

#: 3423 S10/Tandy CoCo
    11-May-90  22:33:04
Sb: #3403-#CoCo List
Fm: Steve Wegert 76703,4255
To: Randy Wilson 71561,756 (X)

Randy, I see you've spotted the typo with puuc vs pucc. That should fix you
right up.

Steve

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3436 S10/Tandy CoCo
    12-May-90  20:11:02
Sb: #3423-#CoCo List
Fm: Randy Wilson 71561,756
To: Steve Wegert 76703,4255 (X)


Steve,

   Yah, it's dibbling in, now. Looks like it took about twelve hours to get
setup once I got the right address.

   Any comment on leaving my mailbox unattended with the list enabled?

Randy

There are 2 Replies.

#: 3438 S10/Tandy CoCo
    12-May-90  20:18:43
Sb: #3436-#CoCo List
Fm: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227
To: Randy Wilson 71561,756 (X)

Randy - if I'm going to be gone for more than a couple of days, I always resign
from the list, and sign back up when i return. But I'd ask the list about it,
as they may have implemented some form of protection lately. Maybe not.
Sometimes there are 20 msgs a day, and since your mailbox can only hold 50, two
days or so unattended will cause problems.

I have a thought tho. Maybe someone could AR up each week's mail and post it
here? Maybe two files, swapped every other week, or something. Hafta think
about it.

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3483 S10/Tandy CoCo
    14-May-90  08:54:30
Sb: #3438-#CoCo List
Fm: Bill Dickhaus 70325,523
To: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227 (X)

Kevin,

One other option is to request the latest weekly message archive file from the
list. Mosts lists maintain files, on a weekly basis, of all messages posted to
the list. It means you'd be a week or so behind, and requires sending a request
for the file each week, but would cut down on the number of messages. Now that
the CompuServe Mail file size limit is fairly large (not sure of exactly how
big) a weeks worth of messages shouldn't go past any file size limitations.

Bill

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3486 S10/Tandy CoCo
    14-May-90  09:51:52
Sb: #3483-CoCo List
Fm: Steve Wegert 76703,4255
To: Bill Dickhaus 70325,523 (X)

Bill,

50 is the magic number of messages the Mailbox will hold before barfing. And
that's 50 messages regardless of size (so long as yu don't exceed the size
limits of 50K on ASCII or 512K on binaries).

Kind of neat thinking you can have 50 512K binary files waiting for you when
you log in! :-)

Steve

#: 3455 S10/Tandy CoCo
    13-May-90  12:07:47
Sb: #3436-CoCo List
Fm: Steve Wegert 76703,4255
To: Randy Wilson 71561,756 (X)

 > Any comment on leaving my mailbox unattended ...

Yeah .... don't. :-)

You'll risk the wrath of the list. The traffic has, at times, been heavy enough
that a CIS mailbox will fill to overflowing in about 2 days. At that point,
mail will start to bounce back to the list ... and to every other members's
mailbox. Not something you'd want your name associated with.

If you're gonna be unable to check in at least every other day, I'd
unsubscribe. You can pick up what you've missed (if you like) from the
archives.

Steve

#: 3424 S10/Tandy CoCo
    11-May-90  22:34:54
Sb: #3409-#CoCo List
Fm: Steve Wegert 76703,4255
To: Zack Sessions 76407,1524 (X)

HEY ZACK!

Whacha shouting for? :-)


I took a peek at the file looking for occurances of puuc and came up empty.
There was a typo of this type when I first uploaded the file but that was fixed
long ago (mod date on the file tells me in January).

Can you point me to a line?

Steve

There are 2 Replies.

#: 3428 S10/Tandy CoCo
    12-May-90  09:19:51
Sb: #3424-#CoCo List
Fm: Zack Sessions 76407,1524
To: Steve Wegert 76703,4255 (X)

Apparently the person with the problem downloaded the file prior to it being
fixed? I had heard of others with the same problem, so I thought the file may
not have been fixed yet. Sorry for the shout. ;-)

Zack

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3430 S10/Tandy CoCo
    12-May-90  10:58:35
Sb: #3428-#CoCo List
Fm: Steve Wegert 76703,4255
To: Zack Sessions 76407,1524 (X)

Just razzin' you a bit, Zack .... most likely you're correct in that he had an
old copy of the file.

Steve

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3458 S10/Tandy CoCo
    13-May-90  13:24:32
Sb: #3430-CoCo List
Fm: Zack Sessions 76407,1524
To: Steve Wegert 76703,4255 (X)

I gotcha, Steve! <grin>

#: 3437 S10/Tandy CoCo
    12-May-90  20:11:19
Sb: #3424-#CoCo List
Fm: Randy Wilson 71561,756
To: Steve Wegert 76703,4255 (X)


Steve,

   Last mod date on my cclist.txt file is 89/12/29. Guess I got the old copy.

Randy

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3456 S10/Tandy CoCo
    13-May-90  12:08:25
Sb: #3437-CoCo List
Fm: Steve Wegert 76703,4255
To: Randy Wilson 71561,756 (X)

Ahh .. that explains the mystery, Randy. Sorry 'bout the confusion.

Steve

#: 3425 S10/Tandy CoCo
    12-May-90  07:21:18
Sb: #3421-C arrays
Fm: Bruce MacKenzie 71725,376
To: Zack Sessions 76407,1524 (X)

OK, I got it Zack.  Thanks.

#: 3530 S10/Tandy CoCo
    16-May-90  18:07:35
Sb: #3419-C arrays
Fm: Bruce MacKenzie 71725,376
To: Bruce MacKenzie 71725,376 (X)

Last call for cgfx.l erratia to be included in the LIB file.  cf. messages 3419
and 3421.

#: 3426 S10/Tandy CoCo
    12-May-90  08:26:16
Sb: #3407-C arrays
Fm: Bill Dickhaus 70325,523
To: Bruce MacKenzie 71725,376 (X)

Wow! And I thought what I wanted to do was complicated! Now I feel better, but
even more confused than I was before.

Bill

#: 3427 S7/Telecommunications
    12-May-90  08:26:21
Sb: #3406-Modem problems
Fm: Bill Dickhaus 70325,523
To: LUTE MULLENIX 70721,2230 (X)

Lute,

I can't really recommend any one particular modem. My experience has been with
a very inexpensive 2400 modem (Supra) that works, but is a little flakey, and
with one of the older US Robotics Courier modems that is rock solid (but was
almost $400). Bruce is right, though, avoid the really cheap ones, so plan to
spend at least $150. DO NOT buy the US Robotics modem that is around $150, I
have had nothing but trouble with two different versions of that model at work.
Also Hayes modems seem to be overpriced.

Bill




#: 3429 S7/Telecommunications
    12-May-90  10:26:24
Sb: #S-Term file loss
Fm: Paul Rinear 73757,1413
To: Anyone

   I could swear that sometimes while using S-Term I lose my capture file.
Usually I open /r0/name with the esc-C command. I close it before exiting
S-Term. After exiting S-Term, sometimes it isn't there. Thought I might see if
anyone else has this happen.
          Paul

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3431 S7/Telecommunications
    12-May-90  11:01:18
Sb: #3429-#S-Term file loss
Fm: Steve Wegert 76703,4255
To: Paul Rinear 73757,1413 (X)

Paul,

The capture feature of STERM has been rock soild for me for years.

Is it possible that you're miss-keying the path name and the file is actually
ending up somewhere else? I've had that hhappen to me more times than I care to
admit ;-)

Steve



There is 1 Reply.

#: 3461 S7/Telecommunications
    13-May-90  15:07:49
Sb: #3431-S-Term file loss
Fm: Paul Rinear 73757,1413
To: Steve Wegert 76703,4255 (X)

    You're right. After being very careful about closing the file each time the
problem went away. There is also that phantom /ro typo.
     Paul

#: 3432 S11/Non-CoCo OS-9
    12-May-90  11:13:01
Sb: SS-50 Ram Boards
Fm: Ken Drexler 75126,3427
To: Pete Lyall, 76703,4230 (X)

Pete,

I tried to call Computer Excellence as you suggested.  It appears they are out
of business.  Their phone number is now a residence and information has no
listing for them.  I guess I will have to look for SS-50 ram boards elsewhere.

Ken

#: 3433 S15/Hot Topics
    12-May-90  16:02:27
Sb: #3393-#OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004
To: Dan Robins 73007,2473 (X)

Dan,

Well, the best response here is no response. I WILL say that UniFlex is
interested and that we talk.

Kenneth-Leigh Enterprises and Interactive Media Systems have spent tens of
thousands of dollars already. We will spend half a million before the year is
out. That means that our choice of the operating system depends on two factors:
timing, and what our markets need. UniFlex is EXTREMELY UNIX-like, even more so
than OS-9. THis is sure to win over our education market, although OS9 could be
made to work nicely, too. Also, UniFlex is real-time, making it logical for the
data acquisition folks.

