6 October 1986 Z-NEWS 602 Utility Version Report. You asked for it, here it is. A listing of Z-System program and utility versions, released and pending: Utility Release Pending Utility Release Pending Utility Release Pending Name Version Version Name Version Version Name Version Version AC 4.3 4.4 HELPCK 1.0 SHDEFINE 1.0 ALIAS 1.1 HELPPR 1.0 SHFILE 1.0 ARUNZ 0.9 HSH 1.5 SHOW 1.0 BALIAS 1.3 IF 1.2 1.4 SHSET 1.0 BPrinter 1.1 IFSTAT 1.0 SHVAR 1.0 CD 3.1 I/OR 1.7 SRO 1.0 CLEANDIR 1.1 LDR 1.3 1.5 SRW 1.0 CLNDR11P 1.1 LDSK 1.4 SUB 3.1 CMD 1.0 LGET 1.0 SYSLIB 3.6 CMDRUN n/a LHELP 1.0 SYSFCP 1.1 1.4 COMMENT 2.0 LLF 1.0 SYSRCP 1.1 1.4 COMP 2.8 LOGGED 1.0 T3MODCAP 1.3 CPSEL 1.0 LX 1.0 1.1 TALIAS 1.6 CPY 1.0 MCOPY 4.3 TCCHECK 1.0 CRC 2.0 MENU 4.0a TCMAKE 1.0 DEBUGRCP 1.0 MENUCK 2.0 3.0 TCSELECT 1.1 DEV 1.0 MKDIR 3.2 TERM3 1.2 DEVICE 1.0 MLOAD 2.4 UNERASE 1.0 1.2 DFA 1.2 MOVE 1.1 VALIAS 1.1 DIFF 2.1 MU3 1.1 VCED 1.6 DIR 1.2 1.4 NOTE n/a VERROR 1.6 1.7 DISCAT 1.3 NULU 1.51 VFILER 4.0a 4.1h DISKRST 1.1 PAGE 2.0 VID 0.1 DOSERR 1.0 PATH 3.1 VIEW 1.1 DOSVER 1.0 PKey 1.1 VLIB 1.1 DPROG 1.2 PMOVE 1.2 VMENU 1.5 2.0a DRO 1.0 PPAL beta 1.0 VMENUCK 2.0 3.0 DSD I/Z/H 1.4e PRINT 2.0 VTYPE 2.0 DU3 1.1 1.2 PROTECT 3.0 W 2.0 DUMP 1.2 PRTDFLT 1.0 WHEEL 3.1 ECHO 1.0 PRTSET 1.0 XD 1.2 ERASE 5.0 PUBLIC 1.0 XDIR 2.0 ERROR1 1.0 PWD 1.0 1.2 Z3INS 1.2 1.3 ERROR2 1.0 QUIET 1.1 Z3LIB 1.3 ERROR3 1.0 RECORD 1.0 Z3LOC 1.1 ERROR4 1.0 REG 1.0 Z3TCAP 1.6 2.0 ERRORX 1.0 RENAME 3.0 ZAS 2.4 2.5 FINDF 2.3 2.5 RESOLVE 1.0 ZCPR 3.0 3.3 GETVAR 1.0 REVAS 4.0 ZDM/ZDMZ 3.3 GRDEMO 1.0 SAK 2.1 ZDMH 1.4 GRWLIB 1.0 SETFILE 1.0 ZEX 3.1 3.1a GRXLIB 1.0 SFA 2.4 ZRDOS 1.7 GOTO 1.2 SH 1.0 HELP 5.3 SHCTRL 1.0 Version 3.0 of ZCPR is released, with 3.3 pending; latest ZRDOS is 1.7 and remains priced at $59.50. Upgrades are only $20.00, for those using Z-COM or earlier versions of ZRDOS. Item 12 on Price List. Z Tips. Notice Version 1.4e of DSD is shipping. Screen-oriented, multi- window utility is best debugger/simulator available for high-performance 8-bit systems, bar none. Author, John Otken, intends to keep it that way. REALLY SPEEDS DEBUGGING CODE! New release supports Hitachi HD64180 extended Z80 instruction set, and has backtrace facilities similar to a word processor's "undo" key. Auto-installs to ZCPR3 TCAP environment. Over 60 commands. Elegant. Still only $129.95, Item 23 on Price List. Because of new, easier- to-use 135-page manual, upgrade price to those with previous version is $30.00, instead of usual $20.00, plus S&H. -------------------------------------------------------------------- BPrinter, Version 1.1, adds a new mode of operation useful for situations where complex ESCape character sequences are contained in files to be "background" printed. Mode needed when using, e.g., I/O Recorder to capture Newword or WordStar output for proportional spacing printers. Now new "verbatim" mode is used for these situations but v1.1 retains "normal" mode for expanding tabs in "straight" text files. (See Z-User's Corner below for alias using I/OR and BPrinter.) Offered for $39.95 plus S&H. Upgrade for $20.00. Requires ZRDOS 1.1 or later and IOP installed. Lots of magazine pieces published about things of interest. The Computer Journal, Issue #25, has three; one by Jay Sage (Z-Node #3) detailing ZSIG/NAOG purposes; one by Morris Simon (Consultant, Tuscaloosa, AL) comparing manual versus auto install ZCPR3 and Z-System, with much supportive background. And one by Rick Lehrbaum (Ampro Computers) showing how to build an SCSI bus adapter. Micro/Systems Journal, Sept/Oct 1986, Vol.2/No.5, has one by Richard Conn (ZCPR3 author) on