Copyright: Copyright © 1994 Windows OnLine(tm)
Citation: All rights reserved, Copyright © 1994 Windows OnLine(tm)


Front Page

WinOnLine Review™ is a publication of Windows OnLine™. Copyright © 1992-94 All Rights Reserved


Contents

   About the WinOnLine Review™

WOLR information you should know

NEW to the magazine and Windows Help?

 here to learn more

   Publisher's Desk

This month's comments from our Publisher

   Cache la Byte Commentary,  by Thom Foulks

Move over, Rodney

   Tami talks Word Perfect, by Tami Brydone-Jack

Writing the "Great American Novel"

   Corel Draw 4.0, by Steven Jay Cohen

The widest possible expanse of graphical abilities housed within a single package

   QmodemPro for Windows, by Randy Wong

Support for both data and fax communication in one integrated package.

   Maximizer, by Ed Hoffman

". . . offers more power than any other Windows Contact Manager I've seen."

   SnapGrafx, by Ed Rasimus

A Widget for All Seasons?

   Encarta '94, by Jeffrey Shneidman

" . . . one of the best computer encyclopedia deals out there."

   WinCD Professional, by G.L. Heitzmann

". . . voila, on screen is the face-plate of a standard CD player."

   LazaLbl, by David Morgan

Labels on the quick, with a desktop publishing influence

   Word 6.0 Proofing Tools, by Ed Hoffman

 Alki Comprehensive Thesaurus

 Alki Comprehensive Spelling Dictionary

   Intelligent Communications Cards, by Randy Wong

 Hayes ESP Communications Accelerator 2.0

 Telcor T/Port and T/PortTwin

 DigiBoard 2Port

   PC Ener-g Saver, by Bob Gollihur

Green PCs without pain or paint

   WinWord 6.0 Book Briefs, by Ed Rasimus

 Microsoft Word for Windows Made Easy

 Windows, Word & Excel Office Companion

 Word for Windows Design Companion

 Desktop Publishing with Word for Windows

   Learning by Video Tape, by Ed Hoffman

Word for Windows: Desktop Publishing with Style

   Windows OnLine (BBS)

   FREE Windows CD-ROM

   Advertising in WinOnLine™ Publications


About the WinOnLine Review
Publisher : Frank J. Mahaney      Editor : Bob Gollihur

Technical Editor: Steven Jay Cohen      Senior Staff Writer: Ed Hoffman

Staff Writers: Steven Jay Cohen, David Morgan, Ed Rasimus, Randy Wong

Contributing Writers: Tami Brydone-Jack, Bob Ellig, Thom Foulkes, John Morris, Rich Young

The WinOnLine™ Review (WOLR) and its sister publication, the WinOnLine Review™ Shareware Edition (WOLRS), are electronic magazines that are distributed worldwide to major online services. It is estimated that each issue is read by over 100,000 online and network users. (It is reported that there are over 70,000 BBS's in the USA alone as of 1993). The Review is published monthly at the beginning of each month. The Shareware Edition is published monthly and issued mid-month.

These magazines are published by Windows OnLine™, an online (modem) service dedicated to supporting Windows users and Windows network professionals. WOL prides itself on having the most complete and up-to-date library of Windows shareware in the world. We have over 11,000 Windows-specific programs and files to download and many thousands more oriented to DOS and OS/2. WOL operates with 17 nodes (all equipped with US Robotics high speed dual standard modems) operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We hope you will give us the opportunity to become your BBS of choice.

We welcome your comments about our magazine. Please feel free to call Windows OnLine™ at 510-736-8343 and leave a (c)omment to the Sysop. You will be presented with a menu to direct your message. Our mailing address, voice and fax lines are listed below. Each author has included information about contacting them at the close of their articles in the form of a pop-up. Click on the authors' graphics to view that information.

We invite you to view our companion magazine, the

WinOnLine Review™

This magazine specializes in the latest shareware, with

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 Feature Shareware Reviews from our staff writers

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You will find the WinOnLine Review™ Shareware Edition magazine virtually everywhere, with the file name WOLRS##.ZIP (## = the issue number). As with this magazine, there is no charge to our readers.

© Copyright Information

The WinOnLine Review™ is a product of Windows OnLine™. Reprinting or distribution, other than through on-line distribution of this file as originally published, of any portion of this publication is not permitted without written permission of Frank J. Mahaney of Windows OnLine™.

Sysops may freely offer the .ZIP file for download by their users. Systems may not display content or portions of the contained .HLP file as bulletins, news, help files, etc., on any BBS or network, nor are you permitted such reprinting or display of these files, except as otherwise expressly granted in writing by Windows OnLine™. Subscriptions are available to Corporations who wish to offer the HLP file on their networks. For information, please call our voice number (510) 736-4376. Makers of CD-ROMs or similar distribution media are expressly forbidden to include our publications in their compilations without written authorization. Contact Windows OnLine™.

All articles are copyrighted by their authors and upon publication all rights are owned by Windows OnLine™. Opinions presented herein are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Windows OnLine™ or the Review.

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Publisher's Desk
We're really busy lately making plans to upgrade Windows OnLine (BBS) to the next step --- 28.8 bps! As soon as we can get them, we'll be updating all our telephone lines/modems to US Robotics 28.8 modems, but it doesn't stop there.

