softalk-pc-1982-12-reduced

going now.Craig Stinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, System NotebookHow to use the mode command to configure a printer,monttor, or modem.Alan Boyd . ......... , .. . ........... , .. ",. 20The Game of LifeSince 1970, the game of life has fascinated computerowners everywhere, and now you can play it onyour pc.Forrest Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30The Profit PlotIs an individual retirement account (IRA) for you?Spread sheet analysis can help you decide.Shirley Fisher ...... .. ..... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36Holiday Gift GuideHundreds of products for your Personal Computer.Home ..... . .. .. . ... ...... . ... . .......... . 42Games . ... . ... .. .. . .... . ....... .. .... . .. . 45Graphics .. . .. . .... .. .. .. . . . . .. . .... . ..... 47Education .. ........ . .. . ................... 48Communications ..... . .. .. .... . . . .......... 536Build the SparrowYou can use your cassette port to drive an inexpensivebuild-it-yourself modem.Larry Reagan . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78Pascal: Begin to EndThe second installment of our tutorial.Bruce Webster and Deirdre Wendt 99DepartmentsCrosstalk.Tradetalk.NewspeakMarketalk ReviewsMarketalk NewsBestsellers .....In Next Month's Softalk24162595.107Exec MicroPro, the creators of WordStar ... moresnooping from Peter Norton . . . an interview with JohnDraper, programmer qf EasyWriter . . . the firstinstallment of a new column on. assembly language . ..and more.Index of AdvertisersAlpha Software . ...... ... .... . . . 90-91 Ensign Software . . .. . . ... . . . ..... . 34Amdek Corp . ... . .... ..... . . .. . .. . 3 First Cabin .Software . . . ........ ... 82Apparat Inc. . .... .. . . . .... .. .. . .. 67 FriendlyWare .. .. . .. . . . . ... . ... .. . 49Arti(icial Intelligence Rsch Grp . ... . 26 Great Plains Software . ... . .. ... . . . 80Aspen Software .. ....... .. . . ...... 94 Hanly Company . .. .. . .. .. . .. ..... 55AST Research Inc. ... ... . , ... Cover 4 Hewlett-Packard ... . .... •.... . .. , • 71Beaman Porter .. .... . . . ... . ...... 101 IDE Associates . . .. . . .. ... . . ... ... 98Best Programs .. . .. .... . ... . ...... 83 Individual Software . . .... ... .. ... .. 4Blaise Computing . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. 17 Information Unlimited Software . .... 9Cdex Corp. . . ........ ..... . . ..... 72Compu-haus : . ... . ........... .. . 102Insoft . ...... ... .. ...... . . . .... .. 37International Computers . .......... 41Continental Software . . . . . .. ... . S, 107 Laboratory Microsystems ... . 1 •• • •• 61Corona Data Systems . . . . . . . . Cover 3 Lifetree Software .. . ... ........ . . . 15DataMost . . .. . ...... .. .. ... . . 6S, 105 Lighthouse Distributing ....... . . .. 40Davidson & Associates . . ..... . .. .. 16 Max Software Publishing . ...... . . . 44Electronic Data Systems ..... ...... 13 Med Systems .. , . .. ... .... . .... . .. 27Emerging Technology ..... . , . . . .. . 25 Memory Technologies .. ........ . .. 92____ .._ "softolk for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982Microcomputer Business Ind. . ..... 89Microsoft .. .. .... .. . ..... .. ...... 77Micro Ware .... .. ... . ..... . .. .. .. 93Network Consulting .. . . .. . .. ..... 38NF Systems Ltd . . . .. .. ... . .... .... 35Norell Data Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 7Northeast Expo . .. .......... . .. .. . 96Peter Nor ton . . . . . . . . . . . • . . • . . . . . . . 8Omric Corp . , ... ... . .. .. . . • .... . 104Options-SO . . ... . . . .... .. . . . . ... .. 36Performance EngineeredProgramming ... . . . ... .. . . , . . .. 108Plantronics/ Frederick Electronics .. . 59Professional Sof tware . .. . ... . . . . 18-19Quadram Corp. . .... . . .. . ...... 50-51Qubie Distributing ....... . ....... . 85Radio Technology· Inc . .. . .•...... . 88Sierra On-Line . .. ...... . .. . . . ... 106Social & Scientific ... ... .. . . .. ... . 95Softalk .... .. .. .... . • . . .. .. .. . 23, 87Softline . ... ........ ...•. . . . .. .... 39Software Options . . .. . . .... . . ..... 81SSR Corporation . .... . .......... . 97Starlogic .... .. .. ... ... . . .. . . .. . 100Synergistic Software .. . ....... . 32, 86Systemics .. . . .. . . .. . , ... .... . .... 79Systems Management Associates ... 52Tallgrass Technologies . , ... .. .. ... . 7Tecmar Inc. .. .. ... .. ... , .. .. Cover 2TG P~ oducts . .. .... .. . . .. .... . ... 57TMQ Software .. .... , .. .. ... .. .... 6D.M . Tucker . .. .......... . . . . . ... 21United Micro Systems .. . . . ..... . . 103Visible Computer Supply . . .. ..... .. 29

Softalk for the IBM Personal ComputerEditorCraig StinsonArt DirectorKurt A. WahlnerManaging Editor Forrest JohnsonAssistant EditorMichael FerrisProofreaderHarry McNeilContributing EditorsFinancial ModelingHardwarePascalSystem SoftwareGuest ReviewerArt ManagerArt ProductionA rt AssistantsSoftalk Publishing Inc.ChairmanPublisherEditor-in-ChiefAssociate PublisherDirector of OperationsAccountingEdita.rial ManagerNewspeak EditorAssistant tothe PublisherAccounting AssistantMarketingMarketing AssistantBook SalesPurchasingCirculationTrial SubscriptionsDealer SalesBack IssuesList MaintenanceAssistantSystemsAdvertisingCoordinatorWest Coast SalesEast Coast SalesShirley FisherRichard KaapkeBruce WebsterDeidre WendtAlan BoydBurton AlpersonKevin McKeonDon RobertsonMichael G. PenderRoxanne RogersJill SchultzJohn HallerAl TommervikMargot ComstockTommervikMary Sue RennellsThree TylerEvelyn BurkePatricia RyallDavid HunterDan YoderMary MilamJim SalmonsDave FitzgeraldLois StickelmaierSteven M. PoncarDeirdre BoothJudy WeinsteinRon RennellsPat AdamsHarry RichardsonCliff MartinezSam PawleyLinda McGuireMike AntichSoftalk11160 McCormick StreetBox 60North HollywoodCA 91603(213) 980-5074Paul McGinnisPaul McGinnis Company60 East 42nd StreetNew York, NY 10017(212) 490-1021Midwest andTed RickardRocky Mountain John SienkiewiczSalesJohn BollwegKevin SullivanMarket/ Media Associates435 Locust RoadWilmette, IL 60091(312)251-2541Cover: Photo by Kurt A. Wahlner.Credits: Composition by Photographies, Hollywood,California. Printing by Volkmuth Printers, Saint Cloud,Minnesota.IBM and Personal Computer are trademarks of InternationalBusiness Machines, Armonk, New York.Softalk for the IBM Personal Computer. Volume 1,Number 7. Copyright ., 1982 by Softalk Publishing Inc.All rights reserved. ISSN: 0733-2173. Softalk for theIBM Personal Computer is published monthly by SoftalkPublishing Inc., 11160 McCormick Street, NorthHollywood, CA 91601; telephone (213) 980-5074. Second-classpostage pending at Saint Cloud, Minnesota,and additional mailing offices.Postmaster: Send address changes to· Softalk/ IBM,Box 60, North Hollywood, CA 91603.Subscriptions: Complimentary trial subscription toall owners of IBM Personal Computers in the USA'. Ifyou own a pc, but you aren' t receiving Softalk for theIBM Personal Computer, send your serial number andmailing address to Softalk/ IBM Circulation, Box 60,North Hollywood, CA 91603. Non-pc owner subscriptions:$24 per year. Back issues: $3. Softalk for the I BMPersonal Co mputer is totally independent of InternationalBusiness M achines.Problems? If you haven' t received your Softalk by thefifteenth of the month, or if you have other problemswith your subscription, Hal Schick can help out. Call(213) 980-5074.Moving? Send new address and old to Softalk/ IBMCirculation, Box 60, North Hollywood, CA 91603; telephone(213) 980-5074.2Tipped to the WaxHere's a tip I discovered that ought to be ofuse to the thousands of readers who have thestandard IBM Personal Computer printer,the Epson MX-80.The paper in my printer was jamming.This was due to too much friction as the paperwas pulled around the platen; it got sobad that the paper would stop moving, andthe print-out was ruined.To solve the problem, I ran some waxedpaper through the printer, rubbing it back andforth a few times to spread a thin layer ofwax onto the aluminum platen. Since thenthe paper has slipped through with no jamming.To get the waxed paper into my MX-80, I first taped it to some regular paper thatwas stiff enough to push into the printer.Naturally, you shouldn't run the printerwith the waxed paper in it-just rub thewaxed paper back and forth and then pull itout. It will do your printer a world ofgood.Peter Norton, Venice, CABattle ScarsI really like Softalk for the I BM Personal Computer;the only thing I can't understand iswhy it looks like it went through World WarIII by the time I get it. I don't believe thePostal Service is totally to blame since I getother similar items in reasonably good condition..The problem seems to be with Softalk.Each issue is delivered in worse conditionthan the previous issue. Although the subscriptionis complimentary, I still feel thatSoftalk should be able to do something to improvethe delivered condition of the magazine.At the rate things are going, I am notsure that I would want to pay for a magazinedelivered in such bad condition.Carol Macknis, College Park, MDAs soon as the Postal Service approves oursecond-class permit, we will be mailing Softalkfor the IBM Personal Computer in a protectivepaper wrapper. In the meantime, if you receivea war-torn copy, call or write us. We'llimmediately send you, by first class mail, asafely wrapped replacement.Specialized QueriesI am having considerable trouble gettingUCSD Pascal. In fact, I have had it on orderfor the past six months. Does anyone knowanything about the holdup, or am I a specialcase?I am also having trouble getting my IBMprinter to print 132 compressed characterlines under CP/M-86. It prints pairs of eightyand fifty-two character lines when sent 132character strings (without carriage controls).The characters are compressed allright. The string just takes two lines.Robert A. Roberts, Lexington, VASomething StupidI have had so much difficulty with BPI'sGeneral Accounting package that is marketedthrough IBM. that I am of the opinion that aserious caveat ought to accompany it. I haveabandoned it myself and thought I wouldpass along my experiences.In the first place, there are lines in Basicin BPI's package that exceed 255 characters.They don't work. Don't bother to go to yourlocal Computerland or Sears or whatever sothey will call IBM and get information. TheIBM answers relayed back to me are stupid(although I don't believe the authors of theanswers are stupid).When I did get to talk to someone at BPI,they said their strategy is to make the packageas difficult to modify as possible, as theiranswer to the possible piracy problem, andthat IBM both supported their position andassisted in this effort.A real hooker is that the profit and lossstatement puts out only a one-line item forincome statements, regardless of how manythere are, though it apparently sums grossincome correctly. But how many accountantswill accept this? So far I have foundnone. And BPI said it was an oversight whenthey were rushing to market, but they werenot going to fix it. What can I say?Can any of your readers tell me how tochange the Hne heading put out by line 143of the PLI.bas program from totals to totalexpenses? This might begin to unlock theprograms to where they are useful.Thomas B. Reifsnyder, Boca Raton, FLPersonal TreasureThe material covered in Beginners' Cornerand System Notebook is invaluable to anovice attempting to acquire knowledge ofthe operation of the IBM Personal Computer.I have access to most published matteron the Personal Computer and nowhereelse are the details and background of thismaterial dealt with so understandably. Inplaces the articles repeat some aspects of thism aterial, and where this does occur, it doesso to the benefit of the reader. To one whocomes to the world of computers with nobackground experience, this information is atreasure.Albert R. Frederick, Jr., Boston, MA .._softolk for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982

STARTING FROM ZERO?lMeet(The INSTRUCTOR]Whether you are a first timecomputer user or moreadvanced, The Instructorcan help you master yourIBM PC fast.Individual Software offersThe Instructor as a serious,self-teaching interactivetutorial that is fun for office,home and school PC users.Using revolutionary computerteaching, The Instructoris absolutely the best way tolearn ... about the computer... from the computer ... usingthe computer. This is one instructoryou will enjoy andwill give you · hours of individualizedattention.The Instructor features,* In-depth, comprehensivelessons covering interactiveoperations of your IBM PC* Individualized, friendly pacefound inviting to first timecomputer users of every age* Virtually indestructible, hasunlimited patience ... evenhelpful hintsSo get in the know the funway ... order The Instructortoday and quickly masteryour IBM PC.The Instructor is surprisinglyaffordable at $44.95 plus$2.00 shipping arid handling.California residents add $2.60sales tax. Contact your localdealer or send check ormoney order to:24 Spinnaker PlaceRedwood City, CA 94065(415) 591-4166Phone inquiries welcome. Dealer inquiriesinvited. Requires 64K. DOS. at least 1 drive.and a color or IBM monochrome displaytrodet II

,IBM OWNERS ARE DISCOVERINGWHAT OVER lQOOO APPLE OWNERSALREADY KNOW.Chances are you don't truly realize how helpfulyour computer can be in managing your familyfinances.The key is selecting the right software.That's why you should know about a programthat's become the runaway best seller amongApple owners" - the Home Accountant fromContinental Software.ADDED POWER FOR IBM USERS.Home Accountant Plus for the IBM PersonalComputer has all the power and ease of operationthat made the Apple version such a success.But it includes a brand new Forecasting Modulethat gives you a peek at the future. You canevaluate various investment strategies -or let theprogram show the way to your financial goals.Of course, you get all the great features ofHome Accountant. Like room for up to 100budget categories, 5 different checking accounts,and all the credit cards you can carry.Automatic printing of your net worth andstandard financial statements -plus checks andany custom reports that you specify. Also, fullcolorgraphst of actual vs. budgeted expenditures,trend line analysis, and more.READY TO GO TO WORK-TODAYSooner or later, you're going to want yourcomputer's help with your personal finances.Over 10, 000 users have already found theideal answer. Now it's your turn.Home Accountant Plus. About $ 150 atcomputer stores everywhere.Ill ContinentalSoftware,.·._,Call or write us for your nearest dealer: Continental Software, 11223 H indry, Los Angeles, CA 90045 (2 13) 4 17-8031. •Rated No. l in home software packages, Softalkmagazine (March-June1982). t Requires 64k , I disk drive and mono or color display. Printer optional. Apple is a registered trademark of Apple Computer Inc. IBM is a registered trademark of IBM.

lA person considering the purchase of a memory board for theIBM Personal Comput~r faces a confusing array of choices. Thismonth we'll look at some (but not all) of the available memoryboards, comparing what they offer and evaluating their specialfeatures.The boards we'll cover this time are from IBM, Persyst, AST Research,Seattle Computer Products, and Chrislin Industries.As you probably know, the Personal Computer uses paritychecking; this is a feature that allows the computer's circuitry to testthe validity of its memory operations and to report any failure torepresent data accurately. All the memory products reviewed in thisarticle include parity checking; a few of them allow you to disablethe parity function, presumably so that you can continue using thememory board in the event a single memory chip fails. (What youwould do in that case is replace the bad chip with one of the chipsthat's normally used to hold the parity bit, then disable parity andcontinue running.)FILE-FAX~ DATABASE MAN~CEMENTSYSTEM~ ... '

FROM TALLGRASSTECHNOLOGIESA New Advantage in Winchester Hard Discs andRemovable cartridge Media fOr the IBM PC.AdvantagesTG-3006 6Mb Fixed + 121/2Mb RemovableTG-301212Mb Fixed + 121/2Mb RemovableTG-3020 20Mb Fixed + 121/2Mb Removablefrom $3,095.00 sugg. retail• 18 to 32 Mb of total formatted storage•File sizes from 6 to 20 Mb ·• complete transfer /verification of 121/2Mb within10 minutes, no operator intervention required• ANSI standard certified data cartridge readilyavailable at low cost• one 121/2Mb cartridge holds the equivalent of40 320K floppiesITallgrassTechnologies .corporation ·9207 Cody overland Park, Kansas 66214 !913l 492-6002Available from computerland® and other participating dealers.

the Spectrum card you can interface your computer with a parallelprinter, a modem, and another serial device (a plotter, for example),and have 256K of memory-all at the expense of a single peripheralslot.Does anyone really know what time it is? The AST ResearchComboPlus board does. The ComboPlus offers 64K-256K, a paralleladapter, an asynchronous adapter, and a real-time clock (one thatruns even when your computer's off). Included with this board ls adisk with a program that lets you easily set the time and date on thebuilt-in clock. The program also enables your pc to read the timeand date on power-up or reboot, freeing you from having to type inthis data for yourself.The Seattle Computer Products RAM+ is a 64K-256K memoryboard with an addressable asynchronous adapter (usable as either aprimary or secondary port). The adapter on this card is the only onereviewed here that won't pass the IBM Advanced Diagnostics withoutyour installing a "wrap plug." All the other asynchronous adaptersmentioned in this article have a self-test mode that allows testingwithout the wrap plug. The fact that the RAM+ doesn't do thisis inconsequential, however. On the RAM+, both the asynchronousadapter and the parity checking can be disabled.Included on the RAM+ are four LED indicators that light up if aparity error is detected, showing in which bank the error occurred:You must have the cover of your computer off to see these LEDs,and they only serve to indicate which group of nine chips is at fault.Since IBM's " parity-check" numeric code (the number the systemdisplays if it detects a parity error) indicates which of the nine bits isat fault, it would make sense if the manufacturers of memory boardswould tell you which chip corresponds to which code. This wouldmake the job of diagnosing parity check errors easier. Having anLED light up is a nice idea that doesn't go far enough.Christin Industries makes the CI-PCM, a 64K-256K memoryboard. The CI-PCM works well and is a good buy for people whowant just a simple memory card. In most respects this board is similarto the IBM-produced board and to those "straight" memorycards made by AST Research and Persyst. The difference in theCI-PCM is one of size. The Christin CI-PCM fills the entire depthof the system cabinet. This memory may only be addressed in 64Kbank segments; 32K boundaries can' t be used as begirining addressesfor this card.When you're planning to buy a memory expansion board, it'simportant to keep in mind the future you envision for your computer.Thinking ahead can often allow you to make the be!!t choicefor the long run. If you see no present or future need for additionalparallel or serial interfaces, for example, you can save money bybuying a straight memory card. If you foresee the need for these additionalfunctions, buy them. You'll most likely be glad not to have togive up slots for them later on; generally you'll also save money bybuying an interface in conjunction with a memory card, rather thangetting it on a separate card. 4AST Research, 2691 Richter Avenue, Irvine, CA 92714; (714) 540-1333.AST offers a family of straight memory boards, with no extra features, rangingfrom $395 for 64K to $795 for 256K. They also have a series of ComboPlus boards, for which you may select any or all of three options in additionto memory. The options are a serial port, a parallel port, and a real-timeclock. Prices range from $495 to $995.Chrislin Industries, 31352 Via Colinas, Westlake Village, CA 91362;(213) 991-2254. The Chrislin Cl-PCM is a straight memory board. Price for256K is $475. Chrislin also offers a Cl-PCM+ board, with 512K and oneserial port, for $895.IBM, Box 1328, Boca Raton, FL 33432; (305) 998-2000. IBM currentlyoffers an expandable straight memory board. The price for 64K is $475; additionalincrements of 64K are available at $200. A nonexpandable 64Kboard retails for $350.Personal Systems Technology (Persyst), 22957 La Cadena, Laguna Hills,CA 92653; (714) 859-8871. The Persyst Spectrum Board offers four independentlyupgradable functions : memory (64K to 256K), a parallel port,and two serial ports. Call for prices.Seattle Computer Products, 1114 Industry Drive, Seattle, WA 98188;(206) 575-1850. The RAM+ consists of memory (64K to 256K) plus oneserial port. Call for prices.The Norton Utilities - DOS SupplementPOWER TOOLS :~~IBM/PC · .14 utilities to enhance IBM/PC- DOSThe essential utilities:Disklook - displays everything on diskettesUn Erase - recovers lost filesThe advanced utilities:SecMod - changes any diskette sectorFile Hide - controls hidden filesThe extra utilities:TimeMark, Clear, DiskOpt, FileFixPrint, Reverse, Beep, ScrAtr, ... and more!Available from computer stores or for $80 fromPeter Norton 1716 Main St.#E, Venice, CA 90291For the best bargain, buy the complete Norton Utilities from your dealer, or directly from me, for $80.But you can also buy the four main utilities, individually:$20 for Disklook, the complete diskette displayer$20 tor UnErase, the file recoverer$20 for SecMod, the diskette modifier$10 for FileHide, the hidden file controllerfor all mail orders add $5shipping and handling; inCalifornia add sales taxHundreds of customers agree: The Quality Leader in Utilities for the IBM/PC8softolk for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982

-lYOUGOTTHEHARD PART RIGHT.NOWFORTHESOFT PART.You were smart to pick IBM'sPersonal Computer from all therest. You have the right hardware.Now you have the rightsoftware too.EasyFamily softwarefrom !US iswritten specificallyfor the IBM PC. TakeEasyFiler, for example.EasyFiler is astand-alone databasemanager whichincludes a text editor.Because of the texteditor and a built-inreport generator,· Iyou can customdesign your filmg_and aatabase needs. There's no need topurchase expensive, separate options,since EasyFiler includes everything youneed in one package, for one price. WithEasyFiler you enter, change, sort, andretrieve the exact information you want.EasyFiler is PC/ DOS based, and thuscan be stored on a hard disk of up to40 megabytes. That's not only a greatincrease in storage capacity, but it alsoallows for much faster informationretrieval. EasyFiler will hold UIJ to 10,000individual records, with space for 1000characters per record.EasyFiler has anumber offeatureswhich willhelp you increasethe 2ower and2erformanceof your IBMPC. It is compatiblewith BASIC,. . which means you can~, transfer information to· or from an IBM BASICfile. EasyFiler also includesa built-in calculator, whichenables you to com_pute dataduring the entry of informationor during report generation.Through "Soundex;'another built-in feature, youcan retrieve information evenif you don't know the exactspelling of a word.EasyFiler works with otherEasyFamily programs. All IUSprograms have similar instructionsand make full use of theIBM PC keyboa~d. Integrationof information from one !USprogram to another is e.asilyaccomplished. For instance, youcan use EasyFiler with textwritten on EasyWriter II, theadvanced wordprocessingEasyWriter IIEasySpeller IIEasy FilerEasy PlannerEasyWriter 1.1EasySpeller 1.1Financial Management Series• General Ledgerand Financial Reporter• Accounts Receivable• Accounts Payable• Order Entry• Inventory Controland Sales Analysis•Payrollprogram that gives you stand-alonewordprocessing at a PC price. Whetheryou're a computer expert or a novice,EasyFamily software makes your worksimpler, faster and more productive. Wethink that's what makes it easy for you.You'll find EasyFiler and other IUS .products at ComputerLand and authorizedIBM dealers. For more informationcall (415 ) 331-6700 orwrite Information Ul).limited Software, Inc.,2401 Marinship Way,Sausalito, CA 94965.

10 softolk

The Software Synthesisby Craig StinsonSix months ago the tranquility of the IBM Personal Computersoftware market was rent by an item called MBA, which took anelectronic spreadsheet, a database manager, a simple text processor,and a graphing module and bundled them into a single, integratedsoftware tool. The package, which required no less, than 256K ofuser memory, was arguably both the largest microcomputer programever written and the first to make effective use of the pc's vastmemory-addressing capability.For its producers, Context Management Systems, MBA was alsosomething of a gamble.No one had ever tr.ied to integrate so many separate functionsinto one program before. To be sure, a number of companies haddeveloped families of programs that worked more or less harmoniouslytogether. Software Arts had developed its Data InterchangeFormat, which had paved the way for Personal Software's metamorphosisinto VisiCorp. Microsoft was at work on its Multi series,Information Unlimited on its Easy series, and so on. But theidea of a single program that would, say, transform spreadsheet datainto bar charts at the stroke of a finger and update those charts justas quickly in response to changes on the spreadsheet-that had notbeen tried before.There was reason to wonder whether the thing would work-notso much whether the MBA could be made bug-free, but whether itwas wise, from a performance standpoint, to throw so many separatekinds of functions into the same pot. Wouldn't that result insome fairly drastic reductions in the power of the individual modules?And wouldn't the end user, like a smart stereo buyer, prefer tobuy components and take his chances with their possible incompatibilities,rather than go all in for a grab-bag of the unknow~?Then there was the matter of that 256K. Machines of that capacitymay become commonpJace in 1983, as the cost of memorycomes down, but they were something of a stretch for the typical pcbuyer in mid-1982. They were a stretch partly because, aside fromMBA, there wasn't much reason to put 256K on a pc.MBA, according to Context, was profitable in its first month ofavailability. It made the Softalk Top Thirty for the month of Juneand has been moving up steadily in the poll since then. Four monthsafter the program's debut, Context announced that the market opportunityappeared greater than their most optimistic anticipationsand that the firm was therefore accepting a million dollars in developmentalcapital from Brentwood Associates, a company that hadpreviously funded such winners as Apple Computer and FortuneComputer Systems.If drawing imitators is proof of success, then Context arrived inOctober. At that time, Lotus Development announced its introductionof a revolutionary new product, called 1-2-3, that took an elec-The Context management team. Opposite page, above: Gib Hoxie and Brian Fischer conceived MBA and abandoned successful consulting careersto create it. This page: Jim Peterson is in charge of Context's software team, while Marty Mazner shepherds the marketing department. Oppositepage, below: Jeff Walden is responsible for dealer training, and Mark Teitelman is the voice on the customer service line.for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982 11

Gib Hoxie, left, explains the features of MBA, while Brian Fischer displays a reduced version of the program's command reference chart.tronic spreadsheet, a database manager, a simple text processor, anda graphing module and bundled them into a single, integrated softwaretool.0-1-2 and Counting. To appreciate the gamble that was MBA interms of human careers, you need to know a little about the two menmost responsible for its creation and for the cofounding of ContextManagement Systems.Gib Hoxie and Brian Fischer were not a couple of undergraduatewunderkinder taking their first steps into the business world.Hoxie (the '' Gib" is a truncation of Gilbert) was a vice president andpartner in the immensely prestigious consulting firm of Booz, Allen,and Hamilton. Walking away from a partnership at Booz Allen is alittle like handing in the keys to Fort Knox. Fischer, who at twentyeightis fifteen years younger than Hoxie, hadn't yet made itquite that far up the ranks at Booz Allen; nevertheless it seems reasonableto suppose that his future there was promising-andfraught with security.But if Booz Allen was a high place from which to step down, itwas also a vantage point that facilitated forward thinking and educatedgambling.Hoxie had spent the better part of the seventies pondering andwrestling with the problem of developing effective management informationsystems. Early in the seventies, Harvey Poppel, a seniorvice president at Booz Allen, had begun promoting the concept ofinformation as a corporate resource-like cash; and the Booz Allenstaff had tried to encourage their major clients to think and act inthose terms.The translation of this concept into practical systems, however,proved to be elusive. " We found," recalls Hoxie, " that we were continuallyimplementing operating information systems-such thingsas accounting and word processing-and not true management informationsystems."The development of effective information systems for managerswas difficult largely because the manager's function is by natureantisystematic. Or, to put it another way, those roles in a company'soperation that lend themselves most readily to systematicprocedures are precisely the ones that don't require managerialtalent." A good manager is an exception handler," says Hoxie. " Theother people handle routines. Our problem was to develop an in-formation system for that kind of guy, one that would give him theability to pull together disparate pieces of information, so he couldfind his own solutions to problems that hadn' t come up before."A couple of events that occurred toward the end of the decadeconvinced Hoxie and Fischer (who joined Booz Allen in 1978) thatwhile elusive, the improvement of managerial productivity bymeans of electronic information technology was a realizable goal.The first of these events was the Booz Allen Multi-Client Studyof Managerial/Professional Productivity. This was a massive investigationinto the behavior and attitudes · of so-called knowledgeworkers in fifteen major business organizations. The study was orchestratedby Poppel and funded by most of the largest suppliers ofoffice automation equipment (including IBM, AT & T, Xerox, DEC,Exxon, and a good many anonymous others) who were interested inquantifying the case for office automation products aimed at themanagerial or professional worker.Participants in the study each carried a beeper that went offevery twenty minutes for three weeks of their professional lives.When the beepers beeped, the subjects pulled out a wallet full offorms on which they noted current activities and various otherpertinent bits of information. Hoxie still keeps one of those walletsin his desk at Context.When the study was finished, the Booz Allen staff evaluatedmillions of pieces of information and drew their conclusions.Among other things, they asserted that appropriate informationtechnology could reclaim about 15 percent of a manager's time andthat managers and professionals were by and large receptive to theprospect of office automation.Paper Losses. The other crucial experience was a consulting assignmentthat took Fischer and Hoxie to the Pacific Northwest, to akitchen cabinet-making division of International Paper. This divisionwas doing $25 million in sales, had $17 million in inventory,and was losing about $600,000 a month.This was in January of 1980. VisiCalc had been on the scene a littleunder half a year. Hoxie and Fischer brought along an Apple IIand prepared a materials requirement planning model for the client,using VisiCalc. The model demonstrated, among other things, thatthe company could stop buying raw materials and not build anythinguntil the end of the year, but that they'd have to hire 400 morepeople in June to prepare for the following year's production.12softolk for the IBM Personal Computer De cem ber 1982

E 1 040 Department of th• Tr .. auty-lnt•: U.S. lndlVidual lncomFor th• Ynr Janua1y 1-l)ttQ•mb•r 31, 1991. or oth•r t4UseIRSlabel.Other·wise,·,pleaseprintor type.Your first name and initial (if joint return, 1lso rivtPresent home address (Number and street, includingCity, town or post office, State and ZIP codePrul~entlal . ,..._ Oo you want $1 to go to thiElection Campaign ,,.If joint return, doH your spoFiling StatasCheck onlyone box.ExemptionsAlways. checkthe box labeledYourself.Check otherboxes if truayapply.lncoaePleHe attachCopy B of yourForms W-2 here.If you do not have• w-2. seepage 5 oflri1fructions.!-Pleaseattach checkor moneyorder here.l234561bSingleMarried filing jointMarried filing separatHead of houaeholenter child's namQualifying widow(1, etc. Personal Tax Planner, send the coupon, orII Interest lncome(a;!~c~.~!". call us for COD orders at 214/934-5900.b ~ivldends (attach ScheduleAfter all, it's deductible.c Total. Add lines Sa and Sb. EOS Electronic Data Systems Corporationd Exclusion (See page 9 of t1212 E. Arapaho Road• Subtract line.&! from line Richardson, TX 750819 Refunds of State and local 1 a oun un tH 'Iducted those tax~s in an earlier yea,,._see page 9 of Instructions) • • . .-1,10 Allm.ony received • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ., • • • • • • ,11 Business Income or (loss) (attach Schedule C) •12 Capital gain or (loss) (attach Schedule O) • • . •13 40% of capital gain distributions not re orted14 Supplemental gains or (losses) (atta m 4715 Fully taxable pensions an161 Other pensions anb Taxable a17 Rennumberity no.H" Wiiiax or rt·Adjustmentsto Income(SHlnstruc·tlons onpep 11)

The client threw Hoxie out of his chair, commandeered VisiCalcand the Apple, and spent the next three days knocking that modelaround, at the end of which time the general manager of the divisionlaid off a hundred employees. That was the first step toward recovery;in six months the division reduced its inventory by half,went from $600,000 in the red per month to a break-even position,and finally was sold as a profitable division."I had been a consultant with Booz Allen for twelve years,"Hoxie recalls. " Prior to that I 'd been a systems guy at IBM for aboutfive years; and I'd never seen any recommendation have that kindof impact."Nothing Personal. Two months later Fischer and Hoxie paid avisit to Dan Fylstra, president of Personal Software, and tried to sellhim a product strategy study for the development of VisiCalc. Thestudy was, of course, the germ of MBA. Fylstra told them aboutDIF, which was then on the drawing boards (and still a year from itsfirst appearance in the DOS 3.3 revise of Apple VisiCalc) . .Fischer and Hoxie thought DIF sounded inadequate as a tool forintegrating software functions and tried to persuade Fylstra thatthey had a better idea. Looking back, Fischer says he can't blameFylstra for turning them down. " He was just too preoccupied withother matters to seriously consider buying a product strategy studyfrom a couple of guys he didn' t know. We understand that; if somebodycame in here today and tried to sell us a product strategystudy, we'd be tempted to throw him out,'' he says. " But wewouldn't do it."After losing that sale to Fylstra, the two men drove out of PersonalSoftware's Sunnyvale offices, headed up the coast to SanFrancisco, and checked into the Hyatt Regency; by dawn they had abusiness plan.Context Management Systems was incorporated in October1980. Hoxie left Booz Allen in December of that year, and Fischerfollowed in February. The following month they hired their firstemployee, Jim Peterson, as vice president of product development.Peterson, who had designed integrated circuits for TRW beforecoming to Context and who had, along the way, picked up threehardware patents, became the programming honcho for microcomputerdom'sbiggest software project.Actually, Peterson wasn't the only member of the team who hadextensive hardware experience. Fischer had spent vacations fromMIT designing microprocessors for Fairchild and had helped developFairchild's first CMOS chip. Knowing that their concept forMBA necessitated hardware horsep9wer well in excess of what wasgenerally available in 1981, the trio considered building their ownmachine to run the program. "We abandoned that idea after threeweeks,'' says Fischer, " because we figured whatever we did in hardwaresomebody else could do as well."By April the walls of Hoxie's living room were covered withflow charts and other design paraphernalia. The group took an officein Torrance, California, and began the actual coding of MBAthat June.About the same time they picked up and marketed an entirelydifferent product. " None of us had a consumer products bac;kground,''Hoxie relates. "We knew we were vulnerable in that area,so we acquired the rights to distribute The Connector, which hadbeen developed by a couple of guys at Booz Allen. We cleaned it upand brought it out in June of '81, with the principal objective oflearning how to market a consumer product."The Connector was a program that downloaded data from remotedatabases and converted it into VisiCalc files for the Apple II.It was not an overpowering commercial success, although Hoxie assertsthat it sold more than they expected it to." We learned a little bit about package design,'' he recalls. " Andwe learned how hard it was to do good documentation."The Connector also connected Context to Martin Mazner, whosubsequently joined the firm as marketing vice president. Mazner,after a decade in advertising, had cofounded in 1980 the magazineComputer Merchandising. When the magazine was forced to acceptventure capital, Mazner decided he didn't want to work for someoneelse, flipped a coin with his partner, and sold his interest.A stint of consulting brought him into contact with Context.Mazner says, "I told them what they were doing wrong with TheConnector, so they offered me a job." He turned it down.In the fall of 1981, Mazner did go to work for Context, becomingthe architect of the company's marketing strategy for MBA.That strategy was aimed at ensuring an unprecedented degree of retailersupport for a product of unprecedented complexity. Everydealer authorized to sell MBA has to have completed a training programgiven by the Context staff and has to sign an agreement toprovide buyers with any necessary follow-up support. MBA is nowavailable in 190 stores.Taking Chances. This marketing approach is another in a seriesof calculated risks on Context's part. Mazner acknowledges that thecompany could have sold " several times as many MBAs" had theychosen to make the program available throl;lgh a large wholesaler,such as Softsel. But they believe that maintaining firmer controlover the dealer-user transaction will pay off when and where it matters-inthe long run and with the Fortune 2000 clientele that Contextconsiders to be its primary marketplace.The company isn't expecting dealers to be the sole source of usersupport. Mark Teitelman at Context provides a telephone hotlineservice and tabulates users' requests and suggestions. An MBA templatepublishing service and a newsletter on disk are in the works.Jeff Walden, who arrived at Context recently by way of VisiCorp, isresponsible for the maintenance and furtherance of dealereducation.It'll be an ongoing effort. Context is committed to twice-annualupdates of MBA. Version 2 , scheduled for release this December,will include telecommunications, a module for forms generation,and more powerful word processing features. An interim update,offering mainly speed enhancements, was scheduled for display atComdex in late November.Hoxie and Fischer stress the importance of telecommunicationsto the concept of MBA as a comprehensive management tool. Theyalso hope that communications capability will help overcome someof the remaining bastions of resistance among computing professionalsto the personal computer." The corporate MIS guy sees the microcomputer as a potentialmole,'' says Hoxie, referring to the fear expressed in some quartersthat desktop computers will lead individual managers to buildmodels based on incomplete or biased assumptions. With MBA, heasserts, a company can maintain control over its information resourcesand offer managers-on their own computers-authentic,qualified data on which to base projections.With regard to the future of MBA beyond version 2, Context ismum. A version 3, features unannounced, is promised for thespring. The program is coded in UCSD Pascal, partly for the sake ofportability (by spring, Context expects to have it running on threeother computers in addition to the IBM) but also for the sake ofmajntainability. Hoxie and Fischer speak of MBA as a " livingproduct," one that will expand and keep pace with changes in therelevant technologies.Wherever they take it-and themselves-one may presume thatthe effort will be guided by a couple of crucial navigational aids: anuncommon awareness of computer technology and the uses thereof,and a willingness to take chances based on that awareness. •14softolk for the IBM Personal Computer De cember l982

news peal

warmed-up car, and drive away in comfort.Except that by the time you get to yourcar, a crowd has gathered and wants toknow where you got the gizmo that made thecar start unattended.The little black box is called TransS tart,and it's part of a system made by TransStartof Provo, Utah. It retails for less than $400.For an additional $100 you can have thewhole kit professionally installed.The entire system consists of the transmitter,a two-by-four-by-six-inch receiverthat attaches undet the dash of your car, andsolenoids that attach to the starter and anyother electrical device you want turned onautomatically. To prevent the device fromaffecting your neighbor's car, if it also happensto have TransStart installed, each systemhas a personal frequency code that programsone system only.When you push the button on the transmitter,the microcomputer in the receiverunder the dash activates the starter, sendsback a message that it has started, then kicksout eight seconds later. It lets the car runeight minutes before turning it off unless itreceives further instructions. That way, incase you are delayed in leaving, you don'twaste gas while your car sits idling without adriver.The mind of man always seems to be racingahead of what technology can actuallydo. In the case of Gene Thall, coinventor ofTransStart, the idea had a twenty-year leadon its realization.Back in 1958, Thall thought there's gotto be a better way to start your car than runningout to it, getting in, and starting it cold,especially on winter mornings." I was born and raised in Wyoming, andit gets awfully cold there," he says. "Sometimesit'll reach thirty below and stay therefor six weeks. "So Thall and his son, Steve, began to formulatea system to start a car by remote controlback when a gallon of gas cost less thana copy of a big city newpaper does today." The theory was strong, but we had tomake it work," says Thall. The idea waseventually knocked out of their minds: nosuitable technology existed at the time.The notion remained parked in the backof the tinkerers' minds for twenty years,until 1978, the year the proper chips anddiodes reached the marketplace. Thall andson hauled out their sketches and broughttheir starter into the microcomputer age."We put together a rough prototype andmade it work on a Dodge pickup. That'swhen we decided to have a go at the thingfull time," Thall explains. "We hired someengineers and set up shop."So far TransStart has marketed aboutseven thousand of the units in the westernstates and they're "moving east," says Thall."It's available mostly through car dealershipsright now.''The success of the au to starter has inspiredTransStart to investigate new products,according to Thall. " Mostly items noone has heard of" Let 's hope the Thallswon' t have to wait twenty years between theidea and the execution of the next gizmotheir imaginations cook up.~ CompuScam. The personal computingworld, though still young, innocent, andexcitable, is subject to all the thousandshocks that flesh is heir to. As yet, it stillcounts first-time users and very young people,rather than seasoned business users,among the greater portion of its population.All the openness and enthusiasm that characterizesthis world makes it particularlyvulnerable to the speculation of less-thanscrupulousindividuals.He calls you on the phone, or knocks onyour door, or comes to your office. He's abusinessman with a problem. He says he'sjust purchased a quantity of Apples/IBMs/ modems/printers/disk drives. Hisclients have put down a 50 percent deposit,but now they can' t come up with therest and he's stuck. If you move fast, youcan take a lot of valuable equipment off hishands at half price. Just give him $1,200 t.o$1,800 per batch of five units, and he'll use itto pay off his distributor, saving two or threemachines for you.You do so. After some time has elapsed,you give him a call. There's been a delay; theitems were misrouted. More time passes.Now the man reveals that the manufactureris checking to see if the equipment is stolen:goods. Months go by. And suddenly yourentrepreneurial partner is nowhere to befound.This may have happened to you, or itmay in the future. And the man's name maybe William Bozarth.Bozarth faces charges of felony grandtheft and falsely representing an Appledealer in the California counties of SantaCruz, Solano, Marin, Concord, and Monterey.His case has produced so many jurisdictionalproblems that the five countiesare considering turning the matter over tothe California state attorney-general's office.If you have any information about Mr.Bozarth, contact the district attorney's officeof any of these counties.The ability of the native American buncoartist-the gentleman who once sold deedsfor the Brooklyn Bridge to arriving immigrants-toadapt to sophisticated technologyis a matter of record. In the recent case of thefictitious Arizona World Enterprises company,the individual responsible was finallycaught, tried, and convicted. He subsequentlymoved to a neighboring city andpulled the same scam again.The advent of the computer age hasfailed to render obsolete the oldest tenet ofbusiness: caveat emptor-let the buy~rbeware. A.PASCAL TOOLS ~c\UlicECODEmBLAISECOMPUTINGINC.1465 17th AvenueSan Francisco, CA 94122(415) 665-4711Pascal Application DevelopmentTools is a series of routines designedfor the serious user of the IBMPersonal Computer. TOOLS providesthe extensions to IBM Pascalwhich allow the rapid developmentof user-oriented software systems.TOOLS gives programmers theresources to take full advantage ofPascal in the PC environment.• Basic IntrinsicsSupports mathematical extension suchas minimum, maximum, general exponentiationand a random numbergenerator.• String FunctionsExtends Pascal string handlingcapabilities giving even more power thanfound in Advanced Basic. Extensivestring conversion and translation are supported.• Screen HandlingProvides complete screen accesswhether your monitor is color ormonochrome. Allows you to set colors,highlight fields, . scroll text and positionthe cursor.• Application RoutinesFurnishes a user-friendly program interface.For example, you can display aprompt and specify the format of acceptableresponses. A complete commandline parser permits the design of flexibleDOS commands provided.The price for TOOLS is only $125.00which includes all source code, an extensiveUser Reference Manual with comprehensiveexamples, and inserts foryour IBM Pascal Manual. The ReferenceManual may be purchased separately for$30.00, the cost of which is applicable tothe full purchase price.Enclosed is my check or money order.Please send:D Pascal Application DevelopmentTools ($125.00)D Documentation and User Manualonly ($30.00)(California residents add applicable sales tax.)Please Type or PrintNameCompanyStreetCityState_____ ZipD Please send additional informationfor the IBM Personal Computer December 198217

