Adventurer #04 31 июля 1996

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System - Description of system software: XAS, MASM 1.1, Copy v3.3 turbo, Power Assembler v3.0, Turbo Assembler, Rock Disk Service v3.1, LZ-Compressor v1.0, PCX Show v1.0, Memory test v1.3, Digital Music Macker.

         (C) Kotov AV (CAV Inc.)


           (C) Music S.E.R.G.E


     Continue the discussion of software programs, begun in one 
of the previous numbers, because since that time have 
accumulated a certain number of novelties. 


     We begin our discussion with the assemblers.
To date, I have a few systems of this naznacheniya.Poprobuyu
to their comparative characteristics.
But more on that below. Parade starts system
which I still like the most.



     XAS (128K Only)


     (C) Max Petrov


     I can say about this assembly
only the good. More info: system
represents the editor with assembler + loadable Startup STS
(Supplied). Editor-made
very well, though some who have long

worked with Tasm'om not like the management,
but it's all nonsense ... On Power Editor
close to a good text editor. A 42 characters per line look
just fine, compared to Tasm'om,
Masm'om and Power Assembler'om (I
as the monitor is used b / w
TV with 23 cm and connected through the modulator, so think,
how to read 64-character text).
In XAS'e done fast swapping of modules
and, in general, the faster the disk,
than Tasm'e v 3.XX (and faster than in
4.0 (XLD)). Assembling passes
2.18 times faster than Tasm v 3.XX.
Develop programs and support their
occur faster than in Tasm'e (so
when an error occurs during assembly, shall be issued not a 
mean message, as in Tasm'e v 3.XX, and the string with an error

text message error, and the most
steep - a string with the error is highlighted in the text, and 
among the teams Editor 

allowing a switch to the selected
rows). Voobshe in XAS'e many pleasant
surprises, and surprises. To give just
one example: once, leaving the Xas'a
in DOS (not Reset), I decided to run
it again (before that I made the sealing drive in Jemmini 
Commander'e). Run and what do I see? Xas booted himself and 
uploaded the text, which was at the exit from it. I was not 
expecting this! With Xas'om on the disc, I had also file

descriptions x.txt in alternative encoding, file macro and STS, 
a modified by Xas (file STS'a Compulsory should

be written after Xas'a). From the description
should that still needs to be converter
of Tasm'a in Xas, but it was not as bad.
Strongly sign I will not only
I will say little about macros. This, of course,
macros, but not in the sense that both the IBM
or on the DEC PDP-11, but in terms of how to
some text editors, ie,
character string or a team hanging on

any key. (The normal macros
except GENS'a on SPECCY I have not seen)

     Short conclusion: the system is very
good, all the features described in
description (when buying look that takes), it is recommended to 
use. 

     A now go to the strongest competitor Xas'a Masm'u.


     Master Assembler (MASM) v 1.1


     (C) KSA '* AIG *


     Well, this very system for predicting
shift Tasm'u (I do not agree with this) but ...
It's always: there is "NO". So, the first
What you see is running Masm, - very
More familiar to Tasm'u font and a very similar menu. Well, 
that's okay. Except for statements speed assembly - 700 lines / 
sec, a pseudo-macro, a little better service, a text format (Oh 
God, another one! / Cri de coeur ') 

it turns out that this case is very similar
on Tasm. And sometimes even a little bit worse ...
So, we shall understand in order: in Masm'e
improved disk operations and service at
the disc, there is a built-in converter with Tasm'a v 3.XX, 
introduced the possibility to reduce and commands DEFW DEFB to 
DW, DB, introduced the recognition of undocumented commands 
(not all) and, ostensibly, macros.


