****************************************************************************** SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ ****************************************************************************** The *STARBOARD* JOURNAL A Production of the *FLAGSHIP* RT ...a service for GEnie Subscribers PURSUING EXCELLENCE IN COMMODORE COMPUTING Sheri Lynn Meyers, [SHIPS-CAT], editor ****************************************************************************** SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ ****************************************************************************** Table of Contents: 1. WIZARD and RSCARDS...................... WC.COLEMAN A short review of these fantastic new programs for the C128--by the programmer himself! These programs are must-haves! Read what they do. 2. Recent Uploads.......................... DIGITAL-DOC ...and, of course, the uploaders--give these good folks a resounding cheer for making this library the best! 3. Classic Commie.......................... G.VANGELDER They're not orphans, they're classics! Classic Commodores get support on GEnie! 4. Book Review ............................. H.HERMAN1 "Software Information for Commodore Computers" 5. RSCARDS for the C-128!!!!................. C128-BILL Hot new fun for the 128 world on GEnie! 6. Press Releases................................. DEB Two new titles of interest! 7. PIP--More than Just A Copy Program.......... BHARRIS An introduction to PIP--it does more than you ever dreamed! 8. Flagship SLEEPERS!........................ C128-BILL Another great list of programs worth the download. 9. TECH TALK-1..............................DIGITAL-DOC Is there Dirt on Your Drive Heads? 10. TECH TALK-2..............................DIGITAL-DOC Repairing Digital Equipment--Tools 11. Top 20 Downloads...........................C128-BILL You'll want to look at these! 12. Walking the Plank........................ SHIPS-CAT Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ****************************************************************************** NOTICE! If you'd like to have a "Free Flag" in the Commodore RTC for one non-prime time weekday evening, write and submit an article for next month's *STARBOARD JOURNAL* !!! If the article is accepted and printed you'll have a whole night of free time in the Library, Bulletin Board, and RTC--and it'll be up to you when the free flag goes into effect!!! Download files for free--chat in the RTC--do it all!!! Each freeflag can be worth over a hundred dollars to you in online time! Give it a try, okay? ****************************************************************************** 1. ***** New For the Commodore 128! ***** by Bill Coleman In recent weeks two new products for use with the Commodore 128 have been made available on GEnie. Both of them work in 80 column graphics mode for increased versatility and speed. The first program, RSCards 128, allows you to play Poker, Backgammon, Blackjack, and Checkers with other users. There are versions available for the Amiga, IBM, and Mac also so there is almost always someone online to play with. RSCards 128 stretches the graphics capabilities if the 128 to it's limits, giving you graphic screens that are virtually identical to those found on the bigger computers. There are two versions available: a monochrome version for users with only 16K of VDC RAM and a full color version for use with 64K RAMs (this includes most 128D's and upgraded 128's). You can download your copy from either Lib #10 in the *FlagShip* or Lib #5 in the RSCards library (page 875;2). Wizard 128 The second new product is called Wizard 128. It is a full-featured terminal program designed specifically for GEnie. With it you can use your mouse (or joystick) to navigate through the GEnie menus. Some of Wizard's features include: * Captures GEnie menus for point-and-click selection. * Handles 300/1200/2400 Baud. * 64K Capture Buffer with built-in Editor and ASCII/PETSCII translation. * Choice of line prompted or burst mode buffer uploads. This allows you to compose your messages while offline, saving you time and money. * XModem and Ymodem Transfers. All downloads automatically strip XModem padding. * Automated logon, E-Mail and BB capturing. Wizard can log onto GEnie, capture the required information in it's buffer, and then log off. If desired the buffer is then saved to a disk for later review. * VT100 emulation for use with online games (such as Orb Wars, Gemstone, Stellar Warrior, PhraseMania, etc). * Two different 'chat' modes for the RTC's and LiveWire areas. Chat mode displays what you are typing separately from the text that GEnie is sending. This keeps the screen from becoming cluttered. * Compatible with all types of Commodore disk drives and clones including the 1581 and Lt Kernal. Most functions can be selected by simply clicking the mouse on one of the numerous screen icons. Wizards has several different operating mode (Bulletin Board, RTC, LiveWire, Menu, etc). Each mode has it's own set of icons. You can download you own copy of Wizard (there is only one version for both 16K and 64K VDC RAM users) from Library #40 in the *FlagShip*. Getting Help If you have any questions or comments about RSCARDS please send E-Mail to RSCARDS$. For Wizard please send E-Mail to WIZARD$. Also stop by and check out Category #22 in the *FlagShip*. This category is dedicated to RSCards and Wizard; there is an excellent chance that you will find the information you need there. I am currently in the process of setting up a user base of Commodore 128 users. Members on this list will receive periodic E-Mail with updates and other pertinent info. If you desire to be placed on the E-Mail list drop a line to either RSCARDS$ or WIZARD$. ****************************************************************************** 2. JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED THEM! ----------------------------- Here's a listing of some of the more recent uploads in the Flagship Library. A Special Thanks to all the Uploaders and authors for making these files available to us all! MUSIC FILE TITLE UPLOADER LIB DESCRIPTION ---- ------------------ ----------- --- ------------------------------------ 7865 STRONG MAN.MUS E.SKWIRSK 25 Rick Astley's "Strong, Strong Man". 