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decus/20-0134/focal.doc
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Status of FOCAL for DECsystem-10.
1.0 Summary of changes
------- -- -------
Ian Pugsley would appreciate your comments on FOCAL-10.
Please send comments, suggestions or problems to:
Digital Equipment Australia, 60 Park street, South
Melbourne, Victoria 3205 Australia.
2.0 External changes.
-------- -------
3.0 Internal changes.
-------- --------
4.0 Bugs fixed.
---- ------
5.0 Changes to installation instructions.
------- -- ------------ -------------
Monitor software level is now indicated by the parameter
"MONITOR". MONITOR should be set to one of the following
values or to a higher value.
3.27 (Assumes monitor does nothing for the user.)
4.72 (Assumes Teletype fill characters are provided by
the monitor and RENAME does not require a prior
CLOSE.)
5.03 (Assumes protection can be specified at ENTER time,
and the CORE UUO sets C(.JBREL))
5.04 (Assumes DEVCHR UUO can accept a channel number.)
5.05 (Assumes monitor can handle all brands of alt mode.)
5.06 (Assumes KI-10 floating-point trap works correctly.)
FOCAL.MAC will now assemble two different .REL files,
depending upon whether the symbol FNEW is defined or not.
If FNEW is not defined, a .REL file is generated which
has the full high segment for the .SHR file, and a null
low segment. If FNEW is defined (insert "EXTERNAL FNEW"
at the front of the source) then a .REL file is generated
which may be named FOCALL.REL, and placed on SYS: for
loading with user-programs that need FNEW. Users then
create their own FNEW.REL file on DSK, and issue
"EXECUTE SYS:FOCALL,DSK:FNEW" in order to load FOCAL with
FNEW and start FOCAL.
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 3
6.0 Known bugs.
----- -----
6.1 GETTAB is a reserved word not beginning with the letter
F.
7.0 Monitor sensitivity.
------- ------------
FOCAL-10 will run on all monitors. However, the assembly
parameter MONITOR should be set as high as possible to
obtain the maximum efficiency and minimum core size (see
installation instructions).
There is a monitor feature which causes a spurious
character to appear before the asterisk after a REENTER
in those cases where type-out was in progress when
control-C interruption occurred. This will not be fixed
in FOCAL.
FOCAL-10 is difficult to use on 2741 terminals.
8.0 Summary of suggestions and ideas for contemplation.
------- -- ----------- --- ----- --- --------------
8.1 LIBRA LIST (without wild-cards).
8.2 Computed GOTO.
8.3 FOCAL to look at and use the SWITCH.INI file.
8.4 Sub-file directories.
8.5 The format descriptor %Emm.nn should be eliminated and
made to depend upon %mm.nn alone.
8.6 Extended exponent.
8.7 Bye.
8.8 DO command to allow a variable name as an argument. The
only incompatibility would be that if a variable name ALL
or A existed, then DO ALL and DO A would have a meaning
different from the present one. The intention would be
that if the variable name referred to a string, then the
string would be interpreted as a FOCAL command string.
8.9 The GO logic should be improved still further.
8.10 Turn of the debug switch on a QUIT command.
8.11 Make UUOMAC (on page 10 of FOCAL.MAC) depend on SPEED
rather than on PDP-6.
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 4
8.12 In order to speed up FOCAL, we should try to eliminate
some UUO calls.
8.13 Invent a re-sequencing feature such as MODIFY 2.13=2.15
or MAKE 2.13=2.15.
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 5
9.0 Distribution notes.
------------ ------
17Jul72 Released v(127) (not sources) to John Nugent for KI-10
testing.
17Jul72 Released v(127) to Townsville.
02Aug72 Released v(127) to ARL, Melbourne.
11Sep72 Created edit (131).
28Oct72 Sundry changes occurred while I was in Maynard. From now
on please look at page 1 of FOCAL.MAC for historical
notes.
01Nov72 Created v2. Released v2 to Hakan Agvald in Sweden.
07Dec72 Created v2A. Released v2A to UWA and UQ.
--May73 Released v3 to JCU at about this date.
--Jul73 Released v3A to UWA at about this date.
--Aug73 Released v3A to Alan Williamson to take to Maynard.
26Oct73 Released v3A(216) to David Abel (JCU).
13Nov73 Released v3B(234) to UWA.
20Nov73 Released v3B(234) to UQ.
21Feb74 Released v3C(245) to UQ, JCU, ARL, Stockex, La Trobe.
18Mar74 Released v3C(245) to UWA.
14Jun74 Released v3D(252) to Floyd Benson.
