Info-IBMPC@C.ISI.EDU (Info-IBMPC Digest) (04/17/87)
Info-IBMPC Digest Thursday, 16 April 1987 Volume 6 : Issue 28
This Week's Editor: Billy Brackenridge
Today's Topics:
DOS 3.2 COPY
DOS 3.3 Patches
CMU Version of MIT PCIP via Bitnet
Free Form Data Bases
MAC to PC Data Conversion
Mac/IBM Disks and Software
Macintosh and PC
SURFMODL 1.1 available from Simtel-20
47th Street Mail-Order Company
47th St. Mail Order
IBM DIA DCA Manual Numbers
Today's Queries:
Binary High Speed Transfer
3-D Modeling
BIOS System Diagnostic
MAJOR Glitch in Turbo Pascal Command.com
Two Color Monitors at Once
3270 AT/G Cycle Priorities
Simulation Package Wanted
MS-DOS CHMOD Help
Simplex and Linear Programming Lindo
PD Gosling EMACS Help
EGA Screen Blanking
Having TurboPascal Accept Commands from a File
INFO-IBMPC BBS Phone Numbers: (213)827-2635 (213)827-2515
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Date: Wed, 15 Apr 87 8:04:17 EST
From: Steven Segletes <steven@BRL>
To: "JOHN R. THOMPSON" <WOOLFORD.THOMPSON@BIONET-20.ARPA>
Subject: DOS 3.2 COPY
I have found with MS-DOS 3.1 that COPY also appears to be broken for large
files. Case in point:
COPY F1.TXT+F2.TXT+F3.TXT+F4.TXT+F5.TXT F.TXT
where each of the F"i".TXT files are about 60K gave a resulting file size of
260K, not 300K. Upon typing F.TXT to the screen, all sorts of gibberish
popped up on the screen at the point where the files joined. I have not tried
the /B option during the copy.
-Steve Segletes
U.S. Army Ballistic Research Laboratory
APG, MD 21005-5066-309-217-A
------------------------------
From: Donna L. Arellano <ecsvax!dlg%mcnc.org@relay.cs.net>
Date: 15 Apr 87 20:15:23 GMT
Subject: DOS 3.3 Patches
Organization: UNC-Chapel Hill
We've had our hands on a PS/2 model 60 for a few days now. Wow!
Anyway, we've found some of the DOS 3.3 addresses for patches that
have been posted in the past for DOS 3.2/3.1. In the following list,
all addresses are for DEBUG; subtract 0100h for the real addresses.
Here goes -->
1. Increase Environment Size:
Not needed -> use the SHELL command in CONFIG.SYS with the /P and
/E parameters.
2. Automatic Installation of printer for PRINT:
Not needed -> use the new /D parameter the first time PRINT is
invoked.
3. Disable EDLIN from making .BAK files:
File=EDLIN.COM 3.1 Addr=0CD5 3.3 Addr=0CD8
Change 56 -> 41
4. Allow 50 mismatches in COMP before terminating:
File=COMP.COM 3.1 Addr=08E2 3.3 Addr=0AF3
Change 0A -> 32
3.1 Addr=0BF8 3.3 Addr=0E09
Change 31 -> 35
5. ECHObb produces a blank line from a .BAT file:
File=COMMAND.COM 3.1 Addr=3878 3.3 Addr=3F29
Change E8 20 00 74 -> 83 F9 02 72
This allows you to put ECHO followed by two spaces in a .BAT file
to print a blank line on the screen.
6. Default to ECHO OFF:
File=COMMAND.COM 3.1 Addr=1967 3.3 Addr=1D68
Change 01 -> 00
7. Sound a BEEP at the end of a FORMAT:
File=FORMAT.COM 3.1 Addr=152F 3.3 Addr=2185
Enter the following DEBUG commands:
-D 2185 l20 <cr>
-E 2185 "Do another (Y/N) ?",07," " <cr>
-D 2185 l20 <cr>
-W
-Q
Be sure to include the quotes and spaces in the E command. The 07
does the beep.
Below is the result of the first D command:
xxxx:2180 46 6F 72 6D 61 74 20 61 6E 6F 74 Format anot
xxxx:2190 68 65 72 20 28 59 2F 4E 29 3F 00 49 6E 73 65 72 her (Y/N)?.Inser
xxxx:21A0 74 20 44 4F 53 t DOS
The 00 at 219A must not be disturbed!
