A surprise hidden in the C128 is it's ability to run CP/M software. Most C128
users will say they've never heard of CP/M, and would insist that "their C128"
doesn't have CP/M. It's really that obscure to some people.
Something that stirred my interest in CP/M was a list I found of some of the
many public domain applications and utilities. I now consider CP/M
indispensable for my writing and printing tasks. Here's a brief look at some of
the software available.
The Hardware
I'm using the latest version of CP/M 3.0, dated May 1987. This new version
fully supports the 1581 disk drive and the 1750 RAM expansion unit. The 1581's
3.5 inch "micro floppy" disks are formatted for 790K of storage. The 1750 is
used as a RAM disk, ith a capacity of 512K. The 1750 REU is by far the most
powerful hardware add-on for the C128. As a RAM disk, it allows for almost
instantaneous access to programs and data.
Booting CP/M
My CP/M boot disk has been customized using the KEYFIG.COM program. KEYFIG
allows any key on the keyboard to be redefined as any character, string of
characters, byte value, or special CP/M command. I've changed the RUN/STOP key
to CTRL-C, which is frequently used to stop program execution. My function keys
have been redefined to the commands I use most frequently, such as listing the
directory.
On booting the system, my boot disk uses the CONF.COM program to set up the
screen colors, printer, and feel of the keyboard. SETDEF.COM runs next. It
defines the "search path" so CP/M will automatically search each disk drive
while looking for programs. Utilities to copy, edit, rename, view, and erase
files are then copied to the RAM disk so they will be instantly available when
called. The next command, DATE SET, asks for the date and time.
One reason I suspect more C128 owners don't use CP/M is that they don't perceive
it to be "user friendly" enough for their tastes. To dispel that myth, the last
program in my boot up sequence is FRONT51.COM. It is a menu shell that could be
described as a GEOS-like deskTop environment without the graphics. Although not
nearly as sophisticated as GEOS in many respects, it does allow for "point and
shoot" operation. If a data file is selected, it's associated application is
first loaded, much like clicking on a geoPaint document and having geoPaint load
with the document.
The boot sequence just described takes place automatically with the help of a
PROFILE.SUB file. PROFILE.SUB is a text file consisting of commands to
automatically run during startup. It can be created with any standard CP/M text
editor.
Writer's Delight
VDE266.COM is an excellent word processor patterned after the famous WordStar.
This latest version includes most of word processing features recognized as
standard for the Commodore 128, and many features, such as macros and
hyphenation, found in larger usiness software packages. All in all, this is a
word processor you should have if you plan on working in CP/M mode.
Other public domain writing and printing programs abound in the CP/M world.
DICTNU.COM is a diction checker. Run DICTNU on a text file, and it will pick
out awkward words and phrases from a predefined list. A companion program,
SUGGEST.COM, suggests alternate phrases. FIG.COM is a FOG Index Generator. It analyzes a text file for readability and prints out a report of the grade level required to read and understand the file. The report also contains a count of the number of w
rds used in sentences, he length of words by percentage, and the number of words
and sentences in the file. SPELL is an interactive spell checker that is as
full-featured as any I've seen for native 128 mode. It is supplied ready to
run, with a 90,000 word dictionary. Running from the 1750 REU (CP/M's drive
M:), SPELL is also probably the fastest spell checker to run on the 128.
Text formatters are another area of public domain CP/M software that hasn't been
overlooked. ROFF4.COM (Run OFF) is a standard formatter that uses dot commands
many EasyScript users are already familiar with. It can be used to
automatically number pages, place footnotes, create headers and footers, and
will even produce indexes and bibliographies. Another type of text formatter is
EP.COM (Epson Print). EP includes a collection of 70 letter quality (YES!
LETTER QUALITY) fonts. Although this program prints slowly, with three to six
passes of the print head for each line of text, the quality of printing
surpasses anything else available for the C128. It can fully justify text and
produce multiple columns. There is no limit to the number of different fonts
that can be included in a document. This is a truly amazing program.
Other printing programs deserve mention. FANFOLD13.COM reformats a text file
for printing on both sides of fanfold tractor feed paper. It has special
compression routines for removing extra linefeeds and combining lines of text.
It can even format text for printing 132 characters per line with 99 lines per
page for maximum paper savings. PR3.COM is a public domain version of Sideways.
It reformats text files for printing in landscape mode, that is, across the
length of a page.
Useful Utilities
CHN31.COM (CHaiN) is a utility to make COMmand files that execute a chain of
commands when run. This handy utility makes it possible to combine several
different commands into one command, or to change the syntax of a particular
command to something more to your liking. One example, on my disks, the command
"MEX" does the following: LOADKEY TERM.KEY; MEX144; LOADKEY DEFAULT.KEY.
LOADKEY.COM is a program that can load a set of keyboard definitions saved with
SAVEKEY.COM, (of course)! This enables you to have different keyboard setups
for different programs, and install them automatically whenever you run a
program. In the example above, TERM.KEY is a file containing the keyboard setup
I prefer to use with MEX, an XMODEM terminal program.
