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.op ================================================================= The $ R / O R E A D O N L Y -=( September 1986 Issue )=- The monthly news magazine of the Tampa Bay Kaypro User's Group and the DataCOM Super Systems(tm) ================================================================= News and reviews of programs, hardware, and peripherals for users of microcomputers with CP/M, MP/M, MS-DOS, PC-DOS, or TurboDOS operating systems. ================================================================= Steven L. Sanders - Editor (Sysop) ================================================================= The DataCOM Super Systems(tm) is a "state of the art" multi-user remote database with 85mb of files online. An annual fee of $35.00 is required for access, an application may be downloaded by calling (813) 791-1454 at 300/1200/2400 baud or send a SASE along with your request to: TBKUG / DataCOM Super Systems(tm) 2643 Cedar View Court Clearwater, FL 33519 -==( DISCLAIMER )==- Articles and reviews of microcomputers, hardware, software, and other peripherals reflect currently advertised prices as released by the distributors and are included here for YOUR INFORMATION ONLY. The TBKUG/DataCOM Super Systems(tm) is NOT being paid to advertise these products and we cannot be held accountable for the actual retail price and/or performance of said products. ================================================================= .pa .pn .foThe news magazine of the DataCOM Systems - Sept 1986 Page # -={ DataCOM PCBoard Node ?? }=- I would like to know if the members are interested in seeing an IBM-PC (only) node added to The DataCOM Super Systems? I am tinkering with the idea of having another phone line installed to run PCBoard(tm) software on my PC/XT clone. PCBoard supports IBM color graphics, animated text, and even music! I already have the software and have been beta testing the set-up which seems to work great. This system would have 15-20mb of IBM-only software for download plus a multi-level RBBS system for messages and conferencing. If you would like to see this new node become a reality, let me know. If I get enough affirmative answers I will order the phone line and put the system up. Seems to me we already have the support for this effort as most of the files going in and out of the main system are all IBM-DOS files these days. You tell me!! -={ Telenet and PC Pursuit }=- I have recently joined the ranks of Telenet users by signing up for their PC Pursuit Service. If you've never heard of this, you are not alone. The PC Pursuit service allows you to make UNLIMITED calls to remote BBS systems (or other computers) in any one of 14 major metropolitan areas around the country for a flat fee of $25 a month! More areas will be added later as the need grows and users request them. (Flood them with requests to add areacode 813 and soon The DataCOM Systems will be accessible thru the network.) The only restrictions are: (1) Calls must be placed between 6pm and 7am (local time) weekdays or anytime Saturday or Sunday or legal holidays, (2) calls must be placed to one of the 14 areas serviced by Telenet, (3) 300 or 1200 baud. Callers desiring 2400 baud will be charged with a surcharge for the actual amount of data packets transmitted. I'm still not sure how much the surcharge is or how it's calculated, so it's best to stick with 1200 baud and pay the flat fee per month. PC Pursuit uses Telenet's X.25 high-quality Public Data Network lines, the same ones used by Telenet's other customers. PC Pursuit is available as a local call if you are near one of the multitude of dial-in numbers around the country. Many new cities will be added this year, presently you can call into: ATLANTA (404), BOSTON (617), CHICAGO (312), DALLAS (214), DENVER (303), DETROIT (313), HOUSTON (713), LOS ANGELES (213), NEWARK (201), NEW YORK (212), PHILADELPHIA (215), SAN FRANCISCO (415), SEATTLE (206), or WASHINGTON DC (202). Almost every local exchange to the areacodes listed above is accessible through PC Pursuit now! Call the PC Pursuit FIDO system by modem at 1-800-835-3001 for more info - it's great! -={ IBM-PC Modem Programs }=- by Steve Sanders I get a lot of calls from my users asking me which of the shareware IBM-PC modem programs is the best one to use. This is kind of a "loaded" question to try to answer because everyone's needs and tastes are different, but here goes. The three most popular programs are: QMODEM 2.00E ProComm 2.3 PIBTERM 3.2.5 142k 150k 252k (The 'k' figure under each entry indicates the minimum amount of diskspace required for each program system.) All three offer; color monitor support, baudrates from 300 to 9600 bps with even/odd/none parity, 7 or 8 data bits, and 1 or none stopbits, autodial from built-in directories (also sets baud/parity/bits), auto re-dial of busy numbers, user configurable keyboard macro command strings, script file language capability, up/download file xfer, ASCII capture to diskfile, echo to printer, sub-dir and file manipulation, view directory, view ASCII file, pop-up info windows, terminal emulation, character translation tables, and Hayes modem compatibility. QMODEM