory. As part of its automatic backup philosophy the unit takes power from the system power outlet so that it is turned

Options

With the exception of the Sysgen unit, you can get a hard disk drive as an extra-cost option with your unit. Tecmar has a 20-megabyte option. Alloy offers 20- and 40-megabyte drives, and T^llgrass has 2 5-, 3 5-, 50-, and 80megabyte options. The 'tellgrass drives run from the same controller board as the tape unit, but the Alloy and Tecmar systems require a separate card for their hard disks. Tecmar also offers its tape drive as an internal unit for the IBM PC AT

Features

All four systems provide for image backup/restore, file-by-file backup with

the backup of modified files, and backup using wild cards, hidden files, and files in subdirectories as options. All the units except the 'fellgrass TG-4060 allow you to specify a date and back up only the files created or modified after that date. All the units allow you to get a directory listing of what is on the tape.

With file-by-file backup, all the units allow you to restore either whole directories or specific files and recreate subdirectories if necessary. The Tecmar unit will restore an image backup to a different disk drive with bad sectors as long as the new drive has the same or a greater number of good sectors.

All four units come with software that has a command language used to control the operation, and all but the 'fellgrass unit also offer a menudriven program. The menu programs are not suitable for anything but the simplest procedures, and I quickly went to the command language with each of the units. You can build batch files with each of the drives to make repetitive backup procedures easier. The Sysgen and Alloy drives even allow you to back up automatically at specified times, should you so desire. 1 would prefer writing a batch program to invoke a backup session before leaving my computer rather than having the session start just as I was about to do some time-critical work on a spreadsheet model.

{continued]

Malcolm C. Rubel is president of Performance Dynamics Associates (305 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10165). He is also coauthor of The Performance Guide to Word Processing Software.

OCTOBER 1986 "BYTE 243

k

REVIEW: TAPE BACKUP UNITS

Name Type

Company

Size

Necessary Hardware

Options

Documentation

Price

QIC-60

60-megabyte V4-inch tape backup drive (QIC 60 standard)

Tecmar Inc. 6225 Cochran Rd. Solon, OH 44139 (216) 349-1009

7 by 4 by 16 inches

IBM PC or compatibie; 256K bytes of RAM (to be menudriven); 192K bytes of RAIVl (command-driven); one open expansion slot

20-megabyte hard disk drive;. Internal mount (for the IBM PC AT)

130-page spiral-bound installation and operations manual

$2144

Smart QIC-File

60-megabyte V4-inch tape backup drive (QIC 60 standard)

Sysgen Inc.

47853 Warm Springs Blvd. Fremont, CA 94539 (415) 490-6770

2 by 6 by 10 inches

IBM PC or compatible; 192K bytes of RAM; one open expansion slot

None

170-page Installation and operations manual, sized to fit IBM-type binder

$1495

FT-60

60-megabyte Vi-inch tape backup drive, driven from floppy controller

Alloy Computer Products Ina 100 Pennsylvania Ava Framingham, MA 01701 (617) 875-6100

6 by 51/4 by ^6V2 inches

IBM PC or compatible; 256K bytes of RAM

20- or 40-megabyte hard disk drive; controller card (for IBM PC AT)

55-page spiral-bound ins^llation and operations manual

$995

All four units use the standard DC 600A tape (600 feet long, !4 inch wide), and all hold roughly 60 megabytes of information. Except for the Sysgen unit, each unit's tape has to be formatted before use, and the Tfecmar tapes have to be reformatted every time you reuse them. In contrast, once you've formatted the T^Ilgrass and Alloy tapes, they can be reused indefinitely.

Real-World Use

Everyone's working environment is different, so I did not attempt to emulate any specific environments in my benchmarlc tests. You can more easily approximate the capabilities of the different units for your specific needs by interpolation of the results of the several benchmark tests. Unlike floppy disks, magnetic tape

is a serial storage medium. It takes more time to get to a specific point on a tape than it does on a disk simply because a greater distance must be covered, lust to get from one end of a DC 600A tape to the other at 90 inches per second (a fast speed for tape) takes 80 seconds a long time for those who are used to access times measured in milliseconds. How each manufacturer deals with this makes a big difference in how its unit works in the real world.

In storing data, two different approaches are used. The Tecmar and Sysgen units conform to the QIC 60 standard and write each backup session in a volume, which is headed by a directory for that volume. Each volume starts where the last one left off. so the time required to read or write data inaeases as a tape reaches

its capacity Because of this arrangement. 1 had to wait for three or more minutes to get directory listings from a tape that was 2 5 percent full

The l&llgrass and Alloy units, on the other hand, each use their own type of disk directory that contains all the necessary information at the beginning of the tape. Files can be directly accessed from there, saving a considerable amount of time.

If you are only going to use tape as a protection against disk failure, the two QIC 60 units provide the best backup speed. The Tfecmar drive is superior to the Sysgen model for two reasons: It is much faster at backing up selected files (either modified or time-specified), and it will accommodate 256 backup sessions on a single tape compared to the Sysgen unit's 64 sessions.

244 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

REVIEW: TAPE BACKUP UNITS

TG-4060

60-megabyte Vi-inch tape backup drive (PG/T standard)

Tallgrass Technologies

Corporation

11100 West 82nd St

Overland Parl<, KS 66214

(913) 492-6002

5V4 by 9 by 13V4 inches

IBM PC or compatible; 256K bytes of BAM; one open expansion slot

25-, 35-, 50-, and 80-megabyte drives

154-page installation and operations nnanual in three-ring binder

$1995

Videotrax

Approximately 20-megabyte VCR tape backup unit (proprietary format)

Alpha Microsystems 3501 Sunflower Ava Santa Ana, CA 92704 (714) 957-8500

4V2 by 17 by 14 inches

IBM PC or compatible; 256K bytes of RAM; one open expansion slot

Customized VCR unit

150-page installation and operations manual, loose pages to fit IBM-type binder

$595 for controller board and software

$1395 for compile system

If you lack the discipline to type BU to initiate a backup batch file, the Sysgen unit with its automatic backup feature is probably better for you. If, however, you do not want to use the automatic backup procedures, you have to get rid of the AUTOEXEC.BAT file that the installation creates and figure out how to invoke the backup program for your needs. Sysgen assumes that everyone will want to back up their data automatically, and the accompanying information on manual operation is sparse.

The Tallgrass unit uses the PC/T protocol. The system operates more like a disk drive than a tape unit. The directory is at the beginning of each tape volume and, unlike the other units, when you update an existing file, the older version of the file is overwritten. This makes restoring a file

from tape much easier, since only the

most recent update is on the tape.

The Tallgrass software allows you to get directory listings of your hard disk drive and the tape volumes; make, change, and remove directories; rename and delete files in existing tape volumes and drives; print a file; and show directory trees. These operations, not unlike their DOS counterparts; make PC/T a more flexible tape standard than the others I tested. [EAitor's note: Tallgrass has recently announced version 2.1 of its tape backup software, which lets you run applications from the tape in the event of a hard disk crash. The software evaluated in this review is msion 1.3.1

Drawbacks

The Tfecmar OlC-60 does not allow you to stop a backup in progress. If

you do stop the backup procedure, you have to erase the entire tape before you can back up additional data. Also, you cannot delete data selectively; instead, you must erase the entire tape. This means that you must use two tapes to ensure data security. The software looks for COMIVIAND.COIVl in drive A, which is a strange place to look when you have a hard disk system. In addition, the fan on the Tfecmar unit is the noisiest of the systems I tested.

The Sysgen Smart QIC-File, with its 64-session limitation, may cause problems in some circumstances. 1 did not like the way the automatic backup software worked. The software is designed to be foolproof, but it has too many places where a person can cause damage to the system. For instance, if you have the wrong tape in the drive when you turn on the machine, the backup program asks you if you want to delete all the information on the tape so that the tape can be used. If you mistakenly say yes, you could delete the only copy of information just removed from disk to tape. Like the Tfecmar unit, Smart QICFile is slow at showing directories.

The Alloy FT-60 is not speedy as the benchmark tests show. This is because the unit performs a separate verification pass over the data during the backup procedure. Restoring data using wild cards is even slower because the search continues to the end of the recorded tape for more files. When you restore a single file, the search stops at the first occurrence of the file. If you have a later version of that file, it will not be restored unless you specify the proper backup session number

As with the QIC 60 units, the Alloy FT-60 does not let you delete files selectively; you must erase all data on the tape. Also, the unit will not let you restore files to a different drive. For example, a file backed up on drive C cannot be restored directly to drive D.

The biggest problem with the Tallgrass TG-4060 is that you are limited by directory size to 509 files in a tape volume This is not as bad as it seems because a tape can be used either as a single volume of 60 megabytes or

[cmtimati

OCTOBER 1986 • B Y T E 245

4

REVIEW: TAPE BACKUP UNITS

as four separate volumes of 11 megabytes each, with a fifth volume of 16 megabytes. The directory size limitation (if it exists for your situation) can be dealt with by carefully selecting directories and subdirectories to be backed up in each of five tape volumes. A 2 500-plus file limit is far less restricting.

Data Integrity

The only data problem 1 encountered was with the Alloy FT-60. The unit

blocked off bad sectors when it formatted the tape (just as DOS formats a floppy disk), but during my first practice session the tape verification pass indicated there were bad blocks within some files and that the system was rewriting the suspect files at the end of the tape. When I checked the rewritten files, 1 found that although the filenames were right, the actual files had not been copied: two duplicates of the last file in the directory had been written instead. Since

the newly found bad blocks were now reserved, 1 did not get this error again. Five phone calls to Alloy finally put me in contact with the technical people, who had no explanation.

The other three units performed without a hitch through all the testing. The Tecmar and Sysgen units immediately rewrote the data block if there were any problems. The T^llgrass unit provides data security through automatic error correction, a three-part data block structure that includes a

Alpha Microsystems' VideotraxA VCR Alternative?

Alpha Microsystems' Videotrax is an alternative to traditional tape backup systems, Videotrax comes in two parts: a controller card and a VCR unit. You can buy the controller card separately for $595 and use your own VCR unit, which you must operate manually or you can purchase the system complete with a VCR for SI 395.

The idea of being able to store up to 80 megabytes of information on a S5 video cartridge is very appealing. Unfortunately the appeal and the reality are two different things.

To begin with. Alpha Microsystems acknowledges that you should record at the fastest possible tape speed to ensure better data integrity The company also gives a specific warning about using the ultra-long-playing mode. A two-hour tape playing at normal speed and making a file-by-file backup with tfie data security default of 10 rewrites (see below) will hold between iO and 30 megabytes of data depending on the number of files you are backing up. The greater the number of files, the lower tfie total

storage capability of the unit will be, Videotrax's menu-driven backup software allows you to back up several drives or directory sets in a single session, but you can record only one backup session on a tape. When you use the tape again, the unit writes over existing information.

The unit compensates for the inherent unreliability of VCR recordings by writing each data block from 4 to 40 times with a default value of 10 rewrites. The more rewrites there are, the less information a tape will hold but the less chance you will have of any hard (unrecoverable) errors

Compared to traditional tape backup units, Videotrax is slow, 1 ran the benchmark tests on the Videotrax unit using the same evaluation files used for the four '/4-inch units. The results are shown in table A. Compare these times lo those for the tape backup units in table I.

Although the Videotrax unit will back up modified files, it will not do this on the same tape as the master set. You have to use a separate tape for this.

With this approach you can quickly run up a big tape bill.

The Videotrax software offers you the option of verifying that the information you have written to tape can be read, but this option does not actually compare the tape to the disk files. In additon. using it increases the backup time by a factor of two.

To back up 80 megabytes of data with Videotrax, you would need just a few large files and record on long play. The backup session would last four hours. An alternative would be to reduce the number of data rewrites, but that would increase the probability of hard errors.

When you start using a new tape, the Videotrax manual strongly advises you to certify the tape. Tape statistics at the end of the certification include hard errors and soft (recoverable) errors. Data will be lost if there are hard errors. It takes four hours to certify a 120-minute tape.

Alpha Microsystems also suggests that you calibrate the VCR unit before using it, to optimize performance. The calibration process takes two and a half hours but is worthwhile. If you do not take the time to do this, or if you are using your own VCR. you will have to manually work the controls to find files to restore.

In conclusion. 1 cannot recommend the Videotrax unit as an alternative to traditional tape backup units because, at $1 395. the system is not much less expensive than many of the better (and faster) alternatives.

Table A: Benchmark lest results for tfw

Videotrax backup unit

Times arc in

minutes'.seconds.

Backup time

Restore time

200 1K-byte flies

9:23

9:06

200 lOK-byte files

14:42

14:18

20 lOOK-byte files

7:13

7:01

2 lOOOK-byte files

6:30

6:17

422 files (6.2 megabytes)

39:30

37:01

246 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

i

REVIEW: TAPE BACKUP UNITS

Table 1: ^ults of benchmark tests performed on the four tape backup units. Times are in minutes:seconds.

Tecmar Sysgen Smart Alloy Tallgrass QIG-60 QIC-File FT-60 1X3-4060

Tape speed (inches per second) 90 90 39 75

Number of tracks 9 9 12 11

TapefOCTOattiWe 2:52 N/A 84:30 116:00

200 files, IK byte each

Backup 1:21 3:15 2:15 1:27

Restore 2:10 9:20 10:30 2:05

Back up changes 3:25 2:27 3:36 1:00

200 files, 10K bytes each

Back up 2:33 2:53 5:21 5:11

Restore 3:40 5:03 9:40 11:10

Back up changes 1:03 3:29 3:55 3:47

20 files, 100K bytes each

Back up 2:31 2:45 7:50 3:36

Restore 2:23 2:44 9:25 3:45

Back up changes 0:57 3:22 4:00 3:02

2 files, 1000K bytes each

Backup 3:19 3:30 6:41 3:18

Restore 2:58 3:31 8:17 3:19

Back up changes 1:16 3:38 6:13 1:50

422 files, 6.2 megabytes total

Backup 7:05 10:09 15:15 14:09

Restore 14:56 19:06 19:42 24:08

File access times

Minimum time to restore 1 file 0:16 0:27 0:46 0:11

Maximum time to- restore 1 file 3:04 4:22 3:40 3:35

parity block to allow for automatic reconstruction of unreadable data. The

program also allows for a verification pass on all backups. If you specify this option, the times are doubled.

Of the units tested, the T&ilgrass unit seemed to have the best data security system. Other than the Alloy problem, 1 experienced no data errors in any of my testing.

Standards and Compatibility

Probably the only thing that can be said about standards and compatibility is that they do not exist. The QIC standard deals only with how data is written onto a tape, not with how that data is read once there. The marketing people at each company differentiate their product from the others through software features that make the data recorded on their unit functionally useless on a different machine. The Sysgen tape, for example, was unreadable in the Tfecmar unit and vice versa.

The Alloy FT-60 uses its own type of directory and formatting to store and retrieve data. The PC/T standard on the Tallgrass TG-4060 stores roughly the same 60 megabytes per tape as the Alloy unit, but it uses 11 tracks and a completely different data format. As the PC/T protocol is more like an operating system, a tape formatted on one machine should be able to run on any other that uses this system, but it probably won't.

Beyond these standards lie many others. Recently the QIC approved a standard for 120 megabytes on a DC 600A cartridge. There are new standards for DC 1000 tapes and for backing up using floppy disk controllers. Some companies have "proprietary standards" (whatever that means).

If you are interested in moving data from one tape unit to another (i.e., using the same tapes in two different units), you would probably be wise to buy two or more units of the same make and model. It would also be wise to make sure that the tape is readable between the units, since things like head alignment might still give you data-reading problems.

Benchmark Procedures

A series of five different sets of files were used to perform the benchmark

tests. The five file sets do not attempt to model any specific use, but were constructed to give meaningful data points that each individual can interpret for a specific situation.

Each of the first four file sets contained identical files of IK, lOK, lOOK, or lOOOK bytes. The last set consisted of the first four sets combined. The first and second sets contained 200 files each, the third contained 20, the fourth had 2, and the last set had 422 files, for a grand total of 6.2 megabytes.

I performed three tests on each of the file sets. Each set of files was backed up in order on a single tape in separate operations. The hard disk files were then erased and the file sets were individually restored from tape. Every tenth file was then modified by 1 byte, and the backup tests for each of the modified data sets were then performed on the same tape. The last set of files (6.2 megabytes) was not tested for modified files.

The minimum time to restore a file was the time that it took to restore the first file on the tape. The maximum time was determined through trial and error. See table 1 for complete benchmark results.

Conclusions

The environment in which you use a tape backup unit really determines

which of the four units reviewed here would be most suitable for your needs. For raw speed, the Tfecmar QlC-60 unit is the winner. If a system is to be operated by inexperienced users, the Sysgen Smart QIC-File's automatic backup feature might make it a better choice. If money is a serious concern, the Alloy FT-60, while short on speed, is the least expensive unit. My preference, however for allaround flexibility and data integrity is the T&llgrass TG-4060. While it is not the fastest unit, it offers more capabilities for more varied operating environments than the other units. ■

OCTOBER 1986 "BYTE 247

k

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For the very best in PC monitors, the choice is clear: Pick the company that's at the top. Princeton Graphic Systems.

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HX-9/HX-9E. Compact nineinch high resolution RGB monitor. Perfecl lor workstations where space is at a premium. Both feature a .28 dot pitch and an etched dark glass screen. Ergonomic teatures like a builtin tilt/swivel base, nonglare screen, and a builtin green/amber switch, HX-9E is compatible with IBM's EGA (or equivalents).

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IBM IS a trademark ol International Business Machines. Inc. Color 400 is a tradema'*! of Sigma Designs. Inc, QuadEGA+ isa Kademark ol Quadfam Corp. Compaq isa Irademaik al Compaq Computer Corp.

248 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

GRAPHIC

AN INTELLIOENT B

SYSTEMS

VSTEMB C O rvl P A N V

Inquiry 24!

SOFTWARE REVIEW

MuLISP-86

BY Robert J. Schalkoff

The muLISP-86 LISP development system is the successor to muL!SP-83 (see "LISP for the IBM Personal ^ Computer" by Jordan Bortz and lohn Diamant, |uly 1984 BYTE) and the short-lived muLISP-85. In fact, muLISP86 is very similar to muLISP-85, the principal differences being that muLlSP-86 has a revised and updated manual and an optional compiler. It is worth noting that muLISP-86 is produced by Soft Warehouse, but it is identical to Microsoft LISP This review looks at muLlSP-86 as compared to muLlSP-83 and as a subset of Common LISP

System Operation

You invoke the muLlSP-86 development system from DOS via the command A>mulisp <sys-config>, where sys-config is the name of a system file containing your customized development environment (i.e., the editor. Common LISP library functions, the help facility and perhaps the debugger). The muLlSP-86 system contains over 300 primitively defined functions and control variables that comprise the so-called pure LISP Function and macro libraries, which consist of additional Common LISP and InterLISP subsets, respectively, are included as files of pure LISP source code. The Common LISP library contains over 60 additional functions. Thus, you can achieve either Common LISP or InterLISP programming functionality by loading the appropriate library files. For example, the LISP-assignment functions set and setq are primitive functions in muLISP-86 and are loaded into user memory when you execute the MUL1SP.COM file. The extremely general and useful sett function, on the other hand, is contained in the Common

A customizable LISP

recent enhancements and

an optional compiler

LISP library (COMMON.LSP), which you have to load separately. In addition, to implement Common LISP arrays you have to load both the Common LISP library and a separate library of array-manipulation utilities (STRUCTUR.LSP).

You can easily customize the muLlSP-86 development system to suit your needs. For example, you could read the editor and an appropriate subset of one or more library files (your own or those supplied with the program) into the muLlSP environment and then save them as one .SYS file that you can load more quickly thereafter. By not loading and saving the entire set of library files, you can save memory for program development.

The updated muLlSP-86 development system contains a useful windows feature. Following the opening menu, you can split the screen into two windows and observe LISP source code in one window, the editor window, and the muLlSP-86 interpreter (the so-called read-eval-print function) in the other window. A single keystroke lets you invoke the interpreter. To get from the eval loop to the editor, you simply hit Return at the interpreter prompt. The windows are particularly useful for tracing functions and developing programs incrementally.

A consequence of this new editorbased development system (in contrast to the menu-driven muSTAR development system that accompanied muLlSP-83) is that to achieve incre

mental program development you have to edit functions as separate files, or create a continuously expanding file, and you must explicitly invoke the trace and debug facilities (as described below). For learning LISP 1 prefer muLlSP-83's menudriven environment.

The muLISP-86 Editor

You can configure the muLlSP-86 editor to look like either WordStar or (for those who have used one of the MacLlSP variants) EMACS. While both muLlSP-86 configurations represent subsets of the full editors, they nevertheless support the functions you are most likely to use. You can also customize either editor to map fanniliar keystrokes into editing functions.

Furthermore, both muLISP-86 editors have several handy extensions that aid in editing LISP symbolic expressions. One extension is for the sexpression, which is the basic entity manipulated by LISP and essentially consists of atoms and lists. The editors' list-structure commands are keystroke combinations that move the cursor around s-expressions and lists in the same way that WordStar and EMACS move the cursor around characters, words, and lines. For example, in the WordStar-like editor mode, EscD and Esc-S move the cursor forward one s-expression and backward one s-expression. respectively. Other keystroke combinations let you delete and evaluate s-expressions. Since the majority of LISP program editing and

{continued)

Robert ]. Scfialkoff [Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Clemson University, Clemson. SC 29634-0915) is associate professor at Clemson University, where he conducts research in image processing and artificial intelligence.

OCTOBER 1986 • B Y T E 249

REVIEW: MULISP-86

muLISP^e

Company

Soft Warehouse Inc. 3615 Harding Ave., Suite 505 Honolulu, HI 96816 (808) 734-5801

Type

Programming language Computer

IBM PC, XT. AT, PCjr, or compatible; MSDOS-based systems; 128K bytes of RAM minimum (256K bytes recommended); one floppy disk drive (two floppy disl< drives recommended)

Documentation

400-page muLISP-86 reference manual; Soft Warehouse Newsl&ter, 3 issues

Price

Interpreter $250

Optional compiler $150 Interpreter witti optional compiler $350

debugging involves modification of sexpressions, this editing utility is quite convenient..

The muLISP-86 editor also provides two other handy features for creating and modifying LISP code. One is the superparens (]), which automatically inserts closing parentheses and relieves you of keeping track of the number of opening parentheses. This feature is often found in larger LISP implementations and, while convenient, can be dangerous since it eliminates the need for you to check the s-expression structure in determining the number of closing parentheses.

Another handy feature is blinking matching parentheses. In the edit mode, moving the cursor to a left parenthesis causes the corresponding right parenthesis, If it exists, to blink (and vice versa), thus providing an immediate visual display of the contents of the s-expression. You can use this feature to quickly identify an incorrect program-control structure such as a

missing parenthesis or one that is incorrectly placed.

The revised editor in muLlSP-86 comes up in the WordStar-like insert mode as opposed to the muLISP-83 editor, which assumed overwrite mode. If you forgot to change the muLlSP-83 editor mode prior to editing (as I often did), you could overwrite large amounts of code before realizing the effect. Other changes are not as welcome. For example, the muLISP-86 editor does not retain the pretty-print feature of its predecessor This feature displays the source code with the control structure delineated by indentation and provides a quick visual display of the program structure.

Error Handling and Program Termination

The muLISP read-eval-print error handler is called the Break Package. When the interpreter discovers an error, it displays a short message such

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Inquiry 329

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REVIEW: MULISP-86

as "File not found" and then prompts you to type continue, break (temporarily suspend program execution and call the read-eval-print loop on the next level down), abort (abort and return to the most recent read-evalprint loop), top-level (abort and return to the top-level executive driver loop), restart (initiate a new muLISP system—the approach to use when all else fails), or system, which returns you to DOS.

Debugging Facilities

In addition to the Breal< Package, muLlSP-86 provides a comprehensive set of functions to allow efficient debugging. Foremost among these is the trace function. This function indicates the level of the function call and the names and bindings of the function arguments at this level. The trace function also lets you redirect the output to a file. This is often necessary due to the voluminous amount of output of some programs where several functions may recursively call each other.

The muLlSP system follows the Common LISP convention of delineating single-line comments with one or more semicolons. If you wish to have multiple-line comments, you can use the primitive function comment, which holds the comment by inhibiting the evaluation of its arguments.

Distribution Media

The distribution disk for IVIS-DOS systems includes the executable muLISP interpreter file (MULISP.COM): the editor (EDIT.LSP); a help file (HELRLSP); library files containing InterLISP and Common LISP functions, macros, and special forms (INTERLIS.LSP COMMON.LSR and STRUCTUR.LSP); a six-lesson interactive tutorial (MULISPl.LES to IVIUL1SP6.LES): a .COM to .EXE file converter (C0MT0EXE.COM); the source code for the debug and trace facilities (DEBUG.L5P); some sample programs such as the Tbwer of Hanoi; and a file for function redefinitions to achieve compatibility with muLlSP-83 (MUL1SP83.LSP). This file is handy since muLISP-83 contains a large number of function names that are incompatible with MacLISP and Common LISP. The

optional compiler is written in muLlSP and distributed on a separate disk consisting of four files.

The compact size of the muLISP-86 system (MULISP.COM, the editor, and the Common LISP library files take a little more than lOOK bytes) makes it suitable for use on floppy-disk-drivebased systems. This is in contrast to other LISPs such as Golden Common LISP which comes with five distribution disks and practically necessitates a hard disk drive.

The muLISP-86 disk is not copyprotected, in contrast to Golden Common LISP, which contains a sophisticated copy-protection scheme and a corresponding installation and deinstallation procedure. In fact, the muLISP-86 license agreement seems to foster the distribution of the product on a trial basis by stipulating that "the software shall be run on at most five computers residing in a single building or facility' and that the "end user is authorized to allow temporary use of the software by the end user's family, employees, consultants, or students."

COMivioN LISP Compatibility

Although muLlSP-86 does not attempt to implement the entire LISP standard, this is not a serious limitation since it is neither practical nor necessary for a useful LISP development system that is used on a personal computer to adhere strictly to this standard. In fact, this is currently impossible with an interpreter. The muLISP-86 system implements a subset of the advanced control constructs that are popular in Common LISR For example, you can replace the historically standard cond function with if functions that more closely resemble other high-level languages. In muLISP86, if is a primitively defined special form. The COMMON.LSP library file supports other popular constructs such as the when macro and the more advanced let and let* (the sequential version of LET). In addition, muLISP-86 supports user-written macros and some advanced Common LISP constructs such as defstruct (in the STRUCTUR.LSP library file). Unfortunately, other constructs such as packages and block are not imple

mented in muLlSP-86.

Like most LISP implementations (including Golden Common LISP), muLISP-86 is dynamically scoped (i.e, the value bound to a variable is the one most recently assigned to it). Furthermore, in muLISP-86, variables bound to functions (i.e., appearing in the function definition as formal parameters) become local variables within the scope of that function. Otherwise, variables are considered global in scope; therefore, any assignments made during the execution of a function remain in effect after the function is exited. This is known as a side effect and is not necessarily bad.

Disk Space, Memory Usage, and Garbage Collection

Garbage collection (elimination of data entities that are no longer useful, thus conserving memory space) is automatic and quick, taking about one second. The muLISP-86 system provides a primitively defined function (reclaim) and a corresponding control variable to let you monitor the frequency of garbage collection, memory allocation, and the amount of free memory. Checking this is sometimes useful when a program's execution seems to be slow, since the system may be consuming the majority of its time in garbage collection, an undesirable process known as thrashing.

The muLISP-86 system, like muLISP83, is fast due to its use of distilled code (d-code). The use of efficient storage techniques and d-code makes it possible for you to load the muLlSP interpreter, a choice of editor, the Common LISP library, and the debug routines into RAM and still have ample space for program development. On my 2 56K-byte system, even with space allocated for the resident portions of DOS 2.10, the reclaim function indicated that I had over lOOK bytes free, a substantial amount of space for program development. If this amount of memory was insufficient, I could have extracted the functions I normally use from the Common LISP and debug libraries and saved them in a new smaller library that would take up less of the system RAM. This is in sharp contrast

{mtinuedl

OCTOBER 1986 •BYTE 251

k

REVIEW: MULISP-86

to the documented operation of Golden Common LISP, wherein the system and editor leave only 20K bytes remaining for program development in a 512Krbyte system.

I/O

The muLISP-86 system accepts input from either the keyboard or a disk file via the rds (read select) function. The system also provides several typical printing functions (print, princ, and prini) and the ability to handle string variables. The system supports both list and dot notation.

THE COMPILER

Program development in a language such as LISP normally proceeds in interpreted mode with the incremental development and debugging of functions. Once these functions are fully debugged, however, you can use the optional muLlSP-86 compiler to significantly improve the execution speed of application programs by transforming functions into native machine code.

You can also use the muLlSP-86 compiler to individually compile userdefined functions (the so-called "incremental compiler" mode). Alternately, you can use the compiler in a file compiler mode where all the functions in a file or set of files are compiled. Either mode requires that you load the compiler source code, which takes additional memory. On my system, the loading of the incremental compiler required approximately an additional 45K bytes of RAM.

Documentation

The muLISP-86 documentation is a slightly revised version of the muLlSP85 documentation. It consists of a single binder with approximately 400 pages, it covers the major system features, muLlSP tutorials, data structures and memory management, a comprehensive summary of the muLISP-86 functions, the debugger and editor, the optional compiler, and the machine-level access functions.

The documentation is a welcome revision of earlier counterparts. The operation of primitively defined muLISP functions is well documented. The manual also contains (as does

252 B V T E • OCTOBER 1986

tutorial lesson number 3) a good discussion of the concept of a cons construct for internal computer representation of lists and the relationship of lists to binary trees. For quick reference, the manual has separate indexes for concepts and muLISP functions. A particularly good feature of the documentation is an appendix that details source file conversion from muLlSP-83 to muLlSP-86.

The muLISP-86 tutorial is also similar to that furnished with muLlSP83. Topics covered include the relationship between b-trees and lists, defining functions, list manipulation and associated functions, control structures, the use of recursion, and graphics. Purchasers of muLlSP-86 also get a three-issue subscription to the Soft 'Warehouse Newsletter.

Features

in contrast to earlier versions, muLiSP86 provides a useful on-line help facility for a large number of muLlSP's primitively defined functions. After loading the help file, you simply invoke the help function with a particular function name as the argument, whereupon the system returns the particular function's arguments, type, and the number of the page in the manual that contains a more detailed reference.

The muLiSP-86 system provides access to IBIVl PC hardware via primitive functions that let you read and write directly to absolute memory addresses (memory), execute an interrupt (interrupt), read or write from an 8086/8088 port (portio), and suspend the muLISP system to load and execute another program (execute). The execute function even lets you pass a string of arguments to the other program, expressed as an optional argument to the LISP function. This is extremely useful in artificial intelligence applications, such as speech recognition or image processing, where the muLlSP system relies on other programs (possibly written in other languages) to provide some degree of preprocessing.

The muLISP-86 system supports integer and real-number data types. It currently does not support an 8087 coprocessor. The editor (and the en

tire muLISP-86 development system) appears to work fine with keyboard intercept and memory-resident programs such as SideKick.

System Requirements

The muLISI^86 system is designed to run on an IBM PC, XT AT or PCjr with either a monochrome or graphics display Soft Warehouse claims that the system also runs on other MS-DOS computers. I was able to run muLISP86 successfully on an NCR PC4 with a monochrome display and also on an AT&T PC 6300.

The documentation states that you need a minimum of 128K bytes of memory with at least 2 56K bytes recommended. Note that muLlSP-86 can take advantage of up to 512K bytes of installed memory which may be a useful feature in large program development.

Finally you can run muLlSP-86 with one disk drive, but the company recommends that you use two drives to avoid swapping disks after loading the system. The compact size of a minimal system, however, makes muLISP86 suitable for use on the IBM PCjr.

Conclusions

The muLISP-86 system represents some improvement over muLISP-85 and a significant improvement over muLISP-83. Its major strength is its suitability for use within the constraints of the microcomputer environment (i.e., with limited memory and floppy disk space). The system is reasonably user-friendly and might be considered a viable alternative to other LISP development systems for the IBM PC such as Golden Common LISP and the public domain XLISP A particularly good use for muLISP86 would be for educational purposes and situations where absolute Common LISP compatibility is not essential and cost-effective LISP programming capability is desired. While muLISP-86 does not provide all the user-friendliness and functionality of the more comprehensive mainframe and dedicated LISP machine environments, it represents a significant enhancement over muLISP-83. It is well worth a serious look. ■

I

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Computers and Communications

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SOFTWARE REVIEW

ITC's Modula-2 Software Development System

BY Mark Bridger

An inexpensive Modula-2 compiler and editor package for IBM PCs and compatibles

The Modula-2 language was developed by Professor Niklaus Wirth, who also created Pascal. As a longtime Pascal and Hirbo Pascal user, 1 wanted to compare the two languages and to examine the version of Modula-2 from Interface Technologies Corporation (ITC).

Using the ITC Editor

ITC's Modula-2 has a built-in syntax editor. This sort of editor is probably familiar to you if you've programmed in LISP. In the ITC implementation, each Modula-2 construct has a template that is invoked using an < Alt>/keystroke combination. For example, pressing < Alt > F produces the template

FOR <id>: = <expr> TO

<expr> DO END;

You use the T&b key to skip to the two fields delineated by < > and fill in the missing variables and expressions. Statements between DO and END can be entered by using the <Alt> P command: semicolons are inserted automatically for each statement. If an inserted statement is a template, then the editor automatically indents it appropriately The editor also adds righthand parentheses to match the lefthand ones that you type in.

It is impossible to type in a program using the ITC editor without employing these templates. At first this seemed annoyingly cumbersome, but there is a method to it. First, Modula-2 is a case-sensitive language, and all reserved words such as FOR, TO, and END must be capitalized. This can be very annoying, even to a good typist.

The use of templates obviates this difficulty Second, the use of templates virtually eliminates syntax errors and makes it extremely easy to learn Modula-2, especially if you already know Pascal. While it takes some time to get used to the various <Alt> commands to invoke the templates, ITC has made them as mnemonically reasonable as possible (e.g., <Alt> F = TOR. . .," <Alt> A = "ARRAY[. . .]," etc.). The <Alt> commands have different meanings depending on whether you are in the declaration, type, or code section of the program. In the declaration section, for example, < Alt> F gives the template for a function (i.e., a procedure with RETURNed value).

You can also import files of code prepared by other editors. Unfortunately the ITC editor is finicky about syntax: it will not import any code that has any syntax errors, including errors resulting from incompatibility with various ITC Modula-2 library declarations. If an error is discovered during importation it is pointed out. but it must be corrected using another editor.

The ITC editor provides some of the features found in more standard editors, such as searching for, copying, and replacing strings. The editor also lets you embed blocks of code within other blocks or. inversely, extract marked blocks from within others. The blocks, however, must be

full syntactical (indentation level) blocks (e,g,, a complete BEGIN. . .END or REPEAT . . .UNTIL block). In general I found the editor a bit unwieldy, since many of its commands are accessed through function and Alt keys that call pull-down menus. These menus in turn require selection of a field (using the Ikh key) and then perhaps further keyboard input. For an unskilled typist this is probably all right, but most serious programmers have enough typing skills to make this procedure rather frustrating.

You can use the editor to move around within the program in two ways; line by line with the left and right arrow keys (the working line becomes highlighted), or block by block with the up and down arrow keys. The term "block" here means a syntax block (i.e., a group of lines of code at the same indentation level). You continue to move in blocks of the same level until you reach a larger block size; thereafter, moves are in these larger blocks. Moving down a level is accomplished through the left and right arrow keys. This can permit fairly quick movement through a modest-size program, but not really fast enough through a larger one. The addition of page- or screen-size movement would be useful.

Whether the syntax editor for ITC's Modula-2 is better than a standard text editor depends on your familiarity with the package and personal preference. I didn't like the ITC editor

[continued]

Mark Bridger (31 Champa St.. Newton, MA 02164) is president of Bridge Software and an associate professor of mathematics at Northeastern University.

OCTOBER 1986 -BYTE 255

i

REVIEW: ITC'S MOpULA-2

Modula-2 Software Development System

Type

Modula-2 compiler and development environment for MS-DOS and PC-DOS

Company

Interface Technologies Corporation 3336 Richmond Suite 200

Houston, TX 77098 (713) 523-8422

Requirements

IBM PC or compatible; 256K bytes df RAM; two floppy disk drives

Features

A built-in syntax-directed editor checks the code as it is written

Price

Modula-2 Software Development System (standard package): $80.88 Modula-2 SDS-XP (with additional utilities): $99

at first, but after using it 1 began to appreciate Its templates.

Compiling and Linking

Ttie entire ITC Modula-2 package of editor, compiler, and linker is all in one unit. Choices are made by means

of pull-down menus, and execution is done by overlaid code. Running ITC's Modula-2 from a floppy disk drive is a slow process. I ran it from a RAM disk, but this requires over 600K bytes of RAM. Early versions of the program had serious bugs when run on RAM disks, although 1 have not had any system freeze-ups while compiling with the latest version (version 2).

ITC's Modula-2 seems to conform to the standards set forth by Wirth for Modula-2. All standard libraries are available as well as some additional ones: for example, there is ReallnOut, a library for reading and writing real numbers. ReallnOut, however, has two annoying features: It only outputs real numbers in scientific notation, and if a real number is entered from the keyboard without a digit in front of the decimal point, the real number is recorded internally as 0 without any warning. In addition, the field width

256 BYTE ■ OCTOBER 1986

parameter still has a bug that was present in earlier versions.

ITC implements the Modula-2 open array parameter, which allows a procedure declaration to accept an array of a specified type but a nonspecified length. The bounds are determined when the procedure has accepted a particular array at run time. This is a very useful improvement over Pascal, especially for writing library procedures for, say matrix manipulation.

There is also a graphics interface that supports point, line, and box drawing (all of which are quite slow), a sound interface enabling the production of a tone of prescribed frequency, a DOS interface, and a procedure to perform certain DOS and BIOS interrupts. For about $20 more. ITC offers a Foreign Object Module Import package, which is essentially a tool for linking ITC Modula-2 with 8086 assembly language object ;rf)i)dales. This package has some restrictions, the most serious being its apparent inability to deal with a separate data segment in the assembly code. This restriction is shared with Hirbo Pascal, but Borland International doesn't charge anything extra for the ability to graft on machine code. There are ways around this limitation, for example, putting data in the code segment and jumping over it. Nevertheless, it's an annoying restriction for a large program development system.

ITC's Modula-2 has a built-in library creation facility enabling programmers to build up collections of separately compiled modules for linking with other programs. Source and object code stored in such a library can be accessed only by opening the library from the editor or the compiler. A bug occasionally prevented the compiler from finding one of my libraries when it was in drive C. The compiler could only find the library when it was on the floppy disk in drive A.

The ITC editor and compiler appear

to interact, with the compiler doing some preliminary work as code is entered into the editor I could not determine exactly what this work entailed; a menu choice offers the option of turning this background com

pilation off, but it didn't help when I tried to import a syntactically Incorrect file.

It is important to remember that Hirbo Pascal is limited to compiled code of fewer than 64 K bytes. There is no such limitation for ITC Modula-2: Programs can be as long as the disk or the memory can handle.

Benchmark Results

For this review, I rewrote the benchmarks from my review of Hirbo Pascal 3.0 (see February BYTE) in Modula-2. As shown in table I, Hjrbo Pascal has the edge in all categories except arithmetic floating-point operations (multiplication and division) done with the 8087, where ITC has a three-to-one speed advantage. On the other hand, Hirbo Pascal has an equally dramatic advantage in non-8087 number crunching and in heap management.

In analyzing compilation speed, however one must be fair Modula-2's task here is somewhat harder since it is producing code that will later be linked to other code. This is a more complicated procedure that takes longer to complete. ITC's Modula-2 produces .EXE files, while Hirbo Pascal produces .COM files. In general, the executable files produced for the benchmark programs by ITC's Modula-2 were from 2 to 2)4 times larger than those produced by Hirbo Pascal.

DOCUMENTATION

ITC's Modula-2 documentation comes in a loose-leaf binder It provides a better introduction to the basics of the language than does Borland's Hirbo Pascal documentation. If you already know Pascal, you probably can get by with ITC's documentation: if you haven't programmed in Pascal, you should get a good book on Modula-2 as an introduction.

Since all procedures, constants, and variables in Modula-2 that are imported from libraries must be declared in an importation section, it is essential to know which identifiers go with which standard libraries. This is difficult to determine from the documentation; the index is not always helpful since there are some page

. [contimedl

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OCTOBER 1986 -BYTE 257

REVIEW: ITC'S lVlODULA-2

number discrepancies. Even more

serious is the fact that different libraries can have the same identifier with the same spelling in two different contexts. For example. Done is Boolean in the InOut library but part of an enumerated type in the Files library. A complete cross-referencing table of the libraries and their contents would have been very helpful.

It would also have been useful to have the description of function-key use in a more prominent position near the front of the manual.

Overall, ITC's Modula-2 documentation suffers from a lack of all but the simplest examples. While the beginning tutorial covers elementary Modula-2 constructs, program writing, and compilation, more complicated areas such as the building of independently compiled libraries and the use of in-line machine code and BIOS interrupts could use some further explanation and illustration.

BUGS

The first version of ITC Modula-2 that I examined seemed to have more bugs than any other piece of serious

software I've used. Most of these bugs

seem to have been corrected in the most recent release.

The compiler occasionally gives misleading error messages. In one case when 1 had invoked the NEW procedure to create a pointer, I was told that the variable had not been declared; however, it had been. What I hadn't done was to import the ALLOCATE and DEALLOCATE procedures from the system library Even though no explicit calls to these procedures were made, they are necessary for the functioning of NEW and DISPOSE. This took quite a few minutes for me to figure out

ITC operates a bulletin board on which fixes for various bugs are posted. This is fine if you live within a local call of Houston, Ttexas, but swatting all bugs by long-distance phone lines can get to be quite expensive.

TURBO Pascal vs. Modula-2

There are some real philosophical, psychological, and practical issues here. The philosophy and psychology

have more to do with Pascal versus

Modula-2 than with any particular brands of compilers.

If you believe that Pascal is an overly formal language that stifles creativity but that it is useful for building "pyramids"— large, complicated programs built up from many modulesthen you will find Modula-2 much the same, in Pascal there is only one really dynamic, flexible, and standard procedure: the lowly WriteLn. The WriteLn command, which allows a variable number of parameters of different types, has been eliminated in Modula-2 and replaced by WriteChar, WriteString, Writeint, WriteCard, and WriteReal. These must actually be declared with correct capitalization, and their library genealogy must be traced out. If you're going to be subjected to these indignities, you might as well program in C and at least be able to produce tighter code, if you hate Pascal, you'll find Modula-2 worse.

On the other hand, you can make the argument that this sort of care and attention to detail is necessary when dozens, or hundreds, of programmers are working on a project involving tens of thousands of lines of code—code that must be modular and portable.

Therefore, you must determine your own needs and how much you enjoy programming. If you are writing programs that are no longer than 3000 to 4000 lines, then there doesn't seem to be any reason for not using Hirbo Pascal. It's faster, tighter, more flexible, smaller, simpler, and less expensive than anything else currently on the market.

On the other hand, if you must work with many other programmers on a huge program or if you need training for such work, then you probably should try Modula-2. Whether or not Modula-2 will ever gain much popularity as a commercial language, the ITC syntax editor can make learning it easier. Furthermore, ITC has provided a lot of value for the money, with a basic package that includes the assembly language interface, extra libraries, and a Make utility It's worth a try but don't throw away your Hirbo Pascal. ■

Table I; Benchmark comparisons. The CALC program shows how long it takes to do 10,000 multiplication and 10,000 division operations using singleprecision numbers. The FLOAT program tests ITC Modula-2's library of transcendental functions. The SIEVE program shows how long it takes to run one iteration of the Sieve of Eratosthenes prime-number benchmark. The TRANS program shows how long it takes to copy a I O.OOQ-character file one character at a time, while BTRANS shows how long it takes to copy this file 128 bytes at a time. The LINETEST routine was run with TUrbo Pascal's standard draw routine and with Modula-2's draw routine. HEAPTEST performs a rough check to see if the creation and disposal of dynamic variables is working properly. All times are in seconds.

Program

ITC Modula-2

Turbo Pascal

CALC

52

32

CALC87

2

6.5

FLOAT

212

65

FL0ATB7

5

3

SIEVE

19

13

TRANS (disk to disk)

129

124

TRANS (RAM to RAM)

98

93

BTRANS (disk to disk)

23

22

BTRANS (RAM to RAM)

2

1.5

LINETEST

31

17

HEAPTEST

12

<'0.5

258 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

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SOFTWARE REVIEW

Microsoft Word Version 3.0

BY Malcolm C Rubel

Microsoft Word version 3.0 for MS-DOS systems, with its several new and versatile features, is one of the most powerful word-processing programs on the market today, but 1 wish I could be more excited about it. Word is full-featured, but it lacks the comfort and speed 1 have come to expect from top-of-the-line programs. It also has several annoying defects.

Installing Word

Microsoft has dropped copy protection from its product line. Therefore, you can now make any backup copies that you need.

The installation process is virtually foolproof. Both floppy disk and hard disk installations with or without the mouse driver are no problem, but when you install Word on a floppy disk you do not have enough space left for DOS. To get a bootable disk, you must first delete the Help files.

Learning Word 3.0

Microsoft's Learning Microsoft Word program is the best interactive tutorial that I have seen. It is well thought out and provides an excellent course of instruction, good feedback, and a good simulation of the actual program operation.

You can now access tutorial lessons while editing a document using Word's Help function. This requires that 2 56K bytes of available RAM must be installed, but you get quick access to detailed information about basic operations. Context-sensitive Quick Help is also available within the program. If all else fails, you can go to the improved index, which is now 43 pages long.

A word processor with many powerful features and some flaws

.Microsoft took one step in the wrong direction with this latest release. The plastic command template of version 2.0 has been replaced by a small function-key overlay that flies off when you hit a key slightly offcenter and a Ouick Reference Card that always seems to be somewhere else and, when found, occupies significant desk space.

The operator interface is excellent for beginners. With only a few minutes of familiarization, the commands become self-evident. A novice can quickly gain access to the whole range of the program's powers. The problem is that this ease of use for beginners compromises fluid operation. Although there are speed keys available for some commands, 1 was continually going through menus making many unnecessary moves to implement simple commands.

Operation

Although Word 3.0 works on a floppy disk system, it would operate more smoothly on a hard disk system. To use Word you need the program disk, the spelling disk, the Learning Microsoft Word disk (for reference), and, if you want to run any external commands, a DOS disk to run the program. 1 was switching disks too often for my liking. Using Word on a floppy disk system is also slow (see table 1 for complete benchmark results). While Word runs mostly from RAM,

the active document files are run on a very tight paging scheme. Information is constantly being written to and from disk. Increasing memory size does not seem to do anything to alleviate this problem. While editing with Word is easy Microsoft should do some work to make the editor faster Using the mouse to move the cursor is almost a necessity because Microsoft has not included any Control-key commands to move the cursor While you can get by with using the text-definition function keys to move the cursor, it would not be too much trouble to implement some of the now generally accepted Control-key cursor commands. Word 3,0's PgUp and PgDn screen rewrites are some of the slowest I have seen. Depending on wnether or not you have to go to the disk for information, it can take from 1.5 to 5 seconds (a 3.5- to 4-second average) to get a new screen of text. I also had a serious problem with the Delete key All deletes are written to a scrap buffer which takes quite a bit of time. When you strike the Delete key twice without consciously hesitating between the two hits, one keystroke is lost.

Search and replace operations have the necessary options and work well, but they are slower than those of many comparable programs. I also ran into memory problems when performing the Replacement benchmark.

iconlimied)

Malcolm C. Rubel is president of Performance Dynamics Associates (305 Madison Ave.. New York. NY 10165). Hi? is also coauthor of The Performance Guide to Word Processing Software.

OCTOBER 1986 • B Y T E 261

REVIEW: WORD 3.0

Microsoft Word version 3.0

Type

Word processor Company

Microsoft Corporation 10700 Northiup Way P.O. Box 97200 Bellevue, WA 98009 (800) 426-9400

Format

5V4-inch floppy disks

Computer

IBM PC compatibles

Necessary Hardware

Mouse (optional)

Necessary Software

MS-DOS

Features

includes an integrated outliner, matti functions, and index and table of contents generation

Documentation

Using Microsoft Word Reference to Microsoft Word Printer booklet

Price

$450

The program stopped and required

that my current work was first saved to free up the memory before continuing. The manual states that this might also happen when several windows are open. Going to 512K bytes of memory did not help this situation.

When you work with justified text, Word becomes annoying. In an at

tempt to make the on-screen text look just as it will look when printed, Microsoft right-justifies text on the screen. This means extra work for the processor, and it slows down screen reformat time. It also means that text continuously bounces to the left and to the right of the cursor position. 1 decided to work with unjustified text and, as a final step, to justify it.

Because the cursor is a solid unblinking box, 1 found that I kept "losing" it. Microsoft should give the user the option to make it blink and should at least provide line and cursor position numbers somewhere on the screen.

Block operations with Word 3.0 are well designed and easy to execute.

Text is defined by using either the mouse or the cursor and the function keys, it is then deleted to scrap using the Delete key and then "undeleted" from scrap using the Insert key at the appropriate place either within the file, between windows, or to disk. Column-block operations are now supported, and those who work with tabular data will be thankful for this addition,

IVlicrosoft makes better use of windows than any other word-processing program on the market. Not only can you have up to eight different windows on the screen at the same time showing you different files, but you can also have multiple windows open within a single document. Other programs allow different copies of the same file to appear in different windows, but changes made in one window are not automatically made in the others as they are with Word. You may pay a speed penalty as you open up more windows, but it is worth every second.

Boilerplate materials can be easily prepared and called to an active file using Word's Gallery function. However I found that it was so easy to open up a second window and copy text into it that I chose not to use this function.

Formatting

Word 3.0's greatest strength is its ability to perform complicated formatting

tasks. It is not a page composition or desktop publishing program, but it handles complicated formats such as tabular materials, snaking multicolumn and screenplay layouts, and different type styles and point sizes with ease. Detailed formats can be described for character size and attributes, paragraph style, division (page) layout, tabs, footnotes, headers, and footers. Any defined style can be saved and recalled for later use with different documents.

Word allows you to specify all page measurements in inches, centimeters, or points. The program handles most of the complicated formatting tasks for you. For example, if you wish to have multiple columns, you simply specify the number of columns desired and the space between each of them, and the program does the rest. Setting up and working with tables is equally simple.

As with other top-end products, Word 3.0 supports multiple left- and right-facing headers and footers, several tab types, and also centered and flush-right text.

Character specification is limited only by your output device, if you are using a laser printer with downloadable fonts, you will be able to produce impressive output. Word is the only word-processing program for the IBM PC that supports Apple's I^serWriter printer and PostScript program.

Page formatting does not always show up properly on the screen. Word cannot handle proper on-screen line breaks when you use proportional spacing. In addition, neither snaking nor side-by-side columns are shown on-screen.

Word does not do a good job with right justification. It inserts microspaces only between words. If it placed microspaces between charac

Table 1: Benchmark test results

in seconds. All benchmarks were performed

using MS-DOS 3.1.

Word 3.0

WordStar 3.3

WordPerfect 4.1

Load program

24.3

9.5

12.8

load 4000-word file

5.7

42

42

Save 4000-word file

30.0

26.7

15.6

Cursor ttnrough file

901

48.6

75.7

4000-word search

18.2

12.5

8.7

400 replacements

85.7

25.3

12.8

^ 262 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

REVIEW: WORD 3.0

ters within words as well as between words, the output would look better

Printing

Printer support, always a strong point with Word, has been improved. There are 113 different printer choices, or you can go to the printer booklet to find out how to make your own driver Word 3.0 also supports sheet feeders and printer queuing.

Although pagination is performed automatically when you print and includes widow and orphan control, you still have to repaginate a document if you want to see where the page breaks are going to be before you print. You can now select confirmation of page breaks and make modifications if you desire, but Microsoft could make a substantial improvement in Word by adding dynamic pagination.

One of the best improvements in version 3.0 is that text no longer needs to be enhanced by only the

user's knowledge of the output device's capabilities. The program will make a guess at the formatting equivalent for the output device selected. For instance, italics specified for the final work will probably come out as underlined text on a printer that cannot print italics.

Word prints with a gutter margin that selectively offsets left- and rightfacing pages. If you are going to do two-sided printing and binding, this feature is important. One flaw that I discovered in the program is that when 1 set equal margins of 1 'A inches for the left and right side of the page and printed on an HP Laserlet, Word gave me a 11/2-inch left margin and a 1-inch right margin. While this can be easily compensated for it presents an unnecessary complication.

The Power of Word 3.0

Word 3.0 does footnotes and has an option for endnotes. It also has its own Spell program. Word does math

functions and multilevel indexing and table of contents generation. It has an excellent mail-merge routine that includes conditional printing for form letters. It does alphabetic and numeric sorts and it hyphenates. It contains an excellent outliner and, hidden in the appendix, instructions for some of the most complete data conversion programs I have seen.

The features 1 would like to see added include a faster editor line and box drawing, and the ability to capture command macros.

Summary

I am not a fan of Microsoft Word partly because I do not like menu-driven programs. They get in the way during the writing process. Part of the attractiveness of Word 3.0 is that it is powerful yet easy to learn. However after you become familiar with the program, its menus, which are so easy to understand and use while learning, become a hindrance. ■

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Inquiry 248

OCTOBER 1986 • B Y T E 263

QNX; Other operating systems may never lift the PC to such heights.

QNX was the first operating system witfi multi-tasl^ing, multi-user capabilities for ttie IBM PC and compatibles (1982). Then, once again, for the IBiVI AT and compatibles (1984). In 1984, QNX achieved integrated networking capability, something no other multi-user, multi-tasking operating system has achieved, or is likely to achieve, on IBM personal computers. QNX consistently beats competitive operating systems to each new height in PC performance. Unlike other multi-user, multi-tasking opeating systems, QNX is not UNIX-based. Being rigid and monolithic, UNIX architecture is difficult to adapt. By contrast, QNX is modular, based on message-passing, and easy to adapt. UNIX developers have had to preoccupy themselves with merely getting UNIX to work on the personal computer, while QNX.designed specifically for this environment, has enjoyed rapid and continuous growth.

QNX's superb performance and compact size is the result of one dedicated design team with a

common purpose and complete understanding of both the software and the environment in which it must run. Quick and efficient on a PC, QNX soars on an AT.

Of all multi-user, multi-tasking operating systems, only QNX provides unrestricted communications among all tasks anywhere on the network. Therefore, only QNX can implement true distributed processing, distributed file systems, and distributed devices, with no need for central file servers.

No one wants to abandon the tremendous amount of DOS software available. QNX does not force that choice. DOS 2.1 and 3.1 run as single-user tasks under QNX, even on the AT in protected mode.

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264 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 256

SOFTW AJ«k REVIEW

The Norton Utilities, PC Tools, and Super Utility

BY Rubin Rabinovitz

Sooner or later most computer users lose data because of equipment malfunctions or human error. The DOS programs for personal computers typically contain few ways of coping with such problems; hence, specialized programs with recovery routines have become popular.

The best-known program of this type is The Norton Utilities, designed for the IBM PC and most compatibles. Created by Peter Norton, the program is now in its 3.1 release, a version coauthored by Norton and Brad Kingsbury in my review of The Norton Utilities version 3.0 (December 1985 BYTE), 1 described it as a valuable program, one that I had used many times for recovering lost data. Here 1 will discuss what is new in version 3.1 and compare it to two of its rivals: PC Tools (version 1,10) by Central Point Software and Super Utility (version 1,10) by PowerSoft Products (see tables 1, 2, and 3 for feature comparisons).

Restoring Erased and Damaged Files

The ability of programs like The Norton Utilities, PC Tools, and Super Utility to restore lost data depends in part on the kind of error that is involved, A common error (and one that is relatively easy to correct) is the one that occurs when you mistakenly enter a DOS ERASE or DEL com.mand and inadvertently lose a valuable file. If no new information is subsequently written to the disk, the deleted file can in most cases be restored in its entirety by any of these utility programs.

Recovery from such errors is possible because the DOS program does

Three useful programs for file and data restoration and file management

not remove any data at the time you give the ERASE command. Instead, messages indicating that the sectors occupied by the original file can be used for new data are registered in the disk's directory and file allocation table.

Unfortunately most data-loss errors are not this simple. Once new information has been written into the sectors formerly occupied by a deleted file, the old information can no longer be recovered. It also becomes harder to recover portions of the deleted file that haven't been overwritten. (Reclaiming part of a lost file may be worthwhile in the case of textual information, but program, spreadsheet, and other structured files often have to be recovered virtually intact if anything of value is to be extracted from them.)

When a computer hardware problem, such as a misaligned disk drive, causes incorrect control information to be written into a file, successful data recovery is more problematic. Errors in a directory or file allocation table may render all of your files inaccessible. Your only hope then may be to work directly with the physical sectors on the disk using a utility program's sector read/write routine. This method will usually require you to piece together your original file from sectors that are scattered all over the disk.

If you decide to patch a disk in this

manner, you should know that a little exploratory tinkering can transform a small local problem into a major disaster area. Unless you have no alternative, do not work with original files and disks. If possible, make a copy of the disk with a damaged file.

File Recovery Features

The Norton Utilities. PC Tools, and Super Utility all let you display directory listings of recently deleted files, as well as listings of those that are active. If a directory entry for a deleted file has been erased, the programs will let you search through the entire disk (including deleted files) for a string of text, provided you can remember some of the lost file's contents. If not, you can go from sector to sector on the disk to see if you can find any data from the lost file.

Once you have located a sector with lost data, you can read it in hexadecimal or ASCII formats or put the information in another file (preferably on another disk). Working with the sector display you can even edit the data in a given sector. Experienced users can take advantage of this function to make certain types of repairs, such as locating and revising any incorrect control information in a file.

Repairing Files with The Norton Utilities

The Norton Utilities' file restoration program has a branching menu struc

Konliimed)

Rubi/i Rabinovitz [Department of English. Campus Box 226, University of Colorado. Boulder. CO 80309) is a professor of Englisfi and is the author of a book about the SAMNA word-processing program.

OCTOBER 1986 • B VTE 265

REVIEW: NORTON UTILITIES, PC TOOLS, SUPER UTILITY

Type

Company

Format Computer

Necessary Software

The Norton Utilities (version 3.1)

File recovery, disk management, and datasecurity utilities

Peter Norton Computing 2210 Wilstiire Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90403 (213) 453-2361

One 5y4-inch floppy disk

IBM PC, XT AT and most compatibles

PC-DOS or MS-DOS 2.0 or later

PC Tools (version 1.10)

File recovery, disl< management, and resident DOS utilities

Central Point Software 9700 Souttiwest Capitol Hwy. Portland, OR 97219 (503) 244-2782

One SVA-incfi floppy disk

IBM PC, XT, AT and most compatibles

PC-DOS or MS-DOS 2.0 or later; can repair disks formatted under DOS 1.0 or later

Super Utility (version 1.10)

File recovery and disk management utilities

PowerSoft Products 17060 Dallas Parkway, Suite 114 Dallas, TX 75248 (214) 733-4475

One 5y4-incli floppy disk

IBM PC, XT AT and most compatibles

PC-DOS or MS-DOS

Documentation

64-page manual; quickreference card; some onscreen lielp

68-page manual; some onscreen help

31-page manual; some onscreen help

Price

$99.95; upgrade from an older version, $25

$39.95; upgrade from an older version, $15

$89.95

Table I: File restoration utilities.

The Norton PC Super

Function and Explanation Utilities Tools Utility

Undelete: reverses ttie DOS DEL command x x x

File repair: restores damaged files, sector by sector x x x

Lost cluster saving: copies stray clusters into usable files x x x

Quick file repair: automatically "undeletes" files x ' — —

Disk mapping: displays a graph showing used and free

sectors x x x

Bad sector mapping; displays a graph with locations of

bad sectors x x —

Disk test: checks disks for errors x x x

FAT contents: gives decimal listings for items in the file

allocation table — — x

Disk viewing: displays contents of a disk's sectors in

hexadecimal and ASCII x x x

Data modification: permits entering data directly onto the

disk in ASCII or hexadecimal format x x x

Sector printing: prints contents of sectors, including

sectors from damaged files x x x

Data search: performs a global search for a predefined string of ctiaracters; search string can be defined in

hexadecimal or ASCII x x x

ture that may be somewhat confusing until you have used it for a while. This is partly because the program contains so many routines that it can be

hard to find your way through the menus and submenus to the one you need.

A feature called quick unerase,

which has been added to the latest version of The Norton Utilities, compensates for this problem to some degree. Quick unerase will be a boon to novices: it makes the process of restoring deleted files almost automatic. Even so, this routine works only for the simplest types of file recovery; for others you will still need to use the conventional file restoration program. But here you will be aided by another recent Norton addition: The program now has some on-screen help information about the procedures you need to follow. Thus, if you are working with a file allocation table, you can easily summon up a help screen with information about it.

In addition, The Norton Utilities lists information that experienced users will appreciate. It gives a number representing the absolute disk location of a displayed sector In PC Tools and Super Utility a similar listing gives only the relative locations for sectors (i.e., their positions within a file). I prefer the first approach: the absolute location is useful when you want to return to a particular sector or if you are working with stray clusters (blocks of data that have become detached

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2#6 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

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Our modems are fully compatible with all Hayes software commands. Software packages such as Crosstalk, Smartcom II, and Sidekick will work flawlessly. Both the 24001 and 2400E are equipped with Automatic Adaptive Equalization which automatically adjusts to the telephone line and increases performance and decreases the error rate.

The 24001 Internal Modem Card fits into any expansion slot, as it is a compact half-card modem. It's designed specifically to operate in the IBM Personal Computer PC/XT/AT family and compatible computers. The rear panel has two RJ-llC modular telephone jacks for the telephone line and the telephone set. The modem can be set for COMl or COM2. The 24001 modem allows asynchronous communications with remote computers and other data terminal equipment over standard voice grade telephone lines. The 2400E External Modem offers the user asynchronous or synchronous communications. The 2400E is en

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Inquiry 257

REVIEW: NORTON UTILITIES, PC TOOLS, SUPER UTILITY

from a file). Of course, a listing with both absolute and relative sector locations, which none of these programs provides, would be even better

Another useful feature of The Norton Utilities is a screen display with information about an erased file that notes its size, attributes, time of creation, and whether the beginning of the space formerly used by this file has been overwritten. This information is made available before you begin the restoration process to let you know how good the chances are for recovering a lost file.

Of the three programs, The Norton Utilities gives the most comprehensive information about bad sectors (unusable areas of a disk). Not only do you learn whether they are present on a particular disic, but the program also lets you know if they have been

marked as bad sectors. Once the bad sectors have been marked, they no longer pose a threat because the DOS program will avoid them when it looks for empty sectors in which to store data. Thus, knowing about unmarked bad sectors can be important.

File Restoration with PC Tools

PC Tbols is the easiest of the three programs to use The menu organization is very straightforward, and the commands are well defined. Like The Norton Utilities, it provides good disk maps, which are graphic representations of the disk showing the locations of files and unused areas of the disk. The on-screen help information in PC Tools, while not as extensive as that provided by The Norton Utilities, makes the steps in the file restoration

procedures clear

PC Tools also makes it simple to end one routine and to move on to a new one. At one point I wanted to perform the same test on a series of disks. PC Tools made it easy to exchange the disks without backing up too far into the program.

One way that PC Tools differs from the other programs is in its sector display which shows 2 56 bytes at a time rather than the 512 bytes shown in the other programs. This makes it easier to read the display's hexadecimal information, but it can also slow down some operations because you have to examine twice as many screens when you look through the contents of a given file.

Data Restoration with Super Utility

while Super Utility works well for restoring lost data, it lacks certain features found in The Norton Utilities and PC Tbols, Super Utility has no provision for identifying the position of a particular byte in the sector display. Its disk map is not very good; the graphics are crude, the locations of files and unused sectors are not shown, and the map does not display information about a disk's bad sectors. However, like the other programs. Super Utility does contain a separate routine that tests a disk for bad sectors, so it is possible to use this program to get that information.

On the positive side. Super Utility contains two file repair features that the other programs lack. One is a very useful window display that lets you look at the contents of a sector before deciding whether to add it to a file that is in the process of being restored. The second feature is a routine that provides listings in decimal format of the entries in a file allocation table—a tool that advanced users will probably find valuable.

Supplementary Features in

The Norton Utilities

One unique operation in The Norton Utilities is a program for systematically overwriting any resident data in an unneeded file to make sure it is entirely erased. This feature—the computer equivalent of a paper shred

Table 2: Disk and file-handlmg utilities.

The Norton PC Super

Function and Explanation Utilities Tools Utility

File-handling utilities .

File attributes: changes archive, read-only, hidden, and

system attributes x x x

File size: gives file size as a number of clusters, as well

as in bytes x x —

File overw/rite: writes zeros into deleted files for security

purposes x — —

Directory-handling utilities

Directory sort: permits directory to be sorted by name,

size, extension, and date x x —

Directory restore: recovers deleted directories and

subdirectories x x —

Create subdirectory: creates new subdirectories without

exiting to DOS — x —

Disk-handling utilities

Title change: permits changing the volume label of a

formatted disl< x x —

Disk overwrite: overwrites zeros onto an entire disk for

security purposes x — —

Hard disk utilities

File search: searches through directories and subdirectories for a specified file x x —

Path-name list: lists path names for files in directories and

subdirectories x — —

Tree display: provides a chart of directories and subdirectories, showing the tree structure — x —

Hard disk configuration: permits partitioning of hard

disks, according to user's specifications — — x

268 BYTE* OCTOBER 1986

der—will be valuable if you work with confidential data. The Norton program also includes a routine for setting screen colors, a test for comparing the processing speed of your computer with that of an IBM PC, and a timer that lets you know how long a program has been running. The timer performs the same functions as a stopwatch.

The Norton Utilities version 3.1 has a number of interesting new features. One is an easier way of working with the program's menus. You can choose a command by moving a pointer to an item on the menu, by pressing a number (such as 3 for the third menu item), or by pressing the equivalent function key (in this case, the F3 key). This duplication reduces the possibility of key selection errors and simplifies the entering of commands. Another nice feature is a demonstration file that lets you see how the main features work. It provides a good introduction to the program and its diverse routines.

The Norton Utilities version 3.1 also lets you restore directories that have been removed by the DOS RMDIR or RD commands. Also added is an option for working with European characters. Still another change is in the routine for sounding a tone: You can now specify the duration, pitch, and number of times it should be repeated.

Supplementary Features in PC Tools

The most valuable extra feature of PC Tools is its ability to be loaded in a resident mode. Like SideKick and other resident programs, PC Tools remains in the computer's memory while you run an applications program such as a spreadsheet or word processor. Whenever you wish, you can interrupt the applications program, work with PC Tools, and then pick up where you left off in the applications program.

PC Tools contains a series of routines for performing familiar DOS tasks such as copying, comparing, and formatting disks. These features are part of the resident program, which leads to some interesting possibilities:

[continued]

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QUBIE'

Department B

507 Calle San Pablo

Camarillo, California 93010

Inside California

805-987-9741

Outside California

800-821-4479

London (01) 223-4569 Sydney (02) S79-3322 Paris (01) 321-5316 Canada (403) 434-9444

Hours; M-F Sam - Spm PTZ Sat Sam - 12pm PTZ

Inquiry 258

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE

REVIEW: NORTON UTILITIES, PC TOOLS, SUPER UTILITY

for example, you can format a disk without formally exiting from tlie word-processing program. (A list of the DOS utilities included in PCTbols is given in table 3.)

If you are unfamiliar with memoryresident programs, you should know about two potential problems. One is that your seemingly docile applications program may object to the idea of coexisting with a memory-resident program. Whether or not your applications program can run concurrently \wlth PC Tbols is something to check with the dealer or the manufacturer

The other factor is that PC Tools takes up 128K bytes of RAM, and unless you are willing to buy a memory-^expansion board, it may be too large for you to use with another program. The authors of the program are planning to deal with this problem in a future release; PC Tools will be compressed to between 40K and 64K bytes so it will take up less space in RAM.

A unique feature of the program is a tree display that diagrams the root directory and the other directories on a disk. Another helpful feature of PC Tools is that supplementary information about a routine is automatically displayed when you tab to the menu entry offering that option.

Hard Disk Configuring in Super Utility

Like The Norton Utilities and PC Tools, Super Utility has a feature for changing a file's attributes, such as making it a hidden or read-only file. Super Utility's main supplementary feature is a routine for the custom configuration of hard disks. With most hard disks, you are offered limited options for partitioning. Super Utility offers a wider choice of partitioning options, which can make for more efficient data storage. However, this routine must be used with caution because (like the DOS FORMAT command) it

involves a process that will destroy the existing data on a disk.

DOCUMENTATION

The documentation for all three programs is adequate but not outstanding. The Super Utility manual contains so many undefined technical terms that first-time users will be intimidated, and its skimpy glossary does not make up for this flaw. The manuals for the other two programs use somewhat simpler language, but they also seem to be directed toward users who already have a good understanding of how the DOS program stores files on a disk.

All three manuals provide only cursory explanations of how the datarecovery process works. Given that novices can lose files, a little more background material would help. A chapter for beginners with some illustrations (such as a diagram showing how a disk is divided into tracks and sectors) would have been useful.

All three manuals would be improved if charts were included showing in which branches of the menus the program's different routines are located. This would make it easier to go from one routine to another. The Norton Utilities version 3.1 takes a step toward meeting this need by including a reference card that lists all the program's command names and functions.

Conclusion

The most valuable of these three programs is The Norton Utilities. It offers the greatest number of features for file recovery as well as the widest variety of supplementary routines. PC Tbols is somewhat easier to use than the other two programs, and, at less than half their price, is clearly the best value. Super Utility is a reasonably good program, but its relatively high price and lack of extra features will probably deter potential buyers.

As tables 1,2, and 3 indicate, The Norton Utilities, PC Tools, and Super Utility differ mainly in terms of the extra features they provide, if you are uncertain about which of the three to get, your sense of whether you will be able to use these extra features should help you make up your mind. ■

Table 3: Otkr uMties and features.

The Norton

PC

Super

Function and Explanation

Utilities

Tools

Utility

Miscellaneous features

Screen attributes: sets colors, reverse video, underlining.

bold, blinking, etc.

X

System attributes: identifies computer, lists disk drives.

gives RAM memory size, etc.

X

X

Speed test: measures operating speed of system relative

to ttie IBIVI PC

X

Tone: sounds a tone as a signal during some phase of a

computer routine

X

Print: prints files

X

X

Line number print: prints text with line numbers added

X

Timer: emulates a stopweftch; times various operations

X

Resident DOS utilities

Copy: copies files; similar to the DOS COPY command

X

Copy disk: copies from disk to disk; similar to the DOS

DISKCOPY command

X

Compare: compares files or disks; similar to the DOS

DISKCOMP command

X

Rename; renames files; similar to the DOS REN

command

X

Delete: deletes files; similar to the DOS DEL and ERASE

commands

X

Format: formats diste; similar to the DOS FORMAT

command

X

270 B Y T E • OCTOBER 1986

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REVIEW FEEDBACK

Commodore 128

I read with interest the review of the Commodore 128 by William Wiese )r. ()uly). This review was interesting but failed to point out a fatal flaw in the CP/M Plus operating system. The very first CP/M Pius program I ran on my Commodore 128, SD-88, did not print properly. Upon further investigation, I discovered that 10 of the 96 characters in the CP/M Plus printing character set were incorrect. 1 suspect that some of the nonprinting characters are also incorrect, but I have not investigated them in detail. This flaw is proi> ably in all the Commodore 128s on the market.

Specifically, when running under CP/M version 3.0 (the December 1985 update),

10 characters are not sent to the printer correctly as standard ASCII characters, although they are being sent to the video screen and to the disk properly. For instance, the Commodore 128 CP/M Plus cannot print this simple statement:

"Is that a quotation mark ("), backslash (\). caret ("), underscore ( ), grave accent ('). left brace ({). vertical bar (|), right brace (}). or a tilde (")?" John asked.

The reason is that these characters are either missing from or in the wrong locations in the Commodore 128 CP/M Plus printing character set.

I verified this problem at a local store using a Commodore 128 printing to a small single-sheet Okidata thermal printer and again at another store using a Commodore 128 printing to a Commodore MPSIOOO printer.

1 recorded the ASCII character set using the Commodore 128 in CP/M Plus mode running Microsoft MBASIC to a disk that had been formatted on an Osborne Executive computer I then ran the disk on an Osborne Executive and printed the character set to an Okidata printer. In this case, the standard ASCII characters were printed out correctly proving that recording to disk on the Commodore 128 in CP/M Plus mode works properly.

It appears that the Commodore 128 CP/M Plus writes the correct ASCII character set to the video screen and to the disk system. However, the inability to write the standard ASCII character set to a

printer is a fata! blow to the CP/M Plus mode, which is an advertised feature of the Commodore 128. Programs that run and print on other CP/M machines will not run properly on the Commodore 128.

Cortes L. Perry Huntsvllle. AL

Editor's note: Gregg Berlin at Commodore says that you need to tell CP/M in a CONF file to send ASCII to the printer as ASCII, not PETSCii, and to put the printer into IBM mode so that it will expect ASCII.

TOPSl 2.0

in regard to Leonard Moskowitz's review of TOPSl 2.0 (August), a number of facts

need correction and update. The price of version 2.1 is $250. and there are two other versions currently available that implement the same OPS5 inference system. Version 1.2, which sells for $125, handles smaller rules but not file 1/0. However, this version Is excellent for teaching or introductory expert-system development The latest release, version 3.0. sells for $375 and includes a built-in smart editor menus, and windows.

Since all TOPSl versions are now in C, we at Dynamic Master Systems Inc. no longer offer the source code for the development of external procedures. However, we will negotiate tiie licensing of our source code for porting to other computer environments

David Smith Atlanta, GA

DeSmet C

In the "DeSmet C Development Paclage for the Macintosh" (August). Jonathan Robie makes a statement concerning its procedures for memory management that may mislead potential purchasers of this compiler

Mr. Robie confuses the issue of memory allocation for Macintosh programs. He says that "DeSmet C uses a small memory model that limits you to 32K bytes of static data. Up to 32K bytes of additional data may be allocated by each called procedure. If you need larger blocks of data, you must allocate them on the heap." This is true. It Is also true of every other Macin

tosh native code development system. The limitation is not tied to the way DeSmet C allocates memory but rather to the 68000 s use of 16-bit offsets in instructions using address-register indirect addressing. The Macintosh's segment loader, which is standard for all Macintosh programs, allocates a global (static) data area that is pointed to by register A 5 at the start of the program. Most Macintosh development systems use register A5 plus an offset to refer to global variables. Based on Mr. Robie's description, I assume DeSmet C is doing the same thing.

The limitation of 32K bytes of data for each additional procedure is due to the way the 68000 LINK instruction is used. Most Macintosh routines that have local variables begin with a LINK instruction, which allocates space on the stack and sets a register (usually A4) to point to that automatic data area. Once again, the 16-bit offset limits the addressable size of this area to 32K bytes.

Currently, the only factors that stand in a potential purchaser's way are that DeSmet C is not one of the most popular C compilers for the Macintosh (and therefore will not receive the attention from third-party development tool developers that other compilers are beginning to receive); it does not compile very quickly compared to Lightspeed C, which is in the same price range: it does not have a symbolic debugger, which is rumored to be in the works for Consulair C: and it does not use the standard Macintosh user interface during development (something that Aztec C programmers appear to be dealing with quite successfully). The bugs mentioned in the review are, based on my experience, fairly common in C development systems for the Macintosh. Otherwise, the speed and small size of DeSmet C's generated code and its low price might make it attractive to some programmers.

Michael Sackett New Hyde Park. NYM

REVIEW FEEDBACK is a column ofreaderi letters. We welcome responses that support or challenge BYTE reviews. Send letters to Review Feedback. BYTE, One PAoenb: Mill Lane. POerborou^, NH 03458. Name and address must be on all letters.

OCTOBER 1986 - BYTE 273

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BVTE

Kernel

Computing at Chaos Manor: The Show Goes On?

by ]eny Pournelle 279

According to Webster:

Bit by Bit. Putting It Together

by Bruce Wefeter 293

Applications Oniv: Shareware

by Ezra Shapiro 297

BYTE Japan:

TAIWAN'S Computex 1986

by William Ivl. Raife 307

BYTE U.K.: BASIC to C

by Dick Pomtmri , 311

IS THE NATIONAL COMPUTER CONFERENCE a dying show? Jerry Pournelle believes this is a distinct possibility because of the way NCC treats the microcomputer community. That it was held in Las Vegas in late June was an added reason for Jerry to feel little enthusiasm about attending, but he did go. Unfortunately his worst fears were confirmed—microcomputer companies were conspicuous by their absence. This did mean that he could comprehensively cover the show without sinking into a state of exhaustion. Jerry's top pick of NCC is a statistical analysis tool called IVIacSpin.

You may notice that According to Webster is shorter than normal this month. Bruce seems to think that he has a legitimate excuse for this, something about getting married. It appears to us to be a pretty weak excuse. What will he be asking for next—time for a honeymoon, time off because of illness? The nerve of some people! Seriously, all of us here at BYTE wish Bruce and his wife many years of happiness. And he still was able to do a column! Bruce's product of the month is Advanced Tl-aceSb, and he also considers a number of technical manuals.

Reflecting the public domain theme of this issue of BYTE, Ezra Shapiro looks at a number of shareware programs, all of them MS-DOS products. A great deal of shareware is being written for MS-DOS machines, mainly because of its large installed base. The program Ezra is most impressed with is Instant Recall, which calls itself "an information base not unlike the human brain." Instant Recall is helping Ezra overcome his disorganization. He also looks at a memory aid, some telecommunications programs, and a program to make your MS-DOS system look like a UNIX C shell.

BYTE Japan could be called "BYTE Taiwan" this month. Bill Raike traveled to the new Taipei World TYade Center to attend the annual Computex show. While few IBM-compatible computers are found in Japan, T&iwan is different. Because of a small domestic market for personal computers, Taiwanese manufacturers must be active in U.S. and European markets. Computex therefore included a large number of IBM-compatible machines. One product that Bill was particularly impressed with is the Keystyle 80, a combination keyboard and laptop computer.