21Nov74 Released v4(272) to Charles Denny (.REL,.RND,.RNO,.FCL)
21Nov74 Released v4(272) to Bernard Eiben (.MAC,.RND,.RNO,.CTL)
09Feb75 Released v5(303) to La Trobe University.
06Mar75 Released v5A(306) to La Trobe University.
23Mar75 Released v5B(311) to La Trobe University.
24Feb76 Released v5J(331) to La Trobe University.
25Feb76 Released v5J(331) to ARL.
09Aug76 Released v5J(344) to La Trobe University.
12Aug76 Released v5J(344) to Digital Equipment New Zealand.
11Sep76 Released v5J(344) to Australian National University.
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 6
10.0 Serial list of bug reports.
------ ---- -- --- --------
30Jan74 H. Grebler:
1. FOCAL types out .001 in an erroneous manner for
E-format.
2. The F-format selector (TYPE %nn.mm) should also be
trapped against erroneous values in the way that %Enn.mm
is. These bugs were fixed in edit #241.
7May74 M. Rahilly:
1. On input of a number with many places of decimals,
the error message is %Floating overflow instead of
%Floating underflow.
2. Also the message comes out once for every excess
digit, instead of once only.
These problems were fixed in edit #257.
1974 H. Davies:
We need a sleep facility.
This was fixed in edit #303.
20Feb75 R. McLean:
MODIFY can produce a null line.
This was a documentation problem and had been regarded as
a "feature"! This was fixed in edit #313.
20Feb75 R. McLean:
A switch is required on the LIBRA SAVE command to
suppress saving the symbol table.
Note that this is possible with a (somewhat cumbersome)
sequence of commands such as
L S TMP;E;L S PROG;L C TMP;L S TMP;L S TMP;L D TMP
However, the problem was fixed in edit #305 by
suppressing the symbol table if a list is given.
24Mar75 H. Davies:
On an ASK command, FOCAL treats a leading space as a
delimiter if some character is typed without a leading
space, rubbed out, and replaced with a leading space.
This was fixed in edit #312.
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 7
11.0 Serial list of changes.
------ ---- -- --------
2.6 The format of error messages was changed to give a text
instead of a code number.
2.8 PDP-6 floating overflow and floating underflow now 'trap'
in the double-precision case.
2.9 Floating-point underflow and overflow now print error
messages.
2.11 "division by zero" error message now replaced by
"floating-point overflow".
2.12 "logarithm of zero requested" error message now replaced
by "floating-point overflow".
2.13 Integer format is now used for %mm.00 specification.
2.14 Numeric typeout now has a floating sign.
(edit number 122 included changes up to this point.)
#123 If a function call has no parentheses following it, it is
assumed that there is no argument.
#133 Error messages now appear in upper and lower case.
#142 Device "TTY" can now be used to release a channel.
3.4 The FTTRAP assembly feature-test switch was replaced by
PDP-6 in most places.
3.5 I have now changed the I/O UUO's to do character-input,
character-output, and string-output as separate UUO's, to
speed things.
(edit number 123 included changes up to this point.)
2.16 GETTAB function added (approx 30Aug72).
(edit number 132 included changes up to this point.)
#135 A fast GETLN routine is now implemented.
#137 The VERSTR macro is used to save core.
4.3 The 'ASK' command with ?? around the argument now works
reasonably, and does not echo the input.
4.5 Old monitors without Teletype filling characters can now
have fill characters inserted by FOCAL if assembled for
it.
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 8
4.6 Exponentiation is now done as accurately as possible, to
make things like 3**3-27 give exactly zero.
4.7 UUOs can optionally be replaced by PUSHJ's to avoid
monitor overhead in the PDP-6.
4.9 The TYPNUM routine TDZA MQ,MQ instruction assumed that
integers were represented in AC,MQ. This is now made to
be true for all precisions.
(edit number 120 included fixes up to here)
4.12 Single-precision FATN function for very small negative
argument now works correctly.
4.14 Double-precision FATN accuracy is now improved by
better-optimizing the reduction formulae. There is still
inaccuracy of about one part in 3*10**13 at an argument
of 0.27, and an inaccuracy of about one in 10**14 for
argument of one, but elsewhere it has full accuracy.
(approx 30Aug72).
4.16 FOCAL now allows for monitor bug not clearing core on a
RUN or GET.
(edit number 122 includes fixes up to this point.)
4.21 LIBRA SAVE with a list of more than one element now
works.
4.25 PDP-6 DFSB now does not call a UUO from within itself.
(it used to give the wrong answers for zero ac.)
(edit number 132 included changes up to this point.)
#136 When a new I/O channel is initted, any current use is
correctly suspended.
#140 FATN now makes a better guess at number of iterations.
#141 Wide formats now print more accurately and correctly.
