Info-IBMPC@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL ("Info-IBMPC Digest") (08/28/90)
Info-IBMPC Digest Mon, 27 Aug 90 Volume 90 : Issue 140
Today's Editor:
Gregory Hicks - Rota Spain <GHICKS@WSMR-Simtel20.Army.Mil>
Today's Topics:
Re: Any info available on BITFAX?
BORLAND TURBO C++ (ignoring return value and other warnings)
Re: DOS 4.01 and INT's 25h & 26h
Re: Formatting 3.5" disks
German servers stopping services
PKZIP for Vax and Unix (2 msgs)
Soundex Sample C Code
Re: Soundex
Unix Command Editor
Re: Zenith MSDOS 3.3+
Today's Queries:
COM 3-4 DEVICE DRIVER AND VT100 SOURCE WANTED
WP51 to Postscript?
X-windows terminal software...
Accessing the WSMR-SIMTEL20 Archives
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 19 Aug 90 06:17:44 GMT
From: medici@dorm.rutgers.edu (Mark Medici)
Subject: Any info available on BITFAX?
Info-IBMPC@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.mil writes:
>In comp.sys.ibm.pc.digest
>Victor Menayang <victor@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu,vm@UTXVM.BITNET> wanted to
>know about a program called BITFAX. This program enabled a computer
>and modem to function as a Group III FAX.
> Would seem very dependent on which fax you had. I am aware of faxes
>that can double as a modem. Wonder whether it only works at 9600 baud
>and whether the text to bit stream slows it down.
BitFax is a product of Bit Software, Inc (830 Milpitas Ct., Suite 160,
Milpitas, CA 95035, Voice: 408/263-1447, Fax 408/263-2197). Bit S/W is
also know for its telecom program, BitCom.
I have a copy of BitFAX/SR (SR=Send/Receive) which came with my
fax/modem. As far as I can tell, you need a supported fax or fax/modem
card to use the program -- it does not turn a standard modem into a fax
modem.
As far as features go, it seems acceptable. It can convert ASCII, PCX,
TIFF, and a couple other formats to FAX, and convert FAX to TIFF or
PCX. It does not handle formatted text, though. There is a facility
to capture output destined for an IBM Graphics Printer to a FAX file,
but I've not tested this out. FAX's can be immediately transmitted, or
scheduled for later transmission; distribution lists are supported as
well as a mail-merge to dBase format files. The fax receiving software
is loaded as a TSR, and will pop-up to answer an incoming call. One
shortcoming is there currently is no way to command the receiving
software to immediately start receiving a FAX. This means that if you
answer the phone and discover its a fax call, you cannot receive the
fax; the calling party has to send the fax again so the software can
pick-up the line.
Received faxs can be viewed on screen (limited to CGA or EGA
resolution), and printed to an 9- or 24-pin dot matrix or HP LaserJet
compatible printer. Outgoing faxes can be previewed before sending,
and multiple files can be sent in your specified order.
I got my software with a DigiTran Systems ZX1896 fax/mode (9600 baud G3
fax, 2400 baud async modem). The package cost me $200.00 at EggHead
Software (on sale). The actual board seems to be made by Zoltran,
which advertises in InfoWorld or PC-Week (I get confused). So far,
I've no complaints. However, I would be willing to purchase other
software if it had the ability to transmit formatted test and
immediately receive faxes.
------------------------------
Date: 19 Aug 90 16:20:14 GMT
From: psrc@mtunq.ATT.COM (Paul S. R. Chisholm)
Subject: BORLAND TURBO C++ (ignoring return value and other warnings)
In article <900817020730.V90N136@WSMR-Simtel20.Army.Mil> Jim Van Zandt
<jrv@mbunix.mitre.org> writes:
> The compiler is working fine now. I have had to turn off several
> more warnings - TCC now expects every function to return a value
> unless it is explicitly declared to return "void". However, I am
> also getting extraneous warnings about useless code. They all seem
> to involve use of getchar(), as in:
> fprintf(stderr, "WARNING: ...\n"); getchar();
> True, I am ignoring the return value. Doesn't the compiler realize
> that I am executing the function for its side effect? Why doesn't
> the warning mention the return value?
I didn't expect getchar(); to complain "Code has no effect", but that's
what it does, and I wasn't able to find a more appropriate message in
the Programmer's Guide. Casting the returned value to void will get
rid of the warning, so: (void) getchar();
Now, an editorial comment: compiler warnings are your friends. Strong
type checking can find about ten percent of all software bugs (which
sounds small until you realize the biggest cause is bad requirements).