Dick Fountain begins BYTE U.K. with a brief discussion of BASIC. Even though BASIC receives a great deal of criticism, it remains the language that much business software is written in. However, business software houses are now faced with a growing base of multiuser UNIX systems. They are thus becoming interested in translating existing products into C, to make them easily portable from one UNIX system to anotiier. The product Dick discusses this month, CGEN, provides an efficient way to translate Miaosoft BASIC programs into C.

OCTOBER 1986 •BYTE 277

m DISPLAYWRITER to IBM 5520 to IBM OS/6 to IBM < to IBM 8100 to IBM PROFS to WANG OIS to WANG to r^T to MNIER to NBI to MIGOM to DEC WPS to ^EROX to LINOLEX to COMPUGRAPHIC to QUADEX o NCR to DEC VAX to CP/M to DATA GENERAL to T JNTV AC to BTJRROUGHS to HONEYWELL tp IBM PC/36

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278 BYTE" OCTOBER 1986

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I

COMPUTING

HAOS MANOR

The Show Goes On?

BY lERRY POURNELLE

I went to the National Computer Conference this month. It has never been my favorite show, and this year it was in late lune in Las Vegas.

It's unlikely to be there again. Las Vegas is for big shows: NCC was tiny a mere shadow of its former self. There's a good chance it will continue that way, as the computer industry cuts back on the shows the companies can afford to attend. NCC has historically treated the microcomputer companies pretty shabbily—one year in Anaheim all the micros were segregated into the Disneyland Hotel a mile from the main show in the Convention Center—and this year the micro people simply didn't show up. The result was a disaster.

An immediate reaction would be "So what?" 'We have more than enough big shows: let NCC go back to what it used to be, an academic conference with emphasis on papers. Actually of course, it never stopped being that: even this year there were plenty of papers, such as an excellent talk by Gopal Kapur on software design. Maybe that's the way to go. Why should NCC be so large that it can be held only in Las Vegas? Most of the academic speakers don't want to be there anyway

Alas, the problem is revenue, which is important because NCC is a nonprofit affair operated by AFIPS, the American Federation of Information Processing Societies, and the revenue from NCC has subsidized AFIPS members like the Association for Computing Machinery and the Institute of Radio Engineers, Given NCC's checkered history it's an open question whether the convention will continue to bring in money. It depends, I think, on what they've learned about the micro community.

]erry sees

some problems and some prizes at a moribund NCC

Next year NCC meets in Chicago. Maybe we'll know then.

Picks of the Show

AFIPS teamed up with Fortune to give the first annual Products of the Year awards. They'd originally planned a big sit-down presentation and had one of the exhibition halls of the Hilton set up for it, but then they got the grim truth: they couldn't even fill a wine and cheese reception held in a curtained-off area no larger than the Great Hall in Chaos Manor, i counted six press badges including my own.

AFIPS gave their hardware award to Plus Development Corporation's Hardcard, which I admit was quite an item when 1 first saw it more than a year ago. Their software award went to Telos Software's Business Filevision for the Macintosh. NCC's press release speaks of the "'Hardcard' product" and the '"Business Filevision' product," which gives you some idea of why not many people read AFIPS press releases. Neither of these "products " were shown at NCC,

Usually at a Las Vegas computer show I run as fast as 1 can and still don't see everything, I didn't have that problem this time. Here are my picks as best of the show.

First, MacSpin. A story goes with this,

NCC is put on by AFIPS and is thus supposed to have ties to the world of academia. Maybe so, but they treated the universities even more shabbily than they treated micros. NCC gave the academics ten or so free micro

booths, smaller than those the West Coast Computer Faire gives to users groups: and although NCC couldn't fill the main hall, so that there were islands of empty space scattered all through the exhibit hall, they put the freebies out in a corridor underneath a stairway, where they were visited if at all by the Little Sisters of the Poor.

MacSpin was demonstrated at one of those booths. I'm not sure why: it's a commercial product. However, one of the coauthors is David Donoho of the University of California (Berkeley) department of statistics, which I suppose is connection enough, especially since it was by far the most interesting thing over there.

MacSpin is another of those programs like Macln'fex and Excel that would tempt me to go buy a Macintosh if I didn't have one. The program is described as a "statistical analysis tool,"' which is accurate enough if not very appealing: it is really a way to make statistics fun for people who don't know anything about the subject, "With MacSpin you can put up your data and look at it in odd ways. Do transformations. Look for hidden correlations. Find anomalies. The user interface makes it all as easy as MacWrite and is one of the best arguments for the Macintosh way of doing things I've seen.

The manual is quite good, with plenty of examples. You really don't have to know anything about statistics to use MacSpin to examine data sets and make interesting discoveries. The program is an example of what they call "dynamic graphics," meaning that

(coniimed)

]eny Pournelle holds a doctorate in psychology and is a science fiction writer who also earns a comfortable living writing about computers present and future.

OCTOBER 1986 • B Y T E 219

CHAOS MANOR

MacSpin would be spectacular in color on an Atari ST or an Amiga.

you graph the data and then watch the graphs change as you do things. You can rotate (spin) data sets. You can also set up dynamic movements based on time. You can examine anomalous data points and hide or reveal them. 1 realize this all sounds a bit obscure, but that's my fault, not the program's. Five minutes of playing with it will make everything clear, and you won't have trouble learning how.

iVlacSpin comes with several interesting databases you can play with. These include some stuff about cars, a plot of all the galaxies we know of, and another data set on volcanoes. By just playing about, I learned things about all three that I never knew before. A new version, out about the time you read this, will have even more data sets: and of course IVlacSpin allows you to enter your own.

Alas, the program is copy-protected with the "insert master disk" variety of idiocy There are other annoyances. For all that, the program is unique and a very great deal of fun. I recommend it about as much as I can recommend anything that's copy-protected. Ivlaybe you should think of it as a game, i know I'm getting my high schoolers to play with it: it's fun, and they'll learn something. Incidentally this thing would be spectacular in color on an Atari ST or an Amiga.

XEPiX

I like to get to shows the day before they open. I've learned a lot wandering about while the crews are setting things up, and it's also a good time to locate everything. I probably wouldn't have bothered if I'd known NCC was going to be so small, but habit prevailed, so there I was on Sunday afternoon.

The first thing I saw was an alligator. Not just an ordinary alligator, either;

this one was green foam rubber with white teeth and had been turned into a hat. In fact, there were a number of them. "Where?" I asked the next person I saw with one. Once 1 had directions it wasn't hard to find. The alligators came from xePIX, a company 1 confess I'd never heard of before. I like to think I'd have paid attention to them without the alligators, but the gators made it certain. Once I had mine (his name is Wilbur, and he's in love with a vamp gator named Phyllis, but that's another story), 1 could look at what xePIX sells, which, as probably comes as no surprise, turns out to be a computer they call the Gator S/20.

The Gator S/20 is a 12.5-megahertz 68020 machine that sells with a 20megabyte Winchester drive for slightly less than $5000. It comes with UNIX System V plus Berkeley enhancements, and from what I could see of it, the machine has as much bang for the buck as anything I know of. it competes nicely with Stride Micro's lower-end machines. Anyone interested in UNIX should look this one over I'm not at the moment planning on getting a xePIX Gator since 1 don't hack UNIX, but my son Alex, who does, may talk me into trying one after all.

Zenith s New Portable

I first saw this in the Zenith hospitality suite at Spring COMDEX, but we weren't supposed to talk about it then. Zenith has a nifty little two-disk portable. I don't have one yet, but I expect I will sometime. It weighs about 12 pounds, and as full-featured portables go. this is a good one.

The real question is. Who needs a full-featured portable? What you gain in capability by having those disk drives and full screen you lose in battery time, but especially in weight to carry. I can't remember the last time I ha'd a burning desire to do a spreadsheet or compile a program while flying on a plane, or even sitting in a hotel room far from home. My NEC PC-8201 supplemented with a disk drive that I can send as checked luggage has been more than enough so far, and it's sure handier on an airplane.

However, I haven't tried carrying a truly portable full-featured computer so I've no real basis for judgment. Maybe I'll find I can't live without it once i have one. Odder things have happened.

Aegis Aniimator

My colleague Bruce Webster is designing a computer game for the Amiga. I don't quite recall how it happened, but I've signed on as a consultant. A couple of weeks before NCC, Bruce and Jim Sachs, the project artist, came over to Chaos Manor to talk about it. I'd previously seen some of Sachs's work on an Amiga, and I was impressed: he brought more, including a spectacular self-portrait. One thing we had agreed on was that the game would take place in and use spaceships from my Aeneas MacKenzie story line. Those ships are fairly complex. They never experience atmosphere, nor do they "land" on anything larger than a big rock, so there's no fairing or streamlining. Mostly they look like a complicated mess of tankage, except that there are rocket motors, access tunnels, and suchlike. While Bruce and lim were here 1 did some very crude pen and paper sketches of one of the ships.

At NCC, William Volk of Aegis found me at the BYTE booth. He was carrying a disk with my spaceship as rendered by Sachs. There was only one problem; Comfnodore wasn't at NCC, and we hadn't seen anyone with an Amiga. Eventually we found one at the Juki printer exhibit. I think it was the only Amiga at NCC.

My ship had been drawn using Aegis Images and animated with Aegis Animator; they're packaged together. Bill got it running. There was some lead-in stuff, and then, wow, there's the ship, just as I conceived it, in living color, with shadows and everything. And it moves.

I know for a certain fact that this was done in no more than a week—they didn't have the ship design longer than that.

I'm told by some Amiga experts that Aegis Draw is solid, but with Aegis Animator you'd better save your work pretty often; there are

(antinued)

280 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

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Inquiry 178

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CHAOS MANOR

some bugs that interact with the Amiga's operating system (or lack thereof) to crash things unpredictably. The Aegis designers confirm this. The bugs aren't fatal, and as bugs are reported they kill them, so that by the time you read this it ought to be fairly solid. I'd still be careful, but 1 always tell people to be careful with creative work: even if your program is bulletproof, power failures do occur. And wow! can you draw animated stuff with that program.

OS-9 AND Atari

The only Amiga at NCC was used to show off lukis new color printer, which, incidentally does a pretty nice job; they used it to run off a picture of my spaceship. The printed picture wasn't much compared to what was on screen, but it wasn't all that bad either.

The only Atari ST at NCC was in the Microware booth, where they tell me. it was running on OS-9,

All 1 know about OS-9 comes from BIX, which has a conference moderated by someone determined to tell you more than he knows about the operating system. Alas. I haven't had time to read all the excellent material he has posted, so 1 know almost nothing. I do know that OS-9 is multitasking, has some similarities to UNIX, and can generate fanatic enthusiasm in some of its users. It has been around long enough to be quite stable and well understood. At the moment you'll find it mostly on Tandy's Color Computer. (Incidentally Tandy wasn't at NCC either.)

What makes OS-9 potentially important is that it is part of the CD-I (compact disk interactive) standard. That standard was reiterated by Philips and the Sierra Group at NCC and seems to have gone from straw man to tin man status. CD-I is a way of making a compact audiodisk player do double duty as a massive read-only data storage device. It is hoped that in a few years there will be as many CD-I players as there are now phonographs.

The CD-I standard also mandates a 68000 chip in the disk player, meaning that the player will really be a computer even if it only looks like a

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CHAOS MANOR

component of a hi-fi set. Add OS-9, and 100 megabytes of stored data that can include picture, text, and programs for the CD-I's 68000 to execute, and the potential is pretty high.

The Atari ST runs under GEM. which is a reasonable operating system—it's in many ways preferable to the Amiga's incomplete operating system whose features are mostly distributed through folklore—but from everything I hear, OS-9 will be much better. We'll see: I'm supposed to get a copy to review Real Soon Now.

At the moment, though, Microware wants about as much for OS-9 as Atari wants for an Atari ST, so 1 can't think OS-9 will have much impact until that situation changes. Microware sells OS-9 largely to developers, who want a stable operating system environment. Clearly they're skimming cream. I don't think that's a wise marketing strategy Done right, OS-9 could take off: marketed this way who knows?

Laser Printers

This is clearly the year of the laser printer. There were plenty of them at NCC. In fact, I predict that in another year or so, you won't see any daisywheel printers: everything will be either dot-matrix or lasers, with the lasers gaining predominance. Of course, there aren't any color laser printers. Yet.

A year ago just about all laser printers were based on the Canon engine. That's no longer true. I think Canon still dominates, but Ricoh is breathing hard down their neck. Ricoh engines are said to be more economical—you replace toner rather than a full cartridge—and potentially faster than Canon. They also stack the output upside down so that the sheets are in the right order.

I have two laser printers, both based on the Canon, and I've been very happy with them. One, the BDS Model 630/8, thinks it's a Diablo 630. It has been more or less permanently taken over by Mrs. Pournelle and does yeoman service.

My other laser printer was one of the first Laserjets made by HewlettPackard, lust before I went off to NCC, HP made me an offer I couldn't

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CHAOS MANOR

refuse: if I'd ship my LaserJet off to tiieir factory in Idaho, they'd not only overhaul it but upgrade it into a Laserlet Plus! I jumped at that chance. I have a lot of software that needs the Plus to ^how its full potential, including Br0derbund's desktop publishing package and Fontasy.

The Laserlet returned two days ago. There's nothing to hooking it up. The new Plus has both serial and parallel

ports like the BDS, In fact, I don't use the parallel port since 1 talk to my printer through Applied Creative Tfechnology's wonderful little Printer Optimizer—it can simultaneously accept serial input from Zeke and parallel input from Big Kat, the Kaypro 286i AT clone—but when 1 bring in a PClone to test, that port makes it very easy to hook it to a printer The Plus has some new features.

There's more memory It can handle more complex graphics, it seems to run faster, although that may be an illusion. It comes with instructions for hooking it up to a number of different computers, including the Apple lie and Apple 111. Alas, it doesn't say how to connect it to a Macintosh. 1 have, in fact, got it running with the Mac, but that's through Microsoft's (alas) discontinued MacEnhancer connect box.

You, can use the HP LaserJet and Laserlet Plus with the Macintosh, using ScenicSoft's ScenicWriter software. ScenicWriter makes use of all the LaserJet's font cartridges and uses the Laserlefs graphics capabilities to do Macintosh graphics files, calendars, and the like. They're perpetually improving ScenicWriter; if you have a Macintosh and a LaserJet, you probably ought to know about ScenicWriter.

IBM PC users who like Microsoft Word will want to know about FancyWord from SoftCraft. This program looks like a fancy printer to the text editor—but a printer with a lot of type fonts, including Old English, Times Roman, math, and foreign languages. If you're into fancy printing, this program's hot. It can even do kerning, which is the process of changing the spacing between certain letter pairs to improve the appearance of the final product. FancyWord marries Microsoft Word to present you with the various font options, and of course "what you see is what you get." It's not copyprotected.

LaserJet owners and those curious about them may be interested in laserlet Unlimited by Ted Nace and Michael Gardner (Peachpit Press, 2110 Marin Ave., Berkeley CA 94707, (415) 5240184). The book was printed on a LaserJet and shows some of what the printer can do. 1 doubt that I'd have paid the $24.95 they want for a 212page book, but it does conveniently summarize a bunch of information, such as which Macintosh programs let you print on a Laserlet and what some font programs will do. It isn't anywhere near as complete as I'd like; for example, the entry for ScenicWriter is confined to a line saying a program' of that name exists. They also think

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1

CHAOS MANOR

that Applied Creative Tfechnology is "APT." they don't give the company's address, and they don't tell you that the Printer Optimizer can reformat text on the fly This is a book for those who collect everything or those who can find a used copy at half price.

Meanwhile, back to the LaserJet itself: what can you say about a printer? The Laserjet Plus is quiet, reliable, and fast. An increasing amount of software recognizes the Laserlet as a standard printer: and with the Printer Optimizer you can painlessly transform nearly any program's output protocols into something the LaserJet will eat. You can get much better print quality—the Apple laser printer, for example, is only a little inferior to a phototypesetter—but you'll pay for it, and you may not need it. Certainly the LaserJet Plus is more than good enough for general office work.

I suppose the wrap-up line is that when L^rry Niven wanted a new printer, 1 got the name of the nearest HP dealer and sent him off to buy a Plus.

1 do wish, though, that some company would print checks on sheets I can feed through the LaserJet: I'm getting really weary of hauling out the NEC Spinwriter once a month just because it has a tractor feed.

Ready! again

One way I've been keeping organized is with Living Videotext's memoryresident Ready! program. Ready! has its frustrations. The user interface takes getting used to, but in fairness once you've learned some of its quirks it isn't so bad. The worst glitch turned out not to be Readyi's fault at all.

I have a bunch of Ready! files. One of them is called "Columns," and whenever I find out something that ought to be in a column, or find a program I particularly like, I can make a memo. (Incidentally, I am growing more and more weary of short filenames.) The program added .RDY to the filename. So far so good, and 1 was able to pop in and out of "Columns" whenever 1 came across something I wanted to make note of. I even began to feel organized.

Then one day I entered Ready!, and

when it gave me a list of filenames, "Columns" wasn't in there. In panic 1 exited and looked in the directory. No problem. Back into Ready!. File didn't exist. 1 typed in "Columns" as the file to be loaded. "Can't Open Textfile!" the program told me rather breathlessly I typed in "COLUMNS.RDY". Same result. "Can't Open Tfextfile!"

"Unbearable." 1 muttered and pushed Ctrl-Alt-Del. After the machine reset, the program had no trouble at all finding "Columns." 1 put it down to memory drift. Then it happened again. In fact, about one day out of two it happened. I was ready to give up Ready! for good.

Then it happened that 1 reset to get out of some dumb program that locked up my machine, and since it had happened maybe five times, I tipped the program into the round file and decided to answer my BIX mail. When I reset Big Kat, the autoexec program brings in SideKick, SuperKey and Ready!. When I do BiXing I have a bunch of SuperKey macros that make life easier, such as Alt-downarrow to stand for "Skip to Last," Alt-9 to stand for the complex series of keystrokes that mark a message in the SideKick notepad and get it set to upload to BIX, and Alt-A for a large "Aaarrrrgggghhhhll!" comment, and suchlike. I loaded my macro, answered my mail, and while in BIX had a thought to record in the Ready! "Columns" file.

"Can't Open Tfextfilel" Ready! shouted smugly

""That did it," thought I. and after logging off BIX I proceeded to reset with the intent of removing Ready! forever. Once I had reset, it worked fine, of course It couldn't be drift. I'd reset a minute before—

You've probably figured it out already It took me another 10 minutes.

If I invoke Ready! immediately after resetting, the program works fine, and I can read in "COLUMNS.RDY" and any number of other Ready! files. On the other hand, if I first read in my BIX SuperKey macro, Ready! is braindamaged. It's as simple as that. Apparently Ready! marks off the memory area it wants, and SuperKey doesn't, since my BIX SuperKey macro works fine if read in after the

V^ord Finder is a

synonym program that blows away its opposition. It's fast

Ready! file. It's annoying to have to remember to invoke Ready! instantly after resetting, but that's better than getting along without either Ready! or SuperKey

I suppose there's a moral to this story.

Word Finder

I met Mike Weiner at last fall's COMDEX. Cary Lu (whose Jfie Apple Macintosfi Book is still the best one out) and

I were in the pressroom when Mike came up and introduced himself. "I'd like you guys to see something," he said. What he wanted us to see was in the Desert Inn, a good long walk at an hour when cabs weren't to be had, but he persuaded us.

What we saw was an on-line search system that makes Tlirbo Lightning look slow. Mike Weiner used to work at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center and watched them develop technological marvels, none of which the company seemed interested in marketing. Finally Mike couldn't stand it any longer and went out to start his own company, Writing Consultants, which is a division of Microlytics, and what all that means I don't know. What they do is market neat hacks.

Their first one is Word Finder, a synonym program that blows away its opposition. It's fast. I mean really fast; and it has an enormous vocabulary. You can measure how large by the fact that William E Buckley Jr., who certainly has the largest working vocabulary of anyone I ever met, calls the program a "bloody miracle" and says in print he wouldn't be without it.

Word Finder has something like 200,000 synonyms, far more than Lightning. The dictionary includes some really odd words. The program works painlessly with most text editors, including Microsoft Word,

{eontinueel]

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTi 285

i

CHAOS MANOR

WordStar, and WordStar 2000. It will also work with the SideKick text editor although for reasons I don't quite understand, the text has to be white. It works with XyWrite version 3.041 or later but only if you use one of the (slower) keyboard modifications XyWrite supplies.

Using Word Finder is simple enough, and if you find a word you like, the program will insert it into your text. In general you don't want a thesaurus program when you're writing: it's when you've got a draft and want to improve it that Word Finder comes in handy Bruce Tonkin has recently done a program that finds words repeated within a couple of paragraphs of each other (there's a way to tell it not to bother with a long list of simple words like "the," "to," and the like): I'd think Word Finder might be ideal to go with that, and I'm going to recommend it to my editors. (But alas I haven't tried it yet.)

1 have only one reservation about

Word Finder When Tlirbo Lightning first came out, I leaped on it with considerable enthusiasm: but over the next few months I found I used it less and less, until eventually I removed it entirely It's not that I don't like the program, it's just that I find I don't use it. I now find I have great enthusiasm for Word Finder but 1 can't tell how long that will last.

Of course, one problem is that 1 don't normally write on an IBM PC: for all my wriggling around, I haven't found anything 1 like better than old Zeke the CompuPro Z80 for just whanging the words out. That means that to use Lightning I'd have to copy my text files onto a PC-DOS disk—no big trouble for a CompuPro—and read them into a text editor on the PC, The problem with that is that I still haven't selected an editor to use with the PC. I can see I'll have to do that, preferably one that can read in ASCII files.

Anyway, if you are looking for a

thesaurus program, this is the one to get.

Wilderness

If you read Footfall by Larry Niven and lerry Pournelle—surely you have read it?—you'll recall Charley Kohlhase, the IPL mission planner for the Voyager spacecraft. Unlike most of the characters in that book, Charley is quite real, and the scene at )PL when Voyager encountered Saturn is very accurate. (Larry and 1 were there.)

Charley has partnered in the design of a remarkable computer game. I've mentioned Wilderness before: the game can run on an Apple II. When it does, it's very slow. Now there's a new version, and on a PC, and particularly on an AT, it zings.

Wilderness simulates travel through primitive terrain at different times of the year The default game is the High Sierra in May Your airplane has crashed. You have limited supplies and a topographical map showing the

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4v

286 BYTE' OCTOBER 1986

1

CHAOS MANOR

location of the ranger station. What you don't know is where you are. Wilderness lets you scan the world, looking up, down, and ahead, and turning to any compass point, or just panning around. Out there you see hills, forests, lakes, and suchlike.

You can then switch to the topographical map. The game map is missing some of the symbols and margin information of a real one, but that's all right: what's important is that it's a pretty accurate map of the terrain you're looking at.

I have found that most Boy Scout troops that come to the High Sierra from, say, one of the flatter states have learned a lot from books. They can read maps. What they can't do is turn those map squiggles into a knowledge of the terrain. Our mountains can be pretty confusing. If Wilderness did no more than give exercises in reading topographical maps and orienting yourself against real terrain, it would be worth the money.

In fact, though, it does more than that. The game does a good job of simulating thermal balance and hypothermia: if you're caught out in the wind without much food or clothing, you're in trouble, and the game shows just how frighteningly fast those conditions can kill you.

Moreover if you're pretty experienced in the mountains, you can use the game to build yourself a jungle scenario or an arctic puzzle. As a fun game for an adult this is sort of soso, but as an instructive tool for those about to head into the wilderness this has real possibilities. Every year 1 take Scouts into the Sierra, and there are always some 1 wish had spent a couple of weeks fooling with this game. For that matter, every year 1 see adult leaders 1 wish had played Wilderness for a few hours.

A Whole Bunch of Stuff

It's time again to clear out about ten dozen entries in my notebooks.

This is always a dilemma: do I wait until ! have time and room for full discussions, or do I throw in a quick paragraph about "this is good stuff, have a look at it"? If 1 decide to wait, it might be a long wait. Anyway it's time for short shrift at Chaos Manor. . .

Orchids

I have got a whole mess of Orchid Technology boards. Some of these merely speed up your PC. Others turn it into an AT, provided that you've got a hefty enough power supply Others do nice things for color displays.

Every darned one of them works. When Orchid first started shipping stuff, 1 used to complain bitterly to them about their install programs and directions for using them, but even that's pretty well fixed. If you have a PC that is slowly turning into an anvil, look into OrctAid Technology. I've

{coniinued)

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Inquiry 54

OCTOBER 1986 • B YT£ 287

1

CHAOS MANOR

Generally everything you can do in DOS can be handled by the Commander,

either by commands, 1 arrow keys, or using a mouse.

yet to find anything tiiey sell that 1 don't like.

Dan Bricklin's Demo

This is the damnedest program you -haye.£yerseeri. What this thing does is let yoIPSlrrnjitrts.-programs you haven't written yet. Want to show the local vulture capitalists what your program will look like once it's developed? Use Bricklin's Demo Program.

The Demo Program lets you build screens and bring them up through a series of commands. Screens can be linked to each other. Thus, you can set it up so that it really \ooVs like your complicated program is running. The result can be impressive. If you need something like this, you need it bad. Every PC software developer probably ought to have one, since one way to see if your user interface makes sense is to simulate it and let a naive user try it out.

The Norton Commander

Like all of Peter Norton's stuff, this works as advertised and has good instructions on using it. The Commander is a disk management utility, combining the features of PC-Sweep and other such public domain stuff with a mouse-drivable command menu system. For example, you can tell the program that all data files with a .TXT extension are to be run by say Microsoft Word, after which you can "point andshoot" at the data file and the Commander will do the rest. Copying, deleting, path management, directory changes, and generally

288 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

everything you can do in DOS can be handled by the Commander, either by commands, arrow keys, or using a mouse.

I was quite impressed with this and with the tutorial that came with it. I went through the tutorial, decided I liked the program—and promptly went on a trip. I haven't used it since 1 got back, which may or may not be meaningful. If 1 used Big Kat or some other PC machine most of the time, I'd probably be more tempted.

The Commander advertises itself as for "power users ': I'd say it's more for people who aren't power users but would like to be. Real power users either don't need this or know how to find it all in the public domain.

Mind Mine

If you have an Atari ST, you need to

know about Mind Mine Computer Center (13256 Northeast 20th St., Suite 4, Bellevue, WA 98005). They make all kinds of accessories, including real-time clock board kits and the like, L^st month I mentioned their memory expansion for the Atari 520ST it's easy to install and makes a 520 zing. They've got a whole bunch of other stuff, all simple to install, with some of the clearest and most explicit directions I've ever encountered. Write, get on their mailing list, and keep up with the latest.

Guru

This one's far too complex to deal with in short shrift, and 1 won't: but 1 do want to get on the record that 1 am impressed with this program. If I hiad to build a complex specialized database for naive users, the chances are very good that I'd use Guru. Its only rival I know of is Q&A, and while Q&A's Intelligent Assistant is pretty good, it's not got a patch on Guru.

I've had a long and complicated relationship with Micro Data Base Systems; I've always said their database system was about the best thing around, provided that you really understood what databases were all about, but that their documents were designed for experienced professionals. That's still true. I'd never hand Guru to a beginner. In proper hands, though, this program can do some in

credible things. A lot more on this one later.

Dragonouest

Bob Albrecht (P.O. Box 7627, Menlo Park, CA 94026) is one of the original pioneers of the micro revolution. He has spent the past 10 years trying to make these little machines accessible to others. One way he does that is to publish Dragonquest, which he calls a "family newsletter." It says it's free, although I can't think he could afford to send thousands of them. Anyway, Dragonquest has a whole bunch of school lessons (6th grade or so), homilies, exercises you can do with computers, and just generally fun stuff to help in teaching computers to kids and also using computers to teach kids.

They're changing the name of the newsletter to Adventures in Learning. That's apt. If you're into sharing knowledge, you need this newsletter.

CAD

One of the silliest things I've done recently (it was in another magazine so it doesn't count) was to imply that

the best way to use the Amiga for CAD was to get the Amiga Sidecar that turns the machine into a PClone. Now there's a sense in which that's true: the original AutoCAD program from Autodesk is still the standard professional CAD tool; but I also mentioned Generic CADD for the PC, which, while a very good PC program and one 1 recommend, isn't necessary for Amiga users. After all, there's Aegis Draw, from the people who made the Animator Sachs used to draw my ship.

Aegis Draw needs 5I2K bytes of memory and two disk drives, and it helps to have a hard disk. If you expect to do much with the drawings you produce, you'll need a plotter. Given those, you can make multilayer drawings, dimension them, build files of parts, and generally do most of what you expect CAD systems to do.

Winding Down

One thing I regret about the frantic pace I've been living at is that I haven't had time to play around with

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Inquiry 124

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CHAOS MANOR

Hirbo Prolog. Even discounting Philippe Kahn's enthusiasm by a factor of five—he gets enthusiastic about whatever he's working on—Prolog has to be worth knowing something about. Philippe thinks it's the language of the future and one that every computer user should learn. I'm not sure he's wrong, Prolog is

not just another computer language, it's another kmd of language, so that exposure to it can't do anything but good; and the Borland manual is concise, clear, and has examples. I've been reading it in the bathroom. Next month, with luck, I'll have created a couple of Prolog programs. The book of the month is Michael

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ProSoft

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Gator S/20 $6995

xePlX Inc. 51 Lake St. Nashua, NH 03060 (603) 881-8791

Geometry $99.95

Br0derbund Software 17 Paul Dr

San Rafael, CA 94903-2101 (415) 479-1185

Guru $2995

Micro Data Base Systems P.O. Box 248 Lafayette, IN 47902 (317) 463-2581

Hardcard .$695

Plus Development Corporation 1778 McCarthy Blvd. Mllpitas, CA 95035-9990

MacSpin . .$79.95

D^ Software Inc.

3001 North Lamar Blvd., Suite 110 Austin, TX 78705 (512) 482-8933

Norton Commander $75

Peter Norton Computing Inc. 2210 Wilshire Blvd., #186 Santa Monica, CA 90403 (213) 453-2361

Ready! $99.95

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ScenicWriter

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TURBO Prolog $99.95

Borland International " 4585 Scotts Valley Dr. Scotts Valley CA 95066 (408) 438-8400

Wilderness $49.95

Wilderness Electric Transit Company 501 Marin St., Suite 116 Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Word Finder $79.95

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East Rochester. NY 14445 (716) 377-0130

Z-181 Portable Computer. . .$2399 Zenith Data Systems 1000 Milwaukee Ave. Glenview, IL 60025

290 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

CHAOS MANOR

Wood's Im Search of the D-o/aw War (Facts on File Publications, Oxford, U.K., 1985). It is a selection of the History Book of the Month Club. I've always been interested in the High Bronze Age, and this book gives a good account of the myths, afchaeological records, and other known data of the period of the TYojan War

The computer book of the month is by Elliot B. Koffman: Tkrbo Pascal. A Problem Solving Approach (AddisonWesley 1986). It's written as a textbook and here and there the author remembers that, to the book's detriment, but in general the book is clear and contains lots of example programs. Iske this book, TUrbo Pascal, a PC, and a few weeks' time, and you'll be a better programmer than many of us were back in the early days.

On strict time spent by me, the game of the month still has to be Sir Tfech's Wizardry for the Macintosh, but I refuse to admit that; so the game of the month is Geometry from Br0derbund Software. Geometry isn't strictly a game, of course: this Macintosh program is really a one-year high school geometry course packed onto a couple of disks. The kids don't have to know that. Remember all those screwy constructions we used to do? The "14 point" circle thing, and inscribing triangles, and all that? It's all here, only now you don't need colored pencils and a compass to poke holes in the paper. I actually found it fun, and I'm going to spring it on the boys as a game.

And that's enough. Tomorrow Mrs. Pournelle and the boys collect me for three days on the San Diego beaches, followed by the Westercon Science Fiction Convention; so before I go to bed .1 have to check the final report of the Citizens Advisory Council on Space Policy answer a dozen letters, and get this column onto BIX. It s a great life, and I haven't weakened yet.

jerry Pournelle welcomes readers comments and opinions. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to jerry Pournelle, do BYTE, One Phoenix Mill lane Peterborough. NH 03458. Please put your address on the letter as well as on the envelope. Due to the high volume of letters, ]erry cannot guarantee a personal reply, m

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OCTOBER 1986 "BYTE 291

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292 BYTE* OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 68

A C C O R D 1 N C^ O WEBSTER

Bit by Bit Putting It Together

BY Bruce Webster

It's now late June as I write this. I'm about 32 hours away from getting married and thus am working under some real deadlines (the nominal ones having passed about a week. ago). This column was originally going to be Round 3 of the 68000 wars, but fate stepped in, killing some of the hardware on hand and delaying other hardware shipments. It looks like I'll be able to get to that next month, but in the meantime, this is going to have to be short: I've got a wedding to go to.

Assembly Language

My first programming language was IBM 360 assembly language, taught to me by Dr. Alan Ashton, who went on to fame and fortune as coauthor of WordPerfect and cofounder of Satellite Software International. The experience—two semesters' worth—made me eager to move on to higher-level languages, due to my own laziness and sloppiness; assembly language programming tolerates neither (It also left me with an aversion to IBM from which 1 have never completely recovered, but that's another story) As fate would have it, though, I have repeatedly had to delve into assembly language programming over the years, on machines ranging from mainframes to microcomputers. Each time I had to go through the learning curve of becoming familiar with registers, instruction sets, condition codes, and other machine-specific data. As my familiarity with the particular machine increased, I found myself enjoying the assembly language coding more and more. But, of course, that project would end, and some time would pass before 1 found myself having to learn yet another assembly language for some new task, groaning and grumbling as I did.

Well, it's been two years since I've had to do any assembly language programming, and for the most part I haven't done any Oh, there's been a little tinkering here and there, but that's about it. It's been easy for me to stick with Pascal, with some ventures into C, Modula-2, FORTH, and other languages not specific to a given processor. But recent events have forced me to get off my fat attitude and start twiddling bits again. First, I begin teaching an assembly language class this week, using Apple lis (and, hence, 6502 assembly language). Now, I've done a moderate

Computers take second place this month as Bruce says "I do"

amount of 6502 coding— there's a product on the market that has 3000 to 4000 lines of 6502 code written by m.e—but it's been a long time since 1 wrote it, and I've managed to forget more than I care to think about. Second, Morgan Computing finally sent me a copy of Advanced Tt'ace86-an 8088/8086/80286 assembler/debugger—to review, which of course requires that 1 bite the bullet and start learning 8088 assembly language. Third, I've collected more than half a dozen books on 68000 programming, including three specific to the Macintosh. I've also received review copies of assemblers for the Mac and the Atari ST, and I need to look at reviewing them. I think 1 see the handwriting on the wall, and it says MOVE.W (A3), -(SP), or something like that. So starting this month, look for greater coverage of assemblers and books on assembly language in the column. 1 need the practice. And speaking of which. . .

Product of the Month: Advanced Trace86

And here you thought I had an unreasoning prejudice against the IBM PC and 8088 processors. Yes, Advanced TVace86 ($175 from Morgan Computing, P.O. Box 112730, Carrollton, TX 75011, (214) 245-4763) has made it to the Webster Hall of Fame simply because it finally got me to do what 1 have been avoiding for a few years now: learning 8088 assembly language. Now, lest you think I'm biased against all Intel (or Intel-derived) products, I should point out that I had done a fair amount of 8080 and Z80 coding, and a software package on the market contains a program I wrote entirely in 8080 assembly language. 1 sat down to learn 8088 assembly language, was put off by the segmented architecture, and never bothered to learn it. Until now.

Advanced Tf-ace86 is, in simplest terms, an advanced version of Debug, the debugger that comes on your MS-DOS/ PC-DOS utilities disk. Most of the Debug commands are there and work in pretty much the same fashion. The differences are what make the product such an excellent tool for learning assembly language. First, AT86 uses a screen

Icoiuiimedj

Bruce Webster, a consulting editor for BYTE, can be reached do BYTE, P.O. Box 1910, Orem. UT 84057, or on BIX as bwebster.

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ACCORDING TO WEBSTER

oriented approach. The top of the screen maintains a display showing register contents, flag status, command options, and the like. You then get a command prompt on the screen, and you've got a large command set to choose from (a quick-reference card and the built-in help function aid in keeping track of your options). From the command mode, you can go into a number of other modes: display (for memory examination and change), trace (for tracing execution of code), assemble (allows you to key in your own assembly language routines), and calculator (which uses the 8087 if present).

The display mode is a screen-oriented dump-and-modify mode that lets you view memory in ASCII and/or hexadecimal, move the cursor to the locations you want to change, and type in the new values. You can organize by byte, word, or double word. You can page up or down quickly It works nicely

The trace mode gives you extensive single-step and breakpoint-based execution of code in memory. During execution, the stack is displayed to the far right of the screen, and the disassembled code is always kept visible, with an inverse bar indicating the command currently being executed. Additionally you can request a memory window at the bottom to examine data being read or written. It also works nicely.

The assemble mode puts you into a BASIC-like interpreter that gives you the power to easily insert and delete lines, declare data storage and initialize it, use labels and variable names, and save it all in a special .COM file format that preserves all symbols (names) for future AT86 work. Very, very nice.

The calculator mode calls up an RPN (reverse Polish notation) calculator that lets you perform numerical and logical operations on hexadecimal and decimal values. If you have an 8087/80287 in your computer, another version of the calculator gives you high precision and access to many trigonometric, logarithmic, and other math functions.

Other features? Well, there's an Undo command that lets you single-step backward. You can specify how many steps back it should remember at the time you execute AT86; the default is, I believe, 20 steps. You can make AT86 memory-resident and call it (or its 8087 calculator) while in the middle of another task. You can call up a DOS shell from within AT86, execute DOS commands, and then return to AT86. You can use a "super trace" mode that allows you to enter a condition on which tracing should pause.

There are even more options and commands that I haven't explored yet, but I intend to get around to them. And I might even become halfway decent at programming

in 8088 assembly language. If you're interested in learning 8088 assembly language, or even if you're just looking for a good debugger, your best bet is probably Advanced 'n-ace86. Check it out.

8088 Assembly Language Primer

Of course. Advanced 'lYace86 didn't teach me 8088 assembly language all by itself. In fact, the AT86 manual

294 BYTE* OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 234

ACCORDING TO WEBSTER

gives very little information about 8088 assembly language. And so, even being the good product it is, it still would have left me in the dark if I didn't have a copy of Assembly language Primer for the IBM PC and XT by Robert Lafore (New American Library 1986, $24.95).

This book provides an excellent introduction to 8088 assembly language and to the IBM PC itself. In each chapter. Lafore introduces a number of concepts, 8088 instructions, DOS calls, and Debug or assembler commands. Lafore assumes that you have both Debug and an assembler (ASM or MASM); I was able to get through most of the book (and most of the examples) just using AT86.

Be warned that the book is just a primer and doesn't have all the information you need to become proficient in 8088 assembly language programming. I'm now in the market for a good advanced text so that! can fill in the gaps that remain. But I'm grateful to Robert Lafore for making things painless enough to get me started.

TECHNICAL Manuals

I've been building up a growing library of computerspecific technical documents published by a number of firms, and this is probably as good a time as any to list them. First, Addison-Wesley has published the definitive version of Inside Macintosh. You can buy it as three softbound volumes or as one large, heavy hardbound volume (for $79.95). Or, rather, a hardbound version of all three volumes together. I have the hardbound book and find it a significant improvement over previous Apple-published editions (loose-leaf and "phone book"), if just in that it's easier to find a given section. It is still not an easy manual for a Mac novice to get through: Sample code is scarce, and each section tends to require knowledge in other sections. But once you've learned the basics of Macintosh programming (probably from some other source), it's the book to have to look up those routines you need.

Addison-Wesley is also publishing the Amiga technical manuals. I've received all four: Arnica Hardware Reference Manual, Amiga intuition ^ference Manucil, and both volumes of the Amiga ROM Kgrnel Reference Manual. These manuals cost from $23.99 to $33.95, are much easier to get into, have more of a developmental approach (i.e., succeeding chapters in the manuals build upon information that has been been discussed before), and sample code is easier to locate, although it is still more scarce than Amiga source code should be.

Abacus Software (P.O. Box 7211, Grand Rapids, MI 49510, (616) 241-5510) is publishing a series of books on the Atari ST, all of which showed up in a box on my doorstep a week or two ago. I haven't had time to do more than quickly flip through them, but they look as though they should be a great deal of help, especially given the poor quality (to date) of ST technical documentation from Atari. The titles I received include Presenting the Atari ST. Atari ST Internals. Atari ST GEM Programmer's Reference. Atari ST Machine l-anguage. Atari ST Tricks and Tips, Atari ST Graphics and Sound. and Atari ST BASIC Tt^ntng Guide. Prices aren't printed on

the books, but they appear to range from $17 to $20 each. I'll give a more detailed review as I use them, but right now the GEM Programmer's Reference looks to be the most valuable of the series, simply because the "official" GEM manuals come only with the $300 developer's kit (and yet you need to know the GEM calls to do most serious development on the ST).

For the IBM PC? Well, 1 spent a lot of time browsing at the book rack and decided I was best off with The Peter Norton Programmer's Guide to the IBM PC, published by Microsoft Press at $19.95. Lots of tables, charts, diagrams, and examples. It also brings home how much less complex the IBM PC is than the three machines above. One volume pretty much does it all.

In the Queue

Well, if all goes well, I will have the following to cover for the next column: the Macintosh Plus (Apple has already sent me one), the Atari 1040ST (one is supposedly on the way), the Prodigy 4 from Levco (16-megahertz 68020, 68881 math coprocessor, 4 megabytes of RAM, 20-megabyte hard disk drive, all inside a Mac), the HyperDrive 2000 from General Computer, and maybe a few more surprises. I've also got three books on programming in assembly language on the Mac to look at. Until then, see you on the bit stream. ■

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296 B Y T E • OCTOBER 1986

APPLICATIONS ONLY

Shareware

BY Ezra Shapiro

Writing about shareware is always troublesome. 1 know very well that all the programs below will have changed, sometimes in major ways, between the time I write this and BYTE's publication date.

This volatility represents both shareware's greatest weakness and its greatest strength. Since this type of program is rarely developed by more than one or two people, there is a constant risk of bugs—leading to a cascade of revisions. Big commercial companies can afford to conduct extended testing, and they can hire hordes of programmers to catch mistakes that slip by the independents. On the other hand, because there are no huge manuals to reprint and no retail inventories to be replaced, shareware firms can respond to problems and add new features with amazing speed.

All the programs I've selected for this column are MS-DOS products. More shareware is still being written for MS-DOS machines than for any other type of computer, largely because of the size of the installed base. That's not to say that good stuff isn't being developed for the Macintosh, the Atari ST, the Amiga, and machines running other operating systems. Good stuff is available, and I'll try to get to it in future issues.

You can find all the software mentioned in this column on local electronic bulletin board systems, and you can often obtain copies from users groups and computer clubs. I've uploaded the most recent versions I have to both BYTEnet Listings at (617) 861-9764 and to BIX, BYTE's computer conferencing system. Speaking of BIX, while you're on-line you ought to check out Barry Nance's program called BiX.COM, a shareware MS-DOS

Instant Recall,

TSRCOM, Pibtem, ProComm, Qmodem, and PC-Shell

communications package designed specifically for use with BIX.

A New Masterpiece

I am not a fanatically organized individual. I scrawl notes on odd scraps of paper. 1 pretend that my basic record-keeping system is a collection of manila folders, but mostly things accumulate in piles on the floor I haven't computerized my address book because I haven't figured out a reasonable way to set up the fields in a traditional database. But it's time to set off the fireworks—my scattered data has finally met its master

According to the message on the box. Instant Recall (Precept) is "an information base not unlike the human brain." That's it exactly; the program is a memory-resident—or standalone—database manager that gives you the chance to store free-form text in haphazard pieces and call it back later in an organized fashion. I'm using the phrase "database manager" loosely; an Instant Recall "record" is simply a block of text up to 60 lines in length. You create a record by cutting data from an application program and pasting it into Instant Recall, by pulling in an external file, or by using the program's built-in rudimentary editor to write it on the spot.

Don't bother with highlighting keywords or assigning field names: Instant Recall indexes every word in the database. 'When you want to find a record again, just feed Instant Recall any words you've entered and the program retrieves all the records that

contain those words. Searching is lightning fast; Michael Fremont, the program's author, claims Instant Recall can find any record in a 2megabyte database in less than 20 seconds. The program has only 16 basic commands, triggered by control keys, that let you build and manipulate records. Though Instant Recall is not intended to be a replacement for a word processor it has enough editing commands to let you hop around and modify text with good flexibility. Cut-and-paste works for transferring data between records, as well as to and from underlying applications. You can also import and export text, with either fixed- or variable-length records, as ASCII files. If you mistakenly delete a record, or if you want to salvage the original version of a record you've modified. Instant Recall lets you resave records from an "Undo" stack of the last ten deleted or changed records.

The search engine accepts words and three sorts of dates as criteriadate of creation, date of last modification, or a reminder date (more on this later)—that can be strung together with logical operators. Thus, it's possible to ask for any record containing references to BYTE and October that was either created or modified during )une or ]uly. In fact, you can have as many as seven ANDs and seven ORs in your search parameters.

To test Instant Recall's capabilities as a data-retrieval system, I created a monster text file. I downloaded the entire MS-DOS conference from BIX, which turned out to be a bit less than a megabyte of messages ranging

{continued]

Ezra Shapiro is a consulting editor for BYTE, He can be reached at RO. Box 170040, San Francisco, CA 94117-0040.

OCTOBER 1986 • B Y T E 297

Inquiry 44 for End-Users. Inquiry 45 for DEALERS ONLY.

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The author of Instant WcaW has wiselij resisted suggestions to dot up the program with too many features.

widely in length. Using good old

WordStar 3.3's search-and-replace, ! added a record-terminator character (a tilde) to the end of each message. Then 1 told Instant Recall about the terminator and commanded it to suck in the file as individual records. This was not a quick process; even with my Fast88 (a wonderful little add-on from MicroSpeed that lets me switch my Compaq between 4.77 and 7.4 megahertz on the fly and that speeds up video scroll and disk access), it took about 45 minutes to complete the job. Still, that's not bad for a megabyte of text fragments. I can now use Instant Recall's Find mechanism to sift through the mess looking for strategic words or phrases.

There were only a couple of niggling annoyances in this exercise. Any text block bigger than Instant Recall's limit gets split into multiple records. Since 1 did not go through my file adding headers every 60 lines, the few longer messages were broken up, and the only way I'll ever get to see the parts is if each of them contains the words I specify in my search. I also found that with a 1-megabyte database (only half Instant Recall's limit), deleting unwanted records is rather slow; the program has to churn the disk as it reclaims space.

Finally, I pulled in quite a few garbage messages; I figure that only about 10 percent of what I got was worth saving. Instant Recall currently lacks the facility to browse the database in chunks larger than 64 records at a time, so pruning would be quite a chore. Tb be fair, I'd never do anything like this in real life: I'd either collect records one by one (remember. Instant Recall can grab text from a telecommunications program) or edit

the raw file with a word processor. On

the whole, I was terrifically impressed with the smoothness of this operation.

Fremont has wisely resisted suggestions to clot up the program with too

many features. As a result, Instant Recall is compact and quick, and you can invent new ways to use it rather than be forced into a structured environment. I find it a great tool when I'm writing: not only can 1 keep tidbits of reference materials close at hand, I can use the cut-and-paste as a replacement for SideKick's notepad. I also store phone messages, expense records, useful trivia, and so on. Kind of like the piles of paper on the floor, but now I can always find things when I need them.

One of my favorite parts of the program is its reminder feature. You can attach a reminder date to any record. When the day rolls around, the record pops up the first time you use the program. As an example, you could add a reminder date to an address entry so that you'll remember to make an important telephone call or attend a meeting.

Now I'm not saying the program is perfect; it's relatively young and has a few rough edges. The version I tested lacked critical error trapping; when I tried to output a record without turning on the printer. Instant Recall departed for The Great Beyond. I didn't have any problems running the program in its stand-alone configuration, but in memory-resident mode there were a few conflicts with some of the weirder or older pop-ups (which isn't surprising). I'd like to see one or two additional editing commands, especially for deleting words and lines. And I'd appreciate the ability either to manage more than 2 megabytes or to switch between multiple databases.

But I'm writing this column approximately three months before you'll read it; I'm fully confident that Fremont will have run Instant Recall through a number of revisions in the interim. The program will be better, faster, and cleaner It's already slick enough for me to be using it constantly: the incarnation you'll be able to get will be dynamite.

Inquiry 56

APPLICATIONS ONLY

Instant Recall is distributed as "teaseware": that is, you can get a free version with a database limit of only 80K bytes, which is actually quite workable if you treat the program as a notebook for brief reminders and short blocks. However, I'll bet that once you begin to explore the product, you'll discover so many uses for it that you'll want to purchase the 2megabyte version.

Five gold stars for this one.

Memory Aid

if you find yourself shuttling gangs of resident programs in and out of memory you shouldn't be without Kim Kokkonen's TSRCOiVl (TUrboPower Software), a handy group of teeny utilities that simplify life with TSRs (an acronym for "terminate and stay resident" products).

One program lets you place a 1584byte mark in memory before you load each TSR: a second program erases everything in RAM beyond and including the mark. So rather than having to remember the specific command sequence to unload any given pop-up (which is often obscure or, with some software, nonexistent), you merely run the release utility and free up your RAM. This is particularly useful when the TSR you load last doesn't have an escape hatch: without these utilities, you're forced to reboot your system to reclaim work space. It's also good insurance. When Instant Recall aborted when 1 tried to send a file to a dead printer it didn't crash the system: Instant Recall just refused to work. Because I had placed a mark before loading Instant Recall, 1 was able to clear it from memory and reload it without disturbing the TSRs I had loaded earlier.

The collection also provides an excellent memory-mapping program that shows exactly what you've got in RAM, space used by each TSR, addresses, and hooked vectors: another program merely shows remaining free memory space (without grinding away to check disk usage as CHKDSK.COM does): and a third—probably useful only if you're developing your own programs or testing software—simply gobbles up RAM, so you can simulate

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Inquiry 164

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 299

APPLICATIONS ONLY

a 2 56K-byte system on a 640K-byte machine.

I've tried the mark-and-release system with a number of TSRs, and it seems to work fine. The only conflicts have been with TSR products that have a history of bad problems anyhow.

Good stuff.

CoMM Wars

Flat statement; Unless you absolutely need the ability to perform file transfers as a background task, there is no reason to purchase a high-priced commercial telecommunications program. At the moment, three shareware packages are vying for top honors: Pibterm (Philip R. Burns), Qmodem (The Forbin Project), and ProComm (PIL Software). All of them are as good as or better than anything on the market. I\4y problem is choosing one to recommend over the others: each has a couple of specific advantages, but overall they're so

close in function you'd be better off picking up all three and choosing for yourself.

They all owe a major debt to PC-TSlk, the original MS-DOS shareware communications package. They look a lot like PC-TSlk, and in most cases they use the same basic command structure. All three trigger off Alt keys, and they all use dialing directories, as opposed to the individual parameter files used by older commercial programs like Crosstalk and MITE. Other common features are some form of script language, a split-screen mode for use with interactive "chat" systems, screen dumps to a text file, session logging, and, of course, uploading and downloading. They do all the normal telecommunications stuff, and in my informal testing, each one has performed file transfers flawlessly with a variety of protocols. Every one of the bunch has thorough documentation, though Pibterm's is the most extensive.

My favorite of the lot is ProComm. It has several features lacking in the others, including 11 types of terminal emulation (VT-100, VT52, IBM 3101, ANSI, ADM 3A, and so on), 19.2-kilobaud transfers the ability to set a path and call your favorite editor while online, and a feature-rich host mode that essentially allows you to turn your system into a simple transfer-oriented bulletin board. On the down side, ProComm's script language is extremely cryptic and lacks branching conditionals, and you can set only 10 function keys.

Qmodem is a tiny bit easier to use, particularly for the novice, and its script language is much more like English (though to call any of these things "English-like" is a real stretch). However, Omodem is missing the host mode, terminal emulation, and the Kermit protocol for transfers to/from bigger machines. You do get to set all 40 function keys for your macros, though.

Phil Burns wrote Pibterm in Tlirbo Pascal because he couldn't find a commercial package suited to the university environment in which he works. He confesses that if the other two had been around when he started the project, he wouldn't have bothered. Kermit, four terminals' worth of emulation, and a nice script language. And talk about macros—he not only gives you all four levels of function keys but three levels of keypad keys, for a total of 70. The program is simple and businesslike, and it lacks the exploding graphics and alarming sounds issued by ProComm and Qmodem. And because Burns has no desire to be a professional software developer, he gives you one big plus: source code. If you want to hack together your own routines, Pibterm is the ticket.

On the issue of support, Tom Smith and Bruce Barkelew are committed to turning ProComm into a serious business. They run a wide-open bulletin board, talk to you on the phone, take credit card orders, and in general have a nice attitude. Phil Burns threatens (pleasantly) that after one more revision—just one—he's going to stop work on Pibterm once and for all. So

{continued)

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Inquiry 330

DISCOVER LISP MACHINE 1 PERFORMANCE WITH YOUR PC/AT AND GOLD HILL.

It's liard to believe that you can do serious Al development on a i^C. Hut one looi'C at liie Gaiiriei I3enclimarks (see chart) will convince you.

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right, 15 MB!) AT-Optimizer memory boards and you turn your PC/AT into a very serious LISP de\'elopmeni and delivery environment indeed. This ix)werful iirogramming environment includes:

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Inquiry 121

iTaBiyrriir.ilK

© 1986 Gold I lill C;cimpuicrs, Inc. GCI.ISi' 286 Dc-volopcr ;ind c;c:iJUJN are registered irademarks of Gold Hill Computers. Inc. PC AT i-s a trademark oriiiii--rnaiinnal lluMness Machines Corp. Xerox i.s a registered trademark of Xerox Corporation. \'AX is a trademark of Digital Htiuipnieiii t .orpnraii. in MK ro.suli is .i iradcmark of Microsoft Corporation. COMPAQ Portable 286 i.s a trademark of Compaq Computer C<.)rporation. ATOpiimi/.er i,s a iratlemark of MA Systems.

inquiry 120

APPLICATIONS ONLY

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Items Discussed

Instant Recall $69

Precept

3790 El Camino Real. Suite 173 Palo Alto, CA 94306 (415) 327-6886

Free version with 80K-byte database limit is available on bulletin boards and from users groups. A 2-megabyte version is available from Precept. Phone and mail ©rders are accepted.

PC-Shell Free

Kent Williams 722 Rundell St. Iowa City, IA 52240

Compiled program available on bulletin boards and from users groups. The author requests a $2 5 donation to help him buy his own computer system; in return, he'll send a copy of the compiled program and full C source code.

PiBTERM Free

Philip R. Burns

Source code and compiled program are available on bulletin boards and from users groups.

ProComm See below

PIL Software Systems

P.O. Box 1471 Columbia, MO 65205 ProComm support

BBS: (314) 449-9401 Voice phone: (314) 449-7012

The prices are $2 5 for registration, $10 for an evaluation or update disk, and $50 for registration, a disk, and a printed manual. Phone and mail orders are accepted. Missouri residents add 4.3 percent sales tax. Send a blank formatted disk and a stamped selfaddressed mailer fisr a ftee copy of the program.

Qmodem $20

The Forbin Project Inc do John Friel ill 715 Walnut St. Cedar Falls, lA 50613 BBS: (319) 277-0044

Program available on bulletin boards and from users groups.

TSRCOM Free

TUrboPower Software 478 West Hamilton Ave., #196 Campbell, CA 95008 (408) 378-3672

Send $5 (for materials and postage) to receive a disk with the software.

don't expect nauch hand-holding from him. John Friel 111 of Qnriodem is somewhere in the middle. He runs a BBS, but it is only for registered users of his program. And his phone number is unlisted.

So, points go to Pibterm for source code. Points to Qmodem for ease of use. Points to ProComm for terminal emulation and attitude.

YOU Want UNIX?

A few brief complimentary words about Kent Williams's PC-Shell. If you're aching to make your MS-DOS system look as much like a UNIX C shell as is reasonably possible, this one's for you. It's a memory-resident shell over DOS that gives you a wide range of UNIX-like commands, including fgrep. Is, touch, tee, y pwd, cat, move, and so on. It keeps a command history that can be manipulated with all those wonderful UNIX commands

that look like what passes for cursing in comic strips. It also will execute shell scripts from text files. DOS programs run under PC-Shell with few conflicts, and when you want to return to the DOS environment, typing exit drops you back to the old A> prompt.

Over the past few years, I've collected quite a few stand-alone utilities

that perform UNIX-like functions, and I've written batch files with which I'm quite comfortable, so I have most of PC-Shell's operations already in place. As a result, I don't feel much need for PC-Shell.

However, if you want to get all those functions together in one package rather than filling a large subdirectory or if you want a purer UNIX flavor, or if you want to train yourself or your coworkers to be familiar with the UNIX environment, you should check this one out. ■

302 BYTE* OCTOBER 1986

Announcing 2 New BYTE Cmctor Prints by Rolwrt Tinney

Limited Edition Classics

We are proud to announce the annual release of two new 16"x20" BYTE Magazine Cover Art reproductions by

renowned BYTE artist Robert Tinney. Only 1,000 of these flawless Collector Edition Classics will be produced, on acid-free 100% cotton fiber stock to ensure thiat they will keep their brilliance and quality over the years without cracking or yellowing. The color separations for these sumptuous prints are made directly from the original paintings, guaranteeing absolutely faithful reproduction of every subtle nuance present in the originals. Each is individually inspected, signed and numbered by the artist, and accompanied by a handsome Certificate of Authenticity (also signed and numbered). The plates are then destroyed, and no future editions of any size or number will ever be published.

The price of these magnificent limited editions is just $55, or $45 each if you order two or more. Your prints will be shipped fiat by UPS Blue Label (2-day delivery) and carry an unconditional 30-day guarantee. Order today!

Order Fbrm

Please send me the following Limited Edition BYTE Collector Prints at $55 ($45 each for 2 or more):

Qty. Title Amount

$ .

$

$4 Postage & handling ($15 overseas)

TOTAL; $_

I enclose my □ ohecl< □ money order payable to Robert Tinney Graphics; or, bill:

□ MasterCard □ VISA □ American Express card

# Expires:

NAME

ADDRESS

CITY

_STATE.

_ZIP_

□ Please send me your FREE color catalog.

VISA, MasterCard or American Express orders, call 1-504-272-7266

ROBERT TINNEY GRAPHICS

1864 N. Pamela Drive Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70815

OCTOBER r986 •BYTE 303

Runs Xenix

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□ IfWi 20.\m Sfiiffili' 65MS 12 HI. O II ///> Jfl.lHJ Scajialc .J9.i;,V Full III. o a ir lliaic

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' 0 2.\m Mi'mnn ' 12HK hicrenh'Ul rrui^i' ' 2 serial purl (I nplmu ) ' (ifimc purl

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DATA SWITCH MASTER

* Sime oue prniler l>y ■/ i / computer in -f prtntir ' hviler Spooler for IHM ' Cable mchuled

tmiputrt

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304 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

FAST HARD DISK

FOR PC/XT

AND COMPATIBLE

>'' '>h iiia-ss tinif

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imitSAi

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Mililf m r V. I Tr r ekes if dp/mi vi/

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$128

(ML

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Fkrlriail inv 22(iy Ciiliir: PCXTOihr

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Qty. 0/2

Seagate 4051 $638 Fujitsu Floppy 360K $78 Teac Floppy 360K $85

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■ 6 S MIKATcfmipillihIf ciimpiikr Oil ' AT mi l-kipln- Ciiiilriilhr 1ST si:r' SI6(I

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INTERNA!.

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With Floppy Controller add $50

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All Saks Call (415) 490-2201

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Ciiiit'rsily I'.O's' an' in'loinic Ciir/iiinilf Hiircr I'till fur Xfil Mchlii

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timHK 111 riKlSE I'.dli liivliii-r i:llr(k IISA, M.VrrF-WaRIl, MIERiaS F-XPRESS I.e. EMni)lirA|fn««l rranpjm un

1>;KMS Iliii-10 our hiw Price, all sjtli-s are final Alt prices are Mihiccl to clianpes and (|ijanlm' may he limileil and w ^e^el^■e theKi^hl at SiibMiliileEiluivnlenl Items rnaiilliorimi Reliimsarenihieclto 10",. ResrockinpFee Cal'forRMANiimhersforRemmsand Repairs '.All Prices are siihiecl to chan)!e wirhian nolLce

lUM-flerrides Uilctiin Vcw/.vare Trade Marks iif dteir Respenree liompanies Limited ftarraras, I Veat parts .mil ti mnnllis lahnr

Inquiry 63

OCTOBER 1986 -BYTE 305

A COMPUTER PROGRAM

THAT SPEAKS

YOUR LANGUAGE

The Computer Chronicles, a halfhour weekly television series brings you news and information from Silicon Valley andaround the world, Correspondent Stewart Cheifet and Gary Kildall, creator of CP/M cover today's headlines and the stories behind them. Find out what is, what was and what will be, with the only computer program you're ever going to need. The Computer Chronicles, every week on a public television station near you.

(Check local listings for time and channel.)

Produced by ''.C

101 ITT

306

BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

BYT-^^PAN ^

Taiwan's Computex 1986

BY William M. Raike

Companies participating in

the expanding Taiwanese computer industry had a chance to show off their latest developments at Computex, an annual show held in lune at the newly completed Taipei World Tirade Center. While the high-tech gathering convened inside the mammoth pyramidal air-conditioned complex of exhibition halls, glass-enclosed showrooms, and display booths, outdoors heavy rains were cooling down a sweltering city.

Taiwan Is Different

In previous columns I've pointed out two differences between personal computers in Japan and in the U.S. First, few machines sold in japan are IBM-compatible; second, naturally enough, nearly all the computers you can buy have extensive Japanese-language processing features, which are not available outside fapan. Many visitors to Japanese computer shows are struck by the almost total absence of IBM-compatible computers. And except for peripheral equipment (disk drives, printers, etc.). Japanese personal computer manufacturers have not had any significant impact on the U.S. market for several years.

But Taiwan is different. With the domestic Taiwanese market for personal computers still small, manufacturers there have realized that they must compete in the U.S. and Europe. (In fact, most of the buyers at Computex this year were European; many U.S. buyers apparently prefer to wait for the Electronics Show held later in the year.) As a result, while you see a few systems that can handle the Chinese language, you will see a large number of IBM-compatible machines. Anyone traveling from the U.S. to visit a Tciiwanese computer show would be

Taiwan can offer IBM work-alikes at prices that are quite low

well advised to bring along their favorite IBM PC and PC AT software for evaluating the computers on display (Be sure that you leave backup copies at home though, and check with U.S. Customs on the way here to make sure that you can legally bring it out with you and take it back to the U.S unhindered.)

The Competitive Edge

The products and prices at this year's Computex gave me a reasonable indication of what U.S. computer buyers (and manufacturers) can expect within a few months. If you think prices on IBM PC and PC AT work-alikes have already dropped a lot, just wait. You can now order dozens of different makes of PC AT-compatible machines from Taiwan at prices ranging from $1150 to $1400. (Those prices are FOB T&iwan. excluding freight and insurance, and are for single units; all manufacturers offer substantial discounts for multiple-unit sales, and all are aggressive in their desire to do business, particularly in the OEM market.) Typically these computers include 512K or 640K bytes of RAM and a single 1.2-megabyte floppy disk drive as standard equipment; you can get a 20-megabyte (or larger) internal hard disk drive for an extra $500 to $600.

Because space and time don't permit a detailed description of the many PC AT-compatible machines I saw at Computex, including some luggable semiportable computers, I refer you to the accompanying text box ('Some

Manufacturers at Computex"). This representative list contains some of the manufacturers and their working IBM-compatible computers that were on display

Comparable prices for Taiwanese IBM<ompatible machines have dropped into the $500 to $600 range, and many manufacturers are offering an extensive selection of addon and expansion boards. Despite the drawbacks of doing business with imported computers made by vendors with (in some cases but not all) a skeletal or nonexistent distribution and service network in the U.S., these prices will have a devastating effect on U.S. computer manufacturers. Remember the growing power and the plummeting prices of hand-held calculators during the mid-seventies? At this rate, we might see personal computers being given away as party favors before much longer One way to appreciate the magnitude of the situation is to notice that, with some of the low-cost air fares that are available, it may well be less expensive to fly to Taiwan, buy a PC AT work-alike and bring it back than it would be to write a check for the original.

Before you either buy a ticket to Taiwan or order a computer, though, be sure to check with the manufacturer to see that its computer meets all U.S. Federal Communications Commission standards for spurious electromagnetic emissions. At the time of the show, most of the manufacturers

{continued)

William M. Raike, who has a Ph.D. in applied mathematics from Northwestern University, went to ]apan in 1980 looking for 64K

bit RAMs. He has been there ever since as a technical translator and a software developer He can be contacted do BYTE, One Phoenix Mill lane. Peterborough. NH 03458.

OCTOBER 1986 • B Y T E 301

BYTE JAPAN

Some Manufacturers at Computex

Aquarius Systems Inc.

6F, No. 394 Keelung Rd., Sec. 1 P.O. Box 43-29 Taipei. T&iwan, ROC

PC AT- and PC XT-compatible computers: both systems and main boards are available. The Model ASI-2003B is AT-compatible, with a 1.2-megabyte floppy disk drive, a 20-megabyte hard disk drive, and 512K bytes of RAM; it sells for $1841.

The Model ASI-703T is XT-compatible (4.77-/8-MHZ switchable 8088-2 microprocessor), with 640K bytes of RAM and two 360K-byte floppy disk drives; sells for $689. it includes the ERSO BIOS.

AUTOCOMPUTER COMPANY LTD.

4F No. 5. Alley 2, Lane Syh Vfei, Chung

Cheng Rd. Hsin Tien, Taipei, "feiwan. ROC

A PC AT-compatible machine with 5I2K bytes of RAM, a 1.2-megabyte floppy disk drive, and a 20-megabyte hard disk drive sells for $1550.

A PC XT-eompatible machine with 2 56K bytes of RAM and two 360K-byte floppy disk drives sells for $440. Both computers incorporate the Phoenix BIOS

Inter-Orient and World

Corporation

P.O. Box 48-243

Taipei, TSiwan, ROC

IMC brand PC AT- and PC XT-compatible computers: The Model GAT-403 is AT-compatible, with 512K bytes of RAM, a 1.2-megabyte floppy disk drive, and a 20-megabyte hard disk drive; it sells for $1640.

The Model 1MC-1700E is PC XT-com

patible, with 640K bytes of RAM and two 360K-byte floppy disk drives; it

sells for $510.

The IMC Prince (Model IR-640) is a PC-compatible laptop, without a builtin display running a 4.77-MHz 8088 microprocessor and with 640K bytes of RAM and a built-in 360K-byte floppy disk drive; it sells for $42 5.

K. S. Brotherbox Company Ltd.

No. 12 Chien Kuo S. Rd., Sec. 1 •feipei, Tlaiwan, ROC

Kingtech brand luggables. The Model KS-500A is a PC AT-compatible machine with 640K bytes of RAM, a 1.2megabyte floppy disk drive, a 20-megabyte hard disk drive, and a monochrome/color graphics card: it sells for $1700.

The Model KS-200 is a PC XT-compatible machine with 640K bytes of RAM, two 360K.-byte floppy disk drives, and a color graphics card; it sells for $750.

The Model KS-IOOB is a PC XT-compatible machine with 256K bytes of RAM, two floppy disk drives, and a monochronte graphics card; it sells for

$480.

MiCROWEB Company Ltd. No. 9, Lane 146, "fe-Hing Rd., Sec. 1 Hsichih, 'feipei Hsien, Taiwan, ROC 1buch-l brand luggable PC AT and

PC XT compatibles with built-in monochrome monitor and optional 10- or 20-megabyte hard disk drive Prices not

available.

Mitac Inc.

9F, 585 Ming Sheng E. Rd. Taipei T&iwan, ROC

PC AT- and PC XT-compatible machines running the Phoenix BIOS. Mitac also introduced its Viso Portable, another laptop machine with no builtin display and one built-in 360K-byte floppy disk drive, with 5I2K bytes of RAM as standard. An external expansion box and an IjCD are supposed to be available as optional items, but they couldn't be seen at the show. Mitac claims the Viso is FCC-approved. Price information was not available.

Multitech Industrial Corporation

15F 135 Chien Kuo N. Rd., Sec. 2 ■feipei, "feiwan 10479, ROC

The Multitech MPF900 is an AT-compatible machine with a 1.2-megabyte floppy disk drive, an optional 20-megabyte hard disk drive, and 512K bytes of RAM. The company offers a variety of IBM PC- and PC XT-compatible computers and is one of the oldest and largest computer companies in Taiwan. Prices not available.'

Plus & Plus Company Ltd.

2F 126 Roosevelt Rd.. Sec. 3 ■feipei 10762, Taiwan. ROC

ARC brand PC AT- and PC XT-compatible computers: The ARC 286 Uirbo System is AT-compatible and 6-/8-MHz switchable. It comes with 640K bytes of RAM, a 1.2-megabyte floppy disk drive, and a color graphics card and sells for $1190. The 20-megabyte hard disk option costs S390. MS-DOS 3.1 is a $3 5 option: a serial/parallel card costs $45 extra: an additional 384 K bytes of RAM costs $45. A variety of other IBM PC- and PC XT-compatible systems are available.

said they were currently undergoing FCC approval; without this certification, you'll have trouble bringing a computer into the US.

ERSO Update

"feiwanese personal computer makers found a way to handle the challenge of creating BIOS software that both gives their machines adequate com

patibility with the IBM PC (or PC AT)

yet manages to avoid copyright infringement problems (see my column in last December's BYTE). Some companies sign cooperative agreements with U.S. software houses to develop a proprietary BIOS; most companies, however, choose to use the ERSO BIOS. This was developed by the Taiwanese government-sponsored Elec

tronics Research and Service Organization (ERSO, International Tl-aining Research Institution; No. 2, Alley 9,

L^ne 244; Roosevelt Rd., Sec. 3: Taipei, Taiwan, ROC) and is licensed by ERSO to Taiwanese manufacturers. I've heard a few complaints about the ERSO BIOS, notably that it is too slow. Nevertheless, it represents an innovative way for the Taiwanese gov

308 byte • OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 99

BYTE lAPAN

The eight-line display, which has good readability, works as the main

screen when you decide to use the

Keystyle 80 as a laptop computer

ernment to encourage and support its computer industry.

Take Your Keyboard Along

Like lots of people. I sometimes see a new product and wonder why I didn't come up with the idea myself. The latest one was the Keystyle 80. introduced at Computex by Chang Lei Electronic Industrial Company Ltd. (6th floor. No. 99, Fu Hsing N. Rd.: Taipei. Taiwan. ROC).

When connected by its cable to your computer, the Keystyle 80 works as a simple unintelligent keyboard. The Keystyle 80 has a built-in infrared coupler, so you can also use it as a replacement keyboard for the PCjr or for other PC-compatible computers that come equipped with such a coupler (the Sotec PHC-16 and the DataVue 2 5 are two examples). The keyboard layout, besides offering all IBM PC keyboard functions, is sensible and convenient enough that, in my opinion, it's suitable for serious word processing.

But you'll probably get a few strange looks when people wonder why your "keyboard" has an eightline. 80-column LCD. The display, which has good readability, works as the main screen when you decide to use the Keystyle 80 as a laptop computer. Viewed as a portable computer powered by replaceable batteries, it uses a CMOS Z80A microprocessor running at 4 megahertz and comes with only 16K bytes of RAM as stan

{contiimed]

Attention all FX80, FXlOO, JX, RX, & MX owners:

You already own half of a great printer

Dealer inquiries welcome.

Now for $79.95 you can own the rest. You see, today's new dot matrix printers offer a lot more.

Like an NLQ mode that makes their letters print almost as sharp as a daisy wheel. And font switching at the touch of a button in over 160 styles. But now, a Dots-Perfect

upgrade kit will make your printer work like the new models in minutes— at a fraction of their cost.

And FX, JX and MX models will print the IBM character set, too.

So, call now and use your 'Visa, MasterCard, or AmerEx. Don't replace your printer, upgrade it!

1-800-368-7737

In California: 1-800-831-9772

Sample of letter with Dots-Perfect

(Dots-Perfect)

Sample of letter without Dots-Perfed

g

resselhaus

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Computers and Coiffure

One of the most popular booths at

Computex belonged to the Kingsbeam Electronics Corporation (No. 19. Lane 143, len Ai Rd., Sec. 3: Taipei, Taiwan, ROC). There was a steady line of women waiting to try out the Christine Hair Beauty Computer

The prospective beauty shop customer can use the Christine to simulate what they would actually look like in a wide variety of hairstyles. As you sit in front of it for about 3 seconds, the video camera in the upper part focuses on your face. A computer in the bottom of the machine digitizes and freezes the image and displays it on a monochrome monitor facing you, housed just to the left of the camera. The operator can then step through a library of assorted hairstyles stored on a floppy disk by superimposing the image of each one over the customer's face on the display screen. The operator uses simple keyboard commands to move, expand, or shrink the size of the trial hairstyle to fit the actual size of the image of the customer's face. An optional video printer can produce a hard copy of any desired composite image (i,e., any customer and hairstyle combination) for the customer to keep.

The people at the show weren't able to demonstrate how the hairstyle templates are created and stored on the disk; presumably, an image of a model is stored and then edited graphically, but 1 couldn't ascertain the exact mechanism for doing this. The machine is supplied with a limited number of styles, and, as an extra-cost option, you can have new hairstyles delivered every three months. Sorry the price was not available.

Next Month

Bill visits the Akihabara district of Tokyo, where vending machines sell information. There's good news for people seeking bilingual capabilities, and you can almost see the communications industry achieving a momentum of its own. ■

310 BYTE" GOOBER 1986

Inquiry 65

BASIC TO C

BY Dick Fountain

Following the example of Andy Warhol, everyone should have a law named after themselves for 15 minutes. Here's mine: Fountain's law states that "the commercial importance of a programming language is inversely proportional to the amount of praise it receives." As evidence I offer you COBOL, a language for which no one can be found to say a good word, yet most of the world's commercial software is still written in it. And I'm told that the value of all the world's COBOL programs is greater than that of all the world's computer hardware put together.

Or take BASIC. It would be a rash journalist who spoke out too strongly in favor of the old war-horse nowadays and academics have poured bile and scorn upon it for decades. Yet a huge amount of business software is still written in BASIC, both on minicomputers and micros. Why should this be so?

I think the reasons are several. First, BASIC is very easy to learn. I'm glad 1 learned to program in BASIC, hacking away on my own with a book: had 1 been taught Pascal at a university, I'm sure it would have robbed me of any pleasure in programming. All the things that conspire to make BASIC so unsuitable for large programs—lack of named subprograms with parameters, crude control and data structures, and even line numbers and GOTO—seem to accord with the way a beginner sees things inside a computer. 1 am less and less convinced by the arguments of innovators who insist, for example, that recursion comes more naturally to a beginner than iteration does. I'm also unconvinced by "reformed" dialects of BASIC: perhaps BASIC got it right the first time, but once you outgrow the language, you

An efficient way to translate Microsoft BASIC programs into C

must discard it completely.

A second cause of BASIC'S continued viability is a lack of alternatives. Most minicomputers and virtually all micros come with a free BASIC interpreter, often of venerable pedigree and relatively bug-free. In contrast, until the revolution wrought by Borland International (and previsioned by the prophet Leor Zolman, who wrote a high-quality C compiler that sold for $50 in 1980), compilers for more advanced languages like Pascal and C tended to be too expensive, poorly distributed and known only to hackers, or full of bugs. Some were all three. Small wonder then that so many programmers who needed to earn a crust rather than follow fashion just sat down and worked with what they were given.

A third reason is that BASIC actually does some things very well. For example, its string-handling features are immeasurably superior to those in C or Pascal (extended Pascal, that is) and indeed better than anything else except SNOBOL. Most business BASICS handle arithmetic on large cash sums gracefully, not always the case in other languages. By and large, BASIC makes no attempt to be portable but tends to support the hardware for which it was written as fully as possible, providing easy facilities for formatted hard copy, screen handling, and (maybe) graphics. BASIC'S file I/O tends to be more powerful and easier to understand than that in a more rigorously portable language. Error handling in Microsoft BASIC is

easy to use (and abuse!) and is highly suitable for commercial applications: on the other hand, I frequently encounter applications written in Pascal or C that crash with utterly obscure messages from the run-time system. To salvage some shred of credibility, I should hastily add that I personally wouldn't write anything in BASIC nowadays, unless it were a three-liner to spot palindromes. My "road to Damascus" happened years ago when I spent three months writing a poker program in BASIC (the first program I wrote whose listing was taller than me) and found at the end that 1 couldn't understand how it worked. I came to appreciate the advantages of structured languages by trial and error rather than through moral imperatives, and as the years go by, I find that my admiration for Pascal more and more outweighs my irritation at its deficiencies. (Admittedly, I prefer Hirbo Pascal, which a purist friend insists is not Pascal at all.)

This lengthy preamble is a way of introducing this month's subject, a translator for converting Microsoft BASIC programs into C. The rationale for the existence of the product, called CGEN, is that most of the United Kingdom's best-selling business programs (I'm talking here about accounting programs rather than spreadsheets) are written in BASIC, more precisely, Microsoft BASIC. However, the times are changing—the 68000 is upon us, and business software houses are faced with a growing base of multiuser UNIX systems. The idea of translating their existing

(continued}

Dick Pountain is a technical author and software consultant living in London. England. He can be contacted do BYTE, One Phoenix Mill lane. Peterborough, NH 03458.

OaOBER 1986 - BYTE 311

BYTE U.K.

products into C, the language of UNIX, becomes attractive indeed. Such programs then become easily portable from one UNIX system to another and possibly even to newer personal computers like the Atari 1040ST.

Unfortunately the vices of BASIC make such translation by hand an unpleasant prospect. In large BASIC programs, the overall program structure is unclear, thanks to the use of GOSUBs with line numbers instead of named procedures with parameters. The modularity of such BASIC programs can be poor, and it's not always possible to turn a BASIC subroutine into a corresponding C function. Conscientious design discipline and copious commenting help only marginally because the language itself does not enforce modularity. For instance, the use of global variables to pass values into subroutines means that such a subroutine can have effects, desired or otherwise, throughout the program, and only inspection of the whole program can reveal them. When you add the effects of the liberal use of GOTO to compensate for inadequate control structures (e.g., jumping out of FOR. . . NEXT Ipops), you have a recipe for a nervous breakdown.