#156 Changed all occurences of "@nn" to "0(nn)" where nn is an
accumulator mnemonic, in UUO/OPDEF/MACRO arguments. This
solves the problem that the MACRO definition uses the ()
as enclosing the MACRO arguments, whereas the @ uses a
23-bit field. The problem was that large arguments to
FCHR caused illegal memory references.
#157 Modified GETTAB routine to correctly handle full 36-bit
answers. There still exists a limitation here for
single-precision versions of FOCAL, in that they cannot
retain all 36 bits in a 27-bit fraction field. That
problem will remain a limitation of the single-precision
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 9
versions, and will not be changed. The original bug was
that if bit 1 was on alone with bit 35, we got erroneous
floating-point overflow.
#160 The DFSB UUO routine was moved slightly to save core.
#161 Bug corrected which would cause a loop inside FOCAL if a
program contained a statement such as "ASK +4", which is
illegal.
#162 Control-C intercept during ASK data has now been removed.
It is necessary to use control-P now.
#163 Leading spaces are now allowed as ASK data. Previously
they had caused the ASK command to assume that the
element of data was zero, because a space terminates
data. It now will terminate data only after a non-space
has been typed. (A "non-space" is a character with ASCII
value more than 40 octal.)
#164 The EXP. routine was improved in both timing and size.
This was done by separating the input number not into a
straight integer and fraction, but into an integer which
was nearest to the number and a fraction between -.5 and
+.5. In this way it is easier to figure out the sign.
FOCAL, in case you may not know it, has no complex
arithmetic, but if it is asked to take a negative number
to a fractional power, it will give a sign which is the
sign of the real part of the result, and a magnitude
which is the magnitude of the result. The imaginary part
is ignored.
#165 The GETNM routine was improved in both size and timing.
This was done by cutting a few pieces of code and making
the entire routine accept a sign. The exponent is
handled by re-entrant use of the routine.
#166 DFLOAT was corrected so that it returns numbers as signed
36-bit integers. PFLOAT will now handle numbers of
either sign.
#167 All odd functions,(those functions which change their
sign and only their sign if the sign of the argument is
changed) now call a new routine "ODDFNC" which handles
these cases more economically.
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 10
#170 The FOCAL function has been expanded now so that it will
take a single argument greater than or equal to 23 and
return a signed 36-bit number which is the number
contained in that address of FOCAL's low segment. It is
intended to be used by programs wishing to determine the
amount of core which has been used, channels in use,
buffer sizes etc.
[1-May-73]
#171 Some items in FOCAL's data-base (in the low segment) were
moved around, so that the FOCAL function could access
most of the items without too many problems such as the
precision of FOCAL and the type of processor running.
#172 The operations FSBRI and FMPRI were defined for the PDP-6
version in such a way that they could be used in the code
without special cases having to be written to handle the
PDP-6.
#173 The appending of the word " error" to error messages was
made more economical by using a flag in the error word
(Y) and putting it in specially each time.
#174 Because the KI-10 has pages of only half the size of the
PDP-6 and KA-10, the core-expansion coding was modified
according to the recommended method (see Software
Notebooks).
#175 The GETNM routine was slightly modified to save core.
#176 The error message pertaining to the attempts to use a
channel which was not initted or which was initted in a
wrong direction was altered, so that it now has its own
special message "Device not correctly INITted"
#177 The error messages for input and output device errors
were slightly modified to save core.
[14-May-73]
#200 A correction was made so that LIBRA delete etc. would
work properly. Until now FOCAL would not accept lower
case modifiers for LIBRA.
#201 There was a problem with unsubscripted variable names
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 11
longer than three characters. The routine to handle
subscripts did not clear the right half of the name field
if there was no subscript, so the extra characters were
interpreted as a kind of subscript. This was fixed.
#202 Single precision FOCAL did not work in the area of data
entry and number input, because of the erroneous coding
of the PFLOAT routine. This has now been fixed.
[17-May-73]
#203 Since the double-precision compare UUO was only used at
one place in the program, it was replaced by in-line
code. This saved space and time.
#204 The PDP-6 routines for double precision do not work. It
is thought that this may be because the carry-one flag is
not set in the same way by the 166 processor as it is for
the PDP-10 in the case of the MOVNS instruction. Hence
the NEGANS routine was modified to eliminate this
instruction.
#205 One word was saved in the RETURN instruction processor,
by allowing the interpreter to remain active during the
remainder of the line. This should have no effect except
to do a bit of typing if the trace was active.
One word was saved at FIX: by using a MOVM instead of
MOVE and TSC.
One word was saved in the INCHR UUO processor. This was
done by using JRSTs instead of PUSHJs and POPJs.
