›  ›                     ˆ›                     ˆ›                    ˆ›      ˆ›      ˆ›      ˆ› › | ROVAC ZMAGAZINE |› | Issue #154 |› | April 25, 1989 |› |Copyright 1989, RII|› ›      ˆ›      ˆ›      ˆ ›                    ›                      ›                       › › › › ‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’…› üÔèéó ÷ååë éî ÚÍáçáúéîåü› š’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ƒ› ›››  Editor's Monitor › Harold Brewer››  Atari in Panama › Carlos Hassan››  Rommel, Battles for Tobruk › Howard Bandow›› ICD's Current Software Versions ››  SuperDOS v5.0 › Tom Curtner››  Z*Net Newswire 8-bit Edition › Harold Brewer››            ››› ‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’…› üÅÄÉÔÏÒ§Ó ÍÏÎÉÔÏÒü› š’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ƒ› › |by Harold Brewer|› ›››I apologize for the lateness of last›week's issue of ZMagazine. It seems›the contents of one of the articles was›close to, if not actually, plagarizing›parts of the SpartaDOS X User's Manual.›Tom Harker of ICD gave his go ahead for›keeping the article in ZMagazine, but I›(and probably others) felt the removal›of said article was in everyone's best›interest.››With daytime temperatures here in the›Saint Louis area breaking record highs›(93 degrees today), I'm glad I have a›back-up computer (or two) just in case›of keyboard meltdown...››ZMagazine reporter John Nagy just›returned from the Anaheim World of›Atari show. Look for 8-bit information›in next week's ZMagazine, and for›16-bit information in this week's›ST-ZMagazine.››            ››› ‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’…› üÁÔÁÒÉ ÉΠÐÁÎÁÍÁü› š’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ƒ› › |by Carlos Hassan|› ›› Reprinted from Z*NET June 1989›››Atari computers in Panama go back a›long time. I was only eleven when I›first began playing with an ATARI 400›computer in 1981. Back in those happy›times, we did not even have program›recorders. Rather, all the programs›were available as cartridges, which the›local store was happy to provide at›over $50.00 each. As soon as the›popularity of this machine spread,›cassetee program recorders and disk›drives were made available.››I bought my own ATARI computer, the 800›model, in 1982, after a year of going›over to my neighbor's house to "play›Atari". My own computer cost $420.00.›I recall selling it years later for›$60.00, and I got a good deal.››At the time I did not know any English,›but I learned little by little, enough›to play around with the BASIC listings›in the user's manual. Then I heard›there was this "fantastic" Atari club,›in what was formerly the Panama Canal›Zone. I went to their meetings, and›was fascinated by the hardware and›software demonstrated there. The only›catch was that everybody spoke English.›Their newsletter was in English. Their›meeting was in English.››The club started out back in 1981 when›DOD personnel stationed in Panama›bought Atari computers and decided to›do something with them. The club›started with only 12 members, but it›grew at a fantastic rate, having at a›time over 400 members. There were so›many of them, that the club began›dropping memberships because their›Synfile records simply could not handle›them!››PCACUG, or Panama Canal Atari Computer›Users' Group, soon established a›Bulletin Board system (1983), and had›been already delivering Pan*ATARI*News›for at least a year and a half. The›club also started as an English-only›club, mainly because all members back›then were American citizens. Little by›little, the number of Panamanian›members grew too. Although most of the›volunteer jobs were carried out by›Americans, soon Panamanians took over›some of those. It was just two years›ago that a Panamanian finally became›president of the club, and a completely›bilingual meeting was carried out.