

#: 20979 S1/General Interest
    02-Jun-95  17:21:59
Sb: #20972-X.25 & LAP-B
Fm: M. Raabe 100327,1526
To: Paul S. Dayan 100040,400 (X)

Hi Paul,
I'm working for ELTEC. We have a 68302-based daughter board for our 68030/40/60
CPU-boards and our VMEbus-carrier, which is connected to OS-9 via
descriptor/driver.
Interrested?

Ciao Martin Raabe
mraabe@eltec.de

#: 20981 S1/General Interest
    06-Jun-95  14:13:39
Sb: #Consulting in NYC Area
Fm: Michael A. Cohen 73304,3026
To: All,

***URGENT/IMMEDIATE NEED***

Spectrum Concepts Consulting Corp., an information technology consulting firm
providing leading-edge consulting expertise to the NYC area since 1979, is
looking for an OS-9 Specialist to work ON-SITE at one of our most prestigious
clients in the NYC area.  The contract is immediate and at least one year
length.

Skills Required:
* OS-9 Expertise

Skills Desired:
*  C Programming
*  CD-i
*  David
*  Interactive TV

The project involves designing and developing the software component for an
interactive TV hardware box based on OS-9.

For More Details please contact:
Michael Cohen, Technical Recruiter
Spectrum Concepts Consulting Corp.
150 Broadway, Suite 600, New York, NY  10038
phone (212)791-4800 x248
fax resumes to (212)791-6639

***Referral Fees Paid . . . Refer your friends/associates!!!**

There is 1 Reply.

#: 20995 S1/General Interest
    14-Jun-95  11:35:29
Sb: #20981-Consulting in NYC Area
Fm: Craig S. German 72752,2336
To: Michael A. Cohen 73304,3026

Michael,

I am working in a new startup company, Interactive Engines, Inc.  The company's
goal is to provide a set-top box application development tool suite for
interactive television applications (and eventually other types of
applications).

Our development team has considerable experience in providing set-top
application authoring and delivery tools, and we were instrumental in
developing the Stargazer application software for Bell Atlantic that is now
deployed in Italy and in the U.S.  Specifically, we have extensive experience
in developing in C on the OS-9 DAVID and CD-I platforms.

Perhaps you could provide more details on your needs/interests.  Our business
number is: (703) 860-0334.  Our address:

Interactive Engines, Inc.
1803 Pepperridge Ln.
Reston, VA 22091

We look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,
Craig German

#: 20984 S1/General Interest
    08-Jun-95  15:27:05
Sb: #Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Christian Daschill 100112,277
To: all

I just want to blow off some hot air after a frustrating day with Fastrak(PC)
and Ultra C V1.2:
Fastrak-PC is a bad joke to say the least (I wonder if anyone at MW ever took a
look at Borland's IDE, that's how compiling and debugging dhould be done), and
Ultra C 1.2 is even slower than 1.1 when compiling and linking (~ 200%), it
builds 25% bigger and 15% to 20% slower code than 1.1.
I'm sorry I wasted my company's money by buying Fastrak, I'll try the GNU C++
compiler now.

C.Daschill

There are 2 Replies.

#: 20988 S1/General Interest
    12-Jun-95  17:17:19
Sb: #20984-#Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Jost Eberbach 73502,2041
To: Christian Daschill 100112,277 (X)

Christian,

I haven't tried FasTrak myself yet, but from what I've heard from others and
now from you, it is'nt worth giving it a try.

Microware are definetely not doing a good job. They're at least 10 years
behind. They still use KERMIT as their serial protocol, it's incredible. None
of they're products works 100%, you always run into weird problems. Sometimes I
feel I should give up on OS9, and try one of the other products on the market.
I'm just afraid, that I'm gonna run into similar problems!

Let me know about how the GNU compiler performs, maybe it is worth trying...

Jost

There are 3 Replies.

#: 20990 S1/General Interest
    13-Jun-95  03:11:18
Sb: #20988-Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Joachim Terasa 100421,2472
To: Jost Eberbach 73502,2041 (X)

Jost,

 >> Microware are definetely not doing a good job. They're at least 10 years
behind. <<

 Don't say such bad words:) Be happy that microware succeded to release an
ANSI-C-Compiler at least! Two years ago when Ultra-C still wasn't usable I got
a young guy on my side to produce some C-code. He would not believe that this
language he had to use was also called (K&R-)C.
 So, is 10 years enough?

 Jochen

  -Joachim Terasa


#: 20994 S1/General Interest
    14-Jun-95  01:40:30
Sb: #20988-#Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Christian Daschill 100112,277
To: Jost Eberbach 73502,2041 (X)

Jost,
I just hope somebody at Microware monitors that forum and realizes that the
customers are not happy with their products.

Chris

There is 1 Reply.

#: 21006 S1/General Interest
    19-Jun-95  08:32:01
Sb: #20994-Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Boisy G. Pitre 74464,3005
To: Christian Daschill 100112,277 (X)

 > Jost,
 > I just hope somebody at Microware monitors that forum and realizes that
 > the customers are not happy with their products.
 >
 > Chris
 >

Hi Chris,

As an employee of Microware, it certainly concerns me when a customer is not
satisfied.  I can only recommend that you address your concerns to our
marketing department.  You can report any bugs or requests for enhancement to
our hotline:  hotline@microware.com.

Regards -- Boisy G. Pitre__    __  __              Delphi:  BOISY
          |_   _|   \ \/ /              CompuServe:  74464,3005 I use...   _|
|_     >  <               Internet:  boisy@os9er.waukee.ia.us
          |_____|NFO/_/\_\PRESS 1.2.0   OS-9 -- King of Operating Systems

#: 21011 S1/General Interest
    21-Jun-95  12:41:52
Sb: #20988-Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Kevin Darling 76703,4227
To: Jost Eberbach 73502,2041 (X)

I keep telling MW reps that they should just give away FastTrak... but they
could charge for support on it.

That would allow more companies to try out OS-9 and encourage its use.