To insure top performance and the maximum throughput, we're upgrading our network fileservers to the latest design and upgrading workstations that include the installation of intelligent high speed serial ports that will help support the new higher modem speeds coming. Windows OnLine has always prided itself on being a leader of the pack; no wonder our members are of the same breed.

A perfect example of that was when I first mentioned some of the decisions regarding equipment I faced, our membership immediately responded. They gave expert opinions and considerations that evidenced their expertise with computer hardware. If you have any questions about computers, you couldn't find a better place than WOL! We look forward to bringing you an even better Windows OnLine in the future.

Now, I hope you enjoy the 84th Issue of the WinOnLine Review!

Frank J. Mahaney,

Publisher


Cache La Byte
       CACHE LA BYTE COMMENTARY

by Thom Foulkes

MOVE OVER, RODNEY

We reviewers just don't get no respect. I'm fed up, and I just ain't gonna take it any more. You think all we do is sit around and play with new games and sound cards all day, right? HA!

Take last week (please!) for example. Thursday, when I returned from lunch, I checked my telephone answerer. First message was a New Jersey-based PR agent telling me the software they'd FedExed to me had a virus. "Sorry, Thom, we're overnighting a replacement disk..." The original disk had arrived on Tuesday. Installed, same day. On my five machine LAN. Well, so much for Thursday afternoon. I spent the rest of the day chasing the virus, and disinfecting everything.

So what, you say. The software didn't cost you anything... just like ALL that stuff you got. Oh, YEAH?! Jerry Pournelle gets free hardware. Me, I get to sign forms mortgaging my credit card if it's not returned in 60 days, or less. The price they quote on that paperwork is the "suggested retail price" at the manufacturer, and we all know that's invariably higher than the "street price" for which I could buy the same item about a mile away.

But the worst part, really, is the extraordinary strain we reviewers put on our $$$-own hardware just so YOU can read about a product before you buy it. The MTBF (mean time between failure) rating on any hard disk drive going into one of my systems gets cut in half the day it's installed. The drive just looks around at its older peers and says, "I know I'm not going to like it here."

OK, I admit I probably haven't raised your sympathy level one iota. But, wait, now... let me tell you about the time my Colorado Memory Systems tape drive reeled a valuable backup tape right off its spindles. Or, how about the time an errant fax machine in a PR firm's Boston office kept sending my computer-based fax card the same three-page news release until it flooded a hard drive and froze the machine? Then, there's the TWO 3.5 1.44 floppy drives, from different manufacturers on different machines, which chose to die within ten days of each other -- both of them about four months out of warranty.

Or how about the monochrome monitor that burned out with a flash rivaling a nuclear burst, while I was at the keyboard staring at the screen? (Everything I looked at was black-on-yellow for hours.) And then there was those installations of the beta version of OS/2 Version 2.0 which hit a floppy disk error -- THREE TIMES! -- on Disk #20 of a 22-disk set. Oh, can't forget that machine I shipped to a West Coast factory for repair, three days before the firm went bankrupt and closed its doors, with padlocks.

Windows has make the entire product-reviewing scenario even more thrilling. I installed some software from a CD-ROM the other day, and found myself with 204 new TrueType fonts. I have .DLLs and .DRVs which I'm sure are conspiring against me -- I know they're having secret meetings at night. I used LIST (the file viewer) to look at one the other day, and found a line that said: "What are you looking here for?"

Yet, we reviewers and beta testers -- every American city has a handful -- wind up being everyone's favorite local guru. There's really no experience that can compare with being awakened by a phone call from someone asking for advice on a memory problem or some such -- and THEN, have them argue with your advice. That's respect? Or the PR agent who sends you a fax saying, "Please call me for additional information on blah-blah..." Call? On whose nickel?

I'm sorry if I sound a little depressed over all this. My wife said I needed to find a diversion, so she had me join a bridge club. I jump off next Tuesday.

a commentary by

Thom Foulkes


       MAXIMIZER

by Ed Hoffman

A few years back, I received a phone call from a fellow that was responding to a proposal letter I had sent to his company the year before. He started the conversation with a series of questions that caught me totally flat footed. After hemming and hawing for the first few minutes, I started to get the drift of what he wanted. Fortunately I was able to bluff my way through the conversation without appearing to be too much of a buffoon. But, I did learn one important lesson -- I had to get my information better organized.

In my search for a software program that would help me keep track of my important information, I've surveyed and tested a range of products. Starting with the Windows Card File, I quickly graduated to a full Personal Information Manager. I've found that most Personal Information Managers, though quite useful, still don't have the specific features I felt I needed to make me more productive.

This was when I first tried a Contact Management program. The first program I used was quite elementary and little more than a simple phone book program. However, as better programs became available and my requirements changed, I've explored a wide variety of different Contact Managers. Today, there are dozens of different Contact Managers available to suit virtually any requirement. Maximizer is one of the better Contact Management programs I've found and one that definitely deserves a closer look.

Contact Management programs are basically special purpose databases that allow you to organize information in a variety of ways. The ideal program is one that allows you the flexibility of deciding how you, and not the programmer, want to keep track of this information. Almost every Contact Manager is organized around some type of data form. Maximizer, on the other hand, uses a data list for the information. With this list method Maximizer permits more flexible sorting and faster searches.

Where many form type programs require you to shuffle through a series of individual records by paging up and down, the list approach shows everything you need at once. The Maximizer program uses the Windows Multiple Document Interface to display the various categories of sorted data in individual windows. In fact, unless changes to the record are required, you don't need to enter the client records.

