11 August 1986 Z-NEWS 507 Z Tips. Use ZCPR3 LLF utility, List Library Files, to quickly determine files contained within a NULU-type library. Show files on console command line: LLF dir: with LLF.COM along search path. We keep ours in ROOT directory. With LX, LLF, LGET, and LHELP single-function tools available we use multi-function NULU to create, organize, add to and delete files from libraries. Don't forget to renew your subscription to Z-News! And no matter what you do, don't forget to grasp, absorb GH alias at end of Z-User's Corner below. It's an alias not to miss, that creates a thought revolt. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From Our Mail Box. Okay, you asked for it. A summary of our Software Update Service (SUS) related to utilities and files as announced in Z-News 506, in a table: Location Single Disk Six Months One Year -------- ----------- ---------- -------- Continental USA $12.00 $47.00 $ 85.00 Canada, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii 14.00 53.00 97.00 Europe, Japan, Australia 19.00 69.00 125.00 Expect minimum of one update disk in any two-month period, up to two disks maximum per month, 4 to 5 in six months, nine in typical year. Here, your chance to stay current with ZCPR3 and Z-System community. We encourage economical yearly SUS subscriptions. Software, diskette, shipping and handling included in above prices. Jim Parlett, Pittsburgh, PA, writes and asks, among other things, "Could you tell me whether I could order back issues [of Z-News], and how much they are?" You can and they are $12.00 for 24 issues, mailed at once, shipping and handling included if continental USA. We have all issues in stock, Jim. Z- News 308 has full policy. "Weather is too hot to write much, but I do appreciate your staff's restraint--got my first case of Zinfandel shortly after Z-News 404 came out. Please thank 'ole read-em-7' for me. I am a little hacked that he seemed surprised [at Trenton, Z-News 501] when he personally verified the east coast shortage I so faithfully reported: forewarned..., is thirsty? "The moving finger writes, ...and moves on, eh? Example: Z-News 004 asks, 'Who needs a RAM disk?' Then from 502 we get 'Understand RAM as main... from 307." Clearly Mr. Carey Dowd, writing from torrid Charlotte, NC, goes through his case too swiftly. Z-User's Corner. A useful alias, especially for writers, is Word Frequency, WF. Does what "d" menu command line of Z-News 506 does but as an alias. We use power of ARUNZ, written by Jay Sage, Newton Centre, MA, to avoid having to use SETFILE to access file name without file type, to have simple, conventional command line syntax. ARUNZ works as Extended Command Processor (ECP, we ready ourselves for Version 3.3 of) or is renamed to CMDRUN (but first, rename CMDRUN back to LX or LRUNZ, depending on what you normally use with COMMAND.LBR), and uses ALIAS.CMD script file of aliases. if $1=//;echo $0 - word frequency;echo syntax: $0 [du:]; << else;ROOT:LX WORDFREQ $1;sak strike any key;ROOT:vtype $:1.frq; << era $:1.frq;fi WF has built-in help, as much as needed to remind what it is and how to use it. Following exit from WORDFREQ, VTYPE scans created FRQ file, a sorted table of words telling how many times each is used. When finished, automatically erases it. Elegant! (Our WORDFREQ is in COMMAND.LBR; LX quickly finds and runs it, bypassing search path and need for CMDRUN.) Another alias, useful to potentially recover deleted files: if nul $1;ROOT:unerase *.* l;else;ROOT:unerase $1;ROOT:diskrst;fi We call it UNERA and has two modes, UNERA and UNERA . First shows on console files potentially recoverable; second, actually recovers file or files depending on mask used. Last section of second statement resets and updates disk directory system. Latter is important when using ZRDOS Version 1.4 and beyond. ZRDOS takes into consideration non-removable, fixed storage, like Winchester and RAMdisk, and does not reset these drives on entry, for greatly increased speed. Such storage gets updated as changes are made and files close. But when UNERASE is used, DISKRST is only way to update changed directory after file recovery. We have generated lots of aliases, so many we don't remember their names much less what they do. SEE alias quickly tells of files used by CMDRUN in default COMMAND.LBR, Z-News 504. Usually such command utility library files and what they do have plenty of documentation available to study, hardcopy and online. But for aliases, what do we have? Nothing but what we provide. What can we do! We create a single online H-L-P file describing each. And as we produce aliases, we put descriptions of them into this HLP. Of course, some built-in help can be provided by using "IF $1=//;echo syntax: