Sharp MZ-3500 Instruction manual

Business Computer
EOS 3.0 ®
MANUAL
SHARP

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• E 0 s •
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Operating System for
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Personal-Computers
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with a Z80'-CPU •
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Version 3 •
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User
1s
Manual
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Copyright (C) 1983 by Daeumling & Zimmermann
It is not permitted to copy this manual,· in whatever form, as a whole or
in part·s, without our express written consent.
EOS is a registered trademark (R) of Daeumling & Zimmermann,
Seevetal, Federal Republic of Germany
zs~ is a registered trademark (R) of Zilog Corp.,
Cupertino, California, USA ..
CP/M is a registered trademark (R) of Digital Research Corp.,
Pacific Grove, California, USA.

EOS User's manual
Section A
General Introduction
Daeumling & Zimmermann Page 2

- Contents -
Section C:
Utility Programs .•.•....•.••••••••..•.•••.•••.••.
C.l.
C.2.
C.2.1.
c.3.
c. 4.
C.4.1.
C.4.2.
C.4.3.
C.4 .4.
c. 4. 5
C.4.5.1.
C.4.5.2.
C.4.5.3.
C.4.5.4.
C.4.5,5,
C.4.5.6.
C.4.5.7.
C.4.5.8.
C.4.5.9.
C.4.6.
c.4.6.1.
C.4.6.2.
C.4.6.3.
C.4.7.
C.4.8.
c. 5.
c.6.
c. 7.
c.s.
C·,S .1.
c.s.1.1.
C.8.1.2.
c.s.l.3.
c.s.l.4.
c.s.1.s.
c.s.l.6.
c. 9.
C.l0.
C.l0.1.
C.l0.2.
c.Hl'.3.
C.l0.4.
C.l0.5.
C.l0.6.
C.l0'.7.
Menu Programs
Programs with Command Line •.•••••••••••••••••.•
Options ..••.•••.••.....•....•..•..•......••....
$CONFIG- Operating System Configuration •••••••
$COPY -The File Copy Utility ••••••••••••••••
Start and Command Input ............•..••.......
Direct Start ••...............•••.••••••••••• , ••
The Copying Process and Error Handling •••••••••
Lack of Space Procedure •••..••• ••••••••• .•...•.
Options •••••..•.•.•...•....... , , , • , ••••.••• , •••
Copy with Confirm •••••••....•................•.
Copy with Pre-Erasure •••••....•........•.....•.
Skipping Temporary Files ....•.............• , , ..
Erase Source Files after Copying .••.•.•........
Copy with Verify •.••........•.• , •••••••• , • , • , ••
Erasing the Most Significant Bit •••••••••·•····
Switch Off Protocol , , .• , , •••••••......•........
Back-Up of Files .............. , • , , . , ••. , •••••••
Copy between User Areas ······•·••••••••••••••••
Copy via Devices .•..•••••••••••••••••••••••..••
Data Communications ..••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Sending the End-of-file Sentinel •••••••••••·•••
Direct Screen Output ••.••.....••••••••••••••••.
Abort Copying .•..•••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Error Messages ...••...•....•••••••••••••••••.••
$COPYDSK - Copying Entire Diskettes
$DATE -
Setting the Current Date
$DEVICE - Defintions of External Devices ••••••
$DIR -Drive Directory ...••••••.••••••••••..•
Options •••••.•.....•..........•••••••••••••••••
SYSTEM- Display System Files ··········••••••••
ALL -Display All Files •••••••••••••••••••••
PAGE - Page Mode Display , • , •• , • , • , •• , •••.•...
TIME -Display Time Stamps ••••••.•..••..•....
USERS -Display all User Areas .......••.......
LIST -Redirect Output to the Printer ....... .
$DISKINF - Display Disk Formats
$00- Programmed Command Execution •••........•.
Start •••...............•••••••••...••..•.•..•.•
Entering Control Characters •••••••••••••.•.••.•
Further Control Characters ····••••••••••••••·•·
Execution Protocol •...•••••••••........•...•...
Entering Multiple Commands •..••••••••••••••••.•
Examples •••••••••••••••••••..•.••..••••••••••..
Error Messages •••••••••••••.•••••••••••••••••• ,
- iii -
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4B
4B
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51
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5B
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6B
6B
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7l
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77