A relatively simple demonstration of how Maximizer sorts individual records can be elicited by clicking on one of the buttons across the top of the Client Window. Here, you can reorganize the way the list is displayed. The default display is NAME, but with a simple click of the mouse the list can be displayed in the order of the CITY, STATE/PROVINCE, or ZIP/POSTAL CODE. When any of these buttons is clicked, the change is instant - no waiting around for the computer to catch up. In addition to this display you can also select a variety of other column displays to suit your individual requirements.

Each entry in the Maximizer program can be shown as an individual, a company or both, depending on what works best for you. Likewise, each company can have an unlimited number of individual contacts. And if necessary, each contact can be shown with their own addresses. This gives you the option to track both individuals within a company as well as your contacts and work with the entire company.

The program offers an unlimited number of indexed relational categories rather than a fixed number of user-defined fields. These categories can be dates, numbers, alphanumeric values, or tables to further suit the way you work. Using categories this way allows you the option of having a different number of categories for each record. So, instead of setting up several fields that are unused by most of your records, you can totally customize each record so it contains just what is necessary.

But, the feature I find most useful with Maximizer is the control it gives you for performing your everyday work. For example, unlike less sophisticated programs, you can perform virtually all your contact maintenance right from within the Maximizer program. No more popping out to a word processor to write a letter, or off to your fax program to send a fax. These tasks are all performed without leaving the program. Likewise, you can also maintain a personal journal, keep track of your income and expenses, as well as keeping up with all your important phone calls and appointments.

The program is very flexible and although there is a learning curve to mastering its many features, most operations are straight forward. For example, if Joe Smith calls to tell you he needs to see you about ordering a boat load of widgets, Maximizer will help you cover all your bases. First, while Joe is still on the phone, you log his call and set up an appointment in the calendar to go see him. When you're finished talking to Joe, you bring up the phone number for the Widget Works Company and call to see if they have the boat load of widgets Joe needs. You then log this call and place your order. You then write the invoice and a letter to Joe confirming the order and your appointment. Then you send a fax to the Widget Works Company confirming your order. Finally you write a memo to the boss telling him that you just sold a boat load of widgets and need a raise. And you can do all this in just a few minutes and from within Maximizer. There is even a spelling checker and thesaurus built into the Maximizer word processor.

The Maximizer program is network-aware and offers more power than any other Windows Contact Manager I've seen. The program is well documented and has a useful on-line help system. So, if contact management is part of your work you should definitely take a look at Maximizer 1.2.

Maximizer 1.2

Retail price: $249.00

available from:

Modatech Systems. Inc.

Suite 500, 1681 Chestnut Street

Vancouver, BC V6J 4M6

604-736-9666

written by

Ed Hoffman


       WINWORD 6.0 BOOK BRIEFS

by Ed Rasimus

I'm always amazed at the speed with which publishers react to release of new or improved software. I had installed WinWord 6.0 and barely cracked the documentation when four new third party books showed up on my desk. One or more may earn a spot on your bookshelf if you seek to get the most out of MS Word. Let's take a look:

MICROSOFT WORD FOR WINDOWS MADE EASY

by Paul Hoffman

If you are new to word processing and the stock documentation is too sterile for your needs, this may be the text to get you up and running with a better handle on what Word can do for you.  There is the usual description of menus, keystrokes and mouse clicks to operate the program, but there are also a lot of plain English descriptions of how, what and why. Strictly for the newcomer, this book does a good job in leading the user in their transition from typewriter hunt 'n pecker to high-power word processor. If applied diligently, the reader will be well equipped to get the most out of the program.

Osborne McGraw-Hill, 2600 Tenth Street, Berkeley CA 94710. $19.95

WINDOWS, WORD & EXCEL OFFICE COMPANION

by Patrick Burns

For the individual who just brought that new Windows machine home along with a copy of MS Office, this could be the shortcut to avoid that towering stack of individual manuals from each of the major applications. The good news is that an integrated manual like this can eliminate a lot of the overwhelming detail and get the user comfortable and productive in a hurry. The bad news is that an integrated manual like this can overlook a lot of important techniques and features that the user may never take advantage of. If you need a quick and dirty look or a quick start, this book could do it, but don't forget to go back and read the factory documentation later.

Ventana Press, P.O. Box 2468, Chapel Hill NC 27515. $21.95

WORD FOR WINDOWS DESIGN COMPANION

by Katherine Shelly Pfeiffer

I've enjoyed the layout features of Word 2.0 for years, doing brochures, newsletters, flyers and even letterhead. But, to be perfectly honest, they all look amateurish. Now with WinWord 6.0, users have more capabilities for anyone who plans on doing more than letter writing, and they can benefit from this book. The author provides illustrated descriptions of a full range of typesetting techniques that I have never previously understood. Leading, kerning, rivers and font basics are all covered. A large portion of the book provides examples of design with detailed explanations of how they were done. I've always been a bit frustrated by "how-to" books that give a lot of detailed text, but leave me without a clue as to how those neat illustrations really were made. This book is packed with examples that will provide the creative juices for many a project. Pfeiffer's book is an invaluable tool that will stay on my bookshelf for quite a while.

