“This new language (PowerBasic) may be the most significant thing to
come along for OS9 in the last ten years!”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NOW SHIPPING < <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

PowerBasic for OS9/68000

Finally, someone wrote a BASIC compiler for OS9!

PowerBasic is the only native (68000) code BASIC compiler for use with
the OS-9/68000 Operating System.

——

I’ve just uploaded information on PowerBasic to the DL. Two files, one
gives the promo information and the other covers a introductory offer
that saves you $50 if ordered by the end of the month. Over the next
several days I will be uploading a more complete technical spec and
examples in PowerBasic source and object that you can try on your own
computer. I’ve downloaded a whole bunch of Basic09 programs from the DL
here and I plan to use some of them as examples also. My intent is to
see and show what is involved in converting regular Basic09 type
programs to PowerBasic and what speed and size advantages there are. If
you have any other suggestions you would like to see me try please let
me know.

I got my copy of PowerBasic just before Thanksgiving and have been
getting up to speed on it. So far I like it very much. The compiler runs
fast and the resultant code generated is also fast. Much much faster
than Basic09. I’ve been having fun looking at the ‘.a’ files to see what
assembler code is generated by PowerBasic and to watch how changes in
the Basic program effect the assembler code. PowerBasic makes this easy
because the Basic source line is inserted into the ‘.a’ file as a
comment.

PowerBasic object is stand alone, no ‘runb’ type of thing is needed. I
like this because it keeps the whole project as one program. No need to
worry about having all the pieces needed to make something work.

I’m looking for feedback so please feel free to ask questions and make
suggestions.

Thanks
Frank Hogg
FHL

Attention PostScript/Ghostscript & TeX/LaTeX/dvips users.

I have just uploaded a few handy utilities to help manage
PostScript files. With these utilities, you can shuffle
pages, set up for book or booklet (both sides) printing,
resize documents etc.

I found them while wandering around Internet.

Compiled on my MM/1a – should run on other OSK boxes.

(Source included – GNU/FSF-type distribution)

If you use PostScript, you gotta have these.

If you don’t use PostScript, don’t bother — they are
no good for anything else — except maybe as examples
of C programs that rewrite text files.

Look for “psutils” in a few days.

********************************
A stitch in time ——————–
—— is worth two in the bush

John R. Wainwright < > < >

There is no such thing yet or probably ever. If you thin about, using
a VGA monitor on the Coco would be a waste anyway. The monitor would
far exceed the resolution of the computer’s video output.

Hugo

Helllllo.. I just downloaded AR.BIN from the new uploads section. Whenever
I try archiving anything though it says “ar2: Cannot get memory” or something
like that. What’s it mean? I had about 350k of free memory when I tried it,
so it must be talking about something else. Someone please help me!

After installing the last version of the CoCoII Emulator, it’s a breeze
to retrieve files from my coco disks and place them on the PC hard drive
as virtual disks probably because I have an old 5 1/4 double density
drive as drive b: I was able to place all 3 of the Interbank Incident
160K disks onto virtual disks in about 5 minutes. Yes the new emulator
works great with OS-9 Level I. My only problem is the “MOUSE”.
The newer mouse drivers seem to cause a system crash when in the
emulator and my older mouse driver (works fine for rsdos programs) hangs
after a short while when running Interbank. Has anyone else experienced
a similar problem or is it just “MY” equipment?

All clock programs should be running at the same time no matter which
one is currently active.

The 2 meg is much easier to install, only a few wires to solder. Of course
Tony designed both. But I think he did a better job with the two meg board.
There is the Mega2 that runs in startup. I forget what module deals with
memory. Obviously mine doesn’t work. I’ m sure someone else can tell you.
With all best wishes
Brother Jeremy, CSJW
OS9 User Group Treasurer

It’s me again. Since you are the assistant DB manager, yeah, I guess modify
the description for the emulator to delete the reference to OS9 or modify it
to specify Trivia Fever or something… It appears I jumped the gun, and was
overly vague when I wrote the description.

No need to reply to THIS message, let’s keep the comments regarding the
emulator in an unbroken thread.

Thanks,
John Murphy

GWINDOWS NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE MM1

Background: Last year I announced the availability of
GWINDOWS for the MM1 provided a certain number of orders
were received. I did not get the orders and therefore
dropped the project. Enter Ray Tremblay of Repengny
Quebec. In November of ’92 he bought the TC70 version
of GWINDOWS after successfully patching the demo
version to work on his MM1. We discussed using his
patches and offer it to the MM1 users. I decided not
to do this at that time for various reasons.

Fast forward 1 year. A short time ago Delmar offered
to port GWINDOWS to the MM1 if 20 orders were received.
He has not gotten that many and has inferred that he
would drop the project. Many who had placed orders
expressed sadness about this and that got me thinking.

Sooo… First I called Mike Smith of Hazelwood who
owned the port to the TC70. I suggested that because
the TC70 was history. And that we were not likely to
do a video board with the VSC. He would not mind the
good will gained by giving the source of the driver to
MM1 users so that they might ‘fine tune’ the port for
their own use. It took some talking but he was convinced
to do this if the source was not freely distributed
beyond those MM1 owners who bought GWINDOWS. Next I
called Ray and because Mike was not charging for the
source he decided to give away his work also. However
GWINDOWS is a licenseed product and there is cost
involved even if a full blown port is not done.

Here are the details. The package includes the complete
TC70 version of GWINDOWS with manual. Plus you get the
source of the driver for the VFC. Plus you get the patches
that Ray did to make it work on the MM1. Because of the
generosity of Mike Smith of Hazelwood and Ray Tremblay
we can offer GWINDOWS for only $150.

Caveat: Neither FHL or Hazelwood have access to a MM1.
At this price we could not offer updates or support even
if we did have access to a MM1. By providing Rays patches
and the driver source we expect MM1 users to be self
sufficient and to share improvements/enhancements to the
driver/port among themselves. This is not a supported port
of GWINDOWS like those for the KiX but it will provide you
with a complete working version of GWINDOWS for your MM1
and allow you to develop software for GWINDOWS.

Availability: Ray is emailing the patches to me this
weekend (12/17/93) and Mike is shipping the source next
week. Once those are in my hands I can ship GWINDOWS.
Possibly by Christmas.

I hope you understand and appreciate the generosity of
Mike Smith of Hazelwood and Ray Tremblay who have made
this possible without compensation.

Frank Hogg — FHL
315/469-7364

Thats ok I guess, but I’ve got it and couldn’t make it work either, it couldn’t
make the directory trees. So like Br. Jeremy, I used lzh -xi. Worked great! Just

a comment for what its worth ($.02) Gene