SLO BYTES NEWSLETTER - OCTOBER, 1987 CLUB INFORMATION The SLO BYTES Newsletter is a monthly publication of SLO BYTES of the Central Coast of California (San Luis Obispo) an IBM/compatible personal computer user's group. Information found in this Newsletter is derived from magazine articles, manuals, books, other PC user group newsletters, and our own members. The purpose of this publication is to inform our members of meetings, their program content, and other information related to the use of IBM-PC's and compatible computers. Dues to SLO BYTES are $18 per year. As a member you will receive a membership card, an updated membership list, SLO BYTES monthly newsletter, and free use of our Public Domain Library. Contributors are asked to submit articles for the next issue by the 15th of each month either in writing or on disk (ASCII format preferred). Address all correspondence to SLO BYTES PC USER'S GROUP, % Bob Ward, 2100 Andre' Ave., Los Osos, Ca. 93402. Phone 8am-5pm 546-2164, after 5pm - (805)528-0121. Other user's groups have permission to publish any material found in this newsletter. Have a computer related item to sell? Tell the editor and we will put it in our newsletter. For further information call Bob Ward @ (805)528-0121 eves. ****************************************************** Meetings are held the 1st Thursday of every month, unless noted otherwise in the newsletter calendar, at 7:15 pm. New users SIG 6:15 to 7:15 pm. Meeting place: Cal Poly University Biology Department, Science North, Room 215. ****************************************************** DI$COUNT$-DI$COUNT$-DI$COUNT$-DI$COUNT$-DI$COUNT$ Discounts usually apply only to regularly priced merchandise. Ask a salesman to make sure. You must present your membership card to receive a discount. \pParadise Computers 5% - all computers, peripherals, 441 Marsh St. and software. San Luis Obispo 10% - Ribbons, paper, disks & 544-7127 other expendable items. Star Computers 5% - any software in stock. 655 Morro Bay Blvd. Morro Bay 10% - paper, ribbons, cable & 772-7827 other supplies. Computer Logic 10% - off list - all computers, 973 Foothill Blvd. software, computer periphe- Store #4 rals and products. Contact San Luis Obispo Bruce, Paul, or Dave for 544-8347 your discount. WITCO Computers 10% - off already discounted 3563 Sueldo, application software. Building B Special prices on group San Luis Obispo purchases of peripherals. 549-0811 FISBOSA Systems 10% - off packaged systems, soft- 1329 Broad St. ware &/or peripherals when San Luis Obispo purchased with system. Con- 549-9027 tact Lynne Boisen. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$-4SALE-$$-4SALE-$$-4SALE-$$-4SALE-$$-4SALE-$$$$$ 1. PLUS Hardcard - Shock mounted 10 Mb harddisk with built-in controller. Takes up only 1 expansion slot in any IBM compatible. Very easy to install. Includes built-in menu software. $300 or make offer. 2. IBM ProPrinter - down NLQ/dot matrix, feeds letterhead, envelopes, etc. $175 w/ cable. 3. AST SixPack with 384K chips and battery powered clock. Brings machine up to 640K. Includes DesqView software. $125 Contact Dave Pierce for the above 3 items @ 461-9669 for above items. Keep trying if no answer. $$$$$$-4SALE-$$-4SALE-$$-4SALE-$$-4SALE-$$-4SALE-$$$$$ CENTRAL COAST COMPUTER FAIR -- THE DAY AFTER The best description of the First Annual Central Coast Computer Fair was..... huge success !!! With over 750 in attendance (twice what we had anticipated) the facilities at the Park Suite Hotel were crowded throughout the day. The speakers forum was also well attended with "sell-out crowds" for most speakers. Here are a few personal observations which surprised me at the Fair: 1. Many individuals were looking for their first computer, 2. I heard many "I didn't know you existed" statements, and 3. Public Domain Software generated a great deal of interest. It was unfortunate the Apple products were not represented as several people looking at the Macintosh computer line found little support at the show. Our hope is that next year some of the local dealers will be less reluctant to participate in the Fair. Hat's off to those exhibitors who did participate this year. They gave us their money without any guarantees. Our many thanks to the following volunteers who gave their time as Host's and Hostesse's: John Read, Sam Powers, Fred Steele, Lars Perner, C.K. Currey, Wanda Hoagland, Carole Larsen, Carl Johnston, Carl Wallace, Earl Gustafson, and Billy Mounts (and ETC. to cover that person I surely forgot to mention!). And how about those individuals who came early, 7am (eeeek) to help set up the show or stayed to 7pm to help the exhibitors carry equipment to their car. A few even stayed all day to help out or worked split shifts... what dedication! A giant THANK YOU for all your help. I heard praise from several exhibitors on how helpful all of you were. My personal appreciation goes to two "computerholics" who helped in the SLO BYTES booth. First Jules Lieber who sold computer raffle tickets to so many people who really didn't want them but couldn't resist his discounted rates: a $2 ticket, show special originally at $3.00 selling for $2 or a real deal at 5 for $10. Yep he just confused them into submission. You should see him at the carnival! And of course George Campbell who is always there when you need him. First helping me set up the electrical at 6:30am, getting our booth ready at 7am, changing out of his work clothes to give a presentation in the morning, then selling the virtues of SLO BYTES PC USER'S GROUP to people who were not even sure what we were USING! Thanks George and Jules, you kept our booth alive. Our thanks to the many speakers who gave their time to speak on their favorite computer topic. It drew many to the show who otherwise wouldn't have shown up just to look at the exhibits. And lastly lets give special thanks to Britt Morris, the show creator, Brian Lawler who gave us his time and generated our great posters, and Rona Lee who donated her typing service for several of the Fair projects. Did you like that great poster outside the exhibitor hall? Lynne Boisen's (FISBOSA) sister made it. ----------> (fair) If I have left anyone out of the "Thank You's" it wasn't because your roll in the Fair was insignificant. Everyone did their job equally well to make it a giant success. We thank you all! ====================================================== COMINGS AND GOINGS This last meeting was quite unusual. How many people watch someone build a computer from the "ground up" or install a hard disk and demonstrate a low and high level format. We started out in the wrong room which was a bit crowded throughout the night. Sorry about the mix up but we get what's left after the lecture halls have been assigned for classes. Anyway, we settled down into a demonstration of hard disk installation by Gary Shacter from Witco Computers. Then after a short break, Mel Sage and Lynne Boiesen from FISBOSA Systems spent an hour building a computer for us. French Morgan set up two television monitors which picked up the "action" from a video camera precariously perched atop a tripod on the table next to the computer. The computer passed all the tests after being built except for one small problem. The "car key's" didn't fit the lock. For some reason which we will never know, the set of keys used to "lock out" the keyboard were physically to large to fit in the lock and unlock the keyboard. No problem for Mel, he just "hot wired" the computer, "jump started" it and away we went at 4.77 or 8 Mhz. This save computer made its 2nd public appearance at the Computer Fair and will be raffled at the December 3rd meeting. Get your $2 raffle tickets early. We are limiting sales to 500 tickets. When their gone the raffle will be closed. This way each entrant has a 1 in 500 chance of winning a computer. Pretty good odds when you think about it. Our next meeting will have Britt Morris displaying Microsoft Windows. This program has many faces... all accessed through windows. At the touch of a key, pop up a notepad, or a cardfile. Call up the telephone directory or check out your calendar for the day or week. If you need a calculator, it's there also. ====================================================== CALENDAR ************* DUE TO SCHEDULING CONFLICTS OUR NEW USER'S MEETING WILL BE HELD IN SCI N 202 (6:15-7PM). OUR REGULAR MEETING WILL BE HELD IN 215 @ 7:15) ************* November 5th Microsoft Windows by Britt Morris. Tektronix - a Video Introduction December 3rd Display your favorite public domain software. Members are asked to spend a few minutes demonstrating their favorite utility, game, etc. We ask that everyone participate. Give us your 5 minutes. We will also be having our Christmas Swap meet at this time. (see separate article) Election of officers for those brave volunteers. President, V.P #1 & #2, secretary and treasurer are up for grabs. If you would like to be nominated for one of these positions let us know by the next meeting. Computer Raffle + other software raffles from SLO BYTES Holiday party - refreshments. January 7th Were working on it.. a new year and all that! ====================================================== HOLIDAY SWAP MEET We tried this once before with mixed success so what a great time to try it again around the holidays. Bring your old worn, abused, not so new computer software or hardware for swap, trade, or sale. Software must be "original" documentation and software disks. If it's pirated, keep it, we don't want to hear about it. You will be given an opportunity to demonstrate and sell any computer items you have brought that night. ====================================================== BITS N' BYTES *** Pick up your issue of the IBM Exchange newsletter. Frame this one as IBM has discontinued this