CP/M

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ CP/M / CPM_CDROM.iso / enterprs / cpm / text / cpm-p2.arc / CPM-128.07 < prev

Wrap

Text File | 1991-04-12 | 27.0 KB | 662 lines

Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 270. 1-24-90 20:42.41 (NO KILL) (RECV'D) From: Chris Schmidt To: Ray Whidden Subject: QTERM/'YMODEM' ALSO SEE: 248. Great idea about bringing it up at the TPUG meeting, I will have to remember to do so in case one of us forgets. Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 271. 1-25-90 9:28.53 (NO KILL) (RECV'D) From: John Milligan To: Joe Janakovic Subject: Z3PLUS ALSO SEE: 269, 277. Hi Joe, Z3 Plus has a great many neat features, and yes, there is a ton of support on CRS for Z Systems - a great deal of which is very recent, it is one area of CP/M that is still getting attention from programmers. Most CP/M programs will run under Z3 (I cannot think, off the cuff, of any that don't) - some will even support Z3 in ways that were invisible to the regular CP/M user. Z3 supports named directories, but not sub-directories ala DOS. Basically, you are still using 'USER' areas (0-15) but you can give these areas names. The usefullness of this is fairly limited when you are using floppies, it is easier to type 'A0:' than, for example, 'CD WORDSTAR' - but with a hard disk system (I'm thinking of the CMD) this becomes a big feature - since it is a lot easier to REMEMBER that WordStar is in a directory with it's own name, rather than C12, or whatever. Z3 supports PATH's, Flow control (a useful selection of IF's) to use in your batch files, ALIASES and ZEX scripts which offer choices for automating processing FAR beyond that which is available in CP/M, Error handling and Command history are built in. There are a great many other features that are difficult to explain in a few words. To fully appreciate Z3, I think you need to have a fairly well equipped system. I have a 1750 REU and 2-1581's - this works very well. A single 1541 would be impossible and other configurations in between would give varying degrees of satisfaction. John Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 273. 1-25-90 20:13.54 (NO KILL) (RECV'D) From: Ray Whidden To: Chris Schmidt Subject: QTERM, ETC. .... ALSO SEE: 249, 309. Hi Chris, I sometimes have the same problems here with the editor that I see you having: (besides getting the DEL key to work) and I just had it recur with a message I entered. I entered 'machine' near the end of line, thinking that it would wrap to the next line, but somehow got 'mac' at the end of the first line and 'chine' at the beginning of the next line. I had to do two edits to get it onto the second line. Darn. I will bring a disk of the Qterm files to the TPUG meeting for you. Sorta need that to get anywhere. Also, a printed copy of the DOCs. As well as the printed HELP.HLP. Be sure to bring a printout of the program/files you are struggling with as well as a disk so I can take it home and have a go at it. A friend of mine has a neat utility and is working on another neat utility for the C=128. See you at the meeting. Regards, Ray Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 274. 1-25-90 20:36.30 (NO KILL) (RECV'D) From: Ray Whidden To: John Milligan Subject: QTERM SLOW DOWN ALSO SEE: 250. Hi John and Chris, Most any terminal program has to play with the BAUD setting, it just seems that QTERM doesn't save/reset it when it finishes so you have to do it yourself. I have an alias in Z3Plus (will convert it to a CP/M *.COM file) that uses CONF to reset things after I run QT. Will leave a message next time. Until then, Chris, look at the PROFILE/LD1.SUB file for the settings and just make your own .SUB file with only those settings. Regards, Ray Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 275. 1-25-90 20:47.53 (NO KILL) From: Ray Whidden To: All Subject: QTERM SLOW DOWN ... Hi, I see John beat me to it: CONF BAUD/REPEAT is exactly the answer. As for the 'compiled' .SUB file concept, BATCH+ does the same in standard CP/M. Also, you get limited IF testing. However, having used those facilities, I still got Z3Plus and the differences are amazing. If you have looked at UNIX at all, a good bunch of the features have been added (no multi-tasking stuff, of course) but Z3+ is certainly worth the investment. The latest, experiemental, feature that is available, is support for pull-down menus, line drawing and other (limited, businesslike) graphic support, with enough source code available for the hacker to use. I know it's not GEOS/Mac, etc. but sure stretches the old 8-bit machine to new levels. Regarding the use of named directories, it certainly is easier to type B0:<return> than WORDSTAR, but when you call a BBS its easier to remember CPM, GRAPHICS or UTILITIES than A15:, B5: or C2:. Also, named directories allow a level of device independence so that Gerry, John, Doug or Greg could create a .SUB/.ZEX script for their machine, using named directories, and all I would have to do is make sure I use the same names, on my different configuration, to use the same script. An example, I read PC Magazine regularly, and they often publish .BAT scripts. I am going to pick a few of them and adapt them to my CP/M-Z3Plus environment. That possibility isn't possible with .SUB files and user areas, as supported with CP/M. Regards, Ray Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 279. 