Subject: Re: DecMate 2 doc conversion

From: [email-masked] (Douglas W. Jones,201H MLH,3193350740,3193382879)
Date: 7 Feb 1995 21:47:58 GMT

>From article <[email-masked]>,
by [email-masked] (Robin Robbins):

> Anybody know where to get a document generated on an old DecMate converted to 
> something readable by a DOS PC?  

Recall that the DECmate is a member of the PDP-8 family.  There are
people who frequent alt.sys.pdp8 who have working DECmates.  Some of
them will convert DECmate WPS format to other forms, either for cash
or as a way to get more 8" floppy disks.

				Doug Jones
				[email-masked]

---

From: [email-masked] (Charles Lasner)
Date: 8 Feb 1995 18:25:19 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>,
>or as a way to get more 8" floppy disks.

The word "old DECmate" can be misleading.  The DECmate I supports RX01/02 
8" format while the DECmate II can, albeit rarely, do the same as an 
obscure option (RX78 which prevents a hard disk; uses the same slot).  In 
any case, he may be referring to RX50 format, common to DM II, III, 
III+.  Using OS/278 and Kermit-12, the files can be transmitted to 
another site.  Using an APU/XPU option on one of these three allows 
conversion to CP/M or possibly MS-DOS format.  In any case, the resultant 
diskette is readable on a suitably configured PC, etc., meaning 1.2 MB HD 
5.25" drive and DOS software such as 22DISK or Raindos/RX50DRVR as 
required, etc.

Even if the machine is a DECmate I, OS/(2)78 and Kermit-12 can send the 
files to another site directly.  The OS/8 solution involves running 
WPFLOP to make OS/8 files out of the WPS documents.

Kermit-12 itself is available from the net, and can be downloaded onto 
the DECmate through the printer port from a PC.  (This is documented in 
the Kermit-12 file set.)

Thus, the only requirement is to get him OS/(2)78 in the first place, 
since likely he doesn't have it.  (DEC didn't help here, since virtually 
all of these machines were erroneously sold as if they were dedicated 
word processors, which all of us know isn't the case!)

And of course, if the machines *is* a DECmate II or higher, he can obtain 
RX50 images directly of all relevant software for the machines right from 
the net.  Teledisk is needed so the PC can recreate the RX50 disks, etc.

cjl