[28-May-73]
#206 A convention was adopted internally that the sign bit of
the low order word (in double precision) of
floating-point numbers should be zero. Hence all data
items in the source program were adjusted if required.
#207 The double-precision PDP-6 NEGANS routine was adjusted to
the above convention for bit 0 of the low order word.
#210 There was a bug relating to initialization of an I/O
channel which caused core-expansion to occur under the
monitor's control rather than under FOCAL's. This
sometimes caused loss of symbols, uncontrolled looping
etc. The fix was to correct the FIT: routine to use an
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 12
internal core-flag rather than .JBREL which is set by the
monitor.
[30-May-73]
#211 There was a bug in the core-expansion code (at FIT+6)
which caused buffers to be set up incorrectly.
v3A Released 1-Jun-73.
#211 To allow C.A.I. programs to run in FOCAL, it was decided
to allow active lines to be eligible for deletion or
modification. This was done by changing the internal
checking routine so it performed harmlessly when a user
attempted to delete a line which he was either executing
or using as a call to the line being executed (for
example with a DO.)
#212 One word of code was saved at location NEGANS.
#213 The factor for converting sine and cosine in degrees,
namely PI/180, was slightly inaccurate. The
multiple-precision package was used to compute this
factor more accurately, and the new value is now in place
in FOCAL.
#214 The method of loading the PDP-6 version has been changed,
and the internal arrangement of low and high segments has
been altered. It is now no longer necessary to use the
/H switch to LOADER, since the assembly switch ensures
correct loading. However, it is important that the low
segment of FOCAL is loaded first, before DDT or FNEW,
since the "FOCAL" function depends on this.
#215 The algorithm for logarithm in double-precision was
slightly modified.
#216 A constant used in the double-precision exponential was
adjusted in accuracy. The constant, eightth root of 2,
is used in computing fractional powers.
#217 There was a problem with RETURN statements from a line
number greater than 31.99. This originated back in the
days when FOCAL only allowed line numbers up to 31.99.
The problem is now fixed.
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 13
#220 The NEWLIN routine was corrected so that a line could
overwrite itself. This is a side-effect of the edit 211,
which allowed deletions of active lines. Of course a
line overwriting itself does no good, since the rules
require that it merely erase itself, but at least it now
does no harm.
#221 The PDP-6 double floating divide routine had an error in
that the low order word was wrong half the time. It is
necessary to check for overflow from the low order word,
and the final JUMPGE/SOJA was required.
#222 The reduction formula for double-precision logarithm was
changed so that it used floating-point division instead
of fixed-point division. This is useful when running on
a KI-10, because it is considerably faster. It also
saves a little space in core.
#223 It was discovered, after writing the FOCAL
multiple-precision package, that some of the internal
double-precision constants were not fully accurate. This
deficiency was remedied by this edit.
#224 Because of the change from LOADER to LINK-10, I had to
modify the instructions for loading FOCAL. I took this
opportunity to correct a misunderstanding some people had
concerning the PDP-6 version, which has to be loaded
first and has to be loaded in one segment. This edit
forces the assembler to create a one-segment program,
regardless of the commands used to load it. Of course
the low segment of FOCAL still has to be loaded first, in
order that the FOCAL function retain its defined
specification.
#225 I have now removed the requirement that the PDP-6 version
be run with the parameter MONITOR=3.27. This is because
the raison d'etre of the PDP-6 version has now changed.
It exists now not because someone might have a PDP-6, but
rather that they may have a KA-10 and wish to retain
62-bit precision. It won't be as good as the KI-10,
which computes three words and rounds the low order bit,
but it should give better precision than the KA-10
version, at the cost of cpu-time.
#226 Users of the FCOSD and FSIND functions in FOCAL will
often use arguments which are integers, and often
multiples or submultiples of 90 degrees. For this reason
it is desirable to make a special computation directly
from the argument to the fraction of quadrant, rather
than first converting it into radians and then into
quadrants. The rounding errors saved will usually give
much better results, specially when computing large
angles.
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 14
#227 There was a problem in that FOCAL went into a loop if you
had GOTO followed by double periods. This has been
corrected by a re-written GETLN routine.
#230 The monitor manual says (and the Maynard programmers
refuse to deny) that a DECtape RENAME must be preceded by
a CLOSE. This is in contrast to a disk RENAME which must
not be preceded by a CLOSE (in case some other user then
grabs the file in between), and so FOCAL has been changed
to make a special case for DECtape RENAME.
#231 The PDP-6 double-floating-divide routine was slightly
modified in the hope that another half bit of precision
could be squeezed out of it. It has not been proved that
the precision is in fact improved, but at least it is not
made worse. Perhaps some kind numerical analyst could
prove it one way or the other for me.