Such translation is exactly the sort of nasty and boring job best left to a computer, and that is what CGEN does. It was written by MS Associates

Ltd., a software house specializing in UNIX. As a result, the company has a deep knowledge of the foibles and limitations of C compilers, which was a prerequisite for making the product work.

THE CGEN Approach

Writing a translator that converts one language to another is not in itself newsworthy, lb make such a translator effective and acceptable in commercial programming is another matter.

Program generators and so-called fourth-generation languages attempt a similar trick, although they usually translate a very high level specification language into BASIC or COBOL. One problem that often bedevils such products is the maintainability of the output code. Computers may be patient, but as yet they are not very

Company Mentioned

MS Associates Ltd. St. Marks House 1 Station Rd. Boume End

Buckinghamshire SL8 5QF, U.K.

smart, and the quality of the code they write can be pretty rough, even by modest human standards. I once inspected the BASIC output from a much-touted program generator and found that the code was not only unreadable but barely recognizable as BASIC.

MS Associates chose to tackle this problem by reducing the "distance"

between the source language and the target language. CGEN produces as its output an intermediate language called High-C that looks more like BASIC than C, although it is in fact C and can be compiled with a standard C compiler High-C is a collection of macros for the C preprocessor that are designed to be similar to BASIC keywords.

This technique is not new. Indeed, many experimental languages in computer science departments started out as a set of C macros on a UNIX system. The C preprocessor is a powerful piece of software, whose potential is barely tapped by most programs. For example, a C programmer typically sets up named constants for use in a program with #define, as in

#define ESC 27

Before compilation, the preprocessor goes through the program and replaces every occurrence of the string ESC by the number 27. However, #define can do more than this. Because macros can take parameters and include conditional expressions, they can be used to change the syntax of the language. For example, to add a "function" to compute the maximum of two numbers, you could say

#d8finemax(num1,num2) ((num1) > (num2) ? (numi) : (num2))

Whenever max is used in a program, the preprocessor will replace it with the conditional expression on the

right. The result is more efficient than a proper function definition since it compiles to in-line code with none of the overhead of a function call. It does, however, increase the compiled code size.

The advantages of the High-C approach are twofold. First, it simplifies the task of translation by taking work away from the translator and putting more of it onto the C compiler. Second, the output is readable and maintainable by programmers who are accustomed only to BASIC. After some experience with CGEN, BASIC programmers should be able to write directly in High-C and to modify HighC programs without retranslation. This is by no means a trivial advantage because the cost of retraining programmers to become expert in C is considerable. You do need to know the fundamentals of C to use CGEN, but you don't need to be a guru.

The downside is that the final code is somewhat larger and less efficient than the code a more "C-oriented" approach might produce (although most business programs are far from time-critical anyway). C compilation also takes longer, but, on the other hand, translation Is correspondingly quicker.

The Fine Points

Before we take a look at an example of High-C, it would be wise to establish just what CGEN can and cannot translate, it is designed to translate software written in various versions of Microsoft BASIC and can handle programs that use CHAIN to exceed the 64K-byte limit. It will not translate hardware-specific commands, like those used for graphics, sound, and color. A program written in BASICA for the IBM PC, for example, must have any references to commands like COLOR or PSET removed before translation. Fortunately, much business software is written using only simple cursor-addressable terminal output, and CGEN does support LOCATE.

Since High-C gets compiled to native code, none of the facilities specific to interpreted BASIC can be used. For example, it is not possible to use ERASE to remove arrays from

312 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

BYTE U.K.

Listing I: This sample code shows Ifie Sieve of Eratostfmes translated into High-C by CGEN.

190::

#define NOERROR Idefine DEFS #include <nismaln.h> #undef DEFS

int iCOUNT ;

int il

int iK

int iM

int iPRIME ;

int jFLAGS [8191+1] ;

char *_data[] = } NULL. "99999999". NULL, NULL

{ ;

main( argc , argv ) int argc ; char *argv[] ; {

^include <n)sinits.h>

L10 L20 L3a

LSTART ;

PSTR( "10 iterations" ) PRINT :

L40:

L50: L60::

L70:; L80::

FORI I( IM , 1 , 10 )

iCOUNT FOR

0

0 . 8190 )

NEXT

1i| il .

JFLAGS[II] - 1 i }

FORI

L100:

L110: L120: L130:

L140 L150 L160 L170 L180

LI 90: L20e:

L210:;

ij il .

0 , 8190 )

IF I jFLAGS[iI] = 0 ) GOTO LI80 ;

iPRIME = il + il + 3 ; iK = il + iPRIME ; WHILEj iK <= 8190 )

jFLA6S[iK] •= 0 ; IK - IK + IPRIME ; I

ICOUNT - iCOUNT + 1 :

NEXT ; I

NEXT ;

'lSTART ; PINT( iCOUNT ) ; PSEPf'.') : PSTR( "primes" ) ; PRINT :

'end ;

FINISH :

a program at run time. This limitation is usually not a problem because few—if any—business programs are interpreted; they are normally compiled with a BASIC compiler like BASCOiVl or QuickBASIC that imposes exactly the same restrictions, in general, CGEN will translate anything that compiled (not interpreted) BASIC would accept.

Porting from PC-DOS or MS-DOS to UNIX can raise problems due to the different way that UNIX does some things (although such problems would have to be faced however you do the translation). UNIX uses only a linefeed to end lines, for example, whereas PCDOS needs a carriage return plus a linefeed; CGEN, though, can handle this difference automatically. In

another case, UNIX has a different

convention for filenames, which is sensitive to uppercase or lowercase, and these details will have to be altered manually either in the BASIC source code or in the High-C code.

One or two actual syntactic restrictions apply with CGEN. It will not tolerate the use of NEXT in a conditional, as in

10 FOR i = 0 to 100

20 IF arrayl(i) = array2(i) THEN

NEXT 30 PRINT i

For CGEN to work, this needs to be changed to

10 FOR i = 0 to 100

20 IF arrayl(l) < > array2(i) THEN

value = 1 : i = 100

30 NEXT

40 PRINT value

Similarly there are restrictions on the use of GOTO to exit early from FOR. . .NEXT loops. GOTOs must either be removed or be patched in the translated High-C version by adding a special LEAVE macro before each GOTO to keep the stack under control. PEEK and POKE are supported, although, of course, you cannot expect hardware-specific PEEKs and POKEs to work if moved to a new machine. They can be put, however, into an IF. . .THEN to allow conditional compilation of machine-specific versions of a program.

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 313

BYTE U.K.

CGEN h\so adds some extra facilities to IVlicrosoft BASIC. In particular, for file and record locking for multiuser applications, the LOCK command can be inserted into the original BASIC program. Another extra command is $DEFSUB, which tells CGEN that the following subroutine is independent enough to be turned into a single C function; for example,

10 ' $DEFSUB igetname 30-50' 20 GOTO 60

30 PRINT "Enter your name: "; 40 LINE INPUT NAMES 50 RETURN

60 GOSUB 30

70 PRINT "Hello "; NAMES

The SDEFSUB command says that the code on lines 30 to 50 will be translated to a single C function called getname This is an optimization technique and is not compulsory.

USING CGEN

I tried a new version of CGEN for the IBM PC running under PC-DOS (all previous versions have been for different flavors of UNIX). It's not a large system: the whole thing fits onto a single IBM floppy disk with all its include files and the run-time library. It's not copy-protected and can be installed on a hard disk. It supports some IBM special features like the function keys but, as previously mentioned, does not support graphics, color, or sound.

CGEN itself is a single program that takes just the name of a BASIC program file as its command-line input. The BASIC source code must be in ASCII rather than in tokenized form (i.e., it must have been saved with the A option). When CGEN has been run over a file it produces two output flies

with the extensions .LST and .C, the latter containing the High-C version of the source code.

The .LST file contains the original BASIC source program with messages from CGEN inserted, prefixed by *** for errors and +++ for warnings. These messages are in plain English, and the warnings cover most potentially troublesome constructions (e.g., jumping out of a subroutine with GOTO or subroutines with multiple entry points). CGEN can thus be used as an analyzer prior to translation. There are a number of command-line options, most of which have to do with the limitations of various C compilers, like limits on the size of functions, the number of symbols, or the length of jumps.

1 tried CGEN on the sample program (MORTGAGE.BAS) that IBM supplies on the PC-DOS master disks, and CGEN correctly picked up all the COLOR statements as untranslatable, i then used the search-and-replace command of my word processor to edit the source program, searching for *** or + + + . MORTGAGE.BAS translated cleanly after I removed all the COLOR and WIDTH statements, and MORTGAGE.C compiled and ran correctly with the Microsoft C compiler.

There isn't room here to show the complete translation of MORTGAGE. BAS, but listing 1 shows our old favorite, the Sieve of Eratosthenes, translated into High-C by CGEN. The translation is a bit more verbose than the original due to the declarations needed by C, but the main part of the program corresponds quite closely. The C labels L10 to L210 replace the BASIC line numbers. The High-C macro LSTART stands for list start and

TSble 1: Times required {in seconds) for compiling, linking, and running the Sieve of Eratostfienes in Higfi-C versus Microsoft C on an IBM PC AT

High-C

l\4lcrosoft C (version 3.0)

Compile

Link

Run

14

15

4

5JS

4

2.5

gets inserted wherever BASIC permits an arbitrary-length list of parameters, as in PRINT statements.

The way FOR. .. NEXT gets translated provides an interesting example of the problems that BASIC can pose. FOR. . . NEXT in Microsoft BASIC permits several unsavory practices, like assigning to the index and even to the loop limit at run time. Routine testing for the use of such rarely employed tricks is too expensive, so MS Associates set up 18 different FOR macros: six base types for each of three different degrees of "dirtiness." The six BASIC variants include FORi (integer index, step <> 1), FORn (float index, step <> 1), and FORd (double-precision index, step < > I): rounding out the six are the equivalents F0R1i, F0R1n, and F0R1d with a step of 1. CGEN automatically produces the right type—F0R1i in the case of the Sieve—but for BASIC programs that use the dirty tricks, you must manually select a "dirtier" set of FOR macros. The macro expansion for the "cleanest" version of F0R1I is

#define F0R1i(A,B0) for( A=I(B) ; A<=(C) ; A-I--I-)

CGEN took 6 seconds to translate the BASICA Sieve into High-C; table 1 shows the times for compiling, linking, and running the Sieve in High-C. Unfortunately, I didn't have BASCOM available, but I accept the assurance of MS Associates that programs run marginally faster with CGEN than if compiled with BASCOM. CGEN is thus a portability aid rather than a performance booster.

You can, of course, add raw C code at will into the High-C version of a program as an alternative to calling routines written in C (or other languages, including assembly language) from the BASIC version.

MS Associates started out by selling CGEN at a high price to other software houses that needed to translate established BASIC products. However, the company has now reduced the MS-DOS version to a more PC-like price of £345. For an extra fee, the run-time library is available in source as well as binary form so that you can tailor High-C to particular target machines. ■

314 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

1

Exxon

25

Standard Oil (Ohio)

49

73

American Home Prod.

97 North American 1

2

General Motors

26

AT&T Technologies

50

Lockheed

74

Litton Industries

98 fi

3

Mobil

27

Boeing

51

Georgia-Pacific

75

Hewlett-Packard

99

4

Ford Motor

28

Dow Chemical

52

Monsanto

76

Control Data

100 H.J.

5

IBM

29

Allied

53

W.R. Grace

77

Texas Instruments

101

6

Texaco

30

Eastman Kodak

54

Signal Companies

78

LTV

102 Pill

7

E.I. du Pont

31

Unocal

55

Anheuser-Busch

79

American Brands

10,3 PPGIndL

8

Standard Oil (IndJ

32

Goodyear

56

Nabisco Brands

80

International Paper

104 Int. Han

9

Standard Oil of Cal.

33

Dart & Kraft

57

Johnson & Johnson

81 Motorola

105 American V

10

General Electric

34

Westinghouse Elec.

58

Coastal

82

Burroughs

106 Borg-W

11 Gulf Oil

35

Philip Morris

59

Raytheon

83

Archer-Daniels-Midland

107 American Cyar

12

Atlantic Richfield

36

Beatrice Foods

60

Honeywell

84

Digital Equipment

108 KerrM

13

Shell Oil

37

Union Carbide

61

Charter

85

Borden

109 United B

14

Occidental Petroleum

38

Xerox

62

General Mills

86

Champion International

110

15

U.S. Steel

39

Amerada Hess

63

TRW

87

Armco

111 Emerson El

16

Phillips Petroleum

40

Union Pacific

64

Caterpillar Tractor

88 Esmark

112 Dresser Indu

17

Sun

41

General Foods

65

Aluminum Co of Amer

89 Diamond Shamrock

113 Boise Ca;

18

UniiL-J iL-^iinologies

42

McDonnell Douglas

66

Sperry

90

CPC Inteinational

114 Warner Cc

19

Tenneco

43

Rockwell int.

67

Gulf & Western Ind.

91

Time Inc.

115 Owens-ll

20

in

44

PepsiCo

68

Continental Group

92

Deere

116 earn

21

Chrysler

45

Ashland Oil

69

Bethlehem Steel

93

Bristol-Myers

. 117 Americar

22

Procter & Gamble

46

General Dynamics

70

Weyerhaeuser

94

Martin Marietta

118 Reynolds ^

23

R.J. Reynolds Ind.

/17

jIVI

7 1 / 1

Ralston Purina

95

Firestone Tire & Rubber

1 1 Q f imnknll

1 1 y LampDeil

24

Getty Oil

48

Coca-Cola

72

Colgate-Palmolive

96

IC Industries

120 Kimberly

27 million Americans can't read. And guess who pays the price.

While American business is trying to stay competitive with foreign companies, it's paying an added penalty. The penalty of double-digit illiteracy.

Believe it or not, 27 million American adults can't read and write. Another 47 million are literate on only the most minimal level. That adds up to almost one third of our entire population...and probably a disturbing number of your employees.

What does illiteracy cost you? Get out your calculator Illiterate adults make up 50%-75% of our unemployed. Every year they cost us an estimated $237 billion in lost earnings. They swell our welfare costs by $6 billion annually and diminish our tax revenues by $8 billion.

Illiteracy costs you through your community, too. It robs the place where you work and live of its resources. It undermines the potential of the people who make your products and the people who buy them. No dollar figure can be assigned to this. But over the years, this may be the costliest loss of all.

What can your company do about this? It can join in local efforts to fight illiteracy. It can volunteer company dollars and facilities for better school and tutorial programs. It can invest in a more literate community.

The first step is to call the Coalition for Literacy at 1-800-228-8813 or fill out the coupon below. Do it today. You may find it's the greatest cost-saving

measure your company has ever taken.

I 1

□ I want my company to join the fight against illiteracy. Please send brochure with additional information.

□ We want to discuss funding the Coalition for Literacy. Please have a representative contact me.

Name. Title _

Company Address _

City

Phone

State .

.Zip.

Please return to: Coalition for Literacy Business Division P.O. 80x 81826 Lincoln, NE 68501-1826

A literate America is a good investment.

Coincil

CSalition for Literacy

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THE TECHNICAL SOFTWARE SOURCE.

316 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 339

CHAOS MANOR MAIL

Conducted by Jerry Pournelle

Scientific Graphing Software

Dear Jerry,

By now you should have received a copy of my program Graph-PAD (Graph Plotter and Digitizer) from Academic Press. 1 am writing this letter in hopes of convincing you to take a look at this unique program, which enables scientists to create publishable graphs using an IBM PC and an HP plotter.

You have suggested on a number of occasions that software should be sold by publishers. Academic Press is a scientific book publisher that is new to software. As you might expect, there are advantages and disadvantages publishing software through a company whose main business is not software, but it is a trend you ought to write about.

You should be pleased by the lack of a licensing agreement. Graph-PAD is sold like a book and protected by copyright. No silly agreements. You should also be pleased by the manual, which is typeset and includes an index and several examples (probably not enough).

You will be less pleased by the copy protection, so let me explain. Over the years I have agreed with your arguments against copy protection and 1 originally asked that AP not protect Graph-PAD, But then 1 realized that, although businesses are quite responsible about respecting copyrights, scientists are not. The potential market for Graph-PAD is not huge and illegal copies would dilute the market too far.

Graph-PAD is protected by the key-disk scheme but with a unique twist. You cannot use the plotter to make a graph until you insert the key disk into the A: drive. However, you can enter, average, transform, and preview data on the screen and save it to disk without the use of the key disk. Thus, you can use a copy for entering and manipulating data but must use an original Graph-PAD disk to actually make graphs. A backup disk is provided, Harvey IVIotulsky San Diego, CA

I fear yourpmgram has become separated from your letter. That happens more often than not. Alas, there's no generic solution to the problem other

than to Increase the staff here, and I don't want to do that The result is that a lot

of good stuff vanishes. With any lucl< it will emerge again, but since I don't have an HP plotter, there's not much I can do with it anyway.

I do think that the era of single-product publishers is coming to an end. I've been saying that for a couple of years, which is a long time in this industry but not very long in any other

You may be right about copy protection on a program but I think that if I were betting my academic publications on a program, I wouldn't use one I couldn't back up. You may be protecting yourself from market dilution but any good hacker could defeat your copy protection. The other question is what effect copy protection will have on sales.

Good /udc.—Jerry

DRI Service

Dear jerry.

Regarding Digital Research Inc. By golly I think they might be listening! I recently bought a copy of GEM Desktop and GEM

Draw and found the documentation to be quite readable and complete (not a single d:ufn.ext in the thing). It turned out not to work as advertised, however, due to missing device drivers on the master disk.

As is typical of most of the local software dealers when confronted with anything less ordinary than WordStar, mine shrugged and grunted when 1 asked after the missing drivers but was able to offer no assistance.

Well, in for a dime, in for a dollar, thinks I, So I called DRI's customer service number, expecting the worst. The fellow I spoke with was polite, but when I told him which version I had bought, he said, "Oh, well, that explains it, 1 don't know anything about that version and I don't intend to learn now." 1 figured I was about to hear how DRI didn't support that version any longer, and I would have to buy the new version, etc.

Wrong'. This kind soul, representative of what I hope is the new Digital Research, said I would have to wait while he mailed me a copy of the new version of GEM, which he would do within a week or so. No mention of money was made at this

or any time since. As it turned out, I got the new copy as fast as UPS was able to carry it here from the West Coast, meaning he must have sent it out that afternoon. Now all is well.

You'll have to admit that this is assuredly not the kind of thing one has come to expect from DRI, but it is a trend much to be admired and encouraged.

I've long enjoyed, and generally agreed with, your (to put it mildly) taking DRI to task for their failings. Now it appears that they read BYTE, Good show!

Steve Rindsberc Cincinnati, OH

Thanks for telling me. DRI still has some great potential. There was a time when

I was certain that Concurrent CP/M, which can already run most MS-DOS programs as one of its tasks, would be expanded to be more MS-DOS-compatible, then, combined with GEM, have something like UNIX brought in to make an operating system that would be simple for users and have, invisibly, a rich programmer's environment The result would be the reunification of much of die micro community.

That's still possible and I'm still hoping, even if I'm no longer so confident—jerry

License Agreements

Dear Jerry,

In your book Adventures in Microland, you claim in Chapter Five that "Software publishers sure are arrogant. Fortunately that's going to change." I would have to add. "Unfortunately not anytime soon."

The other day I picked up Webster's New World Spelling Checker for my Apple lie. It's published by Simon & Schuster, the same folks who distribute your book. It's a really super program: the documentation is first rate (it includes a 'Writer's Guide to Punctuat'lon and Manuscript Preparation], the price tag is low (only $59.95), and the disks are noncopy-protected. It works on a wide variety of word processors and features a I M.OOO-word dictionary. I couldn't ask for more.

Except for a less restrictive license agreement. It claims that, as the authorized user of this product, 1 can ".. .use

{continuedt

OCTOBER 1986 -BYTE 3J7

CHAOS MANOR MAIL

the Licensed Product on any single computer system. A separate license, . . is required for any other computer system on which |l| intend to use the Licensed Product," Furthermore, I "...shall take all reasonable steps to safeguard the Licensed Product and to ensure that no unauthorized person shall have access to it. . ." And then, in big black letters, I ". . .may not use, transfer, modify copy or otherwise reproduce the Licensed Product, or any part of it, except as ex

318 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

pressly permitted in this End User License Agreement,"

Now, say I want to demonstrate this program at my local Apple users group. Does S & S seriously believe I'm going to drag my desk-bound system, with all its attendant cables and peripherals, to the meeting place, and, once I've shown off Webster's features, to disallow other members a hands-on demonstration of their own? What if I bring only the main computer unit and I plug in somebody

Inquiry 28

else's printer and monitor'^ And what about making more than one backup of the program?

Because of all the accesses required, a spelling checker's floppy is an especially fragile beast; I'm no pirate, but if my first backup wears out and I make another, will I be subject to criminal prosecution? Since I signed their Warranty Registration Card, I suppose so.

Experienced publishers like S & S have been able to live with simple copyright notices and the usual "All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form" statement for their books: why should their software be any different? If S & S isn't going to change, why should anybody else?

Don Drews Milwaukee. Wl

I have nothing to do with S & S Software but apparently they let their lawyers taii< them into this nonsense. As you say. they've understood about books for a long time. Why this? Beats me.

I particularly enjoy the part in which you must promise that "no unauthorized person shall have access to" their program. Are my wife and children "authorized"? For that matter am I? And. of course, they don't promise that the program will indeed work.

Yours isn't the only letter complaining about them: I expect they'll be candidates for my Folly of the Year award next year.—Jerry

Modula-2 Help

Dear lerry

I am very interested in learning more about Modula-2 as a programming language. From your articles, you seem to be very favorable to the potential of this language for the future. The problem is that there seem to be very few books on the subject (at least in Toronto],

Could you please suggest a couple of books to me. taking into account the fact that I do not know Pascal. Also, do you know if there are any public domain programs in the language that will operate on PC- or MS-DOS? (1 have a PCjr with 2 56K bytes of memory)

Ron Golan Willowdale. Ontario. Canada

The best book is one I haven't written yet: I have about a million example programs and modules done, but it's taking time to do the text. Until my own book comes out. the best introduction to Modula for non-Pascal people is Edward I. Joyce's Modula-2: Seafarer Manual

[continued]

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OCTOBER 1986 • B Y T E ajS

"When I was growing up, I was the quickest kid on the block. But the streets were catching up with me. I'm sure glad there was a Boys Club around to help keep me a step ahead.

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320 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

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CHAOS MANOR MAIL

lAddison-Wesley. 1985). It doesn 't cover everything, but it starts at a low level and there are good examples Pournelle's law: You can't have too many examples. This book hasn t as many as I'd like, but it has mom than most

After you finish with that book, get Software Development with Modula-2, by Gary Ford and Richard Wiener IWiley. 1985): it's about the best "full feature " book on IVIodula that I know of—better tfian anything I could write—but it's not for beginners.

Urtless you really know what you re doing and/or your time is worth literally nothing, public domain compilers aren't worth your effort. You'll do better to get a good commercial one. Logitech sells an excellent MS-DOS Modula-2 compiler for under $100. Workman and Associates has FTL l\4odula-2 for CP/M, also under $100. Both programs come with their own editors and are excellent—ierry

On the One Hand ...

Dear Ierry,

As a result of your enthusiastic recommendation, i recently purchased WRITE. I am impressed by iK printing Gapabillties.

For variety of page format, ease of use, and right margin justification, it gets high

marks.

I would have been more Impressed by WRITE as a text editor if 1 had not already used Express 2.0. In my judgment, Express Is a truly transparent medium. Like WRITE, It can be reconfigured so you don't have to learn a set of new and arbitrary commands. Entering text Is easy; moving around In the text is easy: correcting errors Is easy

Like WRITE, Express works in memory, but It can edit files that are much larger than its buffer Its search and replace goes like greased lightning because, unlike WRITE, it does not rewrite the screen until the whole process Is over. It has a onecommand block move and both blockread and block-write capability Best of all. Its capacity for creating macros is practically unlimited. And all this for $35!

What you don't get is the kind of printer driver that WRITE supplies Express 2.0 uses Roff4. a public domain program that does a good job of running the printer but lacks the ease and versatility of WRITE's print program.

WRITE will print Express 2.0 files, but

if you want right margin justification you have to strip the carriage returns that Express puts at the end of every line. Express could strip them In no time, but it can't see them: WRITE can see them but it takes forever to strip them off. If. among all those programs you have tried, there is one that edits as well as Express 2.0 and prints as well as WRITE, it must be the jewel of CP/M word processors.

TVioMAs Wheeler Knoxville, TN

I've written for a copy of Express. Of course. I'm also trying to change over

from CP/M. So far I haven't been weaned away. Incidentally, with WRITE you get a filter program that ought to strip off those hard carriage returns: and for that matter it's fairly easy to write such a program for yourself in BASIC.

I'll let you know about Express when I get /t.—Ierry

Computer Conferencing

Dear Ierry

I am a 36-year-old research student currently studying for a masters of philoso

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Inquiry 215

OCTOBER 1986 • B Y t E »t

CHAOS MANOR MAIL

phy degree in Information Systems. My thesis is on the design of methodology 1 also have a personal research interest in computer conferencing and industrial democracy. My original degree was in English and Social Policy

1 am perhaps not as technically focused as many of the current BIX users appear to be, based on the Best of BIX pages. Further. 1 am an Acorn/BBC user and find little of interest in discussion of the machines that are more prevalent on your side of the "pond." In the April BYTE in "Winding IDown" (page 299), you mention setting up a conferenceforganization dealing with the synergistic effects of the new cognitive sciences. This sounds more interesting to me than the other reproduced content of BIX and it could be a deciding factor in choosing to subscribe. I wonder if you would be so kind as to forward fuller devils?

S. A. Allen Portsmouth. Hampshire, U.K.

Well, we have a conference on BIX on cognition and social science theory. It supports the CONTACT conferences, which are interdisdplinary meetings that

get science fiction, social science, and

hard science professionals together

For more information on that, write Mrs. S./.Q Trimble, 696 South Branson, Los Angeles CA 90005.—lerry

CBASIC: ANOTHER Voice from THE Wilderness

Dear jerry

I thought it a curious coincidence that the May BYTE contained two perspectives on BASIC as a programming language.

In the Letters section, Chuck Musciano ("Choose Your Language," page 14) wrote that he personally found BASIC "distasteful" and that BASIC "only suffices when a quick hack is required." Mr. Musciano obviously writes from the Olympian heights of the "professional programmer" where CBASIC is an unknown dialect. I think that Mr. Musciano understands neither what BASIC is supposed to do nor for whom it is intended.

When I got to the opposite end of BYTE, I was pleased—even gratified—to see in Chaos Manor Mail the letter from Paul Palmer ("CBASIC." page 392).

I sympathize with Mr. Palmer. 1 feel his isolation but suspect it is self-imposed. 1

am sure there are a number of CB80/86

users out there, all busy writing their own unique applications. Do we not talk to each other because we believe our problems are unique?

In that regard. I am not particularly sympathetic to Mr. Palmer when he complains about being constrained to 128K bytes of code and data. He should try writing code when 48K is all that is available! With 48K. you chain like crazy and become a master at disk I/O. My advice to Mr Palmer is to write more efficient code and don't be reluctant to use disk storage for data.

Harold Horn Argo.. IL

Well, Computing at Chaos Manor began as "The User's Column" and that's the way I still think of it. I like Modula-2 a lot, but I confess that for most computer applications I still use BASIC.

Let me hasten to add, though, that I don't do much programming any more. If I did. Id concentrate on Modula-2, building myself a battery of applications tools I could incorporate into nearly any program. Of course, you can do that with CBASIC. too (indeed, one reason I stay

OurXenix tapeba(±up system has one feature the others dorit

322 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

CHAOS MANOR MAIL

with CBASIC is that I have such a lot of

known-to-work code).

I remember 48K systems. I remember I6K systems. I also have nightmares sometimes. —)erry

The Need for Speed

Dear Jerry.

I can no longer stand to feed single sheets into my printer. 1 have to buy large boxes of paper. So what? you ask. The point is, since I have been using a computer my general sense of time is completely different (no small matter).

There was a time when I could do things like wait for a bus. Now 1 am furious over a program that takes 8 seconds to load. There was a time when I could do things like wait for a big one to bite the hook. Forget it. I used to hate benchmark talk. Who in the real world of men cares about nanoseconds? Now 1 am very curious about how fast the computer does things.

When you get right down to it. the only thing a computer can do is shuffle numbers back and forth. But (and this is a big but) it can do it incredibly fast. That's what makes computing so fascinating. One word: speed. So I no longer have any

patience with anything. I want it done now. jerry 1 may never be able to kill another sunlit afternoon in the middle of a lake wetting my line.

Michael Sontuivi Sandy, UT

You're so right. I find myself reading faster (1200 baud now) and very impatient with things that don't go as fast as my computer However I also find that as soon as I get on a backpack and get away from the traOhead I leave all that behind.

After all. they're only machines, although I don't want mine to know that I know that—Jerry

Mac Screen Size

Dear lerry

1 read with interest your negative comments on the Macintosh screen and letter size in the May issue of BYTE. There are several desk accessories that allow you to change the default font from 9-point Geneva to, say 12-point Chicago. This usually gives letters that are large enough for most people to see even if they are very visually handicapped.

I am lucky enough to have the use of both a Mac Plus and an IBM PC XT and I can assure you that the Macintosh is leaps and bounds ahead of the IBM in anything 1 have yet needed to do, including reports and strategic planning documents. (Not to mention the superiority of Excel over Lotus 1-2-3.)

D. SCHAFFELBURG, M.D.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Of course you can make the letters larger but then you don't get so many on the screen. Clearly, I can live with a few lines of not too much text—on airplanes, I do all my writing on the NEC PC-8201. which, even vnth TfaveUng Software's Ultimate ROM II, has only 8 lines of 60 characters each. But when I'm home with a desktop machine I prefer something a little better I've also yet to find a Maclntosti text-editing program that comes dose to what I'm used to.

Having said all that, I agree: Now that Apple is market-driven rather than gurudriven, the Macintosh is a pretty good entry-level machine, and I'm already on record as saying it's almost worth buying a Mac fust to have Excel.—lerry ■

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OCIDBEB 1986 • B Y T E 323

Best of BIX • Best of BIX • Best of BIX •

EIX

Best of BIX • Best of BIX • Best of bix

BIX is the BYTE Information Exchange, BYTE's computer conferencing system. Each month, Best of BIX brings you excerpts from a few of the 170-plus conferences active on BIX. This month, conferences covered include Amiga, Atari ST, IBM, Macintosh, and S-100. For information on joining SIX, see the instructions on page 271.

AMIGA

The Amiga section examines three problems; First, a discussion of the concerns inherent in mWnQ softw/are for a multitasking environment

evolves into a search for the optimum "Animator" priority setting. Next, a father forwards his son's query on using the Amiga to time millisecond events in a laboratory setting. Finally there is a lool< into the deeper meaning of REVPATH as an Amiga is pressed into service as a speaker's prompting devica

Multitasking on the Amiga

amiga/main #3486, from I no I and (L«8 No I and) a comment to massage 3363

(Ed. Note: Message 3363 discussed, among other topics, the difficulties of porting to a multitasking system.]

It seems to me that there are a number of things that can make porting single-tasking programs to a multitasking environment difficult.

To begin with, a number of practices that are perfectly acceptable in a single-tasking system are unacceptable or ill-advised in a multitasl<ing system. For example: polling input devices; assuming all resources ore dedicated (e.g., printing a line of output at the beginning of a program and then not doing any more printing until much later in the program); or creating large static arrays that ore infrequently used.

Then there ore all the system calls that are inherent in multitasking but unknown (or generally unnecessary) in a single-tasking system, such as process (and task) priority scheduling and nemory allocation routines.

To be sure, one can make ports easier by creating some standard routines that handle most of these situations In a default manner (such as always spooling printer output for later printing). Handling the situation like this, however, will frequently result in routines that are far from optimal and could have a hard time competing with other tasks. For example, some routines could benefit from continuing to process data while waiting on disk accesses. Others have no choice but to perform a hard wait. If the designer doesn't consider these choices, the best decision con't be made so the safe choice (in this case, the hard wait) becomes the only choice. Another example is the "deadly embrace" situation. If one relies on prewritten I/O routines to perform the resource allocation, the process won't even likely be able to recognize a "deadly embrace," let alone choose the optimal course of action.

While you're quite correct in saying that a lot of programs represent a straightforward port and that going in the other direction is no bed of roses either, I believe that, in general, for a program to do well in a multitasking system, it needs to be designed for one, and that con mean substantial changes for some singletasking programs. Obviously, some people aren't up to the challenge because there seem to be for too many programs that just grab all the resources first thing and act like they ore the only programs in the system (which they probably will be, given the fact that they won't run with most other programs anyway).

omiga/moln f34ie, from Jlm_kent (Jim Kent) o comment to message 3406

Well, I hadn't thought of most of those. I guess I've been trained now for multitasking. I even do sleep colls on the ST, though my sleep routine just polls the clock, of course. Did you know GEM on the ST MAKES you poll input if you want the right button on the mouse? Yolch!

Still, I have to admit single tasking is nicer for animation. Things run much less jerkily. The Amiga keeps waking up a process to check the disks even when nothing but the Animotor is running. Well, I think it does. Something mokes me jerk every couple of seconds.

amlga/naln #3416, from w.volkaegis (WI11 lam Volk) a comment to message 3410

Jim, how about a priority slider in Animator? (I know it's 0 warped idea.)

amIga/maIn #3418, from JImJkent a comment to message 3416

Can you change a task's priority on the fly?

omlga/main #3419, from skrenek (Steve Krenek) 0 comment to message 3418

Sure, SetTaskPri (task, priority) and away you go! If your task is really a process, I'm not sure what you do to change the priority, though.

amtga/natn #3420. from w.volkaegis a comment to message 3418

Don't know ... we could make it a CLI argument.

amigo/moin #3422. from Jgoodnow (Jim Goodnow) a comment to message 3419

As far as priorities go. the actual scheduling doesn't know anything about processes, only tasks. So changing the task's priority changes the process priority.

amlga/naln #3426, from Inolond a comment to message 3410

Sleep calls on the ST, eh? Boy, when the ST goes multitasking, ore you ever going to be ahead of the competition! Of course, if GEM pulls many tricks like the mouse polling bit, it may be a while before they get any reasonable multitasking implemented (unless they just abandon their Installed base of softvrare ... not likely).

Though time-sensitive programs like Animation could pick up some fallout from other tasks, it seems to me (Les - be careful here! Remember the Basic Library fiasco. You don't even hove the RKM's yet - you don't

know what's going on with the Amiga internals I

know that, but how radical could it be? All multitasking systems ore pretty much alike, aren't they? Shhh! Wait a minute - it's too quiet in here. Hey, what ore oil you people doing listening in on my internal dialogue?) that on on open machine with all DMA I/O, the only overhead you should hove is the short trip to the scheduler when your time quantum runs out and that should just dump you right bock in. Do you have Workbench running? Have you set a nice, high, antisocial priority so as to discourage all other tasks? Hmmm...

ami go/ma in #3428. from Inolond a comment to message 3416

Somewhere In this conference, many messages ago, someone (tking?) asked for suggestions on things we'd like to see In VI.2. I wish I'd had the presence of mind then to suggest a utility that displays oil tasks (including Workbench tasks) ond their priorities and allows one to modify the priority of any task. A

324 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

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pretty standard Item on molnfromes and such, I was o little surprised that the Amiga didn't have It. Perhaps it'll be one of the first things I'll work on after I get and reod the RKH's (and get a little more spare time to spend on home projects).

amiga/main |3431, from ]lm_kent a comment to message 3426

No, I'm very sociol. I've got a priority of 0. Maybe I'll change that during the actual replay to 1 or 2. Intuition has 10, and I can't go as high as that or I'll lose my Input.

But I'm not sure if I should even do this. For Instance, if SoundScape adopted the some attitude, then we couldn't run together effectively. (We con't anyway unless you've got expansion RAM. but still...)

amlga/maln |3503, from I noI and a comment to message 3431

Re the priority of your animations. Only the animation itself need have a higher priority. Your input and setup tasks can run dt the lower priority.

Since your animation task has to wait on things like vertical retrace and such, there are likely enough waiting times to allow other tasks to run, though in degraded mode. As for running in hormony with other tasks, the point is that with certain types of tasks, such) as animation and music, it is desiroble to have the task run in "real time," as if it is the only thing running on the machine. To do less sacrifices the "realism" you are attempting to create. If the user attempts to run other tasks at the same time, he should expect them to run In degraded mode for the salte of retaining the realism of the animation.

If he is attempting to run something else that also requires real-time response, he may be asking too much of the system - two tasks cannot run on a single CPU without some degradation in performance unless both use l^ss than SZ% of the CPU's time and their operation is flexible with regard to when their time slices fall. This may be true of your routine but it wouldn't seem likely If you were able to notice the delays in the animation. You're the one who has to decide if a higher priority is necessary and what that priority should be, but from what you've said. It sounds like it may be necessary. Ideally, the user would be able to change the priorities of different tosks on the fly, setting them to meet his own requirements. Most mainframe systems have a utility for this purpose, but this system does not, which leaves them stuck with what the developers deemed necessary.

amiga/main #3517, from Jlffl_kent a comment to message 3503

Well, I've been looking Into the priority/smoothness thing a little. What set me off thinking was watching animations side by side on the ST and the Amiga. (Since the script files ore text, it is easy to get them between machines ...)

It appears that, with no other tasks in the Amiga, I really wouldn't need to bump the priority. I'm pretty sure the not—quite-as-reguI or steps I see on the Amiga are Indirectly my own doing. Once a tween I go through the calculation phase twice. Generally the drawing stage is so much greater In terms of time that this Isn't noticed. However, with the Amiga in 5 bit-planes and the blitter well massaged, I have the situation where the Amiga draws faster but calculates slower than the ST. Thus, I'm pretty sure it's my double caIcuI at I on.

amlga/maln i|l3519, from cheoth (Charlie Meath) a comment to message 3517

Have you tried running Animation in FAST mem to see if that makes a difference?

amiga/main |3S22, from Jlm_kent a comment to message 3519

It makes a wonderful difference! It runs noticeably (20-30X perhaps) faster.

amlga/maln #3526, from thotloway (Tin Holloway) a comment to message 3503

There IS a SetPrlority function in the Amiga EXEC, although some people have been known to cheat and reset the TCB priority themselves.

A Millisecond Tiimer

amtga/softw.devipmt #1979. from melphase4 (Met FIshman)

I have o request from my son to place the following request for help re a Timer he is working on in the Graphics Lab at Waterloo. If you can't answer him directly, please leave a message for me ond I wi11 pass it on.

Here we go...again

Well, In quest of a 1-mi11Isecond stopwatch before going to hardware, we have decided to give the 8250(-B) chip a chance. I am getting nowhere with it. I cannot seem to get the timer to do anything. What I om doing is:

I am setting up variables like so:

SHORT *tlmer_low_A (= 0xbfd400)

SHORT *control_reglster_A (= exbfdeBOe)

«control_regIster_A *» 0x71 print •timer_low_A

(note that the numbers in brackets ore assigned at

another point In the program)

The problem arises in that timer_low_A does not change at all. I have also tried playing around with PRA, and ODRA (is that a typo In the hardware manual? I am assuming that DDRA ■• 0xbfd200 and DDRB > 0xbfd300) but regardless of what I do, timer_low_A does not change.

I would like to be able to eventually have timer B count down and cause A to decrement on B's underflow, but if I cannot even get A (or B for that matter) moving, I am stuck.

If anyone can help me with this problem or present a better way to get a 1-mi 11 isecond grain timer, I would really appreciate it. I do not want to use hardware, because it would be harder to run the experiment simultaneously and publish our algorithms.

(A recap of the problem for those who forgot or are new:)

I need to be able to calculate the time from when a stimulus is displayed on the screen to the point in time when the user presses a mouse button. (I am using Manx C on a 512K Dual Drive System.)

Thank you very much.

amigo/softw.devipmt |1985, from cheoth 0 comment to message 1979

Mel - here are a few ideas about the millisecond timer. First off. I'm pretty sure the two timers In the 8250s are "reserved" by the EXEC and device drivers, so programs are not "supposed" to make direct access to them. Timer requests are supposed to be made by using the timer.device, which has two modes of operation — one of which is based on vertical blanks (in increments of 16 milliseconds), and one of which uses the 8250 timer for microHz resolution.

It Vfould seem that the mIcroHz timer device would be the way the Amiga Is "supposed" to let you do precise high-speed timing. However, from my not-too-deep experience with the timers, their precision for timing short durations is not very good.

Another possible solution to your son's problem would be to use the vertical position register as a

{continued)

OCTOBER 1986 'BYTE J25

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timer. The vertical position register (VHPOSR and VPOSR) Indicates precisely which scon line on the display screen the video beam is positioned at, and is a very precise timer. Each video frome tal<es something like 16.67 milliseconds and each frame is composed of about 250 (blast it, I forget exactly how many) vertical lines - thus, by reading the vertical position you can get a timing resolution of something like 70mlcrosecond precision. You'd have to figure out the exact numbers, but that should be doable.

Another thing to tal<e into consideration is all the sources of delay in the Amiga due to interrupts and multltasldng. Precise timing is more difficult because lots of things can happen to snatch the CPU away from the program that's trying to do the timing.

In the case of these lob experiments, probably the best thing to do is to call "Disoble" after the display has been done and not re-enable until after the mouse button input has occurred. That is assuming the mouse button is being read directly, not as an "input event" under the Input.device - because the input.device needs Interrupts enabled in order to work.

Also - I question the precision of the whole experiment at the millisecond level, because the display itself is only updated every 1/60th of a second. You could improve the accuracy by timing the display update to occur based on the position on the display screen, taking Into account where the thing being displayed on the scraen Is. timewlse, according to Its vertical position onscreen.

Well, anyhow, good luck to Flynn and let us know how

he eventually solves this problem.

amiga/softw.davlpnt #1998, from melpha8e4

I would like to pass on Flynn's answer to cheath. Any assistance would be appreciated. Here we go:

To: M.FISHMAN (PFD001)

From: F.FISHMAN (PFD0a6)

Subject: More on the millisecond timer.

Reply to the reply to 1979

After 8e.nding my letter out to my father, I realized that this was a first time posting to BIX, and that I

did not properly tell of all my foiled attempts. So I will explain some of what I did while I reply to cheoth's posting. (Thonks cheath; you approached all of the problems exactly as I did. I guess that means I am not so stupid after all.)

>First off, I'm pretty sure the two timers in the >825es are "reserved" by the EXEC and device drivers, >so programs are not "supposed" to moke direct access >to them.

There are two 8250 chips; 8250 - A and B, each with two timers, a and b. 8250A is used for serial communications and Vblitter sync, B2S0B is used for keyboard and as a virtual timer device. Luckily, I am not doing any serial communicating or Vblltting, leaving A available to me.

>Timer requests ore supposed to be mode by using >the timer.device, which has two modes of operation — >one of which is based on vertical blanks (in >increments of 16 milliseconds), and one of which >uses the 8250 timer for mIcroHz resolution.

Agreed, the two timers are microHz and VBIank; unfortunately, they both seem to work on a 16mlllisecond groin, and In fact seem to be identical from my progrom's point of view (I.e., poll the timer 1000 times, stuff it into on array, and then print the array). However, the microHz timer is supposed to be programmable. Does anyone know how to program it?

>(VHPOSR and VPOSR) indicates precisely which scon >line on the display screen the video beam is >posltloned at, which Is a very precise timer.

This was my second ideo (and still a usable one). What we hoped to do is read the y-raster location (C is not fast enough to get an accurate x location) and then put this together with the timer to give us an accurate time. However, the y-raster location is not correlating with the timer. You'd think it would, since they both ore 60 Hz (I.e., every time the timer mokes Its 16millisecond Jump, the y-roster should hove the some value every time. WRONG; it doesn't. The y value decrements every 16-miI I isecond jump.). To use just the y-raster and nothing else is feasible, except that would require a counter incrementing every time the screen refreshes, and since we discovered the y-raster sometimes skips or inserts funny numbers we do not know how reliable this will be on several-second values.

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>Another thing to take into consideration is all >the sources of delay in the Amiga due to interrupts >and multitasking. Precise timing Is...

>It can be assumed that there will be no >multltaslcing and the Amiga will only be doing this >one timing at this one time.

>Also - I question the precision of the whole >experlment at the millisecond...

A millisecond is needed in this experiment (so I have been told over and over). You should have seen the original posting on UNIX though, that asked for a microsecond timer. I hate decimals. :-}

Well, I really appreciate your time, cheath. One of these days I will get this timer liclced (either that or the summer will end, I wi I I go bacic to school, and I won't care no more :-) ).

amiga/softw.devlpmt |1999, from Jdow (Joanne Dow) o comment to mssoge 1998

Uffl, there Is a problem using the vertical times as a timer reference If you need extremely long-term

accuracy. The time interval of the vertical interval is not a constant on the Amiga or any other machine that can switch between pure NTSC and non-interlaced NTSCish video. Each scon line is on exact time period related to the NTSC color subcarrier frequency. (Fhoriz ^ F_color_subcarrier«2/455 - 15734.265734 Hz. This Implies a horizontal period (averages over oscillator noise and to the accuracy spec of the oscillator) of 63.55555555555 microseconds).

Given the 63.555-microsecond horiz intervol we can calculate vertical intervals. In pure NTSC there are 262.5 lines (the .5 gives the interlace) per vertical interval. This means each pure NTSC field takes 16.68333333 milliseconds for a vertical period of 59.94005994...Hz. If we take the non-inter lace mode with 262 scan lines exactly per vertical interval, the numbers become 16.6515555 milliseconds and 60.05444937 Hz. If you are into making long-time interval measurements, this can throw your computations of time out the window by a substantial error percentage. (Sustantial, she says - I guess I worked with precision timekeeping apparatus too long In earlier days... Methlnques I nit-pick too much. Both cases are off by approximately .1% or about 1 minute per day.)

amIga/softw.devlpmt #2000, from JIm_kent 0 comment to message 1998

It is NOT safe to assume you won't be blitting or involved with multiple processes if you are using Intuition at all, or displaying text, or using the graphics libraries, or reading anything from a disk.

amigo/softw.devlpmt #2001. from cheath a comment to message 1998

Mel - Flynn could set up a vertical blank interrupt to count the number of VSYNC intervals and not use the timer.device at all.

amiga/softw.devlpmt #2002, from Jdow a comment to message 2000

Indeed, while you might not be, some other process or

program or whatever you wish to call it will very likely be doing so. Hence the calls through the OS are the only proper way to do these things.

amlga/seftw.devlpnt #2004. from cheath a comment to message 2002

Well, it sounds like Flynn's application is quite controlled (i.e., it is a lab experiment rather than a commercial product). Even so, there is a lot going on in the Amiga timing-wise that can make precise timing difficult.

Flynn - if you're using the mouse for input, the two buttons are not identical in timing. One is a direct input, but the other is a capacitlve/resistive discharge reading - which takes about 1/60th of a second to read from the time the button is depressed.

Applications for REVPATH

amI go/softw.devlpmt #2047, from bjackson (Brian Jackson)

Charlie (or ?): Did anyone ever decide If REVPATH (reverse text rendering - right to left) Is working? I need to write a teleprompter program and, as the text is displayed in a mirror before the camera lens. It needs to be rendered In reverse (thank the Powers That Be for FontEdl). Sure would make the task simpler (I think).

PS - We're building a TV station and yours truly "gets" to do all the computer reality for the station. (And Where's EtherNet ??)

amiga/softw.devlpmt #2048, from cheath a comment to message 2047

Ah, so not only do you need the text displayed backward but also it has to be mirrored. I don't think REVPATH is intended to do that ... you'll have to do a custom routine to pull that one off.

amtga/softw.deylpmt #2050, from olthoff (Thomas Althoff)

a comment to message 2048

How about REVPATH with a custom font of reversed characters?

amiga/softw.devlpmt #2053, from jdow a comment to message 2047

It may be easier to reverse the wires on the yoke of the reverse monitor. Then all goodies will still render normal on a normal monitor for easy debug and type check. Hook to the reverse monitor for actual use and run with it.

<''_'^> (That should be a 5-minute hardware hock, given a schematic of the thing.)

amiga/softw.devlpmt #2054. from bjackson a comment to message 2048

Yep. The text has to be mirrored. While REVPATH won't handle THAT, It should be able to do its standard (?) act on a custom font(s), eh?

amiga/softw.devlpmt #2055, from bjackson a comment to message 2050

Yeah, that's what I had in mind. The scroll routines shouldn't be too difficult to implement. I already hove one font done. Actually, I guess that all you'd really need to do is create the text on a line-by-line basis, padding the end (beginning?) to a standard length and have Amy print the thing normally (left to right). Amy con sure handle this faster than the "on-air personalities" con read it. The mirroring Is the trick. Thanks.

amiga/softw.devlpmt #2057, from bjackson

0 comment to message 2053

1 had a message on my local BBS from another hardware freak that sold you could do that. Question: does this 'mirror' EVERYthIng? I mean if THAT'S all I need to

do

What we're doing is networking several Amigas (at my insistence) through Ameristar's thingie (if/when...). That way the staff can all have access to the central files. And so con the control room and newsroom. This is valuable for quick editing almost "on air." If we can use the same system and Just reverse one monitor while everyone else con see things normally tt would be

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a real saver. Could you just Instoll a switch on the monitors to iiave tliem reverse at will? GECEZ I love BIX!

Thanks to all you guys for your Ideas and answers!

amiga/softw.devlpmt #2958. from JIm_kent a comment to message 2059

But the drawing of characters in a single line is so fast that I don't think it'd matter if it were bockword anyway. Why not convert "this is a test" to "tset a si siht" and print it normally in your mirror font providing you can't get the REVPATH to work.

amiga/softw.devlpmt #2965, from Jd

0 comment to message 2057

Likely as not, a switch could be installed and work on a black and white TV. On a color, the convergence would certainly suffer. (In fact the convergence circuitry might make the yoke reversal more difficult as well. I was definitely thinking in terms of BW text for teleprompter applications. Am I wrong? If so the hack might take o couple hours of thinking, 20 minutes doing. And perhaps an hour or two reconverging the setFor that matter, doesn't Conrac moke such monitors?) <*_*>

amiga/softw.devlpmt #2966. from althoff a comment to message 2958

1 like that idea, Jim. Simple but effective!

amiga/softw.devlpmt #2127, from rslmonsen (Redmond Slmonsen)

a comment to message 2947

Why not just use TWO mirrors to UNreverse the image? All you need is a front surface mirror for the lower mirror to keep the letters looking sharp for the transparent glass mirror. I would suggest on experiment with the Mylar mirrors mode for shower rooms. They are cheap, bright, lightweight, and unbreokobIe.

\Transparent I TV Reader's Eyes:—<...<...<...<...<.\ Mirror jCAMERA

* \ ——

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ATARI ST

The Atari ST window for this month is devoted to software problems. To begin, one BlXen is writing a (fast) print spooler and sounds an open call for advice. Next, there is some concern when multiple copies of files begin appearing on various disks, and finally there is a discussion on structure name space standards for C, v^/ith an authoritative answer from a member of the ANSI standards committee.

WRITING A Print Spooler

atari.st/tech #421, from egrlmm (Steve Grimm)

I'm writing a print spooler for the ST (got sick of waiting for the printer). I'm using the 200-H2 system timer and a hook into the TRAP #1 vector. Anyway, I need to output a character to the parallel port during

328 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

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tha Interrupt; obviously I can't use a Cprnout() call. Do I need to do anything more than store a OxOF to the PS6 Regtrter Select (exffBSeo) then put my data to the PS6 Write Data at exff88e2? Thanks in advance for any help.

otari.st/tech #422, from Jsan (Jaz Son) a comment to message 421

You are putting your own vector ot TRAP #1, so you intercept all printed characters before the OS gets them. You are then buffering them and using the 2e0-Hz timer to (supposedly) output your buffered text on the interrupts to the printer.

When you put your vector into the TRAP #1 slot, you must have revectored it back to the right place so that all other traps will work, rightl?

So, whenever you wanna print something, all you do is emulate what the TRAP would do, by jumping to the *old* TRAP #1 vector address, with the stack appropriate setup so that when the routine does an RTE, it will return properly.

If you want any help with this, temme know.

atari.st/tech #423, from sgrlnm a comment to messoge 422

I had thought of that. I was just trying to speed things up a little by not bothering with an OS routine to do all my work for me.

atorl.st/tech #424, from davjon (David Jones)

0 comment to message 423

1 thought you weren't supposed to do OS-driven printer I/O from interrupt handlers. I remember seeing a message in this topic from jtittsler on calling BIOS from interrupts. I would have thought that GEMDOS calls would be entirely out of the question, as it's not supposed to be re-entrant. I think directly outputting the chora (not forgetting the handshaking) would be best.

atari.st/tech #425, from Jsan 0 eoMient to Message 423

You are only running every 200 Hz. The Printer Output OS call can't be that clow, can it?

Poking the Sound-Chip's registers to get printer output sounds like going o bit for, when all you wont is 0 simple way of printing characters. Also, what If the User has selected Serial Printer in their options table. Whot then? You going to do your own Serial Driver too?

I still maintain that using the legit OS way of printing characters by going through the vector that TRAP #1 would hove gone through (assuming you altered It) Is the best way.

There may be a problem of nesting GEM calls too for, but at the 200-Hz interrupt rate, I suspect this will never happen.

Beware of interrupt routines that do OS calls, though.

otort.st/tech #426, from Jsan a comment to message 424

What about Serial Printers?

Who says anything about re-entrant code? doesn't hove much relevance, does it?

That

atari.st/tech #427, from davjon a coMMnt to ■•••ago 426

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Wall, suppose the interrupt occurred in the middle of a chunl( of GEMIMS code, I would hove thought that would cause a headache or two. I can't say I have tried using the printer from an interrupt, but I hove tried using sound-chip BIOS routines - and they bombed out until I read the msg from jtittsler (#279 I think). Another problem you might hove Is if the buffering Interrupt happened in the middle of a previous buffering call (say the printer's a bit slow). I can see that serial printers would be excluded, although you could dtract Iy poke the MFP chip. Isn't there Meant to be a table of I/O driver vectors for LST and PRN device*? That would be easier to Intercept than TRAP

atari.st/tech #428, from Jtan a coMiant to necaage 427

Atari's HHG documentation does say that GEMDOS calls can be nested quite a few levels deep (6, I think). So I assume this to mean that if you're inside one GEMDOS call call, and an interrupt occurs, you con at least use Printer Output.

If you can't, then I'm even LESS impressed with GEMDOS. How else do they want us to do it?

otarl,«t/t«ch #429. from jlmjcent (Jim Kent) a comment to message 428

It's hard to write 6-deep re-entrant code. Usually it's 1 or 2, make a big effort to get it to 3, or when it's infinitely re-entrant it gets simple again - just •hove everything on the stack.

atari.st/tech #430, from davjon a comment to message 428

P'rops you're right, Jez, but I thought that only BIOS colls could be nested - printer buffering is not something I hove done (or intend to do). Every buffering source code I have seen hos used desktop accessory code to do the job, which is crude, but I suppose It works.

atari.st/tceh #431. from Jtittsler (Jim Ttttslar) a comment to message 421

You need to be VERY coreful if you intend to mess about with the PSG since the operating system Is using It periodically to check on disk changes. Changing the register select and the output must be done atomlcally, lest your data go somewhere you had not Intended.

Unfortunately, the state of the register select latch cannot be preserved. Also, in the scheme as you hove defined it, you must also toggle the strobe bit (and hopefully check the printer status bit).

GEMDOS FUNCTION $07

atari.st/tech #433, from dbetz (David Betz)

I wanted to upload my adventure writing system tonight, so I was trying to get rid of the lost known bug. The adventure system disploys o «MORE» prompt at the bottom of the screen when a single message contains more text than will fit on the screen with scrolling off. I Implement this by printing the «MORE» prompt and then catling GEMDOS (or TOS) function #07 to watt for a character from the keyboard. I then return to

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th« program that docs the printing to dump out another screen full. The problem is tliat after the first call to function #07, oil subsequent calls seem to return tlie saiiie character without waiting for the user to hit a Icey. The result is that you get automatic paging for one page and then everything else scrolls off the screen. Has anyone else noticed this behavior? Is there a bug in function $07 or am I doing something wrong?

atari.tt/tech #443, from sak (Sol Magnon*) a eonment to message 433

I haven't tried it but that's the first I've heard of it. Hove you tried calling GEM00S(8} yet? It should be the same.

atari.st/tMh #4S2» from n«ilharrts (Nell Harris, Atari Corp.)

a comment to message 433

Make sure you read all the characters from the buffer BEFORE ott^mptlng each 6EMD0S #07 coll.

Console Input Probls-m;;

atari.st/c.longuogo #107, from padoms (Patrick Adams)

Using DRI C68, we have discovered that a carriage return does not serve as a new line for console reads. It is necessary to enter a ~J (linefeed) to terminate the Input. The problem is with fgetc reading stdin. Is there another function we can call?

atari.st/c.Ianguage #188, from Jruley (John Ruiey) o comment to message 107

Try rawcin (I cannot remember the function number check your BIOS refis).

atar1.st/c.language #110. from chrlskuku (Chrlstoph Kukulies)

a comment to mesaoge 107

The problem is known. It lies in fgetc or below. I'm working on the bug and hope to get it solved soon. I don't want to switch to another compiler just because of this bug.

atori.st/c.language #t11, from alexl. (Alex Leoveno) a comment to message 107

Cconrs works, although you'll have to be careful. It's documented WRONG In the BIOS manual.

The Case of the Multiple Files

atarI.st/teeh #461, from dbetz Helpll

I just discovered one reason I was having so much trouble getting single-character input to work on the ST. I hod SIX COPIES of int.prg on my floppy! What causes the ST to allow multiple files with the same name on the some disk and in the some directory (root In this ease)? This is a eserious* problem. Does anyone know what causes it?

atari.st/tech #464, from wes.peters (Wee Petere) o comment to message 461

It seems that sometimes, if you Fcreote a file that already exists. GEMDOS doesn't delete the old file; it just creates a new one with the some name. I use my own 'open' function, which checks to see If the file exists, and if so, Fopens it; if not, Fcreates it. A bit slower, but no more duplicate files. The routine it quite simple and is left as an exercise for the reader. (I've ALWAYS wanted to say/write thatl)

atari.st/tech #466. from mmollett (Mark MalUtt) a comment to moaaoga 464

It's OK to write o new open() routine, but I have gotten duplicate files produced by various purchased programs, as well as from desktop operations. I don't hove any control over that.

atari.at/tach #486, from aprung (Ron Sprungar) a comment to maaaaga 473

Likewise here. I've gotten up to four copies of a file with the same name before noticing. It has happened from the desktop as wall as from the C-Shall. It happens just seldom enough that my trust la built up, then it clobbers me - about every two weeks or ao.

atari.at/tech #494. from dbetz a comment to maaaaga 464

That sounds like a "workaround" for a bug in the operating system. In my case, it is the linker that Is creating the duplicate file, so I have no control over how it does so. I suppose I could get my shell script to delete the target file before running the linker, but what about people who use the GEM environment? They don't have a shell to program that way.

atari.st/tech #495, from dbetz a comment to maaaaga 473

Is anyone building a list of bugs in GEMDOS? I'd like to see It. It seems there ore quite a few for a system that has been committed to ROM! Is the ST ROM structured like the one in the Macintosh so that it can be patched? The Mac vectors most routines through RAM so you can do patching. Does the ST?

atari.st/tech #498, from battarlaalne (Mark Skaplnkar,

Batteries Included)

a comment to message 495

I put up a list of bugs that I knew about, and yes, the ROM con be patched (as in the ROM patch from Atari for PLAYandRECORD). Well, Neil, how about compiling a list?

atari.at/tech #499, from sgrimm a comment to message 494

I've never gotten a duplicate file on any of my disks. Whenever one of my programs calls Fcreate. the old file is overwritten. Perhaps everyone has on older version of TOS?

atari.at/tach #501. from dbetz a comment to message 499

I am using a relatively recent ie4eST with TOS in ROM. I assume there Is only one version of the ROMs, so I think I have the lotest stuff.

atari.at/tech #509. from aprung a comment to meaaoge 501

Neil asked about version also, but I'm using TOS in ROM and assume, as you, that there is only one version - If not true, would appreciate the info.

Name Srace Confucts in C

atari.st/maIn #173, from dovep [David Pollak]

[Editor's note: Message #173 was a long one dealing with the relative merits of various compilers. We pick up the thread with a response to a specific part of that message.]

atari.at/main #273, from wea.patera a comment to message 173

I'm waiting for the Manx compiler or a good un*x clone with decent performance AND the capability of running (one) GEM application on the 'console.' By the way, the 'name space' conflict you're noticing with

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 3JI

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structure offsets is a part of the definition of the C language. KkR mentions somewhere (in Ch. 7, I believe) a standard of making every structure-member name begin with a two-letter mnemonic for the structure name so name space conflicts will not occur. A holdover from their POP-11 assembler, I guess. Remember, it's been documented, so it's not a bug, it's a featurel

otarI.st/main #274, from wes.peters

BLT: Was originally Implemented on the PDP-7, I think. It was an Instruction for transferring blocks of memory words from one location to the other. Also, a sandwich containing bacon, lettuce, and tomato. From the 'Jargon' file.

atari.tt/maIn #275, from cheath (6harll« Hsath) 4 comment to message 274

Re: 64K data areas. If you use offset addressing (like Aztec) you can address 32K bytes.

atari.•t/nain #293. from mmallett a comment to message 273

You are quite right in saying that the "name space conflict" between different structures Is upheld by K&R (page 197, to be exact). You hove to Iceep In mind that while the K&R book is THE reference for the C language of its time, C has undergone a number of changes since 1978. At this point, any compiler that does not maintain separate name spaces for structure members has to be considered deficient.

Anybody know what the ANSI proposal has to say on this topic?

atari.st/maIn #302, from Jim_kent a comment to message 293

ANSI says you get separate name spaces for seporate structures. ANSI says void is cool. ANSI also says that:

extern putc(char c, FILE *f);

is not only compilable but will check your parameter

passing for you.

Unfortunately, this last ANSI feature has yet to be implemented in any compiler I've found. The first two

are quite common. Megamax C, Lattice C, (and hopefully soon on the ST) Aztec C all give you separate name spaces for structures.

atari.st/maIn #303, from al (Alastair Mayer, author of

BIX's CoSy Software)

a comment to message 302

The only C compiler I've seen that *doesn't* give you separate name space for structures was on an old Berkeley UNIX release for POP-lls. Caused a few headaches when porting some software to it.

atari.st/moln #305, from JIm_kent a comment to message 303

You haven't seen the Aicyon one?

atari.st/main #310, from shersee (Steve H«r«««,

Lattice)

a comment to message 293

ANSI requires separate name spaces for almost everything. BTW, the ANSI committee voted the standard out for internal letter ballot. This is a major milestone since, once the letter ballot is passed, changes to the standard wMI take 2/3 vote, not majority. I wi 11 be commenting more about this meeting in c.language and lattice.

Steve Hersee

International Rep X3J11

lOS WG14 C standards convener

atari.st/maIn #311, from shersee a comment to message 303

The OS-9 C compiler also does net support unique structure member names.

atari.st/maIn #312, from JImomura (Jim Omura) a comment to message 311

The current 68K version does. The 6899 version doesn't.

atari.st/maIn #313, from shersee a comment to message 312

At the micro show in Jopan two weeks ago, the documentation still listed this limitation.

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atari.st/maIn #314, from Jlmomura

a comment to massage 313

Peter Dibble, who has it, says the limitation isn't there anymore. :-)

atari.«t/aaln #315, from bmoore (planes W. Maore Jr.) a commant to msssags 314

The Microware V2.0 68K C compiler *does* support unique struct names. The 2.0 release also allows up to 256 character identifier names, has PCC-like type checking warnings and a bunch of other goodies. I'd not consider the Japanese market representative of the state of the art at Microware. It takes a month just to send the update to Japan. After that, the stuff has to be translated and configured for the different machines. OS-9 updates in Japan usually lag the US market by 4-5 months. The V2.0 C compiler was released in March 1986. [K. Kempf]

IBM PC

AND COMPATIBLES

The IBM conversations chosen for inclusion this month have a common theme: the display. The first thread begins with BYTE Consulting Editor Jerry Pournelle attempting to de-blink his cursor. The second concerns a snow-plagued screen and the effects of writing directly to the display adapter. The last tfiread answers the question: How do I change the default color on my CGA display? Finally, an onriission frora an earlier Best of BIX is rectified.

Turn Off the Blinking Cursor

ibm.pc/pc.software #1177, from Jerryp (Jerry Pournelle,

Consulting Editor. BYTE)

I don't get a chance to get here often, so I would appreciate a positive answer copied into tojerry/quer ies.

Does anyone know a clean and elegant assembly language way to turn off the blinking cursor on an IBM PC and make it o transparent blob for using in wordprocessing programs?

ibm.pc/pc.software #1178, from skluger (SIgi Kluger) a consent to message 1177

The only way to unblink the cursor is by hardware modification. I have unblinked all the systems I use and It usually takes only 5 minutes. Somewhere on BIX I hove written up exactly what to do -will have to find It. Also, it'll appear in MicroC some day. Oh, unfortunately, the only useful non-blinking cursor is on underline since there is no hardware to reverse the character beneath the cursor. That'll be another challenge, and one of these days I'll do It.

ibm.pc/oc.software #1179, from rschnapp (Russell L.

Schnapp)

a coMent to message 1177

To kill the cursor entirely, you have to position it on the nonexistent 26th line, using the BIOS video interrupt. The code should loolc something like

MOV DX,1901H . MOV AH,2

XOR BH,BH ;Set the page number INT lOH

If you want to leave the cursor on but kill the blinking, I'm pretty sure you'll have to cut a trace or two on the video board.

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Snow in June

Ibm.pc/pc.software #1192, from aburnett (Andrew Burnett)

I am having a problem with snow on my XT. I am trying to write directly to the video RAM so that the display will be updated fast enough. However, this causes a lot of snow to be produced. I am told that this can be overcome by writing only during horizontal and vertical blanks. Does anyone know how to do this in C or assembler?

ibm.pc/pc.software #1193, from uclvms725 (John Leonard) a comment to message 1192

You need to set a loop that checks, waits for a video retrace, and then outputs your string to the video MM. You must monitor bit 3 of I/O port $3DA. When the bit is set to 1, then the video is retracing and you may update the screen. When bit 1 is set to 1, you may update the buffer (only on color monitors with more than 4K of screen RAM). A simple "while not - do" loop or a "repeat until" loop will work fine. Refer to the IBM technical reference manuol or page 95 of Norton's Programmer's Guide to the IBM PC.

A Turbo Pascal Example:

while not ( (port[$30A] and 8) = 8 ) do; This performs an empty loop while the proper bit is not set. I hope this helps.

ibm.pc/pc.software |1194, from Jimkeo (Jim Keohane) a comment to message 1193

Very nice, John. Andrew might also want to check out ossembler/cpuSeSS #126 where I posted C-callable assembler routines for block moves to/from CGA video.

assembler/cpu8e88 #126, from Jimkeo o comment to Msssage 125

>Wait for a video retrace...

1. For vertical retrace (30 times a sec) but you can move 40-100 words at a clip:

While ( port[$3da] and $08 - 8) do;

2. For horizontal retrace (6000 times a sec) but you can only move a byte or a word at most on normal PCs: Here's assembler code for a C-callabie routine:

■(•fromi.escreen,words) ". Moves ottr/chor's from offscreen to CGA regen area...

mem2scr(SmemIoc.CscrIoc.words);

code

dseg

dseg m

PUBLIC

segment byte public assume cs:coda proc near pubIic dseg mov ax.ds ret endp

PROC NEAR

ilo:

Shi:

PUSH

BP

push

ds

push

es

MOV

BP.SP

MOV

cx,

bp+16

mov

dl.

bp+14

mov

es,

bp+12

mov

si.

bp-f10

mov

ds.

bp-fe8

mov

dx.esdah

old

lodsw

sti

push

ox

cid

in

al .dx

test

al,1

Jni

slo

eli

Is low:

ishigh:

in

test

pop

stosw

sti

loop

pop

pop

POP

RET

ENDP

PROC

PUBLIC

PUSH

push

push

MOV

MOV

mov

mov

mov

mov

mov

cId

in

test jnz

islo:

ishi:

mm code

cl i

i n

test Ji

lodsw sti

push

cId

i n

test

jnz

oil

in

test

jz

pop

stosb

sti

loop

pop

pop

POP

RET

ENDP

ends

END

al .dx al,1 Shi ax

slow

es

ds

:get frame ptr ; return pop 0

NEAR

mm

BP

ds

es

BP.SP

ex.

bp+16

di,

'bp+14

es.

bp+12

s i .

>p+10!

ds.

bp+08

dx,e3dah

ol.dx

al,1

islow

al .dx al ,1 Ishigh

al .dx al ,1 islo

al ,dx al ,1

ishi ox

islow as

ds BP

;get frame ptr ;return pop 0

The "slo" loop waits til yer not in vretrace. "shi" then waits for start of vretrace. This is to give you the biggest window so you can store a word.

"mm" routine moves from screen to screen.

CGA Default Screen Colors

Ibm.pe/pe.software #1202, from gllwtlIiamson (611 Wl 11lomsen)

OK. I give in. I've had this PC with CGA for 1.5 wks now, and I can't find the DOS command to put the default text color Into something other than white on black, which I hate. How's It done?

Anyone care to recommend a nice assembler for the 1»C? This is an AT, if the extra capacity helps.

I'll be getting the Norton programmer's book. Anything else vital?

Ibm.pe/oe.aoftwar* #1203, froR donduHttru (Donald DuMltru)

Q coMient to Massage 1201

334 BYTE* OCTOBER 1986

Best of BIX • Best of BIX • Best of BIX

EIX

• Best of BIX • Best of BIX • Best of BI

The INT 27 method only works for .COM files. The INT 21, function 3^ method will work for .EXE files. Also, the function 31 method allows you to return an error code when "terminating."

Microsoft wants you to use the newer method. When they make a recommendation like "is the preferred method," that's a hint that the unpreferred method may not vork In the future.

tbn.pe/pe.software #1204. fren sklug«r a eemniant to message 1202

As for OS assemblers go, to be compatible with everyone else, MASM is probably the one to go with (ugh!). If you want to moke it easy on yourself by not having to declare 2 pages of stuff to write a 2-line program, you might want to choose Digital Research's RASMPC/LINKPC/SIOPC combination. This has the neat advantage that any .EXE file created by them is totally Incomprehensible to any debugger except SIDPCi

Ibm.pc/pc.software #1205, from dondumltru 0 comment to message 1202

DOS does not have a built-in command to change the screen color. Take a look at the ANSI.SYS device driver for an easy method. Install ANSI.SYS with a DEVICE=d:\path\ANSI.SYS statement in your CONFIG.SYS file. Change your prompt to $e[37;44m$e[K$p for whiteon-blue letters. (This is just an example - you should find your own preference.) Also, there are a couple of programs around that will change the default display color to...whatever. Look on your local BBSs, or ask some local friends.

I would recommend Microsoft's Macro Assembler 4.0. It, and the tools it comes with, are great. 'Course, this is just qh i)f Inlon.

You should buy IBM's DOS Technical Reference Manual if you haven't already. It has bunches of Important stuff In It, especially if you are going to be programming in assembly.

Ibm,pc/pc.software #1206, from gperfeet (George Perfect, Byline Software Ltd.) a comment to message 1202

Gl I ,

If you have the ANSI.SYS driver loaded, the easiest way to set screen colors is to include the ESCape sequences in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. There was a message in the ms.dos conference with details. All Info needed Is in the DOS 2.0 reference manual.

We use the Microsoft assembler (MASM) V4.e and find it quite adequate. It has a switch to generate 286 code If you want. You can order it from Grey Matter or direct from Microsoft in Reading. MA.

Correction

In the June Best of BIX, there was a discussion concerning memory modifications to the IBIVI PC XT. Unfortunately, some critical details of the modification were not mentioned. Here is one of the messages from that discussion, and mail from the author that "fills in the blanks."

Ibm^pe/xt.hardwors #112, from dondumltru a comment to 102

I hove 640K on the motherboard - exactly as described in that modification. The modification involves (1) soldering a Jumper between two solder pads (there Just for the purpose of soldering a jumper to); (2) inserting a "decoder/multiplexer" chip into an empty socket (sorry, I don't remember the chip number); and (3) putting 256K chips into bonks 0 and 1. Todo! 640K for minibucks. For an XT, this hos to be *the* best way to upgrade your memory. For me, memory and the decoder/multiplexer cost around $80. I hod it

installed in 45 minutes. [Ed. note: The multiplexer/decoder chip Is a 74LS1S8.]

From: dondumltru To: curtf

Subject: Question from Best of BIX

1) The jumper is soldered between pads 1 and 2 in the pad set labeled E2 - this pad set is on the power supply edge of the motherboard, next to the motherboard's power connectors.

2) The chip socket is U84 - which *should* be empty before the modification Is Installed.

Hope this helps! Donald

MACINTOSH

The Macintosh conference presents several interesting questions this month: There is a query regarding the exigence of a DTR port on the Mac Plus. Then comes another on the performance of the Mac's stack pointers. The last two threads concern interaction with two types of formats, the PostScript page description language and the MacPaint graphics file. The Macintosh conference window closes with a letter in response to a previous Best of BIX.

A DTR Problem

moclntosh/softw.devlpmt #326, from eforrester (Christopher Forrester)

I am working on o project that Involves the Mac receiving data on the serial port. As far as I can see the Mac did not support DTR. Does anybody know If this situation has changed with the Mac Plus?

mac Intosh/softw.devIpmt #327, from rgelen (Richard G.

Elen)

a comment to message 326

According to my notebook, the Mac Plus modem port has on 8-pin mint-OIN pin-outed thusly (labeling pins from the top left, left to right, viewed FROM the

mach ine):

1. DTR < II

2. DSR

3. TXD

4. GND

5. RXD

6. TXD+

7. (nc)

8. RXD+

It's RS422, really. Hope this helps.

macintosh/softw.devlpmt #328. from rgelen o comment to message 327

(Let's be more precise: labeled 1-8 from the top left, left to right, looking FROM the machine, where 'TOP' means the edge AWAY from the notch In the plug, i.e., the row of only two pins at the top.)

Mac Stack Pointer

macintosh/softw.devlpmt #336. from eforrester Am I erazyl

The following instruction in my program seems to produce some very strange results:

MOVEA.L ie(A1).A7

{continued)

OCfOBEl 1986 • B Y T E: 335

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• Best of BIX • Best of bix • best of bix

at this point 10(A1) contains CB5C. After the instruction has executed, A7 does contain CBSC but the two bytes at CB5A and CB5B which contained D6 B4 now contain ED 4A. All this with one instruction!!

I cm using TMON to diagnose the problem on a Mac

Plus .

HELP!!!

maclntosh/softw.devIpmt 1^1337, from hedges (Tom Hedges) a comment to message 336

An interrupt occurred (without your knowledge) and pushed stuff onto the stack (decrementing the stack pointer first). You just set the stack to CBSC so the memory below that address is now the stack — which was exoctly what I supposed you wanted to do by setting the stacl( pointer to that location. Remember that the stack is used by the interrupt world and one cannot hope for the data below the stack pointer to be preserved just because the base level application code doesn't use that part of the stack.

fflocintosh/softw.devlpmt |338, from mcgath (Gory McGath) a comment to messaga 336

Sounds as if a trap is being taken after that instruction; but then I'd expect more than two bytes to be clobbered. In any case, CB5A is fair game for the stack once you've executed that instruction, and maybe TMON is using it one way or another.

PostScript

maclntosh/qanda #362. from frankb (Frank Boosman)

On Saturday, my boss and I decided to go through with an experiment in using PostScript; if it works out, it will turn Into a long-term project. I spent all of

todoy reading Adobe's PostScript Tutorial and Cookbook, and I'm pretty excited about PostScript. It's on amazing vehicle for graphics production; I can see why It's become so popular.

Anyway, I have a couple of questions obout PostScript, and I'm hoping that some BlXen or friend of

a BlXen will have the answers.

1) PostScript's default unit of measurement is 1/72nd of on inch, also known as a point, and as logical a measuring system for graphics as any. Since 1/72nd of on inch is the smallest unit addressable in this scheme, the thinnest line that can be drawn is 1/72" thick. Yet the LaserWriter is capable of producing 300 dots per Inch, and con therefore produce a line only 1/300" thick (PageMaker does it, incidentally). It's not immediotely apparent that PostScript's SCALE operator accomplishes what I'm after. How can I draw at the full resolution of the LaserWriter?

2) In the Cookbook, Adobe provides some interesting

algorithms in PostScript for handling mundane tasks (like breaking lines of text) and interesting tasks (like using outlined text in a manner similar to QuickDraw's setting a clipping region). But there ore only so many algorithms that can be placed in one book; I'm after as many as I can find. Where can I find interesting PostScript algorithms? Is there a user's group, a newsletter, or some other forum where people trade tips and techniques in PostScript?

To whomever answers these questions, thanks a lot!

■aclntosh/qanda #365, from sroth (Stsv* Roth) a comment to message 362

You con always print a PostScript file to disk to see how Apple and Aldus drivers do it!

macintosh/qando |366, from rschnapp (Russell L. Schnapp)

a comment to message 365

Hmmmm. How do you get a Mac program to print PostScript files to disk? I know you can get MS Word to do it on the PC, but on the Mac?

maclntosh/qanda #367, from frankb a comment to message 366

To sroth: nice idea, but a spooled PostScript file

produced from an application is almost unreadable, consisting mainly of undecipherable abbreviations and the like. It's possible, using FEdit, to open up the LaserPrep and AldusPrep files, but I'm told they are extremely difficult to decipher, being compacted, undocumented, and the like.

To rschnapp: to print a PostScript file to disk from any program, press Command-F immediately after clicking "OK" in the Print dialog box.

It looks like I found the answer to one of my questions, anyway: When specifying a point size for ony drawing operation, real values can be used. A 1/300"thick line would be about .25 point. Silly me. I just ossumed it was an Integer value. Too much QuickDraw.

maclntosh/qanda |368, from Iloeb (Larry Loeb)

a comment to message 367

Isn't there o new "PostScript escape" font that allows printing execution of PostScript files? Download 2.S Is on application from Apple that takes PS files and stuffs them Into a LaserWriter.

naelntosh/qonda #369, from J rob Ie (Jonathan Roble) a comment to message 367

Does the Command-F trick work for other programs?

maclntosh/qanda #370, from frankb o connent to message 369

To Iloeb: the PostScript Escope font isn't really being distributed; it was just mentioned in MocTutor. The idea Is to create a font of 1-pixel height and 0-pixeI width. Type your PostScript program within a wordprocessing file, then convert the program to the Escape font. Vollal The Printing Manager sends it straight through to the LaserWriter.

