Tennecomp Minidek Part 1
Tennecomp Minidek Part 1
PART I
HOW TO USE THE MINIDEK
PART I
Copyright 0) 1971 by
TENNECOMP, Inc constantly endeavors to improve the usefulness of its p~oducts and publi-
0
10/9/68
CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION 1.0
TRANSPORT 1.0
PROGRAMMING 3.0
INSTRUCTIONS 4.0
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS 6. 1
1 .0
INTRODUCTION
The Tennecomp TP-1371 MiniDek Digital Tape Recorder is a low-price, easy to operate
cartridge tape recorder intended mainly for use with mini-computers to enhance the loading
of programs and to provide low-cost storage space for data. The tape system may be divided
into three principal parts:
1. The Tape Transport
2. Read/Write Amplifiers and associated electronics for assembling and
disassembling data written on tape, and the necessary circuitry to
contro I the movement of the tape.
3. The interface between the tape recorder and the particular mini-
computer to which the tape is connected.
The detailed operation of the transport and the description of the electronics are given in
Part II of the MiniDek Manual. This manual is primarily concerned with "How to Use the
MiniDek ll , rather than "How it works". Installation instructions are also included as an
attachment to this manual.
Transport
The tape transport is illustrated in Figure 1. Tape cartridges are inserted in the slot on the front
of the transport. A WRI TE PERM IT PI N in the cartridge perm its data to be stored on the tape.
A IIfile protect" lamp on the frontpanel indicates when an attempt is made to write on a cartridge
which does not have a pin in place. The MiniDek utilizes continuous-loop cartridges popular
in the broadcasting industry for their reliability and ease of handling. Standard program cartridges
have a capacity of 4096 (4K) computer words on each of their four tracks.
A track select switch on the front panel permits any track to be selected manually, or allows the
unit to be placed in automatic status so that the track number can be selected by program control.
If the track select switch is on track 1, 2, 3, or 4, the manual selection overrides the automatic
selection. When the computer is started, track 1 will be selected if the switch is placed in the
AUTO position.
The MiniDek utilizes a 4-track head, but only 1 track is used at a time. Information is recorded
using a "phase encoded" format. Information may be organized in many ways on the tape by the
software. The minimum unit of information which may be written is a 12-bit word.
Other cartridges are available with fhe following capacities:
Capacity Approxi mate
Words/Track Words/Cartridge Access Time
"l K Tapel! lK 4K 6 sec.
!14K Tape" 4K 16K 15 sec.
1116K Tapel! 16K 64K 55 sec.
"32K Tape ll 32K 128K 115 sec.
64K 256K 210 sec.
1• 1
The speeds and density of the TP-1371 Transport pertinent to this manual are:
Tape speed: 7.5 inches/sec.
Transfer Rate: Approximately 4000 bits/sec.
Recording density: Approximately 600 bits/inch
Start/Stop Time: Several hundred mi II isec.
The following "How to Use the MiniDek" section outlines the standard programming
operations. The section on "programming" gives the details of the instruction set for
those who may wish to write their own programs. Finally, the program listings are
given for the benefit of those who may wish to make modifications or extensions to
the existing programs.
CAR.TEIOG£ INS£JeTION SLOT
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LIFTHEHE TOREL fAS£ 2 ;,
jP-l17'1 MINIIJEK
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TRACk SELECTOR
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DRAWN DATE DWG. NO.
NIMILL£I? IMAY;6,1~71
2.0
Three basic programs-RECORD, READ, and SHORT BINARY LOADER-are provided which
enable the user to build up libraries of programs. The FORMAT of the tapes produced by
the RECORD routine is as follows:
Initial Address
.rReflective Marker Checksum
BOT Gap
... Data
The initia I address and word count are used by the READ routine to load the program without
the necessity of any switch operations.
In order to DUMP a program onto the MiniDek, the following steps are necessary:
1• First, read the desired program into the computer. You may use the normal
BI NARY LOADER, the SHORT BI NARY LOADER, or some other existing
loading program.
