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Mastering OS-9 on the Tandy Color Computer A comprehensive learning guide for OS-9 Level 2 complete with step-by-step tutorials. Requires an 80 column display (RGB preferred), two 40 track double sided disk drives, and 512K of memory. Written by Paul K. Ward edited by Francis G. Swygert PPPPPuuuuubbbbbllllliiiiissssshhhhheeeeeddddd bbbbbyyyyy FFFFFAAAAARRRRRNNNNNAAAAA SSSSSyyyyysssssttttteeeeemmmmmsssss TTTTTHHHHHIIIIIRRRRRDDDDD EEEEEDDDDDIIIIITTTTTIIIIIOOOOONNNNN FFFFFAAAAARRRRRNNNNNAAAAA SSSSSyyyyysssssttttteeeeemmmmmsssss PPPPPuuuuubbbbbllllliiiiissssshhhhhiiiiinnnnnggggg Printed in USA by CopyMasters 524 N. Houston Lake Blvd. Centerville, GA 31028 CCCCCooooopppppyyyyyrrrrriiiiiggggghhhhhttttt MMMMMaaaaarrrrrccccchhhhh 11111999999999955555,,,,, FFFFFAAAAARRRRRNNNNNAAAAA SSSSSyyyyysssssttttteeeeemmmmmsssss Tandy Color Computer 3 Mastering OS-9 on the Tandy Color Computer 3 An enjoyable, hands-on guide to OS-9 Level 2 complete with step-by-step tutorials. Requires an 80 column display (RGB preferred), two 40 track double sided disk drives, and 512K of memory. First and Second Editions copyright 1988 by Paul K. Ward and Kenneth-Leigh Enterprises Third Edition copyright 1995 by Paul K. Ward and Francis G. Swygert Third Edition published in 1995 by FARNA Systems with permission DISCLAIMER The author, editor, Kenneth-Leigh Enterprises, nor FARNA Systems guarantee the suitability or accuracy of this book or its accompanying disk software. There are no warranties, expressed or implied, including those of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The software is copyrighted and rights are reserved. Reproduction of disk or book contents, except for archival purposes, is forbidden by law. Utilities specifically designated as shareware or public domain may be copied in their entirety per instructions in the documentation files. Please register shareware— provide the authors with an incentive to write more programs! For questions and suggestions, please contact: FARNA Systems Box 321 Warner Robins, GA 31099-0321 or FARNA Systems c/o F. R. Swygert, Sr. Rt. 4 Box 145 Leesville, SC 29070 OS-9 is a trademark of Microware Systems Corporation, Copyright (c) 1983 Color Computer 3 is a trademark of Tandy Corporation UNIX is a trademark of Bell Laborotories IBM and IBM-PC are trademarks of International Business Machines 1-2-3 is a trademark of Lotus Development Flight Simulator is a trademark of subLogic Wyse is a trademark of Wyse Computer All other products are trademarks of their respective companies. Page 1 Mastering OS-9 AAAAAccccckkkkknnnnnooooowwwwwllllleeeeedddddgggggeeeeemmmmmeeeeennnnntttttsssss::::: The people snd entities listed below all had a direct or indirect influence on the writing of this edition: Microware Systems Corp. Charles Askins Andy Ball Bill Brady James Gibbons Steve Goldberg Marty Goodman Michael Litt Eric Miller Dale Puckett Rick Ulland Bruce Warner Richard White And I have to personally thank Paul Ward, who gave FARNA Systems permission to edit and print the third edition (original title of first and second editions: "Start OS-9"). FFFFFooooorrrrreeeeewwwwwooooorrrrrddddd::::: Francis G. Swygert This is my second major work concerning the Color Computer. It goes without saying that the majority of the work here is Paul Ward's, but editing and revising is still a lot ofwork! It is not easy writing for this market, mainly because it is shrinking. There are few new CoCo users, and few purchasers of new material. Nevertheless, I still support this little beast, and a beast it can be under OS-9. I say this not only because of the difficulty some have with learning OS-9, but more because of the POWER that OS-9 unleashes. With this power comes a more complex way of doing things... very complex when compared to Tandy's simple Disk Extended Color BASIC. I have decided to continue to support the CoCo, and will