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- From: Donald.C.Kirkpatrick@tek.com (Don Kirkpatrick)
- Newsgroups: comp.os.cpm,comp.answers,news.answers
- Subject: comp.os.cpm Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Supersedes: <CPM-faq_30-11-98@tek.com>
- Followup-To: comp.os.cpm
- Date: 14 Jan 1999 10:46:22 -0800
- Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR USA
- Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU
- Distribution: world
- Expires: Fri, 2 April 1999 00:00:00 GMT
- Message-ID: <CPM-faq_12-01-99@tek.com>
- Reply-To: Donald.C.Kirkpatrick@tek.com (Don Kirkpatrick)
- NNTP-Posting-Host: purga.cse.tek.com
- Summary: 30 November 1998 edition of comp.os.cpm FAQ.
- Lines: 1824
- Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!boulder!csnews!coop.net!remarQ73!supernews.com!woodstock.news.demon.net!demon!newsfeed.xcom.net!news.shore.net!uunet!in4.uu.net!news.tek.com!not-for-mail
- Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu comp.os.cpm:28831 comp.answers:34752 news.answers:149450
-
- Archive-name: CPM-faq
- Posting-Frequency: monthly
- Last-Modified: 12 January 1999
-
- =========================================================================
- Changes from the previous FAQ are marked with a "|" in the first
- column, additions marked with a "+". Corrections or additions to:
-
- <Donald.C.Kirkpatrick@tek.com>
-
- I wish to thank the following people for their contributions to this FAQ:
-
- John D. Baker <jdb8042@blkbox^com>
- Axel Berger <Axel_Berger@k2^maus^de>
- Hal Bower <HalBower@worldnet^att^net>
- David I. Baldwin <dibald@netcom^com>
- Gene Buckle <geneb@nwlink^com>
- Frank Cringle <fdc@cliwe^ping^de>
- Ralph Becker-Szendy <RALPH@SLAC^STANFORD^EDU>
- Mike Finn <mfinn@pacs^pha^pa^us>
- Ramon Gandia <rfg@nome^net>
- Mike Gordillo <S0621126@dominic^barry^edu>
- Trevor Gowen <Trevor^Gowen@src^bae^co^uk>
- Stephen R. Griswold <gelfling2@juno^com>
- Howard Goldstein <71435^1203@compuserve^COM>
- Roger Hanscom <rzh@dgs^dgsys^com>
- Ulrich Hebecker <du124@fim^uni-erlangen^de>
- Gottfried Ira <ira@iue^tuwien^ac^at>
- Herb Johnson <hjohnson@pluto^njcc^COM>
- Jeffrey Jonas <jeffj@panix^com>
- Helmut Jungkunz <jungkunz@vossnet^de>
- Tom Karlsson <tomk@Student^DoCS^UU^SE>
- Kirk Lawrence <kirk^lawrence@3rd1000^com>
- Mark Litwack <litwack@scotty^dccs^upenn^edu>
- Mike Mallett <mike^mallett@zetnet^co^uk>
- William P. Maloney <aq743@cleveland^Freenet^Edu>
- Paul Martin <pm@nowster^demon^co^uk>
- Don Maslin <donm@crash^cts^com>
- Thomas J. Merritt <tjm@cgt^COM>
- Udo Munk <udo@umunk^GUN^de>
- Alan Ogden <arog@BIX^com>
- Tim Olmstead <timolmst@cyberramp^net>
- Keith Petersen <w8sdz@Vela^ACS^Oakland^Edu>
- Matthew Phillips <chri0264@sable^ox^ac^uk>
- Jay Sage <sage@LL^MIT^EDU>
- Curt Schroeder <bpanther@netcom^com>
- Peter A. Schuman <schu0204@gold^tc^umn^edu>
- Tim Shoppa <shoppa@alph02^triumf^ca>
- Scot Silverstein <ScotSilv@worldnet^att^net>
- Kevin Spears <kspear@ss0^eng^wayne^edu>
- Tom Sullivan <tsullivan@mail^fwi^com>
- Bill Roch <broch@thegrid^net>
- Tilmann Reh <tilmann^reh@bigfoot^com>
- Geir Tjoerhom <geirt@nvg^unit^no>
- Jack Velte <velte@cdrom^com>
- Juergen Weber <weberj@dia^informatik^uni-stuttgart^de>
- Jeffrey J. Wieland <wieland@ea^ecn^purdue^edu>
- David Wilson <david@cs^uow^edu^au>
- Randy Winchester <randy@tcm^mit^edu>
- Frank Zsitvay <frank^zsitvay@bytewarrior^altcit^eskimo^com>
-
- NOTE: All of the above addresses have had the periods replaced with ^
- to foil spammers.
-
- While this FAQ is not intended to be an advertisement for any product,
- please note that some of the contributors have a financial interest in
- some of the items mentioned. Your editor has NO financial interest in
- anything mentioned in this FAQ. The most recent copy of this FAQ can be
- found at:
-
- ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-group/comp.os.cpm
- or:
- http://www.psyber.com/%7Etcj/
-
- Another resource is the Z80 Support Home Page maintained by Thomas
- Scherrer:
-
- http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Peaks/3938/z80_home.htm
- scherrer@hotmail.com
-
- =====================================================================
-
- Table Of Contents
-
- Q1: I just became a proud owner of a cool old machine.....
- Q2: I'd like to sell/find a home for my old computer. What is it worth?
- Q3: Does CP/M stand for anything?
- Q4: What ever happened to Digital Research and Gary Kildall?
- Q5: Is CP/M in the Public Domain?
- Q6: Where are the CP/M archives?
- Q7: Can I subscribe to com.os.cpm via E-Mail?
- Q8: What languages/compilers/databases/editors are still available?
- Q9: Where can I find Z80 math routines?
- Q10: What new CP/M computers are available?
- Q11: What is this I hear about a CP/M CD ROM?
- Q12: How can I transfer my CP/M files to DOS?
- Q13: How can I convert an (insert name) disk to (insert name) format?
- Q14: Can I read my 8" disks with my PC?
- Q15: Where can I buy new diskettes?
- Q16: Can I use the newer floppy drives on my old machine?
- Q17: Can I run CP/M on my MSDOS/UNIX/68K machine?
- Q18: Where can I get a boot disk for (insert system name)?
- Q19: What terminal emulation programs are available?
- Q20: How do you unpack a .ARK or .ARC file?
- Q21: How do you unpack a .lbr file?
- Q22: What are all these .xQx, .xYx, and .xZx file types?
- Q23: Are any of these .ARK, .LBR, or CRUNCH utilities on MSDOS?
- Q24: Why does my Kaypro drop characters above (insert baud rate)?
- Q25: What is an Advent TurboROM?
- Q26: How can I add a hard drive to my CP/M Machine?
- Q27: What belongs in the unpopulated board area on a Kaypro?
- Q28: What is The Computer Journal?
- Q29: Are there other magazines supporting CP/M?
- Q30: Does anybody support Amstrad machines?
- Q31: Does anybody support Sharp Machines?
- Q32: What is ZCPR and the Z System?
- Q33: What ever happened to the Z800?
- Q34: What is the status of the Z380?
- Q35: What is the KC80?
- Q36: What is the S-100 bus (also known as IEEE-696 bus)?
- Q37: Anyone know a good source for cross assemblers?
-
-
- =====================================================================
-
-
- Q1: I just became a proud owner of a cool old machine.....
- A: (Herb Johnson, Tim Shoppa)
-
- So you have aquired an old system, not one of the all-in-one systems
- like Kaypros or Osbornes, but rather one with lotsa cards in a
- cardcage. But... no disks, no manuals, maybe even no hard or floppy
- drives. "Hey, *I* remember these systems! I've always wanted one of
- these!" you say. And now you need some help to get it running.
-
- We hate to sound discouraging - we like to help owners of old
- equipment after all - but we also want to set people's expectations
- before they spend a lot of time and/or money. We need be clear as
- to what it takes to "own" an older, pre-IBM PC system.
-
- You will need to have some degree of knowledge of digital
- electronics, and have some electronic test equipment. Do not expect
- "the net" to instantly give you the knowledge to fix all your
- problems. There is no consensus about the amount of knowledge or
- equipment: a VOM for sure, a scope is reasonable, a logic
- analyzer... probably not. You will learn from the experience of
- debugging and maintaining an older system.
-
- You will discover that these systems may not be amenable to using
- IBM PC stuff, that they may need 8-inch floppy drives, that these
- systems may not support hard drives. In some cases, these systems
- may not even run all that well even with the original 8-inch drives
- or wierd hard disk controllers! When you also discover you can't
- get the parts without spending more money, you may lose interest.
-
- To most people these days, a BIOS by definition is in ROM, so it
- automatically comes with the hardware. You will learn that the CP/M
- BIOS gets loaded off the boot floppy and lives in RAM. You'll need
- BIOS source code to do any tinkering, and you may have to
- disassemble it to obtain the source. And other documentation like
- manuals may be hard to obtain.
-
- So we'll help you in your search for the original boot disks, the
- original type of floppy drives, and some software to run, but don't
- think you'll just add a hard drive and some (5.25-inch) floppy
- drives and off you'll go!
-
-
- Q2: I'd like to sell/find a home for my old computer. What is it worth?
- A: (Herb Johnson)
-
- Make a list of what you have to offer: computer types, features, and
- conditions. if it's a bus-based system, what cards are in it? Find
- all the docs and disks, particularly the boot disks. Check the
- system out if you can, and make *multiple copies* of the boot
- disks. Put one in the disk drive, one with the docs. Take notes.
-
- Weigh the system, its floppy drives and its documents and disks
- (separately if they are heavy); decide if you want to ship or just
- want local pickup. If you ship, you will have to pack it carefully
- and take it to the shipper. Figure 25 to 50 cents a pound
- shipping.