C.ll.
C.ll.l.
C.ll.2.
C.ll.3.
C.lL4.
C.ll.S.
C.ll.6.
C.l2.
C.l2.l.
C.l2.2.
C.l2.3.
C.l3.
C.l4.
C.lS.
C.lS.l.
C.l5.2.
C.l5.3.
C.l5.4.
C.lS.S.
C,l5.6,
C.l6.
C.l6.1.
C.l6.2.
C.l6. 3,
C.l6.4.
C.16.5.
C.l6. 6.
C.l7.
C.l8.
C.l9.
C.l9.l.
C.l9.l.l.
C.l9.1.2.
C.l9.1.3.
C.l9.1.4.
c.,l9.2.
C.20.
C.20.l.
C.20.2.
c. 20.3.
C.20.4.
- Contents -
$ERASE -File Erasure ...............••••••••••
SYSTEM -Erase System Files only ·····•••••••••
ALL -Erase all Files within a User Area ...
USERS -Erase Files in all User Areas .•••••••
R/0 -Erase also Write Protected Files ..•..
CONFIRM- Selective Erasure ...........•.•••••••
DIRECT -Erase without Confirm ••••••••••·•····
$!NIT- Initializing Diskettes ....•••.•••••••••
Mini Disk Formats ••..•. , , .• , •••••••••••••••••••
Standard Disk Formats ••..•••••••••••••••••...••
The Hard Disk •.•••••••......••••••••.••.. - .•••••
$INITDIR - Controlling Time Stamps
$KEYDEFS - Storing and Loading Key Definitions .
$MOD -working with Function Modules .• ; •••••
Appending Function Modules .•••.••••............
Removing Function Modules •....••..•.....••.••••
LOADER -Keep Program Loader in Memory ..•.••••
COM -Concatenating Function Modules •......
PROT -Suppress Protocol •••••••••.•••••.••••
MODULES- List all Active Modules •••••·•····•·•
$RENAME - Alter Filenames ••.•.••......••••••.•••
SYSTEM -Rename System Files only ••.•.•.......
ALL -Rename all Files of a User Area .••.••
USERS -Rename Files in all User Areas ••••.•.
R/0 -Rename also Write Protected Files ••..
CONFIRM- Selective Renaming ••••...............
DIRECT -Rename without Confirm •.•••...•......
$SAVE
$SET
$SPOOL
Options
STOP
RESTART
ABORT
PAGE
-Dump Memory to Disk -~················
- Set and Reset File Attributes •..••.••
-Background Print Services ••••..••••••
-Suspend an~ R7lease Printing •••••••••
-Restart Pr1nt1ng •••••••••••••········
-Abort Printing .......•••......••..•••
-Suppress Form Feeds .•••........•.••••
Additional Information for Connaisseurs
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98
$TYPE -Display File Contents ••••••.••....... 99
PAGE - Page Mode Output •••••••••••• , ••••• , • • 99
SLOW -Slow Mode Output ·······•·•·•••••••••• 99
CONTROL- Handling Control Characters .•••..•... 1~~
LIST -Redirect Output to the Printer ..•.... 10~
- iv -

