============================================================================= AST RESEARCH, INC. TECHNICAL BULLETIN #0707 10-10-91 ============================================================================= PREMIUM II 486SX/20 AND LOTUS 123 RELEASE 3.1 SYMPTOM: Unable to input numeric values into the Lotus 3.1 worksheet. The numeric values appear only as zeros while alphanumeric values are fine. PROBLEM: Lotus 3.1 recognizes that the system has a 80486 Processor and assumes that there is a Math Coprocessor available. This is true for the 80486DX Intel Chip but not for the 80486SX. When a Math Coprocessor is present, Lotus passes on the tasks of numeric calculations to the Math Coprocessor which is not available in the Premium II 486SX/20 as a standard option. This can be checked by accessing the Worksheet Status Menu option which will show the system information such as; Available memory, Processor type, Math Coprocessor type and other Lotus configuration information. SOLUTION: By typing "123 -s" at the Lotus 3.1 prompt the Premium II 486SX/20 system will be recognized as a 80386 system with no Math Coprocessor, enabling Lotus to handle the numeric calculations. The "-s" switch instructs Lotus that the system has a 386 Processor with no Math Coprocessor instead of a 486 Processor. This will allow the Premium II 486SX/20 to be able to input numeric data. Lotus is also aware of this issue and customers can contact Lotus at (800) 343-5414 and order the Lotus 3.1 update which resolves this problem. With this update the Lotus program will no longer assume that the 80486 Processor has a built-in Math Coprocessor and the "-s" parameter will no longer be necessary.