xxx nn" condit- ional statement at or near beginning of script line, as done in GS, Get Spelling alias of Z-News 506. But for detailed assistance HLP system is way to go. We generate "help" files ZCPR3 style. Such files can be extremely simple, non-indexed or indexed and tree-structured, depending upon your needs and desires. ZCPR3: The Manual, Chapter 4, describes what help files are and how to generate and use them. HELP.COM automates display of help text; we need but write the text in correct format. Let's generate an extensible "user-indexed" help file, we call it ALIASES.HLP, starting with entries GS, DIR, and SEE aliases we created and discussed in 504/506. Any text editor or word processor may be used. One screen can hold up to 36 alias references. Here, menu (text between semicolon and first colon) and individual descriptions (text between colons) are short to conserve Z-News space. File starts with single semicolon, immediately followed by carriage (cursor) return: ; Help System for Online Aliases Online Aliases are described here. Whenever an alias is created, place details of its operation within this help file for later reference. A - GS Get Spelling Directory Listing with options DIR - B C - SEE Display COMMAND.LBR Files on Console :a GS uses Oasis Systems FIND utility to scan main dictionary, MAINDICT.CMP, for word declared on command line. Syntax is GS . may contain wild cards "?" and "*" to assist in locating specific words desired. :b DIR uses ZCPR3 transient DIRnn to display disk file directory using one or more trailing options. Options are A=All Files, S=System Files Only, H=Horizontal Sort, V=Vertical Sort, and T=Sort by File Type/Name Toggle. :c SEE displays files contained in COMMAND.LBR. Shows size, CRC values, etc. Notice, as you add more aliases to list, you "index" single-keystroke command character to ":" text describing item. In sample above, next in line would be "D -" followed by ":d" in help text. Alphanumeric characters, A to Z (case unimportant) and 0 to 9, may be used as indices. But order or usage of letters and digits is unimportant. No need to start with A. Each command character is paired with a "colon" character. With user-indexed help menus, text may be placed anywhere on screen. That's all there is to making HLP files. More complex, tree-structure types need little more than double colons added, "::helpfile" or ":t :helpfile.typ", to function. Lots more detail about help files are found in The Manual, pages 121 through 131. Of course, examples of HLP files abound covering most user- aspects of ZCPR3 and ZRDOS, over 40 files containing over 400k-bytes, mostly squeezed! Study them for ideas. We use an alias in ROOT directory to access help. It's called HELP; but first, HELP53.COM is renamed HLP.COM. And it and all HLP files are placed in A12:HELP directory. From any directory, simply type HELP or HELP to get help desired. HELP alias: a12:;if nul $1;hlp zcpr3;else;hlp $1;fi;$d$u: Version 5.3 of HELP.COM permits using squeezed HLP files as text, useful as files get large (over 4k-bytes) at saving disk storage space, but slows getting first screen of help. And...in case you can't remember which "helpfile" to use for what you need... ------------------------------------- We have kept best alias for now! It permits quick assessment of available help files on system, beyond root-of-tree ZCPR3.HLP and ZRDOS1.HLP, including our recently created ALIASES.HLP, and allows desired one to be immediately used. We call alias Get Help, GH, and it uses Dreas Nielsen's GETVAR and RESOLVE shell support utilities briefly discussed in Z-News 408 and 505. Utilities use routines from Richard Conn's SH.COM named variable shell. Here, here is something to sink your teeth into, for sure! HELP:;ROOT:dir14 *.h?p h;ROOT:quiet s;ROOT:getvar ghelp enter << desired help file by name -;ROOT:resolve hlp %ghelp;ROOT:quiet r;$d$u: We walk through GH alias. Log into HELP directory (A12:) and then run from ROOT: directory, DIR14 not an alias in this case, on help files with mask to show files of type HLP and HQP, straight and squeezed. Go into quiet mode to suppress utility headers and messages. With files showing on screen, prompt operator for one to use, "enter desired help file by name - ". GETVAR places operator's response into variable named "ghelp" which is located automatically in ROOT file SH.VAR. (Same "ghelp" is used over and over, each time GH is used.) Next, RESOLVE sets up main command sting, consisting of HLP (HELP53.COM renamed) followed by expanded "ghelp" variable (our operator's chosen HLP or HQP file). (Notice variable "%" flag convention of RESOLVE, same as SH and VFILER). And now, reset QUIET flag for normal operation, log back into directory (an