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Running dBase II on Windows

dBase II was a database program from Ashton-Tate released in the 1980s.

It ran on CP/M computers and provided an easy way of creating complete database systems. This was because it included a way of displaying input forms, validating the entered data and of retrieving and reporting entered information. You could write programs in its database language.

I thought it pretty amazing at the time, especially as it ran on 8bit microcomputers with, often, less than 64K of memory. (That’s not the Gigabytes that we see today, nor even Megabytes, it’s a tiny fraction of a thousandth of what you have in your desktop computer or even your phone). Entire inventory control systems and accounting systems were developed with it and they were the mainstay of many businesses.

To run an old dBase II program on a modern Windows computer is pretty straight forward with the right tools. Here’s how it’s done… Continue reading Running dBase II on Windows

cpmfs version 0.03 released

cpmfs is a tool for copying files in and out of CP/M disk images.

It allows you to copy any files you like from Windows onto a “disk” for an emulator or simulator. This also means you can copy files off old diskimage files and put them, in whatever combination you need, on new blank “disks”.

Version 0.03 supports a lot more disk formats. The list (from the program) is: Continue reading cpmfs version 0.03 released

CP/M Disk Formats

I’ve updated the CP/M File System tool to support some additional disk formats. The tool allows you to copy files to and from the disk images that you use in CP/M emulators (see Edit CP/M Disk Image for details).

The disk types supported are now:

  • 8 = 8″ standard format CP/M disk.
  • 5 = 5″ not as standard; but common.
  • C5Q = CDOS format 5 inch DSDD disks.

Here’s some of the details of the disk image formats … Continue reading CP/M Disk Formats

Edit CP/M Disk Image

How do you change what CP/M programs are on a disk image file?

If you are running CP/M within an emulator, you can copy (PIP) files from one disk to another. But, you have to have them within a disk image to start with. If you need to get a file from a Windows computer into a disk image for a CP/M computer, that presents problems. Hey, the CP/M disks were 128 bytes per sector and Windows computers use 512 bytes per sector. This means even writing a physical disk (if you still have a floppy disk drive) is ruled out too.

Some emulators might have the ability to copy a file in. If you’re using one like that, this won’t be a problem for you. If not, here’s a solution … Continue reading Edit CP/M Disk Image

HP-65 Diagnostic Programs

The HP-65 calculator came with a “Standard Pac” of programs. That was a set of ready made solutions for some common problems. The idea was probably: if the calculator is programmable, it ought to come with some programs to show that off. It also effectively provided training material that created a whole lot of new programmers. It was a very good idea in many ways. Continue reading HP-65 Diagnostic Programs