KDOS - Japanese DOS

ibmdosk331.zip Japanese DOS Version K3.31 [5605JBK] (1x 1.44 MB)
ibmdosk344.zip Kanji DOS Version K3.44 [5605JYN?] (3x 720 KB)

IBM 5550 DOS K3.2 Quick Guide (SX18-2199-0)
IBM 5550 BASIC Interpreter Quick Guide (SX18-220-1)
IBM PS/55 Before Using DOS K3.3 (5605-JBK) (SC18-2194-1)
IBM PS/55 DOS K3.3 User's Guide Introduction (SC18-2160-1)
IBM PS/55 DOS K3.3 User's Guide Reference (SC18-2175-2)
IBM PS/55 DOS K3.4 Technical Newsletter
IBM PS/55 BASIC Interpreter User's Guide Vol. 1 Reference (SH18-2120-2)
IBM PS/55 BASIC Interpreter User's Guide Vol. 2 Syntax (SH18-2120-2)

Introduction
Version Overview
Fonts
BASIC Interpreter
Hard Disk Support
Version List
Product List

Content created by "Mr. Tahara" (mirror HERE and HERE). Edited by Tomáš Slavotínek. JP-EN translation by ChatGPT.
All files provided by Akamaki.


Introduction

This is the Japanese version of DOS, commonly referred to as "KDOS". Unlike later variants such as JDOS, KDOS didn't have an English mode, so it's possible that it's not simply a Japanese-localized version of PC-DOS, although the details are unclear. Similar to the current DOS/V, it worked by loading software fonts into memory and displaying them on a graphics screen, so KDOS included Kanji font files.

KDOS was used by the Multistation series and early MCA-based PS/55 machines — 5570-S/T and 5550-S/T.

Version Overview

KDOS started with version 2.0, and the final version was 3.4. The models, hardware, and software supported differed depending on the version. See the version list for more details.

Additionally, the following localized versions were available: English, Hangul (Korean), Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese (Taiwan). The existence of the English version is likely due to the lack of hardware compatibility with the IBM PC.

Fonts

There were two types of fonts to match the 24-dot and 16-dot models.

For models without built-in Kanji ROM, KDOS included JIS Level 1 Kanji fonts until the end. For JIS Level 2 Kanji and IBM-specific Kanji, a separate software package was used.

There were separate fonts for models 5530 and 5535. It seems that no fonts were included for the 5535 model. (Ed. not sure what is correct here.)

BASIC Interpreter

KDOS had a built-in BASIC interpreter, which was likely based on MS-BASIC. It had limitations like a total of 64KB program space, the inability to use labels, etc.

Hard Disk Support

There was a partition limit of 32 MB. Therefore, for disks over 40 MB, it was necessary to divide the drive into multiple partitions.

Version List

Ver. Functionality Hardware Support
K2.0 Timer function
Japanese input/output
Processing by 5550
Diskette Drive
K2.1 16-color support
Changeable character/line pitch
Support for 720KB diskettes
Double vertical and horizontal enlargement printing in graphic mode
Use of idiomatic dictionary
8.1 MB hard disk
Type 3/4 keyboard
K2.2 Romaji input *
Operation of Japanese 3270 PC
Kanji Font Card
K2.3 16 colors out of 64 for 720x512 dot color graphics
Graphic cursor
A printer with a built-in character generation mechanism (Font 24)
Mouse
P1 type keyboard
K2.4 16 colors out of 64 for 1024x768 dot color graphics 10 MB and 20 MB hard disks
K2.5 Separation of printer device drive routines
Use of color printing through device drive routines
5563-H02 type printer
K2.6 Virtual (RAM) disk
Logical disk
Support for 1200 KB diskette drives
Color specification for character color
5561-G08/H08 system
K2.7 Continuous (Multiple-clauses or Clause) phrase conversion function
Use of new IBM Japanese character set
Expansion of virtual (RAM) disk
Device driver for graphics support card and screen memory expansion card
5541/5551/5561 J/K systems
3.5 type diskette drive
Extended dictionary card (for phrase conversion)
A-I-U-E-O (Japanese alphabet) keyboard
3118-010 type scanner
3118-020 type scanner
6392-K01 type scanner
K3.2 Construction of local area network using Token-Ring with MS-NETWORKS.
Continuous phrase conversion routines available in bank 1/2 (1 or 2?)
Optical disk drive
Hand image scanner
Token-Ring Network Adapter