     Probably, Monsieur KSA is not very
good idea for macros as such (not meant macro text editors) or 
he has decided, so to speak, vypendritsya. So, its macros like 
as two peas similar to the command . RERT n of * Macro 
Assembler'a * on DEC PDP-11 (DCK). And there it serves as

"Macros" in KSA, to repeat N times
, to write in between. RERT /. ENDR
or, in the interpretation of KSA, BEGIN / END. On
Actually, "macro" refers to the text
concluded between the header and the operator

end macro with a unique name and
formal parameters (they can ostutstvovat)
and assembly associates to place
call the macro code. To better understand the
bring a piece of text from the program for
DEC PDP-11:

 . MACRO SWAP ss, dd; title of the macro

                     ; Exchange values

        mov ss, - (sp); or register

        mov dd, ss; memory

        mov (sp) +, dd
 . ENDM

Or macro mnemonics Z80 (GENS)


  FILL MAC one, two; title of the macro

       ld hl, = 0

       ld de, = 0 +1

       ld bc, = 1-1

       ld (hl), = 2

       ldir

       ENDM


     Actually, the macro system (normally made) is very 
convenient (especially if not most of their set). Thus, almost

all work with the I / O devices and
maintenance of memory in the DEC PDP-11 MACRO
goes through macros (very strong there
makrobiblioteka). However, I digress ...
By Masm'u included a description of the format
ZX-WORD 2.XH, where almost everything is painted in detail. In 
principle, Masm can be used (especially if the person does not 
want store management in XAS'e or simply

very used to spoil his eyes, looking at 64 characters per 
line). Support Masm'e programs at the same level as that

in Tasm'e, ie bad. Last cursor position is not remembered, (and 
XAS'e memorized all), the errors are not marked.

That is, a sort of cart-severe system
for this cool coders. Oh, I forgot
to mention a built-in Masm'e
Block STS'a.


     Perhaps my assessment is too biased and subjective. 
Therefore I will give word man, dismantled with MASM'om

more than me.

(ELF:

     You can add some comments
which the author Dana article did not mention
or mentioned in passing.
Firstly, in Masm'e a disk menu when the boot record and 
importing text of TASM'a, though it now has one

not surprised. Second, one of the unpleasant features 
Masm'ovskogo Editor Latency is it (that's really what

not be said about TASM 4.0 XLD). But despite
a number of shortcomings, I take MASM'om,
so as soon as it has macros, although
rather strange implemented, as well as
a few useful things, and the transition from TASM'a on MASM 
exercise is much easier than, for example, XAS with its weird 
text editor. Although like, he's done as well as in IS-DOS.)



     Power Assembler v 3.0 128K


         (C), Oleg Sergeev, 1996


     What can I say about this product
the human mind ... The description states that it is 
beta-version, 128K versions of the same name assembler versions 
1.HH 2.xx, who worked in the 48K mode. Perhaps the man did not 
have to Tasm'a 48-second car or even Tasm he dislikes, or does 
it not PENTAGON ... In general, we have another Tasm'o-like 
assembly with their individual twists and, of course, the 
glitches (I have this thing not much chased, the time I did not 
so much). If you're in Tasm'e, then you Power

Assembler, probably not needed. And if
you have not started yet, but intend to join the
discordant series of encoders, then you should
select or Tasm or something else (see
above), and if you have a 48K car, I sincerely sympathize with 
you and recommend you get something on the basis of GENS'a, UNE 
Example, FWORD FOR GENS v1.X. Nothing more I can say on Power 
Assembler'u can not, and hardly anyone in our town say more.


     Brief description: You can certainly use, but it's unclear 
why. (Who does not agree with my opinion - please

write to the editorial address.)


     Pass to the latest assembler
which appeared recently, and it is ....
would never guess it is ....

              T A S M!


     Turbo Assembler v 4.0 (XLD)


     (C) XL DESIGN INC. 1996

     (C) Sergei Pavlov


     Well, say, CAV quite mad,
TASM new name-calling. But it DOES
NEW TASM, we can say a rebirth
old Tasm'a. Briefly we can say that
Fixed bugs 3.XX version added

binary numbers, Speeding up the speed,
added to the undocumented commands
built-in disk cache. In general, we can say
that the program is completely altered, but
while leaving all the teams Editor
and systems. Ie acquiring Tasm v 4.0,
you get familiar with new system
opportunities. Tasm v 4.0 - this is the best
Choice of for a person who does not want
move to XAS or Masm by virtue of its
habits Tasm'u or more for what reasons. Description of this 
version is the electronic journal ZX-FORMAT N 3, and

write more about it nothing.


  Estimate for 10-point scale:


      XAS ............. 10

      MASM ............. 6

      TASM v4.0 ............. 7

      PASM v3.0 ............. ?(??)


