RML 380Z Quick setup guide

JUO
DISC SYSTEM
INFORMATION FILE
PH 10930

380Z DISC SYSTEM INFORMATION FILE
Version 1, November 19 1
(e) 1
Research Machines
rved. of this ion may
for thei own use, but otherwise no rt
transmitted, tran ibed, stored a tri
any or without
Re reh Machines , Post fice
OBW. Tel: Oxford (
All
exclusivel
ed,
translated
perm ssion
OX2
Machines Limited is one of
and servic , and
this document or make
without Research Machines
the the content thi
lication may be ordered
above. Please ask for '

Research Machines Limited is committed the pol
its and services. To assist the
the its documentation and software
users on their with
to documentation .. should include:
of any errors you have
comments on you have encountered with understanding and
the manual, and
your name and address and a brief
with
of your
on documentation should be sent
The Documentation
Research Machines Limited,
PO Box 75,
Oxford.
OX2 DBW
to software
should
a written
the hardware
and
DBW

Information File
Contents
CONTENTS
SECTION
1: INTRODUCTION
380Z Disc
The 380Z Disc
Documentation
Information File
SECTION 2: USING ACASSETTE RECORDER
3.4 and
earlier)
2. 1
2.3
2.5
2. 11
2.12
program : FILEX
in COS 3.4
recorder
SECTION 3: HARDWARE NOTES
Memory
Discs
Interfaces
the 380Z
3. 1
3.
3.
3.17
3.14
3.15
3.1
3.1
3.14
3.13
3.13
.13
line
devices
PIP.COM
transfer
J?Ciper or
Transfer and from another
Parallel Interface
Serial Interfaces identification
Serial Interfaces - use of 810-4
Other
IEEE-488 Interface
Interface board

Information File
Contents
4:
Serial interfaces
Printed ci
connection
3.
1..
4.
1
4.
4 •
• 1
• 1

Information File Introduction
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 380Z DISC SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION
The items of documentation are
you set up and use 380Z Disc
by Research Machines to
- 380Z Disc System User Guide: this is the basic item of documentation
which explains how to set up your and how to use the
facilities the disc
- Applications proqram documentation: each item of software that you
is documentation which how to set up
- Pirmware Reference Manual (e.g. COS 3.4): you will need to refer to
this document if you to program the 380Z in machine or
or if you want to take full of the many
features of the 380Z
- 380Z Disc System Information Pile: you will need to refer to this
document i you want to extend your basic , for
a
Research Machines can also
last three of which are
the CP/M Disc
of the
Research
documents, the
the
if you
refer to this
with
devices.
this document if you
the COS monitor, for
driver. You should the
(e.g. 3.4, 3. 3. 4.0A etc).
Research Inc.
a trademark of
in a non-standard
version of COS you
- CP/M Interface
want to
ities.
- Introduction to CP/M Features and Facilities: You will need to refer
to this manual if you want to any of facilities which
are not ribed in the Research Machines documentation (for
the SUBMIT
-CP/M Systems Alteration Guide: You will
if you want to a version
standard disc drive controller
- Monitor Listing:
want to

Information File
1.2 THE 380Z DISC SYSTEM INFORMATION FILE
This file contains three sorts of information:
Introduction
hardware of your basic 380Z Disc
how to use various features
and Research Machines
covered in the User Guide, for
disc drive faults.
the COS
programs which
proqram
of various features of the 380Z
interfaces that are the 380Z.
The information in three sections. The first how to
attach cassette recorder to your and how to transfer ASCII
files between and disc (Reminder: cassette recorders cannot be
attached to 80-character machines). The second section describe the
features of various elements of the 380Z hardware and how to
additional hardware to the The last section describes
various aspe of the 380Z Disc software and how to use
them.