and PIBTERM both have a file directory function that shows the filenames/sizes/transfer times of each file in the currently logged directory. QMODEM and PIBTERM were written in Turbo Pascal and have a multitude of overlay files that must be in the same sub-dir as the main program. ProComm was written in DeSmet 'C' and consists of one large .EXE file. Each of these programs also generates quite a few other files holding the phone directory, comm parameters, and other start-up info for the main program. QMODEM is probably the best known of the shareware modem programs and can be found on almost any BBS. QMODEM has every feature needed by the modem communicator and it's screen displays are completely configurable including the position of the display windows. QMODEM comes with QINSTALL which lets you set all the default values and modem parameters plus window colors and screen display positions. QMODEM has a top speed of 9600 bps so you might want PIBTERM if doing null modem xfers between PCs at 19,200 bps. You can pre-set a drive and sub-dir for all your file downloads and then QMODEM displays a highlighted status line on the bottom of the screen with the d:\path\filename being received (very nice touch!) Also a very informative transfer screen appears showing you the block count and a multitude of error conditions. ProComm is basically a clone of QMODEM written in 'C' and most of the commands and screen displays are very nearly the same. You can't move ProComm's window display positions but they do NOT block the screen information like PIBTERM does. The author choose to have these windows displayed almost in the upper righthand corner (good choice!) of the screen. Both ProComm and QMODEM use the PgUp key for upload operations and the PgDn key for downloads which really makes good sense and is easy to remember. I like most of PIBTERM's features better than QMODEM's but unfortunately you cannot move the display windows around on the screen. PIBTERM when transferring a file will cover up the info on your screen generated by XMODEM or PCBoard's transfer utility and thus you can't "see" how long the transfer will take or the size of the file in blocks. PIBTERM also supports XMODEM, YMODEM, and ASCII protocols and may be set for any baudrate up to 19,200 bps. PIBTERM also features a user-settable scroll-back function that will re-display up to 'nnn' lines of text that has been captured while online with a host system. Unique to PIBTERM is its built-in areacode scanner, you enter an areacode and it will tell you what cities are involved. XMODEM and KERMIT Compatibility For the mainframe communicators out there, only ProComm and PIBTERM offer KERMIT protocol transfers. And both ProComm and PIBTERM are compatible with "1k" XMODEM protocol when you choose the YMODEM up/download option. This means they are able to talk to RCP/M systems using the newer versions of XMODEM and KMD that support the 1k packet protocols for 1200 and 2400 baud. (Note: Many of the RCP/M [remote CP/M] systems are now offerring IBM files as well as CP/M files for download, I do!) QMODEM has no compatible 1k packet protocol to enable it to talk to RCP/M systems. It does support the standard 1,024-byte block XMODEM CRC protocol which isn't to bad except for a lot of error checking and excessive handshaking for 2400 baud users. All three programs are completely compatible with PCBoard, RBBS- PC, and FIDO systems XMODEM & YMODEM transfer protocols. ProComm is the most "all round" compatible program, especially if you use the Telenet PC Pursuit service. The 1k packet (YMODEM) protocol is the most efficient means of transferring data through a switched network like PC Pursuit. Regular CRC protocol is very slow and you'll end up with only 65% efficiency, 1k packet will yield a much better transfer rate, about 80-85% of original. My hat is off to the fine programmers that made these high-quality programs available at such reasonable prices. The shareware concept allows you to try it before you buy it, and then you can send your $20 to the author of the program you end up using. -={ DataStar/ReportStar Guide }=- One of our members has authored a book about the care and feeding of MicroPro's DataStar and ReportStar programs. She spent many, many hours putting together the necessary information for the book only to find out that the programs are no longer being sold. She asked herself, "What about all the people who already have the program?" and decided to sell it on diskette rather than publish it as a book. The following text was taken from a letter to Steve Sanders from the author, Gwen Campbell: Do you have DataStar and can't figure out how to use it? If you said "yes", then here's the book for you. The first time I sat down with the five manuals open before me and tried to figure the thing out, I got nowhere fast. Then I got mad. Then I wrote the Guide. I love DataStar and the more I use it, the more things I find it can do for me, not the least is a savings in money. I don't have to buy "programs" which turn out to be DataStar in disguise. I'm not going to kid you that learning DataStar is a snap. You will have to spend some time and effort but