do so for many years to come. I love my little simple and powerful computer. Simple under DECB, powerful under OS-9. It works well for me, and I expect it to continue doing so for many years to come. Page 2 Tandy Color Computer 3 PPPPPrrrrreeeeefffffaaaaaccccceeeee::::: Paul K Ward You are holding the only hands-on introduction to OS-9 Level 2. It differs from preceding books on OS-9 Level 2 because it is written for the intelligent beginner in a no-nonsense format, with clear, short examples which will speed you on your way to both USING and UNDERSTANDING OS-9 Level 2. In “Mastering OS-9”, we teach you the most-used features by providing sensible examples you perform yourself. This is our secret. “Mastering OS-9” brings the power of OS-9 Level 2 to your fingertips by putting those fingertips on the computer keyboard. In hands-on tutorials you learn the most practical aspects first, one step at a time. By the end, you’ll be able to explore with confidence aspects of OS-9 not covered here. “Mastering OS-9” offers: * ten tutorials, each providing immediate use of many powerful features of OS-9 * a wealth of clearly-written explanatory material to help you understand and retain what you learn * appendices offering advice on software and hardware * suggestions on customizing your system for special tasks Here are some benefits you reap from finishing the tutorials: * The investment in your computer system and OS-9 Level 2 wlll pay off. * Your OS-9 computer will adapt to your work style. * You will ultimately spend less time at your computer and put out a better product. * You get a foundation in OS-9 that eases learning more advanced techn iques. * You can make better-informcd purchases when buying hardware and software for your computer system. OS-9 Level 2 offers broader benefits, too. People who aspire to be software developers will revel in OS-9 Level 2’s programming environment, the most sophisticated you can find at most any price. Also, using business software available for your OS-9 computer puts professional power in your home and workplace for a modest investment. And OS-9 Level 2 is just plain fun. Please enjoy yourself. CCCCCOOOOONNNNNTTTTTEEEEENNNNNTTTTTSSSSS Page 3 Mastering OS-9 DDDDDaaaaayyyyy OOOOOnnnnneeeee Welcome To OS-9 Level 2, page 13 Introduction, page 17 The OS-9 Ethos, page 21 Before You Start the Tutorials, page 23 OS9Boot, page 25 About the Kernel: OS-9 is ticking away, page 27 IOMan: Input and Output Unification, page 31 The Shell: Guide and Intermediary, page 35 Notes on the Kernel, IOMan, and the Shell, page 39 DDDDDaaaaayyyyy TTTTTwwwwwooooo Introducing the OS-9 Directory System, page 41 Everything About Path Names, page 45 Data Directories: Keeping Data Organized, page 53 Execution Directories: Where the Action Is, page 57 Command Syntax: Get It Right! page 61 DDDDDaaaaayyyyy TTTTThhhhhrrrrreeeeeeeeee Preparing for the Tutorials, page 69 Getting Started with Tutorial 1, page 71 Tutorial 1, page 87 DDDDDaaaaayyyyy FFFFFooooouuuuurrrrr Getting Started with Tutorial 2, page 101 Tutorial 2, page 105 DDDDDaaaaayyyyy FFFFFiiiiivvvvveeeee Getting Started with Tutorial 3, page 113 Tutorial 3, page 119 DDDDDaaaaayyyyy SSSSSiiiiixxxxx Getting Started with Tutorial 4, page 125 Tutorial 4, page 131 DDDDDaaaaayyyyy SSSSSeeeeevvvvveeeeennnnn Getting Started with Tutorial 5, page 139 Tutorial 5, page 147 DDDDDaaaaayyyyy EEEEEiiiiiggggghhhhhttttt Application Programs for OS-9 on the Color Computer. page 155 OS-9: Origins, Directions page 161 DDDDDaaaaayyyyy NNNNNiiiiinnnnneeeee Page 4 Tandy Color Computer 3 Do I Really Have To Learn Hexadecimal? page 167 Compact Disk-interactive, page 175 DDDDDaaaaayyyyy TTTTTeeeeennnnn Getting Started with Tutorial 6, page 179 Tutorial 6, page 185 DDDDDaaaaayyyyy EEEEEllllleeeeevvvvveeeeennnnn Getting Started with Tutorial 7, page 193 Tutorial 7, page 205 DDDDDaaaaayyyyy TTTTTwwwwweeeeelllllvvvvveeeee Getting Started with