-
- Post a message in comp.os.cpm describing your system, its condition,
- and where you are located. Disclose any special conditions the new
- owner should know: "museum quality", "good for parts", "local
- pickup only", "cost of shipping", "will help you", whatever. Owners
- often recount their history of use to add a human dimension to it
- and often makes negotiations smoother and faster. You'll eventually
- end up working through all this anyway, so why not do it up front?
-
- You'll probably get some replies that will inform you on what you
- have and the level of interest in it. Use your common sense about
- all this. One virtue of offering old computers is that their
- minimal value will not be of interest to scam artists!
-
- You can try to donate your computer to a school or charity but they
- will most likely refuse or junk it. There is so much IBM-PC
- compatible stuff around that is considered preferable, and IT gets
- junked most of the time! If you put an ad in the newspaper be
- prepared for a lot of "will it run Windows?" phone calls. You can
- take it to a hamfest or flea market, but you may end up abandoning
- it at the end of the day.
-
- What is it worth? Generally, the answer is cost of shipping. Prices
- are based on the interest of the buyer and the (dis)interest of the
- seller. There is no "blue book". People will offer, and some even
- pay, hundreds of dollars for rare systems such as a MITS Altair
- 8800. Most likely, unless your system is very special, you are
- competing with people who will give away similar systems to a good
- home. If you are trying to make money, do your homework and check
- for previous sales and requests across the Internet, and use your
- business judgement.
-
-
- Q3: Does CP/M stand for anything?
-
- A: (Don Kirkpatrick)
-
- There are at least three popular answers - Control Program for
- Microcomputers, Control Program for Microprocessors, and Control
- Program/Monitor. The issue is clouded by authors of popular CP/M
- books giving different answers. According to Gary Kildall (the
- author of CP/M), in response to a direct question on the PBS show
- "The Computer Chronicles" following Computer Bowl I, the answer is:
- Control Program for Microcomputers. This is also consistent with
- DRI documentation. See, for example, p. 4 of the DRI TEX manual.
-
-
- Q4: What ever happened to Digital Research and Gary Kildall?
-
- a: (Don Kirkpatrick)
-
- DRI was bought out by Novell and subsequently sold off to Caldera,
- which currently owns the copyright to all DRI software.
-
- Personal computer pioneer Gary Kildall, who but for a single failed
- business deal might have enjoyed the wealth and fame of Bill Gates,
- died July 11, 1994, in a Monterey hospital at age 52.
-
- Kildall was taken to the hospital after suffering a concussion in a
- fall. Evidence indicates Kildall suffered a fatal heart attack. It
- is unclear if the two conditions were related.
-
-
-
- Q5: Is CP/M in the Public Domain?
-
- A: (Jay Sage, Don Maslin, Tilmann Reh, Kirk Lawrence, Tim Olmstead)
-
- On Sept 10, 1996, Caldera, the company that bought all of the
- Digital Research assets from Novell. They have released all of the
- source code for DR products. You can now go to the OFFICIAL CP/M
- web site at :
-
- http://www.caldera.com
-
- Go to the OpenDos page, then select CP/M downloads.
-
- The last source for new, legal copies of CP/M (with documentation,
- $9, plus shipping), is:
-
- California Digital, Inc.
- 17700 Figueroa Street
- Gardena CA 90248
- 310-217-0500
- 310-217-1951 Fax
- http://www.cadigital.com
-
- There exists a privately maintained web site with many DRI programs
- and manuals. (Caldera is aware of this site and has given its
- permission to present the material.) Available for download are:
-
- CP/M 2.2 (binary, source, manuals)
- CP/M 3.0 (binary, source, manuals)
- CP/M-68K (binary for v1.2, and v1.3, no manuals yet)
-
- The software is licensed free to non-profit users. This includes
- individual users. Commercial licenses are available, but without any
- form of support. The address of the site is:
-
- http://cdl.uta.edu/cpm
-
- Or its mirror:
-
- http://www.mathcs.emory.edu/~cfs/cpm
-
- On the other hand, there have been lots of greatly improved clones,
- including ZCPR3 for the command processor and several replacements
- for the BDOS. Some of these are commercial (e.g., ZSDOS/ZDDOS), but
- many have been released to the public. Most of the latter can be
- obtained from oak.oakland.edu and many BBSs.
-
- There is also a CP/M-Plus replacement named ZPM3, written by Simeon
- Cran. It offers much more performance and some additional features
- compared to CP/M-Plus. An extended CCP, the ZCCP, is also available.
- Unfortunately, it still seems to have some bugs. ZPM3 and ZCCP are
- free! However no sources as Simeon won't give them away.
-
- New legal copies of CP/M-86 were still available, for $75, from:
-
- DISCUS Distribution Services, Inc.
- 17607 Vierra Canyon road
- Salinas, CA 93907-3312
- (408) 663-6966
-
- And CP/M-68K is available from:
-
- James Knox
- TriSoft
- 1825 East 38 1/2
- Austin, TX 78722
- (512)472-0744
- (800)531-5170
- (512)473-2122 (FAX)
-
-
- Q6: Where are the CP/M archives?
-
- A: (Don Maslin, Ralph Becker-Szendy, Paul Martin, Ulrich Hebecker)
-
- Simtel20 is no more. Six sites that stock CP/M files are:
-
- oak.oakland.edu
- wuarchive.wustl.edu
- ftp.update.uu.se
- ftp.demon.co.uk
- reze-2.rz.rwth-aachen.de
- soltrans.cr.usgs.gov
-
- As of 25 March 1998, people have been reporting difficulty reaching
- the reze-2.rz.rwth-aachen.de site and it may be no longer.
-
- The main archive is oak.oakland.edu. Assuming the availability of
- anonymous ftp, look into the subdirectories of /pub/cpm. There is a
- *lot* there! One of the first directories to check is starter-kit.
- It contains everything you need to get up and running.
-
- If you wish to submit material to oak.oakland.edu, contact:
-
- Jeff Marraccini
- Senior Computing Resource Administrator
- Oakland University
- Rochester, MI USA 48309-4401
- (810)370-4542
- jeff@vela.acs.oakland.edu <- Work
- jdm@msen.com
-
- He will send you instructions and passwords necessary to perform
- an ftp upload.
-
- Ftp.update.uu.se specializes on CP/M programs for the DEC Rainbow,
- but has also some generic CP/M software such as a Micro Emacs, the
- HI-TECH Z80 C compiler and a few games. Questions about this site
- can be directed to Tom Karlsson, <tomk@Student.DoCS.UU.SE>, the site
- administrator.
-
- There is a European file server group, named TRICKLE. This group
- mirrors oak.oakland and other archives. For more information, get
- in touch with your local TRICKLE operator.
-
- There is a longrunning CP/M file archive with a focus on Microbee
- computers at:
-
- http://www.omen.com.au/Files/hdisk/cpm.html
-
- and some DOS<->CP/M file utilities at:
-
- ftp.omen.com.au/pub/files_3/hardflop
-
-
- Q7: Can I subscribe to com.os.cpm via E-Mail?
-
- A: (Keith Petersen)
-
- To join the CPM-L mailing list, which is gatewayed to and from
- comp.os.cpm, you must send email to the list server. If you are on
- BITNET, send the following command:
-
- SUBSCRIBE CPM-L your full name
-
- to LISTSERV@RPITSVM. You can send that in an interactive if your
- system supports them (e.g. the CMS TELL command), or in the body of
- a mail message (*not* the subject line).
-
- If you are not on BITNET, the Internet subscription address is
- LISTSERV@VM.ITS.RPI.EDU. Send mail to that address with this text
- in the body of the message:
-
- SUBSCRIBE CPM-L your full name
-
-
- Q8: What languages/compilers/databases/editors are still available?
-
- A: (Ralph Becker-Szendy, Ulrich Hebecker, Jay Sage, Gene Buckle)
-
- Unfortunately, SLR sold out to Symantec and all products except for
- one DOS (or Windows) tool have been withdrawn from the market (what
- a shame). However, The Computer Journal does carry the excellent
- ZMAC package including a macro relocatable assembler, linker, and
- librarian. Except for the speed, ZMAC is better and cheaper than
- the standard SLR tools.
-
- MIX C and other MIX products are available from:
-
- Ed Grey
- P.O. Box #2186
- Inglewood, CA 90305
- (213)759-7406
- <ac959@cleveland.Freenet.Edu>.
-
- Hi-Tech C V3.09 for CP/M is now freeware. The authors are still
- maintaining their copyright, but are allowing free use for both
- private and commercial users without royalty. The original is on
- their bbs in Australia, at +61 7 3300 5235. Copies can be obtained
- from:
-
- ftp.update.uu.se: /pub/rainbow/cpm/c
- ftp.mcc.ac.uk: /pub/8051c/htc.zip
- oak.oakland.edu: /pub/cpm/hitech-c
- ftp://ftp.hitech.com.au/hitech/cpm
- http://www.hitech.com.au
-
- Hi-Tech also offers a Z80 cross compiler for DOS or Unix supports
- compilation of CP/M programs. The cross compiler is commercial
- software, but a working demo is available from their ftp and web
- servers.
-
- The Computer Journal still offers BDS C, in both the original,
- straight CP/M version and in a version that includes Z-System
- support. The package, with both versions of the compiler and a very
- large manual, is only $25.
-
- Micro Emacs is available from:
-
- ftp.update.uu.se: /pub/rainbow/cpm/emacs
-
- Public domain CP/M programs are available via:
-
- Elliam Associates
- Box 2664
- Atascadero, CA 93423
- (805)466-8440
-
- In the past, Elliam has sold Turbo Pascal, Uniform, Nevada COBOL,
- SuperCalc, and much more. Call for availability and price.