7864 GREEN ONIONS.MUS E.SKWIRSK 25 Green Onions by Booker T & MG's. 7863 TOBACCO ROAD.MUS E.SKWIRSK 25 "Tobacco Road" done by many. 7862 ROCKIN' RAIN.MUS E.SKWIRSK 25 The Judds' "Rockin' Rain". 7861 UPUTTHEBEAT.MUS E.SKWIRSK 25 "You Put The Beat" by Eddie Rabbit. 7860 BRASILIA.MUS E.SKWIRSK 25 Brasilia by Baja Marimba Band. 7809 HOOK-ROMANCE.MUS R.NOREAU 16 Hooked On Romance for Sidplayer. 7808 CLASSICS 123.MUS R.NOREAU 16 Hooked on Classics for the SIDPLAYER GEOS FILE TITLE UPLOADER LIB DESCRIPTION ---- -------------------- ----------- --- ------------------------------------ 7847 G GEOTACTOE V2.1 T.FRY1 35 Tic tac toe for geos 7846 M_LABEL2.0.CVT T.FRY1 35 Another address labeler for geos 7845 GRAPHICVIEWV1.1.CVT T.FRY1 35 Updated version of 80 col viewer 7816 MT.FUJI.CVT D.GARDNER 36 Mt Fuji with Waterfall 7815 HYDRAN CCLB.CVT D.GARDNER 36 Hydran Space Ship 7814 COED2.CVT D.GARDNER 37 File 2 from coeds.sit macpaint lbr 7813 COED1.CVT D.GARDNER 37 Converted nude from macpaint libr. 7805 GRAPHICVIEW T.FRY1 35 View hires and paints/80 col. color 7771 BEYOND 512K.CVT M.INGRAM 35 Geowrite & Geopaint of expansion ram 7766 ELECSYMBOLS.CVT G.VANGELDER 36 A photo album of electronic symbols 7765 FONTVIEW G.VANGELDER 35 Displays a font file to the screen 7764 NEWTRONIC.ARC G.VANGELDER 35 A computerish font 7763 GEOSLEEVE.ARC G.VANGELDER 35 Setup files for custom disk jacket 7762 HOLIDAYS2.CVT S.BAUMHOVER 36 A Geopaint page of holiday graphics 7761 MAY CAL.CVT S.BAUMHOVER 36 Colored calendar for May 1990. 7760 APRIL CAL.CVT S.BAUMHOVER 36 APRIL CALENDAR 90 in color. 7759 MARCH CAL.CVT S.BAUMHOVER 36 March Calendar 90 in color. BASIC 8 FILE TITLE UPLOADER LIB DESCRIPTION ---- ------------------- ----------- --- ------------------------------------ 7825 12A.PICT.SDA JBEE 38 Vonverted pictures 7824 13A.PICT.SDA JBEE 38 Converted pictures 7823 13B.PICT.SDA JBEE 38 Converted pictures 7789 MONCA11-13.ARC JBEE 38 Seq. listing mon11-mon13 7788 B8.MONCA11.ARC JBEE 38 Basic 8 clip art 7787 B8.MONCA.11A.ARC JBEE 38 Basic 8 clip art 7786 B8.MONCA12.ARC JBEE 38 Basic 8 clip art 7785 B8.MONCA.12.B.ARC JBEE 38 Basic 8 clip art 7784 B8.MONCA13.ARC JBEE 38 Basic 8 clip art 7783 B8.MONCA.13C.ARC JBEE 38 Basic 8 clip art PLUS 4 FILE TITLE UPLOADER LIB DESCRIPTION ---- -------------------- ----------- --- ------------------------------------ 7810 SPRINT+4 G.VANGELDER 28 Simple but fast SEQ file reader 7757 PTCUSTCHRS G.VANGELDER 28 A set of 10 cust chars for Plusterm 7756 PT1KXMODEM G.VANGELDER 28 1K Xmodem protocol for plusterm 7755 PTXMODEM G.VANGELDER 28 The Xmodem protocol for plusterm 7754 PTDOCS.SEQ G.VANGELDER 28 Plusterm docs in std CBM SEQ format 7753 PLUSTERM G.VANGELDER 28 Full feature term - +/4 & 1670 modem CS-DOS FILE TITLE UPLOADER LIB DESCRIPTION ---- -------------------- ----------- --- ------------------------------------ 7834 SQUSQ.SFX C.SMEETS 4 CP/M style SQ and USQ for CS-DOS 7804 UNCR233.SFX C.SMEETS 9 CP/M style uncrunch for CS-DOS 7803 MON.SFX C.SMEETS 9 C128 monitor extension 7802 GREP.SFX C.SMEETS 9 GREP for CS-DOS 7800 CS-DOC15.SFX C.SMEETS 9 CS-DOS/ARC128 - Part 2 of 2 7799 CS-DOS15.SFX C.SMEETS 9 CS-DOS 1.5/ARC128 - Part 1 of 2 7842 MENU128.SFX R133133 8 Customized menus for 128 programs! UTILITY PROGRAMS FILE TITLE UPLOADER LIB DESCRIPTION ---- -------------------- ----------- --- ------------------------------------ 7840 SNAPFIX V2.2 GULLIBLE 4 Change vectors on snapshot files. 7839 V4.STORE SCREEN A.K.QUINN 9 Writes screen text from data lines 7838 MCSORTER A.K.QUINN 9 Sorts/rewrites data lines 7837 FLIX.SDA E.G.BELL 4 File type changer for the C128 7836 BLAZE DOCUMENTATION E.G.BELL 4 List this for details on BLAZE 7835 BLAZE.SDA E.G.BELL 4 Sequential file translate/printer 7833 LHARC128.ARC C.SMEETS 4 LHARC128 bug fix and update 7832 INFOCOM-TO-128 G.STAGLIANO 11 Run clasic infocom on 80 with help 7819 BURSTCOPY 1571 JENSUTTON 9 Copies single and double-sided disk 7777 STORE/RECALL-MSG A.K.QUINN 9 Stores Data in Protected Memory 7767 MRPOSTMAN E.G.BELL 4 Full featured database program - C64 7758 UNEW 3300 A.K.QUINN 9 Retrieves programs after NEW 7751 PART.TIN.ME.JB JBEE 9 1581 SOMETHING NEW FILE TITLE UPLOADER LIB DESCRIPTION ---- -------------------- ----------- --- ------------------------------------ 7795 ARC SIDEWINDER 128 E.G.BELL 5 Prepared sidewinder 128 -arc cmds 7794 SIDEWINDER 128 E.G.BELL 5 Sidewinder for the C128 7793 HI SIDEWINDER 64 E.G.BELL 5 More room for commands for 64 SW 7792 ARC SIDEWINDER 64 E.G.BELL 5 Prepared sidewinder - ARC commands 7791 SS SIDEWINDER 64 E.G.BELL 5 Prepared sidewinder 64-speedscript 7772 SIDEWINDER E.G.BELL 5 Now for something completely difft.. GAMES FILE TITLE UPLOADER LIB DESCRIPTION ---- -------------------- ----------- --- ------------------------------------ 7807 TRIVIA 64.SDA E.G.BELL 14 Very nice C64 trivia game 7781 CULDESAC128.ARC S.ROSS4 11 3D maze puzzle in 80 col. 7778 WARRIOR.SDA E.G.BELL 12 Warriors of the crown by Paul Spomer 7752 CHICAGO.64 E.G.BELL 13 I *** HATE *** text games, but.... DEMOS FILE TITLE UPLOADER LIB DESCRIPTION ---- -------------------- ----------- --- ------------------------------------ 7817 VZDEMO.SDA S.DICKINSON2 32 DEMO for MIDI Interfaces 7782 TROLL16FEB90 D.KING11 30 System Add.....Raster Demo.....Nice! ****************************************************************************** 3. The Classic Commie Gary VanGelder The personal computer revolution has been in existence for well over a decade. Over the years Commodore has been in the midst of this technology by designing a series of fine personal computers. Many of them have been out of production for some time now and receive little attention or support. All too often they are found tucked away in closets working only as dust col- lectors. These machines now receive the undistinguished label of orphans. It has crossed my mind that some of our most cherished possessions are those that are considered obsolete by current standards. Could it be that we have arrived at a point where they deserve to be thought of as Classic Computers ? I think so. Using the Starboard Journal as a forum, I plan to present a