Info-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA.UUCP (05/17/86)
Info-IBMPC Digest Saturday, May 17, 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 54 This Week's Editor: Richard Nelson Today's Topics: Reading MS-DOS Disks Under UNIX Executing .bat from C Disk File Purge the Government Way Icon: Public Domain Language Available German MS-WORD v2.0 Undocumented Parameters German dBase III v1.10 Undocumented Commands Review of MS-Project v2 DOS 3.2 Fatal Internal Stack Failure Today's Problems/Queries: Zenith 200 Heating Problem 8087 Output Routine & Trap Flag Queries Leading Edge Model D Color Graphics Fix Query Emacs for DOS, XENIX Query DOS 3.2 Bug Patch Query SEARCH PD Program Query Object Formats Query BBS Software Query Setting IBM Async Board to COM3, COM4 Query New Modes in PC-Talk Version 2.6 Query Music Composition Programs Query Architectural Design Software Query Frame Buffer Query MicroSoft Xenix 2.0 Query MicroSoft/IBM Macro Assembler Query ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Kevin Terpstra <war%tp3@rand-unix.ARPA> Subject: Reading MS-DOS Disks Under UNIX Date: 14 May 86 22:10:16 PDT (Wed) I have happened across some files that I found quite useful myself and I thought that I might offer them to all of you. Specifically, I have come upon the source to a program written to run under most Unixes that can read an write IBM-PC disks. If anyone wants this I will upload it (~60k source). - Howard Postley (war%tp3@rand-unix.arpa) [This is probably best supported via the normal Unix source distribution schemes than here in INFO-IBMPC Library. -wab] ------------------------------ Date: 15 May 86 10:45 EDT From: Mark Williams <mlw@ncsc> Subject: Executing .bat from C To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib Re: search for C fn that executes arbitrary .bat file...C Utility Library by Essential Software, Inc., includes a function called doscmd that "enables you to run a DOS command or batch file or another program as a sub-task of your program." (From CUL manual, (c) 1984, 1985, Essential Sftwe, Inc.). I haven't used that particular function yet, but my experience with other parts of the library has been positive so far. CUL is available from most companies who make a point of selling PC(MS)-DOS C compilers and support products. Mark L. Williams mlw@ncsc ------------------------------ Date: 15 May 86 10:57:08 PDT (Thursday) From: Eldridge.ES@Xerox.COM Subject: Disk File Purge the Government Way The latest version of the Norton Utilities (V 3.1) has a program called WipeFile to purge files. There is a /G option to use the government method of overwriting the files. George ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 May 86 19:59:40 EDT From: Mark S. Feldman <MARKSF@UMD2.UMD.EDU> To: info-ibmpc@isib.arpa Subject: Icon: Public Domain Language Available For those of you who are interested in languages, PC Icon 5.9 is distributed by the University of Arizona Icon Project for a disk/postage fee of $15. There are versions for both PC-DOS (actually any MS-DOS 2.0+ compatible) and PC-Xenix, each available for $15. I have a copy of the PC-DOS version and it is public domain. Currently only binary is distributed, though Ralph Griswold (Mr. SNOBOL & Mr. Icon) assures me that the source will be made available when version 6 is complete, sometime this summer. For those of you not familiar with Icon, here's a brief description. Imagine combining SNOBOL 4 and C. Then imagine adding such novel features as coroutines and generators (functions that produce a series of results). If your imagination is good, you now have an idea of what Icon is about. Have no fear, one of the files on the Icon diskette is an overview of the language. If you want to learn more about Icon, read _The Icon Programming Language_ by Ralph E. Griswold and Madge T. Griswold, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1983. Icon is written in C and version 5.9 uses the small memory model so it is somewhat limited, but it is interesting none the less. If the keeper of one of the arpa libraries (<Info-Ibmpc>@Isib, <Cc.Galvin. Public>@R20, Etc@Somewhere) will tell me where I can ftp this stuff to, everyone will be able to give Icon a try. If you can't wait for a network distribution of this software, you can send a check for $15 payable to The University of Arizona to: Icon Project Department Of Computer Science The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85721 Mark ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 May 86 10:21:32 MEZ To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA From: UZR500%DBNRHRZ1.