ftp.whtech.com/ftp.whtech.com.tar/ftp.whtech.com/Geneve/mdos/80column_funnelweb/readme.txt

Text File | 2006-10-19 | 13KB | 461 lines

.LM 8;RM 72;CE 5

FUNNELWEB Vn 4.40 Oct /30/ 91
Universal Utility Environment
-----------------------------
.FI


(1) General Notes
~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FUNNELWEB Vn 4.40 is a powerful
operating and utility system for the
TI-99/4a computer.  It will run on a
minimal disk-based system with 32K
expansion as an Extended Basic program
(TI or Myarc XBII), as an assembly
program file (E/A or TI-Wr), or with a
Horizon style auto-booting RAMdisk with
any or no cartridge at all.  It
supports in a single seamless system a
complete and improved range of standard
utilities (E/A, TI-Wr, Disk Manager)
and menu/loading facilities for a wide
range of other programs.  Cartridge
swapping from XB is now largely
unnecessary.  The basic TI-99/4a system
was always and still is the easiest of
computers to use, and FUNNELWEB makes
it just as easy for the advanced
facilities too.  The more powerful the
system the better it goes.  A further
set of files is available to exploit
the extra power of V9938 based systems,
the DIJIT AVPC card, the Mechatronics
80 column unit, and the Geneve 9640 in
GPL mode.  Recent versions give some
support for hard disk systems using the
Myarc HFDC so that the FUNNELWEB system
can be run from its own directory on
the hard disk, leaving the "DSK1
emulation" free for use as work-disk.

The program has been written entirely
at Funnelweb Farm and is distributed as
"FAIRWARE".  It is not to be sold nor
distributed with excessive copy fees,
nor ADVERTISED as part of ANY
commercial sale, nor placed on
copy-protected disks.  Placing of these
files on any electronic network or BBS
without explicit permission (to be
renewed for each new version) of the
authors is expressly forbidden.

The Vn 3.0 and later programs are NOT
IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN, but "fairware",
with all rights reserved by the
authors.  No responsibility is accepted
for consequences of its use.  Please
refer to the Fairware Notes at the end
of this file.  The FUNNELWEB package is
issued with no commercial copyrighted
utility programs on it, and we request
that the package be passed on in its
original form only, complete with ALL
document files.

The equipment that you will need to run
FUNNELWEB is the same as needed for
TI-Writer or E/A except of course that
the specific module is not necessary.

Absolutely necessary

.CE 4
(1) TI-99/4a console
(2) 32K memory expansion
(3) Disk drive + controller
(4) Module/RAMdisk to load it

Highly desirable
.CE 5

(4) Two or more disk drives
(5) RS232/PIO and printer
(6) A RAMdisk or several
(7) V9938 80 column system

Other items that you will need to make
full use of FUNNELWEB Vn 4.40 are
.CE 4

(1)  E/A, TI-Wr manuals
(2)  c99-REL4 package
(3)  Your utility files


(2) Files and Documentation
~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The FUNNELWEB package contains a number
of files besides this one (50 files in
all).  These may be wholly or partially
archived on the distribution disk(s),
using Barry Boone's Archiver III
program - also "fairware",

.LM +3;.RM -3
LOAD, FW - the main program in XB and
E/A program formats

ED,EE  - files for both Text Editor and
Programmer's Editor

FO,FP  - Formatter program files

AS,AT  - Assembler program files

CF,CG  - Configuration program to set
preferences in FW and LOAD and to set
up User Lists

SYSCON - Sample configuration file for
use with CF/CG

C1,C2  - character definition files

QD and QF - Quick Disk Directory called
up by <AID> from main program or by the
Assembler and Formatter

DR,DS (or perhaps on disk as DR40,DR41)
- DiskReview program called from
Central Menu Option #8 or as initial
autoload

EA,LL,SL - system auxiliary loader
files for EA Program and Load/Run,
LowLoader, and ScriptLoader

UL,D1  - sample User List files

ML  - a sample Multi-List file

SCRIPT - sample load script

LH - LineHunter assembly
programmers' search utility

FSAVE - improved Save utility for
generating E/A program files

CP,C99PFIO;O - auxiliary files for use
with Clint Pulley's c99 Rel 4

CT8K/O - installs FUNNELWEB as menu
item in E/A + 8K RAM cartridges

LDFW - Dis/Fix 80 loader for FW from
Minimem, E/A and Myarc XBII

XB4THLD - loader for TI-Forth from XB
cartridge.

