25 February 1985 Z-NEWS 106 Z TIPS: VMENU, a powerful shell under Z, has features somewhat different, and perhaps at times more useful, than MENU. Significant differences between these two and another Z shell, VFILER, indicate blending all three as most useful: Feature VMENU MENU VFILER 1. Show directory of files along with menu yes no yes 2. Optionally lock user into menu system yes yes no 3. Show macro commands to be executed no yes no 4. Use macro commands from single keystrokes shown on menu yes yes yes 5. Programmer speed mode (no menu shown) no yes yes 6. Operate on file currently pointed to yes no yes 7. Either page-out or scroll menus no yes no 8. User-generated menu syntax checker for quick debugging yes yes no 9. General disk system house- keeping good fair best An argument for universal use can be made for these Z shells. Your directory system could contain each, in turn, depending upon dominant task for a parti- cular directory environment. Environment is created by ST (alias-script containing segments and commands) being loaded automatically by CD, used to exit previous environment and arrive at present. A fully secure system (one requiring password access to directories and protected ERA, REN, etc. utilities) could use MENU as main user-interface driver; other two, VMENU and VFILER, used to speed general computer activi- ties: word processing, spread-sheet, telecommunications, database management, accounting, programming--you name it. Secure systems are ideal in office (and home child-occupied) areas where many people have access to unattended machines. Some Z users have not realized that Richard Conn has greatly extended our library functions by adding Vlib and Z3lib to complement Syslib3. Six-disk package, with full source code for each subroutine, sells for only $45.00: our free-will donation to structured Assembly Language advancements. Package is Item 27 on EI new price sheet effective 28 February. Syslib3 (Item 26) alone, still only $29.00 on 4 disks! Z-Tools (tm) Featured: Zas, Z80 macro relocating assembler with Zlink, Zlib, Zcon, and Zref, does it all. Well, not all but nearly! Center-piece of our tool collection, Zas forms basis for structured, maintainable Assembly Language program generation. Use Syslib3, Vlib and Z3lib as source for hundreds of linkable, efficient and proven subroutines. We combined popular features to make Assembly Language program writing easier. A macro expanding assembler using Intel, Zilog, DRI, TDL, and Microsoft syntax, mnemonics, and pseudo-ops creating at command-line option either Digital Research HEX or Microsoft REL object code. HEX files are converted to executable files with Mload or with DRI Load; REL files are linked with modular library subroutines and loaded with Echelon Zlink, DRI Link or Microsoft L80 (Link-80). Standard DRI sorted symbol table is optionally produced for use by EI DSD and DRI SID and ZSID debuggers. Zas works faster than conventional assemblers, as does Zlink. Zas comes with a librarian, Zlib, to build and manage linkable REL libraries, and Zcon. The latter converts extended Intel (TDL) mnemonics to Zilog. Symbol and label table cross referenced, with statistics, to source line npseudo-ops are also correctly converted, translated. (Zas is Item 10 on our price sheet: $95.00, complete.) We can now all convert our 8080 coded programs to Z80 and assemble them with Zas! Bravo! Patrick O'Connell, our faith in you has been fully justi- fied! (Being not a perfect world, we're sure minor changes to some programs will be required because of syntax inequalities. So be it!) DSD, Dynamic Screen Debugger, provides features previously not seen on microcomputers. Version we ship works with both extended Intel (set produced using DRI Z80.LIB and MAC, essentially TDL) and Zilog mnemonics. DSD uses ZCPR3 environmental descriptor for automatic program installation, as other Z utilities are installed with Z3INS and your SYS.ENV (or Z3.ENV if using Z3- Dot-Com) file. DSD Software In-Circuit-Emulator provides many expensive hardware I.C.E features but it doesn't require attaching any wires. Single step and break- point in ROM, write protect RAM, set code execute only, protect the stack from overflowing, catch illegal instructions and watch memory locations and cpu registers. The emulator can breakpoint on arbitrary conditions or identify when a LDIR instruction is going to write over protected locations before writing occurs! Not even hardware I.C.E. can provide such capability. Full support provided for symbol files as generated by Zas, Mac, Rmac, M80 (Macro-80), and other popular language translators--complete symbolic, full-screen editor debugging! DSD runs on 8080, 8085, NSC800 and Z80 computers--soon will take full advantage of Hitachi HD64180, and when- available Zilog Z800, super 8-bit microprocessors. Other DSD features include: in-context online help, save memory into a file, single step over subroutines, string searching, port I/O, viewing files. And it only takes 16k-bytes of memory! (You C-Language programmers eat-your- hearts-out.) It's Item 25 on our current price list. By the way, each EI software line Item retains its number as price lists are updated, acting as excellent double-check when orders are received. If we need numbers for more than 99 items, heaven forbid, we'll use over-100 number categories. FLASH! Richard Conn featured as speaker at upcoming Trenton, NJ Faire, 20-217 April! Rick speaks on software development system environments: ZCPR3 (Z), Unix and Ada. New Computer Magazine Appearing: Sol Libes produces an every-other-month magazine called Micro/Systems Journal, first issue is dated March/April 1985! Dave Hardy has