If they ended up using OS-9 because of this, the license/support fees would be
far more beneficial over the long run to MW than charging for FastTrak itself.

kev

#: 21023 S1/General Interest
    26-Jun-95  09:09:42
Sb: #20984-#Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Peter Eisele 100041,2304
To: Christian Daschill 100112,277 (X)

>I just want to blow off some hot air after a frustrating day with Fastrak(PC)
>and Ultra C V1.2:


Dear Mr. Daschill,

If you run into problems with any of Microware products, you are very welcome
to use our free hotline service. Do you use FasTrak with OS/2 ? This would be
very interesting.

Peter Eisele Dr. Rudolf Keil GmbH Customer Support

There is 1 Reply.

#: 21028 S1/General Interest
    26-Jun-95  17:01:36
Sb: #21023-#Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Bob van der Poel 76510,2203
To: Peter Eisele 100041,2304 (X)

Glad that Dr. Keil responded....I was going to do so myself, but didn't want to
be cast as a mindless-microware-supporter (or mindless anything for that
matter). The truth of the matter is that ultra-c did have some serious bugs in
the initial versions. However, I have compiled some complex programs with 1.2
and it appears to generate very good code. Certainly, things can get complex
with ultra-c, especially when converting programs from K&R-type code. Before we
flame MW too much, remember that their products are running on very distinct
platforms and it is not possible to test the code on each variant....it is
certainly much easier on a PC (mind you, Microsoft uses thousands of beta
testers...and they have to pay for the privilege). So, cool down a bit before
posting here with "this is shit" messages. It doesn't do you, Microware, or the
OS9 community any good.

There is 1 Reply.

#: 21030 S1/General Interest
    27-Jun-95  22:00:56
Sb: #21028-#Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Jost Eberbach 73502,2041
To: Bob van der Poel 76510,2203 (X)

>>So, cool down a bit before posting here with "this is shit" messages. It
doesn't do you, Microware, or the OS9 community any good.<<

Bob, I can't speak for others, but it did me good, to see that I'm not the only
one who is frustrated with MW. If they would do, what they claim to do, LISTEN
TO THEIR CUSTOMERS, their products would be much better.

They don't even bother to do something in this forum, they leave it totally up
to the users. They don't even advertise new releases, or new products. It
appears to me, they don't care about their customers.

Jost

There is 1 Reply.

#: 21034 S1/General Interest
    28-Jun-95  19:19:35
Sb: #21030-Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Bob van der Poel 76510,2203
To: Jost Eberbach 73502,2041 (X)

Rereading what I posted I think I did a flame. Sorry...not the idea...I must
have been having a bad day.

>They don't even bother to do something in this forum, they leave it totally
>up to the users. They don't even advertise new releases, or new products. It
>appears to me, they don't care about their customers.

Good point. At one point they did have their own forum...but they really never
did anything with it. I have a feeling that they may have figured that this was
just a place for people with coco's etc. to hang out and wanted to devote their
time to folks with "real" computers...or maybe they are just spread out to
thin. No idea really...and I agree with you that they should have a official
presence. On the other hand, if they are supporting with their hotline address,
at least they are doing something.

Anyway, I do know the good feeling one gets when one gets things off ones
chest.


#: 20997 S1/General Interest
    14-Jun-95  17:55:12
Sb: Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Jost Eberbach 73502,2041
To: Christian Daschill 100112,277 (X)

Christian,

<<I just hope somebody at Microware monitors that forum and realizes that the
customers are not happy with their products.>>

I think they know that people are very unhappy, but I don't think they care a
lot...

Jost

#: 21003 S1/General Interest
    17-Jun-95  00:52:35
Sb: Scaleing
Fm: LARRY OLSON 72227,3467
To: Bob van der Poel 76510,2203 (X)



Bob,
   Have you had a chance to use that mm2hp30 screen print driver yet ?

   I think I finally figured out what causes the problem that I had with
the program sometimes printing the full screen and then again sometimes
only printing half of the screen, even though _gs_scsz and _gs_winfo both
report the same values.
   I think the problem is in the SCALE function. Well, not the function
itself but whether the screen that is being printed has the SCALE function
turned on or turned off.
   So, I was wondering if you have any ideas on how I can get the program
to detect whether scaleing is on or off.

   larry


#: 21007 S1/General Interest
    20-Jun-95  17:21:33
Sb: #Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Niels Peter Bogholm 100566,2262
To: Christian Daschill 100112,277 (X)

Hi Christian (and Jost as well!)
You are certainly very pessimistic about OS9 and UltraC...
Well as we all know MW isn't as large as fx Borland or other PC-companies and
therefore somehow don't have the same potential as in the PCworld. This is of
cause _NO_ excuse for selling "bad" software!

We are using FasTrak 1.1 (Solaris 2.3) and compared to other tools (Sun
sparcworks or also Borland/Turbo C/C++) it is quite good! Of cause the first
versions (1.0,1.1,..) all have minor (and a couple of major) bugs but is it not
the same for all software written (incl our own) ?!

Overall I find the FasTrak (Solaris 2.3 version!) a great tool!

I have no experiences with UCC v1.2 yet (I get it nxt week perhaps then I
understand your complaints..?!) but although the v1.1 doesn't produce  _high_
speed code the UCC could be much worse!

My suggestion: Report all bugs/whishes or compliments direct to microware  on
hotline@microware.com (forget "Dr Keil" if you're located in germany cause they
are _SLOW_ and really don't care). I report direct and always get a reply
within 3 days and they are mostly really helpfull (if you are writing a
_contructive_ letter !!!)

About OS9: The OS is - compared to other realtime OS - not that bad! Some packs
are better and other worse, but again MW only changes if the users report some
_contructive_ feedback.

don't worry, be happy ;-)

Niels.

  

There are 3 Replies.

#: 21009 S1/General Interest
    21-Jun-95  02:59:21
Sb: #21007-#Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Joachim Terasa 100421,2472
To: Niels Peter Bogholm 100566,2262 (X)

Hi Niels

 >>  (forget "Dr Keil" if you're located in germany cause they are _SLOW_ and
really don't care). <<

 True words! Any software-developer is a competitor for him, so why should he
care?

