BULLETIN BOARD
- D3
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BULLETIN BOARD
- D3
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The new subroutine MOVCLK has been added to the MCM. MOVCLK reads data from CLOCK, only when CLOCK is not being updated by the SDMA, and writes it into named location STAMP. This, in conjunction with the faster SDMA clock update, is intended to replace the named subroutine RDCLK (although this remains available).
The SDMA previously did not properly terminate the clock string in named locations CLOCK and STAMP. This has been corrected.
Configuration files for version RMS1551-01-D are compatible with this version, and may be used without modification.
Fixed the SDMA software to act correctly on the command sent by the MCM to set the chart recorder to host control mode.
Configuration files for version RMS1551-01-E are compatible with this version, and may be used without modification.
MIN SP is saved with the configuration file. Its default value in older configurations is non-zero. Following the directions in section 1.1 of this document sets the system to open files in the ordinary way.
The manual for the HDS data recording system contains an explanation of contiguous files and contiguous disk space.. Directions for using MIN SP are in the DAS8 and DGR33 manuals, section 3.6.9.
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Table 1. Supported tape and disk drives
Empty files are now deleted automatically when they are closed. This is always accompanied by the message "EMPTY DATA FILE HAS BEEN DELETED". The same message is also displayed after the explicit deletion of a data file that happens to be empty. In the latter case, the error message "FILE NOT FOUND" is displayed immediately afterwards. This is a logical consequence of the operation and does not indicate a problem.
This revision corrects problems of size allocation that some users have reported. This is a discrepancy between the actual file size and the size reported in the directory. Also corrected are problems that only appear with very long directories.
Note: Configuration files produced by versions RMS1551-01-D, -E, or -F will also be accepted without a warning, but these must be modified in order to work the same as they did in previous versions. After loading the old configuration into the new version, use the new item #9 (MIN SP) in the DATA ENTRIES #1 menu. Change the value shown by item #9 to zero, and leave that display by pressing ENTER. Compile and save the new configuration.
The parameter controlled by Item #9 was introduced in version RMS1551-01-G. Entering a value of zero causes the parameter to be ignored.
Using a non-zero value for this parameter may help to avoid data loss. To understand the advantages, please refer to the RMS1551-01-G release notes, or see Section 3.6.9 in the DAS8 or DGR33 manual, as well as Section 4.5.7 in the HDS manual.
MCM FIRMWARE REVISION RMS1551-01-I
These release notes contain important information about the new firmware and how it will affect the performance of instruments in which it is installed. Please read the notes before attempting to use the new firmware.
1. PROBLEMS CORRECTED
1.1 A problem could arise when a TIM or SCSI module is busy and can not accept a tape or disk write operation. Although very unlikely after introduction of the 15-page data buffer in these modules, the problem could occur on the first write (from B.O.T.) to the tape drive (on an HDS system), when (a) the main scan is running quite fast (e.g., 10 x/sec), and (b) the system was started using the "quick start" option. Instead of simply reporting a Code 6 error, the system would crash.
1.2 It was found that control of the keyboard and display could be lost if while running the main scan (#1) at 10 x/sec, one encountered the group of Code 6 errors caused by the first write to tape (see also 1.1). The problem was in the handling of the (scan-time) error queue.
1.3 Generic Binary with Fourth Difference pseudo traces were originally implemented with the fourth difference algorithm applied after scaling of the signal (as per the syntax entered). This would work fine for signal excursions within the range covered, but would generate (full-scale) spikes when going beyond it. The fourth difference algorithm is now applied to the original signal (sign-extended, if needed, to 32 bits), with the scaling taking place at the end.
2. IMPROVEMENTS ON DISK/TAPE RECORDING
2.1 Better support of removable disks. [Requires
SCSI revision RMS1530-01-K]
When a removable disk is changed in the RHD (data recording unit) the
operator is reminded to open a file on the new device if he attempts any
other disk operation first.
2.2 Safer operation. [Requires SCSI revision
RMS1530-01-K]
If the HDS or RHD has lost power without the entire data system being
reset, disk write operations are disabled, and the operator is warned to
open a file on the new device.
2.3 Faster disk formatting. [Requires SCSI revision
RMS1530-01-K]
The F-Format item in the Disk Functions menu is much faster than in
previous versions. This is because the SCSI module no longer performs low-level
disk formatting as part of the formatting operation. A low-level format
of the larger disks can take more than half an hour. The low-level format
operation remains available for those who require it; please contact RMS
Instruments for more information.
3. SPECTRUM PLOT ADDITIONS
The accumulate option of the spectrum plot utility now works for both disk and tape. The syntax of the accumulation argument "/A" has been expanded as follows:
/AR ....... Accumulate from tape
/AK ....... Accumulate from disk
Notice that use of "R" and "K" is consistent with other utilities that distinguish between tape and disk operations. For backward compatibility, "/A" functions as it did previously (i.e., accumulate from tape), although this compatibility is not guaranteed in any future releases.
The "Z" character, previously unavailable because of limited memory space, has now been added to the spectrum plot character set.
MCM FIRMWARE REVISION RMS1551-01-J
These release notes contain important information about the new firmware and how it will affect the performance of instruments in which it is installed. Please read the notes before attempting to use the new firmware.
1. PROBLEMS CORRECTED
1.1 Y2K incompatibility: a hard-coded '19' used at the beginning of a date string shown on the display during startup, has now been replaced with a '20'.
1.2 Y2K incompatibility: corrected an error in the subroutine that encodes the year information in the MS-DOS directory.
2. CONFIGURATION FILES
Configuration files for version RMS1551-01-I are completely compatible with this version (RMS1551-01-J), and can be used without modification.
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