Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!dan
From: dan@Apple.COM (Dan Allen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: HP-48SX and the Macintosh
Message-ID: <39406@apple.Apple.COM>
Date: 12 Mar 90 03:34:08 GMT
Distribution: comp.sys.handhelds
Organization: Apple Computer Inc, Cupertino, CA
Lines: 36

The HP-48SX is an excellent complement for the Apple Macintosh.  The HP-48 has 
an optional serial interface kit for the Macintosh (~$60) which includes two 
critical items: a cable and Kermit software to run on the Mac.  (Kermit file 
transfer software for the HP-48 is built into the ROM of the 48.)

Operation is simple.  Probably my most common operation so far is to archive 
the entire contents of my HP-48 to the Mac.  Here are the steps needed for 
such an operation

  1.  Plug the cable into the Macintosh's modem port and into the HP-48
  2.  Launch (double-click) Kermit on the Mac
  3.  Select "Receive file" from the File menu on the Mac
  3.  Create a tagged object such as :IO:Mar11 in stack level 1 of the HP-48
  4.  Press the ARCHIVE command (Memory menu #3) on the HP-48

The operation takes a minute or two for your entire HP-48 to be archived as a 
text file on the Mac.  (Be careful not to edit it on the Mac because the file 
contains many control characters.)

I do this every few days with the date of my archive as the name of the file.  
This operation is highly recommended right before messing with the debugger 
(ON-D) of the HP-48!

One of the nice features of the Mac is that it is easy to create your own 
fonts.  I have in fact, done just that: I have an HP-48 font that makes 
editing programs on the Mac very nice; no escape characters, backslashes, etc.  
When I finish the font (I have not done the diacritical vowels yet) I will 
post it to the net.

I have also used MacTerminal with the debugger and the space key to
download a portion of the ROM of the HP-48SX to the Mac as a text file.
It looks like a disassembler written in ANSI C would be helpful in
exploring the HP-48SX ROM.

Dan Allen
Apple Computer