 >>  I report direct and always get a reply within 3 days and they are mostly
really helpfull (if you are writing a _contructive_ letter !!!) <<

 Thats also my experience. But remembering OS-9 V 2.1 - how many weeks did I
invest to get my software running just dealing with OS-bugs. Events - a very
basic OS-service didn't work from C.
 Remembering when we bought the first release of Ultra-C with three months
update-service. A little test program - just a bit more than 'hello world' - I
couldn't get to run. This one was fixed in two updates within the three months
but there were many bugs left.
 It must be allowed to ask, if it's ok to sell a product for several hundreds
of dollars that really doesn't seem to be tested very well.

 >> The OS is - compared to other realtime OS - not that bad! <<

 That's the reason why it's still used very often. But really, there are others
being of higher quality - compared to OS-9.

 Jochen

  -Joachim Terasa


There are 3 Replies.

#: 21014 S1/General Interest
    22-Jun-95  03:17:59
Sb: #21009-Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Christian Daschill 100112,277
To: Joachim Terasa 100421,2472 (X)

Joachim,
> It must be allowed to ask, if it's ok to sell a product for several hundreds
of dollars >that really doesn't seem to be tested very well.

I can only agree. We bought Ultra C as soon as it was available and spent a
fortune on support contracts and the recent upgrade to Fastrak, but we are
still using the V3.2 compiler for our development because of Ultra C's bugs and
performance.
I don't even want to think about the money the wasted ours cost us.

Chris

#: 21015 S1/General Interest
    22-Jun-95  03:20:44
Sb: #21009-Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Christian Daschill 100112,277
To: Joachim Terasa 100421,2472 (X)

Joachim,
> It must be allowed to ask, if it's ok to sell a product for several hundreds
of dollars >that really doesn't seem to be tested very well.

I can only agree. We bought Ultra C as soon as it was available and spent a
fortune on support contracts and the recent upgrade to Fastrak, but we are
still using the V3.2 compiler for our development because of Ultra C's bugs and
performance.
I don't even want to think about the money the wasted hours cost us.

Chris

#: 21025 S1/General Interest
    26-Jun-95  09:09:53
Sb: #21009-Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Peter Eisele 100041,2304
To: Joachim Terasa 100421,2472 (X)

> >>  (forget "Dr Keil" if you're located in germany cause they are _SLOW_ and
>really don't care). << > > True words! Any software-developer is a competitor
for him, so why should he >care?


Dear Mr. Terasa,

please don't generate such rumours. If you have a reason to do that, please
tell us about it first!

Sincerely,

Dr. R. Keil Dr. Rudolf Keil GmbH

#: 21013 S1/General Interest
    22-Jun-95  03:11:37
Sb: #21007-Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Christian Daschill 100112,277
To: Niels Peter Bogholm 100566,2262 (X)

Niels,
I think you are right about the Unix version of Fastrak. I also heard that it
was quite a nice package. In the PC domain, on the other hand, it looks like MW
did just an alibi port without caring about performance and useability.
A MW employee suggestet to take my questions and complaints to the MW Hotline,
so I'll try that. In the meantime, if I could just get that 120MHz Pentium to
have bearable link times... :<)

Chris

#: 21024 S1/General Interest
    26-Jun-95  09:09:48
Sb: #21007-#Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Peter Eisele 100041,2304
To: Niels Peter Bogholm 100566,2262 (X)

>My suggestion: Report all bugs/whishes or compliments direct to microware  on
>hotline@microware.com (forget "Dr Keil" if you're located in germany cause
>they are _SLOW_ and really don't care). I report direct and always get a reply
>within 3 days and they are mostly really helpfull (if you are writing a
>_contructive_ letter !!!)


Dear Mr. Bogholm,

as you know, our company puts a lot of efforts into hotline matters. If you
don't feel happy, please let us know first. It is, however, not helpful for
anybody to generate untrue rumours into the public.


Sincerely,

Dr. R. Keil Dr. Rudolf Keil GmbH

There is 1 Reply.

#: 21027 S1/General Interest
    26-Jun-95  15:01:15
Sb: #21024-Ultra C V 1.2
Fm: Niels Peter Bogholm 100566,2262
To: Peter Eisele 100041,2304 (X)

Dear Mr Eisele,

What a interessting experience: Suddently when someone speaks a negative word
about Dr. Kiel you get _very_ active ! If you would be that active in hotline
matters I would be very impressed ! Well I won't lose this forums space (and my
time) about your hotline and it's qualities, but it's obvious that I'm _not_
the only costumer who's complaining - so untrue rumors ....???

And it's a _fact_ that the Microware hotline is fast responding and helpfull.
Or try the SUN hotline: Once you ask a question, they (and not the costumer!)
call you back until they are sure about, that the problem is solved!! (Well
that's the difference between the german and american way..!)

Please fell free to contact me at my office and I can provide you with more
information about unanswered questions that I wrote your "hot"line months ago!


Niels Boegholm.
(089) 909994-52 (office)

#: 21010 S1/General Interest
    21-Jun-95  12:29:22
Sb: FasTrak for Windows
Fm: Rick Hunt, MATRIX 76077,3237
To: All

Does anyone have experience setting up and using FasTrak for Windows?  We're
having a variety of problems and would appreciate any help available.

If you prefer you can reach me via email at INTERNET:rlh@matrix.com

Thanks, Rick

#: 21012 S1/General Interest
    21-Jun-95  22:29:02
Sb: www
Fm: tom farrow 72701,543
To: all

Does anyone know if MW got on to the WWW yet if so how do you contact them?

#: 21019 S1/General Interest
    25-Jun-95  03:21:58
Sb: OS9 Sourcebook
Fm: David Breeding 72330,2051
To: all


I have been asked to forward this message to users here.  It is an
information form for an OS9 Sourcebook that is upcoming.  Sort of a
directory of users etc.

