LMI Forth User Newsletter August 1987 Laboratory Microsystems, Inc. P. O. Box 10430, Marina Del Rey, CA 90295 (213) 306-7412 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- PC/FORTH 3.2 and PC/FORTH+ 3.2 LMI is pleased to announce the release of PC/FORTH and PC/FORTH+ versions 3.2. These new versions represent a significant improvement in capability. The new or improved features include: Full path support throughout; An enhanced, two-level file interface that allows you to compile identical code on PC/FORTH 3.2, PC/FORTH+ 3.2, and UR/FORTH; "Well-behaved" use of system dynamic memory allocation functions; Powerful new string handling operators (search, extract, compare, and concatenate) and dynamic string storage manager; A completely rewritten, much faster binary overlay loader (the PC/FORTH+ overlay loader now supports all three relocation types: paragraph, 16-bit offset, and 32-bit offsets); An improved multitasker with programmable delays and semaphores; Enhanced user interface, including a SHELL command that allows you to run any DOS command, batch file, or program (either interactively or under the control of a Forth application) and examine its return code; Completely new table-driven full-screen editor and assembler supplied in both overlay and source code form (includes all 80286 and 80287 mnemonics). Maximum possible compatibility with UR/FORTH on the source code level. 3.5" media available on request at no extra charge; Internal serialization of the Forth system and graphics drivers discontinued. Updates are available to registered users of PC/FORTH and PC/FORTH+ at a nominal charge. An order form for updates is included in this newsletter. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Products UR/FORTH for Microsoft OS/2. A fully functional version of UR/FORTH that runs in protected mode under OS/2 is now available. UR/FORTH for OS/2 allows full access to the operating system's facilities for multi-tasking, virtual memory management, and inter-process communication. Turnkey applications can be compiled with UR/FORTH for OS/2 and distributed without any license fee or royalty. Until January 1, 1988, registered users of the MS-DOS version of UR/FORTH and of the IBM or Microsoft OS/2 Software Development Kits can obtain a copy of the OS/2 version of UR/FORTH at no charge. After January 1, the upgrade to the OS/2 version for registered MS-DOS UR/FORTH owners will be $100. UR/FORTH for Windows. A preliminary version of UR/FORTH is now running under Microsoft Windows 1.03. It will be available for purchase after Microsoft begins shipping the retail version of Windows 2.0, which will probably be 4th Qtr 1987. UR/FORTH for 80386. A 32-bit version of UR/FORTH for the Intel 80386 is under development, and should be available for purchase in November, 1987. Preliminary timings indicate that the 32-bit 80386 UR/FORTH will offer a 4 GB address space at virtually no speed penalty (compared to the 16-bit UR/FORTH running on the same machine), due to the 80386's improved addressing modes and instruction set. New Metacompiler Targets. New 16-bit targets for the 6809, 6303, HD64180, and Z-8 microprocessors are now available. A target for the Super 8 is in preparation. New 32-bit targets for the 8086 and 68000 are now available. The 32- bit 8086 target is symmetric with the PC/FORTH+ implementation, while the 32-bit 68000 target is a ROMable, token threaded implementation developed by Klaus Flesch of Forth Systeme Angelika Flesch in West Germany. LMI also performs custom ports of its Forth systems by special arrangement. The usual porting fee is $5000, but this fee may be substantially reduced if loaner hardware is provided and LMI retains the rights to market the system. SRS-63 EPROM Simulator. Klaus Flesch of Forth Systeme Angelika Flesch, West Germany, has developed a new EPROM simulator that can support up to 63 KB of address space. The simulator includes IBM PC host software that allows you to download precompiled images, edit and download source code, and debug interactively using the target system's interpreter without the need for a separate serial port. The SRS-63 will be available in the U.S.A. through LMI in late 1987. A data sheet for this product is available on request. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Technical Support Technical support for LMI Forth products is available by several avenues of electronic mail. The quickest way to obtain technical support is to leave a message on the LMI Forth Board at (213) 306-3530. This board is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, and supports 1200, 2400, and 9600 baud. The LMI Forth Board also offers some 20 MB of Forth source code, tutorials, useful MS-DOS utilities and programming aids. You can also contact LMI via MCI Mail (lmi or 114-9487), BIX (join lmi to post a message in the LMI Vendor Support Conference), or CompuServe Easyplex (72406,1577). After over two years of experience running a bulletin board service for users, we have become convinced that electronic mail is by far the most efficient means of providing technical support --- for both ourselves and our customers. Consequently, technical support by voice phone call will be discontinued as of September 1, 1987: technical support will be available only by electronic mail. For a limited time, LMI will be offering 1200 baud Hayes-compatible internal modems, bundled with ProComm telecommunications software, to registered users for $100 (our cost). When you make a request for technical support, be sure to include the following vital information: A general idea of what you are trying to do; A detailed description of the problem; Your development environment (including version numbers); System software configuration (including version numbers), and type of machine being used; The possibilities you've already exhausted (and their results); Your name, company name, and the serial number of your Forth system. An answer to your question, or a request for further information, will generally be posted to you within 24 hours. Please do not request or expect a phone call in answer to your question; this eliminates the advantages of electronic mail for all concerned. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Electronic Updates We have been posting free incremental updates to the MS-DOS version of UR/FORTH on the LMI Forth Board since the release of UR/FORTH in 1986. This has been very popular with UR/FORTH owners, and has proven to be an economical way to distribute enhancements to the UR/FORTH screen editor, assembler, multi-tasker, and other tools. Accordingly, over the next few months, we will also be establishing a procedure to distribute free incremental updates for PC/FORTH and PC/FORTH+ via the LMI Forth Board. However, this service will only be available to purchasers of the 3.2 update. Mailing List Cleanup This is the last newsletter that will be sent to all known present and previous users of LMI Forth products. Our mailing list has been growing for over six years and needs pruning badly. If you wish to continue to receive LMI newsletters and update announcements, you must affix the newsletter mailing label to the enclosed postcard, make any necessary address corrections, and return the postcard to LMI. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Packaging and Pricing Changes Coincident with the release of PC/FORTH and PC/FORTH+ versions 3.2, we are making a number of changes in our pricing and packaging structure. The thrust of these changes is to provide an integrated development environment at a much lower price than before, and eliminate the confusing menu of "extension packages." PC/FORTH version 3.2 $150.00 Interpreter/compiler, editor, assembler, host file interface, relocating binary overlay utility, 400 page manual. PC/FORTH+ version 3.2 $250.00 Interpreter/compiler, editor, assembler, host file interface, relocating binary overlay utility, 400 page manual. Programmer's Package #1 (16-bit) $250.00 PC/FORTH 3.2 (16-bit) as above, software floating point, Intel 8087 support, graphics driver (IBM CGA, EGA, Hercules), and native code optimizer. Programmer's Package #2 (32-bit) $350.00 PC/FORTH+ 3.2 (32-bit) as above, software floating point, Intel 8087 support, graphics driver (IBM CGA, EGA, Hercules), and native code optimizer. Programmer's Package #3 (16-bit and 32-bit) $500.00 PC/FORTH 3.2 (16-bit) and PC/FORTH+ 3.2 (32-bit) as above, software floating point, Intel 8087 support, graphics driver (IBM CGA, EGA, Hercules), and native code optimizer. The PC/FORTH and PC/FORTH+ software floating point, Intel 8087 support, graphics support, and native code optimizer will no longer be available for purchase as separate extension packages. For the present, we will continue to sell the floating point and native code optimizer extension packages separately for 8086 FORTH, 8086 FORTH+, and Z-80 FORTH. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- LMI Products Withdrawn The following LMI Forth systems are withdrawn from the price list as of September 1, 1987: PC/FORTH for the Hewlett-Packard HP-150 and HP-110 PC/FORTH for the Wang Professional Computer 68000 FORTH 3.0 for CP/M-68K 68000 FORTH+ 3.0 for CP/M-68K Technical support for these systems will be continued for a limited period. The B-tree index manager, symbolic debugger, cross reference utility, and PC/TERM extension packages will also be withdrawn as of September 1, 1987. They will be placed (together with their documentation files) on the LMI Bulletin Board System and may be downloaded at no charge by all registered users. Overseas distributors will be supplied with master disks for these four extensions which they can duplicate and supply to their customers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- LMI Products Frozen The following Forth systems remain on the price list for the present, but will not be updated for symmetry with IBM PC/FORTH 3.2 and UR/FORTH because of vanishing market demand: Z-80 FORTH 3.1 for CP/M 8080 FORTH 3.0 for CP/M PC/FORTH 3.0 for Apple IIe 8086 FORTH 3.1 for MS-DOS or CP/M-86 8086 FORTH+ 3.1 for MS-DOS or CP/M-86 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Authorized Overseas LMI Distributors Forth-Systeme Ang. Flesch Southern Pacific Ltd. Postfach 1103 Sanwa Building D-7814 Breisach am Rhein 2-16-20 Minamisaiwai West Germany Nishi, Yokohama, 220 Japan Phone: (49) 7667-551 Phone: 045-314-9514 Systems Science Limited Wave-onic Associates 6-7 West Smithfield 199 Watts Road London, England EC1A 9JX Wilson 6107, Australia Phone: 01-248-0962 Phone: (09) 451-2946 Micro-Sigma S.A.R.L. 10, rue de la Boetie 75008 Paris, France Phone: (1) 42.65.95.16 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- PC/FORTH and PC/FORTH+ 3.2 Update Order Form Name: __________________________________________ Company: __________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________ City, State, ZIP: __________________________________________ Old PC/FORTH serial no.: _______ Old PC/FORTH+ serial no.: ______ [ ] PC/FORTH 3.2 and manual $50.00 [ ] PC/FORTH+ 3.2 and manual $50.00 [ ] Programmers Package #1 $75.00 Includes PC/FORTH 3.2, manual, software floating point, Intel 8087 support, graphics, and native code optimizer. To order this update you must be a registered owner of PC/FORTH and at least one of those four extension packages. [ ] Programmers Package #2 $75.00 Includes PC/FORTH+ 3.2, manual, software floating point, Intel 8087 support, graphics, and native code optimizer. To order this update you must be a registered owner of PC/FORTH+ and at least one of those four extension packages. [ ] Programmers Package #3 $125.00 Includes PC/FORTH 3.2 and manual, PC/FORTH+ 3.2 and manual, software floating point, Intel 8087 support, graphics, and native code optimizer. To order this update you must be a registered owner of PC/FORTH and PC/FORTH+, and at least one of those four extension packages. Sales tax (California residents) _________ Shipping ($5.00 in USA, $25.00 overseas airmail) _________ Total _________ Method of payment: [ ] Check enclosed [ ] Visa [ ] Mastercard Credit card number: _________________________ Exp. date: ______ Allow four weeks for shipment. =========================================================================