series of articles that will lend a bit of support to those who still use these computers. Hopefully this series will also give long time Commodore enthusiasts a reason to rediscover these wonderful machines and generate new interest from others who never knew a PET or VIC. This column will be a place to share experience, new ideas and questions about these machines. I am most familiar with the VIC and the Plus/4 but will include as much info about the others as I can come up with. If you have a bit of useful information, a question or whatever relating to Commodores Classics please drop me a note in GEnie mail. Who knows, Classic Commies may be the start of a whole new trend. Most of the Plus/4 software that I have uploaded over the past year have had at least a dozen downloads here on GEnie. This would indicate to me that this machine still has some active users. In fact I believe this computer may be going through a resur- gence as they are now available second hand for a rock bottom price. In the past year I have even seen several ads from resort communities that were giving them away as enticements. The rest of this months Classic Commies will be an introduction to those who are new to this machine. The Plus/4 was first introduced at the winter Consumer Electronics Show in early 1985 and originally was labeled the C264. This machine was designed to attract those who would be interested in a reasonably priced productivity computer. During the development of the Plus/4 Commodore decided to sweeten the pot and incorporate a built in productivity package. A California company (Tri Micro) developed this package and it included a word processor, a spreadsheet and a database manager. These programs were kept simple to fit within memory limitations. Compared to some of the individual software applications then available for the C=64 these programs were weak. This contributed to the bad rap it received. The Plus/4 was released with Basic 3.5 which, with the exception of a few commands, is as complete as the C128's Basic 7.0 . The memory banking arrangement freed up over 60K of RAM for the Basic programmer. Also included was a machine language monitor and it even had a direct memory access capabili- ty built in. Its biggest drawbacks were the lack of sprites and a simple sound chip. This limited the Plus/4 as a game machine. There were several peripherals manufactured especially for it but most of the existing C=64 peripherals, especially the expensive ones like the disk drives and printers, are compatible. The few that are not, like the joysticks, can usually be adapted rather easily. One of the lesser known features that might raise a few eyebrows is that its ACIA chip is rated for 19,200 baud communi- cations from the user port. Basic programs written for the C=64 that do not use sprites or complex SID routines are rather easy to convert. All of the pokes needed for color and high res graph- ics are replaced with much simpler basic commands. Software written for the C128 in forty column mode will usually run on the Plus/4 with only very minor changes. Converting machine language programs is much more involved but because its processor uses the same operand codes it can be done. This is just my opinion but I like the feel of its keyboard better than the 64 and the individual cursor keys have me spoiled. The Plus/4 has a smaller brother which was called the C16. The C16 featured the same architecture but only had 16K of RAM and did not have the built in productivity package. Software, info and replacement parts resources for the Plus/4 are dwindling rapidly. Therefore in the next issue of the Starboard Journal I will put together a list of current sources for the Plus/4 and, if space allows, a few tips. If you can pass on a source for any of the Classic Commies drop me a note. ****************************************************************************** 4. Book Review The best-kept secret in the Commodore/Amiga world turns out to be a book titled: "Software Information for Commodore Computers", Vol 5, No.2, published by Black Box Corporation, December '89, and available at B. Dalton's and other book stores. ISBN: 0-942821-14-9. It is $12.95 (Canada $16.95). The book is in three sections: [1] Amiga for the 500, 1000, and 2000, [2] Commodore 64 and 128, and [3] Commodore 16, Vic 20, and PET. With its excellent indexing, and software descriptions, it is now an easy matter to locate that piece of software that you have always wanted, that will do whatever you may have previously thought no available software could do. This book is, if nothing else, comprehensive. Only commercially available software is listed. For the Amiga there are some 1,000 programs. For the Commodore 64 and 128, some 4,300+ are listed. Each section starts with a Category Index, so that, for example, under Productivity, there are sub-listings for "Accounting - General Ledger", "Accounting - Integrated Systems". Or, under "Education", the sub-listings "Math", and "Decimals...", etc. Each sub-topic is indexed to the page where the program description may be found. This makes it very easy to locate any type of software. The program descriptions are then listed in the same Category order. Each section also has an Index by Product, so that if a name is known, its location in the book can be found. Then follows, an Index by Publisher, with page cross-references, and finally, a Publisher Directory, so that the program can be ordered. Included in the descriptions is a short paragraph describing its use, system it runs on (if for a 500, 1000, or all, or if for the 64 or 128 modes), equipment needed, and cost, etc. I was just amazed to learn how much commercially available software exists. [Among the some 4,300 listings in the 64 and 128 section, I'd estimate that between 100-200 is specific for the 128 mode, a bit of a disappointment.] The Category breakdown of the 4,300 listings would be: Games, 700+; Productivity, 1,000+; and Education, 2,500+. So, Bob, that 128 mode program you have been looking for to keep track of student grades, etc., can be found under Education, sub-heading, Administration, and the program is called "Student Recorder". There is only