If you will take the time to fill it out and return it, I'm sure it
will be appreciated, and perhaps quite beneficial to all of us.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  If you have not already sent in your User form to the sourcebook please
 send in the one below to either:

 'Thetaurus@Delphi.Com'
 or snail mail at...

 The OS-9 Users' Group Inc.
 6158 West 63rd Street
 Suite 109
 Chicago, Il. 60638
 U.S.A



         At the end of this post will be the user entry form for the OS-9
       Users' Group sourcebook. Initial response was great, but returns
       have dropped off since. Please make it a point to fill it out and
       return it to me(Thetaurus) so I can add your name to the database.
       It takes not more than a couple minutes and couldn't be any
       easier. You just need to fill it out and return it(email even :-)
       ), so please return this form with your name so we can keep the
       response coming! Btw, in the upcoming MOTD we will have the BBS
       entry form for sysops or users for that matter, to send in for
       their bulletin board systems. I'll post the form here soon after.
       The Industrial user form might also be in the next issue as well.
       If not the next one, then the one after, tho it really doesn't
       affect many of us here who are really personal users. If you know
       any industrial users, please do make sure they see it when it
       comes out.

                    ________Form Coming...________

OS-9 Sourcebook Information Form
--------------------------------
  Name:
       ---------------------------------------------------------------
  Business:
           -----------------------------------------------------------
  Address:
          ------------------------------------------------------------
  City:                       State:              ZIP:
       ----------------       ---------------     --------------------
  Country:                 Telephone:(   )   -
          ----------------           ---------------------------------
  EMail Address:
                 -----------------------------------------------------

  Signature:                                      Date:  07 /06  /1995
            ------------------------------------         DD   MM   YY

Would you like information on
joining the OS-9 Users Group?         o Already a Member!  o Yes  o No

Can this information be passed to OS-9 vendors?            o Yes  o No

Are you available to act as a volunteer for OS-9           o Yes  o No
projects from time to time?  This isn't a commitment.

Please indicate your area(s) of interest:

   o OS-9/6809      o OS-9/68000      o OS-9000

   o Programming    o Hardware          Other ________________________

You use OS-9 primarily for what purpose:

   o personal use   o industrial system     o both

Please describe briefly your OS-9 computer system(s):

Please describe briefly your computer and OS-9 experience:

Please describe your OS-9 interests (things you would like to see the
UG do, or see in the MOTD), or list any other questions or comments:



#: 21038 S1/General Interest
    29-Jun-95  15:56:39
Sb: #Upgrade OS-9 2.4 => 3.0?
Fm: Georg Lohrer 100415,2175
To: ALL

Does anybody have experiences about the difficulties and hidden traps when
upgrading from OS-9 Version 2.4 to OS-9 Version 3.0 ? We want to upgrade - to
up-to-date - but we are afraid of bugs and much work to change our
machine-controlling-software.

So, please send me a short information about your experiences or a place where
I can get more infos about this stuff.

Thanks, Georg Lohrer, 29-Jun-95  21:52:47 CET Storming through CIS with OzWin
1.10 

There is 1 Reply.

#: 21039 S1/General Interest
    29-Jun-95  18:17:53
Sb: #21038-Upgrade OS-9 2.4 => 3.0?
Fm: Jost Eberbach 73502,2041
To: Georg Lohrer 100415,2175

>>Does anybody have experiences about the difficulties and hidden traps when
upgrading from OS-9 Version 2.4 to OS-9 Version 3.0 ? We want to upgrade - to
up-to-date - but we are afraid of bugs and much work to change our
machine-controlling-software.<<

Hi Georg,

I have a lot of experience with upgrading from 2.4 to 3.0. It's not that big a
problem. Only some device drivers won't work, because MW changed the
specifiaction for device drivers. Actually, none of the device drivers we were
using (for a graphics and a serial board) would work with 3.0. Also your boot
method might not work. I was using the OS-9 MVME162 BSP, which comes with a
boot prom from MW. The boot prom for 2.4 could not boot 3.0, you have to use
the new prom.

These should be all the problems that arise with upgrading, from my experience.
If you don't use other device drivers than the ones that come with OS-9, and if
you use a boot prom from an OS-9 vendor, you shouldn't have a problem at all.
OS-9 3.0 is much more predictable in it's real time response than 2.4. So it's
worth making the step, IMO. Also, MW's new developments are for 3.0 of course,
another reason to do the upgrade, as you said, to stay up-to-date.

If you need help with the upgrade, let me know. Right know I am in the US, but
I'll move back to Germany next week (I take it from your name that's where you
are). I will try to start my own business there. So I'm available to help you
out!!!

Jost

#: 21036 S5/OS9 Users Group
    29-Jun-95  07:00:56
Sb: Microware UK Telephone
Fm: Andy Richards 100045,1355
To: SYSOP (X)

Hello,

Could you help me by telling where I can go in the UK to buy OS9 for 68K
machines?  I believe that Microware exists in the UK but I can't find it.

Many thanks

Andy Richards

#: 21005 S6/Applications
    18-Jun-95  20:08:09
Sb: #20967-#Zip Bug fixed(?)
Fm: Mike Haaland 72300,1433
To: David Breeding 72330,2051 (X)

Sorry about the FROM_MEDIA FROM_DISK problem in ln.c.  I don't remember
even posting that version!!!  Anyway, you are correct that changing MEDIA to
DISK
will correct the problem.

The reason the #define was put in was the SCSI disk drivers that came with the
TC-70 would always send back 256 as the sector size, even if it was really 512.

Where did you get the link() function?  Was it included in the ZIP sources?
And
is my name in it?

 - Mike -

PS. Something else to watch out for with ln.c.  If you do a link on a file you
have
open, the link count won't get properly incremented.  Ran into that with CNews.

There is 1 Reply.

#: 21008 S6/Applications
    20-Jun-95  20:52:45
Sb: #21005-Zip Bug fixed(?)
Fm: David Breeding 72330,2051
To: Mike Haaland 72300,1433

 > Sorry about the FROM_MEDIA FROM_DISK problem in ln.c.  I don't remember
 > even posting that version!!!  Anyway, you are correct that changing MEDIA
 > to DISK will correct the problem.

