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
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
------------------------------
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End of Info-IBMPC Digest
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