To Jroble: yes, the trick should work with all software.

MacPaint File Format

macIntosh/qando #384, from bglfford (Bruce Gifford)

I am trying to create graphics and store them in a MacPaint file so they can be edited with MacPaint. I have two programs for displaying MacPaint files on the screen but both say the files hove a 512-byte header at the front without giving any specific details. I have been looking for o week now for specifics of the MacPaint header format with no success. Any help or info OS to where to find this info would be greatly oppreciated.

maclntosh/qanda #385. from ecrawfor (Chris Crawford) a comment to massage 384

Do you really need to know what is in that header? I hove written code that takes MacPaint files and ploys with them extensively, ond my code just ignores the header. It still seems to be able to do everything I want to do, so why bother?

maelhtesh/qando #386, from mieroprosa (Russell Finn,

MIciroProsa Software)

a eommitnt to massage 385

336 BYTE' OCTOBER 1986

F BIX • BEST OF BIX •

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• Best of BIX •

This Is from memory, as I do not hove the appropriate document in front of me. With that said... the 512-byte header contains a pattern list, i.e., 38*8=304 bytes which represent the patterns defined for this document. (You can edit the patterns in MacPaint, remember.) Remoinder is "reserved for future use," i.e., Bill A. couldn't think of anything to put there.

By special dispensation, if those bytes ore all zero, the "stondard system pattern list" is used; this is what you get when MocPaint starts up. (In fact, it is PAT #0 in the system resource file. See IM 1-473.) Therefore you can skip the bytes when reading and write a bunch of zeros without sweat. The document In question got sent out in one of the software supplements (May '85?), but the Info is correct (barring neural parity error). So Is Chris — jUst ignore the header.

mocintosh/qonda |387. from jrobia a comment to dies^age 385

In fact, Apple's documentation on the MacPaint file format says that you can go ahead and ignore the header. I hove been doing just that In my programs, and they work fine.

maclntosh/qanda |388, from bglfford 0 comment to message 384

Sure appreciate your help. I was under the mistaken Impression there was Important data there such as drawing dimensions that I could generate. Just wishful thinking I guess. Thanks again and I will Ignore the header in the future.

The Best of BIX is usually reserved for conversations taken from the

BIX conferencing system. Helpful technical information can, however, transcend the limitations of a prescribed medium. As proof, a letter in reply to items in the July issue.,.

Dear Sir,

The July issue Macintosh section contains an exchange between Mr Hoffman (macintosh/softwdevlprnt #223) and Mr. Crawford (macintosh/softw.devlpmt #224). The information presented in #224 is

TML and Lisa Pascal define the byte data type as a subrange 0..255. As such, it requires a word of storage except in packed structures (array or record). The 68000 requires word and longword items to be allocated on even addresses. Since the variable 'lestptr" is defined as a pointer to Byte, addressing exception processing is entered when a wofd-length memory access is attempted with "testptr" off,

The solution to the problem in #223 is simple, however Use a data type requiring a byte of storage. The type SignedByte is defined as a subrange -128..127, and the compiler allocates such data in byte storage. Type Ptr is defined as a pointer to a SignedByte The compiler generates byte addressing code when such data is accessed. It will thus allow addresses without addressing exceptions.

By simply changing Byte to SignedByte as the type of "testbyte" (and "Byte or Rr), the code in #223 will work as desired. The complex alternsiives offered in #224 are unnecessary.

J. P. Holden

Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada

[conUnued]

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• Best of BIX •

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S-100

Wiiile most of the news in recent years tias been made by tfie IBM PC (and compatibles) or one of the 68000 flavors, the S-100 bus and CP/M

operating system have remained cornerstones of a "workhorse" system for many applications. The s.100 conference on BIX gives aid, advice and comfort to those who choose to use and work on the "boat anchors." The conversations in this excerpt all focus on a variety of disk problems.

5'y4-iNCH Drives under CP/M

s.iee/genaral #61. from w.smtth (William P.N. Smith)

One of the major problems that several people of my acquaintance seem to have with running CompuPro Disk1-A and 5 1/4-Inch drives under CP/M is thot no code exists to do such a thing. Viasyn advertises "simultaneous" 5 1/4-inch and 8-inch but doesn't provide a BIOS to drive them, and I know of no one else who does. I am about to start writing code to talk to my 5 1/4-inch drives (probably using one 4K sector per track, in multi-track mode, so that my OS 96TPI 5 1/4-inch and my SB 8-inch drives will hove the same capacity), but it looks like a long-term project, and I'd really rother not (at this time). Has anyone written such code, or does anyone know where I might purchose such a BIOS already set up for this? The strange thing Is thot the Viasyn boot ROM for the Z-80 attempts to boot from a 5 1/4-inch drive on the third drive....

s.lee/generol #62, from w_smith

Has anyone played with the CompuPro Diskl-A floppy controller? Or the 765-type floppy controllers? I am trying to get it to talk to my 5 1/4-inch drives, and while it seems to format the tracks OK, when I try to read the tracks back, I get a status of:

STB 40H (Abnormal Termination)

ST1 eiH (Missing Address Mark) and no data. Any ideas?

s.lee/generol #65, from Jandrews (Jerry Andrews) a comment to message 61

Are you sure about that third drive boot? I've not got my BIOS written for my new 1-A, but that's the kind of glitch I'd like to know about in advance! I go through a 2-step boot anyway, so it may not be a problem. I set up the RAM disk as disk A; warm starts and such go REALLY fost! I keep WordStar and SuperCalc and dBASE on the RAM disk, and every other application is a PUBlIc file (AKA Dr. Dobb's). Sure does make switching back and forth from source code to editor fast!

s. ieO/gen«ral #67, from w_snltli a comment to message 65

Dunno if you have tried it yet, but the Diskl-A boot ROM goes out and tries to boot from drive 0 as an 8inch, then drive 2 as a 5 1/4-inch, and loops on that till you feed It a disk. I seem to be having some trouble with the basic I/O operations; the statuses I read from the format program I wrote seem to be OK, but for some reason I can't read the formatted tracks. Do I hove to actually write something first, or should I just be able to read the E5s off the disk? READ ID mode says things ore OK on both sides of the floppy, but READ DATA doesn't seem to transfer a single byte and gives me Missing Address Mark status. When you format a track, Is It formatted as deleted data? Maybe I'll try reading deleted data. The Compupro BIOS is kind of hairy to wade through, and there aren't any sources for their format program, so I _could_ be doing something wrong with the format process.

338 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

F BIX • BEST OF BIX •

El\

s.lee/generaI §68, from Jandrews a comment to messags 67

Uh... I've had really lousy I disks. You're way ahead of m working on a set of database YWCA. and haven't STARTED on first, I got the disk read/wr writing 61 through FF to the bock out. That means you've ot once, but what the heck? I haven't tried) is to write BIOS then use it to debug the suggest an immediately recogn E5. THAT could be read from Don't you want to Icnow where

uck reading pre on the 1-A, t routines for th the BIOS. When ite routines wo disk, then read gotta debug two Another possibi a SSSD disk wit READ routine f izable pattern anywhere on the you're reading

formatted hough; I'm e local

I wrote my rking by ing them rout ines Ii ty (wh i ch h your old irst. I'd other than disk, from?

s.iee/general #70. from w_smlth a comment to message 68

Wow, aren't you just a little worried about not having started on the BIOS? See. I don't have any capabilities on my current BIOS to write (or format) a 5 1/4-inch disk, so I hod to write the format program first. Actually, I had to write the SPECIFY, REGAL, and SEEK routines first, but who's counting? I can do a READ ID to ensure thot I am where I want to be, and that works, it says the first sector encountered is sector 1, track whatever, side 0 or 1, but when I try to read it.... Should sector numbers start with 0 or 1? I've tried both ways. I have chosen an easy format of one single 4K sector per truck, so that a double-sided 5 1/4-inch drive has the same capacity as a single—sided 8—inch drive. I intend to have a full track (cylinder) buffer of 8K in memory and move it off to another bank in the future. My main problem now is that I'm not reading 'anything at oil, from anywhere on the disk. Just to hove the thing dump E5s into memory would be a victory! Then I can worry about writing and verifying and such. Maybe I should take up writing next and worry about reading later. At least I can tell If the FDC thinks it has completed the write.

8.100/general #72, from Jandrews a comment to message 70

Coup Ie th i ngs.. .

1) Sectors go 1 to n. Tracks go 0 to 65535.

2) No, you're right to stick with a read first. I haven't got any words of wisdom, but I'm sure interested in what you end up with (slaver, slaver).

3) Yeah, I'm worried about not starting on the BIOS. But this is a PAYING CUSTOMER! They get first dibs on my free time. I'm operating with (yer not gonna believe this) 1 eoch S" DSDD floppy, and 1 each 2S6K RAM disk 'till I get that BIOS wrote. Sigh. It's tough to be poor.

Sounds like you're writing a pretty sophisticated BIOS. I'm leaving buffers in RAM to rev 3. Are you running CP/M 3 or a 16-bit machine? I've not seen on 8K buffered system under CP/M-801

•.100/general |74, from w_smlth

a comment to message 72

We I I, I'll let you know what I come up with, I think I read somewhere that with the Diskl-A, you ore expected to get on abnormal termination at the end of the track, cuz the FI3C does not get a Terminal Count input at the end of the lost sector, but I'm not getting any data, and I think you are supposed to get an end-of-cyIinder overrun error or something. OOPS, I thought the BIOS

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ilX

Best of BIX • Best of bix • Best of bix

was for your customer.... I've got 2 SSDD floppies and $4K of MU, 80 I know what It means to be poor. The 5 1/4-Inch drives are borrowed from my secondary mochlne for these tests. These things I'm trying nay seem somewhat sophisticated, but I'm really taking the easy way out. By buffering the entire track, I don't have to worry about which sector to deblock. I don't expect to be able to use a few of my larger programs with another 8K chunk taken for my track buffer, but eventually I'm going to hove to bank-switch some of these things to get my networking and track buffers (one for each drive in the final version, I hope). I just have a CPU-Z (Z-80) machine, but if I had some more memory and a couple of jdow's famous hardware hacks, I could do the bank-switching and free up a lot of room in bank 0.

a.ied/general #75, fron jondrews o comment to message 74

My current OS runs configured as a "standard" 48K machine. I don't think you'll have any problem missing that 8K chunk. And I gotta ogree: buffering to RAM Is lots easier than figurin' out what to deblock!

s.IBS/general #77. from Jdow (Joanne Dow) q comment to message 71

Have you tried read track commands? This should tell you what your format routine actually places on the disks.

s.10e/ganeral #78, fromw_smIth a comment to message 77

Well, Read Track on the 765 doesn't quite work the same as on the 179x, It reads all of the data from the track, and doesn't give you the format Info and such. Worth a try, though, to see if I can get anything. Maybe Sunday if I get a free moment.

8.leO/generol #79, from Jdow a comment to message 78

Isn't there a 765 analog to the format operation? I thought there was o way to get it to simply read a whole track and forget about formats, etc. Hm, Where's my data?

The words are not clear, but I think all the read track command will do is read the data from sectors. It might work; but if it only reads after valid IDs the results will still be nil.

It apparently continues to read, however, so it is worth a try. I am suspicious when it says It stops when the number of sectors on a track have all been read or that the command terminates if no valid ID mark between two index holes. The more I look at that chip the more I like my 17xx/27xx family of controllers. They're dumber, but I can do all kinds of magic with them.

A Cry for Help

s.iea/general #160. from uneleroger (Roger Louis Stnesohn)

O.K. Here's the situation: I've got a box/P.S./motherboard, which just came out of a working system. I've got a CPU 88/85, a RAM-16. an Interfacer 1(+?), and 0 Morrow DJDMA. So far, so good. Well, I put in all the boards, connect the DJDMA (a disk controller card, BTW) to a working Shugart 881 (or 800?) 8" SSDD disk drive, and turn it all on. Nothing happens. I mean, the fans come on, and the power light goes on, and the drive starts spinning, etc., but the drive doesn't start ka-chunking or anything, and nothing happens on the terminal, etc.

So I change to different IWM cards.

Still no go. Different CPU. Still no go. The Interfacer I is new, as is the DJDMA.

Any suggestions? My only thought is that the DJDMA is bod. Could be. The jumpers on everything ore set right. I can't figger out why It don't Work. Arrggghhhl

Thanks in advance,

s.100/general #101, from w_8mlth a comment to message 100

Well, if you ore _absolutely_sure_ that all switches and jumpers ore set right (On which board Is the boot ROM active? Does the memory respond to Phantom properly? Is the CPU set up to jump to the proper address on reset? Is the disk drive set up and cabled properly? etc.), I would suggest taking your scope and looking at some of the basic 8-100 lines to see what activity you have. Make sure you hove all power lines within spec, the CPU is generating a clock signal, at least a few of the address and data lines are Jumping around, and stuff like that.

One of the "problems" that I have with my 21-slot backplane is that If I spread the cards out (the logical way to load a cardcage), the timing or something gets off and the system will not work. Also,

Expansion Chassis / Sub'Sysfem

Specification

Model No.

No. of Slot

Space for Vi Height Drive

Power Supply (Watts)

Dimension DxWxHicm)

Price

M-V

0

1

SO

30x16x6.5

$139

M-2

3

3

100

42 x 25x16

$299

M-3

5

3

100

39 x 30x15

$239

M-4

12

2

100

40 x 39x14

$289

M-5

0

2

45

39x18x15

$149

M-6

0

1

SO

26.5x18x13.5

$169

M-7

5

2

100

38.5 x 30x13.5

$299

M-8

0

2

45

39.5x18x13.5

$149

M-9

0

2

60

38.5x49x9

$249

M-10

8

4

135

43x49x14

$239

'Extra space lor a stand alone controller

EXT and RCV Adapters (Interlace Computers & Chassis)... $149

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340 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 285 for End-Users. Inquiry 286 for DEA1.ERS ONLY.

BIX • BEST OF BIX •

EIX

Inquiry 188

• Best of BIX •

be coreful thot only one card In the system is generoting MWRT. The most important part of my S-100 system is ANSI/IEEE Std 696-1983. I think it cost maybe $10.

•.100/genaral #102. from unclarogar a eommant to massage 101

Whoa! OK. As far as I know, all the jumpers 4 switches are set right. I wiI I double-check them tonight. According to the OJOMA manual, it is supposed to load a bootstrap(7) program into the first bit of memory. (I don't have the manuals, or I'd cheek.) How do you tell if the memory responds to Phantom correctly? (I meant, I don't have the manuals here (at work).)

Scope? The closest thing I have is a multimeter. I checked oil the important pins, like It says in the CompuPro enclosure manual, and they all checked out OK. Some of the ones that are supposed to have around 2-3 volts had zero, though. Which brings to mind active termination. I dunno if I got It or not.

I will try moving the cards around and closer

together.

What is MWRT, and how con I check it without a scope? (I ossume you mean an oscilloscope?) And what Is an ANSI/IEEE Std 696-1983, and where can I get it?

PS. I'm not all that knowledgeable about the technical aspects. (That's why I'm stilt In school.)

s.ieQ/ganaral #104. fro* w_«nlth a comment to message 102

Hmm, if you hod the boards all out and checked the lines and none of the address end data lines hod around 2-3 volts, that means you have no termlnotlon, active or passive. This might be bad, as I doubt any of the boards you mentioned would have terminators, and without termination, you might get some interesting ringing. See if there are rows of resistors (and possibly a couple transistors and such) at either end of the bus. MWRT Is a memory write strobe that can be generated in any number of places, but must be limited to one and only one. Hmm, without a scope, you are Just a bit hog-tied. I was going to suggest that you might get away with a logic probe, though that might be a pain. Also, as Joanne mentioned, the disk you are trying to boot from must be for your disk controller. Try turning off the power and moving the read/write head towards the center of the disk, then power It up and see if it seeks back to track 00.

As for the ANSI/IEEE Std 696-19S3, thot's the S-ieO spec written up by the group that standardized It. I think It cost me about $10 or so. Get an order form from an Issue of the IEEE Spectrum magazine (they list available publications every 6 months or so) or write:

The Institute of Eleetrieal and Eleetronics

Engineers 345 Eost 47th Street New York, NY 10017

The spec will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the S-100 bus. Note that this is also known as the IEEE-696 spec. Any board that meets this spec will work with any other board that meets the spec, but generic S-100 boards may not (most probably will, but there's no guarantee). Thus the larger S-100 companies are now all IEEE-696 compatible, whereas some of the little guys just sell S-100 boards. There may be some confusion about conformance vs. compatibility, but that's out of my league. I guess Joanne had the best idea, find yourself a guru with a scope. Then again, borrow a scope and make yourself into a guru I

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To order Of enquire call ustoday. Dealer enquiries welcome. Megatel Computer Technologies(4161745-7214ISOTurblneDrlveWeston,Ontario M9L2S2 Telex: 065-27453 U.& Address: 1061 Clinton St., BullolOi N.Y. 14206 Distributors; NC8 Electronics Varese Italy • SES Electronics Nordlingen, Germany • Perdix

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Inquiry 95

OCTOBER 1986 " BYTE 341

-The BUYER'S Mart

A Directory of Products and Services

THE BUYER'S MART is a monthly advertising section which enables readers to easily locate suppliers by product category. As a unique feature, each BUYER'S MART ad includes a Reader Service number to assist interested readers in requesting information from participating advertisers.

RATES: 1x-$475 3x-$450 6x-$425 12x-$375 Prepayment must accompany each insertion. VIS/VMC Accepted.

AD FORMAT; Each ad will be designed and typeset by BYTE. Advertisers must

furnish typewritten copy Ads can include headline (23 characters maximum), descriptive text (250 characters maximum), plus company name, address and telephone number Do not send logos or camera-ready artwork.

DEADLINE: Ad copy is due 2 months prior to issue date For example: October issue closes on August 1. Send your copy and payment to THE BUYER'S MART BYTE magazine, 70 Main Street, Peterborough, NH 03458. For more information call Karen Burgess at BYTE 603-924-3754.

ACCESSORIES

Self-Inking Printer Ribbon

For users of Okldata and other open spool ribbon printers. Controlled Printout Devices are a new kind of printing ribbon that re-ink thennselves, and will last 15 times longer than the ribbon you are now using. For further information please call or write.

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POB 869, Baldwin Rd., Arden, NC 28704 (704) 684-9044

Inquiry 674,

ACCESSORIES

. . .SOFTWARE PUBLISHING. . .

GDS offers a wide vatiely of services lhat will help gel your so'lware lo the ma'kei Address your needs wilh GDS

• IBM style clolh/vinyl 3 ring binders^shps

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Glenco Development Systems(312) 392-2492

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Inquiry 699,

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FREE CATALOG

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PRINTER RIBBONS

Guaranteed First Quality — Colors Available

Pf,co oacn ,n quanti!/0' 3 6 13

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Epson MX/FX/RX 70/80 5.25 3.65 3.35

IBM Proprinter Nylon 7,75 6,70 5,70

Okldata 182/192/193 Nylon 8,80 7.60 6,45 Prices Include delivery In Continental U.S. Printer Ribbon Supply

POB 920145 • Norcross. GA 30092 BOO-436-7745 In GA. 404-446-1547

DATA SWITCHES

Stop recabling forever, with our Serial or Parallel AB or X Gala Switches Two printers can share one computer or two computers can share one printer or plotter, or modem, or monitor, or etc. Prices slan as low as $42,00, Send for our catalog or see our ads in May/July/Sept issues To increase your systems productivity today, call: 602-623-5716

Via West, Inc.

534 N, Slone Ave,, Tucson, AZ 85705

Inquiry 758,

LOWEST PRICES ON DISKETTES

5'/«" DSDD 39C. High Density $1.65, 3'/!" SSHD S1.25. DSHD $1,45.

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Add 3.00 shipping per 100, Minimum 100 diskenesSend check or call. CA residents add 6i/^% sales tax. Same day shipping

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1633 Westwood Blvd.. Ste. 120. Los Angelas. CA 90024 213-479-0345

Inquiry 678.

SOFTWARE PACKAGING, DISKS

Cloth binders & slips like IBM's. Vinyl binders, boxes, and loldets-many sizes. Disk pages, envelopes. & labels. Low qty imprinling. Bulk & branded disks. Much More! Low prices. Fast service. Call or write lor FREE CATALOG.

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376-B East St. Charles Road Lombard, IL 60148 1-800-DEAL-NOW (312) 629-5160

Inquiry 656.

FREE CATALOG

Outstanding prices on computer accessories for your computer and workstation. Our catalog features a wide selection of quality products to meet all your accessory needs. Call or write today to receive your free catalog.

LINTEK COMPUTER ACCESSORIES

POB 8056, Grand Rapids. Ml 49508 (616) 241-4040

Inquiry 718.

►■COMPUTER PROTECTION-*

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE KIT COMES COMPLETE WITH;

■ CRT ami-stall c/g la re cleaner

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■ Simple How-To-Booklet w/dtagrams (or:

IBM'S, COMPATIBLES. TANDY, APPLES. S39.95 + $4 S/H COD/M.O.

T & W COMPANY (213) 426-4595

226 Euclid Ave.. #B. Long Beach. CA 90603

Inquiry 750.

COMPUTER SUPPLIES

Printer Paper, Diskettes, Printer Labels, Anti-Gfare Screens. Printer Ribbons. Storage & Accessories, Surge Protectors. Cleaning & Maintenance Products, Send for our Free Price List and Check our prices before you Buy, Call or Write

CAUFORNIA SUPPLY CENTER

POB 143. Elk Grove. CA 95624 (916) 689-3037

Inquiry 669.

FABRIC DUST COVERS

Our 5th year protecting computers and peripherals With heavy poly/cotton covers BEST QUALITY — American made, custom work BEST SELECTION - 6 colors. 1300 styles BEST SERVICE - Fast. Toll Free, MC/Visa BEST PRICES - $8.95-$36.95, Shipped Free BEST VALUE — Monogram or Screening available COVERS UNLIMITED POB 381076 • Germantown, TN 38183-1076 800-821-7709 or 901-754-4465

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Inquiry 690,

Quality PC Acc*Morl»I

Our NEW Catalog includes every Accessory ANY PC USER might want! We have it All, from PC Stands to Monitor Pedastals. Travel Cases lo Data Bank Watcties, Switcfies/Cables to Chocolate Floppys, and even a PC ToolkitI Simply call or write for a complimentary copy of our latest catalog. Our products, service, and guarantees are simply the finest. Tlp2 Direct, Inc. Simply Call l-BOO-TO-ASK-US P,0 Box 690. San Francisco. CA 94101-0690 1-800-862-7587 or 415-567-4067

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At last! Hard to find continuous tractor fed greeting card envelopes. If you are addressing Xmas/social card envelopes by hand, order our 500 pac of ttie most common size card envelope (5,25 x 7.25) and computerize. Fits 80 col, 1-2 pacs @ $45, 3+ @ $42, Send check/lvl.O. to: WHEATON COMPUTER TOOLS Suite 555, 2444B Ennals Avenue Wheaton. MP 20902

Inquiry 761.

BAR CODE

PRINT BAR CODES ON PC

Print Bar Codes and Large Text Labels on PC witti Epson/Okidata/IBM Printers - Code 39.1 2ol5. UPC, MSI. DOD-LOGMARS, AIAG. Text up to 1" tall. File input. Menu driven $49-299. NEWt 8K Ram-Resident program prints bar codes from any user program or even word processor — $179. ($239 with large text).

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Inquiry 676.

342 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 754.

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The BUYER'S Mart

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Program-transparent. Keyboard interface Bar Code Readers (or IBM PC, AT and compatibles-$485. Other wedge readers for IBM 3180. 3176. 3278, 5251. 5291, and RS-232 terminals. Portable Bar Code Readers trom $325. Programmable Hand-Held PortablBS-S1200. Free PC print program with reader purchase. 30 day money-back guarantee on all products.

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Inquiry 763.

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VIDEO STORES

We need ambitious dealers in ail U.S. states and Canada to market a powerful system to computerize video tape rental stores.

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Inquiry 762.

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VT102/52 TEK4014 VT220

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General Micro Systems

P.O. Box 5330. Hopkins, MN 55343-1553 (612) 944-0593

Inquiry 698.

DataTerm 8220

Now you can connect your PC with any Datapoint computer. Full 8220 emulation. File transfer, with DOS or RMS, under user or host control. Supports 50 to 19.2K baud, directly to MPCA or modem. Requires only an IBM compatible with an async comm adaptor. $179.95 Visa/MC. Datapoint 8242 or 3600 terminal emulator and source is also available.

LAN Comp Systems 14524 I H.R., Issaquah, WA 98027

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Inquiry 716.

FAST ASYNC COMM SUPPORT

Written in assembler * Interrupt-driven transmit & receive * Buffered I/O * Up to 6 channels ' Interface for HLL's ■ Extensive exception fiandling • RTS/CTS or XON/XOFF • Cfiannels configured individually " Demo & manual included. $149.

TEKSONIK, INC.

31 Granite St.. lulilford. MA 01757

(617) 478-0350

Inquiry 753,

DATA/DISK CONVERSION

INCOMPATIBLE WORD PROCESSORS?

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Inquiry 681.

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Inquiry 672,

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CP/M <-> MS-DOS

Read, write and format CP/M diskettes on an ISM PC or compatible. Over 115 CP/M tormals on the menu and you can add your own. Use Convert to copy text and data files (such as V^ordStar and Dbase 11) between CP/M and MS-DOS. Or use it to manufacture CP/M diskettes.

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Inquiry 671.

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Convert any 9 lraci< magnetic tape to or from over 700 formats inciuding 3'/2", 5'/4" 8" disi< formats & word processors. Disk to disl< conversions also available. Call for more info, introducing OCR Scanning Services.

PIvar Computing Services, Inc.

165 Arlington Hgts. Rd., Dept, #B Buffalo Grove. IL 60089 (312) 459-6010

Inquiry 731.

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Diskette duplication • Packaging • Stocking/Drop shipping • 48 hour delivery ■ SUPERLoK copy protection • No mastering fee • No charge for standard labels • Place a blanket order with releases as you need Ihem for any quantity at a fixed price.

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340 Lassenpark Circle, San Jose. CA 95136

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Inquiry 729.

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Summagraphics MM1201 complete $434

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HARDWARE

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Inquiry 710.

68020 COMPUTERS

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From $2195.00. Other 68XXX computer systems from $995.00.

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Inquiry 680

Inquiry 749.

Inquiry 650.

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 343

The BUYER'S Mart

HARDWARE

HARDWARE

MAILING LISTS

SANYO 5S0/SS5 USERS

TURBO aOARD-7,2 MHZ I 95.00

20 MEG EXTERNAL HARD DISK SYSTEM . . S749.95

VIDEO BOARD $135.00

HARD DISK CONTROLLER (ST-506 COMPATIBLE)$249.95

IBM BOARD ADAPTOR S 49.95

768 MEM. CLK. & EXPANSION BD(FREE HAMDISK, SPOOLER. S SOFTVIDEO-RUNS IBM PROGRAMSI S199.95

TAMPA BAY DIGITAL

1807 Gull-toBay Blvd.. Clearwater. FL 33575 813-443-7049

MEGABYTES OF MEMORY

Lowest Prices Guaranteed in US. Dealer Inq. Invited Fully Populated 2MB Memory Boards TALLTREE SYSTEMS - JRAM BOARDS JRAM 2 $299 OPEN 7

JRAM 3 Alxiveboard 369 DAYS A WEEK

JRAM AT 369 M F 9-8

JRAM AT At)Ovetward419 S-S 9-6

JDISKSnE 135 VISA. MC. AE. CHOICE

JLASER I 275 703-847-4740

JMODULES CALL aoo.642-2395

Information and Technology Services, Inc.

Professional List Management

ArcLisl — maintrame mailing list management for the PC/XT/AT Capacity 20 million names, automatic zip and state verification, print any label, custom chiarts and reports, merge-purge witfi excellent near-dupe recognition, match codes, postal presorting. Nih sampling, much more. $595. Demo disk available. Take control of your list. Call for free brochure. Arc Tangent, Inc.

232 Anacapa St.. FOB 2009, Santa Barbara. CA 93120 800-843-5928 (in CA. 805-965-7277)

Inquiry 751.

Inquiry 657,

USED APPLES & IBM's

Commodore C-128 — $225.00 Laser 128 (new), Apple 11-i- and He — call PC-XT Clone — $475.00 Motherboards & accessories — call We buy. sell, & horsetrade — Apple, IBM, & CBM,

SHREVE SYSTEMS

845 Larl< Ave.. Shrevepon, LA 71105 318-865-6743 4-9 p.m. C.S.T. VISA/MC

Inquiry 742.

PC WHOLESALE CENTER

F.C.C. APPROVED BASIC KIT

• 640K Mother Board (OK) S94.00 ■ 5150 Keyboard Board $46.00

• 150W Power Supply $56.00 ' Case $34.00 ALL FOR S230J)0, CALL FOR OTHER ADD-ON CARD.

SANFORD INC.

10413 Rocl<ley Rd., Houston, TX 77099 (713) 879-0068

Inquiry 739.

BEST PROGRAMS-TRY FREE

■ Uail-Track-I ($49.95) our easiest program in use since 1982

■ Maii-Tfack-ll ($95) llexible & pomriu\, allosvs up to 24 lields. • Mail Bulk Rate II ($195) for isi and 3rd class maiiings

■ Mail Second Class II ($295) for 2nd class mailing.

For IBM & Cotnpatibles. Call or write for free trial version & catalog,

SAPANA MICRO SOFTWARE

Dept. BOC, 1305 S. Rouse, Pittsburg. KS 66762 (316) 231-5023

Inquiry 765,

ZBO™ / CPIM" CO-PROCESSORS

Plug-in co-processors (or PC, PC/AT. Blue Thunder (5 mhz) $199.50 Blue Lightnin' (9 mtiz) $595.00 Run CP/M software on PC as if MS-DOS software. Diskette conversion included. Can run intei ISIS software We have cards for PDP-11 and VAX too.

DECMATION

2065 Martin Ave. #110, Santa Clara. CA 95050 (408) 980-1678

Inquiry 684.

HARDWARE ADD-ONS

RS-232 RS-422

• Four Port RS-232 w/soflware •3491"

• RS-422/485 Serial '149°°

• RS-232/422 with 24 Parallel I/O '199°°

• RS-422 Synchronous •299°°

• EPROM/RAM '^99"

• A/0 & Digital I/O •299°°

Call About Custom Designed Boards Sealevel Systems Inc. P.O. Box 1808, Easiey, SC 29641 (803) 855-1581

Inquiry 740,

IVIULTIUSERS

COMPLETE BUSINESS SYSTEMS

UP TO 50% . . . OFF

WE OFFER MORE THAN BOXES

SpBcializing in ATST Single & Multiuser Systems

ATtT COMPAQ IBM

PRINTERS MONITORS SOFTWARE

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY SUBJECT TCI CHANGE

FCG Information Systems Inc.

11033 E ROSECRANS. UNIT E. iJoRWALK. CA 90650 213-929-8891 800-523-1789

Inquiry 693.

EPSON QX-16 — A complete computer system 512K - 2 Drive - Monitor - Keyboard - PP - SP '500 ol FREE software - Vadocs2 ■ CPU - I»1S - DOS List $2700 Your Cost 8895

OKIDATA-93

160 CPS ■ Wide Carriage with NLO

List '900 Your Cost '379

Elactrllled Dlicountera (203) 937-0106

996 Orange Ave., P.O. Box 151, West Haven, CT 06516

Inquiry 689.

640K MotherBoard UPGRADE

640K memory without using an expansion slot! Allows easy insertion of 256k chips on the system board, 100% compatible 30 day $$ back guaranlee, Compaq Portable & plus: $29;$99 with memory IBM-XT, 3270 & Portable: $39; $109 with memory, IBIvl-PC: $59; $129 with memory, $4 s/h. Site discount. Dealers welcome,

ARISTO

16811 Ei Camino #213-D. Houston, TX 7705B 713/480-6288 800/3ARISTO

inquiry 658,

PROGRAM GENERATORS

WINDOW.LIB $99.

An easy to use complete windowing syslem lor programmers and willing in

• BASIC IBM, M S, CBB6 • C LATTICE, M-S

• COBOL M S, RMF • PASCAL M S TURBO

• FORTRAN M S, RMF dBase Clipper Vl/indow editoi included Create callatjle pop up menus, help screens The line selector features auto reverse highligfiling and cuisor control No royalties. Ask aOoul our BIOS/DOS LIBVISA/MC

GLENCO ENGINEERING (312) 392-2492

3920 Ridge Ave,, Arlington Hts.. IL 60004

Inquiry 700,

XT/AT COMPATIBLE HARDWARE

ATI-1000 AT 8MH2 M/B W/640KB" $629.

ATI-1000-10 AT 10MH2 M/B w 1MB' B49.

ACS-1000 XT Turbo M/B' w/512KB/8MHz 395

ciock calendar 2 serial. 1 parallel port

MITSUBISHI CGA MONITOR 279.

MITSUBISHI EGA MONITOR 399.

MAXI SWITCH XT/AT Keyboard 69.

TEAC 360K Floppy Drive 92.

ZUOKER Mono/Graphic Card 86.

'A/nei.c.ir. Made M/B PQ HOUSE

3706 Realty Rd.. Suite 200. Dallas. TX 75244 (214) 241-5614 Inquiry 6S1.

POWERLINE GREMLINS?? POWER FAILURES??

The MEIRICK STANDBY POWER SYSTEM is the TOTAL SOLUTION to your powerfine problems, 400 watt system - $449: 800 watt system - $795

MEIRICK Inc., POWER SYSTEMS DIV.

Sox 298, Frisco, CO 80443 303-668-3251

APPLE COMPATIBLE PRODUCTS

lie RAM/80 Column Boards, 64K $39. 266K $109. 512K $139. l OMEG $238. 256K-1.0MEG includes XMe PLUSWORKS Sfwr. \\* BO Col Bd $49. lie Keypad w/16 Keys $39. H+le Cooling Fan w/surge protect $29.95. Add $3 Shipping. Write for complete list.

NEXO DISTRIBUTION

914 East Bth St., Ste, 109, National City, CA 92050 (619) 474-3328

Inquiry 724

HARDWARE/BLDG. CONTROL

POWERLINE MODEM CASH REGISTERS, ELECTRONIC SIGNS, PC'S communicate over POWERLINE

RS232C, GE/EIA Consumer Eleclronic Bus Protocol, Hayes Compatible. 64,000 units on network. Data Compression. 10O0 baud (HOMENET spec). 40 HOMENET commands. User Programmable Client Layer $395.

AISI RESEARCH CORPORATION

Discovery Park. University ol Victoria 3771A Haro Rd, Victoria BC CANADA V8W 2Y2 (604) 477-1415

Inquiry 653,

PUBLIC DOMAIN

IBM, CP/M, MAC SOFTWARE

Over 2500 disks covering IBM/ PCDOS/ MSDOS, CP/M and Macintosh. All major public domain user groups represented. Priced from $6 (US) disk (even lower in quantity). Fast service, shipped around the world. Call or write for our FREE 32 page minicatalog of highlights.

CANADA REMOTE SYSTEMS LIMITED

(1-800-268-2705) (1-416-231-2383)

Inquiry 670,

-> PUBLIC DOMAIN SOFTWARE

50 AMIGA DISKETTES — S8.50 eactl, 25 ATARI-ST DISKET TES — $8.50 sacti, 490 IBM DISKETTES — S«.25 eacti 60 SANYO 550/555 DISKETTES — $4.25 each, SAMPLE DISKETTE & CATALOG: AMIGA or ATARI-ST se ppd IBt^ or SANYO IS ppd

All prices include FREE SHIPPiNGI Visa/MC - No Extra Ctiargel 48 hr. Turnaround! Ptione Orders Welcomel Quality Media Usedl

Computer Solutions

P.O. Box 354 - Dept. B, Mason, Miclligan 48B54 1-800-874-9375 (M-F 10-5 EST) 1-517-628-2943

Inquiry 673,

344 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

The BUYER'S Mart

PUBLIC DOMAIN

SOFTWARE/BUSINESS

SOFTWARE/BUSINESS

► SOFTWARE FOR PENNIES ^

GET BEST AND LATEST PC-DOS, CP/M-BO AND CP/M 86 PUBLIC DOMAIN PROGRAMS FOR BUSINESS, PERSONAL, EDUCATION, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT, MODEMING, SCIENCE, AND MORE, AT LOW COST OF COPYING S-'/i, 5-'/< AND 8" DISK FORMATS ARE SUPPORTED SEND S5,00 FOR CATALOG

MULTIPATH, INC.

Box 395, Montville, NJ 07045

(201) 575-5880

OFFICE AUTOMATION SOFTWARE

Order Entry, Inventory $49.95 each. Independent or interactive Fast, accurate Database sizes. 150 to 1000. Moniiof up to 15 whse Other conligs avail Order acknowledgment forms, inventory listings, & reorder level listings printed Mm. req IBM PC or compatibte. 1 DSDD 360K drive. 128K RAM memory, DOS 2 10 or later MCA/ISA. free shipping

FutureSoft (216) 753-1336

P O Box 23005, Cuyahoga Falls. OH 44223-1100

LP88-LINEAR PROGRAMMING

A powerful menu-driven system lor solving linear programs w/ up 10 510 consiraints & 2510 variables Features incluPe interactive & batch operation, spreadsneet-slyle input & editing, storage of problems & bases. Simplex Algorithm restart, report generator, sensitivity analisis Req IBM PC, 192K $99 w/SOB? support, user s guide ViSA/MC EASTERN SOFTWARE PRODUCTS INC. P,0- Box 15328, Alexandria, VA 22309

(703) 549-5469

Inquiry 722.

Inquiry 697,

SOFTWARE A.I.

EXPERT SYSTEM LANGUAGE

If you can use a spreadsheet, you can use KNOWOL, the Knowledge Oriented Language, to guide people in solving problems,

KNOWOL + {Complete) $99.95

KNOWOL (Introductory) $39.95

Intelligent Machine Company

1907 Red Oak Circle, New Port Richey, FL 33553 (813) 844-3262

PC-Flle III" Version 4

Search, sort, browse, global changes, macros, mailing labels, formal reports with selection & calculations, subtotals, totals, averages, encryption Exchange data with 1-2-3, WORD, WordStar Over 190.000 users. $59.95 + $5 s/h For IBM PC

ButtonWare, Inc.

P,0, Box 5786, Bellevue, WA 98006 1-800-J-BUTTON

dFELLER Inventory

Business inventory programs wntlen m modifiable dBASE source code,

dFELLER Inventory $150.00 Requires dBASE II or III, PC-DOS/CPM dFELLER Plus $200.00 with History and Purchase Orders Requires dBASE III or dBASE III Plus (For Stockrooms)

Feller Associates

550 CR PPA, Route 3. Ishpeming. Ml 49849 (906) 486-6024

Inquiry 665.

Inquiry 694.

0PS5 + for PC's & Mac's

0PS5 + by Computer'Thought is a quality implementalion of 0PS5 for IBM PC, XT, AT's & compalibtes and the Apple Macintosh Mouse controlled, menu driven development environment $1,750 single qty. (Substantial educational. VAR & corporate discounts). Mention BYTE & get a free mouse or $100 off until 12/31/86.

* * Distributed by JCL Systems * *

2508 Teakwood Ln. # 100, Piano, TX 75075

(214) 867-0962 VISA, MC, MO & Checks accepted

Inquiry 713.

SOFTWARE ACCOUNTING

FINANCE MANAGER It - General Ledger

A small business/personal finance package for IBM PC Menu driven, easy setup, complete reports, budget, graphs double entry, simple inputs, demo files. Tracks income, expenses, assets, liabilities, net worth, Evalualion copy vt/iih manual on disk tor only $10. Registered copy With printed manual $65. Visa/MC/Amex

Hooper International

Dept. 8. P.O. Box 6009, Vancouver, WA 98668-6009

(206) 256-6361

Inquiry 704.

dBASE BUSINESS TOOLS

' General Ledger ' Purch Ord/lnvntory

* Accounts Recvbl. ' Accounts Payable ' Order Entry ' Job Costing

* Sales Analysis * Job Estimating

$99 EA, + s&h w/dBASE 2, 3 or 3 + SOURCE CODE

dATAMAR SYSTEMS'Cred, Card-Check-COD

6809-B Convoy Court. San Diego, CA 92111 800-223-g963/CA 800-221<9964/(619) 278-8222

Inquiry 682.

PC-Rle/R""

All the power of PC-File III plus Relational link to other databases, integrated letter writing & mailmerge, context sensitive pop-up help windows. New binary search reineves data hundreds of times faster. $149.95 + $5 s/h

ButtonWare, Inc.

P.O. Box 5786, Bellevue, WA 98006 1-800-J-BUTTON

Inquiry 666,

The Andsor Collection'^

Unique concept: creates complete, self-contained, window-based data management environment, in one DOS file. Simplifies everything. Combine functions to create your own solutions in any application, calculations, database management, modeling, text processing, charts, data analysis, statistics, reports, labels, forms, presentations, mail-merge, etc Simple enough lor a PCjr, sophisticated enough for a PC AT.

SEE ALSO THE AD BELOW

The Andsor Collection"'

From simole calcuiaiions, Mes inquiries, lo complex models, aaia siructures. repons Superb 400 page riard-cover manual with many examples US$95 + $5 s&h 60-day money-back guarantee Visa^MC/AmEx/Chk/MOCOD Call or write now lo order IBM PC/XT/AT/PC|r, 128K + , one drive or hard disk, monocnrome and/or color, DOS 2,0+ Not copy-protected

ANDSOR RESEARCH INC.

181 University Avenue., Suite 1202, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 3M7 (416) 364-8423

Inquiry 655.

PC-Write" Shareware

Fast, powerful word processor/text editor for IBM PC. Mallmerge, split screen, ASCII files, macros. Supports proportional printing, laserJet, 300-fprinters. $10 for all software, tutortat/guide on diskette. OK to copy. Register for manual/suppon. $75. Full 90-day guarantee. Version 2,7 with spell check soon; diskette pair. $16; register, $89.

Quickaoft (206) 282-0452 Visa/MC 219 First N. #224J. Seattle, WA 98109

Inquiry 737.

SAVE LEGAL FEES

157 time tested legal forms on disk, complete with menu driven system and editing and printing capability. Free copy of PC-Write word processor included. Forms written by a noted attorney and applicable nation-wide, S129.9S plus S7.50 shipping and handling.

LegalEase"' HDG Software, Inc.

54 Whitney St.. Sherborn, MA 01770 617-651-1881 600-628-2828 x 706 for credit card orders

Inquiry 703.

SOFTWARE/CHURCH

ROMAR CHURCH SYSTEMS™

Membership-61 fields plus allernate address, labels, letters, reports any field(s) Otfering-256 funds; optional pledge, statements; post to 255 x/year FinanceG/L with budget; up lo 500 sub-totals & 99 depts; monlti 4 YTD reports anytime tor any month. Size 2000 people/floppy; 25000/10 meg Ad loo stiortf Write!

Romar Church Systems, Attn: BMB

P,0, Box 4211, Elktian. IN 46614

(219) 262-2188

Inquiry 736,

CPA'S CLIENT WRITE-UP $250

l-tOTj a low cost, proven system featuring complete general ledger with flexible report formats, statemenl of change, }0b cost and optional Lotus/dBase interface After-lhfrfact payroll provides earnings records, state u/c, 94t's,W-2'sand t099's Runs on all IBIvl PC/XT/AT and compatibles with 256K $250 complete-including printed manual, MC/VISA, 14 Day Free Trial.

HOWELL ASSOCIATES 713-661-66S2

4545 Bissonnet Suite 280. Bellaire, TX 77401

DBASE III SOURCE CODE FOR

HUMAN RESOURCES MGR, $250 VIDEO MOVIE MGR, $395 Runs on IBM PC or compatible. All modifiable. Demo diskette plus manual $25.

ORDER NOWl

PC MASTERS, INC.

POB 521, Lapuente, CA 91746 (818) 913-6100

Church Package

Parishioner Time, Talent and Treasure System program is written in modifiable dBASE source code, • Contributions • Disbursements • Ledger • Names with mailing fabels • Personal information database. Requires dBASE II or III. PC-DOS/CPM-80 $200,

Feller Associates

550 CR PPA. Route 3. Ishpeming, Ml 49849 (906) 486-6024

Inquiry 705

Inquiry 730

inquiry 695.

OCTOBER 1986 -BYTE 345

The BUYER'S Mart

software/general:

SOFTWARE/GENERAL

SOFTWARE/GRAPHICS

GREAT SOFTWARE, CHEAP!

Absolutely Smashing User Supported Software $4.95 per disk. PC-Outline, PC-Write. DOSamalic, Commercial Unprotect, File Express, Clieap Assembler, Chess, utilities galore, many more. Money-bacl< guarantee. IBM PC, PC Jr, or compatibles. FREE CATALOG.

PLUS SOFTWARE

33495 Del Obispo, Suite 160 M, Dana Point, CA 92629

CYBER_CAT catalog $24.95

Somewhere among your 200 disks is a lile you used 2

years ago. Cyber Cat will find it in seconds. Cyber Cat

will label, Index & catalog your disks Including your hard disk and all subdirectories. DOS 2.0 or later, 2 DRV, PC/XT compatible or generic. ViSA/MC/CK Fl. Res, add 6% lax. Postpaid in U.S.

CYBER_WARE Corp.

4411 Beerldge Rd. Suite 251, Sarasota, FL 33583 1-800-237-8400 x86 (813) 371-2157

In FL 1-800-282-1469 x86

FORTRAN PROGRAMMER?

Now you can call 2-D and 3-D graphics routines within your FORTRAN program.

QRAFMATiC: 75 callable routines for

screen output. $135. PLOTMATIC: Pen plotter driver. $136. For the IBM PC. XT. AT and compatibles. We support a variety of compilers, graphics boards and

MICROCOMPATIBLES

301 Prelude Drive, Dept. B Silver Spring, MD 20901 (301) 593-0683

Inquiry 733.

Inquiry 677.

SOFTWARE/GRAPHICS

NEW INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENT Al FOR THE IBM PC

TOPSI IS A FULL VERSION OF 0PS6 WHICH RUNS UNDER MS-DOS, UNIX OR CP/M. A FAST. EFFICIENT EXPERT SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT TOOL.

PROTOTYPING: »125 PRODUCTION: S2S0 PROFESSIONAL: $375 SHIPPING, ADD $5

DYNAMtc Master Systems

POB 666456, Atlanta, GA 30356 (404) 565-0771 Telex #282923

THE DQI ORGANIZATION — PRINTERS SUPPORTED

lets you easily manage your organizatjon charts il is menudriven for easy use You can create, save, update and print or plot your organization ctians. You can input up to 58 individuals with four lines ol text each, two title lines and a lootnote. For use with Apple II and IBM computers and most printers or HP plotters. $95.

DECISION GRAPHICS, INC.

P.O. Box 2776-B, Littleton. Colorado 80161 Phone (303) 796-0341

GRAPHICS PRINTER SUPPORT

A T LAST! Use the PrtSc key to make qualify scaled B&Wor color reproductions of your display on any dot matrix. Inkjet, or laser printer. GRAFPLUS supports all versions of PC or tvlS-DOS with IBM. Tecmar, and Hercules graphics boards. $59.95.

Jewell Technologies, Inc.

4302 SW Alaska St., Suite 207. Seattle, WA 98116 (206) 937-1081

Inquiry 685.

Inquiry 683,

Inquiry 714.

MIcroGANH®

Control your project! You describe the work. MIcroQANTT calculates ttie schedule and budget. Optimize trie schedule interactively. Customize the reports Sub-tasl<ing. fixed and variable costs, multi-project resource allocation, unlimited size and scope. GANTT. PERT, CPM, DOD-7000. Call or write lor tree catalog.

Earth Data Corporation

P.O. Box 13168, Richmond, VA 23225 (804) 231-0300

Tl PRO + TURBO + GRAPHICS

UNLEASH YOUR Tl PRO WITH: TURBO 2.0 or 3 0 TIGraSx GRAPHICS. TURTLEGRAPHICS. MUSIC. SCREEN & CURSOR CONTROLS & more routines than IBfw! TURBO Use BASIC PICS w/o reprog. Convert IBM code lo Tl PRO Source & doc included TIGralix $89.95, -f TURBO tl49.95, -f

turbo 8087 s179.9s. switch to turbo now!!!!

ProWahe, Inc.

1023 SE 36lti Ave.. Portland. OR 97214 VISA/MC/CHECK 7AM-7PM MON-FRI

(503) 233-4465

3D INTERACTIVE GRAPHICS

Imagine 2D and 3D graphics in real time at $24.85. Keyboard support, construct images, create sound. Required IBM PC/XT/AT/Compatibles, DOS 2.X, 3.X. CGA. Support 8087/80287. IvIS or IBIvl Fortran. Basic, Pascal Demo SS apply toward purchase. Please add S3 S/H In TX add 6.125%. VISA/)»1C;CHECK/Ivl0

Flltrex Research, Inc.

P.O. Box 820425, Houston, Texas 77282-0425 (713) 556-5747

Inquiry 686.

Inquiry 696.

SOFTWARE/LANGUAGES

US$6 .. . INCLUDING DISK

Over 2,900 + software titles (or IBM-PC. Apple II, Macintosh, Latest titles. Lots of til-quality manuals. VOLUME DISCOUNTS.

• IBM-PC Light Pen c/w software; $65

• 640K motherboard c/w full RAM: $200

• PC mouse compatible: $65 Lota of bargains, ram chips, etc. ... Specify your computer type witfi SI note (or our air-malled catalog to:

MICRO-WORLD, Dept BYTE

Towner POB 310, Singapore 9132 REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

3D TURBO GRAPHICS

Viewpoint quickly and easily generates perspective or parallel plots from an artjiirary view point on a variety d devices IBM Mono & Color. Epson. Tektronix, Calcomp and HP Haloed effect indicates hidden lines. Simple application integration, CAD, architecture, chemistry and engineering. Turbo Pascal source included Only $49 US. Call or write for more info.

Berkeley Computer Software Ltd.

247 Parkgten Cres. S.E. Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2J 4M4 (403) 265-4111

Minnesota ^^"9^^9^

Powerful string & data handling facilities. Interpreter compatible with mainframe SN0B0L4. 32K strings. 32 bit integers, 6067 (or float & large memory model. Sample pgms include ELIZA. For >128K IBM PC & DOS or equivalent. Definitive "green" book by Griswold et al available.

Guide +5V4" SSDD diskette $44.85

Guide + diskette + "green" book S59.95

"Green" book only $26.95

Postpaid In USA. In NY add tax. VISA/MC (914) 271-5855 BEBSTIS INTERNATIONAL POB 441. Mlllv^rood. NY 10546

Inquiry 721.

Inquiry 660

Inquiry 661,

SongWrlght III Music Processor for IBM Compatibles

Prints quality lead sheets, songs, scores wittr text antJ symt»ls, multiple staves; transposes to any key: plays tunes. Screen graphics editor; IBM/Epson/Star printers. Send $49.95 or write tor tree sample output.

SongWrlght Software

Box 81107, Cherry Creek, CO B0206

(303) 691-4573

Inquiry 745.

EGA CGA PGA HGC GRAPHICS

GYDNGRAP HP like graphics fins lor Lattice C- Multiple plots/screen. Background EGA plots, Suppods plotters. Limited PGA ftns. t225 EQADUMP Resident graphic dump for EGA hi-res. $49 GYDNFIT Graphic curve fit and statistics. S99 + $4 s&h Texas add 6,125%. Add $50 for HERCULES.

GUYDON SOFTWARE SERVICES

221 Ginger Lane, Euless, TX 76039

817-496-6639 or 817-540-1668

Inquiry 702.

HYPER C COMPILERS/TOOLS

Apple It ProDos Professional

S99.9S

(vladnfosh

199,95

Macintosh programming toots with complete source code:

Assembler & Linker

SS,00

Trilon Preprocessor

50.00

f^ulti-Window Text Editor

50.00

fviacro Preprocessor

50,00

For further information/literature contact:

WSM GROUP, INC. (602) 298

7910

P.O. Box 32005, TUCSON, AZ 85751

Inquiry 764.

FOOTBALL DATABASE

POINTSPREAD ANALYZER includes all NFL games since 1978, with won-loss stats and pointspreads. In seconds, see stats and patterns. 1986 schedule on disk for new scores. Developed by Ph.D. statisticians. SSO complele. IBM PC and compatibles. MCA/ISA.

POINTSPREAD ANALYZER

3104 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 (415) 540-5072

PLOT DATA OR FUNCTIONS

APPLOT is a sophisticated plotting program for Apple II computers. Data entry by disk, keyboard, or by typing in any function. Scaling and labelling are controlled by menus. Similar programs cost $30, $40, or even $60, but APPLOT is only $18.95.

Wesha Technologies

4911 S. Canyon Hd., Rapid City, SD 57702 (605) 348-0132

MACINTOSH DEVELOPERS

Dramatically decrease developmeni lime. Elegantly crafted compiled library routines for easy implementation of Mac interlace. Graphics scrolling and printing, text editing, zooming windows and much more* PASCAL EXTENDER"' SS9.95 C EXTENDER" $129.95

INVENTION SOFTWARE CORPORATION

P.O. Box 3168, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 313-996-8108

Inquiry 747.

346 BYTE ' OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 759.

Inquiry 712.

The BUYER'S Mart

SOFTWARE/LANGUAGES

FORTRAN UTILITIES

CROSS-REFERENCE UTIUTY: Mainframe grade symbol xref listing for variatilQS, subprogram calls and labels. Variable map sfiows type, length, alloc, scope, usage tag, etc. All FORTRAN 77 compilers. S49.95 + J2.50 S&H. UTILITY LIBRARY: Assembly language routines lor screen, cursor, Iteyboard, time, sound, etc. MS/IBM and IBM Pro/RM FORTRAN compilers. S39.9S 4- S2.S0 SiH. IBM PC with DOS 2.0 +. VISA/MC/MO/check (2 wks)

PJN International

P.O. Box 201363. Austin. TX 78720 (S12) 258-123S

Inquiry 732.

SOFTWARE/SCIENTIFIC

Affordable Engineering Software

CALL OR WRITE FOR FREE CATALOG Circuit Analysis • Root Locus • Thermal Analysis • Plotter Drivers • Graptiics • Signal Processing • Filter Design • Report Proofreader • Transfer Function Analysis. BV Engineering

2200 Business Way Suite 207. Riverside. CA 92501 (714) 781-0252 VISA/MC

Inquiry 668.

SOFTWARE/SCIENTIFIC

forMath® text-formatter

• Equations, matrices, ratios, integrals, diagrams

• Macros, fonts, Greek/math symbols

• Hyphenation, secn/eqn/ref numbering

• Indexes, table of contents, footnotes

• Dot-matrix, daisywheel, laser printers, all monitors

$400. $50 for demo

Shantha Software Inc.

50 West 97lh St. Room UN, New York Cily 10025

(212) 222-SNIP Touchtone toll free: 950-1088-walt-FORMATH

Inquiry 741.

SCREEN PROGRAM GENERATOR

SPG I Cfeates BASIC program code quickly and easily. Design your screen direclly and SPG I will generate ihe BASIC program code to handle ihe display and input of data Controls use of color, editing, graphics, cursor movement and function keys Generated code easy to modify / merge.

IBM PC & compatibles 128K $75 + $3.00 S&H (CA + tax)

Traebeard Software

5901 Warner Avenue. Suite 428 Huntingion Beach. CA 92649

(714) 840-6939

Inquiry 75&

Symbolic Profiler for Turbo Pascal

Find out where your Turbo Pascal program is spending all its time. Only $49 plus S&H: $3 US/Canada, $7 Europe.

KYDOR COMPUTER SYSTEMS

1701 Greenville Avenue, Suite 505 Richardson, Texas 75081

(214) 669-1888

Inquiry 715.

SAVE OVER 50% ON SOFTWARE GUIDE

Lifeboat offers a comprehensive reference catalog of software development tools detailing over 200 of the top-rated programs designed for your needs. Call 800-847-7078 or send your check or M.O. for $4.95 to:

Lifeboat Associates

55 S. Broadway, Tarrylown, NY 10591

Inquiry 717

SOFTWARE/SCIENTIFIC

► MATRIX 100

Perlorm multiple regression, solve simulianeous equations, invert matrices, etc. in BASIC or Fonran. '■. very sound numencaiy very powerful and very easy to use" — OR/MS Tcxtay 2/95 'Stanford Busif>ess Software desefves congratulations'' - PC Mas. 5/14/85 Pnce $80; 8087 support $125; compiler support $250; Fortran library $175 ($4 s&h).

STANFORD BUSINESS SOFTWARE, INC.

2672 Baystiore Parkway, Ste. 304 Mounlain View, CA 94043 To Order Call (415) 424-9499

Inquiry 74fl.

PC TECHNiCAL GRAPHICS

TEKMAR Is a graphics library for the Tecmar Graphics f^aster. Similar to PLOT-10, includes WINDOW, VIEWPORT, AXIS. Support (or HP, Ml plotters. Curve fittir^g, complete plotting program. Log, semi-log, multi-axis, 3-0, contours. Demo disk, literature available.

Advanced Systems Consultants

21116 Devonshire St.. Suite 329. Ctiatswortti, CA 91311 (818) 407-1059

Inquiry 652,

ORDINARY/PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQN SOLVER

FOR THE IBM PC & COIulPATIBLES

MICROCOIVIPATIBLES iNC.

301 Prelude Dr., Silver Spring, MD 20901

(301) 593-0683

Inquiry 720.

ENGINEERING SOFTWARE WRITTEN BY ENGINEERS FOR ENGINEERS

Highest power per dollar, Higtiest power per K of memory. Satisfaction guaranteed.

Electronic Circuit Analysis $450.

EC-ACE $95.

Tatum Labs

ROB 698. Sandy Hook. CT 06482 (203) 264-3755

Inquiry 752.

$10 SCI CALCULATOR

• RESICALC: Pop-Up Calculator. User prog, functions. Very Easy To Use $10 -i- $5 s.h.

• COMPLEX: Pop-Up Calculator for Complex Numbers, incl. FFT & Polynom Roots.$25

• MATRIX: LP, Sys of Eqns, New Fast Nonlin Eqn & ODE solver, 160 pg. man. $60

SoftTech Inc. 1-313-544-8544

14640 LaBslle, Oak Park, Ml 48237

Inquiry 743.

POP-UP HP-41 EMULATOR

Graphically presents HP-41 keypad and unique view of stack and registers. Binary, Octal, Decimal. Hexadecimal display and input 12 digil precision; 500 accessible registers. For IBM PC/XT/AT and dose compatibles. Standard version & 8087 version $74.95 ($4 shipping and handling, plus sales tax in Calif,},

ECLIPSE LOGIC INC.

P.O. Box 2003, Huntington Park, CA 90255-1303 (213) 569-6020

Inquiry 688.

SOFTWARE/SORT

OPT-TECH SORT/MERGE

Extremely fast Sort/Merge/Selecl utility. Run as an f\/1S-D0S command or CALL as a subroutine. Supports most languages and filetypes including Btrieve and dBASE. Unlimited filesizes, multiple keys and much more! $149,

(702) 588-3737 Opt-Tech Data Processing

P.O. Box 678 - Zephyr Cove, NV 89448

Inquiry 726.

SOFTWARE/SYSTEMS

CPM-80 LIVES on your PC

CP/Mulator puis a 4mhz 8 bit CPIM emulator in your IBMPC lor $99. {$3 s-fh).

- A great 8 bit development system

- Saves expensive CPM-80 applications

- Increases PC speed 10% for 8088 programs

- Priced less than most software only products

- Uses no valuable board slots

Source Information

P.O. Box 2974, Warminster, PA 18974 VISA Phone (215) 441-B178 M/C

Inquiry 746.

SOFTWARE/TOOLS

Introducing CorrectForth 1.1b

Programmers! Are you tired of waiting for your programs to compile? Tight, ROMaWe code without royalties. Want a program development environment that produces fast code at the same lime? lis unique features are: • Multitasking w/inlerrupt service routine support. • 8086/186/266 assembler w/support for the 8087/287 coprocessors, • Floating point package. • Megabyte address space. 90-day warranty. MS DOS compatible. All for only $80.75. For more information and to order call:

Correct Software, Inc. 605-787-5904

Inquiry 675.

Digital Filter Tutor $375 Kalman Filter Tutor $850

Practical hands-on training courses that run on the IBM PC. Learn how to specify, design, tune, implement, analyze, and test filters. FREE demo disk

availableEngineering Tutorial Software

22338 Lull Street, Canoga Park, CA 91304 (818) 716-0816

CROSS ASSEMBLERS for VAX VMS and PC/MS DOS New Low Prices

Relocatable Macro Cross Assemblers,

Linkers, Librarians Targeted to almost all Ivficroprocessors

ENERTEC, INC.

BOX 1312, Lansdale, PA 19446 215-362-0966 MCA/ISA

STOP BURNING PROMS

Burn n' Laarn is out . .Tha ROM* Simulator is in.

Plugs into your PC deveJcpmenl system and simulates the 27)tKx series ROMs Features allow you to A{ssembly). U(nassemt3ly) and E(nter) changes to code under dev directly in your system, trap and locate execution addresses No need to burn ROMs, code executes in RAM The best low-cost dev tool you will ever buy Use with any microprocessor or microcontroller Increase debug productivity 10 times or more DEBUG utilities avail tor all microprocessors. Pays (or ilsell Ihe lirsl time you use it Order now at only S895.00.

Protottar Instrument* (714) 662-7910

749 Grayling Bay. Costa Mesa. CA 92626

Inquiry 692.

Inquiry 691.

Inquiry 735.

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 347

The BUYER'S Mart

SOFTWARE/TOOLS

METRICS FOR MANAGEMENT ANALYZE reads your code & produces metrics on VOLUME, COMPLEXITY, PRODUCTIVITY & more! Management, QA/QC & Engineers gain valuable insight to scheduling, problem areas, testing, maintenance & compliance to standards. For IBM PC. Process FORTRAN & "0" $495.00 + S/H. Add Ada for only $200.00 more! MCA/ISA

AuTOMETRic Inc.

891 Elklidge Landing Rd . Suile 350. Lininicum. MD 21090 (301) 859-4111

Inquiry 659.

STATISTICS

NUMBER CRUNCHER STAT SYS

Menu-driven, Multiple & stepwise regression, ANOVA, time series, discriminant cluster and factor analysis, pnncipal components, scatter plots, histograms, t-tests, contingency tables, nonparametrics. Import export data. Spreadstneet, sorl, join, merge. $79. IBM PC/Macintosh. Quantity discount. NCSS-B

865 East 400 North, Kaysville, UT 84037 801-546-0445

Inquiry 723.

UTILITIES

MEDIA MASTER PLUS

READ. WRITE, and FORMAT over 150 CP/M disks and run most CP/M-80 programs on your IBM PC! Two program package includes ZP/EM. a CP/M-80 emulator program that Iranslorms your IBM PC into a 1 -2 M HZ CP/M 2 2 computer, $59.95 -t $3.00 S/H (CA 6%)

Intersecting Concepts, Inc.

4573 Healherglen Cl.. Ste. 10 Moorpark, CA 93021 (805) 529-5073

Inquiry 711,

PC-Type™

Fast, compact, capat)le & easy! Help panels, handson tutorial, macros, multiple-hne headings & footings. DOS path support, print spooling, block operations, etc. ASCII files. Install program allows customization. $59.95 + $5 s/h. For 128K IBM PC.

ButtonWare, Inc.

P.O. Box 5786, Bellevue, WA 98006

1-800-J-BUTTON

Inquiry 667.

STATISTICS CATALOG!

If you need statistics for IBM PC or Apple II. call us and let our technical advisors help you find the statistics programs you need. Write or call now to get a FREE catalog of statistics and quality control software. HUMAN SYSTEMS DYNAMICS

9010 Reseda Blvd., Ste. 222 Northridge, CA 91324

(800) 451-3030 (816) 993-8536 (CA)

inquiry 706

QUICKCACHE

Intelligent disk 1/0 mgmt. subsystem for PC/MS-DOS 2.XX & 3 XX. Capable of making programs run up to 14 times faster. All parameters dynamically alterable. LIM memory supported. 40 KB mm. required. $49.95 + $5 s/h. VISA/MC, 30-day guarantee.

p. R. GLASSEL and ASSOCIATES, INC.

30255 Fir Trail, Stacy, Mt^ 55079 612-462-1337

Inquiry 727

TURBO TOOLS/UTILITIES

MODULIX Separately compiled libraries you can include in Turbo Pascal Break 64k code barrier. $69.95. TRACIX An interactive equation compiler Draw curves on Linear and log scales. $39.95. CLIX Key redefinition program with source code. $39.95

Turbo Modulix Inc.

46 Fontenay. Lorraine, Quebec Canada J6Z-1R7 Tel. (514) 621-2722

The Statistician

includes: Multiple Regression (Stepwise, ridge, all subsets, backward elimination)

• Time series analysis • descriptive statistics

• translomations • survey research • nonparametrics

• X-Y plots • ANOVA • random sannples • data base

• data editor • search & sort • hypothesis tests

For IBM, MS-DOS, XENIX, CRM, TRS-DOS.

QUANT SYSTEMS x«.?'^n«

TOLL Pnct t-S0O-aa4-0854

Box 628, Charleston, SO 29402

B03-571-2825

(Ext. 814)

SOURCE CODE LIBRARIAN A REVISION CONTROL SYSTEM

TLIB'" keeps ALL versions of your program in ONE compaci library lile, even wilh riundreds of revisions.

• 5 times faster than SCCS • LAN compatible

• Free public domain MAKE (with source) by L. Dyer I^S/PC DOS 2,x & 3,x $99.95 + $3 S&H. VlSWti^C

BURTON SYSTEMS SOFTWARE

POB 4156, Cary, NC 27511 (919) 469-3068

Inquiry 756.

Inquiry 664,

STATISTICS

UTILITIES

PC TALLY

Monitor computer hardware, applications, printer use- Assign costs for allocation or billing, Measure keystroke, printer traffic. CPU usage. Track program and sub-program usage. $59.95 (U.S.) + $5.00 shipping & handling.

SRC Software Research Corporation

3939 Quadra St,, Victoria, BC V8X 1J5 (604) 727-3744

IBM - TOSHIBA PRINTER INTERFACE

• all extended capabilities of ihe TOSHIBAS available

• bit mapped graphics supported

• Prints all IBM extended ASCII ctiaraclers

• screen dumps in text and graphics

• escape sequences supported

• popular software supported directly

• "Sideways and "Pyxe! Visuals' suppon

• dealers welcome $79.95 ($2.50 S&H) Integrated Data Technologies, Inc. 4775 Bunctiberry Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80917

303-597-5547 MC/VISA

PADLOCK/PADLOCK II DISKS

PADLOCK furnishes Ihe user with a method for providing protection against unauthorized duplication from DOS commands $99. PADLOCK II disks come preformalled wilh finger-prini and senalizalion PADLOCK II disks offer superior protection. Ask about our HARD DISK ptolection with uninstall capability MC/VlSA

Glenco Engineering

3920 Ridge Ave., Arlington Hts., IL 60004 (312) 392-2492

RATS! Version 2.0

RATS, trie best selling Econometric software pacl<age, now includes daily and weekly data, a new easier to use 500 page manual, and many advanced features. Use RATS for time-series and cross-section regression, including OLS, ARIMA, VAR, logit, and probil \BM PC or compatible $200 MCWISA Call for broctiure.

VAR Econometrics, Inc.

P.O. Box 19334, Ivlinneapolis, f^N 55419-0334 (612) 822-9690

ZERODISK

ZeroDisk runs dozens of copyproiecled business packages from your liard dtsk witfioul floppies. Call tor trie latest list of software it tiandles Needs IBfyl AT. XT. PC, or compatible, DOS 2.0 or tiigher ZeroDisk is revised monltily and is not copy protected $75 US Ctieck or Credit Cards accepted

QUAID SOFTWARE LIMITED 45 Charles St. E. 3rd Fl.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada lyl4Y 1S2 (416) 961-8243

CONCURRENT DOS BACKUP

BackPack" runs like BACKUP/RESTORE and supports DOS and CP/fvl media as well as users. Backs up and restores up to lOOOK/min. on an AT and 360K/min. on an XT. Supports release 4.1. Also available on CP/M-80 and CP/lvl plus $150.

Bright Light, inc.

520 Fellowship Rd. #0301, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054

(609) 778-0772

Inquiry 663.

STATISTIX™

$75 - Satisfaction guaranteed

A comprehensive, powerful, yet easy-to-use statistical analysis system for IBfvl PC/XJyAT's. Apple ll's, and fvlS DOS machines. Clear 200p manual. Write for information.

NH Analytical Software

801 West Iowa Ave.. St. Paul, IvIN 55117 (612) 488-4436

PAL FOR SIDEKICK!

Personal Appointment Locator automatically shows coming appointments, searches your file, maintains to-do list, examines multiple files. Resident alarm too! Only $49.95. Cheap at twice the price!

PAL SOFTWARE

Ste. 12B nOGreen St., New Yorl<, NY 10012 212-925-1843

STILL RIVER SHELL

Visual shell for PC/MS-DOS. Turns your directory into a menu. VI .33. Only $9 for shareware diskette. $35 manual & diskette.

Bob Howard

PO Box 57, Still River, MA 01467 617-456-3699

inquiry 725,

348 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

inquiry 728.

Inquiry 662.

inquiry 293

8MHz SUPER TURBO SYSTEMS

$895 n

Dealers and Computer Groups

CALL FOR SPECIAL PRICE "^iB^^fel

□ Two 360KB Disk Drives /T^^m^^

□ 640K RAivi 'wmmx (MiJ

□ Hercules Compatible Mono Graphic Card (720x348)

□ 12" High-Resolution TTL Mono Monitor

□ 135W Power Supply

□ AT Style Keyboard

□ 4 Layer 8MHz CPU Board

□ Keyboard Switchable to 4.77MHz

□ Parallel Printer Port

□ FCC Approved

□ Fully Assembled & Tested

□ 1 Year Limited Warranty (Parts & Labor)

□ FREE Seattle-DOS with Full System Purchase

SUN-EGA ^# 90 r SYSTEM ^^^^^

■ 2 Disk Drives

■ 135W Power Supply

■ 640K RAM

■ AT Style Keyboard

■ EGA Card (CGA-fEGA-HVlDA)

■ 14" R.G.B. EGA Monitor (EGA-^CGA)

SUN-ST BASIC

■ 1 Disk Drive

■ 135W Power Supply

■ 256K RAM

■ AT Style Keyboard

(Call for other configurations)

SUN-ST COLOR SYSTEM

■ 2 Disk Drives

■ 135W Power Supply

■ Color G Card

■ 640K RAM

■ AT Style Keyboard

■ 13" R.G.B, Color Monitor

SUN-286 ^#»r^ SYSTEM

■ AT Compatible 6&8MHZ CPU

■ 640K RAM

■ 1.2MB FDD C/j HT)

■ HDD/FDD Controller w/Cable

■ 200W Power Supply • Keyboard

■ Assembled & Tested

SPECIAL SALE!!

. SUN-ST CPU (8MHz) $165

(4 Layers, Switchable to 4.77MH2I ■ Multi I/O Plus Card $95

(Serial, Parallel, Clock, Calendar, Game Port, RAM Disk, Spool)

■EGA ^AAO'^'

PACKAGE ^ QlrW Ji,

EGA Card (EGA + CGA + MDA) W/250K Display Buffer, 14" R.G.B. EGA Monitor (640x350, 0.31mm Dot Pitch)

SUNTRONICS. ilMC

1 800 421 57751

(orders only)

213-644-1140 I

STORE HOURS

MOS - ffti >):iXldm - h:()Opm SATURDAY lOOOam VOOpm

Dealer & OEM Inquiries Invited '

TERMS VISA MjilPtCd-iUNnSiiirMa-qM COD, C*it. i.. te-t.l-H

Cli-'fl- 'VISA ,r MC Rpt R4'qii.ie:ll SrM & Gi.i Cw.kmii'

PO drr>>i>i<-il S't'ppMiij & H C SdOQ lii> 3 i|» (I'lik sen III!'-J<i dd(l<i<niu< *b CA ipvdfin add CA SaK^i SIOOOUk. O'di"

THE UNBEATABLE PRICES!

2 SPEEDS TURBO SYSTEM

FULLY IBM PC/XT COMPATIBLE 4.77/8MHZ

• 640K on Board RAM

• 2 Floppy Disk Drives

• Disk Controller Card

• 150W Power Supply

• FCC Type Slide Case

• 'AT Style Keybozu-d . 8 IBM VO Slots

• 8088-2 Micro Processor

• 8087 Co processor Socket . 4.77 MHZ/8MHZ Clock Selectable

• Monitor and Display Card Not Included

Fully Assembled and Tested ^ CO R^OO

(Other Options and Configurations Available, Please Call.) ^^Pu^^P

PINECOM AT SYSTEM FULLY IBM AT COMPATIBLE

. 8/6 MHZ Clock Selectable

• 80286 CPU

.1.2 MGB Floppy DriuG

• 200 Watts Power Supply

• Hard Disk/Roppy Disk Controller

• 512K RAM Expandable lo 1 MGB

• Clock Calender w/Battery Backup

• 'AT Style Keyboard

Fully Assembled and Tested

(H.M-d Disk Available. Please Call.)

$149000

pinecoiti"

SPECIAL SALE ITEMS

20 MGB Hard Disk w/Controller (ST-225) *390«>

300/1200 Modem Card Hayes Compatible »155«>

EGA Card With Printer Port and 256K «260™>

Tape Back Up Irwin 10 MGB «360<>»

3M 10 MGB Tape For Inwin *25»«

Logitech Mouse System With Software $jS""

Samsung T.T.L. Monochrome Monitor (Amber) .. .^SS*""

Mitsubishi RGB Color Monitor (12") 51265'"'

TVM 3 Way RGB Color Monitor (13") S34000

V-20 Ny NEC Turbo Speed Processor

8087 Co-Processor Chip S120<"'

Surge Protected Outlet Strips, Master On/Off Switch,

Power on Light, Circuit Breaker, 6 Outlets ^IS™

Monochrome Graphic Card w/Printer Port *75'"'

Color Graphic Adapter w/2 Composite Ports SSS""

Eprom Writer Card With Software Read, Write,

Copy Vertify Any Eprom 2716-27512 S95«o

Joystick For IBM With 2 Firebuttons n6o°

Game I/O Card For 2 Joysticks 'ZfiO"

Send One Dollar For Our New Catalog

PINECOM COMPUTER INC.

9690 Telstar Ave., Suite 204 El Monte, CA 91731

Phone: (818) 575-1882 Telex: 5106017376 PINECOM Fax: (818) 575-1897

Inquiry 236

Inquiry 69

0ompu$ave

Call Toll Free: 1-800-624-8949

CORPORATION

MONITORS

AmdekSlOA . . NEC Multisyncti . Roland RGB . . SamsungTTL . Samsung 1251 . Thorn 31311SI. . Thorn 36382SI . Zenilh 1230 . Zenith 1330 . , .

143 589 289 85 72 388 369 92 419

Amdek 725 PGSSR12 . PGS MAX12 Taxan 630 . Taxan 640 Taxan 760 , Wyse620 . Wyse640 . Wyse700 .

529 499 155 419 485 CALL 385 . 539 1125 1795 . 149 CALL

Mitsubishi 6920; 19"'1024xlO24 Sakala SC100:137Colar Composile Hitachi/Nanao/Tatung/Sperry

MODEMS

Anchor Volksmodem 12 132

Anchor Lightning 2400/Software 299

AnchorV()ll(sl1200/Software 139

Hayes Smarlmodem 1200 368

Hayes 1200B Half-Card/Software ....345 Incomm2400/Upgradeable4800+ .. 295

Prometheus Proniodem 1200 275

Prometheus Promodem 1200A (Apple). 185

Racal-Vadic 2400V & PC 399

UDS208Am 4800 Baud 935

US Robotics Courier 2400 378

ZQom12C0PC-XL/RAM/Software .... 229 AST/Codex/Novation/Rlxon/Ven-Tel .. CALL

COMPUTERS

AT&T6300;128K/1 Drive 1329

Cordata 400: Portable/2 Drives ... 1099

Cordata 400: 2 Drives/Monitor 1099

Cordata 400XT:Portable/20M Drive . 1475 Cordata 400XT:20MDrive/Manilor . . 1495 Laser128: Apple ME Compatible . 389 Sharp PC7000: Portable/2 Drives , . . .1125 Sperry IT: 1M/44M Hard Drive 2899 TeleCat 286:512K/20IVI Dr/Monilor .. 2349 TeleCat286:512K/30MDr/Monitor .. 2795 Toshiba 1100 i-: Portable/2 Drives .. CALL Toshiba 3100-AT:Portable/10MDr . . CALL

Wyse 1100:640K/2 Drives 995

Wyse286:10MHz/640K/1.2M Drive . 1795 W/se 286:10MHZ/64QK/20M Drive .. 2149 Zenith 181 :Portable/512K/2 Drives .. 1675 Allos/Olivetti/Clones LOW PRICES

TERMINALS

IBM 3164 Color . 899 Altos III .... 565 KimtronKT? ... 435 Altos IV ....355 Liberty Freedom 1.379 Ampex 230 .. 445

UnkPC 445 WyseSO .... 289

Qume QVT-IOIG . 293 Vt^rseSO .... 415 TelevldeoQOS ... 289 WyseSO.... 489 Televldeo955 .. 439 W^seSS .... 438 Adds/DEC/HazeltineA'isual/Zenlth ... CALL

PRINTERS/PLOTTERS

Citizen 120D ... 182 Canon A60 .. 469 Citizen MSPIO . . 265 Canon Laser. 1935 Citizen MSP15 .. 375 NECP6 .... 439

Citizen Premier . . 475 NECP7 609

Cordata Laser . 2175 NECCP8 ... 549 Panasonic 1091 .228 NEC CP? ...729 Panasonic 1092 . 299 OI<idata292 . 511 Panasonic 1592 . 415 Okidata293 . 655 Panasonic1595 . 565 StarLV1210 . . 179 Toshiba 351 Col. CALL StarNXIO . . 245 Toshiba 321 . . . CALL Tally MT86 . . 425 Alps/Data Products/Diablo/Epson . . . CALL Fujitsu/Genicom/Juki/Televideo/TI. . . CALL Houston/loline/RolandPlotters ... SAVE Houston/Kurta/Summa Digitizers . . SAVE

Buflers/Cables/Sheet Feeders CALL

Slands/Sviilch Boxes/Tractors CALL

DISK DRIVES I Archive Scorpion 60M Tape Backup ... 795 Gamma Drives/Apple Compatible ... 119 IOMEGA Dual 10M Bernoulli W/IF ... 1945 IOMEGA Dual 20M Bernoulli Plus ... 4195 | Seagate 2aM Hard Drive W/Conlroller 388 Seagate 30M Hard Drive W/Controller . 489 Tandon20M Hard Card (#1 Rated) .515 OTHER FLOPPy AND HARD DRIVES

Alloy • CDC • Corvus • Irwin • IWaynard Maxtor • Mitsubishi • Mountain • Sanyo

Panasonic • Priam • Rhiimrt -Tallnrass [iiliii • I(;ac • iir i i !■:'.:: •

BOARDS

AST Rampage/PC-XT 239

AST Six Pack Premium/512K 349

ATI Graphics Soluhon 199

Orange Grappler + / Apple 69

Taxan 555 Video Card 169

Orchid Tiny Turbo EGA 589

Artist I High Res Card 1449

PC Color Graphics Card 79

PC Monochrome Graphics Card 89

PC Multifunction Card/OK 85

Hercules Monoihrome Graphics .188

STB EGA Card 259

Paradise EGA/Auto-Switch 375

Sigma 400 High Res Card 439

Tecmar EGA Master 285

Intel/Microtek/Persyst/Quadram .... CALL Practical/Thesys/Video 7/Vutek .... CALL

WE CARRY MAI AND MODELS M SOFTWARE ...