›Formerly, only a few articles here and›there would be included in Spanish in›our monthly newsletter, the›Pan*Atari*News. With the help of›Mr. Juan Fagette, the club's Panamanian›population grew until now about 95% of›club members are Panamanians. The›meetings are still bilingual, and so is›our newsletter. The reason behind this›is that we carry out exchanges with›newsletters all over the world, and›still have American members. Praise›goes here to Mr. Anthony Mclean, our›last newsletter editor, who was always›making sure our newsletter had Spanish›coverage as well as English articles.››Last year, to my dismay, I was elected›president of the club. How did I get›in there? Well, maybe there weren't›many people attending that particular›election meeting! One of my first›goals was making a monthly newsletter›going out to all the members, and›enhancing club participation, but then,›isn't that every president's goal? We›began work on our newsletter,›Pan*Atari*News. P*A*N is a 24 page›monthly job. I began, like every other›newsletter editor (did I tell you that›I also am in charge of that?), to›reprint articles from other newsletters›and online sources. We translated many›articles to Spanish, and put them›inside the newsletter, finally making›it a 50/50 bilingual newsletter.››But, as every other editor reading this›knows, soon we ran out of things to›print (or reprint!), and club›participation in writing articles is›almost non-existent. Then I read a›press release concerning Z*Net. Sooner›than I knew, Z*Net was delivering us›its fantastic 12 page insert which now›covers half the work we have to do! As›a result of Z*Net's 16-bit coverage,›our 8-bit-only club is teaming the›newsletter effort with the local ST›club.››Being in a bilingual country poses some›interesting pronunciation problems.›Did you ever give it any thought as to›how you would pronounce "disk drive" in›another language? Or "diskette" or›"cursor" or "monitor"? Half the time,›half the people don't know what the›other person is talking about!›Castillian grammar rules are somewhat›tougher than English's, and the Spanish›Dictionary is only revised every ten›years. I guess it will be twenty to›thirty years before we find "cursor" as›an acceptable word in Spanish!››There is a large Atari 8-bit user base›here in our country, due to the›promotional effort of the company which›brought, and sold, thousands of Atari›computers to Panama. The problem, as I›am sure has happened in the US and›other countries as well, is that the›company was not a computer store. It›was an electronics store, happy to sell›computers as if they were just home›appliances (sound familiar?). We are›making a big effort to get all those›8-bit users into our club. Sometimes›they don't even know we exist, or think›we only speak English.››As this article is sent to Z*Net,›preparations are underway for our›second annual Atari Software Fair. At›our Fair, probably a lot different than›the ones at the States, since we don't›have third party developers showing off›products, etc., we present the latest›8-bit software, both commercial and›Public Domain. We invite computer›companies to bring generic computer›products that 8-bit users can buy, and›we also get a lot of new memberships.››Computing with the 8-bit Atari in›Panama has proven to be a lot of fun,›because they are computers that do›deliver power without the price!››If you would like any information about›our club, or start a newsletter›exchange, just write to us at:››   ›  PCACUG › | Apartado 5265 |› | Balboa, Ancon |› Panama, Republica de Panama›   ››            ››› ‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’…› üÒÏÍÍÅ̬ ÂÁÔÔÌÅÓ ÆÏÒ ÔÏÂÒÕËü› š’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ƒ› › |by Howard Bandow|› ››Miami Valley Atari Computer Enthusiasts›››Rommel is a game for Atari 8-bit›computers. Computer games aren't one›of my favorite aspects of personal›computing, even though I've collected a›fair number of games from computer ›magazines, and even written some simple›games to learn the application of some›computer programming techniques. This›being the case, you might wonder how›I've come to write a review of a ›computer game. The truth is, I won›this game in a raffle at an MVACE›meeting. Having won it, I felt›obligated to play it