|||||| |||||| || || |||||| |||||| || || ||| || || || || ||| |||| |||||| || |||| Your || || || || ||| || || |||||| |||||| || || |||||| |||||| GEnieLamp IBM || |||||| || || |||||| RoundTable || || || ||| ||| || || || |||||| |||||||| |||||| RESOURCE! || || || || || || || ||||| || || || || || ~ FILE MANAGEMENT ~ ~ CHECKING OUT INTERNET ~ ~ SPIFF UP YOUR .BAT FILES ~ ~ THE PLAIN VANILLA GUIDE, PT. 1 ~ ~ CUT & PASTE SCRIPTS FOR ALADDIN ~ ~ HOT FILES ~ HOT MESSAGES ~ HOT ROUNDTABLE NEWS ~ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// GEnieLamp IBM ~ A T/TalkNET OnLine Publication ~ Vol.1, Issue 8 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Publisher.................................GEnie Information Services Editor-In-Chief........................................John Peters Editor..............................................Peter Bogert ~ GEnieLamp Macintosh ~ ~ GEnieLamp IBM ~ ~ GEnieLamp ST ~ ~ GEnieLamp Elsewhere ~ ~ GEnieLamp A2/A2Pro ~ ////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ >>> WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE IBM ROUNDTABLE? <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ November 1, 1992 ~ FROM MY DESKTOP ......... [FRM] HEY MISTER POSTMAN ...... [HEY] Notes From The Editor. Is The A Letter for Me? HUMOR ONLINE ............ [HUM] FOCUS ON... ............. [FOC] World's Fastest Chip. File Management, Part I. COWTOONS ................ [COW] REFLECTIONS ............. [REF] Moooooo Fun! Thinking Online Communications. INFO_BITS ............... [INF] CLASSICS ................ [CLA] Exclusively From Newsbytes. Spiff Up Your .BATs. ONLINE FUN .............. [FUN] TELETALK ONLINE ......... [TEL] Search-ME! Checking Out Internet. DOCTOR BOB .............. [BOB] YES, I DO WINDOWS ....... [WIN] The Plain Vanilla Guide, Pt.1 Review:Plug-In Program Manager. THE MIGHTY QUINN ........ [QUI] PD_QUICKVIEW ............ [PDQ] Milliseconds With Mark. OPPM:Other People's Play Money. GEnie ELSEWHERE ......... [ELS] ADD ALADDIN ............. [ADD] Electronic Publishing On GEnie. Cut & Paste Scripts. LOG OFF ................. [LOG] GEnieLamp Information. [IDX]""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" READING GEnieLamp GEnieLamp has incorporated a unique indexing """"""""""""""""" system to help make reading the magazine easier. To utilize this system, load GEnieLamp into any ASCII word processor or text editor. In the index you will find the following example: HUMOR ONLINE ............ [HUM] [*]GEnie Fun & Games. To read this article, set your find or search command to [HUM]. If you want to scan all of the articles, search for [EOA]. [EOF] will take you to the last page, whereas [IDX] will bring you back to the index. MESSAGE INFO To make it easy for you to respond to messages re-printed """""""""""" here in GEnieLamp, you will find all the information you need immediately following the message. For example: (SMITH, CAT6, TOP1, MSG:58/M475) _____________| _____|__ _|___ |____ |_____________ |Name of sender CATegory TOPic Msg.# Page number| In this example, to respond to Smith's message, log on to page 475 enter the bulletin board and set CAT 6. Enter your REPly in TOPic 1. A message number that is surrounded by brackets indicates that this message is a "target" message and is referring to a "chain" of two or more messages that are following the same topic. For example: {58}. ABOUT GEnie GEnie costs only $4.95 a month for unlimited evening and """"""""""" weekend access to more than 100 services including electronic mail, online encyclopedia, shopping, news, entertainment, single-player games, multi-player chess and bulletin boards on leisure and professional subjects. With many other services, including the largest collection of files to download and the best online games, for only $6 per hour (non-prime-time/2400 baud). To sign up for GEnie service, call (with modem) 1-800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH. Wait for the U#= prompt. Type: XTX99368,GENIE and hit RETURN. The system will then prompt you for your information. """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" /////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "INCOMING!!" / ////////////////////////////////////////////// WALLY.W //// [EOA] [FRM]////////////////////////////// FROM MY DESKTOP / ///////////////////////////////// Notes From The Editor """"""""""""""""""""" By John Peters [GENIELAMP] TOP OF THE PAGE Hang on to your hat! The first annual GEnieLampLighter """"""""""""""" Awards will be announced in the January issue of GEnieLamp magazine. The awards are designed to honor PD/Shareware/ Freeware programs and their programmers for excellence and creativity in their respective fields. Categories for the awards are as follows: >>> GEnieLampLighter Award <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 1) PROGRAM OF THE YEAR 2) PROGRAMMER OF THE YEAR 3) Best Utility 4) Best Personal Productivity or Business Program 5) Best Desk Accessory or TSR program 6) Best Telecommunications Program 7) Best Graphics Program or Utility 8) Best Educational Program 9) Best Game 10) Best Programming Software or Utility 11) Best Sound or Music Program or Utility 12) Best Use of Graphics In a Game 13) Best Use of Graphics in a Non-Game 14) Most Used Program or Utility 15) All Time Favorite [*][*][*] Read A Good Bookette Lately? Electronic Publishing comes to GEnie! The """""""""""""""""""""""""""" GEnieLamp libraries are filling up fast with new bookettes, (A BOOK on a diskETTE), magazines, newsletters and even online comics. Everything from poetry and short-stories to How-to-do-it text files are being uploaded on a daily basis. Indeed, electronic publishing is the future - you can find it NOW in the GEnieLamp RoundTable. (M515;3) Disktop Publishing Association Nationally known Disktop Publishing """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Association (DPA) has found a home in the GEnieLamp RoundTable. If you have any interest in electronic publishing you should consider joining DPA. Membership applications are now being accepted via GE Mail for the Disktop Publishing Association. Presently, there is _no_ fee for you to join, so what are you waiting for? (For your convenience, you will find a DPA application at the end of this magazine). For more information, see GEnie Elsewhere in this issue or drop by the GEnieLamp RoundTable and visit the DPA in CAT6, or you may leave GE Mail to the founder and president of DOA, Ron Albright. (GE Mail=RALBRIGHT) Until next month... John Peters GEnieLamp E-Magazine [*][*][*] TOP OF THE PAGE II How many clone makers are there? While there isn't """""""""""""""""" direct support for all of the zillions of clone makers, there is a growing support base for several popular computer and peripheral makers. You might want to check the index out to see if your brand is supported. If you use Aladdin to access GEnie, you should update your index every month or so to get a handle on the new things coming across the RT. This month's Hey Mr. Postman contains two new sections: A section dedicated to questions that have been asked (and may not have received answers yet) and a section from the new Windows RT. From the looks of things, it seems that a major upgrade season is fast approaching. Rumored updates to DOS, new editions of major productivity packages, and faster systems and peripherals will bring a whole new set of questions, answers and tips. Stay tuned to the GEnieLamp and to the RT for news and notes on what's hot (and on what's definitely not)! Peter Bogert [P.BOGERT1] GEnieLamp IBM Editor //////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Agreed. But to be honest, if I don't do this through / / Aladdin, it doesn't get done. We're talking a "Hello / / MacFly" and getting a resounding echo effect. 75% of / / my life is automated - and I'm striving for the other / / 25% to jump on the bandwagon." / ////////////////////////////////////////////// LYRE //// [EOA] [HEY]////////////////////////////// HEY MISTER POSTMAN / ///////////////////////////////// Is That A Letter For Me? """""""""""""""""""""""" By Peter Bogert [P.BOGERT1] o BULLETIN BOARD HOT SPOTS o IBM ODDS & ENDS o WHAT'S NEW? o TIPS AND HINTS o HOT TOPICS & RUMORS o QUESTIONS, PLEASE! o PEEKING THRU WINDOWS o MESSAGE SPOTLIGHT >>> BULLETIN BOARD HOT SPOTS <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" [*] Check out the ongoing raging debate between Microsoft Windows NT and OS/2 afficiandos. CAT21,TOP48. Motherboards are heating up and cooling fans are working overtime. [*] CAT1,TOP2 of the Windows RT has loads of press releases of new Microsoft products. >>> ODDS AND ENDS <<< """"""""""""""""""""" A GEnie QUESTION... First, let me compliment the SysOp/Co-SysOps for all """"""""""""""""""" the hard work they put into this Roundtable. Well Done! Now, a major complaint with the GEnie system wide LACK of ZMODEM upload ability. It is VERY disappointing to place a 9600 BPS call (long distance for my situation) to upload a file at only 195 - 260 cps. At 2400 BPS, it almost seems a misuse of computer resources to tie up my personal computer while it slooooooooowly churns at what used to be 300 BPS style upload speeds. Now, I hate to make comparisons, but in using that other LARGE service with their signup communication software, I can upload at 2400 in the DAYTIME faster than at 9600 on GEnie during it's BEST upload time. My thanks for ZMODEM downloads, but lets move up to 90's technology for the upload side. While the GEnie libraries do carry a good selection of software, I'm sure you'd have MANY more contributors, but have been put off by the old, weak in the knees, hearing-aid on both ears, X modem. There may be a few platforms/users that still need a x modem choice, but at least offer zmodem alternative. Of course, this is NOT directed at the IBM PC sysops, but I'm asking for a GEnie system wide change - to IT's fiscal advantage. (D.TROXELL2,CAT1,TOP9,MSG:73/m615) >>>>> ...AND AN ANSWER We've just started a topic about this over in """"" GENIEus. It's Cat 4 TOPic 19, and if you want to drop in and leave a note, you're more than welcome. GENIEus is where the GEnie management people hang out, so comments like this will probably be more effective there. The problem with Zmodem uploads has to do with GEnie being at the mercy of GEIS hardware. Unless GEIS wants to change the protocol abilities of the hardware, we're pretty much stuck with Xmodem uploads. However, the ever-industrious GEnie techgnomes are hard at work trying to find a faster, more compatible protocol for uploads. But at least uploading *is* free of GEnie connect charges! (PROF.MARK,CAT1,TOP9,MSG:77/m615) A MUST HAVE FOR GRAPHICS USERS I must recommend a great graphics """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" conversion shareware product that I use everyday: Image Alchemy. The following is a list of the formats it understands, reading and writing to and from all. It has many other capabilities, of course, including palette control, proportional scaling, dithering, bitmap depth, image viewing, etc... TARGA PCPAINT/Pictor AutoLogic ADEX Binary XBM CALS Dr. Halo CUT QDV Encapsulated PostScript Erdas Image Freedom of the Press First Publisher GIF Gem VDI Image GOES IFF/ILBM Picture Maker Vivid IMG JPEG/JFIF HSI JPEG Jovian VI PBM Stork HSI PALette Macintosh PICT2 Alpha Microsystems MTV Ray Tracer Silicon Graphics Image PCX HP PCL PDS Cubicomb PictureMaker Q0 HSI Raw RIX HP RTL AVHRR Sun Raster Scodl SPOT Image TIFF QRT Utah Raster Toolkit (RLE) Windows Bitmap (BMP) WordPerfect Graphic XWD XPM (R.LANDEROS,CAT2,TOP25,MSG:131/m615) WATCH OUT FOR THIS ONE! Ack! Last night I downloaded 20A09.ZIP, the """"""""""""""""""""""" latest virus definition update for Norton Anti- Virus, direct from Symantec's BBS. There is a problem with this file; DO NOT USE IT. I don't know if it causes any problem for NAV/DOS, but it will cause NAV/Windows to GPF. If you have already applied it, you can recover by restoring a good copy of NAV_.SYS (or if necessary, reinstalling NAV). If you do that, be sure to update with 20A08.DEF to have the latest usable definitions. BTW, the same warning is apparently applicable to the versions of this same file available on CompuServe and elsewhere. Stick with 20A08 till further notice. (N.TOULME,CAT3,TOP20,MSG:280/m615) IF YOU DOWNLOAD... For those who monitor this topic, you may want to """""""""""""""""" take a look in the library at a file called HK1092.ZIP, "The Hack Report". It is a monthly report of programs distributed by bbs that have been reported to contain viruses or trojans, or that are renamed commercial software, or that are just plain hoaxes. It'll be released as #30562 and was just uploaded around noon Sunday. (PATRICK.B,CAT3,TOP50,MSG:519/M615) A FOXPRO LIMITATION - READ BEFORE BUYING Welcome to the club. My firm """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" also bought FoxPro with the impression that with a little bit of study, stand-alone applications could be created with the program. Bottom line is that as powerful a program as it is, as as much as the windowed interface is, there is no substitute for a good database programmer and FoxPro is far from an off-the-shelf application designed for the common PC user. (DIPLOMACY-1,CAT5,TOP9,MSG:37/m615) BIBLIOGRAPHY TOOL RECOMMENDATION We've used a couple of major packages """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" at work (both PC and Mac programs), and by _far_ the best package is Endnote/Endnote Plus. Besides being very powerful and flexible, these programs are extremely easy to use, and can (usually with some manual tweaking) import refs from other programs or general databases. Unlike most other programs these days, they are also low on hardware requirements (runs fine on an XT with 512K, but cranks on faster machines). What makes these programs nice is that you can jump into the program from your word processor (only WordPerfect 5.0/5.1 if using plain DOS, or any program with DOS 5.0's shell/task swapper or Windows), search for and select one or more refs, copy them to a clipboard (or the Windows clipboard), and paste them back into your paper. The programs use temporary "place-holders" in the text, like [Sheldon, 1992 #111], then when you are done with the paper you open it in Endnote and it formats both the in-text citation and the biblio- graphy in any style or arrangement you want. It even automatically adds letter suffixes if the same author has more than one paper in the same year! The beauty of this system is you save the unformatted version separately and can reformat it with a radically different citation style in minutes with NO RETYPING. I completely formatted a 95 page thesis with over 150 unique references in about 1 minute using a 386XS!! I don't even think about bibliographies any more. Before you ask, I'm _not_ a Niles & Associates employee. I am just thrilled with the power and elegance of this program (and so is everyone else I know who uses it). The difference between versions is that Endnote is a basic version, while EN-Plus is a more full- featured reference management system with better searching, sorting, and more complex formatting options. I think the extra few bucks for Plus is money well spent if you want to use this program to keep track of reprints and many papers, but the regular version is quite adequate for automatic bibliography generation and basic searching for refs. Good prices are about $80-90 for Endnote and $140-150 for EN-Plus via mailorder or college computer stores. (W.SHELDON1,CAT5,TOP14,MSG:2/m615) A QUATTRO PRO FOR WINDOWS LIMITATION READ BEFORE BUYING I ordered """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Borland's Quattro Pro for Windows via an offer that came in the mail. When it arrived.. I happily took it out of the package and read over the requirements.. I was ready.. I began to install the program. . . I got the message. . . Quattro Pro for Windows will ONLY RUN ON A 386 or higher processor!! Nowhere in the documentation is/was this stated. I have a 286 with 3 megs of memory and have been using Windows 3.1 since it came out. I have Word For Windows, Procomm for Windows, Object Vision and many other commercial packages that run without problem. I think it was a negligent oversight on the part of Borland not to inform users of the requirements in the advertisement/order form that they sent out.. or at least have them on the box.. (KUBY,CAT5,TOP25,MSG:6/m615) SHOULD YOU GET OS/2? NO... After careful thought, I have come to the """"""""""""""""""""""""""" conclusion that OS/2 has provided me with no real value-add during the 3 month period I have used it. At first, I thought it had some great features. Most of them can only be taken advantage of by OS/2 applications which, thanks to IBM's inability to drum up vendor support for OS/2, are totally non-existent. In addition, I can accept having to download patches for video games from small companies that, initially, have a few glitches. From a company the size of IBM, however, I expect an operating system to be virtually flawless when it is released. It is their responsibility to do extensive quality assurance, beta, and gamma testing. Clearly 2.0 was rushed to market with a lot of bugs still in it. This has, IMHO, greatly damaged IBM's reputation for quality as well as their general credibility. If IBM's mainframes crashed as often as OS/2 2.0, I do not think they would be in business today. Another thing: How can they claim "a better DOS than DOS?" I'm sorry, but I cannot even accept that a product is "equivalent", yet alone "better", if it is not 100% compatible with what it is comparing itself to. I do know this: My games all run slower, 10% of them do not run at all, 25% have odd graphics, sound, or timing problems, and the rest all require extensive modifications to the default DOS configurations to run reasonably. I define this as "a worse DOS than DOS". So it multitasks DOS applications. So what. Desqview is perfectly good at that (for the types of apps one really needs to multitask). Also, OS/2 is terrible at multitasking any DOS appls that make extensive use of the communications port (take QMODEM during a Zmodem download as an example). Any other DOS window open exhibits severe response time degradation under this case. As for Windows compatibility, it is (of course) not yet 3.1 compatible. In addition, it will be 0% compatible 3-4 years down the road when IBM's rights to Windows source have expired and Microsoft releases a Windows version that is totally incompatible with OS/2. In addition, no vendor is going to waste time developing presentation manager apps when the market for Windows is so enormous (IBM may have done themselves some injustice by providing Windows compatibility - why ever right an application for OS/2 when all the OS/2 owners will be buying your d window version?!) As for Presentation Manager applications being so much better than Windows applications, what I've seen so far has failed to impress me (especially the kludgy applets IBM packaged with 2.0. I think there is a BASIC interpreter hiding in the background that runs those) Needless to say it has left my hard disk and I am blissfully back into Windows 3.1. Hence count me among those who used 2.0, liked it for awhile, and then came to the obvious conclusion that the platform that offers the most compatibility (present AND future), the most applications, the most device drivers, and the highest speed is the best (Reminds me why I own a PC instead of the hated Macintosh!) I'm definitely calling it at this point: Microsoft wins the OS war hands down. If OS2 can't even compete against 3.1 it will not survive against NT (especially with RISC support and symmetric multiprocessing, which OS/2 sorely lacks) (A.FENTE,CAT6,TOP8,MSG:154/m615) ...BUT MAYBE YES Andy: Sorry you are calling it quits so early in the """""""""""""""" game. Maybe you should try again after Win3.1 support is added. I won't flame at you but I will offer my view of the points you raise and you raise some good ones. Clearly there have been bugs that have surfaced, hence all the patches. IBM has taken a different route than most vendors by publishing their bugs and providing interim fixes. I know it opens them up to potshots by the press and probably horrifies some users. The fact is ,though, that all software of any complexity has its share of bugs whether the bug lists are published or not. Me? I see it as added value by IBM and a lot more realistic. I hope the market doesn't force them to change this policy. I guess that a lot of games are a problem under OS/2. Those type programs take liberties with their environment because they assume they are the only program running, which is true under DOS. I guess from the viewpoint of someone whose DOS games are important to them then its probably not a better DOS than DOS. (There is room here for an enterprising developer to make money from this situation). I can say ,that in my case of standard desktop apps, that OS/2 has indeed proven to be ,(at the very least), the equal of DOS from a performance and stability stand point. From a configuration standpoint, I no longer have to boot different configurations of DOS to best suit the particular app I am running