Of course, I want OS-9 on the MM/1, too. But timing and the market drive us.
We'll use a system that makes sense for the market, and work with the company
that makes sense to us.

BTW, you didn't mention that Minix may soon be available on the MM/1? Not that
>I< want to be starting rumors!


<grin>

Paul

There are 2 Replies.

#: 3434 S15/Hot Topics
    12-May-90  16:41:35
Sb: #3433-#OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004 (X)

Dan,

Part of that message got garbled -- strangeness at CIS!  What was not printed
was: OS-9 could also do extremely well in the education market, although I
think it would be a somewhat harder sell. Also, with UniFlex being real-time,
the data acquisition folks that we have targeted could do their work nicely.

Over the years, UniFLex has kept up with changes in Unix, even to the point
that they are FIPS (Federal Processing Standard) compatible and have NFS and so
on. Very nice.

Still, Microware seems to be getting some good stuff over, too.

I don't want to give anyone the impression that Microware is being excluded.
Just that we are committing ourselves to the OS vendor that commits to us -and
we have a good relationship with Microware and UniFlex.

Paul

There are 3 Replies.

#: 3440 S15/Hot Topics
    12-May-90  23:34:18
Sb: #3434-#OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: John Dickey 76537,2631
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004 (X)

Paul, Two quick things... One, Have not yet received any info (other than here
on the sig) of the MM/1 from KLE. Address to send to is...
  John Dickey Jr.
  Susquehanna QBS
  325 N. Pine St.
  Lancaster, PA 17603

Two, The MM/1 without OS9 would hold no interest to us at Susquehanna... Maybe
I'm coming into this conversation at mid-point but the gist of what I'm reading
sure isn't re-assuring.  Understand market, etc. but I thought that since
Phillips (et al) had [chosen?] OS9 that the machine you were bringing out would
have it as the OS?  Would appreciate any comment you would have that would
straighten out any mis-understanding on my part. Thanks for your time and in
getting out a brochure/info on the MM/1 to us.
  John

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3443 S15/Hot Topics
    13-May-90  06:10:01
Sb: #3440-#OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004
To: John Dickey 76537,2631 (X)

John,

Thanks for the address -- I'll need to check to see if you were on the list for
the second mailing (going out this week). The first mailing went out around the
Fest (over 800 pieces) and this one is at least as big. We've had a really
tough time keeping up with the demand.

About OS-9 on the MM/1 -- by no means are we excluding it.

Remember what happened to us with Tandy -- we were dealing with a company that
seemed mute.

Microware and UniFLex (one more than the other) have been communicating with us
well, making us hopeful that if one or both operating systems is included we as
a community will have a forthcoming and involved OS vendor to by (oops, "be") a
partner.

Does that make sense to you?

Paul

There are 2 Replies.

#: 3449 S15/Hot Topics
    13-May-90  10:34:30
Sb: #3443-#OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Colin Smith 73777,1360
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004 (X)

I HATE Unix!

[Just an opinion]

BTW Paul, is there any chance of a CHEAP high level programming language being
made available (i.e. BASIC09 for $25?).

And one more thing.  How soon before you will start announcing prices, software
support, etc?  The suspense is killing me.

   -Colin



There are 2 Replies.

#: 3460 S15/Hot Topics
    13-May-90  14:49:00
Sb: #3449-#OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Steve Sampson N5OWK 75136,626
To: Colin Smith 73777,1360 (X)

Then you'll hate OS-9 - it's billed as Unix-Like.  :-)  Cheap and 68K parts are
two words that don't go together.  If you want a cheap basic, go buy an used
Apple II+...  :-)

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3550 S15/Hot Topics
    17-May-90  00:34:51
Sb: #3460-#OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Colin Smith 73777,1360
To: Steve Sampson N5OWK 75136,626 (X)

No, I actually like OS-9.  I just hate UNIX.  What are the differences? How
about DEL vs RM, DIR vs LS, LIST vs CAT etc...

   --Colin  KB5BSH



There is 1 Reply.

#: 3557 S15/Hot Topics
    17-May-90  16:07:27
Sb: #3550-OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Zack Sessions 76407,1524
To: Colin Smith 73777,1360

(not standing up for UN*X, mind you, I'm a VMS person at work, and an OS9er at
home, but) UN*X does have an alias command so you can make your user interface
to be anything you like. And UN*X does emply command line parameters and
switches just like OS9 does. First thing I did when we got an Ultrix (DEC's
flavor of UNIX) box was to go set up personal aliass for all the common
commands to be like VMS!

Zack

Oh, Tim Koonce ported alias to OS9, so if you DO like UNIX, you can make your
CoCo seem like it is running UNIX and not OS9!

#: 3507 S15/Hot Topics
    15-May-90  10:00:32
Sb: #3449-#OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004
To: Colin Smith 73777,1360 (X)

Colin,

The current plan is to include a high level language in the base case system,
and to include ANOTHER high level language in the second board package, making
a full system come with TWO languages.

Plus, we will be selling a language currently selling extremely well on MS-DOS
machines.

Pricing?  Will let you know the REAL price in about a month. We have found that
certain items are costing less, others more.

We want to find a price that gives you guys a break but also allows us to hire
FULL TIME PROGRAMMERS to crank out cool stuff.

Incidentally, we already have several people from Atari, Amiga, and PC domains
itching to get a system.

Looks like the application support, esp. on the multimedia side, will be
outrageous.

I hate UNIX too, because it has made itself inconsistent and quirky at the
Shell level which is where I spend most of my time. I am sorry, but I like the
OS-9 convention of keeping executables together, instead of littering them all
about. I mean, why have /usr, /bin, /misc, and so on?

But I'm just being a stick in the mud. UNIX will be on five times as many
desktops in two years as it is now. And if you look into Personal Computing
Magazine this month, you'll see that MS-DOS is going LOSE about 20% market
share.

Looks like Tandy dropped the CoCo just in time to devote itself entirely to a
fading market! <grin>

Paul

There are 3 Replies.

#: 3533 S15/Hot Topics
    16-May-90  18:45:05
Sb: #3507-OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Jim Williams 72157,3524
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004

What about Rexx? I'm not familiar (yet) with OS/9, but I think it'd be A Very,
Very, Good Thing to have an implementation of Rexx available for the MM/1
(maybe talk with William Hawes?). It's a fairly high-level language, and since
the MM/1 _is_ multiuser and multitasking, having it on the machine from the
git-go would give yet another slight 'edge' (plus, there are a lot of ARexx
scripts out there already that I'm sure could be adapted quickly and easily.)
You said something about hiring FULL TIME PROGRAMMERS to crank out cool
stuff... I'd be interested in seeing a list of what you have 3rd parties
already working on (like paint programs, animation prorams, etc), and another
list of what applications you'd need full time prorammers for rather than
farming it out (85% curiosity :).
                                            --Eet--
                                          (An Itchy Amiga Person :)

#: 3544 S15/Hot Topics
    16-May-90  22:21:20
Sb: #3507-OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004

Paul, I hope that "popular MSDOS language" is not Pascal -- I'd hate to pay one
extra penny for my 2nd board to get that crippled dinosaur. Just send my Pascal
diskette blank, save me the trouble of reformatting it.  All I want is C, and
maybe Basic for "shell scripts." UNIX has very powerful Shell programming
language, but I hope I never figure out how to use it.  At work we have
25-year-old clerks to devote their lives to its arcane syntax.  "Inconsistent"
is being very nice of you. --mike k

#: 3551 S15/Hot Topics
    17-May-90  00:37:17
Sb: #3507-OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Colin Smith 73777,1360
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004

Awww, too bad for Tandy.  Anyway, I need the rest of the summer to save up some
more dough.  I hope you're happy; you're going to take all my money!!

  -Colin



#: 3471 S15/Hot Topics
    13-May-90  21:08:14
Sb: #3443-OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: John Dickey 76537,2631
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004 (X)

Paul, Thanks for the quick reply.  It makes a lot of sense to me, and seeing
the qualification puts my mind at ease. Thanks for the reply and in advance for
the info on the MM1.  Looking forward to seeing it.
 John

#: 3499 S15/Hot Topics
    14-May-90  21:56:17
Sb: #3434-#OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004 (X)

Is UniFlex any better at real-time work than OSK? Microware has always praised
OS9/K for its realtime response. BTW, I recall UniFlex being around back in the
6809 days -- oops, I mean around the time OS9 was pushing out Flex, about 1983.
This is the first I've heard of UniFlex since way back then. And we thought
Microware was hiding under a bushel...mike k

There are 2 Replies.