this one listing for this type program in 128 mode; however, in 64 mode there are perhaps an additional 6 or so programs. There is a listing for a 128 mode program called "Bear Knowconflicts", which will provide a master scheduling of lowest possible student/course conflicts. This one does have a hefty price tag, however, $499.99. In case there are any snickers from the Amiga crowd, there are some program listings there that cost $1,000. Don't worry, though. These are exceptions, but examples of how comprehensive the listings are. And, Bob, are you using the 64 in your classroom to help your students learn French? Under the sub-heading "French" there are 52 listings to choose from. Everything from beginner's French, to advanced grammatical structure, to "learning" games played in French, such as "Hangman". Any one of these programs can be purchased for anywhere between $20 and $40. So, it appears that the Commodore world is blessed with a bounty of commercially available software choices, for just about everything! One note of caution. This book is published twice annually, so there exists a time lag for entries to appear. Some of the latest software, such as Pocket Writer3 for the 128 will not be shown. There are also omissions, such as one of my favorites, Persage128, which doesn't appear, and some minor errors, such as Writer2 being listed for the 128, and not shown as also being available for the 64. Considering the awesome editing task, this is understandable. Howie ****************************************************************************** 5. RSCARDS for the C-128! Online Graphic Game Playing Is Here Bill Juliani It was a late night game, and the 5 players at Table A were hungry. The hunger was not for food, but for their companions' money. Tonight's betting was heavy. The chatter lessened as the table stakes rose. Seven Card Stud can be exciting, especially with so much riding on one hand. My fellow players are from all over the country, Florida, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. The final raise was raised again--and the players seemed anxious to display their hands. The winner of this battle would be a rich 'Warlord' . . . The Commodore 128 has a new game called RSCARDS. Well, it's more than just a game. RSCARDS is a multi-player 'Front End' terminal program that graphically displays several different card games and even Backgammon. Load it in, dial into GEnie, and type 'RSCARDS' for some interactive fun. RSCARDS, developed by J. Weaver Jr. of Factory Programming, is on GEnie page 875 (type M875 at any System prompt). To play cards, you can either use the non-graphics 'TTY' mode or download file #7904 in the Flag- Ship Library. Blackjack, Backgammon, Checkers, and Poker are wrapped into one SFX (self-extracting) package for easy dissolv- ing. Log onto GEnie with your regular terminal program or use the Hayes commands inside the simple RSCARDS term. Choose your game by menu option and your graphics Front End will automatical- ly start. Directions are hardly needed as the game playing is instinctive but they are supplied, both for playing and for using the Commodore specific programs. The two versions are for the 64K VDC ram machines and the older 16K VDC. If you have 64K but are using a monochrome monitor then download the (M) version. The Commodore 128 versions are written by the infamous Master Blaster Bill Coleman, author of another Front End Terminal pro- gram for GEnie called Wizard. Bill's experience in terminal programming (GEOTERM) has served him well, as RSCARDS is fast, colorful, and extremely easy to use. Either a joystick or mouse will let you point to your choices for table selection, game choices, and betting. The mouse's dynamic acceleration is smooth and responsive. This allows much better control of pointer movement than with the joystick. RSCARDS can be played at either 1200 or 2400 baud. Action is just as fast at either speed when I compared it to the MSDOS' version. The cards really 'snap' into action due to a unique graphics protocol that insures that you receive the correct packet. This program quickly convinces you that our eight bit machines have untapped powers. ...The seventh card had been dealt several minutes ago, and there were no more raises. The combat was over. My straight was not good enough, this time. I clicked on the ante box for anoth- er game. Time to get even! ****************************************************************************** 6. PRESS RELEASES European Challenge $14.95 Availability: NOW Accolade will be adding a scenery add-on disk for use exclusively with "The Duel: Test Drive II". Explore 6 different countries as you race across Europe. New cars, new roads, all add to your enjoyment in this continuing line of software support for the very popular game. Champions of Kyrnn $39.95 Availability: NOW Strategic Simulations has released this newest Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (r) computer game. Improving upon the award winning Pool of Radiance and Curse of the Azure Bonds, this fantasy role-playing game is set in TSR's most popular AD&D game world, the Dragonlance world. Look for this one, and work with some of the most well known characters from Dragonlance novels, Tanis, Tasselhoff and Caramon. A cluebook will be available. Strategic Simulations titles are distributed by Electronic Arts. ****************************************************************************** 7. PIP -- More Than Just a Copy Program by Brad Harris (BHARRIS) Copyright (C) 1990 -- Brad Harris CP/M can be one of the most useful features of the Commodore 128. Those of you who also use MS-DOS computers already know a lot about CP/M. But the potentially most useful of the CP/M commands, PIP, combines features of Commodore's own disk operating system (backward syntax) with some of those from MS-DOS, and throws in a syntax as twisted as a bowl of spaghetti. PIP, which stands for Peripheral Interchange Program, is primarily used as a file copier. It is what is known as a transient command. This means that even though it is a CP/M utility, it is read from disk like any other program, rather than residing in memory as a part of the operating system. Besides