enough to learn›what it was about; and having played›it, I decided to write a review to do›my part to help alleviate the recent›dearth of 8-bit articles in the›newsletter. ››Other computer games I've seen tend to›fall in one of two categories. The›first of these is arcade games,›characterized by colorful graphics,›music and other sounds, and action on›the part of the user employing hand/eye›coordination and a joystick or similar›input device to participate in the›game. The other common type of game is›the text-based adventure game. In this›type of game the computer displays the›narrative of an adventure on the›screen. At intervals throughout the›story, the user executes choices by›entering commands, generally using a ›keyboard. ››Rommel fits neither of these›categories. Basically, it's a board ›based strategy game; a much more›complex version of games like Chinese›Checkers. In fact, it's so complex›that the computer is needed to perform›the administrative chores of executing›moves and calculating the results of›play. Rommel is based on a simulation›of the events surrounding four›different battles for Tobruk, a›fortress in northern Africa during›World War Two. It comes on both sides›of a floppy disk; you can copy the back›side, which is used most. The›gameboard is a map of the region ›surrounding Tobruk, which is divided›into hexagonal sectors. Each sector›has a terrain, clear, rough, or›impassable, or a road or track.›Sectors may also contain objects such›as airfields, towns, or minefields.›About half the sectors don't enter the›play because they're either in the›ocean or they contain impassable›terrain. ››The game is played between Axis and Allied forces. One side is a human›player who may play against either the›computer or another human. Each side›begins with up to thirty military units›placed on the gameboard in locations›based on the historical circumstances›leading to the actual battles for›Tobruk. There are four forms of a›strategic map which show the entire›play area, but play is executed on a›tactical map which shows a small area›in larger scale. Each battle consists›of a specified number of moves, each›representing a day of battle. ››Play takes place in three stages for›each move. First, each player gives›orders to each of its units. Since›there are more than thirty types of›units, having different kinds and›amounts of strengths, and up to thirty›units for each side, this is a›lengthy process.››To give orders to a unit you first must›pick it up. There are five types of›orders (advance, march, assault,›defend, and regroup). After selecting›a mode, a movement order is issued for›the first three types of modes. This›is done by moving the cursor to an›adjacent sector. Each movement costs a›number of impulses depending on the›mode and the terrain of the sector›entered. You can give orders to a unit›until its impulses are used up. While›the computer is issuing orders, a›screen appears showing various steps›involved in calculating the orders to›be issued. While the computer is›engaged in each step, a counter beside›that step is incremented. This gives›useful clues to the player about›factors he should consider in selecting›his moves. ››The next stage is resolution. In this›step the day's battles are played out›an impulse at a time. Units'›capabilities to carry out orders are›effected by the movements of enemy›troops and the relative strengths of›the two sides' units. This stage can be›quite lengthy and the players aren't›involved, since the computer performs›all the calculations required to›resolve a move. The player(s) can take›a break during this phase. ››Once the turn has been resolved, the›computer shows the players what has›happened on a strategic map. The›events of the turn are displayed an›impulse at a time. Moving units are›flashing and shown in white. Units›suffering casualties flash in various ›colors. New units entering battle›flash in green and units which are›eliminated flash in black. The review›can be replayed. When the review is›completed, the next turn begins. ››In addition to selecting which battle›is to be played, there are several›options which can be selected which›determine the complexity of play.