FORTRAN IV on the PiDP-8 - file missing from Oscar's distro

Neil Higgins

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Apr 10, 2016, 4:36:23 AM4/10/16

to PiDP-8

I ran into a problem trying to get a simple FORTRAN program running on the PiPD-8. It turns out that the FORTRAN libraries (FORLIB.RL) are missing from Oscar's distribution. There is a file called FORTRN.RL - whatever it is, it is not a substitute for FORLIB.RL

I was helped by the guys at https://bigdanzblog.wordpress.com/2014/05/31/hello-world-program-for-pdp-8-using-pal-assembly-language/

They pointed me to a distro that has a consistent set of FORTRAN IV files, including the libraries. Happy days.

Neil Higgins

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Apr 10, 2016, 4:41:45 AM4/10/16

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Sorry - wrong link. Try this:

https://bigdanzblog.wordpress.com/2014/06/11/compiling-and-running-hello-world-in-pdp-8-fortran-iv/

sunnyboy010101

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Apr 13, 2016, 9:23:04 PM4/13/16

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The link doesn't really explain how to just get the forlib onto your boot disk, but I faced the same problem a while ago (Mar 4) and wrote a blog post about how I solved it...
http://jrcrofter.huntrods.com/pdp8-joy-the-fortran-compiler-is-working/

Neil Higgins

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Apr 14, 2016, 8:49:58 AM4/14/16

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I was able to mount the other image on RK1 by (editing 0.script) and copy FORLIB.RL to RKA0.

Now I have a quirky problem:

On Oscr's image (+FORLIB.RL), if I type:
.R F4
*PROG,PROG,PROG<PROG
where PROG.FT calls a library subroutine (e.g. ATAN), I get no errors but only a .LS file (no object files).
If I type:
.R F4
*PROG/G$
I get a running program.

However if I boot the other image (which has a complete set of FORTRAN files and the library), the first method produces object files and I can then LOAD and EXECUTE. The second method also works.

Very strange. Something to do with different defaults in the two images, I suspect.

Rick Murphy

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Apr 14, 2016, 10:46:43 AM4/14/16

to Neil Higgins, PiDP-8

This is probably due to a quirk in how OS/8 handles "new" files. You can only have one new file open per device. You may have a different DSK device setting on the one that works. The behavior when you have more than one output file can also depend on how the free space is laid out on the volume.

You can try - on the one that doesn't work - using
*RKA0:PROG,RKB0:PROG,RKA1:PROG<PROG

Assuming, of course, that you have two RK05 images mounted.

-Rick

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