UP TILL NOW, tROOSING A WOUPROCESSOR nas tieen a detil Qf a.ta· I

SYSTEM NOTEBOOKby·AJan BoydIOver the past six months we've seen in detail how to work withalmost all of the DOS commands in versions 1.0 and 1.1 of theoperating system. This month we'll take a close look at one of theremaining commands-mode.This is one of the more obscure commands in the system. Noteveryone needs to understand or even acknowledge the existence ofthis command, but as you become more proficient at using your pc,you'll undoubtedly run into a situation where you'll findmode handy-particularly when it comes time to expand your pcbeyond its present capabilities.Mode exists in two different flavors, depending on which versionof DOS you have. Many users of DOS 1.0 reported problemswith mode, so version 1.1 of the operating system sported a new,enhanced mode command, one that offered many new and desirablefeatures and included everything that had been available on theearlier version. We'll restrict this discussion to mode as it exists inDOS 1.1.Mode , an external DOS command residing on the master disk, isdesigned specifically for use in configuring peripheral equipment. Itactually has several rather distinct uses, and we'll get into each ofthem momentarily; but first we should digress long enough todefine and discuss the concept of peripheral equipment.The term peripheral is a general one denoting any external equipmentthat can be attached to the pc. Generally such equipment interfacesthrough one of the card slots inside the computer. Any of thedevices attached to the pc through a slot can be thought of as a peripheral.This, of course, includes memory cards, video interfacecards, disk controllers, and the like-although these devices are sointegral to the system that they're seldom referred to as peripherals.The Outside Inside. The most general of all peripherals is theprinter; other examples include modems, graphics digitizers (alsocalled bit pads), analog controllers, speech synthesizers, mechanicalarms, music synthesizers, pen plotters, and joysticks. Usually, theuse of the computer for any so-called real-world application requiresthe addition of one or more of these peripherals.Many people quickly discover that the pc can be molded into avery effective word processor simply by the addition of wordprocessing software and a printer. In fact, many of the popular''dedicated" word processing machines are actually microcomputers,and internally some of them closely resemble the pc. All ofwhich really means that the term word processor has become more ofa way of describing the position in the market taken by the manufacturerrather than the capabilities of the machine.Many " word processor" manufacturers are now offering20computational abilities in software as an adjunct to the wordprocessing software that their machines were originally shippedwith; this is not the result of any technological breakthrough, butrather a reaction to today's increasingly sophisticated consumermarket. Similarly, many manufacturers of personal computers arenow offering word processing software packages along with theirpersonal computers. Both the preceding statements apply to IBM,among other companies. You can now do general-purpose computingon their dedicated word processing. machines, and, of course,you can use your pc as a powerful word processing machine.In order for a word processor to be effective, a printer must beadded to the basic computer system. There are essentially two typesof printers on the market, the dot-matrix type and the letter-qualitytype. There are also two methods of interfacing these printers to thepc-through a serial interface or through a parallel interface.The IBM printer, which is actually manufactured by Epson, is adot-matrix parallel printer, whereas most of the letter-qualityprinters from companies such as Nippon Electric (NEC) and Diabloare serial.The difference between a dot-matrix printer and a letter-qualityprinter is self-evident, although the difference between a serialinterface and a parallel interface is not-and is not well understoodby the average personal computer user. The difference lies in thenumber of bits of information transmitted at one time.Interfacial Bits. In a parallel interface the computer sendsinformation across eight parallel wires. This setup makes it possibleto transmit eight bits at a time. A serial interface sendsinformation serially, or one bit at a time. Obviously, the parallelmethod is faster, since it can send eight bits at once. However, theserial method is more common.There are two reasons for this apparent anomaly. The first isthat few computers use a. standard parallel interface, whereas mostcomputers have an interface card that allows use of the RS232-Cserial standard. Also, because of the nature of the circuitry required,serial lines can be run significantly longer than their correspondingparallel cousins-which means that noisy serial peripherals can beplaced in a room away from the computer.Therefore many peripheral equipment manufacturers offer theserial interface as a means of communication. This allows the use oftheir equipment on a large number of different computers.IBM offers what they call an Asynchronous CommunicationsAdapter, which is actually an RS232-C serial interface card. Thepurpose of this card, obviously, is to interface the pc to any of thegeneric peripherals that are available on the market. IBM does notsoftolk

currently offer a serial letter-quality printer, so information on howto attach such a device is sketchy in the IBM literature.The actual physical hookup is usually trivial, since most devicesuse standard connectors. On the other hand, the software modificationsnecessary to make a serial printer work with DOS are not soobvious. DOS is naturally configured to talk to a parallel printer(probably since that's what IBM sells), although a simple commandcan redirect the printer output to a serial device. This commandis mode.In DOS 1.0 the syntax model for the mode command wasMODE [LPT#:] [,n] [,m] [,T)where the square brackets enclose optional parameters. This form ofmode was replaced by a somewhat more elaborate version in DOS1.1. The new mode command actually has four different and distinct" modes" itself and is one of the most complex of all DOScommands.The first use for the command is in setting up a printer for differentline spacings and characters per line. In this use the commandtakes the formatMODE LPT#:[n][,m]Again, the square brackets enclose optional parameters. Thevariables are# the printer number-either 1, 2, or 3n the number of characters per line-either 80 or 132m the number of lines per inch-either 6 or 8The printer number allows the system to have more than oneprinter. For example, many people have both a dot-matrix parallelprinter, which they use for rough drafts of documents or graphicsrepresentations, and a letter-quality printer that they use for finalcopies. DOS actually allows up to three such devices, which is reallyoverkill.Use of the mode command for this purpose is easy. For example,if you wished to change the number of characters per line from80 to 132 and the line density from six lines per inch to eight linesper inch, you'd issue the commandMODE LPTI:l32,8DOS would then respond with the following messages:Resident portion of MODE loadedLPTl: not redirectedLPTl: set for 132Printer lines per inch setall of which indicate that the necessary adjustments have beenmade. (We'll come back to the " not redirected" message shortly;right now it's inconsequential, because it is just telling us that nochanges were made.)When you first turn on the pc, the default condition forprinter parameters is eighty characters per line and six lines perinch. You should only use the mode command in this context if youwish to change these to some other settings. The MX-80 printer,which IBM calls their 80 CPS Dot-Matrix Printer, is actually capableof printing in two modes, 80-column and 132-column, and twoline densities-six lines per inch and eight lines per inch.When you issue the mode command to change the defaultsetting from 80 characters per line to 132 characters per line, the pcreinitializes the printer and enables it to print in the condensedformat. This is particularly handy for printing on 8V2 by 11 paperthe ·sort of wide reports that are normally printed on 132-columnprinter paper.Many word processors do not allow text to be output to a printerin a format wider than eighty columns. This capability of DOS andthe MX-80 printer provides a convenient way to circumvent such alimitation. 'Since your CRT displays only eighty characters on a line,a word processor would need to be able to scroll horizontally as wellas vertically if it were to format on screen lines of more than eightycharacters.DOS includes a mini line editor that enables you to key andfor the IBM Personal Computer December 1982modify entries into the command line interpreter. This is the editoryou would normally use to issue commands to DOS. Very conveniently,this editor also permits up to 128 characters to be enteredon a logical line (that is, on what DOS internally recognizes to be asingle line). Of course, the logical line cannot be displayed as asingle line on the video screen. After eighty columns (actuallyseventy-eight, in most cases, since_ DOS requires two characters forits prompt), DOS automatically scrolls down to the next physicalline and continues there. Once you reach the 128th character, DOSbeeps the bell and refuses to allow any more cha.racters to beentered-with the exception of the enter key (and a few controlcharacters that either backspace, cancel the line, or have the sameeffect as hitting the enter key).Typing Letters on the Fly. The fact that DOS permits a logicalline of 128 characters gives you a very cheap and dirty method oftyping letters, since you ca!'l create a file on the fly by means of thecopy con: filename procedure and then print it by typing controlPrtSc and then issuing the command type filename. This method ofsending text to the printer will work in either the 80-column or the132-column format, although DOS's limit of 128 characters per linewill prevent you from taking full advantage of the printer's 132-columncapability.One pitfall to watch fc;ir is the fact that if you type characters intoa file using copy con: and you go past the eightieth column withoutentering a carriage return, Db$ '.will appear to provide a carriagereturn for you. It only does this for the sake of appearance on screen,however, and if you try to print such a file in eighty-column mode,the printer, after printing the first eighty characters, will do a carriagereturn without a line feed. The net result will be that it willoverprint the characters at the beginning of the line until it encountersthe carriage return that you actually entered on screen. If youcommit this oversight, don' t despair. Simply change the printer21

mode to 132 columns.If you prefer using the printer in 132-column mode (or condensedprint mode, as it is kri.own) all of the time, then it is probablybest to set up your DOS disks with an Autoexec.bat file that automaticallyinitializes and adjusts the printer for you whenever youturn on your system. For example, if you wanted to have the printerautomatically come up ready to print 132 characters per line andeight lines per inch, then you could create the Autoexec.bat file :REM This is the Autoexec.bat file to initialize the printerREM for 132 columns per line, 8 lines per inchMODE LPT1:132,8REM Don't forget to get the date and timeDATETIMEAZAs is the case with most DOS commands that require you toenter parameters after the command, mode does not require thatyou enter all the parameters. If, however, you wish to change thesecond parameter only, .leaving the first as it is, you need to issue acomma before the second parameter. For example, to change the linedensity from six to eight while leaving the printer in eighty-columnmode, you'd enter the commandMODE LPTI: ,8(the space before the comma is optional). In this case, DOS willreply with the screen messagesLPTI: not redirectedPrinter lines per inch setThe only difference between this and the reply to the full commandused earlier is that this one doesn' t say " LPTl:+l set for132" ; it doesn't need to since you haven't made any change to thewidth parameter.Obviously, the comma before the second parameter is the onlyway to describe accurately to DOS which parameter it is that youwish to change. If the first parameter is to be changed but not thesecond one, then it's only necessary to enter the new first parameter.It is not necessary in this case to enter a trailing comma,since one is implied. For example, if you wish to change the numberof characters per line from 80 to 132, but you do not want tochange the number of lines per inch, you need only enterMODE LPT1:132and, predictably, DOS will return the screen messagesLPTI: not redirectedLPTI: set for i32The only error condition that can exist with this version of themode command happens when you attempt to enter a charactersper-lin.eparameter that is neither 80 nor 132, or if you attempt toenter a lines-per-inch parameter that is not six or eight. In suchcases, the mode command will not return an error message. Neitherwill it accept the parameter. It simply will not change anything. Infact, if DOS does not accept the illegal parameter, it emits the screenmessageLPTI not redirectedand nothing else, 'which indicates that nothing has changed.Color TV Mode. The second use of the mode command is as ameans of setting up the video display screen. This particular use ofmode only works with computers equipped with the IBMcolor/ graphics monitor adapter; it has no effect on units equippedwith the monochrome adapter. The function of the command istwofold: to align the edge of the screen so that it can be seen and toswitch between forty and eighty characters per line on the screen.Many video monitors and television sets have a particularlyhard time in gra~ping the video signal emitted by a computer such asthe pc. One of the results is a poor horizontal hold, with the resultthat one of the two sides of the screen is somewhat obscured.Cathode ray tubes (television tubes) are curved at the edges, and thiscurvature can result in one or more characters being out of sight at22the corners of the screen. When you try to correct this by adjustingthe horizontal hold on the monitor or television, you will sometimeslose the picture completely.This use of the mode command has a different syntax structurefrom the first use we saw. This essentially makes it a different commandwith a completely different function. The syntax model inthis isMODE [n][,m]L T]where n is the number of characters per screen line (either forty oreighty), m is either R or L and specifies the direction you want toshift the display, and Tis an optional request for a simple test patternto aid in the alignment of the screen.Of course, the same rules for omitted parameters apply to thisversion of mode as to the first that we saw. If parameters ate not tobe changed, then a comma needs to be entered in the commandline-unless the only parameter changed is the first one-or both ofthe first two .For example, if you want to change the screen 111SJde from eightyto forty columns then you should enter the commandMODE 40This causes the screen to go blank and all characters to be enlargedin the horizontal direction to twice their normal size. To see theeffect, enter the command just given and then issue a dir command.The forty-column display is particularly suitable for the pc with atelevision and an RF modulator, since most televisions don't havesufficient resolution to display eighty characters on a line legibly.The second parameter in this command is either an R or an L;obviously these letters stand for right and left. This parameter is asignal to DOS to shift the entire display a fixed increment in onedirection or the other. For example, if you wished to reset the screento eighty-column mode and shift it to the right, you'd enter thefollowing:MODE 80,RThis would cause the screen to go blank and the entire field of viewto be moved over the equivalent of two character positions. If wehad left the screen in forty-column mode, it would have moved overby the equivalent of one forty-column character.If the display is still not far enough over to the right, we cansimply moye it over one more increment by enteringMODE,RIf it is too far over we could move it back by enteringMODE ,LThe final parameter is a request for a test pattern that can beused for alignment purposes. The test pattern is simply a line ofnumbers across the top of the display. You would request the testpattern by issuing a command something likeMODE 80,R,TDOS would print the line of chatacters-in this case in eightycolumnmode-and then prompt :Do you see the leftmost O? (Y./N)If the leftmost O is clearly visible, press the Y key. If not, press the Nand DOS will adjust the screen and continue displaying the promptuntil you have it set just right.Of course, if you type the commandMODE 80,L,TDOS will do exactly the same thing, but it will move the display tothe left rather than the right.'If you're having alignment problems with your monitor or televisionset, it's worthwhile to run through this exercise once to findout how many times you need to move the screen to get its mostacceptable position; then you can use that information to build anAutoexec.bat so that the display can be reset automatically everytime you turn on the system.For example, if you found that you needed to move the screentwo increments to the right in order to see the whole picture, youcould build an Autoexec.bat file that would set it up correctly everysoftolk

for th e I BM Pers onal Compu t er1st year free to IBM Personal Computer owners.PC Serial# ---- - --- ----- --------------Name --------------------- ------ --Address --- ---------- ------------- - -City/State --- --- ---- ----------- Zip _ _ __ _0 I don't own an IBM pc, but I would still like to subscribe.udio frequencies. These audio frequencies1ency spectrum and bandwidth as normal~where a voice line can go, computer datamost frequently encountered in comlvethe differentiation between normal lined the synchronization of signals betweenIiving devices.ping information into your pc and having\telephone line to another computer.~ e every character in an organized andll.v then does the remote computer knowformation?b format in which the information is sentay know, alphanumeric characters can bebit patterns, known as ASCII codes (for! for Information Interchange). ASCII is\e glaring exception-IBM's larger com-0 Visa 0 MasterCard Expiration -------- ----------- ronization is best illustrated by way of anlanted to send the simple string "ABC"line. The ASCII codes for these charac-Signature ----------- ------------------Regular Subscription Rates: $24 per year.WE MUST HAVE YOUR SERIAL NUMBER TO PROCESS FREE SUBSCRIPTIONSA SOFTALK PUBLICATIONEacn of tnese terms relates Clirect1y to generaDtata communicationsand will be ehcountered many times when you're dealing withany type of interface-whether it be to a printer or over a telephoneline to a remote host computer. To understand each of these terms asuperficial knowledge of the methods of data communication isrequired.The issues are best visualized in the context of communicationsover a telephone line. A telephone line is a good example of a serialinterface. There is only one line between any two communicationspoints, so that data must pe sent in a serial fashion.The method that has been standardized and accepted by the Bellsystem is the one whereby bits of information (either zeros or ones)r ese characters is represented by a uniquepattern ot seven bfts Cbfnary digits). To communicate these characters,we could simply send out the binary string100000110000101000011whi(:h does accurately represent the three characters. However, thisdoesn' t make much sense at the receiving end, since the receivingcomputer doesn' t know, and can' t tell, where the representation ofeach character starts and stops. To pass this information across, theconcepts of start bits and stop bits were introduced.$tart bits and stop bits are used to frame each character. Mostsystems use an arrangement whereby one start bit precedes thecharacter and one or two stop bits follow it. Assuming two stop bits,our transmission would take on this appearance:Get in the Holiday SpiritIt's that time of year again. Time for excnanging gifts and for family gatherings. Time for celebration 'and thanksgiving.Here at Softalk Publishing we like the holiday season so much we extend it year round. It doesn't matter when you buy apc; in December or in July, a year's free subs.cription to Softalk tor the IBM Personal Computer awaits you.That's right, you get a whole year's free suQscription just for sending us your name, address, and pc serial number.Twelye issues packed with information about the IBM Personal Computer just for the asking. We don't think you'll find abette.l- 1 deal anywhere. .Correction. We just discovered a better deal. Send us the mime, address, and pc serial number of a friend who isn'treceiving Softalk tor the IBM Personal Computer and we'll send you the back issue of your choice free of charge. And we'llstart up your friend's year's free subscription at the same time. Such a better deal!All six pack issues (June through November 1982) are still available, though supply is limited.Let us help you get in the holiday spirit. We know what it's like, because every day is like Christmas Day here at Sottalk.Softalk for the I BM Personal Computer11160 McCormick StreetBox 60North Hollywood, CA 91603I BM Personal Computer is a trademark of International Business Machines.for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982 23

mode to 132 columns.If you prefer using the printer in 13densed print mode, as it is known) all of thbest to set up your DOS disks with an Aumatically initializes and adjusts the printeturn on your system. For example, if youautomatically come up ready to print 132eight lines per inch, then you could creatREM This is the Autoexec.bat file to iREM for 132 columns per line, 8 linesMODE LPTI:132,8REM Don't forget to get the date andDATETIMEAZAs is the case with most DOS commaenter parameters after the command, modyou enter all the parameters. If, however, Isecond parameter only, leaving the first ascomma before the second parameter. For ex,density from six to eight while leaving the ~mode, you'd enter the commandMODE LPTI: ,8(the space before the comma is optional).reply with the screen messagesLPTl: not redirectedPrinter lines per inch setThe only difference between this and the replyto the fUll commandused earlier is that this one doesn't say "LPTl: + 1 set for132"; it doesn't need to since you haven' t made any change to thewidth parameter.Obviously, the comma before the second parameter is the onlyway to describe accurately to DOS which parameter it is that youwish to change. If the first parameter is to be changed but not thesecond one, then it's only necessary to enter the new first parameter.It is not necessary in this case to enter a trailing comma,since one is implied. For example, if you wish to change the numberof characters per line from 80 to 132, but you do not want tochange the number of lines per inch, you need only enterMODE LPTI:132and, predictably, DOS will return the screen messagesLPTl : not redirectedLPTI: set for i32The only error condition that can exist with this version of themode command happens when you attempt to enter a charactersper-lineparameter that is neither 80 nor 132, or if you attempt toenter a lines-per-inch parameter that is not six or eight. In suchcases, the mode command will not return an error message. Neitherwill it accept the parameter. It simply will not change anything. Infact, if DOS does not accept the illegal parameter, it emits the screenmessageLPTl not redirectedand nothing else, which indicates that nothing has changed.Color TV Mode. The second use of the mode command is as ameans of setting up the video display screen. This particular use ofmode only works with computers equipped with the IBMcolor/graphics monitor adapter; it has no effect on units equippedwith the monochrome adapter. The function of the command istwofold: to align the edge of the screen so that it can be seen and toswitch between forty and eighty characters per line on the screen.Many video monitors and television sets have a particularlyhard time in gra~ping the video signal emitted by a computer such asthe pc. One of the results is a poor horizontal hold, with the resultthat one of the two sides of the screen is somewhat obscured.Cathode ray tubes (television tubes) are curved at the edges, and thiscurvature can result in one or more characters being out of sight atI II II IBUSINESS REPLY CARDFIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 673 NO. HOLLYWOOD, CAPOSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEEsoftalkfor the IBM Personal ComputerP. 0. Box 60North Hollywood, California 91603NO POSTAGENECESSARYIF MAILEDIN THEUNITED ST ATES22obviously these letters starlcl for riglifandTeft. Tfiis parameter is asignal to DOS to shift the entire display a fixed increment in onedirection or the other. For example, if you wished to reset the screento eighty-column mode and shift it to the right, you'd enter thefollowing:MODE 80,RThis would cause the screen to go blank and the entire field of viewto be moved over the equivalent of two character positions. If wehad left the screen in forty-column mode, it would have moved overby the equivalent of one forty-column character.If the display is still not far enough over to the right, we cansimply moye it over one more increment by enteringMODE ,RIf it is too far over we could move it back by enteringMODE ,LThe final parameter is a request for a test pattern that can beused for alignment purposes. The test pattern is simply a line ofnumbers across the top of the display. You would request the testpattern by issuing a command something likeMODE 80,R,TDOS would print the line of characters-in this case in eightycolumnmode-and then promptDo you see the leftmost O? (Y../N)If the leftmost 0 is clearly visible, press the Y key. If not, press the Nand DOS will adjust the screen and continue displaying the promptuntil you have it set just right.Of course, if you type the commandMODE 80,L,TDOS will do exactly the same thing, but it will move the display tothe left rather than the right.If you're having alignment problems with your monitor or televisionset, it's worthwhile to run through this exercise once to findout how many times you need to move the screen to get its mostacceptable position; then you can use that information to build anAutoexec.bat so that the display can be reset automatically everytime you turn on the system.For example, if you found that you needed to move the screentwo increments to the right in order to see the whole picture, youcould build an Autoexec.bat file that would set it up correctly everysoftalk

time. The file would be something like this:REM This is an Autoexec.bat file to set up the monitorREM Turn on BO-column mode and move to the rightMODE 80,R .REM Move once more to H1e rightMODE ,R/\ zSuch a fi le would certainly make life a lot easier and eliminate atroublesome and potentially fatiguing situation.Crosstown Mode. The third use for the mode command is inconjunction with the IBM Asynchronous Communications Adapteror its equivalent. As was explained earlier, this type of interface cardca n be used to drive many different kinds of peripheral equipment,including a serial printer. Since so many different types of equipmentcan be driven with the serial interface, this particular versionof the mode command is actually quite complex; it encompassesmany obscure variables that may not meijn much to the beginninguser.The exact syntax model for this version of the mode command isMODE CO Mn: ba'!ld[,parity[,databits[,stopbits[,PJJ]]where n is the number of the serial interface (either 1 or 2); baud is anumber that defines the speed at which characters will be transmittedand received; parity is either E for even, 0 for odd, or N for none:databits is either seven or eight and defines how characters are beingtransmitted; stopbits is either one or two and defines how charactersare terminated when being transmitted; and Pis used as an indicatorof whether a serial printer is attached or not.Each of these terms relates directly to general data comIT1unicationsand will be encountered many times when you're dealing withany type of interface-whether it be to a printer or over a telephoneline to a remote host computer. To understand each of these terms asuperficial knowledge of the methods of data communication isrequired.The issues are best visualized in the context of communicationsover a telephone line. A telephone line is a good example of a serialinterface. There is only one line between any two communicationspoints, so that data must be sent in a serial fashion.The method that has been standardized and accepted by the Bellsystem is the one whereby bits of information (either zeros or ones)are converted to specific audio frequencies. These audio frequenciesare within the same frequency spectrum and bandwidth as normalvoice data. Therefore, anywhere a voice line can go, computer datacan follow.The two problems most frequently encountered in communicatingthis way involve the differentiation between normal linenoise and information and the synchronization of signals betweenthe transmitting and receiving devices.Imagine that you're typing information into your pc and havingit transmitted across a telephone line to another computer.Obviously you don't type every character in an organized andeasily timed fashion. How then does the remote computer knowwhen you are sending information?The answer lies in the format in which the information is sentdown the line. As you may know, alphanumeric characters can berepresented by means of bit patterns, known as ASCII codes (forAmerican Standard Code for Information Interchange). ASCII isused universally with one glaring exception-IBM's larger computers.The problem of synchronization is best illustrated by way of anexample. Suppose we wanted to send the simple string "ABC"across a communications line. The ASCII codes for these charactersareA 1000001B 1000010c 1000011As you can see, each of these characters is represented by a uniquepattern of seven bits (binary digits). To communicate these characters,we could simply send out the binary string100000110000101000011which does accurately represent the three characters. However, thisdoesn't make much sense at the receiving end, since the receivingcomputer doesn't know, and can't tell, where the representation ofeach character starts and stops. To pass this information across, theconcepts of start bits and stop bits were introduced.$tart bits and stop bits are used to frame each character. Mostsystems use an arrangement whereby one start bit precedes thecharacter and one or two stop bits follow it. Assuming two stop bits,our transmission would take on this appearance:Get in the Holiday SpiritIt's that time of year again. Time for excbanging gifts and for family gatherings. Time for celebration ·and thanksgiving.Here at Softalk Publishing we like the holiday season so much we extend it year round. It doesn't matter when you buy apc; in December or in July, a year's free subs.criptiori to Softalk tor the IBM Personal Computer awaits you.That's right, you get a whole year's free suQscription just for sending us your name, address, and pc serial number.Twelye issues packed with information aboutthe IBM Personal Computer just for the asking. We don't think you'll find abett e_'~, deal anywhere ..Gbrrection. We just-discovered a better deal. Send us the name, address, and pc serial number of a friend who isn'treceiving Sottalk tor the IBM Personal Computer and we'll send you the back issue of your choice free of charge. And we'llstart up your friend's year's free subscription at the same time. Such a better deal!All six pack issues (June through November 1982) are still available, though supply is limited.Let us help you get in the holiday spirit. We know what it's like, because every day is like Christmas Day here at Softalk.Softalk for the I BM Personal Computer11160 McCormick StreetBox 60North Hollywood, CA 91603I BM Personal Computer is a trademark of International Business Machines.for the IBM Personal Computer December 198223

(start) 1000001 (stop) (stop)(start) 1000010 (stop) (stop)(start) 1000011 (stop) (stop)· which, of course, is much simpler to understand and decode. Insuch a situation, we would have one start bit, seven data bits, andtwo stop bits. Essentially, ten bits would be transmitted for eachcharacter of information.The other problem we run into is differentiating between signalsand noise. In many cases it is extremely difficult to make out voiceinformation over the telephone lines. Computers face a similarproblem in identifying ones, zeros, and no information at all. Consequentlymany errors can occur, even in the ~implesttransmission.To guard against these errors, a scheme called parity wasintroduced. ·The Extra Bit. The parity scheme works very simply-and oftenquite elegantly. The transmitting device counts the number of onesbeing sent for each character. An additional bit is then tacked on toeach character. The additional bit is either a one or a zero, dependingon whether the totid count of ones is odd or even. This eliminatesthe worst type of transmission error, in which a single bit in acharacter is not received correctly. Such a simple error, since it isn'tcatastrophic, is very difficult to detect. However, when ~uch anerror occurs, the entire sense of the information being transmitted,particularly if the information is numeric, can be modified.Three types of parity are used. Even parity adds another bit toeach character in such a manner that the total number of ones isalways even. Odd parity does the opposite; it ensures that each. character contains an odd number of ones. If the receiving devicedetects a character that does not conform to this rule (whicheverrule is in effect), it can signal the controlling software; the latterthen requests that the transmitting device retransmit the offendingcharacter until it gets it right. No parity means that the upper bitwhichis always transmitted first-is always set to either a one or azero and is therefore meaningless and to be ignored at thereceiving end.The last of the strange terms used in this context of mode commandis baucj. Baud is simply a numeric indication of the speed atwhich characters are transmitted. For example, the term 300 baudmeans that three hundred total bits are transmitted every second.This usually can be translated roughly into a number of charactersper second by following a simple rule of thumb. The most popularmethod of sending information between two devices is to use onestart bit, one stop bit, one parity bit, and seven data bits-for a totalof ten bits per character. Therefore, a transmission rate of 300 baudusually translates to thirty characters per second. ·Dual Bauds. When you are entering the baud rate parameter inthis version of the mode command it is necessary only to enter thefirst two characters. For example, if you are setting up for 300 baud,simply enter 30. For 9 ,600 baud, enter 96. The baud rates that modewill accept are no, 150, 300, 600, 1,200, 2,400, 4,800, or 9,600.In this context the mode command is used to configure a general-purposeserial (asynchronous) interface to a specific piece ofperipheral hardware. In general, the add-on equipment will be welldocumented and will have a table explaining how these parametersare to be set. The last parameter, however, the P, is used to indicatethat the peripheral equipment attached to the named serial port isactually a serial printer.When this parameter has been specified, the pc will outpu.tinformation in a special mode. This mode takes care of what arecalled timeout errors. Timeout errors arise when a device does notanswer a call within a specified time. The purpose of this type oferror is to prevent the computer from hanging if a peripheral dies inthe middle of an operation. That is, if a piece of attached equipmentfails to perform, then the computer will wait for only a prespecifiedamount of time before it gives up and goes back into operation.Aborting Aborts. In the case of a printer, there are times when24you won't want the computer to return to normal operation whenthe printer has been shut down. For example, if you are using aletter-quality printer and are manually changing sheets of paper betweenpages, you will not be too happy if the computer aborts theprinting operation each time you try to make a change. Specifying aP as the final parameter in this version of the mode commandremedies this situation.However, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you donot want the computer to wait for you-for example, when theprinter really does break down-simply press the control-break keycombination, and normal operation will resume.The fourth and final application of the mode command brings usto a point where we need to discuss a feature of DOS that sets itapart from other operating systems of its genre. This feature iscalled dev ice independent input/ output. Without getting too technical,the purpose of this feature is primarily to allow the redirectionof input and output streams.To date, we have seen one interesting example of this feature inthe method by which we've created batch files on the fly-by usingtheCOPY CON: MYFILE.BATcommand. What this command accomplished was the redirectionof character stream required for the copy command froma disk file to the keyboard-with the result that copy actually treatedthe characters typed at the keyboard as though they were a disk file.In a similar fashion, the character stream output that is ~ormallydirected to a parallel line printer, such as the IBM 80 CPS DotMatrix Printer, can be redirected to a serial letter-quality printer attachedto an asynchronous communications interface card. You'daccomplish this by means of the command ·MODE LPT#:=COMnwhere# is the number of the line printer (either 1, 2, or 3) and n isthe serial port number (either 1 or 2 for the IBM asynch card). Thiscommand initializes the letter-quality printer as the primary outputdevice. To redirect the output back to the parallel printer, you'dissue the commandMODE LPTI :80,6- the same command we saw earlier.That pretty much covers the function of the mode command.Since it is such an obscure command, much detail was eliminatedfrom this discussion. This was done deliberately for two reasons.First, many of the idiosyncrasies of DOS should now be familiar toyou, and as we have seen before, rules that apply to one DOS commandcan usually be applied generally. Second, mode is not the typeof command that should be part of the everyday operation ofyour pc.In fact, the mode command should really only be used when youwant to reconfigure your system. This should be necessary onlywhenever the system's physical configuration changes-wheneveryou install a new printer, or if you add a modem to your system, forexample. By experimenting and reading the manufacturer's documentationyou should be able to determine which version of themode command, if any, is required to reconfigure your system.You Batcha! If you determine that you do indeed need to usemode, you should build it into a batch file so you can invoke it withvery little fuss. This eliminates the need for long, involved keystrokesequences every time you turn your system on. If it is a permanentalteration that you will need to have in effect all the time,then you should take advantage of DOS's Autoexec.bat capabilities.Thankfully, that about does it for this month. As you can see,the mode command is a bit more complex than its simple nameimplies. Since this is the Christmas season, though, many peoplewill be adding new peripheral equipment to their systems. Let'shope this month's article will help in putting it all together andmaking it work. .Happy holidays!.A.softolk

marl

codes. This-is actually a miniature database management system forpersonal finances. The value of such a system becomes increasinglyobvious as income tax time draws closer. The early copies of theprogram had a severe limitation on the number of transactions.-However, this problem has been corrected, and FriendlyW are willreplace an old copy in exchange for the original disk.Given the cost of the program, there is no cause for complaint. Ifone ignores the cost, however, there are a few things that could havebeen done better. It seems as though the manual writer just ran outof steam by the time he or she got to the business utilities. Theseutilities (Depreciation, Inventory Reorder, Present/Future Value,Amortization, Economic Order Quantity, Break Even Analysis, andStock Ratios) are present on the disks, but there is no documentationwhatsoever in the manual for them. While the programs arewritten well enough that a person who knows their purpose couldrun them, it would have been nice to provide some explanatio'n forthe uninitiated.Overall, the PC Introductory Set is an ou !standing, high-qualityprogram set. It is a smorgasbord on which everyone is likely to findat least a few tasty morsels.boFriendly Ware PC Introductory Set, by Michael D . Yaw, James J. Davis, FrankSmith, Alan Vanchura, John Leatherwood, and Bruce W. Moore, FriendlySoft (213 Pebblebrook, Arlington, TX 76014; 817-277-9378). $49.95.Life and Microcosm. Despite the different names, both of these programsare versions of a computer game developed over a decade ago,usually referred to as life. (For more on the subject, see the articlethat begins on page 30 of this issue.) Life has been implemented bycountless programmers on a great variety of machines over the pastdozen years. It is not surprising to see it make its appearance on thePersonal Computer.Briefly, life is a solo game that traces the growth and death ofpatterns on a grid over a series of generations. Though it has been26ELIZA IS HERE!AT LAST! A FULL IMPLEMENTATION of the original ELIZAprogram is now available to run on your I BM Personal Computer!Created at MIT in 1966, ELIZA has become the world's mostcelebrated artificial intelligence demonstration program . ELIZAturns your computer into a non-directive psychotherapist withwhom you can converse much as you would with a live therapist.She analyzes each statement as you type it in and thenresponds with her own comment or question . Response time isvirtually instantaneous, and her remarks are often amazinglyappropriate!Designed to run on a large mainframe, ELIZA has never beforebeen available to personal computer users except in greatlystripped down versions lacking the sophistication which madethe original program so fascinating.Now, our new IBM PC version possessing the FULL power andrange of expression of the original is being offered at the introductoryprice of only $25. And if you want to find out how shedoes it lor teach her to do morel, you can buy the completeI BM Disk BASIC SOURCE PROGRAM for only $20 additional.Order your copy of ELIZA today and you'll never again wonderhow to respond when you hear someone say, "Okay, let's seewhat this computer of yours can actually do!"AVAILABLE ON DISK IN TWO VERSIONS FOR THE PC1 . Protected Version .... . .............. $25(Protected Version can be run but not listed or modified)2. Un -p rotected IBM Disk BASIC Source Version ... $45(Source Version can be listed and modified as well as run)Both versions include a six page user manualPlease add $2.00 shipping and handling to the above amounts(California residents add 6% sales tax)•ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH GROUP921 North La Jolla Avenue, Dept. SLos Angeles, CA 90046(213) 656-7368 (213) 654-2214MC, VISA and checks acceptedplayed on even the most primitive microcomputers, the PersonalComputer is something of a comedown from the days when it occupiedsophisticated mainframes at MIT. You may never reproducethe MIT experiments with your little beige box, but youcan easily create over 90 percent of the life patterns that have beenpublished over the years.Life requires 32K and a color adapter. As you might expect fromthe name, it is a rather plain, straightforward implementation of thetraditional game. However, it is colorful and fast-moving.Life uses a forty-column screen, with edge wrap optional. (Theedge wrap will allow, for example, a moving pattern to exit thescreen and appear on the opposite side.) Each dot is a happy facefrom the standard character set. As the generations change, thecolors change too. The oldest dots stay white, but each succeedinggeneration has a different color, one of fourteen. After a few generations,the screen can become a rainbow of greens, reds, yellows,and so on; blossoming, dying out, and being reborn.Life will run in a fast mode of about ten generations per secondor a " slow" mode of about half that speed. It is

four game levels.The better you get at the game, the madder the hi-res porkers get(after all , pigs are people too); the hazardous four-footed actionspeeds up with each advance, and on the fourth level the pigsactually get smarter.The only chance you have of putting the pigs in their place iswhen you trip upon a super spot known as an energizer. The gamestarts squealing to hog heaven, the piglets turn into ghostly pokerfacedportraits, and you race through the maze like a crazed butcher,turning the tables on your attackers by pouncing the heads into h~mshanks at 200 points each. Not a bad score for clobbering your ownholiday ham dinner, knowing it had just been licking its chopsat you.And what could be nicer with a ham feast than an ear of sweet,golden corn? One or two stalks will pop up each game; be sure tograb one while it's hot for some extra points.With ghostly-headed hogs and rampaging killer pigs after youas you're trying to seed your maze, Pig Pen offers proof that farmingisn' t as bucolic as it's cracked up to be. Color/ graphics adapterrequired.mfPig Pen, by TMQ Software, DataMost (9748 Cozycroft Avenue, C hatsworth,CA 91311; 213-709-1202). $29.95.ColorPlus. This is a new color/ graphics adapter for the IBM PersonalComputer. The Color Plus can be used instead of the IBM Color/GraphicsAdapter, and it includes-in addition to all the IBMadapter's features-a built-in parallel printer interface and advancedgraphics modes.All IBM Personal Computer software that uses a color/ graphicsadapter works with the ColorPlus without any added steps to get itrunning. The ColorPlus emulates the IBM Color/ Graphics Adaptercapabilities in exacting detail so there is virtually no telling whetheryou' re using the IBM board or the ColorPlus, except on those occasionswhen the software you're using takes advantage of theColorPlus's advanced color graphics capabilities.The eighty-character, high-resolution mode on the IBM pc providesfor two colors: black and white. The ColorPlus can performlike that, or It can offer you four colors in this mode-and none ofthe four needs to be black or white. In fact, the high-resolutionmode on the ,.ColorPlus is quite similar to the medium-resolutionmode on the .IBM Color/ Graphics Adapter: You may select one oftwo palettes of three colors (green, red, and brown or cyan, magenta,and white) over a background of one of sixteen colors.In the fo ~ ty-character, medium-resolution mode, the ColorPlusoffers sixteen colors over a background of one of sixteen colors,whereas the IBM Color/ Graphics Adapter offers only four colorsover a background of one of sixteen.Rather than enhancing Basic on the IBM Personal Computer toallow the user to take advantage easily of the extended graphics capabilitiesof the ColorPlus, all the demonstration programs suppliedwith the ColorPlus use a smattering of out statements that send binary-codedvalues to the ColorPlus adapter, to " brute force" it to doits tricks. The coding is not for the feebleminded, since the methodby which the ColorPlus generates additional colors is to superimposeone video page over another. To get a high-resolution circle inyellow, in other words, you must draw one circle in red and anotherin green on another " page"-and then mix them. This takes morethan a simple color and circle statement; it requires a couple of outinstructions (carefully coded) as well.A programmer of reasonable experience will be able to makesense of and use the advanced features of the ColorPlus adapter;those of us who need help reading the IBM Basic book will not dowell at understanding the ColorPlus documentation. For those consideringthe ColorPlus, suffice it to say that the ColorPlus has potentialthat can be realized-definitely more potential than the IBMMED SYSTEMS SOFTWAREP.O. Box 3558, Chapel Hill, NC 27514To order, call: 1-800-334-54 70llYfor the IBM Personal Computer December 1982 27

stead of just reading " You see rainbow," you're presented with oneon the screen, in beautiful color. When you "get" an object, it disappearsfrom the screen, and when you "drop" it, there it is again.The machine language routines in this program shift the sceneryvery quickly, and there is sound as well, so when a rattlesnakethreatens, you can both see and hear it.If you have never played a graphics adventure, prepare for apleasant surprise. You will get to see the aforementioned princess,castle, and desert in glowing color. The nature of a graphics adventureinvolves a few minor quirks-objects sometimes seem to befloating in air, and you must often hit the scroll key to see all thetext. But you'll quickly get used to this.To the attractive graphics, there is added the mechanics of aclassic-style adventure game. This is not Zork, and you cannot say"Pick lock with knife," for example. What you can do is say "Picklock," and add "with knife" when the program prompts you.The most interesting thing about this game is the endless opportunityfor dying. You have wonderful opportunities for beingdrowned or poisoned. You can also explore the exciting possibilitiesof being eaten or falling to your death. You are a very cleverfellow if you die only once or twice in the course of this adventure.Fortunately, the game can be saved, so you do not have to restartyour lives from the beginning. This feature also eliminates thetedium of searching the desert for rocks in the first part of the adventure(one of its few dull moments).This was the first full-color adventure ever implemented for amicrocomputer. It is appropriate that it should be the first for thePersonal Computer. Though there are shortcomings, in choosingthis game to market, IBM is going with a classic.Requires 48K and color/graphics adapter.fjAdventure in Serenia, by Ken and Roberta Williams, IBM (Box 1328, RocaRaton, FL 33432; 305-998-2000). $35.Space Strike. By Michael Abrash. Earth is doomed. Waves of alienNew catalog forIBM personalcomputer users ...FEATURINGSOFTWAREReady to use software backed by our FREE TechnicalService Hotline. Programs for financial modeling,word processing, mail lists, and managerialforecasting. All complete with proven documentationand operating instructions.& SUPPLIESHere is your " shop-by-mail" showroom. Diskettes,report paper, ribbons, furniture ... even invoices,statements and checks to match your software!Ready and in-stock for immediate shipment.Send for your FREE catalog today. Or for evenfaster service, call Toll-Free 800-323-0628. (In Illinoiscall 312-377-0990).l/iSiBJ.E Computer Supply CorporationA Subsidiary of Wallace Computer Services3626 Stern Drive• St. Charles, Illinois 60174Computer Supplies and Accessories by Mail forMore Than 35 Years.The IBM Personal Computer is a trademark of InternationalBusiness Machines.invaders are descending, firing as they come. To hold off thesehordes, you have three mobile gun platforms that can be deployedonly in series. There are also a few buildings you can hide behind,but alien gunfire will eventually reduce these to rubble. If you destroyone skyful of aliens, a second, meaner set will replace it.Whole air wings of aliens seem to be stacked up in holding patternsas far as Alpha Centauri, all with a craving for your destruction.As you may have guessed, this is a Personal Computer-adaptationof the classic arcade game Space Invaders. The multicoloredaliens shift across your screen much like those in the original game.As they diminish in number they increase in speed, becomingextremely difficult to hit. The tension-building music is gone, butthere are some exciting sound effects (that can be turned off).Space Strike includes a number of enhancements. Three differentkinds of saucers cross the top of the screen, dropping deadlytorpedoes. When you shoot one, it does not just disappear, it falls topieces in a cloud of wreckage. Even more spectacular is what happenswhen your gun is hit-it explodes, filling the screen with a fireworksdisplay. There are seven levels of difficulty; if you don'twant to start with the " easy" game, you don't have to.Space Strike can be played with either keyboard or joystick. Ifyou use a keyboard, you can designate your own playing keys andthey will automatically be saved to disk for future games. For somereason the arrow keys cannot be chosen. There are a few othersmall glitches. At the start of every game the program displayspoint values of the various aliens and gives you the chance to typein options for play. But it automatically proceeds to the game afteronly a few seconds, giving you little chance to consider your alternatives.Aside from this, Space Strike is problem-free.The Personal Computer has great potential as a game machine,and Space Strike deserves a place in every gamer's library. fJSpace Strike, by Michael Abrash, DataMost (9748 Cozycroft Avenue, Chatsworth,CA 91311; 213-709-1202). $29.95.ViSiBLE COMPUTER SUPPL y CORP.3626 Stern DriveSt Charles, Illinois 60174-9987YES• • • PleasesendmeyourFREECatalogto~ay.NAMECOMPANY NAMEADDRESSCITYSTATETITLEZIPQL-STCMfor the IBM Personal Computer December 198229

y Forrest JohnsonImagine a game that has only three rules and one player. It canend the second turn, or it can go on forever. It can be played on acheckerboard, but a computer the size of the universe might not bebig enough for some games. There are no winners to this game, notournaments, and no cheerleaders.Who would want to play a game like that? Some of the most respectedmathematicians who hold chairs in our universities, andthousands of enthusiastic hobbyists everywhere.The Laws of Life. The game is called Life. It was invented in1970 by Cambridge mathematician John Horton Conway. It isplayed on a checkerboard grid that extends indefinitely in all directions.Each cell on the grid can be considered empty or full ("dead"30or ' ' alive" ), depending on what occupies the eight surrounding cells,and on the following laws:l. The Law of Survival. A cell with two or three neighbors willsurvive for the next generation.2. The Law of Death. A cell with more than three neighbors willdie of overcrowding. A cell with fewer than two neighbors will dieof isolation.3. The Law of Birth. An empty cell with exactly three neighborswill be filled in the next generation.The three laws operate simultaneously, and every generation ofLife may produce a new pattern. Depending on its shape, a patternmay be static or changing. It may move about the board. Some patsoftalk

The Laws of Life••• • • •• •• • • •• •The Law of Survival. A cell with two or three neighbors will survive forthe next generation .•• • • ••The Law of Death. A cell with more than three neighbors will die ofovercrowding. A tell with fewer than two neighbors will die of isolation .• • • • • • • • • • • • • •The Law of Birth. An empty cell with exactly three neighbors will bealive in the next generation.it tends to destroy patterns that come too close to its " head." It is byno means certain that an eater will devour anything it encounters. Itcan be entertaining to experiment and see how much art eater candigest. Two eaters set almost head to head will form an oscillatingpattern; each will try to destroy the other, but neither can succeed.That brings up something else.Oscillators. An oscillator shifts from shape to shape in a repeatingpattern. Most oscillators have only two phases. In this class isthe blinker, which consists simply of three cells in a row. Other twophaseoscillators include the beacon , which goes on and off; the toad,which puffs itself up; and the clock, which seems to turn. Someoscillators are expandable. You can, for example add elements to thebarber pole and it will oscillate along its entire length.Oscillators are_ not limited to two or even four phases. The bestBelow: a glider gun shoots at an eater.terns cah give birth to new ones. Others can devour intruding cells.Some surprisingly simple patterns metamorphose through thousandsof generations in a bewildering series of shapes.Various ingenious persons have devised classifications of Lifepatterns.Still Lifes. A pattern that does not change is called a still life. Thesimplest, a square of mutually adjacent cells, is called a block. Adiamond shape, with each cell having two neighbors, is called a tub.From there, the shapes get ever more complex, forming patternscalled boats, ships, ponds, beehives, loafs, snakes, and so on. Thenumber of possible still lifes possible is literally infinite.The eater is a special form of still life. A twisty, seven-cell shape,for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982•·:::::::: iiii ::::::::::~~~~~~~~~~~\\\\\\j:: A: : =•· L: :· e ·1:::::::...::::=~::: ::.-: : =1·. ::: ::: :i:::·111_1:: :.:. ·11::::::.... ·•=1·:::...::::::::: ......·:... L.... = :....... = == ..... ...:~~~!!~~~~~~~:~t!~!~~lll~~~)~)lll~!~!!!!:::::~::::::::::::::::::~~:::::::::::::::~. :~::::::::~::::::::~::::::::~~::::.........:.:=~: ~ ~-·~-~3 1