free magazine.... Not selling enough PS/2's I guess. *** For those who loaned us power cords for the computer fair, they may be picked up at the meeting. *** Remember the new user's group will meet in Science North 205, then the meeting will migrate to 215 @ 7:15 pm for the regular meeting. *** The PC Magazine disk is being updated monthly. If you see a program in PC Magazine, it's a good possibility we have it on this disk. *** The computer raffle will be closed after 500 tickets have been sold. Pick up yours at the next meeting... $2.00 each. *** If you wish to be nominated for an office in December, let us know at the next meeting. Nominations are open to all paid members. We would prefer the nominees for treasurer to have been in the club at least two years. ====================================================== NEW MEMBERS The following individuals have been added to our membership list for the month of OCTOBER, 1987: Cay Fowler 773-5657 Harry Clark 934-3406 Glenn Britton 544-8822 Harvey Hafer 773-5114 Michael Marvier 528-6238 Mike Gorby 528-0559 Patrick Mackie 238-6498 ====================================================== ====================================================== || || || || || FLOPPY DISKS 4-SALE || || || || @ || || || || THE MEETING || || || || DSDD UNFORMATTED GENERIC 360K || || with labels, tabs, and tyvek sleeves || || || || 1-9 ....... $.80 || || 10+ ....... $.75 || || || || HIGH DENSITY DISKS 1.2 MEG ...... $1.25 ea || || || || NEW LIBRARY DISKS ......... $.90 ea || || || || || ====================================================== WHAT IS A WAIT STATE? By Dan Likins Orange Coast PCUG (as reprinted by UCLA PCUG, Oct, 1987) Despite the apparent "instant responses" of our computers, they DO NOT respond instantly. There is a measurable delay between the time that a signal is applied to the input of a logic gate and the time that a change is noted on that gate's output. This delay is referred to as the gate's "propagation delay" and is usually measured in nanoseconds (.000000001 second = 1 ns) of response time. In memory chips this delay is referred to in terms of maximum speed with which the memory can be accessed. A 120 ns memory chip specifies that after the "address wires" have been changed to a new address we must wait .000000120 seconds before the signal on the "data output wire" will be valid. When we speed up our computers, the time between operations becomes shorter and shorter. If the time allowed for the parts external to the CPU chip (i.e., 8088/80286/V20, etc.) to respond becomes too short we must cause the CPU to "WAIT." The operations in our computers are governed by the "system clock" so time, in our computers, is referred to in terms of "clock cycles." When we say that our memory is running with "one wait state," what we mean is that each time the CPU chip wants to access the memory, we cause the CPU to wait one cycle of the clock between the time that the address is presented and the time that the data is transferred. Adding wait states does slow down the operation of the computer system as a whole, but only during access to the slower parts of the computer. The rest of the time the internal functions of the CPU are screaming away at full speed and we can still use the available memory instead of buying all new. Of course, if money is no object, 80 ns memory is available. ====================================================== COMMUNICATIONS BREAKTHROUGH National Technical Conference FIDONET (GS-BUG Newsletter, October, 1987) Because you can't see the person who is sending you electronic mail you are sometimes uncertain whether they are serious of joking. Recently, Scott Fahlman at CMU devised a scheme for annotating one's messages to overcome this problem. If you turn your head sideways to look at the three characters :-) they look sort of like a smiling face. Thus, if someone sends you a message that says "Have you stopped beating your dog? :-) "you know they are joking. If they say "I need to talk to you :-( " be prepared for trouble. Since Scott's original proposal, many further symbols have been proposed here: :-) humor :-) humor variation %-) humor variation :-( sad :-< sad variation %-< sad variation :-! foot in mouth <:-) for dumb questions >:-> leer |-<> kissy face 8:] from a gorilla (:-) for dealing with bicycle helmets (8-) for messages dealing with owls d:-) for messages dealing with baseball d :-O hats off to your great idea q:-) for wearing their caps backwards @= for dealing with nuclear war O>-<|= of interest only to women ;-) say no more, nudge nudge :-$ put your money where your mouth is :-| man playing a harmonica O:-) for those innocent souls [: 1] from a robot (or other AI project) :>) from someone with a big nose :<| attends an Ivy League school =:-) from a hosehead :-(*) from someone who is about to vomit :-)8 from someone who is well dressed 8:-) from a little girl :-)-(8 from a big girl #-) from someone who partied all night %-/ from someone hungover :-8 from one who just ate a sour pickle -:-) from someone who sports a mohawk :-'| from someone who has a cold ':-) from someone with one eyebrow :-)' from someone who tends to drool (:)-) from someone wearing a scuba mask p-) from someone getting fresh |-) from someone who is falling asleep .