ER MAKES ' RANDS OF ' .... CALL

WE ALSO CARRY

Floppy Diskettes 5'/4"DS-DD 9 I

Microsoft BUS Mouse W/Paint 109

PTI-85 Surge Protector (#1 Rated) 52 |

Cables / Chips / Disks' Graphics Tablets Joysticks / Keyboards / Power Supplies Labels / Mice' Slands' Surge Prolr:clors

HOURS: MON ■ FRI 7AM - 6PM/SAT 9AM ■ 2 IN ARIZONA CALL (602) 437-4855

CompuSave: 4207 S. 37th St.. Phoenix. AZ 85040/For CustonService Call (602) 437-4856/Prices Reflect Cash Discounts And Subject To Change Without Notice/Minimum Shipping Charge Purchase Ordprs & Maior Cradit Cards Wairoma

ToExphre, Enfoy, and Protect

You and I share a great love of this

earth.

The ocean's pounding surf, Spring covering the earth with that season's newness, a bird's song reaching out...and we are moved.

We enjoy the earth's beauty, its grandeur. The endless sweep of colors, and sounds, and everywhere, the excitement of life.

And we of the Sierra Club join together to protect the earth.

We invite you to join with us. To explore, to enjoy. To protect this wondrous earth. For all of us.. . forever.

For membership information, write Sierra Club, 530 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94108, (415) 981-8634.

Bruce

Sierra Club

350 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 94

SPEED

IBM-PC/XT

TO

700%

I Uses 80286 Processor

> Installs in Minutes

I Fits Short Slot

I Optional 80287 Processor

$399

Computer-Age, Inc.

55 Rshfry Street Hartford, CT 06120 203-724-5100

AM-EX

Inquiry 77

Enhance Your Turbo Pascal^'' Programming with TURBO-JET

• Ultra Fast Screen Read and Display •Advanced String and Numeric Formatting •Advanced File and Keyboard Handling

• Subdirectory Utilities "Over 100 Files Includedl

Pascal Source Code included with all Routines Routines Crafted in Assembly Language No Royalties for Program Use Give Programs a Professional Look Don't Pay IVIore For Less! Dealer Inquiries Invited

TURBO-JET, Only $39.95

Add S3.00 for Postage & Handling NY Residents add sales tax TOC Business Solutions, Inc. P.O. Box 129 Old Westbury, N.Y. 11568 MCA/ISA (516) 795-2800

565'=

Plus $3.25 Shipping

30 Day Moncv Back Guarantee

il Plug In.. .Two Parallel Plana OutI Connect any Stajidan] Centronics Parallel Cable dinctly to the iwltch.Two31i' cables (included) attach to each printer.

Simply Call 1-800-TO-ASK-USI Sam-S pm PST

800-862-7587 (CA 415/567-4067)

To Order; Write or call Tipz Direct. Inc. VIsa/MC or Money Orders please. Shipping within 48 hrs. via UPS.

Offering a FUa LINE ol SwitchfS. Cables. & Accessories

P.O. Bo« 690. San Frandsco, CA 94101-0690

Inquiry 305

MODULAR DATA ACQUISITION

• For IBM & Compatibles

• Flexible and Inexpensive

• Money Back Guarantee

• Free Technical Support

Fast Delivery QUA TECH, INC.

47S E. Exchange St. Akron OH 44304 (216) 434-3154 TLX: S101012726

WAVEFORM

SYNTHESIZER

. For IBM-PC/XT/AT and compatibles

• Generates user-definable signal

• Up to 2000 points per envelope

$795.00 QUA TECH, INC.

478 E. Exchange St. Akron OH 44304

(216)434-3154 TLX: 5101012726

Inquiry 230

' ELECTRONICS

DATA SWITCHES

SHARE computers, printers, any parallel or serial device ELIMINATE cable swapping INEXPENSIVE way to network COMPATIBLE with all computers.

Businesses, Schools. Homes WE ALSO OFFER: Data Buffers, Line Drivers. Modems, Protocol Converters, Parallel - Serial Converters, Cables, Computers, Printers, Disk Drives, and more, AUTOMATIC - CARETAKER is ideal for a business or school to share a printer or modem among many computers. Operation Is fully automatic with no software required. Parallel or Serial 4 channels • $295 8 channels - $395 MANUAL ' HARDSWITCH is operated with the flip of a switch, 2:2 and 2:4 models allow simultaneous communication.

Serial 1:2-$59 1:4-$ 99 2:2 - $109 2:4 ■ $169 Parallel 1:2 - $79 1:4 • $139 2:2 ■ $119 2:4 ■ $199 LED and spike protection on serial models add $20. CODE ACTIVATED ■ PORTER connects one computer to multiple peripherals. A software code selects the peripheral. Parallel or Serial 4 channels - $295 6 channels - $395 Buffer option 64K - $100 256K * $250 REMOTE ■ TELEPATH connects multiple computers to multiple peripherals. Aselector at each computer or terminal chooses up to 4 peripherals and displays busy status, 4:4-$495 4;8-$795 selector - $39.

ROSE ELECTRONICS (713) 933-7673

P.O. BOX 743571 MC S VISA AccvpM

HOUSTON, TX 77274 Dtclar InqulriM lnvil»d

CALL US FOR ALL YOUR INTERFACE NEEDS

Inquiry 265

DISK-KING

Premium Quality Diskettes From Itie A. Kings of Magnetic Media *VV Incredible Value'

BASF

Direct from the main source — Ihi liidir ind thi Innntor of magnetic media, premium quality blank diskettes with W/P tabs - sturdy 10 mil jacket — (140°F) - tested 327 ways during manufacturing for highest possible quality control/clipping level Lifetime warranty -Factory sealed in lots of 25 Private labeling available-Quintlty Discounts Anllibls

5.25" DS-DD-RH 48 TPI |3M Bulk) 49

5.25" DS-DD-48 TPI (BASF) 38

5.25" DS-HD 96 TPI (lor Ihi 'AT') * 1

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3.50" DS-135 TPI (BASF)

Color-Codid Usir LilMlKiis Tmk umlopti

12 labels-W/P labs perklt lOO/Pkg.

1-34 Kits 29 1-4 Pkj.. '5"

40 +Kits 24 5+Pko

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S'A'DS-DD 35( Multiples of too

U.S Mfg. Lifetime Warranty, Exceeds ANSI Specs.

Includes W/P and Tyvek Envelopes

SMFIIp 'n'Flli/15 only $1.99 lachl wllh purchase ol S'A" 3M Dlskitlts

llVlin 5 Bx or 100 Bulk)

Factory Sealed Box of Ten Qly. 5 Bx. SS-OD •FIIEESalilin^OCnaallipIn DS-DD

SMIO Mm IMIIIialil ImMt.

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DS-HD-96TPI for the 'AT $2"*

Call for our super low prices on 3M 8" diskillis. diticarlrldges, tapes, and lieadclasning and accessories.

...ttie inventor of magnetic media!

SS-DD FictoiY Sulid Box ol Tin DS-DD

.72 5.25"/48 TPI 83

3.507135 TPI

OS-HD-96 TPI for lh»'AT *1"

SUPER SALE ON

Nashua

5 25" SS-OD Factoiy Sealed Box ol Ten 'B'"

5.25" DS-DD Factoiy Sealed Box of Ten *6*''

5 25" DS-HD Factory Sealed Box of Ten ... .*! B'"

(Sold in Case Lots of 10 Boxes)

COLOR DISKKTTKS.

Premium Qualily U.S.A. Msde

Available In Rainbow & ■ many olher color options

Color, Boxed 5.25" DS-DD* 72

Color, Bulk 5.25" DS-DD 68

Color, Boxed 5.25" DS-HO (for the 'AT)* .... *

Color, Bulk 5.25" DS-HO (lor the 'AT) *1

*pri-pickigid In diir plaitic llliraiY caia al lOC/dlak axlia

Includes Tyvek sleeves. W/P tabs, user ID labels, reinforced hub rings - Cenilied 100% error-free - Lifetime Warranty CALL FOR OUR SUPER LOW PRICES ON WIDE RANSE OF HIBBOHS AHO STOBABE ACCESSOBIES. TERMS: No surcharge on VISA or MasterCard American Express also accepted COD orders only add $3 00 Prepaid orders deduct 2% cash discount PC's accepted from corporations rated 3A2 or better, government and sdiools on net 30 basis - FPO. ARC. AK. HI. PR add 5% - No sales tax outside Utah! Minimum order $30.00 Shipping: Add $3 00 lor 100 diskettes or first 4 lbs TELEX: WE BEAT Any PRICEI (Applll tl Applllj 7554SS Toll-Fm Ordir Uni: Inqulrlii S Info Llni;

1-800-523-9681 1-801-942-2273

n DISKCOTECH

DISKCOTECHNOLOGIES INC

2034 E. 7000 So. Sail Lake City, Utah B4121

Hours: a AM-6PM (MIn. Time)

Recently a Customer Wrote ...

"... I'm SICKI Friday alternoon I bought a $300.00 data base manager from my local computer dealer. When I got home I lound out my neighbor bought the same kind of program from you last week tor six dollars. What's worse, I like your program better! Please send me your disk directory and the following disks..."

What can we say? Isn't it realty about time you discovered ttiat spending big bucks for all of ttiose "glamorous-name" software products doesn't necessarily guarantee you anything but a thin pocketbook and a fancy copy protection scheme?

No... Computerland won't tell you about us or our great software. But why make a $300.00 mistake? Many of our $6.00 packages will actually do everything better and fasterthan the great "Starword-dplus-4.S.6", and you can keep the difference.

Hera Is just a sample o( our library by category.

WORD PROCESSORS PC-Wrlle 2.6 (tf78) A full featured word processor that is faster than Wordstar. DICTIONARY (#378) Dictionary type spelling checker.

IV-ED (#415) Word processor - editor LETTERWRITER (#415) controls letter processing.

PC TYPE (#455) Jim Button's contribution

to a lull fledged word processor.

SCREEN EDITORS FOIL EDIT («347) Full screen editor. Top to bottom and left to right.

TEXT PROCESSING TOOLS FOOFIND (#378) reverses writing complexity using the "Fog Index". WORDSTAR AIDS (#379) collection of the most useful utilities for the Wordstar user. PC OUTLINE (#414) Create and collapse and outline. Great for plans, essays, etc.

DATABASE PROGRAMS

PC FILE III (#S) most popular database program from Jim Button. U-MIND (#133) Fast hashing makes this a dandy database. (Intelligent database) NEWBASE (#233) tt^enu driven database for the beginner.

PC-DBMS (#383) A relational database management system that provides on-line help and screen editing functions. ELSIE EXPERT SYSTEM (#398) Artificial intelligence shell to build a custom knowledge-base.

I

I

PDS'BASE (#396) Complete hierarchical data base system master/detail or mother/ daughter type.

CREATOR (#339) create, report, and sort makes this a super database management system.

DATABASES

BOBCAT (#247) Small business datai)ase.

Excellent!

MFIND (#311) Databaseofover2000movies that can be searched in any category, oryou can add your own.

SPREADSHEETS

PC-CALC (#199) Fabulous 123 work-a-like from the author of PC-File. PC-PAD (#406) Spreadsheet and address book program written in basic.

SPREADSHEET TEMPLATES

LOTUS 1-2-3 TEMPLATES AND MACROS

(#140,141, 165, 257, 289,301-304,406.414) Why spend hours of writing your macros when these are ready made? Modify them yourself,

SYMPHONY WORKSHEETS (#305,306) FINANCIAL PROGRAMS

PC-CHECK MANAGER (#275) Keeps multiple checkbooks in balance. TAX FILE DBS (#295) Tax record keeping system that saves you money on April 15. SAGE TRADER (#242) Analyzes commodity trades. Don't "short" this one! PORTSWORTH PACKAGE (#101) Evaluates your ever changing stock portfolios. FINANCE (#164, 227) Determine present and compound values. Interest rates, etc. HOME FINANCE (#406) Lotus 1 -2-3 lulacros for real life applications. PC-GENERAL LEDGER 1.2 (#237) An exceptional accounting system. Used by some CPA's.

TIME AND MONEY (#251) Financial record keeping and analist system. LOAN AMORTIZATION (#399) For output to screen or printer. Lots-of on-line help. BASIK CHECKBOOK (#271) Keep track of checkbook and personal finances. ACCU-TAX1885 (#479) You can't buya better "commercial" program. MR. BILL (#469,470) Prepare invoices, client report, audit trail, etc.

ANALYTIC CALC (#430-432) 3 disk set. Complete spreadsheet, database, graphics, word processor - fassst!

COMMUNICATIONS OMODEM (#310) The best and fastest com

munications programs you can buy at any

price, bar none!

PC-TALK (#16) The classic "Freeware" communication program. PC-VT (#286) VT-100 Emulation. 8YSC0MM (#338) Menu driven system allowing unattended file transfer RBBS 12.2 (#212) Become a SYSOP and start a bulletin board.

FIDO NET (#333) Bulletin Board System. Perhaps the easiest to run.

MATH AND STATISTICS

EPISTAT 3.1 (#88) Statistical analysis of small to medium-signed data samples.

LANGUAGES CHASM 2.13 (#10) Cheap assembler with tutorial.

XLISP 1.4 (#148) Lisp language Interpreter. MVP-FORTH (#31,32) Two disk set of Mountain Valley Press Forth. 3 F0RTH8 (#352) To modify or expand your own forth language. MVPFORTH, FORTHH and SEATTLE Computer's Forth. PROLOG & UNIFORTH (#417) Complete with editor and documentation. SNOCREST BASIC (#409,410) two disk set. Real basic interpreter with manual. Can be used with a multi-user system. ESIE (#398) Build and generate an expert system In a flash.

PASCAL COMPILER (#424) Written in Turbo Pascal.

P-BASIC (#381) BASICA work-a-like for clones, etc.

UTILITIES DISKCAT 4.0 (#106) Catalog all your disk files in a hurry.

QINACO (#66) 54 polished routines written in basic for any beginner or experts. We love iti

ULTRA-UTILITIES 4.0 (#133, 245) Recover lost files, modify sectors, etc. Like Nortons. SYSMENU (#250) Build a menu driven menu system. Excellent for hard disks. LOAD-US (#284) Allows Lotus and Symphony to be used on a hard disk. PC-DESKMATES (#405) Better than Sidekick and all of the rest of the memory resident desktop utilities. ALIGN 1.6 (#217) Disk alignment tool. TOP UTILITIES (#273) All of the most requested utilities on one disk. NUMZAP (#284) Removes line numbers from BASIC programs.

HARD DISK UTILITIES (#478) A collection

of the best In the library.

UNPROTECT (#414) Various routines to

disconnect protection schemes.

ORDER FORM

LONE STAR SOFTWARE, INC.

2100 Hwy. 360, Suite 1204 Grand Prairie, Texas 75050 214/647-1010

I SHIP TO: I

I

i

I TOTAL #

I DISK DIRECTORY (ExpUnMionofanninaprasniin)

I I I

x$6 = x$6 = .

OTHER

SUBTOTAL

TEXAS RESIDENTS ADD 6'.*% TAX

SHIPPING & HANDLING

(1 (3 $1 00 and 50 lor each additional disk)

TOTAL

! □ MASTERCARD □ VISA

I CARD NO.

EXPIRATION DATE

I SIGNATURE

I

I 22 23 I 42 43 I 62 63 I 82 83 1 102 103 1 122 123 1 142 143 1 162 163 1 162 163 1 202 203 1 222 223 1 242 243 1 262 263 1 282 283 1 302 303 1 322 323 1 342 343 1 362 363 1 382 363 1 402 403 1 422 423 1 442 443 1 462463 1 462483

CIRCLE DISK

4 5 6 7 6 9

24 25 26 27 28 20

44 45 46 47

64 65 66 67

84 85 66 67 104 105 106 107 124 125 126 127 144 145 146 147 164 165 166 167 164 165 166 1 67 204 205 206 207 224 225 226 227 244 245 246 247 264 265 266 267 284 285 286 287 304 305 306 307 324 325 326 277 344 345 346 347 364 366 366 367 384 385 386 387 404 405 406 407 424 425 426 427 444 445 446 447 464 46S 466 467 484 485 486487

48 49 68 69 86 69

108 109 126 129 14&149 168 168 188 189 208 209 22B 229 248 249 266 269 288 289 308 309 3^6 329 34B 349 368 369 388 389 408 409 428 429 448 449

NUMBER DESIRED:

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 50 51 52 S3 54 55 56 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 330 331 332 333 3Jd 335 336 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 430 431 J3? -133 .134 435 436 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 490 491 492 493 494 496 496

17 18 19 20

37 38 39 40

57 58 SB 60

77 78 7$ 90

97 98 9i9 Ida

117 lie 119 120 137 138 139 140 157 158 159 160 177 178 179 180 197 198 190 200 217 218 219 220 237 238 239 240 257 258 259 260 277 276 279 280 297 298 299 300 317 316 319 320 337 338 339 340 357 358 359 360 377 378 379 360 397 398 399 400 417 418 419 420 437 438 439 440 457 458 459 460 477 m 479 480 497 498 499 500

PLBASB ENCLOSB CHECK WITH ORDER

* 1986. tone Star Sofiware. Inc.

PATCHES (#376) make back up copies of some of the most popular commercial programs with this collection.

PRINTER UTILITIES

SP 3.4 (#186. 275) Printer buffer that partitions your data so you can use your computer and print at the same time. SIDEWAYS (#265,411} Prints text Sideways on an Epson printer.

SETPRTH (#79) Sets up Epson printer from a menu.

SLIDE (#244) produce medium resolution slides and overhead transparencies. PRINTER UTILITIES (#411) Sorgasboard of utilities and tools.

EPSON PRINTER UTILITIES (#326) Spaol, set up routines all designed for Epson codes. BANNER (#366) make long banners with large letters. Includes MS-FORTRAN source codes.

EDUCATION EQUATOR (#249) A teaching tool for math, science and finance.

PC-TUTORIAL (#403) A first course in computer usage covering various aspects of MSDOS. Good)

PC-PROFESSOR (#105) Learn Basic the easy way. One of the best tutorials on

BASIC

PC-DOS HELP (#254) type "help" for the DOS command you forgot. FLASH CARDS (#367-370) 4-disk set. Vocabulary builder, spelling teacher. TOUCH-TYPE (#320) Advanced type tutor.

GAMES

TOP GAMES (#274) The most requested arcade type games.

ARCADE GAMES (#293) Another goodie bag of top Arcade games. TRIVIA GAMES (#327-329) Lots of files and documentation for hours of fun. Will not work on PC JR.

PC JR GAMES (#354) Games that will work only on PC JR. Combat, dungeons and dragons, Global Thermonuclear War. MISC. GAMES (#390) Good selection of

educational, adventure, and arcade games. BIG FOUR GAMES (#272) Texas most popular, STARGATE. ZAXXON, AIRTRAX. and DND

MUSIC

PC-MUSICIAN (#127) Compose music on your PC, save and play again. PIANO MAN (*279) Play your PC keyboard like a piano.

APPLICATIONS

GENEALOGY ON DISPLAY 3 0 (#90) GENEALOGY - FT 1.25 (#240) Irom Pine Cone software.

LABELMAKER (#146) Our favorite label file

and maker. Menu driven.

PC-FLY "Fllteplan" 2.1 (#261) Pilots prepare

and file your flight plans.

RECIPE 83 (#281) Recipe liidex (or use with

PC File III (#5)

FAMILY HISTORY (*361) Family history, ancestor and decendant charts. Sample programs.

FORM LETTERS (#388) LOTSofsamples^of the most commonly used business letters. Modifyl

HAM RADIO (*436, 437) Electronic goodies, design antennas, great circle, etc.

GRAPHICS PC-KEY DRAW (#344-345) A small CAD system. Lots of demonstration files. PC-PICTURE GRAPHICS (#136) Drawing package allows you to zoom, color, and store pictures.

PC-GRAPH («41S) Allows user to create graphics from PC-File report files. ORIGAMI (0408) Japaneseartof paperlolding. Graphics required. DRAFTSMAN (#400) Easy to use presentation quality. Mouse or keys.

352 B Y T E • OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 175

Inquiry 36

RS232C IBM PC Compatible Paper Tape Tlansinltter/Madal 612

Stops and starts on character at all speeds, uses manual control or X-on, X-off 90-260 volt, 50-60 Hz power. 50-9600 baud, up to 150 char/sec synchronous or asynchronous; gated internal or external clock, RS 232C, current loop or parallel output, reads 5-8 level tape, 7-11 frames per character, even or odd parity. Desk top or rack mount. Addmaster Corporation, 2000 S. Myrtle Ave,, Monrovia, CA 91016, (818) 358-2395, Telex 674770 Addmaster SGAB

Inquiry 7

UN IVERSAL EPROM PROGRAMMER

' NO PERSONALITY MODULES REQUIRED " ON LINE HELP AND MENU SELECTION « ON BOARD 110/220V POWER SUPPLY " FAST PROGRAMMING MODE AT 6V VCC -BUILT IN EPROM ERASER W/TIMER " GANG PORT FOR FUTURE EXPANSION " SOFTWARE DRIVERS FOR MOST PCs " SUPPORTS ALL 5V EPROMS. EEPROMS AND INTEL MICROCOMPUTERS

HI09C-33 S515 1109C-3'4 $695 DRIVERS $35 SHIPPING $6 VISA 8. MASTER CARD ACCEPTED

B&C M I C F=J O S Y S T E MS

6322 MojAVE DR. San Jose CA 95120 Phone (108)987-7685 Telex 4995363

^.jp.'- ; ,|j..l3rL' Pii -f^ij^j

IEEE 488 Interfaces

for instruments, plotters, printers, digitizers, PCs, Macintosh, etc.

Call or send for, your FREE Technical Guide

[Qtech (216)439^91

23400 Aurora Road Cleveland, Ohio 44146

Telex via WUI 6502820864

Inquiry 143

8051

8048

SIMULATORS - CROSS ASSEMBLERS

PROGRAMMERS - SIMS1 and SIM48 Software Simulators run on IBM-PC, CP/M-80, MS-DOS. Designed for validation & debugging application software. Simulation includes all on chip functions plus expansion cfiips, $250, one year FREE updates. Formats: PC-DOS 2.x DSDD, CP/fi/l-SO 8" SSSD, many 5'/j" formats. Cross Assemblers and EPROIvl pgmrs also available. Logical Systems Corp. 6184 Teall Station, Syr, NY 13217, (315) 478-0722.

loGitQl Systems

inquiry 171

LOW COST UNIVERSAL RROGRAMMER KITS

" NO PERSONALITY NIODULES REQUIRED " ON LINE HELP AND MENU SELECTION " ON BOARD 110/220V POWER SUPPLY " FAST PROGRAMMING MODE AT 6V VCC « BUILT IN MONITOR FOR I/O DEBUG " CAD PCB. SILKSCREEN «. SCHEMATIC " SOFTWARE DRIVERS FOR MOST PCs " SUPPORTS ALL 5V EPROMS. EEPROMS AND INTEL MICROCOMPUTERS

KITS FROM $125 ASSEMBLED $295 DRIVERS $35 SHIPPIN6 $1 VISA 4 MASTER CARD ACCEPTED

BS.C Microsystems

6322 MojAVE DR. San Jose CA 95120 Phone {108)997-7685 Telex 1895363

PC EXPANSIONS

AST Sixpacl<Plus (384K) $199

SixPakPremium (1 M) $429

Advantage (1,5 M) $519

Advantage (3M) $799

Rampage (2 M) S459

RampageAT (2 M) $659

INTEL AbovePC/AT(2M) call

Ouadboard (384K) $199

QuadportAT139 EGA-l-:$399

HERCULES graphics board S209

Color Card SI 59

HAYES Smartmodeml200B S359

Smartmodeml 200 S389

Maynard OnBoard20 S669

Sandsiar Series call

MaynStfeam Tape from S689

WD File Card I20fv1) S639

Seagate 20M Hard Disk .. $459 piusDevelopment20MHDCard . - S699 TandonTMi02:11 9.TeacFD55BV SI09

Toshiba lor AT:109 1 2M S159

Set 0f9l64K) 10 , (256k)S27 8087-3 3119

CALL

Monitors...NEC. Amd^.^k Princeton Gr Printers...Citizen. Panasonic, ^osniba LaserPrinters,..Cannon, Qume, HP All Popular Software

VLM Computer Electronics

10 P.n-!- P'ar- • Morrislown, rj,l 079'S() (201) ;D7-j26a » V.sa MC. Civ'Ch Of COD

— Jl

ORDER TOLL FREE 24 HOURS EVERY DAY 800-662-2686

HARDWARE —

COMPUTERS

IBM COMPATIBLES 640K Ram. Keyt3oard, 1 yr. war, w/1 Floppy,,, 599 Plus 20MB Hard Disk.,, 999

PANASONIC Business & Executive Partners.... CAa

ATARI ST COMPUTERS CALL

MODEMS, BOARDS, DRIVES

Anctior Uglitlna 329 Flashpak Tuitio Board 319

Eiercom 1200 Internal ... 135 SIxPakPlus 384K 209

Hayes Modems CALL SixPok Pfemlum 6I2K.... 369

Practical Modem 1200 . 136 Intel Above Board PC 226

AST-3G Model I EGA 339

Genoa Spectra 319

Above Board PS 289

Above Board AT 366

Genoo Spectrum 249 Tolltree J-Rom 2 136

HerculesGroptlics + 189 J.Ram3/3AT .... 179/239

Mono Grophics Cord 99 J-Loset I 199

Sigma Tuibo EGA! 689 Procticol 1200 Mulliboord..269

STB EGA Plus 309 20MB Hard Disk Kit 419

Tecraar EGA Master 285 BOMB Hard Disk Kll 609

Video7Vego 399 Filecord20MB 609

384K RAM Cord 99 Hardcard20MB 679

AST Advantage 339 Onboard 30MB 869

ASTRampoge 239 lomega2IOH 1949

AST Rampage AT 439 Sigma Fast Track 20 749

PRINTERS, PLOnERS & MONITORS

EPSON-AII Models CALL Amdek600/722.... 429/519

Citizen 1200 199 NEC 1280 m Mono 129

Citizen Premiere 36 499 NEC 1401 Multi-Sync ... 549

Panasonic 1091 249 Samsung TTL 89

1092/1692. 319/439 Sony KVl 311 RGB/TV, . . 469

Ponasonic P3131 269 Toxon 620 399

Roland DW-101 Plotter... 609 Toxon 630/640 .... 449/619

Houston Inst DMP-29.,. 1799 Thompson 36432 R6B... 309

SOFTWARE

—ACCOUNTING

-DATABASE

BPI Accntrg/Mod ... Irom 309 dBose III Plus 409

BPI Enterprise/Mod 429 Nutshell 2.0 85

Peochtree/Module 269 Paradox 449

DAC EZ Accounting 42 Reflex 83

Open Systems V3/Mod ., 449 Revelation 629

Paragon 669 PfS File 80

Star Integrated Acclng ... 449 Q & A 239

WORD PROCESSINiS —SPREADSHEETS —

VolksvmterS 149

Mictosolt Word 3 259

Word Perfect 4,1 209

Leading Edge W,P 85

PFS Write & Proof 82

Multimale 219

Multimate Advonlage 309

Turtx) Lightning 59

GRAPHICS

Chartmasler 215

Click Art Pers, Pub. 109

EnetgropWcs 2,0 299

Frmlonce 209

Gtophvwiler Combo 319

Horvord Pres. Graphks., . 229

Generic Cad 75

In'A'Vision 265

Microsoft Chart 2 179

ProDes^n II 175

Dr Halo II w/Mouse 109

Fonltix 91

Lorus/S^phony CAa

Framewor1< II 419

Supercolc 4 269

Ability 61

MultlptonZO 119

MoscicTv*! 57

UTILITIES

Macro Assembter 90

QuicM Bosic 60

Turtx) Poscol Ver 3 69

Turbo Prolog 59

Desqviftv, 59

WindoTO 60

CortxjnCopy 117

Fflsltuck 99

Inset 87

Norton Commonder 44

Pop-Up Deskset 43

SQZ 66

Xlree 31

Stotgraphics 449

Call Toll Free 24 hrs Every Day 800-662-2686 orders only

for Ca Orders, Tech Support, Price Quotes, Info

415-668-9350 9-5 paciflc time, nrvf Call or Write for Free Catalog

PAYMENT: (No Fee l=or Credit Cards.) Visa tfloOeiCarA Coshlei't Cttecks, Personal Checks wttti 2 week hold, auQlined P.O.'& California residents odd sales tax SHIPPINS: UPS ground-2% per order. $S mla FREE for SW orders over $1000. UPS Blue-3% per order, $7 min. FREE for SW orders over SISOO. Printers, Monitora; DM Drives, Computers — Call for cfiarges. All Products New witti full warror^ttes. Price & availability subject to ctiange wHtiout notica

584 CASTRO ST., SUITE 487 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94114 a division of IVICSS Irx^ Cornputet & Softvyare ^peclolisls since 1.981

Inquiry 304

TIMELINE INC.

CALL US FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS!

We have 10 Million I.C.'s in stock!

Minimum i.C. Order: $200.00

OEM INQUIRIES

(800) 872-8878 (800) 223-9977 (213) 217-8912 I welcome

Continental U.S.A.

Inside California

L.A. & Technical Info

Model

HH-612 . ^

Hard Disk Drive —

Microscience

15 Mb (with optional controller card)

These brand new half height drives have been discontinued by our source We have subsequently purchased their remaining limited stock. We are

offering them on a one time sale only at severely reduced prices.

Factory List price: $265.00 Liquidation price:

$135.00

TEC iViociel1550 Printer

• Centronics parallel and RS232 Serial ports

• 15" carriage

• 12Q cps

• Tractor and friction feed

• Graphics

One of the largest manufacturers in the world has 125 of these prestigious printers in their overstocl<. We were extremely fortunate to be designated as their representative to market them.

Factory price: S795.00 Liquidation price: SpC # SaUU

We have been looking very hard for the right power supply and we have finally found the perfect one. 65 watts of switching power that can be utilized for most applications. We have purchased a very large closeout and are able to offer these supplies at less than 50% of their acquisition cost.

PERFECT FOR POWERING:

• HARD DISK DRIVES

• FLOPPY DISK DRIVES

• MHIICOMPUTEItS

• CRIb

CofldiUon Ndl 1

Condition No. 2 + SV DC 0 S.OA Iwllh two +12V outpuU in patallolt +1ZV DC (with two +12V outputs in ponlM) 9 aSA (5.0A lura.) -12V DC 6 a2EA -1ZV DC 9 0.2fiA

>SV DC @ 6.0A +12V DC fi 1.6A f 12V DC fi 2.1A

-■—.So

IBIVI

PC/XT

[or jr]

Infrared Remote

Control Keyboard Feature or can be used attached

We are proud to announce that we have been awarded the opportunity of offering these very unique keyboards. We are not obliged to mention the manufacturers name here. However, if you call us we may do so. They are American made by numero uno for numaro uno. These are not Taiwan clones.

Acquisition cost: S65u00

Liquidation cost:

$29.00

Original Factory list: S859a00 Liquidation Price:

$79.00

H| ■ I I Continental U.S.A.

■ 1 MT J 872-81

872-8878

ARTESIA BLVD., GARDEIMA, CA. 90247

Iruido CilifondB

(800) 223-9977

LA. Araa & Ibchnical tnfo

(213) 217-8912

Foreign Orders require special handling.

Minimum Order: $25.00. Shipping & handling charges via UPS Ground: $.50i;:/lb UPS Air: $1.00/lb Minimum Charge: $4.00. We accept cashiers checks, MC or VISA. No personal check COD's.

Items reflect 5% cash or check discount. California residents add

614 % sales tax. We are not responsible for typographical errors.

All merchandise subject to prior sale. Phone orders welcome.

back Issues for sale

1985

1986

January

$4.25

February

S4.25

March

S4.25

$4.25

April

S4.25

S4.25

May

S4.25

June

$4.25

S4.25

July

S4.25

August

$4.25

S4.25

September

$4.25

S4.25

October

S4.25

November

$4.25

December

$4.25

SPECIAL ISSUES and INDEX

BYTE '83-'84 INDEX

$1.75

1984 Special Guide to IBM PC's

(Vol. 9, No. 9) $4.75

1985 INSIDE THE IBM PCs

(Vol. 10, No. 11) $4.75

circle and send requests with payments to: BYTE Back Issues P.O. Box 328 Hancock, NH 03449

Prices include postage In the US. Please add S.50 per copy for Canada and Mexico; and $2.00 per copy to foreign countries

(surface delivery).

Payments from foreign countries must be made in US funds payable at a US bank.

□ Check enclosed □ VISA □ MasterCard

Card # Exp. _

Signature

Please allow 4 weeks for domestic delivery and 12 weeks for foreign delivery.

NAME

ADDRESS CITY

STATE

ZIP

354 BYTE* OCTOBER 1986

Authorized Liquidator

EPROM

V PROGRAMMER

APROTEK 1000

ONLY

# „ $265.00

COMPLETE WITH PERSONALITY MODULE

117 AC POWER-RS-232 CONNECT -6 BAUD RATES - HANDSHAKE TO HOST ALLOWS READ, WRITE, VERIFV & COPY

Comes complete with IBM-PC, Apple, or CPM (Specify Computer) Driver Program on Disc.

Programs the following 5 Volt 24 or 28 pin devices: 2716 series through 27512, 25xx series, 68764 plus others. Please Specify Personality Module desired with order. Additional Personality Modules only $15.00 ea Full 1 year warranty.

TO ORDER' CALL 1-800/962-5800 OR WRITE APROTEK

1071 A AVEIMIDA ACASO Add CAMARILLO. CA 93010 S4.00 Shipping USA Info: 18051987 2454 VISA or MC Add 3%

We Accept Govt . School & Large Corp. P.O.s

inquiry 2 7

• Multi-user Database!

• Powerful!

• Multiple Operating System Compatibility!

• Attractive Dealer Pricing!

• Full Dealer Support!

Dataflex is .i [raclcnLirk of D.-u.i Ai(.c:.s

Dealer Inquiries Invited

24000 Telegraph Road Southfield, Michigan 4S034 USA (313) 352-2345

Inquiry 66

Get the whole

story <ni gnE^jhics termkial emmation.

To find out more about software

that lets your PC emulate TEKTRONIX™ 4105/6/7/9 and DEC VTIOO™ terminals, call or write:

0 GRAFPOinr

Inquiry 125

controls up to 4 motors from any CRT, terminal or computer

STEPPING MOTOR CONTROLLER

• CHOPPER or • acceleration R/L drives deceleration

• RS232 interface • 1-4 axis moves Standard R/L Version witti BASIC $985 16K BASIC, R/L, Battery Backup $1335 CNC R/L Version $1950 Stepping Motor Tips Cookbook $8 Users IVIanuals $12

CENTROID (814) 237-4535 Box 739, State College, PA 16804

Inquiry 59

-T PC/XT USERS!

X COGTREE Utilities by

Cogitate

S 129.95

# LYNC by Norton-Lamber...

SI99.95

# DATAPLEX by Data Access.

. .Varies

# RM/COBOL by Ryan/

McFarland

Varies

M Universe by Omnitrend. . .

S 98.50

' Blue Mad by Cogitate....

S 599.00

f CadPower+ by Trilex

S995.00

S 95.00

^ PrintSet by Cogitate

$ 79.95

f CogiTAPE by Cogitate

CALLII

# Anii-Static Products

Varies

Uninterruptible Power

Bacl<ups

Varies

TeleVideo Software

CALLII

ElliMIl

"A Higher Form of Software"

24000 Telegraph Road

Southneld, Ml 4B034

(313) 352.2345niilex 386581

visa;mastercard accepted

Dealer Inquiries Welcomed

Inquiry 67

DATA ACQUISITION TO CO

INTERFACE FOR ANY COMPUTER

FREE IBM SOFTWARE

Connects via RS-232. Fully IBM compatible. Built-in BASIC. Stand alone capability. Expandable. Battery Option. Basic system: 16 chi. 12 bit A/D, 2 cin. D/A, 32 bit Digital I/O. Expansion boards available. Direct Bus units for many computers.

(201) 299-1615 P.O, Box 246, Morris Plains, NJ 07950

Inquiry 101

...A.

ELEXOR

Commodore Compatible Total Telecommunications"

MODEM

FCC Approved

• Access the stock market, take college classes, do your shopping and more.

• For Commodore 64K or SX64.

• Has modular jacks for quick, easy hookup to your phone system!

• Works on TouchTone™ and Rotary (pulse) dialing (not PBX).

Overstocl< liquidation. Simple communications package connects 64K or SX64 for on-line telephone use. No special computer knowledge required. This super-intelligent software Is completely menu-driven and easy to understand. Features: 30K software buffer. 300 Baud. Auto-dlal simplifies complex modem steps. Upload, download of text, programs, data files. Captures and displays tii-resolution, mapped graptiics files. Color selection menu. Equipment needed: C64, monitor, and disk drive or SX64.

NOTE: Price includes trial subscription to Over 52 data base services (or vast informatioa Inlttal a'gn-up fee is FREE All you pay Is ttie on-line time you use, plus monthly rate.

90-Day Limited Factory Warranty.

^109.95

Mfr. Ust

Liquidation Priced At ..

Item H-1634-3646-007 Ship, handNng: $4.00

$19

Credit card customers can order by phon^ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Toil-Free: 1-800-328-0609

Sales outside the 48 contiguous states are subject to special condHions. Plean call or write to Inquire.

C.O.M.B. Ditecl Marketing Corp. Item H-1634

1405 Xenium Lane No./Mlnneapolis, MN 55441-4494

Send Modem(s) Item H-1634-3646-007 at $19 each

plus $4 eacli for sriipping, iiandling. (Minnesota residents

add 6% sales tax Sorry, no C.O.D. orders.)

□ My crieck or money order is enclosed. (No delays in

processing orders paid by check.) Charge: □ VISA" □ MasterCard® □ American Btpress® Acct. No g'T* ^

PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY

Name

Address

City

Ptione L

Sign Here

-ZIP.

CjOjM|B| DirectMarl(eting(k)i Authorized Liquidator

1405 Xenium Lane North Minneapolis, Minnesota 55441-4494

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE S55

Inquiry 195

^ SANYO

the

giveaway.

MBC 1200

FREE SOFTWARE FROM MICROPRO

• ThousandslDf FREE public domain software available

• COMPAT disk utility for over 50 CP/M formats-only $39

• Professional accounting software available

• 20 meg hardrive optional

$

399

Sp*eial pricing for printers

EDUCATIONAL DISCOUNTS

805/393-2247

For our catalog

with complete details and prices,

MICRO rrr

|LD|_J| Organization, Inc.

*——" ! =_!_ 4909 Stockdale Hwy..

ORGANIZATION INC. #ieo

Bakersfield. CA 93309

15% Restocking on Returned Orders

Visa & M.C. Accepted

356 BYTE- OCTOBER 1986

DCB

PRINTER BUFFER

j not only a printer buffer !

THIS IS THE MOST SOPHISTICATED

- MULTIPLEXOR - SWITCO

WITH TWO 5BFARATE INPUTS ISBRIAl AHD PARALLBl.) AND TWO SBPABAT8 OUTPUTS jSEBIAL AND PARALLEL) CAN BB USBD LIKE STANDARD BUFFER WITH ANY INPUT TO ANY OUTPUT BUT ALSO YOU CAN CONNECT ? COMPUTERS TO 1 PBINTBR. OR I COMPUTER TO 1 PfllNTBRS, OR 2 COMPUTBilS AND 3 PRINTERS AND MORE = i COMPUTER TO 3 PRINTRRS OR S COMPUTERS TO 1 PRINTER

HIOM CAPACITY - 6< KB TO iht KB AND - 21.6 KB TO i MB [MODELS A AND B) PAUSE, COPY AND RBSST FUNCTIONS SERIAL PORTS WITH T OR « BITS WORD LENOTH, I OR i STOP BIT, PARITY. XON/XOJF, DTR. RTS

D0B-A-64K I I'l Poif»r lupplT tni pi

illil

DOB-B-I66K I 255 I'l

ibUi k

ALSO, WE HAVE THE MOST COMPLETE DATA CONVRRTER UNIT CONVBRTS RSiSI SERIAL TO CENTRONICS PARALLEL OR. VICB VSRSA. WSX BY MDVlHa JUMPBRE. BAUD RATB AND PROTOOOl. FUU^Y PROQRAMABbB FROM ISO TO 19200 BAUDS INOLUDBS 1 DTR. RTS. XOH/XOFP. PARITY. «lo

I") Pox., lupp], tnd nbiM NOT indudtd [ ^^^jK^] USU

^ seiialOparallel

DCU" bi-directional converter

INTECTRA lnc.-Dept.232

3029 TSRMINAL BlVD MOUNTAIN VIBW'CA-940<IS

415) 967-8818 TX 345545

IBM^PC

A professional package enabling you to design, edit, print & plot electronic schematics. Supports "A" through "E" size sheets, over 2000 Unique Library Parts, Part Rotation, Unlimited Hierarchy, Grids, Auto Panning, 5 Zoom Levels, f?ubberbanding. Powerful Macros, Hi-Res Color & Monchrome Graphics, Much Morel $495 Includes Everything.

Call To Receive Free Demo Disk. OrCAD Systems Corporation

1049 S.W. Baseline St. Hillsboro, OR 97123

(503)640-5007

1

Real-Time Mulirlasldng Executive

■ No royalties

■ Source code included

■ Fault free operation

■ Ideal for process control

■ Timing control provided

■ Lbvir intenrupt overtiead

■ Intertask messages

■ Resource Manager

■ Buffer Mani^r

> Integer Math Ubrary

■ Language Interfaces; C Pascal PL/M Fwtran

■ DOS FHIeAccess:

cp/M-eo

IBM PC DOS

AMX forfiOSO $ 800 US 6086 950 6809 950 68000 1600 Manual tspactfrP'ecauoi) 75

Ji: KADAK Products Ltd.

(604) 734-2796 Telex: 04-55670

206-1847W.Broadway, Vancouver,B.C.,Canada V6JW5

GAT-2B6 COMPLETE SYSTEM—82195°°

Includes one megabyte Tnemory on board, 6 or 8 MHz, zero wail state, Phoenix BIOS; Disk drive controller with 2 lloppy disk drives (1,2 M.B. and 360 K) and one 20 M.B. hard disk; monochrome monitor with adapter, serial/parallel ports; 200 W. power supply, keyboard, case. IBM PC/AT compatible. Certified to comply with FCC class B standards.

PC/XT/AT COMPATIBLE PARTS

Seagate 30 M.B., High Speed Hard Disk $645.00 20 M.B. Hard Disk Kit for PC/XT $395.00 30 M.B. Hard Disk Kit for PC/XT $465.00 135 W. Power Supply $ 65.00

I/O Card for XT or AT $ 75.00

LOGIMOUSE $85.00 8087-3 Co-Processor $120.00 80267-3 Co-Processor $215.00 XT Compatible System w/640 K, all ports & clock, 2 drives, monochrome monitor $825.00

LUCKY COMPUTERS

[214] 690-6110

1701 Greenville, Suite 602, Richardson, TX 75081

IBM PC/XT/ATarB Registergd Tradomarks ol Intemationat Business Machines Corp.

Inquiry 176

Inquiry 328

BULK DISKETTES

MAXELL

51/4 DS/DD 59^

Price based on quantity of 250 Includes sleeves, labels ;>,■ : ". i

Quantities Limited Call Today!

800-222-0490

(In N.J. 201-462-7628)

Full service duplication facility 24 Hour Shipment /

MEElfeo

P.O. Box 710 ^ Freehold, N.J. 07728

inqiilry 134

Inquiry 187

Media-Mate Diskette Holder

($15.00 value) with purchase of Each 100 Diskettes from this ad

(Brand Names Included)

Presenting our own Brand

Produced by a major manufacturer Millions have been sold— 100% Guaranteed (You may be using them now without knowing)

... So Why Pay More?

II

III

DS/DD 43 EA.

DS/HDforAT 1.39 EA.

Order in multiplies of 100 only!

All Best SVa" Diskettes are poly bagged In 20's with tyvec sleeves, write-protect tabs and user ID labels.

3Va" Piskettee

SS/DD 1.19 EA.

DS/DD 1.59 EA.

Order in multiples of 100 only! All Best 31/2" Diskettes include user ID labels.

Holds 50 SVa"

A $15.00 Value

)f FREE^

witli Each 100 Disl<ettes or purchase separately for $8.88

U.Si made- Highest quality Holds 30 3'/z' Why pay more and settle for less?

2148-A Bering

San Jose, CA 9

Dr.

5131

TO ORDER, CALL TOLL FREE

1 -800-351 - BEST (2378)

1-800-451 - BEST (in California)

Visa, Mastercard, C.O.D. or Prepaid. Corporations rated 3A2 or better, government agencies and schiools may send in purchase orders on a net30 basis. Minimum order$25.00. Shipping charges are $3.00 per 100 diskettes (Minimum shipping order$3.00) (within the continental U.S.). APO, FPO, AK, HI, PR and Canada Orders add 10% to cover PAL and Insurance. All other countries add 20%. C.O.D. Orders Add S4.00. No Sales Tax outside California. -Jr.',. : .'.'fi guaranteed oc all pioducls.

maxell

Boxed in tens

5V4'

5Va' 31/2' 31/2'

SS/DD. DS/DD . DS/HD. SS/DD. DS/DD..

. .89 Ea. 1.09 Ea. 2.19 Ea. 1.39 Ea. 2.09 Ea.

(Minimum order 20) Free Media-Mate with each 100

\ferbatim

Boxed in tens

51/4" SS/DD 89 Ea.

5Va" DS/DD... 1.09 Ea. 51/4" DS/HD... 2.19 Ea.

31/2" SS/DD... 1.39 Ea. 31/2" DS/DD... 2.09 Ea.

(Minium order 20) Free Media-Mate With each 100

Nashua

Boxed in tens

5V4" SS/DD 69 Ea.

51/4" DS/DD 75 Ea.

51/4" DS/HD... 1.79 Ea.

3V2" SS/DD... 1.29 Ea. 31/2" DS/DD... 1.89 Ea.

(Minimum order 20) Free Media-Mate with each 100

BONUS

Boxed in tens

5V4" SS/DD-.59 Ea. 5V4" DS/DD-.65Ea.

(Minimum order 20)

Inquiry 344 for End-Users. Inquiry 345 for DEALERS ONLY.

OCtoBER 1986 ♦ BYTE 357

Inquiry 3

NEW DEALER

SPECIAL

XT—COMPUTER

«TY 2

640K MOTHER BOARD W/OK

89

2S8K RAM

27

135 WATT POWER SUPPLY

53

FLOPPY DISK CONTROLLER

27

FLIP TOP BOX

38

XT/AT KEYBOARD

59

HONO/GRAPHICS/PRN (HERC)

54

m MONITOR W/SWIVEL

96

HI 360K FLOPPY

92

PARTS

$535

ASSEMBLY* TEST

64

$599

Ml UEf* UMBii nifv 111 /n nil Ton ■ ■ rn

ZO MEG HARD DISK W/CDNTHDLLER

425

AT COMPUTER

pn

2

80286 MOTHER BOARD

595

W S12K RAM

200 W POWER SUPPLY

98

AT BOX W/KEV LOCK

79

SERIALS PARALLEL CARD

65

AD KEYBOARD

59

1.2 M FLOPPY

129

FDD S HDD CONTROLLER CARD

225

PARTS

$1,250

ASSEMBLY a TEST

150

$1,400

30 MEG 40 MSEC HARD DRIVE

615

EBA CARD

295

EGA MONITOR

449

XT PORTABLE

$895

B4DK MOTHER BOARD

v^vn Mil ■ ii^n ■ivffiiII

640K RAM

MULTI I/O CARD If^^fi^^fi^K

CLOCK, CALENDAR, Hli^l hfi^a

SERIAL, T

w

PARALLEL ^^■'■'iU\\\\':yi'ff''fr7 ^

TWO 3B0K - '■^■'•//,

FLOPPY DRIVES

MONO/GRAPHICS/PRN (HERC)

DETACHED KEYBOARD

135 W POWER SUPPLY

PORTABLE CASE

9'' MDNITOR, GREEN or AMDER

ADD ON BOARDS - PARTIAL

LIST

XT-B40K TURBO 4 77 /R MHZ W/OK

III wtvn i liiiiiH *V(( I / V inn& n/Mii

99

LOCAL AREA NET CARD W/SOFTWARE

249

3B4K MULTI-FUNCTION (AST 6 COMP) OK

69

MODEM CARD 300/1200 IHAYES CDMP1

149

DISK I/O 2F0 CTRL PRN SER CLOCK

wiwn 1/ u &i w M I iib^ ■ iiiW| vbii| uhwiif

70

CAL GAME

AB SWITCH BOX W/64K BUFFEB (1-2 or 2-11

Mil oniiun uun *a/v"?n uuiibn iitfi* ui i«aij

94

AB SWITCH BOX (1:2 or 2:1)

29

COLOR/GRAPHICS/PRINTER CARD RGB

58

ACS IMPORTERS

HFRRY AUF UNIT A

AGniiRAHiM*; r.AQi?ni

nuuuriM ni LLO, i/n 01 ou 1

HOURS 9 AM - 6 PM PST

(818)889-1092

TFLEX ?99353 POST IJR

358 BYTE* OCTOBER 1986

COLOR

VT220 $150

'plus your PC, XT, AT, or compatible

ZSTEMpc™-VT220 Smart Terminal Emulator Double high/double wide characters Full line graphics. Smooth Scrolling 2-way file transfers incl. Xf^ODEtWI & KERIUIIT Full keyboard softkeys/MACROS. DOS access Data rates to 38.4 KB. HIgti tlirougliput CQA, Hercules, MDA, & EGA support 8-bit mode, downloadable fonts, user defined keys, full national/multinational modes ISO and attribute mapped color ZSTEI*llpc-VT220 $150.4010/4014 option $99. ZSTElulpo-VTlOO $99. - Cliolce of the U.S. A/F 30 day money back guarantee. MC/VISA

KEA SYSTEMS LTD.

#412-2150 W.Broadway Vancouver, B.G. CANADA V6K 4L9 Support (604) 732-7411 TELEX 04-352848 VCR

Order Toll Free (800) 663-8702

inquiry 334

COMPLETE MONEY MANAGEMENT FOR HOME AND BUSINESS.

• Cliecking, Savings and Credit Card Mgmt. • Smart Account Reconciler With Automatic Error Detector

• Budgeting • CPA Designed • Financial Statements • Grapliics

• On-Line Help Screens • High Speed Financial Data Base • Inquiry Reports • Pop-Up Calculator • Tutorial

• r>lot copy protected • Simplifies Tax Preparation • Much More.

Only $69.95

Visa • MC • C.O.D. Free Brochure 319/373-0197

PARSONS TECHNOLOGY

Inquiry 226

SEAMLESS File Transfer

Softerm PC provides a transparent Micro-to Mainframe link using Virtiiul disk drive .specifiers accessible from any DOS application

program. Memoiy resident. Transfers tiles in background using

customizable cominunications scripts. Includes 32 exact terminal

emulations. For IBM PC/XT/AT. DG, NEC, HP, Wang, Tl, Gridca.se, Tandy. Zenith

$195- Visa, MC, COD Call 800-225-8590 orders/info.

7899 Lexington Dr., Ste 210 Colorado Springs. CO 80918

(303) 593-9540 Telex #450236

Inquiry 278

DOUBLI ^ '

THE OPTION CAPACITY

OF YOOR IBM PERSONAL COMPtJTER

PC-XTRA

• DIRECT EXTENSION OF IBMPCJSUS

• NO SOemM CKAHQES

• NO HAjelMipE MODIFICATI

• SiyUN^IfffiNSISTENTWITH IBI

>j>^' '>V<intina wRraut woirylng about lUling youi ^tpfEtO'ln and back panal space

DEALER INQUmiES INVITED.

*549F.O.B. SANTA ANA •CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS ADD 6% SALES TAJ,

P C HORIZONS, INC.

1701 E. Edinger, Ste. A6, Santa Ana, CA 92705 (714) 953-5396

Inquiry 221

QuelO® 33000Dewlopment Tools

Ouelo Assembler Packages are Motorola compatible. Each package Includes a macro assembler, linker/ locator, object librarian, utilities for producing ROMable code, extensive Indexed typeset manuals and produces S-recorda, Intel hex, extended TEK hex, UNIX COFF and symbol cross references. Portable source written in "C" Is available. It has been ported to a variety of mainframes and minis IncludlnQ VAX

68020 Assembler Package

For CPfM-86,.68K and MS/PC-DOS S 760

68000/68010 Assembler Package

For CP/M-80, -86. -eSK and MS/PC-DOS $ 595

68000 "C" Cross Compiler

For IvtS/PC-DOS by Lattice, Inc.

With Quelo eSOOOfSaOlO Assembler Package S1095

With Ouelo 68020 Assembler Package $1250

Call Patrick Adams today: Ouelo, Inc.

2464 33rd W. Suite #173 Seattle, WA USA 98199 Phone 206/285-2528 COD. Visa, lv)asterCard Telex 910-333-8171

Trademarlta: CPfM, Olgllal Rasaarcti; MS, Mloroaoft CorporatlQii:Quelo,

Inqiijry 1^9

8051 PASCAL CROSS COMPILER

For MS-DOS Computers

SCIENTIFIC ENGINEERING LABORATORIES 104 Ctiarles Street. Suite 143 Boston. lUlA 02114 Tel 617 262 3903

Inquiry 270

J

HJii i"^ ^ Software Selectable for

HIGH SPEED 12 MHZ OPERATION 6,8,10, andl2 MHZ!

FULL IBM PC-AT* COMPATIBIUTY!

FOUR MEGASm mil CmOTf ON MOmERBOARD!

USING 1MBSASIT DRAMS.

QUANTITY DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE FOR QUAUFIED DEALER, OEM, UNIVERSITY AND CORPORATE ACCOUNTS.

Eight Compatible I/O Interface Connectors

(Same as PC-AT)

Keyboard Interface

(Same as PC-AT)

HIGH SPEED INDUSTRIAL GRADE COMPUTER FOR:

• Scientific

• Engineering

• Industrial

• IVIedical

• University/Education

• Artificial Intelligence

• Etc., Etc., Etc.

On Board Battery

CMOS Clock Calendar

Extended ROM Capability

(Operates on all compatible BIOS ROMS)

Extended Memory Capacity! Full Four Mega-Byte Capacity on Motherboard!

(Uses 256k or NEW 1 Mega-Bil Drams)

r ATTAK-286'" FULLY ASSEMBLED (LESS ICS) $499.95

iZ AT CASE 100% COMPATIBLE $129.95

C AT POWER SUPPLY 192W $129.95

□ ATTAK-286'" TECHNICAL REFERENCE MANUAL... .$ 29.95

□ TURBO-SCOPE'" A/D BOARD $ 99.95

100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEED. 10 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE IF . NOT COMPLETELY SATISFIEDl

A\T

CORPORATiaiM

ADVANCEa

INTELLIGENCE

TECHNOLOCSY

4100 Spring Valley Road Suite 400

Dallas, Texas 75244 (214) 490-0344

Standard Power Connector

(Same as PO-AT)

80287 Math Processor

(Same as PCAT)

Runs Intel 80286 at 6,8,10&12MHZ!

(Software selectable)

Peripheral Support Circuits

(Same as PO-AT)

Board Size: Standad IBM-AT* Dimensions: 12 inch x 13.8 inch with 6 mounting holes to fit all AT corg^^^e cases.

ATTAK-286™ evaluation board kit highest quality multi-layer PC tioard with full assembly instructions and parte liste!

'IBM and IBM PC-AT are trademarks of International Business Mactiines

TERMS: We accept cash, checks, money orders and credit cards. Prices and availability subject to change without notice. Shipping and handling charges via UPS ground 50c/lb UPS air SI .00/lb. Minimum charge S3.00

©1986 AIT CORP.

inquiry 9

OCTOBER 1986 • B YT E 359

Inquli y

DiskMASTi

The Ultimate Diskette Value...

Discover The Difference...

2 FOR 1 LIFETIME WARRANTY

* Performance exceeds ANSI speci/ications by 62.5%

• Each diskette 100% tested and certified errar/ree

• 65% clipping lei«l » Ouer 10 million passes per tracic

* Reinforced Hubs * Tyvek® (notpaperi sleeves ==.nr, ♦W/PlabsandID labels.

.44

5y4 48TPI

.49

Simply top Brand-Name Quality, made in the U.SA. to our specifications by a leading

mani^facturcr. Factorif poli^baqged in lots

YCenTecIi

„ America's Premium Quality Color Diskettes

1^ TIMELESS WARRANTY

Performance exceeds A .N.SJ. specifications by 88%

Eachdisk 100% tested and certified \^ 14COLORSJor data organization t^ Pkgs. of 10, tyuek sleeves, wlp tabs, and ID labels

QTY. 10 BOXES OR 100 DISKETTES SV4" Color, BOXED, 48 TPI

3.5" Color, BOXED

SVV Color, BULK, 48 TPI

3.5" Color, BULK

SS-DD

.74 1.39 .64 1.30

High Density, Color, 1.6mb, IBM AT Compatible

Includes Tyvek sleeves, w p tabs, ID labels ' - Call for excellent prices on oltier CenToch products

.98 1.99

.88 1.92 2.05

America's No. 1 Name-Br

LIFETIME WARRANTY

High quality and consistency retiabte

More rigidjackets than ever before

SS-DD QTY. 5 BOXES DS-DD

.74 5.25,48 TPI 99

1.35 3.5,135 TPI 1.95

DS-HD96TPI, IBM AT Compatible 2.09

Call for bes! nnrp^ on head cleaning and data cartridges.

MM

Affordable Quality Increilible Value Best Prices Ever!

UFETBUEWASRANTY 1^ FactoryFreshinBOXESqflOwithsleeves,w/p

tab. ID labels SS-DD OTY. 10 BOXES DS-DD

.63 5.25,48 TPI, box of 10 .69

1.59 3.5", 135 TPI 2.19 High Density, IBM PC-AT Compatible 2.09

BULK

SPECIAL OF THE MONTH

Made in U.SA.

LIFETIME WARRANTY \^ Exceeds ANSI specijicattons

IncludesTyuek sleeves and w/p tab

51/4 DS-DD

MULTIPLES OF 100

380

MATION

TERMS: Free use of VISA, Mastercard, and American Express P 0. orders accepted from recognized corporations rated 3A2 or better, governmenl and sctiools on 2%-nel 30. PAYMENT: Add S3.00 per 100 diskettes or fraction thereof, add $3.00 for head cleaning kit or dozen ribbons, add $3.00 for COD orders.

PRICE PROMISE: We will better any lower delivered price on the

same products and quantities advertised nationally.

Toll Free Order Line: Inlormalion Line:

1-800-233-2477 1-801-561-0092

199 Cottage Avenue LdomOUter SallLakeCily.Ulah84070 irTJ«-.!ll sJ... Hours: 8am 10 5pm / inairS, inc. ,n,tn.lime)

360 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

9-Track Tape Subsystem

Now you can exchange data files t^elween your IBM PC/XT/AT and any mainlrame or minicomputer using IBM compatible 1600 BPI 9-Track tape. Unit can also be used for disk backup and archival storage. Transfer rate is one megabyte per minute on PCs and 100% compatibles. Subsystems include 7'or 10 ' 2" streaming tape drive, tape coupler card and DOS compatible software. Prices start at $3,555.

HunLSTRRl

9015 Eton Ave., Cancga Park, CA 91304 Telephone: (818) 882-5822

Inquiry 255

TERMINAL EMULATION

Softerm PC emulates over 3Q popular terminals including the: •DECVT102,VT220

• Data General D200, D410 •IBIV13101-20 (block mode)

• Hewlett-Packard 2622A

• Honeywell VIP7801, VIP7803 Guaranteed Compatibility

Call for free product brief I

$195 MC-VISA-COD For the IBIVI PC/XT/AT, DG, NEC, Wang, Tl, Gridcase, Tandy, Zenith

SaFTRONICS

7899 Lexington Dr., Ste 210 Colorado Springs, CO 80918 1-800-225-8590/(303) 593-9540

Inquiry 279

The GRANDSTAND

PRINTER STAND ANDTRAY

• Folds & Staci<s Automatically

• Fits ALL Popular Micro Printers

• Space Saving Operation

• Routes Cables Neatly

Grand Union

Micro Systems

P.O. Box 1880

Fallbrook. CA 92028

Inquiry 126

SOFTWARE SENTINEL"

Bc-cauie .i:. cr^.jT -. ; ■ •.. ■ ;otI

warf; lioin unoulho[!;e',3 uie j i^.iiH'i: it. ■. i. i' ,".-">'.■ ■l:-J'iNEI Ui.l1 maybe we'll chonge 'he name lo IHvENul Mi'ce we've discoveied its true value to our customers But whGlever we cotl it. everyone ends up with numerous benefits iFo'v itiis hardware key with untimiled "locks"

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER BENEFITS

• Ptohibils unauthorized use of software

• No I'Mjed for copy proieciion

• Algcwill^rr. lechnigije (never a fwea response)

• Vitfuatfy unbreakable

• Higher level language inlGrfacosincluaoa

• 100 limes foster (1ms) than lixc"(i response aovices

• Midirivjl imptemeritQlion efof'

• Runs urxJer DOS arw Xenii. on IBM PC. AI. XT & compalibtes

SOFTWARE USER BENEFHS

• Unlimited bocki^s copies • Rx:kGisi;e

• I*} floppy tequited with' • Itansparom Itorddttk • Itaiisp.-. tioDie

Of

EVALUATION KIT AVAILABLE

Iete« 38(1076

17971 SKYPABK CIBCU SUIll 1. IBVINS. CA 927U

Inquiry 263

^CPYAT2PC"

IS LIKE HAVING A FREE

360K FLOPPY DRIVE

Allows copying of IBM AT file for use on IBM PC's & compatibles with no modification of existing hartJware or software. A 360K floppy drive is not rixiiiired. CPYAT2PC may reside on your IliiVI PC'AT harci disk and copies I fiieorentiresulidirecloriesiii 1 step. ,'\ls{) runs on olher .VF cninputilik^s such as Cf )MPAQ 28(i. ZENITH Z-200, and KAYPRO 28lil. Dealer inquiries welcome. ONLY $79 + shipping.

MICROBRIDGE COMPUTERS Sky Way Building, Suite 125 (iriS ,Sky Way, San Carlos, CA 94070 (415) 593-8777 • (415) 595-2150

CHECK, COD WELCOME {/^-ycS (Piepayment Required) v3c^

Inquiry 196

CHANGING SYSTEMS?

What Happens to Your Data? Does JUST Media Conversion Solve Incompatibilities?

WHAT IF...

everything is changing, including your software, hardware, operating systems and media? What happens to your spraadshMt data and formulas, database stmctures and/or word processing documents and codes? What do you do, and what is the cost?

We Make Incompatibia Data Compatible!

The source can be mainframes, minis, micros, dedicated word processors or typesetters. ADAPSO member

CompuData Translators. Ina 213^62 6222

6565 Sunset BL #.301 Hollywood, CA 90028

We pledge allegiance to low prices and superior technical service.

Teac

F055 B-V tiaiitieigni 5"<"

3m DSlOD llomi S99 FD55 F/G-V (tail neiglll 5i< ■ ; 2 MS

alack or giey laceplale) $145

Toshiba

ND 040 ihill neighi 5'-)' XOK

mack lace piaiei S109 ND 04DEG iitall lieighi 360K

grey lace ptaie) Sin ND OtDEG mall leiglll 5'- ' 12MB

grey lace olale $149

Fujitsu

Hall helghl 5'^" 3m black

face plate iloppy $85

$395

HARD Dl Seagate

$T22S 20MB half tieijhl 6SMLS

mth conUdler card SI225 20MB hall height BSMtS

no contnjller card $345 ■NOV ST23« SOMB hallhel0il 65 MLS m controller card $499 ST4026 20MB Ml height 30MLS

no controller $545 ST4038 30MB lull height 30MLS

no controller $645 ST4I)51 40M8 lull height 30MLS

no conlroHer $745 Wnlern Digital controller card $125

Control Data

9415-86 86MB lull height 30MLS

no controller $1495 Disk Manager Software tor lormatting

past DOS I33MBI S100

Irwin Magnetics

10MB INTERNAL TAPE Ofl/Vf hall iieigtil unit uses happy controller $499

ZOMB INTERNAL TARE DRIVE lor 2S6 COMRAO and AT

$599

Everex

20MB INTERNAL TAPE DRIVE

hall height iyitn controller 60MB INTERNAL WE DRIVE

hall height with controlter

Alloy

60MB EXTERNAL TAPE DRIVE soltmre cables and controller

Tape Cartldges/Scotch 3M

OC'600A cartridge tape

lup to 60MB capacity) DC-IOOO cartridge tape tor Irv/in

tape drive $19

$573 $724

$741

$26

AST

SIXPACK PREMIUM 512 to 2MB $356

Advantage n/IJS«

iccindabK ;o 3MB. S2 G lor ATI $356 RAMPAGE PC to 2MB lEMS board

wideskview windowing soltware) $234 RAMMDE XT 512 to 2MB

tEMStnaidSMHzl $445

PCA (XT COMPATIBLE)

em, 4.77MHz, 2 floppies, monochrome graphics, P, TTL monltor, FCC app !^770

PCA TURBO (XT COMPATIBLE)

640K, one floppy, 20MB, P,

S,S,G,C, 4.77 or 8MHz ^nne

switchable, FCC app «|>""u

MULTITECH 900 AT COMPATIBLE,

W/512K. keyboard, up to 5 half-height internal drives. 10 or 6 MHz Switchable slots, 192 W supply MS-DOS 3.1 FCC Approved. 1.2MB jj^ccn lloppy. one year warranty...^lOuU Monitor and Card—add $129 Alloy nelwor!< compatible

IBM PC

W/256K, one floppy, 4.77MHz

$1150

IBM AT

W/512K. 1.2MB floppy 6MKZ, 20MB

$3295

W/640K. 1.2MB floppy

SMHZ. 30 MB

$4290

TOSHIBA T11G0 LAP TOP 9 POUND PORmSLE COMPUTER

512K memory, 720K 3.5 inch

floppy Liquid crystal -.^

dSspl^. P, KBD. ..$1409.00

Talllree

JRAM 2 mOK

tParXm 2MB capaatyl $142 JRAM Z wIOK (la K. CMS hoard

an to 2MB capadlyl $184 JRAM AT nIOK

iParaiiei 2MB capacilyi $190 JRAM 3 AT WIOK (EMS taard.

up to 2MB capacity) $239

Clone

6 PACK compallble in/S. PC G .» OK lup to 3S4KI wisoltmre $99

MULTIFUNCTION 1^0 BOARDS

DISK I/O operates 2 lloppies

and G S P C AT I/O. Parallel Serial

$95 $95

MODEMS

Hayes

SMARTMOOEM 1200B INTERNAL

02001300 Paud wISmartcomlli $384 SMARTMOOEM 1200 External

02001300 baud) $479 SMARrMODEM 2400 Enlernal l2mi $630

Everex

EVERCOM Modem (I2O0I300 baud Vf/soltmre} $150

US Robotics

COURIER 2400 Baud Imernat

or External $491

NETWORKS MUUI-USER

Alloy

PC-SLAVEf16 16 BIT SLAVE BOARD aoSa-2 (SMHi Processor. 2 senal ports. 1 Mb Ham) $(99

12 Slot Expansion Chassis

22i V/alt power supply $1135 20' RS 232 Slave Cable $39 ATNX ALLOy TERMINAL NETWORK

EXECUTIVE SOFIWAK $295 LINK RS 323 ASCII Terminal

IBM Keyboard $625

PRINTERS/DOT MATRIX

Citizen

(Epson & IBM Compatible)

MSP-10 160140 CPS dot matrix

narrow carriage MSP-IS l60/"ld cos

dot matrix wide carnage MSP-20 200150 CPS

dot matrix narrow carnage tffS-n 200I5B CPS dot

matnx.wide carnage

mi

$414 $347 $520

Epson

FX-85 160 CPS, narrow carriage NLQ $434 FX-286 200 cps. wide Carriage NLQ $579 LQ 1000 24 Pin, ISO CfismSO wide carriage $830

istmztPin, 180 qis, m ep

narrar carriage $630 IBM

Pfoprinter

Proprinter XL Wide Carriage

$445 $661

Okldata

ML182 120 CPS narrow carriage $228 ML 192 160 CPS NLO

narrow carriage $327 ML 193 (60 CPS NLO wide carnage $529 ML 292 POO CPS 100 NLO

narrow carriage color $614 ML 293 Dual 9 pin. 200 NLO

widii carriage color $803

jmirnmxo cbs irstssMde siiso

Toshiba

P-351 24 pin 288 cps

wide carnage

$1025

P-341 24 pm 216 cps

wide carnage ISO NLO

$727

P-321 24 pin 216 cps

narrow carriage

$442

P-351 C Color printer

$1178

Panasonic

KXP1091 120 CPS. NLO 29 cps

$270

KXP1D92 ISO CPS NLO 33 cps

$348

KX1592 wrde carriage 180 CPS

NLO 38 CPS

$480

NEC

P-5XL24 pin 290 cps. 100 NLO

color

$1071

P-6. P-7 24 oin $477/667

LASER PRINTERS

Hewlett-Packard

LASER JET PROFESSIONAL

8 pages per minute

$2357

LASER JET PLUS DPI

graphicslStP interlace

$3053

Brotber

HR 15 17 CPS

$368

HR-25 23 CPS

$615

T\«INVKfllTEB DOT MATRIX 140 cps.

to 36 CPS

$1063

M1509 180 CPSI45 cps NLO

$420

NEC

ELF r/8 cpsi

$406

NEC 3550 133 cps)

$799

Panasonic

KXP-3131 (ircpsj

$286

KX-P31S1 Wide (22 cpsI

$446

MONbCHROME MONnpRS

I SAMSUNG TTL AMBER or GREBN $85 I

IAMDEK 3UlA 771 AMBBI $159 | I PRINCETDN MAX 12

771/SIM PIXieS $155

TVM COLOR MONITDR,

AmblBrimaOO . $299 |

Princeton Graphics

PL14 EGA 14" Multisync clone $516 I

HX-12 31mm dot pitch. 6401240 $442

HX-12 I 6401350 EGA $539 j

SR-12 Strtm dot p/lcD, 6«V«W $1

SIGMA 480 H S4S0 I

Taxan

640 7?0/4M. 31 dot pitch $506 555 16 color card textigraphics $149

NEC

MULHSimO 75 ISlOa to SSKHi Inrimit^scan $5691

VI0l0tll8!|lia[«| Hercules

GRAPHICS CARD mooocbiome

wiparallel $194 COLOR CARD color WIparaM $151 GRAPHIC CARD plus text

graphics $199

Clones

EVEHEX colorlmono 132 column $239 GRAPHICS CARD monochrome

wiparallel $99

COLOR CARD co/0( wiparallel S89

STB EGA $308

BACK UP POWER AND sbRGE PROTECTION

Data Shield

500 W Backup Powet Supply $615 BOO W Backup Power Supply $693 1500 V Backup Power Supply $1427

Clone

150 w raiVCT sum.Y $99

135 W PO^tR SUPPLY $B9

Curtis

DIAMOND tSURGE PROTECTOR

6 OUTLEI wall) $35 EMERALD ISURGE PROTECTOR

6 OUTLEI cord) $45 RUBT tSURGEIflLTERIBICOrd) $58 |

Kinsington

MAST'ERPIECE $97 MASTERPIECE - PLUS $131

2S6K SET S29

12BK SET $40

e4K SET $10

8087 $135

8087-2 $158 I

80287 $189

88287-8 $327 I

TERMS: WE ACCEPT CO D. CASHIER CHECK. VISA. MASTER CARD. AMERICAN EXPRESS (3% EXTRA) WIRE TRANSFERS. APPROVED PO.'S. ALL EQUIPMENT CARRIES NEW FACTORY WARRANTY. PRICES ARE SUBJECT TD CHANGE. ANY RETURN ITEM MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A RETURN AUTHORIZATION NUMBER AND DESCRIPTION. IBM. COM PAQ, SEAGATE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COMPANIES.

Inquiry 228

^pcAmerican

Marketing. Inc.

> 17195 NewllopE St.. Suite 104, Fountain Valley. CA 9270B

HOURS: MONDAY - FR/DAV 8:30 - 5:30 SATURDAY 10:00 - 2:00

1714-557-3903

CUSTOMER SERVICE

1-800-654-5365

SALES HOTLINE

1-714-557-3904

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

M I I I I ' I I ' I I M M M M M I ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '

PROVEN SUPERIOR TO IBM XT

\

UNFAIR ADVANTAGE

Advanced 286 $14950<> Advanced PC/3CT $699^0

PROVEN SUPERIOR TO IBM flf

•2¥'

Advanced PC/XT

• FCC/UL Approved

• IBM PC/XT" Compatible

• (1) 360K Floppy

• 256K Expandable to 640K

• Serial, Parallel, LCD

• RGB Color Grapliics

• Composite Video

• Mouse & Keyboard

• 10Mb Hard Disk (Add $200.00)

HARDWARE

Adu«tietd 0attU Largest Selection!

A210 Color/Primer/Graphics $88.00

A220 Color/Graphics/Vldeo/Mouse.... 9Si00 A230 Moni)/Color/Gra{ihlcs/132 Col. . .149.00 A231 Color/Mono (Runs 2 MonKois). .149M

A240 Mono/Printer Graphics 7S.00

A250 Mono/Pnnter/GraphiCS/132 Col. .119.00

A260 Mono/Printsr TSiOfl

A271 EGA/2S6K RAM - Short Card .. .239JI0 A320 384 MuMnction Card - OK ... 99il0

A330 MDlti-function - Short Card 99.00

A340 Multi-funcUonyHoppy 119D0

A350 640K RAM Card ■ OK 59.00

A410 Floppy Card - 2 Drives 39J)0

A420 Floppy Card • 4 Drives 49.00

A510 Parallel/Seriai, Optional Serial... 89.00

A52a Parallel Card 35.00

A530 Serial Card 49.00

A610 AT 2Mb Multi-function ■ OK ... .139.00

A612 AT 2.5Mb RAM Card 139JH

A620 AT 3Mb RAM Card 159.00

A630 AT Parallel/Serial, Optional Ser.. S9J10

A640 AT Roppy/HarH Controller 248J10

A650 AT I/O Card - Ser/Par/Clk 9aO0

A950 AT Molherboard - OK

A955 XT Motherboard - OK 119JIfl

A960 XT Turbo Motherboard - OK ... .139.00

AST - (1 to 2 Year Warranty)

AST6251-11 $575.00

AST5251-12 575.00

RAMpage Expandable to 2Mb Call

RAMpage AT Expandable to 2Mb Call

(Both boards support EMS & EEMS)

Advantage 126K 38SJM

AST SPECIALS

REDUCED TO MOVE LIMrTED SUPPLY SixPak Plus v</64K Only $168J0

Including Sidekick 1.5 & DESKview

SixPak Plus 384K Only 219.00

Combo Plus - OK Only 66.00

Combo Plus - 64K Only 79X0

(Makes superior I/O Device)

Reach Modem 1200 Baud 199J)0

AST Colorgraphics Card 99JI0

(Original Factory Box)

HAVES - (2 year Warranty) Smartmodem 1200 $385.00

HARDWARE

Smartmodem 1200B 349.00

Smartmodem 2400 (Int) STSJX)

Smartmodem 2400B S36JM

Hayes Comp. 1200 (Ext) 1BL9S

Hayes Comp. 1200 (Int) w/SW 149JI5

Hayes Comp. 2400 (Ext) 349.00

HERCULES

Hercules Color Card SlOfiJW

Hercules Plus Graphics NEW Z3UI0

INTEL - (5 Year Warranty)

Above Board PC, AT, PS New Price

FREE OFFER Windows thru 12-31

8087 or 80287 thru 9-30

KEYTR0NIC8

5150 Keyboard J159J5

5151 Deluxe Keyboard 169J5

5153 w/Touchpad 285.00

PC Jr Numeric Keypad 29.95

MICROSOFT

Microsoft Mouse $139JI0

Microsoft Bus Version 155J)0

MOUSE SYSTEMS - (3 Year War)

PC Mouse w/PaInt Plus $138.00

PC Mouse w/Ready & Paint 148.00

ACP Mouse w/Keyboard SALE 149.00

PROMETHEUS - (1 Yr Warranty)

ProModem 1200 w/Mite (Int) $299.00

ProModem 1200B 2Sft00

Alphanumeric/Options Processor 7Un

TECMAR CLOSEOUTS

List ACP

SpeechMaster $395 $195.00

1st Mate W/64K 389 169JM

Voice Recognition 995 169J10

3nJMate 445 19500

Powerlink 3270 1099 399.00

Phonegate 2400 695 295Jia

Call for Complete List

PRINTERS

BROTHER

M1109 Dot Matrix $Z49JX)

M1S09 Dot Matrix SBUIO

DIABLO/XEROX

620 Serial LOP was 1495 now $299.00

620 API LQP 349.00

620 036 (36cps) 399.00

Tractor was 395 now 125.00

F-21 Sheet Rseder was 896 now 199.00

630 Sheet Feeder 219.00

Cable for 620 (to IBM) 29.00

Diablo P-11 orS-11 tOOcps 129.95

Diablo P-31 or S-31 Wide 199.95

EPSON - (1 Year Warranty)

FX85 IBOcps NLQ $3nJM

FX286 leOcps Wide SUM

TOSHIBA

P321 "3 in 1" LQ Printer sale $515.00

P3S1 24 Pin w/Serial & Parallel mSM

New TosMtn Color Printer Call

8 PEN PLOTTER ■ Umlted Special

Roland's DXY-800 Flatbed X-Y Plotter Rirmer^ sold for $995.00. While Supply lasts your price only $399.00 Ina Parallel/Serial Interface. IBM Compatible.