.LM -3;RM +3
Detailed documentation of the various
aspects of the program is to be found
in the FWDOC files,
.LM +3;RM -3

FWDOC/LOAD - general information on
system and disk organisation, the XB
user's list, and program-wide
facilities

FWDOC/TIWR - use of the package as a
substitute for the TI-Writer module

FWDOC/EASM - programmer's editor and
assembler operation, and program
loading functions

FWDOC/UTIL - notes on utility programs
in the package used with FUNNELWEB

FWDOC/REPT - chronicle of bugs, fixes,
updates, problems, and background
information.  Make sure you read this
file

FWDOC/SCLL - details of Low-Loader,
Script-Loader, Assembly MAKE, and User
and Multi-List files

FWDOC/DR40 and FWDOC/DR41 - use of the
DiskReview menu option in the 40 column
version.

.LM -3;RM +3
The supplementary file collection
for 80 column use with the DIJIT AVPC
and other V9938 based systems contains

.LM +3;RM -3
ED,EE (may be found as ED80, ED81 on
the distribution disk) - 80 column
Editor files which also have a 40
column edit mode

DR,DS (may be as DR80, DR81) - 80
column DiskReview program

ML (may be as ML80) - the 80-column
Multi List program

FWDOC/EDAV - supplementary editor and
general docs for the 40 and 80 column
operation with AVPC, TIM, Geneve,
Mechatronics systems

FWDOC/DR80, /DR81, and /DR82 - docs for
80 col DiskReview

FWDOC/PSRV - details of useful program
services, pointers, and data available
in the FW interface block.  See also
FWDOC/REPT.

.LM -3;RM +3

In order to fit the files on a DSDD
disk they have been partially archived.
Enough files (-READ-ME, LOAD, FW, ED,
EE, DR, DS, QD) are left unarchived to
get started on any system.  Barry
Boone's FAIRWARE Archiver can be used
to unpack the other files.  The
complete unarchived set of files will
normally be supplied only on an
80-track DSQD disk.  The DOC files in
the 40-col group contain Formatter
commands, while the DOC files in the
80-col group should be printed from the
Editor.  In particular FWDOC/PSRV
contains assembly source code examples
containing "at" signs.


(3) Update Notes
~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vn 4.40 is a further refinement and
extension of the FUNNELWEB system, and
retains full external compatibility
with prior versions.  Significant
changes, apart from minor bug-fixes,
from Vn 4.31 are

.LM +3;RM -3

(i) A flashing cursor with auto
accelerating repeat has replaced the
static sprite underline cursor, with
timing delays compensated for processor
speed.  GROM address setting now should
support Module Library devices.  More
externally accessible program services
and new documentation are provided.

(ii) DM-1000 files MG/MH and Disk-Patch
file DP were dropped after Vn 4.30.
They still can be used with Vn 4.40.
Use of the LOAD only reload path from
DM-1000 is no longer advisable.

(iii) Script-Load and the Assembler now
support a multiple file MAKE function.

(iv)  Error indication for Duplicate
DEFs and Unresolved REFs has been
improved in the object loaders, and
Script-Load now has a full error
handler with extended Unresolved REF
display.

(v)  The 80 column Editor now supports
a 40 column Edit mode.  Program file
checking has been dropped for extra
speed from the Editor SDs as
superfluous now DR is here, and the
original TI RE bug is fixed.  This has
made room for --

(vi)  Double-View in the 80-col Editor
which allows page scrolled access to
parts of one or more files from SD
without further disk activity.

(vii)  DiskReview now has some support
for DSKU file comments, and file read
in for View is faster, and some error
reporting improved.

(viii) In UL files the <esc> path has
been modified to suit better the
revised <esc> handling in the main
program.  It would be a good idea to
transfer your existing lists on to the
new template by Fetching the old file,
Making Reserve of it, Fetching the new
UL, eXchanging data, and then Saving
back under the original filename.