Monday 11 :00 amFor People New to Computers •.•The DATA REPORTER puts the IBM PC at your command in the form of apowerful information management tool. Manipulate your data quickly andeasily without programniing or computer knowledge. The illustrated andindexed manual, with its numerous examples, shows you how to achieveresults with the DATA REPORTER. The simple step-by-step customizingfeature lets you convert the DATA REPORTER into an accounts receivable,bibliography, sales journal. appointment calendar, or whatever applicationyou need. If you want to alter your program, the DATA REPORTER lets yourearrange or add new information to all files without retyping your records.Running the DATA REPORTER is simplified by prompting andsophisticated error avoidance techniques. Program options require only afew keystrokes to perform functions such as printouts. sorts. searches ofrecords, totalling. etc. The helpful Soundex locator will find your recordseven if you do not know the proper spelling. When entering data,repetitive information and the current date may be entered with a singlekeystroke. Quick record entry is accomplished without long delays for diskaccess. Entering and updating information is done in memory the fastestway possible with a microcomputer.The DATA REPORTER allows you to use the same information formanagerial reports, mailing labels, and a variety of information needs.and Experienced Database UsersThe DATA REPORTER is easy enough for beginners yet powerful andflexible enough for database professionals. A unique combination ofBASIC and machine language supplies speed in an unlimited variety ofapplications.DATA REPORTER FEATURES INCLUDE:• System requires 64K and one disk drive. The program's power isenhanced if 96K or more and two disk drives are available.• This user-friendly program uses simple menus for all commands.• Each record can have up to 10 calculated fields. Subtotals and grandtotals can be performed on any field.• Machine language searches and sorts are available on any field or acombination of fields. (Sort 300 on-line records in less than 5 seconds.search 300 records in less than 1 second.)• Seven search types are available, including: range. Soundex, full field,substring. and their complements.• Sort data on up to 3 fields. Up to 6 files of data can be sorted in oneoperation.• For repetitive tasks, batch sequences of up to 60 inputs can be savedand later performed with a single command.• File manipulation is simplified by global editing. file merging. fileappending, and block deletion of data.• Features such as file backups. reformatting of files without reenteringdata, mailing labels, fully copyable disks, optional passwordprotection, and many more make the DATA REPORTER the best database value. ·To allow you to obtain the particular programs you need, the DATAREPORTER has two packages:DATA REPORTER - A complete database . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250.00REPORT WRITER - An optional word processing utility forDATA REPORTER provides a variety of output formats usingdata reporter data in printed reports. form letters,pre-printed forms, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100.00~ Synergistic~SoftwareIBM h •tr.de.nark of lntern.uloJYI Business M•dllnes, Inc.Synergistic Software830 N . Riverside DriveSuite 201, Renton, WA 98055(206) 226-3216ORDER ONLY t-800-426-6505WI ACC£PT CHECKS, MASTERCARD, VISA AND C.O.D. ORDERS. $2.00 HANDLING FEE EXC£PT ON PREPAIDS.

known multiphase oscillator is the pentadecathlon, which, as thename implies, repeats itself after fifteen generations. (Space doesnot permit us to show all its mutations.) Life enthusiasts enjoy settingup complex systems of patterns. The pentadecathlon is popularbecause it can, when phased properly, absorb or reflect movingpatterns called gliders.Moving Patterns. Some oscillators just won't stay put. After afew phases, you see the same pattern-surprise !-in a different loca-tion. The simplest is the glider, a four-phase pattern comprising fivecells. It creeps diagonally around the board like a crab. In fourgenerations a glider moves one square. Because the glider is such asimple pattern, it appears again and again in Life literature. If yousee a picture of a Life pattern, no matter how sprawling or uncouth,you can bet that someone, somewhere, has tried to create one by acollision of gliders.Gliders do have some limitations. They are slow and can onlyBlock • •• •Tub••• ••• • •• • PondBoat•Loaf•• •• •• •• BeehiveEaterII••Still Lifes• ••• •• •• • Ship• • ••• • • •• • • SnakeThe Origins of LifeFundamentalists may disagree, but the fact is that Life wascreated in 1970 by John Horton Conway, a mathematician at Gonvilleand Caius College at Cambridge. The "game" was not the firstof its type. It belongs to a branch of mathematics called cellular automatatheory, and many similar games have been created over the lastthirty years, most limited to the dusty pages of scholarly journals.Conway experimented for years before settling on the rules. Hewanted to create a game in which the patterns tended to avoid theextremes of growing without limit and fading quickly into nonexistence.He had three other goals:1. There should be no initial pattern for which there is a simpleproof that the population could grow without limit. ...2. There should be initial patterns that apparently grew withoutlimit.3. There should be initial patterns that grew and changed for aconsiderable period before coming to an end in three possible ways:fading away completely, settling into a stable configuration, orentering an oscillating series of patterns.The first Life games were played with counters, but Conwayfound it convenient to use a PDP-7 computer for the more longlivedpatterns. Conway deYised many of the classic patterns-stilllifes like the block and tub, oscillators like the beacon and clock, thefive-cell glider, and the famous r-pentomino.Conway didn' t publish his Life game, perhaps feeling it tootrivial for a distinguished academic like himself. Instead, he wrote tohis friend Martin Gardner, who described it in his column· inScientific American.Conway had hypothesized that no pattern could grow withoutlimit. Through Gardner's column, he offered a $50 prize to anyonewho could prove or disprove his conjecture. The prize was takenalmost immediately by a group of six researchers in MIT's ArtificialIntelligence Project. Their proof took the form of a glider gun(see accompanying article) that generated endless cells.Gardner's initial column had sparked a reaction not only atPentadecathlon• •• • • • • • ••• •Blinker Beacon Toad Clock Barber Pole• •• • • • • • • • •• • • • •• • •• • • • • ••• • •• • • • •• • • • • • • • • •OscillatorsMIT, but also in computer science departments and data processingoffices all over the country. He started to get material back fromhis readers, enough for several new columns about the game. Soonthere was a regular newsletter called Lifeline, edited by RobertWainwright.By 1974, interest in Life had peaked. " Computer specialistseverywhere had developed such a mania for Life that millions ofdollars in illicit computer time may have already been wasted by thegame's growing number of addicts," rumbled Time that year.In 1975, the game gained some academic recognition when apaper on it was published in the Proceedings of the National Academyof Sciences . In a sense, though, the game was already declining.The most obvious patterns had been explored, and the more complicatedpatterns had only a limited following. In addition,computer security was getting more sophisticated. Administratorswere less willing to let their machines be used as expensive toys forprogrammers. The game was losing its original following. Lifelineceased publication.But something else was happening. The invention of the microcomputerwas moving computer power from centralized mainframesto homes and garages. And having bbught computers,hobbyists were wondering what the devil to do with them.Life provided a partial answer. The game was ideal for the earliestmicrocomputers, since it could be programmed to run in as littleas 2K of memory. As Life gradually disappeared from academicjournals, it began to appear in computer magazines like Byte andRecreational Computing. With the spreading popularity of personalcomputers, each year brings a new generation to be initiated to themysteries of Life.•Readers desiring more information are invited to consult the programs Lifeand Microcosm , reviewed in this issue; Softalk (Apple edition), " Countingwith Colors," June 1982; Byte magazine, December 1978; and ScientificAmerican, " Mathematical Games" section, various issues from October 1970to January 1972 ............................................. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~- 33softolk for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982

Fuses Clean SparkingDirty Harvester Baker• ••• • •• • • • • • • • ••• ••• • •• ••• •• • •• •• • ••• • •• ••• • ••• • ••• ••• •••• • •• • • •• •• •••• • • • • • •••move diagonally. More exciting are the spaceships, a family of patternsthat zip around orthogonally at the record speed of one square• •• •Glider • • • • • Spaceship• • • •every other turn. The smallest spaceship starts with nine dots.Larger ones are possible.Pattern Generators. One of the first problems posed to Lifeaficionados was the design of a pattern that generates gliders. Thiscomplicated question was solved almost immediately by a group atMIT, and the glider gun remains a favorite. Even at this moment,some hobbyist is probably using a glider gun to s_hoot at an eater ora pentadecathlon-or another glider gun.34ELECTRONIC DISK $69.95Will create the equivalent of a disk drive in your extra memory.Simply say how many 64K byte blocks are to be used by PCDOS 1.10, and the rest of memory will be allocated to your fastelectronic disk. Bonus: you can also allocate memory to aprinter spooler! Really increases system throughput.ISAM DATABASE $69.95GET and PUT records to disk files by "KEY". Under 2 seconds.Browse forward or backward in key sequence.Update any part of the record, including the key.Automatic recovery of disk space occupied by deleted records.Keys do not have to be unique and can be any length.Routines accessed from any Basic application. 6K overhead.FAST! Sorts 5000 records in 12 seconds.Includes mailing list application program & documentation.STRING SORT $24.95This machine language Shell sort routine will sort any stringarray into ascending alphabetical order. We believe 1t is thefastest sort available. Sorts 1000 strings in 2 seconds, and10,000 strings in 30 seconds. Called from Basic:BLOAD "SHELLSRr',O: CALL SORT(N%,ARRAY$(1))CHARACTER GENERATORCHURCH MEMBERSHIPBLACKJACK,OTHELLO+S ~[/!%~%/WRITE FOR FREE CATALOG$24.95$69.95$29.95DEALER INQUIRIES INVI TEDENSIGN SOFTWARE2312 N. COLE RD., SUITE EBOISE, IDAHO 83704 U.S.A.In initial form, a glider gun has twenty-eight cells. The unlikely-lookingcollection sends out its first glider after forty generationsand continues with a rapid-fire stream of one every thirtygenerations. Since gliders move only one square every four generations,each follows the last rather closely .Not content with inventing a glider gun, the MIT group went onto show how one could be created by the collision of thirteen gliders .It is a safe bet that much computer time has been wasted trying toposition thirteen glider guns so as to create a fourteenth. Thatachievement is likely to elude us, though the MIT group is said tohave positioned intersecting streams of gliders to build a factorythat fired off a spaceship once every three hundred turns.Fuses. While many will prefer to see gliders and spaceshipscreep over the board, there is a form of motion twice as fast as anyspaceship. Strangely enough, this occurs with a pattern that sitsquietly and destroys itself.A diagonal string of cells will lose one cell at each end everyturn. When you anchor one end, you create what is called a cleanfuse; " clean" because it leaves no debris (except the block you usedto anchor it). A variant is the sparking fuse, which throws off small,short-lived groups of cells. It does not have the good taste to dieneatly like a clean fuse. At the extreme is the dirty fuse , which leavesa lot of unsightly garbage in its wake.The haroester is a neat, repeating pattern that gobbles up fusesand leaves behind blocks, as a thresher leaves behind sheaves ofgrain. The baker takes things a little further; it scatters loaves ofbread in its wake.Agars. While we are on the subject of destructive patterns, wemight as well mention agars. Not that there is anything excitingabout an agar; it's just a stable, cell-rich mosaic that sits still for• • • • •• • • • ••• •.• • • • • • • ••• ••• • • • • • •••• • • • • • • • •A virus prepares to destroy an agar.generation after generation. The fun starts when you add a singlecell, or virus, to the agar. If the virus lands in the right place, itrapidly begins destroying the healthy cells around it. It is also possiblefor the agar to absorb the virus before it does any damage.Seeds. A seed is the opposite of a virus. Instead of destroying abig pattern, it grows to create a series of them. Probably the bestknown seed is the r-pentomino, a simple, five-cell pattern that growssoftalk

and changes for 1,103 turns. It leaves behind eight blocks, sixgliders, four blinkers, four beehives, a boat, and ship, and a loaf.Seeds••• •R-pentomino• • •• •• • Pi-heptominoThe pi-heptomino is not so long-lived. After a mere 173 turns ithas swollen and decayed into six blocks, five blinkers, and twoponds. The pattern is of interest because in the fourth generation itseems to mimic a blastula, or an embryo in its earliest form. Aboutthirty turns later, the ' pattern tries to create another blastula tensquares from the first. Unfortunately, no one has found a way tosave the second embryo from the trauma of birth; it is destroyed bythe debris of its mother.Life enthusiasts have discovered many other seeds, some ofwhich grow and change for thousands of generations.Back to the Garden. The greatest unsolved Life problem is calledthe Garden of Eden. A Garden of Eden pattern must be created artificially;it is impossible to grow one from another pattern. Theorysays there must be a Garden of Eden pattern for Life, but finding oneis not so easy. It has been shown that such a pattern can exist withina square ten billion units on a side, but it could be much smaller.One could, perhaps, prove that a given shape is the Garden of Edenby eliminating all possible parents, but that would be a tedious task,even for a computer.What Does It All Mean? It should be apparent by now that Lifeis not going to beat out VisiCalc as a practical, easy-to-use applicationprogram. Its patterns, like chess problems, are engaging inthemselves but are at most analogies for real-world conditions.Nevertheless, followers of the game resist the notion that it is merelyan abstract pastime with no relation to daily life.The name Life implies a tie to biology. Words like cell and virusreinforce it. The creators of the Life program Microcosm (reviewedthis issue) bill it as "a simulation of birth, life, migration, and deathamong populations of cellular organisms." For a fact, it is possibleto see the forms of diatoms in the still lifes, or the cells of livingtissue in an agar. But you could spend your whole life bent over amicroscope without seeing anything that resembled a blinker or afuse. If Life simulates life, it is no form native to Earth.Another analogy is between the orderly, repetitious patterns ofLife and a computer. The game has been used to simulate a Turingmachine, or universal calculator. Also, in a paper presented to the1974 Winter Simulation Conference, Robert Wainwright sketched amethod for simulating a digital computer. By using glider guns totrace the patterns of circuitry, it is possible to create extremely complicatedpatterns that behave like an electronic device. However, it ishard to see the utility of a computer that takes another computer torun it. ' ·Finally, there is the fascinating theory that the universe itself,with every star and galaxy and dust cloud, is a vast board for a gameof Life whose rules can only be imagined. As Martin Gardner put itin Scientific American, "There is even the possibility that space-timeitself is granular, composed of discrete units, and that the universe,as Fredkin and others have suggested, is a cellular automaton run byan enormous computer. If so, what we call motion may be onlysimulated motion. A moving spaceship, on the ultimate microlevel,may be essentially the same as one of Conway's spaceships, appearingto move on the macrolevel whereas actually there is only analteration of states of basic space-time cells in obedience to transitionrules that have not yet been discovered.".A.NF SYSTEMS LTD. PRESENTS:FileMaster ,.a high performance, low costfile management system• Up to 32 files/disk, 32,767 records/file, 18 fields/record,65 characters/alpha field - 16/numeric field• Add, Change, Delete, Append records• Change field names, reorganize the file (Add, Change,Delete fields & reclaim space)• Query the fileSelect records using up to eight fields with:Less than, Less than or equal to, Equal to, Greaterthan, Greater than or equal to, Not equal to, Contains· Find records - using the above criteria· View specific records• DIF (VisiCalc®) file interchange• Create Reports using the above criteriaFile Master can be used for a wide range of applications. Ease of use featuresinclude uncrowded screens and single character commands. FileMaster'ssimplicity and functio~ add up to performance and productivity for youMinimum System - 64K, 80 Column CRT, 1 Diskette DriveRegistered Trademark of Data Base DecisionsOnly $99.95aEJ•NF SYSTEMS, LTD.P.O. Box 76363Atlanta, GA 30358Catalog AvailableCall collect to order - 404-252-3302Add $2.00 for postage and handlin9- - ---Personal ComputerNF SYSTEMS LTD. PRESENTS:HOSTCOMMby JANADONThe Personal Host CommunicationsSystem*Features:•The first Host communications system for the I BM Personal Computer• Run programs from a remote site with a terminal or another computer• Use as a personal communications system or electronic mailbox• Full Upload/Download facility for ASCII files• Easy set-up, installation, and especially easy to use• Full system operator support• Three level password protection• Unattended operation* Minimum Systems Requirements:• 96KB System Unit• 320KB Diskette storage (1 or 2 drives)•PC-DOS 1.0 or 1.1•Video Display (40 or 80 characters)•Printer• Asynchronous Communications Adapter• Hayes Stack N SmartmodemList PriceNF SYSTEMS, LTD.P.O. Box 76363Atlanta, GA 30358Catalog AvailableCall collect to order - 404-252-3302Add $2.50 for postage and handling$139.95------- - - -=--=---~=II==-=- .=11------- - - ---·----·-Personal Computerfor the IBM Personal Computer December 198235

c:: ·~&~~,M&iM4M~Mi'og,g,~g,g,g,§hg,M~M:uif!J~ Jjjjjjjjjjjjf uuuuuuuuuuuu uuuuu u u uuuu UttUUU u u uuuuuuuuuuuuuuu u nuA couple of months ago we discussed the much as 15 percent of your pay into your inneedfor planning for that inevitable day of d ividual retirement account. Of course, itretirement. The question we posed then was wasn' t as simple as that. Regardless of yourjust how " golden" those years would be. salary, $1,500 was the most you were alUn ti! recently the sources of " gold" were So- lowed to set aside. In other words, you couldcial Security and a company pension plan (if set aside 15 percent of the first $10,000 ofyou were lucky enough to have one). your income.In 1974 if you weren't covered under If your total income in 1974 was onlysome company retirement plan, you could $10,000, you would no doubt have found itset up one for yourself and it would even be quite difficult to set aside anywhere neartax-deductible. There were some rules you $1,500. The fact that the money you sethad to follow, though. You could set aside as · aside was tax-deductible wouldn't haveSTOCK MANAGER.OPTIONS-SO.BOND M~NABER.Analyse investmentreturn. User friendlY.Commissions, risk andtaxes incl. Graphs.Printouts. Record todisk. With completeManuals. $125 eachPackage discounts.M/C & Visa.Free brochure.OPTIONS-SO, Box 471-BConcord, MA 01742.Stocks, BondsListed Optionsmade you very excited either. You certainlyweren't in a 50 percent tax bracket with a$10,000 income.Additional rules came into play if yourspouse was not working. The maximum allowablecontribution in that case was raisedto $1 ,750 or 15 percent of your pay, whicheverwas less . Then you each had to have anindividual retirement account (IRA) and themoney had to be divided equally betweenyour two accounts if you wanted to be ableto take the maximum tax deduction.Were you better off if you were one of agrowing number of two-paycheck families?That was not a question with a straightforwardanswer. If neither of you had a companypension plan, you could each set upyour own account. If you earned at least$10,000, you could place the maximum of$1,500 into your IRA. But typically, if yourwife was working, her paycheck wasn't aslarge as yours. Her income may not havebeen sufficient to allow a $1,500 contribution.What effect did that have?If she earned $7,000, she could have puta maximum of $1 ,050 into her IRA. If sheearned $9 ,000, the allowable amount was$1,350. Even if your income was more thanhigh enough to put the maximum amountinto your account, you still were not allowedto make up the difference in hers.Your combined income of $20,000 or morewould not provide you with the maximum$3,000 tax deduction unless that $20,000 incomewas earned in an equal portion by eachof you.Time marches on, and the rules of thegame change. With so much talk of the SocialSecurity program being in financialtrouble, Uncle Sam has decided to let everybodywho is employed have an IRA, regardlessof whether or not they are coveredwhere they work. Nice idea. He's also decidedto raise the maximum allowable con-3 6 softolk for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982

SIMPLICITY:THE ULTIMATE SOFTWARE SOPHISTICATIONTHE ACCOUNTANT is your alternative tocostly and inflexible accounting systems.Organized into four packages, The Accountantis fully menu driven and includes GeneralLedger, Accounts Receivable,Accounts Payable and Payroll.Using commercially availableforms, The Accountant is-designedfor easy startup and_ "ncludescomprehensive aining manualsand sample data nles for practice pri0rto actual installation.soft®Insoft, Inc.IOI 75 S.W Barbur Blvd.Suite 202BPortland, Oregon 97219503/ 244-4181DATA DESIGN is, quite simply, the mosteasy-to-use data base manager available.Fully menu driven and complete with helpscreens, Data Design uses the function keysto minimize learning time and operatorkeystrokes. Designed specifically forthe Personal Computet, Data Designis as powerful as it is simple. Allinformation is entered, viewed,changed and printed throughuser -created forms. Each formmay have up to 40 actual andcomputed fields, and since eachtable may use as many as 26 forms, informationis always ready in precisely the desiredformat. Data Design is ideal for mailinglists, tickler files, customer/patient records,invoicing and accounts receivable.Available in October at your local.... .. Personal Computer dealer, or from·~ ~ Insoft: $225.00.= ;f;f//Tt-- -- - --------- - --------~------------------------- - ---------Please send me more information about:D The AccountantI wou ld like to purchase:D Dat a DesignD The Accountant for $365.00 D Data Design for $225.00D Enclosed is iny company check/money order.D Please charge my D VISA D MasterCardCa rd No.: _ ______ Exp. Date: _ _ _Signature: _ _ _ _ ___ _ ___ _Name: _ ___________ _Firm: ________ Tit le: ___ __ _ ____ _ State:_ Zip: __ _Both packages support the IBM(Epson) printer and a variety ofhard disks.

tribution from $1,500 to $2,000. Also nicebutwith inflation at its present rate, thathardly makes any difference.There have been some significantchanges in the rules of the game that wentinto 'effect in January 1982. You are no longerheld to a 15 percent contribution. Even ifyou only earn $2,000 during the entire year,you may place all of it into your IRA. That's100 percent of your annual compensation,should it happen to be such a small amount(as it might be if you worked only part timefor part of the year). This change is a greathelp to two-paycheck families. Now, if bothpeople make at least $2,000 each, they cantake full advantage of the tax savingsoffered.If your wife is not employed at all duringthe year, you can contribute a maximumof $2 ,250. In this situation; you would eachhave an IRA account but funds would nothave to be divided equally between the twoaccounts as they had to be in the past. Ifyour wife works at all during the year, makesure she works long enough to earn at least$250! If you don' t, you will be losing a smallamount of tax shelter.Where do you put an IRA?When IRAs first came into existence, thegeneral public knew very little about them.As with most things unfamiliar, people had atendency to approach IRAs with great caution.The banks and savings and loans werequite sensitive to these feelings and beganadvertising the availability of IRAs as one oftheir many services covered by insurance.Th~re ~eem to be a handful of magicwords in the money world that attract normallycautious people just as a fat, juicyworm wriggling on a hook attracts a hungryfish. The service available was an IRA account,but the bait was the advertised insuredsafety of your funds . As a potentialIRA account customer, you are the fish thatbanks hope to lure into doing business withthem. They know you will have to leaveyour money in the IRA account for a numberof years. They are banking on the likelihoodthat you'll leave your account Withthem until you retire.Banks and savings and loans offered twotypes of IRAs, contributory and rollover. Toa contributory IRA, additions can be madeeither periodically on a regular basisthroughout the year or in lump sumamounts. Automatic payroll deductions areav~ilable at most credit unions. Dividendson this type of account are generally statedas being compounded and paid quarterly.A rollover IRA accepts funds from anexisting IRA or previous employer retirementplan, without the loss of tax-deferredstatus. In the banks and savings andloans, this money is usually invested in aform of certificate that earns dividends at theopening rate for the fixed term of one year.In most institutions, dividends in a rolloverIRA are compounded and posted monthlyand at maturity.In the early days of IRAs, the banks andsavings and loans had a large share of theIRA accounts. As the IRA program becamebetter known and understood, people beganto become aware of independent trust companiesand insurance companies as possiblevehicles for their IRAs.There are · numerous independent trustcompanies that specialize in administeringself-directed retirement plans. A self-directedIRA allows you to have a voice in the wayyour IRA funds are invested. You may directthe trust to invest in publicly traded securitiesthat have been registered with theSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC)for interstate sales, money market funds,certain limited partnership interests, certainreal estate investment trust units, coveredcall options, mutual funds, short-termmoney. market instruments including Treasurybills and notes, annuities issued bycommercial insurance companies, certaincertificates of deposit (CDs), and passbooksavings.This arrangement gives you considerablyinore flexibility, since you may directthe trust to reposition a portion of your IRAfunds from time to time as the market fluctuates.This maneuverability allows you tospread your interests across several areas atonce; it gives you the opportunity to putyour investment eggs in more than onebasket.Certain types of investments of yourIRA funds are not allowed, primarily becauseof the additional risk element. The disallowedlist includes real estate that's notpart of a qualifying REIT (Real Estate investmentTrust); commodities or futurescontracts; foreign currency; limited marketdebt obligations, such as hospital bonds; privatelyheld securities (including some securitieswhich are considered closely held);short sales; margin account purchases;mortgages and deeds of trust; life insurance;and collectibles such as coins, jewelry,art objects, and precious metals.There's been a lot of talk about tax savingswith an IRA. What does it mean foryou? Uncle Sam is helping you plan for yourretirement. How much he helps depends onwhether or not you choose to have an IRA aswell as on your tax bracket.It works like this. Multiply your taxbracket by 2,000 to find the amount of yourtax savings. Your net cost will be $2,000minus your tax savings. To find out how38softolk

FOR EACH$YOU PUTINTAX ANNUAL TAX YOURNET UNCLE SAMBRACKET INVESTMENT SAVINGS COST "CONTRIBUTES"20 2,000 400 1,600 0.2530 2,000 600 1,400 0.4340 2,000 800 1,200 0 .6750 2,000 1,000 1,000 1.00Figure 1.much Uncle Sam contributed for each $1you put into your IRA, divide your tax savingsby your net cost. Examples are shown inFigure 1.As you can see from the numbers, you cansave as much as $1,000 in taxes by investingin an IRA. Of course, you must be in a50 percent tax bracket to realize that muchsavings, but whatever your bracket, it's niceto know you are sending less money toWashington.It would be fantastic if you could setaside those quarters or half dollars or whateverit turns out to be into another investmentof your own instead of giving themoney to Uncle Sam. " But," you say, " Idon't have $2,000 now and the year's almostover!" A lot of people around thecountry today are probably saying the samething. Of some fifty million wage earners inAmerica who are eligible to have an IRA,only about half that 11umber have taken advantageof the opportunity to shelter $2,000of their income from current taxes.For many of us, making a big lump sumpayment of $2,000 at this time of year can bequite difficult. It can be doubly difficult forthe two-paycheck family, as they have a potentialtotal contribution of $4,000 betweenthe two of them. Many large companies willcooperate by making automatic payroll deductionsfor you. Some banks will makeautomatic periodic transfers from yourchecking account to your IRA in a mannersimilar to that used for automatic paymentof standing monthly bills such as a mortgagepayment.Although the calendar year is almostover, most of us have until April 15 of eachyear (that's the usual income tax returndeadline, remember?) to place funds into ourIRAs. Even if you can' t ' spare the entire$2,000 now, don't give up totally the possibilityof funding your IRA for 1982. Sometax savings is better than none at all.Count the number of weeks left betweennow and April 15. Decide how muchyou can set aside each week and do it. Whileyou' re at it, make your plans now for fundingyour 1983 IRA contributions. To giveyou an idea of how much money it takes on aweekly basis, divide $2,000 by 50 weeks.That gives you at least two vacation weeks toplay with. On a weekly schedule, then, youwould need to have $40 withheld from yourpaycheck.Once you get used to having those fundsearmarked for your IRA, you'll find it'squite possible to budget the rest of your expenseswith what's left. Pay yourself first!You deserve more than the leftovers!After you have figured out a way to fundyour IRA you will need to start thinkingSoftalk's Top Thirty shows clearly that pc owne.rs take theircomputer seriously. They buy spreadsheets and word processorsand databases and languages and such somber-soundingprograms as Macro Assembler and AsynchronousCommunications Support. Happily for a little group of gnomesat Softline magazine, some pc owners also buy such bizarresounding programs as Deadline, Zork, Crossfire, and Pig Pen.For those of you who wear green eyeshades and sleevegarters at work, Deadline, Zork, Crossfire, and Pig Pen aregames. And for those of you who think computing can be fun aswell as profitable, you've been missing Softline, the computergaming 111agazine that already covered those games and manymore for the Apple and Atari computers. Now Softline is zeroingin on the hot new games for the pc.Soft line takes games seriously, just as green-eyeshade typestake bottom lines seriously. Softline is fun and serious, light andweighty, small and bimonthly.It's also inexpensive. For a brief time, you can get the next sixissues for $9 (normal price $12). If you've been followinginflation, you know which way the price will move next.Don't let those Apple and Atari guys have all the fun. Spiceup your pc's RAM with Softline.Softline Box 60, North Hollywood, CA 91603wz_J~ .u__0if) .for the IBM Personal Computer December 198239

PRINCIPALINTERESTPERIODSAGERETIREMENTTERMINT/ PERIODFUTURE VALUEIll ~Al2+1about where you want. to put it. If you alreadyhave an IRA but have just discoveredyou could do better by placing it somewhereelse, all. is not lost. Once you have selectedthe new trustee for your IRA, you can moveyour existing account funds without incurringany tax consequence. This type oftransfer is called Transfer of Assets withoutConstructive Receipt and is actually atransfer of trustee. No cash from the IRAenters your hands as a result of the transfer.The first year you have an IRA, you willonly have $2,000 to invest. It's a little difficultto be very diversified with this amount,Figure 2.+BS-B4+B2/ B3/ 100+Bl *((l +B7)A(B6*B3))+Bl+Bl *((l +B7)A(Al3*B3))so you may want to take a closer look at mutualfunds. The next year you'll add an additional$2,000 and will have an even widerselection of possible investment vehiclesfrom which to choose. As your IRA grows,you may find movement into a real estate investmenttrust or an oil and gas investmentof interest to you. Just as with your other investments, your IRA account holdingsshould be diversified to spread your risk.By this time you may be wondering ifhaving an IRA is really worth it. Let's useour handy computer and electronic spreadsheetto play a few number games. You will

enter a flush right format and then replicatethe format down to D56. Then put the value72 in Dl2, and the formula +Dl2-l atDl3. Now replicate D13 into D14 throughDS6, with relative reference to Dl2. You willsee your age decrease down the column.It would be interesting to know howmuch tax savings you can realize as a resultof having an IRA. This information is easyto obtain. Let's suppose you're in a 39 percenttax bracket. At D2 enter the labelTAX RA TE and at E2 enter .39 to expressyour rate as a percentage.You're now ready to see how muchmoney you can save in current taxes with anIRA. You can do this in column Eby calculatingthe after-tax effective value of a nonIRA investment (we'll assume your non-IRAinvestment returns the same interest as yourIRA).A B C D E F GINTERESTPERIODSAGERETIREMENTTERMINT/PERIODFUTURE VALUEYRS01234s67891011121314lS16.17181920212223242S2627282930313233343536373839404142434411.00TAX RATE36S346S313.013699E -42232.52CUMULATIVE STARTINGSINGLE INV. INVESTMENT AGE2000.002232.522492.072781.80310S.213466.223869.204319.034821.16S381.676007.34670S.75748S.3683SS.609327.0210411.3811621.8012972.9S14481.1816164.7S18044.0620141.8622483.S425097.472801S.2931272.3434908.0S38966.4443496.6748SS3.S7S4198.3960499.4867S33.127S384.SO84148.6793931.771048S2.24117042.32130649.6114S838.89162794.06181720.43202847.18226430.12252754.802232.524724.S97S06.3910611.6014077.8217947.0222266.0527087.2132468.8838476.224S181.9752667.3361022.93·70349.9S80761.3392383.131053S6.08119837.25136002.01154046.07174187.92196671.46221768.93249784.222810S6.56315964.61354931.05398427.72446981.29501179.69561679.16629212.29704596.7978874S.46882677.23987529.461104571.781235221.401381060.281543854.341725574.781928421.962154852.082407606.88Figure 3.717069686766656463626160S95857S6SSS4S352515049484746454443424140393837363S343332313029280.39AFTER-TAXEFFECTIVEVALUE OFNON-IRAACCOUNT2141.843752.686421.499400.S71272S.9916438.03ANNUALAMOUNTTAXESPAID191.91304.90431.03571.83728.99904.4220S81.63 1100.252S206.96 1318.8530370.03 1S62.8636133.36 183S.2442S66.73 2139.2949748.04 2478.6957764.25 28S7.5466712.41 3280.4476700.89 37S2.SO878S0.63 4279.4S100296.63 4867.66114189.S9 S524.25129697.7S 62S7.18147008.88 707S.32166332.60 7988.S8187902.88 9008.01211980.92 1014S.96238858.26 11416.21268860.3S 12834.14302350.47 14416.91339734.14 16183.70381464.02 181S5.8942804S.40 203.57.37480042.31 22814.80S38084.37 25SS7.920602874.37 28619.9567S196.83 32037.98755927.48 35853.39846043.84 40112.37946637.09 44866.501058925.28 SOl 73.351184268.0.5 56097.111'1324183.12 62709.681480364.66 70090.9716.54703.81 78330.401849311 ..56 87527.752066544.33 97794.372309032.51SINGLEAMOUNTTAXESPAID90.68101.23112.99126.13140.79157.16175.4319S.83218.60244.01272.38304.05339.40378.8S422.90472.06S26.9S588.21656.S9732.93818.14913.261019.431137.951270.2S1417.931582.771766.791972.192201.482457.422743.123062.043418.033815.414258.984754.135306.85.5923.826612.S27381.298239.439197.3510266.62Then, at cell El4 enter this formula:+C13-(E2*(Cl3-Cl2)); then replicate theformula to £56, with the reference to E2 unchanged.This formula gives you the aftertaxyield for an investment that, unlike anIRA, is not exempt from taxes.In column F we can calculate the amountof taxes that would be paid on a non-IRA accountwith an annual investment. At Fl4,enter the formula +E2*(Cl4-C13-Bl);then replicate the formula to F56, with thereferences to E2 and Bl unchanged.In column G we can calculate the amountof taxes that would be paid on a non-IRA accountwith a single investment (the valueat Bl). At G13 enter the formula+ E2*(Bl3-Bl2) and replicate that formulato G56-again keeping a constant referenceto E2.Figure 3 shows the finished model, completewith some additional labels.You can now readily compare the tax effectivenessof an IRA to a nonexempt investment;and you can change the variousparameters to see their effects. An interestingvariation would be to change the taxbracket after every five-year period or so toreflect your increased income tax liability.Have fun!•ATTENTION: IBM PC & Apple users!lnternotional Computers the "TRY IT BEFORE YOUBUY IT' comp1ny reco1nizes th1t only ofter using a pr•cnm un one really determine if it senes one's neecls. In1n effort to 1ddress this problem lnternotional Computers,will for SS.00 send 1 "TRY IT BEFORE YOU BUYIT'' copy of 1ny softwore we distribute to 1ny person ordNler. Pluse copy 1ny "TRY IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT"softwore & moke it 1Y1ilable to friends ind customers.MR. LISTER - Spice Shuttle of moiling list programs.Look 11 the f11tures: WordSbr and M1ilMerge compal·ible; over 2000 entries on double sided disk; print zipsorted post cords or envelopes; print libels 1, 2 or 3across; and much more! $79.95 IBM PC & AppleMR. MAILER - Print 30,000 labels from one p1ir of floppydisks. If you mike 'RESIDENT' m1ilings and wantlabels sorted according to corrier route and delivery s•quence you neea Mr. M1iler $495.95 · IBM PC & AppleGoforth - A Forth Computer Assisted Instructionlion Course teoching :Forth. The Forth progromminglanguage & editor includecl. $59.95 - IBM PC & AppleMR. SPOOLER - Spool all printer output to memory forlutomotic printing while you go on to other jobs. NowLUST, LPRINT & PrtSc work with your serial printer.Run your seri1I printer at full speed without losingcharacters. Hardware, XON/XOFF and ETX/ ACK serialhandshake supported. Spooling to both Serial &Parallel printers is supported. $S9.95 IBM PC only.MR. DISK CACHE - Increase dab access speeds by50 to 100 limes! This CACHE MEMORY system uses the"MOST OFTEN USED" algorythm. WRITE· THRUguarantees dab will never be lost even if you have apower failure. This is true CACHE MEMORY not ramdisk!$99.95 IBM PC onlyOther nail1ble IBM PC and Apple software includes:general ledger, billings program, 1ppointment scheduler.real esble owner tracking system, Forth language andprogramming utilities. New products ore being added, sowrite or coll for an up-11>-date debiled listing of currently1Y1ilable software.INTERNATIONAL COMPUTERSP. 0. Box 13547Mexico Beach, FL 32410(904) 648-8484for the IBM Personal Computer December 198241

42G ot a pc-owner on your gift list? Here'sthe first annual Softalk/IBM holiday giftguide, a directory of smart stocking stuffersfor that special person.We've asked software publishers andmanufacturers of hardware products for thepc to send us short descriptions of items theythink pc owners might like for Christmas. Wehaven't tested all of these products, and weleave it to you to determine their suitability foryour gift-giving needs.Unless an item says otherwise, you canassume that the software described here runsin 64K and requires one disk drive, eitherdisplay adapter, and PC-DOS (1.0, 1.05, -or1.1).It's our hope that you'll find the perfectgift in these pages-even_...if your specialsomeone is you. Good shopping, and have avery happy holiday[HOMEAcorn Software Products, Vienna, VAMoney Manger, by Andrew Bartorillo. Manage your householdincome and expenditures by setting up a checkbook file in whichyou can define up to ninty-nine categories of expenses, bank transactionsand income, including a file for tax deductible expenses.Requires eighty columns. $39.95.Arlington Software and Systems,Arlington, MAPCHMS-The Personal Computer Home Management System. Anintegrated, menu-driven filing and information system for organizingand managing personal business, and household data. Includesprinting calculator, memo/ letter writer, date and digital display withalarm, metric converter, and state/ area code directories. All files canbe password protected and can be displayed as forty or eightycolumn screens. $89.95.Artificial Intelligence Research Group,Los Angeles, CAf.liza. A full implementation of the original Eliza program for theIBM Personal Computer. Created at MIT in 1966, Eliza turns yourcomputer into a no.ndirective psychotherapist. It's the world's mostcelebrated artificial intelligence demonstration program. Protectedversion, $25; unprotected Basic source program, $45.Compu-Quote, Canoga Park, CACOINS (Computerized Inventory System). The collector maysoftolk

enter information on the coins in his or her collection effortlesslyand produce various printed reports that can be used for personalinvestment and tax purposes. Requires two disk drives and a printer.$95.Design Data Systems, Cedar Rapids, IAHome Finance Program. Consists of four basic modules: monthlybudget analysis, checking account analysis, savings accountanalysis, and loan amortization analysis. For best results you need aprinter. $100.Digital Marketing, Walnut Creek, CACardfile, by Pro-Tern Software. Stores, retrieves, and displaysinformation that is typically kept in index card files : summaries ofarticles and books, notes, menus, catalogs of books, phonographrecords, and tapes. Endless uses. Data is entered through your owntext editor. Allows twenty-one lines per file record; the first threeare key lines. $89.Electronic Data Systems, Richardson, TXPersonal Tax Planner. Make doing your taxes easy. Simply answerthe questions, step by step. Here is a planning device that calculatesand recalculates all the math, automatically calculates incomeaveraging, stores a tax model to do what-ifs, provides completetax summaries, and musically lets you know of your standingwith the IRS. $49.95.Norell Data Systems, Los Angeles, CAComputer Chef, by James Gillogly. An automated recipe file andcomputerized cookbook that saves you time and money. It willsearch through your recipe collection to find just the one you need.Calculates the amount of each ingredient needed to increase or deforthe IBM Personal Computer December 1982crease the number of servings the recipe makes. $49.95.PCsoftware, San Diego, CACreatabase. Create, update, and print any file . Up to sixteenfields . Prints lists, labels (four across), or any forms. Key fields forfast access. Select any particular records to edit or print. Requirestwo drives. $59.95.SimSoft, Marysville, MIDietary Analysis Program. Analyzes your daily food consumptionfor vitamin, mineral, and caloric content. $29.95.Software Laboratories, Dublin, OHHome Package. Household property list, credit card register,shopping list, biorhythms, contact sports (adults). $'20.Spectrum, Sunnyvale, CAPersonal Finance Master (PFM). A comprehensive, easy-to-usefinancial management system. Employing easy-to-read, on-thescreenforms for convenient data entry and review, the systemtracks and manages up to twenty-five different asset or liability accounts.$75.SuperSoft, Champaign, ILPersonal Data Base. Easy-to-use database for a wide variety ofbusiness and personal applications. $125.Virtual Combinatics, Rockport, MAMicro Cookbook, by J. Butler and B. Skiba. A computerizedcookbook complete with over 150 tasty international recipes andreference material. Menu driven, easy to use, and ultrafast. Enter ormodify recipes using preformatted screens; even create your owncookbooks. $40.43

Acorn Software Products, Vienna, VAEverest Explorer, by William Godwin and Don Knowlton. Asimulation of an expedition to reach the summit of Mount Everest.Requires eighty columns. $19.95.Lost Colony, by David Feitelberg. A complex resources-managementsimulation in which the player is the economic manager ofEarth's first space colony. Requires eighty columns. $29.95.Aeon Concepts, Pittsburgh, PAMicrocosm. A strategic and analytical game that simulates birth,death, and migration among populations of microbes. In solitairemodes, explore the fascinating evolution of patterns through generations.In competition modes, sabotage your opponent's colonywhile yours -flourishes. Store patterns, preview future generations,even change the rules for countless variations. $39.95.Alkazar Associates, Arlington, VAGame Master. Provides sophisticated dice rolling and bookkeepingfor garners, especially those engaged in role playing and wargames. Advanced version includes chart rolling and other powerfulcommands. Basic version, $19.95; advanced version, $24.95.Alpha Software, Burlington, MAQuestion. Think of an animal, city, or famous person. The computertries to guess what you are thinking of. Teach the computer asmany new items as you like-even new categories for play. Ideal forall ages because it becomes as smart as the person playing, and it ·takes less than five minutes to learn. Cornes with spoken instructions.$45.Armonk, Newport Beach, CAExecutive Suite, by Gray Flannel Fun. One of a series of gamesfor executives in which they are challenged to rise to the executivesuite at Mighty Microcomputer Corporation. $40.Broderbund, San Rafael, CAApple Panic, by Ben Serki. The apples will get you if you don'twatch out! F~rced to flee from pursuing apples in a multi-levelmansion, you set traps for your pursuers along the way. Requiresgraphics adapter card. $34.95.Conversions To Go, Carlsbad, CAQuadrant 64 . This game paints a sixty-four-quadrant galaxy. Aquadrant scan shows you your ship, the stars, the starbases, and theenemy. You can use torpedos or a disruptive beam to destroy theenemy in a given time period. $29.95.DataMost, Chatsworth, CAPig Pen, by TMQ Software. Watch out! The Oinks are on theloose in the cleverest switch in the maze craze. The fierce, wild pigsare searching for you. Requires graphics board.. $29.95.Space Strike, by Mike Abrash. You're stationed on a remoteasteroid, part of the welcoming committee for, a new race of aliens.To your horror, you socm discover that they believe the only goodEarthling is a dead Earthling. Requires graphics board. $29.95.Davell Custom Software, Cleveland, TNMilky Way Merchant. A trading strategy game for up to fourplayers, ages eight to adult. Best strategy changes as game progresses.Watch star systems develop, or see productivity decline andentire civilizations collapse. $29.Digital Marketing, Walnut Creek, CAAstra-Dodge, by Dave Gangola. A fascinating space-actiongame. The object is to score points by destroying meteoroids andships. Requires a color graphics card and separate black-and-whiteor color monitor. $39.95.Distributed Software Systems, Northbrook, ILFlipper-Ball. Fast-paced video pinball games for one or moreplayers. Exciting sound and graphics give you the feel of a realpinball machine. $29.95. .Ensign Software, Boise, IDGames Package I. A collection of ten great games to play. Thesegames turn the computer into a fun machine for the whole family.Includes games for both youngsters and adults: Qubic, Othello,Kingdom, Cribbage, Black Box, Space Trek, Blackjack, MasterMind, Americans Quiz, and Presidents Quiz. $29.95.Epyx/ Automated Simulations, Sunnyvale, CATemple of Apshai. Perform heroic deeds in a labyrinth filled withtreasures, traps, and monsters. Animated color graphics portray thetemple and all its contents-magic, monsters, doomed cities, anddamsels in distress. $39.95.Upper Reaches of Apshai. This is the first in a series of expansionmodules for Temple of Apshai. You'll adventure through fournew fun levels and over 150 rooms, gardens, berry patches, and caverns.$19.95.Curse of Ra. Second in a series of expansion modules for Templeof Apshai, it takes you on a journey into the deserts of ancient Egypt.The cobra, the jackal, the mummy, and more all roam freely aboutmore than 100 chambers. Each with but one purpose. $19.95IBM, Boca Raton, FLMicrosoft Adventure. The classic text-adventure program.Requires 32K. $30.Microsoft Decathlon. Allows players to compete in a simulationof the famous ten events of track and field competition. RequiresColor/ Graphics Adapter. $35.IDSI, Las Cruces, NMPool 1.5. A real-time color simulation of pool. Features precisephysics, instant shot replay capability, cue ball English selection,and much more. Pool 1.5 allows play of eight-ball, rotation, nineball,and straight pool. Color adapter required. $34.95.Info-Pros, Irvine, CAGalaxy Master. A , video action space game that selects eitheraction sound or no sound for the office environment. The gameautomatically determines whether to run in color graphics mode ortext mode for the monochrome display, and it uses the twenty-fifthline of the display as a scoreboard. Requires eighty-column display.$14.95.softalk for the IBM Personal Computer December 198245

