J.E.LAWRIE HINTS-23.
v.2
Z88 User Guide - Fourth Edition
1.Yes, there is a 4th Edition. Black cover, size and shape as for a normal
book, not a loose leaf book with a ring binder - very smart.
2.The contents are almost identical to the 3rd Edition except that a couple of
items are moved to a different section so don't rush out to find one !
3.What is different is the addition of information on RAMs ROMs and EPROMs.
Even this is not new - it was supplied on inserts with these three devices
when bought as new. Because these bits of useful information were not
usually passed on when these devices were sold second-hand I have reprinted
the entries in the 4th Edition for your edification!
USING CARTRIDGES ( usually referred to as Cards)
There are three types of card for use with the Cambridge Z88: RAM cards are
for storing your own information. ROM cards are pre- programmed and are
normally called applications. An example is PC Link. EPROM cards allow you
to write information once only, but retain it even when removed from the
machine, thus providing a secure way of saving your data
Card information - <>CARD
The <>CARD command, on the Index commands menu, shows the type
and size of the card in each slot. It will not however show an erased EPROM
card until it has been accessed by the Filer. (I.e. the cursor in any RAM
being dropped to the next line and ENTER pressed.)
Inserting and removing cards.
Cards should only be inserted or removed with the Z88 switched on !
First enter the Index. Then open the perspex flap at the front of the
machine. Check that the screen goes blank. There should be one bleep as
the flap is opened. The card can then be pushed in or pulled out. The
label on the end of the card must be upright when you push a card home. On
completion push the flap back in position
Errors which occur during insertion or removal of cards are displayed in the
"OZ" position at the top right of the screen. A FAIL message is given if a
RAM card is removed, indicating that a soft reset must be carried out. If
you remove a ROM card when this is in use a continuous tone will sound and
the word CARD will flash until the card is replaced. The suspended activity
should now be removed with <>KILL before going on with the removal of the
card. An INDEX message is given, together with the continuous tone, if you
attempt to remove a ROM when you are not in the Index.
RAM Cards
These allow one to store more data in the Z88. There are three slots in
which RAM can can be inserted but it is recommended that slot 3 is left
available for an EPROM. This is because a) only slot 3 is suitable for
recording data and b) a RAM in this slot will consume much more power than
in either of the other slots thus reducing battery life.
Inserting a RAM card.
Make sure the computer is switched on and the Index is displayed. Open the
front flap. There will be a bleep and the screen will go blank. Push the
card into the slot as far as it will go, ensuring of course that the card is
the right way up. Now close the flap. The Index will now be displayed. You
can check the presence of the card by using <>CARD.
If you remove a RAM card from the Z88 any data and/or files on the RAM will
be lost instantly. Also a FAIL message will show in the top right corner of
the screen which means that a Soft Reset must be carried out, causing all
suspended activities to be lost. SO - THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE REMOVING A RAM
CARD.
Using Extra RAM.
Initially, before any RAM card(s) were inserted in the front slots, all
files saved to RAM went into RAM:0 (the `resident RAM'). In order to save
subsequent files to a new RAM it is necessary to amend the Panel -
Go to the Panel - type []S and press ENTER ([] is the key with a square on
it). Move the cursor down to the "Default Device" and enter the slot number
of the new RAM card, then press ESC.
Any files saved to RAM which do not specify the RAM go to the RAM specified
as the Default device in the Panel. You can of course specify any RAM you
wish by typing :RAM.1/ or :RAM.2/ before the filename.
EPROM CARDS
These can only be used in slot 3. They are designed for storage of
data and programs which will not be lost if the EPROM card is
removed from the computer. They can of course be inserted into another Z88
and the files therein transferred to its RAM. If the data or program which
is held on the EPROM is subsequently changed it will be necessary to save
it/them again to the EPROM. The previous copy will be superseded by the new
one but the space taken up by the "old" file(s) is no longer available.
When the EPROM is full it must be erased. ALL data/files will be erased -
an EPROM cannot be partially erased. EPROMs may be inserted or removed at
any time. They do not consume much power except when being written to which
is why the screen `flashes'. Power is being saved by switching off.
Note - one is advised to remove the EPROM from the Z88 when it is being left
without power - it may get corrupted. In this event it would have to be
erased and ALL files will be lost.
ROM CARDS
These are used to provide extra data or applications programs such as a
spelling checker. The procedure for installing is the same as for a RAM
card. Switch machine on, go to Index, open the flap, insert the card, close
the flap. Removing a ROM card must be done with care. Machine on, check
that none of the activities on the ROM are in the Suspended Activities at
the Index - if there are these will show a number in the right- hand column
indicating the slot number for the ROM - any such must be <>KILLed before
removing the ROM card. If you remove a ROM card when it is in use there will
be a bleep when the flap is closed and the symbol CARD will appear. Replace
the card in the same slot and kill all remaining activities. If the card is
removed when you are not in the Index there will be a bleep and the symbol
INDEX will appear. Return the card to it's slot, close the flap, go to the
Index and the card can now be removed normally.
Another item which did not appear in earlier editions of the manual -
Expanded/Unexpanded Z88.
A Z88 cab be `expanded' or `unexpanded'. An expanded machine will allow the
use of a large Basic workspace, a larger map size in Pipedream and the use
of an area for pixels in the "Basicpatch" Basic program.
To be expanded a Z88 must have at least a 128k RAM in slot 1 for versions
earlier than 4.0 For a version 4.0 either the internal RAM or the RAM in
slot 1 must be at least 128k.
To find out what version is fitted to the Z88 - press INDEX, then HELP, then
the left arrow key. Press ESC to return to the Index.
Note - the above is not taken verbatim from the fourth edition of
the Z88 manual - it has been simplified to some extent, without losing any
essential information, to avoid repetitions.
END
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