Info-IBMPC@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL ("Info-IBMPC Digest") (01/01/90)
Info-IBMPC Digest Sun, 31 Dec 89 Volume 89 : Issue 128 Today's Editor: Gregory Hicks - Chinhae Korea <GHICKS@WSMR-Simtel20.Army.Mil> Today's Topics: 3.3 -> 4.01 Conversion (Seagate 4096) Changing Commands compress (v89 #121) Controlling Office PC from Home Hypercard/hypertext LINT Program Questions policy (2 msgs) Recording system startups (3 msgs) Timing a Commercial Software Package Undocumented LOADALL instruction for 80286 Inexpensive Chinese Word Processor New Uploads: New msdos uploads to SIMTEL20 (2 msgs) Quick Reference list to SIMTEL20's Directories QMODEM version 4.1B uploaded to SIMTEL20 SIMRAZ13.ARC - Shorten/re-arrange SIMTEL index fields; w/TP src The Lending Library is available from: WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL (see file PD1:<MSDOS.FILEDOCS>AAAREAD.ME details on file directories and descriptions.) Archives of past issues of the Info-IBMPC Digest are available from WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL in directory PD2:<ARCHIVES.IBMPC>. WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL can be accessed using LISTSERV commands from BITNET via LISTSERV@NDSUVM1, LISTSERV@RPIECS, LISTSERV@FINTUVM and in Europe from EARN TRICKLE servers. Send commands to TRICKLE@<host-name> (example: TRICKLE@TREARN). The following TRICKLE servers are presently available: AWIWUW11 (Austria), BANUFS11 (Belgium), DKTC11 (Denmark), DB0FUB11 (Germany), IMIPOLI (Italy), EB0UB011 (Spain) TAUNIVM (Israel) and TREARN (Turkey). Send Replies or notes for publication to: <INFO-IBMPC@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL> Send requests of an administrative nature (addition to, deletion from the distribution list, et al) to: <INFO-IBMPC-REQUEST@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 28 Dec 89 19:04:36 pst From: Danny Low <dlow@hpspcoi.hp.com> Subject: 3.3 -> 4.01 Conversion (Seagate 4096) Info-IBMPC@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL gt5302b%prism@gatech.edu >Is there any way to get DOS 4.01 to recognize a Seagate 80MB drive without >reformatting? I'd like to be able to upgrade from DOS 3.3 quickly and >easily. Thanks. In general if you retain the 3.3 partitioning scheme, you can upgrade directly to 4.01 without doing anything more than a normal DOS upgrade. If you want the large disk capability of 4.01, then you will have to completely clear your old hard disk. This includes removing all 3.3 partitions and replacing them with 4.01 partition or partitions and reformating them. 4.01 FDISK will not touch 3.3 FDISK partitions so you will have to use the 3.3 FDISK to remove the partition and then use the 4.01 FDISK to add in the new partitions. I have done this. It is a lot of work. Unless you need a large partition I do not recommend doing this. Recognition of the Seagate 4096 is a function of the ROM BIOS and should not be affected by the choice of DOS. If your current system under 3.3 recognizes the drive, you should have no problem with 4.01. The only situation that may be a problem is if you have used some third party scheme to get around the 32MB limit of 3.3. Danny Low ------------------------------ Date: 26 December 1989 04:21 CST From: "Grant Hoover" <U26264@UICVM.uic.edu> Subject: Changing Commands Glenn M. Brunette <sjuphil!gb032119@princeton.edu> was looking for a program to allow him to change DOS commands. By "change commands" I assume he means use a word other than the command's original name to invoke that command. If this is what he's looking for, the answer is yes. A new name given to a command is commonly called an alias in the Big Blue camp, and I know of three programs that include aliases among their features. One is Command Plus from ESP Software (213-390-7408). This is actually a replacement for COMMAND.COM, DOS's own command processor. As such, it enjoys all the flexibility of being "built into" the operating system. It boasts a herd of other features, including command recall, command line editing, regular expression file specs, a screen saver, a file viewer, an enhanced batch language, enhancements to standard DOS commands, and the addition of some completely new ones. Command Plus costs $80. For more information, contact the manufacturer or refer to Byte magazine's review of a slightly older version of the program in its May 1988 issue. Another program similar to Command Plus is a shareware offering. 