advantages of designing and writing programs using SYSLIB, Z3LIB, and VLIB in Z80 and HD64180 computer environments. Hurray! Now The Word Plus, spelling check and correction system, is bundled with Newword from Newstar Software, Z-News 402/403. Price is still only $125.00. Such a deal! Just released ZRDOS v1.7 is fast, as announced in Z-News 601-1. Going from one drive to another is near instant. Warm boot occurs fast, much faster than under CP/M 2.2, and does not change R/O status of files or disk, hard disk partition or floppy drive. But, programs directly altering disk directory tracks require running DISKRST immediately after exit, to update changed disk parameters. We speak of programs classified as "disk editors." UNERASE and DU3 are examples. Remember alias UNERA of Z-News 507-2? Here's one just as simple but for DU3 sessions: du312;diskrst. We call alias DU3. It uses latest version of DU3, 3.12. Type DU3 and DISKRST, ZRDOS v1.7 utility, is automatically run on exit from DU312. No grass growing under compression-expert Steven Greenberg's feet. Designs and codes a greatly improved, faster, more flexible, and better compression ratios, releases Version 2.0 of CRUNCH. Our "library" 423-record test file of Z-News 508-4 compressed to 225 records versus 266 for SQUEEZE v1.11, 246 for CRUNCH v1.1. Complete package (with support TYPE and UNCR, and REL code ready to be used by other written-in-linkable-MicroSoft-format tools) is on Z-Nodes everywhere and on SUS diskette #6. We must get to putting UNCR into NULU, VTYPE, and VFILER. Advantages of CRUNCH are so great, SQUEEZE now seems very inadequate. Caveat: Versions 1.x of CRUNCH are incompatible with 2.0 and later. So keep both 1.x and 2.x to be able to UNCR any crunched file that comes along. Richard Charnes, Berkeley, CA, has taken shells and aliases under Z- System to heart. Library file TLF.LBR is recent result. TLF is a type-file- in-library utility. File may be uncompressed, squeezed, or crunched. Similar in concept to GLF, extract library files alias of Z-News 508, but uses TYPELZ instead of LGET. Thanks, Richard, for thinking about how to use tools of Z to your advantage, and ours. TLF is on SUS #6 diskette and on many Z-Nodes. Echelon bootable disk Z-System for Kaypro with Advent TurboROM is shipping. Offered for $69.95, is Item 13 on Price List. Comes with special 70-page tutorial-style manual written by Richard Jacobson and Bruce Morgen. Those wanting to improve their Kaypros, any model or version, bootable disk Z- System is your opportunity, with or without TurboROM. No installation hassles--three sizes of Z, ready to go to work for you. String Searching, Continued. Charles Kestner points out FYNDE is fastest of "public domain" string searching utilities. Program displays built-in help if only verb is entered at command line. We tested it on our two-file, 15- character string benchmark, Z-News 508-3, and was unable to get better than 12.82 seconds on 4mHz Z80 Ampro hard disk, 18.44 on 3ms step-rate 96 tpi floppy. (Remember, FIND54 took 9.56 and 17.38, respectively; FINDU, 24.02 and 33.31.) Since FYNDE, like FINDU, can search squeezed files, we wouldn't expect it to be the fastest. Definitely, FYNDE is faster than FINDU. On the other hand, FIND54 can output found-text-lines into a declared file; FYNDE cannot. We can tell that Bridger Mitchell, of Plu*Perfect Systems, is working on a string-search program. Knowing him, he will come up with something unique, and desirable. What have we started with this string search? Well, interest! In finding text in the most efficient manner, and that's good. We are benchmark