#: 3504 S15/Hot Topics
    15-May-90  00:10:09
Sb: #3499-#OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Steve Sampson N5OWK 75136,626
To: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111 (X)

Not better, but designed differently.  RT OSK designs can be put together
without a disk, while UniFlex needs a Hard Disk.  It swaps processes to memory
and/or the hard disk.  OSK just uses RAM and doesn't swap.  This can be a plus
in many applications.  My old UniFlex always swaps.  Even if I have enough
memory.  It's basically just running procs in a 512Kb max space, and using the
rest of memory (1.5meg) as the swap device (software memory management). 
Equipped with a 68030 you can run virtual memory and forget all that garbage. 
I want to port Minix to mine and get basically the system that OSK uses - out
of memory? tough!  The C compiler/Assembler are very good on the UniFlex
machine.  I documented a couple of bugs, but they are easy to work around.  One
feature it says I'm supposed to have is a Unix switch on the C compiler.  As it
is UniFlex uses a CR rather than a LF, and that messes alot of stuff up.  The
switch doesn't work though (the required library is probably an option $$). 
The other thing I hate is that it uses a '+' for command line options, rather
than a '-' like normal.  This causes you to have to use the shift key to get
at.  It's probably cheaper to buy a 386 with 'real' Unix than get UniFlex
software by itself.  It's very expensive with the RT and Virtual Mem options. 
Unless they had a big price reduction.

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3537 S15/Hot Topics
    16-May-90  22:01:04
Sb: #3504-OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111
To: Steve Sampson N5OWK 75136,626 (X)

Very interesting.  Sounds like UNIX warmed over, same good and bad points.
Except it's like OSK, not UNIX, in using CR instead of LF. As to price, Paul is
hinting that UniFlex may be making a good deal, in order to get their product
into t he spotlight maybe. I hadn't heard of UniFlex since 1983!  Thanks for
the info.

#: 3510 S15/Hot Topics
    15-May-90  10:14:23
Sb: #3499-#OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004
To: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111 (X)

Mike,

TSC changed its name to UniFlex fairly recently. They actually sell pretty well
nowadays, and their real-time response is quite good, certainly adequate for
our targets.

Flex was the OS that Tandy was considering along with OS-9 for the 6809.

Flex lost out because they were -- at that time -- unwilling to do the port to
the Color Computer.  I guess they learn lessons!

BTW, I am still big on Microware. They are busy because they have a very fine
product.

And I am negotiating (on the side) a deal with a DC beltway bandit to sell LOTS
of copies of OS-9 and OS-9000 in a telemetry system that integrates an AMD29K,
68030,a dn 80386!

Weird setup, but each chip is actually being used for what it does best.

Paul

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3540 S15/Hot Topics
    16-May-90  22:11:51
Sb: #3510-OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004

Glad to hear Microware is still in the running, whew! So Flex and Uniflex are
from the same outfit.  Ya know Frank Hogg used to be a big Flex dealer, and
phased over to OS9. Nice to know some beltway bandit got a '386 to do something
besides spreadsheets, or whatever PClones are used for, grin.

#: 3555 S15/Hot Topics
    17-May-90  10:29:36
Sb: #3434-OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Mark Wuest 74030,332
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004

As a user/developer of os/9 communications software that runs on VME slaves,
let me vote for an o.s. that does not require an attached mass storage device.
If you require that (as people here have said UniFlex does), you lock yourself
out of imbedded systems where a *lot* of the data acquisition work is done.
FWIW.
 Mark Wuest

#: 3446 S15/Hot Topics
    13-May-90  09:25:43
Sb: #3433-#OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Dan Robins 73007,2473
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004 (X)

Paul,
  Thanks for the update. Minix, eh?
  Oh...btw...keep us updated!

  Dan

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3448 S15/Hot Topics
    13-May-90  10:14:22
Sb: #3446-OS9 A/O Uniflex???
Fm: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004
To: Dan Robins 73007,2473 (X)

Dan,

No problem.

You might want to look at all the official literature coming out of
Kenneth-Leigh Enterprises -- notice that there is no mention of OS-9!

That's not to say (once again) that we won't HAVE OS-9 -- just that the OS
that's bundled with the system will be determined by timing and by what the
market needs (low cost, powerful multitasking, UNIX-style).

And, once again, we have good relations with the OS vendors mentioned.

Paul

#: 3435 S10/Tandy CoCo
    12-May-90  16:44:28
Sb: #3395-#Pictures Needed
Fm: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004
To: Dale L. Puckett 71446,736 (X)

Dale,

There are two customers of mine that use CoCos in unique applications. One
customer works at an internationally famous PR firm, where he uses the CoCo on
a TV monitor so that his Big BUck clients can keep track of which audio/video
studio is being used at what time.

The other client uses the CoCo 3 and Basic09 to produce printing quotes very
rapidly. He keeps a competitive edge with prices and with quick repsonses.

I'll see if I can get them to send photos!

Paul

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3552 S10/Tandy CoCo
    17-May-90  01:03:35
Sb: #3435-Pictures Needed
Fm: Dale L. Puckett 71446,736
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004

Paul,

Thanks,  How about the names and phone numbers.  Any chance?  Sounds worth a
mention.  Dale


#: 3439 S10/Tandy CoCo
    12-May-90  22:13:08
Sb: #RS-DOS Shell
Fm: Joseph Cheek 76264,142
To: all

Has anyone written an RS-DOS shell (RS-DOS, the file-system transfer program,
not the operating system)?  If not, I am planning on writing one. Thanx.

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3447 S10/Tandy CoCo
    13-May-90  09:28:26
Sb: #3439-#RS-DOS Shell
Fm: Dan Robins 73007,2473
To: Joseph Cheek 76264,142 (X)

Joseph,
   Check out the program RSDOS.AR in Lib 10. It runs under OS9, and will
transfer back and forth, files between OS9 and RS-DOS files.
   Dan

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3487 S10/Tandy CoCo
    14-May-90  16:23:21
Sb: #3447-RS-DOS Shell
Fm: Joseph Cheek 76264,142
To: Dan Robins 73007,2473 (X)

No, no, no, I already have RSDOS.  What I am talking about is a SHELL... ie, a
friendly little GUI shell that does all the dirty work for you... you know,
click on a few icons, input a name or two, click on an OK button, and pop! you
see a directory of an RS-DOS disk, or transfer a file, etc.  That's what I
mean.  Looks like I'll write one.

#: 3441 S10/Tandy CoCo
    13-May-90  01:07:26
Sb: #c-array initialization
Fm: Bob van der Poel 76510,2203
To: all

Okay, time for my next "innocent 'C' question".

I would like to initialize an array of pointers so that each pointer points to
an array of values. For example, I can get the correct results by doing;

    char data[][3]={
       {1,2,3},
       {.....}

But this seems to be wasteful if the data are all constants. There is no need
for it to be transfered from the program area to the data area. I thought I
could do something like

    char *data[][4]={}

But of course, this sets up a double array of pointers. Not what I want. I
simply want a pointer to data[0][0], a second pointer to data[1][0], etc. Heck,
I'd even settle for a single dimensioned array with a pointer pointing to the
start of the whole mess. What I can't figure is how to define the data. It can
be done with strings...but what about values?



There is 1 Reply.

#: 3445 S10/Tandy CoCo
    13-May-90  09:25:03
Sb: #3441-#c-array initialization
Fm: Bruce MacKenzie 71725,376
To: Bob van der Poel 76510,2203 (X)

If I understand you correctly, what you're trying to do is set up a large look
up table of constants and you don't want to waste run time and/or memory by
setting it up in data memory.  One way to do this is to employ a stand alone
data module which you access via modlink().  This requires a separate program
to generate the memory module which you then merge with your object program.  I
uploaded a file, DATGEN.AR, to LIB 3 a few months back showing how this can be
done.  Have a look at this file and see if you can apply it to your problem.

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3505 S10/Tandy CoCo
    15-May-90  01:03:53
Sb: #3445-#c-array initialization
Fm: Bob van der Poel 76510,2203
To: Bruce MacKenzie 71725,376 (X)

Bruce,

Yes, you're right on in what I am trying to do. I had considered data modules
before, but with the richness of C it seemed that there had to a simpler way.
After all,

    char *foo="this is text"

does NOT force "this is a text" to the data area. All I need to do is to
substitute integer values for the string. But how?

BTW, I want to use this data to intialize some GET/PUT buffers. I guess another
way to do it would be to have the data in a file and send that to the buffers,
but having it all in the program makes things nice and clean. I got your datgen
file. I've not had a change to digest it yet, but it seems quite useful. You do
mention somewhere that data modules should be treated as ROM. Hmmm? I recall in
"The Rainbow OS9 ...." that they used data modules to store variable data.
Also, they can be used for interprocess communication. Don't really see why
not. Comments?