It was a simple change, really.  Not really difficult to find after I got over
the laziness of getting started at looking at the source.  If that error was
yours, had you already discovered it?

 > The reason the #define was put in was the SCSI disk drivers that came with
 > the TC-70 would always send back 256 as the sector size, even if it was
 > really 512.

Yes, there was some info in there about that.

 > Where did you get the link() function?  Was it included in the ZIP
 > sources? And is my name in it?

I downloaded this with the Zip archive from Delphi, I believe.  Someone has
just uploaded a modified version with the FROM_DISK fixed, and apparently
another change or two, since their module is a different length than mine. The
link() function was with the sources.  Someone sent me a version of Zip that
didn't utilize the link() function.

In looking over the source, there is a file called "osk.c" and this stuff is in
it.  Ln is credit to Bob Larson and it is noted that you had added
sector-checking, it says Dec 8, 1992.

I don't believe I saw any name as to who was responsible for the port of Zip
itself.

 > PS. Something else to watch out for with ln.c.  If you do a link on a file
 > you have
 > open, the link count won't get properly incremented.  Ran into that with
 > CNews.

This might be good for several to know.  I had never fooled with this aspect of
disk structure.  To be honest, I was not really clear on the actual function of
the link field, but I figured it out and with experimenting with ded, found out
exactly what the link count did <G>

                         -- David Breeding --
       CompuServe : 72330,2051             Delphi :  DBREEDING
    *** Composed with InfoXpress/OSK Vr. 1.02 & VED Vr. 2.4.0  ***

#: 20996 S6/Applications
    14-Jun-95  15:12:30
Sb: #Dynamic Binary Fixup
Fm: Craig S. German 72752,2336
To: All

Does anyone know if it's possible to load and un-load self-contained code
dynamically in OS-9 using anything other than OS-9 modules?  What I would like
to be able to do is have a primary task that doesn't know at startup what
functions it needs, and that it loads binaries on an as needed basis.  As an
example, let's say I didn't know ahead of time that I would need to display
text.  I determine this need at run-time, request a load of a text display
executable (with an API that is known), and then begin to make text display
calls.  Is this only possible using OS-9 modules?

The reasons for avoiding modules are: 1) I'm not sure if loading a module uses
malloc, and if it does, I was told mallocs are bad in OS-9, at least in a CD-I
environment; and 2), I wanted to know if there was some less OS-9 specific
method of doing this.

Thanks,

Craig German

There are 4 Replies.

#: 20999 S6/Applications
    15-Jun-95  03:30:59
Sb: #20996-#Dynamic Binary Fixup
Fm: Joachim Terasa 100421,2472
To: Craig S. German 72752,2336 (X)

Craig,
 Modules are part of the basic concept of OS-9. I thing it is a fine thing from
the developers sight. So I don't see any reason to avoid them.
 1.I'm really not sure if OS-9 uses malloc internally for allocating modules.
Though it is true that malloc with OS-9 has its problems, i never had problem
with modules.
 2. Even if there are standards as posix is, you will alway have some features
being specific to any operating system. So why do you want to avoid them? In
some level of abstraction it is all the same, if modules or not.

 Jochen

  -Joachim Terasa


There is 1 Reply.

#: 21000 S6/Applications
    15-Jun-95  10:43:55
Sb: #20999-Dynamic Binary Fixup
Fm: Craig S. German 72752,2336
To: Joachim Terasa 100421,2472 (X)

Joachim,

Thanks for the response.  I agree with you about this issue -- I actually
posted it because an associate and I had a disagreement about the impact of
portability concerns for our system architecture, and I was looking for some
external validation.

Again, thanks!

Craig German

#: 21001 S6/Applications
    15-Jun-95  12:04:54
Sb: #20996-#Dynamic Binary Fixup
Fm: Pete Lyall 76703,4230
To: Craig S. German 72752,2336 (X)

I used to do OS9 development, but it's beena while...

Malloc() is typically an application class function. I would think that when
allocating memory for executable operation that the operating system would use
a lower level call (like sbreak(), ibreak(), or f$mem).

We used loadable modules in our application without problems (os9 2.4 on 68040
VME boxes). Just watch those link counts!

Pete Lyall

There is 1 Reply.

#: 21002 S6/Applications
    16-Jun-95  09:31:42
Sb: #21001-Dynamic Binary Fixup
Fm: Craig S. German 72752,2336
To: Pete Lyall 76703,4230 (X)

Thanks!

Craig German

#: 21032 S6/Applications
    28-Jun-95  15:12:41
Sb: #20996-#Dynamic Binary Fixup
Fm: M. Raabe 100327,1526
To: Craig S. German 72752,2336 (X)

Hello Craig,
there is a User Group in Europe, called European Forum for OS9 (EFFO). They
have a magazine 3 times a year. In the mag (OS9 International) there is in the
latest issue
an article about this topic: Subroutinemodules (dynamic link libraries they are
called in the Windows world nowadays).  They are designed for that purpose you
need.
Unfortuntely Microware only talk about basic09 subroutine modules.
But this is not the only language you can use this mechanism.
have a closer look at the magazine.
To get the sources to that article and some information send a mail (internet)
to:
INTERNET:os9int@effo.ch

Hope I helped you out!

Martin Raabe
programming OS-9 since 1987
(BTW using OS-9 on the 68060 is gorgeous!!!)

There is 1 Reply.

#: 21037 S6/Applications
    29-Jun-95  11:47:41
Sb: #21032-Dynamic Binary Fixup
Fm: Craig S. German 72752,2336
To: M. Raabe 100327,1526 (X)

Thanks a lot, Martin!  I'll take your advice.

Craig German
Interactive Engines, Inc.