-
- WordStar 4.0 is available from:
-
- Trio Company of Cheektowaga Limited
- 3290 Genesee Street
- P. O. Box 594
- Cheektowaga, NY 14225-0594
- 716-892-9630
-
- Dynacomp stills sell CP/M software (or to be accurate, they still
- had several dozen CP/M programs in the 1992 catalog.) It is the
- kind of programs which ought to be written in BASIC: Typing tutors,
- little engineering programs like calculation of the stiffness of
- beams, education math programs. Their address is:
-
- Dynacomp
- 178 Phillips Road
- Webster, NY 14580
- (800)828-6772 orders
- (716)265-4040 support
-
- There is no known U.S. source to purchase the following programs:
-
- muMath/muSimp
- Any Microsoft product (M80, L80, F80, Pascal, BASIC)
- VEdit
-
- Most have been "abandoned" by their makers, but not placed in the
- public domain. There is now a site specializing in making available
- commercial abandoned software. You may find a copy of what you seek
- at The Commercial CP/M Archive:
-
- http://deltasoft.fife.wa.us/cpm
-
- For our European readers, much is available in Germany. dBASE,
- WordStar 3.0, Multiplan 1.06, SuperCalc PCW, and Microsoft Basic
- (Interpreter and Compiler), M80, L80, CREF80 , and LIB80 can be
- ordered in either PCW format or C128 (also native 1571) format from:
-
- Wiedmann Unternehmensberatung & EDV-Handel
- Hauptstrasse 45
- 73553 Alfdorf
- F.R.Germany
- Tel: +49-7172-3000-0 (Inside Germany use 0-7172...)
- Fax: +49-7172-3000-30
-
- They are marketed as "for the C128", however the disks are in KAYPRO
- IV format, and since the C128 uses the same screen codes as ADM-31
- or KAYPRO, it's probably interesting for people with other CP/M
- machines as well. Everything is said to come with a German language
- manual and each one is offered for DM 149.50 , including sales tax
- of 16%, which you could probably somehow get a refund on if living
- outside the EC.
-
- | Also, for our European readers, Z3PLUS (for CP/M, DM 30.--), NZCOM
- | (for CP/M 2.2, DM 30.--), (both for package 50.--), Z-Systems come
- complete with Z3COMs and ZHELPs (another 14 Disks at 360K app. or
- equ.) and German manual(!), BDSC-Z, TURBO Tools, Turbolader, and
- | Juggler (used to be DM 50.--, now: free!) from:
-
- Helmut Jungkunz
- Spixstr. 12
- 81539 Muenchen, Germany
- Tel.: +4989-69737382
- BBS : +49.8801.2453 (24 hours) "ZNODE 51"
- jungkunz@vossnet.de
-
- + Please don't miss the best German CP/M page:
-
- + www.gaby.de
-
- + featuring her Computer Museum and lots of valuable information!
-
- You can get C128 CP/M Plus (DM 80.-) from:
-
- Schaltungsdienst Lange Berlin Tel.: 030/7036060
-
- VDE is a very popular free editor that uses WordStar key bindings.
- It can be obtained from
-
- http://www.acs.oakland.edu/oak/cpm/vdoedit.html
-
- for a plain vanilla CP/M system or
-
- http://www.acs.oakland.edu/oak/cpm/zsystem.html
-
- for those running a Z-system.
-
-
- Q9: Where can I find Z80 math routines?
-
- A: (Roger Hanscom, Hal Bower)
-
- Programmers looking for examples of commonly used Z80 assembler
- routines may want to look at "Z80 Assembly Language Subroutines" by
- Leventhal and Saville. It was published by Osborne/McGraw-Hill in
- 1983 (ISBN 0-931988-91-8), and it 497 pages long. It also contains
- general programming information, as well as a summary of the Z80
- instruction set and reference data for the Z80 PIO. Assembler
- routines given in the book fall into the following categories:
-
- - code conversion -array manipulation and indexing
- - arithmetic -bit manipulation and shifts
- - string manipulation -array operations
- - I/O -interrupts
-
- For transcendental routines, it is generally better to use a high
- level language, such as Hi-Tech C, where they are built-in.
-
- Basic 16-bit four-function math (add, subtract, multiply and divide)
- are available in source code as modules within the SYSLIB collection
- of utilities (SMTHxx). SYSLIB Version 3.6 is freely available, and
- Version 4.x was released in source and linkable (SYSLIB.REL) form
- for non-commercial use only. Joe Wright still holds the copyright
- as Alpha Systems as far as I know, and Hal Bower has maintained the
- code since circa 1987.
-
-
- Q10: What new CP/M computers are available?
-
- A: (Ralph Becker-Szendy, John D. Baker, Tilmann Reh, Ramon Gandia,
- Hal Bower)
-
- The YASBEC (uses a 64180, has SCSI interface), written up in TCJ,
- issues #51 and #52. It is important that the YASBEC uses a
- proprietary bus system.
-
- The CPU280 (uses a Z280, an IDE interface is available), also
- written up in TCJ, issues #52 and #53. Circuit boards are available
- from The Computer Journal. CPU280 uses the ECB-bus which allows
- many other I/O cards to be connected.
-
- Ampro LittleBoard products are no longer available from Dean Davidge
- nor are the SB180/SB180FX from Micromint.
-
- Another CP/M machine is the PalmTech CPUZ180, designed and built in
- Australia. The complete SBC fits on a 6"x4" and runs at 18MHz.
- Included are floppy and IDE hard disk controllers, color/monichrome
- video controller, IBM PC/XT keyboard interface, printer parallel
- port, two serial ports, real time clock, 1 Meg ram, amd many other
- features. Complete details can be found at:
-
- http://www.19th.com.au/member/ptech1.html
-
- and may be ordered from:
-
- Ramon Gandia <rfg@nome.net> tel. 907-443-7199
- Anvil Technology or 907-443-2437
- Box 970, Nome, Alaska 99762-0970 fax. 907-443-2487
-
- And the P112 from D-X Designs Pty Ltd is a single board CP/M
- compatible computer with the footprint of a 3.5" floppy disk drive.
- It provides a Z80182 (Z-80 upgrade) CPU with up to 1 MB of memory,
- serial parallel and diskette IO, and realtime clock in a 3.5-inch
- drive form factor. Powered solely from 5V, it draws 150mA
- (nominal: not including disk drives) with a 16MHz CPU clock.
- Details can be found at:
-
- http://www.iinet.net.au/~daveb/
-
- and may be ordered from:
-
- Dave Brooks <daveb@iinet.net.au>
- Australia
-
-
- Q11: What is this I hear about a CP/M CD ROM?
-
- A: (Jack Velte)
-
- The disk is no longer being offered by Walnut Creek. However, copies
- of it are available for $30.00 each, including shipping, from:
-
- Timer Saver
- 521 Sycamore Dr
- Windsor, CO 80550
-
- or
-
- lesh@frii.com
-
- It contains over 19,000 files with executable programs, source code,
- documentation, and other materials. Included are the the entire
- Simtel20 pub/cpm archives, the contents of some major bulletin
- boards, and the personal collections of several leaders in the CP/M
- community. You'll find:
-
- Assemblers, compilers, code libraries, and programming tools
- Editors, word processors, spreadsheets, calculators
- Disk, printer, modem and other system utilities
- Archive and compression tools
- Telecommunication software for users and BBS operators
- Articles from user's group journals and other publications
- Games and educational software
- Help files
-
- You'll also find CP/M emulators and other tools for working with
- CP/M files under DOS, OS/2, and Unix. Most programs include not
- only documentation but also complete source code. Programs for all
- different computers are on the disc: Kaypro, Osborne, Commodore,
- Amstrad, Starlet, and others. This disc comes with a MSDOS view
- program which allows you to view, decompress, or copy files to your
- disk. It's fully BBS'd with description files compatible with
- popular MSDOS BBS programs.
-
- A spokesman for Walnut Creek said that it is just not feasible for
- them to have another run made. When asked specifically about having
- a few made privately, the spokesman said the entire disk is public
- domain and freeware, and that Walnut Creek doesn't need to give
- permission to have anyone copy it. They're not looking for a
- royalty or even acknowledgment.
-
-
- Q12: How can I transfer my CP/M files to DOS?
-
- A: (Don Maslin, Will Rose, Alan Ogden, Tilmann Reh, Herb Johnson,
- Trevor Gowen, Hal Bower)
-
- (Note: also see Q13 on "disk formats".)
-
- One solution is Sydex' excellent shareware program 22DISK which
- permits reading, writing, and formatting many CP/M format disks on a
- PC. Version 1.44 is available at:
-
- http://www.sydex.com
-
- 22DISK is shareware and should be registered. It supports 8-inch
- drives on PC's, provided either a adaptor is wired to the PC's
- floppy controller or that a CompatiCard is installed. Sydex or Herb
- Johnson can provide assistance with using standard PC controllers.
- Sydex can be reached at:
-
- Sydex
- P.O. Box 5700
- Eugene, OR 97405
- Voice: (541) 683-6033
- FAX: (541) 683-1622
- Data: (541) 683-1385
-
- MicroSoulutions used to make a program called Uniform and You might
- be able to locate a copy at a swap meet or from a distributor. There
- are versions for both the IBM-pc's and a lot of different cp/m
- machines.
-
- Some flavors of PC have a problem with both UniForm and 22disk and
- UniForm will not operate properly under DRDOS v6.0. UniForm also
- fails if the machine clock exceeds ~20MHz. This has been confirmed
- with MicroSolutions, and no fix is available.
-
- Another solution is the MSODBALL suite of programs by John Elliot.