Ventana Press, P.O. Box 2468, Chapel Hill NC 27515. $21.95

DESKTOP PUBLISHING WITH WORD FOR WINDOWS

by Tom Lichty

WinWord 6.0 is certainly a reasonable alternative for desktop publishing for many users. If you are new to DTP (Desk Top Publishing), this book will get you up to production speed in a hurry. The book addresses typesetting, graphics employment, various format issues, and layout in general terms, while including the necessary techniques for doing the job in Word. The reader can become a WinWord expert at the same time they learn the essentials of DTP. This one is a worthwhile investment for the power user with publishing aspirations.

Ventana Press, P.O. Box 2468, Chapel Hill NC 27515. $21.95

Reviewed by

Ed Rasimus


       SNAPGRAFX

by Ed Rasimus

I was paging through a tool catalog the other day -- you know, one of those specialty numbers with all sorts of chrome-plated, needle-nosed, flexible-shaft, fully-adjustable, specific-angled doo-dads that you either will never need or can't live without. Suddenly, it occurred to me that much of our current crop of software is like the 392 piece mechanic's deluxe combination tool kit and not enough like those specialty gadgets. By that I mean, high-end software is trying to do all things in every package and as a result often does certain very specific tasks poorly. Sometimes you just can't do the job effectively without a specialty tool. That brought my thoughts to the current topic, Micrografx' chart-building tool, SnapGrafx.

SnapGrafx is an easy-to-use automated business graphics tool. You may not need its special capabilities, but if you do a lot of flow charts, organizational charts, diagrams, presentation graphics, or even business forms, there may be nothing better. Sure, you can use the drawing module of your word processor or force fit your information into the charts that your spreadsheet builds, but they will look like you did the job with channel-locks and a blunt chisel. SnapGrafx will let you fit your data into a choice of formats with a full range of fonts, shapes, colors and styles then link or embed the result in your favorite OLE client.

The foundation of SnapGrafx is the gallery, an array of pre-defined templates for typical business and presentation graphics. The templates provide for automated page layout, placement, sizing and alignment of text, shapes and graphic components. The theme of SnapGrafx is snapping, and that is carried through with the naming of features such as SnapPage™, SnapShapes™, and SnapLines™. What it all means is that whatever object you are handling, whether it is a text block, a shape from the graphics palette, or connecting lines to finish off your chart, they will always snap into a consistent format.

SnapGrafx Style Gallery

Start your project by selecting an appropriate template from the gallery. Pyramids, Venn charts, circle/spoke, network, timeline or flow charts are just a few of the choices. If the twenty basic formats don't meet the user's need, design your own custom template. Begin typing in text and it will automatically fill in the placeholders. Click on the completed text and it will be aligned in any of nine ways. In the timeline chart, dates are filled in automatically by placing the text.

Dress up the chart with shapes from the more than 300 included SnapShapes and then select from one of five perspective views with or without shadowing. Size, shape, distort, align, color or otherwise set properties for a shape  and the rest of the shapes you add will follow. Then connect your chart components with straight, curved or right-angled lines by clicking any two shapes. Move a shape and the connectors expand or contract intelligently.

When you are ready, add color with the "eyedropper" tool, which should really be called the "styledropper" since it also drops line properties and text formatting. Rotate circular charts to get the desired orientation or flip a pyramid chart to change the sequence of entries. When it is just the way you like it, print with an automatic fit-to-page or paste into an OLE client with either the link or embed feature. From a spreadsheet, update the data for a graph or chart. From a word processor, edit the text of a detailed organization chart.

Typical SnapGrafx Chart

I remember my first encounter with a vise-grip. A neat tool for a specific purpose but one that I thought I could live without. Shortly after I got my first vise-grip, however, I realized that it was an indispensable third-hand that seldom missed out on a project. The gadget was used in practically hundreds of ways that I had never thought of when I first bought it. SnapGrafx may be a similar sort of tool. It's possible you don't need a business graphics tool, but if you are the least bit creative you will find a lot of places where SnapGrafx will do the job far better than what you have been using. If you are tired of the tedious dragging and dropping in your basic draw program, selecting and aligning of frames in your word processor or trying to make the charting module of your spreadsheet get the product you want for that next presentation, maybe now is the time for a specialty tool like SnapGrafx.

SnapGrafx

List Price: $99.00 (limited time)

for further information:

MicroGrafx

1303 Arapaho

Richardson TX 75081

(214) 234-1769

Reviewed by

Ed Rasimus


       WIN CD PROFESSIONAL

by G.L. Heitzmann

Did you give in to the falling prices of CD-ROM drives and install one on your system only to find that it doesn't play your audio CD's like you thought it would? Join the crowd. My first foray into computerland was to build a music database to let me find what I want, when I want it. Fields for sheet music, LP's, and audio cassette tapes, but with no field for audio CD's, I was in double-trouble.

WinCD Professional solved those problems and more with ease. Furnished as a CD-ROM disk program, it self-installed with little more effort on my part than accepting its suggested defaults. WinCD Pro requires only a 286 or better, 2 megs RAM, a hard drive (actual space used will vary with the size of the database/CD-collection and options), a CD-ROM drive, and Windows v3.1 with compatible display. Windows compatible sound and mouse are also recommended but not required.

A pamphlet that doubles as title page and basic installation instruction manual suggests reading the HELP file first. It suggests that after installation, which includes both Windows group and item, the first run should be made with no disk in the CD-ROM drive to allow proper configuration, requiring answering a few queries about your computer system.