2. Now load the MiniDek RECORD program into the computer, using the
standard RIM loader. You can also load the RECORD program directly
from the MiniDek by use of the READ program described below if RECORD
has been dumped onto a cartridge. RECORD may be used to dump itself.
3. Set the computer front panel switches to 7700, press the load address switch,
and start.
4. The computer will halt. Key in the Initial Address of the core region to be
dumped and hit CONTINUE. The program will halt again. Now key in the
Final Address and hit CONTINUE. The selected core region will now be
dumped onto the selected track of the MiniDek. If 31 pages of program (all
but the last page) are to be dumped, use IA=OOOO and FA=7577. Do not
dump the MiniDek read program, which normally resides from 7600 upwards,
or a read error wi II be produced when the read program reads itself and
changes variable locations.
2.1
In order to LOAD a program from the MiniDek into the core, the following steps are
necessary:
1• First, load the READ program by means of the standard RIM Loader.
Now, you can load any program which has been dumped on a Mini-
Dek cartridge. For convenience, the standard programs, such as
EDITOR, ASSEMBLER, RECORD, FOCAL, etc., are customari Iy
kept on a cartridge so that they may be quickly retrieved.
2. Insert a cartridge into the slot on the front of the MiniDek and
select the desi red program by use of the track se lect swi tch.
3. Start the computer at location 7600. The program wi II be loaded
from the cartridge and the program will halt with a checksum error
(if any) in the accumulator. The normal condition is for the computer
to halt with the accumulator all zeroes.
2.2
The MiniDek EDIT-8 operates exactly like EDIT-8 (DEC-08-ESAC-PB, 2/4/70), except that
the high speed reader and punch routines have been replaced with MiniDek routines. The
switch options which normally refer to the high speed reader and punch (SWITCH-10 and
SWITCH-11) now refer to output and input from the MiniDek. Other options function normally.
In parti cu lar:
SWITCH-10 = 0 Teletype Output
= 1 MiniDek Output
SWITCH-11 = 0 Teletype Input
= 1 MiniDek Input
When using the MiniDek, the text is edited in the normal way, except that it is necessary to
insure that a $ text delimiter appear as the last element in the text. In order to save the text
on the MiniDek, the P command is given with the High Speed Output Option selected (SWITCH
10 up). The P command will affect a halt. Pressing Continue will produce the text. In order
to input the text from the MiniDek, the R command is given with the High Speed Input Option
selected (SWITC H-11 up).
The normal operation of the editor is to punch or read one character at a time. However, with
the MiniDek, the text is organized in blocks of 574 (octal) characters. The P command puts
characters into a block. When the block is full (or when the $ is encountered), the whole block
is dumped onto the MiniDek. The R command causes an entire block to be read from the Mini-
Dek, and EDIT -8 takes one character at a time from the block in the normal way.
The space available for text in the Editor has been reduced somewhat. The capacity of the
4K EDIT-8 is inadequate to handle large programs in one pass, anyway. The PAUSE
pseudo-command of the PAL-III assembler allows the text to be edited in several segments
and assembled together. This feature wi II work correctly with the MiniDek.
PAUSE
$
PAUSE
$
It is often convenient to use Tracks 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the same cartridge for text for a long
program. More than one cartridge may be used if necessary.
2.4
The MiniDek PAL-III operates exactly like PAL-III (DEC-08-ASCI-PB, 4/13/70), except
that the high speed reader option of PAL-III has been replaced with a MiniDek read
program. Information is brought from the MiniDek in blocks, and PAL-III takes character
at a time from the block, just as it would from the high speed reader. A $ in the text
signifies the end'of the last block.
1. Read in the modified PAL-III program using the binary loader (or load it
from the MiniDek if you have previously dumped the PAL-III program on
a cartridge).
2. Insert the tape cartridge in the MiniDek front panel slot.
3. Set the track select knob to the desired track.
4. Set the computer front panel switches to 200 and press the load address
knob.
5. Refer to the PAL-III manual for the correct switch options for Pass I.
(Any reference to the high speed reader wi II be equated to tape input.)