4DOS is available from JP Software (617-646-3975) and costs $50 with a manual and $35 without. Like Command Plus, 4DOS is also a replacement command processor. In addition to aliases, the program sports on-line help (a plus for beginners), command line editing, command recall, filename fill-in, intelligent wildcards, an enhanced batch language, the ability to swap itself into EMS memory, and other features. For more information, contact the manufacturer or refer to PC Magazine's review of the program in its May 16, 1989, issue. PCED from Cove Software (also shareware) can do this kind of thing, too, but I'm not familiar with that program. I believe it is a TSR, not a replacement command processor. I hope this information is useful. Grant Hoover University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, Illinois . . Bitnet: U26264@UICVM . Compuserve: 76370,314 \___/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Dec 89 04:40:28 EST From: jonradel@bogey.Princeton.EDU Subject: compress (v89 #121) >but it does not seem to be able to decompress files that I get via ftp. It >does compress and decompress files that I give. Are you sure you're doing a binary transfer all the way to your PC? For example, the compress program I've got on my PC will crash if I forget to do "set transfer binary" when I use Kermit. --Jon Radel jonradel@bogey.princeton.edu ------------------------------ Date: 26 December 1989 01:22 CST From: "Grant Hoover" <U26264@UICVM.uic.edu> Subject: Controlling Office PC from Home <LIANG%IPFWCVAX.BITNET@CORNELLC.cit.cornell.edu> wanted to know what software would be needed to run a program in the PC at the office while using the PC at home. There is software for exactly this purpose. I have listed some below, along with their prices, manufacturers, and the companies' phone numbers. The prices quoted are based on my most recent information and are estimated costs for all software components necessary to use the products. (Some require more than one module purchased separately.) Carbon Copy Plus $390 Microcom 617-551-1999 Close-Up $440 Norton-Lambert 805-964-6767 Co/Session $249 Triton Technologies 201-855-9440 Line Plus Master $200 Concept Development Systems 404-434-4813 PC Anywhere $99 Dynamic Microprocessor Associates 516-736-0500 Remote2 $195 DCA/Crosstalk Communications 404-998-3998 An antiquated but fairly complete review of these products appears on page 291 of PC Magazine's January 12, 1988, issue. Byte also reviewed Carbon Copy Plus on page 180 of its December 1987 issue, but the version reviewed is no longer the current one. I hope this information is useful. Grant Hoover University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, Illinois . . Bitnet: U26264@UICVM . Compuserve: 76370,314 \___/ ------------------------------ Date: 26 December 1989 00:45 CST From: "Grant Hoover" <U26264@UICVM.uic.edu> Subject: Hypercard/hypertext <newstv1@carleton.ca> asked about hyper-whatever programs for the PC. HyperPAD by Brightbill-Roberts (800-444-3490) offers some of the functionality of the Mac's Hypercard. I have never used either program, so I can't comment further. For more information, refer to PC Magazine's short review on page 51 of the September 12, 1989 issue, or Byte Magazine's more complete review on page 189 of the September 1989 issue. I hope this information is useful. Grant Hoover University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, Illinois . . Bitnet: U26264@UICVM . Compuserve: 76370,314 \___/ ------------------------------ Date: 26 December 1989 00:57 CST From: "Grant Hoover" <U26264@UICVM.uic.edu> Subject: LINT Program <silber%TAMCHEM.BITNET@ricecm1.rice.edu> (Steve Silber) was looking for a LINT program that works with Microsoft C 5.1 source code. I've heard of one program that might fit the bill. PC-lint from Gimpel Software (215-584- 4261) costs $139, and the manufacturer claims it runs under MS-DOS, but makes no reference to specific compilers in its ad. The product comes with a 30 day money-back guarantee, and the folks at Gimpel will probably be able to advise on matters of specific compilers. I hope this information is useful. Grant Hoover University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, Illinois . . Bitnet: U26264@UICVM . Compuserve: 76370,314 \___/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Nov 89 10:18:33 CST From: moore@ncsc.navy.mil (Moore) Subject: Questions policy It's distressing to learn that you filter questions from non-subscribers. The very act of allowing a query/comment to appear in the newsletter should imply that that question is of sufficient widespread interest to appeal to the subscribers as well as to the originator of the question. So what difference does it make whether