- Contents -
Section A: General Introduction ••••• , , •••••••••••• , • • • • • • • • • • • 1
A.l.
A. 2,
A.3.
A. 3.1.
A. 3 .2.
A. 3.3.
A. 3. 4.
A. 3.5.
A. 3.6.
A. 3. 7.
A. 4.
A.4.1.
A.4.2.
A. 4. 3.
A.4.4.
A. 4,5,
A. 5,
A. 5.1.
A.5.1.1.
A.5.2.
A.5.3.
A.5.4.
A.5.5.
A.5.6.
A.6.
A. 6 ,1.
A.6.1.1.
A.6.2.
A.6.2.1.
i\,6.2.2.
A.6.3.
A.6.4.
A.7.
A.B.
A.9.
A. 9 .1.
A.9.2.
What is EOS like? ••••••••••••••...•.•••••••••••
EOS and its Relatives •••••••••·······•••·••••••
Outside the Computer •••••••••••••••••••••••••••
The CRT Screen ••••...•••••••••••••••••••.••.•••
The Keyboard ••••••••••.••••••••••••••••••.•••••
The Printer •••• ~ ••••••••••••••••••••..•.•••••••
The Auxiliary Device •••••••••••••.•••••••••••••
Mass Storage Units .••••••••••••• , •••••.•..•••••
Handling Diskettes ··••••••••·····•·••••••••••··
The Central Unit •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Inside the Computer •••••.•.•••••••••••••.••••••
The Bit •••• , ,, ,, ••••••••••••••••••• , •••••••••••
The Byte •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
The Field ••••••••••••••••••••••••• , ••••••••••••
The Record •••••••••••••••••••••..••••••••••••••
Files •••••••.••••••••••••••••••• , , •••..••••••••
Operating the Computer •..•••••••••••••••• , ••..•
Cold Start •••••••••••••.....• , ••••••••••• , • , • , ,
The Auto Start Command •••••••••••••••••••••••••
warm Start ••.••••••••••••••.••••••.•.••••••••••
Changing Diskettes· •••••••••••••••••...•••••••••
Using the Keyboard .•••••••••••• , ..•••••••••••••
BREAK Characters , .•••••••••....•••••••••.••••••
Suspending Screen Output •• , .•••••••••••••..••••
Filenames ••••••••••••.• , , •••••••••••• , ••••••.•••
Unambiguous Filenames ••••••••••••• , ••••••••••••
File Types •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Ambiguous Filenames •••••••••••••••••..•.•••••••
The Question Mark , ••••••••••••• , , .•....•.••••••
The Asterisk • , , ••.••••••••••..•.•••••• , ..••••.•
Drives •••••.••••• , •••••••••• , ••••••••••• , ••••••
File Attributes •••••• , , , •••.••••••••••••••.••••
User Areas ••••••••••••••••••••••••.••••••••••••
The MZ-351210 Status Line ••••••••••• , • , ••••••••••
The MZ-351210 Keyboard ••••••••••••..•••••••••••••
Definition of Function Keys •..•••••••....••••••
Function Key Predefinitions •••••••••••••.•••• , •
- i -
3
4
5
5
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6
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8
9
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25
26
27
28
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30

Section B:
B.l.
B.l.l.
B.l. 2.
8.1.3.
B.l.4.
8.1.4.1.
8.1.4.2.
8.1.4.3.
8.1.5.
8.1.6.
8.1. 7.
8.1.7.1.
8.1.7.2.
8.2.
8.2.1.
B. 2. 2.
B. 2. 2.1.
- contents -
How to Enter Commands ............................ .
The Command Interpreter •••••••...•.....••••••••
The Screen Editor •.....••••••••••••••.••..•••••
Command Interpretation .••••••••........••••••••
Entering Lowercase Letters ····•••••••••••••····
Special Characters at Line Beginning •••••..••••
The Semicolon •.•..••••••••••••••.....•.••••••••
The Colon ••••••••......•••••••••••.•.••.•••••••
The Asterisk •••••.....•.••••••••...•••••.••••••
File Search ••••••••••••..•••••••••••••••.••••••
Multiple Command Lines ••.•..•.•• -· •••••••••.••.•
Built-in Commands .•••••••••••••..••••••..••••••
USER - Changing User Area •••..••••••.•••••••••
LIST -Switch Printer on/off •••.......••••••••
The Menu Program .•••••••••••••••..•.•...•••••••
Input with the Menu _Program ••..••••••••••••.•••
Programming the Menu Program •••••.•••••...•••••
Menu File Example-•••••··•·••••••••••••••·······
- ii -
32
33
33
34
35
36
36
36
36
37
37
38
39
39
40
41
42
43

