Difference between revisions of "Cosmos"

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(New page: '''Cosmos''' is a personal cost monitoring system written by Dimitris Karalis. It runs under CP/M 2.2 and is under development since 2005. The user can track his expenses and organ...)
 
 
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'''Cosmos''' is a personal cost monitoring system written by [[Dimitris Karalis]]. It runs under [[CP/M]] 2.2 and is under development since 2005. The user can track his expenses and organize his costs. Cosmos supports the hard disk under CP/M, deals with the RAM expansion and contains graphics.
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[[Image:COSMOS_set_up.jpg|right|thumb|250px|COSMOS installation utility]]
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[[Image:COSMOS_Initial_Screen.jpg|right|thumb|250px|COSMOS initial screen]]
  
== History ==
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'''COSMOS''' is a personal '''COS'''t '''MO'''nitoring '''S'''ystem programed by [[KSL|KSL]] for the CPC6128 and [[CP/M]]-80 operating system, the latter being the industry standard of the late 70s - early 80s. This budget monitoring system is a business application similar to the MSDOS-era PC applications and one of the most recent (2021) projects developed for CP/M.  Unlike most applications for CP/M, COSMOS is built upon the '''mouse based graphics user interface''' as pioneered by Xerox at Palo Alto and popularized by Apple with the Lisa and Macintosh computers. Nowadays,  COSMOS can be used on an everyday basis (using [[CaPriCe]] or [[WinCPC]] or a real CPC) in order to edit the daily income, plan the monthly expenses and perform trial and error analyses aiming at maximizing the annual profit. Notice that COSMOS also contains the latest version of [[ASCII Tools]]. <br><br>
  
=== May 2005 ===
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COSMOS has been developed on the basis of the hardware peripherals as well as the software that were (contemporary) available for the  CP/M and the CPC6128: the 512 KB [[Dobbertin Memory Expansion]], the [[ParaDOS]] or [[X-DDOS]] ROMS for the external (800 KB) floppy drive, the 20 MB [[Dobbertin Harddisc]], the [[Amstrad Serial Interface]], the Amstrad Parallel [[Printer Port]], the [[CTM640/CTM644]] colour monitor, the [[AMX Mouse]], the [[MicroScript]] (142 KB), the [[WordStar]] (706 KB), the [[Protext]] (406 KB), the [[Multiplan]] (208 KB), the [[SuperCalc 2]] (240 KB), the [[DBase II]] (272 KB), the [[DR Draw]] (235 KB), the [[DR Graph]] (306 KB), the [[MAXAM]] (206 KB), the [[Atlast Plus]] (224 KB) and other [[Programming software]]. COSMOS includes its own graphics routines (similar to [[GSX]]), its own graphics screen saver, is based on the [[Dobbertin]] version of CP/M 2.2 (v1.2) which provides 59 KB TPA, supports the RAM expansion and the 20 MB hard disk.  <br><br>
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In addition to the command and chain files, COSMOS original disc also contains the CP/M 2.2 (v1.2) boot sectors as well as an installation utility. By executing the latter utility (A>SETUP) the user can initialize any annual project or start a temporary project in order to  become familiar with the COSMOS user interface and functions.  Upon installing COSMOS in drive B or HD20 it is suggested to execute COSMOS using all the available extra RAM (no RAM load minimization) and to use a new empty CP/M 2.2 (v1.2) boot disk in drive A as the redundant disk. A full annual project of COSMOS, including the user attachments, the user block of invoices, the summary files as well as the user agenda notices requires minimum 350 KB of disc space. <br><br> As far as the controls are concerned, '''Cursor keys''' or '''Mouse''' can be used in order to control the pointer. '''[F0]''' key simulates the left  button of the mouse, whereas '''[F.]''' key simulates the right button of the mouse. Left button can be used for (Yes), whereas the right button can be used for (No),(Next) or (On-Board) help. ESC key can be used to quit. <br><br> 
  
* Starting COSMOS coding during Military Service
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To download the final version of COSMOS (v.27) use the link located at the bottom of this page. Boot CP/M 2.2 v1.2 using the original COSMOS disk and execute A>SETUP.COM.
  
=== January 2006 ===
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== Download ==
 