Intelligent Statements, Holmes, PAKen Uston 's Professional Blackjack. The most complete teachingsystem available; can help you win at blackjack. Play at over seventypreprogrammed casinos according to their unique rules. Flashcard and drill sections will teach card counting methods and improveskills. $89.95.International Software Marketing,Syracuse, NYPrism, a Storydisk. The hunt is on for three priceless gold keyshidden somewhere in the continental U.S. Hidden in three separatelocations are a diamond key, a ruby key, and a topaz key. All theclues needed to find the keys are contained in the story of Prism.Also a surprise climax to the adventure will be revealed when all .three keys are recovered. Requires Color/ Graphics Adapter. $24.95.Gary Irwin and A.ssociates, Irvine, CABarrier, by Chris Thames. A two-player game in which eachplayer tries to block his opponent, causing him or her to run intowalls, your barrier, or their own barrier. Requires color/ graphicsadapter. $40.Star Chase, by Chris Thames. Picture yourself in the cockpit of astarship, and your mission is to destroy enemy ships. Each laser shotwill cost you fuel. Select a speed factor of one to five as you graduatefrom ;:f.t~ dgling to eagle. Requires color/ graphics adapter. $40.Honeycomb, by Chris Thames. You control a light shield thatwill prevent a bee from striking the center area of the screen. Try toclear the screen of cells before you receive five stings. Requires color/graphics adapter. $40.Ivy Research, New Haven, CTSlynx , by Steven L. Wagar. Each bite of food scores, but alsoadds bytes to Slynx's length, an impedimenta! factor. Slinkingthrough the ivy corral, he must steer clear of his own tail and of theboundaries while scoring. Ten speeds and exclusive score-saver.$34.95 .Viper , by Robert D . Glaser. Seize the gold, elude the viper,escape through the home passage when it appears. Progressiveversion has five phases; the last is the most challenging as the boardshrinks, a black hole appears adding danger, but possible reward.Speed race version adds a time element to the hazards. Score-savingfeature included. $29.95 .Norell Dat~ Systems, Los Angeles, CAThe Hermit's Secret, by Dian Girard. Can you outwit the hermit?Work your way through the mind-challenging puzzles in this adventureand find out. $24.95.The Phantom's Revenge, by Dian Girard. Treasures, puzzles, anddanger are waiting for you. Over a hundred rooms, a fascinatingand challenging adventure. $24.95.The Original Adventure, by James Gillogly and Walt Bilofsky.Dare the dangers of Colossal Cave with the original adventuregame. $24.95.Omric, Newington, CTSpace Guardian. Warships from a hostile alien empire haveinvaded the galaxy, destroying most of Earth's galactic fleet. Ascommander, you must find and destroy all the alien warships beforeit is too late. Only your strategic skill can save Earth. $29.95.Blingsplatz! In this real-time, arcade-style g~me, your spaceoutposts are under continuous attack by the Blingsplatz. With eachnew attack the game gets more difficult. Fully keyboard controlled.$34.95. .Champion Draughts. This version of checkers will challengeeven the best checkers player. Also included is International Draughts,an interesting variation on this old favorite. The player can selectdifferent levels of difficulty for each version. Allows play betweentwo people, or the computer can play itself. $34.95.PC Connection, Marlow, NHHaser, by Roger Ferguson. Just try to maneuver a winding,twisting hose through fifteen amateur or fjfteen professional yards(screens) on your way to filling up at the faucets. But don't hit theborders or irregularly shaped obstacles placed in your way beforethe timer goes off! Requires Color/ Graphics Adapter. $25.PCsoftware, San Diego, CAChampionship Blackjack. The best blackjack game around. Supportsmonochrome and full color. Up to six players, realistic tablelayout, fully selectable rules, player statistics, two playing strategies,computer players. $34.95.Professional Software Associates,Minneapolis, MNAnaconda, by Craig Warner. You're a hungry anaconda searchingthe jungles for lunch. As you eat, you grow longer and longerbutbe alert. Ten skills levels; play by yourself or challenge anotheranaconda. Records high scores and player rankings. $19.95.Quala, San Fernando, CALJ:is Vegas B~ckjack. If you can beat this game, you can win at thetables. A faithful reproduction of Las Vegas Strip blackjack, includingmultideck play, splits, double . down, and insurance bets.Teaches card counting with any card weight and k~eps a runningcount. Requires eighty columns. $39.95.SCC Games, Burke, VAFlippinGame. A challenging version of reversi. Two levels of difficulty,beginner and advanced. Designed for monochrome monitor;will run on color monitor. $19.95.Science Research Associates, Chicago, ILCross Clues. A mind-challenging word game in which the computerumpires while two opponents compete t~ uncover hiddenwords. Beat the clock while coaxing clues from the computer.$29.95.Sirius, Sacramento, CACall to Arms, by Mike Falkner. A battle of wits and strategy fortwo to four players, featuring maps of Europe in !"942 or Scotland in1750. Color card required. $29.95.Software Laboratories, Dublin, OHFun Package. Offers Tic-Tac-Toe, Lucas Puzzle, Slot Machine,Dice Roller, and Number Guess. $20.Stock Market Game. Simulates trading on the stock exchangefrom year to year. Three categories of stocks. Market movementsoccur randomly. $10.Drag Race. Design the car of your choice in either the unlimiteddragster, pro stock, or stock racing classes. One to three players.Race against friends or the computer. Uses factual car design information.Interesting and challenging. $10. .Systemics, West Bloomfield, MIPro-Pick. Professional football predictions, taking only minutesper week to update the latest scores. Customize prediction methodbased on your own ideas on home versus away. Schedule for 1982included; use software year after year. Examine point spreads, totalpoints, and print or display your results. Requires two drives andmonochrome display. $75.ti.46softolk

TexaSoft, Dallas, TXThe Queen of Hearts Maze Game. Make your way around a mazeto find the queen's missing cards while avoiding crazy card sharks.Play the trump and tum the tables on them. With music, sound, andvarying levels of difficulty. $35.Trilogy-Three Games of Middle Earth. Three games of action andadventure set in Middle Earth, where dwarfs and ores fought forlost treasure and dragons ruled the sky. Adapted from the mainframe1977 version. Music and sound. $35.Set the Hostages Free. Ninety hostages are in a terrorist's prisonand you have been sent to free them. You must break through thethree-layered wall while avoiding menacing guards. Varying levelsof difficulty. Music and sound. $35.slides, digitizer, phone chart, Archimedes spiral, polar functions,and Ensign logo. Requires eighty columns. $24.95.Graphic Software Systems, Wilsonville, ORGSS-Kernel. A subroutine library designed for programmers andsystem builders to allow them to create their own applications usingcomputer graphics. GSS-Kernel is both computer and graphicsdevice independent. It is available under the CP/ M-86 operatingsystem. Marketed by Digital Research. $500.GSS-Plot. A subroutine library for programmers and systembuilders that enables easy generation of two-dimensional plots such asbar, line, and pie charts. GSS-Plot is both computer and graphicsdevice independent. It is available under the CP / M-86 operatingsystem. Marketed by Digital Research. $500.Innovative Software, Overland Park, KSFast Graphs. Creates full color charts, graphs, and even companylogos for use in business and scientific applications. It takesdata from the keyboard or from VisiCalc, T./.M., or Fast Facts files.Then it draws bar charts in two or three dimensions, pie or linecharts, and much more. Requires 128K and two disk drives. $295.International Software Alliance,Santa Barbara, CAScrump! by Provost and Associates. A screen-dump utility thatdumps whatever appears on a video screen to C. Itoh or Epsonprinters (others available soon.) Can be chained from a Basic programfor dumping graphics created by calling program, and requiresoniy one to two minutes for an average screen dump. $35.Graph Charting Program , by Daniel Provost. Produces pie charts,line graphs, bar graphs, and histograms. You enter labels .and valuesand program scales data. After screen display, save to disk or callScrump! screen-clump utility to print graph on C. Itoh or Epson dotmatrix printers. $59; with Scrump!, $75.SassafrasABW, Arin Arbor, MIRL-1 Graphics Processor. Allows data from the RL-1 Database tobe displayed graphically. Compatible drivers will be available forthe Personal Computer (both monochrome and color outputs), Tektronix4010, Houston Instruments bMP plotters, and marty othergraphics devices. Additional drivers will be available separately.This package is compatible with all other RL-1 packages. RequiresRL-1 Relational Database, 96K, and two disk drives. $125.Diamond Head Software, Honolulu, HIStock Charting. Fully utilize your hi-res graphics capability tochart the price/volume movements of securities. Designed for thesmall investor who is willing to update data manually. Produces. achart of the previous thirty highs, lows, closes, and volumes.Requires color/graphics card and suitable monitor. $49.95.Ensign Software, Boise, IDColor Demonstration. Enjoy the color graphics capabilities of thepc with this collection of ten delightful demonstrations. All areaccessed from the menu with the function keys, and return to themenu when the escape key is pressed. Includes kaleidoscope, weave,f ij ·~n logo, portrait, stars, prism, string art, 3-D hills, script, andell/- ·m~ r. Requires color/graphics adapter, color display. $24.95.1 ,\ \. 7470 Plotter Demo. Ten demonstration programs for use witha HP7470 or HP7225 plotter. The programs can be modified to serveyour particular needs and data. Useful programs and goodexamples, including birthday plot, twelve-month trend, displayfor the IBM Personal Computer December 1982EI!iK MASieTHE DISK DUMP AND PATCH UTILITYTHAT LETS YOU GET ATTHE BITSPowerfultwo-dimensionalscreen editiilg & interactionin Hexadecimaland ASCIIComprehensivereference manualwith examplesSupportsalternatetrack & sectorformats'.'DOS I.I Compatible$49.95. plus$2.50 shipping(Calif reside nts add Sales Tax)IBM is a registered trademark of IBM Corp.DISK MAGIC is exclusively available from NORELL Data Systems3400 WILSHIRE BOULEVARDP,Q_ BOX 701Z7LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90010(213) 257-2026 /SEND FOR OUR FREE PRODUCTS CATA LOGnorell[)AJA SYSTEMS47

International Software Marketing,Syracuse, NYGraphmagic. In a matter of minutes anyone can produce piecharts, Gar graphs, line graphs, and scatter grams. Can be used byyoungsters or engineers, homemakers or businessmen-it is masteredin minutes and performs with ease. The data for graphing maybe entered and edited directly or it can be read from MatheMagic,VisiCalc, or any DIF file product. Requires 96K and Color/ GraphicsAdapter. $89.95.Micro Control Systems, Vernon, CTSpace Graphics. A software package included with the SpaceTablet allows interactive manipulation and editing of points on allthree axes. This capability is unique in computer graphics. SpaceGraphics lets you select a point in space and pull it, and all connectinglines, to another location in threespace. Models can be scaled,rotated, and moved about any axis. With Space Tablet, $595.Chart Pro. Designed to produce bar charts and dot charts on aminimally-configured P'ersonal Computer. Data is input from thekeyboard in response to menu prompts. It may also be read directlyfrom VisiCalc files. Requires 128K and monochrome monitor. $95.NorFork Systems, Laurel Springs, NJComp-Art. Draw pictures through easy use of function keys.Automatically generates required code and saves to specified file.Facilities include circle, line, paint, test, and erase. Requires color/graphics adapter, two disk drives. $59.95.Omicron, Atlanta, GATransplot. Turns your Epson or IBM printer into a graphicsplotter. You can have a hard copy of any graphics screen image includingx-y plots, bar charts, pie charts, pictures, or other graphicsimages. 10.7 second screen dump. Demonstration programs and aneasy-to-follow user's guide is included. $27.Plotrax. A friendly, menu-driven plotting program. You caneasily switch between menus and the screen graphics with singlekeystrokes. You can do linear and polynomial regressions and curvefitting, normal (dual or tri-axial) semi-log, and log-log plotting.Includes demonstration files and easy-to-use manual. $135.PCsoftware, San Diego, CAPCcrayon. Are you a frustrated Van Gogh? Now you can createbeautiful pictures, including movement, sounds, and full color.Save them and reproduce them from any program. Powerful andeasy to use. Color adapter required. $44.95.Radio Technology, West Hartford, CTPrtSc. Enhances the screen facility of the Personal Computer.With PrtSc, you can generate a printed copy of any screen thatyou can display by simply pressing the PrtSc key on the keyboard.Screen images may also be captured on disk for printing or browsinglater. Includes user-selectable forms feed following a screenprint. $65.Software Laboratories, Dublin, OHComput-a-Sketch. Draw single-line designs and circles on yourscreen using the pc keypad. Requires color/ graphics card. $10.Starside Engineering, Rochester, NYFrieze, by Mark S. Zachmann. Graphics store/ dump utility that. reads and writes graphics displays to disk, and dumps them to supportedprinters. Hides itself above DOS and can be invoked fromthe keyboard or from within a user program in any language. SupportsEpson with Graftrax, IDS 460/ 560/ Prism monochrome withgraphics, NEC/ ProWriter family, and IDS Prism in color for color48screen dumps. $55.Glyphix, by Jeff Duntemann. Graphics scratch pad in BasicAhas twenty-seven different commands. Draws in either screenresolution, stores and fetches shape tables, mixes text with graphicsat any pixel location, and much more. Built-in interface to Friezeutility provides screen save and undo command. Li stable and fullycommented. Requires Color/ Graphics Adapter. $24.95.Versa Computing, Newbury Park, CAVersaWriter Digitizer Drawing System. A graphics system completewith software and graphics tablet that enables entry ofgraphics to the IBM pc 320 by 200 and 640 by 200 screens. Thirtygraphics commands, more than one hundred color options, andprinter dump capabilities are offered within the system. $299.Graphic Hardcopy System. Reproduce IBM screen graphics onCPS Matrix or Epson MX-80 printer with Graftrax. Offers full orone-quarter size printout, reverse or normal inking, density and offsetcontrol, and slide show of IBM graphics capabilities. RequiresColor/ Graphics Adapter. $24.95.VisiCorp, San Jose, CAVisiTrend/ Plot. Understand relationships between data series,anticipate future trends, and add visual strength to your reports.Automatically produce line, bar, pie, area, x-y, and high/ low charts.Performs multiple linear regression, trend-line forecasting, percentchange, lead, lag, moving averages, smoothing, and more. Easily interchangedata with other Visi programs. Requires 128K and Color/Graphics Adapter. $300.A S f P d V. VA American Beechcorn o tware ro ucts, ienna,Language Teacher, by Andrew Bartorillo. Each language teacher(Spanish I, Spanish II, and French I-with others on the way) offershundreds of word combinations, verb conjugations, and phrases.Choose to be drilled from English into the foreign language or viceversa. Option for multiple choice answers plus retest on misseditems. Percentage of correct answers monitored on sere.en. Requireseighty columns. $29.95 .Alkazar Associates, Arlington, VATouch Typing Made F.asy. Fifteen lessons to free the user fromlooking at the keyboard while typing. Especially designed for inhomeuse. $24.95.softolk fo r the IBM Personal Computer December 1982tt

ALL WORK ANDNO FRIENDL YW ARE?Let's face it. Nobody can take a steady diet of calcs,spread sheets and d-bases.That's why we created the FriendlyWare PC IntroductorySet. And that's why it's become one ofthe largest selling PC software packages on themarket ($49.95 Suggested Retail).''NOT ME''You want work? Volunteer for overtime.You want relaxation? Grab your FriendlyWare.IIt'II"'Available at participating Computetl.Gnd'" Storesor wherever the IBM PC is sold.FRIENDL YWAREThe FRIENDLYTM Family of Fine SoftwareDEALER INQlJIRIES: 8 17-277-9378IBM® , Com puterland, and Frien dlyWare are Registered Trademarks ofInternati o nal Bus i ~es s Machines, Corp., Computerland Stores. Inc. , and Frit:ndlySoft, Inc. respectively.COMINGSOONFRIENDLYWRITERTHE BEST LITTLE LETTER WRITERYOU EVER LEARNED TO USE IN10 MINUTES.FRIENDLYWARE PC ARCADEYOUR FAVORITE GAMES COME TOTEXT MODE.

$595 ·with 64KInstalled

Computrickx, Petaluma, CABBasic. Learn how to program your pc through a friendly andconstantly interactive program. Requires color graphics adapter.$130.ABasic. A complement to BBasic that includes advanced lessonson file management and string manipulations. Requires color/graphics adapter. $170.The Keyboard. Learn the sophisticated functions of your pc keyboardthrough an amazing, illustrated program. Requires color/graphics adapter. $40.Bridge Tutor. Designed for beginners and experts alike; givesimmediate detailed feedback on your bid or play. It teaches yourules and strategy for social to tournament play, and generates practicehands randomly. Requires color/ graphics adapter. $60.Davidson & Associates, Rancho Palos Verdes, CAThe Speed Reader, by Janice G. Davidson, Ph.D., and Richard K.Eckert, Jr. A complete. reading improvement program designed byreading specialists to increase speed and improve comprehension.Contains two disks, five separate exercises, and thirty-four readingselections with quizzes to check comprehension. $74.95.Educational Data Services, Opelika, ALGenie, by David B. Crouse. An open-ended, educational gamefor elementary school children. By creating pictures on the monitor,they will learn Basic programming, coordinate geometry, colors,and shapes. Graphics adapter required. $32.IBM, Boca Raton, FLFact Track. Designed to help students master arithmetic.THE PERFECT MATE.FOR YOUR IBM PC IS HERE AT LAST . . .DocuMate"is the perfect mate for your PCI It's an innovative documentationoverlay which mates with the PC keyboard. On one side.DocuMat~"gives you the essential reference data you need for: e DOSCommands and Formats e Function and Control Key usage e BASICCommands and Keyword Abbreviations e EDLIN and DEBUG Commands.And on the reverse side. over one hundred of the mostfrequently used BASIC Statements and Functions are "DocuMated."INFORMATION WHERE YOU WANT IT . ..DocuMate"puts the information you need w here you want it: on thekeyboard. No more digging through manuals or fumbling withreference cards. the commands and formats are right at yourfingertips! New users will become proficient more quickly usingDocuMabi"as a tutor. Experienced users will work laster and moreefficiently by having essentia l commands available at a glance.AND MORE . . .• Easy-to- read bold-face typee ThoughUul. user-friendly design• Color coordinated. non-glare surface e Attractive appearance•Durable. high-impact polystyrene construction•EDLIN and DEBUG Complete relerence !or More control keycommands are documenled DOS commands & formats documentatio7Conlrol key usage lor (current for DOS 1 IQ) Relerence listESC. CNTRL SHIFT. & ALTol BASIC commands...----A SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER . ..----....DocuMat~" is a time-saving productivity a id no PC owner should beIwithout. Order yours today at our special introductory price of only II $8.95. plus S 1.05 postage. Available only by mail from:Systems Management AssociatesIP.O. Box 20025, Dept. IHRaleigh, NC 27619IIII.,-Gard #~---------O Cash Check'.J MC O Visa Name _________________Exp.Date ___ Address ___ _____________MC IntBk.# __ Signatute Zip ___ _Dealer inquiries invited Corporate/ institutional quantity discounts availableL • - • • • • _r .c.:e~en~ a~ 40~sa:_s t~ - • • • • •52IIIIII-·Requires Color/ Graphics Adapter. $90.Arithmetic Games, Sets 1 and 2. Develop and refine mathematicand logic skills. Requires Color/ Graphics Adapter. $60 each.Typing Tutor. Touch typing instruction and drill program thatcreates individualized drills that adjust to your skill level each time itis used. Requires 48K, 32K in cassette version. $25.Individual Software, Redwood City, CAThe Instructor, by Jo-L Hendrickson and Diane Dietzler. Atutorial program that transforms the pc into an interactive, selfteachingtool for teaching new and first-time users the interactiveaspects of their computer. $49.95.International Computers, Mexico Beach, FLGoForth. A Forth computer-assisted instruction course thatteaches Forth. The Forth programming language and editor included.Try the restricted $5 version. $59.95.Norfork Systems, Laurel Springs, NJWord-Score. Challenging hangman-type word game for one tofour players. Four levels of vocabulary are provided. Fifth level enableseducator or parent to preload specific lesson words. Availablewith color and sound. Requires color/ graphics adapter. $29.95.Professional Software Associates,Minneapolis, MNForm. Basic program formatter and lister. Produces a very legibleoutput for easy understanding and debugging of program code.A great way to teach Basic. Formatting includes indented for-nextloops, offset remarks, offset line numbers, separate line for eachprogram statement, and much more. $39.95.Science Research Associates, Chicago, ILComputer Discovery. An interactive computer literacy programfor grades six through twelve. Teaches about the computer by usingthe computer. Students work with a computer robot to learn programmingconcepts. Color monitor and graphics card required.$160.SimSoft, Marysville, MITyping/ Tutor. Helps you to learn to type or to sharpen your currenttyping skills. $29.95.Software Laboratories, Dublin, OHKid's Package. Includes addition, subtraction, Comput-a-Sketch,states and capitals, and dates in history. Color/ graphics card requiredfor Comput-a-Sketch. $20.Spinnaker, Cambridge, MASnooper Troops I and II, by Tom Snyder. First two cases in a seriesof interactive mysteries. Helps children learn to take notes,draw maps, organize and classify information, and develop vocabularyand reasoning skills. $44.95 each.Story Machine, by DesignWare. An educational toy that helpschildren learn to' write sentences, paragraphs, and simple stories.Using a supplied list of words, including nouns, verbs, and otherparts of speech, a child types a sentence and then watches as thesentence is animated on the screen. Helps children write correctlyand provides familiarity with the computer keyboard. For ages fivethrough nine. $34.95.FaceMaker, by Design Ware. A computerized spinoff of the popularMr. Potatohead where children create faces and watch themcome to life. For ages four through twelve. $34.95.Delta Drawing, by Computer Access Corporation. A precursorsoftalk

to Logo's turtle graphics. It includes much of the power of turtlegraphics but removes the difficult syntax. Children create colorfuldrawings on the screen using single-key commands to control thecursor. Changes are easy to make. Complex pictures, patterns, anddesigns can be built from simple parts because drawing programscan be nested inside another. Extensively play-tested in Boston areaschools. For ages four through fourteen. $59.95.A Christmas Sampler, by Dr. Mark Cross. A yuletide programthat brings a variety of holiday classics to life with full-colorgraphics and sound. Interspersed with animation, the graphic depictionsof A Christmas Story, The Night Before Christmas, and a selectionof Christmas carols are accompanied by screen texts for easyfollow-along by younger family members. Delightful Christmasmusic adds a festive dimension. Ideal for holiday gatherings at homeor in the office. $29.95 .IBM, Boca Raton, FLAsynchronous Communications Adapter. Card and software. 32Krequired. $40.Dow Jones Reporter. Enables you to gather information fromDow Jones . News/Retrieval Service. Requires modem and serialcard. $100.Inner Loop Software, Los Angeles, CAVD TE (Video Display Terminal Emulator). Complete graphics terminalemulator and file transfer system. Emulates HP26xx andVT52-type terminals. Supports hi-res HP26xx vector graphics plottingsequences. All speeds 300 to 9,600 baud. Thirty-six page user'smanual. Graphics requires Color/Graphics Adapter. $50.Innovative Software, Overland Park, KSFast Com. Allows the pc to communicate over phone lines withother pcs, other computers, and information banks. Simplifies logonprocedures, displays the disk directory, or transmits files using awild card feature. Can send incoming data to disk or printer. RequiresRS-232 interface. $195.'Nor~hernRed OakAlpha Software, Burlington, MAThe Apple-IBM Connection. Transfers VisiCalc, WordStar, andother files from Apple to the Personal Computer and back with noretyping and no errors. User can set up a network and control communicationfrom any computer using master/slave mode. Also idealfor electronic mail. Comes with spoken instructions that serve as ahands-on tu to rial. Requires communications board, connectionequipment, Smartmodem, or acoustic coupler modem. $195.Digital Marketing, Walnut Creek, CAThe Micro Link fl, by Wordcraft. Conducts keyboard conversations,sends and receives electronic mail, and exchanges any text file(up to disk capacity). Saves all or selected parts of transmission todisk. Designed by and for the nontechnical user. Requires asynchronouscommunications card and IBM DOS. $89.Electronic Data Systems, Richardson, TXCommunicator/Text Editor. Combines a full-capability communicatorwith a powerful text editor to form an intelligent workstation. Communicates with virtually any mainframe, mini, ormicro. Uploads/downloads and edits/creates text files and programs.Automatic dial up and logon to the Source, Dow Jones,Compuserve, GE, TSO, and VM/370. For the clerk, business, andcomputer professional. Requires eighty columns, serial interface,and modem. $99.for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982International Software Alliance,Santa Barbara, CAE/Lync and Lyne, by Midnight Software allows communicationswith timesharing computers like the Source, and allows transferringof files (using automatic error detection and correction protocol)between pcs, or pc and CP/M or TRS-80 computers. Lyne isfor frequent users. It allows sending and receiving of files fromtimesharing computers and remote-control facilities when transferringfiles with other pc or CP/M system. Both require an RS-232interface. E/Lync, $45; Lyne, $125.Max Software Publishing, Santa Clara, CAMove-It. A communications program allowing local and remotedirectory listings, file transfers, message sending, and terminalemulation. $150.Microcom, Norwood, MAMicro/Terminal. Lets you access and exchange information withmainframe and minicomputers, with databases like the Source, DowJones, and Compuserve, and with other remote terminals or personalcomputers. Requires two drives and modem. $99.95.Micro Control Systems, Vernon, CTSpace Communication. As part of the Space Graphics family ofsoftware, this permits bidirectional interactive sharing of graphicsinformation. With it, you can transmit a 3-D drawing generated andstored in your computer through telephone lines to another user.Rotate, rescale, or move the image on your computer; your counterpartinstantly sees the manipulation on his own screen. Interactivemanipulation is also possible. Your counterpart can take controlof the screen and manipulate the drawing as you watch if bothusers have the complete Space Tablet/Space Graphics. Requires128K, paddle adapter, Color/Graphics Adapter, RS-232 interface,and modems. $500.Norell Data Systems, Los Angeles, CAEasytalk, by Harold Scott. An interactive communications programfor timesharing and data transfer. Can send text and programfiles from one computer to another using protocols that synchronizethe file transfer. Macro file capability eliminates the need forrepetitive password procedures. Full bulletin board system with optionalfile compression transfer capability. Has autodial, redial, andautoanswer functions; support for the Hayes Smartmodem 1200 isbuilt in. $79.95.53

Off ice Software Automation, Richardson, TXInterm/VTIOO. A high-performance, full-capability communicationprogram that emulates the DEC terminal VTlOO, includingcursor positioning and so forth. Allows the pc to be used as a terminalto DEC machines and the use of screen editors such as EDTand VT TECO. Also uploads and downloads files. Works at speedsup to 9,600 baud. Doesn't do double height and width. $495.Dow]ones Toolkit. The Dow]ones Toolkit is a program thatautomatically interrogates the Dow Jones database for prices, news,and historical data. Instead of making assumptions about what )IOUneed to know, the data is arranged into VisiCalc-readable formallowing you to decide what you neeq to know. An extensive tutorialexplains how to do some useful calculations, to compute thevalue of a portfolio, and to take advantage of VisiCalc's ability to ask" what if?" $150.Omric, Newington, CTGenterm. A complete communications package that allows youto use your pc to communicate with most other micro, mini, andmainframe computers. Can be set up to conform to almost any communicationsprotocol that involves character-by-character or lineby-linecommunication. Enables file transmission and reception.$89.95.PBL, Wayzata, MNThe Personal Investor. A portfolio management, news terminal,and quotation system. This system can connect your computer withthe Dow Jones News/ Retrieval service to update the value of yourportfolio, retrieve business news and information, and collect quotations.Free Dow Jones News/ Retrieval password included withpackage. Requires 128K. $145.Personal Systems Technology,Laguna Hills, CAPC/ Hasp. A multi-user remote job entry HASP work stationemulator providing IBM host communications for the IBM PersonalComputer. First in the Persyst family of mainframe-relatedsoftware designed to enhance the pc in corporate data processing,PC/ Hasp provides for concurrent support of up to seven multileavedinput and output job streams. $995.Professional Software Associates,Minneapolis, MNIce, by Kent Schroeder. Communication and terminal emulationprogram. Enables the pc to be used as a dumb terminal formainframe time sharing applications (complete with line editor), aswell as inter-computer communications and file transfer applications.Many other features included. $89.95.Quest Research, Huntsville, ALQuestalk. An asynchronous communications package that permitsconnection with other computers or time sharing systems. Devicecharacteristics are menu driven. File upload and downloadtransfers to any external machine via a command protocol system.Written in assembly language and will support 300 to 1,200 baudcommunications. $45.Smith Educational Engineering Services,Arlington Heights, IL!COMM, by Richard Pierce and Richard Smith. An intelligentcommunications package featuring operation to 9,600 baud,XON/ XOFF handshaking, support of two communication adapters,disk file transfer, break key, programmable keys, selectableduplex, hexadecimal display mode, character editing, and printercopy. Supports the Hayes Stack Smartmodem. Requires54asynchronous communications adapter and eighty-column display.$100.The Source, McLean, VAThe Source. Dial up a wealth of information and entertainment,including UPI, electronic mail, stock information, airline sch,edulesand travel reservations, games, electronic shopping-hundreds ofservices in all. Modem and communications card required. $100fee, then charges from $20.75 to $5.75 per hour.Starside Engineering, Rochester,. NYInterLync and lnterLync/ APL, by Mark S. Zachmann. Intelligentterminal programs that include data capture, ETX/ ACKand XModem file transfer protocol, full-screen editing, user-definablefunction key strings, and on-line help. lnterLync/ APL providestrue APL characters including legal overstrikes. Requires 128K,RS232C port. $100. InterLync/ APL requires Color/ GraphicsAdapter. $175.Beaman Porter, Harrison, NYRed MaplePowerText. An automatic word processing system that reducestyping to the equivalent of dictating. Stored format files determinestyle of professional-quality output. Automatic headers, footers,closings, cover 1pages, table of contents, and outline numbering.Supports RAM disk, serial printers, and external drives. $399.Power Text for the UCSD p-System. An automatic word processingsystem that reduces typing to the equivalent of dictating. Storedformat files determine style of professional-quality output. Automaticheaders, footers, closings, cover pages, table of contents, andoutline numbering. Supports RAM disk, serial printers, and externaldrives. Comprehensive ten-lesson tutorial. RequiresUCSD-p system with editor and filer. $199.Blue Water Systems, Oceanside, CAExpandson. Lets you get the most from your Epson printer. Usedwith WordStar it allows you to easily create documents that tise allof the Epson's features. You get expanded text for headers and titles,super and subscripts, italics and compressed print, line graphicsand foreign character set, and more. $39.Digital Marketing, Walnut Creek, CAFootnote, by Pro-Tern Software. Automatically numbers andsorralkiJ

Iformats footnote calls, footnotes, and text, placing footnotes on thebottom of the correct page. At the user's option, the footnotes canalso be removed from the text file to a separate note file. Footnotescan be entered singly or in groups, in the middle or at the end of paragraphs.Price includes Pair, a companion program that checks thatunderline and boldface commands are properly terminated. RequiresWordStar . $125.Grammatik, by Aspen Software. Detects grammatic errors aswell as other common mistakes that are not detected by most spellingcheckers, such as doubled words, inconsistent capitalization,and incorrect punctuation. Also checks . your documents for writingstyle, using a dictionary of over 500 misused phrases. Marksproblems for easy correction with your word processor. $150.Distributed Software Systems, Northbrook, ILQuick-Text Word Processing System. User-oriented word processingsystem, designed with ease of use in mind. Makes extensiveuse of sound, function keys, ghost cursor, and screen highlighting.System will perform right justifkation, word wrap, centering, headers/footers, page numbering, text reformat, create/merge file,block/ line move, copy, or delete, fuli scrolling, and spelling verification.$99.Emerging Technology, Boulder, COEdix. A full-screen editor featuring up to four independentwindows, twelve text buffers, regular expression pattern matching,inter and intra buffer block moves and copies, on-line help, and anon-line, interaetive tutorial. It is very fast and very easy to use.Requires 128K, $195.Wordix . A powerful text formatter featuring automatic footnoteplacement, automatic hyphenation, automatic table of contentsgeneration, multicolumn layout, superscripts and subscripts,mailing list merging, user defined macros, and support for all printertypes. In combination with Edix, Wordix is an exceptionally powerfuland efficient word processor. Requires 128K. $195.IBM, Boca Ra ton, FLEasyWriter, Version 1.1. IUS's word processor. $175.Image Processing Systems, Madison, WIProofwriter. A full-screen, menu-driven word processor, programeditor, and spelling checker. Tabs, margins, and text reformattedon-screen automatically. Simple cut-and-paste and mailmergecapabilities. Spelling errors displayed in reverse video. Manyprinting options. Easy to learn. Requires 128K and two disk drives.$180.Information Unlimited Software,Sausalito, CA ·EasyWriter II, by the Basic Software Group. An easy-to-useword processor that employes function keys to change the editingmode, reducing most commands to single keystrokes. Automaticallysaves each individual page to disk. Requires two drives. $350.Easy Speller II. A spelling checker compatible with Easy Writer II.It has an 88,000 word dictionary. Requires two drives. $125.Intellect Associates, Holbrook, NYPCtext. A text processing program that allows the user to generateformatted documents using any text editor. By embeddingcommands inside the rough text, the user can control spacing, justification,page numbering, indentation, headings and footings, andmore. Easy to learn and use, it's ideal for large documents. $100;Demonstration version with manual, $25; manual alone, $10.Lifetree Software, Monterey, CAVolkswriter 1.2, by Cainilo Wilson. A word processor speciallyfor the IBM Personal Computer December 1982designed for professional users of the pc. Elegantly combines powerand simplicity to appeal to novice and expert alike. On-screentutorials make learning quick and easy; advanced features (proportionalspacing, micro justification) appeal to more stringent requirements.$195.Max Software Publishing, Santa Clara, CAThe Word Plus. Locates and corrects misspelled words. Showsthe words in context, hyphenates, and checks 10,000 words in lessthan two minutes. Includes a vocabulary of ~ore than 45,000words. $150.MkroPto International, San Rafael, CAWordStar. A screen-oriented word processing system featuringboth initial entry of text and revisions displayed directly on thescreen during typing. Also includes help menus, horizontal scrolling,and column move. $495.Spel!Star. A spelling checker that works with WordStar to findspelling and typing errors in word processed documents. Proofreadsdocuments at thousands of words per minute with its 20,000-word dictionary-on-a-disk. Flags each word not in the dictionarywith a flashing cursor. Requires 56K. $250.Mai/Merge. A multipurpose file merging program that can accomplishcomplex word processing projects such as personalizedform letters, invoices, mailing labels, and boilerplate legal documents.Permits the merging of data from two or .more files at printtime; chained and nested printing; printing multiple copies automatically;and printing data in report format. $250.Norell Data Systems; Los Angeles, CAEasytext Format Processor, by James Gillogly. Neatly formats adocument by dividing it into pages with space at the top and bot-Introducing the Hanly COMPU-U-DESKas created for the IBM PC"YOUR SYSTEM DESERVES THE BEST"Designed for easeof access and usein a compactspace.• Sliding drawersfor the keyboard,the printer and for additional work area• Keyboard height engineered forimproved comfort.• Accommodatesa color TV or acolor monitor.All surfaces are finished and the drawerslides are installed. Assembles In minuteswith built-in fasteners. 30' high, 60' long,24' deep.Available in stain and laquer OAK for $495or oil finish WALNUi for $595. Motor freightcollect. Send check or VISA/Mastercardnumber arid expiration date. Calif. residentsadd 6%% tax. Allow 30 day delivery.Hanly Company, 2201 Via Saldivar,Glendale, CA 9120855

tom, even margins, specified headings, and page numbers. It cancreate a table of contents, help create an index, and generate formletters. $79.95 .F.asyedit Text Editor, by Ed Zrostlik. A two-dimensional cursorbasedscreen editor-the monitor screen is a window into a file anddisplays a portion of the file being edited. Uses function keys to performsimple operations that are immediatdy reflected in the file asdisplayed on the screen. $79.95.F.asyproof Spelling Checker, by Robert Wesson. A spelling errordetection and marking program that is compatible with documentsproduced by most text editors and word processing systems. Theprogram reads a document, presenting you with a list of the words itthinks are incorrect. For each word, you can decide whether to passit, add it to the dictionary, or mark it as an error in tht document.$79.95 .ProActive Systems, Palo Alto, CAProText. A high-performance text formatter for the NEC PC8023A printer which can generate manuals and reports with multipletype styles, fonts·, and print options. Special features helpthe user create tables of contents, lists, forms, and charts. Capable ofmerging several input files. Uses flexible command language andprovides efficient operation. Embedded text commands produce afinished, formatted document on user's printer. $75.Quest Research, Huntsville, ALPrinter. Professional-quality file printouts. Optional title pagewith two-inch file name, date, time, and file size. Menu-driven defaultoptions for page headers, page numbers, line numbers, linesper page, characters per line, tab, or no tab. Allows user to print selectedlines. $45.Frank Schiele Software, Chula Vista, CASuper Editor. Powerful full-screen text editor. Block copy, moveand delete. Cursor .and scrolling controlled from keyboard. $55.Systemics, West Bloomfield, MIEZMemo+. Simple and easy-to-use, line-oriented word processingfor novices and occasional users. Create, save, recall, edit,and print any single page document in any IBM 80 CPS matrixprinter type style. Use with EZI..abel+ files to print personalized letterswith custom letterheads. Requires two drives, monochrome display,and IBM 80 CPS matrix printer. $49.95.TexaSoft, Dallas, TXVersaText Word Processing and Database System. An integratedseries of programs to meet word processing and database needs. Thedatabase supports mail merge, printing labels, sorting, and more.Screen editor has full cursor control, processor is a versatile text formatter.Requires two disk drives. $149.International Software Alliance,Santa Barbara, CAProscript Text Formatter, by SoftCraft. Produces beautifully formattedoutput when combined with a text editor like Edlin, Vedit, orP-mate. Twenty-nine print directives include footing, heading,chapter, indent, justify, center, plus directives for Epson printers.Automatic section and paragraph numbering and table .of contentsgeneration makes it ideal for technical manuals. $75.Office Software Automation, Richardson, TXRunoff / PC. The Personal Computer version of a popular DECdocument-generation program Runoff. Provides direct compatibilitywith DEC Runoff. Will drive the Epson and Diablo printers.On the latter, documents can be printed with full proportional spacing.$495.56White AshAardvark Software, Milwaukee, WIProfessional Tax Plan. Designed for the professional tax planner,here is a problem-solving tool that quickly determines accurateanswers to various what-if tax situations. Touche Ross andCo ., a prestigious international accounting firm, has reviewed andtested the program. Requires two disk drives. $350.Estate Tax Plan. A problem-solving tool that allows the professionalestate tax planner to evaluate various estate tax planningstrategies. The program permits consideration of the factors affectingthe gross estate, allowable deductions, and the disposition of theclient's assets via trust arrangements or bequests. Calculates estatetax liability for up to four separate fact situations, simultaneously.Requires two disk drives. $550; enhanced version, $750.ABW, Ann Arbor, MIRL-1 Relational Database. A relational database management systemthat includes query language, program interface, relational editor,and utility programs. To assist the user, many application packageshave been provided for use with the system. Requires 961'. andtwo disk drives. $75.RL-1 Input Processor. Allows the user to input data via customdesignedforms for easy operator entry. Requires RL-1 DBMS, 96K,and two disk drives. $75.RL-1 Report Generator. Allows the user to predefine informationlayout for report-type output. Requires RL-1 DBMS, 96K, andtwo disk drives. $75.Alpha Software, Burlington, MAType Faces . Powerful printing tool that greatly increases theutility of your dot matrix printer. Output can be reduced for letterqualitytext. Fifteen different type styles and over one hundred symbolssatisfy every printing need. Requires two drives. $125.Data Base Manager . Helps you keep track of virtually anyinformation, and keep that information up to date and accurate.You design how information goes in (up to 2,800 records with DOS1.1), and how it is reported. Saves up to ten custom-designed reportformats. Advanced features include phonetic search, flexible formatmailing list, automatic use of printer's condensed mode, and more.Requires two disk drives. $245.softalk for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982

