______________________________________ ZMAGAZINE 78 November 6, 1987 ______________________________________ Published/Edited by: Ron Kovacs Assistants: Ken Kirchner, Susan Perry (c)1987 Syndicate Services/Rovac ______________________________________ ZMAG BBS (201) 968-8148 PCP 3/12-24hr ______________________________________ Xx INDEX 78 ______________________________________ I. Atari Comdex Press Release II. Antic's Comdex Report III. Zmag BBS List Part 1 IV. Technical Help...Hayes Mod V. BBSTN Press Release VI. ST-Report #11 VII. SpartaDos Help Part 3 V3. Express and Textpro ______________________________________ Xx PRESS RELEASE ______________________________________ OVERVIEW OF COMDEX 1987 ATARI BOOTH First uploaded to GEnie 11/2/87 CONNECTIVITY--SOLUTIONS, AND TECHNOLOGY: ATARI ANNOUNCES NEW PRODUCTS AT COMDEX (Las Vegas, NV -- Comdex Fall 87) In a series of major product introductions, Atari Corp emerges as a maker of a complete line of high-performance,low- cost solutions for the business world. New technology is showcased by Abaq, an ultra-high-performance workstation with blazing speed and dazzling graphics. The Abaq, based on a sophisticated -transputer- chip, runs more than 10 times faster than a PC/AT technology and more than 5 times faster than the 68020 with math processor. The parallel processing capability of Abaq lets a single system multiply its processing power by adding extra transputer chips. Atari unveiled its new CD player capable of reading CD-ROM disks and of playing musical CD disks. The CD-ROM is supported by a Mega and ST-compatible DMA interface, and will retail in early 1988 for under $600. Atari's connectivity answer is a LAN which is compatible with the NETBIOS standard used by IBM and Novell. It communicates data at 1 megabits-per- second to PC's and over 250K bits-per- second over Appletalk. Atari is planning to manufacture -PromiseLAN- adapters for the Mega, ST, and PC computer lines. The Atari Mega computers are showcased with a variety of solid business solutions. Desktop publishing is represented by both the Atari SLM804 Laser Printer and by G.O. Graphics, who are porting their Deskset program (CompuGraphics compatible) which Atari will market. Word Perfect is displaying the recently shipped Word Perfect ST and Atari is displaying Microsoft Write. A group of vendors are appealing to VARs with vertical packages running under the IDRIS multi-user multi-tasking operating system. Several new high-end CAD packages are on display including Foresight's Drafix 1. Atari expanded its PC-compatible offerings by adding two new models, the PC2 (PC XT compatible) and PC4 (PC AT compatibile), both with EGA graphics, high clock speeds, and low price tags. A variation of the PC3 will operate in VGA graphics mode as well. The PC2 and PC4 will be offered with 3.5- or 5.25- floppy disks and with hard disks. These new models join the PC1, which at $799 is a basic 512K PC XT compatible, suitable for use as a LAN workstation and for standalone personal computing. The PC2 includes XT-compatible slots, while the PC4's slots are PC AT compatible. -We offer complete systems for the office,- said Atari president Sam Tramiel. -I can see Atari Mega computers with laser printers as desktop publishing stations exchanging data with a satellite group of PC1's as LAN stations. An entire office environment can be created. The PC, the Macintosh, and the Atari computers co-exist. Each can do the things they do best.- ______________________________________ Xx ANTIC's COMDEX REPORT ______________________________________ ANTIC PUBLISHING INC., COPYRIGHT 1987 REPRINTED BY PERMISSION ATARI MEANS BUSINESS A REPORT FROM THE 1988 COMDEX By Anita Malnig, START Editor Las Vegas, November 2, 1987 Atari intends to give the likes of Sun Microsystems and Apollo Computers a run for the money with Abaq (the root word for abacus), the new transputer- based workstation that the company is showing here. By using RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture, the workstation will operate at 10 MIPS (million instructions per second). The latest graphics hardware and the IMS T-800 -- the Inmos Company's 32-bit microprocessor -- combine to form affordable, powerful personal workstations. A single