MA18@SYSE.SALFORD.AC.UK (01/20/88)
I have recently completed the installation of Datestamper (tm) on my system which runs Z-COM. Like many Z-users I am TPA conscious, so I didn't want to leave Datestamper running under the command processor. The normal course of action in that case is to move down CP/M and install Datestamper above the BIOS. Unfortunately, this was not possible in my case as I have three different BIOSs from the manufacturer, but only one copy of MOVCPM! I found the answer in Jay Sage's article in TCJ number 29. Not only can you patch ZCLD to create a version of Z to run higher in memory than it would normally, but you can do the reverse and leave a gap ABOVE zcpr3.3, zrdos and the buffers but BELOW the BIOS. All that I needed to do in addition was to use DDT to patch the addresses in the IOP and the VBIOS to point to the real BIOS which had not moved. This also has the effect of removing Datestamper from memory when switching to CP/M. For me this is an advantage as I only switch to increase my TPA and this maximises it. My only concern now is that this trick may not work under NZCOM! I hope this may be of help to someone. -- Tony Addyman