I've got every warning turned on (with TCINST) except "Structure passed
by value". It makes compiling old code a problem; it makes *debugging*
old code a lot easier!
> - Jim Van Zandt <jrv@mbunix.mitre.org>
Paul S. R. Chisholm, AT&T Bell Laboratories
att!mtunq!psrc, psrc@mtunq.att.com, AT&T Mail !psrchisholm
I'm not speaking for the company, I'm just speaking my mind.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 90 09:14:14 CST
From: hjh@aeg.dsto.oz.au (H.J.Harvey-AEG)
Subject: DOS 4.01 and INT's 25h & 26h
In comp.sys.ibm.pc.digest you write:
>Does anyone know whether or not Microsoft MS/DOS 4.01 redefined the
>INT 25 and INT 26 programmer's interface? All the documentation I
>have describes it as follows:
...etc
Dan:
There is some confusion over the use of these two interrupts for sector
numbers which exceed 65535. If you download a copy of Ralf Brown's
Interrupt List from SIMTEL20 (PD1:<msdos.info>inter490.zip) or get a
copy of Dave William's "Programmer's Technical Reference for MSDOS and
the IBM PC" they will explain how to read sectors whose number is
>65535.
Both these manuals are invaluable. inter490.zip concentrates on the PC
interrupts (330+ pages), while Dave's manual is a general PC guide
(900+ pages)
Howie
Howard Harvey | c = 1802617499785.254116 f/f
Aeronautical Research Laboratory | (furlongs/fortnight)
Defence Science and Technology Organisation +-----------------------------
Salisbury, South Australia | Phone: +61 8 259 6322
| FAX: +61 8 259 5507
Note correct Email address ==> | Email: hjh@aeg.dsto.oz.au
------------------------------
Date: 20 Aug 90 05:37:35 GMT
From: dgil@pa.reuter.COM (Dave Gillett)
Subject: Formatting 3.5" disks
In digest <900819102352.V90N138@WSMR-Simtel20.Army.Mil>
Info-IBMPC@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.mil writes:
>I deal with a bunch of users who would like to put their 3.5" disks,
>720K or 1.4M in the drive and say 'format f:'(or whatever drive). This
>nonsense about trying to remember which magic switches work is bad
>enough for me, but I've got non-computer people to deal with. Does
>anyone know of a formatting program that is smart enough to figure out
>what the drive is (or read a table stored in a configuration file) and
>do the right thing?
"Do the right thing" is hard, but we use CED at work, and on my machine
I have defined four useful command sysnonyms:
f360 Format a: with switches for 360K
f1.2 Format a: with switches for 1.2M
f720 Format b: with switches for 720K
f1.44 Format b: with switches for 1.44M
All of these synonyms run the same program, but with different
arguments. And I never have to remember what those arguments are!
I know that's not quite what you asked for, but I think it has a good
chance of solving 90% of the problem for 10% of the hassle. For me,
that's good enough; for you, it might not be.
Dave
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 90 15:05:45 MEZ
From: Heinz-Ruediger Oberhage <PHY070%DE0HRZ1A.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
Subject: German servers stopping services
The German server TRICKLE@DB0FUB11 stopped its actual service last
December (1989). After this date it was still possible to get some
older files, still in the local directory, but the directory has not
been updated ever since; the trickle administrators wrote email to
all German sites, not to use their server any longer!
Now in the past few months TRICKLE@DTUZDV1 also sends a note with each
request, saying that the server will quit services starting September
1, 1990. So there will be no German TRICKLE-server available after this
date - which is in the v e r y near future.
Greetings,
H.-R. Oberhage
Post: Universitaet GHS Essen E-Post: PHY070@DE0HRZ1A.BITNET
Fachbereich 7 (Physik) Telefon: 0201 / 183-2493
4300 Essen
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 90 11:40 EST
From: PERRY@northeastern.edu
Subject: PKZIP for Vax and Unix
Anyone know where I can get versions of pkzip that will work on VAX
VMS and UNIX? (not both at once of course i want a version for each
machine I use ie: looking for two versions ...confused yet?)
Thanks!