Information File Cassette Recorder
2. USING A CASSETTE RECORDER WITH A380Z DISC SYSTEM
Note that this section does Dot apply to 380Z Varitext (80/40 character)
systeas as they do not have a cassette interface.
how to attach a cassette recorder to a380Z Disc
how to transfer ASCII files between cassette and
The files must be in Cassette File (CFS) format.
Files produced by TXED and data files produced by BASIC are in this format
as are program files SAVED from extended BASIC version 5. files
by the BASIC FSAVE command are not in this format.
2.1 SETTING UP
In order to use a cassette recorder with a380Z Disc System to trans er
iles between cassette and discs you will need the
- a cassette recorder with a mains lead and plug
or loose
on the recorder
which fits the MIC
- a dual cassette
r unit (optional)
Place the cassette recorder~and the cassette controller in your area
so that you can easi reach the switches on the recorder controller
when at
- switch off the JUins supply to the 380Z Disc Systea
- connect the cassette recorder to the aulti-way aains adaptor
which supplies the syste. with power
-
push the blanking plug into the 'HIC' socket on the recorder
controller unit
then:
- push the 7-vay DIN plug on the controller into the
cassette recorder socket at the rear of the
processor (the socket below the keyboard socket)
- push the 5-way DIN plug on controller lead with
the YELLOW BAND on it into the socket on the recorder
and the jack plug ON THE SAME LEAD into the REMOTE
socket on the recorder
,when
controller unit is not
used:
- push the 7-way DIH plug on the cassette lead into the
cassette recorder socket at the rear of the processor
(the socket below the keyboard socket)
- push the 5-way DIN plug on the cassette lead into the
socket on the recorder.

Information File
Cassette Recorder
Now when you turn your s
use.
em on the cassette recorder will be re for
******************************************************************
NOTES
of to a
-==~ .~.·"L." ~ ng inte rference' may
It is essential to connect
mult mains
affect the
1•
2. It is essential to insert a muting into the MIC socket on the
recorder otherwi se sound wi 11 be mixed wi th da ta
when recording. may not be pos ible to load such a tape back nto
the computer.
3. When only recorder is attached to the controller (i used) it is
to connect it to correct lead on the controller (the one
colour coded low). Remember you must also switch the controller to
'SINGLE' •
4. Before a cassette recorder for the first time it necessary to
determine the correct for the volume control. The
for out this check is described in Section 2.5.
5. It is essenti to carry out ions involving the s e
recorder and the controller in the correct order. For if
to down the REC and PLAY before init ating the
transfer of a file to then may 1 some of the file.
The controls the recorder detect whether
the recorder is mode, or even whether
the recorder is turned on or not.
in
the
bla
the Ie will start on the
than on leader on the
a dual cassette controller you should make that the
is
It is essenti
order to
6.
*****************************************************************
1

Information File
Cassette Recorder
2.2 CASSETTE FILE SYSTEM
2.2.1 General
The cassette File (CFS) wi th cassette-based 380Z
for as of cassette BAS provides the user with a set of
facilities to control input from, and to, files recorded on
cassettes. The s takes care of all data transfers to or from
handles all the necessary or of blocks of
and detects and errors.
This section describes those features of CFS which are relevant to anyone
who is ing to use the FILEX file transfer programs to transfer CFS
files on to CP/M files on disc.
CFS File Structure
ACFS file consists of a number of blocks.
the the block and the data. A
Each block holds the name of
checksum is also included.
The block
is:
0:
1-10:
11 :
12:
13:
14-(n+13):
n+14:
SYN
Name of file
BLKH
BLKL
of Data Block
Data (0-255
Checksum
n
The SYN character (16
22 decimal) allows accurate
when
The name of
ional
1-6 characters for the pr imary name,
a full sand 1-3 further characters for the
should be drawn from the setsA-Z, 0-9, and $.
programs should convert any lower case letters to
the block. If the name and extension are
rs respect must be with
A zero-
of the block number.
file i numbered zero.
s se
low
The first block
ieid
ile.
of Data Block
the end of a
file is is usual safest to record more than
block. s block should separated by at lea
blocks should be s ed t least seconds of '1'
the pe s to be d gene aI-purpose prog m.
ications may avoid reducing this gap. Standard ice
each block.
BLKH BLKL
order of these
The
record
cksum is culated ther all the
fr·om SYN character (and the checksum 1),
modulo 256. This means all the
the SYN character should be added the result
(modulo 256) if the block is not