#232 The SQRT, ATAN, ABS, SIGN functions were removed from
FOCAL-10. This is because small computer FOCALs may
perhaps be using these names as variables, and it is
therefore bad to have them as reserved words in FOCAL-10.
The policy has been adopted for FOCAL-10 that all
reserved words shall commence with the letter "F". To
this end, the functions FSIND, FCOSD and FLOG10 have been
added to the function table in anticipation of the day
when SIND, COSD and LOG10 will be deleted.
#233 The multi-file channel numbers are now decimal. Also a
bug was fixed in that ASK /0, TYPE /0 and OPERATE /0 now
work as per the manual.
#234 A bug was corrected which previously caused a problem
during floating point traps which typed error messages.
Accumulator PC is now saved in the trap handler.
v3B Released 14-Nov-73.
#235 The PDP-6 double-floating-multiply routine had a problem
in that multiplication by 2 caused a rounding error.
This was because of a lack of internal precision, and the
problem has now been corrected. (21-Dec-73)
#236 The Teletype input routine (used for initial command and
for ASK data) is now gathered on the stack instead of
into free core. It solves the long-standing problem that
if free core is unavailable you couldn't type a command,
even an ERASE command. (21-Dec-73)
#237 I have attempted to improve the capability of the monitor
SAVE command, so that you will be able to stop FOCAL at
any time and SAVE it. (9-Jan-74)
#240 There was a problem in that the command TYPE %Emm.nn /chn
failed because accumulator T2 was not preserved, and
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 15
because there was no comma between the arguments, this
was required. The problem is now fixed. (15-Jan-74)
#241 Two problems were reported relating to type-out in
E-format. The first was that TYPE %10.5 should really
give a warning because it is confusing for the user to
have it automatically revert to E-format. The FOCAL
specifications were changed to give a warning only and
ignore the request unless the user gave %0 or %. The
second problem was that TYPE %,.001 gave 00.00000E-6
because the code at FIX: did not work correctly for
double precision negative numbers close to a power of 2.
This is fixed now. This corrects patch #205.
(31-Jan-74)
#242 The EVAL routine was modified to run faster if no unary
sign preceded the expression. Also ** for exponentiation
now works if a space separates the **'s. (1-Feb-74)
#243 FOCAL will now trap expressions which illegally terminate
with an operator such as 5+6* or 5*6+. (1-Feb-74)
#244 Code is now included in the source of FOCAL to allow the
construction "TYPE $$" to give the symbol table with
octal commented into it. This is very handy for
debugging logical operations in FOCAL programs. This
code is conditional upon version number. It will be in
version 4. (4-Feb-74)
#245 The type-out of zero was incorrectly output as .0000
instead of 0.0000 for E-format or F-format which allowed
sufficient width. It is felt that the specification is
indeed correct, and FOCAL has been modified to conform.
(13-Feb-74)
v3C Released 14-Feb-74.
#246 There was some inaccuracy with the type-out of numbers,
and it was discovered that this was due mostly to the
fact that I converted all numbers to a logarithm and back
again. This double-conversion was removed. Also the
code in this area was cleaned up. Also the RFIX routine
was slightly improved so that the instruction used for
rounding did exactly add 0.5 instead of adding 0.5 and
then rounding again. (18-Mar-74)
#247 Some specific numbers were typed out incorrectly when the
field width for the type-out was greater or equal to the
accuracy of the computer. The error was manifest as an
overflow on to the sign field instead of changing the
exponent field to one higher and shifting the printout
one place to the right. The correction is to add a
slight weight to the log10 so that any errors in the
log10 will be on the high side, never on the low side.
This does have the slight disadvantage that a few
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 16
E-format numbers will now type as 0.nnnnE+mm, but this
shouldn't worry anybody. (8-Apr-74)
#250 The default E-format field width has now been modified to
%E5.04, so that in most simple cases the total field size
will initially be the same as for F-format. In the
single-precision cases this will also minimize problems
of lack of accuracy showing through. (8-Apr-74)
#251 A large symbol-table with most of the symbols having a
zero index looks a bit messy because of all the (0)'s.
At the expense of one additional word of core I have
tested for this special case, and so now those symbols
with a zero index will have the index-printing
suppressed. Also the number of spaces after the "S" and
before the symbol is reduced to one. (16-Apr-74)
#252 The MODIFY command used to be incapable of deleting a
question mark in column 1 of the data line. In fact it
caused the debug flag to get switched on. This was
because we flipped the "INTERP" flag too late, and the
question mark was taken as program rather than as data.
The fix is just to move the TLZ instruction from MOD:+6
up two lines to just before the JSP PC,NEWTXT.
