DECUS 12 BIT SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWSLETTER

This document is issue number 33 of the DECUS 12 Bit Special Interest Group Newsletter, published in March 1979. It provides administrative information, updates on ongoing projects, new software submissions, and community discussions.

Key points include:

• Administrative & Submissions: Contact details for contributions (Robert Hassinger, Lars Palmer), publication frequency (bi-monthly), submission deadlines, and formatting guidelines, with a preference for machine-readable material.
• SIG Committees: Lists members of the Steering Committee and advisors for RTS-8, Micro-8, and COS-310 Working Groups.
• Accounting Software Discussion: DECUS Library Director Chuck Conley highlights a high demand for business-oriented programs, particularly accounting software, contrasting this with the current library's scientific focus. The author (Robert Hassinger) notes that traditional small computer users invested heavily in programming and shared freely, while new business users expect ready-to-go systems and developers in this area prefer to sell rather than share their work, leading to a gap in the DECUS library. He solicits feedback on how the SIG/DECUS can better serve these new users.

• Program Library Submissions: Summaries of several new programs:

  • DECUS 8-883: Reentrant Subroutine Programming on PDP-8.
  • DECUS 8-899 - TK4013: Tektronix 4013 Graphics Terminal Simulator With Hard Copy.
  • BASIC8-93: Demonstration/Games Set #6 (CLOCK, HANGMAN).
  • BASIC8-107: Age Difference Probability Calculation (OS/8 BASIC).
  • FOCAL8-340 - MICFCC: Microsphere Flow Correction and Calculation Program.
  • FOCAL8-341: ASCII to E.I.A. Conversions.

• Software & Hardware Notes:

  • Earl T. Ellis announces an RTS/8 task for TD8E Simple DECtape handler.
  • Alistair Windram shares initial thoughts on a Macrel Librarian program (listing, splitting, updating LNKLIB.RB libraries).
  • Bill Haygood introduces a "Hugh" Floppy, tripling RX01 storage capacity without hardware modification.
  • Jeff Elman shares his PDP-12 configuration and custom interfaces, offering to share designs, and highlights the value of Local User Groups.

• COS-310 Working Group Erratum & Updates: Lawrence H. Eisenberg corrects his phone number, clarifies the "MENU" utility (versatile for non-technical users, handles batch commands), and reminds users that "FLOW" is unsupported.

• WP 200 Debut Report: A report on the WP 200 series' debut at a show, noting its PDP-8 based configuration, generally flawless (but with some staged fixes) operation, and a system crash when a "CX" command was entered. Deliveries were noted as delayed.

• System Issues & Patches:

  • Rumors of DP/WP inconsistency resolution for RL01/RX02 support.
  • Discussion of necessary patches for Version 8 regarding SYSGEN/B file transfers and a PIP bug, praising DEC's quick support.
  • Bernard R. Redgate reports a COS 300 DATE command bug (won't accept dates after 1979).
  • Rudi Stange from Germany reports V8 problems with directory destruction during batch file transfers and slower performance.

• Programming Utilities & Routines:

  • "PROGRAM NOTES" describes a custom display/menu system that conserves memory.
  • "ESCAPE ROUTINES" explains using Escape Codes for programming features and lists VT52 terminal control codes.
  • A DIBOL 'LED' subroutine for controlling LEDs is provided.
  • A patch for PIP V11A/V12A is provided, along with an update for RL01 Disk device tables.
  • Jim Van Zee describes "DROP", "RECOVR", and "COPCOM" programs for restoring lost directories and manipulating files by block location.
  • Ian Templeton provides a FOCAL routine for calculating machining cuts and a patch for FORTRAN IV's FRTS error routine to prevent output loss.

• Software Package "MULTIO": Robert Hassinger details "MULTIO" (Multiple Inputs and Outputs), a PAL8 assembly language interface for OS/8-OS/78, offering high-level style I/O, debugging features, and simplified program development and upgrades.

• Community Call to Action: Ken Maxfield suggests reproducing short, useful DECUS library program assembly listings in the newsletter as an alternative to paper tapes.