DECUS 12 BIT SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWSLETTER - Number 37, November 1979

This issue of the DECUS 12 Bit SIG Newsletter covers administrative details, software updates, user-submitted solutions, system patches, and hardware/documentation notes.

Administratively, it lists contacts for contributions (Robert Hassinger for US, Lars Palmer for Europe), outlines newsletter submission guidelines, and notes a commercial software offering from Pyramid Data for 12-bit users. It also addresses an "Overseas Problem" regarding the timing of readership audit replies.

Significant sections include detailed information on SOFTWARE UPDATE INFORMATION for DEC 12-bit systems, providing pricing for MACREL/LINKER V2A, RTS/8 V3.0, and OS/78 V3.0 (supported, unsupported, and out-of-warranty versions). The DECUS PROGRAM LIBRARY NEWS announces several new additions: CINET-BASIC (an update), INFPAK (information retrieval), a T.I. Silent 700 ASR Terminal/Cassette Device Handler, TELCOM (telecommunications), Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient, VT52-LA36 Device Handler, TD8E Handler, RKREAD/RKDUP (RK8E utilities), TECO-8 (a versatile text editor with advanced features), UFCLK (a BASIC user function for PDP-8/A internal clock), Seneca Valley Structured BASIC (with new programming constructs), TRACE-SEARCH (for analyzing BASIC programs), VTSQR (a Fourier Square Wave Display), and the McKeown Statistical Package.

Hardware-related news mentions a new interface card allowing pre-Omnibus machines to use Data Systems Design floppy disks.

The "HELP" section addresses user problems, including challenges with FORTRAN IV output to LQP printers (due to OS/8 buffering causing overprinting) and inefficient storage for random access files; the editor provides technical explanations and workarounds. A request for editors compatible with the VT8E display is made, and a VT100 BUG related to acoustical couplers (pin 23) is identified with a physical solution.

Key system enhancements include detailed patches for EDIT/EDITX to fix command issues, enable OS/78 spooler operation, and add features like lowercase commands. Information is provided on running BATCH, BAT, and USR simultaneously in OS/8 FORTRAN IV. Most notably, comprehensive DATE PATCHES are provided for various versions of COS-310 (V5.05, V6.05, V7.00, V8.00, V8.01) to extend their date handling capability to December 31, 1987, and correct date input validation, with step-by-step patch commands.

A focused discussion on Word Processing includes a critical review of the WS-200, an enhanced PDP-8A, highlighting its numerous problems, software deficiencies, and lack of promised updates. Practical advice is offered on COS 3-10 MESSAGE ROUTINES DURING BATCH PROGRAMMING to display screen messages without user interaction, and a detailed "Word Processing Hints" column explains how to create list processing forms that eliminate blank lines for empty variable fields.

Finally, the newsletter concludes with an extensive list of Corrections & Comments for the OS/8 SYSTEM REFERENCE MANUAL (AA-H607A-TA).