copying files, PIP can copy and rename at the same time or just rename them. A copy of a file can be password protected, and if a file already has a password, PIP won't copy the file unless the correct password is entered. In addition, if a Read-Only file of the same name as the source file already exists on the destination disk, PIP will ask if you want to delete it unless you have already ordered it to do so on the command line. Several files can be PIPed at once, using the "?" and "*" wildcards, or PIP can be called with no parameters at all, and it will sit and wait for you to fill in the blanks. Two or more files can be combined into a single file. It can be used to send files to any logical device, so you can PIP a file to the screen or to the printer. PIP can also accept data from any logical device and send it to a file or to another device. Whoo! That was a mouthful. But wait! - There's more! PIP can also be used to filter or modify files in a number of ways. You can use it to change page length by filtering form feeds out of a source file and then adding them to the destination file. You can add line numbers to a file. You can change upper-case to lower case or visa-versa. You can even start copying a file at a specified string of characters, and stop after another string. "How can I do all this?", you ask. It's easy! The syntax is: PIP dest-filespec|d:{[Gn]}=src-filespec{[o]}{,...} | d: {[o]} Hi, neighbor! Can you say spaghetti? Let me see if I can simplify this a little. To copy a file on a disk in drive A: to a disk in drive B:, you would enter: PIP B:=A:FILENAME.EXT To copy a group of files that all have the same extension, it would be: PIP B:=A:*.EXT And for a group of files with the same name, but different extensions: PIP B:=A:FILENAME.* With me so far? All of the above copy a file from the user number that you're in to the same user number on the destination disk. To copy to (Go To) a different user number you would use the G option. An example is when you want to copy FILENAME.EXT from the current user number on the disk in A: to user number 15 on the disk in B: PIP B:[G15]=A:FILENAME.EXT So much for simplicity. You could change the name of the file in the process. To add something new to what we know thus far -- If you wanted to copy FILENAME.BAK from the current user number on A: to user 15 on B:, and rename it to FILENAME.DOC at the same time, you would enter: PIP B:FILENAME.DOC[G15]=A:FILENAME.BAK The [G]o To option becomes the [G]et From option if you use it on the source end of the command, but otherwise it works just the same. You can even combine the two to copy files from a one disk/user number (usually called DU) to another DU, neither of which you are currently logged into! Say you're currently in A0, and want to copy a file from B3 to C15: PIP C:[G15]=B:FILENAME.EXT[G3] Now let's get a little exotic. One or more files can be combined into a single file. Say you want to make BIGFILE.EXT in A0:, containing FILE1.EXT from A3:, FILE2.EXT from B6:, and FILE3.EXT from C2:. Can we do it? Sure! We just: PIP A:BIGFILE.EXT[G0]=A:FILE1.EXT[G3],B:FILE2.EXT[G6],C:FILE3.EXT[G2] Machine code files can be combined in the same way by including the O (letter O, not zero) option inside the square brackets for each source file. Without it, PIP will stop at the first ASCII 26 (^Z, the End of File marker) that it encounters in the file. You can use PIP to turn your 128 into a dumb, expensive type writer with the command: PIP LST:=CON: Everything you type will be sent to the printer. When you're finished, enter a ^Z. Or you could send a file to the printer with: PIP LST:=FILENAME.TXT or to the screen by substituting CON: for LST: If you want to change page formatting, you can use the P option. Say you have a text file that you want to have 55 lines per page. You could use: PIP NEWFILE=OLDFILE[P55] If it was already paged at 60 lines, you would use the F option too remove the old form feeds first: PIP NEWFILE=OLDFILE[FP55] As you see, the options can be used in combination. PIP can also be used to create a file which is just a portion of a larger one. The options used here are S (START) and Q (QUIT). Both are followed by the string of characters you want to start copying from, and end copying at. Each character string is followed be a ^Z. The strings will be included in the output file. To extract the relevant portion of a nasty letter you might use: PIP BADNEWS.TXT=OVERDUE.TXT[SYour account^ZQimmediatly!^Z] There are a number of other options you can use with PIP, far too many to cover in a short article. The best source of information is the CP/M manual that is available from Digital Research. The section on PIP alone is 14 pages long. If you don't have it, I highly recommend that you get it. There's an order card bound right into the manual that came with your 128. Even if your not serious about using CP/M, it's a great deal. ****************************************************************************** 8. FlagShip Sleepers From February and March Files May, 1990 C128-BILL Hello, again all you Commodore people! In this second StarBoard Journal issue we have eight more files from the FlagShip Li- braries that are what I call 'Sleepers'. I again call out to everyone to submit their list of Sleepers to Sheri Lynn (SHIPS- CAT). I do need help with the GEOS and C-64 Sleepers. Just send a short paragraph about the file, and we will do the rest. Thanks to all who sent in suggestions for this issue. Your Free FlagShip Day is in your mailbox! Last issue I defined the word Sleeper for you, so not to bore you with anymore definitions, let's jump right in it. #7758 UNEW 3300 Ever type 'NEW' or hit Reset on the 128 and wish you didn't? Kevin Quinn's small ML file that will recover not only the file, but the pointers, too! Safe to use, unless you have loaded another file into memory. I have a Disk/File utilities disk for each 'mode' on the C-128 (64, 128, and CP/M) and this disk is a life saver when it comes to the wire. UNEW 3300 is my latest addition. #7771 BEYOND-512K.SDA Mark Ingram has uploaded a very interesting GEOS file on how to upgrade your Ram Expansion Device up to 2 megs. Includes a well documented