it isn't hard. A little time and effort will get you decent results. When I sent the book off to the publishers, I found that MicroPro has stopped manufacturing DataStar. So I have decided to sell it on a Kaypro-formatted diskette (DS-DD.) You can read it, or print it, or both when and how you please. GUIDE THROUGH DATASTAR/REPORTSTAR If interested, send $18.00 to: GWEN CAMPBELL P.O. Box 507 Keno, Oregon 97627 -={ Review: Basic Time 2400 Modem }=- by Steve Sanders For those of you who are looking for a 2400 baud modem at a good price, be sure to check out the Basic Time 2400 models. QUBIE, Inc. in California is selling a PC internal and standalone RS- 232C version for only $299. This is no typo, the price for either model is only $299 plus a small shipping charge. The BT2400 modems are not "stripped down" and feature-less modems, in fact, they are full of features usually found only on the high-priced models. Both versions offer automatic adaptive equalization (AAE) which insure the modem is operating as efficiently as the phone lines permit. All the standard baudrates are supported from 110bps to 2400bps, even the old PMMI-standard of 600bps. The 300 baud specifications are Bell 103 standard and the 1200 mode is Bell 212A standard. The high- speed 2400 baud mode supports the CCITT V.22 bis standard as well as V.22 A/B making it compatible with all known 2400 modems. The BT2400I (PC internal) modem is configured as a 1/2 card and will fit neatly into the short slot of the IBM-PC and clones. It also comes with PC Talk III software on diskette pre-configured for the IBM-PC. You also gain an external RS-232C port. The BT2400E (external) modem is housed in a slimline plastic enclosure which is the same size as the US Robotics Courier modem. It has 8 LED indicators on the front panel and two modular phone jacks on the side, one for the line, and one for a telephone instrument. The modem does not have an internal speaker for monitoring the line, hence the second phone line jack on the side. The speaker is not really needed as the modem returns verbose result messages to the local console during dialing. The BT2400E can be used in asynchronous or synchronous modes and can autodial in either mode. Both modems feature full autodial and autoanswer capability and have a non-volatile memory for "remembering" the current config of the software switches, S-registers, and one phone number. Both modems also feature extended dialing commands for accessing a long distance network or for dialing out from a PBX-type switchboard requiring special prefix digits or waiting for a second dial tone. The autodial commands are Hayes compatible using the familiar "AT" command set made famous by the Hayes Smartmodems. The Basic Time modems can also work with some of the newer call-back security modems which require the calling system to transmit its phone number for use by the host when re- calling later. The BT2400E and BT2400I do not have the usual DIP switches for changing the modem's parameters, this is done via software commands. These commands are 100% Hayes 2400 Smartmodem compatible. One simple string of commands sent to the modem by your modem program is all that is needed to make things work properly without the need for fussing with little white switches. The bottom line is: (1) The modems work very well, (2) the price is very hard to beat, (3) delivery is quick, I got mine in three days by UPS blue, and (4) they are compatible with any program that requires a Hayes-compatible autodial/autoanswer modem. QUBIE also has a 30-day money back guarantee which assures your satisfaction without risking your money. Contact: QUBIE, Inc. 1-800-821-4479 -={ The CP/M Connection }=- by Ted Silveira (Originally published in Computer Currents, June 3, 1986.) WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS As I started this column I realized it's number 28, which means I've been babbling away here for over a year. I should say it seems like no time at all, but really it seems like forever--I can barely remember when I wasn't doing the CP/M Connection and making a fool of myself every two weeks. I'm not a great fan of anniversaries of any sort, but all the same, it seems like a good time to look around a bit. The CP/M world, of course, isn't the same place it was a year or so ago. Osborne and Morrow--two of the three major CP/M players when I bought my first CP/M computer--are gone. Kaypro, the third major player from that time, now produces only one CP/M computer. Many publishers of major applications programs have stopped supporting or even selling the CP/M versions of their programs. (Have you tried to buy the CP/M version of dBase II recently? Difficult, if not actually impossible.) And the CP/M public domain, which seemed to revive in a burst of productivity six or eight months ago, has now gone back to sleep (a few new programs but mostly minor updates). Among the CP/M magazines, User's Guide has disappeared entirely (it has a new owner and is supposed to reappear, but so far, nothing), Profiles (a Kaypro magazine) is now about half MS- DOS (reflecting Kaypro's changing business), and Micro Cornucopia, the last oasis for the dedicated