Section D:
D.l.
D. 2.
D. 3.
D.4.
D.S.
0.6.
D. 6 .1.
0,6.2.
D. 6. 3.
D. 6.4.
D. 6, 5.
D. 6.6.
D.6.7.
0.6.8.
D.6o9.
D.6.HJ.
0.6.11.
D.6.12.
D.6ol3.
D.6.14.
D.6.15.
D.6.16.
D.6.17.
D.6.18.
D. 6.19.
- Contents -
The Graphics Interpreter ••••••••• 0 •• 0 •••••• , •••••
Activating the Graphics Interpreter ••••••••••••
Instruction Format • , •••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Bit Image Defini ton o •••••••••••••••••••••••••••
A Programming Example •• 0, •••••••••••••••••• oo ..
Table of Graphic Instructions oooo•····•••o•o•o•
Explanation of Graphic Instructions ••o••••oo•••
INIT- Initialize Graphics oo o•• ••• ·••ooooo•o•••
CRT - Screen Definition •o,, ••• •• o •o•oo•o•••• ••
BKGR - Select Background Colour ••••• o o o •••••• o o
COLR- Select Plot Colour o••······ o,,, ,, , •••• oo
MASK- Line Mask Definition ····•·•oo••·········
MODE - Set Plot MOde •• o o ••• o o o o o •• •• , o , , o , , , •••
IMG - Define Bit Image .••••••• o o o ••••••• o o o o o.
CLR - Erase Graphics .••• 0 •• o. o ••••• o. o o o o o o. o.
SET - Set Pixel ••...••••• o,,, ••• o o o o, o.,., •• o.
RES - Reset Pixel ••••• o o, •••••• o o o •••••• o •• o o o
LINE - Draw Line o •• o o o,., ••• ,,, o o,, •••• ,, o,,, ••
TO -Continue Drawing Line ····•o•o•·•········
RECT - Draw Rectangle ••••••• o o. o ••••• ,,., ••••••
FILL - Fill Rectangle Area •• o o •• o o •• ,,,., o o ••••
CIRC - Draw Circle o ••••••• o o. o o ••••• ••• o o o •••••
ARC -Draw Arc of Circle •••••• , ••. •••• ooooo• ••
TEXT - Write Text •••• , , , , , , •.•• , , , • , ••••••• o o ••
COPY- Hard Copy to Ink Jet Printer ••••••o••••o
END - Terminate Graphics •• , • , •••••• o ••••• , ••• o
- v -
1~3
1~3
1~4
1~5
1~6
1~7
1~8
1~8
1~9
11~
11~
11~
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111
112
112
112
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116
116

l'1elcome to the Family of Computer Users!
So you have been selected to make yourself acquainted with the operation
of your new computer system. Before you work through the following
pages, you may want to study the operation instructions of the computer
system. When you know which plug belongs into which jack, where to
switch on the various devices and what to observe to prevent damage to
the new apparatus, we may continue.
Right, here are some hundred pages of our User's Manual ahead of you.
You will have to learn much of this material in order to operate your
new gear off hands.
Do not be afraid, you will manage it, certainly! The very best method to
get accustomed to your new environment is by hands-on experience. Just
put this manual next to your CRT screen and little by little, try
everything. Beforehand, you may want to read through this book to get an
overwiew.
EOS User's manual
Daeumling & Zimmermann
Page 1

Section A:
General Introduction
*******************************
*
General Introduction
*
*******************************
A.l. What is EOS like?
The term EOS designates the operating system of your computer. It con-
sists of a package of programs which enable you to do meaningful things
with the computer. Without such kind of programs, a computer were hardly
more than a useless conglomeration of some electronic and mechanical
devices, at best suited to enlight a tinkerer's minds,
The operating system programs perform highly fundamental tasks. Some of
them are always active without you being aware of it. Whenever you press
a key at your keyboard, when a character is output on the screen, even
when you switch on the machine and think that nothing at all happens, it
is always the operating system busy at work.
A number of the programs have names of their own. Later on, you will get
acquainted with their names and functions. Some other are buried deep
into the system's interior and only their programmer knows their names
and what they are good for.
To cut a long story short: All those programs not directly related to
the problem you are working at, but indispensable to keep the computer
running, are operating system programs,
EOS is an outstanding operating system in many respects. It tries to
give all advice and messages.in plain English, German, French or
Italian. It has built-in specific functions to assist a technician in
troubleshooting, should the system once fail. It works faster, more
thoroughly and more safely than other comparable operating systems,
EOS comes along with utility programs to enhance its operating comfort,
data security and practical usefulness.
EOS is capable of operating your printer and at the same time, run other
programs. The era of waiting for the printer to finish has come to an
end, at last! You may do text processing, inventory management or
accounting, while the printer is busy listing the results of other
program runs.
EOS User's manual
Daeumling & Zimmermann
Page 3