at the present time. As far as Comm programs go, you can eliminate a large part of the load with a buffered uart, at least that has been my experience. I went ahead and got a native OS/2 comm program (TE/2) so this is no longer an issue for me. There are plenty of major vendors planning to release OS/2 versions of their applications shortly. Lotus, Word Perfect, Computer Associates, Borland, Stac all come to mind. This doesn't even address the unknown companies that have products coming to to market. I'm going to try and go to a users group meeting in Dallas in Dec. Lotus is supposed to demo a full suite of apps for OS/2. I think the apps are coming, they are not just going to appear overnight. They didn't appear overnight for windows. Where some vendors might view OS/2 as not a good market to develop for, there are others that are viewing it as a market of golden opportunity. The developers that get here first, with the best, are going to make some money. At 1.7 million users and growing, that ain't small potatoes. I don't think at this point that RISC and SMP support are important considerations for the desktop user. I just don't see these type machines replacing what we're using now (not for a couple of years anyway). As far as windows compatibility? For the majority of users out I'd have to guess that is a non issue and 3 or 4 years down the road is loooong ways in this industry. Any thing can happen. (D.ROBISON,CAT6,TOP8,MSG:157/m615) WHAT GOOD ARE BENCHMARK TESTS ANYWAY? I've found that benchmarks are """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" really only helpful when you are using the same program to test similarly configured PC's. Like different hard drives in the same machine, etc. The Norton disk benchmark compares itself to a Compaq 386-33. Who knows which Compaq that was, which drive was in it, did the drive have a huge hardware cache, does that particular Compaq use a nonstandard method to access the drive, etc, etc, etc I think a lot of people will be jumping off the benchmark platform soon. Information is now coming to light about certain video card manufacturers tweaking their drivers to fool certain benchmark programs into giving false results. Fast Micro publishes all these benchmark results showing their new local bus systems as being the fastest around. One of the magazines last month blasted them because the system in question was the slowest system they tested when review about 30 similar machines. (C.AUSTIN8,CAT12,TOP62,MSG:5/m615) WHAT IS A CROSS-LINKED FILE? Cross links are a defective condition where """""""""""""""""""""""""""" a file's FAT entries have been corrupted by another files FAT entries. It can mean that both files are lost, or just one of the files. The most likely candidate for being a valid file is the one with the latest time/date stamp. The other file is almost assuredly truncated, and it is possible for both to be no good (if both files have been written to since the cross link occurred). (B.WITHNELL,CAT13,TOP15,MSG:829/m615) >>> WHAT'S NEW <<< """""""""""""""""" A NEW CALENDAR PIM? WELL AN OLD ONE IN DISGUISE There is a new calendar """"""""""""""""""" etc program out called Commence by Jensen- Jones. It has a spell checker and it is for Windows only. It seem to be also a database that you can set up and has hooks into MS word & AMIPRO. It's expensive though. Their special introductory price is $195, supposedly $200 off list. I think this used to be sold by IBM under the Currents name for DOS. Their tele number is 800-289-1548 x5101. (R.RIEDEL1,CAT3,TOP14,MSG:5/m615) WHAT'S THE NEW SOUNDBLASTER 16? The SB 16 is a total redesign of the SB """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" pro... I think it still maintains SB compatibility but it is incompatible with the old pro... I have no word on the CD rom interface... Get a PAS 16... Or just get a SB or Thunderboard... Wait at least till August of next year to see what is shaping up in the audio world... Right now, there is no clear winner and with so many cards with so much proprietary hardware, everyone is the loser. (M.NELSON15,CAT7,TOP26,MSG:159/m615) NEW MOUSE FROM HONEYWELL The Honeywell mouse uses two rollers (which """""""""""""""""""""""" Honeywell calls feet) which are attached at two angles such that one picks up left-right movement and the other picks up up-down movement. The rollers are attached at tilted angles, apparently to avoid creating undesirable drag. I have not used one of these mice yet, but would assume it to be worthwhile for the following reasons: 1. Reduced design has fewer parts to get out of order. A ball-type mouse has to transform the ball's movements into X-Y movements using a similar roller system (using a third roller). 2. Fifty-year warranty suggests unprecedented reliability. Even the best ball-type mice typically wear out in 6 to 12 months under heavy office use. 3. Design can't get debris inside where it will foul the mouse's works. A roller mouse has a sticky roller, which picks up debris such as hair and often deposits it inside the mouse where it fouls the rollers or slotted wheels (which are used to sense movement). As a result, the mouse "skips." The feet-type rollers do not revolve up inside the mouse, so nothing can be carried inside. (S.ELLIOTT9,CAT12,TOP13,MSG:3/m615) THE NEW DESKJET 550C Well, I've gone and done it. I am now the proud """""""""""""""""""" owner of a DeskJet 550C. It was a tough decision as the DeskJet 500C's are going for almost $200 less. Here's a rundown of the differences. First the most obvious. Both color & black cartridges are loaded at one time. This makes it a lot easier to use the thing without having to switch back & forth between the two. They are the same cartridges used in the DeskJet & the 500C. The software included for Windows & DOS directly support the 550C. It allows the output from the color cartridge to be mixed with the black cartridges. From the software, you can change the amount of mixing between the black & color cartridges. This is good because "black" on the color cartridge is really closer to green, then when a picture jumps to black, the black cartridge kicks in & turns someone's hair to green. Turning the emphasis off on the black allows smoother transitions in graphics while still having "real" blacks for text. The 550C is also compatible with software designed for the DeskJets and the DeskJet 500C. New on the DeskJet 550C is the envelope feeder. DeskJets could always use envelopes, but now you can load a bunch of them in the printer at one time, and easily too. Along with the new envelope feeder comes a new tray. Unlike it's predecessors, this one is totally enclosed when using 8.5 x 11 paper. For the most part, it seems like the theme for Hewlett Packard is refinement. All the switches and buttons are in familiar places. However, it's the little things that you notice. The smoked plastic cover now pivots on the tray instead of being a loose piece. The alignment program that is built into the printer prints out instructions and graphs to help you through. The booklets that come with the 550C are well written, clearly indexed and well illustrated. As for the $200 higher cost of the 550C I think it's worth it, but you may be able to find real deals on the 500C which at this time has not been discontinued by HP. (J.FURUKAWA,CAT15,TOP3,MSG:312/m615) HYPERACCESS/5 NEW VERSION New version 3 of HyperAccess/5 is now out. """"""""""""""""""""""""" Among other things, it has auto ZModem upload and Download, and other configuration changes to make uploading and downloading easier. It is easier to use and has mouse support. If you haven't received a noticed, it is only 29.00 to upgrade and you are entitled to a pre-release of the Windows version when available, for FREE. (P.HANCOCK,CAT23,TOP24,MSG:11/m615) 2COL AND JETCOL UPDATES I have just uploaded to the IBMPC utilities file """"""""""""""""""""""" section 2COL41.ZIP and JETCOL19.ZIP. 2COL41 now supports HP DeskJet printers in addition to Epson compatible dot-matrix printers. Other new features added to both 2COL and JETCOL include: A page count before printing- This tells you in advance how many pages will be used and allows you to change paper or abort the print job if you do not have enough paper. Date printing- You can now print the current date at the bottom of the page to keep track of different versions of the same text file. Option override- Preset options can now be turned off or overridden from the command line. Minor bug fixes- Most of these changes are a result of user feedback. I am always looking for new ideas. If you have comments or suggestions, I am always interested to hear them. (A.CAINE,CAT30,TOP8,MSG:4/m615) MAINTENANCE VERSION OF MONEYCOUNTS 7.0 DUE SOON Thank you for your """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" comments regarding MoneyCounts 7.0. Many of the issues mentioned regarding the program will be addressed in the maintenance release which should be shipping in several weeks. MoneyCounts 6.5G did interface with CheckFree 3.0. However, CheckFree's agreements with other vendor prevent us from providing direct support in our programs for Checkfree Software. The maintenance release of the program will provide faster execution speeds, most noticeable on slow machines. In many areas, the program will be faster by a factor of 2. Thanks -- Michelle (Parsons Tech Support) (T.PARSONS6,CAT31,TOP2,MSG:325/m615) >>> TIPS AND HINTS <<< """""""""""""""""""""" HOW TO GO ABOUT FINDING FILES IN THE FILE LIBRARY GEnie does a substring """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" match on the first part of the name or keyword. The trick is to be specific enough so that you don't get a list of 1000 files, but not so specific that you don't miss what you are looking for. Also, make certain you haven't IGNORED any categories with the JOIN/IGNORE option on the GEnie software library menu. The archivers are stored in Category One, so you have to be certain that one is JOINed. (HOMCHICK,CAT1,TOP9,MSG:72/m615) HOW TO EVALUATE COMPUTER BOARDS When evaluating any PC board, you go as """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" much by what you DON'T see as what you do. You don't want to see an obviously poor layout, wire jumpers (last- minute bug fixes) components soldered, but not inserted, flux bridges, or any other obvious compromises in quality. You do want to see a board with few discreet components, with a neat and legible mask that identifies components, particularly ones that might have to later be replaced or filled, and an evenly applied conformal coating (stops moisture absorption and reduces problems with humidity and dust). (M.AGRI,CAT12,TOP35,MSG:238/m615) STACKER ADVICE Having installed stacker on two different machines, one """""""""""""" with a full drive and one with minimum dos directory, stacker directory and Qemm directory, I would suggest that if you have backed up your ENTIRE disk, you delete all but your dos and stacker directories. Had trouble with the full disk, and then it took about an hour to defrag etc after transfer. With my new formatted disk and only the DOS and STACKER and QEMM directories, installed in a snap with no problems. Then I restored all my backed up directories. (A.HOLM1,CAT4,TOP4,MSG:334/m615) WHAT KIND OF FILES ARE THESE? *.THM files are created each time PCTools """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" Desktop is loaded memory resident, and then hot-keyed over the top of another application. They are temporary files that store the current screen image so that it can be restored when you hot-key back out of the Desktop. They get left on the drive if you hot-key over another program, and either the Desktop or the underlying application lock up. Desktop is then not able to delete the temporary image file. Feel free to delete these files whenever you find them, and the Desktop is not currently on the screen. (T.NOBLE,CAT4,TOP18,MSG:120/m615) GIVE YOURSELF MORE LIVES IN THOSE ROLE-PLAYING GAMES Load up your saved """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" games in a hex editor. Examples of hex editors would be Norton Utilities (commercial) or Masterkey (shareware). Then you have to actually read the hexadecimal. It's fairly easy after you have doe it for a few hours. Start off by writing down your stats (strength, etc..etc..) in the game. Then search for them in the saved file using the hex editor. One you find what you thing are your stats, change them and save the file. Then load the game and see if you were successful. The above information is for education purposes only, of course. :-) (WILL,CAT7,TOP5,MSG:81/m615) CONVERTING MACINTOSH SOUNDS There is at least one program in the library """"""""""""""""""""""""""" that can convert sound files from the Macintosh. There are two standards I've seen for the PC. VOC files (Soundblaster software uses this) and WAV (Windows mostly) but there isn't much difference in quality. I don't think they are 16-bit sounds. Same length (in time) sounds in 16-bit format would be twice as large (in file size) and conversion would not be a simple thing. (R.LODOEN,CAT7,TOP103,MSG:331/m615) A USER'S EXPERIENCE IN OPTIMIZING MEMORY I've been busy trying all the """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" combo's of good suggestions. Some worked, some didn't. I am not running windows and have a 2MB 386. For my birthday my son gave me the book "The Microsoft Guide to Managing Memory with DOS 5" (Microsoft). It tied together everything you all have been saying! I really like it. Significant things are: Copy the autoexec and config.sys to a bootable disc and make all changes there. Boot from there to try things and when it crashes, just reboot normally and edit the a:> files. (I never thought of that) With mem /c |more or mem /c>prn, Everything resident before the command statement may be loaded with devicehigh in the config.sys and after the command statement uses loadhigh in the autoexec.bat. (Of course excluding the things that can't or shouldn't be loaded high). Start with nothing high, and using mem /c for size in hex needed devicehigh the largest first and one at a time go to the smaller. (DAVE.Y,CAT12, TOP5,MSG:108/m615) ELIMINATING DATA OVERRUN TurboComm, a replacement for Windows' """""""""""""""""""""""" communication drivers, gives all programs - even DOS programs run under Windows - a spooler for data. It does require a 16550AFN to work, but it extends the chip's own buffer as much as needed. Data overrun is not possible. (T.MALLERY1,CAT12,TOP7,MSG:25/m615) GET THAT DIRTY MOUSE! Most standard mice can be rehabilitated by """"""""""""""""""""" cleaning their innards. If your mice are Microsoft, you'll find a screw hole under the FCC label. Don't bother to peel the label off-- I'd suggest simply punching through it to get at the screw. No special skill are needed to clean the interior, just use common sense and don't pull anything apart which you don't think you'll get back together (there's not much in there). With a clean dry brush or your fingers or whatever, clean any lint and hair out of the mechanical parts, especially bearings and the two perforated wheels. Ignore the circuitry--it's not the source of the problem, and you couldn't adjust it even if it was. (S.ELLIOTT9,CAT12,TOP13,MSG:5/m615) A GENEROUS OFFER TO HELP I have just built a 40 Mhz 386 with an AMI bios. """""""""""""""""""""""" If you still need assistance, let me know and I'll tell you what each of the settings are. The best way to do this would be via phone...I'm at your disposal. Leave me a message if you'd like to go over this, and I'll leave my voice #. (C.DOLLMONT,CAT12,TOP25,MSG:122/m615) WHEN YOUR CMOS GOES CNUTS Glen, try this -- hold down the INSERT key, """"""""""""""""""""""""" power up the system, and keep INS held until the POST test is finished. That might reset your CMOS. Beware --there is a good chance that you will lose all settings, including hard disk type. If that does not work, lift a battery lead and leave it off for an hour. That will definitely reset the CMOS to the original defaults. (STROM,CAT12,TOP39,MSG:42/m615) VGA TO TV CONVERSION Right now, there are three approaches to the VGA to """""""""""""""""""" TV conversion: 1. VGA cards which produce a separate television output. 2. External adapters which capture VGA and adapt it to TV. 3. Hybrids which modify your VGA settings in software AND include an external converter. I have an advertisement from MicroTimes in front of me with Pro Labs Video Master, a PC to TV adapter (type not disclosed) which is being sold by Aroma for $195. (408) 736-4355 Another ad by Technoland at (408) 524-9188 offers a pocket-sized VGA to TV adapter for $169. It is an external device, usable with laptops, but it doesn't say whether it requires a special driver to set the VGA timing. Considering the price, it probably does. And Central Computer Systems, (408) 241-0185, offers both the Pro Labs Video Master at $185 and the Genoa M2100 VGA2TV at $425. These devices must be getting hot right now, as I also see a full- page ad for the A I Tech ProPC Plus and ProPC/Video. No price is given, but they give a phone number, (800) 882-8184, to call for information, and list Whole Earth Access as a dealer who carries it. (S.ELLIOTT9,CAT14,TOP4,MSG:6/m615) CHANGE YOUR COLORS AND YOUR PROMPT Put the line: """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" (device=c:\dos\ansi.sys) in your config.sys file if it's not already there. Then insert the following line into the prompt command in your autoexec.bat after prompt= and before your instructions ($P$G?). $e[44;33;1m ll l l l ll l l Denotes high intensity foreground. ll l Foreground color (0-7). This 3 is yellow. ll Background color (0-7). This 4 is blue. This is the escape character which initiates an ANSI call. The easiest way I've found to do this is to load autoexec.bat into DOS 5.0's EDIT. To make the ($e) press (CTRL-P) and then (ALT-027). On the Alt portion, hold the Alt key down and type 027 on the numeric keypad, the release the Alt key. This will set your screen to yellow on blue. Note that the escape character in EDIT will be a left facing arrow instead of ($e). (D.BAILLARGEO,CAT14,TOP63,MSG:50/m615) OPTIMIZING MEMORY - TAKE TWO! I think I finally got my config.sys """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" optimized! Using MS-DOS 5.0, 4DOS 4.01 and The Last Byte memory manager I have 637,056 bytes free! rem CONFIG.SYS device=c:\tlbmm\lastbyte.sys @c:\lastbyte.ini device=c:\tlbmm\highdrvr.sys c:\dos\himem.sys device=c:\tlbmm\highumm.sys devicehigh=c:\dos\nnansi.com devicehigh=c:\dos\ramdrive.sys 3072 128 900 /e devicehigh=c:\stacker\stacker.com d:\stacvol.000 shell=c:\4dos.com @c:\4dos.ini /p dos=high,umb lastdrive=f buffers=40 break=on fcbs=1,0 files=80 rem AUTOEXEC.BAT Loadhigh c:\4dos4\kstack.com loadhigh c:\ezmorse /1 loadhigh c:\util\dmp /mxt prompt $d $t$h$h$h$_$p$g PATH C:\;C:\BAT;C:\UTIL;C:\PCTOOLS;f:\sb;c:\dos;c:\temp; set /r c:\setlist.cfg alias /r c:\alias.cfg setdos /m1 /i-list fast cls The Last Byte is shareware and well worth the $29.95 registration. And unlike EMM386 & QEMM, The Last Byte works with my morse code software. (JIM.LUBIN,CAT21,TOP15,MSG:135/m615) RUN WINDOWS 3.1 WITH DR-DOS 6 DR-DOS 6.0 and Win 3.1 _are_ compatible. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" Been running them together for months with no problem. 