1-27-90 12:11.27 (NO KILL) (RECV'D) From: Ray Whidden To: Chris Schmidt Subject: QTERM HELP Hi Chris, In case you haven't already discovered it, help in Qterm128 is as close as the ^O ? key. The documentation helps a lot more, but this will make like a lot easier. Most CP/M programs offer help in one of several ways: 1) just enter the program name without any trailing arguments, 2) enter the program name followed by a ? character, 3) start the program and enter an h character, as in 'help' or 4) start the program and enter ESCape, or some combination, such as Qterm's 'escape sequence': ^O followed by an ? or h or some other character. Z3 programs pretty much follow a new standard, based on the fact the ? unshifted is the /, either programname / or programname // will get you help. Hope this helps. Regards, Ray Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 280. 1-27-90 21:41.03 (NO KILL) (RECV'D) From: Ray Whidden To: Chris Schmidt Subject: QTERM AGAIN Hi Chris, The problem with the Qterm script is more the fact that the script isn't set up to terminate normally, you have to ^O X to end it. Then your keyboard is free to respond to the queries the BBS is sending you. Sorry about that. Some of my CRS scripts exit OK, just didn't get around to it for that one. Regards, Ray Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 281. 1-28-90 8:30.22 (NO KILL) (RECV'D) From: Eugene Gibas To: Brian Repic Subject: 1581 DD ALSO SEE: 253, 283. You cannot read Amiga disks on the 1581 nor vice-versa. All they have in common is the media. Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 282. 1-28-90 12:03.51 From: Howard Herman To: All Subject: QUATRIS AKA:TETRIS If you are running Quatris (Tetris) on a C128, and have been patting yourself on the back because of all the wonderfully high scores you have been getting. Hold on! The docs clearly state that the game is configured for a 4 MHz machine, and ours is running at 2 MHz - half speed. No wonder your scores have been great! You have twice the time to figure things out. Now we all know that C128 owners are fair minded people, and wouldn't knowingly take advantage of others in such important matters. Okey! Here's what to do. The docs say that game speed is controlled by the value at 0124 hex. You'll find a decimal 135 at that location, also at the next two, too. (The docs don't tell you this.) The value should be halved. Since 135 halved isn't a whole number, I chose decimal 68, instead of 67 - (a slight edge). Replace the value at hex 0124 and the next two bytes with decimal 68, and then re-save it. The docs suggest using DDT for this, but BTPro128's buffer will do just as nicely. Now Quatris will run at normal speed, and you will have to just make your responses twice as fast as before. Phew! Howie P.S. If anyone has a prob in re-configuring Quatris, let me know, and I'll arrrange to get to you one that is already configured for the 128. Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 283. 1-28-90 18:11.58 (NO KILL) (RECV'D) From: Brian Repic To: Eugene Gibas Subject: 1581 DD ALSO SEE: 281, 305. Actually, I found out that it might be possible to use a 1581 drive on an Amiga. It would be easier to configure than making the Amiga drive work on a Commodore computer. The 1581 has its own microprocessor (the 6502, same as C-64's CPU) and other custom chips that allow it to communicate to a commodore computer. You might be able to yank out these 'controller' chips, stick in a couple more and make it work on an Amiga computer! This might work because it is the Amiga computer that controls its drives (the drives are 'dumb') . The 1581 is exactly like the Amiga drive except the '81 is configured to work only on a commodore computer! Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 284. 1-28-90 18:18.47 (NO KILL) From: Brian Repic To: All Subject: HELP!!! ALSO SEE: 287, 302. Hi everyone! I need help desperately!!!!!! I managed to unarc a file called CHALK21.ARC using CSX01.SDA but the problem is how do you know what files in CHALK21.ARC are programs and which are sequencial? I know that *.com are programs and *.doc are sequencial (the docs of the program) but what about the rest (CZM, BRD, etc..)? When I tried to run the CHALD21.ARC program under CP/M, it didn't work and I got this error: ERROR SS AT PC 519BH What does this mean? How can I fix it? Has anyone got this program (CHALK21.ARC) to work? If so exactly HOW did you do it? By the way, I should mention that I dissolved CSX01.SDA in C-64 mode (it wouldn't dissolve in 128 mode!) Then I found the program would WORK in 128 mode 80 columns so I used it there! After unarcing the files in CHALK21.ARC i copied the files to a CP/M disk using XLINK. Can anyone help me? PLEASE!! I've spent 2 days fiddling with this tro ublesome file!!! Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 285. 1-28-90 19:02.50 (NO KILL) From: Brian Repic To: All Subject: XLINK Here's some useful information regarding the XLINK program. If you're tired of swapping disks between CP/M format and MS-DOS or between disks formatted in 1571 mode and CP/M disks then just change line 950 in the program : change DV=1 to DV=2 and this will make the second disk drive (device 9) a 1571 disk drive (it will still say 1541 but it's really in 1571 mode!). I have two 1571's and all my disks were in 1571 format so I found it frustating using only one disk drive (swapping all the time) when converting ASCII prgs to CP/M double sided disks. This way, the program uses two drives, both 1571's, instead of one. Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 286. 1-29-90 9:43.46 (RECV'D) From: Michael Martin To: Brian Repic Subject: 1571 DRIVE ALSO SEE: 278, 289. I think the 1581 drive is at least as versitile as the 1571. It to will read and right in several mfm formats. In my opinion it is the best drive commodore ever produced for 64/128. I always hate it when I am forced to rely soley on my 5 inch drive. The 1581 is much much faster than a 1571. Your friends are corect however in saying the 1571 is the best 5 inch drive for a commodore machine as you can transfer text files to IBM on it. Michael Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 287. 1-29-90 12:20.48 (NO KILL) (RECV'D) From: John Milligan To: Brian Repic Subject: CHALK21 ALSO SEE: 284, 290. Hi Brian, I was able to get CHALK21 working. It has been a long time, but I don't remember having any difficulty. I do remember this. It is not worth much effort. The program is a bit of a turkey. I suppose if you had never, ever seen a real spreadsheet, it might be interesting, but otherwise..... If you want to go any further with it, let me know specifically what the problem is and I will try to help - if you have a .COM file it should run and if you have a .DOC file you should be able to read about what crazy things you are supposed to do! As I recall, it does not LOOK much like a regular spreadsheet. John Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 288. 1-29-90 12:27.38 (NO KILL) (RECV'D) From: John Milligan To: Joe Janakovic Subject: Z3PLUS ALSO SEE: 277. Hi Joe, That's the way it goes! Everybody needs a DOS machine to be compatible. I am sitting typing this on a 386 SX machine at the office. We would be hard pressed to do some of the business things we do on a C128 - or any other 8 bit machine. But, I still like my 128 - I was a couple of months behind you, buying my machine in November 85. There is still so much that I would like to explore and do with this machine, I have interesting programs that I have hardly touched, that I do not expect to buy another machine for quite a while (by that time the 30686 will be on the market!) - but, being realistic, the C128 is a HOME or hobby computer - not as Commodore's name might suggest - a Business Machine. The other DOS's you referred to ZR, ZS, Nova etc - as far as I am aware, you are correct in the assumption that they only run under CP/M 2.2 - most of the major CP/M machines were, of course, 2.2. Only the newer machines like the C128, and a few others (which were brought out after CP/M "died") use CP/M 3.0 (or Plus as it is also known) We are actually lucky to have Z3 Plus - since it is simply the version of ZCPR that runs under CP/M Plus. John Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 291. 1-29-90 23:40.10 (NO KILL) (RECV'D) From: Gerry Moss To: John Milligan Subject: D128 SCRIPTS ALSO SEE: 256, 299. John, other than line noise at 2400 baud, I have never had any problems with this bbs, especially not with scripts. What does your Dialogue configure screen look like? It's the only other thing I can think of. Regards, Gerry Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 294. 1-31-90 12:12.11 (NO KILL) (RECV'D) From: John Milligan To: Brian Repic Subject: CHALK21 ALSO SEE: 290, 295. Hi Brian, Dissolving with CSXARC is NOT the way to go for CP/M files. Use the CP/M program UNARC.COM (I just checked, and it is here in the CP/M directory) to dissolve the CHALK21.ARC To use UNARC.COM is fairly simple - you can type UNARC with no parameters and get a help screen, to unarc something you type - UNARC filename A: (or B: or whatever drive you want to go to) Of course, you have to get the files over to a CP/M disk in the first place - XLINK should be OK if the file is not too big - there are other ways, I use Big Blue Reader myself. Once you dissolve the archive in CP/M mode, you should have no problem, but, if you do - let me know. BTW when you are transferring from CBM -> CP/M with XLINK or BBR or whatever - DO NOT opt for the ASCII translation or added line feeds (they are used with a straight text file only) Good Luck - John Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 296. 