the question came from a subscriber or not? If it belongs in the newsletter, put it there regardless of who it came from (and yes, I always reply BOTH to the originator and the group, since the newsletter is digested); if not, tell the user what newsgroup to send it to! Jim ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Dec 89 21:27:28 MST From: Gregory Hicks <GHICKS@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL> Subject: Questions policy Jim: I don't remove ANYTHING from the Digest. I do correct the grammer, re-phrase questions so that they read better, et al,... But... Well, perhaps I'd better re-phrase that ANYTHING.. I do remove messages that have ANYTHING to do with copy-protection in any form and messages that are obvious 'commercial' messages (ie guy wrote this neat program and wants to sell it.) that do NOT contain a disclaimer spelling out what his connection with the product is. If a message is submitted that I think is questionable, I go and query the sender to find out what he's trying to do. Usually, I get back a message that provides the info I need. If no response if forthcoming, THEN the message is discarded. If a message is received that does not appear to have anything to with the IBM PC, XT, AT, ... (and clones) I try and forward to an appropriate list (with a copy to the sender) for action/response. The reason I do this? Because that is the way the charter was set up when the whole thing started. I can't afford to be partial. We're using government resources to publish the Digest. As it is, the Digest barely meets the intent of the charter. (Supposed to be technical in nature (ie hardware) but most discussions are about software...) Sorry if you got the impression that I do remove things. I have a master file of addressees about 500 lines long. One of these lines feeds BITNET, another feeds USENET. BITNET alone has over 9,800 subscribers. I have no idea how many on USENET get it.. With that in mind, I can't afford the time to scan messages looking to see if a person is signed up to take the Digest. It would appear that quite a few don't (at least that's what their messages say when they get here.) Ah-h-h- well, ... Gregory Hicks ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Dec 89 11:30:43 CST From: convex!harper@uxc.cso.uiuc.edu (David Harper) Subject: Recording system startups On 11 Dec in Digest V89 #121, Mike Bunnell <MJB8949@ritvax.bitnet> asked about recording system start-ups... >I'd like to set up a command or two in my autoexec file that will add the >current time/date to an existing file (say, boot.dat). [... text deleted] > >I'm not looking for elaborate security, the main reason for this is to >track the number of power failures experienced by the system. [...] I saw your request for help in logging system startups in the digest newsgroup today. You have probably received a zillion replys by now but, if not, here's another one. What you are trying to do is fairly simple. There is a way to do it using the ANSI escape sequences (assuming you have ANSI.SYS loaded) but unfortunately, the information on how to do this is at home and I am at work right now. However, if you are just looking for functionality and are not overly interested in how pretty things look, then you can use the DOS commands for DATE and TIME. Both of these commands will print the current values and then pause waiting for you to enter new values. If you just enter a carriage return the current values are kept. So, the way to make this useful in a batch file (such as autoexec.bat) is to create a file (ie: dummy.txt) which consists of nothing more than a carriage return/line feed. This can be done with any editor. Then put the following two commands in your batch file: date < dummy.txt >> boot.dat time < dummy.txt >> boot.dat The dummy.txt file will satisfy the need for a carriage return (so things won't just hang waiting for keyboard input). Also, make sure you use two greater than signs (>) as this forces the output to be appended to the boot.dat file. If you use only a single greater than sign it will overwrite the file with the new information and you will lose all previous data. Hope all this helps. Dave Harper - Convex Computer Corp. E-mail address: 3000 Waterview Pky. Richardson, TX 75081 harper@convex.COM (214) 497-4525 (W) (214) 727-4206 (H) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Dec 89 03:44:21 +0100 From: aceverj@cc.ruu.nl (Jaap Verhage.) Subject: Recording System Start-up In the Digest V89#121 Nutsy Fagen posed a question about auto- matically having a system startup date and time written to