     Low estimate Masm'a and Tasm'a arisen because the 
64-character, and some 

disadvantages accompany development.
P.S. Who would not agree - write, your letter

     will appear (if you want)

     and clarify some ambiguities mome
     Options (if any).


     Go to the next section of our bazaar and we'll start it 
with the program RDS (you do not think anything wrong with

office of the same name it may have nothing
total).


     ROK DISK SERVICE v 3.1


     shareware version

     (C) ELite Hackers club

       'General coders' group 'WE'

       ROK SOFTWARE


     Do you remember the old ADS? So,
this is from the same opera, but made steeper.
In general, the program VERYGOO D.
In this program you can do
the disc is almost all that you see fit

(And faster than in ADS, DCU and HC).
Briefly enumerate the possibilities porogrammy.
Support Disc 40/80/86-trekovyh,
SD / DD density, formatting setting sector offset (interleave), 
number of tracks (40/80/86) heap adjusting operations, the 
ability to format, validate and recover from any track and any 
(reasonable) number of tracks. There is a unique opportunity to 
sort the disk (missing a file and drag where you want to) 
analysis of the directory structure and correction error 
structure. Saving a directory on tracks outside the 80 
(81/82...86). Extended analysis of the track. Perhaps the 
inclusion avtodetektsii disk in the drive. Small

size of the program compared with ADS and DCU.
Exterior view of the working field looks like
IBM'ovskuyu program Norton Disk Doctor
similar purpose. The program gives a very good impression, but 
to erase from their disks ADS I would not recommend ...

In the RDS, to my great regret, not about
printed outside the team "SKIP", the absence of which 
diminishes the value of RDS. (For nesveduyuschih I explain the 
difference between SKIP and IGNORE: with SKIP or the road 
sector is skipped, and if IGNORE NO! If IGNORE you have a great 
opportunity to kill information that might have been able to

assume that the next day or on another drive.) Also, do not get 
involved in sorting of the disk, you can easily lose all the 
data. But as they say, "No prog without glitches. "We just know 
what he lies.



     COPY 3.3 turbo


     BY U. of K. 'PSW


     In fact, it's copyist, judging by
description of the steep. But .... Maybe I'm a fool,
no, on reflection in the mirror does not look like, but, damn, 
copier properly adopted my settings, something read, something

writing, formatting processed disk

3 (!) pass (it was included danyh compression), but on the 
destination disk NOTHING was, the length of the catalog

has 1519 sectors free for 26 files that were not! I put the 
disk in doctor and what I saw? The road 0, sector 0: NULL, the 
road sector 0 1: Yeah, something is, or rather the remnants of 
the directory. I looked on, the road sector 0 2: information is 
... In general, after some time prescribe that information on

disk is, but the directory is killed. Question: What
is this a glitch arose whether it was originally
or if you copy?
**** If anyone has a workable

     version of the program, please

     Received.


     Something I review once in a heap
obtained, but oh well. We continue the conversation about the 
news. Program that will replace all the unloved ZIP (ZIP 
autostart removes a BASIC-Files and more something bad does).



     LZ-Comppessor v 1.0

     LZ-DEPACK


     (C) Gamazov Vitaly


     What happens when one IBM'schik
comes on a visit to another, and sees in that
new GAME'u (ie game)? It is a matter
pack and pulls to itself. And what he is packing?
That's right, archiver: some ARJ,
RAR, LHA, or even a bunch of these. At SPECCY
until recently was the only ZIP (about
others I have not heard). And then, there was still
one. After testing it was found that on a system with one drive 
LZ can not change the wheels on a double disc machine glitches 
are possible (the information is not mine), and nothing more 
until no more noticed. Now for the good side: the system works 
pretty fast, has windowed interface with the management of the 
arrow. You can comment on files. System

simple and easy to use. When backing up files, pay attention to 
size 

and the availability of free disk space
LZ does not check the available free size (these things not 
because of ignorance how much uzhmutsya files). Certain

disadvantage is that the expansion of
Archive - a large letter "A", a possible confusion with 
TASM'ovskimi files. This case I can give some advice to put the 
last character in the name of the archive the letter j (I do) 
or what you like, the main you to remember, that this oznachet.