transputer can deliver over ten times the power of an IBM PC AT. However, there's even greater strength in numbers. You can connect two, 10, 100 or even MORE transputers to create a relatively low-cost computer workstation with the power of a supercomputer. (Talk is that the price will be in the $5000 range.) When attached to a transputer, the ST or Mega acts as the input/ output device for the system. Transputers can be linked via a built- in high-speed serial port to form a multiprocessor array or a local area network. Helios, the Unix-like operating system, was developed by the Perihelion Company in Great Britain, as was the transputer board itself. The Helios operating system encourages the use of many small programs which work together to create a final product. Shiraz Shivji, Atari's vice president of research and development, expects that the transputer will be used primarily in engineering and science applications. Included with Abaq will be a very high resolution monitor, capable of four graphics modes: 1280 X 960 in 16 colors or monochrome; 1024 X 768 in 256 colors; 640 X 480 in 256 colors with two screens; and 512 X 480 in 16 million colors plus overlay. No firm delivery date is set, but late 1988 seems to be the most talked-about time frame. From a first-hand view, the crisp, vibrant graphics (such as four separate pictures running simultaneously) were drawing crushing crowds. CD-ROM FOR ATARI The exciting CD-ROM player introduced at Comdex can read up to 540 megabytes of data or play music. It connects to Atari's ST and Mega computers through the DMA (direct memory access) channel, a communications port that transmits data at up to 10 million bits per second. At 540Mb, the player can store more data than 1,000 floppy disks or 200,000 printed pages. Demonstrated at the show is an English and French visual dictionary from Facts on File. It is categorized by topics such as transportation and food: click on the transportation theme and choose from an array of topics such as ferrys, container ships, airport terminals and so on -- all items illustrated. Speech output identifies each image in French and English. Grolier's Encyclopedia also runs on this CD-ROM, as do audio CDs. Atari has a task force at work now developing more products for this player, which will be available at computer specialty dealers and retail outlets in February, 1988, at a suggested retail price of $599. DO ATARI DESKTOP PUBLISHING G.O. Graphics, in conjunction with Atari, will bring to market a sophisticated desktop publishing program called Deskset. This works as a front end to the CompuGraphics typesetting equipment, offering the use of 1,800 fonts. This is not just a desktop publishing program for four- page newsletters and the like: it could design entire publications such as Antic and START. It will output to such laser printers as the striking Atari laser printer, also being demonstrated with Deskset. (Look for the next Comdex installment for additional desktop publishing programs for the ST.) Deskset, which works only on a Mega, will work within the GEM environment and offers all the standard features of the most sophisticated desktop publishing programs -- features such as character compensation, kerning, columns, boxes, rules and the ability to merge text and graphics. Look for this product mid- to late 1988. AND. . . ATARI PCS The Atari PC1, introduced earlier this year, can be used as a local area network workstation or as a standalone personal computer. It runs at a top speed of 8 Mhz, with a software switch to set the clock speed to 4.77 when needed. The PC1 works with any CGA, MDA, EGA or multi-frequency monitor. Maximum color screen resolution is 640 X 350. The PC1 has a 64-color palette, with a maximum of 16 on the screen at a time. It is expected to retail at $800. New to the Atari PC family is the PC2, a dual-speed XT compatible with five slots and hard-disk support. The PC4 is an 80286 microprocessor-based IBM PC/AT compatible machine. It has clock speeds of either 8 or 12 Mhz, VGA- compatible video, four AT-style expansion slots, up to one megabyte of system RAM and is ready for an 80287 numeric coprocessor. Additionally, Atari is announcing -Moses PromiseLAN,- a local area network