Note: We use a prompt which remembers the cursor position, displays the
date, time and some other stuff on line one of the screen, and then
goes back where the cursor was and prints C>. After we changed
COMMAND.COM to default to ECHO OFF, we found that if we executed
a .BAT file that had CLS as its final command, the cursor remained
on line one of the screen. Seems that DOS is executing CLS differ-
ently than before. Small fix: follow the CLS with ECHObb in all
.BAT files. Works just fine.
Hope this comes in handy for some people. If anyone knows of any other
patches, please post.
Donna Arellano
!(backbone)!mcnc!ecsvax!dlg
Univ. of North Carolina
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 87 14:11:54 edt
From: Drew Daniel Perkins <ddp#@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: CMU Version of MIT PCIP via Bitnet
CMU PC/IP is now available via bitnet. From a VM system give the command
"tell listserv at cmuccvma get pcip package". From a VMS system use "send
listserve@cmuccvma get pcip package". If you want to subscribe and get new
versions automatically, say "tell listserve at cmuccvma afd add pcip
package". Or you can ask to get mail when files are updated by saying "tell
listserve at cmuccvma fui add pcip package".
These files may take a while to get to you, since some are over 800kb and
bitnet sends files prioritized by file length (or so I am told...). Also, I
have gotten mixed opinions on whether these files will even make it through
bitnet unchanged. If you have problems with this, let me know.
Most of these files are .boo files created by running Columbia's boo file
generator on my .tar files. So, building the package requires a few steps.
First you must compile the program msbpct.c file which you should get when
you ask for the package. Then you must recreate the .tar files by running
msbpct on each of the .boo files. Once you have the .tar files recreated,
you can build the package by reading the read me file.
If you retrieve these files, please let me know of any problems, remarks,
etc. I'd really like to know if this works successfully.
Drew
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 87 14:07 PDT
From: <DBUERGER%SCU.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu>
Subject: Free Form Data Bases
A recent request queried about free-form data bases for the PC. To my
knowledge, there presently are three decent ones around:
1) (The best:) AskSam from Seaside Software
538 Prade Dr.
Corpus Cristi, TX 78412
800-327-5726
2) (Less flexible than AskSam, but not bad:)
Notebook II from Pro/Tem Software, Inc.
2363 Boulevard Circle
Walnut Creek, CA 94595
3) (TSR, but kinky because you must use the same name for each database:)
Instant Recall - Precept Software
3790 El Camino Real, #173
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(415) 327-6886
We've looked at all three, and AskSam seems to be the hands-down winner.
David J. Buerger
Santa Clara University
dbuerger@SCU (bitnet)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 87 09:11:11 PDT
From: jww@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu (Joel West)
Subject: MAC to PC Data Conversion
I didn't see the original query, so I don't know if the requirement
was only to read Mac disks on a PC or move data in both directions.
However, Apple has announced a 5.25" 360K (yuk!) drive and controller
cards for the Macintosh II and Macintosh SE. No doubt that the
8086 and 80286 coprocessor boards will also have some controller.
There is currently a third-party 5.25" 360K drive available from
Abatron.
Also, I've seen indications that Apple is planning (has finished?)
software emulation of DG/One (& PC Convertible) 720K 3.5" floppies;
I know the hardware in the Mac II and I believe SE can handle this, no
idea about the 800K drive in the good ol' Mac Plus. (Is the buzzword MFM?)
Finally, Apple ***someday*** will release a 1.6Mb quad-density
floppy, which of course will be able to read PS/2 1.44 floppies
(now that they know it's a requirement).
For those who wonder about the disparity, it all started with the
single-sided 400K Macintosh (128) and the 360K HP 150 touchscreen.
Apple begged Sony for a few extra tracks and uses a variable number
of sectors per track for the extra 11%.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15-Apr-87 20:36:09 PDT
From: bcsaic!asymet!fred@june.cs.washington.edu (Fred Wamsley)
Subject: Mac/IBM Disks and Software
To: uw-june!c.isi.edu!info-ibmpc@asymet
Software:
Mac on IBM: no way. Would require a board with the Mac ROMs,
which Apple keeps a tight grip on.
IBM on Mac: Dayna sells a PC clone that uses the Mac as a
monochrome display. AST has announced 80x86 boards for the Mac SE
and Mac II which are supposed to provide IBM compatibility, but I
don't know anyone who's used them.
Disks:
Mac disks on IBM: I don't know.
IBM disks on Mac: Apple has announced a 5.25" drive and conversion
software with the new Macs. It's called Passport. Also look up a company
called Abaton.
A LAN product called TOPS from Centram allows you to use a disk on a Mac
as a server for an IBM and vice versa. Would this address your needs?