6.0 was around a lot earlier than 3.1. There was an initial compatibility problem. DR corrected it (for sure MS wasn't going to do anything about it!) within a week or so after 3.1's release, if memory serves. The latest 6.0 files I have are dated 4-7-92. The library here contains two update files for 6.0. #28117, DR6UP2.ZIP, size 491904, contains files for both 12/91 and 4/92 updates. #28116, DR6WIN.ZIP, size 120704, contains the files needed to make it run with Win 3.1 (just the 4/92 update, I think). (P.SLOCOMB1,CAT22,TOP2,MSG:568/m615) A SETUP STRING TO KEEP YOUR ZOOM MODEM ON LINE Well, I've finally found """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" an init string for my ZOOM, and I'll post it here for anyone else with similar problems: ATE0Q0V0X4&C1W0&K3%C1\N3&Q5S7=90S36=7^M~ATS48=7S38=0^M~ The ^M~ sequences are CRs, so substitute for your comm programs equivalent. The last S38=0 statement is unnecessary for anything but Commute (where I got the string) so you can omit that if space requires. (R.KNORR1,CAT23,TOP2,MSG:456/m615) CHOOSING NETWORKING SOFTWARE Personally, I feel the best approach to """""""""""""""""""""""""""" choosing a network software is to consider first your real system needs. By that I mean doing a thorough analysis from the perspective of users both now and in the future. Like a pair of pants, buying the latest fashion and fit usually leads to a closet full of unused clothing. Start by looking at the flowchart in an excellent book called "The PC Magazine Guide to Connectivity." For example: What are your printer-sharing needs? (now and later) Do or will you need to share databases? How large? How close or far apart are the workstations/servers? Will you need to access IBM mainframes? How sophisticated are your E-mail needs? Faxing? Budget? Who is going to administer the system? Train users? There are many, many alternatives to Lantastic and Novell. Let me know if you want information about them. (D.GIBBONS,CAT24,TOP2,MSG:64/m615) RUN SUPERSTOR AND QEMM TOGETHER I just spent a week figuring out how to """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" get Qemm's optimize to work with Superstor. The manuals contain the essential clues, but not the solution. Here's what I found. The Superstor manual tells you to leave enough uncompressed space on your DOS disk for a copy of the QEMM directory and add the line DEVICE=\QEMM\QEMM386.SYS to CONFIG.SYS. The CONFIG.SYS you edit should be the one that resides on your uncompressed DOS disk (D:\ if you did an automatic install before finding the QEMM note in Appendix B.) The next instruction is in the manual is to go to the compressed drive and run the QEMM Optimize program. Don't bother, that procedure will not work! One of the things that Optimize does is to edit your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files - several times. With the drives swapped, your CONFIG.SYS file is on drive "D:\" and your AUTOEXEC.BAT is on drive "C:\". Optimize writes extensive self- references to C:\QEMM\LOADHI in both CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT as well as writing batch files and other files to the startup disk. With the swapped drives and the files in two places the poor thing gets quite confused and essentially does nothing. Try this procedure instead. First, be certain you have a bootable floppy disk. Test it to make sure it works. Second, make another copy, just in case. If all goes well you won't need either one. Few things go that well when you are messing around with both CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT. [How much warning does it take?] Third, create the \QEMM subdirectory on the uncompressed disk and copy all of the QEMM files to it. Having done this you: 1. Edit the CONFIG.SYS on your uncompressed drive to start with the three lines: DEVICE=\QEMM\QEMM386.SYS DEVICE=SSTORDRV.SYS REM DEVICE=DEVSWAP.COM Notice the REM in front of the devswap.com - you don't want the c:\ and d:\ drives to be swapped. If you've previously used QEMM386 and found you had to add switches to the QEMM386.SYS line, such as X=nnnn-nnnn, include them also. 2. Edit the rest of your CONFIG.SYS to change all other references from C:\ to D:\ for example: COMSPEC=D:\DOS\COMMAND.COM /E:512 /P DEVICE=D:\DOS\ANSI.SYS 3. Copy your AUTOEXEC.BAT file from the compressed drive to the uncompressed drive. Change ALL references, including the path statements, in the new AUTOEXEC.BAT from C:\ to D:\. 4. Reboot your computer. If all is well your computer will take all of its startup information from the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT file on the uncompressed drive. 5. When you do a directory listing you will find the compressed drive is D:\ and the uncompressed drive is C:\. 6. NOW you can run Optimize from the C:\ drive and all will go as normal. When Optimize has finished all of its passes you can undo all of the changes you made. Remove the REM statement from the DEVICE=\DEVSWAP.COM line. Replace all references to D:\ with C:\ in both CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT. Copy the revised AUTOEXEC.BAT from the uncompressed drive back to the compressed drive (usually from C:\ to D:\). Reboot the computer. Based on my experiences I would add a couple of more steps to the basic procedure given above. Left to itself, Optimize will try to load SSTORDRV.SYS high. I had disastrous results with that when either/both SHARE and SMARTDRV.EXE were loaded. I'd suggest that when Optimize has finished you edit the CONFIG.SYS file to remove the LOADHI command from the SSTORDRV.SYS line. Then rerun Optimize with the /L switch (Optimize /L will not mess with lines that don't already have the LOADHI instruction already on them). As the Superstor manual indicates, SSTORDRV.SYS will load about half of itself high if you do nothing. If things go badly on your computer you may want to interrupt the Optimize procedure, during the first stage, and edit out the LOADHI instruction right away. For the record, I have Superstor version 2.04 dated April '92 and QEMM386 version 6.01 of 9/23/91. (NGOLDSMITH,CAT28,TOP6,MSG:25/m615) >>> HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" MEMORY PRICES ABOUT TO RISE - SHARPLY! Anyone who is thinking about """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" upgrading their RAM anytime soon may want to do it ASAP. A Wall Street Journal article this week reported that the US Government has imposed a tariff on Korean RAM due to the fact that they are dumping it on the US market. The article reports that stock prices for US RAM manufacturers has taken a large jump due to this announcement. On a personal note - I found out about this today. I went shopping with a friend who wanted to increase his memory. Local pricing for 1 Meg SIMMs was up $20 per meg at most places. Places where I had purchased memory at on Tuesday for $28/meg are now letting me 'have' it for $48. Best price in town was BizMart who doesn't know about the upcoming price increases - $39/meg. (C.AUSTIN8,CAT12,TOP23,MSG:1/m615) THE FASTEST WINDOWS GRAPHICS CARD EVER? See the Windows Accelerating """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Graphics cards topic for a discussion on the Diamond Speedstar24X... Apparently it is $180 for faster speed in DOS and Windows... It beat the ATI cards hands down and it even blows away SVGA cards running in 4bit color mode when it is running in 16bit color. (errr 15bit color). See the topic for a full discussion. (M.NELSON15,CAT14,TOP11,MSG:18/m615) >>> THROUGH AN OPEN WINDOW(RT) <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" MICROSOFT SHIPS MONEY 2.0 A FAST, EASY TOOL FOR MANAGING PERSONAL """"""""""""""""""""""""" FINANCES REDMOND, Wash. - Sept. 14, 1992 - MICROSOFT Corp. Monday announced the immediate availability of MICROSOFT Money 2.0 for the MICROSOFT Windows operating system version 3.1. Money 2.0 makes personal financial management faster and simpler than ever, incorporating powerful, new, easy-to-use features including a Loan Calculator and Loan Wizards, Charting, Automatic Budgeting and a Coach to guide users as they enter transactions. With its sophisticated tax, budget and loan analysis capabilities and its simple, checkbook-style design, MICROSOFT Money provides all the necessary tools to help users quickly organize and track finances. "With this new, enhanced version of Money, we are reinforcing our commitment to the personal finance software category," said Susan Boeschen, vice president of the Consumer Division at MICROSOFT. "Managing your finances has never been a particularly enjoyable task, but with Money's easy-to-use interface and ability to handle a variety of financial tasks, users can throw away the 'shoe box of receipts' and feel confident they're handling their finances efficiently." Those who have tested the product agree. "It's really cool," said Jeff Sherman, a beta tester and now user of Money 2.0. "It's very intuitive and in a matter of just a few minutes, I'm able to completely update my finances. I'd rate it far superior to any other personal finance packages I've used." New Features Ensure Ease of Use MICROSOFT Money incorporates new tools """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" that automate and simplify time- consuming financial tasks. They include: Loan Tracking. Money 2.0 tracks loan transactions and balances, and creates amortization schedules so that users can obtain reports on balances and interest payments. Money's Loan Calculator allows them to perform queries on various loan scenarios. Money tracks all types of loans, including mortgages, car installment loans and home equity loans. Loan Wizards make it extremely easy for users to set up loans. Charting. Money 2.0 charts financial data to give users a quick snapshot of their finances. For example, Money allows users to graphically see trends in income and expense categories, graphical comparisons of budget versus actual spending, as well as pie charts of asset allocations, which are especially useful in helping novices visualize their financial status. Transaction Coaches. Money 2.0 provides transaction coaches, which guide users as they enter transactions for the first time. Coaches, a sort of 'personal trainer,' make it easier than ever for beginners to get started. Automatic Budgeting. Money 2.0 saves users from figuring and entering budge data to create budgets. Money's Auto Budget feature automatically creates budgets based on previous spending trends. International Versions Coming Soon MICROSOFT Money 2.0 recognizes the """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" importance of the international market for this category, and is the first U.S. company to release personal finance software of its kind in Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Local language versions for those countries are scheduled to be available in September and October through normal MICROSOFT distribution channels. Full-featured Program Represents Great Value For Users The new release """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" of MICROSOFT Money builds on powerful automation features introduced in the earlier version, including SmartFill, which simplifies data entry by filling in information based on previous transactions; SmartReconcile, which simplifies account balancing by identifying and correcting errors; and Future Transactions, which allows users to schedule recurring transactions such as automatic deposits and payments. Money 2.0 also includes a calculator that allows users to convert between foreign and local currencies while entering transactions. In addition, MICROSOFT Money offers a wide variety of custom report formats. Customized reports can be saved to simplify future reporting, printing or exporting to spreadsheets and word processors. Money has significant improvements for tax data. Money sorts income and expenses by individual tax form lines and exports tax data to TurboTax and Andrew Tobias' TaxCut. Money is also compatible with Quicken* Interchange Format (QIF) files. (RDILL,CAT1,TOP2,MSG:10/m1335) MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES MORE FUN AND GAMES FOR WINDOWS REDMOND, Wash. - """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Sept. 14, 1992 - Microsoft Corporation today announced the newest entertainment product from the Consumer Division for the Microsoft* Windows* operating system. Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows Volume 4 is the latest addition to the popular Entertainment Pack for Windows series. Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows Volume 4 includes seven new games, many of which feature sound support. The new product from Microsoft offers users fun ways to relax after a hectic day at the office. "Microsoft's Entertainment Pack Volume 4 rounds out the well-received Entertainment Pack series for Windows. This new selection of games gives users of Windows a fresh mix of fun and games for the desktop," said Susan Boeschen, vice president of the Consumer Division. Featuring New and Classic Games Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Volume 4 offers arcade action and sound that combine to make the Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows a fun way for people to use Windows. Users can test their gaming prowess with the seven new games found in Volume 4, featuring Chip's Challenge, JezzBall, Maxwell's Maniac and Go Figure. Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows Volume 4 also puts a new spin on some classic games with Chess, Tic-Tac-Drop and Dr. Black Jack. Chip's Challenge offers players a multitude of levels to navigate as they attempt to gather the required silicon chips to complete the puzzles. Obstacles such as fire, ice and force fields stand in Chip's way as he searches for hidden chips. JezzBall and Maxwell's Maniac are the latest games from a Russian author that have an addictive nature similar to Tetris*, a popular game from the Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows Volume 1. In Go Figure, players race the clock to solve a range of simple to complex mathematical equations. Players may explore infinite puzzles in the classic game of Chess. Tic-Tac-Drop adds the element of gravity to the familiar tic- tac-toe board forcing players to place the ball in the correct row while making sure the ball doesn't fall too far. Also offered is Dr. Black Jack where the player faces a computer dealer who offers helpful advice on the subject of betting and card-counting. Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows Volume 4 features support of the sound play capability of Windows 3.1 in four of the games: Chip's Challenge, Chess, Maxwell's Maniac and JezzBall. The games with sound support include the ability to play audio files on computers equipped with sound boards, adding a new dimension to those select games. In addition to being dazzled by spectacular graphics, players may also enjoy the digital sound in Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows Volume 4. (RDILL,CAT1,TOP2,MSG:11/m1335) HIMEM LIMITS Just noticed in PC Week the problem to my DOS 5.0 Ramdrive """""""""""" < 16MB is not Ramdrive.sys but the fact the Himem.sys file delivered with DOS 5.0 can't do anything with memory beyond 15MB. So the 32MB limitation of the Ramdrive.sys is wasted. However, they point out that the later Himem.sys released with Win 3.1 can handle up to 64MB's of extended memory. How does one with DOS 5.0 acquire a copy of the windows 3.1 Himem.sys file????????? (AGNARI,CAT1,TOP3,MSG:21/m1335) A COREL DRAW QUESTION Can anyone tell me why I can't get a good print of """"""""""""""""""""" a picture I drew on Corel draw today? I used the "blend" feature between two words and it looks great on the screen however when I print it out on the HP laserjet Si III, I only get the two words, none of the rotating word "steps" in between. I'm on a network at work. Does this affect the output problem in any way. (M.GLEVICKY1,CAT15,TOP8,MSG:1/m1335) MAKE YOUR OWN FONTS For anyone eager to edit or design their own fonts, """"""""""""""""""" the latest catalog for PC Connection advertises FontMonger for Windows for $95. This program apparently converts to and from a number of formats as well as including font drawing tools. Also from the same catalog, there's something called Fontographer for Windows, for $259, which looks to have a number of pretty fancy-schmancy features for designing fonts. There are probably others as well; these are what I've seen so far. I don't have a hundred bucks' worth of need, but sure wouldn't mind playing around with a really cheap commercial or shareware package if one becomes available. Would enjoy hearing from anyone using either of these, or other, packages. (C.ANDERSON16,CAT15,TOP12,MSG:19/m1335) USE TRUETYPE AND ADOBE TYPE MANAGER ... TOGETHER? You can use ATM and """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" TrueType together. They'll co-exist peacefully. However, you may not need both. ATM takes a larger memory bite and is slightly slower printing than TrueType. There are still more high-quality fonts available in Type 1 format, though, IMO, and if you're doing work that's eventually going to be typeset, Type 1 compatibility still remains important. Typecase is a nice product because of its ability to compress fonts that you use less frequently. However, its fonts vary in quality and to use all of its features, the fonts must be stored in your WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory. (PETERZ,CAT15,TOP13,MSG:23/m1335) TRUE TYPE NOT AS GOOD AS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE? The reason ATM fonts """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" tend to look better is because most of the TrueType fonts available right now are converted from Type 1 fonts. When we start getting fonts created originally as TrueType, they'll look better than Type 1 ATM fonts. (TIM.PIAZZA,CAT15,TOP13,MSG:26/m1335) >>> HELP WANTED - QUESTIONS USERS ARE ASKING <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" DR DOS EXTRAS Can the Superstor and PCKwik files in DR DOS v.6 be used """"""""""""" as standalone programs? (GS,CAT1,TOP6,MSG:77/m615) FONTS FOR PFS PROFESSIONAL WRITE At work we use PFS Professional Write to """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" write small letters and office memos. It's a simple, easy-to-use word processor. It only comes with one font, though, and I'd like to try others. Does anyone know of any software fonts that would be compatible with this word processor (preferably freeware or shareware so I could try them out before talking the boss into buying them)? Thanks. (J.MOTTERN,CAT2,TOP8,MSG:9/m615) WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR THIS MOM AND HER DAUGHTER? I'm looking for a """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" software program for my daughter to use for her schoolwork and for fun. The computer that she and her sister use is a 386SX, 80 meg hd and 2 megs of memory with a VGA monitor. Mary Frances is 10 and a half, and in the fifth grade. Both she and her younger sister have been using The Learning Company's Children's Publishing Center for their school projects and reports. I love it because of its ease and versatility. It is rather limiting, but, for young children, this is not a bad thing, as too many choices can be overwhelming. Lately, Mary Frances has gotten a bit frustrated by the limitations of the program, though, so I figure that she's ready to move on to something else. Next year she starts middle school, and she will need a more mature program. Does anyone have any suggestions for IBM compatible software? (NINA-LEE,CAT2,TOP10,MSG:10/m615) CONVERTING FILES FROM WORDSTAR Can anyone tell me how I can convert a WS """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 5.0 or 5.5 file to either PC-Write or WordPerfect 5.1 format (preferably the former)? I've tried using WordPerfect's convert.exe, but it just locks up my system on these files. (B.FIELD,CAT2,TOP16,MSG:70/m615) CGM CLIP ART QUESTION I am using Microsoft Publisher for Windows, and """"""""""""""""""""" all the clip art is in .cgm format. Is this the only format I can use, or can I somehow use .bmp format? Are .cgm files commercially available, and if so, where? (P.SPRINGER1,CAT2,TOP22,MSG:52/m615) CALENDAR PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS WANTED Does anyone here know of a """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" program that will generate calendars in a user-specified size and format? It wouldn't hurt if it could export its output to something graphics packages such as Freelance, either. (G.LIM,CAT2,TOP22,MSG:53/m615) AMIPRO LAYOUT I'm trying to help someone with AmiPro lay out a """"""""""""" three-column newsletter. Can someone tell me how to create a heading that spans more than one column? I figure that I probably need to use frames, but I'm not clear on the exact process. (B.WOLLHEIM,CAT2,TOP35,MSG:17/m615) QUICKEN CONVERSION GLITCH One of my customers just upgraded from Quicken """"""""""""""""""""""""" 5.0 to Quicken for Windows. They backed up the 5.0 files and restored them to QWin, but QWin won't create any reports. It works fine with the Sample data and with my data, but theirs returns a GP Error. Anyone else had this problem or have any ideas?? (C.PEEBLES,CAT3,TOP13,MSG:248/m615) SYSTEM HEALTH CHECKUP I'm thinking about buying a used PC and would like """"""""""""""""""""" to be able to run some check-out software on potential purchases to ensure I don't get a faulty machine. Does anyone know of any software (preferably shareware I can download here) that would look a whole machine over and report its "state of health"? (RICK.SINK,CAT4,TOP10,MSG:115/m615) OS/2 MAGAZINE RECOMMENDATION WANTED? Can you recommend an OS/2 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" publication? I'm considering two at the moment. I'd get both if I had the money. The two are OS/2 Monthly and Inside OS/2. Each is $39 per year. OS/2 Monthly seems to be a full-size magazine. Inside OS/2 is a 12 page newsletter. The 12 pages _could_ be worth more than a full size magazine. Do you have an opinion? (A2.BILL,CAT6,TOP8,MSG:135/m615) >>> MESSAGE SPOTLIGHT <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""" Remember the golden rule of E-mail - people don't know your mood when you're writing: all they see is the text. (DAVID-CPM,CAT1,TOP9,MSG:94/m615) From what I read here and there around GEnie, games are the most demanding software written. There's a moral there somewhere. :) (A2.BILL,CAT4,TOP30,MSG:78/m615) Not only is my computer plugged into a UPS, Doctor, but it's also plugged into a dedicated circuit. About the only way my computer can get zapped is if lightning were to hit the can directly. But since I live in Southern California, where the only time we see lightning is when the After Dark screen saver kicks in, I'm not too worried about that happening. ;) (PROF.MARK,CAT13,TOP42,MSG:289/m615) You're in a high-end quest with a budget that doesn't match. (M.AGRI,CAT14,TOP6,MSG:141/m615) It's obvious to me that people