›Supplies and air support can be added›to the game. Fatigue and visibility of›enemy troops can be included to make›conditions more representative of real›battles. ››I have several observations about this›game. First, it's not something you›can sit down and quickly learn to play.›There are about sixty pages of›documentation, and you'll be referring›to the manual repeatedly for some time.›Second, it's not a quick game. There›are long periods of time when the›player isn't involved and to play an›entire game can easily take an evening.›Third, it's not one of those action›filled, shoot 'em up, arcade-type games›that gets the adrenalin flowing.›However, for those looking for a game›requiring a lot of thought and willing›to devote the time needed to learn›complex rules, the game Rommel can be›an interesting experience.›› › | Game Designers' Workshop |› | P.O. Box 1646 |› |Bloomington, IL 61702-1646|› ››            ››› ‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’…› üÉÃħӠÃÕÒÒÅÎÔ ÓÏÆÔ×ÁÒÅ ÖÅÒÓÉÏÎÓü› š’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ƒ›› Courtesy of the ICD/OSS Bulletin Board››› ›••ˆ "These are the current versions of› ICD's 8-bit Atari products:›› Action! 3.6› Action! Runtime 1.4› Action! Tool Kit 3› BASIC XL 1.03› BASIC XL Tool Kit 1.00› BASIC XE 4.1› BASIC XE Extensions 4.11› FlashBack 2.3› MAC/65 1.01› MAC/65 Tool Kit 1.00› MIO 1.1› SpartaDOS Const. Set 3.2D› SpartaDOS Tool Kit:› CleanUp 1.4› DiskRx 1.9› DOSMenu 1.3› MIOCFG 1.2› ProKey 1.3› RenDir 1.0› SortDir 1.4› VDelete 1.1› Whereis 2.2› SpartaDOS X 4.20››› ›••ˆ "These are the current versions of› ICD's ST Atari products.›› BBS Express! ST 1.30› CleanUp ST 1.9› ICDBOOT 3.2› ICDFMT 2.32› ICDTIME 1.4› IDCHECK 1.00› Personal Pascal 2.05› RATEHD 1.1› Tape Backup 1.1› TIMESET 1.4›››(Åäéôïò§ó îïôåº These current versions› are to aid ICD software owners in› determining the availability of an› upgrade. Owners who would like to› know what changes have gone into› a particular upgrade and the› associated cost thereof need only› call or write to ICD.›› Other software manufacturers are› encouraged to contact ZMagazine› for promulgation of their current› software version numbers.)›› › | ICD |› | 1220 Rock Street |› |Rockford, IL 61101|› | (815)968-2228 |› | (voice) |› | (815)968-2229 |› | (modem) |› ››            ››› ‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’…› üÓÕÐÅÒÄÏÓ Öµ®°ü› š’’’’’’’’’’’’’ƒ› › |by Tom Curtner|› ›› An Option for the Eights›Miami Valley Atari Computer Enthusiasts›››One of the great features available for›the Atari is the market of Disk›Operating Systems. Most of us know how›DOS 2.x functions with our machine, and›the limitations it imposes upon us.›DOS 2.x is friendly, moderately fast,›and dependable. However, is does lack›some of the refinements other DOSes›offer. Though Atari did address some›of these options with DOS XE, they did›not bother to make it truly compatible.›This presents the regular DOS 2.x user›a problem: stay with 2.x or go to›another DOS.››In 1988 a new DOS was introduced into›the U.S. (SUPERDOS v4.x) by Technical›Support, situated in Daly City,›California. The program being marketed›was SUPERDOS by Paul Nicholls of›Australia. Through BBS message bases›and the user group grapevine, we heard›good remarks for this DOS.››A major asset of SUPERDOS is the›ability to run on all Atari Eight-Bit›machines. And with 64K or more, you›have the SDUP.SYS menu load›automatically (and resident). If you›have less than 64K, you can set›SDUP.SYS to resident. The SUPERDOS›disk has seven files on it:›› DOS.SYS (77 S/D sectors)› SDUP.SYS (40)› AUX.SYS (38)› SBAS.SYS (03)› DOC.SYS (318)›AUTORUN.SYS (49)› and › DOCv5.SYS (47)››DOCv5.SYS describes the latest›revisions of version 5.0. When you›boot SUPERDOS you have the option of›printing the documentation or going›directly to DOS. Your best option is›to print the docs, read, and then›experiment.