- They work by using a format (the msodball format) that is
- convertible via the main program to become useable on either CP/M
- (3.x ?) or MSDOS. MSODBALL.COM has been written in such a way that
- the latest version will run directly under either CP/M or MSDOS.
- They can be found at:
-
- ftp.demon.co.uk: /pub/cpm/amstrad/mso210.arc
-
- You need not use the DOS machine - there are also at least three
- transfer programs running under CP/M: TRANSFER (for CP/M-2.2), of
- which a quick-hack CP/M-3 adaptation also exists; DOSDISK, and MSDOS
- for CP/M-Plus written by Tilmann Reh, latest version 2.1 of Oct 93.
- TRANSFER and MSDOS are freely available, DOSDISK is commercial.
- MSDOS has two related utilities: MSFORM will create the DOS Boot
- Record, FAT and directory structure on a freshly formatted disk, and
- MSDIR will give you a quick look at the main directory of a DOS
- disk.
-
- DosDisk is a standard CP/M product. As supplied, it runs only on
- the following specific hardware:
-
- all Kaypros equipped with a TurboROM
- all Kaypros equipped with a KayPLUS ROM and QP/M or CP/M
- Xerox 820-I equipped with a Puls-2 ROM and QP/M
- Ampro Little Board
- SB180 and SB180FX equipped with XBIOS
- Morrow MD3 and MD11
- Oneac On!
- Commodore C128 with CP/M-3 and 1571 drive
-
- DosDisk also runs on any of the configurations with B/P Bios
- (non-banked ZSDOS only), to include the Ampro Little Board, SB-180,
- SB180FX, YASBEC and P112.
-
- There is also a kit version for which the user can write his own
- driver, provided the BIOS implements a table-driven disk interface.
- Contact Jay Sage for details. DosDisk and MSDOS both handle DOS
- subdirectories.
-
- You can also use a null modem or other serial link and terminal
- emulation programs running on each machine. For example, the CP/M
- machine could run KERMIT, IMP, or MEX and another program that
- supports the same file transfer protocol on the second machine, such
- as Procomm or Hyperterminal on a PC. The usual problem is getting
- the terminal program onto the CP/M machine - having someone send you
- a disk is the easiest way, but you can also use a crude assembler or
- basic program to transfer the real program, or use pip to send
- across a hex version (pip can only transfer ascii files.)
-
- Remember, these conversion programs only move the data, as is, in
- its current binary form, from one disk format to another. They do
- not reinterpret the data so that a different program can use the
- information. However, there are some tools under DOS that will
- convert word processing file data among different word processors,
- such as WordStar, Word Perfect, and Microsoft Word. If the CP/M
- computer that made the original disk is still running, you might
- want to try to generate a pure text (ASCII) version of your
- information (e.g., by "printing to disk") before moving it over to a
- DOS disk. If the computer is not working but you still have the
- program, you might try copying it over to a DOS disk and running it
- under a CP/M emulator on the DOS machine to produce a text file.
-
-
-
- Q13: How can I convert an (insert name) disk to (insert name) format?
-
- A: (Jay Sage, Curt Schroeder, Mike Gordillo, Helmut Jungkunz, Tilmann Reh,
- Randy Winchester, Hal Bower, Scot Silverstein)
-
- Elliam Associates (see above) offer disk conversion services at
- modest prices that can convert from just about any format to just
- about any other format.
-
- If you have a Kaypro equipped with an Advent TurboROM, Plu*Perfect
- Systems offers a program called MULTICPY that can read/write about
- one hundred different 5 1/4 formats.
-
- The simplest way of converting *CP/M formats to a PC* is to use a PC
- with 22DISK - just copy the files from one CP/M disk to DOS, and
- then back to the other CP/M disk. (See Q12.) But a few older CP/M
- disks have what are called "hard sectors". These disks use several
- physical holes in the disk to mark divisions of data, instead of ONE
- hole which is used as a timing reference. These disks can only be
- read by a PC or a CP/M system with suitable hardware. The problem
- is NOT the diskette drive, but the controller cabled to the drive:
- the drives are unmodified, it's all in the diskette controller. CP/M
- hard-sectored disks come from some older Vector Graphics,
- Heath/Zenith H89, NorthStar, IMSAI and other CP/M systems.
-
- Similarily, it is not possible to directly read/write Apple II CP/M
- disks on any other host machine because an Apple disk is recorded in
- GCR which is incompatible with FM/MFM *floppy* disk controllers.
- The only way to get files out of either kind of these disks is via a
- serial link with the original host system, or with special hardware
- on the PC compatible. (See Q12.)
-
- An example of PC hardware is a MicroSolutions device called the
- MatchPoint PC. When used in conjunction with a MicroSolutions
- CompatiCard, files can be read from an Apple CP/M disk and transfer
- to another disk format with a special configuration of UniForm. The
- CompatiCard is also able to directly read some hard-sectored disk
- formats.
-
- If your are *lucky* enough to have a *CP/M* B/P BIOS, it comes with
- a built-in disk format emulation capability, and a library of
- formats, including the source so that new formats may be added.
-
- There exists a program called "Jugg'ler" for the C128's CP/M that
- will read/write 140 different CP/M formats both 3.5 and 5.25 MFM
- (and some GCR) formats. A demo version with 22 formats, and other
- C128 specific CP/M software, can be found at:
-
- ftp://ccnga.waterloo.ca/pub/cbm/os/cpm
-
- The creator/owner of Jugg'ler, Herne Data Systems, is still in
- business, but no longer sells it. Rather, Jugg'ler's creator, Mike
- Garamszeghy, has graciously placed it in the public domain. Copies
- can be obtained from his C128-CP/M web page at:
-
- http://www.herne.com
-
- His disk format data base and other CP/M related items are also
- available there.
-
- Montezuma Micro CP/M has a "config" utility that allows logical
- device reassignments, setting up of comm hardware parameters, etc.
- Option [f] "disk drive definitions" allows the user to set the
- logical format of any disk drive connected to the system. There are
- about 100 different floppy formats provided, from A to Z. Montezuma
- Micro often shipped software in Kaypro format, for example. Using
- this redefinition utility, it is easy to read "alien" disks, format
- them, duplicate them to another's format via 'pip' to another
- drive.
-
- The CPU280 CP/M-3 implementation offers the AutoFormat feature which
- allows to format, read and write almost every disk format.
-
-
- Q14: Can I read my 8" disks with my PC?
-
- A: (John Baker, Tom Sullivan)
-
- With a program called 22disk, and an adaptor board that you can
- make, you can read those disks on your PC. All it takes is
- rearranging some of the lines on the 34 pin cable, and wiring them
- to the 50 pin cable, and you're in business.
-
- The interface on 8" drives and 5 1/4" drives are essentially the
- same. The 34 lines on a typical 5 1/4" controller are sufficient to
- control most 8" disk drives using soft-sectored disks. Here, is a
- diagram for a basic conversion cable to allow connection of an 8"
- drive to an IBM-compatible, AT-style (high density) controller.
-
- 8" disk drive
- PC-AT style controller Based on Shugart SA-851
-
- Grnd. Sig. Sig. Name Sig Name Sig Grnd
- 1 2 Double/High Density ->>
- >>- Write Current Switch/ 2 1
- Active Read Compensation
- User Customizable I/O pins 4 3
- " " " " 6 5
- 33 34 **Ready ---------------<<------------ True Ready 8 7
- <<-------------#Two Sided 10 9
- 33 34 **Disk Change ---------<<----------- Disk Change 12 11
- 31 32 Side 1 Select ------->>-----------#Side Select 14 13
- 3 4 In Use/Open --------->>---------------- In Use 16 15
- 15 16 *Motor On ------------>>------------- Head Load 18 17
- 7 8 Index ---------------<<----------------- Index 20 19
- 33 34 **Ready ---------------<<----------------- Ready 22 21
- <<---------------##Sector 24 23
- 9 10 Drive Select 0 ------>>-------- Drive Select 1 26 25
- 11 12 Drive Select 1 ------>>-------- Drive Select 2 28 27
- 13 14 Drive Select 2 ------>>-------- Drive Select 3 30 29
- 5 6 Drive Select 3 ------>>-------- Drive Select 4 32 31
- 17 18 Direction Select ---->>------ Direction Select 34 33
- 19 20 Step ---------------->>------------------ Step 36 35
- 21 22 Write Data ---------->>------------ Write Data 38 37
- 23 24 Write Gate ---------->>------------ Write Gate 40 39
- 25 26 Track 00 ------------<<-------------- Track 00 42 41
- 27 28 Write Protect -------<<--------- Write Protect 44 43
- 29 30 Read Data -----------<<------------- Read Data 46 45
- <<------##Separation Data 48 47
- <<-----##Separation Clock 50 49
-
- This diagram also works in the other direction--that is, to attach
- high-density 5 1/4" drives to an 8" controller.
-
- Notes:
-
- * - It seems to be a logical substitution since the vast majority of
- 8" drives have continuously running spindles and instead of
- MOTOR ON require a HEAD LOAD signal. Also, a controller sends
- MOTOR ON before a DRIVE SELECT.
-
- **- Most 5 1/4" disk drives do not provide a READY signal but send a
- DISK CHANGE signal on line 34 of the interface. An 8" drive has
- provisions for both signals. Likewise, most AT-style
- controllers expect a DISK CHANGE signal on line 34, so lines 33
- and 34 should be connected to lines 11 and 12 of the 8" disk
- connector. Also, some 8" drives provide a TRUE_READY signal
- which is more useful than the standard READY.
-
- # - Unused on single sided drives (SA-800/801).
-
- ##- Used only on hard-sector configured drives (SA-801/851).