in the PC world will have to learn the Mac and Amiga lessons the hard way. You don't mess with the hardware in a multitasking operating system. If you want to play games, boot a copy of DOS or something. I'll bet $50 that any game that diddles with the hardware under OS/2 will break within one 0.x upgrade. (J.JIMENEZ,CAT21,TOP48,MSG:213/m615) [*][*][*] While on GEnie, do you spend most of your time downloading files? If so, you may be missing out some excellent information in the Bulletin Board area. The messages listed above only scratch the surface of what's available and waiting for you in the bulletin board area. If you are serious about your PC, the GEnie Lamp staff strongly urge you to give the bulletin board area a try. There are literally thousands of messages posted from people like you from all over the world. /////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "I work with PC, ST, Amiga at work all day and sometimes mind / / gets jumbled (Sort of like Spock when he mind melded with / / Vyger. I Usually have that stupid grin as well.)" / ///////////////////////////////////////////////// M.ENGLE1 //// [EOA] [HUM]////////////////////////////// HUMOR ONLINE / ///////////////////////////////// World's Fastest Chip """""""""""""""""""" From: I. B. Lyon Subject: IBM Zurich announces new chip ----- PRESS RELEASE --------------------------------------------------- The Zurich laboratory unveiled the world's fastest chip this week. The chip, code named "Timeless", is based on high temperature superconductors and is capable of transferring data signals faster than the speed of light. This makes it possible for a computer based on this chip to produce answers before questions are asked. Using this technology, the Hursley laboratory has been able to produce a program product before the user requirements were known. Industry analysts found the Hursley announcement humorous, citing that IBM has been writing program products without user requirements for years. Products created using the Hursley method are still expected to miss their ship dates due to the excessive length of the Fall and Spring planning cycles. The Communication Products Systems Test organization is using the same technology to test program products in zero days. Said a spokesperson in Raleigh, "It's amazing. Just preparing to test the software thoroughly causes it to be tested. It's like the system can read your mind." Oddly enough, planning experts in System Test are reporting that regardless of the productivity gains realized by the Timeless chip, the average test duration is expected to be nine months. There have been rumors of some odd side-effects of the Timeless chip. Some customers have been receiving products before they order them. Most customers we interviewed did admit that they were planning to order the new software when it arrived. They said that they liked the speed with which the products arrived, but they disliked IBM's new policy of billing them before they ordered anything. Said an IBM billing expert, "We knew they were going to think about ordering some software, so we thought we would think about billing them." IBM Service has made some exciting advances in hardware and software maintenance based on these side-effects. IBM Service worldwide has begun a free preventative maintenance program in which the IBM Customer Engineers think about fixing all the problems of every customer. Said an IBM Service representative, "The program is working very well. Service calls are down 99%. The only calls we are getting now are to fix hardware and software that hasn't been invented yet." If you are thinking of ordering computer systems which uses the Timeless chip, they can be ordered from IBM. Of course, if you have been thinking about ordering one, it is probably on its way to you right now. //////////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "This is what I was looking for! Involved discussion....ooh yeah!" / //////////////////////////////////////////////////// R.MARTIN22 //// [EOA] [FOC]////////////////////////////// FOCUS ON... / ///////////////////////////////// File Management, Part I """""""""""""""""""""""" By Barry Gordon New York Personal Computer, Inc. >>> FILE MANAGEMENT <<< """"""""""""""""""""""" ~ Part I ~ NOTE: notes have been inserted by Yisroel Goodman, President of the IBM PC Users Group and SYSOP of PRO-TO-CALL BBS. 290 Central Avenue, Suite 113, Lawrence, NY 11559 day voice number (516) 239-8885 Sunday-Friday. BBS number (718)471-2436. 300-1200 baud 11 P.M. to 8 P.M. INTRODUCTION This article is about organizing files on any hard disk """""""""""" attached to a member of the IBM PC family, including the PC with an Expansion Unit, and certainly, the PC AT. The following suggestions have evolved from several months of using the IBM PC XT as a follow-on system to the IBM PC. I hope these thoughts prove useful to those who work with hard disks on the IBM PC, particularly those who are new to it. File Management The hard disk is not merely an overgrown diskette. It """"""""""""""" can be used that way, but you would be inviting serious file management problems in doing so. The hard disk has other capabilities you should utilize, and there is no reason not to take full advantage of the hard disk's potential. About the last thing you want to deal with is a hard disk of ten megabytes or more containing all its files in one directory. (There is a limit of how many files the root directory can contain, so the disk may give you an error message even though much of the disk is not filled.) With intelligent organization, the hard disk retains its speed advantage over the diskette, and you are better able to keep track of your files as well. The name of each file should use a filename and the three-letter extension. Sooner or later you will need all the help you can get in remembering what each file contains. Most importantly, though, your files should be organized among several directories. The Root Directory Each DOS volume (diskette or hard disk) has a root """""""""""""""""" directory which DOS creates when it formats the disk. The root directory on your hard disk should contain a minimum of files, reserving the space for sub-directory names. Nonetheless, a few files are essential in the root directory. When you format the hard disk, use the /S parameter: FORMAT C:/S which copies three .COM files to your hard disk: (IBMBIO.COM) (IBMDOS.COM) COMMAND.COM Notice that the first two are hidden files. You won't see them in any DIRectory listing, but the CHKDSK command will tell you they are there. You should store the various DOS external command files and all data files in other sub-directories. Sub-directories for Executable Files Now let's consider locating your """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" various executable program files-- the .EXE, .COM, and .BAT files. You'll want to separate related programs into sub-directories of their own. For example, you may want one sub-directory containing all of the external DOS commands, another sub-directory with your word processing .COM and .EXE files, another with your accounting .COM and .EXE files, etc. until you have stored all of your executable programs into sub-directories. They are much easier to remember this way. The root directory has no user-assigned name, but all sub- directories are specifically created and named using the MKDIR command, MD for short: MD anyname NOTE If you use the MD command when you are in the root directory, """" the will be creating a first-level subdirectory. If you use it while in a subdirectory, you will be creating a second or third level subdirectory as follows: C:\ -> ROOT directory |---------|--------|-----| V V V C:\WS C:\LOTUS C:\DBASE 1st level subdirectories | |---------------| V V C:\WS\LETTERS C:\WS\CONTRACTS 2nd level subdirectories You can create as many levels of sub-directories as you like, but generally, the fewer levels you have to create, the simpler your directory structure will be. There will be times when a second- or third-level sub-directory is needed (a directory created within another sub-directory), but multi-leveled sub-directories create a more complex path structure for both you and DOS to sort through. Directory Sizes You can fill a sub-directory with as many bytes as the """"""""""""""" disk will allow, but it is often convenient to limit the size of those sub- directories into which you regularly store data to the capacity of a single diskette, 320-360 KB. This allows you to back up a directory using the COPY command: COPY C:*.* A: The COPYable directory size offers an alternative to the BACKUP and RESTORE commands, an alternative that many find easier to use. It offers portability as well as backup. If you want to verify the copy with its original, you can follow the COPY command with this: COMP C: A: However, if you feel confident using the BACKUP and RESTORE commands, the contents of a single sub-directory can be as many bytes as you like. The bigger it is, the more time consuming the backup process becomes. Another suggestion is to give each backup diskette a volume label. This is especially useful if you use the COPY command to back up your sub-directories. By using the /V parameter when you format the diskette, you can label your diskette with the same name as the directory it backs up. It is rarely necessary to back up the entire hard disk. Typically, you store data changes in the files of a few sub-directories, those few being the only sub-directories you need to back up regularly. Many sub-directories never change, and need backing up only once. NOTE there are useful programs such as BAC and KOPYNEW which check """" the source and target disk during the copy and copy only those files on the source disk which are not found on the target disk or have an earlier time or date. [*][*][*] NEXT ISSUE Part II, DOS BATch Files """""""""" /////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Bribes for new EdHak features?? I don't recall ever turning / / down such a bribe. Are we talking money? chocolate chip / / cookies? eternal bliss? any of the these would probably / / work just fine, or even getting 2 or 3 people to request / / the same thing. / //////////////////////////////////////////////// C.HARVEY //// [EOA] [MOO]////////////////////////////// . . . . CowTOONS! / . . . . ///////////////////////////////// . . . . Moooooo Fun! . . . . . . . . """""""""""" . . . . . . . By Chris Innanen . . . . . . . . . . . . [C.INNANEN] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o ____ o . . . \ / \ / . . ___ \( (__) )/ . /\ . / o\ . . ( (oo) ) . . | o | . \ \/ / () Invaders from the \___/ . _____====_____ /__\ Planet Moo... . . / / \ \ . . . . /O O O O O O\ . . . \_-__-____-__-_/ . . . . / . \ . . . o . o . . . . . . . . . . . [*][*][*] CowTOONS? Chris Innanen took us up on (__) our offer and sent in this month's (oo) ---- CowTOONS selection. /--------\/ ----- / | || ------- If you have an idea for a CowTOON, we |\-----| \ ------ would like to see it. And if we pick ^ ^ ^ ^ your CowTOON for publishing in GEnieLamp we will credit your account with 2 hours ~ Mycow Jackson ~ of GEnie non-prime time! (Doing the Moowalk) ///////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Chocolate chip cookies = eternal bliss " / ////////////////////////////////// J.MEEHAN3 //// [EOA] [REF]////////////////////////////// REFLECTIONS / ///////////////////////////////// Thinking Online Communications """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" By Phil Shapiro [P.SHAPIRO1] >>> THE CURSE OF THE TELEPHONE IN TIMES OF FAMILY CRISIS <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Two months ago a close relative of mine became seriously ill. Family members on both the East coast and West coast spent hours on the phone conversing with one another. Daily briefings as to the current health situation were interspersed with lengthy discussions as to treatment options. The natural stress of worrying about this individual's health were compounded by worries about the steep health care costs. And then as if to add insult to injury, sky high phone bills were added to the picture. The phone at the house where my ill relative was staying was ringing off the hook seven days a week. The peace and quiet this ailing person so desperately needed was shattered ten or twenty times each day. Which all got me thinking about the curse of the telephone. To be sure, real-time voice communications has its place. But phone communications can be so annoyingly disruptive at times. And when you factor in the added curse of call-waiting, these interruptions themselves can be further disturbed by even more interruptions. Electronic mail would have worked so well during this family crisis. Daily briefings on the current health situation could be courtesy-copied to all family members. (Thereby cutting down on much of the redundant long distance conversations.) All family members could stay in touch with the situation, offering their ideas and input when requested. Curiously enough, each one of my relatives had a microcomputer in their homes. But none of them subscribes to a national information service. With the stress of the family crisis, my relatives were not about to start learning how to use a modem, send e-mail, capture messages to disk, and send replies. In times of crisis, people are just not receptive to learning to use a whole new mode of long distance communications. But had they been comfortable using this technology, there would be no doubt that they could have made good use of it. Instead of disruptive, noisy phone calls bouncing around the continent each and every day, quiet non-disruptive e-mail could carry the same information content. My relatives wouldn't have felt tied down to sitting by the phone all evening --- making sure they would be available to take the call when the phone rang. This is not to say that electronic mail can totally supplant phone contact in times of a family crisis. But e-mail can help minimize the stress and costs of lengthy long distance phone calls. And GEnie's flat-rate, unlimited e-mail service could keep everyone in the family in contact with one another with a minimum of expense and disruption. Having found myself wishing that my extended family had been online during these trying times, I've taken it upon myself to become a more vocal advocate of online communications. Vocally advocacy need not be pushy advocacy, mind you. The most effective social advocacy has a strong grounding in tact - - - letting others draw their own conclusions in their own good time. Speaking on the subject of electronic mail, InfoWorld columnist Cheryl Currid summed it all up well in a recent column when she said, "Lots of people fail to understand the benefits of electronic empowerment." It takes time before people realize that new information technologies can greatly facilitate and reduce the costs of long distance communication. Currid goes on to say that: "Getting benefits from information technology is as much a cultural mission as it is a technological one." Before new information technology can be beneficial, people need to be convinced about what specific benefits the technology has to offer to them. It's simple human nature to hesitate before jumping into something new. It's interesting to consider human nature in my own family's case. Had all family members been communicating with one another via e-mail prior to the crisis, they would have had no problem using the technology to address the new situation. But with all the worry of a very ill family member, few persons would have had the mental composure to learn the procedures for using a new communications technology. Which all goes to say there are benefits to bringing family members online. These benefits go far beyond being able to "stay in touch" or "casually socialize." When the going gets tough you can be there for one another, day and night, via online communication. And the phone can sit quietly off in the corner --- almost inconspicuous --- for days on end. So that healing can take place. [*][*][*] [The author takes a strong interest in the social dimensions of communications technology. He can be reached on GEnie at: p.shapiro1; on America Online at: pshapiro; and on Internet at: pshapiro@pro-novapple.cts.com] ///////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Since the computer works faster than I do anyway, I really / / don't care about a silly nanosecond." / ///////////////////////////////////////////// D.D.MARTIN //// [EOA] [INF]////////////////////////////// INFO_BITS / ///////////////////////////////// Exclusively from Newsbytes! """"""""""""""""""""""""""" Compiled by John Peters [GENIELAMP] o Canon's New Printers o 1200 DPI For Laserjet 4 o IBM Shipping First PowerPC Chips To Apple o New For PC: WatchIT!TV From New Media Graphics o Stacker 3.0 For Windows/DOS o 66 MHz 486 Computer For Under $2,000 >>> NEWSBYTES NEWS NETWORK HIGHLIGHTS <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" (c) 1992 by Newsbytes News Network Canon's New Printers, PCs Geared Toward Home/Office 10/30/92 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 30 (NB) -- On the heels of Hewlett-Packard's (HP) announcement of its new 600 dots-per-inch Laserjet 4 Series printers, Canon has announced its new line of printers and computer products. Canon is boasting the most about its new Bubble Jet, the BJ-200 printer, which offers increased print speeds, a lower noise level, a small footprint, the ability to handle different types of paper and envelopes, and print quality the company claims rivals the HP Deskjet 500. In fact, the company says a survey done by an independent market research organization revealed 80 percent of those asked thought the BJ-200's output was better than the Deskjet 500. Canon is also touting the price, $549 and a two-year warranty, which the company says will make the printer attractive to home and small business markets. New laser printers, the LBP-4sx and the LBP-8sx, were also introduced and the company says they talk PCL5, the page description language used by HP. The printers offer dot matrix emulation and can automatically switch to different emulation modes. The 4sx prints four pages per minute, the 8sx prints 8 pages per minute and both printers offer the familiar 300 dot- per-inch resolution. Innova is the company's new line of desktop and notebook personal computers come with a one-year warranty, and on-site service for the desktop models. Canon says the computers offer step-by-step documentation and the desktop models come with 14- inch color monitors. Canon says the new laser printers and new desktop computers are shipping now, the new Bubble Jet printers will ship the first week of November, and the notebook computers will be available at the end of November. (Linda Rohrbough/19921029/Press Contact: Karen Lippe, Canon, tel 714-438-3075, fax 741-438-3088) [*][*][*] Lasermaster Intros 1200 DPI For Laserjet 4 10/30/92 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 30 (NB) -- Lasermaster Technologies has announced Winjet 1200, an upgrade kit for Hewlett- Packard's new HP LaserJet 4 that the company says provides faster printing speeds, PostScript language compatibility, and up to 1200 dots-per-inch (dpi) print resolution. Lasermaster says Winjet 1200 will be shipped next month and will have a suggested retail price of $995. Hewlett-Packard markets its own PostScript upgrade, but it does not include the higher resolution. Resolution of 1200 dpi is considered sufficiently high that it can frequently be used to prepare camera-ready copy, saving the extra costs of typesetting. Newsbytes reported in June that Lasermaster had introduced LPV, a hardware-software combination that speeds up printing by allowing the printer and PC to communicate with the PC via its parallel port. A board in installed in the input/output slot of the HP printer, and eliminates the need for costly printer memory upgrades and the purchase of a Postscript printer language cartridge for the printer. Lasermaster CEO Mel Masters says the combination of the Laserjet 4 and Winjet 1200 is ideally suited for Windows. "We expect the new HP Laserjet 4 to be a resounding success, creating an immediate market opportunity for our new enhancement product," says Masters. In September Lasermaster introduced the second of its plain paper typesetter products, a 1200 dots-per-inch device which can handle paper sizes of up to 11 by 17 inches. The Unity 1200 xl can be used with Macintosh or IBM-compatible computers. Hewlett-Packard announced the HP4 and the companion HP4M, the Macintosh version, earlier this month. The network-ready HP4 can produce printed pages with resolutions up to 600 dpi, and uses a toner with a smaller particle size than current toners. HP says that allows printing that has the appearance of 800-900 dpi. The HP4 family also has Windows TrueType fonts built in, eliminating the need to download fonts before printing. (Jim Mallory/19921029/Press contact: Karen Neset, Lasermaster Technologies, 612-941-8687, fax 612-941-8652) [*][*][*] IBM Shipping First PowerPC Chips To Apple 10/29/92 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 29 (NB) -- IBM has begun shipping its PowerPC chip to Apple