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Subject: German MS-WORD v2.0 Undocumented Parameters There is a German version of MS-WORD here in Germany. In addition to the commands one can find in the manuals we found three new commands which work but which are not written in the books: Word /c -> Color on CGA ( with A<usschnitt O<ptionen (=window options) Compatible to SIDEKICK with CGA and HERCULES-card Word /h -> 90 characters/32 lines with HERCULES-card Word /l -> WORD will load the last edited text and will set the cursor on the last written position. It is necessary to have COMMAND.COM on one's disk for the following command : B<ibliothek B<etriebssystem (=directory OS) Thorsten Glattki <UZR500%DBNRHRZ1.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Computer Center of the University of Bonn (RHRZ Bonn) Room 003 Wegelerstrasse 4 D-5300 Bonn 1 Federal Republic of Germany (West-Germany) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 May 86 10:23:24 MEZ To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA From: UZR500%DBNRHRZ1.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Subject: German dBase III v1.10 Undocumented Commands dBase III (German version) - list of undocumented commands The German version of dBase II (version 1.10) is able to run several functions and commands which are not documented. 1.)undocumented functions: --------------------------- LTRIM(string)....-> this function will erase all leading blanks. OS().............-> gives back the OS-version number. VERSION()........-> gives back the version number of dBase. ISUPPER(string)..-> the result is TRUE if the first character of the string is in upper case. NDX(num. expr.)..-> gives back the name of the specified index file. DBF()............-> gives back the name of the current data base file. RECS()...........-> gives back the number of all records. FIELD(num.expr.).-> gives back the name of the specified field. MIN(n.e.1,n.e.2).-> gives back the minimum. MAX(n.e.1,n.e.2).-> gives back the maximum. INKEY()..........-> gives back the ASCII value of the pressed key. 2.)undocumented commands: -------------------------- SET SEGMENT TO (num.expr.)->will determine the data segment for PEEK() and POKE in decimal numbers. Example:(to switch to NumLock) SET SEGMENT TO 64 old value=PEEK(23) => POKE 23,32 SET DATE ANSI.............->wil create the format of the date in the form YY.MM.DD 3.)Parameters to known commands: -------------------------------- FREEZE......-> the parameter of BROWSE which will effect that only the specified filed can be edited;all other fields will on= ly be shown. LOCK........-> the parameter of BROWSE which will effect that the speci= fied number of fields will be shown also ever shown during paging of the screen. NOFOLLOW....-> a parameter of BROWSE and only relevant in relation with an active index file and changing the key fields. Without NOFOLLOW and changing the key fields the record will be repositioned at once and the actual active record With NOFOLLOW the record will also be repositioned, but the next record ('next' in relation to the key) will be= come the current record. Syntax: BROWSE FIELDS <field list> LOCK <num.expr.> FREEZE <field> NOFOLLOW PLAIN.......-> a parameter of REPORT and will effect that no date and no page number will be printed. SAMPLE......-> a parameter of LABEL and will create an output in order to right justify of etikettes. It can be repeat so long as it is necessary/as you want. 4.)Others (parameter of SET TO ?): ---------------------------------- CALL........-> It needs SET CALL ON befores its first execution. ODOMETER....-> 'SET ODOMETER TO <num.expr.>' will be accepted. AMERICAN,BRITISH,FRENCH,ITALIAN,GERMAN,MODULE,LOAD,CODE,DATA,CMDSET, FAST,LOAD,MERGE,GETNV,GETOPT,EVAL,UNLOCK(),FLOCK,NLOCK,LOCNDX,LOCK Thorsten Glattki <UZR500%DBNRHRZ1.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Computer Center of the University of Bonn (RHRZ Bonn) Room 003 Wegelerstrasse 4 D-5300 Bonn 1 Federal Republic of Germany (West-Germany) ------------------------------ Date: Sat 17 May 86 11:27:50-PDT From: Robotics Group <ROB@SU-STAR.ARPA> Subject: Review of MS-Project v2 To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA MS-Project version 2: Compared to other similar project scheduling programs this one has the most features and is relatively easy to learn and manipulate. These words summarize the good news about this program. The bad news are the bugs that I found: - For no apparent reason the program hangs up usually during recalculation and the system has to be rebooted. Other symptoms are "divide error" messages that throw you back to the operating system. - Printer support: The program was not tested with a variety of printers and my Epson FX-185 is one of them. Printout in graphics mode results in missing several activity lines (Epson FX-80 was ok). MicroSoft suggested to use the IBM printer configuration instead but the results are still the same. As for the first problem, it is known to MS but they were reluctant to say when a fix will be available "maybe 6 weeks or so" was the best I heard... Usual disclaimer... ------------------------------ Date: Fri 16 May 86 13:21:00-PDT From: Ted Shapin <BEC.SHAPIN@USC-ECL.ARPA> Subject: DOS 3.2 Fatal Internal Stack Failure To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA TITLE: 04/21/86 PC DOS : PC-FLASH - DOS 3.2 STACK MANAGEMENT AS RELATED TO HARDWARE INTERRUPTS/ PAUSE KEY NOTES . $SOURCE: ITEM 959MG FROM EQUAL SYSTEM HONCDPD 3 SOURCE MATERIAL DATED: APR86 . Q: Due to the confusion surrounding DOS 3.2 and its interrupt processing and a known problem with the enhanced keyboard's pause key, I will try to set the record straight. . PAUSE KEY Repeated use of the pause key while scrolling is already paused, will cause repeated interrupts, within the same interrupt handler. This MAY lead to the exhaustion of DOS's stack pool leading to a DOS INTERNAL STACK ERROR. This exposure was alluded to in the announcement letter under the Technical Assistance paragraph. The supplemental information mentioned, is a software fix for the problem, which is available. To circumvent the problem without the fix, the user need only hit the pause key once to pause scrolling, and any other key to resume scrolling since the PAUSE key is not a toggle key. . DOS 3.2 DOS 3.2 has been enhanced to provide stack management for hardware interrupts, and allow the user to tune the system using the STACKS parameter of CONFIG.SYS. This enhancement allows for the use of available applications in an environment which is interrupt intensive, i.e., high speed communications etc., at the expense of loosing memory to a stack pool. Since most environments do not need more than 9 stacks, that number is the default and acceptable to most environments. . The following provides the details of DOS 3.2's stack management enhancement. Only the detail necessary to explain DOS Stack Management as it relates to hardware interrupts has been provided. . DOS 3.2 Stack Management . This version of DOS has implemented a technique known as stack swapping when handling hardware interrupts. When a hardware interrupt is generated, DOS gets control and swaps the stack that had been used for a clean DOS stack. After swapping stacks DOS passes control to the interrupt handler associated with the hardware interrupt. Upon return from the interrupt handler, DOS restores the old stack and adds the stack to its pool of stacks. . This implementation was necessary to allow existing applications to run in an interrupt intensive environment. Prior to stack swapping, it was up to an application to maintain a large enough stack so that interrupt processing routines could use its stack. Hardware interrupts are unscheduled events and can occur at any time. They may occur when executing a DOS function, an application or most importantly when another interrupt is being processed. The last case, "when another interrupt is being processed" has an exposure. . An explanation of the exposure necessitates the understanding of how interrupts and stacks relate to one another. We'll keep it as simple as we can. The stack is an area of memory which can be thought of as a stack of boxes. These boxes are used to temporarily store information. In the case of interrupt processing, this information is the register values saved at the acknowledgement of an interrupt. The interrupt handler saves these register values so they are preserved when the handler uses the registers for its own work. The registers belong to the application etc. which was running when the interrupt occurred. The interrupt handler must restore these registers when it prepares to return to the interrupted application so that application can continue processing where it was interrupted. Let's call the saving and restoring of these registers the preservation and restoration of the interrupted environment. Do not confuse the DOS ENVIRONMENT STRINGS, with environment as discussed in this article. . Keep in mind that this environment could refer to DOS, the application or an interrupt handler, i.e., any code being executed when a hardware interrupt occurs. So, the register values are put in the little boxes by the interrupt handler. They are filled sequentially starting at the bottom of the stack and working up. The pointer to the "next box" is maintained by the microprocessor. When the interrupted environment is restored the data is taken from the boxes and placed back into the registers. The stack is allocated and defined by the application which is running. . Before the days of high speed communications (Token Ring) and multitasking the users stack was generally adequate in size to handle normal hardware interrupt processing. Imagine, if you will, the problem encountered if an application is interrupted and the environment saved, then the interrupt handler is interrupted and the environment saved and on and on. This could represent an interrupt intensive environment. . Note that interrupts are occurring so fast that an interrupt handler never gets a chance to restore the environment and thus free up some boxes in the stack. If the stack is not large enough to