Fred Wamsley (GEnie: FKWAMSLEY, ATT Mail: fwamsley, CIS: 72247,3130)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 87 18:33 EST
From: Tom Dowdy <CML5A9%IRISHMVS.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu>
Subject: Macintosh and PC
Recently there was a question concerning Mac emulation
on PCs. In an answer that later followed it was pointed
out that emulation was pretty hard and no one would probably
do it. I agree...
While this might not solve your problem, it might help others
in a similar situation:
1) The TOPS solution is good if you want to share data on
a regular basis. Kermit is also great if you only need
occasional FILE transfer.
2) The new Macintoshes (SE and II) have cards out from
AST with 8086 or 80286 on them and run PC software within a
window. A much better solution than MacCharlie, that's for
sure.
3) Once again, if data transfer is all that is necessary,
look into the 5.25" drive that Apple just announced, which
can read PC format, as well as a program available from
ADPA (Their developer software distribution division) that
will read PC 3.50" disks on a Mac drive.
4) I should point out that hardware emulation of a Mac
isn't IMPOSSIBLE. A company has a card out for the Atari
ST called MagicSack that emulates a Mac. However, the ROM set
doesn't come with it, and it's pretty hard to come by
(legally) without actually buying a Mac. I doubt you'll
ever see any Mac ROM clones out there.
-Tom Dowdy
CML5A9@IRISHMVS.BITNET
"They say there is strangeness to danger us,
In our theaters and bookstore shelves.
Those who know what's best for us,
Must rise and save us from ourselves."
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 87 7:54:21 EST
From: Kenneth Van Camp -FSAC- <kvancamp@ARDEC.ARPA>
Subject: SURFMODL 1.1 available from Simtel-20
SURFMODL version 1.1 is now available from Simtel-20. It is broken into two
archives; the first contains the source code, documentation, and example
data files. The second contains several different versions of the
executable code to support the Hercules graphics board, CGA, EGA,
Heath/Zenith Z-100, AT&T 6300, Sanyo MBC-55x, and IBM 3270. You will need
the following two files:
Filename Type Bytes CRC
Directory PD:<MSDOS.SURFMODL>
SURFMODL.ARC BINARY 234507 F713H
SURFMVSN.ARC BINARY 346348 5759H
--Ken Van Camp <kvancamp@ARDEC.ARPA>
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1987 16:39 PST
From: JGTP003%CALSTATE.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu
Subject: 47th Street Mail-Order Company
To: INFO-IBMPC@USC-ISIB.ARPA
In response to Joe Chin's query:
Here at CSULB we placed several orders in the past with the mail-order company
47th Street Computers. I do not remember any major problems, however our
purchase orders move so slow anyway that it is entirely possible it may have
taken several weeks....at least we did eventually receive all the correct
items...which is more than I can say for Northeastern...we could never get
through to Northeastern by phone and they would not respond to our mail
queries...and twice they shipped us the wrong item!
Glenn Zwinger (213/498-5403)
Academic Computing Coordinator
California State University, Long Beach
JGTP003@CALSTATE.BITNET
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 87 00:01 EDT
From: Daniele Montanari <MONTAN1%BRANDEIS.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu
Subject: 47th St. Mail Order
A friend of mine and myself have ordered our IBM XT's plus video
cards, monitors, software, etc, from 47th St. I don't remember
exactly how long they told us it would take to receive the shipment
(4-6 weeks?), but we got them in time, perhaps even a bit earlier.
Everything was in perfect condition, and we were quite pleased with
the whole thing. Later on my friend also ordered from 47th St an
8087; they made a mistake, and sent to him an 80287. It took them a
little while, but eventually the thing got replaced. This was about
a year ago.
Certainly, dealing with mail order houses is often bad for your blood
pressure (sometimes you have the impression they lost everything but
your credit card number), but I think that dealing with 47th St Photo
is as safe as this kind of business can be.
Daniele
Standard disclaimer here: no ties with the shop, just a satisfied customer ...
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 87 19:02 EDT
From: Hess@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA
Subject: IBM DIA DCA Manual Numbers
To: AYAC071@UTA3081.BITNET
I had the same question a few months ago and nobody could
ever help me out. So here's the info:
Nitty-gritty:
DCA Final-Form-Text Reference SC23-0757-1
DCA Revisable-Form-Text Reference SC23-0758-1
For new folks who need IBM language lessons first:
Office Information Architectures: Concepts GC23-0765-0
Advanced Architectures: APPC, SNADS, DIA, and DCA GG22-9105
Office Systems Architecture Primer GG24-1659-0
The second set should be about $5 each, the first set $20 each.