Computer, which will use it in future products as part of the alliance the two companies signed last year. The PowerPC 601 chip is the first fruit of IBM's joint venture with Apple and chipmaker Motorola to make reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processors. At the beginning of October, the companies announced that they had completed first fabrication of the chip, which is intended to be the first of a line based on the technology used in IBM's RISC System/6000 workstations and servers. Volume production of the 601 chip is expected by the middle of next year, according to an IBM spokeswoman. The 601 chip has 2.8 million transistors, in a package about four tenths of an inch per side. It is being manufactured at IBM's Burlington, Vermont, plant using IBM's .6-micron complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process. The chip includes the Motorola 88110 bus, which provides an advanced interface that supports a range of computer systems, including personal computers, workstations, and multiprocessing systems, the companies said. Based on the processors used in IBM's RISC/System 6000, the PowerPC design incorporates a number of changes to streamline the chip and make it more suitable for high-powered, low-cost computer systems, the spokeswoman said. The PowerPC design also adds symetric multiprocessing to the IBM design, quadruples its cache to 32K bytes, and increases the chip's speed -- 50-megahertz and 66-megahertz versions of the 601 will be produced, she said. IBM, Apple, and others are expected to introduce products using the 601 in the next year to 18 months. Groupe Bull and Thomson-CSF have said they will develop PowerPC-based systems. The 601 is the first of four initial PowerPC RISC microprocessors that IBM and Motorola will design, produce, and sell. The firms are working on the next three chips at Somerset, a new facility in Austin, Texas. Officials said the chips are meant for a wide range of computing jobs, including portable and desktop computers, midrange workstations and servers, fault-tolerant systems, and supercomputers. The chips may also be used as embedded control systems in cars and consumer products. (Grant Buckler/19921029/Press Contact: Judy Radlinsky, IBM, 914-642-4634; Rosemary Stone, Motorola, 512-891-4526) [*][*][*] New For PC: WatchIT!TV From New Media Graphics 10/27/92 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" BILLERICA, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- New Media Graphics has introduced a low-cost PC video board that lets the user watch TV in a window and grab video frames for hard disk storage, while at the same time work on another program at the computer. A company spokesperson told Newsbytes that WatchIT!TV offers many of the same capabilities as high-end frame grabbing boards from New Media Graphics, but at a price of only $349. The new full-slot ISA (industry standard architecture) board keeps users from having to choose between watching their favorite TV shows at night or doing work brought home from the office, she said. In addition, users who must stay constantly on top of financial reports or other news sources will no longer have to bounce back and forth between the PC and a TV, she noted. WatchIT!TV accepts single-source video from a VCR or camcorder as well as television, and can work side-by-side with either a DOS or Windows-based application. Video-in-a-window is displayed at 640 by 480 pixels resolution. An on-screen pop-up control pad that looks like a hand-held TV remote control lets users change channels, adjust volume, color and screen size, and grab frames, without leaving the application program. A programmable timer turns on the TV at a time and channel selected by the user. The board supports frame grabbing in several popular image formats, including PCX, BMP, BMP-24, and TGA. After being grabbed and saved to the hard disk, the frozen still images can be imported into other PC applications for enhancement of reports and other applications. The spokesperson told Newsbytes that WatchIT!TV differs from the company's more expensive boards mainly in the size of the video window and numbers plus types of video sources. Although the window in WatchIT!TV can be positioned anywhere on the display, its size is restricted to 1/16, 1/4, or 100% of the screen. This is in contrast to the more costly boards that offer unlimited sizing, she explained. In addition, the more expensive boards can accept output from multiple video sources simultaneously, and laser disks can be used as a video source. Also unlike WatchIT!TV, the company's high-end products offer resolution of up to 800 by 600 pixels, and come in Micro Channel versions, she added. WatchIT!TV can be installed inside the PC in minutes, and comes with connectors for ready attachment to an antenna, cable, VCR, or camcorder, according to the spokesperson. The new board requires an AT-compatible PC with an 8- or 16-bit ISA slot, a VGA with a feature connector providing 640 by 480 resolution, and Windows 3.0 or higher or DOS 3.01 or higher. The product is being sold in computer retail stores. (Jacqueline Emigh/19921027/Press contact: Jessica Solodar, Rogers Communications for New Media Graphics, tel 617-224-1100) [*][*][*] Stacker 3.0 For Windows/DOS Offers On-screen Gauges 10/27/92 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Stac Electronics has announced that Stacker version 3.0, the latest edition of its transparent data compression/decompression utility for hard disks, installs from Windows or DOS and offers on-screen gauges to Windows users. A new fast set-up option which extracts 10 percent more compression, a feature allowing compressed floppy disks to be read and written by computers without Stacker, password protection, and additional visual information in the optimization portion, have been added to the new version. A new feature -- Stacker Anywhere -- is also featured in the product, company officials said. Stac claims that, depending on the type of data a user has on his/her disk, as well as the type of hard disk used, Stacker can increase the amount of available disk space by as much as 50 percent, so doubling disk capacity. This is made possible by transparently compressing data written to or read from the drive -- as far as the user and any programs are concerned, the drive is a standard one. The company also claims that due to the speed of its software algorithms, even the software-only version of Stacker will not degrade system performance significantly. Previously, software-based data compression programs which ran "on the fly" have slowed down hard disk performance perceptibly. Gary Clow, Stac's president, told Newsbytes at Comdex Fall 1990 that his ultimate aim was to achieve non-performance degrading software-based data compression. Stacker 3.0, judging from Newsbytes' early tests with the package, appears to have achieved this aim. Interestingly, Stac now claims that users of Stacker 3.0 may even see an overall performance gain. It does this by offsetting the time taken to compress (and decompress) by the writer/verify time which is shorter due to the reduced amount of data recording on to the disk's surface. Stac calls the set of Windows gauges "Stackometer" and says they show disk capacity, the compression ratio, and fragmentation levels for one or all drives. DOS users aren't completely left out as a DOS software tool offers drive statistics based on the ratios of different file types. Express Setup, a new installation option, offers installation of the Stacker product with a minimum of interaction on the part of the user, the company said. A Custom Setup or advanced mode allows the user to tune the system, with an option for 10 percent greater compression. The greater compression ratio might offer more space -- 40 megabytes (MB) on a 200 MB drive -- but it could cost some time in terms of system performance. Stac asserts users of faster computers might find the speed difference imperceptible. Stacker Anywhere is a new feature which allows the compression of data on floppy disks which can be read and written to by another computer without Stacker. Stac says this is a step further than competing product Superstor 2.0 from Addstor whose similar feature only allows for the reading of compressed information by a computer without Superstor installed. A password protection feature offers the choice of read only or read and write access to a Stacked drive, the company added. Larger drives are also supported -- up to 1 gigabyte (GB) as opposed to the 512 MB limit of the previous version, Stac added. A visual representation of the defragmentation process has been added to the optimizer portion of the product. Defragmentation can be time consuming, so the company said it has added a quick defragmentation option to speed up the process. When asked if Stacker would face difficulty with traditional database methods of pre-allocating a large portion of the drive, Joanne Rush of Stac said many of the database products have modernized and are now dynamically allocating disk space and the only exception she is aware of is Oracle. Regardless, Stacker 2.0's better error checking solved a problem Stacker had with database data loss in version 1.0, Rush added. As far as Windows and Stacker is concerned, Rush said Stacker disables and flushes the write-delay cache facilitated by the Windows Smartdrive device driver. This means no data is waiting to be written to the disk during critical times such as during an optimization of the drive or in the creation of another Stacker drive, Rush added. Also, Stacker works without a hitch with Windows 32-bit disk access, Rush maintains. The company says the product works with hard disk drives, floppies, Bernoulli disks, Syquest cartridges, Flopticals, read/write optical drives, or any removable media on any personal computer (PC). Stacker 2.0 is retail priced at $149, but a $49.95 upgrade will be available. However, the upgrade will only work on drives compressed with a previous version of Stacker, company representatives said. Those with a Stacker coprocessor card will find the new version works with it as well, Stacker representatives said. Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, Stac Electronics is currently fighting with Santa Clara, California-based IIT in a suit Stac filed claiming the IIT co-processor card offered as an option for the Xtradrive disk compression product is a copy of its own coprocessor card. (Linda Rohrbough/19921027/Press Contact: Joanne Rush, Stac Electronics, tel 619-431-7474, fax 619-431-8080) [*][*][*] First 66 MHz 486 Computer For Under $2,000 10/26/91 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Lightning Computer has announced shipment of a computer billed as the first 66 MHz 486 PC to be priced at under $2,000. Available by mail order for $1,995, the new Lightning Omnicache 486DX comes standard with a 170 MB hard drive, 4 MB of RAM (expandable to 32 MB), 64K of cache (expandable to 256K), an SVGA monitor, a Windows accelerator, and a 1.2 or 1.44 MB floppy drive, among other features. For additional fees, the system can be customized with options ranging from drives and monitors to accelerators and memory boards. In an interview with Newsbytes, Rick McCabe, president, said that the under-$2,000 base price is made possible through volume sales, spurred by the recent selection of the company's 25 MHz 486DX computer for a PC Magazine Editor's Choice award and Lightning's subsequent decision to focus all efforts on the 66 MHz 486DX. McCabe told Newsbytes that Lightning was founded in 1990 to build low-priced, high-performance PC workstations for direct sales to government users, and later branched out into mail order sales to end users and VARs. "Larger mail order houses sell a range of 486 machines: 25 MHz SX, 33 MHz DX, 50 MHz DX. They find it necessary to set spaces between the price points. But we said, `The heck with that. We'll just price of our 486DX 66 so low that users won't want to buy anything else.' In OEM quantities, there's only a $200 difference between the 486DX 33 and 66, anyway," he commented. The SVGA monitor that comes standard with the Omnicache offers 1024 x 768 resolution. The Windows accelerator, a product of Paradise/Western Digital, offers 1 MB of RAM and operates at 10 to 13 Winmarks. Other standard features consist of an eight-slot ISA bus motherboard with AMI BIOS, a full-sized chassis with six drive bays and a 250-watt UL power supply, a heat sink for cooling, an 101-key enhanced keyboard, and a combination card with IDE, FDD, two serial ports, one parallel port, and one game port. A second floppy is available for an extra $60. Further options include EISA and a local bus, a 256 MB memory board, disk options to 56 GB, graphics accelerators, tape drives, CD-ROMs, fax/modems, and large monitors. Lightning Computers also claims to be the first company to have shipped a 50 MHz 486 system, with initial units delivered in May, 1991. (Jacqueline Emigh/19921026; Press contact: Rick McCabe, tel 415-543-3111) [*][*][*] The material contained in Newsbytes News Network copyright (c) 1992 by Newsbytes News Network. Republication of any portion is strictly prohibited without prior authorization from Newsbytes and GEnie. [*][*][*] GEnieLamp is proud to bring to you highlights from the Newsbytes News Network Magazine. Current issues as well as back issues of Newsbytes are available in the Newsbytes RoundTable located on page 316/Keyword: NEWSBYTES ////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "All power corrupts. Just look at me with my own Topic! ;-)" / ///////////////////////////////////////////// R.MARTIN22 //// [EOA] [CLA]////////////////////////////// CLASSICS / ///////////////////////////////// Spiff Up Your .BATs """"""""""""""""""" By Brad Biondo [B.BIONDO] Program Name : Utility_Belt Filename : BELT11.ZIP Library Area : 5 Program Number : 25699 File Size : 55,168 Program Type : Utility (Batch File) Author : Herne Data Systems Ltd. Version Reviewed: 1.1 File Type : Shareware / $10-25 [*][*][*] FROM THE AUTHOR Add some pizzazz to your batch files! Utility_Belt is """"""""""""""" a collection of batch file, security and diagnostic utilities designed to give an advanced, professional look to even the simplest of batch files. Each program was designed for a specific purpose. To see a demonstration of the programs in action, run the batch file BELTDEMO.BAT. The various programs outlined below are used extensively in this demonstration. All of the programs in the Utility_Belt collection were written in assembler to ensure compact, fast code. (The average size of the programs is less than 2k bytes long!) Each of the programs is self documenting to a certain extent. If you run the programs without any command line options, you will get a summary of the syntax and available options. [*][*][*] PD_Q RATING * * * * """"""""""" DOCUMENTATION EXCELLENT """"""""""""" PD_Q COMMENTS If you want to see a set of utilities sell itself, download """"""""""""" this one and run the demo file. If you know anything about putting together a batch file, then this Utility_Belt is for you (Gee, I wonder if there is any connection to Batman's utility belt and the .BAT files? Nah)! Since I don't have much space, I'll give you a condensed version of the programs included. They come in three groups: interactive utilities, video utilities, and security and diagnostic utilities. The interactive group includes SELECT (from a list of options), CONFIRM (yes/no), WAIT (for any keypress) , GETKEY (sets ERRORLEVEL to ASCII value of key), SLEEP (pause for specified length of time), and BLEEP (tones on speaker). There are 9 video utilities which let you set up the video text pages and flip between them, clear the screen to the specified colors in an explosive effect, or a "black hole" effect., clear the screen to a striped or rainbow pattern on the screen, print text at a specified location, and draw boxes. You really need to see it to appreciate the effect with such simplicity in the batch file. The security and diagnostic utilities include HANG (locks up computer requiring power-off/on), REBOOT (software controlled), and WHATIS (report BIOS and DOS physical and logical parameters associated with disk drives). If you're looking for a way to spruce up boring batch files easily, get a copy of Utility_Belt. Registration is $10 for any single program, or $25 for the entire set. Registration provides the latest version of the program and 60 days of technical support. Utility_Belt is available from Herne Data Systems Ltd., PO Box 250, Tiverton, ON N0G 2T0, Canada. (519) 366-2732 (voice or FAX). /////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Aw Mike, you shouldn't have done that because now you got me / / upset. So put on your flak jacket ... here it comes:" / ///////////////////////////////////////////// R.C.GOSEWEHR //// [EOA]#75 [FUN]////////////////////////////// ONLINE FUN / ///////////////////////////////// Search-ME! """""""""" By Scott Garrigus [S.GARRIGUS] SEARCH-ME! Hi there everyone! Are you ready to have some fun? """""""""" Search-Me is taking on a new twist this month. Instead of coming up with a word list about any old thing, we're going to use GEnie as our well-spring from now on. Every month I'll visit a different area on GEnie. I'll tell you a little bit about it, what you can find there and then have fresh list of words for you to search for from that area. Sound good? I hope so, because here we go... This month I visited the fabulous Germany RoundTable. There are a lot of things to do here, especially if you are interested in Germany. ;-) You can learn more about German culture, German food, the German language, you name it - if it has anything to do with Germany, it's here. You can also find out about Austria and Switzerland while your at it. So come on over and visit our German friends! To get there just type GERMANY at the system prompt. But before you do, be sure to have some fun and try to complete this month's puzzle about GERMANY! Keep on smilin'! >>> GERMANY RoundTable PUZZLE <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ PAGE 725 ~ G O C N E T I E K G I U E N T O W C R B T J C E L Q X K T F A H C S N E S S I W B U R J W R B Y X F X M K H D K W J R Y S P S E Y V Q C N P R N T S Q B E X E L V R E H C I L H C R I K C W M A J Q T P H D N N T N N Q X T W B Q L L T Z I N M S O C T O B E R F E S T H E T S S E X A K I N R S P D K W D P N A M R B C M G V D Y G E E B R E A P E L I R Y U H M G C I V W P E Q U W O U U G T X U E E V T P C O J C N K C U K V P Y S E G C W I T I S O U V S K V W U J U E D B T B I E R G K V S N B P W V T L I X M O B A R M N X G O V G Z X C A A V X X R L R L S W I T Z E R L A N D E L M H N D Q O B I I L V A M D D G O U Y V Z D N S N L Z E A F H W W M R L S K H C K A E H Y F Z V V A E N O B R S S C E O T M O D E M K A R T E N T N I H J V V O M R Y R G U H X Z I T T K V Z P I D G U L K M S M E J T U C R F G E C C G Q S L S R E V H Z D P I L O R V O K P L J P L I V D A B A N P I X J I N A J C O N T B X U S E G Y T P J K Z >>> WORD CLUES <<< """""""""""""""""" AUSTRIA AUTOBAHN BIER DAIMLER DEUTSCHLAND GERMANY KIRCHLICHER KLEINANZEIGEN KUENSTE MODEMKARTEN MUNICH MYTHOLOGIE NEUIGKEITEN OCTOBERFEST PORSCHE SWITZERLAND WEIN WIESBADEN WILLKOMMEN WIRTSCHAFT WISSENSCHAFT [*][*][*] GIVE UP? You will find the answers in the LOG OFF column at the end of """""""" the magazine. This column was created with a program called SEARCH ME, an Atari ST program by David Becker. /////////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Man...it doesn't take long to start a rumor here, does it? :-)" / ///////////////////////////////////////////////// J.TRAUTSCHOL //// [EOA] [TEL]////////////////////////////// TELETALK ONLINE / ///////////////////////////////// Checking Out Internet """"""""""""""""""""" By Bill Garrett [BILL.GARRETT] >>> THE WHOLE INTERNET USER'S GUIDE AND CATALOG <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" The Whole Internet User's Guide And Catalog By Ed Kroll O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., Publishers 103 Morris Street, Suite A Sebastopol, California 95472 phone (800) 338-6887 fax (707) 829-0104 INTERNET ON GEnie With GEnie open beta-testing an Internet gateway, I """"""""""""""""" thought it was about time to get serious about learning about the Internet. Good references on the Internet are not all that hard to find; I located a number of downloadable files on GEnie that told me a lot about it. However, finding good, comprehensive information in book form was beginning to look like a challenge. Then, O'Reilly and Associates came out with The Whole Internet Users Guide and Catalog, by Ed Krol. Talk about synchronicity... Krol is also the author of The Hitchiker's Guide To The Internet, a well-known source of Internet info. He's been involved with the Internet since 1985. In The Whole Internet User's Guide, he pulls together a wealth of info on virtually all aspects of "the world's largest computer network". The book is written for everyone from the total beginner to the experienced Internet user. A guide on page xxii indicates which chapters will help the reader most, depending on his or her level of expertise. Being a total beginner and a Mac user, I wanted