abstract place) from where alias was called. Calling GH couldn't be simpler: gh is it, from command line of any directory on your system (even from VFILER, VMENU, or MENU). What we see: DIRectory, Version 1.4 01/22/86 ALIAS .HQP 4 | ALIASES .HLP 8 | ARUNZ .HQP 8 | CAT .HQP 24 CMDFILES.HQP 16 | COMP .HQP 4 | COMPARE .HQP 4 | DIRS .HQP 16 DPROG11 .HQP 8 | DU3 .HQP 28 | HELP .HLP 4 | HELPSYS .HQP 20 HSH .HQP 4 | IF .HQP 8 | IO .HQP 8 | LUZ3 .HQP 8 MENU .HQP 24 | MU3 .HQP 8 | NDIRS .HQP 12 | NULU .HQP 20 PUBLIC .HQP 4 | SH .HQP 12 | SHUTILS .HQP 4 | SYSRCP .HQP 8 TERM3 .HLP 4 | VFILER .HQP 16 | VMENU .HQP 20 | VTYPE .HQP 4 Z3RES .HQP 8 | Z3TCAP .HQP 24 | Z3UTIL1 .HQP 20 | Z3UTIL2 .HQP 16 Z3UTIL3 .HQP 4 | ZCPR3 .HLP 4 | ZDU .HQP 4 | ZRDOS1 .HLP 8 ZRDOS1A .HQP 8 | ZRDOS1B .HLP 4 | ZRDOS1C .HQP 12 | ZRDOS1D .HQP 4 ZRDOS1E .HQP 4 A12:HELP -- 41 files using 428k (1304k remain of 4968k total) ENTER DESIRED HELP FILE BY NAME - XHMWI After entering choice followed by carriage return, selected help file is displayed. Help files ZCPR3 and ZRDOS1 are "tree-ed" into many other H?P files. For example, ALIAS.HQP has its own internal menu but is in menu, structure of ZCPR3.HLP. SHUTLS.HQP is for GETVAR and RESOLVE. Use utility SHDEFINE to create and see variables and their equates located in SH.VAR, always in ROOT directory. After listing (L) variables with their equals, an editor mode (E) permits changing variable values, even deleting (D) them. While into shell utilities you might wish to try SHVAR.COM. Similar to SHDEFINE but command line driven, works with only one variable at a time. Great for changing variable values on-the-fly, from menu and alias lines. Another, SHFILE permits displaying and changing file name shell variables are stored in, file located in ROOT directory. Study SH.HLP, SHUTILS.HLP, and Chapter 6 along with shell utility command definitions of ZCPR3: The Manual, pages 84-90, 149-151. Tip: When writing scripts, don't put directory (DU or DIR) location in front of file to be executed if that file is in COMMAND.LBR. ZCPR3 automati- cally finds such file using its CMDRUN facility. For maximum speed, file is left out of library and its location then declared in command line script. We use COMMAND.LBR for files where speed is not critical, for seldom-used files, to get them out of sight, use SEE to remind what is therein. Another tip: Do place alias names, like GH and GS, with brief descriptions of their use, in MENU and VMENU, even VFILER CMD, displays off in a corner as reminders-of-availability from built-in "Z" command line. GH... Oh! Wow! Show this alias to your PC DOS and Unix friends. Aliases GH, GS, DIR, SEE, and HELP, and greatly expanded, appropriately highlighted ALIASES.HLP, plus surprises, are on Z-Nodes (and on SUS, update- service diskette as individual files, soon to be mailed) within file ALIAS#1.LBR. Who comes up with an HLP file detailing files in COMMAND.LBR? Send us your generally useful creations! Don't forget to renew your subscription to newsletter...only $24.00 per year, delivered every two weeks. Send in your renewal order now! Z-Node Corner. Jon Schneider, Z-Node #39 Sysop and TRS-80 expert, El Paso, TX, has his RAS running with TRS-80 Model 4 HD64180 upgrade of M.A.N Systems, reported in Z-News 505. Add-on board is called TR-XL180tm and sells for $325.00. If interested, get Jon's evaluation by calling 915/592-4976. Then, if still interested call M.A.N at 405/395-3849. Users of ICD's XL-M180tm S-100 computer boards should stay in touch with Wells Brimhall, Z-Node #52 Sysop, 602/996-8739. He designs and codes a super Z-System BIOS for this HD64180-based SBC. VFILER torch picked up by Jay Sage, Sysop for Z-Node #3 and Z-System Good-Neighbor Helper, 617-965-7259. Extending works of Joe Wright and Al Dunsmuir on Richard Conn's screen oriented file manipulation creation, program gets ever better. Unreleased Version 4.1f has ability to use screen highlighting in CMD file as (V)MENU, has "home" (default, from where VFILER was called) directory parameters, %r and %h, to return to disk/user area from which command call came from, seven equate options selectable from within program, and extension of number of macro commands from 0-9 to include A-Z, using lead-in character. Escape character, , is default for letter commands. Original ten numbers continue to work as before. Group archiving command now archives only tagged and changed files. Pointer returns to last Current File after running a user macro or "Z" command and after using "A" sort command. Several other changes make life better for user. File has crossed 14k-byte boundary, might as well add squeeze and crunch/uncrunch functions. Yes, both! Jay continues, with Version 4.2 to have ability to run user