K3.3 Maximum 16 MB memory usage due to expansion of memory bank area and virtual (RAM) disk area 5530, 5535, 5541/5551/5561 M/P systems.
K3.4 Simplification of number input during romaji input *

* romaji is Roman alphabetisation of the Japanese language

Product List

Program Name Program
Number
Price
(JY)
Supported
Models
Japanese Versions
Japanese DOS/BASIC Interpreter / Font 16 (JIS Level 1 Character Set)
Japanese DOS (Version K2.20)
BASIC (Version K1.00)
5600-JBP 30,000
5540 D/E
5550 A/C/D/E
Japanese DOS (Version K2.60)
BASIC (Version K2.10)
5600-JBD 40,000 5540 D/E
5550 A/C/D/E
Japanese DOS (Version K2.70)
BASIC (Version K2.10)
5600-JBD 40,000 5540 E
5550 D/E
Japanese DOS (Version K3.20)
BASIC (Version K3.20)
5600-JBC 40,000 5540 E
5550 D/E
Japanese DOS (Version K3.3) 5605-JZN 40,000 5535
Japanese DOS (Version K3.4) 5605-JZN 40,000 5535
Japanese DOS/BASIC Interpreter / Font 24 (JIS Level 1 Character Set)
Japanese DOS (Version K2.20)
BASIC (Version K1.00)
5600-JYP 30,000 5540 B/J/K
5550 B/G/H/J/K
5560 G/H/J/K
Japanese DOS (Version K2.60)
BASIC (Version K2.10)
5600-JYD 40,000 5540 B/J/K
5550 B/G/H/J/K
5560 G/H/J/K
Japanese DOS (Version K2.70)
BASIC (Version K2.10)
5600-JYD 40,000 5540/5550/5560 J/K
Japanese DOS (Version K3.30)
BASIC (Version K3.30)
5600-JYC 40,000 5540/5550/5560 J/K
5550/5560 M/P
Japanese DOS (Version K3.30)
BASIC (Version K3.30)
5605-JYN 40,000 5530 G/H
5540 M/P
Japanese DOS (Version K3.4) 5600-JYC 40,000 5540/5550/5560 J/K
5550/5560 M/P
Japanese DOS (Version K3.4) 5606-JYN 40,000 5530 G/H
5540 M/P
Localized Versions
English DOS/BASIC Interpreter - Font 16/24
English DOS (Version 2.10)
BASIC (Version 1.00)
5600-250 47,000 5550 BU
English DOS (Version 2.40)
BASIC (Version 2.10)
5600-250 47,000 5540 B/E
5550 D/E/G/H
English DOS (Version 2.60)
BASIC (Version 2.10)
5600-271 60,000 5540 B/E
5550 D/E/G/H
5560 G/H
Kanji DOS/BASIC Interpreter (Chinese Kanji Font 24)
Kanji DOS (Version P2.4)
5600-362 47,000 5540 B
5550 GU/G/H
Kanji DOS/BASIC Interpreter (Chinese Kanji Font 24)
Kanji DOS (Version P2.6)
5600-383 47,000 5540 B
5550 GU/G/H
5560 G/H
Kanji DOS/BASIC Interpreter (Taiwan Region Font 24)
Kanji DOS (Version T2.6)
5600-TYP 47,000 5540 B
5550 GU/G/H
5560 G/H
Hangul DOS/BASIC Interpreter (Font 24)
Kanji DOS (Version H2.6)
5600-KYP 47,000 5540 B
5550 GU/G/H

Content created and/or collected by:
Louis F. Ohland, Peter H. Wendt, David L. Beem, William R. Walsh, Tatsuo Sunagawa, Tomáš Slavotínek, Jim Shorney, Tim N. Clarke, Kevin Bowling, and many others.

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