-) from someone with one eye :=) from someone with two noses :-D from someone who talks too much Miscellaneous: (-:|:-) Siamese twins :~/ really mixed up (:V sounds like a duck .V duck variation %+( from the loser of a fight ====================================================== LIBRARY NEWS The following disks have been added to our library this month: #215 Knovice V1.1, an Artificial Intelligence Tool #216 File Express V4.0 - a database manager (program disk) #217 File Express - database manager (supplimental programs) #218 ProComm V2.42 - telecommunications package. Ranked as one of the best. #219 SEEKEASY - Easy to use "sloppy search" or "flex- ible match" information retrieval program. #220 WAMPUM V3.1B - dBASEIII+ clone - great article in Computer Shopper (9/87), imports dBASE files, considered as good as dBASE in most areas. Hard disk a necessity. ====================================================== Using PCFile+ to Manage the Library Disk by Leon Dormant INTRODUCTION This article is my way of helping SLO Bytes members make effective use the library disk. I will show how to import the disk list, CATALOG.DOC, into PCFile. Once in the database format, all the power of PCFile to SORT, SELECT and REPORT will at your command. This article is also a tutorial for using PCFile. I list below step by step instructions for two levels of interest. The first level is a simple import. The second level includes cloning and use of the relational aspect of PCFile. Auxiliary Files I am a firm supporter of the doctrine of doing it wrong the first time. To alleviate suffering when you follow the instructions incorrectly, I have included a 4 record version of CATALOG.DOC, called SMALLCAT.DOC. Practice the procedures by importing SMALLCAT, then decide when and if you want to import the 5,603 record CATALOG. For the relational use, I have included a set of CODES files. I will request that SMALLCAT.DOC and the CODES files be made available on the Locator distribution disk. You MUST have a hard disk to follow these instructions because the data file is 367,000 bytes, larger than a single disk. Perhaps someone with a two floppy computer will solve the problem. I will assume that your data, SMALLCAT.DOC or CATALOG.DOC, is in the directory C: LOCATOR. Nomenclature for this article Any information which I expect you to enter from the keyboard will be typed between square brackets! Only two exceptions to the square brackets rule: I will use and for the enter and the F10 keys; these may be but need not be within square brackets. STEP BY STEP DEFINING AND IMPORTING A FILE -Defining a file "DB" (or choose "DISKLIB" or ...). Log onto the directory containing PCFile and start PCF. [PCFC] Choose the data directory [\LOCATOR], (or anyplace else you may have the data) and remove any extraneous path specification with the Delete key, then . Define a new file by typing in the top space [DB] Answer [YFN] to get to the definition screen. Type in the following field names: [FilenameExtSizeDateDskCat Notes] then type in the number of characters for each ---------> [938125240], a total of 79 bytes, and accept with [N] You now have a database with zero records. Importing the records Importing allows PCF to change the data from an unstructured file (which must be read serially, i.e., from the beginning to the end like a tape recording) to a random file with a constant number of bytes per record (which can be accessed starting at any point in the file). Type: [UIO] to see the screen of possible input files. Point to SMALLCAT.DOC with the down arrow (or type in the name) and accept with . Import and return to the main menu: [TAAXQ] To look at the file: [F] (or since F is the default choice), then use [Grey+] or [Grey-] to browse. Reason for the definition The field definitions were chosen so that you could sort and select on Disk number and catalog type easily. For quick searches PCF really only cares about the 1st few characters. Since the file definition is the same number of characters as the club's .DOC file, new records should be appendable in a few seconds. THE IMPROVED FILE The extra steps described below leads to two improvements: (1) Some of the disk space is used up by blanks and unnecessary information. We will get rid of this space by cloning. (2) The single letter category description is both limiting and somewhat cryptic. We will get more information by making the file relational. Auxiliary files needed You will need to copy the CODES.