Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA (Info-IBMPC Digest) (05/21/86)
Info-IBMPC Digest Tuesday, May 20, 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 55 This Week's Editor: Phyllis O'Neil Today's Topics and Queries: SPLINE.C Donated to Library Reading Ultrix 1.1, uVax II, 5 1/4 Floppies PC-DOS Sector Size Help Selecting Video Card MAX's Phone Number LINT Executing .BAT from C Booting Xenix or DOS/BOOTCODE.ASM Query TYMNet's New Version of X.PC Protocol Apple Cross-Compiler/Assembler Query BSC RJP Communication Query Killing the EGA Cursor Query BBS Programs for the IBM PC (2 messages) ----------------------------------------------------------------- To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA Subject: SPLINE.C Contribution to Library Date: Sat, 17 May 86 17:18:28 -0500 From: James R. Van Zandt <jrv@mitre-bedford.ARPA> I'd like to submit this program to the library. SPLINE.C Generates splines under tension and allows general curves and multiple independent curves in the same file. Text input and output files like the UNIX program. Written in C by J. R. Van Zandt, based on algorithms by A. K. Cline. [Thanks. SPLINE.C and spline.doc have been added to the library. -pmo] ------------------------------ From: hermix!stan@rand-unix.ARPA To: randvax!info-ibmpc%ISIB@ECLB Subject: Reading Ultrix 1.1, uVax II, 5 1/4 floppies Date: Sat May 17 19:42:16 1986 Does anyone have a program for an IBM to read the 5 1/4 floppies generated by a uVax II under Ultrix? Does anyone have any idea how those floppies are formatted? Any leads, comments or ideas are welcome. I will summarize and post to info-ibmpc if anything works. Thanks in advance. Stan Stead UUCP: {ihnp4|decvax}!hermix!stan ARPA: hermix!stan@rand-unix.ARPA BELL: (213) 206-6238 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 May 86 09:29:32 edt From: gatech!ncsu!uvacs!edison!jso@seismo.CSS.GOV (John Owens) To: usc-isib.ARPA.UUCP!info-ibmpc@seismo.CSS.GOV, nbires.UUCP.UUCP!lloyd@seismo.CSS.GOV Subject: Re: PC-DOS Sector Size Query In the manual for the Priam InnerSpace 60MB disk, it describes various ways to use this 60MB disk. The preferred way is to divide the disk into volumes, never exceeding 32MB. The first is read by the normal driver, the rest by an installable driver that handles the higher cluster numbers. (Past even what the ROM type (12) defines.) The "alternative" is to have one large volume, with a large sector size. I quote from the "PRIAM InnerSpace HIGH PERFORMANCE DISK USER'S MANUAL", P/N 780075, (c) PRIAM Corp. [to give credit where it is due...] An alternative to dividing the disk into multiple volumes is to modify DOS so that larger volumes may be created. [...] Larger volume sizes may be realized by choosing a larger sector size. The InnerSpace Disk software pro- vides a method for modifying the sector size so that larger volumes may be created. The disadvantages of modifying DOS usually outwiegh the advantages. Larger sector sizes require larger buffers [....] The following additional large volume restrictions apply: [...] o Program using other than DOS INT 21 calls will not work. [...] the PSIZE utility [...] must be used to patch DOS so that the sector size is increased [....] This "PSIZE" program patches IBMDOS.COM to allow sector sizes of 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, bytes, but I'm sure if you disassembled it you could figure out how to do whatever you wanted. I wonder how they plan to be compatible with DOS versions they haven't seen, like 3.2? Anyway, good luck. (I have no affiliation with PRIAM, except having their manual on my desk. I've also never used the "PSIZE" patch - I use my own MS-DOS anyway! Also, nothing said here has anything to do with GE.) John Owens @ General Electric Company edison!jso%virginia@CSNet-Relay.ARPA [old arpa] edison!jso@virginia.EDU [w/ nameservers] jso@edison.UUCP [w/ uucp domains] {cbosgd allegra ncsu xanth}!uvacs!edison!jso [roll your own] ------------------------------ Date: Sunday, 18 May 1986 17:14:01-PDT From: fulton%comet.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM (Cathy Fulton -- CXO Technical Training) To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA, fulton%comet.DEC@decwrl.DEC.COM Subject: Help Selecting Video Card I am about to receive as my home computer the following system: - Zenith Z-200 (AT compatible) with 1.2M floppy drive - 30M Seagate full-height internal hard drive - Zenith ZVM-1240 high res monochrome monitor (DB9, TTL) I need suggestions from those of you who have experience with various video cards. My requirements are the following: 1) Hercules high res monochrome compatible 2) DB9 TTL interface 3) Able to translate signals intended for the IBM CGA into appropriate signals for my Zenith monitor 4) All video modes software selectable I have perused several PC-oriented magazines for an extensive review of video cards, but have found none. In reading the ads for various cards (Tecmar Graphics Master, Paradise, Everex, Persyst, etc.), I am led to believe that each card is the greatest thing since sliced bread. What I need is input from experienced users who can tell me how compatible a given video card is with, say, programs written with a Hercules monochrome software driver. A card may provide great looking output, but if few programs incorporate software drivers for it, it's pretty useless (kind of like the present state of the enhanced mode of the EGA card). Regarding point 3) above, I have seen advertised several cards which supposedly convert signals intended for the CGA into 16 shades of gray for TTL monitors. Does anyone have experience with such a card? Thanks in advance. - Cathy Fulton uucp: ...decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-comet!fulton ARPA: fulton%comet.DEC@decwrl ------------------------------ Date: Sun 18 May 86 11:12:38-CDT From: CRSP.STAFF.IVO%gsbacd.uchicago.