accommodate all these saved environments then boxes are still filled even though they aren't within the allocated stack. When the stack is exceeded as discussed, an overlay condition exists where the environment was saved outside of the defined stack area. This leads to unexplained errors such as no response from the keyboard (hang), or divide overflow or divide by zero etc, because executable instructions or data was overlayed. . Since the application defines and owns the stack, and the PC, in an increasingly number of cases, is being subject to an abundance of interrupts, DOS 3.2 was designed to utilize stack swapping. With DOS 3.2 the exposure of interrupting an interrupt handler and over utilizing the application's stack has disappeared since DOS manages the stacks used by the hardware interrupt routines. Now when an interrupt occurs the applications stack is saved and DOS passes a free DOS stack, from its pool of stacks, to the interrupt handler. This stack is used the same way the original stack was used, to save and restore the environment. Now when a second interrupt occurs while processing the first interrupt, DOS uses another free stack, and so forth and so on until all the environments are restored, and all the stacks swap back until, finally, the application gets its stack back and continues processing. . There aren't an infinite number of DOS stacks, so it is possible for DOS to find itself in a position that he cannot swap to a free stack because they are all being used. This will result in an error message with DOS 3.2 which reads; FATAL:INTERNAL STACK FAILURE, SYSTEM HALTED In the past, the user could not be notified that they had a stack problem (overlay), except by hangs and unrelated error messages. With DOS 3.2, a notice is provided prior to locking up the machine. There is no way to recover from the error without loosing data integrity so the machine is put into a never-ending loop by DOS. While data may be lost, the error is an indication that the number of stacks used by DOS should be increased, as your configuration is exceeding the available stack space via hardware interrupts. . A new CONFIG.SYS parameter allows the user to redefine the number of stacks to be allocated and used by DOS to prevent future errors and the subsequent lose of data. This new parameter is the STACKS parameter and is located in the DOS users manual on page B-2. If you are worried about experiencing this problem you could set the STACKS parameter to its maximum and have an excellent chance of never experiencing the error. However, nothing is free, and you would have lost 32k of memory to the DOS stacks. Since DOS is growing from release to release it is better to allow the user to set the amount of memory he can afford to utilize for stack space, rather than add another 32k to DOS. Keep in mind that only users in an interrupt intensive environment will need to alter the default STACKS parameter. . For those of you unfamiliar with PC interrupts, the following is a partial list of some of the more popular adapters and PC functions using interrupts; TOD CLOCK (religiously 1 interrupt every 18.6 ms) KEYBOARD (pressing and releasing key) 3278/79 ADAPTER ASYNCH ADAPTER BSC ADAPTER SDLC ADAPTER NETWORK ADAPTER TOKEN RING ADAPTER DISKETTE DRIVE FIXED DISK DRIVE DACQ ADAPTER ------------------------------ Date: Thu 15 May 86 06:22:53-PDT From: Tony Brand <BRAND@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA> Subject: Zenith 200 Heating Problem To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA The Z200 with AST Advantage (3Mbytes) and 2 30Mbyte Seagate drives and EGA board is a great machine but... it gets hot. Has anyone solved the heat problem? How about removing the little plate on the back in the middle and putting in an extra fan? ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 May 86 07:56:57 PDT From: dgb%DEImos.Caltech.Edu@Hamlet.Caltech.Edu (Daniel S. Briggs) Subject: 8087 Output Routine & Trap Flag Queries To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA Does anyone out there have any pure assembler routines to format the various real number data types produced by the 8087? Specifically, I'm interested in formatting a 10 byte temporary real as a full 17 digit mantissa plus exponent. It doesn't have to be pretty, just in a form that a human can read. The application is to use it in a memory resident interrupt handler that prints a full status on the 8087, including all the status regs, and the internal stack. It really isn't a difficult job, and except for output formatting routines should be the work of a few hours. Pointers to vaguely related code is appreciated as well. For that matter, can anyone give any words of wisdom about the use of the trap flag? Supposing I wanted this handler to trigger the debugger again as it exits. I can set the trap flag, and sure enough the debugger wakes up a few instructions later (?). God only knows what