1-31-90 15:00.08 (NO KILL) From: Brian Repic To: All Subject: *.LBR FILES ALSO SEE: 297, 303. Hi everyone! Does ANYONE how in the world to extract *.LBR files! Can someone tell me, for example the process on how to begin using the program QUATRIS2.LBR? how does one uncrunch the files within this????? What program do you use and how do you do it? If I download the program QUATRIS2.LBR onto a CBM disk, what do I do from there? (can someone give me a step-by-step procedure because I don't want to have to first tell you all the problems I had in trying to figure it out for myself!) Thanks in advance!!! Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 297. 1-31-90 18:32.39 (NO KILL) (RECV'D) From: John Milligan To: Brian Repic Subject: *.LBR FILES ALSO SEE: 296. Hi Brian, You have basically the same problem with the .LBR files - first you must get the files over to a CP/M disk. You cannot do ANYTHING with them on a CBM disk. Once you have copied the .LBR files to a CP/M disk, you will need one of the CP/M Library Utility programs - NULU.COM is one of the more popular ones. I did not check the CP/M directory before I started writing this, so I am not sure what is there - I'll check it out and get back to you. John Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 298. 1-31-90 18:41.44 (NO KILL) (RECV'D) From: John Milligan To: Brian Repic Subject: CP/M UTILITIES ALSO SEE: 346. Brian, OK, I checked directory 9 there you will find NULU152A.COM which will look after dissolving .LBR files - type NULU and it will give you a message to type -h (I think) for help. You will probably have to experiment a bit to get the hang of it. It helps, quite a bit, if you can find out as much as you can of the concepts of CP/M - .LBR files are by far the most common way of storing files for downloading. You will also find that withinn these Libraries the files may be Squeezed, Crunched or lately LZH'ed - which are all different methods of compressing files so they take up less space - another learning experiene (is that why you are on this board? grin) so you have to UNCRunch them. You will also find in Directory 9 - RDCBM20.COM - this program will copy files (in CP/M mode) form a CBM disk (1571) to a CP/M disk - this can be useful. Also available is QTERM128.COM a CP/M terminal program, so if you download in CP/M mode to start with - you don't have to convert formats. There is a LOT to be learned about CP/M. It takes a while. John Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 299. 1-31-90 18:56.24 (NO KILL) (RECV'D) From: John Milligan To: Gerry Moss Subject: D128 SCRIPTS ALSO SEE: 291, 310. Hi Gerry, I almost went CLICK! when you mentioned configure screen - but the only thing I thought would make any difference is the CR/LF thing - and I tried all three combinations, to no avail. I have Flow Control - off and Local Echo - off. What others would likely make any difference? John Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 300. 2-01-90 3:34.32 From: Howard Herman To: All Subject: #1571 SPEED ALSO SEE: 304. A while back there was a post about Kaypro disks being a lot faster to write to, than CBM CP/M formatted ones. I re-posted this on FOG's San Francisco bbs, and someone replied, possibly providing the explanation for this. If the reply is correct, then using the new ROM's, and running C1571 (best done as a part of PROFILE), the write speeds of each format ought to be the same. Following is that reply: ------- Message #16859 ** General ** [reply to #16858] Posted: 12/07/89 at 5:08 pm From: JOHN MCGLOTHLIN To: Howard Herman About: C128's #1571 Drive Speed-up! (8 lines) Do you know which version of the 1571 ROMS you have? It sounds like the 1571 is verifiyng after writing when you use CBM format and not when your using Kaypro format. Try running C1571 (turns off write verify) before copying to the CBM format and comparing the time. By the way, I've had a few problems getting my AT Clone to read Kaypro DIsks formatted on the C-128 (using Xenocopy) and find it is better to format them on either the Clone or a Kaypro. The CPM format that seems to work best is the IBM CPM-86 one though it stores less data that the regular CBM CPM format. Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 301. 2-01-90 11:52.48 From: Barry Turner To: All Subject: CP/M CAN ANYONE HELP ME, I HOPE SO!!!! INEED A LIST OF CP/M COMMANDS. AND, IS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE SYNTAX BETWEEN THE APPLE (11+) AND THE C128. Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 303. 2-01-90 14:07.16 (NO KILL) (RECV'D) From: Ray Whidden To: Brian Repic Subject: *.LBR FILES ALSO SEE: 296, 348. Hi Brian, (again) The utility that I use for *.lbr files is QL40.COM (I think 40 is the latest version). You enter QL40<ret> or QL40 A:<ret> or another drive, and you get a numbered list of all the files on that disk. If there are too many for the display, use QL40 A*.