Demonstration/Diagnostic Diskette; Software For The Advantage; Operating Systems - North Star Advantage User Manual

The ADVANTAGE allows you to use two kinds of diskettes for storing programs and data. Both
double-sided, double-density (quad capacity) and single-sided, double-density (dual capacity)
diskettes can be used for these purposes. Programs and data diskettes generated on the North
Star HORIZON can be used on the ADVANTAGE, and in most cases the reverse is also true.
System diskettes cannot be interchanged between these two computers, however. Only system
diskettes designed for the ADVANTAGE can be used to operate it.
1.3.5 Demonstration/Diagnostic Diskette
The Demonstration/Diagnostic Diskette serves two purposes. It provides an introduction to
the capabilities of the ADVANTAGE and the North Star programs that support it. This diskette
also contains diagnostic tests that enable you to verify the performance of the computer.
Chapter 2 of this manual gives a simple explanation of how this diskette should be handled and
inserted in the computer. Read this chapter before trying to use the diskette.
Keep this diskette available, and use the diagnostic portion of it as necessary to verify the oper-
ation of the ADVANTAGE.
1.4 SOFTWARE FOR THE ADVANTAGE
North Star provides a broad base of software for the ADVANTAGE. This software falls into three
major categories: operating systems, programming languages, and application programs.
1.4.1 Operating Systems
Operating systems perform services such as transferring data from diskette to memory, and
placing messages on the video screen. North Star supports the following operating systems:
Graphics Disk Operating System
The Graphics Disk Operating System, or GOOS, is a North Star designed operating system
that maximizes the performance of the ADVANTAGE. GDOS allows you to perform disk
file operations, to create, run, and debug programs written in GBASIC or other languages
compatible with GOOS, as well as to utilize application programs designed for use with
GOOS.
Graphics CP/M
@
CP/M is a widely used operating system that allows you to use all of the languages, such as
COBOL and FORTRAN, and any of the application programs that are written to run
under CP/M. The version of CP/M that North Star has created for the ADVANTAGE,
Graphics CP/M, also enables you to write your own programs using the extensive graphics
capabilities of this computer.
ADVANTAGE User Manual
1-5