When configuration is complete, put an audio CD in the drive, click on the icons to call up WinCD Pro and voila, on screen is the face-plate of a standard CD player. After a few seconds, during which the drive is scanning the disk, a dialog box opens in which you enter the CD title, artist, year of recording, comments and track titles. If your mixer is set up for it, you may even record a few seconds of each track into the built-in database. Click on the "Save" button, and the CD player is again on-screen. Click on "Power" to turn it on/off.  Use a pull-down menu to choose the color of the back lighting on the CD-player face. Click on Play, then click on "Volume" to adjust it to your comfort level. Click on Skip Forward/Back to play a different track, or click on Eject to eject your CD from the drive, if applicable. As you listen, a look at its display panel will tell you the CD-title, track name and number and how many tracks are yet to play. A traveling bar-graph will show you the track's relative elapsed time. Full stereo, when piped through the headphone jack or stereo-capable sound card, is no problem.

As if that weren't enough, another pull-down menu allows programming the tracks to play in/out of order and will allow up to five different programs per CD. And clicking on the "Recall" button allows browsing of the entire database. You can even listen to the sample sound byte for each track that you recorded WITHOUT putting a CD in the drive. And, of course, there's a status bar that allows full access to WinCD Pro, even if you're running a DOS program at the time. Each time a new (unrecognized) disk is inserted into the drive, the dialog box automatically comes on screen ready for data entry. When a known disk is inserted, the player stays on screen waiting for the command to play it. While a disk is playing, if you iconize the player, group, and Program Manager, WinCD Pro places an icon in the lower left corner of the screen. It displays the track title, number, and elapsed time of the track and the moving bar graph using your choice of backlighting for clarity.

On my test system, I can listen to a CD playing while downloading a file from a bulletin board using a DOS telecommunications program in a Window, and do some writing or play a game simultaneously. There is no loss of download speed (CPS), and only a slight delay when the CD is changing tracks.

It took me several weeks to learn and develop a music database -- it took several minutes to install and enter the first CD's information. Being the music-loving, lazy ole' cuss that I am, WinCD Professional rates two thumbs up, not to mention a couple of tapping toes.

WinCD Professional

List Price:  $49.95

Available from:

KINESOFT DEVELOPERS

63 Washington Ave,

Streamwood, IL 60107

1-(708)-806-9562

Written by:

G.L. Heitzmann


       ENCARTA '94

by Jeffrey Shneidman

Ok, you've just bought your brand new 486 with a double-speed CD-ROM drive, and are ready to play. You stick in the first disc that your CD-ROM came with, and -- it's a dud. You quickly flip it out, and stick in the second disc. Complete trash. The third one? A hard-to-use foreign language dictionary. "Wonderful," you think to yourself sarcastically. Isn't there anything out there on CD-ROM that isn't a last-minute "Bargain CD Value!" stuck together with chewing gum?

In the early days of CD-ROM, the software selection left much to be desired. The discs were often loaded with junk, and then sold as "640 STUNNING Megabytes of REALLY NEAT Stuff!" As an example of this, my Sony external 150kb/sec drive came with six discs that I used once and then stored. They were very poorly done, and basically consisted of lots of text files stored on a disc. (The only exception was Sierra's Mixed-Up Mother Goose, which was revolutionary in its format at the time, as it had both excellent graphics and CD quality sound in three languages.)

Thankfully, CD-ROM software manufacturers have seen the problem of crummy software, and have taken steps to combat it. Microsoft Corporation's Encarta™ Multimedia Encyclopedia 1994 Edition is one of the latest "weapons" in the fight. A significant improvement over Encarta 1992 (see review in Issue #74), it features eight hours of music and sound, samples of 60 foreign languages, 7800 photos and illustrations, 100 animations (including 23 video clips), 800 maps (including the latest maps on the ex-USSR), and 100 interactive charts. This all revolves around Funk & Wagnalls' 29-volume encyclopedia, supplemented with more than 1000 articles not included in the paper version. New articles in the 1994 edition include subjects such as: US First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and the middle-east peace process. The 1994 version is also faster than previous versions, and is the first version of this encyclopedia that feels like one application. (Before this version, the encyclopedia seemed to be a bunch of applications slapped together. This version's components are well-integrated, from its lunar orbit simulator to its MindMaze educational game. Its packaging job is also well done, from its permanent vinyl box, which won't break easily, to its colorful manuals and quick-reference card.

Encarta is much better than many other CD-ROM encyclopedias that I have seen (i.e., Compton's, Knowledge Adventure, etc.) but it is also no Encyclopedia Britannica. (As a note, it would take three CDs of only text to get the Britannica on CD, and this doesn't include Britannica's pictures, charts, etc.) Obviously, some information has been left out -- usually the detailed information on things. For example, the biography of the American poet, John Greenleaf Whittier isn't nearly as complete as in my World Book encyclopedia on paper. Encarta also has an obvious technical slant -- in place of topics such as Anna Sewell, a 19th century author of such books as Black Beauty, I can find in my World Book, one can look up articles such as Lan Manager, OS/2, Control Panel, Windows, and Microsoft Corporation. This is not necessarily bad; it just is. Encarta is what it bills itself to be, a good general multimedia encyclopedia. It is much cheaper, by thousands of dollars, than standard book encyclopedias, but you get what you pay for.