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3512 S10/Tandy CoCo
    15-May-90  17:56:15
Sb: #3505-#c-array initialization
Fm: Bruce MacKenzie 71725,376
To: Bob van der Poel 76510,2203 (X)

String literals are the only type of data that are left in the program area. I
believe the ANSI enhancement of C adds the specifier 'const' which would allow
other types of data to be handled in that way.  With standard C everything is
copied into the data area.

Reading the data in from a disk file has much to say for it.  If all you're
doing is plugging it once into GP buffers there's no reason to have a second
copy of the data in memory at all.  The down side is that you always have to
worry that the data file is where the program expects it to be. It is cleaner
to have it loaded in along with the program.  If you have enough memory left
over in your last 8K block of program memory for a data module then you don't
even waste any memory.

You can use a data module as variable memory as you described.  You just have
to be sure to update the module's CRC if you want OS9 to link to it again.  In
my opinion, however, this is bad practice since modifying a data module makes
the program non-reentrant.  Say a program modifies a data module and you then
go to another window and start the same program as a second process.  If the
first process didn't update the CRC, the second process can't link to the data
module.  If the CRC has been updated, the second process begins with a modified
data module rather than with it de-novo.  If both processes continue to modify
the data module to their own ends chaos can ensue.

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3513 S10/Tandy CoCo
    15-May-90  18:10:15
Sb: #3512-#c-array initialization
Fm: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227
To: Bruce MacKenzie 71725,376 (X)

Once a module has been loaded, the CRC isn't checked again. So the only time
you'd have to update the CRC would be just before saving out the data module
(or before loading it from disk again)... if such need arises.

Just wanted to throw that in, in case it changes your approach to using data
modules. - kev

There are 2 Replies.

#: 3514 S10/Tandy CoCo
    15-May-90  19:41:07
Sb: #3513-#c-array initialization
Fm: Bruce MacKenzie 71725,376
To: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227 (X)

Kevin,
     The CRC is checked if a program requests a link to the module as with a C
modlink() call.  This would occur if a second incarnation of the program were
started up as a new process.

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3519 S10/Tandy CoCo
    15-May-90  20:53:52
Sb: #3514-c-array initialization
Fm: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227
To: Bruce MacKenzie 71725,376 (X)

Really? Modlink() checks a module's CRC? I wonder why. Sure about that?
 curious - kev

#: 3515 S10/Tandy CoCo
    15-May-90  20:18:15
Sb: #3513-#c-array initialization
Fm: Bruce MacKenzie 71725,376
To: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227 (X)

Woops, I take that back.  I checked it out and you're right, OS9 will link to a
module with a bad CRC.  You learn something new every day.

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3520 S10/Tandy CoCo
    15-May-90  20:55:49
Sb: #3515-c-array initialization
Fm: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227
To: Bruce MacKenzie 71725,376 (X)

Ooops. Okay, disregard my last question <grin>, too. Once a module is in
memory, os9 (and everyone else) assumes it must be good. CRC checks take a long
time, and the main reason for preloading is for speed. Glad to hear modlink()
doesn't recheck! thx - kev

#: 3442 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    13-May-90  03:18:22
Sb: #os-9 computers
Fm: William Macaulay 75340,2356
To: [F] All


I am looking for a machine that uses the OS-9 operating system. My major
application is robotic control therefore a fairly powerful machine (68000,
68020, etc) would be needed to keep up with the computational demand What is
available -- off the shelf , and how much would such a system cost.

There are 4 Replies.

#: 3444 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    13-May-90  06:18:22
Sb: #3442-os-9 computers
Fm: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004
To: William Macaulay 75340,2356 (X)

William,

Right now, it seems you should go with a VME system. It's an industry standard
that has a wide variety of outstanding add-on cards.  If you cannot afford it,
and can roll your own stuff, you might try using the parallel port on an
Ultrascience PC add-on card.

These are 68000-based systems that fit in a PC.

Soon, my company is porting OSK to a 68030 board from Definicon that also fits
in a PC.

For other options, leave me email

Thanks.

Paul

#: 3452 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    13-May-90  11:36:51
Sb: #3442-os-9 computers
Fm: Jay Truesdale 72176,3565
To: William Macaulay 75340,2356 (X)

The VME stuff is awful expensive, I suggest that you check in to the G-64/96
bus systems available from Gespac in Mesa AZ.  They have a wide range of boards
allowing you to easily configure a system to your needs.  Call and ask for a
catalog and price sheet, last phone number I have for them is (602) 962-5559,
if this is incorrect use directory assistance I seem to remember them changing
numbers or moving?  Can't remember for sure.

I'd also suggest calling Microware and asking for a copy of their latest
hardware/software sourcebook which lists many OS-9 system vendors.



#: 3463 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    13-May-90  16:47:21
Sb: #3442-os-9 computers
Fm: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227
To: William Macaulay 75340,2356 (X)

Hi. Is this for personal experimentation, or an industrial application? Need it
be smaller than a breadbox? <grin> Obviously you'll need lots of I/O, also.

You've got a lot of choices, from VME to STD bus to small boards. What's your
preference? As someone else mentioned, be sure to also call Microware
(515-224-1929) and ask for their OS9 Source Book, which lists many vendors (but
by no means all). best - kev

#: 3506 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    15-May-90  05:44:18
Sb: #3442-os-9 computers
Fm: Ed Gresick 76576,3312
To: William Macaulay 75340,2356

William:

You might call Fred Brown at Peripheral Technology in Marietta, Ga. He offers a
68000 machine customized to your requirements.  Depending on your requirements,
price is probably in the range of 1700 to 2500 including pro OS-9.  His phone
number is 404-984-0742.  BTW, I understand he has sold many machines for
industrial applications.

Ed

#: 3450 S10/Tandy CoCo
    13-May-90  11:01:48
Sb: #3324-#New OS9 ?
Fm: TONY CAPPELLINI 76370,2104
To: Steve Wegert 76703,4255 (X)

Sounds good to me, but when can we expect this new re-write for LII ?




tony

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3457 S10/Tandy CoCo
    13-May-90  12:10:56
Sb: #3450-New OS9 ?
Fm: Steve Wegert 76703,4255
To: TONY CAPPELLINI 76370,2104

I've been wondering the same thing myself. At this time, we can only keep our
ear to the ground.

Steve

#: 3451 S10/Tandy CoCo
    13-May-90  11:19:03
Sb: #3335-#Fastgraf / Bounce.ar
Fm: TONY CAPPELLINI 76370,2104
To: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227 (X)

Hi kevin,

No, I'm not using the level 1 basic09, I didn't start using os-9 until LII came
along. But I still can appreciate all the work that you and the others have put
in to make os-9 a better environment. I can't imagine what using os-9 without
windows (/term only, and 32 characters at that) would be like. Talk about an
upgrade ! If I don't think I am running out of memory because when I installed
it on my friends' system, we started it up just like the  .doc file said to.
The only  difference between our systems )as far as I can remember) is that I
have a Disto 512k ramdisk and clock and printer card. My friend is using a B&B
host adapter and cllock. I also have the (original lock up prone) B&B host
adapter. Down on the software level, that means I have a different desciptor
and drive for my printer and clock, but I really don't think that has anything
to do with my problem. My system has had a number of wierd unexplainable
problems that fade in and out. I tried resolving them to a software problem
because it only happened under os9. But one problem finally showed up under
rsdos. Anyway I am in the process of re-flowing all the solder joints on that
cc3. I bought a new one last week since they were on sale foe $129 (still too
high), and Tandy said they would be dropping the cocos. This one doesn't have
the sparklie problem !

Speeking of the sparklie problem, when you install the disto 1 meg board, do
you actually get more SYSTEM memory as well. Several times I have run out of
memory, but by using smap pmap and some other programs, it looked as I was out
of system space, not user memory. Do the patches to os9 for the upgrade take
care of this ?


By the way, when can we expect to see the new os9 for the coco 3 ????


See ya soon.

TC



There is 1 Reply.

#: 3464 S10/Tandy CoCo
    13-May-90  16:50:30
Sb: #3451-Fastgraf / Bounce.ar
Fm: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227
To: TONY CAPPELLINI 76370,2104

Nope, nothing cures the out of system-space problem. We're off-and-on looking
into moving more of the drivers/etc into other maps, the way grfdrv is now.
That's about all that can be done. Hmmm... well, and/or moving process
descriptors into other maps, which it's rumored someone did on his L-II system
years back. Never knew who that was, tho.