Cassette Recorder
is to turn on the ate cassette relay bit just
ing a block, and to turn it off after
If of block
after the last copy. measures
Cassette Controller.
Information File
There is no restriction on the data which may
file. However, Z (1A
of file marker, so this character should be avoided
sette
an end
2. .2 Device
When CFS open a device file for
ion of followi
or
it
dev: filename. ext
whe
dev represe
____ Iu~ses 5 devices:
ers spe
ng the device name. CFS
CON
LST
there is no
default.
.,
ext
an
characters. If th
assumed default.
may be
• .3 File

Information File
Cassette Recorder
.3 THE EXCHANGE PROGRAM:FILEX
allows the user to transfer Cassette File
vice versa. It will work on text files.
with TXED or ZAS. FILEX will also transfer
Extended BASIC Version 5 or
in the usual ASCII format, rather than in
FILEX program which
( ) files to disc and
These inc ude es
BASIC programs
that the was
format
BASIC programs for the earlier cassette BASICs should be transferred
the programs BASLOAD and on the BASIC distribution
disc. format files the FSAVE command in Extended
be read the BASIC which them •
• 3.1 FILEX
cal transfer, of Ie ca Ie
hown wi comment enab
out needing to read the I
this
must the
CTRL C to leave FlLEX, and
underlined.
A>FILEX
4.0 A
Machines
normal)
RETURN here
CTRL
, hit space bar
made
A>
in two ways.
RETURN and
ker to
then

Information File
Cassette Recorder
what the computer has in its buffer. However,
CTRL R will cause anew copy of the line to
out of step.
CTRL C causes FILEX to terminate and control is returned to
FILEX is loaded from the
from the CP/M command line.
disc in the normal way
its name
A>FILEX
2.3.2 Direction of Transfers
FILEX will load and a
on message. It will then
Read or write to cassette (
The response should be either R, to transfer a file from cassette to disc,
or W to transfer a file from di to cassette. other response will
cause the prompt to be until a valid letter is
Read or write to cassette ( :R
Note that the response must be terminated
the RETURN
2.3.3 Cassette File Names
After the transfer direction
file name. should id
consists of primary name and an
the extension must be (.).
The name consists of one to six characters
A-Z, a-z, and $. Lower case letters are cha
upper case The extension consists of
drawn from the same sets.
Instead Ie name, it is possible to speci an unstructured device.
The available devices
CON:
TTY:
RDR:
PUN:
LST:
LP:
Console
Console
Unstructured
Unstructured
Printer (_11'''_11'1''
Printer (_11'1"_,11'1"
(
sette (1""'1.11 ...._.'....
In
file name may be CAS:.
This is the default.
For
Cassette file name: CIRCLE.TXT
If the file name is incorrect, FILEX w 11 pr nt an appropriate error
message and file name.

Information File
Cassette Recorder
2.3.4 Disc File Names
The program will then
ses a device name, a
extension. The device name
for a disc file name. A valid disc file name
file name, and a secondary name or
_w~~_u_~, as is the extension.
A device name can be one of the unstructured device names described above
for cassette file names. More it can be a drive name. For users
running under CP/M version 1.4, valid drive names are A:, B:, C: and D:.
the drive is the on drive is assumed.
Note that the extension part defaults to no extension. Many languages,
a them BASIC, sume an extension, for exa .BAS. If a file has
an extension FILEX must be told
As with the
the
ssette i
An
name, badly formed f Ie names are
of a formed name is:
and
Disc file CI RCLES.BAS
2.3. Switches
The next
asks
Switches (press RETURN for normal)
allow
file
The available switches are:
start reading the
in the range 0
intended to allow
o. Such are
start ile
another.
to
number at which to
The block numbe n should 1
o the default. This switch is
which
( 1
to maintain
that cassette
ommand· under COS 3.0 has
the
(
to difficult
switch has no ef when trans
will not low an
below o.