to find out just what the Internet could do for me, and how best to access it with a Mac. I quickly learned that the Internet is a sort of 'network of networks', consisting largely of computers and computer networks on college campuses, and in businesses, libraries and government institutions. They are spread all over the USA and a great many foreign countries, forming a gigantic spider web of computer systems. Any computer with access to the system can connect to the other networks as a remote user and make use of the resources at that end. I was pleased to learn that a Mac (or any other computer) with a basic terminal emulation program can access the Internet through one of its 'servers', and basically log on in real-time to a host computer. Many college students and employees of some businesses can get free access through their respective organizations. The rest of us have to find a site that provides dial-up access and purchase an account. There are a number of such services popping up all over the country, and the book provides listings for a number of them. It's difficult to describe or even imagine the breadth and scope of information and services accessible through the Internet. It includes the ability to access card catalogs and online databases at universities around the world. Also on the network are private and proprietary databases, specialized research databases maintained by schools, businesses and independent researchers, including unusual and esoteric material that only may be found at one or two locations in the world. How to find and access this enormous wealth of information is the purpose behind The Whole Internet User's Guide. The Guide contains detailed chapters that will tell you how to log on and use the various features of the Internet. Although the Internet operates mainly on unix-based machines, almost any computer can access and use it. Since the Internet has no central office, customer service or index, one of the most useful features of The Whole Internet Guide is the Catalog of Resources. This is a topical listing of some of the more interesting and useful resources accessible through the Internet. It is by no means comprehensive, but serves as a starting place for new user. Also included in the book are descriptions of some of the newer software resources that make finding things on the Internet much faster and easier. Programs like 'archie', 'gopher' and 'finger', will automate searching for files and for the addresses of other users. Krol supplies descriptions and instructions on how to use these programs, and throws in some illustrations to boot. Reading research papers isn't the only thing you can do on the Internet. There is also Internet mail, which transfers e-mail all over the world. And there is 'anonymous ftp', which is like having a world-wide library of downloadable files and software, including tons of stuff that will never be seen in stores, or even on GEnie. There are also 'newsgroups', which are the Internet equivalent of GEnie's Roundtables. The Guide provides complete descriptions of all of these, and how to use them. There is a lot more to the Internet than I can touch on here. Someone wanting to explore should just log on and go for it. The Whole Internet User's Guide includes a chapter on Internet protocol, what's allowed and what's offensive, legal considerations and more. I found the Guide to be both informative and readable. Given the highly technical nature of the subject, producing an interesting guide that's useful to novices is no mean feat. I'd recommend it to anyone getting started with the Internet. Those who've already gotten their feet wet should also find it a handy reference to keep by the terminal. The Whole Internet User's Guide And Catalog is available from the publisher, O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., and bookstores including those in the GEnie Online Shopping Mall. List price is $24.95. [*][*][*] NOTE GEnie's Open Beta of Internet is available at page m207. As of """" November 1, 1992, the pricing for Internet will be: $2.00 registration fee - this will be a one time charge for all new users signing up for the service. However, if a user cancels and signs up another $2.00 charge will be incurred. $.30 for each 5000 bytes or portion thereof for incoming or outgoing messages. ////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Wow, talk about a rumor. Take no prisoners, Steve. :^) / / No mercy. :^)" / //////////////////////////////////////////// E.KRIMEN //// [EOA] [BOB]////////////////////////////// DOCTOR BOB / ///////////////////////////////// The Plain Vanilla Guide, Part 1 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" By Robert M. Connors [R.CONNORS2] WHAT DO YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW? Lately, more and more computer users """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" seem to be moving up to PC/MS-DOS. Once such an action takes place, the user is then left to try and decipher all the hi-tech language found in most DOS user manuals. To the neophite, this can be overwhelming. So, Doctor Bob has decided to come to the rescue and will be writing a monthly column on DOS and how to use it. Finally, a plain vanilla, English language version of everything you ever wanted to know about PC/MS-DOS but were afraid to ask, or hesitant to buy a book (with more big words) about. Each month, I will take on a few commands and cover how they are used and give thorough, and hopefully complete, examples of how they are used. All this without all the "how a disk" looks (sectors, bytes, interleaves, etc.) which is really not what the novice really wants to know. After all, we all know what a diskette is, how it goes into the drive, and what it is used for. Do we really need to know how the tracks and sectors are put on the diskette? Not really! What we really want to know is how to do the things that put files on or take files off the diskette. That's why we bought them! This first column will discuss just what a DOS is in general terms. DOS is an acronym for Disk Operating System (the first letter of each word forms the acronym). The MS designation indicates that you have the generic version of DOS produced by MicroSoft, Inc. The PC designation indicates that you have IBM's version of the DOS. There are many different versions of DOS around, all being used by various computers. For example, version 2.11 comes with many Tandy computers, but then again, so does version 3.0. The higher you go in version number, the more "enhanced" the DOS is in features and commands. DOS is a program, just like any other program you may purchase. Most often, it is on a diskette but in some cases, it may reside in a chip inside the computer called a Read Only Memory chip, or ROM. If it is inside a ROM, which is just a memory chip that has a program permanently imbedded, DOS is loaded into your computer's memory almost as soon as you turn on the machine. If it is on a diskette, the diskette must be physically in the diskette drive so that the computer can load DOS into memory when it is turned on. The purpose of DOS is nothing more than an interface between you, the computer operator, and the computer itself plus the various devices connected to the computer such as a printer or a modem. The DOS contains all the routines to handle such things as accepting keystrokes you type, displaying them on the video monitor, passing them to other routines, deciphering (parsing) the commands, and directing the various actions that must take place based on what you typed. An awful lot is done by DOS at a relatively fast pace. The idea is to make the interface between you and the equipment as transparent as possible. This partially succeeds, but not completely. The major drawback to DOS is that many of the commands and required parameters are cryptic to the beginner. The manual you get with DOS assumes you know what you are doing as the explanations for the various commands and parameters are not designed for the novice. Most books you can buy on the subject are basically the same. That is where this column will be useful. In this column, you will find all the information and examples of each and every command, explained in an easy to understand manner. There are various files that DOS looks for when it is first loaded into memory, the first two depending on which DOS you are using (MS-DOS or PC-DOS). The first two files are IBMBIO.COM and IBMDOS.COM (for PC-DOS) or IO.SYS and MSDOS.SYS (for MS-DOS). You won't find those files on your diskette since they are hidden files, so there is no sense looking for them. What they do is also not important to you at this point. Suffice it to say that the two files are that portion of DOS that is loaded into memory and makes everything work. As soon as those two files are loaded into memory, DOS begins what is called SYSGEN (system generation). It looks for two other files, the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files. If the files are not found, DOS will continue on without them. The question is, for a novice DOS user, what are these files and what are they used for? Both files are pure text files. That is, they are written using a text editor, a word processor, the DOS COPY command, or the EDLIN utility that comes with DOS. The point is, the files must be text and contain no control characters. Let's take a look at these two files, one at a time. The first file that DOS looks for is CONFIG.SYS. The word "CONFIG" is short for configuration and the "SYS" stands for a "system" file. In this file, DOS will find certain assignments that will customize or configure your system to meet your particular needs. This file must reside in the root directory of the boot device. The boot device is whatever you "boot" or start up your system from. It can be the floppy disk (usually called Drive A:) or a hard disk (usually Drive C:). Even if DOS is in ROM, Drive A: or C: should have the file CONFIG.SYS (although, it is not mandatory that the file even exist at all). Two of the most common entries contained in CONFIG.SYS are the 'files' and 'buffers' entries which look like this: FILES=20 BUFFERS=40 Notice that each entry is on a separate line. That will be true of any entry made in this file. The first entry, FILES=20, informs DOS that we will permit a maximum of 20 files to be open simultaneously. Most programs that you use from day to day constantly are opening, reading from, writing to, and closing files. All this entry says is that no more than 20 can be open at once. However, it is kind of misleading in that DOS reserves 5 files for its own use. Believe it or not, DOS considers such things as the printer, the communications port, your keyboard, your video monitor, and the standard error I/O device (also known as your video monitor) as files, not hardware. Therefore, even if we tell DOS it can open 20 files at once, only 15 are actually available to any program you run since DOS always reserves the first 5 files. If we did not include FILES=20 in the CONFIG.SYS file, DOS would assume FILES=8, of which only 3 are available to any program. This is usually inadequate for almost all programs. The documentation for most programs you purchase or download from a BBS will tell you how many files you should allow to be open at one time. Since 20 is the maximum DOS allows, you might as well just set it that way and not worry about it. There is a way to increase the number of files that can be open at one time, but that is beyond the scope of this column. The second entry, BUFFERS=40, is also related to files, but pertains to the records contained in the file. A buffer is nothing more than a location in memory where records are stored when read from a file or stored when written to a file. Each buffer takes 528 bytes of memory away from memory available to you or a program. The use of 40 buffers will use 21,120 bytes of memory. Buffers are used by DOS on a temporary basis to store the records being read or written. For example, you may notice that when saving a record, nothing seems to happen; the light on your disk drive does not turn on. It seems that no record was written. But a record WAS written to the buffer and it has not been put in the disk file yet. It will be written from the buffer to the disk file under one of two circumstances: the buffer becomes full or, the file is closed. When either situation presents itself to DOS, the records are written to the file on the diskette or hard drive. That is one reason we can lose data by resetting or rebooting the computer before properly exiting a program. Any data in the buffers, not yet written to disk, is lost when that happens. After all, remember, a buffer is just part of memory and rebooting your computer (or turning it off) makes whatever was in those buffers unusable. The use of buffers actually speeds up many programs. When DOS receives a file read command, it first checks to see if the record we are after is already in memory in the buffers. If it is, then no physical read of the file is needed since we already have the information available. This will happen a lot with programs that use random access of files as opposed to sequential file reads. Again, the program you are using will tell you the optimum number of buffers you should specify (in most cases). Many people think that if 20 buffers is good, 40 buffers is better. If 40 is better, 80 should be great! This is not necessarily so. Remember, each buffer takes 528 bytes of memory away from the available memory for your program. Also, DOS must search each buffer in memory to see if the record we want is already there BEFORE accessing the disk file. A high number of buffers can slow down your program instead of improving its performance because of the time it takes to search large blocks of memory. The following 'general' guidelines are provided to give you an idea as to how many buffers you should specify: Type of Application Number of Buffers """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Spreadsheets 15 to 25 Databases 10 to 25 Word Processors 5 to 20 Large Nbr of subdirectories 10 to 25 Again, these are just rules of thumb. The specific program's documentation will tell you the optimum number to use. I always just set mine for 40 since that is the maximum I have seen specified for any program. Another command you can put in your CONFIG.SYS file is 'BREAK=ON'. If you do not include this in the configuration file, DOS defaults to BREAK=OFF. Okay, so what does it mean? Under normal conditions, DOS will only recognize that you have pressed either Control-C or Control-Break when it is writing to the video display. Control-C/Break are commands that tell DOS to stop what it is doing and return to the DOS prompt (Control-C and Control-Break are usually written as ^C and ^Brk respectively, and will be within this text from now on). Sometimes, a program will lockup when no screen writing is taking place. Other times, you may want to break out of a program when screen writing is not taking place or may not for quite a while. By specifying BREAK=ON in the CONFIG.SYS file, we tell DOS to check for a ^C/^Brk after disk reads and writes in addition to screen writes. This increases the likelihood that you will be able to break out of a program when you want to. Specifying BREAK=ON does tend to slow things down a little more though since DOS must now do checking for the ^C/Brk more often than before. DEVICE is an entry you can put into CONFIG.SYS to specify a driver for a particular device. Every device requires a driver, which is just a separate program that is used to communicate with the device. DOS has device drivers built in that handle the standard (default) devices we talked about in the FILES command. There are also device drives in DOS to handle the disk drives and the system clock. Whenever DOS is loaded into memory, these drivers are also loaded. There are times, however, when you may want to add your own device driver. The two most common device drivers that are user installed are ANSI.SYS and VDISK.SYS. ANSI.SYS is used to control the video display while VDISK.SYS is used to control a RAMDISK (a ramdisk is memory that is set aside to emulate a disk drive. It has both advantages and disadvantages over a regular disk drive which we will discuss in a future column). Both drivers are furnished with DOS, that is, they come with it on a diskette. ANSI.SYS replaces the standard DOS console Input/Output (I/O) driver. The standard drive is not capable of handling graphics or color while ANSI.SYS can handle that. Additionally, ANSI.SYS is capable of handling control codes not recognized by the standard driver. To include that driver in your CONFIG.SYS, you make an entry 'DEVICE=ANSI.SYS'. Just remember, the driver must also be in the root directory for our sample entry to be valid. If ANSI.SYS was somewhere else, we would need to specify where. For example, if ANSI.SYS was located on drive D in a directory called 'DRIVERS', then our entry in CONFIG.SYS would be, 'DEVICE=D:\DRIVERS\ANSI.SYS' (more about directories, subdirectories and PATHs in my next column). We can have as many DEVICE commands in CONFIG.SYS as needed. For example, the following entries are valid: DEVICE=ANSI.SYS DEVICE=VDISK.SYS DOS knows that they are not the same devices and acts on each one separately. Device drivers may be furnished with a particular piece of hardware you purchase, such as for a mouse, a plotter, or some other device. The manufacturer will tell you the proper entry for the driver. DOS allows us to use drive designations to specify which drive to read or write from. Drive A is usually the lower floppy disk drive in the computer. Drive B is generally the upper one (if one is not installed, DOS will think the lower one is drive A and B). Hard drives start with the C designation. The highest hard drive designation is E which allows us to have 3 hard drives. Many drives are large enough that we can divide (partition) them into logical drives. In other words, one drive can be set up to act as 2 or more drives. I have two hard drives in my computer. One has a 60 megabyte (MB) capacity, or room for 60 million bytes. The other is a 32MB drive. The first drive is divided into 3 logical drives, C, D, and E. The second drive is designated as F. If DOS only recognizes A to E, how did I get an F? I put 'LASTDRIVE=F' in my CONFIG.SYS file. This command allows us to go beyond the DOS default and access more drives than just A to E. The value of LASTDRIVE can be any letter from A to Z although it is unlikely that you would have 26 disk drives. By the way, when referring to a drive designator in a command, a colon (:) always follows the drive letter (i.e., A:, B:, C:, etc.). Another entry you can included in CONFIG.SYS is the 'SHELL' command. DOS uses a file called COMMAND.COM that intercepts and acts on any command that is entered into the system, either by you as the operator, or by a program. There are times when we may not want COMMAND.COM to act on the commands. Instead, another program may be desired. SHELL lets us do that by making the entry, 'SHELL=filename' which will tell DOS to use the file shown in filename as the command processor instead of COMMAND.COM. Note, 'filename' is used to show that you would put a filename in that location. Don't use 'filename' itself. Just as with the DEVICE command, you can include the drive designation, and subdirectory just before the filename if the file is located other than in the root directory. SHELL is not used for most circumstances. Usually, only commercial applications will use it, if at all, and even then, the documentation will tell you how to set up the CONFIG.SYS entry if it is required. I have not talked about one other entry for CONFIG.SYS since under normal circumstances, you will never have need for it. That is the COUNTRY line which allows us to specify the foreign country for which DOS is setup. Since DOS is usually pre-configured for the country in which you purchase it, I didn't feel a need to cover that entry. Nor have I discussed the FCBS (File Control Blocks) entry since it is used for programs that were running under much older versions of DOS and don't work on the newer versions. Almost all programs you can obtain today run under the newer versions so I did not feel a need to discuss this entry. So there you have it. Now you can create a CONFIG.SYS file and configure your particular needs into your computer. The nice thing is, once you have created CONFIG.SYS, DOS will automatically use it when it first loads into your computer's memory. You never have to type it again (unless you edit it) nor do you have to tell DOS to use it. If you didn't have a CONFIG.SYS, DOS would use its built in defaults and carry-on without it. Next month's column will discuss batch files and in particular, the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Also, we'll take a closer look at VDISK.SYS and discuss paths and the PATH command. One last thing before I close for this month. Seeing that this is the first of a series of columns about DOS, I would appreciate any and all feedback you may have. Is the column clear? Do you understand the concepts? Am I being too simple or too complicated? Is there enough information? Let