hicks@WALKER-EMH.ARPA (Gregory Hicks COMFLEACTS) (12/08/87)
Info-IBMPC Digest Saturday, 6 December 1987 Volume 6 : Issue 71
This Week's Editor: Gregory Hicks - Chinhae Korea <hicks@walker-emh.arpa>
Today's Topics:
Compute Bound Problems (2 msgs)
New Software available from SIMTEL20
Second Internal Hard Drives
Recommendations for an ATI EGA Wonder Board
Drill CAD and MIDI Sequencing for IBM PC and Compatables
WordPerfect and VAXMate
WAMPUM V3.0 Timebomb Patch
Today's Queries:
BACKUP/RESTORE and COMPRESSing a disk
Plotting Software
Print Spoolers for EMS
DOS 3.3 Patch for Control-U / Control-W wanted
6502 EMULATION
Problems Using Backup
PC Interfacing
Request for Satellite Ground Tracking Software
Math Co-Processor
INFO-IBMPC BBS Phone Numbers: (213)827-2635 (213)827-2515
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Date: Mon, 02 Nov 87 11:27 EST
From: UPDMST%UNC.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu
Subject: Compute Bound Problems
I would like to be able to use a PC for large compute bound problems.
By large I mean jobs that currently take over an hour CPU time on an IBM
4381 mainframe. All the hardware pieces seem to exist, but I am not sure
what FORTRAN compilers produce fast machine code - all large compute bound
programs are written by FORTRAN programmers.
Would people with "hands-on" experience on using PC's on large compute
bound FORTRAN problems please send me info on their experience - hardware
configuration, software used, the size of problems successfully solved, and
the success of a PC approach as opposed to a mainframe approach. As I do
not subscribe to INFO-IBMPC, please post your responses directly to me.
I'll summarize and post to the list.
Thanks,
Doug McIntyre
UPDMST@UNC.BITNET
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Date: 2 Nov 1987 13:56:50 PST
From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@C.ISI.EDU>
Subject: compute bound problems
You might be a bit more specific. The 8086 loses big when arrays must
be bigger than 64K. Many "FORTRAN" programs really have tiny inner loops
that win real big when you hand code the inner loop for the 8087 floating
point processor chip. Other "FORTRAN" problems are really signal processing
problems. There is a whole industry of signal processing add on products
for the PC that can bring a PC up to near Cray speeds as long as the
problem fits the constraints of the special purpose boards. Even the "large
array" problem can be handled with some of the several 32032 coprocessor
boards. The PC is just a cheap front end and power supply.
Yes! You are correct. A specially equipped PC can be more cost effec-
tive than a share of a mainframe, but you have to be a bit more specific,
about the problem. Tens of thousands read the digest and someone might be
working on exactly your problem. If you had subscribed to the digest or
have access (which you do through Bitnet) you could look at past discus-
sions under FORTRAN and get the comparisons of various compilers. If you
have an interesting specific problem you might get some interesting
answers..
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Date: Fri 6 Nov 87 17:38:09-PST
From: JOHN R. THOMPSON <WOOLFORD.THOMPSON@BIONET-20.ARPA>
Subject: New Software available from SIMTEL20
Now available via standard anonymous FTP from SIMTEL20...
Filename Type Bytes CRC
Directory PD:<MSDOS.PRINTER>
CTABLE.ARC BINARY 56966 AC4AH
Short Description:
Program CTABLE aids the user in configuring your word processor to
access new downloadable fonts for HP Laser Jet printers. Program CTABLE
reads a downloadable font file and generates both a character width table
and a font selection escape sequence. The output of program CTABLE is
suitable for direct inclusion in a XyWrite, PC-Write or MS Word printer
definition files. Full documentation is included in the ARC file. The
documentation also contains a list of 3 commercial sources for Font Gener-
ation Software that is capable of producing fonts to your specifications.
I am interested in configuring CTABLE to support other word processors
but am dependent on potential users to provide me with the technical infor-
mation on the printer definition file format required by your favorite word
processor.
John R. Thompson Compusrv 74017,2463
Bitnet WOOLFORD.THOMPSON@BIONET-20.ARPA
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 87 19:28 PST
From: "But, more importantly........." <ROSSY%wwu.edu@RELAY.CS.NET>
Subject: Second Internal Hard Drives
This is in response to Alex Gutmans comments on hard drives....
You can install a second internal hard drive. There is room below the
b: drive for a half-height drive.