#: 3453 S15/Hot Topics
    13-May-90  11:44:55
Sb: #3053-#That Darn Computer!
Fm: TONY CAPPELLINI 76370,2104
To: Colin Smith 73777,1360 (X)

Paul

I received the flyer from your group regarding the new computer, it seemed to
me that it wasn't a finalized design, but a wish list. Also there was not any
price or availability mentioned. I also have just received a flyer from the
competition on their  new intro to the os-9 market, the TC9. Now they have
described how expandable it it is and how you could add a 68 this and a 16 MHZ
that. But they did list a price for the TC9 at $299. But I could did not really
say what ALL was on the board. Are we paying $299 for a coco3 ? with a KBUS
connector with a Parallel port and 2 serial ports or what? Regardless, I am
exited that there ARE TWO logical upgrades for the coco3 (I hope Tandy
regretthere decision) and am anticipating more news for both of them. I wish
both parties the best of luck, but frankly the fact that I can plug my coco3
into the os gateway really sways my checkbook heavily (oops). By the way the
worEWAY has been used in IBM mainframe environments as a pseudo windowing
system into different machines / processes. I have a friend who writes
automation software for big blue machines. He  has 3 coco hd systems in his
computer room next to his terminal, where he can dial into work and fix the
problems from home. Well one day he showed me this Gateway that they were using
which allowed him to cut and paste system messages from one process to another
(via Windows) on a TERMINAL !!!!!. It actually has more features, but I can't
remember them. Just wanted to make you aware of the Gateway name, to avoid
possible legal conflicts.

Actually, I like the name OS Gateway. It reminds me of the movie ...........
Millenium.

One thing that I am really interested in is the stereo 8 bit bort for sound
playing and sampling. I have been using Studio Works under rsdos which takes 5
or 6 bit samples (user selectable) through the joystick port. They have also
announced an 8 bit A/D cartridge and new software coming out very soon. Now if
I could only do that under os9. Looks like I can, it's just a matter of time.
Can't wait.


When will your machine be available ?????????????????



There is 1 Reply.

#: 3465 S15/Hot Topics
    13-May-90  16:52:44
Sb: #3453-#That Darn Computer!
Fm: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227
To: TONY CAPPELLINI 76370,2104

Ha! That reminds me... some of the Amiga guys have decided that Millenium is
the perfect name for the MM/1. Paul, take notice!

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3531 S15/Hot Topics
    16-May-90  18:35:44
Sb: #3465-#That Darn Computer!
Fm: Jim Williams 72157,3524
To: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227 (X)

Glad you remembered, Kevin. Here, capture this message and show it to Paul...

"Millenium is the perfect name for the MM/1"
                                       signed,
                                              An Amiga Gui

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3535 S15/Hot Topics
    16-May-90  21:23:42
Sb: #3531-That Darn Computer!
Fm: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227
To: Jim Williams 72157,3524 (X)

Hehe. Done and done. Thanks!

#: 3497 S15/Hot Topics
    14-May-90  21:43:12
Sb: #3371-#That Darn Computer!
Fm: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004 (X)

Thanks for the info.  Who makes up these names anyway :-) Wonder if the libe
includes parse routines and sysex stuff? I already have the basics.  Thanks,
mike k

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3509 S15/Hot Topics
    15-May-90  10:10:23
Sb: #3497-#That Darn Computer!
Fm: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004
To: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111 (X)

I have no clue what the libs contain. Even if I had them in hand, I think C
code looks like someone dropped hairpins on a page of strange Ethiopian poetry.

Although I HAVE successfully written a couple of small C programs, and have the
hang of the compiler options. Just thought I'd best get up to date.

Paul

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3539 S15/Hot Topics
    16-May-90  22:08:20
Sb: #3509-That Darn Computer!
Fm: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004

Yes, C code can look pretty dense to the novice, especially highly "idiomatic"

C code.  Pascal, on the other hand, is structured COBOL -- for folks who like
to type a LOT of chars.  --mike k

#: 3454 S15/Hot Topics
    13-May-90  11:53:01
Sb: #2973-#That Darn Computer!
Fm: TONY CAPPELLINI 76370,2104
To: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111 (X)

Mike Isn't the amiga multi-user as well as multi-tasking, or is it just
multi-tasking ?

There are 2 Replies.

#: 3466 S15/Hot Topics
    13-May-90  16:57:27
Sb: #3454-That Darn Computer!
Fm: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227
To: TONY CAPPELLINI 76370,2104

While you can fire up a shell on the Amiga serial port, its OS doesn't
currently have record-locking or multiuser permissions. Thus apps which have
several users (say, a BBS or handling several Amigas for a database) usually
just lock out entire files or whole partitions of the hard disk, to prevent
problems.

So no, I wouldn't consider it multiuser, any more than you'd call a CoCo under
RSDOS with one of those remote serial port patches multiuser.

#: 3498 S15/Hot Topics
    14-May-90  21:44:54
Sb: #3454-#That Darn Computer!
Fm: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111
To: TONY CAPPELLINI 76370,2104

What I hear is that Amiga is NOT multi-user, which gives the MM1 an advantage
-- let your wife do word-crunching on your machine from another room.  Too bad
we didn't buy those CRT terminals at the last 'Fest, grin.

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3532 S15/Hot Topics
    16-May-90  18:37:37
Sb: #3498-#That Darn Computer!
Fm: Jim Williams 72157,3524
To: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111 (X)

A frightening and somewhat disgusting thought.... Get an Amiga 500 to act as a
remote terminal for the MM/1.              --Eet--

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3543 S15/Hot Topics
    16-May-90  22:16:31
Sb: #3532-#That Darn Computer!
Fm: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111
To: Jim Williams 72157,3524 (X)

You're logged into t he wrong group. You meant to say "funny as h*ll", right?
How about an MM1 serving as a Cluster Controller for a roomful of Amiga 500s? 
Just don't compare price tags -- maybe that's what's firghtening and
disgusting.  Lotsa grins on this one -- mike k.

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3545 S15/Hot Topics
    16-May-90  22:57:06
Sb: #3543-That Darn Computer!
Fm: Jim Williams 72157,3524
To: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111

Uhm.. a 500 system suitable to be used as a terminal would run about
$700-$800... (yeah, I meant 'funny as h*ll' :). Funny that some folks consider
the Amiga as 'expensive'... guess I'm too used to fighting with MacFolk.
--Eet--

#: 3496 S15/Hot Topics
    14-May-90  21:40:51
Sb: #3370-#That Darn Computer!
Fm: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004 (X)

Great that you're getting support. I just hope that none of the Amiga/ST houses
want to convert their MIDI software right away, if ya know what I mean. What,
me selfish...? Anyway, I've pretty well decided not ever to bother with a
Tomcat. --mike k

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3508 S15/Hot Topics
    15-May-90  10:08:20
Sb: #3496-#That Darn Computer!
Fm: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004
To: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111 (X)

Mike,

These Atari MIDI folks won't be on board too early, not until a "large enough"
(10,000 +) group of MM/1 owners have the optional MIDI port.

Looking at our stats, that might be a good 18 months. Then give 'em six to 12
months to write their stuff .. so you've got about two years before UltiMusE
will be in the Survival-Of-The-Fittest mode.

Yeah, I noticed on FHL's catalog that, once you buy the Tomcat board and a case
(cheapest one is $180 and I know for a fact you can buy it from Shopper at
$75), you then have to pay Frank $200 to put the thing together.

Now hackers will do the integration themselves, but if Frank thinks that the
hacker market is big enough to keep the CoCo ball rolling, he's got another
thing comin' ...

No, we want the MM/1 to be seen as a cool product for the software hacker, the
consumer, and LATER the hardware hacker.

I gues Frank is charging so much so that he won't get inundated with sales.
After all, he can only sell a few hundred computers before the GIME chip supply
is completely exhausted.

Not to sound down on the Tomcat. I regard Bobo Puppo highly. He is a gentleman
and a fine engineer.  I just think that the MM/1 is the right approach to keep
us together as a community.

But then again, I am prejudiced.

BTW, I am using Sterm on the MM/1 right now! Smooth, great colors on screen, a
real nice system.

Paul

There are 2 Replies.

#: 3518 S15/Hot Topics
    15-May-90  20:41:12
Sb: #3508-#That Darn Computer!
Fm: Steve Wegert 76703,4255
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004 (X)

Paul,

My flyer on the Tomcat arrived yesterday from Frank. Any sign of yours soon?

Steve

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3521 S15/Hot Topics
    15-May-90  21:27:24
Sb: #3518-#That Darn Computer!
Fm: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004
To: Steve Wegert 76703,4255 (X)

What?!! You haven't RECEIVED one!?

Let me see, here...

Gosh (embarrassed flush), no, I don't see you here on the database.

With thousands of responses to our ads to handle, you slipped through.