* for all the files that start with A???????.???. For all the *.LBR files use QL40 *.LBR. Once you pick the file you want to view, by entering the corresponding number, you will see (in the case of the *.lbr files) a second numbered list of the directory of the file. As well, notice that the top of the screen says something like "Enter E to extract". You can pick a number and the file will be extracted to your default drive, unsqueezing or uncrunching, as required. All, you can start a list of files to extract by entering a "(" before you enter any numbers and commas, as needed. Note: if less than 10 files in the list, QL40 is smart enough to insert its own commas. Help is as easy as hitting the / or ? key. A recommended utility. Of course, the old way was to use LU or NULU but you really only need them if you also want to build a *.lbr file. QL is much easier for beginner or expert. Regards, Ray Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 304. 2-01-90 22:19.52 (NO KILL) (RECV'D) From: John Milligan To: Howard Herman Subject: #1571 SPEED IN CP/M ALSO SEE: 300, 333. Hi Howie, I posted the original message about the 1571 speeds. I DO have the new ROMs so that is not a factor. That speedup program would probably work, I know I have it somewhere on a disk - I should look it up and try it. I was kind of dubious about it originally, since it seemed to me that turning off the write verify is not necessarily the ideal way of speeding up the write process - but maybe it is OK. I have 2 1581s and all my CP/M stuff is on 1581 disks, so I don't use the 1571 much anymore anyway. The Kaypro format does still have the advantage of the extra space - sometimes a few extra k just makes the difference in getting everything you wanted onto the disk! UNRELATED TOPIC..... You mentioned a while ago that you had ordered FastTrac 128 and were having problems with it. Did you resolve the problems? If so what do you think of the program? It is not copy protected, is it? I have ordered it twice, from SSI, and each time they told me - not ready yet, try again later. John Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 305. 2-02-90 22:17.17 (NO KILL) (RECV'D) From: Eugene Gibas To: Brian Repic Subject: 1581 DD ALSO SEE: 283, 349. Interesting, if you get any more info or fresh thinks on this future expansion on the 1581/Amiga topic, PLEASE feel free to pass it along. We're all EARS, or EYES, as the case may be! Msg Base: #5 - CP/M and C128 Msg No: 308. 2-03-90 13:35.48 (NO KILL) From: Ray Whidden To: Barry Turner Subject: CP/M COMMANDS Hi Barry, You were asking what the CP/M commands were. I can help you out there but I didn't follow your question about the syntax regarding the Apple. Could you elaborate. Anyway, here is a list of the commands and a very brief description: Command Description copysys on C=128, see PIP date set date/time, display once/continuously device set options for devices:lst, con, etc dir/dirs display directory with options dump hex/ascii display of a file ed line oriented text editor: primitive, to be polite era/erase erase a file format format a new diskette gencom combine RSX/header to create special .COM file get redirect console input from a file help use a file HELP.HLP to provide on-line help hexcom from *.HEX input create a *.COM output initdir initialize a newly formatted diskette for date stamping keyfig probably specific to C=128, KEYboardCconFIGure program DU: D(rive)U(user area): to change from default A(0) enter b1: patch patch CP/M files PIP P(eripheral) I(interchange) P(rogram) named after DEC utility, copy, filter, append, search, many more features profile.sub a file that is read when booting up to customize your system see SUBMIT put redirect console/printer to file/con:/lst: ren/rename rename a file save use with SID, save a file, usually *.COM set set password/time stamping/file attribute options setdef set disk search path, invoke *.COM/*.SUB search order, etc show show space available on diskette submit batch processing, like MS-DOS *.BAT files, or UNIX aliases a powerful feature to reduce the amount of typing, permits parameter passing and nested files type type an ascii file to the screen user/DU: see DU:, change user area or disk/user_area Additional files on the CP/M DRI offer: addbios create a new system gencom see above hexcom see above= hist.utl create a histogram of instruction useage, see SID lib *.LIB file utility for macros link linkage editor, use with assembler to get *.COM file mac macro assembler, *.ASM --> REL rmac relocatable macro assembler, *.ASM --> *.PRL screen40 C=128 blanks 40-col screen sid S(ymbolic) I(nstruction) D(ebugger) trouble shooting tool see HIST/TRACE.UTL trace.utl show trace of machine instructions from SID xref create crossreference listing of assembler *.ASM C=128 CP/M source files, etc. to create your own version of CP/M on C=128 Hope this helps the new users or those who might have thought about using CP/M but never got around to it. It's one way to get the most from your computer without breaking the bank. Regards, Ray