Ashton-Tate, Culver City, CAdBase ll. This relational database management system is a powerful,easy-to-use tool for constructing and manipulating data files.Package includes systems disk, demo disk, and thorough documentation.Thirty-day money-back guarantee. Requires 96K. $700.Broderbund, San Rafael, CAGeneral Ledger, by Hal Faulkner. Up to two thousand accounts,values up to ten billion dollars, user-definable report generator, unlimitedjournal entries, and much more. Requires two disk drivesand printer. $495.Payables, by Hal Faulkner. Handles 200 open accounts, 1,600open invoices, and 1,000 checks per disk. Allows for debit andcredit invoices; computes and tracks discounts, multiple debits perinvoice, and cash flow reports by due date or discount date.Requires two disk drives and printer. $395 .Business Master, Carlsbad, CABusinessMaster Plus . General accounting package with fully formattedscreens. Includes accounts receivable, accounts payable,inventory, payroll, fixed-asset accounting with ACRS, mailing list,and general ledger. Available for CBasic2/ 86 or IBM Basic. $289.ColorCorp, Bloomfield Hills, MIColorBiz. An inventory program designed to take advantage of acolor monitor. Requires two disk drives and 132-column printer.$498 .Data Consulting Group, Foster City, CAEZRetail. Turns the pc into a cash register for retail sales, inventory,and commissions. This one really beats the old pencil andpaper method. Credit card control, customer credit limits, tax receipts,and sales analysis are among the functions. Requires twodrives. $245 .EZ Telephone. Keeps track of name, address, home, and worktelephone numbers, a special date, and personal notes. Records canbe listed in a directory and viewed on the screen as required. Retrievalis based on a one to five character key assigned by user.$25 .Datasmith Micro Software Systems,Shawnee Mission, KSBookkeeping System. Features include ledger and journal entryand update, automatic out-of-balance detection, and fast posting.Prints chart of accounts, journal listing, balance sheet, profit andloss, and comparisons between any two accounting periods. Accountspayable checks may be printed on system printer with journalentries made automatically. Full source code included. Requirestwo disk drives. $300.Payroll System. Calculates federal, state, FICA, and local taxesplus earned-incqme credit. Has up to five recurring deductions peremployee, plus five one-time pay amounts or deductions per period.Maintains loan balances and vacation time taken and due. Printsemployee master list, payroll report, paychecks, and W-2 forms,plus several comparative reports needed to complete governmentquarterly reports. Full source code included. Requires two diskdrives. $400.Davell Custom Software, Cleveland, TNPairstat. A paired data statistics package including data entry andediting, polynomial regression to order 20, scatter and smooth curveplotting, integration, differentiation, interpolation, extrema calculations,user-defined functions, R square, standard deviation, plot ofresiduals, beta, standard error of the coefficients, and mean. RequiresIBM or Epson printer with Graftrax. $150.58Digital Marketing, Walnut Creek, CAMilestone, by Organic Software. Critical path network analysisprogram for scheduling manpower, dollars, and time to maximizeproductivity. Interactive project management program that can beused to track paper flow, build a computer, check a department'sperformance or build a bridge. $395.Plan80, by Business Planning Systems, Inc. A financial modelingsystem that's easy to use and powerful enough to replace mosttimesharing applications. Lets you calculate I RR and depreciation aswell as trig functions effortlessly. You write a model just the wayyou would write a letter using any editor or word-processing program;play what-if by inputting new values interactively. lt alsotackles any numerical problem that can be defined on a worksheet.Calculations are defined using real English, not matrix coordinates.$295.Digital Systems, Hampton, NHPhoneSaver. An easy to use database management system designedto report long-distance charges by number and departmentwhile also listing unauthorized calls. Client coding can also be usedby professional offices to control reimbursable charge calls. Requirestwo disk drives. $95.Distributed Software Systems, Northbrook, ILPC-Order Entry System. High performance order entry systemthat utilizes menus and fill-in-the-blank screens. Customer and iteminformation automatically looked up and displayed. System willprint purchase orders (invoices) and daily sales analysis reports.Automatic calculation of taxes and discounts. $325.Dynatech Microsoftware, Niles, ILThe IBM Codewriter. Easy, powerful business information controlwithout programming. Complete stand-alone data entry, report,and interactive menu programs written automatically for themanager who needs custom software now, not programming hassles.Requires two drives. $395.Eagle Software Publishing, Wayne, PATax Decisions. Time-saving tool for the tax professional's desktopcomputer. Minimizing tax liability prior to the end of the taxyear is the goal. Contains a software disk, step-by-step instructions,and warranty. All packaged in a convenient stand-up easelbinder. $299.Money Decisions Volume I, by Joseph A. Mascio. First in theEagle " All Pro" series, a software package that puts thirty-four ofthe most frequently used business and financial problem solversright on your desktop computer. Designed to assist the businessmanin three broad categories: business management, loans, andinvestments. Contains extensive tutorial and help features. $199.Ensign Software, Boise, IDChurch Membership. This full-featured database is designed tomaintain any church's membership records where individuals aregrouped by family. You can add families to the database, updateany piece of information, retrieve family records by entering thefamily name, browse through the database, and print membershiplist, address labels, telephone directory, and class rosters. Requireseighty columns. $69.95 .Bowling League Statistics. Maintains all bowling league statisticsand memberships, computes individual handicaps and team standings,and prints various reports. The ideal system for a league secretary.Earn money by using your pc and this software package tomaintain league statistics for bowling leagues in your community.Requires eighty columns. $99.95.softolk for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982

IntroducingThe PiHel SharpenerNow! More color, greater clarity and80-character display capability-withoutsacrificing software compatibility!Explore The PerformancePotential Of COLORPws·The High ResolutionColor Graphics Adapterfor your IBM Personal ComputerImportant: Quantities are limited. Requests will be filledin the order received. This coupon must be completelyfilled out and mailed to the address below. Telephonerequests will be responded to with literature only.Mail to:• ._ PLANTRONICS11111' Frederick ElectronicsAttn: PC+ Products7630 Hayward Road, P.O. Box 502, Frederick, MD 21701Telephone (301)662-5927 Telex 893438See Us At Booth 3301~©)fm~~~~LNov. 29-Dec. 2, 1982Las Vegas Convention CenterLas Vegas, NevadaI'm interested in increasing the capabilities of my IBM PersonalComputer.I _ have _ plan to buy a personalcomputer equipped withK memory, __ disk drive(s),a ___ _ _ monitor. I want the best to meet my needs .Please send your FREE Pixel Sharpener demonstration diskette* to:Ms/Mr.(signature)(name)(street address)(city) (state) (zip code)*Standard quality BASF 5%" floppy diskette or equivalentSL------------------~Pixel Sharpener, Pc+and Colorplus are trademarks of Frederick Electronics Corporation

GMS Systems, New York, NYPower-Base . A relational database management system that istruly easy to use and offers full features such as screen painting datadefinitions, fast b-tree access capabilities, and flexible reportgenerator. Built for serious applications development by nonprogrammers.CP/ M version, $475; PC-DOS version, $395.High Technology Software, Oklahoma City, OKGusher. Specially designed for oil and gas operators, this programfigures joint interest statements and revenue distribution fromproduction runs, writes checks (royalty disbursements and payables),generates well payout, A.F.E., 1099 reports, and more. Usefulaccounting information is readily accessible in a highly organized,condensed form. Requires UCSD p-System, two disk drives,and 132-column printer. $995.P.A.C.E. (Prompt, Accurate Cost Estimator). A flexible packagethat aids an estimator .in almost any industry in appraising the costof equipment, labor, materials, taxes, union dues, and all other projectcosts. Saves estimating time and work while producing moreaccurate estimates. It will even notify the user of outdated costs. RequiresUCSD p-System, two disk drives, and 132-column printer.$395 .Hourglass Systems, Glen Ellyn, ILFast Figure. Spreadsheet with flexible printing and file sharing.Includes full math, trig, business depreciation, NPV, IRR, andgrowth functions. Features cell level operation and control; helpingmenus. Requires 128K.High Yield. A mutual fund manager featuring portfolio review.Store transaction data including mutual and money market funds,IRA, and Keogh plans. Get summary totals for dollars invested orwithdrawn, plus rates of return. Requires 128K. $75 .Hpward Software Services, La Jolla, CATax Preparer. A package for year-long record keeping and yearendtax filing . Prepares returns for several forms and all schedulesusing on-screen facsimiles. Performs all calculations and updates allforms ; prints in IRS format for filing. 1983 edition with 1982forms. $250.Real Estate Analyzer. A tool for objectively comparing alternativeinvestments and projecting future results. Professional in bothanalyses of cash flow and R-0-1 and client-oriented report printouts.Allows " what if" studies for changes in property values,loans, rents, taxes, operating expenses, and the value of money.$250.IBM, Boca Raton, FLPeachtree Acco11nting System. General ledger, accounts receivable,accounts payable, inventory control, and payroll. Two drives,printer required. $595 each.BPI Accounting System. General accounting, accounts receivable,inventory control, payroll, and job cost. Two drives required.$425 each, except job cost, which is $550.VisiCalc. The original spreadsheet program. $200.Time Manager. Microsoft's scheduling program and electroniccalender. $100.Info-Pros, Irvine, CAInfo-Reporter. A high-performance program used to create,replace, or delete reports associated with a data file. Reports areeasily designed by the user on the screen. It can output selectively toa parallel or serial printer, asynchronous communications port, orscreen. Designed for the first-time user. Requires eighty-columndisplay and two disk drives. $195.60Info-Gen. A fast-access, easy-to-use, multi-key record managementsystem designed for the first-time computer user. Assists theuser in defining a master data file and designing its data entryscreen. The record maintenance, standard report, menu, and utilityprograms are then automatically generated. Requires eighty-columndisplay and two disk drives. $295.InnoSys, Berkeley, CAMoney Maestro. A financial record-keeping package that providesbudget tracking and tax reporting. Sole proprietors, professionals,and families can now realize the benefits of automatedmoney management without investing in double-entry accountingsoftware. Expenses and receipts can be tracked as needed by simplecommands to the category and payee lists. $200.Innovative Software, Overland Park, KST.l.M. III (Total Information Management). A full-featureddatabase manager that allows pc users to organize large amounts ofinformation for quick retrieval, sorting, and printing. Each recordcan have as many as 2,400 characters, and data files can even be sentto a word processor or VisiCalc. Requires 64K, two disk drives.$495 .Fast Facts. A personal file manager that's easy to learn yet flexibleenough for both home and office use. Files can be searched andsorted then printed on mailing labels or any other report format.Plus, data can be sent to VisiCalc or graphics files. Requires 96K andtwo disk drives. $195 .Insoft, Portland, ORData Design , by Softrix. A relational database management system.Each user views data through forms that are created on screen.Each data table may have up to twenty-six forms. Excellent documentation.Requires 128K. $225.The Accountant. Organized into four packages, The Accountantis fully menu-driven and includes general ledger, accounts receivable,accounts payable, and payroll. Using commercially availableforms, it is designed for easy startup and includes comprehensivetraining manuals and sample data files for practice prior to actualinstallation. All four modules, $365.International Computers, Mexico Beach, FLMr. Scheduler. An appointment and scheduling system suitablefor doctors, dentists, lawyers, or salesmen. 1,000/ 2,000 appointmentson single/double-sided disk. Access any entry by appointmentdate or time, or client name, in less than one second. $79.95 .' Mr. Mailer. Would you believe printing 50,000 labels withoutchanging floppy disks? If you make bulk mailings, this is the programfor you. Input of 500 addresses/ hour and output of 9,000labels/ hour (printer dependent). Requires printer and two diskdrives. Try the restricted $5 version. $495.95 .International Software Alliance, Santa Barbara, CAInventory with Cash Register. Designed for retail operation witha maximum of one thousand items. Tracks ordered items, prints reorderreports, usage reports, inventory lists, and sales tax reports.Cash register updates inventory, generates invoice, and prints dailytransactions register. $125.General Ledger with Graphics, by DataCount. Field proven onmany IBM 5110s, it's easy enough for a first-time user, yet powerfulenough for CPA client write-up work. Balanced entries only,good audit trails, and standard reports and statements plus graphs.$295.International Software Marketing,Syracuse, NYMatheMagic. A unique and easy-to-use software product thatsoftolk

allows anyone to solve the simplest calculations to the mostelaborate mathematical formulas without programming. Masteredin minutes, it has a broad capability to do mathematic applicationsfor business, science, engineering, education, and in the home.Compiled Basic version requires 96K. $129.95.Joseki Computer, Redondo Beach, CAProject Management Tool. Designed for nontechnical managers,project leaders, and other individuals who need planning and projecttracking support. The user enters a project as a series of things todo, giving the system an estimated time for each thing to do, and aresponsible person. The system will use the critical path method tocalculate the total amount of time the project should take, and whichthings to do are the most critical from a timing standpoint. $99.95.Time and Expenses Billing System. Designed for the individualconsultant, professional, or business person who charges for serviceson an hourly basis. TEBS is designed to keep a record of timebilling and expenses by client, allow additions at any time, calculatedaily billable time, allow premium or minimum time charges for individualclients.Max Software Publishing, Santa Clara, CAQuic-N-Easi. A business applications development system forthe novice or professional programmer. Saves hours of coding;includes screen builder, editor, and print routine. $195.McMullen & McMullen, Jefferson Valley, NYUsing VisiCalc. Composed of a disk of VisiCalc templates andtwo audio cassettes, this product is utilized interactively by the newVisiCalc user to develop a thorough understanding of this powerfulspreadsheet program. Based on the successful hands-on courseprovided by McMullen & McMullen to Fortune 500 companies.$64.95.Using 1-2-3 (The Beginning). Composed of a disk containing a1-2-3 database and two audio cassettes, this provides the purchaserwith a working knowledge of the dynamic new product from LotusDevelopment that promises to be the major decision support systemfor the pc . $79.95.Micro Architect, Arlington, MAIDM-11. A database manager. Requires monochrome displa.yand 132-column printer. $198.IDM-X. An advanced version of IDM-11. Requires two drives,monochrome display, and 132-column printer. $395.Mail-X. A mailing list program. Requires two drives, monochromedisplay, and 132-column printer. $198. With report writerand utilities, $298.Micro Control System, Vernon, CTSlide Pro. Designed to permit interactive generation of chartssuitable for use in inaking overhead projection slides. Entirely menudriven and uses the function keys as its primary input medium. Prestoredshapes, including arrows, boxes, diamonds, and circles areused to create charts. The size and location of each shape can be interactivelycontrolled by positioning two keyboard-controlledcursors. Text and color are also controlled interactively. Differentcolors produce shadings on the hard copy. Choose from two colorpallettes. The black and white charts produced on plain paper maythen be used to generate overhead projection slides on a copier orThermofax machine. Slide files may be stored on disk for future useor modification. Requires color/graphics monitor adapter andprinter with Graphtrax. $95 .vanced VisiCalc key sequences, attributes, formats, and printspecifications. For documentation of models and presentation tomodel users. $95.Norell Data Systems, Los Angeles, CAEasydata Information Processor, by Orville Stoll and Melvin L.Nore!!. A series of processing programs that allow you to create adatabase of information. Data is entered, changed, updated, deleted,displayed, and printed with minimal amount of effort andwithout your having to continuously swap disks. Unique data managementstructures eliminate the need to sort databases at the timeof report generation or data extraction. Consists of over eighteenmodules including screen painter, data entry; database creation,database manager, report formatter, report generator, label processor,and other utilities. Requires two disk drives. $250.Easycalc Spreadsheet Calculator, by Robert Wesson. A simple,easy-to-use calculating tool that can be used to compute budget,record and projecf your investment returns, even do your taxes.$99.95.North America Mica, San Diego, CAPMS-II. A critical path project management system that is mainframecompetitive and produces Gantt charts, activity diagram,funding schedule and graph, and extensive activity reports. Tracksbudget and actual dollars, work on three through seven day workweek, and interfaces to your job-costing system. CP/M-86 andCBasic-86 are required, as well as at least one megabyte of diskstorage. $1,295.RMS-II. This resource management system add-on module toPMS-II allows the definition and allocation of up to ninety-six separateresource centers with extensive tabular and graphics reporting.Ideal for the matrix-type organization. $995.PC/FORTHComplete FORTH program development systemsfor the IBM® Personal Computer. Packagesinclude interpreter/compiler with virtual memorymanagement, line editor, custom screen editor,assembler, decompiler, utilities, file and recordaccess modules, and many demonstration programs.l 50 page user manual. ..... $1 00.00Software floating point, Intel 8087 support, colorgraphics extensions, and target compiler availableat additional cost.Specify PC-DOS or CP/M-86®. One disk driveand 48 kbytes RAM required. Software suppliedon 5 1 /4 inch single sided soft sectored doubledensity diskettes.Laboratory Microsystems4147 Beethoven StreetLos Angeles, CA 90066(213) 306-7412IBM is o registered trademark of International Business Machines Corp.CP/ M is a registered trademark of Digital Research, Inc .Micro Decision Systems, Pittsburgh, PADocuCalc. Displays and prints VisiCalc models, showing equationsin full, in correct sequence and layout. Reports ori all adforthe IBM Personal Computer December 198261

Options-SO, Concord, MAOptions-80, by Patrick N. and Timothy J. Everett. Option investingprogram guides user to transactions that will maximize returnon investment for expected share movement. $125.Prodata, Boise, IDCheck Book Plus. A sophisticated check register, reconciliation,and expense/ revenue reporting system. Primarily designed for businessuse; can be used for home owners who want the most in checkbookrecord keeping. $99 .95 .Personal Systems Technology,Laguna Hills, CAWait-Less Printing. An inexpensive yet efficient print spooler forthe IBM Personal Computer. Designed to use a portion of mainmemoryas the spool buffer, it does not require additional hardware.$49.95.]obtrax. A planning and monitoring tool for engineering, architectural,and constructioI:l projects. Yoti can plan manpower and resourcerequirements, and monitor project budget and schedulestatus with easy-to-read graphical reports and important projectinformation. Critical path method scheduling. Built-in screen editor.Requires 128K and Color/ Graphics Adapter. $285.Professional Software Associates,Minneapolis, MNSuper Mail. Mail list manager that features unique aged mailing(times printed with date of last printing) and state abbreviation helpscreen. Selective search (one or all fields); batch update of records.Print multiple labels on any size label. Multifield sort. Access lessthan two seconds with fuli data disk. $49.95.Quala, San Fernando, CATaskmaster. An easy-to-use way to organize yourself, yourdepartment, or your company . Allows the scheduling of tasks bystarting and completion dates, department, person, project, andsubproject. Produces reports and Gantt charts on the screen or on aprinter. Keeps track of man-hours and percentage completion. Thisis a practical management tool developed and used in a medium-sizecompany. Easy to learn. Requires eighty columns. $129.95.Quest Research, Huntsville, ALForm Writer. Innovative software makes filling out forms abreeze. Specify all the details one time and let Form Writer promptyou for all the information needed to fill out the form from then on.Supports " what if" feature, and interfaces to VisiCalc file formats.$150.Sapana Micro Software, Pittsburg, KSSapana-Mail-Track-ll. A mailing program that stores 1,100 recordson single-sided (2 ,200 on double-sided) disk. May be searchedand sorted across nine data items including phone numbers. Printsone to four across, warns for duplicate entries, and can handle foreignaddresses. Requires eighty columns and a printer. $29.95.Sapana-Expense Track-A. A program to keep track of expensesthroughout the year; print useful reports at any time for home/ smallbusinesses. Fields for data entry include date, description, categoryone through ninety-nine, method of payment, code for payment, taxstatus, and amount. 2,496 expenses on a single-sided disk. Requireseighty columns and a printer. $29.95.62Simple Soft, Elk Grove, ILQuikCalc Real Estate Investor. Provides sophisticated financialanalysis of individual residence or income property sales and purchases.Provides loan amortization schedule, expense schedules,cash flows, tax benefits, and internal rate of return. Financing functionsfeature conventional mortgages, balloon payments, variablerate mortgages, arid an interest-only loan. $129.95 .SimSoft; Marysville, MIMailing Labei System. Includes phone numbers and messages.Prints labels and three-by-five cards. $29.95 .Accelerated Cost Recovery System, Prints depreciation schedulesusing the 'new ACRS and older methods. $29.95 .Diskette Management System. Keeps track of all diskettes bydescription, location, date created, and scratch date.Smiser and Associates, Truckee, CAJob Estimator and Specification Writer. Designed for the constructionindustry, the Estimator compiles itemized bids by item andcategory. A report is then generated with a summary by category,and corresponding list of specifications. $450.Job Accounter. Designed to operate with the Job Estimator, here isa daily expense journal that maintains allocation of funds andexisting balances for each item of the estimate, and forecasts actualjob cost based on expenditures to date. $200.A/ C System. Includes daily journals, general and subsidiaryledgers, and primary financial statements. Expandable with otherstock accounting programs or custom reports. $200.Softrend, Charlottesville, VAThe 25th Hour: 25:01-Time Scheduler/ Organizer. A comprehensivetime management system that organizes any type of timedand untimed activity for any number of individuals or projects.Requires printer and eighty columns. $99.-The 25th Hour: 25:02-Magazine/ Book Reference. An article abstractingsystem that organizes references to important informationin all types of published material including books, magazines, journals,proceedings, newspapers, and so forth. Requires printer andeighty columns. $89.Software 1040, New Hyde Park, NYPlan 1040: The what-if tax planner that covers tax years 1982and i983 including the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of1982. Any tax strategy can be reviewed within seconds. $150.Software Dimensions, Citrus Heights, CAAccounting Plus . This may well be the most comprehensive yeteasy-to-use accounting system available. Designed to provide smallto medium sized businesses with the information necessary to makesound decisions. Includes general ledger, accounts payable, accountsreceivable; inventory, sales order, purchase order, payroll,arid point ~f sale (for retailers). Requires a Xedex Baby Blue printedcircuit board and a hard disk. Price varies.Software Laboratories, Dublin, OHFile Clerk. Database manager, limited only by the amount ofstorage capacity on your disks. Up to 625 fields per record, with upto twenty-four characters each. The overall limitation for any recordis 1,250 characters. Fifteen-digit numeric accuracy. User-definedformat for data files and indexing. Search, select, and sort lists.Flexible, user-defined print-out generator. Includes manual andsample data. Requires eighty columns, parallel printer (eighty or132 coiumns). $50.General Ledger. A complete bookkeeping system. Timely, accurate,and detailed information about income, expenses, and balancesheet. Maintains a complete record of all entries in a chart of acso~alk

counts for up to 400 accounts. Provides monthly, year-to-date, andprevious-year income statements for entire company or departmentswithin a company. Prepares and prints out complete balancesheet, both current and previous year. Interfaces with Payroll, AccountsReceivable, and Accounts Payable programs. Eighty columns.$100.Software Options, New York, NYCOTS (Commodity Option Trading System). An option valuationsystem for commodity professionals. All the information you needto trade options on physicals ~nd futures, presented in clear colorgraphs and tables. $1,095.DataWriter. A unique approach to database management thathas drawn raves from users and reviewers. Use it for order tracking,client billing, expense record keeping, open1tional reporting withtotals and subtotals, form letter production to a large list or subset,mailing list maintenance, and other business and personalapplications. $225.Software Training Company,$anta Monica, CAD.B. Power for dBase II. Interactive training disk teaches youhow to use dBase II. The computer teaches how to create a database,enter data, sort data, add, modify, change, and edit important datato generate comprehensive reports. Even develop mailing lists in lessthan one hour. Troubleshooting guide on how to fix simple problems.$75.Plan Power for VisiCalc. Interactive training disk teaches you howto use VisiCalc. You'll quickly learn to create, modify, manipulate,save, retrieve, label, and print all the financial planning data youneed. You'll be amazed at how simply you are able to arrange anqcalculate complex mathematical data.' $75.SoftWhere!, Thousand Oaks, CASuite 16 Manager. Allows menu-driyen operation of DOS, andthe user can also easily create custom menus. It's the ideal officeautomation program since users don' t need to memorize programnames. Just pick what you want to do from a plain English menu.$75. . .Sorcim, Santa Clara, CASuperCalc. This popular electronic spreadsheet makes financialanalysis, planning, budgeting, and " what if" calculations a snap.SuperCalc can take advantage of up to 512K of memory and will runin color. $295.S.S.R., Rochester, NYInfotory. A simple but comprehensive inventory managementsystem that handles five thousand inventory items. Its unique datamanagement feature offers flexibility in creating custom reports.Sales and cost analysis are provided by categories (product groups,departments, and so forth) designated by the user. Also available forhard disk drives. Requires two dualcdensity disk drives. $425.St~r Computer Systems, Torrance, CAStar System 5 Legal Timekeeping and Billing System. An automatedlegal time-keeping and billing system for professional practicesseeki~g improved flexibility, accuracy, turnaround time, anddata accessibility. Requires 56K. $95.Statistical Computing Consultants, Burke, ' VASurvtab. For survey statisticians and market researchers, aneasy-to-use system for entering, editing, and tabulating data fromquestionnaires. Produces frequency tabulations, cross-tabs, andbanner tables. ln~ludes forty-three-page manual with examples. T~odrives recommended. $180.for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982Synergistic, Renton, WAIBM Data Reporter, by John Conley and David Dickens. Themost efficient, powerful database on the market for the IBM pc. Themodified program generator creat~s a database that includes fastdata entry and update, calculati~ n abilities, machine language sortsand searches, a label-making utility, and much more. $250 . .The Report Writer, by Michael Branham. General-purpose sophisticatedtext editor created to enhance the printing capabilities ofthe Data Reporter. Design, edit, and print form letters, legal documents,sales reports and so forth with data from your database embeddedanywhere in the text. $100. .Systemics, West Bloomfield, MIEZLabel+. Mailing labels and phone lists in a very easycto-useprogram. Stores one thousand addresses per disk, sorts by zip code,last name, company name, and by user-defined codes. Use withEZMemo+ to print personalized letters. Quick data entry, edit, anddelete. Perfect for beginners. Requires two drives and monochromedisplay. $49.95. .EZCheck. Simple, easy-to-use checkbook and cash management.Enter checks, deposits, autoteller transactions. Define up toone ·hundred categories and reconcile statements. Print reports bycategory by month, or year-to-date. Identify taxable it~ms and printchecks with standard forms. Requires two drives, monochrome display,and IBM 80 CPS matrix printer. $49.95.TCS Sqftware, Houston, TXTCS Total Accounting System. A fully integrated database managementfinancial accounting system. Includes ledger, receivables,payable, payroll, and inventory. Each module comes with severalutility programs. Requires two disk drives. Price varies.TCS Client Ledger System. A sophisticated general ledger de-TecMa, Santa Clara, CAPhone Chronicle PC-IV. A hardware/ software product that logstelephone activity, both incoming and outgoing. It logs call duration,number called, date and time, caller identification. and numberof calls un_answered. Requires RS-232 port. $995.TexaSoft, Dallas, TXThe Thinker Electronic Spreadsheet. An easy-to-learn spreadsheetprogram that allows you to answer those important what-ifquestions quickly. $49.Ticom, Marina del Rey, CAFinal Copy. An integrated office information management softwarepackage. It combines word processing, forms and record processing,data management, and remote communications. Comes witha run-time version of the UCSD p-System. Requires two drives.$885.TMQ Software, Buffalo Grove, ILFile-Fax. A database management system that offers quick accessto files and records, retrieving information at exceptionallyhigh speeds. It has a unique, powerful report g~nerator. Designedespecially for those new to computing-it's easy to learn and simpleto use. It will satisfy the advanced operator as well. $175.63

signed specifically for public accountants and those who provide accountingservices to small businesses. Special features include theaccelerated cost recovery (ACRS) depreciation schedule, passivepayroll, ledger consolidation, and more than fifty clients. Requirestwo disk drives. Price varies.VisiCorp, San Jose, CAVisiFile. Organize, maintain, and more effectively use your businessinformation. File name and address lists, prospect and customerfiles, personnel records, parts lists, merchandise inventories-almostanything. $300.VisiScnedule. This powerful project planner makes it easy tocontrol projects. It instantly shows skill levels, costs, and the criticalpath among your project's tasks. It allocates costs, specifies earliestand latest start dates, slack times, holidays, prerequisites, anddeadlines for each task. $300.VisiCalc. This powerful electronic worksheet helps solve numberproblems. Explore alternatives by asking " What If?" Just changeany number in your problem and the new results are instantly .i;alculated.$250.VisiCalc Business Forecasting Model Seven interrelated templatesprovide you with the financial information most vital to yourbusiness. $100.World Wide Software Publishers,Berkeley, CAInventory Control. Allows the user to track up to 32,000 inventoryitems. The system tracks yiear-to-date sales and provides automaticordering. Three versions are available with a conversion programfor floppy to hard disk upgrades. Demonstration disk, $10;floppy disk system, $300; hard disk system, $400.Bit Software, Milpitas, CAThe Forms Designer. A flexible tool designed to save programmersand system analysts valuable time when producing applicationsoftware that requires formatted screen display and data entryvalidation. Requires 128K and two drives. $275. .Blaise Computing, San Francisco, CAPascal Application Development Tools (Tools). Provides the ex-64I ~tensions to IBM Pascal that allow the rapid development of userorientedsoftware systems. Tools is implemented as five integratedPascal units : basic intrinsics, string functions, screen handling,graphics, and application routines. Comes with comprehensive documentation,examples, and all source code. Same requirements asIBM Pascal compiler. $125.The Carter L. Cole Company, Woodland Hills, CACustom/ Database. Maintains an integrated database and generatesRM/ Cobol source code for I/O requirements for environmentand data divisions. Friendly screens make generation of error-freeCobol easy. $495.Custom Report. Generates complete error-free RM/ Cobol sourcecode for report programs using an integrated database dictionary.Can be used to write reports and report changes not found in packagedRM/ Cobol applications, using the actual data files withoutchange or copying actual data file s. $495.Computer Control Systems, Largo, FLFABS/ PC. A subroutine that provides rapid access to very largedata files. Key sequential, multipath, and balanced tree structure.Six key files can be open simultaneously; key file independent ofdata file .Autosort/ 86M . A high-speed sort/ merge/ select module called assubroutine from IBM Basic, Basic Compiler, or Pascal. Very fast forlarge file s. Sorts/ selects on string, integer, and single precision/double precision fields. Sorts on ten keys, independently,ascending, or descending. $150.CompuView Products, Ann Arbor, MIVEdit. A full-screen editor. $195. ·Conversions To Go, Carlsbad, CADisk Format Conversion for the IBM Personal Computer.Converts to or from many formats including PC-DOS, CP/ M-86,Compuview CP/ M-86 (eight inch), Apple, Superbrain, Kaypro II,Osborne I, NEC Televideo, DEC, Xerox 820, Heath Zenith 89. $20per disk.Data Consulting Group, Foster City, CAEZ ScreenAid. This is a screen generator that allows a programmerto be more productive. Simply key in the fields and titles whereyou want them and coding is generated and saved on disk automatically.Hard copy shows the screen design and input specifications.$45.EZ Utilities. Display, edit, or list your file without programming.These menu-driven utilities are very easy to use and can saveyou a lot of time and effort. A dozen other useful functions are includedin the price. $75 .Digital Marketing, Walnut Creek, CAActive Trace, by The Data Works. For the MBasic programmer,this program provides run-time information about the program as itruns. When a variable is encountered in the program flow, its name,line number, and current value are displayed to terminal or printer.Provides complete cross-reference facilities. $125.Digital Research, Pacific Grove, CAConcurrent CP/ M-86 . Single-user, multitasking operating system.Increases user productivity and hardware efficiency by utilizingthe time that single-user operating systems lose to I/0-boundprocesses. Requires 256 Kilobytes of RAM memory. Single densitydisk and documentation, $350; documentation only, $50.CP/ M-86. A general-purpose operating system designed forsixteen-bit microcomputers. Features include dynamic file managesoftolkfor the IBM Personal Computer December 1982

WRITE-DN!!i8!E.erE=~=- ~!:..+Tatel IBM i::ci!'TlpetibllltyT- l:as)'1 ~i!l Gy, lil&ir ~Q LUI-t- PQwar-f'ul .f:'.'Get1.1r-ras+ Ine~q:J~nlllva+Claar c:loi:um1ntatlt:>n+ Meil"'Merg• AbHlty. try

ment, fast assembler, general purpose editor, and advanceddebugger. Compatible with CP/ M and tailored to take advantage ofincreased address space. Single density disks and documentation,$250; documentation only, $40.Distributed Software Systems, Northbrook, ILXF-Dump File Utility. Machine language full-screen utility allowsfor the display, alter (edit), print, and search of any file or absolutesector. Hex and character formats supported for all functions.All file types can be accessed (system, hidden, and so forth),and altered. Delete, rename, and list directory functions included forease of use. $70.FSEditor Full Screen Text Editor. Full screen text editor for thecreation and editing of any sequential file. All editing is done on thescreen and changes are immediately saved to a work file. Editor supportsblock and line move, copy, or delete; text insertion, repeatline, append file, and print. Full or partial (up, down, left, right)screen scrolling. Delete, rename, and list directory functions included.$125.Ensign Software, Boise, IDCharacter Generator. Define the shapes of the graphic charactercells for the ASCII codes from 128 through 255. The work tabletconsists of three rows of eight enlarged cells per row. This multicellgrouping makes it easy to design larger shapes. Features cell rotation,left-right flip, reverse video, scrolling, cursor movement, diskstorage of character set definitions, more. 64K for Basic, 96K forcompiled version, color/ graphics adapter, eighty column monitor.$24.95.ISAM Database. ISAM (Indexed Sequential Access Method)provides keyed access to data files for reading, writing, updating,and deleting records within the file. Get and put records to disk filesby key in under two seconds. Browse forward and backward in keysequence. Update any part of the record, including the key. Automaticrecovery of disk space occupied by deleted records. $69.95.IBM, Boca Raton, FLBasic Compiler. Two drives recommended. $300.Fortran Compiler. Requires two drives and 128K. $350.Macro Assembler. Requires 96K. $100.Pascal Compiler. Requires two drives and 128K. $300.Cobol Compiler. Requires two drives. $700.DOS 1.1. $40.CP/M-86. $240.UCSD p-System. With Pascal or Fortran. $625.Info-Pros, Irvine, CAInfo-Sort. A fast, high-performance sort, designed to be used asa stand-alone utility or to be interfaced with existing applicationprograms. Typical time to read and sort 1,000 records and create anindex file is less than ten seconds. Requires eighty-column display.$145.Intellect Associates, Holbrook, NYOMS. A data management system designed for the novice computeruser. It allows the user to define a form on the screen and thento build, maintain, and access a database using this form. Easy touse and fast. Data files may be easily processed by programs writtenin Basic or Pascal. $150.66Window. A full-screen text editor that uses all of the screen andkeyboard capabilities of the pc. It is extremely fast and very easy tolearn and use. It features scrolling in four directions, text moving,marking, insertion, deletion, and more. It can edit any normalASCII file and can edit files larger than memory. $150.International Computers, Mexico Beach, FLMr. Spooler. Stop waiting for your printer to finish printing.Spooling to parallel and serial printers is possible. List, Lprint, andPrtSc work with your serial printer properly. Xon/ Xoff, ETX/ ACK,and hardware serial printer handshaking supported. $59.95.Mr. Buffer. State-of-the-art software for the user concernedwith disk access performance. Add life to your disk drive andfloppy disks. Eliminate the drawbacks of using DOS such as slowdata access, forced reading, and rereading of often-used portions ofthe disk. $199.95.International Software Alliance,Santa Barbara, CABtrieve Record Manager, by ProScript. A powerful record managementsystem for applications programmers. Builds files based onB-tree structure for fast random or sequential access to aata. Btrieveis a memory-resident lOK assembly language program with Basicand Pasc;al utilities. $295; manual and demo, $30.Joseki Computer, Redondo Beach, CAPick'n'Pack. Contains two utility programs for the IBM Basicprogrammer. Pick-a-Menu writes Basic code that will display amenu, collect and check menu command choices, and branch to theproper line numbers that execute menu choices. Parameters forwriting menus can be saved for later editing or additions. $29.95.Max Software Publishing, Santa Clara, CAPC-Menu. IBM DOS performs easier by using cursor controls torename, erase, run, or sort DOS files. $100.Micromatch, Tujunga, CAAssembly Utility Package. Included in the package are three keyboardhandlers, two display handlers, two printer handlers (onewith spooling), tone generator, DMA controller, timer controller,and interrupt controller. All source code is provided. Written in assemblylanguage. Complete manual included. Requires macro assembler.$95.Norell Data Systems, Los Angeles, CASystem-Spooler, by Dian Girard. A disk-based spooling systemthat implements a true foreground and background environment.Unlike other RAM-based printer spoolers that strictly buffer datawhile driving the printer concurrent with other operations, SystemSpooler implements the concept of a print queue, that the user mayinterrogate to perform numerous functions. Spooled files may beheld for special forms or for printing later. Requires 128K. $49.95.Autodoc Basic Utilities, by Paul Desjardins. Complements the useof application programs developed using the Basic interpreter. Across-reference utility is supplied that prints all the variables used ina program and the line number locations where each is found. ABasic program can be optimized by changing variable names toshorter forms and altering the location of variable definition. Severaloptimization and performance measurement functions are providedto improve processing speed. $49.95.Peter Norton, Venice, CAThe Norton Utilities, by Peter Norton. A complete set of over adozen power-tool utilities to enhance the PC-DOS operating system.The set includes a complete disk displayer, a file recoveryutility, an easy disk-modification utility, a program to controlsoftalk for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982

THE BEST PRICED256KCONLY HAS 64K.BUT YOU CAN GETANOTHER 192KANYTIME.Apparat's RAM card,priced at $149, is the mosteconomical way to addmemory to your IBM PC today.And have the ability to add-ontomorrow.The RAM card, withsockets for up to 256K bytesof RAM, and parity, gives youan additional 64K of RAM foryour IBM for a total of 128K.As the price of RAM chips.. ,comes downfurther or yourneeds go up,you can add to it easily.Additional RAM is availabletoday at $79 per 64Kincrements if you need it now.If not, wait and buy it in thefuture. Either way, your RAMa~Apparat,lnc.card is fully warranted for1 year. Add Apparat'sCOMBO card to the RAMcard and get threeadditional functions;parallel printer, RS232async communications andclock calendar. for only $199.Apparat's 64K RAM cardgives you memory andeconomy. Tu order yours,write Apparat, Inc., 4401S. Tumarac Parkway, Denver,Colorado 80237,303/741-1778. Or to speed upyour order, call us toll free at800/525-767 4IBM PC is a trademark of IBM

hidden files, and a program that tests for damaged and protecteddisks, plus ten more utilities. $80.Office Software Automation, Richardson,-TXPCM/ 1. A general-purpose macro generator, its uses range fromprogram development to the automatic compilation of certain kindsof documents. $200.Edcon. A .full-screen editor that can be used to prepare text. Itsprimary function, however, is as a program editor. Offers the fullflexibility of the keypad while offering instant feedback in the formof full-screen editing. $55.Omicron, Atlanta, GACrossref. A program that cross references variables in otherprograms.Crossfire. A video game.Drwboard. A program that lets you create your own pictures. Allthree, $27.Omric, Newington, CTScreen Machine. A series of machine language routines callablefrom Pascal, Fortran, Cobol, and assembly language. The routinesfacilitate cursor positioning, scrolling, and text manipulation.Requires 128K with Pascal and Fortran. $49.95.Personal Systems Technology,Laguna Hills, CAPC-Edit. A new full-screen editor for the IBM Personal Computerthat is designed to be a full-function editor without sacrificingease of use. Enhances programmer productivity through efficientand flexible control of source text files. $99.lnsta Drive. A software system that turns a portion of RAMmemory into an instant-access disk drive. Designed as a performanceenhancement for PC-DOS, it allows up to a maximum of320K to be defined as virtual disk drive. $49.95.ProActive Systems, Palo Alto, CAProEdit. A full-screen editor written in Basic that uses programfunction keys, cursor movement keys, and short mnemonics to executecommands. Can move, copy, delete lines or blocks of text; performsindividual, selective, or global changes. Horizontal and verticalscrolling. $50.ProSort. An insertion sort that reads file data, selects records accordingto user specifications, and sorts them into an output file.Accepts as many as eight input files . Can sort over a thousand recordsper minute. $75.Prodata, Boise, IDEasyscreen/pc. A block-mode screen design editor, keyed databaseaccess method, and a program generator. Allows quickly drawingscreen design right on video; automatically generates a Basicprogram to input data from screen and access a keyed database file.Includes a data-list utility. $169.95.KSAM/ PC. A keyed database-access method. Allows accessingrecords on a disk file with a meaningful key field that is part of therecord. Can be included in Basic programs. Commands includecreate, open, close, read by key, read next, write, rewrite, and delete.Also works on hard disk. $69.95.Professional Software Associates,Minneapolis, MNPac. Removes all comments and extraneous spaces from pc basicsource code. Can be merged or compiled. Line concatenation withuser-defined length. Increase program speed and also providesource protection. Average program reduction is forty percent. Nofile size limitations. $45 .95 .68Cref. Generates a cross reference listing of program variablesand line usage. Separate menu selection will output transfer statementsalong with the objects of transfer. Summarizes dimension/erasure of arrays, random file I/0, machine language calls,function usage, and listing of all Basic keywords with line usage.$34.Quest Research, Huntsville, ALEdlin Recover. Have you ever lost all of the Edlin modificationsyou made because the disk was full? This program will retrieve yourfile from memory. $35.Diskpak. Now you can recover erased files . A menu-driven utilitythat permits the user to display or get a hexadecimal dump of anyabsolute disk sector. Also provides the capability to rebuild a diskdirectory that was accidentally destroyed. $35.SimSoft, Marysville, MISoftware Development Modules. Forty commonly used ASCIIroutines used in Basic program development. $24.95.PC Utilities. Creates and displays hidden or erased files. $29.95.Screen Formatter. A software development tool that displaysmessages and edits input data from screen. $24.95.Starside Engineering, Rochester, NYCompress, by Mark S. Zachmann. File compression utility reducesthe size of typical ASCII text files by 40 percent-pack moreinformation on your archiving disks. Binary data files may or maynot be significantly compressible depending on the nature of thedata. Has on-line help. $19.95.Synergistic Software, Renton, WA/ Basic Programming Tools, by William Plice. An editing utility toease programming in Basic on the IBM pc. Includes a full screeneditor, automatic conversion of symbolic line labels to line numbers,listing with cross references, removal of remarks and blanks,and more. Basic source code and full documentation included. $120.Tall Tree Systems, Los Altos, CA]EL and ]Format. Features print spooling, ten sector formats (25percent more bytes per disk), and electronic disk (DOS size variablewithout changing switches). PC-DOS I.I support for harddisks, 8" floppies, and quad drives (TMI00-4). Reads, writes, andformats single and dual disks on quad drives, thus allowing a quadonlysystem. $50.Versa Computing, Newbury Park, CAFont Editor System. Allows the user to generate and edit characterfonts for use with Color/ Graphics Adapter. Font tables can beloaded and saved to disk, and individual characters can be erased,drawn, substituted, inverted, reversed, shifted, flipped upsidedown, and restored. Instructions on font usage are included. $24.95.Versa Prototyping Board. Implement custom circuitry on the IBMpc. Three thousand plated through holes on 10 mil centers, some intriple pads and some in buss rails, are suitable for either wire wrapor solder construction. Completely compatible with the ScotchflexBread Board System. $59.95.World Wide Software Publishers,Berkeley, CAForth for the IBM Personal Computer. Includes a full-screeneditor, assembler, memory dump, and disassembler,. This version isbased on the fig-Forth model with all useful 79-Standard wordsadded. $75; documentation only, $25 .Forth Source for the IBM Personal Computer. Allows you to createyour own version of Forth. Can be used to create custom applications.$300.softolk

intelligent buffered 1/0 processor. OSI, $600; DS2, including serialport. $760.Columbia microSystems, Columbia, MOCMS 1600. Dual half-height 8" floppy disk drives in a cabinetdesigned to be placed on top of the pc. Full storage capacity is 2.4megabytes formatted, includes low-loss power supply, fan anduser-serviceable fan filter, power-line filtering, signal cable and a removableAC power cord. Requires disk drive controller andCP/ M-86. $1 ,750.Amtek Systems, Richardson, TXSycamorePower Siftor. Guards against damaging power line pollution.Protects your IBM Personal Computer and peripherals from lightning,voltage spikes (common and normal mode), and provides ridethroughassistance on power flickers. Solid-state, attractive, lightweight,no noise or heat. From $300.Applied Creative Technology, Arlington, TXMediamix ET! Electronic Typewriter Interface. Converts an IBMmodel 50, 60, or 75 electronic typewriter into an RO printer.Features include a 2K buffer, over thirty-nine automation commands,and the option of doing typesetting on the IBM ET50. Alsoavailable for Olympia and Adler/ Royal electronic typewriters. Requireseither a Centronics parallel or RS-232C asynchronous serialprinter port. $495, plus options.Printer Optimizer. Hardware printer or modem spooler with 64Kto 256K memory buffer. Keyboard/ display on unit allows userentry of character translation changes where any ASCII value orstring can be converted into one or more ASCII values. Also pushbuttonautomation of up to ninety-nine printer functions. Parallelunit, $495; serial communications board, $125; 64K Optimemmodules, $125.AST Research, Irvine, CAMegaPlus. This pc-compatible card offers a maximum of eightfunctions using one slot. The functions include 64K to 256K ofmemory, the Megapak option that expands storage to 512K, optionalparallel printer port, serial port, optional serial port,clock/ calendar, and SuperDrive and SuperSpool software. From$595.ComboPlus. This card offers a maximum of six functions: 64Kto 256K expandable memory, clock/ calendar, parallel printer port,serial port, and SuperDrive and SuperSpool software. From $495.I/ 0 Plus. This card offers a total of six functions: clock/ calendar,serial port, optional serial port, optional parallel printer port,and SuperDrive and SuperSpool software. From $175.Expansion Memory. Use this card to increase the system storageby 64K to 256K. When used with the SuperDrive and SuperSpoolsoftware packages, it can enhance your computer performance tremendously.From $395.Byad, Barrington, ILDS Series Expansion Circuit Boards. True CP/ M for your pc. IncludesZ80B processor and CP / M-80 operating system. When runningCP/ M-80, the IBM processor and memory become anfor the IBM Personal Computer December 1982Computer Technology Innovations,Sunnyvale, CAInternal Hard Disks. Six to eighteen megabytes. $1,595 .External Hard Disks. Six to forty megabytes. $1,895.5 ~ Inch Internal Drives. 640 to l ,600K on two drives. From$575 .5 ~ Inch External Drives. 640 to l ,600K on two drives. From$995.Eight Inch Thinline External Drives. Twenty-four megabytes ontwo drives. $1,595.Disk Controller Board. Usable for both 5 114 inch and 8 inch systems.$175.RAM Boards. 65K to 512K. From $189.Serial Boards. With one port, $95; with two, $125.Multi-Function Boards. Serial and parallel ports, game adapter,clock calendar. $225. With 64K, $495, with 256K, $750.Corona Data Systems, Westlake Village, CACorona Personal Hard Disk. Five-and ten-million-character harddisks that fit right inside the pc without an attachment on theoutside. Compatible with most business and management software.$1 ,995 , five megabyte; $2,495, ten megabyte.Cuesta Systems, San Luis Obispo, CADatasaver. An A.C. power back unit that provides continuous,clean power to microcomputers using its built-in battery andcharger. In addition, Datasaver can make systems completely portableby plugging in an auxiliary twelve-volt battery. Precision crystalfrequency standard and overvoltage suppressor are designed in.Available in domestic and foreign power configurations. 200-wattmodel 20012060, $695.Voltage Surge and Transient Suppressor. Electronically removessudden overvoltage changes that affect performance of sensitiveelectronic equipment. It is plugged into an A.C. line power receptacleon same 15-20 amp breaker circuit. Solid-state semi-conductorsclip all overvoltage surges beyond 132-VAC and passive filternetwork snubs high frequency transients. An internal fuse providessafety protection for transzorb. $29.95.Datasouth, Charlotte, NCDS180. A high-speed dot matrix printer that features nine byseven characters with true descenders. Here is a commercial-gradeprinter designed for serious users of the pc. The printer featuresboth serial and parallel interfaces, prints bidirectionally at180 characters per second, and has selectable baud rates of 110through 9,600. A front panel keypad allows users to program up tofifty features, that are stored within a nonvolatile memory that isnot lost when the printer is turned off. $1,595.Davong Systems, Mountain View, CAWinchester Disks. 5.2 or 12 megabyte, internal. $1,995 or $2,695.RAM Cards. 64 to 256K. From $299.Serial Card. Dual asynchronous card with cables and software.$199.Combination Card. Dual asynchronous card with 64K, expan-69

