An “IN USE” Problem
Recently when using my Z88, I was bugged by not being able to save to a file that was already in existence. I also could not erase that file. I could load it, edit it, save it to another title, but not the original title. I was continually being told IN USE. I did note that the original title had 2478 bytes, but the second title had only 2477 bytes. It was much later I took any notice of that.
After a few hours of this and that, and trying many things, I decided to call Paul Holmgren and get his view on the problem. He made a few suggestions, none of which were of any value, then he asked “Have you tried a SOFT RESET?” I had not – did so, and problem solved. Now both titles had the same number of bytes. I can only presume that something had added an extra byte and caused the IN USE function to be activated.
Since then I have had the same thing occur again, and a soft reset cures the problem – but I still would like to know what CAUSES the problem.
Another thing Paul and I touched on was memory. After we got off the phone I took another look at the memory I had available, which was in the region of 238K. Now I do know that when I got the Z88 I had a 128K RAM card in #1 slot. On thinking, I came to the conclusion that the originally fitted internal RAM and the existing external RAM could not possibly add up to 238K with a number of records on file. How to find out was my problem.
I had noticed that all files were SAVEd and LOADed from RAM 0, so I wondered what would happen if I SAVEd to RAM 1, using different titles of course to make sure all was in order. I discovered I had both sets of titles in different RAM numbers.
Next stage was to remove the external RAM from its #1 slot, and see what was left. I still had well over 110K left! This now proved that there had to be not the original small RAM which I understood to be about 12K, but that I had an INTERNAL RAM of about 128K? So I, in this small machine must have 256K. Is that not WOW – in consideration of what I paid for it initially?
Plugged the external RAM back in, and I was back up to the 238K mark once again. I don’t know what I have really, and I would have to erase all my files just to find out – and who cares anyway. All I know is I have oodles and oodles of memory. I can save to RAM 0 or RAM 1. just like a double disk drive! And none of those rattles and groans and grunts and BAD MEDIUM messages of the MDV’s
I have been asked what I use my Z88 for. Well, I use it in the car and at home. I can have a number of files such as bank account, car expenses, tax account, diary of noteworthy dates, a notebook (have you seen my writing? I can hardly read it myself on occasion) and when I get home, I can transfer all that stuff to my QL disk system for safe storage.
It frees up my QL’s for other works. And I really do believe that the spreadsheet has many advantages over the QL system. Yes, a very handy little tool indeed.
I understand that Paul Holmgren and Frank Davis are selling them for $230, including the 128K RAM, which is very favourable compared to the UK where the price is £99 plus shipping of £20 to the US and Canada.
[Figure: Z88 screen display showing a spreadsheet (See Mechanical Affinity ad)]