that can connect up to 17 PCs using off-the-shelf telephone wire. They will also be developing Moses PromiseLAN adaptors for its Mega and ST computers. Thus, the Mega and Atari laser printer will be able to share data with PCs and Apple Macintoshes. MORE COMDEX REPORTS Take some time out and read ST-REPORT #11, available this week. This issue will contain: Watch for more third-party desktop publishing programs from Soft Logik, Timeworks, Migraph. Multiuser, Multitasking programs with the Idris operating system. desktop video from Antic Software. products galore from MichTron, Spectrum Holobyte, Word Perfect, Abacus, ISD Marketing, B.E.S.T. and lots more. ______________________________________ Xx ZMAG SYSTEMS LIST PART 1 ______________________________________ Zmagazine Carriers Updated 11/03/87 ------------------------------------ Zmag Info Network (201) 968-8148 Wonderful World of Oz (808) 423-2754 Omega Base (201) 384-2966 Sorman Information (011) 47022470 Stairway to Heaven (216) 733-8444 The Reef (206) 848-3371 EXTE BBS (616) 245-8259 Dark Crypt (404) 968-4380 Strategic Atari (201) 326-1778 White House (201) 388-1676 Satelite BBS (609) 939-6247 A.H.O.C. II (404) 796-3805 C.A.U.U.G. BBS (601) 388-3490 Mr. Message BBS (516) 454-7698 The Bunker (212) 617-0153 Atari Hotel (315) 454-9612 Network:Atari Express (512) 662-9765 New Haven BBS (203) 776-9723 JACG BBS (201) 298-0161 The Syndicate BBS (203) XXX-XXXX The Lions Den (312) 690-3724 PAUGS (602) 242-4259 Atari Brothers (201) 994-4176 Land of Oz (201) 642-6032 The Land (212) 597-8520 Griffons Nest (402) 466-5339 Mach Channel 8 (207) 784-0631 EBBBS (201) 247-8252 Lost Byte (617) 586-8840 Milliways (504) 244-0768 W.A.S.T.E. BBS (713) 923-7342 WQNR BBS (516) 698-7456 Cosmic Stompers BBS (313) 547-0440 Ol Hackers BBS (516) 884-4140 Graveyard BBS (516) 783-7034 Bandits Hideout (516) 643-4963 Bates Motel (716) 875-7376 Midnight Express (804) 379-4156 M.O.U.S.E BBS (219) 674-9288 Gateway BBS ZMAG #2 (609) 931-3014 Speakers Corner (201) 892-7339 ACE NSW Australia (011)6125292059 Powell BBS (314) 225-8710 CCBBS (609) 451-7475 XBN BBS (617) 559-6844 Ratcom BBS (301) 437-9813 Timelink BBS (201) 469-4474 Portland Express (503) 244-3254 Phantasmal Alchemy (203) 443-5200 Bayshore BBS (201) 787-6627 The Launch Pad (201) 343-1426 Express BBS (314) 225-8710 The Prairie Chip (307) 635-0148 AXE*** BBS (314) 696-3506 S.T.U.N.N. BBS (402) 466-5339 Tektron BBS (918) 835-5198 ST Wizard BBS (609) 627-4556 The Crypt BBS (601) 435-0926 Daily Planet BBS (716) 895-0508 Pegasus II BBS (609) 858-7817 Command Headquarters (216) 758-1814 I/O Connection BBS (404) 446-8044 Buffalo Byte Size BBS (404) 945-6021 Atari Express BBS (404) 426-7027 Atari Outland BBS (916) 962-2566 G.R.E.A.T.-8 BBS (503) 746-9637 Westport BBS (617) 674-8361 Muskrats Den BBS (808) 261-2184 Brick Yard Express (314) 581-3801 Atari C.A.L.C. BBS (505) 525-0388 Genesis I BBS (817) 284-1520 The Bounty ST BBS (904) 786-4176 T.M.C. II BBS (201) 752-2818 Hot Rodderz (805) 773-5907 Express BBS (314) 225-8710 Speakers Corner (201) 892-7339 The Constellation (201) 938-6906 Surf City ST (201) 929-9351 Balloon Works (419) 289-8392 New York City Zmag (718) 604-3323 Elysium BBS (816) 761-2190 Griffons Nest (402) 466-5339 Kisa Monitron (011)4649412997 First Star (011)46034051117 Outsiders BBS (718) 253-8602 Brickyard (314) 581-3801 Blue Moon (312) 457-2219 Holly Park (201) 757-1491 Runequest BBS (312) 454-9612 ST-Xpress (217) 877-9740 One Stone BBS (219) 875-8205 KnottsNook (206) 631-8056 ThunderIsland (714) 653-0447 Carina BBS (305) 747-9196 Launch Pad BBS (201) 343-1426 ______________________________________ Xx TECHNICAL HELP ______________________________________ by Frank Walters SysOp, T.A.C.O. Bell Panama City, FL Hayes 1200 Problem When attempting to set up an Oasis BBS system, a fellow sysop contacted me to see if we could figure out a problem it had with recognition of connect and disconnect. Here is what we found out. He has a 'new' model Hayes 1200, while I have the 'old' model of the same modem. The new model has 10 dips, while the old model has 8. That's how we tell them apart, especially if you only have one. After talking with the technical representitive at Hayes, it turns out there was an undocumented