(16-Apr-74)
#253 The names of the months as they are printed out at the
heading of the listing produced by WRITE or LIBRA SAVE
are now changed to consist of one upper case letter and
two lower case letters instead of three upper case
letters. (26-Jun-74)
#254 The virtual-memory monitor no longer uses the contents of
.JBDDT in the job data area to indicate the amount of
core to be saved by a monitor SAVE command. Instead, the
left half of .JBCOR and .JBSA are used. FOCAL was
changed to reflect the new specifications. (26-Jun-74)
v4 With the advent of version 4, the obsolete commands
beginning with backarrow or equals disappear, as do the
obsolete commands with a file-specifier to begin followed
by equals or backarrow. Also edit 244 becomes effective,
to allow symbol-table in octal. The LIBRA CALL
improvements scheduled for version 4 were deferred to
version 5 because they do not yet work, and they take
additional core storage. (26-Jun-74)
#255 LIBRA SAVE command now saves the symbol table as well as
the program lines. This is more helpful to novices and
to people who want to save programs part-way through
execution. It will of course use more disk space.
(6-Jul-74)
#256 The speed of LIBRA CALL has been improved, by slightly
increasing the size of the core chunks allocated during
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 17
program building. (6-Jul-74)
#257 Input of numerics with large number of decimal places had
three problems. Firstly the error message showed
overflow instead of underflow. Secondly the error
message came out once for each excess digit instead of
only once for the whole number. Thirdly all digits
beyond the eleventh decimal place were only held to
single precision instead of double precision.
(14-Jul-74)
#260 There was a problem with library files commencing with a
blank line. This arose because part of the LIBRA CALL
procedure involved translating crlf's into nulls, and
placing the whole LIBRA file into the immediate-mode text
area of core. The core-expansion routine then looked up
into the immediate-mode text area, saw the initial null,
and thought it could go ahead and use the space!
(23-Jul-74)
#261 The SQUEEZ routine was operating incorrectly, in that the
pointers were adjusted before the new space was zeroed
instead of after. The end result was that SQUEEZ tricked
itself into believing the garbage was meaningful, and
FOCAL text being inserted into the middle of a program
caused some other text higher up to be lost. (23-Jul-74)
#262 The sine/cosine routines were modified to use a variable
number of terms in the power series. This has both speed
and accuracy advantages for FOCAL. In order to compute
the size of the last significant term, it should be noted
that the smallest RATIO of last significant to first
non-significant term occurs for x=PI/4 when there are
11,17 or 19 significant terms for fraction sizes of 27,54
or 62 bits. (5-Aug-74)
#263 Single-precision FATN for very small negative arguments
had the wrong sign. This was corrected by changing FOCAL
to use the double-precision method for both single and
double-precision computations. It also enhances accuracy
somewhat for the single-precision case. (9-Aug-74)
#264 The double-precision KA-10 FEXP was returning
non-normalized numbers in certain cases. The problem
arose because I forgot that FSC of the low-order word
normalizes the low-order word, which is wrong.
Correction is to insert FADL AC,MQ. (9-Aug-74)
#265 The exponential function was modified to make both single
and double precision methods the same. They both use the
continued fraction series instead of an approximation.
It turns out that you don't need very many terms, and
that it is fairly economic in terms of core storage to
compute the coefficients. (28-Aug-74)
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 18
#266 There was an error in the type-out routine which
manifested itself as a floating overflow message during
type-out of small numbers with a long fraction part of
E-format. The reason for the error was that pre-typeout
normalization required adjustment with an out-of-range
factor. Correction was a minor modification of the
adjustment algorithm. (8-Sep-74)
#267 Scanning for empty space in the text storage area while
inserting a new line was changed to commence at the
low-core end, so that repeated calling of the same
library file would not result in unnecessary core
expansion. (8-Sep-74)
#270 End-of-file handling was improved, so that more
reasonable things happen. For example FCHR(-1) now
returns -1 when end-of file is encountered, instead of
letting FOCAL exit. (8-Sep-74)
#271 The FIXOAT routine was re-written, to prevent the
fraction part ever reaching +1. The problem was that
2^(-1) was not computed accurately, and did not equate
exactly with 1/2. (12-Sep-74)
#272 Corrections to edit #267. (21-Sep-74)
#273 Code was added to check for and reject the forms ASK %
and ASK $. The code was made conditional on having
enough core; meaning that the code is in all versions
except the KA-10 double-precision version which is a bit
tight for core. (14-Oct-74)
#274 A new logarithm algorithm was invented, and used in place
of the existing ones in those cases which are short of
core, namely KA-10 double-precision. The algorithm is
based on successive squaring and exponent-extraction; it
is slower but smaller and more accurate. (21-Oct-74)
#275 The accumulator values were changed in anticipation of
the day when the Subroutine Calling Convention will be
adhered to. (21-Oct-74)
#276 String variables and string expressions were added.