[BTW - If you try answering PERRY at this address, your mail will
probably bounce. I haven't been able to get mail to PERRY for months.
gph]
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 1990 17:22 MDT
From: Keith Petersen <w8sdz@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.mil>
Subject: PKZIP for Vax and Unix
There is no ZIP for VMS or Unix. There is a UNZIP for Unix. Directory
PD3:<MISC.UNIX>UNZIP310.TAR-Z which is a compressed tar file. Rename
to unzip310.tar.Z, uncompress, and extract with the command tar xvf
unzip310.tar .
There is an Info-ZIP mailing list. Send email to
Info-ZIP-Request@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL asking to be placed on the
list.
--Keith
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 90 15:10:52 EDT
From: Bernard_Tiffany@um.cc.umich.edu
Subject: Soundex Sample C Code
The following is a typical Soundex program:
Bernard Tiffany
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <ctype.h>
void soundex(char s[], char c[]);
main()
{
int endfile;
char name[80], code[5];
endfile = 0;
while (!endfile)
{
printf("Enter the name\n");
endfile = (scanf("%s", name) == EOF);
if (!endfile)
{
soundex(name, code);
printf("Name: \"%s\", Soundex: %s\n", name, code);
}
}
}
void soundex (char s[], char c[])
{
char code, adjacent, ch, ch4[5], *p;
int i;
p = s;
if (*p == '\0')
strcpy(c, "0000");
else
{
adjacent = '0';
c[0] = toupper (*p);
strcpy(ch4, "0000");
for (i = 0; i < 4 && *p != '\0'; p++)
{
ch = toupper (*p);
code = '0';
switch (ch)
{
case 'B':
case 'F':
case 'V':
code = (adjacent != '1') ? '1' : '0';
break;
case 'C':
case 'G':
case 'J':
case 'K':
case 'Q':
case 'S':
case 'X':
case 'Z':
code = (adjacent != '2') ? '2' : '0';
break;
case 'D':
case 'T':
code = (adjacent != '3') ? '3' : '0';
break;
case 'L':
code = (adjacent != '4') ? '4' : '0';
break;
case 'M':
case 'N':
code = (adjacent != '5') ? '5' : '0';
break;
case 'R':
code = (adjacent != '6') ? '6' : '0';
break;
case 'H':
case 'W':
break;
default:
adjacent = '0';
}
if (i == 0 || code != '0')
{
adjacent = ch4[i] = code;
i++;
}
}
for (i=1; i < 4; i++)
c[i] = ch4[i];
c[4] = '\0';
}
return;
}
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 90 16:04:27 -0400
From: David Kirschbaum <kirsch@usasoc.soc.mil>
Subject: Soundex
>Date: Mon, 13 Aug 1990 2:06:51 EDT
>From: Joseph M Newcomer <newcomer@F.GP.CS.CMU.EDU>
>Subject: Soundex
>
>I'm looking for a SOUNDEX search interface (encoding, searching, etc.)
>written in C and available as PD or for nominal cost.
SIMTEL20's PD1:<MSDOS.ASMUTL>SOUNDEXA.ARC has assembly language version
of a SOUNDEX routine for Clipper calls. In the comments, the author
mentions EXAMPLEC.C, a SOUNDEX routine distributed with "Clipper Summer
87" (whatever that is).
The SOUNDEX.ASM code is nice clean code, easily adaptable for use in a
C program, etc. However, the author cautions his routine does not
return exactly the same results as EXAMPLEC.C and one other SOUNDEX
routine.
But snarf this file to get somewhat smart on available SOUNDEX
routines.
Hope this helped.
David Kirschbaum
Toad Hall
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 90 9:50:49 CDT
From: david@wubios.wustl.edu (David J. Camp)
Subject: Unix Command Editor
This is in reply to your inquiry about command-line editors for Unix.
There are several Unix command-line editors available. Look at
wuarchive:usenet/comp.sources.unix/volume23/index23.2.Z for more
information. Here are a few of them: -David-
reactivekbd (4 parts) Command-line editor with predictions
atty (4 parts) A command-line editor (for BSD)
fep (5 parts) Front end editor program
david%wubios@wugate.wustl.edu ^ David J. Camp
...!uunet!wugate!wubios!david < * > 314-382-0584
v
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 1990 19:12 MDT
From: "Frank J. Wancho" <WANCHO@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL>
Subject: Zenith MSDOS 3.3+
Loren,
As I stated in my reply, you can boot up from the 3.3+ system disk and
use the SYS C: command to overwrite the existing previous hidden 3.2
system files, plus COMMAND.COM. You needn't unhide or otherwise
pre-manipulate the old files for this to work. In fact, I did that,
after making a complete backup of the C: drive for insurance.