I've been intending to install one of my own for a Xenix drive but
finances have curtailed my efforts (starving college students, you know).
Anyway..... I did a little research, and found it was possible, given the
controller support mentioned earlier.
good luck
rossy
<rossy%WWU.EDU@relay.cs.net>
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 87 08:32:15 EST
From: hsi!tankus@uunet.UU.NET (Ed Tankus)
Subject: Recommendations for an ATI EGA Wonder Board
>From: Peter Stokes | CMC Kingston
>- Any recommendations for/against installing an ATI EGA Wonder in a true
>IBM PC AT with a TATUNG 1380F RGB monitor? We plan to use Lotus 123,
>Datatrieve and will be writing some custom graphics software.
Peter,
Go with ATI's new graphics card, the VIP. It is VGA compatible (all modes)
and INCLUDES all the functionality of the EGA WONDER on the same card.
It retails for $449.
> Given the above graphics card and monitor and the IBM PC-DOS/Microsoft C
>compiler, what is the best way to write C programs to draw X-Y graphs
>within an already written C program? I.E. IBM sell a package called
>"Graphics Development Toolkit" (order # 6024196)... is this the way to go?
>If you have used this package or can recommend another way...
You might want to try ChiWriter from Horstmann Software Design in
California, USA. It is a scientific/multifont word processor that operates
in graphics mode. They have overseas distributors in several countries.
The basic program, which includes CGA and 9-pin printer support lists for
$80 (US). Hercules, EGA, and 24-pin printer support disks are $20 each.
Laser support disks, Chemistry fonts, etc. are an additional $50.
Here are the distributors:
Australia Germany, Austria, Switzerland
John Singer Hofbauer Informationssysteme
367 Proprietary Ltd. Neunkirchner Str. 18-20
P.O. Box 41 A-2700 Wiener Neustadt
Lyneham ACT 2602 Austria
France
Churing, S.A.R.L.
74 Rue de Seine
75006 Paris
Hope this helps. Cheers!
-- Ed.
Net : {uunet,ihnp4,noao,hao,yale}!hsi!tankus
Snail: Health Systems Int'l, 100 Broadway, New Haven, CT 06511
Bell : (203) 562-2101
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 87 22:53:40 PST
From: Dallas_Hinton%UBC.MAILNET@MIT-Multics.ARPA
Subject: Drill CAD and MIDI Sequencing for IBM PC and Compatables
Regarding the request made by Bjoern Remseth: There is a suitable drill
program for Apple computers (IIe and II+), and I think there is one for IBM
compatables.
I can tell you that it is from a company in Ashland, Oregon.
Re the MIDI sequencing program....have you investigated TEXTURE? I use
it constantly and it is FAR better than Personal Composer (except that it
does not transcribe). Transcription is handled by the COPYIST, from Dr. T.
publishing--this program will read Texture files and transcribe them, but
it is slow!!! My work doesn't require transcription very often.
I know that Miller is supposed to be producing an update, but I've been
hearing about it for 18 months now, so I've rather lost faith.
Cheers
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Date: Tue, 17 Nov 87 13:23:53 CST
From: mberns@ngp.utexas.edu (Mark E. Bernstein)
Subject: WordPerfect and VAXMate
Regarding the problem getting WordPerfect underlining to work right on
a Vaxmate...
I've been running an AT&T 6300 (monochrome) using WordPerfect 4.2.
Single-color monitor selection, etc. worked just fine - got underlining and
so forth. For reasons unrelated to the issue at hand, I recently received
from WordPerfect a diskette containing a WP.EXE file with a more recent
release date than the one I had been using. After installing the new
WP.EXE, I discovered that my 6300 now did the same thing that was described
in the article about the Vaxmate. I could not get underlining to work
properly. An extensive telephone conversation with the support people at
WordPerfect indicated that they were mystified by this, but they did sug-
gest a solution - and it did work.
What I end up doing is "lying" to WordPerfect by selecting the "color"
monitor option on the screen colors menu. It turns out that certain of the
"colors" you can select will not show as a shade of gray (green), but
rather as a character underlined [and while we're at it, a different
"color" will show a bolded character]. Careful selection of the background
and foreground "colors" results in the proper screen behavior. I do not
recall off-hand exactly what my list of "colors" is - but if anyone is in-
terested I'll go into WordPerfect, read off the list and send it. In any
case, it's kludgie but it works. The WP representative told me that
they've had to do this with some Compaqs, for whatever reason. She was
*very* helpful and concerned, I might add (the "what's a Vaxmate" response
quoted in the original query just doesn't square with the highly-informed
support I've gotten from WordPerfect over the last year).
