DECUS 12 BIT SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWSLETTER, Number 18

This September 1976 DECUS 12 Bit SIG Newsletter (Number 18) provides updates on various PDP-8 related software and outlines plans for upcoming events.

The Fall DECUS Symposium, scheduled for the week of December 6 in Las Vegas, will feature an extensive program for 12-Bit users, including a PDP-8 Product Panel, a SIG business meeting, and workshops on OS/8 topics, FPP-8a, MACREL & LINKER, RTS-8, and DECnet-8. The SIG is actively seeking member contributions for these activities and for forming local user groups, while awaiting a formal response on its representation on the DECUS/US Executive Board.

Key software discussions include: - U/W FOCAL: Jim Van Zee continues to enhance FOCAL with features like OS/8 system date access, an "empties" option for directory listings, and an "Open Second" command allowing two open files simultaneously. - PAL8 Version 10: A critical issue was reported by Jim Van Zee regarding a significant reduction in PAL8's symbol table capacity compared to Version 9, potentially hindering assembly for 8K systems. - DIRECT Utility: An improved version by Tom McIntyre, featuring alphabetization and multi-column output, is slated for submission to the DECUS Library. A patch for LA30 printers to adjust column width was also shared. - TECO Macros: Tim Clark introduced a TECO macro compressor (CMPRS) to reduce macro size by stripping comments and documented a FIXDIR technique for directory restoration. - FORTRAN IV: Dan Smith detailed debugging techniques for RALF code, discussed pitfalls in floating-point normalization and RALF addressing, and highlighted issues with the CLOCK subroutine and conflicting device codes for FPP-12 and AD converters. Lars Palmer reported that the FORTRAN IV compiler fails to detect memory overflows in DIMENSION statements. - OS/8 BASIC V4: Stuart Dole provided a revised patch to address problems with long programs on larger than 8K systems and an "EN" error bug in T. Wes Sikes' previous patch. - VT50 Terminals: Problems were noted with VT50 terminals sending 7-bit ASCII (8th bit zero), conflicting with the traditional PDP-8 convention (8th bit set), affecting programs like the RK05 formatter and PARAM. - LIBSET/LIBFII: Angus Ferguson suggested a FOTP patch for LA36 DECwriters and introduced LIBFII, a modified version of LIBSET correcting documentation errors and enhancing library file listing capabilities. - Fast Sampling Routines: New routines (THRUPUT, WRITEB, WRITBL) were presented and benchmarked, showing significant speed improvements for ADC to disk data transfer over standard REALTM WRITE(n). - Shift/8: A program for converting FPP numbers to BCD for peripheral output was introduced, emphasizing normalization requirements. - FORLIB 'SYNC' Extension: Ian Templeton detailed an extension for the DK8-E CLOCK to enable clock overflow synchronization.

The newsletter encourages members to contribute ideas for SIG activities and submit ready-to-use material for the next edition by October 29.