installation file, schematic, parts list, and how to program your expanded memory. Well worth a look for those of you that dream of having more memory than a standard clone! Use Convert after dissolving and wonder at this tinkerer's delight. #7796 MSG-DIGEST-FEB17.SDA Last time for one of my Message Digests in Sleeper! I really tried to make this one easy on you and SDA'd the file. Still not widely read by the masses and after it takes me a month to retype all those Bulletin Board Messages into my Word Processor . . . What, Deb? You mean I can buffer them? ;) #7837 FLIX.SDA I've just added this to my Disk/File utilities disk for the C-128. Sometimes you will need to change the 'type' of file, say from SEQ to PRG, or USR. This gem by Ed Bell is easy to use, and does the job without hassles. How often have you downloaded a file and needed this feature? (hint: See the next Sleeper). RUN this file, and you will be prompted for drive number, whole disk, or individual files, then present you with the file list for editing. #7842 MENU128.SFX This is why you need FLIX. After decompressing you will find the members are all sequential files. Just run them through Flix, and you will find the makings of a Turn-Key Menu system for your 128. Need to set a friend up for a user friendly way for them to 'turn' the C-128's key? Just read the included doc file for easy installation. Great program from R133133 and written by Randall Fong. #7856 CHALKDIRARRANGER V21 The Chalkboard's update for directory utility with the 1581 bug squashed so now it's good for all drives. Add comments to your listings with or without partitions. Good for most disk drives and very easy to rename files. Can't Tag files yet but maybe in the next version. A five dollar Shareware donation requested but in exchange, you get back a CHALKBOARD disk. #7877 FINE-PRINT.SDA Err, OPEN 4,4:CMD 4:ESC15 no, no, no. Must be PRINT#4'ESC15' no, wait a minute ESC is CHR$(27), but don't I need to open the secondary address for transparent mode? Ya, maybe that's it! 4 will work, or is it 5? Huh, what's 6? Gads, how often do I need to write this down? Geezzz (an hour later) I can hardly read this, the 'r' looks like an 'i'. S.FISK's file saves you much of this hassle, plus lets you easily edit the font styles on your C-64 for your text files. Essential for your Printer Utility Disk! I had several more Sleepers selected, but had to take them off the list due to a surge in the number of downloads from the FlagShip's massive Libraries. Keep an eye on this space for the next Sleeper outing, I have three nifty ones already selected and maybe a C-128 CP/M file! ****************************************************************************** 9. Tech Talk: There's Dirt In Them Thar Drives!!! by Digital Doc Howdy pardner! You say the shine has worn off that shiny new disk drive and you're wondering if it might not be time to clean the heads? Well, here's a little info to help you decide. First off, a little discussion about the way floppy drives are built and how they might accumulate dirt on the heads. Floppy drive heads work something like cassette drive heads in that the head actually rides on the surface of the disk. This is required for two reasons. First, the floppy disk is, well, floppy! Even the best made floppy flexes a little bit when it's spinning. Second, the magnetic fields used to contain the data are extremely minute! To make a head which could read them from even a tiny bit away from the surface would cost quite a bit more than most floppy drives. There are many contributors to dirt on the heads. The design of the 5-1/4 inch floppy is one of them. Because of the slot required for the head to touch the disk, floppies are constantly exposed to dust and environmental pollutants. 3-1/2 disks are protected better against this due to the sliding access cover. Every time you insert a floppy disk in the drive, you are carrying along a certain amount of crud. The environment in which most floppy drives reside is another contributing factor. The average home or office contains many dust contributors: rugs, furniture, pets, etc. If you smoke around the disk drive, that's another cause of dirty heads. The disks themselves can cause dirty heads! Because the head rides on the disk, there is a certain amount of friction. After a bunch of use, the oxide coating on the disk can start to flake and these flakes will find their way to the head also. How do you know when it's time to clean the heads? There are many signs that the heads need a bath. The most common are intermittent errors: read, sync, etc. Remember those weak magnetic fields? When a microscopic layer of dirt builds up on the head, it is no longer in contact with the surface of the disk. Depending on which bits it gets and doesn't get, your system will display errors when using the drive that depend also on the error signals available. Many times these will come and go with no predictable pattern. Even some errors that don't seem connected with the disk drive can originate there such as "out of memory." Fortunately, there are a multitude of disk drive cleaning kits available. I prefer the "wet" kind: those that require the application of a solution to the cleaning disk before use. A note on these: when the solution is gone, buy a new cleaning kit. Remember, the dirt they remove from the head has to go somewhere. I do not recommend a dry disk cleaning kit as i believe they promote head wear. Also beware of kits made by companies you never heard of. The kits marketed by most name brand disk manufacturers are usually better quality. Of course, what ever cleaning kit you use, follow the directions provided! How often to clean? About once a month for normal to heavy drive usage should keep thing running along smoothly. More often only if you use your drive in a very dirty environment. About once every year or so, you should take the drive to a technician to be opened and manually cleaned. This will prevent dirt build up on the parts of the drive that a cleaning disk ignores. Happy Computing.... ****************************************************************************** 10. MORE TECH TALK By Digital Doc REPAIRING DIGITAL EQUIPMENT: TOOLS AND TEST EQUIPMENT Troubleshooting and repairing digital equipment, just like many other jobs, requires the use of certain special purpose tools. Having the right tools in hand prior to beginning the job will make things move quicker and prevent inadvertent damage to your equipment. The tools and test equipment described in this article constitute what I would recommend as a minimum requirements for working on digital equipment. It is by no means all inclusive as there are a multitude of expensive pieces of test equipment available. The items described here are all available for a relatively inexpensive price from such places as Radio Shack and other electronics supply stores. LOGIC PROBE: Almost an essential for troubleshooting problems in digital equipment, the logic probe is an electronic device used to display the current state or logic level present at the pins of a chip. Drawing power from the circuit under test, they provide a quick visual and sometimes audible display showing whether the pin has a logic high, low or pulse on the line. Using one of these in conjunction with a troubleshooting guide will quickly locate many problems. Logic probes are normally rated by the speed at which they can operate or the duration of the pulse which they will detect. High speeds or shorter pulse durations indicate better quality units. (and higher prices) In most cases the inexpensive Micronta version sold by Radio Shack and other electronics outlets for under $30 is quite sufficient. VOLT-OHM METER: The Volt-Ohm Meter or VOM is used to measure voltage levels. Essential for troubleshooting power supply problems, it can also be used in place of a logic probe in some instances. For this use, the analog version works better than the digital version because the sampling rate of the digital VOM is too slow to accurately depict rapidly changing logic levels. VOMs come with many different features and in many price ranges. An inexpensive version costing $30 or less is generally adequate. CHIP EXTRACTOR: The chip extractor is a very inexpensive tool which looks something like a small tongs with flat hooks on the end. The hooks are slipped under the ends of a socketed chip allowing the chip to be gently rocked out of its socket without damage. CHIP INSERTER: A companion tool to the chip extractor, the chip inserter makes installing chips into their sockets an easy task. It holds all the pins of the chip in the proper position preventing them from getting bent while the chip is inserted into the socket and has a plunger type device to provide even pressure while the chip is inserted. GROUNDING STRAP: Aside from excess soldering heat, the most common cause of damaged chips is static. When the chips are out of their circuits a static discharge can easily ruin them. One way of eliminating this hazard when working on digital equipment is to wear a specially made grounding strap. This normally has a conductive elastic band which is worn around the wrist and a wire with a built in resistor which is connected to a suitable ground. It's purpose is to prevent static build-up on the skin. CONDUCTIVE FOAM: This is sold by most electronic parts stores (Radio Shack, etc) in small squares approximately 4" by 4" and is about 1/8 to 3/16 inch thick. It is used to store chips which are out of the circuit and prevents damage which can be caused by static. While the chips are out of a circuit, the pins are pressed into the foam which then prevents the buildup of static electricity. SOLDERING IRON: Soldering irons are available in a bewildering array of sizes, wattages, heat ranges and types. The best iron for use with digital equipment will have a very small tip (approximately 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch) and a wattage rating of approximately 15 watts. Using an iron with too high of a wattage rating will cause heat damage to the sensitive chips in your equipment. SOLDER EXTRACTOR/WICK: When removing a soldered in place component, the holes in the circuit board are frequently left clogged with excess solder. Solder extractors come in two basic types. One is a spring loaded device and the other, my personal favorite, is simply a small rubber bulb with a thin nozzle. Either of these types work well to remove excess solder and open up the holes on the circuit board. Solder wick serves a similar purpose. As its name implies, it is a narrow copper braid that draws the melted solder away from the circuit board. WIRE CUTTERS: These come in various sizes and types. My favorite size is the 4 inch version as its easy to handle and fits into tight places. The two types I use most are the side, or diagonal, cutters and the end cutters. Side cutters fit better into tight spots and end cutters are very useful for snipping off excess component leads which protrude from the back of a circuit board after installation of new components. LONG NOSE PLIERS: These come in various sizes also. The best size I've found for use on digital equipment is the 4 inch version. They are very useful for retrieving dropped screws and washers and for holding wires while soldering them. In addition to the items above, you will need a few common hand tools such as screwdrivers to disassemble and reassemble the equipment. ****************************************************************************** 11. GEnie Page 625--Flagship RT Top 20 Downloads As Of 04/30/90 # No. File Name Type Uploader YYMMDD Bytes Access Lib -- ----- ------------------------ - ------------- ------ -------- ------ --- 1 7919 WIZARD.SFX X WC.COLEMAN 900418 44100 173 40 Desc: New GEnie Front-End for the C-128! 14.417 2 7935 MSG-DIGESTAPR. X C128-BILL 900427 54180 11 1 Desc: FlagShip Msg-Digest April 9-27 3.667 3 7927 MILLI.80.SDA X JBEE 900421 21420 33 11 Desc: 80 column game, a good arcade game 3.667 4 7923 CRYPT.80.SDA X JBEE 900421 7560 21 11 Desc: 80 column game for the c128 2.333 5 7799 CS-DOS15.SFX X C.SMEETS 900218 50400 164 9 Desc: CS-DOS 1.5/ARC128 - Part 1 of 2 2.310 6 2586 ARC230.4 X C.SMEETS 861107 13860 2920 4 Desc: ARC Version 2.30 For 40 Cols 2.299 7 7932 GIFFY X G.VANGELDER 900423 5040 16 23 Desc: FAST GIF viewer 2.286 8 7920 MACREAD 128V1. X ED.BELL 900419 5040 25 23 Desc: mac reader for C128 in 80 col mode 2.273 9 7800 CS-DOC15.SFX X C.SMEETS 900218 44100 159 9 Desc: CS-DOS/ARC128 - Part 2 of 2 2.239 10 7931 2CENTS.SDA X SERENDIP 900421 16380 20 1 Desc: Commodores get no respect-why so ?? 