Although ARC and LBR files have recently appeared for C64/C128 machines, CP/M
folk have been using them for years. The best program in this genre is VLU.COM
(Video Library Utility). It is entirely menu driven. Files within a library
can be viewed, printed, or extracted with only a few simple key presses. It is
effortless to use with multiple disk drives. It would be wonderful if someone
would produce a program along these lines for the C128 or C64 in native mode.
CP/M disk utilities add an incredible level of versatility to the C128. Used
with the 1571 and 1581 disk drives, CP/M disk utilities can transform the 128
into a machine that can use disks from practically any microcomputer. The
standard CP/M system provided with the 128 is already capable of using nine
different formats. RDCBM.COM (Read CBM) can copy files from normal Commodore
disks to CP/M format. It will translate PETASCII to the true ASCII used by CP/M
(and the rest of the world for that matter). TRANS128.COM can read or write
files with disks formatted for the IBM-PC. It can also be used to format MS-DOS
disks. UNIDRIVE.COM is a menu driven program that can "install" any of 17 new
disk formats into the operating system. Another program along these lines is
FORMAT22.COM. FORMAT22 can format 22 different disk formats, install one of
these formats in the operating system, and analyze the format of an unknown
disk. FORMAT22 is a demonstration version of Jugg'ler-128, a commercially
available program that supports over 130 different disk formats.
If you are familiar with Disk Doctor programs for 64 and 128 mode, you'll be
happy to know that SPZAP.COM is an equivalent program for CP/M. It uses menus,
and amazingly enough, works with all CP/M disk types I've tried it with,
including the 1750 RAM disk! It's a must if you are interested in customizing
programs.
Telecommunications
MEX.COM (Modem EXecutive) deserves some mention at this point. This incredibly
powerful terminal program is capable of unattended operation. It can read and
execute instruction "scripts" that can automatically dial a BBS and log your
computer into your account. Once logged on, MEX can send commands to read your
messages into a file, use XMODEM to upload or download files, or even post
messages and e-mail, all without the operator pressing even one key!
Databases
A standard in CP/M public domain is the excellent database PC-FILE. It supports
custom designed databases with up to 79 characters per record. It is perfect
for maintaining mailing lists and catalogs. A new arrival, KWIKDEMO, is a
demonstration version of a full-featured offering. Unlike many demos, this
program is completely functional. Operating from menus, it provides sorting,
editing, and printing functions. The complete version is only $12.95.
A program that's easy to like is CAL32.COM. It is an automatic calendar. It
prompts for the date, then displays a full screen calendar for the month. By
moving the cursor to a particular day, brief notes can be entered on the
calendar display. Longer messages for each day can be entered on a notepad-like
screen editor. The program generates a new file for each month, and supports
printing.
Programming Languages
CP/M is useful for anyone interested in exploring different programming
languages, because many different public domain languages exist for it. If you
already know BASIC, EBASIC is a common version of BASIC. A famous public domain
version of the C language, Small C, is available for CP/M. Forth-83 can be
obtained as F83. If Z80 microprocessor assembly language is something you want
to attempt, there is no shortage of assemblers, linkers, debuggers, and other
assembly language utilities. I personally have copies of three different Z80
macro assemblers, and have used two of them to assemble source code that is so
often provided with public domain programs.
Fun & Games
You probably wouldn't think it. In these days of flashy, high-resolution arcade
graphics, that some pretty entertaining games are available that print to the
screen using only standard characters. Many more are out there, especially
games that rely on text, such as adventure games. Not much of an adventurer
myself, I'll fill you in on two of the CP/M board games I often play. For a
good game of backgammon against the computer, BACKGAMN.COM the best version I've
seen yet. The program presents biographies of your computerized opponents and
lets you select one. The action is fast paced, and comments from your
electronic adversary are printed on the screen along with the moves and score.
This is a well done game that will keep backgammon fans rolling the dice for
hours.
OTHELLO.COM, the famous game of Othello, pits computer against human in a battle
of wits to fill a grid with game pieces of one color. The pieces are black on
one side nd white on the other. The plan is in placing pieces on the board, to
flip your opponent's pieces over. Although the computer doesn't always respond
quickly in this game, you might feel you could use the break to study the board
a little better. The computer almost never makes a bad move. Challenging,
frustrating, and addictive, you might lose some sleep while playing this one.
Where to Get Public Domain CP/M Software
BCS members can get public domain software on disk at monthly Commodore User
Group meetings for a nominal charge. The BCS CP/M group also has a public
domain library. C128 owners with 1571 disk drives can use CP/M disks with
KayPro, Osborne, or Epson disk formats. Those with modems should log on to the
BCS/CUG BBS at 617/862-5779. The BCS KayPro User Group also runs a BBS, the