(22-Oct-74)
#277 It was discovered that for KA-10 double-precision, the
number 576400000000, 146001000000 is normalized but its
negative via DFN (201377777777, 146777000000) is not.
Therefore negation was made subject to normalization as
well. I.e. DFN was followed by FADL. (27-Oct-74)
#300 The new logarithm method (edit 274) was made mandatory
for all versions of FOCAL. This ensures good accuracy
and compact code for every situation, even though speed
of logarithms and fractional powers will suffer slightly.
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 19
I have demonstrated that the new method gives better
precision than the old: sometimes as much as five in the
least significant bit. For arguments close to unity, the
logarithm is very small and may bear a significance only
as great as the argument itself. (3-Feb-75)
#301 A few instructions have been saved by minor re-coding in
a few places. (3-Feb-75)
#302 The EVAL routine with a null argument or empty
parentheses has now been defined as numeric with value
zero. This was necessary in order that legality and
format decisions could be made internally without
unnecessary delay or confusion. The previous confusion
of undefined numeric/string status caused illegal memory
reference due to bad format null string representation.
(4-Feb-75)
#303 Functions LOG, LOG10, COS, COSD, SIN, SIND, and EXP were
removed because they violated the rule about all
functions commencing with the letter F. The FHIBER
function was introduced to allow FOCAL programs to sleep
or hibernate if required. (6-Feb-75)
v5 The announcement to the world that string variables
exist. (6-Feb-75)
#304 The title on the listing of FOCAL.MAC now depends upon
the assembly parameter FNEW, and will also show the
version number, precision, and cpu-type. (23-Feb-75)
#305 LIBRA SAVE now does not save the symbol-table when a list
is given. This reduces disk requirement for saved files.
#306 FNEW is now allowed; FOCAL now complies with the Calling
Sequence Standard. (1-Mar-75)
#307 Repair edit #305 to save INCHN and OUTCHN correctly.
(11-Mar-75)
#310 .JBERR is now incremented under the following conditions:
1. FHIBER function in a detached job.
2. FHIBER function when TRMNO. UUO is illegal.
3. Error return on GETTAB UUO in GETTAB function.
4. Any error detected by FOCAL, whether it results in a
printed message or not. (11-Mar-75)
#311 FOCAL now gives an error message if an attempt is made to
set an output format with a width greater than 99
columns. Previously this resulted in a type-out-time
PDL OV message. (11-Mar-75)
#312 There was a problem in that the ASK data "leading space"
flag got clobbered if you inserted a non-space and rubbed
it out. This was solved by not having a flag any more,
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 20
but rather by looking at the previous character each
time, to see if it was a space too. You will be safe if
the new space follows another space; but if not, it
won't be a leading space. (2-Apr-75)
#313 Echoing of rubbed out characters used to be in the same
form as TECO, except for MODIFY command. This has now
been changed so that all rubbed out characters are
embedded in reverse slants. For half-duplex terminals,
the rubbed out character is not echoed, but rather a
reverse slant is typed for each rubbed-out character.
(5-Apr-75)
#314 Control-R now repeats the prompt character and displays
the first part of the line (cleaned up) for input lines,
ASK data, and MODIFY work. Also control-P may now be
used to abort a modify command if you decide that you
don't want to complete the modifications. (5-Apr-75)
#315 In an OPERATE command, a non-existent device now causes
an error message instead of a channel-release.
Channel-release can now only be caused by OPENing TTY on
the channel. (25-Apr-75)
#316 Error messages used to come out on the TTY if fatal but
on the current output device if non-fatal. This seems
stupid because the user really wants to see them straight
away, and he's sitting at the terminal. This change
makes it always come on to TTY. (18-Sep-75)
#317 MODIFY command will now correctly handle lines containing
question marks, and will allow question marks to be
inserted. (20-Sep-75)
#320 The ASK command can, as you know, be used to type text in
the same way as the TYPE command, including new lines
etc. What I have now done is to arrange to regard this
feature as a kind of cue for the input. The advantage is
that you can then have all useful output (results, say)
going to the line printer, whilst that message requesting
input will go to the TTY. In actual fact, I have
arranged for all output during an ASK command to go to
TTY, but only if input is expected from TTY. (4-Oct-75)
#321 MODIFY should be handled the same way because the output
from MODIFY is really only for the guidance of the person
doing the typing. (4-Oct-75)
#322 The debug feature turns out to be very difficult to use
for debugging a program which has output directed to a
file other than TTY. To assist with debugging, and
hopefully not inconvenience too many people who use the
feature to plug data into output files, we will make
debug output always go to TTY. (4-Oct-75).