-
- Some 5 1/4" disk drives have the option of providing _either_ DISK
- CHANGE _or_ READY on line 34 (in particular, the TEAC FD55R
- series). Some 8" disk controllers do not care about the DISK CHANGE
- signal, but must have the READY signal. If you are attaching a
- high-density 5 1/4" drive to an 8" controller, you may get away with
- making the drive always ready by shorting lines 21 and 22, but this
- may cause a few re-tries when switching sides. If your drive offers
- a READY signal that your controller can deal with, by all means use
- it.
-
- The MOTOR ON/HEADLOAD dilemma may also have an alternate solution if
- you are connecting 5 1/4" drives to an 8" controller. Some 5 1/4"
- drives permit motor turn-on by means other than the MOTOR ON
- signal. For example, the TEAC FD55R series of drives may be
- configured to turn the motor on based on the state of the IN USE
- light. The IN USE light can, in turn, be set to turn on only on
- drive select. Thus selecting the drive automatically turns on the
- motor and neither a MOTOR ON or IN USE signal need be present.
-
- Another way to handle 8 inch drives on a PC is with a Microsolutions
- Compaticard IV, if you can find one. (MicroSolutions no longer
- offers this product.) It has the necessary software support to
- properly handle 8 inch drives, and in both SSSD and DSDD. This
- controller can be set up as both a primary controller, or as a
- secondary. It can support 4 drives, of any type, including 2.8 meg.
- It supports two MSDOS 8 inch formats, SSSD (about 250k) and DSDD
- (1.2 meg). It works perfectly with 22disk, and can read and write
- almost any 8 inch CP/M format.
-
-
- Q15: Where can I buy new diskettes?
-
- A: (Don Maslin)
-
- California Digital still lists hard and soft sector diskettes - both
- 10 and 16 sector at $9.95. They also stock 8" drives and diskettes.
-
- California Digital, Inc.
- 17700 Figueroa Street
- Gardena CA 90248
- 310-217-0500
- 310-217-1951 Fax
- http://www.cadigital.com
-
- One might also try:
-
- GLOBAL Computer Supplies
- 2318 East Del Amo Blvd.
- Dept. RA
- Compton, CA 90220
-
- Q16: Can I use the newer floppy drives on my old machine?
-
- A: (Jeffery Jonas, Axel Berger, Dave Wilson)
-
- You can. 3.5" and 5.25" are fully hardware compatible and your
- computer will never notice the difference - unless the 5.25 are HD
- drives. As 3.5" drives are able to step faster and draw less
- current, this direction of swapping is totally uncritical. The other
- way round sometimes proves more tricky.
-
- Both 3.5" and 5.25" drives have the same 34 pin interface. 3.5"
- disks spin at 300 RPM thus the 250k/500k data rates. 5.25" disks
- spin at 300 RPM for all but the 1.2 Meg capacity, which is 360 RPM,
- thus the ratios:
-
- 15 sectors per track / 18 sectors per track
- = 300 RPM / 360 RPM
- = 1.2 meg / 1.44 Meg
-
- All 8" floppy disks spin at 360 RPM too.
-
-
- Most old systems didn't use pin 2, 34. That's GOOD NEWS since
- modern 3.5" floppy drives place signals there that the old
- controllers can't handle. The ready/disk changed lines changed from
- the "XT" generation drives to the "AT" generation drives. Older
- floppy drives had jumpers for drive select 0-3 and where to place
- the status signals The "AT" floppy drives assume the "AT" signals
- and usually allow only setting the middle 2 drive selects, thus the
- cable twist nonsense. for completeness, here are the pinouts:
-
- Mini/Micro Floppy Interface
-
- Pin# Description Alternate Functions
- ---- ----------- -------------------
- 1 GND Eject, Disk Change Reset
- 3-33 Odd pins are GND
- 2 High Density
- 4 Head Load In Use, Eject
- 6 Drive Select 3
- 8 Index Pulse +
- 10 Drive Select 0 Motor On A \ IBM twisted
- 12 Drive Select 1 Drive Select B \ cable - both
- 14 Drive Select 2 Drive Select A / drives are
- 16 Motor On Motor On B / strapped DS1
- 18 Direction
- 20 Step
- 22 Write Data
- 24 Write Enable
- 26 Track Zero +
- 28 Write Protect +
- 30 Read Data +
- 32 Select Head
- 34 Disk Changed + Ready +
-
- + signal from drive to controller
-
- The following table is extracted from the CompatiCard manual:
-
- Card 34 37 50 8 Inch Drive
- Signal Name Pin Pin Direction Pin Signal Name
- ============================================================
- Programmable 2 3 ---> 2 Low Current
- Index 8 6 <--- 20 Index
- Drive Select 1/3 12 8 ---> 28 Drive Select 2
- Motor Enable 1/3 16 10 ---> 18 Head Load
- Step Direction 18 11 ---> 34 Direction Select
- Step Pulse 20 12 ---> 36 Step
- Write Data 22 13 ---> 38 Write Data
- Write Enable 24 14 ---> 40 Write Gate
- Track 0 26 15 <--- 42 Track 0
- Write Protect 28 16 <--- 44 Write Protect
- Read Data 30 17 <--- 46 Read Data
- Select Head 1 32 18 ---> 14 Side Select
-
- The odd pins of 34 pin connector to odds of 50 pin connector.
- Pins 21/37 of the DB-37 go to the odd pins on 50 pin connector.
-
-
- Q17: Can I run CP/M on my MSDOS/UNIX/68K machine?
-
- A: (Juergen Weber, Udo Munk, Paul Martin, John D. Baker,
- Mark Litwack, Tilmann Reh, Frank Cringle, Gottfried Ira,
- TJ Merritt)
-
- Available by anonymous ftp from the primary mirror site
- OAK.Oakland.Edu and its mirrors:
-
- simtel/msdos/emulator/zsim241.zip
-
- ZSIM is an (extremely accurate) Z80 emulator (80386/40 -8 MHz Z80)
- in conjunction with a CP/M 80 BIOS, i.e. it simulates a Z80 machine,
- that can run CP/M. Together with the original CP/M operating system
- you have a full Z80-CP/M machine.
-
- If you don't have a CP/M system disk at hand, you can use the
- included public domain CP/M compatible operating system P2DOS.
-
- ZSIM uses CP/M format disks, a ram disk and a hard disk. Supported
- disk formats are CP/M 86 single sided and double sided, but you can
- install any singled sided CP/M format PC drives can physically
- read. So you can use ZSIM to transfer data to MS-Dos. The ram disk
- can be saved to the PC hard disk. The hard disk is in an MS-Dos
- file. A sample hard disk containing the SMALL-C compiler is
- included.
-
- As ZSIM uses an original operating system and CP/M disks it should
- run every CP/M program that does not use special hardware. ZSIM is
- free for personal use. Sources of the CP/M BIOS are included.
-
- On silver.cstpl.com.au (formerly: raven.alaska.edu) you'll find:
-
- /pub/coherent/sources/z80pack.tar.Z.
-
- (Also available as z80pack.tgz at ftp.cs.uni-sb.de in the directory
- /pub/others.)
-
- This is a Z80 CPU emulation completely written in C, an I/O
- emulation for a typical CP/M system also is included. The package
- also comes with the BIOS source for the I/O emulation and a Z80
- cross-assembler. It was developed it under COHERENT but it's known
- that it does work under Linux and SunOS too. You still need a CP/M
- license to get CP/M running or you might try to get one of the free
- available CP/M clones running on it. On a 486/66 DX2 running
- COHERENT it's like a 11Mhz Z80 CPU, so the emulation speed is
- acceptable.
-
- On sunsite.unc.edu you'll find:
-
- /pub/Linux/system/Emulators/cpm-0.2.tar.gz
-
- This package, written by Michael Bischoff, is well integrated into
- the host operating system. It provides options to use either a
- container file for the CP/M disk for full BIOS compatibility, or to
- access the Linux file system through the included BDOS emulator.
- The Z80 emulator is written in 86 assembler and the rest is in C. A
- pre-assembled ZDOS CCP is included with the package. The emulation
- speed on a 486/66 is approximately a 22 Mhz Z80, and on a Pentium/90
- it is 50 Mhz. Full source is included.
-
- On oak.oakland.edu you'll find:
-
- /pub/msdos/emulator/myz80111.zip
-
- + also to be found at:
-
- + http://student.uq.edu.au/~s373718/myz80.html
-
- MYZ80 is a Z80/64180 emulator package. The new 80486, 80386 & 80286
- machines with the fast hard drives and the snazzy OS/2 operating
- systems are such a delight... but for many, the Z80 machines still
- have to be fired up from to time in order to develop code for CP/M
- and the Z80 chip. Well, not any more, thanks to MYZ80.
-
- Other emulators on the market are less than satisfactory solutions.
- Of the small number which can actually run without causing system
- errors under the later versions of DOS, apparently none is capable
- of running real CP/M. Instead they use an emulated version of CP/M
- which is only as accurate as the developers have bothered to make
- it.
-
- MYZ80 can run CP/M 3.0 and ZCPR (which is such a useful Z80
- developer's environment). So if you suffer from less than perfect
- Z80 emulation and slow overall performance, give MYZ80 a try, and
- save the 'real' Z80 machines for those cold winter mornings when
- you really need the heat. The author of MYZ80, Simon Cran, can be
- reached at:
-
- Simeon Cran P/L
- PO Box 5706
- West End, Queensland, AUstralia 4101
- Simeon.Cran@myz80.brisnet.org.au
- + simeon@b022.aone.net.au
-
- (One byte is wrong in the MyZ80 CPM 2.2 bios distributed with the
- registered version 1.20. Subsequent releases will be fixed, but
- everyone who has that version will have trouble accessing the ram
- disk unless the C: drive is accessed first. To fix the problem
- change the byte at offset 16CE in MYZ80.SYS. It will be 03 but
- should be 04.)