For Pass I with output on the low speed Teletype, put all Console
Switches to 0 except Switch 1 •
6. Press Start. The text will be read in from the MiniDek, and the computer
will halt to await switch settings for the next pass. If a long program is
being assembled which occupies more than one track, turn to the next
track and push continue. (See II How to Use the Edit-8" for instructions
on how to use the PAUSE pseudo-command for assembly of long programs
in several sections.)
. ;
2.5
The Short Binary Loader is an abbreviated version of the normal DEC binary loader. It has
been shortened to approximately ~ page length so that it can share the last page of memory
with another program. The only serious restriction is that programs may be loaded into 1
. field of memory only. The starting location is 7700.
The flashing of the console lights is more animated than the old
binary loader; however, the checksum feature and the loading of mul tiple programs works
exactly the same.
Instructions
Location Low-Speed Reader High-Speed Reader
7756 6032 6014
7757 6031 6011
7760 5357 5357
7761 6036 6016
7762 7106 7106
7763 7006 7006
7764 7510 7510
7765 5357 5374
7766 7006 7006
7767 6031 6011
7770 5367 5367
7771 6034 6016
7772 7420 7420
7773 3776 3776
7774 3376 3376
7775 5356 5357
, :
2. Set the Swi tch Register to 7756 and press Load Address.
3. Put the Short Binary Loader in the reader (whichever reader designated in the
RIM Loader).
4. Depress Start. The Short Binary Loader will be read into memory.
2.6
After the tape has been read in and the computer has halted, check the accumulator. A
zero in the accumulator indicates a valid read.
The Short Binary Loader may also be used to read binary tapes on the high-speed reader
if the following modifications are made:
Change Instruction
Location From To
7703 6034 6012
7705 6036 6016
7711 6031 6011
7713 6034 6012
7715 6036 6012
7742 6032 6014
7743 6031 6011
7745 6034 6012
• 1
2.7
It is a time-consuming operation to read FOCAL text into FOCAL by means of punched paper
tape or to punch text from FOCAL onto punched paper tape.
FOCAL has been modified to allow the entire text region to be dumped onto the MiniDek or
to be read from the MiniDek. Several pointers are included with the text to inform FOCAL
of the length of the text.
Note that when text is read into FOCAL using the LIBRARY IN command, all variables are
erased. This is necessary, since the variables, the text, and the IIpush down list" share memory
from locations 3206 (octal) to 5377 (octal), and the text might overlap the variables if the
vari ab les are retai ned.
An alternative way of saving FOCAL programs with the MiniDek is to dump the entire FOCAL
program, including text and variables from location 0001 (octal) to 7577 (octal) onto a 4K
cartridge.
WRITE: The Write subroutine will record data records on tape in the following format:
1. The calling program must establish the identifying code to be recorded in the subroutine
location called CODE.
2. Set up the calling s,equence:
TAD SETUP
JMS WRITE
IA
FA
(ERROR RETURN)
(NO RMAL RETURN)
where SETUP is the track and transport selection word. The following bit configurations
should be used to indicate the track and transport desired (all other bits being zero).
bl I
Transport Track
II
o = transport 1 00 = track 1
1 = transport 2 01 = track 2
10 = track 3
11 = track 4
_ 1 IA is the initial address from which data will be recorded. FA is the final address through
which data will be recorded.
Upon execution, control will return to Error Return if, while recording, the end of tape
was encountered. The tape wi II be spaced to the beginning of tape.
If the End of Tape was not reached, control will come back to Normal Return.
2.9. 1
READ: The READ subroutine will read a fixed-length data record into memory with the
identifying code of the record left in the accumulator.
Use the following calling sequence:
TAD SETUP
JMS READ
IA
FA
(ERROR RETURN)
(NORMAL RETURN)
where SETUP is the track and transport selection word. SETUP will have the same
format as described in the WRITE subroutine.