CP/M tinkerer, went through a remarkably rapid transformation some months back and is now almost entirely devoted to articles on the 68000 chip and the building of Far Eastern PC clones. But it's not all so grim . . . The CP/M user community has gotten a big boost with the appearance of CP/M for the Commodore 128. From what I can see on the bulletin boards and on CompuServe (where there's now a special Commodore section in the CP/M forum), CP/M is attracting a lot of interest from Commodore users, despite the fact the Commodore isn't an ideal CP/M machine (slow drives). Considering the vast number of those computers sold, is it out of line to suggest that Commodore users may eventually add another million to the CP/M user base? A number of small software companies are aggressively mining the CP/M world as the massive niche market it really is-- companies like Spectre Technologies (Rembrandt, a graphics program, and Presto!, a pop-up desk organizer), Echelon (ZCPR3 and related products), Xpert Software (XtraKey, a key definition program), Kamasoft (OutThink and KAMAS, outline processors), and Spite Software (Thoughtlinmassive mailings of its catalog (a sort of "cooperative" catalog that lists software from many companies) to every CP/M user it can find. And smaller, machine-specific CP/M magazines like Morrow Owner's Review and Foghorn (mainly Osborne) are seriously looking for ways to expand their readership and support to all CP/M computers. (Though running a magazine is more marginal than just about anything except starting your own restaurant.) What does it all mean, you're dying to ask? Honestly, I don't know, except that there seems to be a growing "Volkswagen" mentality among CP/M users, the kind of attitude that leads people to keep Beetles and VW buses on the road long after other cars have vanished, that made the repair book "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive" a long-running hit, and that supports at least one "bug" shop in every town large enoutop light. To that, I'll add a curiosity. Looking over the want ads in Computer Currents, the San Jose Mercury, and the San Francisco Chronicle, I notice that ads for CP/M computers have all but disappeared. There are plenty of Apples of all models and ages, and columns of IBM PC clones, but hardly a Kaypro, Osborne, Morrow, Bondwell, Epson, etc., to be seen. What happened? Have they been stored in the attic and forgotten? Are they just impossible to sell? Is the market price so low that the owners have decided to hang on to them? And are the current owners actually using the machines or just stuffing them in closets? If you think you know, write and tell me. -={ WHATSNEW - Public Software }=- [MS/PC-DOS] GALXY12B.ARC This is a full-blown word processor and has been getting better and better with each new version. This is the last shareware version to be offerred according to the author, Gordon Wanner. GALAXY features instant compatibility for those of us whose fingers are already trained for Wordstar commands plus it has a set of its own 'instant' commands as well. GALAXY is more then a text editor as it offers word-wrap and print capabilities not found in most other shareware editors. You can edit multiple files in different windows and restore previously killed blocks of text from buffer. There are pull-down menus for all the options and a variety of ways to call them onto the screen. Gordon says version 1.3 will be available within a few weeks and will be free to those who pay the $35 registration fee for version 1.2B. This is shareware at its best! PCOPY4A.ARC How many times have you cussed at DOS' COPY command for overwriting an existing file without first telling you. Cheer up and try PCOPY (protected COPY) instead. PCOPY can be used as a full-screen display file copy/move utility or with a simple commandline option will only generate simple messages to the console similar to DOS' COPY command. PCOPY will prompt you if a file by the same name already exists in the destination directory before overlaying it with the new one. PCOPY will even check the date of the two files and tell you the original is the same date or 'older.' MCACHE.ARC Memory caches will greatly enhance and speed-up the operation of most hard disk PC machines. Depending on how big you create the cache, disk sectors are bufferred into memory and a subsequent I/O call for the same sector will result in that sector being recalled from memory rather than being re-read from the physical disk. SK-PAL13.ARC This is a companion program for users of Sidekick, it allows you to quickly scan your appointment file(s) for any pertinent piece of information. Much nicer than using Sidekick's own built-in (and very limited) features for the calendar/appointment scheduler. DUBL-DIR Double DIR is fast becoming one of my favorite DOS utilities. You can display two different dirs or sub-dirs side by side on your CRT for easy comparisons. Plus you can switch control back and forth between the two windows and move the file lists up/down with the cursor keys. WSSI220.ARC WSSINDEX is a DOS diskette cataloging program system, one of the best, and the one I use to keep track of all of our TBKUG