Date   : Thu, 26 Apr 1984 00:12:00 MST (Thu)
From   : Keith Petersen <W8SDZ@Simtel20.ARPA>
Subject: SYNONYM art. in Microsystems

    Date: Wednesday, 25 April 1984  13:44-MST
    From: Dick <MEAD at USC-ECLB.ARPA>
    To:   info-cpm at BRL.ARPA
    Re:   SYNONYM art. in Microsystems

    Microsystems has a short review of a program, in the PD, called
    SYNONYM. I gather that the source listing was supposed to be
    included, but lately Microsystems has been pretty sloppy with
    such things, and it got left out. Has anyone seen the program???

Yes, the program is available on SIMTEL20 now.  It's in
    MICRO:<CPM.DIRUTL>SYNONYM2.DOC   and
    MICRO:<CPM.DIRUTL>SYNONYM3.ASM

         SYNONYM is a program that generates a program. This
generated  program  when executed, will invoke  another CP/M
command. It's really not as complex as it sounds. Here is an
example: You would like to  invoke Microsoft basic by typing
only the letter "B" instead of typing  "MBASIC".  You  could
just  rename MBASIC.COM to B.COM but you could no longer use
"MBASIC" to invoke basic.

         SYNONYM  can    create  a  "B.COM"  file  that when
invoked will modify the CCP input  buffer  to  "MBASIC"  and
then  jump  to  the CCP. The new .COM file is very small  (1
block)  and is saved  with  the  $SYS indicator set (in CP/M
2.x )  so it won't clutter up your DIRectory. Then to invoke
basic you would only have to type: "B". You could also  pass
basic  a  program  name  to  execute  just as with MBASIC by
typing: "B BASPGM" (where  BASPGM  is  the name of the basic
program).

        You can also create a SYNONYM with a fixed parameter
string. For example you might like to run  a  basic  program
called  STARTREK.BAS    by typing "ST". SYNONYM can create a
file ("ST.COM") that will invoke  MBASIC and pass it a fixed
string "STARTREK". If you do create a SYNONYM with  a  fixed
paramater  string any paramaters entered on the command line
invoking  the  SYNONYM  will   be   appended  to  the  fixed
paramaters. This could be used to invoke the SUBMIT program,
pass it the name of the .SUB file as a fixed paramater,  and
then any other variable paramaters.

The program can be assembled with MAC or ASM and has been tested on
both CP/M version 1.4 and version 2.x (the $SYS attribute is set only
on 2.x).

--Keith