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to control
the DATANET-30 assembly program during the assembly process and to introduce
various forms of constants in the program.
For example, DEC is a pseudo-instruction used to
provide a constant in the program, where the programmer wishes to use decimal notation in
writing the constant.
The assembler will convert the decimal constant to binary. Pseudo-
instructions are written in the same general form as symbolic instructions and are included in
the program listing.
Programming Aids
Various programming aids are available or are being developed. These include programs to be
used with the DATANET-30 assembly program as well as part of an operating program. Constant
development in this area precludes listing the various aids here. Current information may be
obtained from the Computer Department's Program Library.
UTILITY ROUTINES
Since the output from the DATANET-30 Assembly Program is magnetic tape (switch option) or
punched cards and the input to the DATANET-30 can be punched paper tape, a conversion pro-
gram is needed. A utility routine (Assembly Program 3) on the DATANET-30 Assembly Program
systems tape for the GE-200 Series computer will accomplish this, producing paper tape in
various formats on a free-standing paper tape unit which has the eight-level straight transfer
mode.
One of the formats is compatible with hardware load, so that self-loading programs can
be produced. Other formats are read by paper tape loader programs. The Paper Tape Conversion
(Assembly Program 3) Utility Routine can be run following the DATANET-30 Assembly Program
by setting the console switches.
Diagnostics
In
addition to the usual diagnostics used to troubleshoot and maintain the DATANET-30 system,
real-time diagnostics are also available for incorporation into a real-time program. These real-
time diagnostics permit the DATANET-30 to check itself whenever small intervals of otherwise
unused time occur in a program.
In addition, real-time diagnostics can be used in a multi-
DATANET-30 system so that the DATANET-30 systems can check each other. With real-time
checking of the system, and the automatic restart capability of the DATANET-30, notification of
apparent or real failures can be given to a supervisory terminal and the program can continue to
run.
System Programming Considerations
The relative importance assigned to the system factors are:
1.
operating time,
2.
memory utilization, and
3.
coding effort.
For real-time applications, item (1) is of paramount importance because system capability is
strongly dependent upon the program's efficiency of operating time. Item (2) is also important
since system performance depends strongly on the amount of memory available for data storage.
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