It might be worth trying this on the Vaxmate.
Why on earth this newer release of 4.2 has a brain-damaged screen
driver, when they had it right to begin with, is anybody's guess.
Anyway, thought this might be helpful.
Mark Bernstein,
Univ. of Texas at Austin,
Speech Communication,
Austin 78712
ARPA: mberns@ngp.utexas.edu UUCP: {ihnp4, allegra, gatech}!ut-ngp!mberns
{seismo, harvard}!ut-sally!ut-ngp!mberns
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 87 14:06:32 EST
From: David Kirschbaum <kirsch@braggvax.arpa>
Subject: WAMPUM V3.0 Timebomb Patch
Netlandians,
I recently uploaded WAMPUM30.ARC to SIMTEL20's archives
PD1:<MSDOS.DATABASE>WAMPUM30.ARC
After the upload, I discovered a timebomb within WAMPUM.EXE: after 31
Dec 87, you will be unable to access any of your databases unless you reset
your system time to sometime before 1 Jan 88!
This is an undocumented "feature" I do not particularly like. I con-
tacted the author: his argument is that programs sitting around on BBSs
get damaged and patched, so this insures users will return to him for up-
dates. Unfortunately the only "update" is the new Version 3.01b with a $25
license fee (and its own timebombs!).
Sorry, but I don't agree with his argument .. just too much like "bait
and switch" for my liking, especially with NO warning or license require-
ments in the documentation.
Detailed information on how to patch WAMPUM.EXE (version 3.0, the
freely distributable, non-licenseable version) is in the file
PD1:<MSDOS.DATABASE>WAMPUM30.PCH (an ASCII file) at SIMTEL20.ARPA.
No, I won't tell you how to break the timebomb protection on the "trial
basis" distributed copies of Version 3.01b. The author does have his
rights to license fees .. so long as he clearly announces it.
David Kirschbaum
Toad Hall
kirsch@braggvax.ARPA
------------------------------
Date: 3 Nov 87 15:59:09 GMT
From: GD Jones <gdj5t%virginia.bitnet@wiscvm.wisc.edu>
Subject: BACKUP/RESTORE...will it COMPRESS a disk?
Will any of the available backup programs compress/optimize a hard disk
if you do a complete backup followed by a restore? If so, how would this
compare to using something like Disk Optimizer?
Any suggestions on the best backup (to 5.25" or 3.5" 720k floppies)
programs would be welcome. Has anyone used PCBACKUP/PCRESTORE supplied
with PCTOOLS 3.23? What about PC Mag's BAK.COM? How do these compare with
FastBack?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Glen Jones
U.Va. Biochem Dept., Box 440 > UUCP: ...!uunet!virginia!gdj5t
Charlottesville, VA 22908 > BITNET: gdj5t@virginia.BITNET
(804) 924-2373 > CSNET: gdj5t@acc.virginia.edu
------------------------------
Date: 6 Nov 87 14:29 EST
From: (Gary Chapman) <CHAPMAN@NYU-ACF1.ARPA>
Subject: Plotting Software
I am looking for a PC plotting software package which supports the Houston
Instruments DMP 6 plotter (about 6 years old). Ideally we would like to
plot Lotus data on the plotter; Lotus itself only supports the more recent
DMP 29. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
-- Gary Chapman (CHAPMAN@NYU.ARPA)
------------------------------
Date: 12 Nov 87 12:04:00 CST
From: "BUSHMAN, JEFFREY" <bushman@afwl-vax.arpa>
Subject: Print Spoolers for EMS
HELP! We are looking for a print spooling program that runs in ex-
panded memory (as in L/I/M EMS) and that supports up to 1MB. We have a
Zenith Z-248 with an Everex EMS board, but the print spooler that came with
it only supports up to 128K. We want to use the large print spooler for
printing hi-resolution graphics to our laser printer. If you know of any
public domain or even commercial programs to do this, please send me mail
at <BUSHMAN@AFWL-VAX.ARPA>. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Jeff Bushman
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 87 20:02 PST
From: <DBUERGER%SCU.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu>
Subject: DOS 3.3 Patch for Control-U / Control-W wanted
Does anyone have a patch for DOS 3.3 to enable the control-U (delete
current line) and control-W (delete last word) features?