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* [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/File:COSMOS_v27.dsk Download from CPCWiki]
* COSMOS first release (v.18) *
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=== June 2006 ===
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* Improved COSMOS documentation
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* COSMOS OverView added in COSMOS Tools
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* Transfer function added in OverView module (Overview -> Month processor)
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* Number of hits added in search (SRC) module
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* New editor added for user attachments (NotePad-like)
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* Added support for attachments: *.ATT extension files only
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* Added the ability to modify text attachments with built in editor (ATT files)
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* All in-progress ASCII bars converted to real graphic bars
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* Verification of Cost matrix added in tools module
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* Improved speed for SUM module
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* Option added for <End Of Month> Calculations and 2D Graph
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* Added the ability to install COSMOS in HD-0 (Dobbertin/Vortex/Campursoft ?)
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* Small graphic icons added at specific procedures and locations
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* Option for 5 sequential inputs added in month processor (instead of calc.)
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* Annual agenda module included in COSMOS OverView (view and edit)
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* Full Agenda Search support added in search module
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* Individual Annual Agenda module added (this requires a lot of memory...)
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* Improved Month editor
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* Alarm signal added in SUM module
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* Warning Meassages added in case of negative cash availability
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* Optimized Ram Expansion management for multiple projects
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* COSMOS second release (v.19)!
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=== July 2007 ===
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* Improved Verify procedure to check Net annual costs and income
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* Skip Option added in SUM module providing faster execution time
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* Save icon added in advanced mode (3.5" disc)
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* Printer support for TXT review file (instead of using CP/M PIP)
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* Printer function checked with EPSON Stylus Color 640 printer and Hewlett Packard B/W Laser printer. EPSON EPL-6200L Laser printer does not work properly.
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* Auxiliary logical device support for review file (PUN: and RDR:)
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* Improved Agenda editor
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* In-progress  bars  added  while Printing or transferring
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* Left margin added on printed hard copy in SUM print function
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* All CRT frames and logos tuned for reasons of uniformity
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* Calculation of maximum profit added in SUM module
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* Previous year residual added in TXT review file
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* VDU bugs fixed in Overview, Annual and Constant module
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* Help modules homogenized in one executable
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* All modules renamed for easier backup using wild cards (module.*)
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* Improved management of temporary files
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* Free disk space and free RAM space added
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* Added control of destination disk space in Setup
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* Each comment variable size reduced by 1 byte
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* Day and Date added in Agenda in Overview module
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* Graphic bar added in month module
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* Sequantial month analysis added for faster processing
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* Added comments length check
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* New low level routines added (some provided by Werner Cirsovius :) )
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* New TAX module added to control TAX
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* Virtual matrices reduced to allow COSMOS execution in 169 kB disks
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* Alert function implemented in COSMOS Main, Overview, Agenda and SUM
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* Code checked for its validity for more than 2 years on a daily basis
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* Automatic tracking of income or expenses added in Search module
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* COSMOS third release (v.20)
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== Plans for the future ==
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* Improved Screen Saver using Amstrad CPC Game heroes ?
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* Customized TAX routines ?
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* Interfacing with new generation OS ?
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* Standard CP/M plus version ?
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== Web links ==
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* [http://www.pcwking.netfirms.com Download site]
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* [http://www.pcwking.netfirms.com/zip.gif Download Cosmos 1.8 directly]
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* [http://www.prodatron.net/files/cosmos20.dsk Download Cosmos 2.0 (temporary at prodatron.net)]
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[[Category:Applications]]
 
[[Category:Applications]]
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[[Category:CP/M]]
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[[Category:Manual]]

Latest revision as of 08:43, 8 June 2024

COSMOS installation utility
COSMOS initial screen

COSMOS is a personal COSt MOnitoring System programed by KSL for the CPC6128 and CP/M-80 operating system, the latter being the industry standard of the late 70s - early 80s. This budget monitoring system is a business application similar to the MSDOS-era PC applications and one of the most recent (2021) projects developed for CP/M. Unlike most applications for CP/M, COSMOS is built upon the mouse based graphics user interface as pioneered by Xerox at Palo Alto and popularized by Apple with the Lisa and Macintosh computers. Nowadays, COSMOS can be used on an everyday basis (using CaPriCe or WinCPC or a real CPC) in order to edit the daily income, plan the monthly expenses and perform trial and error analyses aiming at maximizing the annual profit. Notice that COSMOS also contains the latest version of ASCII Tools.

COSMOS has been developed on the basis of the hardware peripherals as well as the software that were (contemporary) available for the CP/M and the CPC6128: the 512 KB Dobbertin Memory Expansion, the ParaDOS or X-DDOS ROMS for the external (800 KB) floppy drive, the 20 MB Dobbertin Harddisc, the Amstrad Serial Interface, the Amstrad Parallel Printer Port, the CTM640/CTM644 colour monitor, the AMX Mouse, the MicroScript (142 KB), the WordStar (706 KB), the Protext (406 KB), the Multiplan (208 KB), the SuperCalc 2 (240 KB), the DBase II (272 KB), the DR Draw (235 KB), the DR Graph (306 KB), the MAXAM (206 KB), the Atlast Plus (224 KB) and other Programming software. COSMOS includes its own graphics routines (similar to GSX), its own graphics screen saver, is based on the Dobbertin version of CP/M 2.2 (v1.2) which provides 59 KB TPA, supports the RAM expansion and the 20 MB hard disk.

In addition to the command and chain files, COSMOS original disc also contains the CP/M 2.2 (v1.2) boot sectors as well as an installation utility. By executing the latter utility (A>SETUP) the user can initialize any annual project or start a temporary project in order to become familiar with the COSMOS user interface and functions. Upon installing COSMOS in drive B or HD20 it is suggested to execute COSMOS using all the available extra RAM (no RAM load minimization) and to use a new empty CP/M 2.2 (v1.2) boot disk in drive A as the redundant disk. A full annual project of COSMOS, including the user attachments, the user block of invoices, the summary files as well as the user agenda notices requires minimum 350 KB of disc space.

As far as the controls are concerned, Cursor keys or Mouse can be used in order to control the pointer. [F0] key simulates the left button of the mouse, whereas [F.] key simulates the right button of the mouse. Left button can be used for (Yes), whereas the right button can be used for (No),(Next) or (On-Board) help. ESC key can be used to quit.

To download the final version of COSMOS (v.27) use the link located at the bottom of this page. Boot CP/M 2.2 v1.2 using the original COSMOS disk and execute A>SETUP.COM.

Download