dable to 256K. $499.Giltronix, Palo Alto, CASelecto Switches. A line of switches allowing one port to drive upto six devices. Configures for parallel or serial port. From $159.Automatic Switching Units. Switches designed to connect a computerto as many as seven devices , with automatic switching betweenthem. From $449.Hayes Microcomputer Products, Norcross, GAChronograph . RS-232C compatible calendar/ clock ideal foraccu rate time-keeping applications. Features day, date, and time reportingvia RS-232C communication as well as a local six-digitvacuum fluorescent display. Includes battery backup system,twelve or twenty-four hour operation at 300 or 1,200 baud withautomatic baud rate detection and parity sense detect. Requires IBMAsynchronous Communications Adapter and a correctly wiredRS-232C cable. $249.Smartmodem 300. c;:onnects directly to the phone line and yourpc's RS-232C port to communicate with remote computers from 0to 300 baud. Executes and responds to your commands and specialparameters settings. Features include audio monitor indicatorlights for a visual status check, Touch Tone or p~lse dialing, fullor half duplex, autoanswer/ dial, programmable in any language,two-year limited warranty. Requires IBM Asynchronous CommunicationsAdapter and a correctly wired RS-232C cable. $289.Srn+?rtmodem 1200. High-speed version of the popular Smartmodem300 with identical operating features. Operates at 1,200 bpsor at O to 300 baud. Compatible with Bell 212A-type modems. EXtensiv~ ly tested, compact design, competitively priced. Bothmodems are FCC approved for direct connection to any U.S. telephonesystem. Requires IBM Asynchronous CommunicationsAdapter and a correctly wired RS-232C cable. $699.Hercules Computer Technology,Hercules, CAHercules Graphics Card. Bit-mapped graphics at 720 by 348 resolutior on the monochrome display. Software-compatible with theIBM monochrome board and has the printer function and the samestyle character set. A full set of graphics subroutines is also available.$599.Hewlett-Packard, San Diego, CAThe Hewlett-Packard 7470A Graphics Plotter. The perfect gift forthe home hobbyist or the business professional. The plotter candraw multicolor graphs or text charts-even do your own greetingcards. It plots on paper or overhead transparencies. Requires asynchronouscommunications adapter. $1 ,550.Kraft Systems, Vista, CAPrecision Joystick. High-performance prec1s10n joystick designedfor plug-in compatibility with the pc. Features unique,friendly spring-centering or free-floating stick modes, selectable atthe flip of a switch. Trim controls X and Y axes to fine-tune stick response.Long-life, custom potentiometers ensure linear cursor control.Full one-year limited warranty. $69.95.Paddle Pair. These high-quality, precision controls feature longlifecustom potentiometers, fatigue tested to over two million cycleswithout failure. Unique 180-degree knob rotation provides extremelyquick and accurate cursor control for higher game scoresand better graphics performance. Full one-year limited warranty.$49.95 .Microcomputer Business International,Irvine, CAMegaram. IBM pc-compatible memory board, expandable from7 064K to 1 megabyte on a single board plus two DOS-compatible RS-232C serial ports. Features such as parity, programmable banking,and write protect on a high quality fully socketed board. From $395.Micromatch, Tujunga, CAMM77-1 Prototyping Board. Up to 96 sixteen-pin integratedcircuits can be accommodated on this full-size board. Circuits on .3,.4 , .6, or any separation up to three inches will fit. Mounting hardwareand complete documentation is included. Circuitry is providedfor an optional thirty-seven-pin subminiature D connector. $50.MM39-1 Extender Board. This board extends any expansion busconnector up and above the pc system unit. Both sides of the extendedboard are then easily accessible for testing. Boards are securedin place with supplied hardware. Complete user's manual included.$45.MM64 Series Memory Expansion. User-expandable 64K to 256Kmemory boards that plug directly into the pc. All boards includeparity and are supplied with a complete manual and memory testdisk. Mounting hardware included. Five-year warranty. $400 to$730.Microperipheral Corporation, Redmond, WA?Connection. A direct-connect, Bell 103/ 113-compatible modemcard that fits inside the pc cabinet. Autodial (Touch Tone or pulse),au toanswer in originate and answer modes. Contains modulator-demodulator,high-performance channel filters, originate-answerswitching, and carrier detection circuitry. Contains an additionalRS-232 port. $350.N omon Microcomputer, Wales, MAMRS Switch. Don' t be out to lunch when the power goes out!Manual Reset Switch has a warning light and requires power to bemanually reset after power failure or disconnect. Protects autostartdrives and is critical for hard disk systems that require sequentialpower-up procedures. Ten amps. $39.75.PC Squared, Sunnyvale, CAWinchester Disks. Six to eighteen megabyte internal. From$1 ,895 .Controller. Runs hard disks in PC-DOS. $950.RA M Boards. 64 to 256K. $289. One or two serial ports, $30 extrafor each.Percom Data, Dallas, TXForty Track Add-In. Five and one-fourth inch floppy disk driveinternal model, comes in single head or dual head configurations.Includes power supply, installation brackets, and necessary documentation.Single head unit, $375; dual head, $525.Forty Track Add-On. Five and one-fourth inch floppy diskdrive, external model, comes in single or dual head configurations.Includes power supply, a case for external compatibility, and necessarydocumentation. Single head unit, $475; c!ual head, $625.PHD. Five and one-quarter inch Winchester hard disk drive,comes in five, ten, fifteen, and thirty megabyte models. First drivehas smart microprocessor controller for up to three additionalPHO add-ons. Simple installation, all necessary hardware provided.First drive, five megabyte, $2,450; second drive, additional addons.$1 ,950.Periphex, Southbury, CTThe I-Queu e. The intelligent printer buffer that saves you timeand money by freeing your pc from the printing task. This smallcircuit board containing a clock/ calendar provides sophisticatedword processor functions while replacing the IBM printer adapter.$495; 64K expansion option, $175; interface cable for IBM pcprinter (Centronics type), $50.softolk fo r the IBM Personal Computer December 1982

Introducing the New PersonalComputer Plotter fromHewlett-Packard.Now you can use your personalcomputer to generate your own presentationcharts, graphs, and pie charts.How? Simply add on the new highquality, low cost HP 7470APersonal ComputerPlotter."-.. '-......_The 7470A helps you _ ..,,save time and save money, and '- ~.,.lets you communicate quickly, accu- ._: ·~.rately and effectively. ,.,Plotyour next meeting•. yourself . .Read how 2 pens can becomeyour best presentation tools.Quicker understanding.Data, when visualized graphically, becomes informationfast. Charts and bar graphs can make any presentationclearer and more readily understood. But asking your staffto produce the graphics man- l\llj!llllllilB:====:"' ...ually for your next presentationdoesn't ensure accuracyor artistic talent. And goingto outside graphics supplierscan be costly. Combined withyour personal computer, thenew HP 7470A plotter doesthe communicating for you.Quickly. Logically. And withoff-the-shelf software availablefrom most HP dealers.Fast and pretty.The 7470A gives you high plotting speed with excellentline quality ... faster than any competitive small plotter.On top of all that, it comes in an attractive designpackage that looks nice on your desk. And it does itfor only $1,550. (US.A. domestic suggested retail price.)·--l977 - J 9S JCount on it.The 74 70A is built the HewlettPackard way. To last. Designed andengineered with only a few parts, noneof which require adjustment. And withcustomized integrated circuitsthat ensure reliability.Pen pals.The HP 7470A has~--- two single-pen stables.· Simple pen changes give youmulti-color plots in your choice of tencoordinated colors. Pens are automaticallycapped and stored.An option you'll want, too.For only $95, you can also get a 17057 OverheadTransparency Kit that turns your plots into transparenciesfor overhead projectors. For "I heed it tomorrowat 9:00 A.M.!" meetings, it's a necessity.Start plotting your next presentation today.Clip and mail the coupon below. Now.Mail the coupon below and we'll send you - absolutelyfree - a sample plot, a more detailed brochure, and asample overhead transparency.Then . . . stop in at your nearest Hewlett-PackardDealer. See the HP 7470A in action. Once you see itdemonstrated you'll find a hundred ways to make yourown applause-winning presentations.When performance must be meas.ured by resultsr ·fjpl HEWLETT~~ PACKARDr--~-----------------~---~Seeing is believing. Send me a sample plot, an overhead transparency, and more detailed information.I Name Title I ICompanyAd dress ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~City, State & ZipPhone Number (I My computer isI________________________..... Send to: Hewlett-Packard, 16399 W. Bernardo Drive, San Diego, CA 92127 - Attn: Nancy Carter 11203 SI Y...1

Cdex Trainingfor VisiCalc®Makes VisiCalc Easy.In an hour, Cdex Training for VisiCalc canmake you a VisiCalc user. Or for the experiencedVisiCalc user Cdex Training forVisiCalc acts as an instantaneous electronicreference and review system.It's a computer-assisted training programthat works. It's highly interactive. So itcreates a dialogue with you and serves asyour personal tutor. It's completely selfpaced.So you set your own learning time.And it's graphically-oriented. So you seewhat you're learning. Remember, a pictureis worth 1000 words. Cdex Training forVisiCalc runs on the same Apple® II orIBM® Personal Computer as your VisiCalcprogram.So see how easy VisiCalc can be. See yournearest computer dealer for a demonstration.Cdex Trainingfor VisiCalC"We don't make VisiCalc.We just make it easy.Cdex Corporation5050 El Cam ino Real Suite 200Los Altos, CA 94022VisiCalc® is a registered trademark of VisiCorpYM

Ultra-modem. A complete 300 baud data communicationssystem. Provides all the facilities to originate and answer calls, autodialing (both pulse and tone), and completely unattended autoanswer. All on just one plug-in board housed in the pc. $495.Personal Systems Technology, Laguna Hills, CASpectrum Multifunction Board. The Spectrum Series multifunctionboard provides the pc user with up to 256K of field-expandablememory, two asynchronous communications lines, and aparallel printer port-all on a single, full-length circuit board. Availablein twenty-four different configurations, all field-upgradeableto a fully populated board. From $435.Plantronics/Frederick Electronics, Frederick, MDColorplus High Resolution Color Graphics Adapter. Enables thedisplaying of four-color high resolution and sixteen-color mediumresolution graphics without sacrificing software compatibility. Itsinnovative two-memory plane technology features the ability tooverwrite displayed graphics. Includes an integrated parallel printerport and interactive business graphics software. $995.Quadram Corporation, Norcross, GAQuadboard ll. An all-on-one board with two serial RS-232 asynchronousadapter ports, a clock/calendar, and memory expansionup to 256K. The serial ports can be used for modems, printers, andother serial devices. Memory expansion is socketed and expandablein 64K increments. Full parity generation and checking. Dipswitches allow selective addressing on any 64K block. Theclock/ calendar eliminates inputting the date manually, and an onboardbattery with a five-year guarantee keeps the clock runningwhen the computer is off. From $595 for 64K to $995 for 256K.Quadboard. The original all-on-one board with one Centronicsparallel printer port, up to 256K RAM, a real-time clock/calendar,and a serial RS-232 asynchronous communications port. The paralleland serial ports are functionally identical to IBM's. Dip switchesprovide for addressing the serial and parallel ports as main port orauxiliary port. The clock/calendar uses a crystal-controlled integratedcircuit with a rechargeable battery guaranteed for five years.Each of up to four rows of 64K chips has a switch for enabling ordisabling the specific row-a feature unique with Quadboard. QuadMaster software with clock routines, diagnostics, utilities, andQuadRAM Drive, super-fast solid-state disk drive in memory areincluded at no extra cost. From $595 for 64K to $995 for 256K.Quad 512 Plus. Expansion board that contains a serial RS-232asychronous port and up to 512K RAM in increments of 64K,256K, or 512K. The asynchronous communications adapter uses thesame chip as the IBM asynchronous board, and is used for connectingmodems, printers, and other serial devices. The board fully supportsIBM communications software. QuadMaster software withQuadRAM Drive is included at no extra cost. $475 for 64K, $895for 256K, and $1 ,295 for 512K.Quadcolor. Color video cards that are functionally equivalent tothe IBM pc cards but with many additional features . Allows colorbit-mapped graphics with sixteen colors on the screen at one time,with each color dot addressable. An additional upgrade allows forimproved resolution of 640 dots per line and 200 dots vertically. Afinal upgrade of the card allows for bit-mapped resolution of 640 by400. Under $300; fully upgraded, $800.Street Electronics Corporation, Carpinteria, CAEcho Speech Synthesizer. A text-to-speech voice output peripheralwith an unlimited vocabulary. All you do is type what you wantto say and your pc does the rest. $300.System 300, Sacramento, CASave-a-Slot. A piggy-back board that mounts in the same area assoftolk for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982the original 64K and allows up to 256K of dynamic memory to beplaced on the system board. Eliminates the need to use an expansionslot to upgrade your system memory. Board only, $49.95; withsockets and caps, $149.95; complete kit, from $265.95; installed andtested, from $299.95 .Tallgrass Technologies, Overland Park, KSHardFile. A six to twenty megabyte Winchester disk system.From $2 ,995.Tape Backup. For use with hard disks. $1,695.Interface. Makes HardFile compatible with PC-DOS. $149.Tall Tree Systems, Los Altos, CA]RAM. A 512K RAM board. All 64K dynamic RAM locationsare socketed, all memory is parity checked, and memory relocates onany 64K segment boundry. Software-controlled hardware pagerovercomes pc memory limitations and as such is the only add-on forusers desiring more than 576K of memory. $1,000.Terminus Design, Ellenwood, GAPC Arcade Interface. Animated color video graphics performedby the powerful TMS9928A. Eight channels of analog-to-digitalconversion parallel 1/0; and IBM joystick-compatible. Nine channelsof sound generation with digital filtering and on-board stereoamplifier. Optional Votrax SC-OlA speech synthesis with enhancedintonation control. All on one board. Without speech: $385.TG Products, Plano, TXJoystick. High-quality joystick made by the oldest and largestmanufacturer of game and graphics input accessories. Made fromcustom-designed components to be completely linear over the entireinput range. Has two large buttons, molded cable, and exclusivetrim to perfectly match the unit to your pc. Requires gameadapter. $64.95.Trak-Ball. An exciting new game and graphics input device consistingof a ball which is rolled with the palm of the hand to quicklyand accurately position objects on the screen. Designed for years ofreliable play and produced from quality components. Requiresgame adapter. $64.95.Vector Electronic Company, Sylmar, CAVector-RAM. A memory expansion board with up to 256K ofdynamic RAM. Combined with one serial 1/0, one parallel 1/0, anda time/ date clock with battery backup. Thoroughly tested withcomplete documentation. $995.Prototyping Boards. Three prototyping boards complete withmounting brackets, hardware, and component layout sheets.P/ N 4613 has solder pads, $39; 4613-2 is for wire-wrapping,$36.95; 4613-1 is a bare board, $26.95. An extender board, P/ N3690-22, for testing and measurement, $22.35.Votrax, Troy, MIVotrax Personal Speech System. Equipped with both serial andparallel interface, this system allows virtually any computer to talk.It employs a highly articulate text-to-speech translator, achieving atranslation accuracy rate of at least 95 percent for conversationalvocabulary. Additionally, the Votrax PS System, which has aspeaker built in, is capable of providing simultaneously eitherspeech and sound effects, or speech and music. Cable required.$395.Votrax Type-'n-Talk. Automatically translates your text intoelectronic speech and allows your computer to speak with anunlimited vocabulary. Standard with an RS-232C interface, itutilizes an internal microprocessor and 750-character buffer. Additionally,it doesn' t use your computer's memory to make your textspeak. Cable and speaker required. $249.73

Disk Drive Cover. Designed to protect both disk drives fromharmful elements. It is constructed of black plastic with a vinylfoamseal to ensure full protection for the disk drive areas. Has afront handle which makes it easy to insert and remove. The designhighly complements styling of the pc. $8, prepaid. Group and dealerdiscounts available.JC Computer Specialists, Federal Way, WAMemory Joggers. An 8 V2 by 14 inch board that contains commands,functions, and statements in three colors. Comes in twostyles, one for Basic and the other for DOS, Edlin, Debug, and Link.A useful tool for the experienced programmer and a must for thenew programmer. $10.OM Tucker, San Francisco, CAKey Kue Function Key Finder. A cue card designed to fit over andalongside the function keypad on which users can identify the functionsof each key for a particular application package. Eliminates requirementsfor repeated displaying of help screens. Attractively designedand professionally manufactured to complement the pc keyboard.$3.95.Compucart, Tam pa, FLPecanCompucart. An ergonomically designed mobile computer workstation. The keyboard shelf pulls out at the correct height for comfortableinteractive entry and is vertically adjustable to accommodatemost personal computers and terminals. Offers security byreturning the computer to the closed position when not in use orrunning unattended, the roll-down tambor door is closed and thewhole work station, hardware and software, is secured with onelock. $595.•Computer Case Company, Columbus, OHPersonal Computer Case. $129.Monitor Case. $99.Printer Case. $89.Accessory Case. $95.Curtis Manufacturing, Winchester, NHP.C. Pedestal. A tilt and swivel base for the pc monochrome display.Three hundred degrees swivel, twenty-five degrees up tilt,fifteen degrees down tilt, same texture and color as display. Allowsoperator total freedom in placement of display's angle to eliminateglare, eye strain, or fatigue. Increases production at the same time itdecreases errors. $79.95, plus $3 for shipping and handling.Extension Cables Monochrome . Display. Two three-foot cables:one A.C. cable and one I/0 cable totally shielded with shielded industrialquality connectors. Allows freedom in placement of systemsunit in relation to display. $49.95, plus $3 for shipping andhandling.Extension Cable Keyboard Coiled. Black coil cord with workingrange of three to ninety feet, totally shielded with high qualityshielded connectors to prevent any leakage or television interference.$39.95, plus $3 for shipping and handling.Extension Cable Keyboard Straight. Same as above except no coil,just a straight length of eight feet. $34.95, plus $3 for shipping andhandling.Nat Hellman Ill, South Gate, CAKeyboard Dustcover. Made from rigid, smoked-bronze plastic,this cover is designed to protect the computer keyboard from dustand dirt. Originally designed for the pc, the dustcover is compatiblewith at least ten other systems. $12 prepaid. Group and dealerdiscounts available.Architecture Technology Corporation,Minneapolis, MNPignvt Hi~koryPC Perspective, J. Scott Haugdahl, contributing editor. Monthlynewsletter for the professional whose work includes the use of theIBM Personal Computer. Topics covered include new products, newsoftware, hardware technology, user experiences, general news, localcomputer networks, office automation uses, and factory automationand process control uses of the pc. No advertising will be accepted.$195 per year, USA; $245 per year, foreign.Blue Water Systems, Oceanside, CAGuide To Converting Applesoft Programs To IBM Basic, by PaulLever. A step-by-step guide to transporting programs written on theApple to the IBM. It includes discussions of the difficulties in. volved, cookbook changes, random access and sequential files,, graphics and downloading. This booklet will save you hours of conversioneffort. $15.I. B. Magazette, Shreveport, LAl. B. Magazette. Monthly program and information exchange ondisk that features public domain software, hints, tutorials, and so74softolk

forth. Subscribers copy wanted programs and files , then return thedisk with their input of comments, programs, or other informationto be shared. Initial issue $15; subsequent issues, $10 with return ofdisk.L. J. Kutten, Clayton, MOConsumer Protection for the Microcomputer Owner. This bookletcan save you money and grief. Points covered include what warrantiesreally are, how legally to reject and revoke your purchases,pitfalls of paying by cash, check, and so forth, and how to order bymail. $15.Sapana Micro Software, Pittsburg, KSSoftware/ Hardware Directory and Reference Guide for the IBMPersonal Computer. A semiannual directory with updates publishedmonthly. Includes columns on software, hardware, consulting services,supplies, retailers, and help wanted. Updates include free listingsof user groups and article indexes. Free sample issue to pcusers. $10 for one directory and six updates.Sybex, Berkeley, CABasic Exercises for the IBM Personal Computer, by J.P. Lamoitier.Covers a broad range of tasks from tax computations to statisticalcalculations to sales forecasting. Step-by-step exercises lead thereader from a conceptualized problem to an actual Basic solution tobe run on the pc. Covers applications in math, physics, games, business,• accounting, and statistics. $13.95.Wildfire Publishing, Carpinteria, CAYour Fortune in the Microcomputer Business, by Victor Wild.Volume One, Getting Started, shows how to survey the market,how to select the right product or service, how to get startup capital,and what steps to take establishing a business.Volume Two, Growth, Survival and Success, deals with the problemsand decisions a person faces when their microcomputer businessreally takes off.Lets the reader in on the secrets of microcomputer businessstartup and success. A complete and practical reference. $15.95;both books, $24.95 .An Index of Stocking Stuf fersAardvark Software, 783 North Water Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202; 414-289-9988.ABW, Box M1047, Ann Arbor, MI 48106; 313-971-9364.Acorn Software Products, 1945 Gallows Road, Vienna, VA 22180; 703-556-9788.Aeon Concepts, Box 12595, Pittsburgh, PA 15241; 412-831-5352.Alkazar Associates, 2638 South Lynn Street, Arlington, VA 22202.Alpha Software, 6 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803;617-229-2924.Amtek Systems, 903 Business Parkway, Richardson, TX 75081; 214-238-5300.Applied Creative Technology, 2723 Avenue E East, Suite 717, Arlington, TX76011; 800-433-5373.Architecture Technology Corporation, Box 24344, Minneapolis, MN 55424;612-935-2035.Arlington Software Systems, 97 Bartlett Avenue, Arlington, MA 02174;617-641-0290.Armonk, 610 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660; 714-760-3955 .Artificial Intelligence Research Group, 921 North La Jolla Avenue, Los Angeles,CA 90046; 213-656-7368.Ashton-Tate, 9929 Jefferson Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90230; 213-204-5570. .AST Research, 2691 Richter Avenue, Irvine, CA 92714; 714-540~1333.Beaman Porter, Pleasant Ridge Road, Harrison, NY 10528; 914-967-3504.Bit Software, Box 619, 1048 Nicklaus Avenue, Milpitas, CA 95035; 408-262-1054.Blaise Computing, 1465 Seventeenth Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122;415-665-4711.Blue Water Systems, Box 1877, Oceanside, CA 92054.Broderbund, 1938 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA 94901; 415-456-6424.Business Master, 4317 Seabright Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008; 714-729-0300.Byad, 101 Lions Drive, Barrington, IL 60010; 312-381-2330.Carter L. Cole Company, 6355 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Suite 407Woodland Hills, CA 91367; 213-884-7169.ColorCorp, 208 North Berkshire, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48103; 313-335-2255 .Columbia microSystems, 110 North Tenth Street, Columbia, MO 65201;314-875-8900.Compucart, 201 North Rome Avenue, Tampa, FL 33601; 800-237-9024.Compu-Quote, 6914 Berquist Avenue, Canoga Park, CA 91307; 213-348-3662.Computer Case Company, 5650 Indian Mound Court, Columbus, OH43213 ; 614-868-9464.Computer Control Systems, 298 Twenty-first Terrace S.E., Largo, FL 33541;813-586-1886.Computer Systems Design, Box 735, Yakima, WA 98907; 509-575-0320.Computer Technology Innovations, 1037 North Fair Oaks Avenue, Sunnyvale,CA 94086; 408-745-0180.Computrickx, 129 Saratoga Court, Petaluma, CA 94952; 707-763-9700.CompuView Products, 1955 Pauline Boulevard, Ann Arbor, MI 48103; 313-996-1299.for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982Conversions To Go, 1207 Elm Avenue, Suite M , Carlsbad, CA 92008; 714-434-6165.Corona Data Systems, 31324 Via Colinas, Westlake Village, CA 91361; 213-706-1505.Cuesta Systems, 3440 Roberto Court, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401; 805-541-4160.Curtis Manufacturing, One Curtis Road, Winchester, NH 03470; 603-239-MW. .Data Consulting Group, 877 Bounty Drive, Foster City, CA 94404; 415-349-4001.DataMost, 9748 Cozycroft Avenue, Chatsworth, CA 91311; 213-709-1202.Datasmith Micro Software Systems, Box 8036, Shawnee Mission, KS66208; 913-381-9118.Datasouth, Box 240947, Charlotte, NC 28224; 704-523-8500.Davell Custom Software, Box 4162, Cleveland, TN 37311; 615-336-3055.Davidson and Associates, 6069 Groveoak Place, Suite 14, Rancho PalosVerdes, CA 90274; 213-378-7826.Davong Systems, 1061 Terra Bella Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94043;415-965-7130.Design Data Systems, 5270 North Park Place N .E., Cedar Rapids, IA 52402;319-373-1571. .Diamond Head Software, 2937 Kalakuah Avenue, Suite 28, Honolulu, HI96815; 808-922-1113.Digital Marketing, 2670 Cherry Lane, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; 415-938-2880.Digital Research, Box 579, Pacific Grove, CA 93950; 408-649-3896.Digital Systems, 680 Lafayette Road, Hampton, NH 03842; 603-926-8737.Distributed Software Systems, Box 1301, Northbrook, IL 60062; 312-634-1511.Dynatech Microsoftware, 7847 North Caldwell Avenue, Niles, IL 60648;312-470-0700.Eagle Software Publishing, 993 Old Eagle School Road, Wayne, PA 19087;215-964-8660.Educational Data Services, 1709 Oak Bowery Road, Opelika, AL 36801;205-745-226.5.Electronic Data Systems, 1212 East Arapaho Road, Richardson, TX 75081;214-934-5900.Emerging Technology, 2031 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80302; 303-447-9495.Ensign Software, 2312 North Cole Road, Boise, ID 83704; 208-378-8086.Epyx/ Automated Simulations, 1043 Kiel Court, Sunnyvale, CA 94086; 408-745-0700.Giltronix, 970 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303; 415-493-1300.GMS Systems, 12 West Thirty-seventh Street, New York, NY 10018; 212-947-3590.Graphic Software Systems, 29783 S.W. Town Center Loop, Wilsonville, OR97070; 503-682-1606.Hayes Microcomputer Products, 5835 Peachtree Corners East, Norcross, GA30092; 404-449-8791.Nat Hellman III, 5951 East Firestone Boulevard, South Gate, CA 90280;213-773-3576.Hercules Computer Technology, 160 Beechnut Drive, Hercules, CA 94547;415-799-9354.Hewlett-Packard, 16399 West Bernardo Drive, San Diego, CA 92127; 714-487-4100.75

An Index of Stocking Stuf fersHigh Technology Software, 2201 N.E. 63rd, Oklahoma City, OK 73113;405-478-2105.Hourglass Systems, Box 312, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137; 312-690-1855.Howard Software Services, 8008 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, CA 92037; 714-454-0121.IBM, Box 1328, Boca Raton, FL 33432; 305-998-2000.J.B. Magazette, 1306 Petroleum Tower, Shreveport, LA 71101; 318-221-3334.IDS!, Box 1658, Las Cruces, NM 88004; 505-522-7373.Image Processing Systems, Box 5016, 6409 Appalachian Way, Madison, WI53705.Individual Software, 24 Spinnaker Place, Redwood City, CA 94065; 415-591-4166.Info-Pros, 2102 Business Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92715; 714-851-8975.Inner Loop Software, Box 45857, Los Angeles, CA 90045; 213 ~645-5162 .lnnoSys, 2150 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94704; 415-843-8122.Innovative Software, 9300 West Eleventh Street, Overland Park, KS 66210;913-383-1089.Insoft, 10175 West Barbur Boulevard, Suite 202B, Portland, OR 97219; 503-244-4181.Intellect Associates, 156 Singingwood Drive, Holbrook, NY 11741; 516-472-4449.Intelligent Statements, Box 600, Holmes, PA 19043; 800-345-8112.International Computers, Box 13547, Mexico Beach, FL 32410; 904-648-8484.International Software Alliance, 1835 Mission Ridge, Santa Barbara, CA93103; 805-966-3077.International Software Marketing, 120 East Washington Street, Syracuse,NY 13202; 315-474-3400.Gary Irwin and Associates, 4102 Willawaw Drive, Irvine, CA 92714; 714-552-1004.Ivy Research, 88 Yale Station, New Haven, CT 06520; 203-432-3004.JC Computer Specialists, Box 3465, Federal Way, WA 98003; 206-839-8268.Joseki Computer, 2604 Artesia Boulevard, Redondo Beach, CA 90278; 213-374-3251.Kraft Systems, 450 West California Avenue, Vista, CA 92083; 714-724-7146.L.J. Kutten, Box 16185, Clayton, MO 63105; 314-721-6644.Lifetree Software, 177 Webster Street, Monterey, CA 93940; 408-373-4718.Max Software Publishing, 2334 Walsh Road, Santa Clara, CA 95050; 408-727-2273.McMullen and McMullen, Box 230, Jefferson Valley, NY 10535; 914-245-2734.Micro Architect, 96 Dothan Street, Arlington, MA 02174; 617-643-4713.Microcom, 1400A Providence Highway, Norwood, MA 02062; 617-762-9310.Microcomputer Business International, Box 16115, Irvine, CA 92713; 714-553-0133.Micro Control Systems, 143 Tunnel Road, Vernon, CT 06066; 203-872-0602.Micro Decision Systems, Box 1392, Pittsburgh, PA 15219; 412-276-2387.Micromatch, 10343 Commerce Avenue, Tujunga, CA 91042; 213-353-5929.Microperipheral Corporation, 2643 15lst Place N.E. , Redmond, WA 98052;206-881-7544.MicroPro International, 33 San Pablo Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94903; 415-499-1200.Noman Microcomputer, Box 231, Wales, MA 01081; 413-245-3783.Norell Data Systems, 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90010;213-257-2026.Norfork Systems. 8 North Fork Road, Laurel Springs, NJ 08021.l':orth America Mica, 11772 Sorrento Valley, San Diego, CA 92121; 714-481-6998.Peter Norton, 1716 Main Street, Venice, CA 90291; 213-399-3948.Office Software Automation, 602 Lookout Drive, Richardson, TX 75080;214-669-9966.Omicron, 57 Executive Park South N.E., Suite 590, Atlanta, GA 30329; 404-325-0770.Omric, 1268 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111; 203-666-4240.Options-80, Box 471, Concord, MA 01742.PBL, 605 Harmony Circle Drive, Wayzata, MN 55391; 612-473-3769.PC Connection, 6 Mill Street, Marlow, NH 03456; 603-446-3383.PCsoftware, 4155 Cleveland Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103; 714-279-2482.PC Squared, 1250 Oakmead Parkway, Sunnyvale, CA 94086; 408-749-9313.Percom Data, 11220 Pagemill Road, Dallas, TX 75243; 214-340-7081.76Periphex, 149 Palmer Road, Southbury, CT 06488; 212-961-2103.Personal Systems Technology, 22957 La Cadena, Laguna Hills, CA 92653;714-859-8871.Plantronics/ Frederick Electronics, 7630 Hayward Road, Box 502, Frederick,MD 21701; 301-662-5927.ProActive Systems, 505 Channing, Palo Alto, CA 94301; 415-326-2722.Prodata, 663 South Capitol Boulevard, Boise, ID 83704; 208-342-6878.Professional Software Associates, Box 41277, Minneapolis, MN 55447; 612-929-7889.Quadram, 4357 Park Drive, Norcross, GA 30093; 404-923-6666.Quala, 1014 Griswold Avenue, San Fernando, CA 91340; 213-365-9526.Quest Research, Box 2553, Huntsville, AL 35804; 800-558-8088.Radio Technology, 8 North Main Street, Suite 111, West Hartford, CT06107; 203-232-9974.Sapana Micro Software, 1305 South Rouse, Pittsburg, KS 66762; 316-231-5023.SCC Games, 9025 Andromeda Drive, Burke, VA 22015; 703-455-2329.Frank Schiele Software, 1375 Tobias Drive, Chula Vista, CA 92011; 714-420-9860.Science Research Associates, 155 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606;312-984-7377.Simple Soft, 480 Eagle Drive, Elk Grove, IL 60007; 312-364-0752.SimSoft, 1258 Seventeenth Street, Marysville, MI 48060; 313-364-7241.Sirius, 10364 Rockingham Drive, Sacramento, CA 95827; 916-366-1195.Smiser and Associates, Box 2095, Truckee, CA 95734; 916-583-9329.Smith Educational Engineering Services, Box 244, Arlington Heights, IL60006.Softrend, Box 1462, Charlottesville, VA 22902; 804-293-5344.Software Dimensions, 6371 Auburn Boulevard, Citrus Heights, CA 95610;916-722-8000.Software Laboratories, 6924 Riverside Drive, Dublin, OH 43017; 614-889-5083.Software Options, 19 Rector Street, New York, NY 10006; 212-785-8285.Software 1040, 10 Nevada Drive, Box 1010, New Hyde Park, NY 11042;516-775-5566.Software Training Company, 1025 O cean Avenue, Suite 204, Santa Monica,CA 90403; 213-546-5579.SoftWhere!, 2162 Deerfield, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362.Sorcim, 405 Aldo Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95050; 408-727-7634.The Scurce, 1616 Anderson Road, McLean, VA 22102; 703-734-7500.Spectrum, 142 Carlow, Sunnyvale, CA 94087; 408-738:4387.Spinnaker, 215 First Street, Cambridge, MA 02142; 617-868-4700.S.S.R., 1600 Lyell Avenue, Rochester, NY 14606; 716-254-3200.Starside Engineering, Box 18306, Rochester, NY 14618; 716-461-1027.Star Computer Systems, 18051 Crenshaw Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90504;213-538-2511.Statistical Computing Consultants/ SCC Games, 9025 Andromeda Drive,Burke, VA 22015; 703-455-2329.Street Electronics, 1140 Mark Avenue, Carpinteria, CA 93013; 805-684-4593.SuperSoft, Box 1628, Champaign, IL 61820; 217-359-2112.SuperSoft Associates, Box 1628, Champaign, IL 61820; 217-359-2112.Sybex, 2344 Sixth Street, Berkeley, c;A 94710; 415-848-8233.Synergistic, 830 North Riverside Drive, Renton, WA 98055; 206-226-3216.Systemics, 3050 Spring Street, West Bloomfield, MI 48033; 313-851-2504.System 300, 3030B Q Street, Sacramento, CA 95816; 916-452-1476.Tallgrass Technologies, 9207 Cody, Overland Park, KS 66214; 913-492-6002.Tall Tree Systems, 1036 Los Altos Avenue, Los Altos, CA 94022; 415-941-5500.TCS Software, 3209 Fondren Road, Houston, TX 77063; 713-977-7505.TecMa, 2918 Scott Boulevard, Santa Clara, CA 95050; 408-727-2751.Terminus Design, 16 Scarborough Road, Ellenwood, GA 30049; 404-474-4866.TexaSoft, 1028 North Madison Avenue, Dallas, TX 75208; 214-946-7912.TG Products, 1104 Summit Avenue, Plano, TX 75074; 214-424-8568.Ticom Systems, 13470 Washington Boulevard, Marina del Rey, CA 90291;213-827-7118.TMQ Software, 82 Fox Hill Drive, Buffalo Grove, IL 60090; 312-520-4440.DM Tucker, Box 31464, San Francisco, CA 94131.Vector Electronic Company, 12460 Gladstone Avenue, Sylmar, CA 91342;213-365-9661.Versa Computing, 3541 Old Conejo Road, Newbury Park, CA 91320; 805-498-1956.Virtual Combinatics, Box 755, Rockport, MA 01966; 617-546-6553.VisiCorp, 2895 Zanker Road, San Jose, CA 95134; 408-946-9000.Votrax, 500 Stephenson Highway, Troy, MI 48084; 800-521-1350.Wildf!re Publishing, One South Fairview, Unit C, Goleta, CA 93117; 805-967-8444.World Wide Software Publishers, 2555 Buena Vista Way, Berkeley, CA94708; 415-548-6359. ....softolk for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982

If flying your IBM®PC got any morerealistic, you'd need a license.You took off from Boston-Logan with nothing aboveyou but blue sky. Now you're 5,000 feet over Long IslandSound, and New York-La Guardia, your destination airport,reports high winds. Connecticut-Bridgeport is the logicalalternate, but clouds with a low ceiling are goingto make life difficult. You're in for an instrument approach ...The plane inside your PC. Run the Microsoft® FlightSimulator on your IBM Personal Computer, and put yourselfin the pilot's seat of a Cessna 182. You controleverything from flaps and ailerons right down to the magnetoswitch. You can even navigate using radio signals andfly totally by instruments if you run into bad weather. Bestof all, Flight Simulator features a full-color, out-the-wihdowflight display. With detailed graphics that closely simulatea pilot's actual perspective.The world beneath your fingers. Once you're in flight,don't worry about running out of airspace. You cantake off and land at over 20 airports from Los Angeles toNew York. Each, with its own particular set of challenges.The learning curve. In its "easy" mode, the Flight Simulatorgives new pilots an aircraft which readily forgiveserrors in flight, engine control, and navigation. As yougain skill, move into "reality" mode. Then get ready forsimulations of everything from running out of fuel tocarburetor icing.The Ace in your soul. When you think you've earnedyour wings, turn the clock back for a round of "BritishAce:' Fly into a World War I air battle complete withscouting flights, bombing runs and hair-raising dogfights.Destroy your targets, shoot down the enemy fighters,and you just might survive to be decorated.Throttle on. Take a test flight at your computer store orsoftware dealer. Once you've been aloft, you'll wantto buckle up behind your own IBM PC with the MicrosoftFlight Simulator. It's the closest you can get to flying.Without leaving your nest.BETTER tOOLS FOR MICROCOMPUTERSMICROSOFtMICROSOFT CORPORATION10700 NORTHUP WAYBELLEVUE. WASHINGTON 9B004Microsoft is a registered trademark and the Microsoft logois a trademark of Microsoft CorporationIBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation

II systemicsby Larry ReaganThe Sparrow is an ultra-low-cost datacommunications device designed for theIBM Personal Computer. The Sparrow usesstandard modem techniques through thepc's cassette connector. This enables you tocommunicate with other systems over phonelines, without having to use. an asynchronouscommunications adapter.The Sparrow is considerably simplerthan standard modems. You can construct itin about two hours for about $60. The softwareprovided with this article, in conjunctionwith the Sparrow, allows you to useyour pc as a dumb terminal connected to aremote host.Data communications capability givesyour computer the power to share resourceswith other systems. Timesharing servicessuch as the Source and CompuServe providesubscribers with access to the latestnews, stock prices, games, and many otherdatabases.With communications you can also takeadvantage of the many computer bulletinboard services (BBSs) through which dedicatedhobbyists and computer dealers providefree data exchange (messages and publicdomain software) to anyone who dials up.There are several hundred BBSs scatteredthroughout the country. The potential forinformation exchange on these systems isenormous.Standards for Data Communications.The most widely used standard for computer-phonecommunications is the Bell 103standard. This standard specifies the datarates and tone frequencies for a modem.Most commercial modems use acoustic couplersor a direct access arrangement (DAA)to achieve interface with the phone lines.The computer side of the modem usually interfacesby means of a standard known asEASY TO USE SOFTWARE for yourIBM PC 64K, Monochrome, Two DrivesPRO-PICK• Pro football predictions!• Fast entry-minutes per week• Customize your predictions usingyou r own ideas on home vs.away, etc.• 1982 schedule & data onsepar

(;l~p~~~ •••· • • >F //e · ~yt}ide .? .;- . wh~l:~~i: ·x~ (Iing Gen.eral ~edg.~r, ).;\. counts. · f\avabfe, •. Accouf1~s·••• Receiyable, Payrollqtlf1ven;:tory wtth Point-of-Sale ... ··~ .. The . Hardisk ,A,:ccoundngSeries is ··· fast, . powerfl11 • aridoperates. on popular microcomputers.· Don't trustyour company's profits to anysoftware other than GreatPlains Software . . When it'stime to see profits, · theHardisk Accounting Seriesis accountable!Call or write your localcomputerstore dealer or GreatPlains Software for more informationon how youaccount for your profits!Hardisk Accounting SeriesUpt632,768 ~ ~ndors*Accommodates manual 6rgenerated checksAutom