David J. Buerger
Santa Clara University
dbuerger@scu.bitnet
[This is the FIFTH request received that asks for <ctrl>-U and <ctrl>-W
patches. Doesn't anyone have such a patch? I don't because I'm still
stuck with DOS 3.1 and don't know where to order 3.3 ... gph]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 87 12:59:08 BST (Postman Pat ver 3.1)
From: Don_Carter <MCS403@CYBER2.CENTRAL.BRADFORD.AC.UK>
Subject: 6502 EMULATION
Does anyone out there know of a 6502 emulator (similat to the PD Z80/CPM
emulator). Since I can't FTP from the USA, if anyone could let me have one
on disk, I'd be glad to refund any costs.
Don Carter
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 87 15:24:26 -0800
From: Roy Stehle <stehle@tsca.istc.sri.com>
Subject: Small keyboard for PC
I am looking for a small keyboard that will interface to the PC's
keyboard port. The keyboard should have the numbers (0-9) and ENTER, CAN-
CEL, and BACKSPACE keys. A few other Function keys would be acceptable.
I would appreciate any information on availability of such an item.
Thanks.
Roy Stehle - SRI International
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Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1987 14:11 CET
From: ACESTAB%HUTRUU0.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu
Subject: Problems Using Backup
Recently I recieved a SPSS-PC Export-file broken in two pieces by the
use of BACKUP.
The complete file was on two 1.2 Mb floppy's. After reinstalling,
uploading to mainframe, converting the CR,LF 's etc. I recieved an error
message from SPSS-X after 2000 cases (about halfway the file).
Question: are there any known problems with BACKUP adding bytes to a
file which is broken in two, or is breaking in two obsolete ?????
Please reply to ACESTAB@HUTRUU0.BITNET
Thanks.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 87 17:16:49 SST
From: WATERMINE <NCBITI2%NUSVM.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu>
Subject: PC Interfacing
Appreciate any expert in the related field would answer the following
questions, or anyone knows any expert who can answer the following ques-
tions, please give the names and bitnet i.d.'s.
Questions on IBMPC hardware adaptor design
------------------------------------------
1. Good development system:
I am looking for a development system to help design PC interface circuits
and microprocessor-based adaptors.
Please recommend a few good development systems which have 8088 in-
circuit emulator, and software and hardware facilities for a wide range of
debug commands and hardware signal probing and monitoring. Please also
list the optional hardware and software required.
2. 8259 interrupt controller behaviour in PC environment
Background of the question asked:
This question is on when IRR (interrupt request register) of 8259 will
register an interrupt request pulse ocurring on one of its IRQ lines. I
have looked up the 8259 documentation, I found no hints to my problem. The
question that I am asking is based on my real experience. I had LED's to
monitor the signal blinks and instructions in my programme to display con-
tents of IRR and ISR of 8259 at appropriate times.
The 8259 works in the default interrupt mode set by genuine IBM
PC XT running PC-DOS.
Question:
The XT is programmed to service IRQ7 interrupt. In the service
routine, before EOI, I 'STI' to allow IRQ2 interrupt to interrupt this IRQ7
service routine. By the time the IRQ2 interrupt routine runs, IRR should
have its registration of IRQ7 and IRQ2 reset to zero (8088's INTA pulses
reset them during interrupt acknowledement). An IRQ7 pulse of long enough
duration coming into 8259 during servicing of IRQ2 routine should be
registered in IRR. It is not! Why?
Pictorially, the question is
time axis ------------------------->
DOS- -DOS---
IRQ7 INT ROUTINE=STI= =.... =EOI
IRQ2 INT ROUTINE//....//EOI ^
^ ^
why an IRQ7 PULSE occurs at each
of these two junctures are not
registered in IRR of 8259
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 87 12:01:04 MST
From: John Shaver Modernization Office <steep-mo-m@HUACHUCA-EM.ARPA>
Subject: Request for Satellite Ground Tracking Software
Does anyone know of software for the IBM PC/PC Clones which will
graphically display satellite ground tracks and which will calculate the
earth observers azimuth and elevation angles? Are there astronomy programs
which might relate?
Would appreciate any responses. Contact me by email or AV 879/7622 or
COM 602 538-7622.
Thanks
John
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 87 15:56:56 MST
From: John Shaver Modernization Office <steep-mo-m@HUACHUCA-EM.ARPA>
Subject: Math Co-Processor
Does someone have a Math Co-Processor which he would recoomend as being
fast and reliable? I need one for my HP Vectra, which is an AT clone.
Thanks
John
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End of Info-IBMPC Digest
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