change in how the 1200 baud model handles DSR (data set ready). Since most terminal/BBS software uses the DSR signal as part of the STATUS check, it is critical for proper operation that you understand what you are getting. The 'old' model, like most modems, sets DSR high at carrier detect. Actually, the Hayes has a jumper between pin #6 (DSR) and pin #8 (CRX) so that when it sets CRX high, it automatically sets DSR high. The STATUS call will send a value of 8 to address 747 (decimal) for CRX high and 128 for DSR for a total increase of 136 in address 747. Most software depends on this higher value to determine 'connect' after dialing, or (for BBS software) to determine that a caller has connected. The 'new' model (10 dip switches) of the Hayes 1200 changed the jumper to pins #6 (DSR) and #5 (CTS), the latter normally not even connected by cable to the 850 interface. However, when the modem sets Clear to Send high, it is BEFORE carrier detect, and since it is directly connected to DSR, it also sets DSR high before connect, resulting in a false connect signal to the software. How do you get the 'new' modem to act like the 'old' model? 1) Modify the modem. Nobody wants to mess with the modem warranty or screw that up. 2) Modify the software. Most people don't know how to do that at all, and you would have to change every program you use anyway. 3) Modify the cable. This appears to be the best solution. Here is how we did just that: Disconnect the wire at pin #6 on the RS-232C end. Disconnect the same wire (also pin #6) at the 9-pin D plug for the 850 or P:R: Connection. This will insure that the false DSR will not be sent from the modem. Then to simulate DSR at connect, solder a jumper wire at the 9-pin D plug (850 interface end) between pin #6 (DSR) and pin #2 (CRX). Now when Carrier Detect is set high, it also sets DSR high. This cable will work with the older models too. Here is a diagram of the new cable: 850 (9 pin/D-male) RS-232C (25 pin) __________________ ________________ #1 DTR >------------------> DTR #20 ++#2 CRX <------------------< CRX #8 + #3 SEND DATA >-------> REC DATA #3 + #4 REC DATA <-------< SEND DATA #2 + #5 SIGNAL GND ------ SIGNAL GND #7 ++#6 DSR <--/(disconnect)/--< DSR #6 #7 RTS (not used) CTS #5 #8 CTS <-------< HI SPEED INDIC #12 #9 (not used) ++NOTE: Jumper between pins 2-6 so that DSR is set high whenever CRX is set high by the modem. NOTE: #8 CTS to #12 HI SPEED INDICATOR is only for auto answer with some BBS software for baud recognition but otherwise not required. Avatex modems do not have #12. Some BBS software depends on the RING INDICATOR to force the program to send an ATAct is set high, it also sets DSR high. This cable will work with the older models too. Here is a diagram of the new cable: 850 (9 pin/D-male) RS-232C (25 pin) __________________ ________________ #1 DTR >------------------> DTR #20 ++#2 CRX <------------------< CRX #8 + #3 SEND DATA >-------> REC DATA #3 + #4 REC DATA <-------< SEND DATA #2 + #5 SIGNAL GND ------ SIGNAL GND #7 ++#6 DSR <--/(disconnect)/--< DSR #6 #7 RTS (not used) CTS #5 #8 CTS <-------< HI SPEED INDIC #12 #9 (not used) ++NOTE: Jumper between pins 2-6 so that DSR is set high whenever CRX is set high by the modem. NOTE: #8 CTS to #12 HI SPEED INDICATOR is only for auto answer with some BBS software for baud recognition but otherwise not required. Avatex modems do not have #12. Some BBS software depends on the RING INDICATOR to force the program to send an ATA to the modem. In this case you can use #8 CTS to #22 RING INDICATOR instead of the 8-12 as shown. Call Hayes Microcomputer Products at 1-800-241-6492 for further information. [ED. Frank, Thanks for the article. I am sure it will interest a few of our readers. Also, thank you for writing it!] ______________________________________ Xx BBSTN ______________________________________ ============= PRESS RELEASE ============= Winchester, VA October 27, 1987 BBS Telecomputing News Hitting the mailboxes and modems in January, 1988 will be an altogether different kind of publication that the computing public has not seen before. BBS Telecomputing News, a black and white publication, with a distinctive newsletter appearance will offer a variety of interesting features long