2.222 11 7908 EBBSTERM46/128 X EBBS 900414 15120 35 10 Desc: 128/80 Col Miniterm w/XYmodem, etc. 2.188 12 7265 DESTERM102.ARC X B.WOLFF1 890813 117180 566 10 Desc: Version 1.02 of Desterm 2.177 13 7894 ALIGN CHECK.V3 X B.MCCULLOUGH 900407 3780 49 4 Desc: 1541/71/81 alignment check 2.130 14 1142 LIBRARY 128 V1 X PFOUNTZ 860517 6300 2686 9 Desc: Library Utility for the 128 1.860 15 7916 FONTDUMP.SDA X G.VANGELDER 900416 8820 26 35 Desc: dump fonts to your printer 1.857 16 7826 MAR STARBOARD X SHIPS-CAT 900227 40320 115 1 Desc: The *STARBOARD JOURNAL* is back! 1.855 17 7904 RSC128(CLR).SF X WC.COLEMAN 900411 30240 35 10 Desc: Newest version of RSCards 128 1.842 18 7905 RSC128(MONO).S X WC.COLEMAN 900411 30240 33 10 Desc: Newest version of RSCards 128 1.737 19 7911 EBBS128/V4.6.A X EBBS 900415 118440 26 7 Desc: C128 80 Col Full featured BBS! 1.733 20 7910 BOKWEDOI128.AR X S.ROSS4 900415 16380 25 11 Desc: 80 col game of concentration and spe 1.667 Calculated Monday April 30, 1990 ****************************************************************************** Walking the Plank Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ... by SHIPS-CAT So you spend hours at your computer keyboard? You write, or program, or chat with your friends here online. You enjoy having a computer, and you use it well and often-- Perhaps you even type on the job, at work. Hours of your life have gone by as your eyes bore back into the cathode ray tube of your wordprocessing machine. You worry a bit about radiation, about eyestrain. Until recently, these seemed to be all there was to worry about--certainly, computing isn't as dangerous as many other jobs. But one day, you sit down at your friendly keyboard and find that typing produces incredible pain in your wrists. Other things don't bother you--you can open jars, change a diaper, even play softball. Whenever you fit your fingers to the familiar ASDF/JKL; pattern, however, the pain is more than a grown man can stand. One woman I know says it's worse than childbirth. It's Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and it is a more and more frequent problem for people who type on computer keyboards. Meatcutters and other workers in some industries suffer the same ailment, but nothing seems to cause it as well as computer keyboards do. What causes it? and why doesn't it hurt all the time? The cause of CTS is not clearly understood, but seems to stem from pressure on nerves by carpal ligaments. The pain may be more-or less constant, but gets dramatically worse whenever a sufferer tries to type. Even cursor keys can be impossible to manipulate. There are many remedies. The first that is tried is generally nonuse of the affected hands. A doctor may have a patient avoid using the hand or hands for anything at all, may splint them to prevent their use, or may merely suggest that typing stop until the pain has gone. Other remedies include acupuncture, said by many to be amazingly effective, and surgery for very bad cases. Of course, Tylenol and aspirin help to ease pain. For some computers, keyboards are available or will be available which are shaped to help prevent CTS. These can be very effective, because the posture of the typist is clearly linked to the incidence of CTS. Perhaps as demand develops, products for CBM users will become available. In the meantime-- The most important thing you can do to prevent CTS is to be sure you are typing at the correct height. If your keyboard is located on a desk of filing-cabinet height, you may be risking CTS. The keyboard should be low enough to allow wrists and arms to relax while typing. Here is an illustration, provided by MARK.HIATT, SysOp of GEnieUS RT (with permission) "Most people type like this: __________ |::::::::::| |__:WWWW:__| | | / \ / \ \ / Top View =( )= "with elbows slightly out, but wrists nearly together, with the hands cranked out again. OF COURSE it hurts after awhile, that's the most godawful pose to assume for hours on end." So get a typing stand or some other lower-than-standard height desk, and type with your keyboard on a level straight ahead if your arms are down at your sides, and your elbows bent no more than 90 degrees. Also, make sure that your chair is right for you, with arm rests and back support. If long periods at your keyboard are leaving you with crackling wrist joints, stiffness, or sore or tense shoulders or neck muscles, your posture may be leading you to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome! If you find it comfortable to type with a keyboard in your lap, be careful that you aren't pinching nerves in your legs while trying to spare your wrists. (You can't win, it seems, huh?) Lots of doctors are making good money treating CTS--I'd rather see you spending your money the way you want! Watch out for yourself, and happy computing. Sheri Lynn ****************************************************************************** SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ ****************************************************************************** Thank you for reading The *STARBOARD* JOURNAL A Production of the *FLAGSHIP* RT ...a service for GEnie Subscribers PURSUING EXCELLENCE IN COMMODORE COMPUTING ****************************************************************************** SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ SBJ ****************************************************************************** This journal is being presented through the *StarBoard* Journal of the *FlagShip* RoundTable on the GEnie telecommunication networks. All authors retain copyright of their individual articles, whether so marked by the authors or not. Before distributing any of these articles please contact the individual authors for permission. GEnie asserts a compilation copyright over this newsletter; for details of GEnie copyright policy, please type POLICY at any menu prompt. ***************************************************************************** END OF FILE