#: 21033 S6/Applications
    28-Jun-95  15:41:19
Sb: #20996-Dynamic Binary Fixup
Fm: M. Raabe 100327,1526
To: Craig S. German 72752,2336 (X)

Hi Craig,
There is a Internet EMail site at my office, where the PD-disks from EFFO
are stored in Germany. Here you can retrieve all disks, one special disk or the
help text.
Simply write an email to 'INTERNET:os9int@eltec.de' and fill in as subject
   'help' to get the helpdesk.

Here the latest disk is available containing the sources to get the advantage
of shared libraries.

Hope I helped you out!

Martin Raabe
Worms
Germany

#: 20978 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    02-Jun-95  17:21:39
Sb: #20849-UUCP/SMTP
Fm: M. Raabe 100327,1526
To: ole hansen 100016,3417 (X)

Hi ole,
what did I miss?
Are you having a solution for my problem?
I'm using the TOP-UUCP to connect a OS-9 based EMail Net company-wide
(>20  68020/30/40 based computers). There are (unfortunately) PC-users
who want to be connected to the UUCP-EMail from their MHS / Novel / TCP/IP /
...
worlds.
I'd love to hear from you.
TIA Martin Raabe (mraabe@mrehome.eltec.de)

#: 20977 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    02-Jun-95  17:10:12
Sb: #20850-OS9 v3.0 ISP
Fm: M. Raabe 100327,1526
To: Niels Peter Bogholm 100566,2262 (X)

Hallo Niels,
in Deutschland gibt es mehrere Hersteller guter TCP/IP stacks.
Fur welche Plattform wird es denn benotigt?

Ich arbeite bei einem VMEbus-board Hersteller.
Wir haben das MW-ISP 2.0 und OS9TCP 2.0 von ASS im Programm, um Probleme wie
die Ihren in den Griff zu bekommen. Man kann halt nicht alles (von MW) haben!

Ciao Martin Raabe

#: 21004 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    18-Jun-95  20:07:52
Sb: #20955-HP Jet Direct Net-Interf
Fm: Mike Haaland 72300,1433
To: Joachim Terasa 100421,2472 (X)

The OS-9 to HP-Jet Direct card is one I'm dealing with also.  Our problem is no
real
way to 'spool' the files on the OS-9 side.  Without a spooler I'm seeing
printjobs
disappearing.  I've got an Idea that just might work, (the spl package from
here
printing to a socket instead of a device or pipe), but havn't had a chance to
play
with it yet.

I'll let you all know if it works,

 - Mike -

#: 20980 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    02-Jun-95  17:22:03
Sb: #20974-#Alarms 'disappearing'
Fm: M. Raabe 100327,1526
To: Ian J Shearer 100410,2733 (X)

Hi Ian,
as far as I know the fix of OS-9 V3.0.1 should be ok, isn't it?

Ciao Martin Raabe
mraabe@mrehome.eltec.de

There is 1 Reply.

#: 20983 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    08-Jun-95  11:17:04
Sb: #20980-Alarms 'disappearing'
Fm: Ian J Shearer 100410,2733
To: M. Raabe 100327,1526 (X)

Martin,

Not really.  All the 'fix' does is to prevent a task from deleting alarms
sourced by a different user ID.  If you have several tasks spawned by the same
parent this provides no protection at all.

Ian

#: 20982 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    06-Jun-95  14:14:28
Sb: Consulting in NYC area
Fm: Michael A. Cohen 73304,3026
To: All,

***URGENT/IMMEDIATE NEED***

Spectrum Concepts Consulting Corp., an information technology consulting firm
providing leading-edge consulting expertise to the NYC area since 1979, is
looking for an OS-9 Specialist to work ON-SITE at one of our most prestigious
clients in the NYC area.  The contract is immediate and at least one year
length.

Skills Required:
* OS-9 Expertise

Skills Desired:
*  C Programming
*  CD-i
*  David
*  Interactive TV

The project involves designing and developing the software component for an
interactive TV hardware box based on OS-9.

For More Details please contact:
Michael Cohen, Technical Recruiter
Spectrum Concepts Consulting Corp.
150 Broadway, Suite 600, New York, NY  10038
phone (212)791-4800 x248
fax resumes to (212)791-6639

***Referral Fees Paid . . . Refer your friends/associates!!!**

#: 21016 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    22-Jun-95  20:06:47
Sb: #OS-9000 help
Fm: John R. Wainwright 72517,676
To: All

OK, OS-9000 users.  New Guy here.  A few questions.

OS-9000 us up and running on my "486DX4/100", and I am slowly getting it to
obey.  I have some OS-9 experience, COCO I,II,III and OS-9/68000 on my MM/1a,
so I am not completely lost, but there are a couple little things I still can't
get to work.

1. Comm ports.  I can use T1 and T2.  Even had STERM talking to CIS when I had
the (internal) modem on T2 (COM2).  Then I moved the modem to T4 (COM4).  T2 is
now a simple serial port.  T2 still works, I can plug it into an external modem
or null-modem to the MM/1, but I cannot get OS-9000 to talk to T4.  Messydos &
Windoze and even OS/2 can find that modem, but OS-9000 cannot.  COM2 and COM4
are BOTH using IRQ3, but I am not trying to use them at the same time.

2. Printer.  I am using LPT1.  The address of the port seems right accord to
the BIOS and the information with the OS-9000 system. It even makes the lights
blink and puts the Deskjet through its INIT routine when I load and init
p.lpt1.  When I try to print something, the lights blink on the printer and the
system hangs. LPT1 works fine with the other operating systems, of course.
Current method of printing from OS-9000 is to pass it via null modem to the
MM/1.

3. Disk formats.  No big deal here, but I sure can't get the MM/1 and the
OS-9000 system to agree on what a "universal disk" is.  I CAN get them both to
read and write on a High density messydos disk, so I use that for transfers.

4. Graphics.  Anything available to get OS-9000 to speak to the Trident 94xx
VGA card in this beast?  I need a CGFX_VGA.L  lib (grin).

Suggestions welcome.

John Wainwright (johnreed@delphi.com   72517.676@compuserve.com)


There are 2 Replies.