You get them by calling the nearest IBM sales office, and asking
for the librarian. He/she will be able to tell you what to do
to send them the check.
Brian
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 87 20:07 EDT
From: AELevy@DOCKMASTER.ARPA
Subject: Binary High Speed Transfer
A friend needs to send data using a bisynch or other synch protocol
between 2 pcs Speed will be at least 19.2. My concern is that bisynch
will be inefficient with line turn arounds. Any experience with sdlc or
other card/protocols appreciated. Thruput is of the utmost importance.
Thanks, Allan
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 87 09:21 EDT
From: Paul Zonfrillo <UEG101%URIMVS.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu>
Subject: 3-D Modeling
Hello,
Does anybody know of a package (pref. p.d.) that does
3-d modeling? I would also like to use our HP plotter to
draw..
Thanks in advance
Paul Zonfrillo
The University of Rhode Island
UEG101@urimvs (bitnet)
------------------------------
Date: 15 Apr 87 08:32:28 PDT (Wednesday)
Subject: BIOS System Diagnostic
From: DIshikawa.OSBUSouth@Xerox.COM.OsbuSouth.OsbuSouth.ARPA
Does anyone on this distribution list know of a program that tests all
of the BIOS and DOS interrupts, and the entire memory map, on an IBM PC
?
--Dan Ishikawa
------------------------------
From: Bob Brankley <brankley%usfvax2.uucp@RELAY.CS.NET>
Date: 15 Apr 87 02:37:12 GMT
Subject: MAJOR Glitch in Turbo Pascal Command.com
Organization: University of South Florida, Tampa, Fl
My roommate was working on our PC-XT(w/ 20 meg hard drive) using
dynamic allocation under Turbo Pascal. He apparently made one or
both of the following mistakes:
1) Failed to dispose of memory he no longer was using
2) attempted to dispose of memory he never allocated
His program executed until he reached a portion of code which
ungracefully exited into DOS. All was not well. We attempted to do
a "dir" and got the message "file not found". We attempted to list
other directories and got either the same message or a screen full of
garbage. The plot thickens: we cold booted the machine and
everything came back intact(files and directories, both)! A disk
check revealed that everything was ok. Does anyone have an idea what
caused this to happen? Is it a DOS glitch or a Turbo glitch? I have
heard that Turbo has a tendency to screw up DOS, but never this
badly.
My gut feeling says that Turbo's been playing with command.com again, but
could this possibly be some sort of obscure BIOS problem? Directories do
not usually disappear and reappear mystically. Besides, this is on a hard
drive and I would sleep better knowing that the directory tree is not being
filled with spurious garbage.
We were running with the following hardware and software:
IBM PC-XT -- 640K
DOS VER. -- 3.10
Tur. Ver. -- 3.0
If you have an extremely detailed answer, please respond by e-mail.
Thanks in advance
A-CUBED
University Of South Florida
CSNET: adams@USF.EDU
UUCP : {favorite machine,gatech,ihnp4!akgua}!usfvax2!adams
Rude Comments: /dev/null@USF.EDU
"Computer Engineer's have longer uptimes and less downtime"
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 87 19:53:20 EDT
From: John Salter <TS5598%OHSTVMA.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu>
Subject: Two Color Monitors at Once
I am trying to set up a two monitor work station in which both displays
are in COLOR. The idea is to install two graphic adapters (CGA with CGA,
CGA with EGA or EGA with EGA) in a PC or AT and have them produce a
DIFFERENT display on their respective monitor type.
When I try to install two CGAs, the computer screams at me. My only other
attempt at adapter installation was using IBM's EGA with a CGA. The
problem with this combination is that one of the displays MUST BE monochrome.
One possibility is TECMAR's EGA MASTER. A review of it in the OCT. 1986
issue of PC TECH JOURNAL, points out a feature of supporting two EGA cards
by changing the I/O address on the cards. This would be my last resort
because of the expense of two EGAs.
Another EGA card. titled, the EGA WONDER, advertise that it can work
with any DISPLAY type. Has anyone had any experience with either of
these cards in the context that I am investigating.
Can one install two graphic adapters in a PC or AT and have them both
work with COLOR displays? Furthermore, once they are installed, how do
you switch between them? What is the conflict (memory or interrupts)?
Any help with my problem is greatly appreciated.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 87 08:54 EST
From: PICARD%gmr.com@RELAY.CS.NET
Subject: 3270 AT/G Cycle Priorities
We are currently using a 3270 AT/G as both an MVS and JES3 console.