Tutorial 8 page 211 Tutorial 8, page 219 DDDDDaaaaayyyyy TTTTThhhhhiiiiirrrrrttttteeeeeeeeeennnnn Getting Started with Tutorial 9, page 223 Tutorial 9, page 229 DDDDDaaaaayyyyy FFFFFooooouuuuurrrrrttttteeeeeeeeeennnnn Getting Started with Tutorial 10, page 235 Tutorial 10, page 239 AAAAAppppppppppeeeeennnnndddddiiiiiccccceeeeesssss A - Where To Go For More lnformation Francis Swygert B - Hardware for Your CoCo 3 / OS-9 Level 2 System Martin H. Goodman C - Telecomputing and OS-9 William L. Brady D - Hard Drive Systems for the Tandy Color Computer Kevin Darling and Francis Swygert E - Start BasicO9! Dale L. Puckett F - Syntax and Usage for the “Mastering OS-9” utilities Stephen Goldberg G - OS-9 and Music Paul K. Ward H - OS-9 User’s Group Application and information Page 5 Mastering OS-9 In the Beginning WWWWWeeeeelllllcccccooooommmmmeeeee TTTTTooooo OOOOOSSSSS-----99999 LLLLLeeeeevvvvveeeeelllll 22222 From the start, computers have been crotchety and demanding. The first computers took up large rooms and were expensive to maintain. It took years of training to design and run them. Large staffs of scientists swarmed over the equipment, constantly replacing tubes and adding new data. When computers, now the size of a phone book, showed up in the American living room, they weren’t much better. If you bought one, you understand. There were few programs on the market, so you often had to write your own. This required days, even weeks, of poring over confusing manuals to accomplish the simplest task. The few programs available were either games or were so puny and powerless it is a wonder we didn’t all throw up our hands in frustration and call off the Computer Revolution. So why are computers still around? Blame VisiCalc. VisiCalc was the first truly USEFUL program for a microcomputer. It excited business people because it solved complex financial calculations. It taught us that computers can help us plan better, thus saving our time and money. Certainly VisiCalc for the Apple II computer convinced Apple to continue producing computers. It probably urged IBM into the home computer market. Other major names entered the market around this time, including Tandy/Radio Shack, Osborne, Timex, and others. Competition suddenly heated up in the personal computer industry. In the end, the victors in this market struggle survived by following these principles: * A computer won’t sell unless it has great software. * Great software is powerful and easy-to-use. * Both the computer and the software need a large base of users to remain vital. * Both the computer and the software need continued support from the manufacturers. OS-9 Level 2 on the Color Computer 3 is a mature system which scores high marks on each of these tests — except one. OS-9 has a reputation for being less than easy to use. A little work with a If you started out with Tandy’s Disk Extended Color Basic or a lot of reward variant (the CoCo’s built-in software), OS-9 will require some rethinking. Be prepared. Mastering OS-9 is more difficult. But here’s the payoff: your OS-9 based computer is harder to learn Page 6 Tandy Color Computer 3 because it off ers more than any other home computer system. It offers so much more that comparing the OS-9 “learning curve” with that of Disk Extended Color Basic is unfair. OS-9 has a greater similarity to UNIX, the operating system found on larger, more expensive computers. Although UNIX also has a reputation for being confusing, its power and versatility have created a revolution in the computer industry. Most computer companies are scrambling to bring UNlX and UNIX-style operating systems to personal computers. UNIX “is driving many of our decisions at IBM,” according to IBM fellow Andrew Heller. IBM even moved its Scientific Division to the Entry Systems Division specifically “to accelerate the porting of IBM’s Unix operating system ... to the PS/2 Model 80,” one of IBM’s personal computers (BYTE Magazine, November 1987, p. 12.). OS-9, smaller and faster than UNIX, brings a UNIX “feel” into your home. OS-9’s similarity to UNIX means you already have the power most other computer owners will have to wait for. Some beneficial aspects of OS-9 Level 2 are listed below: * It’s expandable. OS-9 Level 2 is a collection of over one hundred little programs, each of which does only one very small job. By adding new little programs, called utilities, or modules, OS-9 Level 2 can expand its power. New utilities and modules are included with “Mastering OS-9”. Your operating system has already grown! * It’s Multi-tasking. OS-9 allows you to do several jobs at once. For example, you may wish to print Section One of an important report while you continue writing Section Two. The printing is the first job or “process”, and the writing is the second job or “process”. You can even check spelling on another document by creating a third process. OS-9 executes these three processes apparently at the same time. * It has windows. To provide you visual access to several programs at once, Level 2 sets up windows for each. You have control over the function and appearance of each window. Choose colors, sizes, and whether the window must be able to display pictures. Once each program has its own window, you select a window by pressing the CLEAR key. Each window appears on your screen in turn as you press the key. Need to write some text? Press CLEAR to get to your word-processor. Need to make some calculations? Press CLEAR to get to your spreadsheet. Each of these programs runs as though it has its own independent terminal. Page 7 Mastering OS-9 * It helps you organize your work. Organized people have their files in file folders. OS-9 offers “files” of an electronic variety. You can group similar files in file directories (or simply directories). You can even group directories in other directories! This organizing principle, the hierarchical directory system, allows you to assemble your work neatly and sensibly. * Automate dreary tasks.When you tell your computer to do something for you, you generally use commands. Sometimes, typing in commands is repetitious and time-consuming. OS-9 gives you an option. It doesn’t care if its commands come from you or from a file. If you know in advance all the commands you will need, just create a file which contains those commands, in order, to get your job done. What you are creating is a procedure file, so-called because it contains a list of procedures which OS-9 executes one at a time, without your intervention if you so choose. In addition, * OS-9 Level 2 is well-supported by the OS-9 Users Group and many enthusiasts worldwide. * OS-9 has a strong future. Anything you learn about level 2 is applicable to OS-9/68000. Microware’s client list reads like a Who’s Who in industry. OS-9 is everywhere. It’s the heart of the latest Compact Disk technology, CD-i, and the Interactive Televi- sion set-top boxes; computers from Japan to England to Tennessee, many of them state-of-the-art, run OS-9; and it is available on many different computers (including the Atari ST, Amiga, and even IBM clones). Your purchase of OS-9 Level 2 was a smart idea. Why use OS-9 ? IIIIInnnnntttttrrrrroooooddddduuuuuccccctttttiiiiiooooonnnnn You have a job to do. OS-9 Level 2 provides the tools. In fact, it offers so many tools that becoming familiar with all 50 available commands is a big challenge. Now for the good news: you will only use about 20 with any frequency. In “Mastering OS-9” we explain the most-used commands first so you can get right to work. Plus, you gain confidence in using OS-9 Level 2 which is sure to inspire you to experiment with the 30 or so commands we will not cover in depth. Since it’s best to learn by doing, “Mastering OS-9” teaches you what you need to know by having you perform simple exercises — each of which is extremely practical. You also learn: Page 8