Section A: General Introduction
*******************************
•
General Introduction
•
*******************************
A. 2. -_EOS and its Relatives
Why keep it secret: EOS has been created with the facilities of another
operating system in mind - the CP/M system by Digital Research Corp.,
California, USA.
Thete is some very good reason to do so. It is- the CP/M system which has
established a worldwide accepted standard for programs. There are seve-
ral thousand- programs available, all of them being executable on every
computer with CP/M or a compatible operating system installed on it.
In some way, you may compare the standard to the standardized connection
of a turntable to your HiFi set. You only have to imagine that this
"plug" has much more connectors.
Using a computer system with EOS installed on it makes you become a
member of a worldwide community of computer users, their number cur-
rently approaching the 1,~~0,~00 figure. Day by day, this number keeps
on growing, and so does the number of good application programs which
can be run on all these computers.
EOS user's manual Daeumling & Zimmermann
Page 4

Section A:
A.3. Outside the Computer
General Introduction
*******************************
*
Outside the Computer *
*******************************
It is difficult to say anything about outer appearance and function of
particular devices, because one cannot predict the ideas which will come
to the minds of designers of new computer systems. We will try our best
to describe the functions of those devices which are generally found
with a computer running under the control of EOS. Indeed, some of these
devices are strictly indispensable to make EOS work.
A.3.l. The CRT Screen
You cannot renounce a CRT screen. Without a CRT, it would be impossible
to communicate with the computer. It displays in readable form the
characters the computer (or better, the program running currently in it)
sends to it. Because the information is transferred character by charac-
ter, the CRT is classified as a character oriented device. We will
encounter this term with some other devices, too.
From the operating system's view, the CRT is denoted by the symbolic
name CONOUT:, which is an abbreviation of CONsole OUTput. Because the
console, being the classical input/output device, transfers the opera-
tors input to the computer, the CRT cannot do without its all-time
companion:
A.3.2. The Keyboard
Like the CRT, the keyboard is absolutely necessary for your computer and
the EOS operating system running on it. Due to its strong relation to
the CRT, it is linked like the CRT by a cable to the main-unit of your
MZ-3500.
With the keyboard, you can enforce your will on the computer.
enter your commands. This is also done character by character,
key you touch with your fingers. Hence, the keyboard is a
oriented device, too.
Here you
with each
character
The keyboard
CON IN; (from
console.
is known by the operating system by its symbolic name
CONsole INput) and represents the input channel of the
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Section A:
General Introduction
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* Outside the Computer *
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A.3.3. The Printer
The printer is a representant of those devices which only can receive
data from the computer. Though you can use the computer without a prin-
ter - there are numerous programs which do not require a printer, but do
very useful things - a printer is indispensable for most serious appli-
cations.
The printer receives the text to be printed character by character, too.
Its symbolic name reads LSTOUT:, from LiST OUTput.
A.3.4. The Auxiliary Device
Besides the aforementioned devices, EOS provides for a free definable
auxiliary device. This can be used for data communications to another
computer via a telephone link, for example. The auxiliary device is
divided into two channels:
AUXIN: - the input channel and
AUXOUT: - the output channel
You will meet these names again when using the ~> $DEVICE utility. As a
user, you will seldom or never be bothered by these terms.
A.3.5. Mass Storage Units
This is a collective name for all those units which let you permanently
store data, programs, texts, etc. This kind of storing iS one, reading
the data stored another function of these units.
A computer system must be equipped with at least one storage unit, if
EOS shall be run on it.
Physically, the storage units are Winchester or disk drives installed in
your computer, or connected to it with a cable. EOS can manage up to
siKteen such units.
It is done better not to speak of devices when referring to
units. usually, a large harddisk is divided logically into
storage units, which are optically in one case. Disk drives are
ly mounted in pairs in the computer's, or in a seperate,
Hence, we will speak of
11
drives
11
from now on.
EOS User's manual
Daeumling & Zimmermann
storage
several
general-
cabinet.
Page 6

