Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ukma!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rls!randy From: randy@rls.UUCP (Randall L. Smith) Newsgroups: comp.os.rsts Subject: Re: RSTS to VMS Migration - Help Summary: You can get a conversion tool from Decus. Message-ID: <10392@rls.UUCP> Date: 9 Mar 90 19:28:59 GMT References: <602.25f3799b@brb.isnet.inmos.co.uk> Organization: The Internet Lines: 68 In article <602.25f3799b@brb.isnet.inmos.co.uk>, tsmingay@brb.isnet.inmos.co.uk writes: > I am interested in any advice, information, software or references which > give some guidance or assistance in migrating a RSTS BASIC+ application > onto VAX ? > > Has anyone out there done it. What are the problems. I only know of a package in the Decus Catalogue which is a utility called Basic-Plus System Dependancy Flagger. It's order number is 110682 on page 161 of the 1989/1990 Decus Library Software Catalogue, U.S. Chapter Edition. With it, you must know PDP-11 Basic as well as Vax Basic. It is in no way a magic pill. The problems are the package is quite verbose and not exactly specific what it's complaints are about. For example, all cases of Cvt$$() must be converted to Edit$(). The package doesn't tell you this, it just points at a problem on that particular line with a non-specific message about some problem with Edit$. No plain english to say Cvt$$() must be altered to Edit$(). You have to figure that out on your own. Since I was a long time Teco fan, I used Vtedit which put "&" at the end of all the wrap around lines and lines without labels. Vax Basic has some problems with that format and does not need the "/&" continuation format. Vax Basic is way ahead of PDP Basic+ and Basic+2. Many of the "enhancements" to PDP-11 Basic were just trying to accommodate the real improvements in Vax Basic. It turned PDP Basic into a dog, which used to be fairly quick. Compounding the incompatability with the virtual memory system, many of the problems with the PDP variety is dealing with the segmented architecture of the PDP. Namely overlays and the many problems they bring in converting such code. The conversion utility does not even recognize these issues, only syntax. I'm not in any way flaming the package or the author, which the Decus Catalogue lists as only Digital. There are realistic limits imposed by such a migration and, pardon the pun, basically, you have alot of work ahead. > Has anyone heard of and/or used a package called AUTOBASIC. I understand there is a Basic to C converter available from; JMI Software Consultant's, inc. P.O. Box 481 904 Sheble Lane Spring House, PA 19477 +1 215 628 0846 I've never used it but suspect it would have the same architectural problems mentioned. The package, last I heard, is $495. Could this be called AUTOBASIC??? > I know little about RSTS but quite a lot about VAX/VMS. I wish I new as much about VMS as I've forgotten about RSTS/E. :-} Anyone have any coupons redeemable for such an exchange? Cheers! - randy Usenet: randy@rls.uucp Bangpath: ...!osu-cis!rls!randy Internet: rls!randy@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (7 Year veteran of RSTS, since rev 6C to 8.0).