3 April 1978 12-Bit SIG Newsletter Index Newsletters indexed: (#1) Decuscope 10(2):25-30 "PS/8 Newsletter" (#2) January 1972 "PS/8 and OS/8 Newsletter" (#3) April 1972 "PS/8 - OS/8 - OS/12 Newsletter" (#4) July 1972 (#5) November 1972 (#6) February-March 1972 (#7) April-May 1973 "PS/8 - OS/8 - OS/12 - DS/8" #9 November 1973 #10 April 1974 #11 October 1974 "DECUS OS/8 SIG Newsletter" #12 March 1975 #13 July 1975 #14 October 1975 #15 March 1976 #16 April 1976 "DECUS 12-bit SIG NEWSLETTER" #17 July 1976 #18 September 1976 #19 November 1976 #20 January 1977 #21 March 1977 #22 May 1977 #23 July 1977 #24 September 1977 #25 November 1977 #26 January 1978 12-Bit SIG Newsletter Index 3 April 1978 A ACID, see "document formatters" ALGOL #10:3 Assemblers (see also PAL, RALF, FLAP, MACREL) microprocessor cross-assemblers INTEL 8080 "X8" (Sierra Systems; run under OS/8) CALOS-80 (for 8080 under OS/8) #20:12 PAGE8 (macro facility, automatic paging) #17:6 B BASIC #23:19 BASIC (see also "INBSIC", "language comparisons") improved editor for #15:5 2-page SYS: handlers ,special considerations #16:11-13,#19:13 margin-setting function for #16:19-22 optional patches for #15:17 overlay, extended (more room for user) #25:20-23 BATCH "BAT:" handler patch to permit use under FORTRAN IV #16:24 corrections to usage example in #23:37 8K version of #23:17 log on TTY unless /L, patch #26:46 optional patches to #25:25-26 using all 32k inability to, without manual ".CORE" #13:15-16 patch to permit #15:3 disabling TD8E ROM #25:12 BATCHM (pre-processor permitting macros) #25:19 Bootstrap to arbitrary monitor on DECtape #2:6-7,#3:6 even shorter DECtape bootstraps #3:6 execution of initial job [provided for, V3D] #24:20,#23:37 BUILD system device handlers, how to write #11:1-2,#12:13,#16:22-23 2-page SYS: with FRTS and BASIC #16:10-12,#19:13 BUILD with 2-page system handlers #17:9 LTA4-7,"missing" entry points #20:24,#21:24 limitations on number of handlers, slots #20:24,#21:24 Page 2 3 April 1978 12-Bit SIG Newsletter Index C CAMP, see DATUM CLASSIC Notes on expansion of #22:6 Removing PIP to protect against naive users #22:6 CCL .ASSIGN works wrong #23:34 CREF command doesn't work #23:24 .DEASSIGN now only available under, #19:11 discussed/refuted #20:20 default altmode in .EX, removing #13:6 default device DSK: (rather than SYS:) #16:6 correction (STL RTL, not IAC RAL) #17:8 default DSK: output for .EX, .COM #16:6 FRTS call on .LD extension #13:6 .FT as default ".TECO" extension #13:6 improved versions Gardner/Purdue #25:15 search order for .EX, improved #13:6,#24:21 Centronics printers elongation on, #24:37-40,#24:42-47 CREF elongated headings #23:45-46 and RALF #13:14,#19:12 Cross assemblers, see "assemblers" D Date problem, see OS/8 DATUM controller, passes diagnostics but CAMP and MCPIP bomb #26:36 Diskettes, see "floppy discs" DDT, see "debuggers" Debuggers symbolic, for OS/8 #18:5 DECnet #23:38-41 DECstation 78 #23:2 DECsystem/8, see OS/8 DECtapes, see also "tapes" DECUS library,etc.--see library, etc. Device codes, see "hardware" DIAL-to-OS/8 conversions #2:2 DIBOL favorable experience with #26:27-8 Page 3 12-Bit SIG Newsletter Index 3 April 1978 DIRECT alphabetized and other enhancements #16:6 V5G fully described #24:5-9 optional patches for allow =N range 0-13 #16:19 default number of columns #16:19 removes lengths of empties #16:19 squishes together #16:19 patches to V5G to improve performance under ETOS #26:37 sometimes omits CTRL-Z on output to file #20:28 DISASM (disassembler), availability of source #26:5 Diskettes, see floppy discs Document formatters ACID #22:5 MEMO #12:9 RUNOFF #12:9 E Editors ICE #22:5 improved BASIC/FORTRAN editors #15:5 TECO, see below XEDIT (similar to CDC and other large TSS