Sorry, Steve.

One is in the mail.

Paul

There are 3 Replies.

#: 3525 S15/Hot Topics
    16-May-90  06:42:34
Sb: #3521-That Darn Computer!
Fm: Dan Robins 73007,2473
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004

Well...Geez Paul....I haven't gotten one either! (Although I have seen one of
the beta units already...grin)....

Howzabout mailing one to: P.O. Box 1302, Fuquay-Varina, NC  27526 (and don't
ask me how the town is pronounced either....hehe)

Dan

#: 3536 S15/Hot Topics
    16-May-90  21:45:14
Sb: #3521-That Darn Computer!
Fm: Bob Wilkinson 72477,1037
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004

Please send info to me also at:
   P. O. Box 5038
   Anaheim, CA 92804

         Thanks,  Bob

#: 3553 S15/Hot Topics
    17-May-90  09:45:46
Sb: #3521-That Darn Computer!
Fm: Steve Wegert 76703,4255
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004

Thanks Paul. I really enjoyed our telephone conversation. Pick up the phone any
time.

Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

Steve

#: 3538 S15/Hot Topics
    16-May-90  22:06:29
Sb: #3508-That Darn Computer!
Fm: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111
To: Paul K. Ward 73477,2004

OK Paul.  Nice to know I have a little time, grin. Of course if you go UniFlex,
that will tee a lot of people off, I suspect. Tho we are now seeing some
discussions of its techinical merit versus OSK. Amazing how many people are
coming out of the woodwork that have used UniFlex.

Yes, Puppo's PC keyboard adapter is a really ingenious hack.  I use it all the
time now (can you tell by my typos!). Say, what machine's STerm did you start
from to get it to the MM1? I DL'ed the Coco version once, spent $30 doing it I
guess, but haven't tried it yet; I like OSTerm too much.  BUt I could use that
B+ protocol for DLs that aren't on Delphi.  --mike k

#: 3459 S10/Tandy CoCo
    13-May-90  14:33:03
Sb: #IRQ hack
Fm: LUTE MULLENIX 70721,2230
To: sysop (X)

Hi:

Where can I find the stuff on the IRQ patch for the RS232 pak? A friend wants
to get his working. His system is locking up under OS9.

     >Lute<

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3469 S10/Tandy CoCo
    13-May-90  20:50:51
Sb: #3459-IRQ hack
Fm: Steve Wegert 76703,4255
To: LUTE MULLENIX 70721,2230 (X)

Lute,

Take a look at the file IRQHAK.TXT in LIB 10. That should get you going.

Steve

#: 3462 S14/misc/info/Soapbox
    13-May-90  15:44:31
Sb: Multi-user OS9 BBS
Fm: Michael Wood 71631,340
To: all

I am considering purchasing a 68k system to run a multi-user BBS on. I would
like to know what multi-user BBS's are out there for OS9. If anyone can help me
I would appreciate it!

Send me E_MAIL with any suggestions.

Thanks! Mike Wood (71631,340)

#: 3467 S7/Telecommunications
    13-May-90  18:29:06
Sb: #Q-Mail
Fm: Paul Rinear 73757,1413
To: Anyone

      O.K.
          Anyone want to talk about a Q-mail reader for the Coco?
       Is one available or do we need one?  Suggestions....
               Paul

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3470 S7/Telecommunications
    13-May-90  20:51:57
Sb: #3467-#Q-Mail
Fm: Steve Wegert 76703,4255
To: Paul Rinear 73757,1413 (X)

Ok, I'll bite .... what's a Q-MAIL ?

Steve

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3489 S7/Telecommunications
    14-May-90  18:03:50
Sb: #3470-#Q-Mail
Fm: Paul Rinear 73757,1413
To: Steve Wegert 76703,4255 (X)

      I'm not sure either. Apparently it's becoming popular on PC based BBS's.
I was board bopping and called 201-334-2555 (Hacker's Central) in NJ. The board
hung up early on me and I immediately got this voice phone call- it was an
apology from the sysop. Anyway, we talked for awhile and he mentioned that if I
had a Q-mail reader I could scan the somewhat large message bases very quickly.
It seemed legit to me as I have run into 'Q-mail' on other boards. There was a
weird member application question on this board "Who is the manufacturer of
your CPU?" Since I said 'Motorola'I was asked what operating system I used. The
sysop (Mike) was apparently familiar with this and knew I had a COCO at this
point. Another thing weird is some of the boards I was calling supported 38K
baud over the standard phone lines. I didn't know that was possible.
      Anyway, if no-one here knows how Q-mail works, I will make an effort to
find out.
       Paul

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3529 S7/Telecommunications
    16-May-90  16:30:19
Sb: #3489-Q-Mail
Fm: J SILLIMAN 72355,1207
To: Paul Rinear 73757,1413 (X)

Q-Mail is a door that IBM boards can use to download messages and read/reply to
them offline.  This door is great for long distance callers.  It is very easy
to use, and is fairly fast... I know this because I have used it before... I am
sort of a mixed user


#: 3468 S10/Tandy CoCo
    13-May-90  20:30:02
Sb: #3376-One Meg Tuning
Fm: Robert DeBolt 76417,2225
To: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227 (X)

Kev,

Thanks for the info.  My friend soldered in a couple of 150s which
nets out to 46 ohms.  Haven't had any trouble since.  Except, max9
still crashes the system.

Bob


#: 3500 S10/Tandy CoCo
    14-May-90  22:07:55
Sb: #3376-One Meg Tuning
Fm: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111
To: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227 (X)

I think you get much better luck at 1 Meg when you use a newer-version GIME
chip.  I had already upgraded mine, and had no trouble at all with the 1 Meg. 
However, I left my Hemphill 512 board's 100-ohm resistor in parallel with R22,
rather than shorting it out as per the manual. Also I left the two little
capacitors in there too. Maybe what's good for your current 512K board is best
for the 1 Meg.

PS:  Users with jittery mouse curosrs should take care not to route the mouse
"tail" near the monitor.  Same goes for disk ribbon cables.

#: 3472 S3/Languages
    13-May-90  21:23:48
Sb: #F$Fork
Fm: GLEN HATHAWAY 71446,166
To: all

Hi all... Having a bit of a problem forking a child process. I'm writing a LF
stripper in assembler and want to fork Rename to rename the output file to the
original name of the file. It won't work and I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.
If you think you can give me a hand, let me know, and I'll upload it via EMail
to you. Thanks...

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3473 S3/Languages
    13-May-90  21:58:43
Sb: #3472-#F$Fork
Fm: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227
To: GLEN HATHAWAY 71446,166 (X)

Glen  - why don't you strip out the sections where you do the fork, and post it
here in a msg? (be sure to use the post/store unformatted (SU) option so the
lines don't get scrunched up).

One thing is: Y= the size of the parameters in BYTEs, not pages... and you
should probably end the parameter line in a space or CR to delimit the filename
you're renaming. What kind of error do you get?

There are 2 Replies.

#: 3475 S3/Languages
    13-May-90  23:47:27
Sb: #3473-#F$Fork
Fm: GLEN HATHAWAY 71446,166
To: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227 (X)

Hi Kev... You're kidding!?! Those twits who put the manual together said pages!
Anyway, I don't get any error at all, it just doesn't rename the file.

Drat! I just tried to upload the file segment, but I use OSTerm, and it won't
send ASCII dumps (at least I have never figured out how to make it work). I'll
try changing the parameter size to bytes and if that doesn't work, I'll put
that part of the program up as EMail to you, OK?

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3485 S3/Languages
    14-May-90  09:45:05
Sb: #3475-#F$Fork
Fm: Steve Wegert 76703,4255
To: GLEN HATHAWAY 71446,166 (X)

Glen, You can use a protocol while uploading a message. Type UPL and go from
there!

Steve

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3493 S3/Languages
    14-May-90  21:15:29
Sb: #3485-#F$Fork
Fm: GLEN HATHAWAY 71446,166
To: Steve Wegert 76703,4255 (X)

Hi Steve... Really! I didn't know that. I'll have to try it next time I have an
unkillable bug. Thanks...

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3516 S3/Languages
    15-May-90  20:36:55
Sb: #3493-#F$Fork
Fm: Steve Wegert 76703,4255
To: GLEN HATHAWAY 71446,166 (X)

Glen,

Just to elaborate a bit further, the UPLoad command is supported at the
MESSAGES prompt (just type mess) and within the forum editor by issuing the
command   /upl   .

Hope this helps

Steve

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3524 S3/Languages
    16-May-90  00:45:06
Sb: #3516-F$Fork
Fm: GLEN HATHAWAY 71446,166
To: Steve Wegert 76703,4255 (X)

Thanks Steve... Now if I can only remember that next time I need it...