Looking at the features of Encarta, there are a number of really neat twists that in this multimedia encyclopedia. It boasts an extensive music library (mostly in Windows WAV format, although most national anthems are in MIDI format) ranging from Gilbert and Sullivan's When I was a Lad from H.M.S. Pinafore to examples of Fusion Jazz, a mid-60's jazz-rock music combination, to Bach's Toccata in D Minor. It also has a large selection of  "Historical Audio" samples and nature sounds. (birds, etc.) The video clips are fairly nice, although don't try to run them unless you have a minimum of a double speed drive. The graphics in Encarta are just wonderful. Almost all are in 256 colors, and they are everywhere. To find special things like sound, charts, videos, etc. there is a "Multimedia Gallery" that lets you search for a specific type of resource, in different categories. For instance, you could see all pictures relating to "Performing Arts" using this tool. The program also has a nice timeline feature, allowing you to browse through 15,000,000 years of history.

On a more critical note, the lunar orbit simulator is overly praised. I found it to be buggy, and stupid. However, the MindMaze game is quite interesting. Basically, you wander from room to room answering questions, which get tougher as you move along. Throughout the game, you can see an article related to one of the questions, and then pick up where you left off.

A complete dictionary and thesaurus are included with Encarta, which is rather nice to use with your word processor. Encarta will also integrate with your desktop publisher, allowing you to almost automatically copy pictures, sounds, maps, charts, and video clips.

Some additional things that you should know about: Although Encarta does support Windows NT, it doesn't support it fully. Video viewing is not supported on NT machines, nor is the "small" install. If you have a non-Intel machine, you must install several DLLs manually, and you cannot run the Encarta Dictionary/Thesaurus.

In summary, Encarta 1994 is one of the best computer encyclopedia deals out there. With inexpensive updates that provide seamlessly integrated new material every year, it is one on-line reference that will never be outdated. Adults and children of all ages find the encyclopedia a real pleasure to skim through, and it is powerful enough for research in the school years and beyond. If you are looking for a program that meets the true definition of a "multimedia product," it's worth the trouble to check out Microsoft Encarta 1994.

Requirements:

 A Multimedia PC or compatible, with 386SX or higher processor, 4 MB of RAM, at least 2.5 MB of available hard disk space, CD-ROM drive, audio board, and VGA (16 color minimum. 256 color recommended)

 Microsoft Windows version 3.1 or later

 MS-DOS version 3.1 or later

 Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

 Headphones or speakers

Encarta Multimedia Encyclopedia 1994 Edition

List Price: $139.00

Note: Some stores still have stock at the $99 introductory price

Upgrade: $79.00

for further information please contact:

Microsoft Corporation

One Microsoft Way

Redmond, WA  98052-6399

800-495-4242 for ordering information and Fast-Fax service

written by

Jeffrey Shneidman


Q-Modem Pro
       QMODEMPRO

by Randy Wong

Data And Fax Communications In One Package

Data/Fax modems are handy, integrated devices. Oddly enough, we have one program for communications and another for faxing. Wouldn't it make sense to have one Windows software product that can handle both of those chores for you, an integrated program to work with our integrated piece of hardware? The makers of the popular DOS communication product, Qmodem, decided to tackle that problem. QmodemPro for Windows offers support for both data and fax communication in one integrated package.

Since QmodemPro began as a DOS data communication product, QmodemPro for Windows' strength is in the data communication area. Modeling after QmodemPro for DOS, QmodemPro for Windows retains most of the same features that can be found in the DOS version. A new Script Language for QmodemPro (SLIQ) gives you power, speed, and flexibility in a script language. It's foundation is the BASIC language structure. Taking advantage of some of the Windows' features, QmodemPro for Windows can Drag and Drop files for transferring, attach WAV files to various events, and run multiple tasks. A buttonbar (toolbar) is used for quick access to menu commands. The background behind the terminal window can be customized with your own personal pattern or BMP file.

Besides offering full data communications, QmodemPro for Windows has both send and receive Fax support. With any Class 1 or Class 2 Fax modem, QmodemPro for Windows can send ASCII text files and PCX and BMP graphic files. When sending a fax, cover pages can be attached. Automatic Fax Receive is also supported and can be initiated after QmodemPro for Windows is started.

QmodemPro for Windows includes other interesting features. A built-in Fax Viewer lets you preview multiple fax pages, via thumbnail images. This makes selecting the correct fax document you want to view quite easy. Options for full viewing, zooming, copying, and printing the fax images are available. A built-in GIF Viewer allows you to view GIF graphics images while they are being downloaded. If that is not what you want to do, you can use the viewer to display the GIF file after you have finished logging off. Redefining keys are done through the Macro Key Option. From here, you can assign certain keys, using the ALT key plus either the SHIFT or CTRL key and another key for performing various functions. Once you assign a macro key, a button and its label will be shown on the Macro Key Bar.

QmodemPro for Windows' dialing directory has the familiar look and feel of the DOS version. Each phone entry displays the service's name and includes an icon if desired, the main phone number with 4 alternate dialing numbers, connecting device, your UserID, notes, emulation type, macro attached, auto script for logging on, transfer protocol being used, date and time of the last connection, and how many times you have logged on to this system. It sports manual, single, or multiple dialing of phone entries. You can also group phone entries for managing several phone numbers that you call daily. Qmodem and QmodemPro for DOS phone directories are supported internally. All you have to do is open the phonebook file, and all the entries will be converted. A Windows phonebook conversion application is included for converting other DOS phone files, such as Procomm+ 1.1/2.0, Telix 3.1x, and Boyan 5.x.