During heavy message traffic our operators have a difficult time
entering anything in. It seems anytime the PC is processing a message
the keyboard temporarily locks. The latest word I could get from IBM
was that is exactly what happens. Anything that is coming from
a host is given highest priority. I would like to modify this giving
the keyboard highest and leaving the rest alone. Before I dive into the
PC innards I'd like to know if anyone has some suggestions for me.
Thanks in advance!
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1987 00:56 PST
From: JAJZ801%CALSTATE.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu
Subject: Simulation Package Wanted
Can any point me to a public domain or shareware simulation
package. Source is OK if fortran or basic but please no C. It's
only going to be used for a little while so I don't want to spend
lots of money or lots of time learning a complex system either.
Thanks for any information.
Jeff Sicherman
JAJZ801@CALSTATE.BITNET
------------------------------
Date: 16 Apr 87 09:52:58 EDT (Thursday)
From: Crocca.WBST@Xerox.COM
Subject: MS-DOS CHMOD Help
Hi,
This is a question about programming DOS functions HEX(43).
Some time ago I wrote a program which uses the GetFileAttributes ($4300)
and SetFileAttributes ($4301) function in DOS. I wrote the original
under 2.11 using the Norton book as my documentation. Taking Norton's
advice, I checked the error return for 2,3 or 5 with anything else
assumed to be an error.
I have just tried to run this little program on another machine under
3.2. The results are perplexing. In general it works properly UNLESS the
file whose attributes I am trying to determine (GetFileAttributes)
happens to have JUST the "hidden" bit set, e.g the pattern is ($2). Then
I get back "file not found". Any other legal combination involving the
"hidden" bit works properly.
Can someone explain this behavior to me? Under 2.11 it was acceptable to
ignore the "carry flag" upon return from the function call. Does 3.x
formalize the need for testing the "carry flag"? Is it reliable for this
function call? Should the test for success be different between 2.x and
3.x?
The version of Norton's book which I have incorporates 1.x --> 3.1.
Thanks in advance for any insight you all are able to give me.
Bill
[There are several programs in the info-ibmpc lending library that play with
attribute bits. -wab]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 87 11:25:15 est
From: john watters <watters@ge-rtp.ge.com>
Subject: Simplex and Linear Programming Lindo
In response to the question about SIMPLEX and LP programs - I have seen a
program called LINDO (which has a Microsoft copyright in it). It solves
LP ind integer programming problems - method unknown. Sorry I don't know
how to obtain it yet - If I find out I'll pass it on.
------------------------------
Date: 16 April 1987 10:38:47 CDT
From: Bill Rogers <ROGERS%UIUCVMD.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu>
Subject: PD Gosling EMACS Help
I've picked up a PD EMACS from Public Brands Software. It is authored by
James Gosling at CMU, but outside of that, there is no documentation.
Does anyone have a cheat sheet of Key bindings or Macro Libraries they
would like to share. Most Unix-ites rave about EMACS and I would like to
give this a fair chance. Thanks, in advance.
Bill Rogers
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 87 12:49:51 CDT
From: "Rich Winkel UMC Math Dept." <MATHPG1%UMCVMB.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu>
Subject: EGA Screen Blanking
Does anyone know the procedure for blanking the EGA? I'm trying to write
a screen saver TSR routine. I tried the 'disable video drivers' bit in the
misc output register, but it makes the screen gray, not black.
Thanks for any help!
Rich Winkel
(MATHPG1@UMCVMB.BITNET)
------------------------------
From: <redmill%dukeac@relay.cs.net>
Subject: Having TurboPascal Accept Commands from a File
Date: 16 Apr 87 17:21:58 GMT
Organization: Academic Computing, Duke University, Durham, NC
I was wondering if there is some way (by patch or by program) to
cause turbo pascal version 3 to take commands from stdin, or from a
program that fools the computer into thinking it is receiving keystrokes
from the keyboard, but really is taking them from a disk file.
I am running on an IBM PC clone under dos 3.1 with 640K with a hard
disk. I would like to do the following:
turbo < turbocmd.txt
where turbocmd.txt is a file of turbo commands that will answer the
load error messages question, load a source file, compile and run it,
then exit back to msdos, where a dos batch file will take over.
Any thoughts?
Please reply to me personally, and I will summarize the results to
the net.
Thanks,
...keith
Keith Redmill, Duke University, Box 6942 CS, Durham, NC 27708
BITNET: DREDML@TUCC.BITNET (preferred mailing address)
DREDML@TUCCVM.BITNET
UUCP: {decvax,philabs,ihnp4,akqua}!mcnc!ecsvax!dukeac!redmill
...Just a moment, I am busy doing the impossible right now.
------------------------------
End of Info-IBMPC Digest
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