lacking in the industry. It will be hole punched to fit standard ring binders and kept as reference material. BBSTN will contain over 2,000 VERIFIED listings of Bulletin Boards around the nation with telephone numbers, notes, and the kind of BBS software used. In addition, BBSTN will contain reviews of popular public domain software, commercial software of interest to BBS'ers, modems and other hardware reviews, and a monthly feature article about one popular bulletin board in each issue. In addition to the printed edition, which will be distributed by subscription only, a special condensed version will be available on Public BBS's around the country. Sysops desiring to carry this publication should log on to the INFONET BBS and fill out the questionaire. BBSTN is currently soliciting authors of Public Domain software, BBS software, commercial BBS software, and Modem manufacturers, to submit their products for review in the January and February issues. This is an excellent opportunity for small software developers to gain needed publicity for their product. All software and hardware submitted for review should be sent to: BBS Telecomputing News 5 Wilkins Drive Winchester, Virginia 22601 Telephone 703-665-0087 or Upload to: Infonet! BBS 703-665-0087 between 9PM-6AM Deadline for the January issue is November 15, 1988. Sysops desiring to carry BBSTN should fill out the Questionaire while most areas are still available. BBSTN is also seeking writers and reviewers. ______________________________________ Xx ST-Report #11 ______________________________________ This week in ST-Report #11 <*> Comdex Reports <*> Technical Assistance <*> Newswire <*> ST Upgrade Information <*> Hayes Modem Modification and more............... ______________________________________ Your Source for Sales and Service! Flat rate repairs on all Atari 8 bit! Quick turn-around on ST repairs! We also do flat rate repair on 8 bit Commodore equipment, and also can fix your Amiga or Apple computers! We also offer service contracts on all computers, call for rates today! Be sure to take advantage of our flat rate repair on VCR's, Video Cameras, and Camcorders---->$99(covers all parts and labor except heads and Nuvicon) Midtown TV 27 Midway Plaza Tallmadge, Ohio 44278 (216)633-0997 ______________________________________ Xx SPARTADOS HELP ______________________________________ by Bruce Pleat Version 1.0, Copyright 1987 by the author, Bruce Pleat, Released on June 8th, 1987. If you use this article in any form of print or on a BBS or disk file, you must not edit this file except for the columns in a screen and the end-of-line character used. SpartaDOS is a COPYRIGHTED product of ICD. This is NOT an attempt to allow PIRATES to use this INCREDIBLE DOS easier, but rather an attempt to help LEGAL OWNERS of the DOS use the DOS more efficiently and with greater ease. Atari and 850 are trademarks of Atari Corp., SmartDOS is a trademark of The Programmers Workshop, MY-DOS is a trademark of Wordmark Systems, ATR-8000 is a trademark of SWP Systems, Inc., MIO is a trademark of ICD, and any other references to products are of course references to the proper copyright and/or trademark owners. ---Section II---- Internal Commands ----------------- The Internal Commands consist of ?DIR, AINIT, APPEND, BASIC, BOOT, CAR, CHKDSK, COPY, CREDIR, CWD, DATE, DELDIR, DIR, DIRS, ERASE, KEY, LOAD, LOCK, MEM, PAUSE, PRINT, PROTECT, RENAME, RUN, SAVE, TD, TIME, TYPE, UNLOCK, UNPROTECT, VERIFY, and XDIV. ?DIR lists the present PATH. Fmt:?DIR [path] ?DIR ?DIR D2: ?DIR D5:GAMES AINIT formats the specified disk in Smart-DOS format. Fmt:AINIT [path] AINIT AINIT D4: APPEND adds a binary block onto the specified file. Fmt:APPEND [path][filename] stadr endadr APPEND SCREEN 9C1F 9FFF APPEND D2:GUARD 0600 06FF APPEND D4:A>C 1FC9 2880 BASIC toggles the INTERNAL BASIC ON or OFF. These are the ONLY possibilities. BASIC ON BASIC OFF BOOT tells the disk which file to try to load apon re-booting. This implies that you may automatically boot up ANY COM, DOS, or other machine-language file, but you may only use DOS if the DOS is the BOOTed file. If you XINIT with a DOS, then there is no need to BOOT the DOS, but if you COPY it over, you HAVE to BOOT it or you won't be able to boot up on that disk. Fmt:BOOT [path]filename BOOT X32D.DOS BOOT X32?.