DMFIXES  11/15/1985
 
To set up DeskMate and its associated data disk on any drive other than the
default of drive:0 and drive:1, you will have to do some fanagling.  First,
you must select item [9] SWAP from the main menu to get DeskMate to access the
correct data disk.  Second, all of the software that accesses ALARM/ARM use
the string "ALARM/ARM:0" when referring to the event file.  I have looked into
this problem and came up with the following solution:
 
The files that contain references to ALARM/ARM:0, and the disk record that
contains the reference are listed as follows, replace the ":0" in each
instance with 2 spaces (20H,20H):
          DMALARM/CMD               Record 30 (1EH)
          DMCALNDR/CMD              Record 40 (28H)
          DMRES2/CMD                Record 9  (09H)
These changes are necessary if you want to run DeskMate with the system on
MemDISK.  I have set up my system so that TRSDOS 6.2 is on the MemDISK,
drive:1 has all of the program and help files, and drive:2 is completely free
for data.  Using the MemDISK cuts down on disk access and greatly speeds up
everything.
 
Another change you may consider is to change the default screen width (70
characters) in TEXT to something that better utilizies the 80 column screen.
To change the default screen width in DMTEXT/CMD, there are three 46H's in the
first record of the file at relative locations 56H, 59H, and 65H.  Change
these to whatever you want (78 columns = 4EH).
 
After extensive research and many disassemblies of DMTEXT/CMD, I have
discovered how to change the '03H' fill character at the end of /DOC files.
The '03H' is located at X'8344' in the DMTEXT/CMD file (disk record 17 (11H)
byte A2H).  You can change it to whatever you think would be most beneficial
(I made it ^Q - '11H').  With this change, you can upload /DOC files to any
telecommunication service without worrying about all of the ^C's being sent.
 
In the documentation for DeskMate, it is stated that the screen will go blank
and scroll a promting message across the screen after 10 minutes of
inactivity.  However, in real life it takes about 50 minutes for the screen to
clear.  I have found where this check is made in DMRES2/CMD.  At memory
location X'469B' (disk record 10 (0AH) byte 24H), BC is loaded with 5000H and
goes through a very complicated series of decrements while still scanning the
keyboard.  After a while, B goes to 00 and the screen clears.  I changed the
50H at X'469D' to 10H, and the screen will now clear after about 8 minutes of
inactivity.
 
I have written a little utility called ADDON/CMD that adds a '1AH' to the end
of ASCII files so that they can be properly read by the Text function of
DeskMate.  This utility will be made available to anyone who asks for it.  If
there is enough of a demand, I will upload it to the database here.
 
Bob Kitchen
CIS: 73756,1015
Delphi: CHESSIE
 
