Conference rusure::math

    Why not post the truth table, and offer a cookie?

    The program I am looking for should implement the Quine-McCluskey
    method, which according to the book I read, should be used to reduce
    functions with more than 6 variables. The K-maps get too large after
    six. I did however generate a 10 variable K-map table on my computer
    at home this weekend, and then filled in the table by hand.
    
    -Jeff
    

    Are you trying to program FPLA's by any chance?

    There are a number of programs floating around which can do this for
    you - I may be able to hunt up the documentation and location of some
    of them, but don't have them on line at the moment.

    - Jim

    Yes, I am trying to program PALs. If you could find a program 
    for me, that would be great. Either reply here, or send me mail.
    
    Thanks
    
    -Jeff (NOVA::ARNOLD)

< Note 572.0 by DB::ARNOLD >
                          -< Logic reduction program >-

    Does anyone know if there is a program around that will reduce
    a truth table to the smallest number of "sum of products" terms.
    I usually use Karnaugh maps but this truth table has 10 inputs
    and one output.
    
    -Jeff
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeff,

  I don't know if this will be helpful or not, but there is a listing
of a program called 'Boozer' that reduces Boolean expressions to
minimal sum of products in the back of the book entitled
'An Engineering Approach to Digital Design' by Bill Fletcher.
Unfortunately:

(1)	The program is written in Extended Algol 60
	(so you need an ALGOL compiler or some sleepless nights
	to translate into something we do have a compiler for)
(2)	The program is not entered on the net (that I know of at
	least.)  It takes up 18 pages of text.

  If you decide to translate it and enter it, I'd be willing to use it !
Seriously, though, it was written at the Electrical Engineering
department of Utah State University so maybe someone out there has ported it
to a VAX by now.

  I will mail a copy of the request to a friend of mine who is actively
doing logic design.  I know he has access to all sorts of nifty tools
like state machine reducers, etc. so maybe he can get you what you need.

			/R Best

From:	UHCLEM::STANLEY       4-SEP-1986 14:52
To:	EAGLEA::BEST
Subj:	RE: request for help

Hi Rich,

Got a couple of minimization answers for you . . .

There is a program that runs on TOPS-20 (who makes those machines
anyway?) called PLATO that will probably do quite nicely for your
friend.  I dunno if it has ever been ported to a VAX.  I believe
that Mike and Trevor used this tool on ORION and I bet that there
is still an old PLATO manual on the shelves of my office.  I have
no actual experience with it, however.

There is also a program called SOCRATES (written in APL??? for ???) that
came out of !!!MSD Advanced Development!!!  I do not know this for sure
but I recall that Prof. Bill Fletcher was working on the RQDX3 controller
module for DEC at that time and I suspect that SOCRATES is a result
of those efforts.  Maybe it was the RQDX2 controller.  Whatever it was,
it was designed using an incredible amount of PLA's or PAL's or
whatever.  Some old connections could come in useful to find out
more, e.g., Harold Cullison or John Morse.

Hope this is helpful - see ya . . .

							T

From:	THUNDR::MORSE        "John A. Morse, 223-5801"  4-SEP-1986 16:31
To:	CLOUD::SHIRRON
Subj:	RE: Do you have a version of BOOZER in your kit?

---------------------Reply to mail dated 4-SEP-1986 16:18---------------------

What he wants is Socrates.  Have him send me mail asking about it.

jam

    I copied SOCRATES over the net yesterday. It did exactly what I
    wanted it to do. Thanks for everyone's help.
    
    -Jeff