bridger@rand-unix.ARPA (Bridger Mitchell) (04/29/85)
DateStamper(tm) -- a CP/M 2.2 system extension for automatic time-and -date-stamping of files -- has passed its beta-tests, thanks to skillful and persistent assistance from Dave Birnbaum, Hal Bower, Bob Clements, Jack Bicer, Paul Kelley, Kim Korner, Neil Maron, Dick Mead, Mike Niswonger, Ed Park, and John Shaver. This announcement summarizes how DateStamper works, its major features, companion utilities, and availability. -------------------------------------- DateStamper(tm) A CP/M 2.2 system extension for automatic time-and-date-stamping of files. >>> HOW IT WORKS <<< Disks prepared for DateStamping store the created, modified, and accessed dates for each directory entry in a special file, which is the first- allocated file on the disk and also the first entry in the directory. The command to load DateStamper may be placed in the user's command processor buffer to allow automatic loading at each cold boot; or, DateStamper can be loaded manually with a transient command. DateStamper then patches into the BIOS and BDOS, and monitors BDOS calls until cold-boot or power-down. It keeps track of writes, and updates the time-and-date file on creates, opens, and closes, using BIOS file i/o. The clock-reading routine is externally callable at an offset available at a BDOS patch. It returns packed BCD date and time to the caller's buffer. >>> MAJOR FEATURES <<< Function .. Stamps every file's create, access and modify time and date with imperceptible overhead. Hardware .. Clock NOT REQUIRED. Default mode uses a "relative" counter clock that increments on each file access. .. Use any hardware or terminal real-time clock to stamp actual time. Pre-assembled routines for popular clocks, plus custom ASM option. Compatibility .. Works with all programs adhering to CP/M 2.2 interfacing standards. .. Runs with replacement CCP's such as ZCPRx .. Requires standard CP/M 2.2 BDOS. .. Disks and files are fully compatible with standard CP/M 80 and CP/M 86 format (but not CP/M 86 timestamp). Intermix regular and DateStamper-prepared disks. Resource use .. Uses less than 1K memory. Loads below the CCP (default case) or above the BIOS. .. Uses 1 directory entry plus 1 small file per disk. Accessibility .. Portable, machine-independent entrypoint for reading date and time. .. File times and dates available to applications programs. >>> PRINCIPAL UTILITIES <<< SDD .. SuperDirectory enhanced to show create, access, modify time and date in selectable formats and to support PUBlic filetype. DATSWEEP .. A compleat 6-window file-maintenance utility. Select and tag files by wildcard, attribute bit, and date-time relational operators for copy/rename/erase/change-date/ change-user-number operations. View mode is bidirectional with horizontal scrolling and string-search (forward-only for squeezed files). LOG,TOTALLOG .. Log time-stamped category of computer use. Show monthly summary by category. DATE .. Display current date and time. >>> INSTALLATION UTILITIES <<< .. Prepare a disk with time-and-date file. Run once for each disk. .. Set date and relative time, when required. .. Configure utilities for terminal-specific video sequences. .. Set default modes for utilities. .. Customize DateStamper for system addresses, real-time clock, and auto-execute command line. >>> COMPANION UTILITIES <<< The DateStamper toolkit disk(s) will contain additional utilities with source code, including user contributions. They currently comprise: MAKE .. Create submit script from a makefile of file dependencies based on last-modified date (a la unix) -- by Neil Maron. MCAT,XCAT .. Catalog and cross-reference disks with file dates -- by Hal Bower. APPEND .. Concatenate text files with filename/datestamp separator. SAP51 .. New version of SAP (sort and pack directory) that supports the DateStamper time and date file; with other improvements. DSLIB .. 8080 ASM library of routines to read clock and return file time and date, callable from BDS-C. >>> AVAILABILITY <<< Plu*Perfect Systems is sending information brochures and taking orders; shipments will go out as soon as the manual comes back from the printer -- estimated May 6. Formats/versions: .. Standard formats: 8" SSSD, Kaypro SSDD and Osborne SSDD -- $49 .. Other formats: (no 96 tpi) -- $54. .. Special Kaypro autoboot version for users with Plu*Perfect's enhanced CP/M 2.2E -- $39. Toolkit disk for companion utilities -- $12 (standard format), $17 (other). Add $3 shipping and handling. In California add 6% sales tax. Plu*Perfect Systems Box 1494 Idyllwild, CA 92349 714-659-4432 Trademarks: DateStamper (Plu*Perfect Systems), CP/M (Digital Research).