me know and if you have any questions on anything covered, just leave a message on any authorized T/TalkNET BBS that carries TeleTalk. I will answer every question I receive either in this column or in the 'Ask Doctor Bob' column that appears elsewhere in TeleTalk OnLine. TTFN! [*][*][*] Editor's Note This series of articles was originally published in """"""""""""" TeleTalk Online Magazine and distributed via the now non-existant T/TalkNETwork. Back issues of TeleTalk Online Magazine are available in the GEnieLamp RoundTable Library. Do you have a question or comment for Doctor Bob? Leave GE Mail to R.CONNORS2 or you can reach him in the GEnieLamp bulletin board (M515;1) or you can contact him on his BBS Wildcat! Orphanage at 719-392-6631. Copyright (c) 1988 by Robert M. Connors Permission to Reprint is granted provided Copyright Notice is included in reprint. //////////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "No, I live in a little town of Corn (no jokes please), Oklahoma." / /////////////////////////////////////////////////// K.HEINRICHS //// [EOA] [WIN]////////////////////////////// YES, I DO WINDOWS! / ///////////////////////////////// Review: Plug-In Program Manager """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" By Dan Martinez [TIPPY.ONE] >>> PLUG-IN FOR PROGRAM MANAGER <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Program Name : Program Manager v1.1 Filename : PLUGIN11.ZIP Library Area : 9 (Windows RoundTable (M1335;3)) Program Number : 457 File Size : 175744 Program Type : Program Manager Author : Plannet Crafters, Inc. Version Reviewed: 1.0 (MS Windows 3.x) File Type : Shareware ($20 after a 21 day trial period) Description PLUG-IN FOR PROGRAM MANAGER v1.1 - is a Windows """"""""""" utility that dramatically improves Program Manager. Instead of replacing ProgMan, Plug-In simply makes it BETTER! Major features include complete group management (copy, activate / deactivate, reposition, StartUp), run with history, individual icons for groups, detailed system info, system resource displays & alarms, custom cursors, Save Settings Now, Install Application command, QuickRun menu for easy access to frequently used commands, and LOTS MORE! For Windows 3.1 & 3.0 From Plannet Crafters, Inc. Registration $20 [*][*][*] THE SAME OLD DESKTOP? Are you tired at looking at the same old desktop """"""""""""""""""""" the Windows Program Manager provides you? Are you finding the Program Manager lacking, but not to the point of wanting to lay down the big bucks for Norton Desktop for Windows or HP New Wave? If you answered yes to either these questions, then Plannet Crafters' Plug-in for Program Manager may just be what you have been looking for. Plug-in does not replace the Program Manager like many Window interface shells do, but it enhances it. All of the Plug-in functions are accessed directly through the Program Manager's pull down menus. Major features include program group management, individual icons for groups, detailed system information, system resource monitor, custom cursors, and a new pull down menu for frequently used commands. Installation is a snap. After decompressing the archive into it's own directory, simply select "Run ..." from the Program Manager and enter PLUGIN.EXE and sit back and get ready for a better Program Manager. It is just that easy. The first thing you will notice is the new icons assigned to the groups on your desktop. The startup group, for example, becomes a coffee mug. Changing the current groups icon is also a breeze. Under the "File" menu, just select "Change Icon ... " and make a selection from the dialog box. The dialog box allows you to select from any of the Plug-in icons, installed Window icons (including the MOREICON.DLL file) or any other icon stored on your disk. The next thing that will catch your eye is the flashy new cursors. The unregistered version comes with several new pointers and wait cursors, each with its own unique personality. The pointers include a few arrows, hand pointers, nose pointers and a couple of others. The wait cursors include some clocks and interesting faces. If you register, the documents promise even more cursors. Perhaps the biggest improvement that Plug-in make to the Program Manager is the newly created menu item, "QuickRun." QuickRun is a launcher for commonly used applications and utilities. It comes ready to use with five selections, Notepad, Control Panel, Solitaire, Directory of C: Drive, and DOS Shell. The one item I would have liked to seen included is the File Manager. Luckily, adding new selections is easy. I had absolutely no problem adding the File Manger. Most fine tuning can be done by using the configuration selection under the "Options" menu. Other features include a system resources monitor, including alarms, that can be set by the user. Plug-in reports the amount of free memory, and the percentage of free resources. This can be real handy for those systems without a ton of memory or free resources. There is also a very complete system information feature that reports, among other things, the version of DOS and Windows being run, memory statistics, and information on active programs. All things noted, Plug-in for Program Manger is an excellent addition to the Program Manager, and is worth the requested $20 registration fee. While it does not overcome all the shortcomings of the Program Manager, it makes the current Program Manager much easier to live with. If you are feeling the need to expand beyond the provided Program Manger, this could be the program for you. ////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Obstreperous comportment? The very thought terrifies." / //////////////////////////////////////// D.A.BRUMLEVE //// [EOA] [QUI]////////////////////////////// THE MIGHTY QUINN / ///////////////////////////////// Milliseconds With Mark """""""""""""""""""""" By Mark Quinn [M.QUINN3] >>> A WHOLE BUNCHA MILLISECONDS WITH MARK <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ Home Conversion ~ As Bill Dunne slowly motored into the driveway of his home, its ground floor lit up with an inviting glow. He whistled an old, bawdy tune, and was pleasantly surprised to find his favorite magazine in his mailbox. Bill opened his front door. A synthesized voice rang throughout the house. "Intruder Alert", it chimed repeatedly. He punched a keypad with dizzying speed and the litany ended. Bill went through the living room into the kitchen, unclipped his cellular phone from his belt, then listened to his voice mail messages. "It's time for the six o'clock news", the same voice said above the background warble of a pan flute concerto. "Okay, Zamfir," Bill quipped. He grabbed a bottle of mineral water out of his refrigerator and descended to the family room. Dunne had just eased himself into his easy chair when the music dampened. "And now, the six o'clock news," the voice announced. "Here's to you, Zamfie old boy," Bill said before he gulped down the liquid. The lights in the room dimmed, and a white screen and a projection unit began to extrude from the ceiling. His Ovation II front projector filled the large screen with a bright, crisp scene from an outdoor ceremony that had obviously been taped hours before. An hour passed. The news ended. Bill raised the bottle in his left hand in a salute and pinged it musically with his right forefinger. He stifled a belch, and his nasal passages tickled with the backwash. Sniffing, he unsteadily got to his feet. "There is someone in the driveway," the voice announced. Bill grabbed his unified remote control and fingered one of its buttons. A picture-in-picture display on his screen showed the driveway. He maximized the image to cover the whole screen, and laughed when he recognized his friend. John Lawson had heard about Bill's all-automated "home conversion" at the office and wanted to see it for himself. Bill watched Lawson and his wife emerge rosy-cheeked from their car and walk sprightly toward his front door. He switched off the projector with his remote and scurried to greet them. He swung the front door open, and bright smiles appeared on the Lawsons' faces, almost as if the two events were automatically associated with each other. "What's that delicious smell?" Lawson's wife asked. "Oh! That's the homemade bread my automatic bread machine is making, June. In fact, it should done. Do you guys want a slice, or even one for each of you? I usually program it to make a couple of loaves a week." "No thanks. We just ate." "Let me take your coats, and I'll be back after I put the loaf away," he said. After he returned, Bill strode proudly through his house, showing them feature after feature. "If the house is broken into, the system will call the police and page me." "I don't think I'd like that last option," John laughed. "The system _can_ be set just to notify the police, you know. Though I can't think of much that would take precedence over an intruder." "How about several intruders with guns?" June joked. The three of them laughed and climbed the stairs to the second floor. The upstairs hall light automatically guided their way to Bill's den. "This is "da brains of da outfit", Bill joked, directing them toward his PC. He switched between several screens. "When I'm away from the house at night, it puts the lights in a "lived-in look" mode. I could even set the darned thing to warm up the hot tub for a small gathering, or the house itself for a large one. And look at this," Bill coaxed. He hit a couple of keys on the computer, and a view of his driveway popped into the upper left-hand corner of its screen, then filled it. He pressed more keys, and the Lawsons chortled when they saw some of their favorite cable channels flip by. "I can also capture and save animated sequences from these feeds to the hard disk on this computer." "I keep expecting Robbie The Robot to come into the room with a drink in his hand," June said. "He won't be showing his sensors around here for quite some time to come. But in the meantime . . ." They both left the house, thoroughly impressed. Bill plopped down in his easy chair. "Might as well watch a tape before I go to bed," he thought. The video setup stirred to life again, and he pressed "PLAY" on the remote just to see if there was a tape in the machine. There was. It was camcorder footage of his ex-wife and Ray, her German shepherd. Bill was saddened to see it, but he let it play on. Their twelve-year-old son was obviously having fun doing tricks with the camcorder, which followed the dog as it raced towards Bill. Bill watched himself, all 350 lbs. of himself, jiggle all over the screen. The mountain of fat clapped its hands, ran back and forth and tired itself after chasing the dog just a few feet. Its breath rasped out of its mouth; its voice echoed in the back yard, where the movie had been taken. Bill found it hard to believe that _he_ was the grossly fat man, and that he had undoubtedly put on more weight since the images were recorded. His health-consuming fascination with sedentary pursuits had cost him his marriage, and separated him from his child. He finally had to stop the tape before he became too drawn into his problems to extricate himself from them. Bill sat there in the chair a while, then walked out of the room, which darkened as he huffed and puffed his way up the stairs. /////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Now, now, Ken.. / / Feeble of mind does NOT mean faint of heart.|^>" / //////////////////////////////////////////// J.MOSES2 //// [EOA] [PDQ]////////////////////////////// PD_QUICKVIEW / ///////////////////////////////// OPPM: Other People's Play Money """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" By Brad Biondo [B.BIONDO] >>> OTHER PEOPLE'S PLAY MONEY <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ And Other Programs Professionally Made ~ Program Name : OWL Personal Portfolio Manager Filename : OPPM41.ZIP Library Area : 3 Program Number : 28314 File Size : 277,248 Program Type : Financial (Portfolio Manager) Author : 'Otto-Williams Ltd. Version Reviewed: 4.1 File Type : Shareware / $45.00 [*][*][*] Program Name : Import GEnie Closing Quotes Utility Filename : OPPMIG11.ZIP Library Area : 3 Program Number : 30536 File Size : 103,936 Program Type : Financial (Portfolio Manager) Author : 'Otto-Williams Ltd. Version Reviewed: 1.1 File Type : Shareware / $10.00 [*][*][*] Program Name : PC Allowance Filename : PCA100.ZIP Library Area : 3 Program Number : 29971 File Size : 101,504 Program Type : Financial/Educational Author : John H. Byrd Version Reviewed: 1.0 File Type : Shareware / $29.95 [*][*][*] FROM THE AUTHOR The OWL Personal Portfolio Manager (OPPM) Version 4.0 """"""""""""""" is designed to assist users with the two related tasks of portfolio management and technical analysis. Technical analysis features include four basic stock charts that provide price/volume graphs with multiple moving averages, relative strength, correlation, and momentum analysis. Additionally, a comparative analysis of annualized yields can be generated to identify your best performing investments. The portfolio management features of OPPM allow you to segregate different types of investments into individual portfolios and generate reports on any combination of these portfolios. Version 4.0 is capable of maintaining over 5000 securities in over 500 portfolios. Fifteen standard reports can be customized by the user to generate on-screen or printed reports for just the portfolios and time spans you need. [*][*][*] FROM THE AUTHOR Import GEnie Closing Quotes Utility reads a file """"""""""""""" containing captured closing quotes, checks the ticker symbols against your OPPM database and creates a temporary database of prices. Only those quotes that have ticker symbols matching the ticker symbols in your OPPM database are accepted. In addition, any quotes that are not within the date span that you specify will be ignored. After selecting this option, enter the name of the file you captured from GENie that contains the closing quotes you want to load. [*][*][*] FROM THE AUTHOR PC Allowance is an electronic funds computer program """"""""""""""" for PC compatibles that help kids learn the basics of banking and managing money. The program's interface mimics a bank's automatic teller machine, giving each "customer" the look and feel of his or her own bank account. PC Allowance will reward saving by compounding interest on money saved. Kids can use it as a simple accounting program to keep track of their money. Or you can use it to automate all the weekly allowances in your household. However you use it, kids learn about saving, earning interest, spending money, even borrowing and repaying principal and interest. PC Allowance features a full set of banking functions. It accepts deposits, makes withdrawals and writes mock "checks." It will automatically accrue a set weekly allowance, perform compound interest calculations, publish account "statements" and even make loans. You can add memos to any transaction, set minimum balance requirements and maintain a nearly unlimited number of accounts, each with its own password protection. The program is fully menu-driven and provides complete mouse support, though a mouse is not necessary. [*][*][*] PD_Q RATING 4 LAMPS """"""""""" DOCUMENTATION EXCELLENT """"""""""""" PD_Q COMMENTS This PDQ is a bit different this month - three for the """"""""""""" price of one, and the subject is financial software. There's a combined review of a portfolio manager with a sister utility for Mom and Dad along with an electronic funds transfer machine for Sister and Brother. Something for everyone. OPPM uses a menu interface to help you gather the financial information for all your investments. Despite the terminology above, the tasks are not as formidable as they may sound. With many people getting more involved in their own investment strategies, planning, and tracking, OPPM lends itself to some valuable information gathering and analysis. One of the nice parts of OPPM is the optional utility IGQ, which allows you to import GEnie's closing quotes (a *BASIC service) into the OPPM database, which it uses for its very nice charts (just like you see in those thick books in the library ). It's extremely easy to use, and fast. Just be sure to read the ample documentation (included within the program, with a print option) so you don't import quotes for the same date more than once and goof up the volumes. While the adults are tracking their fortunes, the kids can learn about money, how much they have, and how fast it goes. PC Allowance has a simple interface that won't get in the way of the learning experience. The effects of what interest does to deposits and loans is probably the feature that can be the most eye-opening to the little ones. Each time a transaction is made, a memo can be entered. This is a great feature for the kids to use. At the end of the month, they can print a report and see where all the money went. Wouldn't it be great if they got a better understanding of budgeting and saving? Maybe they wouldn't come pester their parents for more money as often. NOT! The only way that would happen is if the author could add a cash slot to the machine for real money to come out. Registration for OPPM is $45. This includes mailed newsletters containing technical information, tips for getting the most out of the program, and notification of updates. It also includes substantial discounts on future upgrades and priority support via mail or telephone. IGQ is available for an additional $10. Both programs are available from 'Otto-Williams Ltd., P.O. Box 794, Lanham, MD 20703-0794. Registration for PC Allowance is $29.95. You will receive the latest version of the program, a professionally printed users manual, a registered version without the opening Shareware notification screen, free telephone or mail support and bug fixes for one year, and notification of all future upgrades and discounts on upgrades. PC Allowance is available from John Byrd, Syntonic Software, 16432 Forest Home Road, Charlotte, NC 28278. He is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Try and get more sleep, too. EMPIRE is not for the weak- / / willed. Once you get addicted, all sorts of daily activities / / and natural body functions become upset and put aside." / ///////////////////////////////////////////// R.COLEMAN24 //// [EOA] [ELS]////////////////////////////// GEnie ELSEWHERE / ///////////////////////////////// Electronic Publishing On GEnie """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" By Ron Albright [RALBRIGHT] >>> NOVEMEBER IS ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING MONTH <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Dear Reader, I wanted to make this special mailout to everyone I could think of to keep you posted about the exciting activities the Disktop Publishing Association has planned for the final quarter of 1992. We want to finish off 1992 with a bang and get ready to make 1993 the year that electronic publishing really takes off. Here are some of the things you should be aware of and, hopefully, take an active role in making these events notable successes: Electronic Publishing Month The DPA is proud to proclaim November, 1992 """"""""""""""""""""""""""" as "Electronic Publishing Month." The announcement and the activities planned for the month have been circulated to the media and the national communications networks (CompuServe, GEnie, etc.) and are intended to call attention to wealth of materials available on disk for reading by computer. The DPA membership, which now range across the United States, Canada, and Europe, is encouraged to work actively through their local bulletin board systems (BBSs), commercial communications systems (such as CompuServe and GEnie), and computer user groups, to bolster the awareness among computer users of the quality of reading material available through electronic publications. We hope to call attention to the benefits of "paperless" publishing as both an environmentally-sound alternative to print media as well as offering benefits to readers that are not possible with traditional books and magazines (hypertext linking, animation, and sound). As noted by Paul Saffo in his October, 1992 column in PC/Computing magazine, "We are in the age of electronic incunabula, and the inventions of media entrepreneurs are certain to surprise and delight us in the decade ahead." As a DPA member publisher and author, you are on the cusp of the exciting age of electronic media and "Electronic Publishing Month." The emphasis during the month of November is intended to bring new interest and readers into the group already enjoying the innovative works already existing in computer-readable format. Hardware platforms (like Apple's "PowerBook" and new, DOS "palmtop" computers) now make reading of electronic documents possible anywhere. And electronic magazines, novels, and instructional materials are available through many outlets at prices which are lower than bookstore prices. The 1990s is, indeed, the decade of electronic publishing. What can you do to work toward making the month of November a major step forward for all of us? Here are some ideas from Ted Husted, author of IRIS and DART: o Add an Epub