-
-
- 22NICE is (like 22DISK) from Sydex. It emulates the application
- program while translating all BDOS and BIOS calls into the
- appropriate DOS calls. This way, it's comparably fast and allows
- for free use of the DOS file system (including paths). You are able
- to map drive/user combinations to particular paths in the DOS file
- system. The emulator can be configured for different emulation modes
- (8080, Z80, and automatic detection) and different terminal
- emulations. There are two run-time options: First, you can create a
- small COM file which will then load both the emulator and the CP/M
- program (contained in a .CPM file to avoid confusions); Second, you
- can build the emulator and the application together to a single COM
- file (which is larger then but needs no run-time module). You can
- obtain a demonstration copy from:
-
- http://www.sydex.com
-
- Yaze is another Z80 and CP/M emulator designed to run on Unix
- systems. It is available via ftp and www at:
-
- ftp://ftp.ping.de/pub/misc/emulators/yaze-1.10.tar.gz
-
- The package consists of an instruction set simulator, a CP/M-2.2
- bios written in C which runs on the Unix host, a monitor which loads
- CP/M into the simulated processor's ram and makes Unix directories
- or files look like CP/M disks, and a separate program (cdm) which
- creates and manipulates CP/M disk images for use with yaze.
-
- Yaze emulates all documented and most undocumented Z80 instructions
- and flag bits. A test program is included in the package which
- compares machine states before and after execution of every
- instruction against results from a real Z80. Yaze is independent of
- the host machine architecture and instruction set, written in ANSI
- standard C, and is provided with full source code under the GNU
- General Public License. It supports CP/M disk geometries as images
- in Unix files or as read-only disks constructed on-the-fly. These
- disks are indistinguishable from real disks for even the most
- inquisitive, low-level CP/M programs and can be mounted and
- unmounted at will during emulation.
-
- Parag Patel provides a z80 and CP/M emulator at:
-
- ftp://ftp.cgt.com/pub/z80/z80.tgz
-
- This archive includes complete sources and has been ported to a
- number of Unix systems as well as DOS and the Mac. Executables for
- both are available in the same directory. It run exceedingly fast
- on DEC Alphas. It can use either PDOS or CP/M 2.2. The PDOS image
- is included with the sources and the modified source for PDOS can be
- found in the same directory as well.
-
- There is a CP/M 2.2 Simulator that simulates an 8080 CPU and CP/M
- 2.2 environment. The heart of the simulator is written in 680x0
- assembly language for speed. It has been tested under DNIX (a SVR2
- compatible with many SVR3, BSD, Xenix, and Sun extensions), on a
- 68030 NeXT, and on a 68030 Amiga running SVR4. One 'benchmark'
- shows that on machines of the 68020/68030 class the simulator
- performs about as well as a 7 MHz Z-80 would. Other tests indicate
- that this is somewhat optimistic. The simulator was posted to
- alt.sources and can be found at:
-
- ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk:/usenet/alt.sources/articles/09000-09999/
- http://wuarchive.wustl.edu:/usenet/alt.sources/articles/09000-09999/
-
- in files 9954 to 9959.
-
-
-
- Q18: Where can I get a boot disk for (insert system name)?
-
- A: (Don Maslin, Herb johnson)
-
- Getting a system disk is pretty easy - if Dina-SIG CP/M System Disk
- Archives has it. However, some dialogue with the requester has
- usually been necessary to assure that we are talking about the same
- Jurassic inhabitant! There are just too many variants in the CP/M
- world. A request with specifics on the computer, an address to mail
- to, and some recompense is all it takes. Since this is an unfunded
- effort on the part of the SIG, the costs of media, mailer, and
- postage must be recouped. In general, and there are variations,
- this runs $3 for the first disk and $2 or less for each additional.
- Eight inch disks are a bit more! However, a swap can be arranged if
- the other party has disks that are not duplicative of ones already
- in the archive. If you can help augment the archive, yours is
- free.
-
- The keeper of the archives can be reached at:
-
- Don Maslin
- 7742 Via Capri
- La Jolla CA 92037
- 619-454-7392
-
- or use the email address given above.
-
-
-
- Q19: What terminal emulation programs are available?
-
- A: (Peter A. Schuman, Howard Goldstein)
-
- The leading CP/M public domain or freeware (author kept copyright
- but distributed it for free) modem programs are:
-
- MDM740 - The last of the "MDMxxx" programs.
-
- IMP245 - This is nice, and works smoothly within what it does.
- What it does, it does very well. IF you have slow floppy
- drives, there is a patch to cut down the receive buffer size.
-
- MEX114 - different from the above two, but minimally functional
- with just a MDM740 overlay. To use all of its fine features,
- you need MEX overlay for your machine.
-
- ZMP15 - This program includes ZMODEM file transfers.
-
- KERMIT - This program may have the widest implementation base
- because it uses only printable characters for its file
- transfers. This is a plus because the MODEM7 family of
- protocols send binary characters that sometimes conflict with
- the underlying system use. It is a minus because many more
- characters must be sent and thus is slower. KERMIT may be
- found on watsun.cc.columbia.edu.
-
- QTERM43F - This is somewhat like using QMODEM on an MSDOS
- machine. Qterm has VT100 emulation mode as well as XMODEM and
- KERMIT protocol. If you can get (or write) a good overlay,
- this is a nice program. (Bug fixes to 43E were released in a
- separate library to bring it up to 43F. The FIX library did
- not include a new binary; users had to do their own patching.)
-
- For high speed transfers, you will probably need interrupt-driven
- routines, which are available for some these. The exact baud rate
- where it becomes necessary varies by system and program.
-
-
- Q209: How do you unpack a .ARK or .ARC file?
-
- A: (Gier Tjoerhom, Don Kirkpatrick)
-
- Archive files are a collection of related files packed together so
- they stay together. They have somewhat been replaced by librarys,
- but are still encountered often. The C or K at the end only
- differentiate the original packing program, they are otherwise
- identical. Some archives are self extracting, just rename them
- with a .com ending and execute them. Others must be unpacked with
- a program, unarc16.ark containing one of the most popular (in a
- self extracting archive). This archive can be found at:
-
- oak.oakland.edu: /pub2/cpm/arc-lbr/unarc16.ark
-
-
- Q21: How do you unpack a .lbr file?
-
- A: (William P. Maloney, Peter A. Schuman)
-
- A .lbr is a single file that contains a number of compressed files
- inside. The files must be extracted from the .lbr before the can be
- used.
-
- One very good library extract program is called lbrext.com. It's
- simple to use and uncrunches the files at the same time. EXAMPLE:
-
- A>lbrext b:myfile.lbr c:*.* uo
-
- This takes the lbrext.com file on 'A' to extract all the files in
- myfile.lbr on 'B' and put them on 'C' uncrunched. A simple 'lbrext'
- first will show you how to use the .com file.
-
- Other popular library maintenance programs are LUE, DELBR, and NULU,
- the latter being one of the best CP/M programs for handling LBRs.
- However, don't use NULU to extract and unsqueeze simultaneously. It
- occasionally screws up doing this, and it can trash an entire disk
- when it does so.
-
- LT31 is also able to unpack libraries and also supports all
- current compression standards (including LZH 2.0!). It is a very
- useful utility and can replace several single programs.
-
-
-
- Q22: What are all these .xQx, .xYx, and .xZx file types?
-
- A: (Don Kirkpatrick)
-
- These are compressed files, a.k.a. squeezed or crunched files. They
- must be uncompressed before they can be used. They differ in the
- compression algorithm; .?Q? was the first generation and .?Y? the
- newest. There are many fine programs that uncompress files, but
- most handle only one or two compression types (e.g. SQ111.ARC and
- CRUNCH24.LBR). One program that will uncompress all three types can
- be found in CRLZH20.LBR.
-
-
- Q23: Are any of these .ARK, .LBR, or CRUNCH utilities on MSDOS?
-
- A: (Geir Tjoerhom, Mike Finn)
-
- Yes, MSDOS versions do exist and can be located as follows:
-
- oak.oakland.edu:/pub/msdos/arcutil/lue220.zip (.LBR)
- ftp.switch.ch:/mirror/simtel/msdos/archiver/arce41a.zip (.ARK)
- nic.funet.fi:/pub/msdos/simtel/compress/alusq.com (.xQx)
- nic.funet.fi:/pub/msdos/simtel/compress/uncr233.zip (.xZx)
- ftp.cts.com/pub/donm/cfx.zip (.LBR, .xQx, .xYx, .xZx)
-
- Also check out the files in oak.oakland.edu: /pub/unix-c/cpm.
-
- CFX is the acronym for Cp/m File eXchange by Carson Wilson. As its
- name suggests, CFX is a tool intended to allow quick access to CP/M
- files. While CFX will operate on standard ASCII files, its main
- strength is its ability to access files stored with the special
- archiving and compression methods native to the CP/M operating
- system. Specifically, CFX can handle files compressed with Roger
- Warren's LZH utilities (.xYx), Steve Greenberg's CRUNCH utilities
- (.xZx), "squeezed" files (.xQx), and archives built using Gary
- Novosielski's Library definition (.LBR).
-
-
-
- Q24: Why does my Kaypro drop characters above (insert baud rate)?
-
- A: (Jeff Wieland, Stephen Griswold, Don Kirkpatrick)
-
- The basic problem is that updating the screen takes too long and some
- incoming characters are missed. The exact baud rate where
- characters begin to disappear depends on the configuration of the
- Kaypro and the terminal program. Generally, the older non-graphic
- Kaypros will run at a much higher baud rate before characters start
- to disappear. Stock Kaypros are not interrupt driven and the BIOS
- ROM has several built-in delays, which demanded too much of a
- 2x/4x/10's time.