Information File Cassette Recorder
Nn This switch sets the copy count, which defaults 2. On writing
to ssette, the specified number of s of block
written. On reading, FILEX will read of each block until
either it reads one which is not or until the specified
number of blocks has been read. If es of block a
found to be FILEX will a hard error, described
below.
FILEX will only allow copy counts rang'e 1
practice, th d fault of 2 is te in almost
circumstances, and the extra se red increasi
copy count is not worth the extra t take to ad
the copy count to 1 is often worthwhile.
Q switch disables the recorder control messages, such as
Press PLAY on recorder
which FILEX out as This
users with Dual Cassette Controllers.
be done
disc.
sa
user could
Somet ime , however, di
R switch disables this
Normally, FILEX does
This reduces the s 1
altho the determined
di It
undesirable,
R
s The S switch sets the
is much more reliable
normal
cassette
times
count,

Information File
Cassette Recorder
the File
that the file names, and direction of
FILEX will transfer the file. It will
it has the entire file or until all available
It will then write the file to the destination.
until the file has been transf'erred. The
After veri
have been
source file until either
memory has been filled.
Th s process will be
message
si
that the trans
has finished.
disc file
file exists.
transferred to cassette, FILEX checks that the disc
file not found
from ca sette to disc, FILEX checks
exist. If it the message
File exists
text, it will int
bar
x

Information File
Cassette Recorder
been abort
restarted.
it cannot be
so the entire operation must be
a cassette file, FILEX cannot find an
copy
Rd
the blo errors
a little if a Dual
aborts the entire
and to
that the response to th s question
Acc@!DLing the fies that the user
included. The ly have to be re
Cassette Control in use.
transfer. The involves
read a valid copy of the block. Note
must not terminated by RETURN •
2.3.7
When FILEX is expect a response to word HELP may be
This will cause FILEX to informat and
then go back to the The this causes is that transfers
a ile called HELP become somewhat The sway to
transfer such ile is to speci a file name of HELP. 1 dot
to the name.

Information File
Cassette Recorder
2.4
SUPPORT IN COS 3.4
A full desc tion the cassette interface and the associated COS
facilities is in the FIRMWARE REFERENCE MANUAL. Disc versions of
COS 3.4 do not support slow cassette loading and (300 baud
A
utility program entitled SCASS is to cassette 0
transfer vectors in COS workspace in order to provide the slow cassette
transfer rate.
- turn t.he syste. on, and load CP 1M.
-t:ype SCASS IRETOUI
SCASS will be executed and CP/M re-entered. Note that FILEX
own slow handler for the cassette and SCASS
will bring no benefit.
its
FILEX
After SCASS has been run
button is
The COS commands
SLOW HANDLER remains
until the RESET
LLoad a machine code program from cassette
Dmemory to cassette
which are described in the FIRMWARE MANUAL can be used with a
disc system provided that, when necessary, the utility SCASS is used to
slow mode.
Research Machines • 1 November

Information File
2.5 TESTING A CASSETTE RECORDER
Cassette Recorder
A util program TSTSYS is
cassette recorder.
ded to check the
and
se of
2.5.1
volume
When a cassette recorder first interfaced to a
volume should be ascertained. The is as
connect up the recorder, turn
controller to MANUAL
system on and set the
press down the REC and PLAY keys on the recorder to record a
minute or two of the 2400 Hz tone on tape (this on
the cassette inter when COS is scent ( .e. wai t at
the COS - see FIRMWARE REFERENCE MANUAL )
if your recorder does not have automatic level control on
record, set record level to near full modulation
stop the recorder, rewind the tape and set volume control on
its lowest setting
load CP/M
type TSTSYSI RE'l'UmII
TSTSYS will be run and the
MEMORY,
will
type V
You
with
Press the PLAY key on the recorder.
40 a
is
use.
Slowly increase the volume control on the recorder until some
of the characters entering the screen are asterisks. Then
reduce the ~olume very slowly until no asterisks are seen.