››Once you have the docs printed, take›the "D" option to DOS and view the›menu. At the top of your screen you›have the "Drive Status Line". Drives›are numbered from 1 to 5+, with 5+›being the RAMdisk. If you access 6,7,›or 8, DOS will refer to 5+, the›RAMdisk. Since SUPERDOS is DOS›sensitive, the Drive Line will reflect›the current disk status, changing at›each access (single, double, etc.). In›addition to the Drive Line, your border›will reflect the type of operation›which you are performing. Red is for›WRITE, green for READ, and purple for›INITIALIZE/FORMAT.››The SDUP.SYS menu for SUPERDOS reads›pretty much the same as DOS 2.x with›modifications. DIRECTORY is very›lenient (D1:1 or 1 is allowed).›DIRECTORY also gives note if there is a›DELETED or OPEN file (-FN.* = DELETED,›?FN.* = OPEN). The spacebar or no ›designated drive number will show the›directory for "D1:". When calling up›the directory in SUPERDOS your listing›is in double columns. The screen will›scroll, so you will be able to view all›files listed. CARTRIDGE will›enable/disable BASIC for the XL/XE ›machines. The COPY option has been›enhanced and combines the 2.x ›COPY/DUPLICATE functions.››Other options: Bypass the verify›prompts before proceeding (*.*/N or›*.*/Y), and Copy from cassette. DELETE›is the same as 2.x. RENAME will rename›the first file only if two of the same›name have been saved. LOCK and UNLOCK›same as 2.x. WRITE DOS allows you›write both DOS.SYS and SDUP.SYS or just›DOS.SYS (make sure you WRITE DOS if you›make any changes with the AUX.SYS›menu). FORMAT will do any density›(this includes the XF551 drive), plus ›skewed sectors. DUP DISK will do disks›or sectors, and will copy the boot›sectors. BIN SAVE takes HEX or DEC.›RESTORE recovers DELETED/DAMAGED/OPEN›FILES. And finally, VERIFY toggles›your write/verify to on/off.››The AUX.SYS menu offers special›options. The # LIST DIRECTORY works›like the SDUP.SYS menu. INITIALIZE DOS›will activate any options you have›chosen for DOS (such as DRIVE BUFFERS›or FILE BUFFERS). COPY FROM DOS 3›copies from DOS 3 to SUPERDOS. WRITE ›SUPERBIN enables you to have a binary›loader on your disk (note: while not›part of the AUX.SYS menu, the program›SUPERBAS will likewise make a BASIC›loader for your disk). CONFIG.BLOCK ›displays disk drive configuration.›TRACE AND PATCH will trace bad sectors,›linking the good sectors. XL/XE KEY›RATE has the selection from 1 (slow) to›4 (fast). This is done in increments›of one. FILE BUFFERS allows you to set›your file buffer number. DRIVE BUFFERS›lets you designate the amount of drive›buffers. RESIDENT SDUP gives you the›option of having SDUP resident at the ›bottom of memory, while non-resident›will reside on disk or under the›operating system, depending on your›machine. EXIT TO SDUP executes that›command. NOTE, with any change you›make in the AUX.SYS menu, you should›INITIALIZE DOS, and then WRITE DOS to ›make your change permanent.››I tested SUPERDOS under many conditions. First I discovered that ›the copy I had was in double density.›So with my 1050 (with US Doubler), I›formatted a disk in single density on›the 810. Then using COPY, I›transferred the files from double ›density to single density. No problem!›SUPERDOS did the job nicely. In›addition, my sector count remained in›sectors, unlike DOS XE with its›Kilobyte count. Copying on a single›drive from D/D to S/D and back to D/D›gave no problems either. When you›copy, you have the option of›initializing in D/D,S/D,E/D, and›2 sided D/D (XF551). I even tested the›duplication method by copying my›TextPro 3.2 initialized in SpartaDOS in›S/D. I may not have been able to read›the directory properly, but it did copy›the disk! More important, all the›files in 2.x and SpartaDOS I copied›during my test worked properly. In›addition to the regular copy test, ›once again I subjected COPY MATE 4.3›and MyCopyR to the task of duplication.›Here again everything worked as›desired.