EIA RS-232. This is the standard usedby IBM's Asynchronous CommunicationsAdapter.There is no slot penalty for using theSparrow. It turns out that about 75 percentof the hardware needed to implement amodem is already present in the cassetteinterface. The Sparrow performs in softwaremany functions performed in hardwareby the asynchronous communicationsadapter.Additionally, the software does the tonemodulation and demodulation for Bell 103.The Sparrow hardware is used to interfacethe telephone receiver physically and to filterout unwanted noise. Acoustic rather than direct-coupledtechniques are used so that thephone system won' t be accidentallydamaged.The Sparrow features answer and originateoperation modes; full duplex and halfduplex display modes; baud rates of 110,150, and 300; space, mark, even, and oddparity; and 0-255 stop bits. You should familiarizeyourself with the meaning of theseoptions before using the Sparrow.If you were to dial up a network, youwould be considered to be an originate system.The system that answers the call is ananswer system. If a system were to call you,your computer would be the answer systemand the remote system would be the originatesystem.The Bell 103 standard specifies that alogical 1 (called a mark) generated by theoriginate system is a tone at 1,270 Hz. Alogical 0 (a space) generated by the originatesystem is a tone at 1,070 Hz. A mark generatedby the answer system is a tone at2,225 Hz. A space generated by the answersystem is a tone at 2,025 Hz.Bell 103 is a full duplex standard. Inother words, a set of tones is generatedsimultaneously by both the answer andoriginate systems. When no data is beingtransferred, the originate and answer systemsare in the mark states.Terminal equipment interprets the termshalf duplex and full duplex differently thanBell 103 does. The Sparrow half duplex displaymode causes each key to be displayedon the screen before it's transferred. TheSparrow full duplex display mode does notdisplay keys as they're depressed. When akey is depressed by the originate system, thesignal is transferred to the answer system;the answer system echoes the key back to theoriginate system where it's then displayed onthe screen. Full duplex gives the operatorvisual feedback to assist in error detectionand for that reason is the more commonlyused display mode.The term baud rate refers to the speed of. data transfer, measured in bits per second. Ina typical system using one start bit, sevendata bits, a parity bit, and one stop bit (makinga total of ten bits per character), the effectivedata rate at 300 baud is thirty charactersper second.The parity bit transmitted with eachcharacter is used for error detection. TheSparrow software always assumes a start bit,seven data bits, a parity bit, and 0-255 stopbits. A system that specifies " eight bits, noparity" would require you to set the Sparrowfor space parity. A system specifying" seven bits, no parity" would require thatthe Sparrow be set for mark parity.Even parity means that for every character,the seven data bits together with theparity bit contain an even number of ones. Ifthe Sparrow is set for even parity and it receivesa character with an odd number ofones, it will display a paragraph symbol (abackward P) to indicate a parity error. A systemusing " seven bits, odd parity" requiresodd parity on the Sparrow.Most BBSs as well as the Source requirespace parity.Stop bits are used to separate one characterfrom the next. The Sparrow can insertup to 255 stop bits after each character; oneor two are commonly used.The pc Cassette Interface. The IBM pccassette interface is designed to run at frequenciesbetween 1 and 2 kHz. These frequenciesare on the same order as those requiredby Bell 103. There is an Intel 8253programmable interval timer inside the pcthat's used to generate tones. Data normallyreceived by the cassette interface is squaredup by a MC1741 operational amplifier (opamp). The 8088 processor samples the opamp through an 8255 parallel interface chipand determines the frequency of a signal bymeasuring the time between pulses.The cassette interface inside the pc systemunit must be configured for " mic" in orderto be used with the Sparrow. This is theconfiguration in which systems are shippedfrom IBM. If you have changed your cassettejumper to " aux," you'll need to changeit back to " mic" before operating theSparrow.How the Sparrow Works. After the programhas been initialized, Basic calls up theSparrow driver. This program is an endlessloop that continuously samples the receiverfor input and checks to see if you've strucka key.If a start bit is detected (that is, if the receivedtone changes from a mark to a space),the real-time clock hardware is reprogrammedto interrupt after one bit time haselapsed. The software then waits for the in-The Bug ThatAte Boca RatonDavid Wolonick's Data-Writer, a uniqueinformation processing system for managingtextual and numeric data, provides theuser with a full set of functions for using databases, including the ability to change theirstructures.For expense reporting, client billing, producing andmoiling form letters, and performing a host of otherinform9tion processing tasks, no datamanager for the PC is easier to use ormore functional than Data-Writer.Data-Writer is available fromSoftware Options, 19 Rector Street. New York,NV 10006, ( 212) 785-8285. Toll-free order line:(800) 221-1624. Its price is $225 ( plus $3 forshipping and handling). New York State residentsodd soles tax. Visa I Mastercard / AmericanExpress accepted.For a limited time, you'll receive a tree"Bug That Ate Boca Roton" brightyellow t-shirt when you purchase~ Data-Writer for the IBM PCSOFTWARE Specify size (S-M-L-XL). T-shirts.......'ore available separately at..... ~ $9.95 each, postpaid. OfferOPTIONS INC expires 2-28-83 ......_,..... ~softalk for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982 81

terrupt. When the interrupt occurs, the receiverfrequency is measured to see whetherthe bit that went by was a mark or a space.The status of the receiver is saved as data bitDO. The real-time clock will continue to interruptevery bit time until eight sampleshave been taken . When these eight bits havebeen checked for parity and displayed on thescreen, the program goes back to the searchloop.If a key is ready (that is, if you'vepressed a key), the software checks for certainspecial characters; these special characters,if found, are not transmitted. If the keyis to be transmitted, the real-time clock isprogrammed to interrupt at the bit rate. Thesoftware waits for a phase change in thetransmit tone, then reprograms the 8253 togenerate a space tone (for the start bit). Theprogram then waits for the timer interrupt.When all data bits and stop bits have beentransmitted, the program goes back to thesoon as you return to Basic, the real-timecount is resumed.Second, the bell character (control-G)doesn't cause a beep as it otherwise would.Since the beeper and cassette hardware areshared, the bell code must not sound. TheSparro~ software instead displays a controlcharacter.Third, data isn' t transmitted in bothdirections simultaneously. Operation as adumb terminal with data entry at keyboardspeeds does not make this a serious limitation.If you plan to use the Sparrow forstandard methods of file transfer, you mayneed to run in half duplex or to rewrite someof the software to support xon, xoff, andother protocols.The Sparrow Hardware. The hardwaredesign is fairly straightforward (see schematic).Two filters are used to condition thesend and receive data. A " high" filter passesfrequencies of 2,000 Hz to 2,300 Hz whilefiltering out other frequencies. The " low"filter passes 1,000 Hz to 1,300 Hz. In originatemode, the high filter cleans up the receiveddata and the low filter cleans up thetransmitted data. To operate in the answermode, the filters are swapped by switches Sland S2.An op amp is used to interface a microphone(or a speaker used as a dynamic microphone)to the filters. Another op amp isSpal'l'O~Y Pal'IS listCI-C4,C6,C7,C10,Cll,Cl4-Cl7 . . . . . 0.01 uF50 volt Mylar capacitorsearch loop.(5 percent tolerance or better)By typing alt 129 on the number pad, you C5,C8,C9 . . . . .. . . 0.1 uF 50 volt disk capacitorcan make the program break out of its search C12,C13 ...... . . . .. . ........ . . . . . .. . . 470 uFloop and return control to Basic.50 volt electrolytic capacitorThe Sparrow software has a few limitations.First, the real-time clock is used to 1Cl,IC2 .... ... . ...... .. . LM348 quad op amp01,02 . . • . . . . . . . . . 12 volt 1/2-watt zener diode03,04 . .... ... . . .. . ............ 1N4001 diodecontrol the baud rate. While the Sparrow is JI .... . .. .. ..... . . . . .... 5 pin male DIN plugin use, therefore, the real-time clock can'tserve its usual timekeeping function. As RI ...... . . ... . ............. . .... 15 kilohmsTHOROUGHBRED MEADOWSThe Horseracing GameP. C. Goes to the RacesYou'll have fun and get excitedover this super party game -even if you're playing it solo.A realistic simulation ofThoroughbred Horse Racing:• "A Day at the Races" - 9 race program- totally different every time.• Stable of over 1000 horses.• Handicapping: past performances andjockey standings.• Realistic odds and winning probabilities.• Player betting: win, place, show, exactas.• Recap of race results and players bets.• Trumpet call before each race.• Sounds and graphics of the race.• Attractive jacket and instruction booklet.• Requires: IBM PC, 64K, DOS, BASICA,1 Disk and Display (check below).• Dealer inquiries invited.• An excellent value at $ 3 9 • 9 5Shipping and handling included.CA residents add 6\'.! % sales tax.Order yours today. Send shipping informationand indicate Monochrome or Graphics Display.aSend your order with check to:FIRST CABIN SOFTWAREP.O. BOX 1366SAN CARLOS, CA 94070R2,R14 . . .. . ..... . .. . ...... . . . . . 160 kilohmsR3 .. ...... . . ..... .. . .... ......... 18 kilohmsR4 . . . . . . ............. ... . .... ... 2 megohms(10 megohms if you're using aspeaker as a dynamic microphone)R5,Rll . . . ................. ... . . . 10 kilohmsR6,R9,R10 ............ . . .... . . .... 220 ohmsR7 .. . . . .. ... . ....... .. . . .. . . ... .. 330 ohmsRs ........... .. . .. . .. ... . . ... . . 200 kilohmsR12 . ... . . .. ...... .... . . . .. . ...... 820 ohmsR13 . ... ... . ... . . .. .. . . . .. . .... . . 22 kilohmsR15,R1 7 .... . . .......... ... . . .... 8.2 kilohmsR16 . .. . . . .. . . . . ......... .. . . .... 1.2 kilohmsRI 8 .. . . . .. . .... . .. . ..... ...... . 240 kilohmsRl9 . .. .... . ............... . ..... 2.4 kilohmsR20,R22,R24 . ....... . ........ . .. 100 kilohmsR21 . . . .. . . . . . ... . . . ... . . . .... ... . 620 ohmsR23 . ..... .. .......... . ...... . . . . 1.5 kilohmsAll resistors are v.-watt, 5 percent tolerance51 ,52 .. . . . . . ..... . ....... . . . . . .. Opdt switch53 ... . ............. .. . . . .. .... . . Spst switchSPKl . . .. . .... .. . . . .. .. . . . Crystal microphoneor 2 inch 8 ohm speakerSPK2 . . . .... .. . .... .. . . 2 inch 8 ohm speakerTl .... .. . . . . . . . ... .. . . ........ . . 117:12 Vactransformer, at least 50 maMiscellaneous: Printed circuit board, enclosure,cups for speaker and microphone,four-conductor cable, solder, wireThe fo llowing is available from Microgrid,Box 613, Ithaca, NY 14850: a drilled and etchedprinted circuit board with documentation (includesmachine language source listing) plus allparts, except speaker and microphone, enclosure,and transformer. The price is $45 plus $1.50 shippingand handling. N ew York residen ts add 7 percentsales tax.The following is available from the Micromint,917 Midway, Woodmere, NY 11598: tworubber cups, one crystal microphone, and onetwo-inch speaker-all intended for use as modemacoustic transducers. The price is $12. 95 plus $2shipping and handling. N ew York residents add 7percent sales tax.T he following is available from Radio Shack:cassette storage tray (which can be used as an enclosurefor the Sparrow), part number 44-665($3 .49); 120:12 vac transformer @ 300 ma, partnumber 273-1385 ($3.29); microphone element,part number 270-088 ($1.69); 2 inch 8 ohmspeaker, part number 40-245 ($2 .49).8 2softolk

used to interface the filters to a speaker fordata transmission. The eight op amps shownin the schematic are packaged in two integratedcircuits.The power supply is a plus or minustwelve volt supply that uses an ordinary calculator-typetransformer. Switch S3 is forpower on/off.The interface to the pc is through astandard five-pin DIN connector. If you're. also using the cassette port for tape storage,you may want to construct a breakout box sothat you won' t have to keep swappingcables.You'll save considerable time and hassleif you build the Sparrow on a printed circuitboard. You can copy the circuit board layoutor you may purchase a preconstructedSpal'l'O\V assElllblY i1lsl1 1 l1clio1lsI. Mount speaker and microphone (or to the speaker and microphone.two speakers, if you wish to substitute a sec- 12. Connect the power cord to the transondspeaker for the microphone). What to ... former and then to the circuit board.mount them on is your choice; the Sparrow I3. Connect the computer cable with thepictured on pages 78 and 79 was built using DIN connector to the circuit board.an ordinary cassette tape tray (see parts list) I4. Solder the two chips to the circuitwith holes drilled for the speaker, the mi- board. Save this step for last to reduce thecrophone, the switches, the power cord, and likelihood of damage to the chips.the cable that connects to the computer. It'sbest to mount the speaker and microphonewithin rubber cups (see parts list). Be surethe speaker and microphone are positionedcorrectly to accommodate the receiver ofyour telephone.2. If you're planning to build the Sparrowin an enclosure (such as the one pictured),drill holes for the power cord andcomputer cable now.3. If you are using the printed circuitboard available from Microgrid (see partslist), you'll find three switches that mounton the board. If you're building the Sparrowin an enclosure, you may want to drill ahole in the side of the enclosure to make theswitches accessible.4. Orient the printed circuit board sothat it matches the component layout.5. Following the component layout,solder the resistors (RI-R24) to the circuitboard. Use 60/ 40 resin core flux solder.6. Solder the 0.0I uF Mylar capacitors(CI-C4, C6, C7, CIO, Cll, CI4-CI7).7. Solder the 0. I uF disk capacitors(CS, CB , and C9).8. Solder the 470 uF electrolytic capacitors;be sure their polarity matches thatshown in the component layout.9. Solder the two zener diodes. Observepolarity.10. Solder the remaining two diodes.Observe polarity.I I. Connect leads from the circuit boardcircuit board (see parts list). The circuitboard holds all the components except themicrophone, speaker, and transformer.Switches can be mounted directly on theboard, or they can be mounted outside theenclosure (see photo) and attached to theboard by short lengths of wire.Be very careful to solder the followingcomponents in their correct orientation:Cl2, C13, DI, D2, D3, D4, ICI, and IC2. Ifthese components are installed upside downor backwards, they can be destroyed. Orientationof other capacitors and resistors isnot critical.Note that there are four possible positionsfor the switches SI and S2 (both up;both down; SI up, S2 down; SI down, S2up). One of these positions puts you in originatemode, another puts you in answer mode,and the remaining two positions cause the pcoutput to loop around and be fed back intothe input. You could use these other two positionsfor a diagnostic turnaround to testeach filter (you'd need to write the softwareto support this).You'il get the best operation from theSparrow if you use a good quality microphonefor SPKI, a two-inch speaker forSPK2, and rubber cups for mounting. Speciallydesigned rubber cups provide optimumisolation from ambient noise, therebypreventing stray characters from appearingevery time you sneeze or bump the table.A less expensive procedure is to substitutea two-inch speaker for SPKI (see schematic)and to make your own mechanicalcoupling. Two regular-sized soup cans canbe used. With a hacksaw, make two "cups"about an inch and a half deep. Drill holes inthe bottom of the cups to feed the wiresthrough. Mount each speaker on a thickpiece of sponge and place the speakers insidethe cups. The more care you take, the betterthe performance will be. Try to get thespeakers to fit flush against the telephone.Don' t permit large air gaps or rattling.The Sparrow Software. The software(see listings I and 2) was designed to run ongoto 88For $95 Put the BestCash Management SystemOn Your IBM-PC.The Personal Computer/ Personal FinanceProgram (PC/ PFP) has all the cash accountingfeatures you need for accurate anduseful reports of income, expenses, budgetperformance, tax deductions, and creditcard use. With PC/ PFP your cash managementrecords will be as useful as those oflarge, well-managed companies.Easy to use, PC/ PFP requires only asingle entry for each transaction . No accountingor computer experience is needed.BESTPR

+G( 12 rnc:::::JA CD SPK2 R23 r---i3 CJ 6 CJ 7 r:::::J c::J R2 2~B c~ ----L.I ~=t"~,'. iO[lJm ___t::::i,,, mOJR,, ~o'-----'c· C 6 02 c:::::J R 1 3RlO1 1 CB::) R12 ._,,...._~R9 1 0 CE ..........__D_l-4g~po rr,aJD~ nC7~oOJC>0c60u+c::> c 5 c::::::J c:::::J~ RS R4 c:::::J R3 L::J RjeR GDD53_52Component layoutshown actual sizePrinted circuit layoutshown actual sizeHOLE0075056SIZE1-1I25oo 042High filterground=C2. 01.«FC4 ..OI.uFCI4.OI..uF52 DI' I'resistor-n-Mylar ordisk capacitor-HelectrolyticcapacitorC7.OI..uFClo.01..UFCI7.OIDFzener diodeDOSIS2R22IOOKR23I .SKSPK2regular diodeintegratedcircuitTl311Low filter03 RIOS3 IN400I 220+12.. TO ICI-412 IC2-4VACICl-3,5,10,12IC2-3,5,IO,l2IN4001 220D4TO ICI-ll-12 IC2-llDO• R4 = IOM IF SPKl IS A SPEAKERR4 = 2M IF SPKI IS A MICROPHONEJIDIswitchs peaker ormicrophoneSparrow schematictransformer84 softolk for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982

Why pay h_undreds more fora four (as in QUAD) function IBM PC bo~ r~7This may be the only board you need to' expand your IBM personal computer. Standardwith three functions; memory up to256K in 64K increments, clock/ calendarwith battery back-up, and asynchronous communication(RS232C serial) port which canbe configured as COM 1 or COM2. The optionalparallel printer port can be added for thoseof you with the color graphics board, or if youjust need an additional printer port (LPT1 orLPT2). If you would like to have a secondasync port, that is now available for an extra$100. (In this case QUAD means five.) Wesell boards in all possible configurations.No corner cutting hereYou may think that since this board costs somuch less there has to be a catch. The catchis you have to put the board in yourself, andset a switch to tell your computer the board isthere. It's all done in less than ten minutes.Our clear instructions with illustrations makeit a snap. The board is a four layer design withrows of nine memory chips for full paritychecking. Each board is solder masked, silkscreened, and has gold plated contacts. Thememory chip locations are all socketed. Allcomponents are premium grade, meet IBMperformance specifications, and are burnedin and tested prior to shipment. The highlyrated design is well proven with severalthousand boards in the field providing reliableservice.How much memory?We offer the board with your choice 64K,128K, 192K, or 256K. The SuperSpoolersoftware allows you to assign a portion of theadd-on memory as a print buffer. The printbuffer accepts data as fast as the computercan send it and frees your computer for moreproductive work. Your printer just keeps onrunning until the buffer is empty. The SuperDrive software allows you to use memory asyou would normally use a disk. This gives youdisk access at the speed of RAM memory.Maximum use of SuperDrive is achievedwith the new MegaPlusM board which allowsall functions and expansion to 512K in asingle slot.Clock/ calendar & clip-on batteryThat round thing in the picture is a lithiumbattery. It may last as long as five years sinceit is only needed when the computer isturned off. Note the holder it is in. The under$4.00 battery just slips out and a new oneslips in. No soldering required as with someother clock boards. The clock/ calendar setsthe time and date when your computer isturned on. This is done with a program whichwe send you on a diskette. The clock on theboard is set using the IBM DOS commandsTIME and DATE.Cheap Software tooWhat good is great hardware without somegood software to use it with? We are nowoffering some untouchable prices on softwarethat can utilize the features of your board.SUPERCALC, the current cream of the spreadsheetcrop, will address 512K and is availablewith a board for just $176. Or how about thenew DBase II by Ashton-Tate for just $469?Why buy from us 7Because we provide the service and supportmost companies only talk about. We realizehow integral the use of this board will be tothe everyday use of your computer. Whatgood is a warranty if it takes weeks forrepairs to be made? By the time you get yourboard back from repair you will have forgottenwhere to put itl We offer 48 hour turnaroundor replacement on all warranty repairs. Doyou hear anyone else making this promise?Our board comes with little extras like a lowcost diagnostics program that let's you doyour own testing to be sure you really dohave a problem before sending your board forrepairs. If you still aren't convinced, and justwant to compare prices, remember we don'tcharge extra for credit cards, shipping, orCOD's. If you still want to buy elsewhere askthem if they will face the acid test.The acid testQubie Distributing gives you our 30 daysatisfaction guarantee on all board purchases.If you are not completely satisfied we willreturn the entire cost of your purchase aswell as pay the postage to return it. If you canget one of our competitors to give you thesame guarantee, buy any other board youthink compares and return the one you don'tlike. We're not worried because we knowwhich one you'll keep. On top of this we giveyou a one year parts and labor warranty, anda ·one year extended warranty for $50. Warrantyrepairs are done in 48 hours or we willsend you a new board.FREE SPFTWARESuperDrive and SuperSpooler, Softwarelets you yse your board as fast accessingdisk space and as a printer buffer.TO ORDER BY MAIL SEND:-yeur name and shipping address:---memory size'. Optional printer port?-software and cables y' u need-daytime phone number-Cal-ifornia residents add 6~% saleS'tax.-Company checl< or credit card numberand expiration date. (personal checkstake 1 s· days to clear.) · ·TO -~ORDER BY PHQNE:(213) 870-3718 or (805) 482-9829PRICES:64K $375192~128K $439 256K(includes async port, memory, clock/ calendar,SuperDrive and SuperSpoolet ~oftware)qPTION~:Parallel Pri.nter portCable for p!lraliel printersCable for Modem or Serial Pri.RterMemory Diagnostic DisketteSl:JPEf{CALC by SorcimDBase I) byi Asf;ltoR-TateSHIPM!=NT$50$35· $25$10$176' $~69We pay UPS surface charges. UF!S bluelaoel. ai.r service $5 extra. Credit card orbank check orders shipped same day. Per.. son al or cor;npany checks take .18 days toclear.OUBIS'DIS-PlllBUY:ING918 VIA Ai.ONDRACAMARILt.0, CA93010

A Complete IBM~PC Tool KitBasic Programming Tools.They make it almost easy to write good programs inBASIC.A versatile system that doesn't tie you down to amethod but frees you of some of the frustratingconstraints that hamper BASIC programdevelopment ..Frees you of having to deal with line numbers. Writeyour programs with mnemonic labels of yourchoosing rather than numbers on ~very line.Frees you of having to skimp on remarks and spaces tosave memory. Use Plenty of remarks, spaces andindentations. There will be little effect on the size ofthe final program.Frees you of having to hassle with BASIC's editor. Enjoythe responsiveness of an efficient full-screen programeditor. It makes a world of difference.Frees you of the variable tangle. Use and reusevariable names with confidence. You get fu II crossreferencedlistings.Frees you of documenting pains. With Super Listingsyour notes are efficiently incorporated where they dothe most good.Frees you of the past. Even old programs can beunnumbered anq brought up to higher standardswith much less effort.You get a system of S proven tools:EDIT- the full-screen text editor. Friendly~....,... and easy, but not lacking in features.-~ Ideal for BASIC programs.~UMBER - puts on line numbers so BASIC~ will understand your program.UNNUMBER - the reverse of NUMBER, a real~ wonder worker.SL - The Super Lister. Makes your programinto interesting reading - structural~ indentations, labeled references, crossreferences and documentation._,A STRIP - strips out the remarks and blanks~ for a compact production version.Plus an executive program with on-line helps. Theywork as a team or separately. You're free to choose.All with full source code in BASIC and completedocumentation. Feel free to modify and improve them.With such great tools you most likely can.Requires PC DOS, 64K, ·1 drive.Suggested retail price: $120Synergistic SOftware830 N. Riverside DriveSuite 201, Rento n, WA 98055ORDER ONLY 1-800-426-6505(206) 226-3216~ Synergistic~software10 SCREEN 2: SCREEN o20 PRINT "* ,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,..,.,.,.,.,. ,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. .... ,.,.,. .. ,.,.,.,. .. ,.,.30 PRINT ""40 PRINT"• SPARROW COMMUNICATIONS PACKAGE50 PRINT "" REV 1.0 COPYRIGHT 1982 LARRY REAGAN6070PRINT ""PRINT " * ,.,.,. ,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,,. ,.,. ,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.~,..,.,. ,.,.,.,. ,.,.,.,. *"80 OUT 97,68 ' DISABLE CASSETTE90100 ' - - - - - - - - - - - -OPTION VARIABLES- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -110 OM$="0RIGINATE" 'OM$ (OPERATION MODE) CAN BE "ANSWER" OR "ORIGINATE"120 DM$=" FULL DUPLEX" 'DM$ (DISPLAY MODE) CAN BE "FULL DUPLEX" OR " HALF DUPLEX"130 BAUDR=300 'BAUDR (BAUD RATE) CAN BE 300, 150, OR 110 .140 PAR$="EVEN" ' PAR$ (PARITY) CAN BE "SPACE'',"MARK","EVEN", OR " ODD"150 STB=l 'STB (STOP BITS) CAN BE 0,1, OR 2160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330340350360370380390400410420430440450460470475480490500510520530540550560570580590600610620630640650660670680690700710720730740750760770780790800810100010101020103010401050PRINT: PRINT "INITIALIZING ...": PRINTSUM=O: EL=O: MEMADD=oDEF SEG=&H300 ' SEGMENT ADDRESS OF MACHINE CODEFOR LIN=lOOO TO 1640 STEP IOREAD CODE: SUM=SUM+CODE: EL=EL+lIF CODE > 255 THEN PRINT "ERROR IN LINE";LIN: GOTO 1650POKE MEMADD,CODE: MEMADD=MEMADD+lIF El" FULL DUPLEX" THEN PRINT "ILLEGAL DISPLAY MODE": GOTO 1650IF OM$=" 0RIGINATE" THEN POKE 1033,1: ELSE POKE 1033,2 .IF BAUDR=300 THEN POKE 1030,101 : POKE 1031,15 : POKE 1060,39 : POKE 1061,17: GOTO 410IF BAUDR=150 THEN POKE 1030,19 : POKE 1031,31 : POKE 1060,170 : POKE 1061,38: GOTO 410IF BAUDR=llO THEN POKE 1030,59 : POKE 1031,42 : POKE 1060,247 : POKE 1061,52 : GOTO 410PRINT "ILLEGAL BAUD RA TE": GOTO 1650IF PAR$=" SPACE" THEN POKE 1034,0: GOTO 460IF PAR$= " MARK" THEN POKE 1034,1: GOTO 460IF PAR$="EVEN" THEN POKE 1034,2: GOTO 460IF PAR$=" 0DD" THEN POKE 1034,3: GOTO 460PRINT " ILLEGAL PARITY MODE": GOTO 1650IF STB > 255 THEN PRINT "ILLEGAL STOP BITS": GOTO 1650POKE 1036,STB : POKE 1047,0 : POKE 185, 36POKE 587,144: POKE 588,144: POKE 589,144PRINT " OPTIONS SELECTED:"PRINT" OPERATION MODE= " ;OM$PRINT" DISPLAY MODE=";DM$PRINT" BAUD RATE=" ;BAUDRPRINT " PARITY=" ;PAR$PRINT " STOP BITS=";STBPRINTPRINT "• COMMAND SUMMARY:"PRINT " " CNTRL 6 TO MOVE WINDOW UP"PRINT "• CNTRL - TO MOVE WINDOW DOWN"PRINT "" ALT 128 TO GENERA TE BREAK"PRINT " • ALT 129 TO RETURN TO BASIC"PRINTPRINT " POWER ON MODEM, SET SWITCHES"PRINT" FOR ANSWER OR ORIGINATE."PRINT" DIAL UP NETWORK, WAIT FOR"PRINT " CARRIER ( IF ORIGINATE )."PRINT " PLACE RECEIVER ON MODEM."PRINT " HIT RETURN KEY WHEN READY."PRINTINPUT DUMMY$: OFFSET=O: KEY OFFCALL OFFSET: STATUS=PEEK(1038): IF STATUS=O THEN GOTO 710OUT 97,68 ' TURN OFF CARRIERDEF SEG=O 'SET TO LOWEST SEGMENT (INTERRUPT AREA)POKE 32,165 : POKE 33,254: POKE 34,0: POKE 35,240 ' RESTORE TIMER VECTORDEF SEG ' BACK TO BASIC SEGMENTOUT 67,54: OUT 64,0: OUT 64,0: OUT 33,0: 'INTERRUPT MASK OFFOUT 948,12: OUT 949,0: OUT 948,13: OUT 949,0 ' RESET CRT (MONOCHROME)OUT 980,12: OUT 981,0: OUT 98q,13: OUT 981,0 ' RESET CRT (COLOR)KEY ONIF ST ATUS=ll THEN PRINT " ••• RECEIVE CARRIER STILL VALID"IF STATUS=2 THEN PRINT " """ RECEIVE CARRIER GONE - HANG UP"IF STATUS=,4 THEN PRINT " ••• TIMER MALFUNCTION"IF STATUS=6 THEN PRINT " ••• CARRIER GONE, TIMER MALFUNCTION"DAT A 30, 176,253,230,33, 184,0,0,142,216,184,134,1,163,32,0,3222DAT A 140,200 ,163,34,0,184,0,4,209,232,209 ,232,209,232,209,232,2511DAT A 139,216,14Q,200,3,195,142,216,176,69,230,97,176,182,230,67,2522DAT A 161,0,0,230,66,138,196,230,66, 176,0,162,14,0,185,7,3369DAT A 0, 180,1,205,16,180,2,186,0,24, 187, 0,0,205,16,184,3614DAT A o,o, 163,24,0,163,28,0,184,192,3,16J,26,0,184,0,3870 goto 8886softolk for the IBM Personal Computer December l982

When Is Cloud NinePUh, Sometime Between Thanksgiving and Easter!That's where you and your IBM Personal Computer will be after getting Softalk's Basicfor the IBM Personal Computer.Authored by Gary Haffer, Basic for the IBM Personal Computer has most of what youneed to know for using Basic on the pc. It starts at the beginner's level, assuming that thereader is not familiar with programming on a pc, and works up to more complicatedapplications.Haffer, president of Software Technology for Computers, has been involved withmainframes and minicomputers for more than ten years and now is applying his expertise tothe world of microcomputers. He knows his stuff.Written in a style that is clear, concise, and easy to follow, Basic for the IBM PersonalComputer costs $19.95, plus shipping and handling, if you order direct from Softalk. Basicfor the IBM Personal Computer should start shipping by Christmas, barring unanticipatedblizzards or revolutions in Southern California.Send in your money now to reserve one of the first copies of this invaluable source ofBasic knowledge for pc owners.Send order with payment to:Softalk IBM BookBox 60North Hollywood, CA 91603$19.95 plus $1.50 postage and handling. California residents add 6% percent sales tax.Dealer inquiries invited.IBM Personal Computer is a trademark of International Business Machines.

1060 DATA 184,163,30,0,184,212,3,163,32,0,184,255,31,163,34,0,33621070 DATA 180,15,205,16,136,38,22,0,60,2,114,30;80,184,128,7,37831080 DAT A 163,26,0,88,60, 7,117,18,184,0,176,163,30,0,184,255,35291090 DAT A 7,163,34,0,184,180,3,163,32,0,250,176,255,230,33,176,31141100 DATA 48, 230,67,1 76,255,230,64,230,64,232,248,2,251,161,4,0,273811io DAT A 43,216,114,36,1 76,48,230,67,161,6,0,230,64,138,196,230,30451120 DA TA 64,176,254,230,33,176,0,162,17,0,160,11,0,162,15,0,35401130 DA TA 176,2,162,13,0,233,149,1,176,253,230,33,180,1,205,22,31641140 DA TA 116,184,180,0,205,22,162,17,0,60,129,117,3,233,143,1,34281150 DAT A 60, 128,116,123,36,127,122,2,12,128,134,196,160,10,0,60,35861160 DA TA 0,117,6,134,196,36,127,235,18,60,1,117,6,134,196,12,36051170 DAT A 128, 235,8,60,2,134,196,116,2,52,128,162,17,0,36,127,35971180 DA TA 80,60,30,116,11,60,31,116,7,160,9,0,60,1,116,3,4140ll90 DATA 232,82,1,88,60,30,116,7,60,31,116,3,233,3,0,233,37051200 DAT A 88,255,176,1,162,13,0,160,11,0,162,15,0,160,12,0,37851210 DAT A 162,16,0,250,176,254,230,33,176,48,230,67,161,6,0,230,29611220 DATA 64,138,196,230,64,251,161,2,0,232,33,2,233,254,0,176,29641230 DAT A 3,162,13,0,176,64,162,18,0,235,216,76,82,69,65,71,35881240 DATA 65,78,49,57,56,50,251,88,88,88,176,48,230,67,161,6,34421250 DAT A 0,230,64,138,196,230,64,176,32,230,32,160,13,0,60,3,33721260 DAT A 116,62,60,2,116,82,160,15,0,60,0,116,29,254,200,162,35661270 DAT A 15,0,160,17,0,208,216,162,17,0,115,5,161,0,0,235,36891280 DAT A 3,161,2,0,232,198,1,233,163,0,160,16,0,60,0,li6,36551290 DAT A 7,254,200,162,16,0,235,228,176,0,162,13,0,233,186,254,28741300 DATA 160,18,0,60,0,p6,8,254,200,162,18,0,_233,126,0,161,34841310 DATA o,0,232,152,1,233,224,255,160,15,0,60,0,116,24,254,32741320 DAT A 200,162,15,0,232,157,1,161,4,0,43,216,160,17,0,208,34241330 DA TA 216,162,17,0,233,86,0,160,17,0,134,196,160,10,0,60,35491340 DAT A 0,117,8,134,196,36,128,116,39,235,30,60,1,117,8,134,36411350 DAT A 196,36,128,117,27,235,18,60,2,117,8,134,196,36,255,122,3313from page 83a minimal 16K cassette-based system. It consistsof a machine language program slightlylarger than lK in length. The program isinitialized and loaded through Basic.If you are using a disk system, changestatement 200 from def seg = &H300 to defseg = &HBOO; this change will put the ma-Listing 1. Sparrow communications program.chine code higher in the Bask segment.You can key in the listing through theBasic editor. Note that the data statementsstart at line 1000. Don' t be intimidated by allthese data statements; if you turn on thenum lock feature, key entry can go fairlyquickly. Automatic error-checking occurs at1360 DAT A 15,235,6,134,196,36,255,123, 7,176,20,162,17,0,235,3,33801370 DAT A -160,1 7,0,250,176,255,230,33,232,42,0,160,9,0,60,2,33741380 DA T A 116,8,176,0,162,13,0,233,48,254,233,213,254,185,255,255,25951390 DAT A 226,254,180,4,160,14,0,8,224,162,14,0,233,0,0,176,33451400 DA TA 253,230,33,31,203,160,17,0,36,127,60,30,117,4,232,207,32601410 DAT A 0,195,60,31,117,4,232,210,0,195,60,10,117,6,232,149,33821420 DA TA 0,233,117,0,60,13,117,9,184,0,0,163,24,0,233,104,37431430 DA TA 0,60,8,117,40,161,24,0,61,0,0,117,24,161,22,0,42051440 DAT A 139,30,26,0,43,216,137,30,26,0,255,200,163,24,0,232,34791450 DATA 153,0,233,68,0,255,200,163,24,0,233,60,0,138,208,161,31041460 DATA 24,0,139,30,26,0,3,195,35,6,34,0,209,224,139,216,37201470 DATA 30,161,30,0,142,216,136,23,31,139,30,24,0,161,22,0,38551480 DA TA 255,195,59,216,116,7,137,30,24,0,233,12,0,184,0,0,35321490 DATA 163, 24,0,232,32,0,233,0,0,161,24,0,139,30,26,0,39361500 DA TA l ,195,139,22,32,0,176,14,238,66,138,199,238,74,176,15,3277151 o D AT A 238,66,138,195,238,195,161,26,0,139,30,22,0,3,195,163,31911520 DATA 26,0,139,14,22,0,139,22,30,0,35,6,34,0,139,216,41781530 DAT A 209,227,30,142,218,198,7,32,31,64,226,238,232,1,0,195,29501540 DA TA 161,28,0,139,30,22,0,3,195,235,9,161,28,0,139,30,38201550 DA TA 22,0,43,195,163,28,0,139,216,139;22,32,0,116,12,238,35751560 DAT A 66,138,199,238,74,176,13,238,66,138,195,238,195,80,228,98,26201570 DATA 36,32,138,224,228,98,36,32,58,196,116,248,88,230,66,138,30361580 DA TA 196,230,66,195,232,16,0,232,13,0,144,144,144,139,195,80,29741590 DAT A 232, 4,0, 88,3,216,195,228,98,36,16,162,19,0,138,35,35271600 DAT A 19,0,185,85,0,228,98,36,16,58,196,225,248,162,19,0,3425161 o DAT A 176,0,230,67,228,64,138,224,228,64,134,196,139,30,20,0,30621620 DAT A 43,216,163,20,0,227,4,180,0,235,7,184,0,0,139,216,33661630 DA TA 18 0,2,160,14,0,8,224,162,14,0,195,144,144,144,144,144,33211640 DAT A 172,3,91, 4,50,2,101,15,0,0,0,8,1,0,2,0,45511650 ENDrun time to detect any mistakes you mayhave made irt the data statements.It isn' t necessary to have the Sparrowhardware built and connected before youtest the software. Temporarily add the followingstatement:285 POKE 41,71What you see ...is what you printwith PrtSc (print screen)Enhanced screen printing for the IBAti~mtlaat the touch of?ID Print a// 256 text ch~o'ci'r't:.a-r.~----0 Print medium and higD Save screen images on disD Use with Monochrome and Color adaptersD Documented programmers' interfaceDiskette and manual: $65 postpaid VISA/MC welcomeRADIO TECHNOLOGY8 N. Main St., Suite 111 , West Hartford, CT 06107(203) 232-9974Write for special prices o n EPSON p rinters and AMDEK RCB video monitors.This statement will enable you to hear thetransmitted data on the pc's internal speaker.To disable the speaker, delete line 285 beforerunning the program.Lines 100 through 150 are for setting operationalmode, duplex, parity, baud rate,and the number of stop bits. For testing purposes,set the option variables as follows:110 OM$="0RIGINATE"120 DM$="HALF DUPLEX"130 BAUDR=300140 PAR$="EVEN"150 STB=lRun the program. It takes about twenty-fiveseconds to initialize; you'll get a messagewhen initialization is complete. Hit the enterkey and you'll be executing the Sparrowmachine code. Hold down the A key andverify that you can display four or five linesof As.The Sparrow has its own CRT driverprogram, because the BIOS CRT driver istoo slow for the Sparrow. This driver supportsboth display adapters. Statement 10forces the CRT adapter into a text mode,rather than a graphics mode. To use a fortycolumndisplay, change the first part ofstatement 10 from screen 2 to screen 1 beforerunning the program.If you're using a graphics adapter you88 softalk for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982

TRANSFORM YOUR IBM® TOTALLYGRAPHICS + BUPPERING + TERMINALComputer-PrinterOutput Butlering• Buffer sizes softwareselectable 1 6K, 32K, 48K, 64K• Uses any standard memoryexpansion boards• Buffer size reselection fordifferent sized output jobs, atkeyboard level• Buffers time consuminggraphics reproduction as wellas text• Print speed no longerdetermines processing speedof your PC. Printer virtuallyfunctions independently of thecomputer.Dot Matrix GraphicsHard CopyReproduction• Full Color or B/W tones• Uses any standard memoryexpansion boards• All Hires and Mediumresolution modes• 4 dot scale sizes for 4 differentblow-up sizes• Whole graphics screen, or anysubsection can be reproduced• Picture rotation , across oralong length of page• 'Shift'-'PrtSc' feature to makesnapshot copies at keyboardlevel• Inversion of color/BW for anygraphic mode• Colors on Prism 132/80 can beswapped and mixed as desired• Compatible with :EPSON MX-80-80FT-100NEC 8023C-ITOH PROWRITER I/IIOKIDATA 82, 83 with graphicsIDS PRISM 132/80, with color andwithout color optionsM1cRocoMPUTERSimultaneousCompute and PrintPrinter Output BufferingBus1NESSTimeDot Graphic ReproductionINDUSTRIESTerminal EmulatorRecommended Retail• $85° 0 •Less than $29 per function!Terminal EmulatorData Aquisition• RS-232 direct connect ormodem connect to remotecomputer• Full communications, datalogging, printing and viewing• Software permitting intelligentgraphics terminal emulationwill be available later.• Usage of 'INT' call permitsspecific and easy useradaption of base emulatorfor any specific terminalfunction .• Queuing of incoming andoutgoing data allows a user torun a current program and stillreceive data.• Modular structure permitseasy interfacing to user databases.This unique device meets thestandard, beats the standard andwill be the standard for IBM usersof software, worldwide.The NAME of thisindispensabledevice?1-C-Magic@PLUG inandGOSee local dealer orwrite for technical details.Attn : ICM ChipMBI Corp.1019 8th StreetGolden, CO 80401IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines, Corp. MBI and 1-C·Magic are trademarks of Microcomputer Business Industries, Corp.MICROCOMPUTER-BUSINESSINDUSTRIESCORPORATIONADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: 1019 8TH STREET, GOLDEN, COLORADO 80401 (U.S.A.)TELEPHONE: (303) 279-8438TWX: 910-934-0191

Data.Base Manager will helpyou keep track of virtuallyany information-and keepthat information up-to-dateand accurate!Easy to UseData Base Manager is so easyto use that you will be able torecord, access, and print valuableinformation after listeningto the spoken instructions-ashort, hands-on tutorial whichcomes with the program.PowerfulData Base Manager is a powerfulsoftware product that willhelp you do all of the followingandmore!• Design and print a reportshowing sales regions sortedand subgrouped by profits.•Design and print a reportwhich automatically calculatesdollar sales by multiplyingunit sales and unit costs.•Find all customers who livein the Northeast, have lowcredit ratings, and outstandingbalances-send them aletter explaining a new bankpayment plan.•Sort your mailings by zipcode-save money on bulkmailing rates.•Find a name or address evenif you forget the exact spelling.Below is an example of a simplereport you can generate witha few keystrokes. By sortingthe DAYS OVERDUE column,the billing department knowswhich customers are late withtheir payments.BALANCE OUTSTANDING REPORTCOMPANYABC CompanyJones CompanyYork CompanyGFD Corporati onAce Manufacturing Co.Applied Technolog iesM and Z CorporationTyne IndustriesAdvanced SystemsDAYSBALANCE OVERDUE23456390345691000879904567900070004390828080716561504528NOTE: Send reminders to all accounts overdue60 days or moreFeatures•Searches-Phonetic SearchWild Card/ Key Word SearchThree-Level Search on Any Criteria•Sorts- Numeric and AlphabeticAscending and Descending Order•Reports-Automatic Tabbing andLayout (with Override Capability)Preview Reports on FileAccommodates up to ten customdesignedreportsComputed Optional Field CapabilityFlexible Format Mailing List• Lets you know how many recordsyou have on file and how manyyou can add•Takes advantage of your printer'scondensed mode automaticallyif needed• Uses one program and one datadisk - no disk switching required•Works with DOS 1 .0 and DOS 1 .1•Stores up to 2800 records per diskwith DOS 1.1Program RequirementsIBM Personal Computer with 64Kof memoryTwo disk drives (DOS 1.0 or 1.1)Supports all monitorsSupports the following printer lines:IBM PC, Epson , IDS , NEC, OkidataIBM PC is a trademark of IBM CorpEPSON is a trademark of Epson of America, Inc.IDS is a trademark of Integral Data Systems CorpNEC is a trademark of Nippon Electric CorpOkidata is a trademark of Oki Electric Industry CorpData Base Manager for the IBM Personal computer-$245-availabletoday. ca111-so0-451·1018 for your nearest dealer.Other Alpha Products for the IBM PC are: The Apple-IBM Connection,Mailing List, Question, and Type Faces.~alR!!!!12 NEW ENGLAND EXECUTIVE PARK BURLINGTON, MASS. 01803(617) 229-2924

can backtrack up to eight pages to see whatyou did earlier in a work session. By hittingcontrol-6 or control-hyphen you can moveyour display window up or down. It's a goodidea to keep the cursor on the bottom line ofthe display ,to prevent confusion when page7 wraps around to page 0.By typing alt 128 (on the number pad)you can generate a space frequency for half asecond. Some systems use this half-secondspace tone as a signal to break into a transmission.Typing alt 129 (again on the numberpad) returns you to Basic, restores the pcmachine state, and gives you the Sparrowstatus.When you're satisfied that the softwareis running correctly, plug the hardware intoyour pc. Delete line 285. Run the software inoriginate mode with switches Sl and S2 bothin the originate configuration. You shouldhear the 1,270 Hz carrier tone in the Sparrowspeaker. If you whistle or clap yourhands, you should receive trash on thescreen. Depressing keys should c