MONITORS

Samsung TTL IBM Green $88.00

Samsung TTL IBM Amber 9100

ACP 12" Sottv»hite HL IBM 13BJI0

Mitsubishi RGB Color 2gun

TECA EGA Monitor 4IU0

PRINCETON GRAPHICS

HX-12 RGB (640x240) $44&00

MAX-12E Amber TTL 175.00

SR-12 575.00

HX-12E (690x350) 545.00

Advanced 286

• FCC/UL Approved

• IBM AT- Compatible

• 6/8 MHz SW Svi/ltchable

• 640K, 200 Watts

• 1.2 Mb Floppy Controller

• Hard/Floppy Controller

• Phoenix BIOS

• MS-DOS a2 (Add $85.00)

• GW Basic (Add $95.00)

• 30Mb 35mS HD (Add $700)

EGA SPECIALS!

EGA UPGRADE KIT

includes:

NEC l^uitisync $7iQ00 ACP/EGACard 'fig'"'

NEC Multisync $499JI0

ACP RGB Color mM

RIX EGA Paint 59.00

Paradise Auloswitch 355.00

Genoa EGA 295.00

Orchid Turbo EGA 585.00

Quad EGA Plus 365Jlfl

Advanced EGA, 256K, Short Card ... .365JI0

EGA Mouse IIOJO

PGA SPECIALS

IBM Professional, Limited Quatity

IBM PGA Card. Regular $2995 . Sale 995.00

IBM PGA Monitor, Reg $995.. .Sale 695.00

HARD DISK CARDS

20Mb MEGA Card $479.00

20Mb Mountdn Card 599.0O

Call for 30Mb Card

BEST BACK-UP

Use same back-up device we use at ACP

AlphaMlcro VCR Back-up Card $399.00

AlphaMlcro VCR 699.00

NOTE: Works on any VCR.

DISK DRIVES

Toshiba FDD4403 3Va"w/5V<" Bezel. .$129.00

Toshiba ND04D PC, XT 360K 105.00

Toshiba ND04E-G AT, 360K 115.00

Toshiba ND08DE-G 1.2Mb 149.00

TEAC FD-55B 105J0

DISKEHES (Box of 10) DS/DD for PC/XT (4atpQ

• ACP Generic UM

• Verbatim Datalife 16.00

• Maxell MD-2 19.00

• Fuji 16.00

DS/HI-DensityforAr(96tpO

• Vermm tsm

• Maxell 35.00

• Fuji 2600

SS/DD for Apple II etc.

• ACP RIppy (Use both sides) $&00

• Vjrbalim 14.0O

• Maxell MD-1 1700

• Fuji 14.00

Macintosh/IBM Conv. 3'A"

• Maxell MF-2DD $52.00

Fuji MF-2DD (135tpi) 52JI0

Flip-Sort (75 Disks) $14.00

ACP 5V4" Disk Holder 9.00

ACPSi/i!" Disk Holder 12.00

Head Cleaner 5V4" or 8" 9J)0

Perfect Compulercare Kit 29.00

20 1Mb ^^^g 20 Mb

Upgrade Moga card $479

Package (1 Yr War) Plug-In 1 Yr War)

SEAGATE FOR AT

(Linear Voice Coil Activator)

20 Mb for AT $499.00

30Mb for AT $599.00

40Mb for AT $799.00

(Inc. Cable & Mounting Ralls)

IRWIN TAPE BACK-UP for AT $399.00

PC UPGRADE SPECIAL

$-| 495 OF (9) 64K HAMS

^36®^ SET OF (9) 256K RAIVIS

^139** 8087 COPROCESSOR

^169®^ 8087-2 COPROCESSOR

$22500 80287 - 6-8 Miiz

$269°° 80287-8 - 10 MHz

1200 Baud Hayes™ Comp. Modem

Short Card witli Software.

List $299 ACP 814905

1200 XT/AT (Ext.) $169.95

10Mb HARD DISK $189.00

SYSGEN 20/20

•20Mb Hard Disk 20Mb Tape Back-up

New/Factorv Box PC/XT/AT Comp. •External Complete Reg. Retail $3300

ACP Only

Grid Compass MS-DOS Lap Computer Demo Sale Call for Details. ICG's in Stock as Low as

'849°°

SEAGATE ST225

20Mb Hard Disk $349.95

ACP SUPER LOW PRICE

$39500

MS-DOS LAPTOP Sharp PC5000

Formerly sold tor $1995. 2800 in stock new in box w/factory warranty! Vol. discounts available.

128K Bubble $79.00 Supercom 59.00 Printer 150.00 Supeiwriter 88.00 Wordstar 129.00 Color Plotter 149.00

Modem 300 Baud 99.00

PFS File/Report 129.00

Soft Carry Case 10.00

Soft Key Plotter SW 35.00

SEAGATE ST4038-30Mb

Hl-Speed, 40 mS, AT *enn nn Compatible Drive i>a99.UU

TOLL FREE

800-854-8230

CA Residents 714-558-881 3

OUR POLICY Inquiry 10

•No Surcliarge for VISA or Mastercard.

•Volume purchasing agreements available.

•Orders subject to avaiiabllty. 'Supply limited on certain items.

•Pricing subject to change without notice.

•ACP Retail Store pricing may vary. Not responsible for typos.

Mail Order: P.O. Box 17329 Irvine, CA 92713 Retail: 1310 B E. Edinger, Santa Ana, CA 92705

CORPORATE BUYERS - CALL

GILLES, LOUANE, MANDI, MIKE or DAVE

MEMORIES

ADD-IN BOARDS PIN-FOR-PIN COMPATIBLE EASY INSTALLATION

HP 150 HP 1000 HP 3000 WANG PC

GFK

Amandastr. 60. 2Q00 Hamburg B West Germany

Phone Telex [40]4301051 2162872

Dealers are invited

us Distributor:

HyPoint Technology [21B] 526-0323

Inquiry 119

merican Semiconductor

XT TURBO SYSTEM

$399

"InttHwaitfaaniai

inuiiionMMmptfw _

8087 $119.00

80287-3 175.00

64K 99 BABY AT $499,001

41256K-150 2.39 V-20 14.001

41256Kr200 ......1.99 FLOPPY 75.001

XT & AT ADD ON CARDS For AT, XT, Compaq, & Corona:

t»t^m 30MB Hi-Speed 20MB Hard Drive *325 RLL KIT. . .. '•Wyl

TO ORDER TOLL FREE CALL

1-800-237-5758, EXT. 816

Inside norida Technical Line

813-961-9444 1-813-961-5584

Priiei subitcl 10 ihonge. Add 3.1% lor VISA/MC (Hirthoiei.

16520 N. Horida Ave., Uili, norida 33549

Inquiry 23

$99

HARD DISK CONTROLLER

New Shugart Model 1610 51/4" Hard Disk Controllers EMULATES ^^^h

• XEBEC S1410 (1610-3) Full

• Die 510 (1610-1) 90 day

• SCSI (1610-4) Guarantee WORKS WITH

• Micromint COM 180, SB180

• Wavemat Bullet

• AMPRO All Boards Manual

• Macintosh and

• Apple He Schematic

• ACS 1000 Only $8

• ISI5160

COMPUTER SURPLUS 226 Phelan Avenue San Jose, CA 95112 408-280-1740

STORE

ATTENTION BERNOULLI BOOSTERS

° Go Either Way!

BOOT

from the Bernoulli Box! from the AT Hard Disk!

FORMAT WITH DOS PARTITION WITH FDISK NO SLOWING Wi'vi bnn ihlpplng Bimoulll Boots that work lor over a yoar ~ still waiting?

Golden Bow Systems

— ^fe

$95-$110

hindlhig

cmtDmiirnldintittM

San Olsgo. CA 92103

(619) 298-9349

Inquiry 122

Communications Board

For IBM-PC/XT/AT & cdmp. Dual RS-232C Interface Optional software supports C0M1, COM2, COM3, COM4 Jumper selectable interrupts Fast Delivery

QUA TECH, INC.

478 E. Exchange St. Akron OH 44304 (216) 434-3154 TLX: 5101012726

Inquiry 251

EPROM PROGRAMMER

BPwieiisisitiis

The EP-1 is a great value, hero's why:

• IBM PC Software induded or FlS-232 to any computer ■ ASCII Command driven operetjon; All intelligence in unit

• Reads, Programs, Copies over 150 types from 2716 to a75ia

• Dpticnal Intel microcontroJIer prtigramming tiead

• MeniHtiven C^^J Selection: No F^rsonaGty Modules

• Fast, Stow, Quck-Piise Programm'ng Atgoritfrns

• IrtBl (8080 & S0B6], Mocorols, Tdchex. Straight Hex Files

• Spfits Files By Base Address end Odd/Even (16 tsit systems]

• Gold Textool ZIP IC Socket • Generate & Sat Cfiecksume

• OvBr-Current Protection • 8 Beud FlatBS 300 tc 3B.400

• Full One Year Warranty • 5, 1S.5. ai, aSV

• U.V. Erasers fmm $34.95

BP Microsystems

5325 Glenmont, Suite E, Houston, TX 77081 (800] 225-2102 (713) 667-1636

Inquiry 50

Inquiry 220

P.C. Computer Brokers Inc.

The Place To Buy Your Epson Printers

FREE

Stanid With FHjrchase of any Epson Printer at RC.

*549

Use "799"

FX-85 •549'" *3A9

4201 "iggS" CALL

FX-28B Veg"" •489'

LQ-800 •79g°° •529'

LQ-1000 '1095" •749"

Clo8e-Out Specials—^Wliile Tliey Last—Close-Out Prices

□X-10 .. '225' HW-10 .. "ITS""

AP-80 ., 'ays"

□X-35 .. •650'" RX-100 .. »325'» Call For Prices On: DX-2Q, HI-80, LX-aO, HS-BO, LQ-1500.

?o°! 1-800-245-4122

FREE

LQ-2500

M249

Prices Subject to Change Without Notice

Add 2.9% For Use of Visa, M/C fi, Choice.

These Prices Are Good For Mall Order Dept. Only

•HOtCE

P.C. Computer Brokers Inc. 3879 East 120th Ave. Thornton, CO 80233

[303]450-6727

i^S!^!^^1-800-245-4122

OaOBER 1986 •BYTE 363

0is all you have to pay for the best 5.25" Double Sided, Double Density Each diskettes to be found!

Superstar™ and DISK WORLD!™ do it again: super-premium diskettes at the lowest prices to be found anywhere ...without lies, fraud, hokum or crazy deals.

The "Life Is Simple" price list for first-line,

top-quality diskettes:

5.25"SSDD (P/N38002) 38 ea.

5.25" DSDD{P/N38012 38 ea.

5.25"SSDD - 96TPI(P/N38022) 68 ea.

5.25" DSDD - 96TPt{P/N38032) 71 ea.

5.25" DSDD -HD(P/N38042)....:..$ 1.36 ea.

3.50" SSDD(P/N38052) 11.39 ea.

3.50" DSDD(P/N38062) ,$ 1.45 ea.

All prices quoted are for multiples of 100 each. Add 10% for orders of 50 each. All

5.25" diskettes are supplied with Tyvec™ sleeves, user ID labels and write-protect tabs. 3.50" diskettes are supplied with user ID labels.

Don't buy junk.

DISK WORLD!™ has always been

the price and quality leader in diskettes.

^Xir SuperStar™ diskettes are fully certified to at least 65% clipping levels, far in excess of the ANSI and \uM™ standard of 40%.

Furthermore, SuperStar™ diskettes have jackets of at least 8-mils, as opposed to the 6-mil jackets offered by other low-priced brands. (And, believe us, jacket thickness makes a big difference in whether or not you will get read/write errors on your machinej

SuperStar™ 3.50" disl<ettes are all licensed by Sony™ Corporation, the inventor of the 3.50" diskette standard, and meet their exacting standards.

All SuperStar™ diskettes carry a FULL LIFETIIVIEmRRANTY against manufacturing and material defects.

Finally, all SuperStar™ diskettes are manufactured in the United States...not in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Pago Pago or other strange and exotic places where the standards of quality might not be quite as high.

In short. SuperStar™ diskettes are equal or superior to such tamous brand names as 5m™ TDK™, huii™. Maxell™ and just about any other brand you can name!

Superstar™ disKettesslmply cost half as nnuch or less.

The truth about diskette prices, brand names and some other unpleasant facts of life.

There are exactly two kinds of diskettes: good and bad.

The brand name...or absence of a brand name...on a diskette doesn't mean a thing in terms of quality.

Neither does the pnce.

For example, let's take a hard look at 3lvl™ diskettes, a brand which we have carried for more than three years.

During that time, we sold more than $ 6,500,000 worth of these diskettes...and that's one hell of a lot of disksttcs

' Untilvery recently, we were proud

to market 3IVI™ brand diskettes. Now we don't advertise them and actively

discourage people from buying them.

Why'?

Well, here's a quote from the July 21, 1986 Business Week magazine (page 107): The disks have been plagued by quality problems recently..."accordlng to one industry 6xp6rt.

And a radical change in 3M's pricing policies has resulted in exactly the same diskette being sold at prices ranging from 29 to 89 cents, depending on who you were.

Not exactly a fair deal for anyone.-.exceptSM™ which, accordina to BusinessWeek earned a mere $ 73,000,000 in protits on magnetic media in 1985...mostly at your expense and ours while "(t)he diskettes nave been plagued by quality problems recently..."

Counterfeiting and The Hong Kong Connection.

If the life of a diskette purchaser weren't bad enough already, there are now two more problems to contend with.

Counterfeiting is the newest game in town for the "let's get rich quick" crowd.

At leasttwo mail order companies are currently operating very comfortable businesses offering "famous brand name" diskettes at unbeatable prices.

The prices ought to be unbeatable, since these two companies sirnply take an inferior diskette and slip into a Tyvec™ sleeve which they have printed to be an exact duplicate of the "famous brand name", slap on a forged manufacturer's label to the diskette and make a very tidy prof it... without regard to the harm they are causing the end user.

Finally, there is now a wave of cheap, □ooriy made diskettes pouring in from the Orient, mostly Hong Kong. We are not talking about reputable brands such as Sony™ or Pu\\™: we are talking about diskettes which are being turned out in sweatshops on outmoded equipment with little br no regard for quality control.

They show up in this country under a variety of names at extremely attractive prices. Prices so attractive, in fact, that your savings on buying these diskettes may just about pay for the cost of replacing your drives after you use them for a while.

90,000 DISK WORLD!™ customers really tell the story.

DISK WORLD!™ serves more than 90,000 customers throughout the United States and now the world. More and more maior corporations, universities and governmental bodies have switched over to our SuperStar™ brands because they recognize that SuperStar™...with CflSK WORLDI's integrity standing behind it...offer absolutely the best combination of HIGH-QUALITY and LOW PRICE.

In short, DISK WORLD!™ and SuperStai™ are unbeatable.

Over the past three years, we've sold more than 30,000,000 diskettes.

Our return rate has been less than 1/10,000thof 1%.

Those two facts speak for themselves.

When every bit counts, it's SuperStarT"!

We don't have to boast of imaginary factories employing "floppy phreaks", advertise dlskefies for 390...if you buy 10,000 of them, offer "2 fori" replacement guaranties or engage in any of the other hokum schemes designed to part you from your money.

Nor do we have to offer you "famous brand name" diskettes at inflated prices that don't offer you any more in quality, but do manage to support fleets of corporate jet aircraft and executive retreats in Minnesota and Canada.

We simply deliver the best for less.

More than a million diskettes a month flow out of our warehouse under the SuperStar™ "non-name". As noted, fewer than 1/10,000th of 1 % of these are returned for any reason.

Andthat should say it all: SuperStar™ means far more for far less.

HOW TO ORDER: ORDERS ONLY: 1-800-621-6827

(In Illinois: 1-312-256-7140)

INQUIRIES: 1-312-256-7140

FOR FASTEST SERVICE, USE NO -COST MCI MAIL. Our address is DISKORDER. It's a FREE ,MCI MAIL letter. No charge to you. (Situation permitting, we'll ship these orders in 24 hours or less)

SHIPPING: 5.25" & 3.50" DISKETTES-Add $ 3.00 per each 100 or fewer diskettes. OTHER iTE!\/IS: Add shipping charges as shown in addition to other shipping charges. PAYMENT: VISA, MASTERCARD and Prepaid orders accepted. COD ORDERS: Add $ 5.00 special handlinq charae. APO, FPO, AK, HI & PR ORDERS: Include shipping charges as shown and additional 5% of total order amount to cover PAL and insurance. We ship only to United States addresses, except as shown above. TAXES: lliinois residents add 7% sales tax.

DISK WORLD!. Inc.

629 Green Bay Road Wilmette, Illinois 60091

364 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 93

.«»:«!

f0l

ORATION

, A 94538

IN CALIF: (415) 490-8171 TLX: 559291 FORTRON FAX: (415) 490-9156

ORDER TOLL FREE. (800) 821-9771

U.L. Rated • High Reliability • Full Technical Support

140W (Typ.) 1S0W(Max.) PC/XT $129.00

• U.L. recognized, yellow card available File # E-ioiii5(S)

• Meet FCC class B, European safety spec.

• 115/230V AC convenlble

• Low noise DC fan

• OVP, OCR, short circuit protection

• IBM® standard pin out or Faraday type pin out selectable

• 100% 24 hrs. burn-in 100% pre-shipment test. One full year warranty

Wuf PC nfnsoMs I Mibtantial lnvsMinefll.lt doM not make MnM loiiskcoitly down time diM IS baigeln power supply, when for a lew dollara more you can have e 01 FOHTflON QilAtrrV.

IBM Is a reglslored trademark ol Inlertialionai Business Mechinas.

FC S192

PC/AT

200W (max) $189.00

PROFITABLE DISCOUNT PRICES FOR SYSTEM INTEGRATORS & DEALERS - PLEASE CALL

FCS20 Color Graphic/ Mono/Printer

• TTL/composite Isvslo

• 320 X 200 (coto) 640x21

• Contiwiles Prtmof Port

FC 550 (CT-6040) Monochrome/Qrapnie/ Printer

• 80x2StBxtR>oda

• 720x 348 ipafltilcni > Rtm [.olus 14^ au

• IBM* oofflpatlble

»99.00

FC 730 (CT-6050C) 384K MuKlfunetlonB

(OKI $119.00

FC740

Multl-l/0 $199.00

w / Floppy (tentroller

. 1 E1A.RS232C port (2nd optional)

• t Centronlc poil. game poll

• Clack/calendar

• Contnl 2 flowy drives ■(fC770)w/ofloppy

Contrallor " $99.00

FC 1730 MiiltHunotlon Card tor PC AT

■ 1 EIA-RS232 poit (2n(l opiional)

• 12eK to 1.S MB niBinory

• ExpamUil* to 3 MB (optkmil) by

.ttrf*^ $169.00

FC 1930 RS232/Printer Port for AT

$99.00

FC940

RS232/Real Time aock

Hard Disk Controller

FC230 Floppy Disk Controller

XT CPU Board

• Banary back-up S59.00 (dock only) S49.00

Hard Disk Corttrotler \bz XT

■ 0TC5150BX S149.00

■ WDWX-2 (Wsalem Digital) -S14S.00

•CaW9 S 9.50

F.D. & H.O. Comrolter lor AT

- Die 5290 saes.oo

• Western Digiial WA-2 $260.00

• Cnt:io Sot S 19.00

• IMvM Up to four SH' noppy drivM

• IBM oonuAtOM

• With cables

FC 150(4.77 MHZJ , FC ISO (8.00 MHZ) ■ Expandable (o 640K o memory

• Opiional B087 co proc

• Opiional IBM' c- •.--•■p

Modems $149.00

INTERNAL

Hayes Coinpatible

1200 Baud $148.00

2400 Baud $425.00

SPECIAL

• FC B30 512K

memorv exp. card . .$69.00

• FC 830S 576K memory

exp. card $69.00

• FC 930 sorial/parallel adaptor for XT $49.00

eFCS30 monochrome controller

w/prlnter port . $79.00

Enhanced Graphic Adaptor

IBM* Compatible $239.00

w/0 printer port

v/printer port

EGA Monitor $459.00

• ForPC/XT/ATando ,

• 25BK on board mamofy

• Full 16 colors in 640x350 on IBM* enhancedcOlordl_^._.

• Support B40x350 IBM* compatible enhance color and monochrome monitors

• P^K.illnl pon • Light pen interface

FORTRON 200 U.P.S. for PC

• 115V / 230V AC input converlible

• Input current 2.5 amp

• 200W continuous

• 1/2 cycle (typical) (tanafer lime

• Hold-up time Irom 20 minutes (200W] up to

60 minutes (60W) „

• 5 12- V 7 7- ■ 13 46- $259.00

FC 447

PC/AT Keyboard

• IBM AT ,

• Enlarge mum imr

• Light on num. tocK key

$109.00

FC 427 (5150 Type) $79.00

FC 437 (5151 Type)

• FoiPCXT

• Large return key

• Ligfif on num. lock keys

$99.00

CABINETS & EXPANSION CHASSIS

PC 630 A-2 XT CHASSIS

FC 620 AT CHASSIS

FC610 Drives Chaasia

FC 640/5 Slots PC Expanaion Chaaala $3as.oo

FC 650/8 Slots PC Expansion Chassis $308.00

FC 860/12 Slots PC Expansion Chassis $438.00

\

• For PC XT compaiible side switch

• To use FC 135-40 power supply

• Complete rnounting hardware

S79.C0

• Fo( PC AT compatible

• LED lamps, key. key toek, Speaker

and mounting herdware Included

S139.00

• Capabia of holding 2 halHteltfrt

:=?T"-'.,r":,S*''"si49.oo

• W/5 slot but board

• 100W power supply, (an

• Capable of holding 3 hsil-heighl

• Dia IS'.^" » 12" « 6Vi '

■ Sv^H-"! inmrlfirn lidnplor mclutiod

• PC XT )dw#aii.ilia

• w / 8 Slot bus bosfd

• 140W povrar supply

• 4 half-height drivet

• S^itnm interface ndaptor inciadeO

• Dia. 15V4" X 15«i" x5t4" i

• w /12 slot bus boaiil, pawsr-auppiv,

(an

• CapaCio holdlT>g Z hall-helghl

dr:VOS

■ Sysien .ntorrace adaplo- i'K-luc!ed

MONITORS $89.00

1 • Monochrome

Talung MM 1222 A/Q S109.00

Samsung S89.O0

• Color Hi-Res (640 x 200)

1 TatungCM-1360 S3SS.00

DISK DRIVES

• Roppy

Teac SSBV tlOO.OO

Tape Back-Up

(w / controller, cable & tape)

Printers $89.00

RAM CHIPS

• 84KRAM |t1M/9pc. ,

•Z56K 833JW/0pc

(tor PC AT)

1 2 MB 55QFV t14«.00

• Hard (w / controller A cable)

10 MB 1379.00

30 MB ST-225 S399.00

• 20 MB ST-I02S (40 MS) drive only . tS79.00

• 30 MB ST-4038 (40 MS) drive onty ... 1889.00

• » m CMHSM (40 MS) driM only. .848i.00

INTERNAL

Sysgen 60 MB $745A0

ESrfERNAL

Sysgen 20 MB $749.00

Sysgen 60 MB $955.00

Admate DP-130 8199^)0

Terms:

• Min. shipping & handling $6.00 1

• CA res. add 6.5% tax 1

• Restocking charge tS% 1

• No rin. goods w/o a RMA no. 1

• Prices subject to change w/o nolice j

• Enhanced Graphic (640x350)

Tabng CM-1380 S4SBJ»

• 130 CPA

• BO oolumnt

• 9 X 9 cM mibrtx Md

• RanlM Blandul tntarface

MMbWiiEGA $829.00

OutmmPX-^Z HS9.00

• socRa

■ 80 ootumns

■ Psranel standard mterlace

• Thermo printer

OCTOBER K)86 • H Y T E 365

QUME DISK DRIVE

DS, DD, 360K for PC

Teac FD55 BV Tandon TM100-2 1.2 MB for AT

Printers On Sale!

Citizen 120D 120 cps. Okidata 192 160 cps_

»198

>339

.'lOOoH . »150 oH . >300 oH . >230 Off . >300 off

Epson LX-86 120 cps_ Epson FX-85 160 cps _ Epson FX-286 160 cps_ Epson LQ-800 24 pin _ Epson LQ-1000 24 pin.

Epson EX-800 300 cps »200 off

Epson EX-1000 300 cps_ >200 Off Epson LQ-2500 324 cps _ >400 off

14 cps daisywiieel '179

22 cps daisywtieel •199

40 cps daisywheel *429

EPSON HOMEWRITER

100 CPS c PRINTER

189

PC Multifunction Cards

384K Jade Seven Pak

w/OK, p, s, c. c, g, software _'89 384K Jade Seven Palt

with 384K installed »139

AST Six Pale Plus 64K »159

AST Six Pak Plus 384K ^«229

AST Six Pak Premium 512K_>389

AST Rampage 256K ^»239

AST Rampage 2 I^B »699

Tall Tree JRAM-3 OK '189

Tail Tree JRAI\/1-3 2 MB '599

Intel Above Board 64K '279

Intel Above Board 2 MB '599

AT Multifunction Cards

1.5 MB Jade-ATPak

w/OK, p, s. optional g. s '199

1.5 MB Jade-AT Pak

w/1.5 MB RAM installed '399

AST Advantage-AT 128K '349

AST Advantage-AT 3 MB ^"989

AST Rampage-AT 512K ^"469

AST Rampage-AT 2 MB »749

Tali Tree JRAM-AT OK ^•169

Tall Tree JRAIM-AT 2 MB ^»599

Tall Tree JRAM 3-AT OK '239

Tall Tree JRAM 3-AT 2 MB _»699

Intel Above Board 128K ^>399

Intel Above Board 4 MB 11299

HARD DISK

DRIVE $349

10 MB Kit

20 MB Kit

20 MB hard disk card

_'349 '399

_'449

HI-RES

640 X 262, .38 dot pitch, 16 color, RGB, non-glare

COLOR MONITOR

^269

By Hitachi; includes cable!

PC or AT Video Boards RGB Color Monitors

SURGE/NOISE POWER STRIP

UL Listed, U.S. Made

$12

Hercules Color Graphics '159

Jade Color Graphics '89

Hercules Mono Graphtes Pius '199 JADE Monochrome Graphics .'99

Quad EGA+ '359

Tecmar Graphics Master '439

JADE EGA+ '239

PC Power Supply

135 watt power supply '69

ISO watt power supply '79

Hitachi 640 X 262

Magnavox 640 x 240

Quimax EGA 640 x 350 _ NEC Multisync 800 x 560 .

PGS HX-12 640 X 240

PGS HX-12E 640 x 350 _

-'269

_'319 __'489 CALL _»439 _'529

Monochrome Monitors

Jade green

PC Mouse

3 Button Mouse with

pop-up software, serial '99

PC Mouse w/Dr. Halo II '119

Microsoft Mouse with

PC Paintbrush software —»129

High Speed APU Chips

Jade amber

Amdek 31 OA amber Quimax 14" green T/S Quimax 14" amber T/S

Thompson green

Thompson amber

PGS MAX 12E amber

_»99 _»99

Iso-Bar

These Industrial quality ISO-BAR's contain surge suppression circuitry & built-in noise filters plus a 15 amp circuit breaker.

6 socket, 1 filter ISO-BAR »44

4 socket, 2 filter ISO-BAR '59

8 socket, 4 filter ISO-BAR "69

200W standby power supply -'269 425W standby power supply -'399 675W standby power supply _'599 1000W standby power supply '899

8087-3 5 MHz

8087-2 8 MHz

80287-3 5 MHz

80287-8 8 MHz

NEC V-20 5 MHzNECV-208 MHzNEC V-30 8 MHz.

_'119 -'159 -•179 -*269

-»14 -«16

Microfazer Buffers

Expands to 64K (Parallel to 512K) 8K Parallel in/parallel out_'139 64K Parallel In/parallel out _>164 128K Parallel In/parallel out -•269 512K Parallel in/parallel out -M99 Your choice: serial In/serial out; parallel In/serial out; serial In/parallel out.

8K *iea 64K ^•199

Hayes 1200B internal card w/o software. Hayes 1200B internal . card w/Smartcom li. Hayes Smartmodem 1200. Hayes 24008 internal card w/Smartcom II

-'549 '589

20 MB HI-SPEED HARD DISK FOR YOUR AT

Limited quantity

30 MB Hi-speed _ 40 MB Hi-speed _ 70 MB Hi-speed _ 120 MB Hl-speed.

<399

_»695 _»895 . '1695 . '3395

NO-SLOT CLOCK

Real time clock/ calendar for your PC-XT or clone

$49

Apple Accessories

lie 1/2 high disk drive . lie V2 high disk drive

lie, 11+ disk drive

lie 64K, 80 column card .

11+ 80 column card

Grappler printer card

11+ 16K RAM card

_»119 _»99 _«129 _»79 -•119 _'89 -_'39

Hayes Smartmodem 2400 _

Kaypro Sale

Limited quantity. 10-day moneyback guarantee—Call for details.

Kaypro 2000 ms

Kaypro 10 «795

Kaypro 16 '1195

Kaypro 2000

accessories 30% off

II+, lie printer card 81 cable '49

il+. He cooling fan _'59

64K BUFFER FOR YOUR EPSON

Serial or parallel input. Fits MX, RX, FX printers Limited Quantity

<99

Plotters

Roland DXY-800 8 pen

HP 7470 2 pen

HP 7475 6 pen .

_'399 _'899 '1699 . •3399 . '1699 _'599 _'849

HP 7550A 8 pen

HP Color Pro 8 pen

Houston Inst. PC 695

Houston Inst. DMP 40P

Houston Inst. DMP 29 '1899

Houston Inst. DMP 41/42 _ '2495 Houston Inst. DMP 51/52 - '3795 Houston Inst. DMP 56 •4495

JADE COMPUTER

PLACE ORDERS TOLL FREE!

Continental U.S.A. (800)421-5500

Inside California JJ^g (800)262-1710 a

4901 W. Rosecrans Ave. Box 5046

Hawthorne. CA 90251-5046

Prices at our six store locations will be higher.

We accept cash, checks, credit cards or purchase orders from qualified firms and institutions. Minimum prepaid order $15.00. California residents add6V?% tax. Prices

& availability subiect to change without notice. Shipping & handling charges via UPS Ground 50c, lb UPS An SI 00 ID Minimum charge S3.00.

366 B, Y T E ,• OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry I

IBM COMPATIBLE HARDWARE

Multifunction card 384K, S, P, CLK $139 AT Multifunction card OK-3MB .. $175 MONOCROME graphics card .. .$79

Color Graphics card $69

ComBo CARD ser, par, clock $69

EXPANSION CHASIS 7 slots ....$569 MULTI SERIAL F/D 4 PORT $89

DRIVES

20 MB Seagate drive S399

30 MB Seagate for XT 5499

30 MB drive for AT $649

360 K Floppy for AT $110

TeacSSB $109

20MB Hard Card CALL

TAPE DRIVES

lOMBIrwIn $379

20 MB Irwin $429

Everex Stream 20 S569

Everex Stream 60 S899

Peachtree CALL

franklin 20MB..... $399

IBM SOFTWARE

LOTUS 123 CALL

Symphony CALL

SPREADSHEET Auditor 89.00

ENABLE 359.00

VP Planner 55.00

ASHTON TATE Framework CALL

dBASEM CALL

dBASE III Plus CALL

REVELATION 499.00

MDBS Knowledgeman 2 299.00

POWERBASE 179.00

CLIPPER dBASE III Compiler 355.00

LATTICE C COMPILER 265.00

LET'S C Compiler 49.00

SUPERCALCIV 275.00

MULTIMATE 249.00

MULTIMATE ADVANTAGE 269.00

SORCIM SJPERCALCIII 199.00

MICROSOFT Multlplan 119.00

EXCEL 245.00

Word 249.00

Windows 65.00

Project 239.00

DOS 3,2 W/GW basic 69.00

MACROASSEMBLER 95.00

Quick Basic 65.00

FOX&GELLER Quickcode 149.00

Ouicklndex 76.00

dUTIL3 76.00

BORELAND TURBO PASCAL 42.00

Turbo Pascal W/BCD 60.00

REFLEX 59.00

LIGHTENING 59.00

SUPERKEY 41.00

SIDEKICK (unprotected) 50.00

NORTON UTILITIES S5.00

FASTBACK 95.00

ASCII PRO Comm Software 55.00

CROSSTALK XVI 99.00

MIRROR Comm Software 49.00

PEACHTREE Back to Basics 199.00

BPI GENERAL ACCOUNTING 299.00

OPEN SYSTEMS CALL

REALWORLD CALL

ONE-WRITE PLUS 149.00

ACCOUNTING PARTNER 199.00

MONOGRAM DOLLARS & SENSE 99.00

TOBIAS MANAGING YOUR MONEY .. .99.00

OAC EASY ACCOUNTING 45.00

PFS Professional Write 115.00

PFS Professional File 145.00

Wsbstars New Vl/orld Writer 79.00

SATELLITE WORD PERFECT 209.00

MICMiraO WordStar PRO 249.00

WordStar 2000 PLUS 299.00

SAMMA WORD III 279.00

RBASESOOO 359.00

RBASE System V 370.00

SUPERPROJECT PLUS 255.00

( BUSINESS systems}

80286 IBM COMPATIBLE

8MHZ, 512K, 20meg Monitor, graphics, ser, par $2189

IBM XT COMPATIBLE

2S6K, 20 meg. Monitor graphics, ser, par $1099

IBMAT30MB.. $3445

6MHZ, 512K, Seagate 40MS IBM XT 20MB $2300

Seagate, 256K, DOS, Monitor

COMPAQ COMPUTERS CALL

LEADING EDGE CALL

$PERRYIT44MB CALL

LASER 128(llcCompatible) . ..CALL LOCAL AREA NETWORK CALL

PRINTMASTER 35.00

BREAKTHROUGH TIMELINE 235.00

DECISION RESOURCES CHRTMSTER219.00

ENERGRAPHICS w/plotter opt 289.00

FUNK SIDEWAYS 36.00

LIFETREEVOLKSWRiTERS 149.00

HARVARD TTL PROJECT MNGR .. .285.00 THINKTANK I1D.D0

IBM HARDWARE

AST 6 Pack Plus w/384k 215.00

6 Pack Premium CALL

STB Companion PC 0-2 MB LIMS.... 189.00

Chauffeur monographics 229.00

EGA - Plus Color Board 279.00

JRAM3 CALL

JRAMAT3 CALL

HERCULES Mono Graphics Plus 199.00

Color Card 149.00

INTEL Above Board 64K 229,00

ABOVE BOARD for AT 359.00

ORCKID Tiny Turbo 469.00

Turbo 2B6EW/1 Meg 749.00

Turbo EGA CALL

gUADRAM EGA + 379.00

PARADISE Modular Graphics Card... 199.00

Autoswitch EGA 388.00

Plus Hard Card CALL

130 WAT Power Supply 79.00

Thesys Fastcard III LIMS 0-2MB.... 169.00

TALLGRASSW/Tape CALL

MOUNTAIN CALL

ALLOY CALL

Qraphlcs Edge Card 239.00

MOUSE SYSTEMS Mouse 119.00

MICROSOFT Mousew/sttwr 117.00

KOALA KAT 137.00

MODEMS

ANCHOR Lightening 2400 299.00

Express 300/1200 199.00

Volksmodem 1200 (5 yr wrnty) 139.00

EXPRESS 1300/1200{lNTERNAL) ... 149.00 HAYES 1200 3S9.00

12008 ..3«a.ilo

2400 CALL

PROMETHEUS 2400 379.00

PromodeA1200 245.00

Promodem 1200B , .170.00

Promodem 1200A 119.00

Promoden 300 He 79.00

MONITORS

AMDEK300A 139.00

310A Hi-Res Amber 149.00

Color 600 389.00

Color 722 RGB 720X350 CALL

PRINCETON GRAPHICS HX-12 399.00

HX-12E RGB 720X350 489.00

SR-12 CALL

MAX-12 149.00

TAKAN: ALL MODELS CALL

PANASONIC

0T-H10310" High Res RGB 359.00

IBM COMPATIBLlE Monocrome .99 JO

Color RGB Monitor (640X200) 299.00

PRINTERS

PANASONIC (2 yr warranty)

KX-P1080 199.00

KX-P1091 229.99

KX-P1092 299.00

KX-P1592 419.00

KX-P1595 240CPS CALL

KX-P3131 UcpsDalsey 249.00

KX-P31S1 22 cpsDalsey 385.00

Citizen MSP-10 275.00

Call for catalog. Thousands of products available. Volume discounts.

MSP-15 389.00

MSP-25 CALL

STARMICROHICS CALL

EPSON LX-80 Can

FX-286 tor

LD-BOO Bast

LQ-1000 Prices

BROTHER-1509 369.00

M-1409 dot matrix CALL

M-1109 dot matrix 205.00

HR-20Dalsey wheel 370.00

OKIDATA-All Models Call

TOSHIBA All Models CALL

CANNON Laser Printer 1,909.00

HEWLETT PACKARD LAZER 2.199.90

HOUSTON INSTRUMENTS Plotters... CAU Digitizers CAU

APPLE

LASER 128 Computer CALL

APPLE Compatible Drive lie 99.00

lie compatible drive 99.00

MAC Compatible 3% drive CALL

MICROSOFT Softcard II 259.00

ASCII XPRESS (Communications)... 65.00

APPLEWORKS 215.00

SPELLWORKS 49.00

PRINT SHOP 35.00

Machlli Joystick 35.00

SYSTEM SAVER Fan 69.00

VIOEO 7 lie Enhancer CALL

VIOEX Ultraterm 155.00

APRICORN (Lifetime Warranty)

Super Serial Imager 75.00

Graphics Interlace 65.00

e0Column/64K 75.00

EXTEND IT64K 55.00

KOALA SpeedKey 99.00

COMPUTERBANC

16783 SmcIi Blvd., HunUngton B«och, CR 92647

[F®ir ©(!DS«®i3i!D®i? g®[mB©® ©aOO fi^-mf-mm©

Orders Ofllv

800/33£-BflNC

OUTSID€ CflllFORNIfl

714/841-6160

Cnh prices Indlutad. We guarantee all Itemi for 30 days. Wttliln this period, delsctlvemerctundlie returns must lie accompinleil by RMA number. All other ratiirni edit beiubjiet to a 15% restocking lee. For prepaid orders, there will be a 3K shipping charge; 5S for UPS Blue Label; 35.00 minimum; all orden outside U.S.A. at 15S shipping. CaMomla residents odd 6K sales tax.

iPrlew sublecl to chinga without notice, ©Copyright 1985 dOMniTERBANC, All RIghti Reserved.

Inquiry 78 OGTOBER 1986 • B Y T E S6»

ail c

ccton dm in pi

pply propos

rev

s

t

wk

adl44 asename asic c

dif f iff urn 3 2 al

alendar at ata atrian

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uni uni uni

ctags cu

cu32 cxref date dc

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dot delta derof£ df

di ,

di

THE BEAUTY AND THE BSD

disk t ■'JX:

dFCsq du--p

duinpdate;

$4,995

spellin

use

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u c

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UUE

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V

I f; 3 t

We've Finally Tamed the Beast!

Full 4.2BSD UNIX'"

Each 375 comes standard with a complete 4.2BSD UNIX system. We don't skimp on software. And we can even sive you EAAACS, INGRES, TEXand SPICE for those special applications.

Loaded with Languages

Turn on your 375 and start developins your own applications. It's that easy. Q FORTRAN, PASCAL, BASIC, APU Assembler, LISP and PROLOG: they all come standard

on every 375.

A Portable Computer for the Serious User

At last, a powerful, portable (22lbs) scientific computer for all your serious work. The 375 combines the advantases of a VAX™ with the size, versatility, and price of a micro. All the software tools are there. It's even small enoush to leave on your desktop or take wherever you need it And If s available direct to you right now !

echo

Specifications:

Standaid 375 Features:

Options:

Processor: Series 32000™, 10 MHz, virtual mcfnory. FPU

Ethernet:

10 Mbit, TCP/IP.

Main Memory: 2 MB RAM, no wait states.

Main Memory:

8 MB RAA^ no wait states.

Disk Memor/; 50 MB Winchester. 1 MB 5'/<-inch floppy.

Disk Memory:

up to 280 MB.

Serial Ports; Four RS-232, intesral FIFO, up to 38.4 KBAUD

Expansion Interface; SCSI, with optional cartridse streamins tape.

Printer Port Confisurable Centronics parallel.

Spreadsheet:

Q-CALC".

Size: 14 X 1S X 6 Indies, 22 lbs.

LEASE FOR $147/ month.

CAU US TODAY

svmmETRic.

r. r i rr

wn.; whc

COmPUTER

1620 Oakland Road, Suite D200 San Jose, CA 95131-408/279-0700

* Prepaid. Sales Ox and Shipping Costs not irKluded. ** Specifications sutiject to change without notice.

UNIX is s registered tradenwli of AT&T Bell labs. Q.CAI.C is a trademark df Qtiatlfty Soltwaie Products. Is a trademark of Digital Equipment Series 38000 is a tiademailEof National Semiconductor Corp.

368 BYTE • OCTOBER 1986

Inquiry 294

PRIORITY

i

ONE

ELECTRONICS

vvn '["••'{/'^"xiii'ir^

ORDEn TOLL Fffe£raoa|42^WM^^^^^

fACTION OUAnANTBBO Ok

1200^ & 2400^

Surge Suppressor

$19!^

BJPRIAC1 (2 lbs)

1200 and 2400 bps Fully Hayes Compatible Modems — Full 2 Year Warranty —

0-300, and 1200 bps, Bell 103, 212A

Auto Dial / Auto Answer / Auto Speed Select

Automatic Pulse and Touch Tone dialing

Supports ALL Hayes commands and responses

On board speaker with volume control

8 lighted status Indicators

Made in the U.S.A., UL listed, FCC registered

ZIPPER 1200

ZIPPER 2400

$159 $299

BJPRIZM12(4ibs.)

1200 DPS HolNCord Fully Hayes Gofflpatlble w/Mlrror Software

BJPRIZIIIi24(4ib8.)

ZIPPER 1200H

$139

BJPRIZM12H (2 lbs)

n EPSOisr

7 Printer Stand with FX65 & FX266

-HP?

- * J,

PRIORITY ONE ELECTRONICS

21622 Plummer Street Chatsworth, CA 91311-99710

Terms U.& VISA, MC, Check, Money Order, U.S. Funds ONLY. CA residents add local Sales Tax. SHIPPING & HANDLING $3.00 for the first 3 lbs., plus 50C for each additional pound (2S« within CA). Plus 25<t per S100.00 value for insurance. Please include your phone number with order. Prices subject to change without notice. Returns for refund must be made within 7 days of receipt of goods, manufacturers warranty wili apply where applicable. PRiORITY ONE ELECTRONICS and PRIORITY 1 ELECTRONICS are registered service marks of the Heath Groups LXD. Zipper 212A, Zipper 2400. and Zipper 1200H and Zipper Modem are trademarks of the Heath Group, I ID

Inquiry 346

FX-266

FX-a5 HomeWriter 10

with FREE INTERFACE Oleic* of PoralM, AppI* Ik IDM

We Will Beat Any Price By $5.'^

Price must be published In this Issue with product In stock and offered under

comparable conditions of sale.

FREE CATALOG

Outstanding prices on computer

accessories for your computer and workstation. Our catalog features a wide selection of quality products to meet all your accessory needs. Call or write today to receive your free catalog.

LINTEK COMPUTER ACCESSORIES

POB 8056, Grand Rapids, Ml 49518 (616) 241-4040

SAVE!

MEMORIES-BOARDS-PRINTERS

* 84K/1SSK/E5BK D-RAM« at LOW PRICES

* VeO-5 or -B 114.00 / V30-B. . .1B.00

* B087 .... •108.00 / 8087-2.... 8188.00 80ea7-S.8178.00 / 80SB7-8...8888.00

* Mamory BMrdi and Modulss

JRAM-3 Parallel or Serial w/OK .1148.25

JRAM-3 /JRAM-AT Par or Sen w/BK 8201.75 JRAM AT-3 Pan or Ser. w/BK. . , 8261.75

Ser/Par or Ser/Ser Clock module 8150.00

Ser/Par or Ser/Ser module 8105.00

Clock/Calendar module 880.00

JOtSKETTEmodulB 8180.00

JLASER-1 til Canon switch & cable 8300.00

* BROTHER Printers fi Aeceasorlea

M-1509 Dot Matrix Prnitar 8380.00

HR-15XL Daisy Wheel Printsr 8388.00

TwinwritBr 5 Pot Matrix/Daisy 8880.00

Princer Accessories 88% off UBT

' WARRANTY: All I.C.s guaranteed tor 180 days. ' OEM and DEALER discounis available. ' Prepaid orders - No shipping charges ' Maryland residents must add sales lax.

Advanced Technology Products, Corp.

P.O. Box 2205/11141 Qeofgia /(ye., Silver Spring, MD 20902 {

Phone: 301-933-3523

Share A Serial Printer or Modem without Switching

$44.95

Each

Model 232PDS (Printer)

Model 232MDS (Modem)

Botli computers or terminals remain connected at same time. Botti view same data. No power required. Data lines isolated by passive OR gates. Order Now! $44.95 each. Speclty unit desired. All cash orders ppd. (IL Res. add 6V4% sales tax). MC. VISA accepted. FREE: new illustrated catalog of RS-232 interface & testing equipment. Ptione: B1S-434-0iB46. Make checks payable to.

&n electrnnics

MANUFACTURING COMPANY

1500B BOYCE, OTTAWA, IL 61350

Inquiry 166

Inquiry II

Inquiry 33

64Ka 128Ka256K

DRAMS

E O [M] ®

80287-10 ■ 80287-8 ■ 80287-3 8087-3 ■8087-2 "8087-1

4416 ■ 4464 V-20 ■ V-30 B I T T N € R

€L€aRONICS

(714] 497-6200

CALL NOW FOR FREE CATALOG

Inquiry 42

DYNAMIC RAMS

41256 100"= M.85

41256 120- ^3.25

1^41256 sons

4164 120ns

1^4164 iso"» ^iffir

4464 i5ons ^3.95

■PROCESSORS

e087-2 8mH2 SI 59.00

S087-3 5mHz SU5.00

60287-3 6mHz SI 79.00

ao2a7>a BmHz s call

V-20 8mHz S 12.75

V-30 emH2 S 14.00 ■ STATIC RAMS

62&4LP-15 150ns $2.95

■ E. PROMS

27C256 ZSOns 27255

27128 27C64 2764 273ZA 18000's tPtrta \n ■lock)

250ns 250ns 200ns ZSOns ZSOns

S6.S0 $5.25 S3.95 $4.50 S3.25 S3.75

I.e. EXPRESS

15358 Valley Blvd.. Cily ol Industry. CA 91746 Phone: 818-369.2688 (Mon-Fri • 8-5)

ORDER TOLL FREE

(800) 892-8889 • (800) 882-8181

I Outside CalHomia Inside Calllornla j

I CALL FOR CURRENT PRICES S VOLUME DISCOUNTS.!

inquiry 141

9-TRACK MAG. TAPE SUBSYSTEM FOR THE IBM PC/XT/AT AND...

For Information inlGrchange, backup and archival storage, IBEX offers a 9-lrack, IBM format-compatible 'y^" magnetic tape subs^tem tor Ihe IBM PC, featuring:

■ IBM format 1600/3200 and 800 cpl.

■ Software tor PC-DOS. M5-D0S

■ AlBO tor DEC. VAX, VME, S-100, RS-232, IEEE 468.

BEX

HWft fihen or jmtofinkinnatlon.

I8EX COMPUTER CORR 20741 Marina Si Criatsworth. CA 9l3lt

Inquin

LOW COST HIGH RESOLUTION DATA LOGGING for IBM PC/XT/AT®

15-Bit four input channel system 7 samples/second with hardware and menu driven software S415

Expand system above by 15 analog input channels (64 max.)... $165

Add thermocouple thermometry to above, 6 channels for $175

Add 16-bit, 12,000 sample/second capabilities to above for... $210

Call for quantity pricing or for- quotes on custom hardware, software or complete systems.

LAWSON LABS, INC.

5700 Raibe Road Columbia Falls, MT 59912 Phone: 406 387-5355

Inquiry 162

maiiiia

Heritage Systems Corp ^

HSC-9100 80 By 24 Or 25 Line Alpha-numeric Video Terminal Card

ANSI X3.64/0ther Terminal Emulations 50 To 38.4K Baud Serial Port RS-232 Or TTL/CMOS Versions IBM PC Compatible Keyboard Input EEPROM Based On Screen Config Composite or Separate Video 100 By 100mm Card 5V Only ® 200mA $139TTL/CMOS J149 RS-232

PO Box 10588, GrBensboro, NO 27404-0588 (919) 274-4816

Inquiry 135

A Ventilation System designed to prolong ttie life of IBM® PC PC/XT. Coldblue'" fits in the IBM enclosure reducing operating temperatures as mucti as 27°F by increasing airflow across the card area. The one that really works! $185. Mandrill Corp. PO Box 33848, San Antonio, TX 78265 800-531-5314 Dealers inquiries welcome.

Inquiry 180

NEW LOW PRICES !

NEW LOW PRICES !

(800) 538-8800

(CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS)

(800) 848-8008

MoitefCard fl

r RAMS

STATIC

DYNAMIC

21KL

200 ns

.99

4116

200 ns

2016

200I1S

99

4116

150 ns

2016

150ns

1.35

4164

200 ns

HM6116 P

ISOns

1.35

4164

150ns

NM6116LP

ISOns

1.45

41128

ISOns

Z-6132

3Mm

19.89

41256

19ans

HM6164 P

IMn

3.35

41296

120ns

HM6t64LP

ISOns

3.49

4416

190ns

HM6164LI<

loon

tZ4S

4im

196nt

EPROMS

2S16

4S0ni

2.95

2732 A

250m

2.49

2532

350ns

3,75

2764

45ans

1.69

2706

450ns

2.95

2764

250n8

2.39

2716-5

490ns

129

27128

250ns

2.69

2716

450 ns

1.89

27256

250n3

6.99

2716-1

350ns

2.35

27512

250ns

29.99

2732

450ns

1.69

MC68764

450ns

1599

2732 A-2 200ns

3.89

MC68766

3S0n3

16.99

8088/8086 Up Grade

V-20 5Mhz 9.95 V-20 8Mhz 12.95 V-30 8Mhz 18.95

DP-25 Solder Cup

Male, Female, Hoods 99t ea.

UV ERASERS

QUV-T8/1 $49.95

ECONOMY Modal

...EES'

EriMi IS EPROMS In 20 mlnirtm PiMtle Eneloiura

74t800

74 LSI 00

7415125

.36

74L8260

.46

74LS01

^4

74LS1Z6

.36

74LS266

J6

^4

74L5132

.36

74LS273

.76

74LS03

]^

74L5133

.46

74LS275

r96

74LS136

.36

74LS279

.36

/4LS03

■

74 LSI 37

.96

74LS280

1.18

74LS08

.16

74LS138

.36

74LS263

.56

74LS09

.16

74LS139

.36

74LS290

.66

74LS10

.14

741^145

.86

74LS293

76

.18

74LS147

.86

74LS295

.66

.18

74LS148

.86

74L5296

.66

74LS13

.36

74LS151

.36

74 IS 299

1.46

24

74LS153

.36

74LS323

2.46

74LS15

24

74 LSI 54

1.46

74LS324

1.68

741^91

74LS155

.46

74LS352

1.24

on

74LSI56

46

74LS353

1-18

/4LSZZ

.20

74LS157

.34

74LS363

1 28

74LS158

28

74LS364

1.88

741527

9n

74LS160

28

74 IS 365

36

74LS26

01

74 LSI 61

.36

74L5366

.36

*B

74 LSI 62

46

74LS367

,36

7JI^«

1R

74LS163

36

74LS36fl

36

7ilC1T

9fi

74LS164

46

74LS373

76

7ilC17

74LS165

64

74LS374

76

71IC1B

OA

74LS166

66

74LS377

76

7ii^n

1R

74LS168

.94

74LS378

1 12

74LS42

36

74LS169

.94

74LS385

1 64

74LS47

56

74 LSI 70

.64

74LS386

.42

66

74LS173

.46

74LS390

1.06

74LS49

74 LSI 74

36

74LS393

.76

74LS51

16

74LSI 75

.36

74LS395

1.06

74LS1fl1

1.46

74LS399

1.06

74L555

20

74LS189

3.86

74LS424

2,86

74LS190

,46"

74LS447

.92

74LS73

28

74LS191

46

74LS490

1 46

74LS192

.66

74LS624

1.92

74L575

26

741S193

.66

74LS640

.96

74LS194

.56

74LS645

.96

74LS78

36

74LS195

.56

74LS668

1.46

74LSfl3

46

74LS196

56

74LS669

156

74LS85

46

74LS197

.56

74LS670

.86

74LS86

20

74LS221

.56

74LS674

g'sS

74LS90

36

74LS240

.66

74LS682

114

.86

74LS241

.66

74LS683

2J6

74L592

.46

74LS242

.66

74I.S684

2.86

74LS93

36

74LS243

.66

74LS685

2^86

741.595

46

74LS244

.58

74LS686

1J6

74LS96

46

74LS245

68

74LS6M

2.86

74LS107

32

74LS247

.66

74LS783

21.96

34

74LS248

.66

81LS95

1I36

74LS112

.26"

7415249

.96

81LS96

1.36

74LS113

^32

741S251

.46

B1LS97

1.36

74L5114

.32

74LS253

.46

81LS98

1.36

74LS122

.44

74LS257

36

7415123

.46

74L5256

.46

25LS2521

248

74L5124

2.60

74LS259

1.18

2SLS256g

2,48

MEMORY EXPANSION KIT

Build An IBM PC XT

$532

Compatible Computer

Motherboard XT„ $119

with Bios

150w Power Supply $69

1/2 Height Disk Drive $79

Floppy Controller Card $29

Case Flip-Top $29

5150 Keyboard $59

Monochrome Card $49

Monochrome Monitor $99

IBM PC XT Compalibic $532

EGA Card $229

Turbo Mother Board $169

Mono Graphics Card ,$79

Memory Card $59

Multifuncion Card .$79

Floppy Multi i/o Card $79

Color Graphics Card $69

1200b Modem Card $139

Teac55B(ForffiM) $99

Fujitsu DS/DD (for IBM).....$89 Joystick 529

Mac Upgrade " ^ Kit

41256 150ns $2.89 each!.

8000

8031 S03S 8039 8080A 8085 8085A-2 8086

8087-3 124 95

8087-2 13995

8088 5.95

8089 3995

8131 8155 SI 55-2 8156 8185

128K To 512K

Consists of:

(16) 41256, 150ns (1) 74F253

(17) le-Pin Sockets

Capacitors And Resistors

APPLE

Accessories

Parallel Card $49

Super Serial Card 99

80-col Card II+, 149

80-col Card He 64K... 69

Z80 Card 69

16K Card .. 39

Cooling Fan 39

Disk Drive (full) 139

Disk Drive (half) 129

Controller Card 49

Joystick 29

6500

6500

6500 A

6502 1.99 6502A

6504 6.79 6520A

6505 8.79 6522A

6507 9.79 6532A

6520 1.59 6545A

6522 3.99 6551A

6532 5.99

6545 4.89 6500 B

6551 5.89 6502B

2.49 2.49 4.99 9.89 6.89

5.89

1 MHz

6800 ..

6802 ..

6803 ..

6808 .. 6809E .

6809 ..

6810 . 6820 6821 6828 6840 . 6843 .. 6844 6845 .. 6647 .. 6850 .. 6852 .. 6860 .. 6862 . 6875 .. 6880 .. 6883 ..

6800

esBoo

2 MHz

68B00 489

68B02 5.89

68B09 6.89

5.89 G8B09E 6.99

1 89 68B10 2.99

28? 68B21 3,89

68840 14.89

68B45 6,89

1.89 4.89

4.89

5.6!

13.89 5.99

18.89 68B50 2.89

10.89 4.89

68000

10.89 68000-8 9.89

1 89 68047 1259

68488 14.89

68652 HM

68661 BM

4.59 7.89 10.89 6.89

1.49 68764 ISM

21.81

68766 16,89

Z-80

zeo-cpu

Z80-CTC

Z80-DART

Z80-DMA

Z80-PI0

Z60-SI0/0 ....

Z8O-SI0/1

Z80-SI0/2

Z80-SI0/9

Z-80

Z-80A (contlniwd)

.99 Z80A-DMA 4.89

1.49 Z80A-PI0 1.79

3.89 Z80A-SIO/0 .... 4.89

3.89 Z80A-SI0/1 .... 4.89

1.59 Z80A-SI0/2 .,.. *M

3.89 ZBOA'«IO/9 .... 4.89

3.89 3.89

Z-80 B

Z-80 A

Z80A-CPU

Z80A-CTC

Z80A-0ART ....

•OS' Z80B-CPU 359

Z80B-CTC 3,59

Z80B-PI0 3,59

49 Z80B-DAHT .... 1089

Z80B S10/0 ... ma

*M Z80S10/2

10M

POWER SUPPLY

(Switching) 0.4 Amp 0.3 kmf S.S Amp

-IZV -1- 5¥

1986

- THE IC MASTER

Your ticket to fast and easy IC selections

$119.00

"luianiH, «rpu ii, trnE and -ma n+" are

Trademarks of APHf COiniTH, l«C.

■AT" is a Trademark of III COirOMTIIX,

HOURS: Mon-Fri. 7;30 to 5:00 VISIT OUR RETAIL STORE 2100DeUCaiz Blvd. Santa Clara, OA 95050 (408) 988-0697

ALL MERCHANDISE IS 100% GUARANTEED

□ oKa

NEW LOW PRICEB

NEW LOW PRICEB !

Inquiry 98

COOBER 1986 • t ¥ ? E 371

COMFORT—

Productivity you can 1

"TheADJUSTable. ...adjusts to fit YOU"

INTRO SPECIAL! $149 +1

(reg. $229)

• Clears oH your desk

• Unreslrlcled Logroom

• Adjuslable Height. Deplh, Till

• Fits PC/AT/Porlables/Mac's ' ExcepUonti mobility w/optlonal Casteni, $20

• Also: Adjtntabto Chiilra,1>rN8r Stands, cm* Svring Arms

ACP

Rcwwdyourselfnowl OrdBrbyOet.31 and - recalVB FREE SET OF CASTERS (teg. $20 value)

SlO- (713)763-3881

6776 Soulhwest Freeway • Suite 150 • Houston, Texas • 77074

72 Digital I/O

PXB-721

Parallel Expansion Boara

• For IBM-PC & Compatibles

• 72 Digital I/O Lines

• Simple Programming

• Uses One Expansion Slot

• Fast Delivery

$195

CpQUA TECH. INC.

478 E. Exchange St. Akron OH 44304 (216) 434-3154 TLX: 5101012726

RS-a22

Communications Board

• For IBM-PC/AT/XT and compatibles

• Dual RS-422/RS-485 interface

• Differential drivers to 4000 ft.

Fast Delivery QUA TECH, INC.

478 E. Exchange St. AI<ron OH 44304 (216) 434-3154 TLX: 5101012726

Inquiry 8

Inquiry 252

Inquiry 253

EVSAN

P.O. Bo» 21'l3

(US) 991-1051

V

20 B

mhz

9.50

Math Co-Processors

80B7

- 2 e

nhz

1112.00

80287

- 3 8

mhz

162.00

DYNAMIC RAMS

EPROMS

1 MEG

lOOns 60.00

27512

2S0n5

17.00

41256

100ns 4.65

27C256

200ns

7.00

41256

120ns 2.98

27C256

250ns

6.50

41256

150ns 2.65

27256

250ns

5.20

4164

120ns 1.10

27128

250ns

3.60

4164

150ns 1.00

2764

200ns

3.75

«l|6»

120ns t.^S

276«

2S0ns

3.20

■|4M

ISOns 3.95

2732*

200ns

3.90

4128

ISOn? 4.110

2732*

250ns

3.50

STATIC RAMS

II3256L

120ns

28.00

6264L

ISOns

2.80

5564L

ISOns

4.75

5565L

ISOns

3.25

6116

150ns

1.45

TERMS AND

CONDITIONS

1) PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE CALL FOR CURREm t VOLUHE PRICING.

2) HINIHUH ORDER - $10.00

3) SHIPPING t HMffiLINCl UPS GROUND - t3.00 (On. Pound) UPS «IR - $4.50 California Residents add 6.5% sales tax.

4) n SURCHARCE on credit card CHARGES.

ALL MERCHANDISE 100% CUARANTEED-PROMPT DELIVERY CALL FOR PRICE LIST

Inquiry 106

KEYBOARD PROTECTOR Remains in place during keyboard use. Prevents damage from liquid spills, dust, ashes, etc. Fits like a second skin, excellent feel. Available for: IBM-PC, AT, Apple (all), Compaq, Model 100, NEC 8201, C64. Zenith 150, DEC, Kaypro, KB5151, AT&T 6300, WYSE 50 and many otheis. Send $29.95, check, M.O.. Visa & MC include exp. date. Specify computer type. Dealer inquiries invited. Free Ijrochure avail.

Merrift Computer Products, Inc. 2925 LBJ Fwy. *180 / Dallas, Texas 75234 (214) 339-0753

Inquiry 189

68020

FHL 20x30

• Multi-user/Multi-TaskIng

• 32-Bit MC68020 — 1ZJS MHz

• 6 to 30 Usars

• 2.5 MByte to 14,5 MByte

• 32-Bit Expansion Buss

• Built-in SCSI/SASI w/DMA

• DIP Switches select Baud Rate

• Hard Drive (20MB to 150MB)

• 720Kb Floppy Drive

• Real Time Clock w/Battery Backup

• Software Included: OS9/68000; Basic; Word

Processing; Spreadsheet; Utilities

• Options: MC68881 Coprocessor

2MB/4 Serial Port Board Memory Protection Graphics Boaid Pascal and C

Dealer Inquiries Invited

Frank Hogg Laboratory, Inc. 315-474-7856 TELEX 646740

NEC PRINTERS

(1 Year Factory Warranty)

Pinwriter P5 $ 930

Pinwriter P5XL $1075

Pinwriter P6 $ 450

Pinwriter P7 $ 615

Elf 350/360 $ 380

3510/15/30/50 $ 715

8810/15/30/50 $1040

Optional Forms Handling Devices CALL

QUALITY PRINTERS 8415 Cement City Road Brooklyn, Michigan 49230 Phone: 517-592-3749

Inquiry 254

Sure Uninsured?

SAFEWARE® Insurance provides full replacement of hardware, media and

purchased software. As little as $39/yr. covers: • Fire • Theft • Power Surges

• Earthquake • Water Damage • Auto Accident

For information or immediate coverage call:

1-800-848-3469

In Ohio call1-614-262-0559

D

^itSatSE,The Insurance Ageruylm

Inquiry 268

Serial ^tlimtM^ Parallel

Convert What You Have To What You Want I

^ R8232 Sarlal * CMranlcs Pinllsl

■ a Baud Rales ■ Hsndalula Slgnils

■ Utelwd Outimls ■ Comptol 31! x 411 x IK

No longer will your peripheral clwlces be limited t)y the type of port you have avallablel Our new High Performance TOO Serlee Converters provide the missing link. Baaed on the lateat In CMOS technology, theae unlta feature full baud rata aeleetlon to 19.2K, vim hartdstiake signals to maximize transfer afflaiancy. Detailed docunwnlatlon allows almplined InstellBtlon. Onfar the Model 770 (SeifPai) or Medal 775 IPafSeit Todayl

Butter Produels Coming sooni

2734-C Johnson Dr Posi Office Box 3717 Vonlura, California 93006

onl,»89.»5

Conrwctot Opilon JlO.OO CA nosidenis 6% i*i UPS Shippino t3 00

^CALL (805) 658-7466 or 658-7467 For FAST Delivery .

OMPUTER SYSTEMS

IBM-PC COMPATIBLES

"BIG BLUE CLONE"

NOT JUST AN ECONOMICALLY PRICED PC WERE DOWN IN THE DIRT ON PRICEI LETS MUD WRESTLE A DEAL FOR YOU ON A B.B.C THATS "KC APPROVED W/UH1 YR UMTED WARR.

BASIC B.B.a

xaCTVRBOW/aSLOJS, ISOWRSiSUOE CASE, 3PKR S ATSTYLE KB. $414

' r CALL OUR SALES PROFESSIONALS

FORADDtTKMALOmONS

ZENITH 148, 158, 171, 200AT UP TO 50% OFF

ACS ET-286 1MB, 3 SERIAL & 2 PARALLEL, CLOCK. 8 SLOTS, 6/10/12.6MHZ, 20MB & 1.2 DISKS. MSDOS 32,

MONO GRAPH. CARD COMPLETE *2725

ACS-1000 SYSTEM 8/4.77MHZ. 2 FLPY DRVS. 1MB RAM, 20MB HD ORV, COLOR OR MONO CTRL, MSDOS 3.2, SASl, 2 S,P PORTS, CLOOKCAL-BATT $1579

OOfdQlQ

PC-400 512K, 2 FLPyS, 14' 640x400, S12K $1029

20MB HARD DISK SYSTEM WITH 2 FLPYS $1499

ATD^-Q 8MHZ 80286, 640K, S, P, 1.2 FLPY $2039

ATP-B-Q PORTABLE .„ $2189

EPSON

EQUITY I 8MHZ V30, 640K, S, P. CLK. FLPY, MS-CX3S & GWBASIC- RUNS 2.9 NORTON UTILITIESI .>.$1199

PC / IT 8MHZ 80286, 1.2 FLPY, 512K, 8 SLOTS .... $2149 PC / IT ENHANCED WITH 1MB & 40MB HD DRV .. $2959 MODEL 400 HT FLPY AND 20MB $2119

1088.50 1MB RAM, SOMB HARD DISK. 50MB TAPE

DRIVE, XENIX $11399

108880 AS ABOVE WITH SOMB HD & TAPE $12999

686-25 6 USEa VSti HD, XENIX $4099

NETWORKING

CALL FOR DEALER PRICING, INTEGRAVON, AND/OR CONSULTAVON.

PC-SLAVE / 1. RTNX MSDOS 2.1 ._$109

. $595

ATNX MSDOS 3.1...$189

UNJ>C ARCNET FOR PCS $349

WS-288 SMHZ 80286, 6 SLOTS, ARCNET l/F, 640K, SCSI, AT TYPE ENaOSURE t PS $1398

M NOV E L L

ADVANCED NETWARE STARTER KITS SOFTWARE,

KEYCARD, 2 NICS, CABLES INCLUDED From $1795

MACROTECH PIMSR-AT 0-3MB RAM FOR IBM-AT @ 6,

B,10,& 12MHZ. NO WAIT STATES $185-$625

STB RIO GRANDE 128K ■ 1.5MB, P & S $195

TECMAR WAVE 64-256K $149 BOSUN S,P,CLK $149 TECMAR CAPTAIN OK,S.P,CLK & TREAS.CHEST .. $149 TECMAR EXPXMS/DM CHASSIS II SLOTS, ETC ... $S9S

6 PACK PLUS

6 PACK PREMIUM ...

RAMPAGEAT

ADVANTAGE.

$155

$325

$429

. $325

aa-EOA HGC, CQA, EGA ».„.. $Z75

HERCULES GRAPHICS CARD PLUS CAU

intel

ABOVE BOARD PCMB 1010 64 TO 512K. ALLOWS LOTUS, SYMPHONY. AND OTHERS TO RUN ABOVE

04OK UST $345 SELL $199

ABOVE BOARD-AT128 TO 4MB $399

CORDATA FASro/Mn" 480X640, 256K, 16 CLR $949

HANZON LP-3000t LASER HPGL PLOT. COM CALL

ACS GRAPHAX 20 / 20 HMK RESOLUTION, 2.5MB ON

BD, UP TO 32 COLORE, RUNS AUTOCAD $1995

AUTOCAD FROM $259

DDsgDaasxsD

hibIi UlllSllt

DW41/42 $2449 DIIB'51/S2 $3899

inHP5K44399 DMP29..$1699 DMP40Jtaa» TRUE GRID DIGITIZERS r<;jIW5.$289 TGrOr (..$509 r6J0J7..$619

I POWER sYSTaas&iiii^

SAFE (SAFT) SPS1000 WATT SINE WAVE $989

SOLA 750 WATTWI4500 WATT HI-INRUSH $1495

[^SI lTWWIIIII *ll,IIHI.Wil

ALL CABLES SOLD AT DEEP DISCOUNT CALL

S4 4 CIRCUIT SURGE SUPPRESSOR $19

SID 6 CIRCUIT SURGE SUPPRESSOR $29

P15 5 CIRCUIT MONITOR BASE W/ MODEM PROT.. $98 U1000 POWER SAVER 1000W UJ>.S. (TOPAZ).... $729

)RS & TERMINALS |

NEC MULTISYNC $515

TECMAR RGB HI-RES ZVM-1360 $498

ZENITH ZVM-1240 (IBM) FLAT SCREEN, AMBER ... $149 PRINCETON GRAPHICS AU MODELS CAU

CM-1360 640x200 RGB, 13", G / A SWITCH $349

CM-13ao EGA 640x350 RES & TEGA CARD $775

1422A DUAL FREQ., TILT/SWIVEL, 14", G / A $139

ALINK

125 EMULATES WY-SO ETC.. HI-RES 14" GREEN/AMBER 6 SCROLL RATES, IBM SELEC. KB. 1 YR WARR „. $385

WVSE 30 $295

WYSE SO .H ™.-„ $425

WYSE 60 $475

UBERIY FREEDOM ONE . $395

CORDATA LP-300 LASER W/ WORDSTAR 2000 .. $2175

EPSON.- CAU

HANZON BUFFER 64K-2S6K S-S,S-P,P-S,P-P $265

HANZON LP^OOO* LASER CAN EXECUTE HEWl£TT

PACKARD, GL PLOTTER COMMANDS CAU

STAR MICRONICS SR-15 $595

TOSHIBA Pa2» PARA & SERIAL $449

TOSHIBA P34I „ $769

TOSHIBA P3S1 PARA. & SERIAL... OKIDATA 292COLOR PRINTER.

.$969 .$459

ONDATA 293GOLOR W/ TRAC, 132 COI „„.,.... $599

brother

H-1509 18045 CPS, P & S. TRAC.(EPSON) $359

M-1109 100-25 CPS, P & S, TRACTOR $203

HR-35 36 CPS DAISEY. WIDE CARR $729

HR-20 20 CPS „ $349

TWINHTER 5 DAISY & DOT MATRIX CAU

XEROX/Diablo

DIABLO D25 $484 DIABU) 835 $949

DIABLO D804F $2009 DIABLO 34LO $939

XEROX 4045 LASER $4595

Indmtrial Computer i

A/D 64-100 $315 A/D64-PC..- $396

IVA64-100 $236 IVA64-PC $468

10184>C 96 TTL INPUT UNES $448

ISE-488

SCIENTIFIC SOLUTIONS (TECMAR)

-488 $239 LAB MAOTER $6

ONE STOP SHOPPING FOR ALL OF YOUR INTEGRATION AND POST SALE SUPPORT NEEDS. WE HANDLE CCS. COMPUPRO, DUAL, I.C.M.. ILLUMIN. TECH., LOMAS, TELETEK, MULLEN, P&T, INDUST. COMP. DESIGNS. TARBEa, ETC. THIS MONTHS SPECIALS ARE:

DUAL AIM-12 D/A CONVERTER $545

DUAL AOM-12 A/D CONVERTER $509

CONCURRENT DOS 4.10 $495 CDOS-t.fE $635

SPUZ 8MHz Z80, 256K, 4 USERS $269

INTERFACER-3 8 SERIAL PORTS $439

SYSTEM SUPPORT 1 W/ CLK, BATT. SERIAL $289

DISK 1A 5" S 8" FLOPPY CONTROLLER $439

DISK 3 5" HARD DISK CONTROLLER $509

RAM 22 256K STATIC RAM $446

C2 SYSTEM $7279

'^JTERMATlOrsiAL

MI-286 10MHz 80286 & 8MHz Z80H $695

SWI 1MBSTATICRAM $649

MSR-li 1MB DYNAMIC RAM $799

H.D. & TAPE SYSTEMS

PC-INSIDER, PC-OUTSIDER S AT-INSIDER HARD DISKS FOR IBM AND COMPATIBLES SET-UP TO BOOT FROM HARD DISK WITH ALL NECESSARY HARDWARE AND PCSTYLE CABINET FOR EXTERNAL DRIVES.

20MB PC-INSIDER $379

30MB PC-INSIDER (SEAGATE ST-238) $535

72MB PC-IN/OUTSIDER SOnnSEC $1798

COMPUPRO 40MB INT. SUBSYS. W/ DISK 3 $1565

COMPUPRO BOMB INT. SUBSYS. W/ DISK 3 $2049

AUOY FT-eO 60Mb@1.8MbWIN,FOR PC COMPAT.$795 IRWIN 10MB TAPE/PC or CPRO - Requires CDOS .. $369

TECMAR QIC 60--Hr INTERNAL 60MB TAPE $1079

TECMAR MACDRIVE 10MB $1099

TECMAR MACDRIVE 10MB & 5MB REMOVABLE $1850 WANGTEC PC-36 60MB INT.TAPE. FAST & EASY $785

BARE WINCHESTER DRIVES

SEAGATE ST-225 26MB HH, 5 1/4" $299

QUANTUM 0540 43MB, 46mSEC, FH, 5 1/4" $825

MiCROPOUS MC-13Z5 85MB.30mSEC,FH, 5 1/4'$1299 MAXTOR XT-1140 140MB, 30mSEC, FH, 5 1/4" ... $3289 AMCODYNE ARAPAHOE 7110 2&MB FIXED & 2SMB REMOVABLE CDC URK PLUS COMPATIBLE CAU

FLOPPY DISK DRIVES

MITSUBISHI 2B94 8*...$475 2898 1/2 HT.8*...$435 MTSUBISH MFS01 48TPL$95 MFS04 g6TPI..$129 TEAC FDSSBt'48TP1 $89

SOFTWARE

WE SELL ALL WELL KNOWN BRANDS. ORDER CORRECTLYI OPENED SW IS NOT RETURNABLE!

NEWSTAR NEWWORD 2 16B1T $139

NEWSTAR NEWWORD 3 FOR PC'S. SPELL CHECKER.

INDEXING, CONTENT TABLES, MACROS $269

BD SOFTWARE C COMPLER 8- SSDD, B BIT $95

GTS HAYES COMPAT. Z1ZAHC $149 224ADH S29S HAYES - ALL MODEMS CALL

IRROMET.HEUS

PROMODEM 1200 $259

PROMODEM 1200G $179 2400G $339

MT224EH MNP ERROR CORRECTION $529

MT224ER RACK MOUNT W/ EDO $495

All merchandise ne

w Advertised prices

are cash piepai

d only PO's tra

Ti qualified firms fi

.AM Express " 95-MC & Visa :.

)68 CODs

( 99, S5 mm lee)

with Cashiers Check

MO, Bank Wire

s & APO s accof

)ted Shipping rn

(iiniLini S4 (irsl 51bs Tax: A2 RES

ONLY add

6 5"() sales Inx All

elurns subfocl to 20"

li restfjckiny fet

or Cfedit luw.it

)s future piirctins

us Atl prices & availability siibjec

to cfurnge

■ TM

wilhoul iioti<:(;

ESTABLISHED 1977

Inquiry 266 for End-Users. Inquiry 267 for DEALERS ONLY.

nu EDsni; WW mcBsns anww ow m ms.

F(«)

JBHCT.

t'^ dy

-00

EXAH it ■ lAM rtsMnt fn$n» ttat CM^ntes vitk any word yroctMor to let yon iQclnde conplei fuUmitlcal ciprtssions in the ioconents fou print

EIACT lets you:

• Sec your eiprcsiioni on-screen is you edit

• Sive ripressions >s pirt of tbe deconent ■ Creitt ind iivc your own fpecial symbols

• Crtate posters ind traniparincles

• Incladei complete toman, Greek, ItattCf, Bold. tti%4fU and, special nitbematical symbol lonls

• Antomallcally format matrices, boies. summations, and equation numbers

EXACT supports most dot matrix ind laser printers. EXACT requires in IBM PC, XT, AT or campatible. EXACT uses minimuni t5E, maiimum 12SK of RAM,

Price lt7S. Call lor a free interactive demo disk. Technical Support Software Inc. Suite 201 72 lent SI. Brookline. MA 02146 PHOHE: 617-731-1130 (Tbis ad printed with EXACT on an Epson Fl-so)

PUBLIC DOMAIN SOFTWARE

isn't copyrighted. Thousands ot useful programs avallabiB for most computers Irom user group libraries.

UsBf Group Librflfios

Bent

Buy

IBM PC Blue 220 Disks

S230

S450

Capilol-IBM 45 Disks

SO

100

Sanyo UG MSOOS

80 Disks

85

165

Authors Showcase (IBM)

35 Disks

40

100

Amiga 75 Disks

80

250

Atari ST 35 Disks

40

125

Macintosh 85 Disks

90

275

CP M UG 92 Disks

45

200

SIG M UG 290 Disks

185

350

CBM 64 Gold 100 Disks

50

100

Apple DOS 120 Disks

65

200

Rental is lor 7 days with 3 days grace tor return. Use your credit card, no deposltl Call for Irae catalog or senil Disk lor free Directory ol programs.