* BOOT D2:SCOPY BOOT D4:COM>SPCOPY.COM CAR returns you to whatever cartridge is installed or enabled. If there is no cartridge installed/enabled, you won't go anywhere. The ONLY format: CAR CHKDSK tells you information about the disk in the drive you specify. Printed for all disks are the disk's total size in bytes, free size in bytes, and bytes per sector. For SpartaDOS 1.x version disks, the volume name is also printed. For SpartaDOS 2.x and 3.x version disks, the disk random number, sequence number, and write lock status is also printed. Fmt:CHKDSK [Dn:] CHKDSK CHKDSK D3: COPY simply moves a file or files from one path] to another path. Normally, if you COPY a file to one of the same name on another disk, you will be erasing the old file, but you may append the new file onto the end of the old one. Note that you can also copy a file onto itself, but if the copy takes two -passes-, then the file is pretty much destroyed unless it is text, in which case it is partly erased. Also note that wildcards are VERY useful here in copying multiple files. Fmt:COPY [path]filename[[path]filename][/A] COPY A B COPY D3: D4: COPY GAM>COM>*.EJ? D3: COPY D4:TEXT> ALL/A CREDIR simply creates a Directory as you name it, with up to eight chars plus a somewhat awkward extender. When you DIR or DIRS a disk, Directories show up with a -DIR- near them. When you use MENU on them, you can NOT tag them. Fmt:CREDIR [path]DirName CREDIR GAMES CREDIR D4:GAM>MAZE>COM CWD changes you from your current Directory to another one on the same disk. To go BACKWARDS to a previous directory, you do a -<- char. Remember this is DIFFERENT from the IBM which asks you for the full path every time you do a CD; maybe that is why this is a CWD command. Fmt:CWD [path] CWD COM CWD DAR>GAT CWD D4:COD [this one changes the working directory on D4:, not on the PRESENT indicated drive like the others] DATE sets the internal date. Fmt:DATE mm/dd/yy where mm is month, dd is day, yy is year, all with filler 0s if needed. DELDIR erases an EMPTY subdirectory. See CREDIR for examples. DIR prints the specified disk directory/path in SpartaDOS format [Smart-DOS disks are printed in that format]. Fmt:DIR [path]filename DIRS prints even SpartaDOS disk directories in Smart-DOS format. See DIR for format. ERASE delete whatever file[s] you specify; again, wildcards are useful, but watch out that you don't accidentally delete files. You can reverse this via UNERASE if you do it before the next write operation to any part of that disk. Fmt:ERASE [path]filename KEY enables or disables the internal 32-key buffer. A few programs [like Orion's Express! BBS and OSS's MAC/65's DDT] need the key buffer OFF, but most other programs [like Orion's Express! 850 Terminal V3 and OSS's MAC/65] allow the buffer ON. The default is on. These are the ONLY two formats: KEY ON KEY OFF LOAD loads in a binary file but does NOT run or init it like a simple command does. See DIR for the format. LOCK will lock a disk from having FILES written to from SpartaDOS [2.x and 3.x]. The disk CAN be formatted by ANY SpartaDOS and formatted/written to by SpartaDOS 1.x and ANY OTHER DOS. Fmt:LOCK [drive] LOCK LOCK D4: MEM prints the present system free memory boundaries, MemLo and MemTop. PAUSE stops a BATch file untill a key is pressed [ANY key other than the -console- keys, the inverse key, Caps, Shift, and Control]. You may ofcourse use it directly...but why?? The only format is to just issue the command as such: Fmt:PAUSE PRINT echos all screen TEXT output to another device, useful for keeping track of your activities to a printer or RAM-Disk file [or cassette...give that toy SOME use!!]