joined him but continues his column with Micro Cornucopia. Randy Reitz has written a review of ZCPR3 features and we should see it in Sol's May/June issue. (Mail M/SJ subscription orders to Box 1192, Mountain- side, NJ 07092; $18.00 per year, six issues; $32.00 for two years.) Wonder where Chris Terry, erstwhile writer, as are above, of defunct Ziff-David Microsystems magazine, will show up next. About EI Manuals: Echelon documentation is intended to be placed in 3-ring, loose-leaf binders (ZCPR3: The Manual is exception). We don't already supply such holders because of shipping weight and bulk. Good quality binders are so dense, postage would exceed their down-at-your-local-stationery-store price. On the other hand, many have asked us to produce a special binder with "Z" printed on its front along with program- and tool-name page dividers--we may do this, if we can get a wholesale deal that's attractive to you, our customers. Standard size, 8 1/2" by 11", loose-leaf folders are most efficient, best for reading, studying, learning from. IBM-standard (5 1/2" by 8 1/2") are simply too small (a backward way to do things); and holders of these little folders make access from desk-top a two-handed procedure. Only one hand is needed with conventional, large, without-being-in-a-box, loose-leaf binders. But, Oh! how the herd has gotten into line: each one following the other, waiting for a turn to sip nourishment from a much-used trough. Z-News Numbering System consists of trailing three digits; first digit representing Volume number and last, the Issue. Middle digit is inert and used only because file is sent "squeezed" to various message systems in middle-digit-always-Q form. So this Z-News 106 (1Q6) is Volume 1, Issue Number 6. (We started with Volume 0; zero is a useful number sometimes, isn't it?) Each Volume consists of nine (9) Issues, decimal modulo before cycle is repeated, except there's never an Issue 0. We felt no necessity to key issues to earthly months since it's published fortnightly. When we've published 90 issues, we'll change the numbering system (we may go to hexidecimal--no, just kidding). Some of you asked about numbering; you now have our considered answer. An ancient once said, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Icons are special pictures, two-dimensional symbols, presently in vogue. Icons permit humans and computers to communicate. Long, long time ago, we used hieroglyphs and then cuneiform to communicate among ourselves, we early homo sapiens. Then after struggle, an alphabet developed. Now we go back to pictures, icons. How many glyphs can we remember; 50, 100, 5,000! Echelon predicts English words and phrases will be found best interface between humans and machines. We recognize symbols as powerful, but we still must learn what each symbol stands for! Icons presently are produced using common, every-day symbols easily associated with common computer functions. But day draws near when the number of functions gets so large, new non-everyday symbols have to be created--a whole new language learning would then be necessary--which is something we don't think appropriate! It's up to us to generate phrases that permit quick learning, association with that known, to what is momentarily desired. Computing machines using icons, Star, Lisa, Macintosh (name of a rain coat, not a variety of apple, providing insight to mentality of founders of a certain company) are so easy to learn--pray tell, but what have you learned? Such machines are fading even now. Touch screens, dead (sorry HP); mouse pointers (and track balls, joy sticks, digitizing pads) have a place if heavy graphics are necessary; high-resolution light pens (painter's brush) could be next big fade. No universal solution to user/machine communications is possible; each of us have our needs of the moment. Remember, we can't even reliably talk to opposite gender (sex), how our computing machines! Four-year programmers wish only command-line completion features; one- week interested users, Macintosh's; two months, IBM PC's; ten year, protect your you-know-what big-company managers, IBM PC, XT and AT's. As we see more, as we learn more, our needs move from plateau to plateau. "There's no free lunch!" It's only through work (intentional doing, conscious thought--not mindless, repetitive action) that our being is altered to see, to know more of what's going on. Get knowledge, get a friend or two (compadres, we call them here on the west coast), get money (and power over others); but whatever is done, get understanding, get wisdom! Appreciate, accept, our Universe is about releasing energy from matter-- you are its center (did you think it was about matter being created from energy, you silly savage). Let no one push you aside! Ask questions--answers are not too important, asking questions is! From your questioning develop your own answers; become a sphere of power--a sphere of action, not reaction! See you down the lines... Echelon, Inc. 101 First Street Los Altos, CA 94022 Telephone: 415/948-3820 ZCPR3 BBS & Z-Node: 415/489-9005 Trademarks: Z80/800, Zilog; HD62801/64180, Hitachi; Z-System, Z-Tools, ZCPR3, ZRDOS, Z-Com, Z3-Dot-Com, Discat, Syslib3, Emsg, Term3, Zas, Zlink, DSD, ZDM, ITOZ, Revas3, Lasting-Value Software, Echelon and their respective owners and authors; Star, Xerox; IBM PC, XT, AT, International Business Machines; Lisa, Macintosh, Apple Computer; DDT, Sid, Zsid, Rmac, Link, CP/M, Digital Research; Macro-80, Link-80, Microsoft. Z-News 106 is Copyright 1985 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission to reprint, wholly or partially, automatically granted if source credit is given to Echelon, Inc.