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA Subject: My telephone number (MAX) To: info-ibmpc%usc-isib.arpa%gargoyle.uchicago.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA If people should inquire about MAX, and how to get in contact with me, please tell them this ARPAnet address and my address: Ivo Welch 5020 SOuth Lake Shore Drive (3505) Chicago, IL 60615 (312) 324-5036 Thanks, Ivo ------------------------------ Date: 19 May 86 11:42 EST From: davidsen%kbsvax.tcpip@ge-crd.arpa Subject: LINT and PC-DOS To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa I have found that the Microsoft C compiler with the warning level turned up will catch things which LINT misses. I have been moving code from VAXen and 68000 based systems to PC-DOS for verification. I am beta testing the version 4 compiler and it is even pickier that the current version. Unless you have a political need for a compiler with a separate LINT or have a rabid dislike of Microsoft products, it's the best I've seen. ------------------------------ Date: 19 May 86 12:02 EST From: davidsen%kbsvax.tcpip@ge-crd.arpa Subject: 80/40 track drives To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Mike Yetsko has described the problem with reading disks written on a 1200k drive in 40 track mode on a 40 track (360k) drive. However, I believe that if the disk is formatted on the 1200k drive (at least under PC-DOS) it *seems* to write all 80 tracks and put "silence" on the unused tracks. I have been moving software between about 11 machines and have found that if I format and write on the 1200k drive, it will read on a 360k drive just fine. The evil is to write (format OR data) on a 360k drive then write with a 1200k drive. After that it usually won't read on a 360k. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 May 86 13:09 MST From: Steve Herbst <Herbst@HIS-PHOENIX-MULTICS.ARPA> Subject: Executing .BAT from C Thanks to Dan M. Frank for a helpful suggestion. I was unable to reach him by network mail. Given a function that executes an arbitrary program, the following call will do it: exec("\command.com", "\command.com", "/c", "foo.bat", (char *)0); It turns out that Lifeboat Associates does market a library of functions called C+ Utility Library ($185) that includes such a function as exec above. It calls an arbitrary program in a different linked object. The library also contains a function that executes an arbitrary DOS command line, which would also probably do the trick. There is also a DOS function listed in Peter Norton's reference book on the IBM PC (I forget the title but it's probably famous) that executes a program, though I haven't been too successful at first pass decoding what its capabilities are or how to use it. Dan Frank also suggested that Microsoft and Lattice may have a system() function that executes a batch file. [ From the INFO-IBMPC Program library: EXEC2.ASM Equivalents of the Unix EXEC function. EXEC2 is for exec3.asm EXE files and EXEC3 is for COM files. See EXEC.DOC exec.doc for details. <PLANK@BTL-IH> 4/20/84 <PAPA%USC-CSE@USC-ECL> 5/12/84 EXECTEST.ASM Example of how to call the DOS EXEC function from an assembly language program. <GOLDBERG%VIKING.DEC@DECWRL> 9/20/84 One need only write the appropriate "C" interface to these assembly routines and one can roll ones own exec routine. -wab] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 20 May 86 00:42 GMT From: DEVOTO%LLL@LLL-MFE.ARPA Subject: booting xenix or dos/bootcode.asm To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA I'd like to have the versatility of the bootcode.asm program to be able to optionally boot either xenix or DOS, but a comment in the code says that it only works for an AT or a PC with an EGA. Has anyone fixed it for an XT or Compaq portable (8088 cpu)? Please contact me dierectly or put you revision into info-ibmpc library. "devoto%lll"@lll-mfe.arpa ------------------------------ Date: 19 May 86 18:11:57 PDT (Monday) Subject: TYMNet's new version of X.PC Protocol From: Wax.OsbuSouth@Xerox.COM To: Info-Micro@BRL.Arpa, Info-IBMPC@usc-isib.Arpa cc: Wax.OsbuSouth@Xerox.COM I have received a letter that the newest version of X.PC is available. Has anyone already paid up the fee($20)? If so could you post the new sources and docs and .EXE/.COM files to the net IF you are amenable to doing so. The programs are public domain but they want a $20 shipping fee. They used to do it for free and updates came by shipping the old disks back with a mailer. It is no longer their policy though apparently. Allan Wax ARPA: Wax.OsbuSouth@Xerox.COM ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 20 May 1986 11:06 +0300 From: Guy Sirton <MLSIRTON%WEIZMANN.