#: 21017 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    23-Jun-95  08:57:01
Sb: #21016-#OS-9000 help
Fm: Pete Lyall 76703,4230
To: John R. Wainwright 72517,676 (X)

John -

Well, I don't know if this helps any, but usually COM3 and COM4 share
interrupts with COM1 and COM2 (IRQ 4 and IRQ 3 respectively). That's where I
would start looking.

Pete

There is 1 Reply.

#: 21018 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    24-Jun-95  13:22:18
Sb: #21017-OS-9000 help
Fm: John R. Wainwright 72517,676
To: Pete Lyall 76703,4230 (X)

 > John -
 >
 > Well, I don't know if this helps any,
 > but usually COM3 and COM4 share
 > interrupts with COM1 and COM2 (IRQ 4
 > and IRQ 3 respectively). That's where I
 > would start looking.
 >
 > Pete
 >
 Yeah, COM2 and COM4 are both using IRQ3.  BUT -- I don't try to use them at
the same time.  In fact, with OS-9000, I only load one of the device
descriptors.  Messydos and OS/2 on the same box let me get away with that.  I
hate to start playing IRQ-Roulette on the 486 - everything you fix breaks
something else.

 Thanks,
 John

#: 21020 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    25-Jun-95  05:10:37
Sb: #21016-#OS-9000 help
Fm: Ed Gresick 76576,3312
To: John R. Wainwright 72517,676 (X)

 John,

 Congratulations on getting OS9000 up and running.  Which version are you
 running?  Using the release sold at the CocoFest in Chicago a few years ago
 *may* account for some of your problems.  As I recollect, there were many
 bugs in it.  The latest version is 1.3. - much smoother.  I think its worth
 spending $200 per year for the support contract.  In addition to hotline
 support, you should be able to get the latest version of OS9000 as part of
 the package.  The people at MW say version 2.0 should be released in the
 next couple of months.

 > 1. Comm ports.  I can use T1 and T2.  Even had STERM talking to CIS when I
 > had the (internal) modem on T2 (COM2).  Then I moved the modem to T4
 > (COM4).  T2 is now a simple serial port.  T2 still works, I can plug it
 > into an external modem or null-modem to the MM/1, but I cannot get OS-9000
 > to talk to T4.  Messydos & Windoze and even OS/2 can find that modem, but
 > OS-9000 cannot.  COM2 and COM4 are BOTH using IRQ3, but I am not trying to
 > use them at the same time.

 If MSDOS, etc. can find and speak to the modem correctly, its safe to say you
 have the card configured correctly.  Check the data for the descriptor to
 be sure it matches your modem configuration.  This information is stored
 in '/dd/PORTS/PCAT/systype.h'.  Use '/dd/PORTS/PCAT/mk.scfdesc' to make a
 new descriptor.  BTW, I use an internal modem on t3 - no problems.

 > 2. Printer.  I am using LPT1.  The address of the port seems right
 > accord to the BIOS and the information with the OS-9000 system.
 > It even makes the lights blink and puts the Deskjet through its
 > INIT routine when I load and init p.lpt1.  When I try to print
 > something, the lights blink on the printer and the system hangs.
 > LPT1 works fine with the other operating systems, of course.
 > Current method of printing from OS-9000 is to pass it via null
 > modem to the MM/1.

 Don't have any suggestions for this one.  I've had no problems.  Currently,
 I'm using either an old OKI 192 or a HP 4+.  Both work fine.  You might
 try calling MW's hotline.

 > 3. Disk formats.  No big deal here, but I sure can't get the MM/1
 > and the OS-9000 system to agree on what a "universal disk" is.  I
 > CAN get them both to read and write on a High density messydos
 > disk, so I use that for transfers.

 OS-9/68000 and OS9000 'universal formats' are not the same.  If I remember
 correctly, the main difference is where the FAT is placed.  Using 'os9copy'
 or 'os9dsave' located in the '/dd/CMDS/UNSUPPORTED' directory, you should
 be able to read OS-9/68000 universal format disks.  Otherwise, you're doing
 what most of us are doing - transferring via MSDOS disks or via the serial
 port.

 > 4. Graphics.  Anything available to get OS-9000 to speak to the
 > Trident 94xx VGA card in this beast?  I need a CGFX_VGA.L  lib
 > (grin).

 Well, I have G-WINDOWS for OS9000.  Have 2 drivers that should work with your
 card'.  These are generic drivers giving a resolution of 640x480x16.  I have
 additional drivers for specific cards (the Trident isn't included) providing
 resolutions up to 1200x1024x256.  With the  optional Developer's Pak, you
 have what you need to write software for gfx using G-WINDOWS.  Alternatively,
 you can purchase RAVE.  I don't think there is a driver for the Trident cards,
 but a skeleton driver is included you can fill in to make your own driver.

 Ed

There is 1 Reply.

#: 21021 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    25-Jun-95  21:56:26
Sb: #21020-#OS-9000 help
Fm: John R. Wainwright 72517,676
To: Ed Gresick 76576,3312 (X)

Ed,
 Thanks for the advice on the serial and printer ports.

Mine is the system that was sold at that Chicago Fest - I bought it from
another user.

 (Update) - I have managed to get both /T2 and /T4 drivers working, had to
remove all serial ports from the boot, and load ONLY the one I plan to use.  To
use the other one, I must reboot (sometimes twice) and start over.  DEINIZ and
UNLINK don't seem to remove enough of one to let the other work.

 Printer - I am beginning to suspect my cables.  When I put the "accelerator"
68340 board in the MM/1, I discovered that I had to switch to short shielded
cables for the printer - something kinda marginal in the timing with the faster
system. Maybe a similar problem (486 has a ribbon cable on the printer port).

 GWINDOWS sounds attractive.  I couldn't quite convince myself to buy it when
you made the offer for an MM/1 port, but the MM/1 already has graphics, the 486
with OS-9000 does not.

I am presently in "Father of the Bride" mode - not a lot of extra bucks for a
couple months, but I should recover by Fall.

Thanks again for the help. John Wainwright

There are 2 Replies.