a file, e.g. BOOT.DAT. In DOS, you could do this fairly simple by including the following commands in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file: DATE < \BAT\CRLF.TXT >> \BAT\BOOT.DAT TIME < \BAT\CRLF.TXT >> \BAT\BOOT.DAT This assumes that you want BOOT.DAT in a BAT directory, and that this directory contains a file CRLF.TXT, which consists of a carriage return/linefeed pair (one blank line) and nothing else. The results in BOOT.DAT wouldn't be extremely elegant, but they would serve the purpose. And you don't need anything but plain old DOS. BOOT.DAT could be made a bit better looking by letting FIND eliminate the "Enter new time:" and "Enter new date:" lines: FIND/V "Enter" \BAT\BOOT.DAT > \BAT\BOOT.TMP DEL \BAT\BOOT.DAT REN \BAT\BOOT.TMP \BAT\BOOT.DAT Hope this helps. Regards, Jaap Verhage, Academic Computer Centre, State University at Utrecht, Holland. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Dec 89 04:40:39 EST From: jonradel@bogey.Princeton.EDU Subject: Recording system startups (v89 #121) >I'd like to set up a command or two in my autoexec file that will add the >current time/date to an existing file (say, boot.dat). How about: date <cr >>boot.dat time <cr >>boot.dat in AUTOEXEC.BAT at a point after the clock has been set? CR would be a one byte file containing a carraige return. --Jon Radel jonradel@bogey.princeton.edu ------------------------------ Date: 26 December 1989 22:41 CST From: "Grant Hoover" <U26264@UICVM.uic.edu> Subject: Timing a Commercial Software Package Back in November I read that someone was looking for information on ways to record how long a program runs on a PC. The WordPerfect Library from WordPerfect Corp. includes, among other things, a menu system with this ability. It stores the log information in WordPerfect merge format, which is truly convenient if you can use WordPerfect to print the log. This format is also easily converted to regular ASCII text if the need arises. I hope this information is useful. Grant Hoover University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, Illinois . . Bitnet: U26264@UICVM . Compuserve: 76370,314 \___/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Dec 89 19:14:52 pst From: David Alan Feustel <well!feustel@APPLE.COM> Subject: Undocumented LOADALL instruction for 80286 I recommend strongly that you forget the LOADALL instruction and focus instead on using the 386 with its virtual 86 mode of execution to run real mode programs at the same time protected mode programs run. 219-482-9631 E-mail: feustel@well.sf.ca.us {ucbvax,apple,hplabs,pacbell}!well!feustel ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 10 Dec 89 16:28:16 EST From: Dai.Feng@fas.ri.cmu.edu Subject: Inexpensive Chinese Word Processor If you have been looking for an inexpensive Chinese word processor, here is one for $49.95. This program works with your computer (compatible with the IBM PC with CGA monitor, DOS 2.0 up and 256k) and printer (compatible with IMV or Epson), and no added hardware, you can: * Create and print Chinese text * Intermix with English when desired * Store test on compter media * Review and edit text * Use program with no training (if you know Chinese) * Use program as a tool to learn Chinese or pin yin * work faster than writing by hand after a little practice * Choose from two print sizes. " The printed chinese characters looks very nice, especially those from a 24 pin printer. Unfortunately, I can't show you here. But if you are interested, contact Cybertex Inc. at Cybertex, Inc 4005 W. 104th Terrace Overland Park, KS 66207 You can also call 1-800-633-1413 for information. Or you can send them a check for 49.95 to get the program to see if its what you need. If you don't like it, send it back in 30 days and get your money back. Dai [Since a 'disclaimer' was missing, I asked him what his connection to CyberTex was and received the following answer:] I have no financial interest in Cybertex. However, I AM related to the author of the chinesewriter who showed me the program during a recent visit. I have been looking for a chinese word processor for a while but was never willing to sink $300 for something that I don't really have to have. I suspect there are many people like me, hence the post. For me, the program was very nice for writing letters. I have not been using chinese for so long that I am having a hard time recalling the chinese characters when writing in chinese and often end up spending too much time checking the dictionary. Having a chinese word processor like chinesewriter is a big help. Dai ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 