* files to your working directory CODES is the CATEGORY.DOC file with an added field of three characters. To can see a short version, look at CODES.PRN using type or your word processor. CODES is really 3 files, an HDR, an INX, and a .DTA file. HDR contains the fieldname and size information,.DTA contains the data. INX is the index (like a phonebook) which is kept in memory so that PCFile knows how the file is sorted and how to get to any record by searching in RAM. It is one of the fastest file managers around. Defining DB2 Repeat all the steps in the first example, except use as fieldnames: [Filex1Extx2SizeTypex4YR x5Dskx6CatNotes] and as number of characters for each [8132635223 2240]. (next page) There are other means of redefining the file. The easiest is changing the HDR file with a word processor and running PCFIX. Using PCFile as I described above is the simplest to to write instructions for and will cause no hardship if you are using SMALLCAT. Use the Category file to access the CODES file: Make the Type field relational [UNTypeC] brings up the calculation / relational mask Enter [(@Cat,CODES,Abb,Code)Q] Update the records by: [GMA X] (see note #) You have just used the single letter category as the key to bring in (relate) a more meaningful 3 letter code. If this is your first exposure to a relational example, consider how much time businesses save by using a 5 number code for a customer's name and address. Cloning Now to get rid of the unnecessary spaces by cloning. Bring up the clone screen by [UC] Cloning with the old PCFile was numeric and, in my opinion, easier. We now have to remove choose spaces the awkward Macintosh way, by pointing and deleting. That is why I defined the database to remove entire fields rather than spaces. Delete all the x1, x2, etc.., fields by by going to the extreme left of the relevant row and pressing F5. You should wind up with a 65 bytes file: Filename:8,Ext:3,Size:6,Type:3,YR:2,Dsk:3,Notes:40. Accept the current the order [N] ,then accept everything with until you are asked for a new file name. The steps should now be self explanatory. Remember that to use the new file, you will have to [Q]uit this one and choose a [D]ifferent one. Note # to POWER users: Prior to the Global Modify, copy the CODES.* files to a virtual disk and change the "CODES" designation in the RELATIONAL mask to "D:CODES". POSSIBILITIES FOR THE FUTURE - Smartkeys could be defined to automate the import. - Duplicates could be eliminated; Statistics, such as those in CODES.PRN can gathered. - A Rating field could be added. - Records could be cleaned up. For example, from the main screen do a Global modify: GMSSIRSpacebarSpacebarSpacebar - Subsets of the disk could be distributed to users with single floppies. Alternatively, using Button's compression utility, the cloned file is 286,195 bytes, considerably larger than the ARCed file, but manageable. ====================================================== INDEEP: One-Fingered Reboot by Dave Schubert (reprinted from South Jersey IBM PC Users Group - Bits & Bytes: May, 1987) Have you ever had a situation to need to reboot the system from a BAT file? Or have you needed to type CTRL-ALT-DEL with your arm in a sling? Well, through a few short steps with DEBUG, you're about to have a program to reboot your computer with TWO KEYSTROKES! To install this program, you will need DEBUG.COM on the system. Key in the following program so your screen appears the same as this example. Notice that some of the characters shown are generated by the system. debug z.com File not found -rcx CX 0000 :11 -a xxxx:0100 mov ax,40 xxxx:0103 mov ds,ax xxxx:0105 mov bx,72 xxxx:0108 mov word ptr [bx],1234 xxxx:010C jmp f000:e05b xxxx:0111 -w Writing 0016 bytes -q Now, you have a program in the default directory called Z.COM which, when called will restart your system as if you just did CTRL-ALT-DEL to reset the system. Here is another way to create the program if the above example is confusing. This example uses "input redirection" which allows you to specify an ASCII text file instead of the keyboard for input to a file. Create the following file with a "COPY CON" statement as shown in this example, or you can use a text editor. The file name can be almost anything, but "Z.TXT" is used for this example. Note that the "^Z" at this end is a Ctrl-Z or an F6 key. COPY CON Z.TXT n z.com rcx 11 a mov ax,40 mov ds,ax mov bx,72 mov word ptr [bx],1234 jmp f000:e05b (skip this line) w (INDEEP) q ^Z Now, at the DOS prompt, enter DEBUG=Z.TXT and then press ENTER. The "less than" symbol causes the file you just created to be sent to the DEBUG program instead of the keyboard. When the DOS prompt returns, you may run the program named Z to reboot the system. Good luck! And enjoy your new program. It is also on my BBS system (The Casino PC Board 609-652-6030) already to go, as yet a third way to get the program for your collection. ======================================================