. Fmt:PRINT [path][filename][/A] PRINT PRINT D3: PRINT P>RECORD PRINT D4:A>REC/A PRINT TRACK/A PROTECT locks a FILE. See DIR for the format. RENAME changes the name of one or more files, optionally using wildcards. Unfortunately, this won't rename Directories or Volume names. Note that the path is issued ONE time and that a [SPACE] seperates the old from the new. Fmt:RENAME [path]filename filename RUN jumps to a machine language address specified in HEXADECIMAL format. A favorite of mine, which is rare knowledge, is -RUN E477-, which re-boots your system WITHOUT A LOSS OF RAM-Disk contents. With no address specified, it tries to execute the last COM file, but all too often fails and locks the system untill [Reset] is pressed. Fmt:RUN [addr] RUN RUN E477 SAVE stores a string of binary data into the specified filename. fmt: SAVE [path]filename[/A]stadr endadr SAVE OS E000 FFF9 SAVE COM>BASIC A000 BFFF SAVE D3:FP/A D800 DFFF TD toggles the Time/Date line at the top of the screen if TDLINE was run first. The only two formats: TD ON TD OFF TIME sets the internal Atari Time counter for file saves. Fmt:TIME hr:mn:sc?m where hr is the hour, mn is the minute, sc is the second, and ?m is am or pm. TYPE lists a text file [lines must be 64 or less chars in length or else the TYPE will have a Truncated Error Abort. This does NOT erase BASIC or other programs like a COPY does. Fmt:TYPE [path]filename UNLOCK reverses LOCK. UNPROTECT reverses PROTECT. VERIFY tells whether the disk drive will check what was written to the drive. The only two formats: VERIFY ON VERIFY OFF XDIV disables BATch processing. Fmt:XDIV [Next week Section 3] ______________________________________ Xx EXPRESS and TEXTPRO ______________________________________ by Don Lebow Here's my method... First, create a TEXTPRO/EXPRESS MASTER DISK containing the following files: DOS.SYS RAMDISK.COM TEXTPRO.COM (version 2.5r only!) TEXTPRO.CNF (config file) TEXTPRO.FNT (custom font) TEXTPRO.MAC (default macro file) EXPRESS.COM (1030 Express v 3.0 only!) IMPORTANT: if you wish to use a joystick driver with Express, you use the customized DOS 2.5 driver available in this DL 5 as TPXPST.OBJ. As with the original joystick driver (see JOYSTK.DOC in DL2), you should append Express to the driver using the /A parameter in DOS 2.5 (for example: select opy File then input D:EXPRESS.COM,D:TPXPST.OBJ/A After you've got it appended, Rename as appropriate.) CONFIG.EXP (express config file) PHONE1.LST (default phone # list) Got it? NOW do some renaming... RENAME TEXTPRO.COM to DUP.SYS (that means that it will automatically be saved to D8: when you boot with RAMDISK.COM) Before you do this, make sure you've erased the DUP.SYS to prevent duplicate filenames. RENAME EXPRESS.COM to AUTORUN.SYS You're ready to go! Boot up your XE as normal with Express using your new master disk. Turn on your 1030 modem, then the drive, then turn on the computer while holding down the OPTION key to cancel Basic. When the load is done, and the Express menu is up... MOST IMPORTANT: DELETE 'D8:MEM.SAV' using the 'J' command in Express! Dial up wherever and capture whatever text you want to D8: text files. When you're done, sign off as normal and you're back to the menu. NOW... that you have your master disk in D1: (or any disk that has the TEXTPRO aux files on it) Ready? Press RESET. You'll see TEXTPRO (remember, we've fooled the computer into thinking it's DUP.SYS) loading (fast!) and then the aux files loading from D1: Viola! You are now in TEXTPRO having to do a re-boot! The text files you have on D8: are still there. You can now go ahead and edit, do replies, whatever, using TEXTPRO's power. DO NOT turn off your 1030 modem! When you're done editing (at this point, I usually have a text file of replies and msgs on D8:), and ready to get back On Line... you have a disk in D1: with EXPRESS and it's aux files (that Master Disk, again, is REAL handy.) Use the TP command to do a binary load. At the prompt, input AUTORUN.SYS (or whatever name you have Express saved under.) Providing you've followed the above steps, you'll see Express loading (again, no need to re-boot!) and you'll be back in Express, ready to Upload your new text files! Note that D8: still contains any files you've saved. Just like they say in the DOCs, it's functioning as a clipboard (though Mr. Paranoia, here always saves anything vital out to D1:, just in case...) That's all there is to it. I've found that you can continue swapping back and forth between the two programs with no degradation in performance. If you run into problems, leave me a message and I'll see if I can help... >>don [70717,720] ______________________________________ Zmagazine Issue #78 November 6, 1987 (c)1987 Syndicate Services/Rovac ______________________________________