-
- Several things can be done to help the situation. If your Kaypro
- came with the MITE software package, you can use it for high speed
- terminal emulation. A Kaypro 2X using MITE can go as fast as 19200
- bps. MITE uses interrupts to achieve this.
-
- Sometimes the problem can be ignored. A 2X will drop characters at
- 300 baud using Kermit-80. File transfers work fine at 19200 bps.
- It is always a good ides to run file transfers in the quiet mode if
- terminal mode is dropping characters as then the display update time
- is minimized.
-
- The graphic-equipped Kaypros can be significantly improved in
- terminal mode just by turning off the status line at the bottom of
- the screen. As most terminal programs have an initialize sequence
- available, just send the no status line command to the Kaypro -
- <ESC>, C, 7 [1BH, 43H, 37H in hex].
-
- There are several hardware changes that can lessen or eliminate the
- problem. There is a speed modification for the 1983 Kaypro-II's &
- IV's requiring changing some chips to faster versions and outfitting
- the back with a toggle switch. Upgrading to a MicroCornucopia MAX-8
- or Advent TurboROM also helps.
-
- If your machine is equipped with the Advent TurboROM and you choose
- to run QTERM, Don Kirkpatrick can send you an interrupt driver that
- allows the graphic-enhanced Kaypros to work just fine to at least
- 2400 baud.
-
-
- Q25: What is an Advent TurboROM?
-
- A: (Don Maslin)
-
- The Advent TurboROM is a firmware upgrade to the Kaypro. It
- replaces the original Kaypro system ROM and provides flexible
- configurations, additional disk formats, greater speed, and bug
- fixes. Contact point for this is:
-
- The Computer Journal
- P.O. Box 3900
- Citrus Heights, CA 95611-3900
- Voice: (800) 424-8825 or (916) 722-4970
- Fax: (916) 722-7480
- Email tcj@psyber.com
- Web page http://www.psyber.com/~tcj
-
-
- Q26: How can I add a hard drive to my CP/M machine?
-
- A: (Don Kirkpatrick, Herb Johnson)
-
- If you have a Kaypro, TCJ - The Computer Journal can sell you a hard
- drive conversion kit. (See Q20.) Emerald Microware no longer offers
- hardware support.
-
- Tilmann Reh, an engineer in Germany, has designed an IDE hard drive
- interface that plugs into a Z-80 socket, and described it in The
- Computer Journal magazine as the Generic IDE (GIDE). He has produced
- a number of kits that include the circuit board, parts, and even a
- time of day clock chip. Several people have bought these (as of Jan
- 1996) and are beginning to write software to support these on
- various Z-80 based computers (including ADAM and TRS-80 as well as
- CP/M based systems).
-
- Europeans can contact Tilmann Reh directly. In the USA, Tilmann may
- refer you to a US distributor. The current US distributor is The
- Computer Journal which has a GIDE Web page (See Q23.)
-
-
- Q27: What belongs in the unpopulated board area on a Kaypro?
-
- A: (Don Maslin, Don Kirkpatrick, Peter A. Schuman)
-
- A clock and modem go there. The modem is rather useless as it is
- only 300 baud. The clock/calendar is useful. The Computer Journal,
- issue 64, Nov./Dec. 1993, describes the installation procedure.
- There is also an area on a 2X for a hard drive interface.
-
-
-
- Q28: What is The Computer Journal?
-
- A: (David Baldwin)
-
- The Computer Journal has had many articles on CP/M and Z-System and
- has all back issues available. TCJ also sells software that was
- formerly from Sage MicroSystems East and Kaypro items from Chuck
- Stafford.
-
- The focus of The Computer Journal is source code and schematics for
- "do-it-yourself" software and hardware projects. We feature mostly
- low level projects in hardware, assembly language, 'C', and
- sometimes Forth. Our articles cover PC's, microcontrollers, and
- embedded and older systems.
-
- In general, we cover software and hardware that one person can work
- with, where you can "do it by yourself". This includes common
- programming languages and boards and systems where you can identify
- (and get) the parts and get code to make it work. Source code from
- the articles is posted on the TCJ Web pages and BBS so you can
- download it instead of typing it in.
-
- The subscription rate is $24 for 6 issues or $44 for 12.
- Subscriptions may be sent to:
-
- The Computer Journal
- P.O. Box 3900
- Citrus Heights, CA 95611-3900
- Voice: (800) 424-8825 or (916) 722-4970
- Fax: (916) 722-7480
-
- The The Computer Journal has it's own mailing list. To subscribe,
- send an email message to 'Majordomo@psyber.com' with
-
- subscribe list-tcj <your@email.address>
- end
-
- as the body of the message. 'list-tcj' is a digested mailing list -
- the messages are collected during the day and then sent out to
- subscribers in the middle of the night. That way, you only get one
- email message from the list on any day.
-
- The Computer Journal (TCJ) is also on the Internet.
-
- Email tcj@psyber.com
- Web page http://www.psyber.com/~tcj
-
-
-
- Q29: Are there other magazines supporting CP/M?
-
- A: (Jay Sage)
-
- The Z-Letter from David McGlone is no more. Classic Computing
- (formerly Historically Brewed), edited by David Greelish is
- available at:
-
- Classic Computing Press
- 5227 Seaspray Ave.
- Jacksonville, FL 32244
-
- These magazines may list other publications, support groups and CP/M
- supporting companies.
-
-
-
- Q30: Does anybody support Amstrad machines?
-
- A: (Matthew Phillips, Bill Roch, Howard Fisher)
-
- WACCI on http://users.ox.ac.uk/~chri0264/wowww.html includes:
-
- A directory of suppliers for Amstrad CPC and PCW machines
- An "email helpline" of contacts who are willing to give advice
- A listing of other Amstrad user groups and magazines
- Forthcoming events in the Amstrad world
- The WACCI PD Library listings - both Amstrad and CP/M stuff.
-
- There is also information on WACCI itself, the UK's biggest Amstrad
- CPC user club, including details of subscription rates.
-
- Amstrad support is also available from Bill Roch. He offers
- software, hardware and does repairs on the PCW's - 8256, 8512 and
- 9512. He may provide the most support for the wonderful Amstrad in
- the U.S.
-
- Bill Roch
- 4067 Arizona Avenue
- Atascadero, CA 93422
- (805) 466-8440 - phone
- (805) 461-1666 - fax
- broch@thegrid.net - email
-
- The descendant of Locomotive Software, a developer of software on
- the PCW (and CPCs) for Amstrad, are now with LocoScript Software.
- Their web page is mainly concerned with proprietary word processing
- software, but has some CP/M related stuff and has links to other
- useful PCW CP/M related sites. Try:
-
- Howard Fisher
- LocoScript Software
- 10 Vincent Works
- Dorking, Surrey H4 3HJ, UK
- Tel 01306 747757
- Fax 01306 885529
- sales@locomotive.com
- http://www.locomotive.com
-
-
-
- Q31: Does anybody support Sharp Machines?
-
- A: (Maurice Hawes, Mike Mallett)
-
- The SHARP USERS CLUB, based in the U.K. but with members in Europe,
- South Africa, and Australia. The SUC started in 1980 and its quality
- Magazine, published 3 times a year, covers ALL Sharp computers,
- including the latest PC laptops. The SUC has a large library of PD
- software for all the older Sharp machines such as:
-
- Z80 machines (Sharp Basic Tape/Disk OS or CP/M programs): MZ-80K,
- MZ-80B, MZ-80A, MZ-700, MZ-800, MZ-3500, and PC-3201 (The PC-3201
- was known as the ZY-3200 in the USA).
-
- Also Z80 machines that were sold mainly or exclusively in Japan
- e.g. X1, MZ-2500.
-
- Early 8086 machines (CP/M-86 or non-IBM Sharp MS-DOS programs):
- MZ-5500, MZ-5600, 'SHARPWRITER', PC-5000 'Bubble' machine.
-
- The SUC can supply hardware upgrades and documentation for many of
- the above machines. Contact :
-
- Maurice Hawes
- Sharp Users Club
- 6 Belle Vue
- The Esplanade
- Weymouth
- Dorset DT4 8DR United Kingdom
- phone: +44 1305 783518
-
- Email enquiries may be sent via mike.mallett@zetnet.co.uk.
-
-
- Q32: What is ZCPR and the Z System?
-
- A: (Jay Sage, Mike Finn, Don Kirkpatrick, Dave Baldwin)
-
- The original ZCPR was written in Z80 code and was called the "Z80
- Command Processor Replacement". It was a drop-in replacement for
- the Digital Research CCP (Console Command Processor) and adhered to
- the 800H space restriction. ZCPR2 (February 14, 1983) was the first
- experiment in greatly extending the power of the command processor.
- It added additional memory modules for supporting such things as
- multiple commands on a line, a dynamically reconfigurable command
- search path, and directory names associated with drive/user areas.
- The ideas and implementation in ZCPR2 were only half-baked, and they
- came to logical fruition in ZCPR3 (Richard Conn's 3.0 and Jay Sage's
- 3.3 and 3.4).
-
- ZCPR3 gives you UNIX-like flexibility. Features implemented include
- shells, aliases, I/O redirection, flow control, named directories,
- search paths, custom menus, passwords, on line help, and greater
- command flexibility. ZCPR3 can be found on many BBS and SIMTEL
- mirrors. The Z System commercial version is available for a nominal
- fee from The Computer Journal. Further details can be found in the
- text "ZCPR3, The Manual", by Richard Conn, ISBN 0-918432-59-6.
-
- You can find a detailed history of the development of ZCPR and the Z
- System in Jay Sage's column in issue #54 of The Computer Journal.