P.D SIG. INC. Master 240D Santa Rita VISA

Card Ijs Vegas Nevada 89109

|70?1 737-0159

MYSTIC PASCAL

640KZ

• complete programming environment

with editor

• first incremental compiler for Pascal

• 8087 & software math

• true MULTI-TASKING support

• spectacular graphics on 20 screens with pan & zoom

• creates linkable OBJect files

• open 8 to 5 Mtn. time, Mon thru Sal Disk vKith condensed manual to print out $16— lull printed manual $16—botti $32. For IBM PC 320K. Visa/MC/CX>D—add $2 shipping, COD $3. Overseas add $10 for disk ft manual or $5 for disk only.

Mystic Canyon SaFtwara P.O. Box WW

Pecos, NM B7SS2 505/757-6344

NEW VERSION 1.B— STILL ONLY $16!!!

Inquiry 209

Inquiry 205

lie)

PROMPT DELIVERY!!!

SAME DAY SHIPPING (USUALLY) QUANTITY ONE PRICES SHOWN tor AUGUST 24.1M6

OUTSIDE OKLAHOMA NO SALES TAX

1Mbit

4464

41256 41256 41256 41128 4164

27512

27C256

27256

27128

27C64

2764

DYNAMIC RAM

loooKxi 100 ns

64Kx4

256Kx1 256KX1 256KX1 128Kxl 64Kx1

150 ns 100 ns 120 ns 150 ns 150 ns 150 ns

EPROM

64Kx8 250 ns 32Kx8 250 ns 32Kx8 250 ns i6Kx8 250 ns 8Kx8 200 ns 8Kx8 250 ns STATIC RAM

2 32Kx8 120 ns i 8Kx8 150 ns

$69.50 4.20 5.10 3.10 2.93 4.99 1.45

$24.00 7.00 5.46 4.15 5.15 3.75

OPEN 6' . DAYS 7AM-9PM SHIP VIA FED-EX ON SAT

SUNDAYS ft HOUOAY5: SMPMErfT OR tSJVERV, VIA US. EXPRESS iWAIL

SATD6UVEBY MCLUOEDON FEIVEX ORDERS RECEIVED BY: T)i:SMAif S6/4 «a Ft. P-On SI 3/2 Ita

nsasBcut lor axnjnl Cash decnrt incAs s nait mamlns. via Fac

MaslerCardA/ISA or UPS CASH COD

Factory New, Prime Parts jjPoo

MICROPROCESSORS UNLIMITED. INC.

rE-a^'s'o'J^^^r-(918) 267-4961

nss tiecauw pma are si£(oct lo cfiange ShoMig S nsunrce nn nwn OnMrs recsMd tiy 9 PM CST can isuaty ca (Wmsd to wu IhB Mil Expna StMKM Ak (•< tun or Prtofty On* «i SniW

Inquiry 199

WORDSTAR

WORDSTAR V. 2.26 or SuperCalc V.I .12 orWORDPAC(lncl.

Grammatic and 0^%^% flfl

Spellguard)or VkKJ UU Fortran witti ■■^1

compiler. U each

Wordstar/SuperCalc Includes a 763 page Osborne System Manual with extensive CP/M Tutorials as well. Combination: Any 3 above for $95.00. 52 Page IBM PUBUC DOMAIN $4.00 List of 13.000 Programs. Also Catalog P D. Sofware for IBM Apple, C-64, CP/M, MAC. Amiga. CoCo. Ask about $25 Sfoelal.

800-221-7372 Don Johnson PDSC 33 GOLD ST. L3 NYC 10038

inquiry 246 ■

How Charting II"*

FAST. SIMPLE. SPEOHC.

Mow build, update and print process flow and organizational charts easily, confidently,

• Readjust cliait immediately after addition or deletion

• Travel quichiy across a 120 or 20&coluinn screen

• Move a single character or half a chait • inslantty.

Present the true, current picture. Use Row Charting II on your IBM».PC compatible system. General Motors, Bechtel, Touche iioss. Falrchild and 500 other major (is coiporations use It \

1 -800/672-3470, ext. 897 Qdlf. I -800/538-8157 ext 897 NaUonal 408/629-5044 International

PATTON & PATTON

340 Lassenpar1< Cirde San Jose, CA 95136 IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machine Corp.

ENCLOSURE PRODUCTS

Tape anid i-lard Disk Drives Enclosures for all Major Micros. Single Board Computer Packages Custom Design Available Class 'B' Certification Support Can Be Provided Call For Pricing and Catalog

Micro ware Inc.

41711 Joy Road • Canton, Ml 48187

(313) 459-3557

Inquiry 201

LvtluaUon unit SMS

THREE HIGH END ATCOMPA1IB1E COMPUTUS

FROM CNTSYSIEMS

rCC CLASS B CERTIHEO (Ua ONE YEAR WARRAhmr

$795 „

(IMMEOWndELIVERy-) TDORDER: CALLORWUIECNTMARXETmC (714) UM724

CNT MARKETING

I6S80 Hubot BlviL SuWr |. FowuMn Vjitey. CA 91

• System Boaid W / SMHi INTa 60286 CPU

• 640KB Memay expand to 1MB

• Hie moM compaflble BIOS on mHket.

• Case

• ZOOW PoMter Supply

• AT CompMUe Kqtovd

■ Banety. Spe^er & System Keykxk "BMHz lero witt sute oi I OMHz System «dd S200**

• Al Md«n COD. - CA iMtdenb ^ B» SUM IkK

*IU>,S.SMppk«SZ5i»

Inquij

RAMS

256K

(256KX1)

150 ns

2.75

2S6K

(256KX1)

120 ns

2.90

2SeK

(64Kx4)

150 ns

4.25

128K

(128KX1)

150 ns

4.40

64K

(64Kx1)

150 ns

1.20

64K

(64K X 1)

120 ns

1.35

6264LP-15

(BKxB)

150 ns

3.15

EPROMS

4.05

2732A

(4K X 8)

250 ns

2764

(8Kx8)

250 ns

3.35

2764

(8Kx8)

200 ns

3.75

27G64

(SKxB)

200 ns

5.05

27128

(16KX8)

250 ns

3.65

27256

(32Kx8)

250 ns

5.25

27256

(32K X 8)

200 ns

5.65

PROCESSORS

C8087-2

8mHz

150.00

C8087

SmHz

115.00

V-20

BmHz

12.00

V-30

8mHz

14.00

MicroTech

(206) 364-2209, 8 - 6 Mon.-Sat. P.O.Box 27083, Seattle, WA 98125

Prices shown tor cash. Prices subject to change. Call for cuneni prices & voUifno discounts. Shippmn S H;irirtlinq UPS ground S2.00. air Sii'^'' ' ■> ■ nv.vv,. ■ 'i 3'^'oWnsh.

residenls a<:

Inquiry 200

DISK/RIBBON UIAR

FREE TYVEC SLEEVES, HUB RINGS, WRITE PROTECTS AND ID LABELS

5.25" DISKS

BULK

aoxED

RIBBONS

ss/dd

.44

.59

Apple imagewriter 1, II

2.39

NEC 8023A

2.39

ds/dd

.49

.64

C. Itoh Prowriter

2.39

NEC Pinwriter P1/P2

4.99

ds/dd notchless

.59

.74

Centronics 101/102/103

4.49

Okldata 82/83/92/93/801

.99

ds/dd flippy

.59

.74

Commodore MPS 801

3.99

Okidata 84/94

2.19

ds/dd 10 hard sector

.69

.84

Diablo IHytype II

2.99

Okldata 182/192

3.99

ds/dd 16 hard sector

.69

.84

Epson LQP 1500

2.99

Panasonic KXP 1090. 91. 92

6.29

ds/qd 96 tpl

.79

.94

Epson LX 80

2.99

Radio Shack LP, VI, VIII

2.99

ds/qd 96 tpi 10 hard sector

.99

1.14

Epson MX/FX/RX 100/185

3.19

Radio Shack LPVII

3.99

ds/qd 96 tpi 16 hard sector

.99

1.14

Epson MX/FX/RX 70/80/85

2.39

Star Gemini 10X/15X

.99

ds/hd 1.2mbforAT

1.49

1.64

IBM Proprinter

3.99

Toshiba P 1350

2.99

5.25" COLOR DISKS bulk boxeo

ds/dd color pack

assortment A. B, or C t .59 .74 ds/dd color pack

assortment A flippy t -69 .84

t Color pack aitorlmant A: red, orange, yellow, blue, green.

t Color pack assortment B: maroon, brown, dark

blue, sliver, gold, t Color pack assortment C: pink, med. blue, beige,

white, light grey.

I All colors are available separately.

All items in stock all the time Same Day Shipping Disks made in the U.S.A.

FREE BONUS OFFER

with Order of 100 Disks or more

5 Disks Full of Public Domain Programs for IBM, Apple, Macintosh or Commodore

(A Value ol $4.95) or A Free Head Cleaning Disk (A Value ol $12.99)

ASK FOR OUR Lie DOMAIN CATALOG

LATEST IBM PUBLIC DOMAIN SOFTWARE

$2.99 (MIN. 5 DISKS)

3.5" DISKETTES

bulk

BOXED

ss/dd-Blue

1.39

1.54

ss/dd-Belge

1.39

1.54

ds/dd-Blue

1.59

1.74

ds/dd-Beige

1.59

1.74

MAGNETIC TAPE

600' in tape seal

6.99

1200' In tape seal

8.99

2400' in tape seal

11.99

2400' easy load II

12 99

Quality & Service Our #1 Priority Buy direct — no middle man No mumbo jumbo

8" DISKS

BULK E

lOXED*

8" COLOR DISKS bulk boxed

ss/dd soft sector

ss/dd color pack

unformatted

1.49

1.74

assortment A t 1.69 1.94

ss/dd soft sector

ds/dd color pack

unformatted write protect

1.49

1.74

assortment At 1.89 2.^4

ds/dd soft sector

unformatted

1.69

1.94

ds/dd soft sector unformatted write protect

1.69

1.94

OVER 200

ss/sd 32 hard sector

1.49

1.74

SPECIAL FORMATS

unformatted

FOR

reversible sd 32 hard sector

unformatted

1.49

1.74

5V4" AND 8"

ss/dd 32 hard sector unformatted (WANG)

1.49

1.74

FROM

ds/dd 32 hard sector unformatted (WANG)

1.69

1.94

$1.99 (CALL)

THE "CARETAKERS'""

10 disk library case 3.5" or 5.25" .99

40 disk storage case 3.50" w/lock 7.99

50 disk storage case 5.25" w/lock 7.99

100 disk storage case 5.25" w/lock 9.99

ACCESSORIES

Drive head cleaning disk

3.5/5.25/8" 12.99

Tyvec sleeves white — pl<g. of 100 5.99

Tyvec sleeves color paci<

pkg. oflOO 8.99

ID labels/90 write protect tabs

pkg. of 100 1.99

Disk mailer box (holds 3/5.25")

pkg. of 10 8.99

Disk mailer box (holds 3/8")

pkg. of 10 9.99

Lifetime warranty on disks. Satisfaction guaranteed or money refunded within 30 days. Checks (allow 10 days to clear), money orders, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, CCD. (add $1.90). Purchase orders accepted from qualified public institutions, government agencies and well-rated companies, net 30 days. California residents add eVo. For Information, call (619) 942-9998.

*BOXED — SHIPPED 10 TO A PLASTIC

STORAGE CASE BULK — SHIPPED 10 TO A POLYPAK MINIMUM ORDER — 30 DISKS

800-992-1992 ordcr

NRTIONRL TODflV

800-992-1993

CRUFORNIfl

511-104 Encinitas Blvd. Encinltas, OA 92024

U.S/DISK, INC.

Hours Mon.-Sat. 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Pacific Time

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 375

JS^Sgg Mail-Order Electronics

B

nrlND. Prica

tartNa

Price

SI>47400N

... .19

SN7485N.

... .55

SN7402N

... .19

SN7486N

... 35

SN7404N

... .25

SN7489N

. . 1.95

SN7405N

... .29

SN7490N

... .39

SN7406N

... .29

SN7493N

...35

SN7407N

... .29

SN74121N.

...29

SN7408N.

...25

SN74123N.

... .49

SN7410N

... .19

SN74125N

... .45

SN7414N

... .45

SN74126N

... .49

SN7416N

... .35

SN74143N

. . 3.95

SN7417N

... .35

SN74150N

. . 1.29

SN7420N

... .19

SN74154N

. . 1.25

SN7430N

... .19

SN74158N

.. 1.39

SN7432N

... .29

SN74173N

... .75

SN7438N

... .29

SN74174N

... .59

SN7442N

... .45

SN74175N

... .59

SN7445N

... .69

SN74176N

... .89

SN7446N

... .79

SN74181N

.. 1.95

SN7447N

... .79

SN74189N

. . 1,95

SN744eN

... .79

SN74193N

... .69

SN7472N

... .39

SN74198N

, , 1,35

SN7473N

... .35

SN74221N

... .89

SN7474N

... .35

SN74273N

. . 1.95

SN7475N

... .39

SN74365N

... ,59

SM7476N

... .35

SN74367N

, . , ,59

74LSCI0

. . . ,19

74LS165.

... .79

74LS02

. . . .19

74LS166.

... .89

74LS04

... .25

74LS173

. . . .49

74LS05

... .25

74LS174

... .39

74LS06.

... .99

74LS175

. .. .39

74LS07

... .99

74LS189.

.. 3.95

74LS0a

... .19

74LS191

... .49

741jSia

... .19

74LS193.

... .69

74LS14.

... .39

74LS221

... .59

74LS27

... .25

74LS240

... .69

74LS30

... .19

74LS243

... .69

74LS32

... .25

74LS244

... .69

74LS42

... .39

74LS245

... .79

74LS47

... .89

74LS259

. , . 1.19

74LS73

... .35

74LS273

... .79

74LS74

... .25

74I_S279

... 39

74LS75

... .29

74LS322

. . 2.95

74LS76

... 29

74LS365

... .39

74LS85

... .49

74LS366

, , . .39

74LSe5

... .25

74LS367

... 39

74LS90

... .39

74LS368

... .39

74LS93

... .39

74LS373

, , , ,79

74LS123

... .49

74LS374

... .79

74LS125

... .39

74LS393

... .79

74LS13a

... .39

74LS590.

.. . 5.95

74LS139.

... .39

74LS624

. .. 1.95

74LS154

.. . 1.49

74LS629

.. . 2.49

74LS157

... .35

74LS640

... .99

74LS158

... .35

74LS645

, , , ,99

74LS153

... .49

74LS570

, . . .99

74LS164

... .49

74LS688

, , , 1.95

74S/pfioras*

74S0O.

.... .29

74S188*

... 1.75

74S04.

.... 35

74S189.

... 1S5

74S0a

.... 35

74S19a

... 1.49

74S10

.... 23

74S240.

. .. 1.49

74S32

35

74S244

, , , 1.49

74S74

49

74S253

, ,, 79

74S85

. . . 1:49

74S287

, . , 1,69

74S86.

35

74S28a*

. . . 1.69

74S124.

...12.76

74S373

... 1.59

74S174.

.79

74S374

...1.69

74S17a

.... .79

74S472".

... 3.49

74ALS00.

.35

74ALS13a

.. .89

74ALS02

.35

74AI .<?174

.. R9

74ALS04

.39

74AI .9175 89

74ALS08

.35

74ALS240

1.79

74ALS10

.35

74ALS244

1.79

74ALS27

39

74ALS245

2.49

74ALS3a

35

74ALS373

1.95

74ALS33

39

74ALS374

1.95

74ALS74. SS

74ALSS73

1.95

74F0O.

aa

74F13a

, , , 159

74F04

.SS

74F157

159

74FnR RQ

74F193

4.96

74F10

.59

74F240.

2.49

74F32

.65

74F244

2.49

74F74 69

74F253

1.79

74Fflfi fl9

74F373

2.95

74F13H

1 IP

74F374

CP—CiWOS

CD4001.. CD4011.., C04013..

CD4016.. CD4017.. CD4018,, CD4020,, CD4024,. CD4027.. CD4030.. CD4040.. CD4049.. CD4050,. CD4051,. CD4052., CD4053,. CD4059 . CID4060.. CD4066.. CD4069.. CD4070.. CD4071.. CO4072.. CD4076..

CD4081

CO4082.....

CD4093

CD4094..... OD40103....

CD4503

CD4510....,

CD4511

0D4515..... C04Sia.... CD4520.....

CD4522

CD4538

CD4541

CD4543

CD4553

CD4555

CD4566

CD4583

CD4584..... 0D4585..... MC14411... MC14490P.. MC14572. ..

. 25 . .25 . 39 . 1.49 . 2.95 . .49

. 139 . .79

. .79

. .79

. 4,95 . ,89 , 1.95 . 1.19 . .59 . .75 .9.95 .4.49

COIWIWOPORE CHIPS

For VIC-20, C-64 and C-128 Personal Computers

Part No. Price

Part No. Price

Part No. Price

6502 MPU w/Clock 2.75

6507 B-Bit CPU . . 6.95

6508 w/RAM & I/O 14.95 6510CPU 9.95

6529SPI 7.95

6581 SID 19.95

6551ACIA 3.95

•82S100PLA 19.95

6560VIC-1 14.95

6567VIC-II 19.95

8701 Clock Chip... 9.95 •8721PLA. 14.95

6S25TPI 9.95

6569ViV 19.95

NOTE: 82S100 = U17 (0-64) *No Spec Available

6526CIA. 14.95

6572 19.95

NEC V20 St V30 CHIPS

Replace the 8086 or 8088 in Your IBM-PC and Part No. Increase Its Speed by up to 40%l Pnce

UPD70108D-5 (5MHz) V20 Chip (Replaces the 8088) $ 8.95

UPD70108D-8 (8MHz) V20 Chip (Replaces the 8088-2) $10.95

UPD70116D-8 (8MHz) V30 Chip (Replaces the 8086 or 8086-2) $11.95

MICROPROCESSOR CHIPS 6500/6800/68000 Cont

Part No. Price Part No. Price

D765AC 4,95

CDP1802CE. 6,95

2661-3 6.95

Zao, 280A, Z80B, SERIES

Z80 1,75

Zao-CTC 1.79

Z80-DART 4.95

280-PIO 179

2B0A 1,85

Z80A-CTC 1,89

Z80A-DART 5,25

Z80A-PI0 195

Z80A-SI0/0 5,25

Z80B 3,95

Z80B-CTC. 4.95

Z80B-H0. 4.95

6500/8800/68000 SER.

6502 2.75

65C02(CMOS)....ia95

6520 2.95

6522 4.95

6532 6.49

6551 3.95

6800. 1.95

6802. 4.95

6810. 1.95

6821 1.95

6840. a75

6843, , 6845. . 6850. .

9.95

4.95

1.95

6852 4.75

8B0OOL8 9.95

68661 a95

8000 SERIES

8031 6.95

80C31BH 19.95

8035 1.95

8073N 29,95

8080A 3,95

8085A 2.75

8086 a95

8086- 2 10.95

8087(5MHz) 129,95

8087- 2(8MHz).., 159.95 8088 7,95

8088- 2 9.95

811 a 8.95

8155 2.75

8155-2 3.95

8156 2,75

8202 9,95

8203 24.95

8212 1.95

8224 235

8228 3.49

aoOD SERIES Cont.

Part No. Price

S237-5 6.95

8243 2.49

a250A 6.95

82508 (ForIBM)....725 8251A 225

8253- 5. 225

8254 9S5

8254-a 11.95

8255A-S. 2.25

8257-5 2.49

8259-a 2.49

8272. 4.95

8279-5. 2.95

8741 8.95

8748. 7.95

8749. 9.95

8751 38.95

8755 14.95

OATA ACQUISITION

ADC0B04 3.49

ADC0808 8,95

ADCOaOO 3,95

AD00816 14,95

ADCOai 7 8,95

DAC0808 1.95

DACIOOa 7.95

AY-3-1015D. 4.96

AY-S-1013A. 3.95

Part No.

Function

- DVNAMIC RAMS

Price

4116N-15

4128 (Piggybacl<)

4164N-150

4164N-200

TMS441S-12

MM5280

8118

41256-150 50464-15

TMM2016-12

2102

2102-2L

2114N

2114N-L

2114N-2

2114N-2L

21C14

2149

5101

HM6116P-3

HM6116LP-3

HM6264P-12

HM6264LP-12

HM6264P-15

HM6264LF>-1S

6514

1702A

TMS2516

TMS2532

TMS2564

2708

TMS2716

2716

2716-1

27C16

2732

2732A-20

2732A-25

2732A-45

27C32

2758

2764-20

2764-25

2764A-25

2764-45

27C64

27128-25

27128A-25

27256-25

27C256-25

27512-25

68764

68766

74S387

74S471

82S123

16,384x1 (150ns)

131,072x1 (200ns)

65,536x1 (160ns)

65,536x1 (200ns)

16,384x4 (120ns)

4096x1 (200ns) 2107

16384x1 {120ns)

262,144x 1 (150ns)

65,536 X 4 (150ns) (4464) (41464)

STATIC RAMS

(120ns)

(350ns)

(250ns) LR(91L02)

{450ns)

(450ns) LP.

(200ns)

(200ns) LP.

(200ns) (CMOS)

(45ns)

(450ns) CMOS

(150ns) CMOS

{150ns) LP, CMOS

(120ns) CMOS

(120ns) LP CMOS

(150ns) CMOS

(150ns) LP CMOS

(350ns) CMOS (UPD444C)..

■ PROMS/EPROMS

(1)JS), ,

, ,89 5.95 . 1.25 . 1.15 4.95 . 1.95 . .69 .2.95 .4.95

2048 x8 1024 X 1

1024 X 1 1024 X 4 1024 X 4 1024x4 1024 x4 1024 x4 1024 x4 256x4 2048 X a 2048 X 8 8192x8 8192x8 8192x8 8192x8 1024x4

. 1.69 . .89

. 1,49 . ,99 . 1,09 . 1.05 . 1.49 . .49 .4.95 .3.95 . 1.45 , 1.49 , 3.49 , 3.95 , 3,29 , 3.49 , 4,49

256x8 2048 X 8 4096 x6 8192 X 8 1024x8 2048 x8 2048 x8 2048 X 8 2048 X 8 4096 x8 4096 X 8 4096 X 8 4096 x8 4096 x8 1024 x8 8192x8 8192x8 8192 X 8 8192 X 8 8192 X 8 16,384 x 8 16,384 X 8 32,768 X 8 32,768 X 8 65,536 x8 8192X8 8192x8 266x4 256 x8 32x8

(450ns) 25V.

(450ns) 25V

(450ns) 25V

(450ns)

(450ns) 3 voltage

(450ns)

(350ns) 25V

CMOS

(450ns)

(200ns) 21V

(250ns) 21V

(450ns) 21V

CMOS

(450ns) Single +5V

(200ns) 21V.

(250ns) 21V.

(250ns) 12,5V

(450ns) 21V.

CMOS 21V

(250ns) 128K 21V

(250ns) 12.5V

(250ns) 256K (12,5V)

(250ns) 256K (CMOS) (12.6V).

(260ns) 612K (12.5V)

(450ns) 26V.

(360ns) 25V.

PROMOXJ.

PROMTS.......

PROMTS-.

Um PROFIIi (TIN) SOCKETS

Part No. 1-9 10-99 100-up

8 pin LP 13 .12 .11

14 pin LP, 15 .13 .11

16 pin LP 17 .15 .13

24 pin LP. 31 30 29

28 pin LP 39 .37 35

40 pin LP. .49 .46 .43

, , 5.95 . , 4,95 , , 5.95 . , 8.95 .. 3,49 . , 9.95 .. 3.25 , . 4.95 , . 6,49 .. 3,75 .. 3.95 , . 3,49 .. 3.29 .. 6.49 .. 2.95 .. 3.95 .. 3.49 .. 335 . . 3.25 , . 4,95 , . 3,25 , . 4.95 . . 5.95 .. 8.95 . 24.95 . 15.95 . ie95 .. 1.69 .. 4.95 .. 2.95

MRE WRAP socKTO laiun um #3

PsilNo. 1-9 1M9 IOOmip

8 pin WW S5

14 pin WW 69

16 pin WW 75

24 pin WW 1.19

28 pin WW 1.39

40pinWW. 1.79

.49

.65

139

i.e

.45

.59

1.19 1.59

- SOIPERTAII STANDARD (6010 t TIN) AND HEADER PUIS SOCWETS AtSD A¥AHABtE

HIP

The MMS321 )5 a TV camera sync generator designed to supply ttie basic sync (unctions for either color or monoctirome 525 line/60Hz interlaced and camera video recorder applications COLOR BURST GATE i SYNC

ALL0\W STABLE COLOR OPERATlOtJ

MM5321 $9.95

PIGITALKER"'

DTI050 ~ Applications: Teaching aids, appliances, clocks, automotive, tdecommuniotfons, languaoe translations, etcTheDTIOSOisastandard DlQITALKBl kit encoded with 137 separate and usafulwDrcl8,2tones,and5dffferent silence durations. The words and tones have been asstgned discrete addresses, making tt possible to output single words or words concatenated into ptirases or even sentences. Ttie "voice" output of itie DTI 050 is a higtily intelligible male voice. The on050 consists of a Speech Procsnor Chip, M1M54104 (4<Hifn) and two (2) Speech ROMs HM52164SSR1 and MMS2164SSR2 (24-pin) along wKh a Master Word IM and a lacommandad achemaUe diagmm on thaappOeaUon Mieet RsftNo. Descriptton Price

DT1050 DtgUalkar'" $24.95

DT1057 "Expands the DTI050 vocabulary from 137 words to over 250 words. Includes tWD (2) ROMs and specs.

DTI 057 $11.95

Part No. PrIca

MrtNa Pile*

FE0202D. lags

FE0203D. 12S5

7106CPL a95

7211IPL(TTIJ. , 795 7211MIPL (Micro).... 8.49 7216CUI. 26.49

71(J6EV/Klt 46SS

7107CP1_ 8S5

7216DIPt 21.49

7217UL 1095

7107EV/Klt 45.95

7217AIH 8.95

7207AlPD 5.95

7224IPt_ 10,95

7207AEV/Kil 8.49

7226AEV/Kit 99,95

74»HC HI-SPEED CiWOS

74HCX)0 35

74HCX)2. 39

74HC04. 39

74HC0a 39

74HC10. 39

74HC14 59

74HC30 39

74HC32 45

74HG74 45

74HC75 .69

74HC7& .69

74HC8S. 1.19

74HC8a 59

74HC123 1,19

74HC125 99

74HC132 79

74H0138 79

74HC139. 79

74HC1S4. 135

74H0163 S9

74HC174. S9

74HC175 89

74HC221 1.95

74HC240 1.39

74H0244, 74HC245, 74HC253. 74HC259. 74HC273. 74HG373. 74HC374. 74HCa93. 74HC595. 74HC68a

74HC4040 1.19

74HC4049 .79

74HC405a .79

74HC4060 1.19

74HC4S11 135

74HC4S14. 2.9S

74HI34S3a 1.9S

74HC454a 2.9S

1.49 1.59 .79 1.19 1.79 1.49 1.49 1.19 1.95 136

741300... 74002. .. 74C04... 74C0a .. 74C10... 74C14... 74C32 .. 74C74. .. 74CB5, , . 74C86. , . 74C89- , , 74C90 , , 74C15.1,, 74C173 ,

. 29 . 29 . .25 . .35 . 29 . .49 . .35 . A9 . 1.19 . 29 . 3.95 , -89 , 2,95

UWEAH

DS0026CN...

T1.074CN

TU)84CN.... LM3070N....

LM309K

1_M311CN.,,,

UV1317T

LM318CN,,.,

UV1319N

LM320K.S.... LM32aT-a...

LJVI323K.

1-K4324N

1_M338K.

L1V1339N

I-M340K-5.... LM340K-1Z. Ut/l340K-1S.. LM340r-5.... UV1340T-12.., UVI340T-15..

LF347N

LJVI348N

LF351N.

1-F353N......

LF3SSN

I_F356N

LM358N

L1U1360N

I-M361N

LM380CN.... IJWI38EN-3.. .

LM3B7N

LM393N

LMjggH . ...

. 1.69 . .79 . 1.09 . .45

. ^25

. ,45

, 1,19 . 1.19 . 135 . SB . 4.49 . .39 . 3,95

. 1.35 . 1.35

. las

. .49

, 2,19 . 1.59 . 1.09

740174.. 74C175. 74C221.. 740240..

74C244.. 74C373.. 74C374.. 74C91i. 74C915.. 74C920.. 74C921,, 74C922, 74C923, 7-1C925,

. 1.19 . 1.59 . 1.59 . 1.95 . 1.95 .735 . 1.19 .9.95 .9.95 , 3,95 , 3,95 , 4,95

U=411CN

TL497ACN.

NE540H(CS40H).

NES55V.

XR-L555

UVI556N

NE558N

1_M565N

UVI567V

NESe2N.

LM741CN.

LM747N

rvlC1377P

fVlC1398P.

LM1458CN

UV11488N

LIU11489N

LM1496N

UVI1871N

LM1872N

UVI1896N.

ULN2003A.

Xn2206.

XR2211

LM2g07N

LM2917N(8pin)..

CA3240E

UVI3900rM

UV13905CN

UV13909N

UV13914N

LM3916N.

NE5532.

NES534.

75477.

76477.

. .79 .219 .295 . 29

. .69 , .59 , 1,19

.3.15 .835

. 1.95 .ZA9 . 1.59 . 39

.3.95

. 2.95 . 1.95 . 1.55 . 1.49 . .59 . 1.19 . .89 . 135 . 135

PARTIAL LISTING • OVER 4000 COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES IN STOCK! • CALL FOR QUANTITY DISCOUNTS

576 BYTE • OCTOBER !986

Inquiry 148'^

IMliiMiil

Worldwide • Since 1974

• QUALnr COMPONENTS • COMPETiTIVEPRICING JSiVJ^ljifJcl • PROMPT DELIVERY ^■=n=^nii\ him=m

Now Compatible With C-128!

RS232 Adapter forVIC-20,C-64 and C-128

The JE232CM allows connaction of standard serial RS232 printers, modems, etc. to your VIC-20, C-64 (axdudlng the SX-64 Portable), and C-128. A 4-pole switch aHowa the inversion of the 4 control lines. Comptete Irtstallation and

operation instructions included.

■ Plugs into User Port • Provides Standard RS232 signal levels • Uses 6 signals (Transmit, Receive, Clear to Send, Request to Send, Data Terminal Ready, Data Set Ready).

JE232CM $39.95

Voice Synthesizer VIC-20 & C-64 M«-(a - anting Ai MAiutBsl

JE520CM $99.95

External Power Supply

CPS-10 (Rirc<«i $39.95

Parallel Printer Interfece

2K BuHei; Expandable to 10KI

MW350 (ForVIC-20.C-64a;C-128) $54.95

COMPATIBLE ACCESSORIES

E-X-P-A-N-D TRS-80 MEMORY

All kits come complete with documentation

TRS-80 MODEL I, III

-raS-ISKS 200ns (Model III) $5.95

TH8-16K4 250ns (Model I) $5.49

TRS-80 COLOR AND COLOR II

TRS-64K-2 $11.95

New models only — TRS-CoCo-lncl. 2-50464'8 (41464's).... $12149

TRS-80 MODEL 4, 4P

TRS-64K-2 $11.95

Expands Modal 4 from 16K-64K or Model 4Pfrom 64K-128K

TRS-64K-2nU. $29.95

Expands Modal 4 (ram 64K lo IZBK

TRS-80 Model 100 • NEC • Olivetti

M1008K. $24.95 ea. or 3 for $59.95

TRS-SO Model 100 Expansion

NEC8KR $24.95 ea. or 3 tor $59.95

NEC Modal PC-8201A Expansion

OM108K. $24.95 ea. or 3 for $59.95

Ollvelll Modal Ml 0 Expansion

TANDY 200

M200R $74.95 ea. or 2 for $129.95

Tandy Model 200 Expansion

mm

Erases ail EPROIMs. Erases up to B chips wittiin 21 miniitm (1 chip inlSmlnutos). Maintains constant exposure distance

oil". Special conductive toam liner eliminates static build-up. Built-in saiety loci* to prevent UVexposure. Compact - 9.00T x 3.70'W X 2.60"H. Complete with holding tray ior 8 chips.

DE-4 UV-EPflOM Eraser. . . . $74.95

UVS-11 EL Replacement Bulb. ... $1 7.95

DATA BOOKS

30003 National Unear Data Boolt <82) $14.95

30009 Intersil Data Booli (88) $ 9.95

30013 Zilog Data Booli (85) $14.95

30032 National Unear Supplement (84) $ 6.95

210830 Intel Memory Handbool< (86) $17.95

230843 Intel Mlcrasyatem Hndbli. Set 186) $24.95

MUF60 (SPN3-15.24e2).... $9.95 Howard Industries (4.66' sq., 60 elm)

SU2C7. $9.95

EG&G Rotron (3.125' square, 20 cfm)

MPI52S TM100-4

DISK DRIVE SALE!

Double-sided 48TPI. . . IBM PC/XT CompallUel. . $89.95 Oouble-slded 96TPI. . . QUAD Drivel $59.95

ZIK:KI:RR0^RI3

Expansion Memory Half-Card for IBM-PC, XT, Portable, Tandy 1200 and Compatible Computers

Expand your computer to Its full capacity of 640K. ft will accept either 64K memory chips (4i64) or 256K memory chips (41256).

EM-100 Expansion M«nory Han

CardtuHhOKRAH . . . $59.95

EM-D RAM Disk and Printer »on

SpooterSoflMra. . . . $39.95

ZUCKI=RI3C^ARO

Multifunction Board witli Clock Calendar for ttie Tandy 1000

The Zudcerlioard Multifunction Board allows you to expand the memory on your Tandy 1000

to as much as 640K. Ttte Muitifunclion Boanl cornea complete with an RS232 port ior your serial expansion needs, a clocl</calendar and RAM Distt Printer Spooler. The Zuckcrboard rviultiiunction Board Is made in the USA and comes with a standard 2 year warranty

MTAN-256K includes 256K RAM and Manual $199.95

MTAN-512K includes 512K RAM and Manual $239.95

Expansion Memory Haif-Card and Cioclc/Calendar for the Tandy 1000 — DMA Controller Chip on board!

TAN-EM256K includes 256K ram and Manual $ 99.95

TAN-EMS12K includes 512K RAM and Manual $139.95

Options for TAN-EM2S6K/512K

TAN-C Includes Plug-In Clock Option Chip (only) $39.95

TAN-D Includes RAM Disk Spooler Software (only) $39.95

3.5" Micro Floppy Disl( Drive for Tandy 100 & 200, NEC8201A, IBM PC, XT, AT and Compatible Computers

Now your IBM PC or compatible can read and write the same dbks as your portalilel

rr\-tni Includes 3.5" Disi^ Drive, Cable,

rD-lOd AC Adapter. Blank Diskette and Documentation. . . . $179.95

Software for the FD-103 Disk Drive (Software needed for operation)

TS1 Tandy 100 TSDOS Disk Operating System Software $49.95

TS2 Tandy 200 TSDOS Disk Operating System Software..... .. $49.95

TSN NEC PC820iA Disk Operating System Software. $49.95

LAPDOS IBIil PC. XX AT and Compatible

LAPDOS Disk Operating System Software $79.95

CMON

RCM-OIN

13" Color Composite Monitor

for ViC-20 and C-64 Also compatible with other computers with composite output (i.e. Apple II, li-H, /fe*)

Ideal for color graphics and games

■ Resolution: 260H x 300V. Recommended Display Character Number: 960 Characters (40 Characters x 24 Rows on 5x7 Dot t^atrix) • CRT: 13" diagonal ■ Size: 14.6'W x 13.5"H X 15.5"D • WiJight: 25.3 !bs.

$129.95 each or 2/$219.95

Compulirla Uailkir Cabin for Alail, CoramodOfeaTI).... $3.49

83-KEY KEYBOARD

• Identical layout as original IBM PC Keyboard • Highly desirable case wiih palm rest ■ Complete with cable and data ■ JUST PLUa INI

KB83 SALE $29.95

Build an IBM PCI XT' Compatible!

IBM-64K(2) 64K RAM Chips (18) $24.98

KB-83 83-Key Keylx»nj $29.95

IBM-FCC Roppy Contraller Card. ...$ 49.95

IBM-Case case $ 49.95

IBM-MCC Monochrome Card $ 79.95

IBM-PS Power Supply $79.95

FD55B Disk Drive $119.95

IBM-MON Monodlrame Monitor. ...$ 99.95

IBM-MB MoHiariioard. $139.95

Regular List $674.58

IBM™-SpeCial (Incl. 9 items above). ■ $599.95

Additional Add-Ons Available!

IBM-KB 83-KW Keyboard $ 69.95

IBM-ENH Enhanced Kkyboanl $ 99.95

IBM-ICB Integrated Color Board ... $ 99.95 IBM-EGA Enhd.Giephlcs256K RAM .. $299.95

IBM-20MBK 20MB Hard Disli Drive $499.95

IBM is a registered irademari( of iBM Computers

Universal MEVv! 64K/256K

Printer Buffer '

P-.p,~]0HNATH0N FREEMAN DESIGNS |

The UBUFFER Universal Printer Buffer is a hi-speed data buffer that accepts data at a high rate, and then outputs this data lo your printer. You save valuable computer time. The UBUFFER can be connected to practically any computer or printer. There are four possible combinations: 1) Serial lo Serial. 2) Serial lo Parallel. 3) Parallel to Parallel, 4) Parallel lo Serial, Manual included. Size: 9-1/3"L x 4'b"W x 1'2"H

UBUFFER-64K. UBUFFER-256K

$199.95 $229.95

^ IBM if Compatible! DISK DRIVES

FD55B Teac sy." DS '^-Height $119.95

SA455 Shugart 5V." OS '.^-Height $119.95

TM100-2 Tendon 5V. ' DS Full-Height. ... $109.95

JMR 5y4" DISK DRIVE ENCLOSURES

Complete with power supply, switch, power cord, fuseiiolder and connector*.

DDE-1FH $69.95

Houses 1 Fuil-Heigiit 5'A" Roppy Drive.

DDE-2HH $79.95

Houses 2 Half-Height Sift" Boppv Drives - Vertical

HDDE-1FH $199.95

Houses 1 Hard Disk Drive

$20 Minimum Order - U.S. Funds Only Califomfa Riesidents: Add 6% or 6V2V0 Sales Tax Shipping: Add 5% plus $1.50 insurance

Send stamped, self-addressed envelope to receive a Quarterly Sales Flyer - FREE! 10/86

Mail Order Electronics-Worldwid

ameco

ELECTRONICS

Spea Sheets - 500 each Prices Subject to Change

Send $1.00 Postage for a FREE 1986 J AMECO CATALOG

019B6 Jameco Electronics

Inquiry 148

OCTOBER J986 'BYTE 377

California Digitai

77700Figueroa Street m Carson^ California90248

Megabfh Gold Cafil

H79

• 256K Expandable to 640K on Motherboard

• Double Sided Double Density Disk Drive

• IBM Type Keyboard (with LEO Indicators)

• Floppy Controller Card

• Eight Expansion Slots

• 135 Watt Power Supply

The Eclipse 16 is an outstanding value in IBM Compatible Computers. After careful research and evaluation we found It to be the most reliable unit. Our computer Includes some of the newest features available, such as the 4.7MHz, multi-layer motherboard with 256K of RAM upgradable on board to 640K. A generous eight expansion slots and 135 Watt power supply give you ample room and power for add-on boards. The enclosure has an easy-access flip top lid making upgrades a breeze. And our floppy controller supports up to four drives, so as many as three additional drives can be used. Finally, each computer is configured and fully tested before sending it to you.

Satisfaction Guaranteed! We're really excited about tills new unit, and so sure you will be too... that you may return the Eclipse 16 for a full credit towards an IBM PC if you are not completely satisfied.

OPTIONS

20MB Hard Drive w/Controller $495

Additional Drive-Installed 99

Irwin 10 Meg. Tape Back up..., 489

Upgrade from 2S6K to 640K RAM 79

8087 Math Co Processor 119

Color Graphics Card ..... .79

Monochrome graphics Card...... ......99

RGB Color Monitor 199

TTL Monochrome Monitor....- 139

Microsoft Mouse 139

Upgrade from Floppy Controller to Disk I/O 2 drive controller, clock/eal., soflwsre

parallel, serial, and gams ports..... ......79

1200 Baud Internal Modem w/Software 179

The fastest, lowest powered, longest warraVitied, most durable, highest capacity, most reliable, lowest priced HARD-DISK-ON-A CARD

available in the world today.

• 65ms Access Time - Fastest AvallatiiB • Automatic Head Unloading • Protects Heads and Media • 2K Sector Bulfer - Increases System Throughput • High Reliablllly: 28,000 hr. MTBF • No one else even close • 15.5 Watt Power Ccnsumpllon - Lowest Available • 2 Year Warranty Longest AvataUe

WERE S695... GET 'EM WHILE THEY LAST FOR JUST SS^iftlf

NOW YOl R COMPUTER CAN READ!!

Omni-Reader... the first optical character reader designed and priced for the small computer

COPY:

•Manuscripts 'Contracts -Articles •Forms -Invoices

APPLICATIONS:

-Mailing Lists -Editing -Data Base . Management -Transfering information t)9tw9en Incompatibie systems

Uses a standard RS-232 serial port hookup to Interface ealslly with your computer.

1200 BAUD MODEMS

AVATEX1200

99

This 300/1200 baud modem matcties the design specs of the Beli 212A, feature by feature, bringing you reliability, impeccable transmission and easy operation. Hayes Compatible, except for "S" register. Communication software included.

The AVATEX1200. at $99. Is a steall

SMARTEAM 1200

ECLIPSE 2400

The Team 212A offers all the features of the Hayes Smarl Modem 1200 for a fraction of the price. Now is your opporlunity to purchase a 1200 baud modem at

the price of a 300 baud modem.

NEC*

RACKMOUNT

MODEM

The NEC N212Bn modem is designed for use In a rackmount configuration or may be used stand alone on mtemal power. TTie lirA Is fully 300/ 1200 Hayes compatible allowing for auto dial, auto log/on password capaUlltiu. This modem is also switch selectable to thespedd NEC command set, which contain too maiv features to describe in this limited space. TTie NEC212BR originally cost $595. Cailfomta Digital has available 500 unite which we em offerina at onlv $69.

• Hayes & 8e)l 212A/103 Compatible

. CCiTT V.22. V.22 bis The ECLIPSE 2400 modem is a microprocessor-based full or hatfduplex modem Incorporating the latest in high speed dala communications capabllllies. It also accomodates computers and terminals equif^ed with an RS-232 port allowing communication with other coiTputersor limeshar Ing systems eilher locally or remolel/. Compatibility, VerslHlity and PcrformancG ar,:! yours in a configurationdesignod lo provide years ol reliable operalion.

MODEMS

Eclips8l200 100% Hayes, with status lamps. EDP-1200 149.00

Eclipse 1200B internal with software eDP.1200B 139.00

Eclipse 2400 External. Hayes Compatiple EDP-2400 299.00

Avatex 1200 baud external, Hayes AVA-1200 99.00

Hayes Smartmodem 2400 baud modem HYS-2400 599.00

Fu|itsu2400/1200baudautoeveiythlng. FUJ.t935D 459,00

Team 1200 Hayes Compatible. 300/1200 baud. TEM-1200 159.00

Smarteam1200BIBM1200baudcaid TEIv|.l200B 159.00

UllraUnk1200dataandvcilceonsamellne. UTL-1200A 99.00

CTS 212AH1200 baud, auto dial CTS.212AH 179,00

Terminal software lor CTS 212AH CTS-212SFT 35 00

Prometlleus 1200 super features PRM-P1200 289,00

Prometheus 1200B internal PC PRM-P1200B 279.00

signalman fulark VI, 300 baud internal PC SGL-li*K6 49.00

HayesSmanModam1200baud,autodial HYS-212AO 369.00

Hayss1200BforusswllhthelBM/PC,1200baud. HY8-1200B 339.00

Hayes Chronograph, time & dele HYS-CHR232 199.00

20 MEGABYTE ^^FW WINCHESTER ^ W

HARD DISK DRIVE

Quantity Two

Five Inch Winchester Disk Drives

nch IWO+

SEAGATE 225 20 Meg. </i Ht. 329 299 SEAGATE 4026 26 M.35mS. 759 729 SEAGATE 4051 51 M.SSmS. 995 959 FUJITSU 2242 55 M.35mS. 1599 1529 FUJITSU 2243 86 M.35mS. 2095 2019 RDDIME RO-202E 27 Meg. 659 629 RODIME RO-203E 40 Meg. 995 959 RODIME RO-204E 53 Meg. 995 959 CONTROL DATA 94156-86 M.1829 1779 MAXTOR XT114a 140 Meg. 2995 2929 HONEYWELL BSM. 27 mS. 1795 1695 TOSHIBA MKS670M.30inS.1789 1729 TANDON 502 10 Meg. 419 379

• Winchester Controllers lor IBM/PC • XEBEC 1220 with tloppy controller 229 NATIONAL COMPUTER 5004 129 DTC 5150BX 139 OMTI 5510 hall card 139 ADAPTEC 20iaAsottware Install 189 WESTERN DIGITAL WD/1002 139

• SCSI/SASI Winchester Contnllert • XEBEC 1410A5V4" loot print 219 OMTi 20L 119

• Winchester Accessories •

Installation Kit with manuil 10

Winchester enclosure and supply 139

Dual 20/34 cable set 25

Swltchlno power supply 49

TOLL FREE ORDER LINE

(800) 421-5041

TECHNICAL & CALIFORNIA

(213) 217

The Cherry Switch Infrved wireless 84 key keyboard designed for use witti the IBM/PC arxl XT serries computeis. The k^tx)ard operates similar (o the remote tuner af modem televisions, and transmits 20 teet line of sight to the computers IR receiver.

This wireless keyboard is ideal lor dassroom demonstrations or for use with projection screen televi^ monHora. Includes IR keyboard and receiver module. Manufacturer8Sugge8lBdli8twasS289nowavailaUe,whllelheylast foronly$119.

was $3540 now only

The BemouHi Box by Iomega, features 10 and 20 mcgabyto r(}n;ov,ible carIndges. and delivers reliability, expandabilily, Iransponabilny, ^3t.\-,y[ity and Speed in one versatile subsystem. Il lets you transfer megabylps ol inlornalion safely and swiftly for primary or backup storage. Or combine several software programs onto a single cartridge for easy switching from one to another ReUable-. the Box has incredible resistance lo shock and vibration completely eliminating Ihe possill^ of head crash.

Expandable, grow ^ your own pace by adding inexpensive cartridges. When saGur% is essential, dont kick up your system... jusi lock up the cartridges. The Bemoiill BoKdettversprefonnance thai often exceeds the best of hard disk ^raed and ttieconvatMnca of floppy dNcs. At tti^s pHins d(^'l be caught wiishtng yoj had one after a loss of trreplacabte data.

LisI

Our Price

lO+IOMeg.

A2210H

$3450

1595

20-«-20Meg.

A2220H

4540

2095

Bootable Controller

255

159

10 Meg. Cartridge

79

49

20 Meg. Cartridge

99

65

PRINTERS

MATRIX PRINTERS

NEC/P7 132 col,. par'lifKeriace. NEC-760

Slar Gemini NL-1S. 300cps . l36col.24wk«haKl STR-NB15

Star Gemini NX-10. t20cps/30cp9NLO,inciar STR-NXIO

CitiienMSP/lOFTl60cha//5ec. CIT-MSPIO

Panasonic KX1091 120cps.draft.29NL0lracl & Inclion. PAN-KX1C

Tosfliba 3SIP/S. 240 cha//s©c- 24 wiro hoad TOS-351PS

rosMba34lPS/Epai1.180cps.24wirehead TOS-34IPSE

Okidata1S2P/IBMparaBel9\4"paper 0K|.ia2P

Okidala 192AparalM inteffaes. 160 chw/sec. OKhl 9ZA

Okklala84PpvalW15~[Wper 0Kh84P

Epson U-S010-120 Chw^ EP&UBO

Epson LOeOO new letUfqudHy EPS^OaoO

Epson FXB5 160 cps- Aall 32 cps. NLQ. 240 tJoi/inch. EPS-FX85

Epson FX286132 col., 200 qis. 29 cps NLQ, graphics, EPS-FX286

Daiaproducts B-600-3. band pnnler 500 LPM. DPS-B600

Piinifo™* P300 high speed printer 300 lines per minuie. PTX-P300

Pnnlronix P600 ultra high speed 600 lines per minulo PTX-P600

WORD PROCESSING PRINTERS

Slarwrilor F10 (6400) parallel, -10 char/sec. PflO-Fl OP

Same as above but 55 char/sec,. 50 pin Diablo interlace PRO-F55P

NEC8810 SSchar/second, senal interlace NEC-S810

NECeSSO 55char/sec.parhmer(ac8 NEC-8830

NEC3550 popular primer dos^nedtoi the IBM/PC NEC-3550

Silver Reed EXP600.25 cps. 10/12/15 pitch, serial/par l. SHO-EXP600

SdvwReedEXP800sameasGOObul40diar/sec. SRD-EXPaoo

Diablo 620, pnpO(tionalspMino.hofzJlw«fl. lab. 20 q>B. OBL-^

JuMSIOO. iad^7s6C. JUK4100

JuU6300,40char./5ec. JUK-6300

659.00 369.00 359 00 259.00 259.00 1099 00 759.00 239.00 379.00

629.00 399.00

559 00 6365.00 3995 00 5795 00

429.00 559.00 1179.00 1179.00 819.00 319.00 729.00

Quick-Link 300

^S9

The Quick-Link 300 gives you an instant link lo any dial up data base. Such as Dow Jones. Western Union or ttie Source. The Quick-Unk has tour user prograrnnrialsie log^ keys, alkwring the operator, wtti on^ orw key stroke, to dial the data base, iog^n ami give the password. All thfs Iniorm^ton Is permanently stored in norvvolatile RAM.

Fealure? include vidpo output lo Iplevision or monitor, auto dinl. auto-log. full

W ^^liiipB*'....

The manufacturer has asked us not to publish thejr name.

But this four color plotter was produced by one of the Worlds largest makers of personal computers. The 410 color plotter will connect totheserial port of virtually any micro-computer. Simple >^Cli commands direct one ol the lour color pens to draw circles, arcs or ellipses on paper or transparency material up to 11 by 17 inches. The plotter is capable of producing the lull upper and lower case alphabet along with seven International character sets. Text can be printed hbrizotal, vertical or diagonal in sizes from 1 /16 to 6 inches, slanted forward or bacl<ward to 85 degrees.

Enlargements or reductions are achieved through elaborate firmware. Pen travel is four inches per second with .004" pen resolution. Standard pens are available In an assortment of 32 different

colors and widths.

The ideal plotter for architecture. CAD engineering or graphic design. At $595 it was a great buy, at $159 its a steal. Support packages for specific computers available. Manual only $15 refundable upon purchase or plotter.

StMetPMOPhHw

The Sweet "P" 100 was private labeled lor the Epson corporation under the Comrex Brand. This plotter makes short work of translating financial and numeric data into a graphk; presentation. Many ready to run programs such as Auto/CAD, Lotus 1 -2-3. and Vtsi-on already support this plotter. The Sweet "P" 100 features programmatile paper sizes up to 8Vi by 120 inches, 6 fncti per secorxj plot speed and 0.004" step size. Easy to imptement Centronics interface allows the Sweet "P" 100 immediate use with the printer port of most person^ computers.

Also available is a support package which includes demonstration software, jnterface cable, a multicolor pen assortment and a variety of paper and transparency material.

PLOTTERS

Four pen color plotter, 11 by 17 IBM/PC compatitile APL-410

Sweet"P"100(Cofnrex)8yiby120" COM-C1

Houston Instruments DMP29,11 by 17 HOU-29

Houston Instniments DMP40,11 by 17, B size HOU-40

Houston Instruments DMP41 /42 C/D 24 by 36 HOU-41

Houston Inst. DMP51/52MPC/D, 14penplolling HOU 51MP

Houston Instruments DMPSe, E size 34 by 44 HOU-56

Houston Instruments PC695,11 by 17 multi-pan HOU-69S

Roland DYX-101 flat bed 11 by 17 ROL-101

RolandDYX-80011 by17mulll-pen8cdor ROL-SOO

CalComp 1043GT plotter CCP-1043

OKSniZERSe HOUSE

Hitachi Tiger TaUol 11 by 11 ■ Hrr-TT2

Summagraghics Summasketcb 12" four button SUM^Kt 2

Summagraphics SummaMouse 100 line resolutkin SUM-MS

MiCTOSon serial mouse with paint bnjsh MST-MS232

Microsoft bus mouse card w/paint brush MST-MSB

$159 $159 1779 959 3779 4659 4795 579 418 899 7899

139 129

F/10 Msy ^ WhHl Printer ^

■10 Daisy Wheel printer is the perfect answer to a reasonablly priced 40 character word processing printer. While this printer is identical to C. Itoh's F-10/40 Starwriter printer, It bears the name of a well known computer manufacturer.

This 40 character per second printer auto Installs writh Wordstar and Perfect Writer. Features extensive txiilt-in word processing funotkvis 0iat allow easy adaptability and reduced software complexity. Industry standard Centronics interface provides instant compatibility with all computers equiped with a parallel printer port. The TEC F-10 accepts paper up to 15 inches In width. These printers were originally priced to sell at over $1400, Through a special arrangment Calitornia Digital has purchase these units from the computer manufaclurer anti is offering these printers al a fraction of iheir orirjinal cost.

. ■ . ■ ■ :-.:\\i6': ;.n.;ctfDC*It:[, iracior l,-'f(d, biifl..ir.'d infiini.ny iind ;in

^ - ■ ,,'y-f'>.:\ c."ililo:j fur a v^inuty o: coinpulei?..

5V4'' DISK DRIVE

One Two Ten

TEAC FD55BV haH height TEAC FD55FV 96 TPI, half ht. TEACFDSSaF for IBM AT PANASONIC 455 ftaH H«l«lit

109 119 169 109

PANASONIC 46514 Ht.96TPI 139 TANDON100>2 full height 129 MITSUBISHI new 501 half ht. 129 MITSUBISHI 504A AT eomp. 169 QUME142haif height 90 Switching power supply Installation KR with manual Dual enclosure for 5%" driwM 34 pin edge connectors Scotch head cleaning kit Flip & File Storage tubs

99 S9 109 105 159 155 99 89 129 125 125 119 119 109 159 155 89 89 49 10 SO 5 10 IS

Eight inch Single Sided Drives QUME841 single side 129 119 cfU

SHUGART801R 359 359 354

SIEMENS FDD 100-8 119 115 109

Eight Inch Double Sided Drives QUME842"QUMETRACK8" 189 179 call SHUGARTSA851R 495 485 475

OLIVETTI double sided 109 179 159

REMEXRFD-4Q00 1TO 169 159

MITSUBISHI M2896«3%Ht. 459 449 409 Dual 8" enclosure with powerandhui 259 Switching power supply 80 Installation kit with manual 10

The Adeus CP/2000, Is a22 character per second daisy wheel printer which accepts 96 character Diablo wheels and ribbons. Triis printer was manufactured by the OlympiaTypewrltter Company for Cosmo World USA. Tbis unit will print 10. 12 and 15 characters oer inch orooortionaltv soaced

with increments of 1/120 '- Bi-directional pnnlinq ? K/Bytn bufffir (pypanri,-lbiG to 6K1 and b lb

AflouGCrv2000 an nxc.:(,! ; .•..'.!-■

Shipping: First five pounds S3.00, each additional pound S.50. oreign orders: 10% shipping, excess will be refunded, alifornia residents add 6V2% sales tax. • COD's discoura ts extended to state supported educationi ipanies with a strong "Dun & Bradstreet'

ZIMCO

IWTERIMATIOIMAL. IMC.

• MULTITECH PC CLONE PACKAGE S799 •

w/256K/monltor/DOSyports/clock/morel

» IBM/APPLBHAROWAREgQFIWARBiASK USI »

S235*

illll-.HIitJ.I,.l!W

CALL tor Catalog S latest PRICES

/1-800-227-6647

For Technical Support & IMYS Call 718-479-7888 D&Bf/ 130151913

Forget Drive Table LImltsI

• Use any Compatible Drive on

the AT Controller

• For DOS, UNIX, XENIX...

• Plug-in Installation

• Includes set-up and low-level

format

DUB-14

GOLDEN BOW SYSnMS

$95

$3 shipping/ handling California orders add 6%

2870 Fifth Avenue Suite 201 San Diego, CA 92103

619/298-9349

Printer (Data) switch $45

Dealers & OEM Welcome

• Motal esse, bsige color > Push button or rotary switch

• 2 iByot PC board, lully shielded Switch box

2 way switch .

2 way cross S6S/$79 4 way swltctt S65/$79

• All pin switctiod

• 1 year warranty

R82U MInlitura

Otndw chwiQar MM, RF Nun modem

I Cable (Lifetime warranty) $12 up |

• UL approved, mohtod, double shielded, beige color

• 0 type connector witti thumb screw (screwrleBs)

Printer Cable (For IBM] 679712' S^2n^*tt^6

Centronic Cable (male Id male) 6710' S14/SI6

RS232 Cabis (male to male) 6710' S12/S14

RS232 Cable (male to toinale} 3767t07l2' S10fSl2Al4/Sie

(25 line connected can be used as modem or eilsnsion)

XT Floppy Cable/Hard Disk Cable S7/sg

30 Day Money Back Guarantee JACO Enterprises Terms; Handling free $3.00, 1478 Poppy Way

Plus shipping. C.O.D. add $1^ Cupertino, CA 95014

Caiitornla residents add sales tax TEL: (408) 996-0675

Inquiry 333

Inquiry 123

Inquiry M6

PORTABLE ADDiriONS

DISK DRIVE 3'/i", lbs., battery oper. or A/Cadaptor(incl.), tOOKstorage. WithTS-DOS software $229 Drive without software $179 24K RAM CHIP-Tandy 200 $65, Z/$59 ea. 8K RAM CHIP-Model-m $23 and NEC8201.. . 3ormore/$19 ea. SIDBSTAR-NEC Starlet-9a» $139 128K Ram Dlsl( Cartridge SIDECAR-NEC PC-8201A $259 128K cartridge (four 32K banks) CALL TOLL FREE 1-aa0-732-5012 Calif: 805-987-4788

Canada: 604-856-8858, Australia: 02-419-8899

gm^PURPLE VISA MIC &

ntMCOMPUTING AMER.EXP.

420 Constitution Ave., Camarillo, CA 93010

THE BEST QUALmr PC CASES

THE BEST CHOICE

OUR SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Nickel Plated Whole Surface with Additional

insulated Enamel Coating

• EMI & ESD Shielded

• Extended Length Provide More Space Fbr Inside Wor)(ing

• Meet FCC Requirement

• PC Magazine LAB Tested

Call for Catalog & Price

SOLETmK INC 1122-C2 W. WASHINGTON BLVD MONTE BELLO, CA 90640 (213) 724-9005, 724-9006

NO SHIPPING CHARGES ORDER TOLL-FREE 800-824-3432

In Calilomla Call (8ta| 341 8833 DRIVES

"2 Ht. IBM'" Compalibie 89.99

Tandon 100-2 99.99

Tandon 100-4 (96 tpi) 129.99

SYSTBUS

PC/XT Compatible 499.99

• 640K on Molherlioard • Slide-in Case

• 1-% HI. Roppy • 135 Watt Power Supply

• Mono Card w/Printer Port (5150 Type Keyboard

^ FCC APPROVED «

We carry a complete line of electronic components. Call or write for our free catalogi

Inicorn electronics

' lOOlOCanogaAve UnitB-8.Chalt«M)Rti.CA9taii

mtmOfdwtiQfiO —Noti^ipngdiarOMOnprapadO'ilars -COO aaa S30a —UPSBIuBaddS300--GA rtMlMNsadi)6V.sate»ta> ftnonas checks MM iMdewance tfl5A -UC

Inquiry 247

Inquiry 282

Inquiry 315

Offshore Manufacturing

CUT COSTS UP TO 50%

DO YOU MANUFACTURE:

• PC add on cards or other PCB's

• Electronic products in general

• Produci (.'nclosun.'^, housings, or cases

• Mechanicai devices

• Pr^ision machine parts

IBM. AT&T, Microsoft. Chrysler, and other major com panics use components produced in A^ to reduce costs. SunhOi-NIC can help you achieve •InUtu' aavjna*.

WE CAN:

• Find reiiabie quality-conscious manufacturers lor your products.

• }-je1p you set up offshore facilities of your own.

• Inspect producis, guarantee QuaEly, and arrange shipment.

Please call or write:

SUNHJUm

1000ANDOVER PARK EAST

SEATTLE • Wfl • 38188 206/622-5775

Single Board Solutions

Introduces

SBS-52 Controller

8052 Basic Vl.l

32 Kx8 Ram

2 Real Time Clocks

32 I/O Lines Programs Eproms Small 3.00x5.00 Size

1-10 $179.00 Single Board Solutions

P.O. Box 3788 Salem, Oregon 97302 Phone (503) 581-6570

P.C. MEMORY HOT LINE

LEADER IN WHOLESALE PRICING

t^lBM PC-AT CMPTBLE.

i^lBM PC-XT CMPTBLE.

i^lBIVI PC CIVIPTBLE.

i^lBiVI PC XT/AT MOTHERBOARD

$999 $599 $555

SEAGATE, TANDON. OKI, A t'2DMB HARD DRIVE NH. S2E9

»;cOHTKOUiR ms

x^OMB HMO DRIVE HH. (375 «/CONTMllEII S479

i^SOMB HARD DRIVE HH. S649 wfCONTRDLlER S839 t^K XT/AT F.D. H.H. t (9/99 i^4MB MEMOnr EXP. CARD, tin i^DISK HEAD CliANIHGDISK S 2

MDEK, TEXAN AND MORE HAVES CMPnUNODEN

IHTEKHAl 1200 S 99 MONITOR COLOR UOiZOO $279 MONITOR COLOR 6401400 S33S C0NTROLIBI3 IMU. (toil low] PRINTER DAI8V WHEEL

20 CPS S269 PRINTER DDT MATRIX

•/NLQ 200 CPS $345

i.'4164 DRAM MEMDRV CHIPS (UK) S 99

1^41250 ORAM MEMORY CHIPS (256K| $2.30

1-818-376-1440

Inquiry 292

Inquiry 273

Inquiry 88

Out 1986 Catalog is

anternational 7i4/898-o84o ^ Telex: 887841 XORDATA HTBH Fax: 714/897-3363 ► 15392 Assembly Lane, Unit A• Huntington Beacli, CA 92649

LAQK what's "^^'^ Inside!

Tne XAT IS out most versatile and povjertul system Using Inlet s 80286 processor, the system runs at 6 and 8 MHz with a true

16-bit dnla bus Comes standard with a 3

-non Ad!l On t)'.,i."! 2 ;;;inillcl ■^ ono s.-Tnl

or off the press!

' ^ Dealers! Check our Profitable Discount [l^t\im Pricing!

This standard system is as compnlible wiiti IBM as It can be. Featuring a 4-laycr motherboard 8-slot expansion, up to S'lOK memory on the motherboard, and Ihe 6,67 MHz TURBO mode Also included. DOS 31. keyboard. 135 watt power supply, TTL 720 > rrsoliition video crird (|recn nr rim5<:-'

The perfect choice lor Ihe system integrator wiio needs tlie IBM compaliliiltty. but not in the standard PC cabinet Th s model features hinged and removable sides, up to 3 ' ^height petipheials out Imnt, front mount AC switch and rear mount '35 v/atl power supply. Also

XT Jr.

The XTJr. is only junior in size! With up lo 640K memory on the motherboard and four expansion slots, this stand-alone system is also great tor workstations in a networking environment. It can be upgraded to the TURBO two speed motherboard and you can also adct up to 2 Sf.'nal S 2 parallel ports

This IS truly the affordable portable, and we'll bultd it to your specifications Need a 20 meg hard disk and 20 meg (ape with 640K memory in your portable'^ No problem' Ttic XPC Compact comes standard with a 9 " amber TTL monitor. 135 watt PS 256K nu'fi.orv KVO360K drives Rc^l TifiU'

: rUHDO K\ ;

24 Add-On Cards

Germany

2 MB Expanse ard

Hard Disk Controller

384K Multi-Function

4 Meg Token Ring

1

This board satisfies Ihe new approach suggested by INTHL and Lotus 1-2-3. Also may be used on our XT-8BC TURBO bead tof memory based at OK.

This Western Diyiial controller handles l or 2 drives. 5 lo 140 megabytes with minimum soltware conliguration. Features DOS 2.1 & 31 compatibility, and ST-506 Interface

A MullcluMCtion board leiiiuniuj Paralli;! Port S<,'iial Port Game Port. Real Time Clock Calendar with Battery Back-up. Expand to 384K. all Cables. PrintSpooler and RAM Disk Software, and Ik4anual&

Conned youi ■.■.■L'rk&;:i;ioji lo an i.'nisling 4 Megabyte IBtVl token ring system or build up your own /£EE 802 5 Standard system. The lowest possible cost tor lOO'*orhdustry standard compatibiUty.

AT H.D. & Floppy

iVIono & Color Graphics

7 PAK Multi-Function

PROM Laser

This niv./ Weslivn Diiiila! cwmbo board with its 1 VLSI liTlmolo'iy ■.-.ill .'jivi- yu ;i 'tit'i Irnnsf.-r i.ilf

no:.'! -,■ ■!■ ; : ■

-speed

SO"..

Siippoits Iwo levelf. ol i]raphit:s and lexl in composile

rJlnnoclKnii.r p( [^G[l(OlOF LOW reSOlutiOtl 320 X 200

■ ' -10 » 200 pixel

(optional 2nd Serial). Game Ftort, Reni \\mo. Clock/Calendar with Battery Back u[) r;/.f,M k f^ inSpooler, ail c^las & manuals.

2764 (in 5?'^f,r>ci, 27128, 272r)6 F:PROm's Li!idi,'r' si:ll

England

Motherboards

XAT TURBO XT-SBC

35 Components

Bombay ■ 357172

• RTC Calendar «

• 6 a 8 MHz clock •

• S slol e-pansion '

• Iniel 80286

XPC TURBO

4 77 8 8 MHz clock Sertai 5 Parallel J-layer PCB design HTC Calendar

XPC-XT

• 4 77 S 6 67 MHZ ' 4-layer PCB design

> a-slot expansion

> up to 640K Memory ' 8088-2 nroce;r.or

' Standard 4 77 MHz ' up lo 640K memory ' 8-slot expansion ' standard 8088 CPU ■ 8087 socket avail

Power Supplys

XT 13S watt XT ISO watt

• 135w switching <

• Whisper Fan '

• Side AC switch

• +5V15A -5V- 5A

• +!2V-d 2A - 12V- 5A '

AT 200 watt

Whisper Ian Hi-outpul 150 wall 4 DC conneclors ■(■5V-15A -5V-5A ■t-l2V-5 5A -I2V- 5A

XTC 135

• 200 Watt power "

• E'tenor AC switch '

• 4 DC power conn. * ' +5V-20A -5V-5A ' ' +12V7 TA -12V-.5A<

Rear MounI Bear On OH switcn extra AC outlets + 5V-15A -5V-5A + 12V-4A - 12V-5A

Cabinets

TneXTjr. cabin.?! is only 3" x l6 5" x 15" yet il will hold a standard XT compa|it:le molherhoard Includes a switching power supply Tronl panel cut-oul for a hall-heighl flppiiy ;y li.iid cl.:.k

Our XPC-XT cabinet has an 8-slol back panel wiin additional cut-outs lor two BS-232 I 0 ports Features mounting tor up lo lour hall hciqhl peripnerals

Keyboards

AT

This KeyboarS'is standard equipment wilfTM of our XAT systems, but the layout is so well liked, were oftenng it hera.

XT

s o'feing it t

1

Our volume purchases of these IBM style units allows us to lower the price once again

The right choice i ■ Add-on a lloppy ^ hard disk (hall-he;iini| Sw included

Supply IS

5051

Now a fully select.'ic unit at an altordable price. Features a lO-key numenc pad & a separate cursor pad.

I

IWIIIIIOWI IMC

IPanasonic

Seagate H

TEAC ■

TUlin ■

Archive Irwin Maxtor Memtek Miniscribe I Panasonic Seagate TEAC TUlin

This full height cabinet will hold a Tape Back-up with lull or height Hard Disk inside (or two IHard Disks).

A perfect cabinet for Tape or Hard Disk, a nice addition to your

PC

Choose from single 'iheight. dual '?heighl. or Sheight wiih lull height base. All Sub-systmis include controllers cables software, and manuals

Qni.- way to stay Jhead ol the competition is by using a MulliUser or Network system configuration from Micro Productt Intarnational. Choose Hi speed RS-232 - XOR-NET SDLC or Token Ring. Data transfer rates up to 4 megabyles

second can tie obtained

Whal IS Ihe Cassette Training concept? Using Interactive Audio Training lo combine the advantage ol classroom and sell-teaching methods.

The Method ,. One audio track delivers a lecture explaining the program, while the second track emulates Ihe keyboard, actually running the student's computer. Al Irequeni intervals the tape pauses automatically to allow (he student keyboard input, which is monitored for accuracy by the MITS COED

* FCC ;ipproyed lor direct flj-l 1 conneclion

• Phone Cal)lf Power Sii;)plv Finally a price breakthrough on s H.iyi??. comp;itiPle e.>.lern:)l 300 1200 baud motlem Includes drar-r sollware

• Runs t/ie popular til yes ■software

.

• 0-Modem software included • Runs the popular Also runs XCOM software Hayes communication;

• All cables included software

We included every feature you would want In a modem card It s FCC registered tor direct connection to your modular pfionp lack with tlie cord included

OCTOl3tR 1986 - BYTE 381

Inquiry 3 5-)

PCs PERIPHERALS

for

Quantity Buyers ONLY

IBM® XT CLONE 64K expandable to 640K, 8088 CPU, 135 watts P/S, keyboard FDC, 360 KB disk drive fully burned & tested.

$399.00

IBM® AT CLONE 64K expandable to 1MB, 200 watts P/S, AT style keyboard, unit tested & burned U.S. Made.

$799.00

AT Mothertjoard OK Expandable

to 1MB $495.00

AT Roppy & Hard Disk Controller (U.S.).., $149.00

AT Keyboard (U.S.) $ 45.00

AT Power Supply 200 watts „ $ 87.00

AT Disk Drive 1.2MB $ 99.00

XT Motherboard OK

Expandable to 640K $ 89.00

XT Power Supply 135 watts $ 46.00

1200 Baud Modem $ 85.00

2400 Baud Modem $210.00

360KB Roppy Drive $ 67.00

Mono Graptiic Card $ 68.00

Color Graphic Card $ 49.00

6 Oullel Surge Protector $ 10.00

20MB Hard Disk Sub System $359.00

Portable FAX Machine

W/Acccustic Coupler $1295.00

Power Center $ 55.00

Color/Mono Dual Card $ 95.00

Basic EGA Card ....: $105.00

Disk I/O Card $ 68.00

TTL Monitor $ TSM

XT Hard Disk Cable Set $ 2.95

Printer Cable $ 2.95

All of above prices are C.O.D. cash only. Prices and availability sidiject to change without notice.

CLONE FACTORY

(415) 656-5404 (213) 477-0447 (714) 731-5727

TWX: 5106003265

382 BYTE • CXnOBER 1986

R 0 L I T CONVENIENT - PORTABLE - UNIVERSAL CONTINUOUS FEED ROLL BOND PAPER DISPENSER. ROLIT IS ADJUSTABLE AND SITS BEHIND THE PRINTER (NOT PERHANENTLV ATTACHED) SO IT CAN BE USED ON DIFFERENT PRINTERS (OR TYPEWRITERS), PAPER SAVINGS ON INFORMAL PRINTOUTS WILL PAY FOR THE LOU COST OF $39.95. ROLIT HAS A 6 MONTHS MATERIAL AND UQRKMANSHIP WARRANTY. $39.95 INaUDES ONE ROLL OF 8V PAPER. ADD 3.00 POSTAGE. NH RESIDENTS ADD SX TAX. DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED.

RAYGAR MFG. CO., INC.

2206 CENTRE ARTESIA, NH 88201 505/622-0756 VISA t MASTERCARD ACCEPTED

Inquiry 340

IDM'S TOP OF

THE LINE WORK STATION

supply losrs $299

Irs a compQcr, locl-soble cobiner ft for convenient, ll secure storage.

We also cony:

• Color Diskettes

• Hi Density Diskettes

• Ribbons

• Paper

• Drotfier Prinrers

450 7»h Ave. N.Y.N.Y. 10120

212-244-2960DATANAMICS

Inquiry 5? _

- ^orOW"^ To order, call:

■ 800-325-6028 toll free

916-885-7262 inside CA

COD, Prepay, MasterCard, or VISA. 30 day money back guarantee.

jJM* I INTERNATIONAL i#= MICROSYSTEMS Wl* i INCORPORATED

11554 C Avenue Auburn, OA 95603

Inquiry 350

1

'I B mcc.

m

Copy, Bypass, Reset...This Buffer does it alllll Kugged Metal Case with LED's to indicate status III Reliable Parallel Operation with Multiple Copies AND Multiple Documents. A Real BargainI

B Call (918) 437-2600 C3

Call for Best Price Cables and Switches!

No mimmum, CCD's accepted. Checks clear 2 weeks. 3K surcharge MC/VISA. Shipping and Handling $5.00 Prepaid!to: POB£90958 • Tulsa,OK74l«9-a9SB

Inquiry 85

PC-WRITER

IBM PC GRAPHICS &

LETTER QUALITY

Entiancement for Okldata ML82A/83A Dot Matrix Printers

1 PUPt(

tar PS)

• Plug in module easily installs in p

• Draft (1 20 cps) & Letter Qualit

• Elite character pitch

• Front panel access to all

• Emulation of IBM PC printer

• Superscripts / subscripts^

• Foreign / scientif Acharaciers '

• Works with pr^^ween Key in grap h i csandM^niH

• Prints j|flku|Ap1flv screen Characters andb«drBwt1^svmbQls exactly as the^^Baedbn display (double line as

^^ina^Mjre line box symbols)

I^Nwout OK-WRITER"Okidata a^ihics for $99 with many of above features

O

RAINBOW TECHNOLOGIES. INC

17971-E Skypark Circle, Irvine, CA 92714

(714) 2G1-0228 Telex 386078

UK Distributer: X-DATA (0753) 72331

InqMiry 353

PRINTER SHARING

HERE IS THE ECONOMICAL AMD THE BEST SOlUTHUt

, • Completely automattc operation ' J • Eliminates Iha need for manual

switching or cable swapping

• May be used for other p6ripi>erals (i.e. plonars)

• Compatible with all compulars using a standard CENTRONICS output

• Idanitfiei active computer

• Totally tranaparant to the uiar

• Adjustsbla time-out delay from 1 to 26 seconds bstwean two printings

• Form feed may be Inserted lor not) between two aucOBsaive requests

• Port number asMdatttd with raquettingcpmpuMirffwvb* printed or not

• B kbyte itandsrd buffer ■ 32 kbyte optional buffer

• ZBO-A proceasoT • Sbt modalt to choose from: PMS 606: 2 computers to one printw/

SkbytebuHer tUB.OO PMS607: PMS 606 with 32 kbyte buffer •219.00 PMS 610: 4 computera to one printer/

B kbyte buffer •249.00 PMS611: PMS610wlth32kbytebuffer •319.00 PMS 615: 8 computers to one printer/

8 kbyte buffer •349.00 PMSBIB: PMS615with32kbytebuffer •419.00 We are also manufaoturtng e ftjil line of STD BUS end educational products. DEALER MQUniESINVITB)

Visa, U.C. accepted, cell loH free: 1-800-361-2B72

«.BDB(UL*mCanMhiHwV.Bt.UumntaeH48 IMS T*l, |B14t S3B4BB8 Tb: OBSBtM/PROTEC

Inquiry 352

THE LATEST IN PC ENHANCEMENT PRODUCTS

ENHMCED BMPHICS UMTOR

700% IBM COMPATIBLE-PASSES IBM EGA DIAGNOSTICS

* COMPATIBLE WITH IBM EGA, COLOR GRAPHICS ADAPTOR AND MONOCHROME ADAPTOR

* DISPLAYS 16 COLORS OUT OF 64 COLORS unUI HUI V

* COMES WITH 256K OF VIDEO RAM HUH UNLl

* DUAL SCANNING FREQUENCIES WORKS WITH STANDARD OR EGA TYPE RGB MONITORS

* LIGHT PEN INTERFACE

EBA MONITOR

FULL ONE YEAR WARRANTY

* EGA AND CGA COMPATIBLE

* SCANNING FREQUENCIES: 15.75 KHz / 21.85 KHz

* 14" BLACK MATRIX, NON-GLARE SCREEN

* RESOLUTION: 640 x 200 / 640 x 350

* .31 DOT. 25MHz

* 16 COLORS OUT OF 64

* TEXT SWITCH-GREEN/AMBER

$499.95

$259.95

20 MB HARD DISK SYSTEM

INCLUDES HARD DISK CONTROLLER, CABLES AND INSTRUCTIONS. ALL DRIVES ARE PRETESTED AND COME WITH A 1 YEAR WARRANTY.