#: 21031 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    28-Jun-95  05:22:59
Sb: #21021-OS-9000 help
Fm: Ed Gresick 76576,3312
To: John R. Wainwright 72517,676 (X)

 John,

 I had forgotten some of the problems I had when I went to a 'fast' 486.
 Originially, I used 25 and 33 MHz machines and didn't have any problems
 running OS9000 attributable to hardware.  When I went to my current hardware,
 a DX-2/66, I did have many problems.  (Unfortunately, I didn't document them.)
 MW suggested I remove all caching.  I did this and things worked properly.
 Started adding caching until problems cropped up.  Turned out I couldn't
 enable 'External Cache Memory'.  BOIS is AMI.  Since you're running at 100
 MHz, you may have a similar problem.

 > (Update) - I have managed to get both /T2 and /T4 drivers working, had to
 > remove all serial ports from the boot, and load ONLY the one I plan to use.
 > To use the other one, I must reboot (sometimes twice) and start over.
 > DEINIZ and UNLINK don't seem to remove enough of one to let the other work.

 I have t1 and t2 in my boot file and load t3 in the startup file.  I use
 t1 for a terminal, t2 is my mouse and t3 my internal modem.  I've had no
 conflicts between t1 and t3.  I haven't tried running a modem from t1, but
 I have run the modem (t3) from a terminal on t1.  I don't remember if I had
 problems putting t3 in the boot or I just didn't get around to making a new
 boot.

 I don't remember whether earlier version of OS9000 included them but version
 1.3 includes descriptors and a driver for the DigiTech Serial card.  These
 are in the PORTS/PC8 directory.  They use the higher irqs available on
 16 bit buses.  I haven't tried them yet, but it seems they may work as
 written or with a minor modification with modem cards that permit accessing
 these irqs.

 > Printer - I am beginning to suspect my cables.  When I put the "accelerator"
 > 68340 board in the MM/1, I discovered that I had to switch to short shielded
 > cables for the printer - something kinda marginal in the timing with the
 > faster system. Maybe a similar problem (486 has a ribbon cable on the
printer
 > port).

 Well, maybe.  But I think you said the printer worked properly under DOS and
 WINDOWS.  This suggests that the hardware is OK.  I'd suspect either the
 hardware's caching or the 'pcpll' driver.  I don't remember if I had problems
 with the earlier version of OS9000 but I don't with 1.3.  I go through about
 15 feet of cable and 2 printer switches (definitely not recommended).
 Several GFX programs I wrote work OK as does 'PSF'.  You mentioned (re
 serial ports) you had to remove the serial ports from the boot and load them.
 I load 'lpt2' and 'pcpll' from the startup file.  Don't remember why.
 (Sometimes I do things the 'easiest' way and don't get around to doing them
 'properly'.)

 > I am presently in "Father of the Bride" mode - not a lot of extra bucks for
 > a couple months, but I should recover by Fall.

 Congratulations!  Didn't you know in this mode you are supposed to have
 bottomless pockets <g>?  E-mail me your mailing address and I'll send you
 a demo copy of G-WINDOWS.

 Ed Gresick - DELMAR CO

#: 21035 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    28-Jun-95  21:51:52
Sb: #21021-OS-9000 help
Fm: David Breeding 72330,2051
To: John R. Wainwright 72517,676 (X)

 > GWINDOWS sounds attractive.  I couldn't quite convince myself to buy it
 > when you made the offer for an MM/1 port, but the MM/1 already has
 > graphics, the 486 with OS-9000 does not.

John, I would like to put in a plug for GWINDOWS.  I got it with my system when
I bought it from Ed.  I am totally impressed.  It has features that I still
cannot believe.  Of course, with everything, I can compose a little wish list
for it, but basically, I don't think I could live without it now.

It did take me a little time to get over the jet lag from coming over from the
coco.  I liked a lot of its features.  Not being able to just jump from one
screen to another took a little getting used to, but now, everything seems
quite natural.

One small feature that I am really endeared to is its cut and copy feature. It
seems to have 1000 uses.  One thing I have done with it, although my need for
it is my fault, is that I have dialed up a BBS which uses hard-to-remember
passwords.  Rather than use file transfers or whatnot, I can just list it to a
screen, cut, and double-click on the telecom window and transmit it that way.
You can even send a small file this way.  I know this particular usage is not
necessary, as there are other ways, but I just use this to demonstrate what
_can_ be done.

When you can see your way clear, I would definitely go for it.

                         -- David Breeding --
       CompuServe : 72330,2051             Delphi :  DBREEDING
    *** Composed with InfoXpress/OSK Vr. 1.02 & VED Vr. 2.4.0  ***

#: 21022 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    25-Jun-95  22:34:37
Sb: MM/1 System for Sale
Fm: Ernest Withers Jr. 71545,1117
To: ALL

For Sale:       Complete MM/1 System, S/N 120848 with IMS manuals
        Includes:       IMS Slimline case & power supply
                        I/O board
                        OS-9/68000 v2.4 with Microware manuals
                        3 megabytes RAM
                        4 serial ports (/t0, /t1, /t2, & /t3)
                        2 parallel ports (/p & /p1)
                        2 1.4MB floppy drives
                        105 MB Quantum hard drive
                        101 key XT/AT switchable keyboard
                        Logitech 3 button Series 9 serial mouse
                        Magnavox 8CM515 color monitor
                        MM/1 Technical Manual

        Software:               FHL's FBU & FRS backup/restore software
        (Includes original      FHL's DynaStar & DynaForm for 68000
          disk & manual)        BGFX
                                Fontasee font editor
                                WriteRight word processor
                                Speedisk disk defragmenter
                                Ved, Vprint, & Vmail
                                EthaGUI
                                Desktop
                                TasCOM
                                ColorSystems Game Pack
                                Lots of public domain software

Asking $700.00 for the complete system. I will bring this system to the Atlanta
'Fest if anyone is seriously interested.

If interested, leave E-Mail.

Ernest Withers   CIS: 71545,1117      Delphi: ERNIEWITHERS

Press <CR> !>