tagline to your offline reader. o Adopt a local BBS, ask them to open an Epub category. o Ask your nearest FIDO net board to carry the DPA echo. o Ask your user group to publish (or republish) their newsletter on disk. o Open a "Electronic Publishing" category on your BBS or file library. o Register an electronic publication or program. o Submit an article to your local users group, or the computer columnist of your local newspaper. (We can get you all the background you need). Can you think of some ideas yourself? It's time to beat the bushes, folks! It's a perfect month to re-double our efforts to put electronic publishing "on the map" of readers and consumers everywhere. The DPA revise our "DEMO-DPA.ZIP" file with its sample publications and informational material about the DPA and its members. You can download the file by modem or, if you like, send me a disk and two stamps, and I will send you a copy. You can then distribute it - by modem or by hand - to the four winds and get the word of the electronic publishing revolution everywhere in your area. GEnie Becomes a National Home For the DPA As you all know, the key to a """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" productive group is communication. Being able to poll the membership on ideas and proposals and inform the membership of new developments is key to the growth and perceived value of any organization. We have tried to establish the DPA BBS (205-854-1660) at the nerve center of our activities and it has served us well up to this point. However, with continued growth and the membership being spread to the four winds across the country and, indeed, the world, it seems time to establish a more cost-effective hub for communications and discussion. Calling the BBS with the long-distance charges involved, has been a burden for many and our organization has suffered for that. Since we are all - shall we say "low profit margin" publishers - it is a strain on all our pocketbooks to call long-distance on a regular basis. For these reasons, I would like to propose a new communications center. You all have probably heard of GEnie, the "General Electric News and Information System." GEnie is a national, modem-accessible system with access numbers a mere local call to 99% of the United States and Canada. A couple years back, GEnie established a flat-rate access system that allows users to access electronic mail, news, and selected "roundtables" (Forums or "special interest groups") during evening and weekend hours for only $4.95 per month. Subscribers do not pay per-minute connect charges when using these services and you can spend as much time as you like in these areas without incurring any additional charges. Since the calls to the GEnie system are local calls, there are no long-distance tolls levied either. There are two areas on GEnie where we can gather. For those of you who want to keep charges down to absolute minimum $4.95 per month, we have an area setup on one of the STAR*SERVICE free access roundtables - "The Writers RT" (Page 440) - already has a specific conference set up for DPA activities. CATEGORY 46, TOPIC 38 is the "Electronic Publishing" category. We can leave unlimited messages there in non-prime hours (evenings and weekends) to discuss DPA business. This RT is frequented by a number of writers and is the perfect place for DPA publishers and authors to meet other writers and recruit material for their publications. Again, all your time in the Writer's RT is not billed per-minute and will be covered under the standard $4.95/month basic charge. I further propose that we make the "GENIELAMP RoundTable" (PAGE 515) on GEnie as the "public" headquarters for the Disktop Publishing Association. The GENIELAMP RT, run by John Peters and Jim Flanagan, actively supports electronic publishing through their monthly "GENIELAMP" newsletter and is already recognized by the GEnie user base as the location for on-disk publications. The DPA already has special areas (CATEGORY 6 is a public message area for the DPA and CATEGORY 7 is a private area for member-only conversations) set up on the GENIELAMP RT for messages related to electronic publishing. We also have our own library set up for DPA publications (which I am actively filling up with your publications off the DPA BBS). With these areas in place, we can communicate much more cost-effectively with our members. We can upload new publications to the RT without charge (downloading is billed, though, at the usual $6.00 per hour). GENIELAMP is NOT one of the unbilled Forums, but they are the one that has given us the support we need - with our own conference and file areas - to establish a true national presence and recognition. We can leave messages with a local call into this area and, even at 10 cents per minute, the access charges are cheaper than long-distance rates to the DPA BBS. We can use the electronic mail area for private messages (at no charge over the monthly $4.95 monthly fee. Many of us are already spending much more than that calling the DPA BBS long-distance. Signing on to the DPA is free and can be done in the following way: 1. Set your communications program to half duplex (local echo). 2. Dial 1-800-638-8369 (or 1-800-387-8330 in Canada). 3. When connected, type "hhh" (do not press ENTER). 4. When you get the "U#=" prompt, enter XTX99368,GENIE and press ENTER. 5. Have a credit card or checking account number ready, and answer the questions that follow. To repeat, there is no sign-up fee. The monthly fee is $4.95 for unlimited, non-prime-time use of all basic services (which includes electronic mail, news services, and several RoundTables, one of which is the aforementioned Writers RT). If you don't like GEnie, you can call them within the first 30 days and get your $4.95 refunded. For more information on signing on and technical support for signing on, call 1-800-638-9636 for more information. Remember uploads are free; downloading time is billed at $6/hour. Incidentlly, there is a software package, that I will be happy to send anyone who sends me a disk and two 29 cents stamps, called "Aladdin," that automates message reading and sending as well as file uploading on GEnie completely so there is really nothing you will need to learn about GEnie commands or navigating. Thus, you will be up and reading DPA bulletins and downloading the same day you sign up. It all makes such good sense to me. I would appreciate any feedback you have about this idea. I am already on GEnie (my "User Name" is "RALBRIGHT") and, along with several other DPA members (notably Don Lokke, John Gaudreault, Robert Jordan, Thomas Easton, and others), have been beating the drums of the DPA for several months. I would be happy to talk you through accessing the system and getting to the DPA materials. I, therefore, propose we make GEnie's "GENIELAMP" our national public home and the "Writer's Roundtable" as our users home. I look forward to seeing you on that system. For less than $5.00 a month, we can communicate daily and really get this organization moving toward national prominence. What do you say? See you on GEnie. Of course, the DPA BBS (205-854-1660) will continue to operate full-time in case anyone chooses to stay with the long-distance route of access. DPA Scores a Coup with Associated Press' Larry Blasko """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Syndicated Associated Press computer columnist Larry Blasko has teamed with the Disktop Publishing Association (DPA) in releasing a disk-based version of Blasko's popular "ABCs of Computing - A Plain-English Guide." Blasko, who has written his column - called "Compubug" - on computer technology for eight years, first released his "ABCs" in 1989. The author, currently Director of Administrative Services for the Associated Press, has updated the book annually and it is now in its fourth edition. Written for the first-time computer buyers and existing owners thinking about upgrading their computer, the "ABCs" includes chapters on "What's a Home Computer, and why should I care?," "Do I need a home computer?," "What kind of computer do I want?," and "What computers fill those needs?." The book includes an extensive glossary of computer terminology. "ABCs" runs 170 pages in the printed edition. With the release of the book on-disk, the material is presented in a new, exciting way. Utilizing "hypertext," "ABCs" becomes interactive - with the reader directing what they read and where they go within the book. Blasko says "Hypertext is a way of organizing information so that you can jump from any point to any other logical point. If, for example, you are reading a sentence that talks about RAM and you don't understand the term, a keystroke or mouse click will flip you into the glossary for a definition of RAM. Then you can hop back to where you were in the sentence. Hypertext allows a reader to go anywhere they please whenever they please. Unsettling, but nifty when you try it." I have been chasing after Larry since he wrote one of his "Compubug" columns about electronic publishing several months back. He not only published our organizations address and purpose in a subsequent column but agreed to let me give converting his "ABCs" book into hypertext. I used Ntergaid's "HyperWriter," put together a prototype, and fired it up to Larry. Obviously, he liked what he saw and now we have a full-fledged version available for sale. He is announcing the books availability (along with another shameless plug for the DPA) in a column set for the end of September. CompuBug's book, "ABCs of Computing, a Plain-English Guide," is available in print from CompuBug, PO BOX 626, Summit, NJ 07901 for $10.00 ($7 for active-duty US Armed Forces). The on-disk hypertext version is available at the same prices from the DPA, 1160 Huffman Rd., Birmingham, AL 35215. Customers should specify disk size and monitor. Questions and comments are welcome at either address. Wish us luck! Final Thoughts As you can see, a lot is going on with the Disktop """""""""""""" Publishing Association. We wanted to keep you informed of the latest. Of course, a lot of this material here in will also appear in the October issue of the "News From the Disktop" newsletter. I just wanted to make sure the news of these exciting developments made it into your hands without fail. I need your help in getting these activities rolling and in making the DPA the success it deserves to be. SPREAD THE WORD! Our work is too important to be left unattended. I beg each of you to devote some time in the last 3 months of this year to making the DPA known throughout the computer world. It's time we were heard and time we found our place as a publishing industry to be dealt with. Thanks for listening. [*][*][*] Ron Albright Contact: Ron Albright Disktop Publishing Association GEnie: RALBRIGHT 1160 Huffman Road GEnieLamp RT (M515) Birmingham, AL 35215 Voice: 205-853-8269 FAX: 205-853-8478 BBS: 205-854-1660 ///////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Two bee ore knot too bea." / ///////////// STEPHENSON //// [EOA] [ADD]////////////////////////////// ADD ALADDIN! / ///////////////////////////////// Cut & Paste Scripts For Aladdin """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" By Jim Lubin [JIM.LUBIN] >>> WHAT'S UP ON GEnie SCRIPT <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" TURBO-ALADDIN! The following script will log onto GEnie and capture All """""""""""""" or selected announcements to a file for viewing offline. [*][*][*] ~ cut here ~ Script # Current Announcements echo off clear note "" note "Get Current Announcements" note "Enter Announcement(s) to retrieve. Separate each" note "number with commas, or For All?" note "(Press _ALADDIN.BTN to see choices.)" note "<------------------------------>" getstring 7 log onto "8100" erasefile "%9announce.new" sendline "Time" waitfor "Time:" capture "%9announce.new" waitfor "Online:" endcapture waitforprompt sendline "4" waitfor "GEnie" capture "%9announce.new" waitforprompt if string 7 is "" sendcommand "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15" else sendcommand "%7" endif :loop81004 if currentlinehas "/N)?" sendcommand "n" goto loop81004 else sendcommand "" endcapture endif EndScript ~ cut here ~ >>> HOW TO ADD THIS SCRIPT TO ALADDIN <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Installing The Script First of all, you will need to separate this """"""""""""""""""""" script from the magazine. To do this, just load this magazine into any word processor or text editor, and cut or block this script file out to it's own separate file and save it as SCRIPT.TXT. Place SCRIPT.TXT into your Aladdin folder. Your script file will now automatically load in when you boot up Aladdin. IMPORTANT! If you are already running one or more script files, you will """""""""" need to append this file to the end of your present SCRIPT.TXT. To do this in... Aladdin IBM """"""""""" o At Aladdin's main menu, call up an available script, or overwrite an existing script: [F7,A] -to use an available script entry [F7,E,n] -to edit a script already used (n is the number of the script) o Make note of the script number in the script editor. o Use CTRL-Y to delete ALL the current text lines in the script editor. o Use CTRL-K,R to read the script file into the script editor. [CTRL-K,R,,ENTER] o Change the # in the line SCRIPT # to reflect the script number you've previously noted. o ESC to save AMI/ST ALADDIN """""""""""""" o Under the "File" menu, click on the "Edit User Script" option. This will load in your current script file. o Position the cursor at the end of your script file. Now, using the "Paste File" option under "Edit" add the new script file. o Change the # in the line SCRIPT # to reflect the script number you've previously noted. For example, if you have already installed 3 files, the line would like like this: Script 4 Current Announcements o ESC to save //////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Foolish me! I forgot the rule, that anytime you add something / / new to your computer system, you must spend at least 24 hrs / / reading obscure technical jargon in manuals, trying 27 / / different configurations, tearing your hair out, and generally / / feeling stupid before things settle back down to normal!" / ////////////////////////////////////////////////// P.NEREO //// [EOA] [LOG]////////////////////////////// LOG OFF / ///////////////////////////////// GEnieLamp Information """""""""""""""""""""" o COMMENTS: Contacting GEnieLamp o GEnieLamp STAFF: Who Are We? o GET_THE_LAMP Scripts & Macros o SEARCH-ME! Answers GEnieLamp GEnieLamp is monthly online magazine published in the """"""""" GEnieLamp RoundTable on page 515. You can also find GEnieLamp in the ST (475), the Macintosh (605), the IBM (615) Apple II (645), A2Pro (530), Unix (160), Mac Pro (480), A2 Pro (530) Geoworks (1050), BBS (610) CE Software (1005) and the Mini/Mainframe (1145) RoundTables. GEnieLamp can also be found on CrossNet, (soon) Internet America Online and many public and commercial BBS systems worldwide. We welcome and respond to all GEmail.To leave messages, suggestions or just to say hi, you can contact us in the GEnieLamp RoundTable (515) or send GE Mail to John Peters at [GENIELAMP] on page 200. U.S. MAIL """"""""" GEnieLamp Online Magazine Atten: John Peters 5102 Galley Rd. Suite 115/B Colorado Springs, CO 80915 GEnieLamp STAFF """"""""""""""" GEnieLamp o John Peters [GENIELAMP] Editor-In-Chief """"""""" ATARI ST o John Gniewkowski [J.GNIEWKOWSK] Editor """""""" o David Holmes [D.HOLMES14] ST TX2 Editor o Fred Koch [F.KOCH] GEnieLamp [PR] Editor o Mel Motogawa [M.MOTOGAWA] ST Staff Writer o Terry Quinn [TQUINN] ST Staff Writer o Sheldon Winick [S.WINICK] ST Staff Writer o Richard Brown [R.BROWN30] ST Staff Writer o John Hoffman [JLHOFFMAN] ST Staff Writer IBM o Peter Bogert [P.BOGERT1] Editor """ o Mark Quinn [M.QUINN3] IBM Staff Writer o Mark Dodge [M.DODGE2] IBM Staff Writer o Brad Biondo [B.BIONDO] IBM Staff Writer MACINTOSH o James Flanagan [J.FLANAGAN4] Editor """"""""" o Richard Vega [R.VEGA] Mac Co-Editor o Tom Trinko [T.TRINKO] Mac Staff Writer o Bret Fledderjohn [FLEDDERJOHN] Mac Staff Writer o Bill Garrett [BILL.GARRETT] Mac Staff Writer o Erik C. Thauvin [MACSPECT] Technical Consultant APPLE II o Darrel Raines [D.RAINES] Editor """""""" o Phil Shapiro [P.SHAPIRO1] A2 Co-Editor o Mel Fowler [MELSOFT] A2 Staff Writer ELSEWHERE o Brian Bradley [TRS-ASST] Staff Writer """"""""" o Jeffry Dwight [JEFFREY] Staff Writer ETC. o Jim Lubin [JIM.LUBIN] Add Aladdin """" o Scott Garrigus [S.GARRIGUS] Search-ME! o Bruce Faulkner [R.FAULKNER4] CrossNET BBS SysOp GEnieLamp CONTRIBUTORS """""""""""""""""""""" o Chris Innanen [C.INNANEN] o Dan "Remo" Barter [D.BARTER] o Paul Varn [P.VARN] o Ron Albright [RALBRIGHT] o Steven Weyhrich [S.WEYHRICH] o Bill Garrett [BILL.GARRETT] o Robert M. Connors [R.CONNORS2] o Dan Martinez [TIPPY.ONE] "GET_THE_LAMP" SCRIPTS NOW ONLINE GEnieLamp scripts are now available for """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" our IBM, Atari ST and Microphone II/White Knight Macintosh readers. These script files will allow you to download all the issues, or just the issues you want. As an added plus, you can also have Aladdin grab the latest copy of GEnieLamp while you sleep. Where can you Get_The_Lamp script? You'll find the Aladdin scripts in the GEnieLamp RT, [m515], Aladdin ST RT, [m1000] and the PCAladdin RT, [m110]. The Macintosh macros for White Knight and Microphone II are available in the GEnieLamp RT [m515], the Mac RT [m605] and the Freesoft RT [m585]. Search for LAMP to find the latest version. --> Get_The_Lamp. Scripts and macros make it easy! <-- DISKTOP PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION APPLICATION For those interested in """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" joining the DPA, fill out the enclosed electronic membership application and send it back to "RALBRIGHT" through GE mail. You will be notified of acceptance through the mail facility. Thanks for your interest in the DPA. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Disktop Publishing Association 1160 Huffman Road Birmingham, AL 35215 VOICE: 205-853-8269 MCI Mail: RALBRIGHT BBS (Data) - 205-854-1660 CompuServe: 75166,2473 GEnie: RALBRIGHT Name: ___________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________ City/ST/Zip: ____________________________________________________ Phone (Optional): WORK: _______________ HOME: _________________ Electronic (Email) Addresses: Compuserve? ______________________ GEnie? ____________________ MCI Mail? ______________________ Prodigy? __________________ Other? (Specify) ______________________________________________ Do you have access to or use a modem? YES __ NO __ Brand of computer: DOS compatible ____ MAC ____ Other _____ Do you consider yourself primarily: A writer? ______ A programmer? ______ An Entrepreneur? ______ Interest in Disktop Publishing: (e.g. Are you a writer looking for new markets? An entrepreneur considering electronic publishing? Are you a software programmer? etc.) What would you like the DPA to work on? What should be our goals? What information would you like to receive from the DPA? Other comments? [*][*][*] SEARCH-ME! ANSWERS """""""""""""""""" + + + N E T I E K G I U E N + + + + + + + + + + + + + + T F A H C S N E S S I W + + + + + + + Y + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + N + + + + E + E + + R E H C I L H C R I K + + + A + + T + H + + + T N + + + + + + + + + + + + N M S O C T O B E R F E S T H + + + + + + + + I N R S + D K W + + + A M + + C + + + + + + + E + R E A + E L I + + U H M + + I + + + + + U W O + U G + + U E E + T + C O + + N + + + K + P + S + + + + I T I S O + + S K + + U + + + D + T B I E R G + + S N B + + + T L + + M + + A R + + + + O + + + + C A A + + + R L + + S W I T Z E R L A N D + + + H N D + + + I I + + A M + + + O + + + + + + + N L Z E + + + W W + + L + + H + + + + + + + + + + A E N + + + + + + E + T M O D E M K A R T E N + N I + + + + + + R Y + + + + + + + + + + + + + + D G + + + + + M + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + E + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + N + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// Material published in this edition may be reprinted under the following terms only. All articles must remain unedited and include the issue number and author at the top of each article reprinted. Reprint permission granted, unless otherwise noted, to registered computer user groups and not for profit publications. Opinions present herein are those of the individual authors and does not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or staff of GEnieLamp. We reserve the right to edit all letters and copy. Material published in this edition may be reprinted only with the following notice intact: \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// (c) Copyright 1992 T/TalkNET OnLine Publishing, GEnie, and the GEnie Computing RoundTables. To sign up for GEnie service, call (with modem) 1-800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH. Wait for the U#= prompt. Type: XTX99368,GENIE and hit RETURN. The system will then prompt you for your information. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// [EOF]*****