26 Dec 1989 17:02 MST From: Keith Petersen <w8sdz@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL> Subject: New msdos uploads to SIMTEL20 I have uploaded the following files to SIMTEL20: pd1:<msdos.catalog> CUDM315.ARC Colorado Utilities Disk Manager disk cataloger pd1:<msdos.pcmag> DIRMAG2.ARC DIRMAGIC v2.0, upgraded DR/RN/CO from PC Mag. pd1:<msdos.os2> OS2KIT1.ARC OS/2 utils for PKZ102-2.EXE (PKZIP for OS2) pd1:<msdos.at> ROM.ARC Save AT and 386 CMOS data to file and restore pd1:<msdos.starlink> SLNK0901.ARC Info about StarLink long-distance data service pd2:<msdos2.telix> QMM301.ARC Powerful Qmail/PCBoard navigator for Telix --Keith Petersen Maintainer of SIMTEL20's CP/M, MSDOS, & MISC archives [IP address 26.2.0.74] Internet: w8sdz@WSMR-SIMTEL20.Army.Mil, w8sdz@brl.arpa BITNET: w8sdz@NDSUVM1 Uucp: {ames,decwrl,harvard,rutgers,ucbvax,uunet}!wsmr-simtel20.army.mil!w8sdz ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 26 Dec 1989 18:29 MST From: Keith Petersen <w8sdz@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL> Subject: New msdos uploads to SIMTEL20 [--forwarded message--] From: rcm@csd4.csd.uwm.edu I have uploaded these files to SIMTEL20: pd2:<msdos2.zmodem> AVGZ12.ARC DSZ log analyzer version 1.2 pd1:<msdos.screen> BILBD101.ARC Make computer screen look like a billboard Jacob Brostoff Milwaukee, WI | rcm@csd4.csd.uwm.edu -- Internet Robert Markwardt permits me to use this account for News and Mail. Thanks Jacob! --Keith ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 24 Dec 1989 01:28 MST From: Keith Petersen <w8sdz@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL> Subject: Quick Reference list to SIMTEL20's Directories Quick reference list of SIMTEL20's PD1:<MSDOS.x> directories as of December 23, 1989 (where 'x' is one of the names below): ADA CROSSASM GIF NETWORK SPREADSHEET AIJOURNAL CROSSREF GRAPH OPUS SPRINT ALLCHARGE DATABASE GRAPHICS OS2 SQ-USQ APL DBASE HAMRADIO PACKET STARLINK ARC-LBR DDJMAG HYPERTEXT PASCAL STARTER ARCNET-PCIP DESKACCESS IRIT PC-JR STATISTICS ASM-MAG DESKJET KA9Q-TCPIP PCMAG SURFMODL ASMUTL DESKPUB KERMIT PCPURSUIT SWAP AT DESQVIEW KEYBOARD PCRESOURCE SYSUTL AUTOCAD DIRUTL LAN PCTECH TAXES AWK DISASM LAPTOP PGMUTL TEX BASIC DSKUTL LASER PILOT TROJAN-PRO BATUTL EDITOR LISP PLI TURBO-C BBS EDUCATION LOTUS123 PLOT TURBOBAS BBSLISTS EEL MAC PREPROCESS TURBOPAS BORLAND EGA MAPPING PRINTER TXTUTL BYTEMAG EMULATORS MATH PRODIGY UUCP C FILEDOCS MAX PROGJOURN VENTURA CAD FILUTL MEMACS PROLOG VGA CALCULATOR FINANCE MENU QBASIC VOICE CASE FLOWCHART MICROCORN QPASCAL VOICEMAIL CATALOG FORMGEN MODULA2 RAMDISK WORLDMAP CIS FORTH MOUSE RBBS-PC X-10 CLIPPER FORTRAN MSJOURNAL SCREEN XLISP CMPLNGMAG FOSSIL MSWINDOWS SMALL-C XPC COMPATIBLES FREEMACS MUSIC SMALLTALK ZIP COMPUTE-PC GENIE NCSATELNET SNOBOL4 ZOO Quick reference list of SIMTEL20's PD2:<MSDOS2.x> directories as of December 23, 1989 (where 'x' is one of the names below): BIBLE MODEM PROCOMM TAXES XPC FIDO PIBTERM QMODEM TELIX ZMODEM See PD1:<MSDOS.FILEDOCS>AAAREAD.ME for details on file directories and descriptions. --Keith ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 26 Dec 1989 17:00 MST From: Keith Petersen <w8sdz@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL> Subject: QMODEM version 4.1B uploaded to SIMTEL20 I have uploaded QMODEM, version 4.1B, to SIMTEL20: pd2:<msdos2.qmodem> QM41B-1.ARC Qmodem comm pgm v4.1B, readme & overlay, 1of5 QM41B-2.ARC Qmodem comm pgm v4.1B, executable & help, 2of5 QM41B-3.ARC Qmodem comm pgm v4.1B, utilities, 3of5 QM41B-4.ARC Qmodem comm pgm v4.1B, documentation, 4of5 QM41B-5.ARC Qmodem comm pgm v4.1B, tutorials, 5of5 This update was obtained directly from the author. --Keith Petersen ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Dec 1989 10:02 MST From: Keith Petersen <w8sdz@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL> Subject: SIMRAZ13.ARC - Shorten/re-arrange SIMTEL index fields; w/TP src [--forwarded message--] From: RECK%DBNUAMA1.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU I have uploaded an update of my program SIMRAZOR which saves space on SIMTEL20 indices. The new version was necessitated by the change in directory structure at SIMTEL20. pd1:<msdos.filedocs> SIMRAZ13.ARC Shorten/re-arrange SIMTEL index fields; TP src \Gisbert Gisbert W.Selke Ermekeilstrasse 28 D-5300 Bonn 1 West Germany <RECK@DBNUAMA1.BITNET> [--end forwarded message--] Thanks, Gisbert! The archive contains Turbo Pascal source, executable, and documentation. --Keith Petersen ------------------------------ ************************ End of Info-IBMPC Digest -------