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 21
#323 Data transmission errors causing failures of IN or OUT
UUOs now causes the device status bits (from the GETSTS
UUO) to be printed in the error message by FOCAL.
(4-Oct-75)
#324 Change I/O routines so that file output to other than TTY
only occurs during the WRITE TYPE and LIBRA commands.
(10-Oct-75)
#325 Logical IF using = and # operators. (10-Oct-75)
#326 Logical IF using .NE. and .EQ. operators. (13-Oct-75)
#327 The format of I/O error messages which return a monitor
code number have been changed. The old format error-##
has been changed to error #. This will save some
locations of core. (21-Oct-75)
#330 A BACKSPACE from the keyboard will now perform the same
function as a RUBOUT except that the BACKSPACE is echoed
and the rubbed-out characters are not displayed; no
back-slashes are used. This simulates the 5.07 monitor.
(8-Feb-76)
#331 The GO command can now accept a comment after a
semi-colon without an error. (15-Feb-76)
#332 The half-duplex terminal test has now been replaced with
a local-copy test, which is really more correct, since
the feature being adjusted is the layout of backslashes
on the paper. The DPOP UUO was not in fact called
anywhere, and so it was removed along with its handler.
The trap handler had some inaccessible code in it, and so
it was cleaned up and abbreviated. (1-Apr-76)
#333 The SET command will no longer create a new symbol-table
entry when a new symbol is set to zero. This will save
core and cannot affect programs because if an undefined
symbol is referenced it is given the value of zero
anyhow. Some inaccessible code in the SQUEAZ routine is
eliminated. (2-Apr-76)
#334 Commands to FOCAL must now consist of alphabetic letters
only. This means that commands such as TYPE2.6 with no
spaces will be more meaningful to novices and folk used
to BASIC. Also I have modified the INCREM and DECREM
macros in the source so that they may have an argument.
(4-Apr-76)
#335 The logical operators .LT., .LE., .GT., and .GE. have
been added. The PRINTX pseudo-op has been replaced by
the macro PX in most places to make it a fatal error.
(10-Apr-76)
#336 The INCREM and DECREM macros have been removed from the
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 22
source code. The FADRI instruction is now simulated for
the PDP-6 version so some code is simpler. The DEXCH
code for the KI-10 double-precision version is faster and
uses a PUSHJ to a literal rather than a UUO. (11-Apr-76)
#337 The efficiency of the WRITE command was increased by
removing the character-counter to the error-handler
routine. (11-Apr-76)
#340 The EVAL routine was speeded up and the expression
routine was modified to correct the case of -1.EQ.-1.
(15-Apr-76)
#341 A better try at edit #340. (17-Apr-76)
#342 FNEWGO now attempts to find FOCAL.SHR on NEW and OLD if
it cannot find it on DSK or SYS. This should help people
who want to run FORTRAN subroutines with newer or older
than standard FOCAL. (2-May-76)
#343 The symbol-table is now searched with a binary search
method. This speeds up production programs which tend to
have a large number of fixed symbols. There are several
side-effects of this change. Firstly the symbol table is
stored in alphabetical order rather than chronological,
which will affect the appearance of the symbol-table
printout. Secondly the actual setting up of the
symbol-table will be slightly slower because shuffling is
required to make it alphabetical. Thirdly a slight
increase of space is required for the symbol-table - an
increase of 33% for double-precision, but no increase for
single precision; this is required to avoid a division
instruction in the inner loop. Fourthly it is now
possible to change the way a FOR loop works when you
erase the symbol table; the error message on the ERASE
is no longer required, and the FOR will exit from the
loop when it cannot find the index any more. (25-Jul-76)
#344 ASK for a string will now accept a string containing
spaces and commas. The terminator for a string is
line-feed alone; carriage-return is ignored; ESCAPE
aborts the ASK input. I also took the opportunity in the
source file, of defining KL to allow future hardware
dependencies. (31-Jul-76)
#345 LOOKUP is now non-fatal except in case of KA-10
double-precision version of FOCAL. This means that you
can test for the existence of a file by opening it for
input and seeing whether or not you get an error. LIBRA
SAVE now generates backup except for KA-10
double-precision version of FOCAL. The backup takes the
form of renaming an existing file if any to .BAK, after
deleting any .BAK file; then the LIBRA SAVE proceeds as
it would have without an existing file of the same name.
A few internal changes were made at LIMSET to reduce the
FOCAL.DOC version 5J(345)-1 [19-Oct-76] Page 23
core size; MAXLN,MINLN were replaced by LUPARG. The
MACRO exclusive OR operator ^! was introduced to assist
definition of certian opcode fiddle parameters.
(9-Oct-76)