If an error occurs during the execution of a READ, return from the subroutine will
be to ERROR RETURN, at which place a decision must be made as to which type
of an error was encountered. This may be accomplished by comparing the contents
of the location called ERROR with the three error indicator words. The errors which
may occur and their respective error indicator words are as follows:
a. Checksum Error - READ + 45
8
(The checksum on tape differs from the checksum calculated
during reading.)
b. Size Error - READ + 1118
(This error may occur when the tape was not in an inter-record
gap when READ was called or when the size of the fi Ie on tape
differs from the size called for.) The tape wi II be spaced to
the next inter-record gap.
c. End-of- Tape Error - READ + 104
8
" 1
(The End-of- Tape was encountered during the READ operation.
The READ is aborted and the beginning-of-tape found.)
SEARCH: The SEARCH subroutine will search for a record with a particular identifying
code spec i fi ed in the ca II i ng seq uence •
1. The calling program must establish the track and transport selection word
(SETUP) using the same bit configuration as previously used in the WRITE
and READ subrouti ne.
2• Set up the ca II i ng seq uence as fo I lows:
TAD CODE
JMS SEARCH
IA
FA
(ERROR RETURN)
(NORMAL RETURN)
where CODE is the identifying code of the record being searched for and
IA and FA are the initial and final addresses of that record.
SPACE: The SPACE subroutine will space forward an indicated number of records.
REWIND: The REWIND subroutine will rewind either of the transports indicated by SETUP*
after a read or wri te operation.
6 MARGIN eRROR
7 - . BOT 2. FLAG - - -
B -BOT 1 FLAG OR. STArtlE CALL
') - ( i AP FLA G--.-._. ."-...__. . . _ -
10 -Wte ITE FLAt} - - -
11. -REAO FLAQ. - - -
In general with the two-transport TP-1372 option, only one transport may be in operation
at anyone time. There is one exception: One transport may be rewound using its rewind
instruction (page 4.0), whi Ie the other transport is being controlled through the command
register.
4.0
3. W.E.O.R. 6371
An end-of-record is written on tape. The end of record is 4" of tape
saturated in the reference direction. When the end-of-record gap has
been completed, the gap flag is set, which clears the operation code
portion of the command register and stops the motor.
Programming Aids:
If additional software is desired, standard guidelines for programming such software are
recommended for some of the basic operations; for example:
Reading: To read a block of data, the transport and track must first be selected
and loaded into the command register at the same time the read mode is loaded.
After a 200 ms. mode delay, a wait for the read ready flag is initiated. When
the read flag comes up, the word may be read into memory, and likewise for
successive words until the word count has been exhausted. At this point, a gap
is expected and a wait for the gap flag is begun. When the gap flag is set, the
tape will stop; or if the read mode is reloaded into the command register, begin
to stop, but then resume motion. (See flow chart, OP 1)
Recording: To record a block of data, the transport, track number, and write
mode must be selected by loading the command register with the proper value.
After a 300 ms. mode delay, a wait for the write ready flag is begun. When
the write flag is sensed, the word may be transferred to tape. For each word
thereafter, the wri te flag must be found before a word can be transferred.
After all words have been recorded, an end-of-record gap is written, after
which a wait for the gap flag is initiated. When the gap flag is sensed, the
tape will stop. To begin the tape motion for the next block, the command
register must be reloaded with the write mode, the selected transport, and
desi red track.
The tape may be allowed to continue movement between blocks, in which case
it is not necessary to wait for the gap flag after writing the end-of-record gap.
In this case, as before, the write mode, transport, and track number must be
reselected before the next block may be recorded. (See flow chart OP 2)
Stopping the Tape: To stop the tape in the read mode, the command register
may be set to the NO P mode for the proper track and transport • However,
when reading blocks of data, the detection of the inter-record gap wi" stop
the tape. So if counting the number of words while reading a record, after
the last word is read a wait for the gap flag should be initiated. When the
flag comes up, the tape wi" stop (or begin to stop). After the detection of
the gap flag, it should be cleared; otherwise, further tape operations are
inhibited.
4.3
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