editors) #15:6 EAE, see "Hints and kinks" Elongation, see Centronics ETOS, described #16:8-9,#18:12-13 F FXDIR (method for restoring bombed directories) #18:8-10 FLAP what is it, where is it now #15:8-9 experiences with #16:4-5 Floppy discs DEC-Sykes format converters #26:9-10,#26:46 new Sykes packing handler #26:46 packed format Sykes 7250 handler #19:6 packed format Sykes 7100 handler and support #20:10 Page 4 3 April 1978 12-Bit SIG Newsletter Index FOCAL see also "language comparisons" German language handbook #14:3 Navy FOCAL #19:5 OMSI- and U/W-FOCAL, patch to make compatible #20:21 reading FORTRAN II reals under DIAL FOCAL #15:28-31 standardization of, #26:5 Sandia FOCAL-77 #21:5 SUPERFOCAL #19:4 U/W-Focal #20:12 U/W-FOCAL V4, new features described #26:11-15 Form feeds, see Handlers--Line Printer FORTRAN II binary output format of #15:28-31 common block allocation in #6:7 conversion to interruptable operation #19:5 mode A EAE routines for, #19:6 FPP-12 with #23:43 separating modules in library #20:22-23 "Whetstone" benchmark #14:9-10 FORTRAN IV accuracy problem with FPP simulator #26:15 altmode under BATCH ".EX" not passed #13:14 array size limitation fully specified #22:8 autoindexing, possibility of inadvertent #15:15 BAT:, patch to permit use under FORTRAN IV #16:24 chaining to FORTRAN IV programs #25:11 "CLOCK" routine bugs #14:6-7,#18:18 see also SYNC, TIME below clock, driving user routines from #18:18 CREF misinterprets RALF #13:14 DATA statement bug #14:7,14 debugging under PDP-12 #18:14 "DO 10 I = J-1" not flagged"as error #14:3 because it isn't an error #15:7 EQUIVALENCE bug (capable of destroying system) #22:7 FLAC, FPP-PDP communication via #18:15 FLIST (rapid list-only with ISN's) #20:27 FORLIB default device other than sys:, patch to make #23:26 Page 5 12-Bit SIG Newsletter Index 3 April 1978 FRTS see also FPP and 2-page SYS: handlers #16:10-13,#19:13 "INPUT ERROR" non-fatal, patch to make #13:19-23 locking out CPU, how to #25:25 memory overflow from too-big dimension not caught #18:25 normalization in #18:14 OPTF4 (F4 optimizer) #25:24 experience with, #26:5 problem with "SYNC" #24:31 quiz (summarizes some subtle features) #26:23-5 RALF (see also "FLAP", "FPP") crashes if insufficient room for output [fixed] #22:24 forward addressing puzzle described #13:14-15 explained #15:4 elaborated #18:16-17 incorrect relocatable from long ESD's [fixed] #19:16 roundoff in output #24:31 STARTD format , operand locations in #18:15-16 ".SV"-image preservation of fiv programs #25:11 statement function bug #14:16 statement function dummies #13:16 "SYNC" function extension #18:22 TIME (in FORLIB), patch for #21:29-30 "whetstone" benchmark #14:9-10 "WGET/WPUT" routines #14:17-18,#23:26,#23:43 FPP simulator inconsistencies in frts FLDA in STARTD clears FAC high-order #25:6 left shifts may introduce garbage into AC #20:27 preserves low bit in left-right ALN sequences #20:27,#25:12 FPP support package #16:5 FRTS, see "FORTRAN IV" and "FPP" G Graphics FORTRAN IV graphics package #11:6 H Handlers--see also under KL8E, Centronics Handlers, high-core, suggestions for implementing #20:19 Handlers, line printer Eliminating excess form feeds, patch to, #21:5-6 Page 6 3 April 1978 12-Bit SIG Newsletter Index Handlers, special BAT:, SEE "BATCH" Centronics 101 printer #2:2 core memory #12:12-13 CM8/I mark-sense card reader #3:3 DC02 multi-terminal, listing #15:23-27 DP12/PT08 #2:2 KL8E, modified for Tektronix 4006-1 #22:3 Kleinschmidt printer #3:3 KV8 #2:2 LINC-8 tape (non-system,12k) #3:3,#4:5 LTA4-7,"missing" entry points #20:24,#21:24 Mohawk printer #3:3 TC58/TU20 #2:2 TD8E, interrupt-permitting #12:7 Telex 5-level punch #11:7 OS/8 to IBM VM/370 via KL8J #24:16 PTO8F #3:3 Sykes, see "floppy disks" Versatec 200 printer #3:3 Handlers, system--see "build" Hardware See also "Hints and Kinks" conflicting device codes #17:7,#18:18 PDP-8 family history #21:4 PDP-8 microcomputers #24:17 PDP-8 vs. PDP-11 comparision #24:18-19 Plotter hardware bug and fix #22:8 Static electricity #21:2-3 Hints and kinks see also: "tapes, extra-long;" "OS/8, date problem ,band-aids" EAE, problem with standard A/B detect, shows right way #22:9 outputting nulls to avoid 3/2 packing #6:7 programming compares #22:3-4 I ICE, see "editors" INBSIC favorable remarks on, 24:14-15 overlay and I/O handling superior to standard BASIC 26:15 summary of additional functions and statements #26:43-6 patches UDC graceful turnoff on program termination 26:16 power-fail restart improvements 26:16-17 Industrial I-14 programmable controller, story #25:32-35 Interrupt, enabling under OS/8 #4:2,#10:3 Intersil 6100, see "microcomputers" Page 7 12-Bit SIG Newsletter Index 3 April 1978 J K KL8E--see terminal handler KL8J #24:16 KT8A--see memory expansion L Languages, see: ALGOL,DIBOL,ASSEMBLERS,BASIC,FOCAL,FORTRAN,INBSIC,TECO Language comparisons: FOCAL:FORTRAN II:FORTRAN IV #22:2-3 FOCAL:BASIC #3:2 FOCAL:BASIC:FORTRAN #23:13-16 INBSIC:RSX11 #24:14 relative usage, BASIC>PAL8>FOCAL>FIV>FII #25:5 OS/8:RT-11 #23:17,#24:18-19 U/W FOCAL vs. others, comprehensive review #22:14-22 Critique of above by Lars Palmer #22:23-26 LINC handling LINC-mode interrupts under RTS-8 #16:5 PDP-12 not as nice as classic LINC in some ways #19:8-9 LINCtapes, see "tapes" LPTSPL, WHAT IS IT #11:3-4 M Machines--see "hardware" MACREL support policy, pre-omnibus machines #25:4 Magtapes (not DECtapes or LINCtapes) see also DATUM handlers, file-transfer and rollin/rollout systems MTFOTP (works just like FOTP for magtape) #26:10-11 MTF (fancy OS/8 handler using RTS-8 tasks) #26:29-35 MARK, SEE "TAPES" MCPIP, see DATUM Media conversion offer #23:13 MEMO, SEE "DOCUMENT FORMATTERS" Memory expansion #23:2-5 Page 8 3 April 1978 12-Bit SIG Newsletter Index Microcomputers/microprocessors cross-assemblers for ,see "assemblers" with PDP-8 INSTRUCTION SET Harris 6100 chip #25:36 working group on, formation of #26:19 Zonge engineering #26:26 Monitors, see "operating systems" MULTI-8 #13:5,#15:12,#23:27-30,#24:11 Multi-user OS/8 #23:31 N O Operating systems 4K disc monitor overlays to substitute extended memory for disc #26:17 see also OS/78, OS/8 P?S monitor (efficient for 4K systems) #19:6-8 OS/78 strict-subset relation to OS/8 #25:4 OS/8 (see also "Rabinowitz") Batch-in-Progress word correctly documented #21:22 bugs #23:33-36 CAMP, see DATUM CCL, see above "chain & return," patch to implement #19:14 copying block-oriented non-file devices under pip #13:18 date problem discussed #19:1-3 further explanation #20:16-18 solution adopted by DEC #21:21-23 band-aids (patches and procedures until V3D arrives) CCL printout of date #26:6 General advice #25:3 INBSIC #26:15-16 DEASSIGN command now available only under CCL, problems #19:11 DIRECT, see above directory overflow--see "PFILES" directory size,feasible expansion in non-system devices #21:25 future of, DEC's plans described #26:19-20 KV8, modifications so commands echo on #16:16 LPTSPL, what is it #11:3-4 MCPIP, see DATUM PIP, see below reference card for #21:11 RESORC, see below Page 9 12-Bit SIG Newsletter Index 3 April 1978 "SET" command #11:2-3,#12:6,#24:14 full description of #21-13-21 V3D see also OS/8 .DATE, .SET described #23:1 P PAL8 symbol table apparently much reduced in V10 #18:24 new use of /K clarified #19:15,#20:28 PFILES, maintains many files without directory overflow #25:15-18 PDP-8 microcomputers, see "microcomputers" PIP cannot ascii-transfer file reaching end of device #25:6 danger in "FILE