and beta test site for Bridger, if he comes up with something faster than FIND54. Good luck, one and all. SUS Report. System Software Support diskette #6 fills but has a ways to go to be full. XDIR III, Version 2.0 Horizontal Listing by File Name/Type Disk: F User: 0 Name: BACKUP, File Attributes: Non-System Filename.Typ Size K RS Filename.Typ Size K RS Filename.Typ Size K RS -------- --- ------ -- -------- --- ------ -- -------- --- ------ -- -SUS .006 0 R ALIAS#2 .LBR 2 CRUNCH20.LBR 50 DU312 .COM 12 FIND54 .COM 4 FINDU10 .LBR 6 FYNDE .COM 4 TLF .LBR 12 ZL2 .ZEX 2 ZNODES37.LZT 4 10 Files Using 96K, 10 Files on Disk and 290K Left ZL2.ZEX is a conditional batch file for programming assembly language using ZAS v2.4 and ZLINK v2.3, and Z3INS to auto-install a Z3 utility you worked on. Similar to original ZL.ZEX by Dennis Wright, author of ZRDOS, but using ZAS's error detection ability instead of FINDERR. ZNODES37.LZT requires UNCR v2.0 to uncompress. Of course, it's in CRUNCH20.LBR on #6 diskette. If any of these files are of interest, join our SUS ranks. Z-News 507-1 contains full details. Z-User's Corner. The alias mentioned above, BP, Background Print, uses BPrinter and I/O Recorder. But first some background. Our favorite word processor is Newword. Compatible with WordStar, but with more speed, "dot" commands, and control over printers. Alas, Newword cannot print files while editing like WordStar can. However, with I/OR and BPrinter, Newword takes on background printing power superior to that of WordStar. BP command syntax. BP.COM consists of ldr recorder.iop;record on p;nw;record off p;ldr bprinter.iop; << bprint v printer.fil;nw RECORDER.IOP loads followed by RECORD diverting output from printer to default file, PRINTER.FIL. Next Newword loads. Then from main menu, you now declare file to print using P command. After Newword quickly completes "printing" to file PRINTER.FIL, you exit using X command. Alias turns RECORD off and runs BPRINT, using verbatim "V" option printing of PRINTER.FIL starts. Returns you to Newword after printing starts, for simultaneous editing while printing. Variations: remove "nw" command at end of alias returning to command line prompt after printing starts; use WordStar instead of Newword. Other vari- ations of BP alias are equally possible to satisfy your needs. We use BPrinter, Version 1.1 and I/O Recorder, Version 1.7. If you don't have IOP segment installed in your BIOS, now's the time to do it. Wait no longer. Input/Output redirection opens doors to task automation. Price List Item 84, ZCPR3 and IOPs, by Richard Conn, explains step-by-step how to modify your BIOS for redirection. Book assumes assembly language knowledge for understanding. Covers using DEV, DEVICE, and RECORD utilities. Still only $9.95 plus S&H. From Our Mail Box. "Enclosed is my check for $24.00 for my Z-News subscription. ...and I'm not saying that I now know everything on my computer but the challenge of your entire system drives me on. Thanks for your support and Z-System." writes William Fassnacht, McKinleyville, CA. Rick Swenton, Bristol, CT, reminds of, "...my latest work on 'Z' recently published in the Heath/Zenith magazine, REMark." That makes it three! Rick has articles in Nov '85, Jan and Sept '86 issues of that magazine. First one was on characteristics of ZCPR3; second, on Z-System in general; and now, bootable disk version of Z-System created and sold by Analytical Products, Woodlake, CA, under license from Echelon. In his letter, Rick gives high praise--we do too--to "master" Richard Conn, Dennis Wright, and Peter Shkabara for their work (Z-News 309-1/2, 