housekeeping isn't being done, however. Is there an "approved" way to signal the microsoft debugger to wake up? (Int 3 just starts up the whole kit & kaboodle from the beginning. Since the debugger is not reentrant, this dies....) For that matter, the only way I have found to access the trap flag at all is to POPF a word with bit 9 set. Is there a better way? Thanks again for any help. If this thing flies, I'll upload it to the net libraries. ------------------------------ Date: 0 0 00:00:00 PST From: "COX R.G." <cox@nusc.ARPA> Subject: Leading Edge Model D Color Graphics Fix Query To: "info-ibmpc" <info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA> The Leading Edge model D has a color board that allows 16 color, 640 x 200 resolution which can be used by the graphics mode in BASIC. Other programs, however, such as Mouse Systems PC-Paint+, only see this board as a CGA board, and only allow four color medium resolution graphics. Does anyone know a fix that will allow these programs to use the full color graphics capabilities of the Model D? Thanks - Bob Cox (cox@nusc.arpa) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 May 86 10:20:03 edt From: Kevin Sullivan <kjs%tufts.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> To: info-ibmpc%usc-isib@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA Subject: Emacs for DOS, XENIX Query I run an AT under both IBM-XENIX and MS-DOS. Can I run Emacs? Is it free? How do I get it? Kevin Sullivan Tufts University kjs%tufts@csnet-relay ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 May 86 11:22:30 pdt From: Wm. L. Brown <wbrown@lbl-ux4> Subject: DOS 3.2 Bug Patch Query We've heard about the DOS 3.2 bug from several sources including info-ibmpc; however the patch for it seems to be a well-kept secret. Yesterday I called our local IBM Product Center, but they didn't know anything about it. They gave me a 800 number. I called that number, and those people didn't know anything about it, but they gave me another 800 number. This cycle continued until I just gave up. (The people at the next-to-last number wanted to sell me c maint contract on my main-frame. Since I don't have a main-frame, they gave me the 800 number of somebody would sell ne a main-frame. ARRGGGGH!!!) Anyhow, if anyone has managed to track down the "fix that IBM has documented," could you please post it to the net? It would be a great help to those of us who are not lucky enough to find the right curse necessary for extracting it from IBM. Thanks. Bill ------------------------------ From: "Philip_M._Burton.osbunorth"@Xerox.COM Date: 15 May 86 09:29:53 PDT (Thursday) Subject: SEARCH PD Program Query Several weeks ago I downloaded SEARCH from one of the local bbs's. The DOC file is in the form of a UNIX man page, and the header reads something like: UNIX-like Utilities for DOS 2.0. All in all, very nice, with UNIX-like ability to select files by combinations of name, size, date, attributes, etc., and to perform several operations, including dir list short/long, resetting attributes, copy/move/delete/rename, etc.. It has a backup option that resets the archive bit, and it even supports TAR files !!! The subdirectory form is the UNIX "/" rather than the DOS "\". Backup to a floppy subdirectory doesn't work, as follows The operation: copying C:/DIR/ FILE1.TXT to A:/DIR/FILE1.TXT fails, even though the subdirectory \DIR exists on the floppy in drive A, because it can't write to : A:\/DIR/FILE1.TXT. [note the mix of \ and /] Any suggestions? I am using a PC AT with DOS 3.1, but may go to DOS 3.2. There is no documentation on how to change the subdirectory form, and I don't have sources. Does anyone have sources? There is no clue as to the author, company, etc. Phil Burton Xerox Corp. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 May 86 08:13 MDT From: Jameson@UNCA-MULTICS.MAILNET Subject: Object Formats Query To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Can anyone point me in the direction of publications which describe the Intel, Microsoft, and Digital Research object module formats? i.e.,, the names of the publications by the principal companies or third party documents. My whole motivation is to write an assembler and linker for an msdos machine. Any relevant public domain assemblers or linkers from which this information could be derived would also be of use if such things exist. Many thanks Kevin ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 May 86 08:15 MDT From: Jameson@UNCA-MULTICS.MAILNET Subject: BBS Software Query To: info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA Is there any public domain bulletin board software available for the ibmpc which will implement a reasonably reliable system? ------------------------------ Date: Thu 15 May 86 14:09:28-PDT From: Tony Brand <BRAND@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA> Subject: Setting IBM Async Board to COM3, COM4 Query I have just set