(ix)  A new class of Multi User List
files has been introduced.

(x)  Various other auxiliary system
programs have been revised, in
particular CF/CG, LDFW, CT8K/O, LL, SL,
AS/AT, and ED/EE.  Replace all files to
be on the safe side.


.LM -3;RM +3

(4) Fairware Notes
~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your letters and contributions in
appreciation of this program will be
welcome.  Many suggestions from
correspondents have found their way
into the system already.  If you wish
to interface to FUNNELWEB at the
assembly language level, consult the
FWDOC/PSRV and FWDOC/REPT files and
articles (Living with Spiders) that
have been published (not much updating
needed for this version) and contact us
for further details if necessary.

The fundamental design policy remains
that all capabilities be accessible
with the XB module in place, and to
create a system which makes the most of
the strengths of the TI-99 system,
without straining to imitate any other
OS.  The FUNNELWEB system is naturally
designed to enhance the hardware that
we have here and developed on that
hardware.  Extensions to exploit fully
new hardware really require hands-on
development, but even so wherever
possible system extensions are made for
significant new or other hardware that
comes to our notice, using whatever
information is available on device
capabilities and foibles, and just
flying blind.  The system in use has 2
Horizon 192K RAMdisks, Quest (HV99)
512K RAMdisk, TI RS232 card, Myarc FDC,
2 Chinon DSDD and 2 National 5" 80
track drives, various E/A + RAM
cartridges, and the DIJIT AVPC card.
The backup system has Myarc 512K
RAMdisk and Mechatronics 80-col unit.
Specific extra program capabilities or
bug work-arounds have been made, in the
flying blind category, for the Geneve
9640, and Corcomp FDC.  Experience with
the Myarc HFDC has been so bad that
plans to support this device in
DiskReview have been abandoned.

No tangible assistance or direct
cooperation for the FUNNELWEB
development has come from ANY hardware
maker, with the exception of DIJIT
Systems, whose AVPC card (sadly, no
longer produced) gave a major new
direction to the programming effort and
reason for staying with the TI-99/4q.
Also Myarc Inc returned the XB-II files
to us on our own disk with no other
form of communication ever, following
repeated queries on XB-II and advice to
them of disk DSR bugs.  Gary Bowser of
OPA provided the Vn 8.14 HRD ROS.  All
support other than these items has come
from individuals and User Groups.

Any commercial software or hardware
producer wishing to claim compatibility
of a product with Funnelweb in
advertising is advised to have us check
this first.

As for each "fairware" user's
obligations, we can suggest only that
you judge the program on its intrinsic
merits, best measuring its worth by how
much you use it as compared to other
"fairware" or commercial programs that
you have.  Even individual components
of the package are as substantial
programs as many that are offered as
commercial items at $10-20 or more
apiece.  If you use it, be honest
enough to take the trouble to show your
appreciation, but if you try it and
decide not to use it, then please just
extend the free trial by passing it on
to someone else.  Our normal practice
is to send the very latest revision in
response to substantial contributions,
so please indicate the latest version
you have, and your disk capabilities
when you write to us.  FUNNELWEB is NOT
sold to order, and any $$ received are
assumed to be in appreciation for use
of past issues.

If contributions are made by check
(Postal IMOs are no longer accepted by
Australia Post) they should be made
payable to Tony or Will, or Will alone
(rather than "and").

All letters needing an answer will be
responded to sooner or later, but we
just can't afford the time for, or cost
of routine mailing of updates and don't
volunteer to do so.  If and when
updates are issued they will be placed
in distribution through our regular,
and/or recent contacts, and we do not
offer to provide distribution from
Funnelweb Farm at near nominal cost or
less.  Any renumbered issue represents
a great deal of work, not always
immediately apparent and which gets
more and more difficult as the limits
of the 99/4a are stretched.  Our norma
practice is to release minor fixes and
improvements as soon as they are made.
If you write new utilities for
FUNNELWEB please to let us know the
details.


Oct 30th / 1991
Tony and Will McGOVERN
215 Grinsell St.,
Kotara, NSW  2289
AUSTRALIA

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