501-3, and 502-5). Now maybe, Rick, you are ready to do a book review of Z-System User's Guide. Just maybe...and we need articles showing what aliases combined with Z-System facilities can do for computer users. Z-Node Activity. Bob Peddicord, back online with Z-Node #60 after a move. New access number is 503/597-2852. Robert Hootman assists Richard Peterson, Z-Node #31, El Paso, TX, 915/821-3638, handling "The Pass" sysop duties. They have 100 megabytes online using Heath H89 and Ampro "Little Board" Z80 computers. Four new Z-Nodes come online, while nine inactives have been dropped from roster. File ZNODES37.LQT has latest information on Z-Nodes. Carol Miller, Enid, OK 73702, 405/237-9890, becomes Z-Node #33, "EDP Consultants" node. Carol is into data processing, you see! Ben Grey fills big, long-time void in Portland, OR, area managing Z-Node #24, 503/644-4621; and also in Oregon, Ken Jones, Z-Node #4, 503/370-7655, complements Bob Peddicord, both in Selma, OR. Ken calls his node "Time Taker." We guess "time" refers to his, ours, and yours. Finally, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, gets Z-Node #18. Bruce Smith handles sysop chores from 416/823-4521. More Benchmarks. We picked-up table below from a local RAS--thought it enough of general interest to reprint here. BYTE BENCHMARK COMPARISON ======================================================================= Computer | BASIC | Sieve | Calc | Format | File | MultiPlan | Read Write | | | & Copy | Copy | Load Recalc ======================================================================= SB180 32 32 120 51 7 15 20 12 IBM PC 46 56 191 69 10 6 8 11 Apple IIe 36 37 245 94 22 45 18 22 Data Gen 1 55 56 229 69 13 12 26 14 Sage IV 53 58 8 13 9 10 29 23 Tandy 2000 29 30 79 24 10 10 8 6 Z-150 29 32 193 59 10 8 8 10 HP-150 34 35 147 50 -- 11 77 13 Atari 520ST 111 162 85 31 17 17 -- -- Compac 286i 25 27 23 23 -- 9 6 4 Kaypro 16 30 57 184 56 11 7 9 10 Osborne 3 56 59 273 83 14 15 11 23 Sanyo 550 29 32 267 93 13 8 76 82 ======================================================================= Add these measurements to those of Z-News 409 and 501 and a full-picture emerges. Sieve tests here were run using only one iteration, instead of 10, as has been done in past times. One iteration seems to be more appropriate for relative slow micros, to speed comparative testing. Lunch Break. Week of 8 September 1986 saw record sell-off of stocks by institutional buyers, selling based mainly on advice of computer programs. We wonder if many sellers understand principles used for their computer's decision to output such advice. Same holds for users of spread sheet equations developed by someone else. Seems end users are now pawns of those who develop programs that make decisions. Think! Most of these programs are static, have old data, not updated by day-to-day thinking of human beings. It's up to 150 now, and count continues...we see yen rising to 120-to- the-dollar in a year or two. Remember ratio, not too long ago, was 240 or so. Dollar and zen value are covered in Z-News 502-2. Oh! What webs we weave... Sol Libes does it again--sells magazine he founded, but remains as editor. Yes, M&T Publishing, publisher of Dr. Dobb's Journal has taken over Micro/Systems Journal...hopefully, and we believe it, good things will come from such a relationship. Both DDJ and MS/J, over the years, have been significant sources for news and technical information about microcomputers and its industry doings. We wish Sol, Lennie, Don, and Susan good luck and happiness in their new business relationship. We usually view Z-News equally as art-form