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: Apple Cross-Compiler/Assembler Query To: Info-IBMPC digest <info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa> Does anyone know about a cross compiler or cross assembler which compiles Apple (6502) code on an IBM PC? Please reply directly by mail to me... Thanx, Guy ------------------------------ Date: 20-MAY-86 17:17 MET To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA (IBM PC Users Group) From: U30Q%CBEBDA3T.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU (Konrad Haedener, <U30Q@CBEBDA3T>) Subject: BSC RJP Communication Query We are planning to use an IBM PC/XT/AT as a workstation communicating with an IBM mainframe using BSC RJP protocol. Has anybody experience with 2780/3780 emulator software (e.g. 'PC3780' of TDT, Miami, FL) and the neccessary resp. serial interfaces ? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Konrad Haedener Phone: (031) 65 42 69 Institute for Inorganic Chemistry University of Bern Freiestrasse 3 CH-3000 Bern 9 MAIL form: Switzerland BEDAG at Bern via EARN ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: Tue 20 May 86 08:43:51-PDT From: STEPHEN KING <K.KING@LOTS-B.STANFORD.EDU> Subject: Killing the EGA cursor To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA How can one kill the cursor on an EGA board? There are Turbo Pascal routines to kill it on monochrome or color monitors, but the color routine kills the cursor only until a key is pressed, then the cursor reappears. Suggestions would be most welcome Stephen King K.KING @su-lotsb ------------------------------ Date: 20 May 1986 10:50:34 CDT From: U14888%UICVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU (Joseph George ) To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA, JAMESON@UNCA-MULTICS.MAILNET Subject: BBS Programs for the IBM PC There are 2 VERY good "shareware" BBS programs for the IBM PC, FIDOnet, and one called Colossus BBS... FIDOnet is pretty much the standard, and they have a worldwide "netmail" system, much like BITNET or others... Colussus is a VERY fine system, much like FIDOnet, but it is currently "out of service" until the new version comes out... Version 1.20Q of Colossus came out FULL of bugs, so the "colossus" network went down, they are supposed to release a new, improved version of Colossus sometime in the summer... Aside from the bugs, I would have to say I prefer the Colossus system... It is copatible with FIDOnet mail networks, and its a generally "nicer" system.. John Friel did most of the work for Colossus.. He is also very well known for writing a WONDERFUL shareware terminal program called Qmodem... If you would like any more info, please let me know at either U14888%UICVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU or U16881%UICVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Joe George ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 20 May 86 10:52 PDT From: Dave Platt <Dave-Platt%LADC@HI-MULTICS.ARPA> To: Jameson%UNCA-MULTICS.MAILNET@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA cc: Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Subject: Re: BBS software query There is a very popular bulletin-board package called Fido, which runs on IBM PCs and quite a few clones. It's not public-domain, but is instead "user supported" (a.k.a. "shareware"); I believe that the current fee is $100. Fido supports multiple message areas (with a last-message-read counter kept on a per-user/per-area basis), multiple file-storage areas, multiple levels of user authorization, XMODEM (checksum or CRC), Kermit, and other goodies. Fido's message-handling software supports a mail-network system called Fidonet. The net is broken down into a set of regions (usually city-sized), with each system being given a region/node number. Systems can register themselves (region/node/name/phone #) with Fido 1/1, and the updated registrations are distributed weekly. Between 1 and 2 AM, many Fido systems take themselves out of service and begin executing a script that automatically dials other Fido systems country-wide and delivering mail. Frequently, one Fido in each region will volunteer to act as a store-and-forward server for other systems in that region, thus cutting down on long-distance call charges. Messages are stored and delivered as MS-DOS files, using a variant of the XMODEM protocol (larger block sizes & batch delivery, I believe). It's possible to attach a disk file to a message; when the message is delivered, so is the file. Fido is very popular... there are certainly several hundred active Fidos in the U.S., and possibly over a thousand. My favorite Macintosh- oriented BBS (MacQueue) runs on a 20-meg Fido system, and I know of at least one Fido with 70+ megs of storage. From what I've heard from various sysops, the support for Fido is excellent. There's an extensive collection of Fido utilities that simplify BBS operation and add features not included in the core of Fido. Some of these were written by Fido's author[s], while others were written and posted by Fido sysops. Fido's major limitation is that it's strictly a single-user system; there is no real-time conferencing. I suppose that one might be able to run two copies under one of the multitasking shells that have been written for the PC, but I don't know that for certain. If you're interested in further info, drop me a note and I'll dig up the number for Fido 1/1; you can download further information (or a complete working set of the Fido software) from them. ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------