Section A: General Introduction
*******************************
*
Outside the Computer *
*******************************
Drives have no specific names, but are denoted by a letter, followed by
a colon. Thus, the first drive is named A: the second B: , up to
drive P:
Depending on the configuration, a maximum of eleven drives may be de-
fined on your MZ-3500. Generally, the fastest drive comes first. If you
are happy owner of a Winchester disk, this is referred to as both drives
A: and B:. Standard floppy disks come next to the harddisk, mini floppy
drives are the last ones. The built-in RAM disk is firmly installed as
drive P:.
As an example, this is the configuration of a computer with two mini
floppy drives:
A: Right disk drive
B: Left disk drive
P: RAM disk
A system with a standard dual floppy drive and two mini floppy drives
would look like:
A: Standard floppy, right drive
B: Standard floppy, left drive
C: Mini floppy, right drive
D: Mini floppy, left drive
P: RAM disk
A system with a Winchester disk, a standard floppy dual drive and two
mini floppy drives would have the following configuration:
A: Winchester disk
B: Winchester disk
C: Standard floppy, right drive
D: Standard floppy, left drive
E: Mini floppy, right drive
F: Mini floppy, left drive
P: RAM disk
Winchester and Floppy disk drives have one feature in common: data are
stored on them in entire blocks. With each access to these storage
units, a full block of data is written resp. read. As a consequence they
are classified as block oriented devices.
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Section A: General Introduction
*******************************
* Outside the Computer *
*******************************
A.3.6. Handling Diskettes
Concerning diskettes, you should observe the following: always be very
careful with the main switch. It c"an happen that the computer runs out
of control for a very short time when switched off, writing some nonsen-
se on the disks. This nonsense is inevitably lethal to data and programs
stored there. Besides, the electronics and mechanics can be damaged by
switching off power during reading or· writing. We should better postpone
such difficulties for cases beyond our responsibility.
Always remove the diskettes from the drives before switching
off power! Never switch off as long as an acitivity light at
a disk or Winchester drive is on!
Diskettes are highly sensitive. You should not try how sensitive they
are by handling them carelessly.
Never touch the exposed areas of the magnetic ~~rface with
your fingers!
Do not use a hard pencil to write on the disk labels. It is
good practice to inscribe the labels before attaching them to
the disk jackets!
Always store diskettes in a protective envelope!
Be careful with the magnetic influences of transformers,
motors, loudspeakers, TV sets, telephones, etc!
Do not expose them to direct sunlight or other sources of
heat, keep them cool!
Do not use damaged diskettes any longer, dispose them!
There are good diskettes, and there are bad ones. Inexpensive diskettes
need not be bad, whereas very good diskettes cannot be cheap. you should
decide to use nothing else but very good diskettes. You will know why
when a disk error spoils the work of several days, or even weeks!
Besides, the very good ones cause less wear to the read/write heads of
your drives. On the long term, they are the least expensive data media!
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Section A:
A.3.7 The Central Unit
General Introduction
*******************************
* Outside the Computer *
*******************************
This term refers to the mysterious part of your computer where every-
thing comes together. Quite literally so, because it is here where the
cables from the CRT monitor, the keyboard, the printer and the mass
memories end. Your MZ-3500 keeps up to two Minifloppy drives in this
housing, too.
The central unit consists of the following functional blocks:
- The CPU
In order to run EOS, this must be a chip from the Z80 family
(Your MZ-3500 includes two of such chips for better
throughput). It transforms the instructions given in the
programs into the desired actions and manages the main memory.
That is all you need to remember for now.
- The Main Memory
All you should remember is that the programs are executed from
within the main memory. EOS also resides here. Its capabili-
ties are related directly to its size. As the Z80 can address
only 64 Kbytes directly, EOS has several memory management
mechanisms built in, thus being able to make full use of the
128 to 256 Kbytes of your MZ-3500.
Data and programs are stored in the main memory. Each single
byte can be directly referred to by the CPU, can be read,
changed, and stored back again. Its disadvantage is its energy
dependance; as soon as power is turned off, its contents get
lost at once.
- The Control Units
These devices, some of them being very
11
intelligent", are
devoted to control data transfer to and from external devices.
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Page 9