macro (0 to 9, A to Z) on tagged files. Good luck, Jay. Another Sysop, Bob Peddicord, Z-Node #60, 503/597-2066, author of, updates TALIAS to Version 1.5. We have four alias generators and editors. Original ALIAS by Richard Conn, BALIAS by Paul Pomerleau, VALIAS by Jay Sage, and near perfect TALIAS. All have strengths. VALIAS is most elegant; BALIAS, fastest and very WordStar-like; TALIAS, somewhere in between; and ALIAS, simplest and likely most dependable. Ain't life sweet! Sysop Steve Kitahata, Z-Node #57, 213/532-3336, Gardena, CA, created HOLDZ (later updated by Bruce Morgen) to allow delays, long delays if necessary, before and between commands. A super SAK-like tool--but for time only--use when delays of hours or minutes are needed to control computer operations. Lunch Break. High Tech Research (Bill Nesting, Redding, CA, Z-News 503) makes their "Handyman" utility ZRDOS compatible. That certainly opens an up- to-now closed market. If interested, call HTR 800/446-3220, -3223 if California. We should have guessed but did not. Squeezing our benchmark SCAN.EI file resulted in a compression of 24 to 1...unsqueezed file is 68k-bytes (544 records), squeezed is 3k (23 records). Repetition of main "#" character used for "text" permits a good squeeze is be obtained. Such a deal! CRUNCH, another compression program, brought file down to only 10 records, 54 to 1! Quick-Tasktm real-time kernel is 100% compatible with ZAS and ZLINK. REL file structuring makes linkage of user tasks quick and easy. Also compatible with 2500AD assembler. Version 2.4 of ZAS is shipping. About 8 bugs were removed in update process. Patrick O'Connell, its author, says Version 2.5 will be a full ZCPR3 utility and use Z-System facilities to indicate to an editor where first assembly error, if one, is in source file. Boy (girl?), we have wanted both these features for a long time. John Otken reports DSD will be upgraded to understand full HD64180 instruction set "real soon now, you hear!" We have beta-test version, it looks good! Still sells for $129.95 plus S&H. Clarification. Z-Index, massive index to Z-News, announced in Z-News 506, is provided bundled with renewals only, is a one-time special offer that expires on 31 August 1986. First-time subscribers may purchase Z-Index for $8.95 plus $4.00 S&H, continental USA. Japan's semiconductor shipments as percentage of USA's is quoted at beginning of 1984 as 53%; beginning of '85, 82%; and '86, 115%. Seems USA production is falling behind Japan at an alarming rate. US government "solution" is political, but US government itself is more problem than solution, personifies humanity's lower attributes, that of slothfulness. Long range, real solution is with our industry, its people, and a change of attitude about work. "Now that my bones are grown weaker, my brain seems stronger."--anonymous ==================================================================== Of Cabbages and Kings. How are attitudes changed? Are they not elements of our emotions which we normally can't control? But control is what life is about and comes from learning those things necessary to be at ease, not of ease, both short term (tomorrow) and long (next generation of our species). Do only things we like to do, feel good doing, and we do them well, like our hobbies. Do things we don't like to do and they are done poorly, like the job for an employer not having our high regard. Most people do not like the jobs they make a living at. Why not? They think these jobs are just for the employer's benefit, to make him more money than should be make from their labors. But think of your left hand washing your right. Which one of the two is superior! One cannot BE without the other. So find a job that commands your respect and it is performed with gusto. Rewards are high for jobs well- done! Okay? See you down the lines... Echelon, Inc. 885 N. San Antonio Road Los Altos, CA 94022 USA Telephone: 415/948-3820 Z-Node Central (RAS): 415/489-9005 Trademarks: Bookshelf, Ampro Computers; SB180, Micromint; PRO-180, Magnum Digital; ON!, Oneac; DT42, The SemiDisk, Deep Thought 42, SemiDisk Systems; TR-XL180, M.A.N, Systems; HD64180, Hitachi; CLIPPER, Fairchild; Z-System, ZCPR3, ZRDOS, Z-Tools, Zas, Zlink, Z-Msg, Term3, Quick-Task, Lasting-Value Software, Echelon; Unix, AT&T Bell Laboratories; GT180, Turbo Modula-II, Borland International; Lotus 1-2-3, Lotus Development; TWP, The Word Plus, Oasis Systems; C/80, Software Toolworks; BDS-C, BD Software; SIFT, Siftsoft; SEARCH, CompuMagic; Electra-Find, O'Neill Software. * * Z sets you FREE! * * Z-News 507 is Copyright 1986 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission to reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is given to Echelon. s Rese