Rescuing a Dick Smith Accounting Package

[Terry Stewart]

On the weekend I rescued some old Dick Smith software, written for the System 80.  It gave me an excuse to get my first micro out of its box and stretch its legs. 

 

Accounting packages hardly set the world alight but being a Dick Smith release, it does have its place in Australasian computer history.  I've added the images to the System 80 site, in the Dick Smith software section.

Anyway, if anyone is interested, here is the URL.

 

http://www.classic-computers.org.nz/blog/2018-01-12-rescuing-more-dick-smith-software.htm

Terry

[Leslie Ayling]

Hi Terry,

Hope you're well.

Nice write up there.

From (my rapidly fading) memory...

I do remember seeing some very early versions which worked on Percom's OS80.

IIRC..the release versions of DSE accounting software and WORP9 packages came with a "hobbled" version of Newdos V1,

which was basically a patched version of TRSDOS anyway.

Don't be surprised if there is some other protection against running the program files on another disk.

Cheers,

Leslie

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[Terry Stewart]

Hi Leslie,

Thanks.  Nice to hear from you.  I'm well.  

>I do remember seeing some very early versions which worked on Percom's OS80

Interesting that you say this because I was expecting this to be the underlying DOS.  

>IIRC..the release versions of DSE accounting software and WORP9 packages came with a "hobbled" version of Newdos V1,

>which was basically a patched version of TRSDOS anyway.

Ah. Interesting.  I might add this snippet to my blog post.  If Newdos V1 comes up with the DOS Ready prompt rather than a NEWDOS banner you get in NEWDOS/80 V2 (or if it was patched to do so), then this would figure.

Just on WORP9, which I added to the System 80 site a year or several ago.  I was surprised that this was written explicitly for the MKII business version of the System 80.  It needs that particular ROM in a emulator, and I see the advertisments for it says its specifically FOR the MKii.  It hangs on a standard 12k Sys 80 ROM, so it must call the extended ROM for something.  Can you remember why that was done, or can you recall anything about why that decision was made.  It would have narrowed the market for the software considerably.

>Don't be surprised if there is some other protection against running the program files on another disk.

I did try many menus but not all of them.  I didn't drill too far down either, so yea, there very well could be something lurking there which may make Accounts Receivable fall over when run it from these images.  Hopefully not, but at $350 1981 OZ dollars, it wouldn't surprise me if some anti-copying procedure was employed.  I did notice that ALL of the programs on disk 2 were invisible?  And some on Disk 1?   Maybe to fool a novice pirate that nothing was there?  I'm hoping that was the extent of the anti-piracy system but maybe not?  That could explain why disk 2 and 3 refused to convert cleanly from HFE to DMK images though, when I did a track by track copy.  At worst, at least the BASIC programs are available.

BTW, If anyone one the list has, or knows of, a copy of the General Ledger Package or Stock Control and Pricing (SCAP) one, I'd love to add the disk images to the site here:

http://www.classic-computers.org.nz/system-80/software_dick_smith.htm . I think they are the only two DS business applications, I don't have images for.

Terry

On Mon, Jan 15, 2018 at 1:23 PM, Leslie Ayling <lay...@bigpond.net.au> wrote:

Hi Terry,

Hope you're well.

Nice write up there.

From (my rapidly fading) memory...

I do remember seeing some very early versions which worked on Percom's OS80.

IIRC..the release versions of DSE accounting software and WORP9 packages came with a "hobbled" version of Newdos V1,

which was basically a patched version of TRSDOS anyway.

Don't be surprised if there is some other protection against running the program files on another disk.

Cheers,

Leslie

------ Original Message ------
From: "Terry Stewart" <te...@webweavers.co.nz>
To: "Eaca discussion" <eaca-discussion@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, 15 Jan, 2018 At 7:26 AM
Subject: Rescuing a Dick Smith Accounting Package

On the weekend I rescued some old Dick Smith software, written for the System 80.  It gave me an excuse to get my first micro out of its box and stretch its legs. 

 

 

 

Accounting packages hardly set the world alight but being a Dick Smith release, it does have its place in Australasian computer history.  I've added the images to the System 80 site, in the Dick Smith software section.

Anyway, if anyone is interested, here is the URL.

 

 

 

http://www.classic-computers.org.nz/blog/2018-01-12-rescuing-more-dick-smith-software.htm

Terry

 

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[Leslie Ayling]

Hi Terry,

>If Newdos V1 comes up with the DOS Ready prompt....

Newdos V1/2.1/+ does indeed come up with "DOS READY" : http://www.trs-80.org/newdos-21/

>WORP9 ...says its specifically FOR the MKii. ...Can you remember why that was done, or can you recall anything about why that decision was made. 

Two possible reasons that I can think of that are in the MK2 enhanced ROM.

1. The enhanced keyboard driver.

2. The printer spooler.

Does seem a little nearsighted to alienate most of your target market however?

I don't remember selling too many copies of WORP9, but the SCAP system was pretty popular at the time.