HOWEVER, I later found and reported to Zenith that there was a bug
using their COMPACT utility with the H (hidden) option to include
hidden files in its defragmenting action. The bug was that it failed
to make exceptions of the hidden system files. When it found the
second system file was fragmented, it dutifully relocated that file to
make it contiguous and hence no longer in its mandatory location as the
second file on the disk.
This bug with COMPACT was in the first release of the Zenith MSDOS 3.30
Plus package. It was supposedly fixed in a subsequent release, which I
never received and didn't really need because I went through the FORMAT
C: /S sequence and restored the remaining files (from tape).
--Frank
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 90 14:11:45 SST
From: Luther Chan <CCECHAN%NUSVM.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
Subject: COM 3-4 DEVICE DRIVER AND VT100 SOURCE WANTED
Dear IBMPC readers,
I would like to have some information on how to write a device driver
for com 3 and 4. This device driver will allow DOS to detect the
present of the com 3 and com 4, and its address may be specified in
config.sys.
I also would like know if there is any vt100 emulator source that
written for monochrome screen.
If you have any of these softwares with source please send to
ccedial@nusvm bitnet. Thank you in advance.
Luther
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 90 18:54:12 -0400
From: Timothy C Wolfson <tcwst@unix.cis.pitt.edu>
Subject: WP51 to Postscript?
Hi Everybody!
I am a student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Our
computer lab is equipped with 9 pin dot matrix printers. However, there
are plenty of laser(postscript) printers available at other labs. All
the law school machines are equipped with modems, so I am able to
upload files to my unix account and send them out to be printed.
But when you save a Wordperfect document as a DOS (ascii) file, most
of the formatting disappears. Does anyone know of a utility that will
convert WP files to postscript format? Or WP to XEROX Scribe format?
Thanks in advance for the advice!
Tim Wolfson, tcwst@unix.cis.pitt.edu
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 90 19:09:06 EDT
From: zielke@phy.duke.edu (David Zielke)
Subject: X-windows terminal software...
I am currently working with several individuals with trying to provide
X-windows terminals on desktops in the most effective way at reasonable
dollars. The options we are currently considering are the following:
1) X-windows dedicated terminals. These have 800x600 graphics or
higher with either a serial line or an ethernet link. Minimum cost ==>
$900 (Monochrome, serial only) Ethernet Cost ==> $1400
2) Sparc stations from SUN (I know, the wrong newsgroup but it is one
of the options) without a hard disk and with about 8 mb of memory.
Minimum cost ==> ~$3000
3) Install either 19.2kb serial cards or ethernet cards in some flavor
of PC (8088, 80286, 80386sx, 80386, etc ) with 800x600 graphics (like a
nec multisync IIgs and a VGA card [don't need color]) Minimum cost ==>
?????
Thus the reason for the post to this group, has anyone done this with a
PC? What software is available, what are the hardware requirements as
far as CPU power to handle an X-terminal session. (Note, the X-server
is running on a Sun system or something else. This is only the
terminal.) Any previous experience, cost rundowns, suppliers, etc would
be most appreciated. I will summarize to the network...
David Zielke
zielke@physics.phy.duke.edu
zielke@cs.duke.edu
zielke@ccf3.nrl.navy.mil
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 90 21:23:36 +0200
From: Gregory Hicks <ghicks@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL>
Subject: Accessing the WSMR-SIMTEL20 Archives
The Simtel20 Archives discussed are available from:
WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL (see file PD1:<MSDOS.FILEDOCS>AAAREAD.ME details
on file directories and descriptions.) Problems with files obtained
from the Archives should be addressed to:
<ACTION@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL>
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If you are unable to access SIMTEL20 via Internet FTP or through one of
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If you send email to <rjc@math.princeton.edu> with no subject and
containing the single line "help", you will receive instructions;
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available on the server.
A set of files you might be interested in is obtaining are faq.csip
and faq.more. These files contain answers to more frequently asked
questions. Send the message "send faq.csip" or "send faq.more" to
obtain them. DO NOT INCLUDE A SUBJECT LINE FOR THESE MESSAGES.
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End of Info-IBMPC Digest V90 #140
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