Decus U.S. Chapter SIGs Newsletters

This document is the January 1988 edition (Volume 3, Number 5) of the DECUS (Digital Equipment Computer Users Society) U.S. Chapter Special Interest Group (SIG) newsletters. It serves as a centralized publication for technical information, tips, and updates across various DEC computer systems.

Key sections of this newsletter include:

• Datatrieve/4GL SIG: Features an "Ask the Wombat Wizard" column on optimizing file performance by correcting physical disk fragmentation. It also includes an evaluation of VAX RALLY, a fourth-generation application development system.
• Office Automation (OA) SIG: Provides information on accessing the OASIS service and guidelines for submitting software to the SIG "swap tape."
• Personal Computer (PC) SIG: Contains technical tips on using the EDT text editor to control printer features (such as character widths and special symbols) and a programming article on protecting applications using the system CPU ID.
• Graphics SIG: Summarizes discussions on various graphics protocols (CGM, PostScript, ReGIS, etc.) and reports on the October 1987 PHIGS+ meeting regarding color specification and standardization.
• Hardware/Micro (HMS) SIG: Focuses on technical bug fixes for the XADRIVER for VMS/MicroVMS, specifically concerning UNIBUS and Q-Bus device drivers.
• IAS SIG: Includes administrative updates, an editor's column, and a sample BASIC program (BRUTAPE.BAS) designed to facilitate disk-to-disk backups using tape drives.
• Languages & Tools (L&T) SIG: Features a command procedure (RTL_BUILD.COM) for managing COBOL sharable libraries and an article by Kelvin Smith on customizing TECO initialization on RSTS and VMS systems.
• MUMPS SIG: Contains editorial commentary on DEC terminology and technical operations.
• Networks SIG: Discusses the state of electronic mail interconnectivity and the future of X.400 standards.
• RT-11 SIG: Features an editorial and technical discussion on VAX/RT, the use of TeX on RT-11, and programming advice for the VAX.
• VAX Systems SIG (Pageswapper): Devotes significant space to a Q&A session from the DECUS European Symposium in Rome, addressing VMS concerns, security, and hardware issues, along with results from the Fall 1987 US VAX Systems SIG "System Improvement Request" (SIR) ballot.