QmodemPro for Windows has an impressive selection of terminal emulations which includes: ADDS VP60, ADM 3A, ANSI, Avatar, Debug ASCII, Debug Hex, DG 100, DG 200, DG 210, Hazeltine 1500, Heath 19, IBM 3101 and TTY. Also included are TVI emulations: 910, 912, 920, 925, 950, and 955; Vidtex emulations: VT 52, 100, 102, 220, and 320; and Wyse 30, 50, 60, 75, 85, 100, and 185 emulations.

QmodemPro for Windows is the first Windows product to offer support for RIPscrip emulation. BBSs using RIPscrip graphics will allow users to select options via buttons with a mouse pointer on a graphical menu. Doorway emulation is built-in for users who needs to shell to the DOS operating system from a BBS that supports the Doorway emulation.

QmodemPro for Windows offers support for asynchronous connections with other IBM or Macintosh PCs, minicomputers, mainframes, and Bulletin Board Systems (BBS). Once connected on-line with the remote system, you have several built-in file transfer protocols for moving files to and from each system. QmodemPro for Windows offers most of the popular transfer protocols. They are ASCII, Xmodem, Xmodem/CRC, 1K Xmodem, 1K Xmodem/G, Ymodem (batch), Ymodem/G (batch), Zmodem (batch), Kermit, and CIS B+. If you get tired of calling out, you could have people calling your computer. With QmodemPro for Windows, you could turn your computer into a Host system. It's not very sophisticated, but can work well as a small and simple home BBS system.

Requirements for QmodemPro for Windows are not particularly demanding. It requires a four megabyte 386 or better, six megabytes of harddrive space, any Windows pointing device, and sound card support for attaching WAV files to certain events would be nice. It supports COM ports 1 through 4 using most intelligent communication boards, and virtually any internal or external modem, with or without Class 1 or Class 2 faxing, and LAN modems via INT 14, NASI/NCSI using the appropriate Windows comm drivers.

In my experience, no other Windows application has come this close to truely combining Windows data and faxing communication within one product. As QmodemPro for Windows continues to grow, there will be even more support for advanced faxing functions. In the meantime, I will continue to use separate specialized Windows software for these two purposes. Currently, Class 1 and Class 2 fax modems are supported, though CAS compatible fax/modems are not. Unlike its DOS counterpart, there is no offline reader included with this package, nor is one soon anticipated. External protocols such as HSLINK or DSZ can not be added - an omission

that may be a minus for some users.

The multi-tag dialing directory, GIF viewing, faxing capabilities, RIPscrip, Doorway mode, and the Basic-like script language combine to make QmodemPro for Windows one of the top Windows Communications products currently available. Additionally, their technical support is impressive. MSI tech support knowlegably answered my questions and quickly resolved my problems. I, for one, expect to be using QmodemPro for Windows for a long time to come.

QmodemPro for Windows 1.01

Retail Price: $139

Upgrade: $50

For more information, please contact:

	Mustang Software, Inc. P.O. Box 2264 Bakersfield, CA  93303 (800) 999-9619 (805) 873-2500 Fax: (805) 873-2599 BBS: (805) 873-2400
MSI can also be reached via e-mail at sales@mustang.com

CompuServe (GO PCVENA, section 9)

America Online (Keyword = Mustang)

Genie (MUSTANG RT)

Written by:

Randy Wong


       PC-ENER-G SAVER

by Bob Gollihur

 	Check it out! Everybody's starting to sell green computers. No, shades of chartreuse have not replaced the neutral creams and grays on the outside cabinets of popular PCs. Rather, it's a technology that reduces the power consumption of the increasingly hungry and multiplying monsters.

Though seemingly a contradiction, saving money does not come cheap. These new PCs come with premiums, and monitors need to be designed to observe the computer's instructions to go into the frugal "rest" state. The final blow comes if you have to discard your perfectly good system in favor of a green PC. That is not saving money. PC-Ener-g Saver offers to come to your rescue with a compromise.

The device resembles a small power center measuring approximately 5 x 5.5 inches with four AC connectors. Power to your computer, monitor and printer is provided through the unit, and the keyboard connection is also part of the equation (see illustration). Maximum output for the PC and printer is 3 amps each, with the monitor output rated at 2 amps. Surge protection is built into the unit as well.

The PC-Ener-g Saver is supplied with both Windows and DOS software to control the behavior of the unit to your taste. A DOS TSR must also be run to control it, requiring 3K. It can, however, be loaded high through your memory manager. Windows users must also load the PC-Ener-g Saver software that controls the device; the documentation warns that unpredictable errors will otherwise occur. My only difficulty with the unit was during the software installation. It required a serial number that I assumed would be the one on the unit. Instead, it was an unidentified number on the diskette. This would have been less of a problem if it hadn't taken over a week to obtain a customer service response, leaving me unable to use the device in the interim. The serial number requirement in this situation is absurd, in any case.

The monitor and printer have separate control criteria. When not required, the printer will power off and will remain in that state until needed. The PC-Ener-g Saver software determines that need in two different ways. While in DOS, it monitors the printer port, but in Windows, it watches the printer spooler. Therefore, if you have disabled Print Manager as I had or use a third party spooler, PC-Ener-g Saver's software ignores your request and leaves the printer off. The documentation warns that this disqualifies the device for use with a print server on a network in most cases.