     I recommend this program to use, it is good enough and 
secure. Especially we can recommend it to people

engaged in creative work on the PC. (For example, I pack my my 
graphics files). 


     PCX Show v 1.0


     (C) Jonny Graphics

       FireSoft Hackers Group


     Looking for the first time on this program, I was 
delighted. Yet my main 

Specialization - graphics (I wonder why I keep this column?). 
After she saw pictures that were attached to this viewer'u, 
dreamed, how would it look nice on IBM on a VGA or SVGA monitor 
and while not touching it. But somehow

kicked out of one igruhi on IBM images in
PCX-format, I decided to look at them
SPECCY and, if they normally look, konvertanut them 
SPECTRUM-format. I thought that the program understands all 
kinds PCX files ... yeah, took a run .. Uploading I

Zoom in entu programmulinu, and what I
see? - Brad mad. It turned out that
This viewer does not understand the format of 320 x 200
256 colors (and it is this, I had
picture). Thought, okay, figs with her,
Well, people did not know the layout of video memory
IBM in this mode. Trying to shove monotonous, takes all normal. 
Uploaded He CGA-screen format (1 plan, 2 bits per

pixel) and this gadsky picture viewer
stretches horizontally. With this staring chetyrehplanovymi 
files also work melts strange. She unfolds them horizontally 
(well, she does not know that there are four plans for EGA 
video adapter 16-color mode). Thus, we can say

that this program is good for monochrome PCX files, but the 
rest? 

P.S. For interesuyushihsya PCX-files can

     tell about file structure and all

     its species that may be.



     Memory Test (H. UTILITY) v 1.3


     (C) Honey Soft

       POLYTECH Co Ltd.

       written by Honich Andrej


     What can I say about this program?
It performs a full memory test on the machines 48/128/512/1024 
kilobytes, and for recent completion of the test is difficult 
to wait. There is a standard interface for HC, a lot of 
adjusting operations. Noted strange behavior on my machine: if

start of the program may determine the
availability of disk drives, and after such an operation
I drive continues to work off of indication referred to it 
(spinning motor) (this happens when you access a non-existent 
floppy drive). A programm so even very pretty, but

is designed primarily for owners of ATM.


     Another novelty, which appeared on
Rybinsk software market - a DMM. He
might like it, people involved in
digitization of music on SPECCY.


     DIGITAL MUSIC MAKER (DMM)


     (C) LAVE Software 1995


     Tremble fans DIGITAL-music!
Your head is made of another editor.
What can be noted, since this is the best
the sound quality compared to the DIGITAL
STUDIO, expanded opportunities for Education
sound processing tools added
Many new teams: possible mixing
two instruments on one channel (sound simultaneously !!!). But 
... like so I always have all, like, well, but there

"NO" and it is very bad
interface with the user. All done
on hot keys, a few unusual form of the field. According to our 
musicians interface is not very good for music editing. Yes, 
the interface guys have given fluff. The one that now is, can 
greatly scare off novice musicians. To reimburse

example, DIGITAL STUDIO. Although there is no
such frills as a DMM, but work
edit music in it is much easier (I first played with all modes
DS, and only then, when I howled all
as clear as day, looked into the description). On
Example DMM you can see how not to
write interface. Well, they
(LAVE) was difficult to do normal menu? Even in such a few 
primitive things like WHAM 48K, work, and then 

pleasant, and you can even without documentation
(That many at one time and did).

     Together with the DMM comes with several
file: documentation, unit converter tool with IBM (with MS-DOS 
disks), editor tool, a compiler, a few tools, Mouzon and file 
format player TASM'a (good trend in this direction, ie supply 
together with any program text driver

or a player, or work procedures). There is one little trick: if
you already have or DIGITAL STUDIO SAMPLER and
tools for them, but do not have access to IBM,
and you want to use these tools
with DMM (not directly), then: take out
Package ZX-WORD 2.XX formatter, format the disk on the MS-DOS, 
then copy utility to copy from the same package

Tools for MS-DOS disk and then transfer back to utility DMM, 
but in format DMM. More about this system

have nothing to say except that the quality of



sound better than the DS, but still spoils
management.



     Frankly, there are a few
relatively new programs, but to describe
them I will not (they are not worth that).