- This article celebrated the 10th anniversary of ZCPR, which was
- first released on February 2, 1982. His "ZCPR33 User's Guide" also
- has a section on the history.
-
- There still are active Z-nodes supporting Z-system and many RCP/M's
- supporting CP/M as well as some special interests. As of November
- 7, 1995, the known BBS's supporting the Z-System are:
-
- Z-Node Sysop Telephone Type of BBS
- 3 Jay Sage 617 965 7046 PC 33,600 baud
- 5 Ian Cottrell 613 829 2530 Z-Syst 2,400 baud
- 6 Finn, Morgen, Isaac 215 535 0344 Z-Syst 2,400 baud
- 9 Don Maslin 619 454 8412 PC 14,400 baud
- 33 Jim Sands 405 237 9282 Z-Syst 2,400 baud
- 36 Richard Mead 626 799 1632 PC 28,800 baud
- 45 Richard Reid (Ken) 713 937 8886 PC ? baud
- Michael McCarrey 509 489 5835 Z-Syst 2,400 baud
- Wil Schuemann 702 887 0408 PC 28,800 baud
- Wil Schuemann 702 887 0507 Z-Syst 9,600 baud (Soon)
- TCJ Dave Baldwin 916 722 5799 PC 14,400 baud
-
- There is also a Z-node in Munich, Germany,
- 51 Helmut Jungkunz +49.8801.2453 28,800 baud
- and one in Perth, Australia.
- 62 +61 9 450 0200
-
-
- Q33: What ever happened to the Z800?
-
- A: (Ralph Becker-Szendy, Frank Zsitvay)
-
- The Z800 was planned to be NMOS, and was finally implemented as the
- Z280 in CMOS, five years late. And it does have a 4kB/8kB paged
- MMU, and separate I/D space, and cache. There are small differences
- between the Z800 preliminary spec and the final Z280 specification.
- The call for Z280 end-of-life last time buys went out in December,
- 1995.
-
- The Z180 was not an outgrowth of the Z800. It was a joint effort
- between Zilog and Hitachi. The first two versions of the HD64180
- were slightly different from the current Z180. The current HD64180
- and Z180 are identical, and both have flags in one of the control
- registers to emulate the earlier versions. The changes are mostly
- bus timing, as the HD64180 was designed to interface with Motorola
- 6800 style peripherals as well as Intel and Zilog, which wasn't too
- strange since Hitachi second sources some Motorola 6800 series
- products.
-
-
- Q34: What is the status of the Z380?
-
- A: (Ralph Becker-Szendy)
-
- The Z380 is a 32-bit version binary-compatible upgrade of the
- HD180. The 18MHz part in the 100-pin QFP package is shipping. The
- plan for a PGA-package for the Z380 has been scrapped. Zilog is
- working on a 25MHz part, but it isn't quite ready yet. The
- "Preliminary Product Specfication", Zilog part number DC6003-02,
- documents the part. According to the manual, the plans include a
- 40MHz part, but the time frame is uncertain.
-
-
- Q35: What is the KC80?
-
- A: (Ralph Becker-Szendy)
-
- There was an announcement in the trade press about a deal between
- Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Zilog. Kawasaki has developed
- something called the KC80, which is a Z80 (no MMU, extended address
- space, or 32-bit enhancements), but speeded up to execute most
- instructions in one or two cycles, and running at 20MHz. Zilog has
- the rights to the design. The catch is that Zilog is currently not
- planning to sell it as a chip.
-
-
- Q36: What is the S-100 bus (also known as IEEE-696 bus)?
-
- A: (Herb Johnson)
-
- Among the earliest microcomputers offered to electronic hobbyists in
- the mid-1970's was the Altair 8800 by MITS. It was offered as a $400
- kit in an article in the January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics
- magazine. Each functional block of the computer, such as the
- processor, memory, or I/O required at that time many logic or memory
- chips each. So a card was designed for each function, connected
- together by plugging into a common bus of parallel connections or
- "motherboard". The function and timing of signals on the 100 pins of
- that bus became known as the "S-100 bus". The Altair was distinctive
- for its "front panel" which displayed binary address and data on
- LED's and which provided toggle switches to control the processor,
- much like minicomputers of the era.
-
- While not the first microcomputer or microcontroller to be offered
- for public sale, the Altair 8800 is often cited as the "first
- personal computer" as it was a widely accepted and visually
- recognized product; it recieved a lot of press coverage inside and
- outside the electronics industry; and it set a manufacturing
- standard for a new industry. It and its successors were certainly
- early yet enduring leaders in affordable personal, business, and
- industrial computers. Only the IMSAI 8080 compares in recognition
- value among hobbyists, but the Altair is often cited by the popular
- press.
-
- At first, MITS (and almost immediately others) produced cards which
- were compatible to the Altair bus. Soon, IMSAI and others followed
- with the production of competitive yet (somewhat) compatible
- systems. The S-100 bus evolved as other manufacturers, notibly
- IMSAI, made slight changes to the Altair bus signals and improved
- the front panel. Yet other manufacturers used digital designs that
- either depended on special signals from their own cards, or had
- signal timing requirements that varied between manufacturers. Over
- time, these differences and the limits of the original Altair/IMSAI
- produced a number of manufacturer-specific bus variations for
- extended addressing, bus operations, memory refresh and so on. MITS,
- IMSAI, Cromenco, Compupro, Ithica Intersystems and Northstar were
- among the major S-100 systems manufacturers of the time. Card
- manufacturers are too numerous to list. Most S-100 systems used the
- 8080, Z80, or 8085 processors, but some companies produced cards
- with almost any available 8 or 16-bit processor.
-
- Bus signal differences were finally addressed in 1983 with the
- publication of the IEEE-696 standard by the Institute of Electrical
- and Electronic Engineers. The standard was previously in use
- primarily by Compupro and Ithica. As CP/M personal systems went to
- single-board designs with no bus at all, the introduction of new
- S-100 designs peaked. Further competition, price pressures, and
- finally the IBM PC caused new S-100 system designs for business and
- personal use to drop in the mid-1980's. A notible system of the era
- was the Heath\Zenith Z-100, a dual processor 8085/8088 system that
- could run CP/M 80, CP/M 86 and MS-DOS: and *very* similar to the
- popular Compupro 8\16 system. Zenith sold thousands of Z-100's to
- the military. Incidently, many systems of the mid-1980s began to
- run other operating systems, such as CP/M-compatible Turbodos, ZCPR
- and Z-system; and various UNIX-compatible OS's on 68000's, 80286's,
- and other processors.
-
- New IEEE-696 systems were subsequently developed through the end of
- the 1980's, primarily for industrial and/or development (non-CP/M)
- applications, particularly where multiprocessing or speed were
- important. Up to at least 1993, Compupro and Cromemco still
- supported these systems at commercial prices, but apparently they
- did not support their prior CP/M systems except as cards and
- documentation for sale. New S-100 cards were also introduced
- throughout the 1980's, but declining through the end of the decade.
- Zenith's Z-100 system is supported by some active user groups and
- on-line maillists such as Usenet's comp.sys.zenith.z100. Northstar
- systems owners correspond occasionally on comp.sys.northstar.
-
- One person who provides S-100 cards, documention, and some support
- is Herb Johnson. As "Dr. S-100" he wrote (1994-96) a regular column
- in The Computer Journal (www.psyber.com/~tcj/) and corresponds with
- S-100 and IEEE-696 owners. As of 1996 he can be reached via The
- Computer Journal or:
-
- Herbert R. Johnson
- Dr. S-100
- 59 Main Blvd
- Ewing NJ 08618
- (609) 771-1503
- Email: hjohnson@pluto.njcc.com
- Web page: http://pluto.njcc.com/~hjohnson/
-
-
- Q37: Anyone know a good source for cross assemblers?
-
- A: (Roger Hanscom, Mike Morris)
-
- There are a variety of sources for cross platform development tools.
-
- The C Users' Group (1601 W. 23rd St., Suite 200, Lawrence, KS
- 66046-2700) has a library of software that includes all kinds of
- development tools. Source code is distributed with many of them.
- They charge $4/disk and $3.50 s&h per order, and can supply 3.5" or
- 5.25" DOS formats. Those of you seeking assemblers or disassemblers
- will be particularly interested in volumes number 398, 363 (2
- disks), 348, 346 (2 disks), 338 (2 disks), 335 (4 disks), 316, 303,
- and 292(4 disks). They also market a CD-ROM of volumes 100 through
- 364 for $49.95 list (it can usually be found at computer shows for
- $25 to $35). They can be reached at 913/841-1631 FAX: 913/841-2624.
-
- The Circuit Cellar BBS is on-line 24 hours per day with some cross
- development tools, particularly for CPU's that are commonly used as
- controllers. They have a Courier HST running 2400/9600 bps at
- 203/871-0549, and another line that will do up to 14.4k bps (8N1) at
- 203/871-1988. Both of these numbers are in Connecticut.
-
- The Motorola BBS is in Austin, Texas, on 512/440-3733. They have
- downloadable cross development products mostly for the 68xx and
- 68xxx architectures. Like the Circuit Cellar BBS, this BBS seems to
- specialize in micro-controller development. Many of these files can
- also be accessed over the network on bode.ee.ualberta.ca
- (129.128.16.96).
-
- 2500AD software lists a Z80 assembler, a Z80 C compiler (that
- includes the assembler in the package), a Z280 assembler, a Z280 C
- compiler (that includes the assembler), and a Z380 assembler.
-
- Don't forget to look in the old familiar places, such as
- oak.oakland.edu and wuarchive.wustl.edu.
-
- The Walnut Creek CDROM has some tools from some of the sources
- listed above on the CP/M CDROM.
-
-
- =====================================================================
- End of FAQ
-