The entry formats for history data buffers and configura-tion log buffers are as follows:

Configuration log buffer entry format History data buffer entry format

Configuration log buffer entry IDTime at system bootSystem time at buffer allocationVariable numberVariable configuration dataSafe range dataTime table dataSetpoint dataHistory data buffer recording intervalControl law data

history data buffer entry IDtime at system bootsystem time at buffer allocationvariable numberword count of valid valuesvalues

- Book reviewsPascal for Fortran programmersR. Weiss and C. SeiterAddison-Wesley Ltd., 1984, 237pp., £15.50ISBN: 0-201-08296-9

This book is attractive, both typographically and in itsEnglish style. The authors begin with a one-chapter'mini-book' which uses the mechanism comparing a tinyFortran IV program and the Pascal equivalent to give arapid overview of Pascal, and to indicate where Pascalgoes beyond Fortran. The book proper starts with a briefhistory of Pascal and moves through a clear explanationof the variable types of Pascal which have Fortranequivalents. These Pascal types which give the languageits distinctive style are covered before control of pro-gram execution is considered. (GOTO receives an hon-ourable mention here.) The authors do well in showingwhere a 'Pascal only' feature can be used to provide aneat alternative. They are equally fair about Pascal'sdrawbacks, although they understate the impact ofPascal's original treatment of arrays as parameters. Theyalso do not discuss the concept of conformant arrays,which neatly resolved this problem. Their treatment of

Microcomputer tools for communicationsengineeringShing Ted Li, John W. Rockway, James C. Logan andDaniel W.S. TarnArtech House, 1984, 269pp., £41ISBN: 0-89006-132-7

This book aims to provide a set of programs to serve astools to aid the design and evaluation of communicationsystems and circuits. The programs are written in Basicwith personal microcomputers in mind, and the programlistings are generally well supported by brief summariesof relevant theory, references for further details andsample calculations. The programs span a wide range oftopics, such as antennas, circuit analysis, filter design,transmission lines, wave propagation and intermodula-tion distortion. Some of the topics are rather farremoved from the declared central theme of communi-cations engineering. For example, chapter 7, on a com-

input/butput is clear and they extend this nicely to filehandling, including a discussion of how microcomputer(and mainframe) implementations of Pascal differ fromand extend the standard. Similarly, separate compilationis also covered. The book concludes with a good treat-ment of systematic programming, and two sample pro-grams, chosen to illustrate points of program design.

An engineer presented with a personal microcom-puter, with Pascal available, or wishing to extend his orher programming skills, with a working knowledge ofFortran IV or Fortran 77, will find this book easy to read,and a good introduction to the Pascal 'frame of mind'.Those who are put off by the bald statement 'There is noCOMPLEX type in Pascal' should persevere, althoughthe reviewer regrets that the use of a record type COM-PLEX was not discussed as an example of how to avoidthis. This is a minor point, and the overall impression leftis of a well organised, and well presented book which willaid any engineer's transfer. The book provides refer-ences for those who wish to go further. Buy this book, acopy of Turbo Pascal, and set to work!

D.G. JENKINS

ponent toolbox, provides assistance with the resistorcolour code and with determining the values of resistors,capacitors or inductors connected in series or in parallel!In addition, several topics are not mentioned which arecentral to modern telecommunications, such as digitaltransmission, digital coding, network design and plan-ning, teletraffic analysis and performance engineeringetc. However, the topics which are covered from in themain a useful subset, and I can imagine this volumeproviding valuable support for communicationsengineering laboratory programmes and design studiesin colleges and universities. I have more difficulty,though, given the limited range and depth of coverage,in envisioning the book as significantly supporting thepractising telecommunications engineer activelyengaged in the design or planning of communicationsystems.

J.J. O'REILLY

126 Software & Microsystems, Vol. 4, Nos. 5 & 6, October/December 1985