$38995

AT MULTIFUNCTION CARD $199.95

ADDS UP TO 3 MEGABYTES OF USER EXPANDABLE MEMORY

* SHIPPED WITH ZERO K RAM, USER EXPANDABLE TO 1.5 MEGABYTES RAM ON BOARD, UP TO 3 MEGABYTES WITH OPTIONAL PIGGYBACK CARD

* USES 64K OR 256K DYNAMIC RAMS

* PARALLEL PORT & GAME PORT

* SERIAL PORT

* OPTIONAL SECOND SERIAL PORT

PIGGYBACK MEMORY CARD (NO memory installed) $49.95

EXPANDED MEMORY CARD $199.95

UP TO 2 MEGABYTES OF LOTUS/INTEL COMPATIBLE MEMORY

* CONFORMS TO LOTUS/INTEL EXPANDED MEMORY SPECIFICATIONS (EMS)

* SHIPPED WITH ZERO K RAM, USER EXPANDABLE TO 2 MEGABYTES

* USES 64K OR 256K DYNAMIC RAMS

* USE AS EXPANDED (EMS) OR CONVENTIONAL MEMORY, RAMDISK OR SPOOLER

* SOFTWARE INCLUDES EMS DEVICE DRIVERS, PRINT SPOOLER AND RAMDISK

EPRDM PROGRAMMER $129.95

FOR IBM PCIXTIATAND COMPATIBLES

* PROGRAMS 27xxx SERIES EPROMS UP TO 27512

* MENU DRIVEN SOFTWARE PROVIDED ON DISKETTE

* AUTOMATICALLY SETS PROGRAMMING VOLTAGE

* LOADS AND SAVES EPROM BUFFER TO DISK

* READ, WRITE, COPY, VERIFY OR CHECK BLANK

* DEBUG STYLE EDITOR FOR EASY MODIFICATION OF PROGRAM

* SPLITS OR COMBINES EPROMS OF DIFFERING SIZES

, * INTERNAL CARD WITH EXTERNAL CABLE FOR A ZIF SOCKET

Inquiry l')0

110 Knowles Di Toll Free 800-538-5000 • (408)

' ©COPYRIGHT1986 JDR MICRODEVICES

THE JDR MICRODEVICES LOGO IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF JDR MICRODEVICES. JDR INSTRUMENTS AND JDR MICRODEVICES ARE TRADEMARKS OF JDR MICRODEVICES.

5 A TRADEMARK OF INTERNATIONAL BUS

STATIC MM8

2101

256x4

(4S0na)

1.95

5101

256x4

i450ns)(CMOS)

3.95

2102L-4

1024x1

(4S0ns)(LP)

.99

2112

256x4

(450nB)

2.99

2114

1024x4

(450nsl

.99

Z114L-4

1024x4

(450ns)(LP)

1.09

2114L-2

1024x4

(200ns)(LP)

1.49

2114L-15

1024x4

(ISOnsilLP)

1.95

TMS4044-4

4096x1

(450ns}

1.95

TMM2016-150

2048x8

(150ns|

1.49

TMIVIZ016-100

2048x8

(lOOns)

1.95

HM6116-4

2048x8

(200ns)|CMOSI

1.89

HM6116-3

2048x8

(150ns||CMOSI

1.95

HNI6116LP-4

2048x8

(200ns)|CMOSI|LP)

1.95

HM611GLP-3

2048x8

(150ns|(CMOS){LP|

2.05

HM6116LP-2

2048x8

(120ns)(CMOS)|LP)

2.95

HM6264P-1S

8192x8

(ISOraKCMOS)

3.89

HM62S4LP-15

8192x8

(1S0ns)(CMOS)(LP)

3.95

HM6264LP-12

8192x8

(120ns)(CMOS|(U>|

4.49

LP=Low power

DYNAMIC RAMS

4116-250

16384x1

(2S0ns)

.49

4116-200

16384x1

(200ns)

.89

4116-150

16384x1

(150ns)

.99

4116-120

16384x1

(120nsl

1.49

MK4332

32768x1

|200ns)

6.95

4164-200

65536x1

(200ns)(5v)

1.19

4164-150

65536x1

(150ns)(5v)

1.29

4164-120

65536x1

(120ns)(5v)

1.95

MCM6665

65536x1

(200ns|(5v)

1.95

TMS4164

65536x1

(150ns)(5v|

1.95

4164-REFRESH

65536x1

|150ns)(5V)IREFIIESH) 2.9S

TMS4416

16384x4

(150ns)(5v)

4.95

41128-150

131072x1

(150ns)(5v)

5.95

TMS4464-15

65536x4

(150ns)(5v)

6.95

41256-200

262144x1

(200n!>)(5v)

2.95

41256-160

262144x1

|150nsl|5v)

2.95

5v^SinglG 5 Volt Supply

REFRESH = Pin

1 Refresh

T

LL

* ★★★HIGH-TECH**** NECV20 UPD70108 $11

REPLACES 8088 TO SPEED UP IBM PC 10-40% |

* HIGH-SPEED ADDRESS CALCULATION IN HARDWARE

* PIN COMPATIBLE WITH 8088

* SUPERSET OF 8088 INSTRUCTION SET

* LOW POWER CMOS

8MHZ V20 UPD70108-B $13,951 8MHZ V30 UPD7G116-8 $19.95 ****SPOTLIGHT****

ORDER TOLL FREE

800-538-5000

EPROMS

2708

1024x8

(450ns)

4.95

2716

2048x8

(450ns){5V)

3^49

2716-1

2048x8

(350ns){SV)

3.95

TMS2532

4096x8

(450ns)(5V)

5^95

2732

4096x8

(450ns)(5V)

3.95

2732A

4096x8

(2S0ns)(5V)(21 V PGM]

3.95

2732A-2

4096x8

(200ns)(5V)(21V PGM]

4.25

27C64

8192x8

(250ns)(5V|(CMOS)

5.95

2764

8192x8

(450ns)(5V)

3.49

2764-250

8192x8

(250ns)|5V)

3.9S

2764-200

8192x8

(200ns)(5V)

4.25

MCM68766

8192x8

(350ns)(5V)(24 PIN)

17.95

27128

16384x8

(250ns)(5V)

4.25

27C256

32768x8

(250ns)|5V)|CMOS)

10.95

27256

32768x8

|250ns)(5U)

7.49

5V-Single 5 Uo

t Supply

21V PGM Protjr.^111 rit 21

Vnlt.T

QiSI?o"R°A?i'^jS EPROM ERASERS

Model

Timer

Capacity Chip

Intensity luW/Cm')

Unit Price

PE-14

NO

9

8.000

»83.00

PE-14T

YES

9

8.000

S119.00

PE-24T

VES

12

9,600

S175 00

8000

8035

1.49

8039

1.95

8080

2.95

8085

2.49

8087-2

169.95

8087

129.00

8088

6.95

8088-2

9.95

8155

2.49

8155-2

3.95

8748

7.95

8755

14.95

80286

129.95

80287

199.95

8200

8203

24.95

8205

3.29

8212

1.49

8216

1.49

8224

2.25

8237

4.95

8237-5

5.49

8250

6.95

8251

1.69

8251A

1.89

8253

1.89

8253-5

1.95

8255

1.69

8255-5

1.89

8259

1.95

8259-5

2.29

8272

4.95

8279

2.49

8279-5

2.95

8282

3.95

8284

2.95

8286

3.95

8288

4.95

Z-80

Z80-CPU 2 5 MHi 1.69

4.0 MHZ

Z80A-CPU

1.79

Z80A-CTC

1.89

Z80A-DART

5.95

Z80A-DMA

5.95

ZBOA-PIO

1.89

Z80A-SIO/0

5.95

Z80A-S1O/1

5.95

ZSOA-SIO/2

5.95

6.0 MHz

Z80B-CPU

3.75

Z80B-CTC

4.25

Z80B-PIO

4.25

Z80B-DART

14.95

Z80B-SIO/0

12.95

Z80B-SIO/2

12.95

Z8671 ZILOG

19 95

6500 1.0 MHz

6502

2.69

65C02(CMOSI12.95

6507

9.95

6520

1.95

6522

4.95

6526

26.95

6532

6.96

6545

6.95

6551

5.95

6561

19.95

6581

34.95

2.0

MHZ

6502A

2.95

6520A

2.95

65Z2A

5.95

6532A

11.95

6S4SA

7.9B

6551A

6.95

3.0

MHZ

6502B

6.95

8800 1.0 MHZ

6800

1.95

6802

4.95

6803

9.95

6809

5.95

6809E

5.95

S810

1.95

6820

2.95

6821

1.95

6840

6.95

6843

19.95

6844

12.95

6845

4.95

6847

11.95

6850

1.95

6883

22.95

2.0 MHz

68B00

4.95

6SB02

5.95

6SB09E

6.95

68B09

6.95

68B21

3.95

68B45

6.95

68B50

2.95

^8854

7.95

CRT

I CONTROLLERS I

CRYSTALS

CLOCK CIRCUITS

MM5369 1.95 MM5369-EST 1.95 MM5S167 12.95 MM58174 11.95

MSM5832 2.95 ,

6846

68B45

6847

HD46S05SP MC1372 8275 7220 CnT5027 CRTS037 1 TMS9918A

4.95 8.95 11.95 6.95 2.95 26.95 19.95 12.95 9.95 19.95 I

DISK

CONTROLLERS

1771

4.95

1791

9.95

1793

9.95

1795

12.95

1797

12.95

2791

19.95

2793

19.95

2797

29.95

6843

19.95

8272

4.9S

UPD765

4.95

MB8876

12.95

MB8877

12.95

1691

6.95

2143

6.95

BIT RATE 6ENERAT0RS

MCI 4411 9.95

BR1941 4.95

I 4702 9.95

C0M8116 8.95

I MM5307 4.95 ,

UARTS

AY5-1013

3.95

AY3-1015

4.95

TR1602

3.95

2651

4.95

IM6402

6.95

IM6403

9.95

^INS8250

6.95

SOUND CHIPS

76477

76489

SSI-263

AV3-e910

AV3-8912

SPIOOO

5.95 8.95 39.95 12.95 12.95 39.00 J

32.768 KHi 1.0 MHi 1.8432 2.0

2.097152

2.4576

3.276B

3.579545

4.0

4.032

5.0

5.0688 6.0 6.144 6.5536 8.0 10.0

10.738635 12.0

14.31818

15.0

16.0

17.430

18.0

18.432

20.0

22.1184

24.0

32.0

.95 2.95 2.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1

1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95

CRYSTAL I OSCILLATORS

I.OMHi 1.8432

2.0

2.4576

2.5

4.0

5.0688

6.0

6.144

8.0 I 10.0

12.0

12.480 I 15.0

16.0

18.432

20.0 I 24.0

5.95 5.95 5.95 5.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4.95 4-95 -1.95

MISC

TMS99531

9.95

TMS99532

19.95

ULN2003

.79

3242

7.95

3341

4.95

MC3470

1.95

MC3480

8.95

MC3487

2.95

11C90

19.95

2513-001 UP

6.95

AY5-2376

11.95

AV5-3600 PRC

11.95

74LS00

.65

.18

74LS166

.95

74LS02

74LS169

.95

74LS03

.18

74LS173

.49

74LS04

.16

74LS174

.39

74LS05

.18

74LS175

.39

74LS08

.18

74LS191

.49

74LS09

.18

74LS192

.69

74LS10

.16

74LS193

.69

74LS11

.22

74LS194

.69

74LS12

.22

74LS19S

.69

74LS13

.26

74LS196

.59

74I.S197

.59

74LS15

!26

74LS221

.59

74LS20

.17

74LS240

.69

74LS21

.22

74LS241

.69

74LS22

.22

74I.S242

.69

74LSZ7

.23

74LS243

.69

74LS28

.26

74I.S244

.69

74LS30

.17

74LS245

.79

74LS3Z

.18

74LS251

.49

74LS33

.28

74LS253

.49

74LS37

.26

74LS256

1.79

74LS38

.26

74LS257

.39

74LS42

.39

74LS258

.49

74LS47

.75

74LS259

1.29

74LS48

.85

74LS260

.49

74LSS1

.17

74LS266

.39

74LS73

.29

74LS273

.79

74LS74

.24

74LS279

.39

74LS75

.29

74LS280

1.98

74LS76

.29

74LS283

.59

74LS83

.49

74LS290

.89

741.885

.49

74LS293

.89

74LS86

.22

74LS299

1.49

74LS90

.39

74LS322

3.95

74LS9Z

.49

74LS323

2.49

74LS93

.39

74LS364

1.95

74LS95

.49

74LS365

.39

74LS107

.34

74LS367

.39

74LS109

.36

74LS368

.39

74L.S112

.29

74LS373

.79

74LS122

.45

74LS374

.79

74LS123

.49

74LS375

.96

74LS124

2.75

74LS377

.79

74I.S125

.39

74LS378

1.18

74LS126

.39

74LS390

1.19

74LS132

.39

74LS393

.79

74LS133

.49

74LS541

1.49

74LS136

.39

74LS624

1.95

74LS138

.39

74LS640

.99

74LS139

.39

74LS645

.99

74LS145

.99

74LS669

1.29

74LS147

.99

74LS670

.89

74LS148

.99

74LS682

3.20

74LS151

.39

74LS683

3.20

74LS153

.39

74LS684

3.20

74LS154

1.49

74LS688

2.40

74LS155

.59

74LS783

22.95

74LS156

.49

S1LS95

1.49

74LS157

.35

81LS96

1.49

74LS158

.29

81LS97

1.49

74LS160

.29

81LS9S

1.49

74LS161

.39

25LS2521 2.80

74LS162

.49

25LS2569 2.80

74LS163

.39

26LS31

1 95

74LS164

.49

26LS32

1.95

HIGH SPEED CMOS

A new fam

ly of high speed CMOS logic f

ealuring

the speed ol \ovj power Schottkv ;3ns typical gate

propagation delay), combined wnh the advantages of

CMOS: very low power consumption, •superior noise

immunitv. and improved output drive.

74HC00

74HC: Operate at CMOS logic levels and are ideal

(or new, all-CMOS designs

74HCO0

.59

74HC148

1.19

74HC02

.59

74HC151

.89

74HC04

.59

74HC154

2.49

74HC08

.59

74HC157

.89

74HC10

.59

74HC158

.95

74HC14

.79

74HC163

1.15

74HC20

.59

74HC175

.99

74HC27

.59

74HC240

1.89

74HC30

.59

74HC244

1.89

74HC32

.69

74HC245

1.89

74HC51

.59

74HC257

.85

74HC74

.75

74HC259

1.39

74HC85

1.35

74HC273

1.89

74HC86

.69

74HC299

4.99

74HC93

1.19

74HC368

.99

74HC107

.79

74HC373

2.29

74HC109

.79

74HC374

2.29

74HC112

.79

74HC390

1.39

74HC125

1.19

74HC393

1.39

74HC132

1.19

74HC4017

1.99

74HC133

.69

74HC4a2a

1.39

74HC138

.99

74HC4049

.89

74HC139

.99

74HC4050

.89

74HCT00

74HCT: Direct, drop-in replacements for LS TTL

and can be intermixed with 741.S in the same circuit.

74HCT00

.69

74HCT166

3.05

74HCT02

.69

74HCT174

1.09

74HCT04

.69

74HCT193

1.39

74HCT08

.69

74HCT194

1.19

74HCT10

.69

74HCT240

2.19

74HCT11

.69

74HCT241

2.19

74HCT27

.69

74HCT244

2.19

74HCT30

69

74HCT245

2.19

74HCT32

.79

74HCT2S7

.99

74HCT74

.85

74HCT259

1.59

74HCT75

.95

74HCT273

2.09

74HCT138

1.15

74HCT367

1.09

74HCT139

1.15

74HCT373

2.49

74HCT154

2.99

74HCT374

2.49

74HCT157

.99

74HCT393

1.59

74HCT158

.99

74HCT4017

2.19

74HCT161

1.29

74HCT4040

1.59

74HCT164

1.39

74HCT4060

1.49^

74F00

74F00

.69

74F74 ,79

74F251 1.69

74F02

.69

74F86 .99

74F253 1.69

74F04

.79

74F138 1.69

74F257 1.69

74F08

.69

74F139 1.69

74F2S0 1.79

74F10

.69

74F157 1.69

74F283 3.95

74F32

.69

74F240 3.29

74F373 4 29

74F64

,89

74F244 3.29

74F374 4.20

■4M

Visit our retail store located at 1256 S. Bascom Ave. in San Jose, (408) 947-8881

ir^D IV/llOfOr^^l/io^Q please use your customer number when ordering

%^L^I ■ IV ll^^l V l^^\^0 TERMS: lullnimum order $10,00. For shipping and handling Include S2.50 for UPS

, , ^ ± nmnn Ground and S3.50 (or UPS Air. Orders over 1 lb. and foreign onlers may require

no IVnOWleS UrlVe. LOS UatOS. UA SbUJU additional shipping charges-pleaseconucl our sales department lonheamounLCA.

' ' residents musi include applicable sales lax. All merchandise is v^arranled for 90 days

Toll Free 800-538-5000 • f408^ 866-6200 ''"'e™'^'' P^ms are sublecl to change without notice. We are nol

I Ull rice OUU aOO 3UUU ^tUO; OOO O^UU responsible tor typographical errors, we reseme me rlgm lo llmll quantities and to

pyyj^ (408) 378-8927 * Telex 171-110 subsmute manufacturer, ah merchandise subject to pnor sale.

) COPYRIGHT 1986 JDR MICRODEVICES

Inquiry 151

THE JDR MICRODEVICES LOGO IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF JDR MICRODEVICES. JDR INSTRUMENTS AND JDR MICRODEVICES ARE TRADEMARKS OF JDR MICRODEVICES. IBM IS A TRADEMARK OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES. APPLE IS A TRADEMARK OF APPLE COMPUTER.

20MB HARD DISK SYSTEM ONLY mm ^

CMOS

7400/9000

74800

4001

.19

14419

4.95

7400

.19

74147

2.49

4011

.19

14433

14.95

7402

.19

74148

1.20

4012

.25

4503

.49

7404

.19

74150

1.35

4013

.35

4511

.69

7406

.29

74151

.55

4015

.29

4616

.79

7407

.29

74153

.55

4016

J»

4618

.86

7408

.24

74164

1.49

4017

A9

4622

.79

7410

.19

74165

.75

4018

.69

4526

.79

7411

.25

74157

.55

4020

.59

4527

1.95

7414

.49

74159

1.65

4021

.69

4528

.79

7416

.25

74161

.69

4024

.49

4529

2.95

7417

.25

74163

.69

4025

.25

4532

1.95

7420

.19

74164

.85

4027

.39

4638

.96

7423

.29

74165

.85

4028

.65

4541

1.29

7430

.19

74166

1.00

4035

.69

4553

5.79

7432

.29

74175

.89

4040

.69

4585

.75

7438

.29

74177

.75

4041

.75

4702

12.95

7442

.49

74178

1.15

4042

.59

74C00

.29

7445

.69

74181

2.25

4043

.85

74C14

.59

7447

.89

74182

.75

4044

.69

74C74

.59

7470

.35

74184

2.00

4045

1.98

74C83

1.95

7473

.34

74191

1.15

4046

.69

74C85

1.49

7474

.33

74192

.79

4047

.69

74C95

.99

7475

.45

74194

.85

4049

.29

74C150

5.75

7476

.35

74196

.79

4050

.29

74C151

2.25

7483

.50

74197

.75

4051

.69

74C161

.99

7485

.59

74199

1.35

4052

.69

74C163

.99

7486

.35

74221

1.35

4053

.69

74C164

1.39

7489

2.15

74246

1.35

4056

2.19

74C192

1.49

7490

.39

74247

1.25

4060

.69

74C193

1.49

7492

.50

74248

1.85

4066

.29

74C221

2.49

7493

.35

74249

1.95

4069

.19

74C240

1.89

7495

.55

74251

.75

4076

.59

74C244

1.89

7497

2.75

74265

1.35

4077

.29

74C374

1.99

74100

2.29

74273

1.95

4081

.22

74C905 10.95

74121

.29

74278

3.11

4085

.79

74C911

8.95

74123

.49

74367

.65

4086

.89

74C917 12.95

74125

.45

74368

.65

4093

.49

74C922

4.49

74141

.65

9368

3.95

4094

2.49

74C923

4.95

74143

5.95

9602

1.50

14411

9.95

74C926

7.95

74144

2.95

9637

2 95

14412

6-35

80C97

.95

74145

,G0

96S02

1 35

74800

.29

74S163

1.29

74S02

.29

74S168

3.95

74S03

.29

748174

.79

74S04

.29

74S175

.79

74S05

.29

74S188

1.95

74S08

.35

74S189

1.95

74S10

.29

74S195

1.49

74S15

.49

74S196

2.49

74S30

.29

74S197

2.95

74S32

.35

74S226

3.99

74S37

.69

74S240

1.49

74S38

.69

74S241

1.49

74S74

.49

745244

1.49

74S85

.95

74S257

.79

74S86

.35

74S253

.79

748112

.50

74S258

.95

745124

2.75

74S280

1.95

74S138

.79

74S287

1.69

74S140

.55

74S288

1.69

74S1E1

.79

74S299

2.95

74S153

.79

74S373

1.69

74S157

.79

74S374

1.69

74S158

,95

74S471

4,95

74S161

1.29

74S571

2,95

'DftTJlACO

INTERFACE

ADC08aO 15.55

8T26

1.29

ADC0804 3.49

8T28

1.29

ADC0809 4.49

8T95

.89

ADC0816 14.95

8T96

.89

ADC0817 9.95

8T97

.59

ADC0831 8.95

8T98

.89

DAC0800 4.49

DIVI8131

2.95

DAC0806 1.95

DP8304

2.29

DAC0808 2.95

DS8833

2.25

DAC1020 8.25

DS8835

1.99

OAC1022 5,95

DS883G

99

MC1408L8 2,95

DS8837

1,66

EDBECMD CONNECTORS

100 PIN ST 100 PIN WW 62 PIN ST

PIN ST

PIN ST PIN WW

S-100

.125

3.95

S-100

.125

4.95

IBM PC

.100

1.95

APPLE

.100

2.95

SID

156

1,95

STD

156

4 95

38 PIN CENTRONICS

MILE

IDCEN36 RIBBON CABLE 6.95

CEN36 SOtDERCUP 4.95 FEMILE

IDCEN36 F RIBBON CABLE 7 95

CEN36PC RT ANGLE PC MOUNT 4,95^

INTERSIL

ICL7106 ICL7107 ICL7660

ICL803S

ICrVI7207A , ICIV17208

9.95 12.95

2.95

4,95

.59 .59

.59

VOLTABE REBULATORS

TO-220 CASE 7805T .49 7905T 7808T .49 7908T 7812T .49 7912T 7815T .49 791 ST

TO-3 CASE 7805K 1.59 7905K 1.69 7812K 1.39 7912K 1.49

TO-93 CASE 76105 .49 79L05 .69 78L12 .49 79L12 1.49

OTHER VOLTAGE REGS LM323K 6V 3A TO-3 4.79 LM328K Adj. 6A TO-3 3.95 78H05K 6V 5A T0.3 7.95 78H12K 12V 5A TO.3 8.95 , 78P05K 5V 10A TO,3 14,95 ,

LINEAR

IC SOCKETS

8 PIN ST 14 PIN ST 16 PIN ST IB PIN ST 20 PIN ST 22 PIN ST 24 PIN ST 28 PIN ST 40 PIN ST 64 PIN ST

.11

.11 .12 .15 .18 .15 .20 .22 .30 1.95

ST^SOLDERTAIL

8 PIN WW 14 PIN WW 16 PIN WW 18 PIN WW 20 PIN WW 22 PIN WW 24 PIN WW 28 PIN WW 40 PIN WW

.59 .69 .69 .99 1.09 1.39 1.49 1.69 1.99

.10 .09 .10 .13 .15 .12 .15 .16 .22 1.49

.69 .52 .58 .90 .98 1.28 1.35 1.49 1.80

WW=WIREWRAP 16 PIN ZIF 4.95 CALL 24 PIN ZIF 5.95 CALL 28 PIN ZIF 6.95 CALL 40 PIN ZIF 9.95 CALL ZIF=TEXTOOL IZERO INSERTION FORCE)

TU)66

.99

LM733

.98

TL071

.69

LM741

.29

TL072

1.09

LM747

.69

TL074

1.95

LM748

.59

TL081

.59

MCI 330

1.69

TL082

.99

MCI 350

1.19

TL084

1.49

MCI 372

6.95

UM301

.34

LM1414

1.59

LM309K

1.25

LM1458

.49

LM311

.59

LM1488

.49

LM311H

.89

LM1489

.49

LM317K

3.49

LM1496

.85

LM317T

.95

LM1812

8.25

LM318

1.49

IM1889

1.95

LM319

1.25

ULN2003

.79

LM320 isaTOOO

XR2206

3.95

IM322

1.95

XR2211

2.95

LM323K

4.79

XR2240

1.95

LM324

.49

MPa2907

1.95

LM331

3.95

LM2917

1.95

LM334

1.19

CA3046

.89

LM335

1.79

CA3081

.99

LM336

1.75

CA3082

.99

LM337K

3J5

CA3086

.80

LM338K

6.95

CA30S9

1.95

LM339

.59

CA3130E

.99

LM340 sea7800

CA3146

1.29

LM350T

4.60

CA3160

1.19

LF353

.59

MC3470

1.95

LF366

.99

MC3480

8.95

LF357

.99

MC3487

2.95

LM358

.69

LM3900

.49

LM380

.89

LM3909

.98

LM383

1.95

LM3911

2.25

LM386

.89

LM3914

2.39

LM393

.45

MC4024

3.49

LM394H

5.95

MC4044

3.99

TL494

4.20

RC4136

1.25

TL497

3.25

RC4558

.69

NE555

.29

LM13600

1.49

NE556

.49

75107

1.49

NE55S

1.29

75110

1.95

NE564

1.95

75150

1.95

LM56S

.95

75154

1.95

LJV1566

1.49

75188

1.25

LM567

.79

75189

1.25

NE570

2.95

75451

.39

NE590

2.50

75452

.39

NE592

.98

75453

.39

LM710

.75

75477

1.29

LM723

,49

75492

.79

H TO-S CAN, K=T0-3, T=TO-220

DIP CONNECTORS

DESCRIPTION

ORDER BY

CONTACTS

8

14

16

18

20

22

24

28

40

HIGH RELIABILITY TOOLED STIC SOCKETS

AUGATxxST

.62

.79

.89

1.09

1.29

1.39

1.49

1.69

2.49

HIGH RELIABILITY TOOLED WWIC SOCKETS

AUGATxaWW

1.30

1.80

2.10

2.40

2.50

2.90

3.15

3.70

5.40

COMPONENT CARRIES (DIP HEADERSI

ICC«x

.49

.59

.69

.99

.99

.99

.99

1.09

1.49

RIBBON CABLE DIP PLUGS (IDCI

IDPxx

.95

.95

1.75

2.95

DIODES/OPTO/TRANSISTORS

FOR ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS SEE D-SUBWNIATURE BELOW

' \ \ I M I I I I I M AUGAT24ST

D-S

UBMINU

TORE

DESCRIPTION

ORDER BY

CONTACTS

9

15

19

25

37

50

SOLDER CUP

MALE

DBxxP

.82

.90

1.25

1.25

1.80

3.48

FEMALE

DBxxS

.95

1.15

1.50

1.50

2.35

4.32

RIGHT ANGLE PC SOLDER

MALE

OBxxPR

1.20

1.49

1.95

2.65

FEMALE

DBxxSR

1.25

1.55

2.00

2.79

WIRE WRAP

MALE

DBxxPWW

1.69

2.56

3.89

5.60

FEMALE

DBxxSWW

2.76

4.27

6.84

9.95

IOC

RIBBON CABLE

MALE

IDBxxP

2.70

2.95

3.98

5.70

FEMALE

IDBxxS

2.92

3.20

4 33

6.76

HOODS

METAL

MHOODxx

1.25

1.25

1.30

1.30

GREY

HOODxx

.65

.65

.65

.75

.95

2s

OnOEmNO INSTRUCTIONS: INSERT THE NUMBER OF CONTACTS IN THE POSITION

MARKED V OF THE -ORDER BY' PART NUMBER LISTED.

EXAUPLB A 15 PIN RIGHT ANCLE MALE PC SOLDER WOULD BE DB1SPR.

MOUHTIHB HARDWARE $1.00 IDC CONNECTORS

DESCRIPTION

ORDER BY

CONTACTS

10

20

26

34

40

50

SOLDER HEADER

IDHxxS

.82

1.29

1.68

2.20

2.58

3.24

RIGHT ANGLE SOLDER HEADER

IDHxxSR

.85

1.35

1.76

2.31

2.72

3.39

Vim HEADER

IDHxxW

1.86

2.98

3.84

4.50

5.28

6.63

RIGHT ANGLE WW HEADER

IDHxxWR

2.05

3.28

4.22

4.45

4.80

7.30

RIBBON HEADER SOCKET

IDSxx

.79

.99

1.39

1.59

1.99

2.25

RIBBON HEADER

IDMxx

5.50

6.25

7.00

7.50

8.50

RIBBON EDGE CARD

IDExx

1.75

2.25

2.65

2.75

3.80

3:95

FOR ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS SEE 0-SUBMINIA TURE ABOVE

1N751

.25

4N26

1N759

.25

4N27

1N4148

25/1.00

4N28

1N4004

10/1.00

4N33

1N5402

.25

4N37

KBP04

.55

MCT-2

KBU8A

.95

MCT-6

IMDA990-2

.35

TIL-111

N2222

.25

2N390e

PN2222

.10

2N4401

2N2905

.50

2N4402

2N2907

.25

2N4403

2N3055

,79

2N6045

2N3904

10

TIP31

FND-357I359I FND-500IS03I FND-507I510I MAN-72 MAN.74 MAN-8940 TIL-313 HP50B2-7760 TIL-311 HP5082-7340

LED DISPLAYS

COM CATHODE .362" COM CATHODE .5" COM ANODE .5" COM ANODE .3" COM CATHODE .3" COM CATHODE .8" COM CATHODE .3" COM CATHODE A3" 4«7 HEXW/LOGIC .270" 4x7 HEXW/LOGIC .290"

.69 .69 .89 1.19

.59 1.29 .99 .10 .25 .25 .25 1,75 ,49

1.25 1.49 1.49 .99 .99 1.99 .45 1.29 9.95 7.95

DIFFUSED LEDS

1-99

100-UP

JUMBO RED

TIV4

.10

.09

JUMBO GREEN

TIV4

.14

.12

JUMBO VEUOW

T1V.

.14

.12

MOUNTING HOW

T1%

.10

.09

MINI RED

T1

.10

.09

SWITCHES

SPOT

MINI-TOGGLE ON-ON

1.25

DPOT

MINI-TOGGLE ON-ON

1.50

DPDT

MINI TOGGLE ON-OFF-ON

1.75

SPST

MINI-PUSHBUTTON N O,

.39

SPST

MINI-PUSHBUTTON N.C.

.39

SPST

TOGGLE ON-OFF

.49

BCD OUTPUT 10 POSITION 6 PIN DIP

1.95

DIP SWITCHES

I 4 POSITION 5 POSITION , 6 POSITION

.85 .90 .90

7 POSITION

8 POSITION 10 POSITION

.95 1.29

RIBBON CABLE

CALL FOR VOLUME QUOTES ©copyright 1986 JDR MICRODEVICES inquiry 151

Dear Mr. Rose:

I feel compelled to commend you ajid your people for the pleasant, poll te , will ingness to help and professional attitude you have displayed. In these times it is indeed refreshing to deal with a compEuiy whose staff consists of people of this caliber. My friends and associates will most certainly be doing business with you again.

Sincerely, Nicholas Chabra

11

BMBAIN HUNTERS CORNER

HIGH RI SISTANCE FOR N( COMPAl

★ 14 INC?

★ 25 MHz I

★ RESOL

JTION AN[

iPRUi

PER)E IDEAL I JBM PC

lORS I 'ITCH

10/86

PABEWIRE WRAP WIRE

PRECUT ASSORTMENT

IN ASSORTED COLORS $27.50 | lOOea: 5.5 ', 6.0 ', 6.5 ', 7.0" 250oa: 2.5". 4.5". 5.0" SOOaa: 3.0", 3.5". 4.0"

SPOOLS

100 feet 54.30 500 feet 9f3.25

250 feet S7.25 1000 feetS21.95

Please specify color:

Dkie. Black. Yellow or Red

EMI FILTER

• MANUFACTURED BY CORCOM

« LOW COST

• FITS LC-HP BELOW

• 6 AMP 120/240 VOLT

6 FOOT LINE CORDS

LC.2 2 CONDUCTOR .39

LC-3 3 CONDUCTOR .99 LC-HP 3 CONDUCTOR W/STD

FEMALE SOCKET 1.49

MUFFIN FANS

3.15" SQ 3.63" SQ ,3.18" SQ

ROTRON 14.95 ETRI 14.95 MASUSHITA 16.95 ,

WIRE WRAP PROTOTYPE CARDS

FR-4 EPOXY GLASS LAMINATE WITH GOLD-PLATED EDGE-CARD FINGERS

IBM-PR2 .

IBM

BOTH CARDS HAVE SILK SCREBNED LEQENOS AND INCLUDES UOUNTINQ BRACKET IBM-PR1 WITH rSV AND GROUND PLANE ....•27.95 IBM-PR2 AS ABOVE WITH DECODING LAYOUT •29.95

S-100

PIOO I BARE - NO FOIL PADS S15 15

P100-2 HORIZONTALBUS S21 BO

P100-3 VERTICAL BUS S21.80

P100-4 SINGLE FOIL PADS PER HOLE $22.75

APPLE

PSOO I BARE - NO FOIL PADS S15.15

PSOO-3 HORIZONTALBUS 922.75

PSOO-4 SINGLE FOIL PADS PER HOLE 921.80

L 7060-45 FOR APPLE lie AUX SLOT S30.00 ,

SOCKET-WRAP I.DJ"

• SUPS OVER WIRE WRAP PINS

• IDENTIFIES PIN NUMBERS ON WRAP SIDE OF BOARD

• CAN WRITE ON PLASTIC; SUCH AS IC S

PINS

PARTS

PCK. OF

PRICE

8

IDWRAP 08

10

1.95

14

IDWRAP 14

10

1.95

16

IDWRAP 16

10

1.95

18

IDWRAP 18

5

1.95

20

IDWRAP 20

5

1.95

22

IDWRAP 22

S

1.95

24

IDWRAP 24

5

1.95

28

IDWRAP 28

5

1.95

40

IDWRAP 40

5

1.9S

PLEASE ORDER BY NUMBER OF PACKAGES IPCK. 0F|

CAPACITORS

TANTALUM

I.Opf

15V

.35

.47jrf

35V

.45

6.8

15V

.70

1.0

35V

.45

10

15V

.80

2.2

35V

.65

22

15V

1.35

4.7

35V

.85

.22

35V

.40

10

35V

1.00

DISC

lOpf

SOV

.05

680

SOV

.05

22

50V

.05

.001//f

SOV

.05

27

SOV

.05

.0022

SOV

.05

33

SOV

.05

.005

SOV

.05

47

50V

.05

.01

SOV

.07

68

SOV

.05

.02

SOV

.07

100

SOV

.05

.05

SOV

.07

220

SOV

.OS

.1

12V

.10

560

SOV

.05

.1

SOV

.12

MONOLITHIC

SOV

.14

SOV

.18

.047//f

SOV

.15

.47f/f

50V

.25

ELECTROLYTIC

RADIAL

AXIAL

1,yf

25V

.14

1^

SOV

.14

2.2

3SV

.15

10

SOV

.16

4.7

SOV

.15

22

16V

.14

10

SOV

.15

47

SOV

.20

47

35V

.18

100

35V

.25

100

16V

.18

220

25V

.30

220

35V

.20

470

SOV

.50

«70

2SV

.30

1000

16V

.60

2200

16V

.70

2200

16V

.70

4700

2SV

1.45

4700

16V

1.25

1 c

•

1

•s

n •

U

- •

a*

m

FRAME STYLE TRANSFORMERS

12.6 V ACCT 12.6V AC CT 12.SVAC CT L 25.2V AC CT

2 AMP 5.95

4 AMP 7.95

SAMP 10.95

2 AMP 7.95 J

25PIND-SUB

BENDER

CHANBERS 1,

^ $7.95

DATARASE EPROM ERASER $34.95

• ERASES 2 IN 10 MINUTES

• COMPACT-NO DRAWER

• THIN METAL SHUTTER PREVENTS UVUGHT FROM ESCAPING

V4 WATT RESISTORS

5% CARBON FILM ALL STANDARD VALUES FROM 1 OHM TO 10 MEG. OHM

10 PCS s.Tii>e wilie ,05 100 PCS siinw v/.-ifiw .02

i 50 PCS sj,ni,-ui..l,*. 025 1000 PCS ■.iiivv.^Ui*; ,015 ,

RESISTOR

NETWORKS

SIP

10 PIN

9 RESISTOR

.69

SIP

8 PIN

7 RESISTOR

.59

DIP

16 PIN

8 RESISTOR

1.09

DIP

16 PIN

15 RESISTOR

1.09

DIP

14 PIN

7 RESISTOR

.99

DIP

14 PIN

13 RESISTOR

.99

SPECIALS ON BYPASS CAPACITORS

.01 fjf CERAMIC DISC 100/$5.00

.01 /rf MONOLITHIC 100/$10.00

.1 /yf CERAMIC DISC 100/$6.50

.1 ^MONOLITHIC 100/$12.50j

PS-IBM

SWITCHINB POWER SUPPLIES $89.95

> FOR IBM PC-XT COMPATIBLE

• 135 WATTS

• t5V@15A.t12V@4.2A PSIBM -5V@.5A.-12V@.SA

• ONE YEAR WARRANTY

PS-I8M-150 $79.95

• FOR IBM PC-XT COMPATIBLE

• 150 WATTS ■ *12V (ol 5.2A, tSV (S) 16A

-12V gl .5A.-5V @ .5A p..,3o

> ONE YEAR WARRANTY

PS-130

$89.85

• 130 WATTS

• SWITCH ON REAR

• FOR USE IN OTHER IBM TYPE MACHINES

• 90 DAY WARRANTY PS. A

PS-A

$48.85

• USE TO POWER APPLE TYPE SYSTEMS, 79.5 WATTS

• «5V @ 7A. +12V @ 3A -5V@.SA.-12V@.SA

• APPLE POWER CONNECTOR

PS-SPL20B $48.85

• 'fSV@25A,t12V@ 3.5A -5V@1A.-1ZV@ 1A

• UL APPROVED

• ALUMINUM ENCLOSURE

'BOQKSbySTEVECIARCIA'

BlULD YOUR OWN

Z80 COMPUTER

•19.95

CIRCUIT CELLAR VOL 1

SI 7.95

CIRCUIT CELLAR VOL 2

•18.95

CIRCUIT CELLAR VOLS

•18.SS

CIRCUIT CELLAR VOL 4

•18.95

^CIRCUIT CELLAR VOL 5

•19.95

MICROCOMPUTER I HARDWARE HANDBOOK I

FROMELCOMP $14.95

OVER 800 PAGES OF DATA SHEETS ON THE MOST COMMONLY USED ICi. INCLUDES TTl. CMOS, 74LS0O, MEMORY. CPUi. MPU SUPPORT. L AND MUCH MORE!

WISH SOLDERL

ESSB

READBO«

RDS

PART NUMBER

DIMENSIONS

DISTRIBUTION STRIP(SI

TIE POINTS

TERMINAL STRIPISI

TIE POINTS

BINDING POSTS

PRICE

WBU-O

.38 X 6.50"

1

100

2.95

WBU-T

1.38x6.50"

1

630

6.95

WBU-204-3

3.94 X 8.45"

1

100

2

1260

2

17.95

WBU-204

5.13 X 8,45"

4

400

2

1260

3

24.95

WBU.206

6,88 X 9,06"

5

500

3

1890

4

29,95

WBU 208

8 25 X 9 45•

7

700

'3

2520

4

39,05

LITHIUM BAHERY

I AS USED IN CLOCK CIRCUITS

3 VOLT BATTERY

, BATTERY HOLDER

NEW EDITION!

1986 IC MASTER

THE INDUSTRY STkNDJiRD |

$129.95

*Visit our retail store located at 1256 S. Bascom Ave. in San Jose, (408) 947-8881 JDR Microdevices 110 Knowles Drive, Los Gatos, CA 95030 . ; ., /. Toll Free 800-538-5000 • (408) 866-6200

FAX (408) 378-8927 • Telex 171 -110 ^9^^\>t^ g

PLEASE USE YOUR CUSTOMER NUMBER WHEN ORDERING

TERMS; Minimum order S10,0O, For shipping and handling include S250 loc UPS Ground and S3.50 lor UPS Air. Orders over 1 lb, and loreign orders may require additional shipping charges - please contacl our sales department lor the amount. CA. residents must include applicable sales tax. All merchandise is warranted for 90 days unless otherwise staled. Prices are subject to change without notice. We are not responsible tor typographical errors. We reserve the right to limit quantities and to substitute manutaclurer. All merchandise subject to prior sale.

) COPYRIGHT 1986 JDR MICRODEVICES

Inquiry 152

THE JDH MICRODEVICES LOGO IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF JDR MICRODEVICES, JDR INSTRUMENTS AND JDR MICRODEVICES ARE TRADEMARKS OF JDR MICRODEVICES, IBM IS A TRADEMARK OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES, APPLE IS A TRADEMARK OF APPLE COMPUTER,

20MB HARD DISK SYSTEM ONLY $30095!

DISK DRIVES

FOR APPLE COMPUTERS

AP-150 $99.95

• </: HT, DIRECT DRIVE

• 100% APPLE COMPATIBLE

• SIX MONTH WARRANTY

BAL-SOO $129.95

• TEAC MECHANISM-DIRECT DRIVE

• 100% APPUE COMPATIBLE

• FULL ONE YEAR WARRANTY

AP-135 $129.95

' FULL HT SHUGART MECHANISM • DIRECT REPLACEMENT FOR APPLE

DISK II ■ SIX MONTH WARRANTY

MAG535 $249.95

• 3.5" ADD-ON DISK DRIVE

• 100% MACINTOSH COMPATABLE

• DOUBLE SIDED 800K BYTE STORAGE

• HIGH RELIABILITY DRIVE

HAS AUTO-EJECT MECHANISM

• FULL ONE YEAR WARRANTY

AD-3C $139.95

• 100% APPLE lie COMPATIBLE, READY TO PLUG IN. W/SHIEI^ED CABLE & MOLDED 19 PIN CONNECTOR

■ FAST. REUABLE SUMUNE DIRECT DRIVE

■ SIX MONTH WARRANTY

DISK DRIVE ACCESSORIES

FDD CONTROLLER CARD $49.95 lie ADAPTOR CABLE $19.95 ADAPTS STANDARD APPLE DRIVES FOR USE WITH APPLE lie

CASE WITH KEYBOARD FOR APPLE TYPE MOTHERBOARD

■ USER DEFINED FUNCTION KEYS

■ NUMERIC KEYPAD WITH CURSOR CONTROL

■ CAPS LOCK . AUTO-REPEAT

[KEYBOilRD-AP $49.95]

• REPLACEMENT FOR APPLE II KEYBOARD

• CAPS LOCK KEY, AUTO-REPEAT

• ONE KEY ENTRY OF BASIC OR CP/M COMMANDS

EXTENDER CARDS

IBM-PC $45.00

IBM-AT $68.00

APPLE II $45.00

APPLE lie $45.00

Ilflf jf,T!B!_!S $86.00 I

APPLE COMPATIBLE INTERFACE CARDS

EPROM PROBRAMMER $59.95

MODEL RPS25

• DUPLICATE OR BURN ANY STANDARD 27xx SERIES EPROM

• EASY TO USE MENU-DRIVEN SOFTWARE IS INCLUDED

• MENU SELECTION FOR 2716, 2732, 2732A. 2764 AND 271^8

• HIGH SPEED WRITE ALGORITHM . LED INDICATORS FOR ACTIVITY ■ NO EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY

NEEDED

• ONE YEAR WARRANTY

m. 3-WAY SWITCH BOXES

SERIAL OR PARALLEL

CONNECTS 3 PRINTERS TO ONE

COMPUTER OR VICE VERSA

ALL LINES SWITCHES

HIGH QUALITY ROTARY SWITCH MOUNTED

ON PCB

GOLD CONTACTS

STURDY METAL ENCLOSURE

SWITCH-3P CEiMTnoNics parallel $99.95

SWITCH-3SRS232 SERIAL $99.95

16K RAMCARD

$39.95

• FULL TWO YEAR WARRANTY

• EXPAND YOUR 48K APPLE TO 64K

• USE IN PLACE OF APPLE LANGUAGE CARD

BtKpeanH/iinnuiiTtaiH sa.g9

IC TEST CARD

$99.95

• QUICKLY TESTS MANY COMMON ICS

• DISPLAYS PASS OR FAIL

• ONE YEAR WARRANTY

> TESTS: 4000 SERIES CMOS.

74HC SERIES CMOS, 7400,74LS, 74U 74H 8i 74S

'300B MODEM $49.95 |

FOR APPLE OR IBM

INCLUDES ASCII PRO-EZ SOFTWARE

• FCC APPROVED

• BELL SYSTEMS 103 COMPATIBLE

• INCLUDES AC ADAPTOR

• AUTO-DIAL

• DIRECT CONNECT

. CABLE FOR APPLE lie S14.95

[JOYSTICK CR-401 $7.95]

FOR ATARI 400, 800. 2600,

VIC 20- 64 AND APPLE lie

DISKFILE

HOLDS 70 5V." DISKETTES

[3.5" DISKFILE holds 4o S9« ,

POWER STRIP

$12,051

> UL APPROVED

> ISA CIRCUIT BREAKER

m, PRINTER BUFFERS

• FREES COMPUTER FOR OTHER TASKS WHILE PRINTING LONG DOCUMENTS

• STAND-ALONE DESIGN: WORKS WITH ANY COMPUTER OR PRINTER

• ALL MODELS FEATURE PRINT PAUSE MEMORY CHECK, GRAPHICS CAPABIUTY

SP120P PARALLEL $139.951

• 64K UPGRADABLE TO 256K

• LEDINDICATORSHOWSVOLUMEOFDATA I IN BUFFER

SP120S RS232 SERIAL $159,951

• 64K UPGRADABLE TO 256K

• 6 SELECTBALE BAUD RATES, FROM 60aB-19.200B

SP110P PARALLEL $249.951

• 64K UPGRADABLE TO 512K

• SPOOLS OUTPUT OF UP TO 3 COMPUTERS

• LED BARGRAPH DISPLAYS AMOUNT OF DATA IN BUFFER

• RESET FUNCTION CLEARS DATA IN BUFFER

• REPEAT FUNCTION CAN PRODUCE MULTIPLE COPIES OF A DUCUM!

NASHUA DISKEHES DEALS

5V," SOFT SECTOR DS/DD WITH HUB RINGS

$990 690ea SSOea

BON OF 10 BULK OTT 50 BULK QTT 290

NASHUA DISKETTES WERE JUDGED

TO HAVE THE HIGHEST POLISH AND RECORDED AMPLITUDE OF ANY DISKETTES TESTED ACCORDING TO ■'COMPARING FLOPPY DISKS", BYTE 9/84

BUILD STEVE CIARCIA'S I

INTELLIGENT

EPROM PROGRAMMER I

AS SEEN IN BYTE, OCT. 86

* STAND-ALONE OR RS-232 SERIAL { OPERATION

* MENU SELECTABLE EPROM TYPESNO CONFIGURATION JUMPERS

* PROGRAMS ALL 5V 27XXX EPROMS FROM 2716 TO 27512

* READ, COPY OR VERIFY EPROM

* UPLOAD/DOWNLOAD INTEL HEX FILES

* PROGRAMMER DRIVER USER MODIFIABLE

ONLY $199

KIT INCLUDES PCB AND ALL

COMPONENTS EXCEPT CASE AND

POWER SUPPLY

5V4'Fl!oPPYDlSrORIVES

I TEAC FD4SBUHTDS/D0 IFOR BM) *109.95 I

TEAC FD-BSF V, HT DS/OUAO (FOR BM) «124.95 TEACFD-ESGFV ViHTDS/HD(FORieMAn•154.95

TANDON TM100-2 OS/DO IFOR IGM) tllS.OO

TANDON TM50-2 V, HT DS/DO IFOR SM) •79.95

MPI-B52 OS/DO (FOR IBM) •79.96

QUME aT-142 » HTOS/DDIFOfl IBM) «79.95

8" FLOPPY DISK DRIVES

FD 100-8 SS/DD ISA/801 EQUIVI FD 200-8 DS/DO ISA/861 R EQLHV)

• 119.00

• 159.00

DISK DRIVE ACCESSORIES

I TEAC SPECIFICATION MANUAL •S.OO |

TEAC MAINTENANCE MANUAL •26.00 Vi HT MOUNTING HARDWARE •2.95 MOUNTING RAILS FOR IBM AT 44.95 "Y" POWER CABLE FOR 5V." FDDs 42.95 5V." FDD POWER CONNECTORS (1.19

DISKETTES

NASHUA 5V4"

N-MD2D

DS/DD SOFT

•9.90

N-MD2F

DS/QUAD SOFT

•34.95

N-MD2H

□ S/HD FOR AT

•49.95

NASHUA 8"

N-FD1

SS/DD SOFT

•27.95

N-FD2D

DS/DD SOFT

•34.95

NASHUA 3.5"

N-3.5SS

3.5" SS/OD FOR MAC

•32.95

VERBATIM 5V4"

V-MD1D

SS/DD SOFT

•23.95

V-MD2D

DS DD SOFT

S29-95

V-MD110D

SS/DD 10 SECTOR HARD

• 23.95

TANDON TM100-2

DISK DRIVE ENCLOSURES

I CAB-irPLE $24.85 I

APPLE TVPE CABINETW/OUT POWER SUPPLY

CJIB-1FH5 $81.85 |

FULL HT 5V." BEIGE CABINET W/POWER SUPPLY

CIB-ZSVS $49.85 I

DUAL SUMUNE 5V>" CABINET W/POWER SUPPLY

CIB-2SV8 VERTICAL $208.96 I

DUAL SUMUNE 8" CABINET W/POWER SUPPLY

CIIB-2FH8 HoRiziNTAL $218.85 I

DUAL FULL HT 8" CABINET W/POWER SUPPLY

eiib:,ii!|«s

TEST EQUIPMENT FROM JDR INSTRUMENTS IDIBITAL MULTIMETER PEN DPM-10G0

AUTO RANGING, POLARITY AND DECIMAL!

• LARGE 3.5 DIGIT DISPLAY

» DATA HOLD SWITCH FREEZES READING

• FAST, AUDIBLE CONTINUITY TEST

* LOW BATTERY INDICATOR

* OVERLOAD PROTECTION

$54.95

20MHZ DUAL TRACE OSCILLOSCOPE MODEL 2000 $389.00] I 35MHZ DUAL TRACE OSCILLOSCOPE MODEL 3500 $549.00

FOR MORE rWFORMATIOrJ (

'. OSCOPES. CA! !. VS FOR FREP PRODUCT BRtEFS.

CALL FOR VOLUME QUOTES © copyright isse jdr microdevices

Inquiry

20 MEGA BYTE HARD DISK SYSTEM ONLY $300.95!

SEABATE ST-225 20 MB HARB BISK SYSTEMS CRT MONITORS FOR ALL APPLICATIONS

INCLUDES HARD DISK CONTROLLER. CABLES AND INSTRUCTIONS. ALL DRIVES ARE

PRE-TESTED AND COME WITH

A ONE YEAR WARRANTY.

XT COMPATIBLE MOTHERBBARB

$120.05

' 4.77 MHi 8088 CPU, OPTIONAL 8087 CO-PROCESSOR

* 8 EXPANSION SLOTS

* OK RAM INSTAUED. EXPANDABLE TO 640K ON-BOARD MEMORY

* ALL IC> SOCKETED-HIGHEST QUAUTV PC BOARD

* ACCEPTS 2764 OR 27128 ROMS

TRO-BIOS $19.95

389.95

LUXOR

HI-RES RBB MONITOR

MODEL 190-9528

• DIGITAL RtiB-IBM COMPATIBLE . 14'SCREEN

* 16 TRUE COLORS

• 25 MHz BANDWIDTH

* RESOLUTION > 640 x 262 . .31mm DOT PITCH

. CABLE FOR IBM PC INCLUDED

SAKATA

COMPOSITE COLOR

MODEL SC-100 TOP RATED FOR APPLE i 13" COMPOSITE VIDEO > RESOLUTION: 2S0H X 300V ' INTERNAL AUDIO AMP ■ ONE YEAR WARRANTY

IBM COMPATIBLE INTERFACE CARBS

ALL WITH A ONE YEAR WARRANTY

MULTI I/O FLOPPY CARD $99.95

I PERFECT FOR THE 640K MOTHERBOARD

• 2 DRIVE FLOPPY DISK CONTROLLER

• 1 RS232 SERIAL PORT: OPTI0NAL2nd SERIAL PORT

• PARALLEL PRINTER PORT

• GAME PORT

• CLOCK/CALENDAR

• SOFTWARE: CLOCK UTIUTIES, RAMDISK. SPOOLER

OPTIONAL SBRIAL PORT J15.96

MULTIFUNCTION CARD

$94.95

ALL THE FEATURES OF ASTS 6 PACK PLUS AT HALF THE PRICE

• CLOCK/CALENDAR

• 0-384K RAM

• SERIAL PORT <• PARALLEL PORT

• GAME PORT

• SOFTWARE INCLUDED PRINTER CABLE S9.95 S4KRAM UPBRADE 9/S11.61

$299.95 $189Ji

BUILD YOUR OWN 256K XT COMPATIBLE SYSTEM

XT MOTHERBOARO $129.95 PRO-BIOS $19.95 258K RAM $26.55 130 WAn POWER SUPPLY $69.95 FLIP-TOP CASE $39.95 0KM-2000 KEYBOARO $59.95 V2 HEIBHT OUME DRIVE $79.95 FLOPPY DISK CONTROLLER $34.95 MONOCHROME ADAPTOR $49.95 MONOCHROME MONITOR $99.95

CENTER SYSTEMS

MONOCHROME

MODEL KLM-1211

• IBM COMPATiBL£ Ta INPUT

• 12" NON.GLARE SCREEN > P39 GREEN PHOSPHORUS

• VERY HIGH RESOLUTION: 25 MHz BANDWIDTH 1100UNESICENTERI

MMUVEMIOI imM

MONITOR STAND

TILTS AND SWIVELS

ONLY $12.95

IBM PRINTER CABLE

COLOR QRAPHICS ADAPTOR

$99.95

FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH IBM COLOR CARD

• 4 VIDEO INTERFACES: RGB, COMPOSITE COLOR, HI-RES COMPOSITE MONOCHROME, CONNECTOR FOR RF MODULATOR

• COLOR GRAPHICS MODE: 320 x 200

• MONO GRAPHICS MODE: 640 x 200

• UGHT PEN INTERFACE

ME MONITOR $99.95 TOTAL: $611.10

IBM STYLE CBMPUTER CASE

AN ATTRACTIVE STEEL CASE WITH A HINGED LID FITS THE POPULAR PC/XT COMPATIBLE MOTHERBOARDS

• SWITCH CUT-OUT ON SIDE FOR PC/XT STYLE POWER SUPPLY

• CUT-OUT FOR a EXPANSION SLOTS

• ALL HARDWARE INCLUDED

$39ii95

—-1*

•IPs*, .vm

• DB2BT0 CENTRONICS *(■ ne

,« SHIELDED CABLE vS.HDJ

MONOCHROME QRAPHICS CARD

$99.95

FULLY COMPATIBLE W/IBM MONOCHROME ADAPTOR & HERCULES QRAPHICS

• LOTUS COMPATIBLE

• TEXT MODE: 80 x 25

• GRAPHICS MODE: 720 X 348

• PARALLEL PRINTER INTERFACE

IBM COMPATIBLE KEYBBARBS

DKM-2000 $59.95 IBM-5151 $79.95

MONOCHROME ADAPTOR

$49.95

ANOTHER FANTASTIC VALUE FROM JDRI * IBM COMPATIBLE TTL OUTPUT • 720 x 350 PIXEL DIPtAV

PLEASE NOTE: THIS CARD WILL NOT RUN LOTUS GRAPHICS AND DOES NOT INCLUDE A PARALLEL PORT

FLOPPY DISK DRIVE ADAPTOR

$34.95

• INTERFACES UP TO 4 STANDARD FDD. TO IBM PC OR COMPAtlBlES

• INCLUDES CABLE FOR TWO INTERNAL DRIVES

t STANDARD DB37 FOR EXTERNAL DRIVES

« RUNS QUAD DENSITY DRIVES WHEN USED WITH JFORMAT

• ."5150" STYLE KEYBOARD

• FULLY IBM COMPATIBLE

• LEDSTATUSINDICATORSFORCAPS& NUMBER LOCK

• 83 KEY - SAME LAYOUT AS IBM PC/XT KEYBOARD

POWER SBPPLY

1200 BAUB MBBEMS

HAYES COMPATIBLE, AUTO-DIAL. AUTO-ANSWER, AUTO RE-DIAL ON BUSY, POWER-UP SELF TEST, FULL ONE YEAR WARRANTY

MODEL1200B*

• INTERNAL DESIGN

• 10 INCH CARD

> SERIAL PORT INCLUDED

MODEL 1200H*

> INTERNAL DESIGN

• HALF LENGTH (5") CARD

• INCLUDES SPEAKER

SMARTEAM

• EXTERNAL DESIGN

• WITH POWER SUPPLY

• LED STATUS INDICATORS

$199.95 $149.95 $199.95

■FOR IBM, INCLUDES PC TALK III COMMUNICATIONS SOFTWAI^E

NOW ONLY $99.95

FOR IBM PC-XT COMPATIBLE 135 WATTS

+5V @ ISA, +12V @ 4.2A -SV @ .5A. -12V @ .SA

J50 WAn MODEL $79.95!

• REPLACEMENT FOR KEVTRONICS

KB-S151~

• SEPARATE CURSOR & NUMERIC KEYPAD

• CAPS LOCK & NUMBER LOCK

INDICATORS

• IMPROVED KEYBOARD LAYOUT

BISK BRIVES TAND0NTM50-2

$79.95

* '/z HT DS/DO

* IBM COMPATIBLE

* EXTREMELY OUIETI

IniCFD-SSB OS/DD tt09.es I

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BOMB

BYTE's Ongoing Monitor Box

ARTICLE;*' PACE ARTICLE AUTHOR(S)

1 9 Microbytes staff

2 31 What's New staff

3 52 Ask BYTE/Circuit Cellar Feedback .. Ciarcia

4 65 Book Reviews Hoffman.

O'Neill, Edginton

5 84 Product Prevfiew:

The Apple lies Williams.

Grehan

6 103 Ciarcia's Circuit Cellar: Build an

Intelligent Serial EPROM

Programmer Qarcla

7 122 Programming Project;

Safe Storage Allocation Amsterdam

8 139 Sound and the Amiga .Thiel

9 145 Programming Inslght

A Useful Property of 2" Arp

10 155 PD PROIJOG ...; Morein

11 167 An Icon liitorial Griswold.

Griswold

12 183 Enhanced Console Driver .Zackin

ARTICLE;*' PAGE ARTICLE AUTHOR(S)

13 193 Abundance Green

14 203 Z80MU Baumann

15 219 CP/M Hall of Fame Meeks

16 231 The Commodore Amiga Thompson

17 239 The Compaq Portable II Miastkowski

18 243 Four'/Hnch l&pe Backup Units Rubel

19 249 muLISP-86 Schalkoff

20 2 55 ITC's Modula-2 Software

Development System Bridger

21 261 Microsoft Word Version 3.0 Rubel

22 265 The Norton Utilities, PC Tools,

and Super Utility Rabinovitz

23 279 Computing at Chaos Manor:

The Show Goes On? Poumelle

24 293 According to Webster:

Bit by Bit, Putting It Tbgether .... .Wfebster

25 297 Applications Only: Shareware Shapiro

26 307 BYTE |apan:

Taiwan's Computex 1986 1?aike

27 311 BYTE U.K.; BASIC to C Fountain

28 324 Best of BK , BlXen

BOMB Results

A DEFINITE WINNER

The winning article from the luly issue was "The Definicon 68020 Coprocessor. Part 1: The Hardware and Operating System ' TVevor Marshall. Christopher lones and Sigi Kluger will split the SlOO prize The second-place nonstaff-written article is "The Commodore 128 Personal

Computer System" reviewed by William Wiese |r And winner of the $50 award for quality goes to the same three gentlemen listed above who coauthored "The Definicon 68020." making their total booty more easily divisible by three. Congratulations to all.

NEXT MONT'H IN B-YTE

PRODUCT Preview:

We anticipate that at least one newly announced product will receive its first public

exposure in the November BYTE.

Theme:

Next month's theme. Representing Knowledge, includes articles about a Uirbo Pascal program used to predict international events; a Pascal program for creating a knowledge base from a set of rules; Prolog as a tool for deductive reasoning; a way to use Prolog

for resource management; and more.

Hardware Reviews:

You've heard the Mac Plus praised and blamed from a variety of sources; we'll tell you what it's really all about. On the other end of the spectrum, we'll present a look at the

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Software Reviews:

Among the software reviews we have on hand and ready for publication are SPSS PC-f; FilePro 16; and the much ballyhooed Aegis Animator for the Commodore Amiga.

Circuit Cellar:

Steve Ciarcia starts a three-part series on building a graphics board.

Special MC68000 Series:

68000 Memory Management Units

Plus a programming insight or two; a programming project; and columns by Pournelle, Webster, Shapiro, Fountain, Kurosaka, and Raike; more from the Best of BIX; book reviews. What's New, Microbytes, and more.

OCTOBER 1986 • B Y T E 389

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2 ABSOFT 326

J ACS IMPORTERS 358

4 ACS INTL. INC 179

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6 ADDISON-WESLEY EDUMEDIA . 60

7 ADDMASTER CORP. 353

8 ADjUSTABLE COMR PROD. 372

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11 ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY PROD370

12 AFTON COMPUTER 333

13 AFTON COMPUTER 333

15 ALPS AMERICA 180, 181

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17 ALPS AMERICA 224, 225

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21 AMERICAN COMP.& PERIPH 230

22 AMERICAN COMP.& PERIPH 230

23 AMERICAN SEMICONDUCTOR . 363

24 AMERICAN SMALL BUSN. COMR 59

25 AMPRO COMPUTERS INC 74

26 APPARAT INC 328

27 APROTEK 355

28 ARITY CORPORATION 318

' AST RESEARCH INC 19

30 ATRON CORK 222

31 AUSTROKOP 68

32 AVOCET SYSTEMS INC 149

33 B&B ELEaRONICS 370

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34 BARRINGTON SYSTEMS 21

36 BAY EXPRESS COMPANY THE . . 353

37 BAY TECHNICAL ,A,SSOC 207

38 BELL TECHNOLOGIES .... 322. 323

39 BELL TECHNOLOGIES .... 322. 323

344 BEST COMPUTER SUPPLIES,.,, 357

345 BEST COMPUTER SUPPLIES , . . 357

• BEST WESTERN INTL 282

41 BIT SOFTWARE 164

42 BITTNER ELECTRONICS 370

450 BIX 271

44 BLAISE COMPUTING INC 298

45 BLAISE COMPUTING INC 298

48 BORLAND INTL CM, I

49 BORLAND INT L CM, I

50 BP MICROSYSTEMS 363

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351 BYTE BITS 332

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■ CALIFORNIA DIGITAL 378. 379

54 CANON U.S.A 286, 287

56 CAPITAL EQUIPMENT CORP ... 299

57 CASIO INC 209

58 CAUZIN SYSTEMS 215

59 CENTROID 355

60 CHALCEDONY SOFTWARE 66

61 CHALCEDONY SOFTWARE 66

343 CITIZEN AMERICA 223

62 CLEO SOFTWARE 25

63 CLUB AT 304, 305

354 CLONE FACTORY 382

64 CNT MARKETING 374

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65 COEFFICIENT SYS CORP 310

66 COGITATE 355

67 COGITATE 355

53 COMB DIRECT MRKG. CORP ... 355

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70 COMPUSERVE 218

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74 COMPUTER SURPLUS STORE ... 363

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76 COMPUTER WAREHOUSE 157

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87 DATA SPEC 337

89 DATANAMICS INC 382

90 DECISIONWARE INC 284

91 DECISIONWARE INC. 284

92 DICITALK INC 97

93 DISK WORLD! INC 364

94 DISKCOTECH 351

95 DISKETTE CONNECTION 341

71 DISKMASTER 360

96 DISKS PLUS INC 337

97 DISPLAY TELECOMMNCTNS,., . 212

98 DOKAY COMR PROD INC 371

99 DRESSELHAUS COMP. PROtt ... 309 342 ECOSOFT 184

101 ELEXORINC 355

102 ELLIS COMPUTING INC 71

104 EVEREX SYSTEMS 27

105 EVEREX SYSTEMS 27

106 EVSAN 372

107 FACIT AB 33

108 FLAGSTAFF ENGINEERING 278

109 FLAGSTAFF ENGINEERING 278

110 FORMAT SOFTWARE 22

111 FORMAT SOFTWARE 22

112 FORTRON CORPORATION 70

113 FORTRON CORPOR.ATION 70

114 FORTRON CORPORATION 365

115 FORTRON CORPORATION 365

116 FOX SOFTWARE INC 20

• FRANK HOGG LABORATORY ... 372

117 GENERAL TECHNOLOGIES INC . 213

118 GENICOM 79

119 CFK 363

120 GLENCO ENGINEERING 302

121 GOLD HILL COMPUTERS 301

122 GOLDEN BOW SYSTEMS 363

123 GOLDEN BOW SYSTEMS 380

124 GOULD COMPUTER SYSTEMS 289

125 GRAFPOINT 355

126 GRAND UNION MICROSYSTEMS 360

128 GTEK INC 47

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129 HERCULES COMPUTER TECH 134. 135

130 HERCULES COMPUTER TECH. 134, 135

131 HERCULES COMPUTER TECH, 136. 137

132 HERCULES COMPUTER TECH. 136. 137

133 HERCULES COMPUTER TECH. . 138

134 HERCULES COMPUTER TECH .138

135 HERITAGE SYSTEMS CORR 370

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137 HEWLETT-PACKARD 63

138 IBEX COMR CORR 370

139 IBS CORP 338

140 IBS CORP 338

141 IC. EXPRESS 370

■ INTECTRA INC 356

142 INTEGRAND RESEARCH CORR . 188 350 INTERNATIONAL MICROSYS INC 382

143 lO TECH 353

146 lACO ENTERPRISES 380

147 lADE COMR PROD 366

148 lAMECO ELECTRONICS . . . 376. 377

149 IDR INSTRUMENTS 95

150 IDR MICRODEVICES 383

151 IDR MICRODEVICES 384. 385

152 IDR MICRODEVICES 386. 387

153 IDR MICRODEVICES 388

154 KADAK PRODUCTS LTD. 356

334 KEA SYSTEMS LTD 358

157 KIMTRON CORR 102

158 KIMTRON CORR 102

159 Kl COMPUTERS 326

160 LAHEY COMPUTER SYSTEMS . . 328

161 LATTICE, INC 64

162 LAWSON LABS, INC 370

164 LIFEBOAT ASSOCIATES 299

165 1 ICHTSPEED TECH INC 78

166 UN I LK COMR ACCESSORIES. . .370

169 LOGICAL DEVICES 140, 141

170 UOGICAL DEVICES. 140, 141

171 LOGICAL SYSTEMS INC 353

400 LOGICSOn 192 A-F

173 UOGITECH INC 161

174 LOGITECH INC 163

175 LONE STAR SOFTWARE INC. ... 352

• LOTUS DEVELOPMENT. . . . 198. 199

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176 LUCKY COMPUTERS 356

177 LUCKVGOLDSTAR INTL 217

178 LYBEN COMR SYS 282

179 LYCO COMPUTER 144

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180 MANDRILL CORP 370

181 MANX SOFTWARE SYS. 77

182 MANX SOFTWARE SYS 173

183 MARK WILLIAMS CO. 37

184 MARK WILLIAMS CO 39

185 MATHSOFT INC 185

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85 MAXTECH 382

• MCCRAWHILL INFO. SERV 274. 275

187 MEGASOFT 356

188 MEGATEL COMPUTER TECH.... 341

189 MERRITT COMR PRODUCTS 372

190 METACOMCO 18

191 MICRO COM SYSTEMS 237

192 MICRO DATA BASE SYS 45

193 MICRO DESIGN INTL 62

194 MICRO PRODUCTS INT L 381

195 MICRO SUPPLY ORGANIZATION . 356

196 MICROBRIDGE COMR INTL 360

197 MICROGRAFX 69

347 MICROLYTICS 68

• MICROMINT INC 260

198 MICROPORT SYSTEMS INC 75

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• MICRORIM INC 72. 73

• MICROSOFT CORR 53

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200 MICROTECH 374

201 MiCROWARE 374

202 MICROWAY 93

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203 MITAC INC 242

14 MIX SOFTWARE 91

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205 MYSTIC CANYON SOFTWARE... 374

207 NANTUCKET 35

208 NANTUCKET 35

210 NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS 216

211 NEC HOME ELECTR.USA 253

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219 ORION INSTRUMENTS 166

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88 P.C MEMORY 380

209 Rtt SIG INC 374

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223 PACKARD BELL 12, 13

224 PANASONIC COMPUTER DIV , 56. 57

226 PARSONS TECHN0U3GY ?J8

227 PATTON & RATION 374

228 PC AMERICAN MARKETING INC 361 68 PC INNOVATIONS 292

229 PC NETWORK 80 80 A-B. 81

230 PC SIC 186

231 PCS LIMITED 150, 151

232 PECAN SOFTWARE SYS INC .... 16

233 PERSOFT INC 8

234 PERSONAL TEX. INC 294

236 PINECOM COMPUTER INC 349

348 POLARIS SOFTWARE 291

349 POLARIS SOFTWARE 291

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237 POLYTRON 309

238 POLYTRON 309

239 PRINCETON GRAPHIC SYS ... 50. 51

240 PRINCETON GRAPHIC SYS 20!

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346 PRIORITY ONE 369

242 PROGRAMMERS SHOP 281

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352 PROTEC MICRO SYSTEMS INC.. .382

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248 OIC RESEARCH 263

249 QUA TECH. INC 351

250 QUA TECH. INC »1

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252 QUA TECH INC 372

253 QUA TECH, INC 372

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255 QUALSTAR CORP. 360

256 QUANTUM SOFTWARE 264

257 OUBIE' 267

258 QUBIE' 269

259 QUELO. INC 358

260 QUICKSOFT 118

261 RADIO SHACK CIV

262 RADIO SHACK 43

353 RAINBOW TECHNOLOGIES 382

263 RAINBOW TECHNOLOGIES 360

340 RAYGAR MFG 382

265 ROSE ELECTRONICS 351

266 S-lOO DIV. 696 CORR 373

OCTOBER 1986 • BYTE 391

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267 S-IOO DIV. 696 CORP. 373

268 SAFEWARE 372

269 SEfr CORPORATION 147

270 SCIENTIFIC ENCR. LABS 358

271 SILICON SPECIALTIES 197

272 SILICON SPECIALTIES 197

273 SINGLE BOARD SOLUTIONS 380

274 SOFT CIRCUITS INC 326

275 SOFTKLONE DISTRIBUTING . . , , 283

276 SOFTLINE CORP 67

277 SOFTLOCIC SOLUTIONS INC 61

278 SOFTRONICS 358

279 SOFTRONICS 360

336 SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT SYS . 54

337 SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT SYS . 54

280 SOFTWARE PRODUCTS INTL 30

281 SOFTWARE PRODUCTS INTL .... 30

282 SOLETEK INC 380

283 SOLUTION SYSTEMS 283

284 SONY CORP OF AMERICA 127

285 SOURCE ELECTRONICS 340

286 SOURCE ELECTRONICS 340

287 SPECTRUM SOFTWARE 159

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20 SPEEDWAREAMERICAN AFFORDABLE SFTW 26

288 STATSOFT 76

289 SUBLOGIC CORP 228

290 SUMMIT SOFTWARE TECHN. INC. 233

292 SUNHILL-NIC INC 380

293 SUNTRONICSCO INC 349

294 SYMMETRIC COMP SYS 368

295 TDK ELECTRONICS 143

296 TEAM TECH INC 177

297 TECH PC 28, 29

298 TECH PC 28. 29

■ TECHNICAL SUPPORT SFTW. ... 374

299 TEKTRONIX INC 191

300 TELEVIDEO SYSTEMS 171

301 THOMSON CONSUMER PROD. . . 182

302 THOMSON CONSUMER PROD.. . 182

303 TIGERTRONICS 372

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304 TIMELINE 354

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305 TIPZ 351

306 TOC BUSINESS SOLUTIONS .... 351

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307 TDPAZ. INC 154

308 TOPAZ, INC 154

310 TOSHIBA AMERICA INC 189

• TOSHIBA AMERICA/ISD 40. 41

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• US DISK 375

313 US ROBOTICS 58

314 US ROBOTICS 58

315 UNICORN ELECTRONICS 380

■ UNITED AIRLINES 195

316 VEN-TEL INC II

317 VICTORY ENT TECHNOLOGY .... 60

• VLM COMPUTER ELECTR 353

318 WAREHOUSE DATA PRODUCTS . . 55

319 WELLS AMERICAN 15

320 WESTECH 329

321 WESTECH 329

322 WESTERN COMPUTER 202

323 WESTERN COMPUTER 202

324 WHITEWATER CROUP THE 24

325 WILEY PRESS 330

339 WILEY PROFESSIONAL SFTW. . . 316 327 WINTEK CORP 5

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328 WINTEK CORP 356

329 WISETEK 250

330 WTB. INC 300

331 WYSE TECHNOLOGY 221

332 ZI-TECH INSTRUMENT CORP. ... 332

333 ZIMCO INTERNATIONAL INC .. 3S0

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Sharing is nice but not practical when you have to stay on the leading edge of microcomputer technology From each BYTE issue theme to "MICROBYTES" and "Best of BIX", no other magazine—or group of magazines—can deliver you the vital technical information packaged in one issue of BYTE.

Don't rely on others for BYTE information—^waiting on-line can be hazardous to your job. Make a career move! Have BYTE delivered to your door in your name. Use one of the adjacent cards to ensure your position in microcomputer technology.

For direct ordering call toll free weekdays 8:30am-4:30pmE.S.T.: 800-258-5485 (603-924-9281 for New Hampshire residents).

Welcome to BYTE Country!

NEC'S PINWRITER P5XL HAS MADE BLACK

A PRIMARY COLOR.

Our Pinwriter* P5XL printer has changed forever the way people look at dot matrix printing.

It's the first 24-pin dot matrix printer to use a letter-quality multistrike film ribbon—the same ribbon used in typewriters and letter-quality printers, such as our Spinwriter* So for the first time in computer history there is a printer that honestly does everything. A printer that produces

nifflmraBCftiT^ important letters and documents with crisp, black, true letter-quality

'*'***»«Sfc printing. But with all the speed and graphics capability dot Dear Mr. Black: '\ matrix printers are known for.

-...,>»»»,,»»»»»«»»»»^^ J Fast, black letter-quality printing will be the primary

Actual line printed ,js^ reason many people will buy a P5XL printer But there are

°^ reasons. In fact, it's the most versatile printer

ever created for personal computers. It can use an optional ribbon to print seven other colors plus black. And it has the best graphics resolution of any impact printer you can buy, due in part to our advanced 24-pin printhead. Plus it can print more type faces automatically than any other dot matrix printer. And it's quiet and fast.

You can also expect a P5XL printer to turn out millions of characters before it will need service because it has the highest reliability rating in the industry. And there's a nationwide network of NEC Customer Service Centers to take care of maintenance.

Now, while the Pinwriter P5XL performs a little black magic, you won't have to go in the red to buy it.

The Pinwriter P5XL is the latest addition to the most advanced and extensive family of 24-pin printers available. See it at your dealer or for an information package that includes

::,:^r.. _ actual print samples, call 1-800-343-4418 (in MA 617-264-8635).

: ,:,. vi- i~iOr write: NEC Information Systems, Dept. 1610,

1414 Massachusetts Ave., Boxborough, MA 01719.

NEC PRINTERS.THEYONLY STOP WHEN YOU WANT THEM TO.

CaC

Computers and Communications

The chevrons and serpentine designs are registered iradeniarl^s of Binney and Smith Inc , used with permission.

SEC

NEC Information Systems, Inc.

Inquiry 212

TANDYl . Better Again

Welcome to the next generation of personal computing.

Introducing four Tandy PC compatibles that redefine the IBM® "industry standard"

Meet our new line of VIS-DOS® based personal computers. Each one was carefully designed for a particular tyiDe of use. Each with a different customer in mind. And yet each of these computers has one thing in common: the Tandy commitment to excellence.

We could have simply introduced computers that copy our competition at a lower price. No better, no worse—just a better deal. But that's just not the way we think. When you buy a Tandy computer, we want you to know you're getting more. Moi-e power, more speed, more options, more support. All at a lower price than the so-called "industry standard" computers.

The Tandy 1000 EX

Only $799 for a true MS-DOS based computer? It's true. The Tandy 1000 EX has 256K of memory, a built-in disk drive and runs the same powerful software as an IBM FC—but iit up to 50% Ulster!

And e\'ery Tandy 1000 EX comes with our new graphics-oriented Personal DeskMate™ six-in-one software. With its built-in headphone jack, the 1000 EX is also the perfect classroom computer.

The Tandy 1000 SX

Here's a high-pei formance version of America's #1 PC compatible—the Tandy 1000. The new Tandy 1000 SX is still compatible with industry-standard MS-DOS software. But it can now run muny of these programs up to 50% faster. The 1000 SX comes with 384K and two built-in disk drives—standard. You even get our enhanced si.x-inone DeskMate® II applications software. All for just $1199.

The Tandy 3000 HL

If you've already invested in IBM PC/XT software and hardware, and would like to expand, the Tandy 3000 HL gives you four times the power of the XT. . . for less. The 3000 HL can process twice the data, thanks to its advanced, 16-bit 80286 microprocessor. Plus, the 3000 HL operates at twice the speed of the XT. With a Tandy 3000 HL, you're

getting much more than just another XT compatible—and for only $1699.

The Tandy 3000 HD

Unmatched in performance, the 640K Tandy 3000 HD is a powerful workstation with both networking and multiuser capabilities. It's compatible with the IBM PC/AT®, ofiers greater disk storage (40 megab\1:es), ' yet is priced at only $4299. The new Tandy 3000 HD is our most powerful computer ever.

American-made quahty

These four new computers are built in our own manufacturing plants by Tand>' in the U.S.A. They're designed to meet our rigid quality standards and backed with the best support in the industry. We're proud of our new line and we want you to see why. Come in for a demonstration.

Available at over 1200 Radio Shack Computer Centers and at participating Radio siyack stores and dealers.

Radio /haeK

COMPUTER CENTERS

A DIVISION OF TANDY CORPORATION

Prices apply at Radio Shack Computer Centers and participating stores and dealers. Monitors not included. Tandy 1000 EX shown with optional platform and second disk drive. IBM and IBM PC/AT/Registered TM International Business Machines Corp. MS-DOS/Registered TM Microsoft Corp.

Inquiry 26 i