disk volumes. WSSINDEX can handle up to 300 disks and 5000 filenames and 200 sub-directories. The directory file may be scanned to find any desired filename(s) quickly or you can choose one of several different methods of printing the sorted dir file to printer, screen, or diskfile. DISKVR34.ARC Here's one of the handiest utility programs for anyone with more than 20 diskettes of programs. DISKOVER will read the directory of any given floppy disk and then print the contents in compressed mode so it can be cut-out and slipped into the jacket for future referrence. DISKOVER can also optionally expand LBR and ARC files and list the internal member files. PKARC10.COM Tired of waiting for ARC512.EXE to compress and store all your files into an archive? Then try this gem. PKARC is by the same fellow who wrote the PKXARC (archive extractor) utility and is ultra-fast! PKARC will analyze the target files and then choose the proper compression method to insure the smallest file for inclusion into the archive. PKARC is many, many, times faster than SEA's ARC utility, try it out! NOTEPAD4.ARC How many times have you wished you had a memory- resident text editor/scratchpad to jot down a note or two while in another application? Just get NOTEPAD and you no longer have to wish for this ability, you'll have it at your fingertips. [CP/M] SAVECRT.LBR Turns off the Kaypro (video models) CRT screen, any key pressed will restore the screen again. TYPELZ15.LBR This is a TYPE utility that will display any ASCII file whether regular, squeezed, or crunched. It also displays all three types of files from inside of conventional library files as well. SZAP34B.LBR SuperZap is a DU-type disk editor utility that allows you to examine and modify files on a sector by sector basis. ZAP is full-screen in it's display of the file being edited or the file directory of a given disk. You get a DDT-like display when editing files, one side is the hex representation and the other side is all ASCII characters. ZAP must be installed for your terminal as it uses clear screen, clear to end of line, and inverse on/off video attributes. KAY256.UPD Have you been trying to install the 256k RAM chips in your Kaypro per the KAY256.LBR and K256BIOS.LBR files and not succeeding? Well, we have a fix for the circuit diagram that was wrong in the original files as well as in the Micro Cornucopia magazine article. SAP50.LBR Sorts-n-Packs the disk directory for faster operation of directory programs or any program accessing the disk directory. SAP will remove all erased entries and fill the disk space with 'e5' characters plus alphabetize all the remaining active dir entries. This is important for hard disk users! BISHOW32.LBR How about a backwards and forwards TYPE utility that works on squeezed and ASCII files inside of libraries as well as regular ASCII files? Here it is! PMASTER.LBR Print custom made signs, banners, greeting cards, and etc. with graphic printers like Epson and Toshibas. This one appears to be for Kaypro (ADM3A) compatible terminals. BUTCH.LBR BUTCH is kind of a male chauvinist ELIZA program that will 'talk back' to you and offer random conversation and helpful suggestions. Source in MBASIC included along with a ready to run COM file for most any CP/M-80 system. NEWRITE7.LBR This utility will format files generated by the TOUR20 text-oriented freeform thought processor. LDR15.LBR Latest ZCPR3 package loader utility. LDR loads the resident command package, flow command package, system environment descriptor, input/output package, and others. VF41G.LBR Latest beta test version of VFILER (video-oriented file maintenance utility) from Jay Sage. Works very much like Dave Rand's NewSweep and offers much more for the ZCPR3 user. Can use macro command files for repeat/complex file operations. -={ Lots-O-Files, New PC-SIG Volumes }=- I have been trading a lot of disks lately with other user groups and system operators around the country. We now have three catalogs, PC-SIG1.CQT, PC-SIG2.CQT, and PC-SIG3.CQT which are the PC SIG volumes 422 through 514. Plus assorted PC Blue library volumes as well as lots, and lots of other IBM-DOS software. My organized set of IBM-DOS User Disk Volumes is listed as files IBM-DSK1.CQT, IBM-DSK2.CQT, and IBM-DSK3.CQT. These disks are well organized into areas of special interest and the catalog listings are very descriptive of the programs on each diskette. The IBM user disks are available for the same low $10.00 a disk we charge for our CP/M user disks. Catalogs are available either online or by mail - send me a disk, mailer, and return postage and I'll send you complete copies. You do not have to be an active member of the TBKUG/DataCOM Systems to purchase diskettes by mail. We would like to see you as an active online modem user, but we'll gladly help you any way we can. -={ Until Next Month ... }=- That does it for another month folks, check out the DataCOM Super Systems, we just added a new 85mb drive. Lots of new files online now and room for many, many more. Remember, I'm waiting to hear if you guys want me to bring the PCBoard(tm) node (another 31mb of files) online! It's here, it's ready - do you want it ??? Cheers !!!