up EasyLan, a "network" which uses RS232 ports to link PC's. It's fine for my educational computer lab. Can the IBM Async board be modified to appear as COM3 or COM4? As I see it, I'd have to modify the address lines and the interrupt number. I have several async boards which I removed from XT's. I've run out of funds to buy one of the multiport boards! Tony Brand Trenton State College ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 May 86 06:33:14 AEST From: munnari!runx.oz!misja@seismo.CSS.GOV (Michael Jude) Subject: New Modes in PC-Talk Version 2.6 Query This is the latest version of PC-Talk we have down under and is from ExecPC. Unfortunately none of us have the new documentation. Two new features are the Stealth Mode and the IBM 3101 Mode. Could someone please explain the functions of these modes? Thanks in advance, Dr Michael J Jude PO Box 317, Caringbah, NSW, 2229, Australia. ACSnet: misja@runx CSNET: misja@runx.oz ARPA: misja%runx.oz@seismo.css.gov JANET: runx.oz!misja@ukc UUCP: {enea,hplabs,mcvax,prlb2,seismo,ubc-vision,ukc}!munnari!runx.oz!misja Graduate student, School of Health Administration, University of NSW. ------------------------------ Date: 16 May 86 15:12:00 EDT From: "Maarten Nederlof" <maarten@wharton-10.ARPA> Subject: Music Composition Programs Query To: "info-ibmpc" <info-ibmpc@usc-isib.ARPA> There's been a lot of interest here recently about music composition programs for the IBM-PC/XT line. Does anyone out there have any experience or information regarding music composing software/performing hardware that you could possibly share with us? We're not so interested in just writing sheet music, more like composing 5-part harmony and play it back. It could also interface with synthesizers, etc. If I receive useful replies, I'll gladly summarize to the net. Thanks in advance, Maarten Nederlof University of Pennsylvania ARPA: <Maarten@Wharton-10.ARPA> CSNET: <Maarten%Wharton-10@CSNET-RELAY.CSNET> MA BELL: (215) 387-6190 Where: N 40 deg 06 min 05 sec W 75 deg 10 min 18 sec ------------------------------ To: info-ibmpc@isib Subject: Architectural Design Software Query Date: Fri, 16 May 86 16:58:47 -0500 From: Jeff Edelheit <edelheit@mitre.ARPA> I have a friend who is interested in architectural design software He has seen AutoCAD and was not very not impressed with it. Any pointers, suggestions would be most helpful. Thanks, Jeff Edelheit (edelheit@mitre) The MITRE Corporation, 1820 Dolley Madison Blvd. McLean, VA 22102 (703) 883-7586 ------------------------------ Date: 16 May 1986 10:00-PDT From: Kenneth Sloan <sloan@uw-tanga.arpa> Subject: Frame Buffer Query To: INFO-IBMPC@usc-isib.arpa Folk- I'm looking for a frame buffer with the following specs: *standard mono video in *flash digitized to approx 640x480x8 (512x512 is ok, square pixels strongly preferred) *input look-up table(s) *mask-able frame store *output look-up tables(s) *standard RGB video out (8 bits per primary) *software support for C, Pascal, or Modula II The leading contender is the Matrox PIP-1024. I would appreciate comments from those who have used the Matrox board, and leads to other, comparable products. Note especially the requirements to deal with standard video, and the bare minimum of 512 pixels per line (640 preferred, but I can't find one...) Replies to me, please; I'll summarize. -Kenneth Sloan <sloan@washington.arpa> ------------------------------ To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: MicroSoft Xenix 2.0 Query Date: Fri, 16 May 86 18:58:58 -0500 From: Mark Colan <mtc@ATHENA.MIT.EDU> I have a few questions about Microsoft Xenix 2.0 (System V). I'm NOT interested in these answers for the previous releases (i.e.,, those based on System III). Any help out there? 1. I've heard that you can "hot-key" between 4 screens that each can be running different cshells, etc. Is this true of Microsoft Xenix, or did I hear it about SCO Xenix? 2. Is there a difference between SCO Xenix and MicroSoft Xenix? 3. Does Xenix 2.0 support the EGA in graphics mode, 43-line text, etc? 4. What are the "PC Extensions to Xenix" that are available from IBM as a fourth package? Is it worth $400+? Where did it come from? 5. Does the DOS cross compiler facility support curses yet? 6. Do you like it, overall? Thanx in advance Mark Colan MIT Project Athena (617)253-1358 mtc@athena.mit.edu ...!mit-eddie!mit-athena!mtc ------------------------------ To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib Subject: MicroSoft/IBM Macro Assembler Query Date: Fri, 16 May 86 19:01:23 -0500 From: Mark Colan <mtc@ATHENA.MIT.EDU> What is the correspondence between the revision numbers for the IBM and MicroSoft Macro Assemblers, if any? In particular, which version of Microsoft corresponds to the IBM Macro Assembler V2.0? Thanx in advance Mark Colan MIT Project Athena (617)253-1358 mtc@athena.mit.edu ...!mit-eddie!mit-athena!mtc ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------