#: 3476 S3/Languages
    13-May-90  23:58:45
Sb: #3473-#F$Fork
Fm: GLEN HATHAWAY 71446,166
To: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227 (X)

Hi Kevin... Just tried it with Y in bytes and that cured it completely. There
are times when this manual really bugs me. Costs a lot of time debugging
something that's not a bug at all - just a stupid typo! Anyway, once I get one
more little deficiency worked out of this thing, I'll upload it here - not that
anyone needs yet another file stripper, but what the hey! They'll get another
anyway...

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3477 S3/Languages
    14-May-90  00:48:11
Sb: #3476-#F$Fork
Fm: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227
To: GLEN HATHAWAY 71446,166 (X)

Glen - glad to hear you got going. I think that particular manual mistake has
been in there since day 1 of OS9's existence <grin>. Once you think about it,
pages doesn't really make sense there. Hindsight speaking, of course. Hehe. -
kev

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3478 S3/Languages
    14-May-90  01:37:34
Sb: #3477-F$Fork
Fm: GLEN HATHAWAY 71446,166
To: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227 (X)

Hi Kevin... Well, I'm done. It still won't strip files bigger than 64K, but
I'll work on that later. 99% of my text downloads are smaller then 64 anyway.
So I'm going to upload it as-is. Take a look if ya want, but you'll find it
pretty tame stuff, compared to what you're used to working with. Thanks for the
help...

#: 3474 S3/Languages
    13-May-90  22:22:41
Sb: #problems with os9fork
Fm: BRETT 72057,3720
To: C gurus

Greeting-
     I have two questions for some one longer in the tooth than I.

1.  Is there any way to transfer files between Dynacalc and Lotus 1,2,3?

2.  Is there any way to redirect input on an os9fork call in C?

example code follows


 static  char mail_args[] = " foo!foobar!user < dead.letter";

 os9fork("mail",strlen(mail_args),mail_args,1,1,0);

 These two lines always cause mail to take input from stdin, not from
dead.letter as it should (IMHO). HELP!  this is giving me some trouble with
things I am working on for the uucp package.

-Brett

uucp............marob!nsi1!cassie!wa3yre!wynkoop



There are 2 Replies.

#: 3482 S3/Languages
    14-May-90  08:54:26
Sb: #3474-problems with os9fork
Fm: Bill Dickhaus 70325,523
To: BRETT 72057,3720 (X)

Brett,

I can't help you with question #1, but I can with #2. To use redirection,
pipes, and any other shell functions, you must use the system() function OR
fork shell using the complete command line as you would type it in from the
keyboard. In your code fragment, you are actually passing all that stuff to
mail, and it doesn't know what to do with it. System is easier to use, since
you don't have to put in all those other parameters. This is your code modified
to use the system() function:

 char *mail_arg = "mail foo!foobar!user < dead.letter";
 system(mail_arg);

If the command line is constant, you could also use:

 system("mail foo!foobar!user < dead.letter");

You can also use functions like strcpy() and strcat() to build up a command
line, something like:

 char *user;

 strcpy(user, "foo")
 sendlet(user);

  ....

 sendlet(user)
 char *user;
 {
 char cmdline[50];  /* make sure this is big enough, or use malloc */
 system(strcat(strcat(strcpy(cmdline, "mail "),user)," <letter"));
 }

Would issue the command: "mail foo <letter"

Bill

#: 3488 S3/Languages
    14-May-90  17:47:25
Sb: #3474-#problems with os9fork
Fm: Bruce MacKenzie 71725,376
To: BRETT 72057,3720 (X)

Brett,
   To redirect I/O you can funnel the fork through shell as Bill said or do it
yourself through a sequence of Dup, close, and open system calls prior to the
fork.  For details on this last see Kevin's file, dups.txt, in LIB 2.

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3541 S3/Languages
    16-May-90  22:12:40
Sb: #3488-problems with os9fork
Fm: BRETT 72057,3720
To: Bruce MacKenzie 71725,376 (X)

Greeting-
     Thanks to both you and Bill for the suggestions.  Now to go off line and
digest them.

-Brett

#: 3490 S7/Telecommunications
    14-May-90  20:21:07
Sb: WIZ
Fm: John Dickey 76537,2631
To: Bill Brady

 Bill,
 In WIZ, is it possible by changing a byte at an offset from the start of the
 main program using DED, to change the default Printer path?  What I would like
 to do is set it up for /T3.  By doing this I will be able to send information
 out to a remote terminal or if I desire to a remote printer by using the
 transparent print function of the terminal. As a side note I am also sending
 a msg to Frank to get the descriptor and driver to allow WIZ to work with the
 Eliminator package.  I do have the system presently configured for the non-
 polled interrupt mode. Any help you can give in this matter would be much
 appreciated.
 John /exit

#: 3491 S15/Hot Topics
    14-May-90  20:23:01
Sb: Mail Coming
Fm: John Dickey 76537,2631
To: Frank Hogg 70310,317 (X)

Frank, Just a note here to tell you I have sent you EMAIL in case you do not
have the option set to get mail on entering the service. John

#: 3492 S10/Tandy CoCo
    14-May-90  20:24:13
Sb: #irq hack
Fm: LUTE MULLENIX 70721,2230
To:  76625,2273 (X)

Bruce:

I have a question for you. In the November 89 Rainbow Marty Goodman did an
article on the *CART interrupt. He mentions your name. Well I did the fix on my
machine, and a friend of mine would like me to do a hack on his machine.

The only snag is that he still uses ROM packs with his MPI. So what I was
wondering, is...

Could I just solder the Schottky diode on R2, run the wire over to a jack
installed in the Coco's case. Solder a wire on pin 8 of slot 1 of the MPI, put
a plug on it and plug them togeather?

That way it shouldn't interfear with the other slots, you have a direct IRQ
line, and if you need to remove the MPI you just unplug. Also if you change
RS232 packs, you don't have to break into the new one for your patch.

Will it work?

     >Lute<

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3503 S10/Tandy CoCo
    14-May-90  23:41:15
Sb: #3492-irq hack
Fm: Bruce Isted (UG VP) 76625,2273
To: LUTE MULLENIX 70721,2230 (X)

~ Lute,
  It sounds like it should work.  So long as you're careful, I don't see how it
could do any harm... so give it a try.
  Bruce
 PS:  This reply is in reference to your Schottky diode to R2 (in the CoCo 3),
wire to jack, jumper to jack on MPI, etc... question.

#: 3494 S1/General Interest
    14-May-90  21:36:39
Sb: #3319-help osterm
Fm: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111
To: Zack Sessions 76407,1524 (X)

Zack, I'll try one this session and see what I get. --mike k

#: 3495 S1/General Interest
    14-May-90  21:38:11
Sb: #3327-#help osterm
Fm: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111
To: Steve Wegert 76703,4255 (X)

Yes, thanks -- I did the /proto:x1k tag and it really did work! Zack, did you
see this message? Steve, howe can I get this message permanently into my
profile? Thanks again, mike k

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3517 S1/General Interest
    15-May-90  20:39:49
Sb: #3495-#help osterm
Fm: Steve Wegert 76703,4255
To: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111 (X)

Mike,

I'm not clear on what you're asking about getting 'this message permanently
into my profile', so I'll guess a bit.

If you mean, how can you set X1K as your default protocol ... you can't. CIS
doesn't officially support the protocol and offers it on an as is basis.

You'll have to use it on the fly.

Steve

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3542 S1/General Interest
    16-May-90  22:13:45
Sb: #3517-#help osterm
Fm: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111
To: Steve Wegert 76703,4255 (X)

Yes, that's what I meant -- "profile" is Unix-ese for "startup". Sorry I can't
set it peremanently -- maybe I'll de-ARC STerm and try B+ someday.  ANyway,
thanks for the good tip. --mike k

There are 2 Replies.

#: 3554 S1/General Interest
    17-May-90  09:51:58
Sb: #3542-help osterm
Fm: Steve Wegert 76703,4255
To: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111

Mike,

You might want to move Sterm up on your queue. It's got to be the best package
for use here on CompuServe. It's B+ implementation is the fastest was to nabb
files from our LIBs, and it also has xmodem so it's reasonably useful on other
services.

But ... don't forget you can fork a shell from within. So I find myself using
Sterm as a base then branching out from there. For instance:

I log into a remote system in Orlando quite a bit. He supports several features
that make use of Vt100 emulation. By design, Sterm doen't have that .. but
nothing stops me from forking a shell and firing up OSTERM and taking care of
business.

Same system ... I also use KERMIT alot. Again, fork city and fire up Kermie and
away I go.

