In this column, we'll talk about topics that are of particular interest to users that run EMME/2 on a IBM PC XT/AT (or compatible) equipped with a Definicon DSI-32 32 bit coprocessor.
More than a dozen EMME/2 systems have been installed on DOS/DSI equipment by now. The hosts range from true blue XT's and AT's over Kaypro 286i and COMMODORE PC's all the way down to no brand XT compatibles. The DSI board proves to be a very reliable piece of equipment. The only two problems we had so far were due to overheating and a faulty host burning the bus driver chips on the DSI. Note that the NS32000 series chips generate a substantial amount of heat, you must therefore leave one expansion slot empty next to the component side of the DSI-32, and not populate the slot on the other side with another heat generating or heat sensitive board.
In Release 2.0 of the EMME/2 system some operating system dependent features
were newly added to the DOS/DSI version. It is now possible to use the
'~!'
command escape (provided switch no. 13 is on). Hence, whenever in dialog
mode, the user can enter '~!' followed by a DOS command, which will
be passed to DOS and executed immediately. A '!' indicates that
the command
has terminated and that the EMME/2 dialog input continues.
Do not try to access the EMME/2 output files PLOTS, REPORTS, BATCHOUT
and ERRORS from any module other than the main menu. Also do not try to
start another EMME/2 session within a command escape.
Switch no. 14 (Copy mode) is now implemented for DOS/DSI installations as well.