The next twenty lines of text will be loadedon the screen. Repeat the ·procedure youused for the first twenty lines; do the samewith the other two files, until you've enteredthe entire program with the Basic editoi:.If the listing you desire is longer thanseventy-five lines, you'll have to take in theprogram seventy-five lines at a time, but youcan still get the whole program.Conclusions. The Sparrow can be as reliableor more reliable than standard acousticmodem systems. Since there is less hardware,there is less to break down. The techniqueused by the Sparrow to demodulate isconceptually the same as that used by LSImodem chips, such as the MC6860 or theMCI4412. The system can be fine tunedwith software updates. Ridiculously complicatedmodulation and demodulation algorithmscould be used to squeeze out everybit of performance conceivable, but youshould find that the program listed hereserves your needs adequately.The Sparrow offers simplicity and lowcost while maintaining compatibility withBell 103. In spite of incompatibilities withmost avaiiable communications software, theSparrow offers a very inexpensive alternativeto spending three or four hundred dollarsfor communications capability. Onceyou start working with remote systemsyou'll be surprised to find out how much informationis only a phone call away. ...SymptomCan't return to BasicKeys aren't displayedNo Sparrow soundsNo data receivedCan't log onLots of parity errorsDouble charactersCursor gets lostAdd statements 2000-2020 to the Sparrowcommunications program to clear the CRTmemory and reset the screen pointers.Run at 3100 instead of at 3000 when you aresaving the second group of 7S lines from a longlisting. If the listing is longer than lSO lines, add asimilar program starting at statement 3200, butlabel files as Part9-Partl2.2000 FOR 1=3 TO o STEP-I:SCREEN 0,1,1:NEXT I2010 DEF SEG=&H300 I THIS STATEMENTMUST MATCH STATEMENT 2002020 GOTO 660Statements 3000-3060 store pages 1-.3 of CRTmemory to disk or cassette. Four text files calledPartl - Part4 are created.3000 DEF SEG=&HBSOO 'POINT TO CRTBUFFER3010 BSA VE "PARTl ",4000,32003020 BSA VE "PART2",7200,32003030 BSA VE "PART3",!Q!Q(),32003040 BSAVE "PART4'',13600,320030SO PRINT "PART1-PART4 SAVED"3060 ENDStatements 3100-3160 are identical to3000-3060 except the files are namedParts-Part 8.3100 DEF SEG=&HBSOO 'POINT TO CRTBUFFER3110 BSA VE "PARTS",4000,32003120 BSA VE "PART6",7200,32003130 BSA v£ "PART7",10400,32003140 BSA VE "PARTS",13600,320031SO PRINT "PARTS-PARTS SAVED"3160 ENDListing 2.T ransferririg files with theColor/Graphics AdapterSparrow trouble-shooting guide.Possible causeDon' t type control-scroll-lock (the standard break for Basic programs)while you are executing the Sparrow machine code. If you do try to breakthis way, the CRT screen will not reset when you finally do return to Basic.Remember that when you type alt 129 the numbers must be typedfrom the numeric keypad.Recall that if you ai'e in full duplex mode, keys don' t get displayed. Onlyinformation received from the communications link gets displayed.Double-check wiring. Verify component placement on the circuit board.Check switch settings. Verify that !Cl and IC2 have +12 volts an piri 4and -12 volts on pin 11. The most likely causes of problems will besolder shorts or solder bridges, misplaced components, or componentsinstalled backwards.If the Sparrow generates tones for both answer and originate, but trash isnot received when you make noises, check SPKl and its connections.Make sure that the telephone mouthpiece is mounted on SPK2 and thatthe telephone earpiece is mounted on SPKl (sounds from the phone go toSPKl; sounds to the phone tome from SPK2).Check to be sure you initialized for the correct parity ~nd baud rate.If you are initialized for half duplex when the remote system is operatihgfull duplex, you will see two characters displayed for each oneyou type.If the Sparrow receives a control-6 or a control-hyphen, the display windowmoves; which causes the cursor to be displaced. You can find itag~in by typing control-6 or control-hyphen.Excessive errors at The values stored at addresses 1061and1060 are for coarse and fine tun-300 Baud ing, respectively. Experiment by poking different values at these locations(line 370).8087SUPPORTforthelBM PCSpeed up your PCwith these tine products:8087CHIP $22387188 GUIDE TMThis user's guide contains all the informationrequired to drive an 8087from assembly language or the BASICInterpreter. It is a valuable companionto the IBM MACRO Assembler and includeslistings of 8087 /8088 programswhich run on the IBM PC.$18.9587MACROA library of assembly languageMACROS which access all 8087instructions from the IBM MACROAssembler. Includes commentedsource listings of frequently called8087 utility procedures. $15087BASIC;M87PASCALMAND87FORTRANA library of drivers which work withthe IBM BASIC Compiler andproduce super fast executionmodules. each $150FASTPAK.,. 8087This package includes a copy of our87/88 GUIDE'", a MicroWare-tested8087 with installation instructionsand one of the following powerfulmodules: 87BASIC", 87PASCAL'",87MACRO'", 87FORTRAN '", or87COBOL'". $375APPLICATIONSFFTs .... ....... . . .......... .. ... $75MATRIXPAK .......... ....... . . . $7518 DIGIT TRIGONOMETRICS ... $75IBM cind IBM Personal Computer areregistered trademarks of IBM Corp. ~8087 is a trademark of Intel Corp. ~87/88 GUIDE. 87 MACRO. 87 BASIC. ~87 PASCAL. 87 FORTRAN, 87 COBOL and rs:::2:2jMicroWare are trademarks of MicroWare, Inc.M . .P.O. Box 79rcro•A•areKingston, MA02364If·~ (617) 746-7341for the IBM Personal Computer December 198293

The Spelling Bee Is Over.Listen. We're going to let you in on anindustry secret: It's not hard to make a goodspelling checker.You see, although spelling checking is newfor microcomputers, it's been around on bigcomputers for years. And when you get past allthe talk, most spelling checkers work the sameway. They compare 'Yhat you've written with adictionary-and report ilje errors.So is there any difference? You bet: thedictionary, and the price.Who Checks The Checker?The hardest part of a spelling checker tomake is the dictionary. It's hard to pick the rightwords-and spell every one of them perfectly.That's why some popular spelling checkers don'teven contain real dictionaries. They use formulas · C ,called "hash tables." Which make a hashcompanies want to charge you $100, or $200 oreven $300!Random House to the RescueThe Random House ProotReader is basedon the famous Random House Dictionary. It isthe result of decades of careful work And it wasadapted for computer spelling d~ecking byprofessional editors, linguists and scholars. So youcan depend on it.Of course, our program is darn good, too.It's fast. It doesn't take up too much disk space. Itshows you the error and the sentence it's in. Itlets you correct the mistake without reediting.And if you don't know how to spell a word, itsuggests the spelling. It even correctsyour correction.The Random House ProotReadetrr'\:\'P.out of your spelling some of . . _ . 0 ~ i\the time.\) I~>-Other spelling '1-:l f\.. ~ ~ \ C. ~- checkers "borrow'' \..'- r~" .:10\..) ~ -.....rtheir words fromprinted dictionariesJ._ J.. 1'... \ i\. ~ ~, 1 0 \.. ~ r .~ \\ e"'{ .1from old word I }. :\'. 1 \: )..'\ ,lists. Or give \ ( ,; '- '~ .a programmer-or copy them \)-t iCrf l- · . ()_:\. \,~'y ~ _: \ l~ (~, Pwho can't spell ( , \.)"programmer" '- ~ 1achancetowritehis \ ;l ~ . • •first dictionary. Andas though all thiswasn't bad enough,a lot of these~ comes in sizes to fit all systems:20,000words(55K), 32,000words(74K), 50,000words( 108K) and 83,000 words( 180K). You can add yourown words with a singlekeystroke. And itworks with all CP/M®,IBM PersonalComputer®, andTRS-80® Model I/IIIword processors.*How much doesthe RandomHouseProotReadercost? Only $50.00.Why do we sell itfor $50when theothers wantup to $300?Don't ask us. Ask them.The Random HouseProofReader $50For orders or information, call 505-281-1634. VISA, Master Card accepted. Or write Random House ProofReader, Box 339Tijeras, New Mexico 87059. Please enclose S50 and specify your computer model, dis~k size and memory. Dealer inquiries invited.*Random House and the House design are i-egistered trademarks of Random House Inc. CP/M is a registered trademark of Digital Research, Inc.-TRS-80 isa trademarkofTandy Corporation.IBM and IBM Personal Computer are registered trademarks of Internatio nal Business Machines Corp. Dictionary copyright © 1982 Random House, Inc. Program and advertisementcopyright© 1982 Aspen Software, Inc. The TRS-80 versions do not suggest correct spe11ings.

marl

... ---··', ., · · · ···_,, .. , .. ,,····, .. --······· ··__, .. , ..··· · ,,, . .···, ...-· · ··

256K ($895). Parallel and serial ports are $60 each. A A communicationsboard, with a parallel port, two serial ports, and a clock.In maximum configuration, $475. A An IEEE-488 controller that cancontrol up to fifteen devices, with an optional clock and serial port.$395. Clock, $125; serial port, $75. A A prototyping board that canhold up to seventy-two sixteen-pin dual inline packages. $75. Allhardware comes with a three-year warranty. A There is also a program,Compac, which is designed for use with the communicationsboard. It allows your computer to use a variety of protocols (asynchronous,bisynchronous, synchronous, HDLC, SDLC, X.25) andcharacter sets (ASCII, EBCDIC, transcode) to share files with agreat variety of computers. Available for PC-DOS or CP/M-86.Asynchronous, $125; synchronous with byte protocol, $295; synchronouswith bit protocol, $395.A Lifetree Software (177 Webster Street, Suite 342, Monterey, CA93940; 408-659-3221) has released version 1.2 of its word processorVolkswriter. The program is no longer copy protected. It has enhancedformatting, including headers, footers, subscripts, superscripts,microjustification, proportional spacing, and conditionalpage breaks. It can store formats and lay out documents accordingto type. It can support most printers without requiring controlcodes, and it can use all 256 characters. Version 1.2 is available for$20 to registered owners. It is free to anyone who purchased an olderversion after September l. Also, a 128K version, which integratesall overlays, is available free to registered owners.A Computer Systems Research (195 West Main Street, Box 45,Avon, CT 06001; 203-678-1212) offers " The IBM Personal ComputerPrimer Series," a computer-aided instruction package. It hascourses on "Major System Components," " Using the Keyboard ofthe IBM Personal Computer," " Basic Computer Concepts," " Usingthe Basic Computer Language," " The Disk Operating System," and"Problem Determination." In addition to the programs, there is a143-page workbook. $150.A TexaSoft (1028 North Madison Avenue, Dallas, TX 75208; 214-946-7912) sells the VersaText word processing and database system.VersaText can keep inventories, produce mail labels, or createform letters. Requires two .drives. $149. A Other products: TheThinker, a spreadsheet program. $49. A Trilogy, an adventure basedon the works of Tolkien. $35. A The Queen of Hearts, a maze gameplayable with keyboard or joystick, and monochrome adapter orcolor. $35. A Set the Hostages Free, an action game with multiple levelsof difficulty. $35.A Whitney Educational Services (1777 Borel Place, Suite 402, SanMateo, CA 94402; 415-341-5818) has announced a video interfacefor the Personal Computer. The videotape/videodisc controllercosts $990. A Whitney also sells Insight PC, a program that allowsnonspecialists to write interactive video instruction. It accepts inputin the form of English sentences, then creates a program to executethe instructions. $990.A James Electronics (4050 North Rockwell Street, Chicago, IL60618; 312-463-6500) produces a 250 watt isolator that reduces thedanger of power spikes. $265.A Technical Analysis (120 West Wieuca Road N.E., Atlanta, GA30042; 404-252-1045) sells an interface for the IBM 3270 controller.It emulates a 3278 display, enabling interaction with a host computer.$1,195.A Individual Software (24 Spinnaker Place, Redwood City, CA94065; 415-591-4166) has lowered the price of The Instructor programfor the Personal Computer. The Instructor teaches such fundamentalsas keyboard use and system commands. The new price is$39.95.A Microbase Software (Box 40353, Indianapolis, IN 46240; 317-877-4304) is the creator of the Microbase Software Generator, a programthat allows the user to create database and report programs inBasic by printing the desired file or report to the screen and then answeringa set of questions. 96K, eighty-column screen, two drives,and printer recommended. $350 for user version, $495 for systemdeveloper version.•INVENTORY MANAGERS:WHEN YOU BUYINFOTORY ...YOU'RE BUYINGTHE BEST!SSA Corporation has been providingbusiness solutions for all makes andsizes of computers for over twelveyears. They know your needs andhow to satisfy them.They know what management wantsin an inventory system ... less timelearning and more time producing.Last year SSA introduced INFOTOAY ... the ultimate solution to inventorymanagement problems.With INFOTOAY anyone in theoffice can learn the system-in lessthan four hours ... because it's sq _"-·"easy to use. , ,Even though the system is easy to learn a.ndoperate it has great flexibility and power.INFOTOAY promises the information youneed- when you need it and the way youwant it. You design your own report withINFOTOAY'S unique reporting featurecalled ANYAEPORT. This easy to learnfeature will deliver customized reports withinminutes.ANYAEPOAT's capabilities are almostunlimited. Other inventory systems donot have an ANYREPOAT feature. Youwould have to buy an additional softwarepackage to get this extra ... and youmight have to take a computer courseto learn how to use it.So, for the best, most flexible,simple-to-learn inventory packageavailable . . . stop in at your nearestIBM PC Dealer, or give SSAa call for more information.SSA Corporation, 1600 Lyell Avenue, Rochester, New York Telephone 716-254-3200softolk for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982 97

If r,ou're smart, you'll buy your. IBM exP.ans1on memoryfrom IDE.64KB128KBIBM $475 $675COMPUTERL\ND* $350 $530SFARS** $349 $524IDE $275 $385Prices based on most recent data available. *Datamac OM-Series **Microsoft RAM cardAs you can see from the chart above,our memory boards for the IBM PersonalWe also eliminate things that drive costsup. Like fancy showrooms, high-priced sales-Computer cost less than our competitors'. men and the proverbial middleman.Considerably less.That's how we sell our product for less.But if you're smart (and we think you are) Yet still offer you more.you'd never buy a memory product based on Free installation.price alone. You'd also look for quality, relia- If you live in a selected major metropolibilityand service.With IDE, you'll get all that. At a lowertan area, we'll install the IDE memory boardright in your home or office. Absolutely free.price.If you don't live in one of these cities, we'llWhy we cost less.send you your board in the mail. And all IDEAt IDE, we make only one type of product. boards come with the documentation youAdd-ons for the IBM PC.need to install them within minutes.By concentrating our efforts, we run One year warranty.our company more efficiently. And keepWe believe in our memory boards, theircosts down.advanced design and our quality controlfacilities.192KB256KB$875 $1075$710 $890$699 $874$485 $575So we offer you a full one year warranty onall our boards. Not just 90 days.And we offer an easy way to upgrade.When you need more memory, just send us$125 for each additional 64K. We'll send youyour new upgraded board and take your oldboard back. It's that easy.Order today.Cut out the coupon and take advantageof our money saving offer. With the discount,ours is the lowest priced board we know of.But hurry, the offer ends soon.For more information on our memoryboards or our new memory combinationboard, call us at (617) 272-7360.And use your head to choose your memory.If you're quick,yo~!l_s~~~~1!~~~~0.1 IDEAssociates 1I$50 OFFMail to: IDE Associates, 44 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01803.Sendme __ 64KB __ l28KB __ l92KB __ 256KBMemory Board(s) Total charge $I Mass. Residents add 5% Sales Tax. I have attached 0 CHECK 0 COMPANY P.O.Please charge my D VISA D MASTERCARD.I ICredit Card#:Expiration Date ____I ICompany Name___________Tel. ~( -~-----1 IAddress City State Zip ..... _Offer ends Dec. 31, 1982. IL1

PASCALtoby Bruce F. Webster and Deirdre A. WendtIn our last exciting installment, we took the following simple Basicprogram:100 REM SIMPLE BASIC PROGRAM110 INPUT A120 INPUT B130 C =A+ B140 PRINT C150 STOP160 REM END OF SIMPLE BASIC PROGRAMand, in eight short steps, converted it into the following simple Pascalprogram:data type" in just a few minutes.Which brings us to this month's topic: variables. Variables, asyou know, are like little named pigeonholes that we use in our programsto store values. In the Pascal example shown, a, b, and c areinteger variables. That is, we can assign a single integer value toeach one of those three names. Then, when we reference the name,we can get the value back. Let's see how Pascal handles variables.Naming Names. One major difference between Pascal and, say,Basic or Fortran is that each and every variable in a Pascal programmust be declared before it can be used. To declare a variable, youspecify . two things: its name and its data type (more on data typesshortly). All variables used in a program have to be declared in aspecial section at the start of the program:PROGRAM simple(input,output); (,.ignore "(input,output)" ,.)(,. A simple Pascal program converted from Basic.DATE: 23 December 1982AUTHOR: Charles Q. Fordyce ,.)VARa,b integer; (,. input variables ,.)c integer; (,. output variable ,.)BEGIN (,. main body of PROGRAM simple ,.)readln(a); readln(b );c: = a+ b;writeln( c);END. (,. of PROGRAM simple ,.)thus proving that anyone who can write a simple Basic program canwrite a simple Pascal program. You may wonder how important thatreally is, but in a world full of uncertainties it's nice to establishsomething.Now if that's as far as you want to go in learning Pascal, if Basicmeets all your other needs, then fine-turn the page and go read anotherarticle. Just remember the conversation between the Scotsmanand the Englishman, to wit:Englishman:Scotsman: ." I was born as an Englishman, I live as an Englishman,and I will die as an Englishman!"" Have ye no ambition?"If, on the other hand, you really want to show that programmer(who is forever flaunting her or his Pascal programs at you) thatyou are not as benighted as she or he thinks, then stick around.We'll have you saying "overlapping subranges of an enumeratedPROGRAM programname;VAR(,. all variables declared here ,.)BEGIN(,. main body of program here ,.)END.All that standard Pascal requires of a variable name is that it beginwith a letter (a to z, upper or lower case) and be followed by zeroor more letters or digits (O to 9). Maximum length and the allowabilityof additional characters depend on the Pascal you're using;for example, both UCSD Pascal and IBM Pascal permit very longidentifiers (although UCSD only recognizes ·the first eight charactersand IBM only recognizes the first thirty-one), and both thesePascals allow the use of the underscore character. So in UCSD andIBM Pascal the following are all legal variable names:this,...is_a_ testyear -of_ the _catfred a3245ibd32dcantidisestablishmentarianismTyping Types. Pascal not only demands that you list the namesof all the variables you plan to use, but it also requires that youspecify each variable's type. Each declaration statement has the followingformat:(,. one or more names ,.) (,. data type ,.);As mentioned in last month's column, Pascal has four standard datatypes: integer, real, char, and boolean. Here are some loose definitions:softalk for the IBM Personal Computer December 198299

IntegerRealCharBoolean·numbers without decimal points, such as 3, 0,553, -26412numbers with decimal points, such as 0.0,53.421, -3.1415927, 1.86272e05single ASCII characters, such as b, ", 0,control-Can enumerated data type (more about these ina moment) with two possible values; true orfalseWith this information in hand, we can now write the followinguseless but enlightening program:PROGRAM useless_ but_ enlightening;(" purpose: to illustrate variable definitions ")(" Written by: Chester Q. Fordyce ")(" Date: 1 November, 1982 ")VAR (" start of variable declaration section ")month, day, yearinteger;pi, radius, circumference real;first_ initial, last_ initial char;to_ be, not_ to_ beboolean;BEGIN (" start of main body of program ")month : = 10; day : = 1; year : = 1982;radius : = 52.137;circumference : = 6.28318 " radius;first_initial : = 'W';last_initial : = 'H';to_be :=true; not_to_be :=false;END. ("of PROGRAM useless_but_enlightening ")You'll recall from our discussion last month that you must use acolon and equal sign (:=)together when assigning variables. A simpleequal sign will not do the job in PascaL Also notice that valuesassigned to char variables have to be surrounded with single quotemarks (apostrophes).Defining Your Own. One of the marvelous features of Pascal isthe ability it gives you to define your own data types. This is a vastsubject, which we'll chip away at from time to time. Our chip forthis month is enumerated data types (also known as scalar datatypes). For typographic purposes, we will abbreviate enumerateddata type as EDT.The purpose of an EDT is to replace meaningless values withmeaningful identifiers. An example? Well, in the program Uselessbut Enlightening, we set an integer variable named month to thevalue 10. What does this mean? Most of us, after a little thought,will say, " October." Wrong! Chester Q. Fordyce, author of the program,likes to number months 0 through 11, so in this program10 means November. ·The ambiguity brought about by using numbers to representmonths can be avoided. Just define an EDT, as follows:PROGRAM useless_ but_enlightening;TYPE (" note that EDTs are declared before variables ")months (january,february,march,april,may,june,july,august,september,october,november,december);VARmonth months;BEGINmonth : = november;END.Now there is no doubt at all about what value the variable monthholds. Judicious use of EDTs can aid program development in threeways. First, by increasing program clarity. The statement month:=november is better understood than month : = 10. Second, by reducingvalid-but-incorrect typos. For example, it's harder accidentallyto type december for november than it is to type 11 when youmean to type 10. And third, by limiting the range of values a vari-StarLogicAnnouncesSavings on IBM CompatibleDisk DrivesINTERNAL DRIVES168K formatted storage322K formatted storage$165.00$235.00EXTERNAL DRIVESIncludes drive, cabinet, cableand power supply168K formatted storage322K formatted storage650K formatted storage(requires software patch to DOS 1. 1)$245.00$310.00$385.00TELEPHONE ORDERS ONLYMASTERCARD OR VISA REQUIRED(213) 883-0587StarLogicIBMis a trademark of IBM Corporation100softolk for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982

ASQUFSTIONS TO ASK YOURSOFfWARE SUPPLIERBEFORE HE SEIJ.S YOU AWORD PROCFSSING SYSTEMFOR YOUR IBM PC.Ask a computer products dealerfor word processing software, andchances are he'll try to sell youWords tar.It's a pretty good system. Lots ofpeople use it. And besides, he's gotit in his inventory, and you cantake it home with you right now.But before you settle for Wordstar,remember that-whateversystem you choose-you'll beusing it for a long time. So yourdecision should be based on systemperformance-not what thedealer happens to have on hand.That's why you should lookinto PowerText.Quite simply, PowerTextwill do far more for you thanWordstar.We realize that's a very toughclaim. But the Wordstar userswho've switched to PowerTextwill tell you it's true. And if you'llread on, we'll give you some keyquestions to ask your dealer:Ask if Wordstar automaticallystyles your copy for any kindof document you write. Can youtell Wordstar, "This is a letter," andthen get a perfect letter, with thedate, name and address, salutation,and closing exactly where youwant them to be-automatically?Does Wordstar produce memos,reports, presentations, and scriptsin precisely the formats you wantwithout your ever having to worryabout where the words go onthe paper?Well, Wordstar doesn't do thosethings for you. But PowerText does.That means with PowerTextyou can concentrate on whatyou're writing, not on printedstyle. You always get a beautiful,perfectly formatted documentautomatically.Just think of how much time andeffort these remarkable capabilitieswill save you. It's almost like dictatingto your computer.PowerText gives you automaticmargins. Indents. Spacing. Titlepage. Envelope or label.Automatic justification. Centering.Variable pitch. Pagination.Table of contents.And truly intelligent page breaks.(You'll never end up with "Yourstruly," all by itself on the last pageof your letter.)And an enormously usefulfeature that automaticallyindents and numbers for youwhen you write numbered paragraphs-agreat time-saver whenyou're doing outlines, reports, orquestionnaires.Plus columnar capabilities sosophisticated and flexible they canhandle just about any problem youcan think up.Ask if Wordstar gives you allthese features. (It doesn't.)Of course, both PowerText andWordstar give you complete editingcapabilities. All good word processingsystems do.But PowerText gives you builtinform letter capability. WithWordstar, you'll need to buy theMailmerge® system to produceform letters.And PowerText gives you automaticheaders and footers. Andboxed copy. And print macros.And automatic footnote numbers.And boilerplate inclusion. Andvertical and horizontal borderlines. And 132-character lines.And superscripts and subscripts.With PowerText there's nolimit to document length. AndPowerText accommodates a full25 percent more data per disk thanWordstar (or standard IBMsoftware).PowerText is a straightforward,easy-to-learn,easy-to-use system. You'll masterit quickly with our superb newIO-lesson tutorial. You get a com-WORDSTAR and MAILMERGE are trademarks of MicroPro International Corp.plete reference manual, too.PowerText is a run-time, bootablesystem. It requires at least 64Kof memory, two disk drives, and aprinter. It supports both serial andparallel printer interfaces,extended memory, and RAM disk.And, oh yes, be sure to ask yourdealer about Wordstar's warranty.(It doesn't have one.)PowerText does, and it's verysimple: The system is warrantedfor a full five years. Should it everfail to perform as specified, BeamanPorter, Inc. will fix it at no charge.If you decide PowerText is theright system for you, you may findyour dealer doesn't have it instack. But he can get it for you, andquickly. Just have him call us at(914) 967-3504.Or if you w ish, you can orderdirectly from Beaman Porter rightnow, using the coupon below.If you have any questionsabout PowerText, by all meanscall us. We're always available togive you expert help and advice.With Beaman Porter, service andsupport are always as near asyour phone.Po1111e1Wxt®COMPLETE POWERTEXT SYSTEMFOR IBM PC: $399.TUTORIAL/MANUAL ALONE: $25.p BEAMAN PORTER, INC.~ High Performance .Computer ProductsPleasant Ridge Road. Harrison. NY 10528 (914) %7-:1504r-------------------------,BEAMAN PORTER, INC.Pleasant Ridge Road, Harrison, NY 10528D Send __ complete PowerText system(s) forIBM PC: @ S399 (prepaid). -D Send __ PowerText tutorial/manual(s) only,@ S25 (prepaid).(NY residents add appropriate sales tax.)D My check or money order for S ___ enclosed.Or bill Sto my:D Mastercard D Visa(Mastercard: list 4 digits above your name: ___Card No. - - --- - Exp. Date __ _Signature Date __ 1NameIIStreetIQ~ IIState Zip :-------------------------~

able may hold. As a variable of type integer, month can have any ofthousands of values, most of them absurd; as a variable of typemonths, month can only be assigned one of the twelve values you'vedeclared to be within type months.Here's another sample program demonstrating the use of EDTs:PROGRAM another _sample_program;TYPEdays_ of_ the_ week (mon, tues, wed, thur ,fri,sat,sun);drive status (not_ moving,impulse,warp_ engines);Lucas_ films(THXl 138 ,American_ Graffiti,Star_ Wars,Empire_ Strikes_ Back,Revenge_of _the_Jedi,Raiders_ of _the_ Lost_Ark);the_ old_ gang (Wayne, Nancy,Eric,Alan,Dixie,John, Tom, the_ rest);VAR.todayenginesflick_ for_ the_ daycompanionBEGINtoday : = fri;engines : = impulse;companion : = Wayne;END.days_ of_ the_ week;drive_ status;Lucas_ films;the_ old _gang;Given a variable of some EDT, there are a few things that youmight want to do with it or know about it. For example, you mightwant to set month to its next value. If you had declared variablemonth to be of type integer, the way you would increment its valuewould be to set month:= month+ 1 . That approach won't work ifDATAMATE... a lruly all-purpose DATABASEMANAGER for IBM PC users.A system that adapts easily to most anyform including mailing list. inventory controland general information management.•fewe r management probl ems: multiple fil esper di sk. no practi ca l limitati on on fil e co ntent•menu dri ve n com m ~ nd s plu s full use of IBMfun cti on keys• cost effecti ve: pri ced lowe r than co mparablesystems, free updates. adaptability• custom applica ti ons ava il abl e from author.assured compatability• DATAMATE ••• TOTAL PAC KAGE includin gmanual, back·up di sk, and sa mpl e da ta disk for$299.95.Compu-fjausi 840 NW 50th Terr.Kansas City. MO. 64151TO ORDER, CALL 816-741-2669Also available fpr the Osborne 1 .month is of type months. Instead, Pascal provides two special operations,called succ and pred.Succ returns the value following a given EDT value, while predreturns the value preceding it. For example, succ(november) returnsdecember, and pred(Star _Wars) returns American_ Graffiti.So, instead of writingmonth : = month + l;you can writemonth : = succ(month);Succ and pred work with integer and char variables as well as withEDTs, so you could use the statement month : = succ(month); regardlessof whether month is of type integer or of type months.Another function that can be used with EDTs is ord. Ord returnsthe ordinal value of an EDT. For example, the values man, tues,wed , ... sat, sun have the ordinal values 0, 1, 2, . . . 5, 6, respectively.And, as it turns out, Fordyce wasn't so dumb after all; if the EDTmonths is defined as we defined it a moment ago, then ord(november)is indeed 10.Subranges. There are times when you want a variable to haveonly a subset of the values normally associated with its data type.For example, if we really wanted to make month a variable of typeinteger, we would want some way of ensuring that month didn't getassigned to any values outside the range of 1to12 (or, if you thinkthe •way Fordyce does, 0 to 11). Pascal offers a way of keepingvalues 1in bounds. Instead of sayingVARmonthyou may sayinteger;VARmonth 1..12;Having declared the variable in this fashion, if you then tried tocompile a program that included the statement month : = 13, youwould get an error. If you tried to run a program where some bugcaused month to have a value outside the range of 1 through 12, youwould get an error. This is a marvelous way of catching those insidiouslittle bugs that are so hard to find.You can also declare subranges of EDTs, to wit:TYPEmonth_ range =Lucas_ films =second_setlatest films =VARmonthSW_flicknew_flick1..12;(THX1138,American _ Graffiti,Star _Wars,Empire_ Strikes_ Back,Revenge_of _the_ Jedi,Raiders_of _ the_Lost_Ark);Star_ Wars .. Revenge_ of_ the_Jedi;Revenge_ of-the-Jedi..Raiders_ of_ the_ LosL Ark;month_ range;second_ set;latest_films;As you can see, both second_set and latest_ films are subrangesof Lucas_films. Not only that, but both subranges contain the valueRevenge-of _the_Jedi. This means that they are overlapping subrangesof an enumerated data type-which is your buzz phrase for themonth.Constancy amid Chi!nge. Sometimes your program will need touse values that don't change. Such values are called constants. In oneof the sample programs seen earlier in this month's column, we hadthe statement . .circumference : = 6.28318 " radius;Someone reading this statement might wonder just where 6.28318102softalk for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982

Now you can fight back.With an IBM Personal Computer ... and thissophisticated income tax system .. . you can tacklethe Feds head-on.TaxCut was designed by tax experts. It gives youincredible tax planning and computational powersby allowing you to access and update the informational I year long. ·You can calculate. Income average. Analyze.Even project. (Here's where it gets exciting ...and profitable.)You can test hundreds of different tax planningalternatives. "How will an IRA affect my taxes?""What are the tax benefits of buying more businessequipment?" "Should I sell my house?"It's an invaluable tax tool. In fact, after qll yourdata has been entered, it will even fill out the returnfor you. And it's capable of handling over 30 commonforms.The program has all the latest tax laws incorporatedand can be updated yearly.You get more than the Software.Included in the cost is a year's subscriptionto TaxTips.This monthlynewsletter will keep you currentwith all the latesttax planninginformation.The cost is only $250, soorder TaxCut now. Uncle Samapproves ... it's deductible.To order or for information where to buy:Call toll free: 1-800-251-2320In Arizona: 1-800-972-7479Write: United Micro Systems, Inc.P.O . Box 3035100 N. Stone #1100Tucson, AZ85702Visa/Mastercharge acceptedTaxCut is a trademark of United Micro Systems, In c.

came from. They'd probably find it easier to understandcircumference := two_pi " radius;We could simply declare two _pi as type real and set the variableto its appropriate value (6.28318) somewhere in the program.But Pascal offers us a more elegant solution: we can declare thisvalue as a constant.All const;mt declarations are placed immediately after the Programstatement and before the Type section:PROGRAM sample;CONST(" all constant declarations ")TYPE(" all data type definitions ")BEGIN(" main body of program ")END.A constant declaration uses the form(" constant identifier ") = (" value ");where value is a constant value of one of the four basic data typesinteger,real, char, and boolean. For example:CONSTtwo_piyeargradeforever= 6.28318;1983;'B';false;Note well that these are constant values-not variables. You willget an error during compilation if you include a statement such asyear : = 5, since year has not been defined as a variable.One of the best uses for constantp is to define limits or keyvalues that might change with different versions of your program.For example, let's suppose that we're developing a graphics programfor the IBM pc and that our first version uses black and whitegraphics only. We might do the following:PROGRAM graphics_ utility;CONSTxmin = O;xmax640;ymin = O;ymax = 200;TYPExrangexmin .. xmax;yrange = ymin .. ymax;VARxl,x2 xrange;yl,y2 yrange;BEGIN(" program");END.Then in our program we could always refer to our constant valuesfor limits. For example, we would sayFOR xl : = xmin TO xmax DOinstead ofFOR xl := o TO 640 DOOnce we got this version working, we might decide to adapt it tocolor graphics. By changing the value of xmax from 640 to 320-bychanging just one statement-the entire program could be automaticallyadjusted to the different coordinate range. On the otherhand, if we had used the value (640) throughout the program, insteadof the constant (xmax), we would have to find and alter eachplace where we had used it.That's it for this month. Next time we'll get into some programsthat are a little more useful than the ones we've seen so far. AFor Quality Software• Multiple Entry Modes• Comprehensive Documentation-4QSCREEN MACHINESPACE GUARDIANGENTERMTMMakes possible high-speed cursor-positioning,scrolling, erasing, and text handlingfor users of Pascal, FORTRAN, COBOL, andAssembler. (For IBM-PC)BLINGSPLATZReal-time arcade game named for the eeriehorde of intergalactic creatures whose relentlessattack on your space patrol will challengeall your skills. (For IBM-PC)Traversing the local galaxy to search out anddestroy alien spacecraft, you will need logisticand tactical skills in your crucial mission tosave planet Earth. (For IBM-PC)CHAMPION DRAUGHTSHow about playing checkers against the wilycomputer? Don't worry . .. the caliber of thecomputer's play can be selected to matchyour own. (For IBM-PC)1268 Main Street, Newington, Connecticut 0611 ITel (203) 666-4240Conforming to most protocols involvingcharacter-by-character or line-by-line communication,this package can equip your computersystem to communicate with othermicro", mini-, or mainframe computers. (ForIBM-PC, Osborne I, or any CP/M Computer)r---------------1I OMRIC Corp. , 1268 Main St .. Newington. CT 06111 II Ple ase id e ntify the ne arest di st ributor of:D Sc reen Machine 1 M 0 Blings pl atz 1 M ID Space Guardian 1 M D Champio n DraughtsI D Genterm TMI~~II AddressICit y State Zip----l - - - - - - - - - - _J104softolk for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982

---- - --- -softall< presentsthe bestsellers1st CLASS MAIL. By Bob Schoenburg and Steve Pollack.Here's a pair of authors who may be software's answerto Irving Wallace. Wallace is the bestselling author whohears the murmuring of general populace and caters totheir desires. Bob Schoenburg and Steve Pollack seemto have the same trait.Consider.The pair brought out Home Money Minder, aperfectly respectable home finance package. Then theylistened to the user feedback. The result was HomeAccountant, one of the phenomenal success stories of thefirst half of 1982.Around the same time Home Money Minder hit, theteam also tested the market with The Mailroom.Mailroom never was the success of HMM, but the authorsused the same technique - listen to the users and incorporateall the good ideas. The result is 1st CLASSMAI~ - a program that, incredibly enough, manages tolive up to its double-entendr~ name.All of the above is not to accuse Schoenburg andPollack of putting out the programming equivalent ofstalking-horses to do their market research for them.Their original efforts do stand on their own merit. Theyjust pale next to the sequels.1st CLASS MAIL is so well thought out and so easyto use that other publishers who call their programs' 'userfriendly" should bow their heads in shame.SOFTALK got an early release of the program sansdocumentation. Yet a rank computer illiterate was ableto apply the program to two separate uses with relativelylittle trouble. This is high praise indeed: that a noviceoperator could use a powerful program with no morethan the screen menus. -The program allows for twelve fields, clearly morethan the traditional name and address of a mailing label.The implication is that the software can be put to otherinnovative uses as well. Tlie built-in ability to sort andfilter on any field or combination thereof enhances thechances that users will find multiple applications forthe program.Continental Software will actually be publishingfour versions of the program~ The one already in releaseis for the Apple II using floppy disks. A hard-disk versionwill follow.Both versions are pending for Apple IIIas well, awaiting the development of a rapid binary sortsubroutine.1st CLASS MAIL is a first-rate program for specializeddata base applications.The Ataris and IntelliVisions of the world may be gearing up fora big holiday season selling entertainment software on their VCRmachines, but you'll apparently never convince VisiCorp and MicroProto forego strenuous marketing efforts during the Christmasseason buildup.The October results in the IBM Personal Computer marketpl_acewill only reinforce the resolve of the applications publishers topush on through the holidays. While entertainment software wasgenerally holding its own or showing slight sales gains, the products from the two largest applications publishers were goingthrough the roof.VisiCorp relied on a "buy two products, get one free" approachin an effort to allow its other products to ride on the coattails of VisiCalc. MicroPro countered with an offer of the WordPack, whichbundled Mai/Merge and SpellStar with its strong WordStar product.Both companies experienced salutary results.VisiCalc opened an enormous distance between itself and competitorSuperCalc while denying WordStar's bid to regain first place.Vis iFile benefited from the offer by jumping from seventeenth toninth. VisiTrend/VisiPlot essentially held its own, going from fifteenthand sixteenth. And new market entry VisiSchedule narrowlymissed making the Top Thirty.The marketing strategy for WordStar opened a similar gap overchief competitor Easy Writer II. In addition, Mai/Merge jumped ffomtwentieth to eleventh and SpellStar vied with VisiSchedule to seewhich program could miss the Top Thirty by the smallest margin.Several other programs made big jumps during October. FriendlyWare PC Introductory Set reclaimed fourth place after September'seleventh-place showing, as novice pc owners continue to showtheir appreciation for the novel value of the package.Asynchronous Communications Support jumped from eighteenthto sixth for no discernible reason. TIM, which sat thirdamong database titles last month, took over leadership in that category,vaulting past VisiFile in its move from twenty-first to seventh.General Accounting from BPI rose four places to eighth. Crosstalkleaped nineteen spots to tenth.Highest rated of the newcomers to the list was dBase II, whichgrabbed fifteenth. Tied for twenty-second was another rookie,Space Strike from DataMost, which displaced that company's PigPen. IBM Pascal rejoined the list after a month's absence.Two other additions to the list reflect an anomaly seen in othermicrocomputer markets as well. Both are Accounts Receivable-BPI' sversion being tied for twenty-seventh and Peachtree's version in adead heat for twenty-ninth. In all accounting packages, the generalledger module way outsells the other modules, with the accounts receivablemodule usually maintaining a healthy lead over accountspayable or payroll.While it seems perfectly natural that companies spend more timeworrying about the general condition of their financial health andabout the money they're owed, it's curious fo ponder on whetherthere's more meaning here than meets the eye. Do the small businessesgenerally on a collision course with disaster because they'reeasier to keep track of them than it is clients? Or are small businessesgeneraly on a collision course with disaster because they'repaying attention to only one-half of the cash flow conundrum?What a project for some enterprising marketing research firm.Big losers in October, at least relatively speaking, were Inforsoftalkfor the IBM Personal Computer December 1982107

mation Unlimited Software and lnfocom. IUS saw Easy Writer II loseground to WordStar as it dropped to twelfth. The strength of TIM,VisiFile, and dBase II knocked EasyFiler off the chart.lnfocom's situation was different. The arrival of Zork III andStarcross, both of which knocked on the door of the charts, seemedto have conflicting impacts on the market. Many retailers reportedZork Ill's introduction as fueling sales of Zork I but hurting Zork II.Starcross seemed to have an impact on Deadline even though the newprogram is science fiction and its predecessor is a mystery. All threeof the established titles dropped out of the top ten, Zork I going tothirteenth, Deadline to twentieth, and Zork II to twenty-fifth.Software sales were gaining momentum in October, heading towardChristmas; but the increase was not of the same magnitude asIBM Personal Computer sales outlets representing approximately 7.3 percent of allsales of pc and pc-related products volunteered to participate in the poll.Respondents were contacted early in November to ascertain their sales for themonth of October.The only criterion for inclusion on the list was the number of units sold-such othercriteria as quality of product, profitability to the computer store, and personal preferenceof the individual respondents were not considered.Respondents in November represented every geographical area of the continentalUnited States.Results of the responses were tabulated using a formula that resulted in the indexnumber to the left of the program name in the Top Thirty listing. The index number isan arbitrary measure of relative strength of the programs listed. Index numbers are correlativeonly for the month in which they are printed; readers cannot assume that an indexrating of SO in one month represents equivalent sales to an index number of 50 inanother month.Probability of statistical error is plus or minus 4.1 percent, which translates roughlyinto the theoretical possibility of a change of 4.87 points, plus or minus, in any indexnumber.- -- - •-•- - -WWW• • -- -- -- ----- - • • -- ----- -BUSINESS SYSTEMCompare our software to the competition1) Inventory ControlBILLS.OF-MATERIAL - PURCHASE ORDERS; SALESANALYSIS - STOCK LABELS + MORE2) Accounts ReceivableORDER ENTRY & PACKING SLIPS; INVOICES FROM 0 / E ORPOINT OF SALE; CUSTOMER PAYMENTS W/ DISCOUNTS;STATEMENTS; AGED RECEIVABLE REPORTS+ MORE3) Accounts PayableVENDOR INVOICE ENTRY AND CHECK WRITING ; BANKDEPOSIT, AGED PAYABLES REPORTS+ MORE4) PayrollDATA ENTRY, AUTOMATIC CALCULATION & DEDUCTIONS,PAYCHECK WRITING , MO-QTR-YTD REPORTS -941 -A and W-25) General LedgerFULLY INTERACTIVE WITH ALLOTHER PROGRAMS! TRIAL BALANCE,REVENUE, EXPENSE, OPERATING &BALANCE SHEET.For Free Brochure, Call or Write:PERFORMANCE ENGINEERED PROGRAMMING3970 Svme Drive (714) 434 6023Carlsbad. CA 92008 -the increase in system sales. A harbinger of change in that situationmay be that there were fully 35 percent more titles in the market inOctober than in September. That's the biggest monthly increase innew software product, both in percentage and in actual numbers, ofany month since IBM entered the market.There'll be plenty of product for Christmas. Soon we'll knowhow pc owners react to greater choice. VisiCorp and MicroPro havetheir money on old favorites. Let the upstarts take note. _.the top thirtt.1This LastMonth Month Index1. 1. 243.56 VisiCalc, Software Arts/ Dan Bricklin andRobert Frankston; VisiCorp, IBM2 . 2. 225.15 WordStar; MicroPro3. 3. 99.83 SuperCalc; Sorcim4. 11. 77.18 Friendly Ware PC Introductory Set, MichaelD. Yaw, JamesJ. Davis, Frank Smith, AlanVanchura, John Leatherwood, and BruceW. Moore; FriendlySoft5. 7. 53.10 Home Accountant Plus, Mike Farmer, BobSchoenburg, Larry Grodin, and StevePollack; Continental Software6. 18. 48.15 Asynchronous Communications Support;IBM7. 21. 46.73 Total Information Management; InnovativeSoftware8. 12. 46.02 General Accounting, John Moss and KenDebower; IBM (BPI)9. 17. 44.61 Visifile, Creative ComputerApplications/ Colin Jameson and BenHerman; VisiCorp10. 29. 39.65 Crosstalk, Microstuf11. 20. 38.94 Mai!Merge, MicroPro12. 4. 38.23 EasyWriter II, Basic Software Group;Information Unlimited Software13. 5. 36.11 Zork I; Infocom14. 8 . 34.69 Microsoft Decathlon, Microsoft/TimSmith; IBM15. 31.86 dBase II, Wayne Ratcliff; Ashton-Tate16. 25 . 31.15 Basic Compiler, Microsoft; IBM15. 31.15 VisiTrend/VisiPlot; VisiCorp18. 25. 27.61 General Ledger; IBM (Peachtree Software)19. 24. 26.91 Microsoft Adventure, Gordon Letwin (WillCrowther and Don Woods); IBM(Microsoft)20. 9. 26.20 Deadline; lnfocom29. 26.20 Volkswriter, Camilo Wilson; Lifetree22. 10. 24.78 Typing Tutor, Michael Sierchio (DickAinsworth and Al Baker); IBM (Microsoft)24.78 Space Strike, Mike Abrash; DataMost24. 15. 23 .36 MBA; Context Management Systems25. 6. 21.95 Zork II; Infocom26. 19.12 IBM Pascal, Microsoft; IBM27. 13. 18.41 Macro Assembler, Microsoft; IBM18.41 Accounts Receivable, BPI; IBM29. 14. 17.70 Temple of Apshai, Jeff Johnson, JohnFreeman, and J . W . Connelly;Epyx/ Automated Simulations17.70 Accounts Receivable, Peachtree Software;IBM108softolk for the IBM Personal Computer December 1982

As IBM would design itTHE PERSONAL HARD DISKOnly for the IBM Personal Computerfrom CoronaCorona experience makes the difference:It fits right in-right inside the IBM Personal Computer, with noexternal power supply.And it makes friends fast-with self-documenting, menu-driven,very "user-friendly" software.It responds to your needs- for multiple operating systems on thesame disk at the same time, in flexible partitions that grow as needed.It backs you up-on floppies, using "selective" backup (by date, byvolume, by category), so an additional backup device is not needed.And it has reliability you can count on-co~bining exclusive use ofSeagate drives with Corona's DataGuardrM and FailSafe.rMAnd the price?$1995 for 5 MB,$2495 for 10 MBExperience the difference experience makes.Ask your dealer to show you the Corona PersonalHard Disk (or call us for dealership and quantitypurchase information).The Third Generation Microcomputer CompanyCorona Data Systems 31324 Via Colinas, Section 110, Westlake Village, CA 213-706-1505

softalk-pc-1982-12-reduced

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?