Steve

#: 3556 S1/General Interest
    17-May-90  10:33:59
Sb: #3542-help osterm
Fm: Mark Wuest 74030,332
To: Mike Knudsen 72467,1111

I did not notice if you had a 68K or 6809 system, but I run sterm on both. It
basically compiled right away on my 68K system, and the 6809 version was
already compiled for you, as I remember. Sterm is truly a great, Simple
TERMinal program. (Thanks Mark G if you see this).
 Mark

#: 3501 S1/General Interest
    14-May-90  22:48:59
Sb: #Loading into OS9
Fm: JOHN LAUCKNER 72075,1162
To: all

I have a coco 3 with 512k and am just getting started in OS9 11.  I have a
program that I downloaded from a local BBS with Ultimaterm, called KBCOM/AR.  I
don't know how to load the programs with the AR eextension into the OS9.  This
also al


 alplyes to programs with the extension "PAK".  Can someone please tell me how
to handle this type of program? THANKS.......JOHN

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3502 S1/General Interest
    14-May-90  23:07:55
Sb: #3501-#Loading into OS9
Fm: Bruce Isted (UG VP) 76625,2273
To: JOHN LAUCKNER 72075,1162 (X)

John,
  Files with a ".ar" suffix are usually (if not always) ARchives.  You need
"AR09.BIN" for 6809, or "AR68.BIN" for 68K, OS-9.  Look in the utilities
library.  Also look for "AR.DOC" or "AR.MAN" in the same library.  After you
download the AR??.BIN file, copy it into your CMDS directory as "AR", and don't
forget to set the executable attributes.  After all thats done you can use AR
to extract files from any ARchived file.
  Files with a ".pak" suffix are also archived files, but they use the "PAK"
utility.  Look for PAK in the utilities section, or perhaps in the CoCo
section.  I don't know if pak is available as a separate binary file... it
might be available as "PAK.AR", in which case you'll need to get AR first.
  Bruce

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3527 S1/General Interest
    16-May-90  12:49:59
Sb: #3502-Loading into OS9
Fm: JOHN LAUCKNER 72075,1162
To: Bruce Isted (UG VP) 76625,2273 (X)

Thanks a million Bruce!!!  Having just got started in OS9, I am just beginning
to be able to see some semblence of logic in the whole thing!  Gonna give that
AR a try.   Thanks again...... JOHN..

#: 3511 S14/misc/info/Soapbox
    15-May-90  17:09:32
Sb: #3015-widows and orphans
Fm: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227
To: Bob van der Poel 76510,2203 (X)

Bob - late answer. See WIDOWS.TXT in Lib 8 of the DTPFORUM. Apparently there
are different definitions for both terms... and it depends on what book or
person you talk to <grin>. - kev

#: 3546 S8/BBS Systems/TSMon
    17-May-90  00:02:42
Sb: ACIA Info
Fm: Scott t. Griepentrog 72427,335
To: all

I haven't called into CIS for a while... went through a month of messages and
discovered a lot of people have questions about ACIAPAK under OS9.  So I
figured I'd put together some of the things I've learned from making my
hardware and software run a login system with networking that is practially
100% reliable.

1) The basics of the RS232 Pak:  It responds to addresses 0xff68 to 0xff6b.
   It *NEEDS* to have an IRQ line (via CART) to the CPU so that it can force
   the CPU to pull each character out of it's buffer as it comes in.

2) The basics of an Multi-pak in relation to RS232 pak and OS9: Works with
   only one pak in the Multi-pak, because the pak switches the CART line
   to only one slot at a time.  ACIAPAK driver forces it to a particular
   slot (#?) so that even while disk access are occuring (although NOT!
   floppy non-halt disk accesses) the CPU can pull data out of the ACIA.

3) It is possible to put multiple ACIA ports on the CoCo.  Requires that
   you change the address of each additional RS232 pak by re-wiring it
   slightly (15 or less operation).  If using a Y-cable, just plug extra
   paks in.  If using a Multi-pak, you must tie the CART signal from all
   the slots and the card edge together to bypass the internal switching.
   NOTE: the CART line on CoCo goes low when *any* device needs servicing.
   Because it is normally pulled high with a resistor, any device that
   needs to be read just pulls it low - more than one pak or other device
   pulling the CART line down at the same time is not a problem, even if
   one is saying "service me" and one is not.

4) In the CoCo3, the CART line goes through the GIME before getting to the
   CPU.  This is a problem, as the GIME will occasionally (maybe once in a
   thosand) not signal the CPU that it received a CART interrupt.  This is
   what causes the ACIAPAK lockup syndrome - the easiest fix is done by
   wiring a certain diode in a certain way.  This was documented recently
   in Rainbow (I have actually been giving these away with install docs
   with software purchases for almost 2 years now).



#: 3547 S8/BBS Systems/TSMon
    17-May-90  00:08:26
Sb: ACIA Info
Fm: Scott t. Griepentrog 72427,335
To: all

5) When operating a call-in line, the ACIA generates a problem because it
   will ignore incoming data when there is no CD signal present.  The usual
   way around this is to force CD on the modem.  Problem with this is that
   you then loose the capability to sense CD dropping so you can kick the
   user off the system.  Or, you let CD go normal, and loose the CONNECT
   message when he calls in telling you what baud rate he is at.  I developed
   a device I call a CDI (carrier detect interface) which does the same
   thing that some more expensive modems (like the MT224E) can do- CD is
   left high (going to computer), except for a few seconds after the carrier
   is actually lost, which kicks the user off.  Then it goes back high so
   that you get the next CONNECT.  I will post docs on building CDI's...

6) The ACIAPAK driver has a handy feature that will automatically kill any
   processes with an open path to it's port when CD is lost.  Set the type
   or parity code to 0x10 (bit 4 high) to enable this feature.

7) Oh, when putting multiple RS232 paks on your system, you can use them
   under OS9 by just making copies of T2 and renaming the descriptor and
   changing the address to match the new devices.  I have had up to 4 Rs232
   paks running in one machine at one time, with no data lost.

8) You can run ACIAPAK outputing at up to 19200, but generally you will tend
   to loose characters inputing at anything faster than 2400.  If anybody
   has a better aciapak with bigger buffers that works reliably at faster
   rates, let me know.  This limit is imposed because of the buffer size of
   ACIAPAK and the overhead required by OS9 to get data in/out.

9) Once the IRQ patch (see #4) has been taken care of, communication is 99.99%
   reliable.  The only bug I still encounter occurs when a call-in user drops
   carrier having first stopped output via ^S or end of page.  The process
   won't die because it is locked on output.  To reset, first send a kill to
   the process and then do a 'echo >/t2', and hit ^E twice.  This causes the



#: 3548 S8/BBS Systems/TSMon
    17-May-90  00:13:32
Sb: ACIA Info
Fm: Scott t. Griepentrog 72427,335
To: all

Argh.  It cuts off my messages.  I'll put the whole text along with the CDI
info when I finish keying it in the file section...

Scott Griepentrog, sysop@root (StG-net), StG@hummer.iupui.edu (arpa-net)

#: 3549 S9/Utilities
    17-May-90  00:32:36
Sb: #Level Two windows?
Fm: Wendell Benedetti 72766,2605
To: Kevin Darling

Kevin,

Did you ever write a "window" driver for Standard OS-9 Level Two?

Wendell

There is 1 Reply.

#: 3559 S9/Utilities
    17-May-90  17:39:13
Sb: #3549-Level Two windows?
Fm: Kevin Darling (UG Pres) 76703,4227
To: Wendell Benedetti 72766,2605 (X)

You mean for terminals? Nope. But there was/is a company selling virtual
terminal screen software. I hear it works okay. Anybody remember the name?

#: 3558 S10/Tandy CoCo
    17-May-90  16:44:33
Sb: The Dungeon Depths
Fm: Floyd Resler 72500,2572
To: All

I forgot to include the font file in my Dungeon Depths archive.  If you have
experienced an error #216, then downloading this file will correct it.  It's
called gothic.fnt.  Sorry about the incovenience.

#: 3560 S10/Tandy CoCo
    17-May-90  20:27:25
Sb: 2nd Hard Drive Help
Fm: JC Hoit 73127,2213
To: all

HELP! I am trying to put a second hard drive on my system and the system isn't
recognising the two drives separatly. (Both LED's come on and neither one knows
what to do.) I have the /h0 and /h1 set up. Seems that I don't know what I am
doing with the hardware configuration.

The equipment: B&B interface, WD1002S-WX2 controller, /H0 is a
               Miniscribe 3425, /H1 is a Seagate 213.

Is there something that has to be done with the 8-pin jumper on the Seagate?
How about the controller? Is there something I need to do with it? I am sure I
have the data cables correct.

Suggestion anyone?

JCH

Press <CR> !>