››SUPERDOS appears to emulate 2.x quite›well. I was able to read the D/D›SUPERDOS disk with SpartaDOS without›any problem. This, unfortunately,›DOS XE could not address. So if you›have SpartaDOS and someone hands you a›disk in SUPERDOS, you're in luck. This›may not seem important to some, but›with the various DOS formats ›available, it's good to know what is›compatable.››I don't have a modified XL so I won't›be able to tell you personally much›about the RAMdisk setup. However,›according to the docs, SUPERDOS›supports most RAMdisks, and will set up›the largest RAMdisk possible. In›addition, SUPERDOS will copy all files›with the *.RAM extension automatically›to the RAMdisk. There's even a way in›which you can protect your RAMdisk from›a coldstart.››The speed of SUPERDOS during operations›is very good. In working from D/D to›S/D, operations went smoothly. The›only lag is when transferring from my›1050 (with US Doubler) to the 810.›Here, reads on the 1050 were fast, but›normal when writing to the 810. I must›state, however, this is also true with›SpartaDOS. There is help for this by›toggling VERIFY to OFF. This gave a ›moderate increase in speed. ››The menus in SUPERDOS function well,›giving you clear instructions of what›to do. By using the BREAK key, you›abort the current function. This is an›asset if you have made a blunder (who,›me?), or change your mind at the last›nanosecond and wish to abort. If you›load the AUX.SYS and don't take any of›the options available, any other key›response will take you back to SDUP.›Just remember!--SAVE all changes in›your configuration. ››Working with SUPERDOS is easy. It's›fast, user friendly, and very›full-featured. If you have any›familiarity with DOS 2.x, you'll speed›through with ease. The compatibility›and enhancements of SUPERDOS are›worthwhile, and will answer most needs.›If you have the XF551 Drive, this could›be the DOS for you.››            ››› ‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’…› üÚªÎÅÔ ÎÅ×Ó×ÉÒÅ ¸­ÂÉÔ ÅÄÉÔÉÏÎü› š’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ƒ› › |by Harold Brewer|› › ›••ˆ Please complete the following› sentence (or letter) for me:›› "Dear Atari,›› "I am a loyal 8-bit Atarian. I› don't WANT an Atari ST. As a› dedicated 8-bit Atari user, what I› REALLY WANT is..."›› I am very interested in hearing› your replies to this one. I'd like› to see just how many 8-bitters› there are left out there. Are we a› dying breed, or a silent majority?› Feel free to EMAIL or MAIL your› replies to me. I plan to log the› comments and then formally present› this data to Atari. It may not do› us any good at all, but it can't› hurt.›› CompuServe: 76703,1077› GEnie: MAT.RAT› Delphi: MATRAT›› Or mail them to:›› Ratware Softworks› 32 S. Hartnett Ave.› St. Louis, MO 63135›› Thanks, Mat*Rat›› (P.S. PASS IT ON...)››› ›••ˆ CompuServe Offer:›› If you are NOT a CompuServe user› and would like to see what you are› missing, please respond to the› following limited offer!›› Readers of ZMagazine can receive› $15.00 of free online time by› sending your name and address to:›› › | ROVAC ZMagazine |› | 4010 Ridgedale |› |Granite City, IL 62040-5741|› | Attn: CIS offer |› ›› In turn, we will forward your info› to CompuServe which will get a kit› out to you ASAP. Please note that› this offer expires May 31, 1989 and› can be cancelled at any time.››› ›••ˆ ICD's Craig Thom tells me that both› their 256K and 1Meg MIOs are in› limited production. Descriptions› and retail prices remain the same› as can be found in ICD's 19881989› Product Catalog. ZMag readers may› be aware that the 1Meg MIO has been› unavailable for several months due› to high DRAM chip prices.››            ››› ‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’…› ü   Òïöáã Éîäõóôòéåó¬ Éîãïòðïòáôåä  ü› ü Ð®Ï® Âïø ·´¬ Íéääìåóåø¬ ÎÊ °¸¸´¶  ü› ü          ¨²°±© ¹¶¸­¸±´¸           ü› üÃïðùòéçèô ±¹¸¹  Áìì Òéçèôó Òåóåòöåäü› š’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ƒ›› CompuServe: 71777,2140› GEnie: ZMAGAZINE› Source: BDG793››     ÚÍáçáúéîå Èåáäñõáòôåòó ÂÂÓåóº     › Centurian BBS--(314)621-5046› (618)451-0165› Chaos BBS--(517)371-1106› Shadow Haven--(916)962-2566› Stairway to Heaven--(216)784-0574› The Pub--(716)826-5733›