and newsletter, much like folk music with hard social-issue lyrics. We go from sea-shore through desert to mountain-top generating technical descriptions, industry coverage, and cross- grain philosophy. Span far and wide, provoke. All to break molds, change ruts into groves, generate new thought. (In fact, we write this Z-News issue on-the-move within California's Sierra Nevada/Madre--snow-covered, mother range--with elevations over 10,000 feet. Easy mentally to get aloft at such altitudes. It's not the end of the world, but you can see it from here.) Work should be for more than money, for more than a pay check, but for learning, for purpose. Then, life takes on meaning. Purpose has value of and within itself, like colors. Sure, colors--red, green, blue, and mixtures-- have purpose. Here we go again, provoking...lunch is over. ==================================================================== Of Angels and Eagles. We grope, as in darkness, trying to make sense of our surroundings. We started as wanderers and we remain so. The meanest among us can be as big as our continent, we homo sapients striving to become thrice- sapient. We must go where we have not been, we wanderers, but... Morality plays such a small part in what we do. (Yet a golden thread still runs among us, bonds us...usually pull for underdog in competitions.) Economics subconsciously top our priority list, both individually and collect- ively, nationally. No matter what we say, actions speak louder. What we are totally masks any words we use to describe ourselves. Actions proclaim, manifest being. We promote liberty within our borders, shout its merits wide and far. But abroad, economic issues take priority, rule what we do, how we behave. We seem to care not with what form of government we deal, so long as we benefit financially from our relationship. Liberty at home, bondage abroad. Latin America is best case in point, covered by the Monroe Doctrine. We "own" South American people, to do with as we please. And our pleasure is to use their natural and human resources to "ease" our lives in USA. We forget these Latins, these Hispanics are Americans and co-inhabitants of the planet. But, our policies drive them to take sides. With Communist help, new unions are being formed against us, in West versus East struggle. Why has this happened? No one to blame? Simply human nature unfolding: history, as is being made in South Africa today? But window for action, for leadership is closing. (Please read again definition of money, Z-News 305-5; levels of morality, 408-3; and, whole being, 305-2.) We should encourage same swiftness, same quality of leadership shown by Afrikaners in pointing way to end British colonialism (a colonialism essentially economic in character) at beginning of 20th century (Boer War, 1899-1902). Leadership, we need it now! If Western world doesn't provide it, who will? 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: Little Board, Ampro Computers; SB180, Micromint; PRO-180, Magnum Digital; ON!, Oneac; DT42, The SemiDisk, Deep Thought 42, SemiDisk Systems; TR-XL180, M.A.N. Systems; TurboROM, Advent; HD64180, Hitachi; Z-System, ZCPR3, ZRDOS, Z-Tools, Zas, Zlink, Z-Msg, Term3, Quick-Task, FINDS, PPAL, Lasting- Value Software, Echelon; GT180, Turbo Modula-II, Borland International; Lotus 1-2-3, Lotus Development; TWP, The Word Plus, Oasis Systems; SIFT, Siftsoft; Electra-Find, O'Neill Software. * * Z sets you FREE! * * Z-News 602 is Copyright 1986 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission to reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is given to Echelon.