The monitor state is a more simple affair. After a user-specified number of minutes, power is turned off to the unit. A touch of the keyboard or a mouse movement will return power to the screen.

PC-Ener-g Saver offers ongoing reports of power usage, savings and time, and your local power rates can be specified. This could be a Monday-morning quarterback exercise or may help you to determine whether additional devices could be justified for other computers in an office situation.

How much money this device might save you, if any, will depend on your equipment. To try and gauge these factors, I obtained a recent publication from my local electric company that provides approximate annual operating costs of electrical devices. The following may help you measure your requirements:

My 17 inch Sony monitor specifies a current draw of approximately 2 amps. This translates to approximately $50.00 annually in energy costs if it was left on for six hours per day, every day of the year. Smaller monitors generally consume less electricity; check your unit's specifications.

Printers are more difficult and varied animals. My recently replaced prehistoric laser printer caused the lights in the whole neighborhood to flicker when activated, and certainly drew current in excess of the 3 amps the PC-Ener-g Saver allows. However, my new Hewlett-Packard 4P has its own energy saving mechanism and reportedly draws 180 watts in operation, but a mere 10 watts while idling. This translates to not much more than $3.00 a year in the idle state for eight hours a day. Dot matrix printers are equally frugal while in standby mode. When printing, however, it's a different story. My garden variety 24-pin Panasonic KXP-1124 is labeled as requiring 3.5 amps, which would place it in excess of the PC-Ener-G Saver's stated rating of 3 amps. That stated rating is probably peak, and I wouldn't personally be concerned with its use. But in an idle state, how much could it possibly save?

A purchase decision for such a device could be either a personal economic or philosophical matter. There are those who would decide purely on a financial level, but others that would consider any savings or a near break-even situation a victory for the "green movement". That's a decision best left up to you, and you may be influenced by both factors.

Personally, I will likely continue to use the device. It has proven to be reliable, the software is easy to use, and it will no doubt reduce my electric bill. My habit was to turn off my old printer due to infrequent need; this unit will do that for me automatically, and the warm-up time of the HP4P is not an impediment to my operations. The slight annoyance of waiting for my monitor to wake can be balanced by specifying a longer time before it powers off, and could be prudent when my anticipated five minute absence turns into 45 minutes.

As the EPA says on another topic altogether: your mileage may vary.

PC Ener-g Saver

List Price: $89.95

for further information contact:

PC Green Technologies, Inc.

1 Centerpointe Drive #210

LaPalma, CA 90623

714-228-2230

800-98-GREEN (orders)

714-228-2239 (fax)

written by

Bob Gollihur


Lazalbl
       LAZALABL

by David Morgan

LazaLabl is a printing utility for use with a laser or deskjet printer. It lets you print a wide variety of things including address labels, audio cassette "j-cards," name tags and Rolodex cards. With LazaLabl you can make quick address labels by pasting information directly from the clipboard, make a single label or batches of labels, import address information from your databases, and create user-defined sheet layouts for custom label sizes. Labels can be composed using layering techniques similar to those used in desktop publishing programs.

LazaLabl lets you include on your labels many kinds of graphics and fonts and has several built-in features to make this easy. For example, the "Shrink2Fit" feature will automatically center your text on the label. If it is too large, the font size will be adjusted so the text will fit on the label. The "Maximize" feature does the opposite. It will increase the size of your font so that your label will contain the largest possible font size while including all of your text on the label.

Copy an address from your favorite word processor, paste it into LazaLabl, then use LazaLabl to select a suitable font and quickly print an address label.

Print several labels on a sheet, choosing where each label should be placed. If the label sheets are suitable for feeding through the printer more than once, you will be able to use up left over labels.

Print a complete sheet of labels, choosing the individual label contents from a predefined deck of labels stored in a file.

Make multi-layer compositions in which items of text in a number of different typefaces and sizes, and graphics are arranged exactly as you choose and superimposed to make complex labels or cards.

Print labels with a fixed background such as a company logo and return address, with addresses from your database or from a LazaLabl deck file superimposed.

Print multiple sheets of labels from an ASCII export file produced by your favorite database program, adding USPS bar codes if required.

Print a whole sheet of duplicate labels.

Print all the labels stored in a LazaLabl file, using as many sheets as required.

Here's an example of how you can use LazaLabl within your word processor. Highlight an address and copy it to the clipboard. Start LazaLabl. The address text will appear in the address editing panel. Choose the "Options - Font" selection to alter the label's font and size if you so desire. The modified typeface will appear in the editing panel. When the typeface and size are acceptable, the next thing to do is choose the sheet layout. There are many from which to choose including 23 Avery labels and cards. Once you have selected the proper label sheet layout, you can instruct LazaLabl to print in several ways. Print just one label or several and select where they will be printed on the label sheet.

Setup is easy using the supplied installation program. Help is displayed as the mouse cursor moves over a given option and the help file and program documentation are very thorough and well written. System requirements include MS-DOS 3.1 or later and Microsoft Windows 3.1 or later.

LazaLabl

List Price: $59.95

for further information please contact:

SoftCentre, Inc.

30 Petersburg Road

Hackettstown, NJ

 07840-4902

908-850-3311

fax: 908-852-8984

written by

David R. Morgan


       COREL DRAW

by Steven Jay Cohen

Whatever else might be said of CorelDRAW! 4, it must be said that it is the most comprehensive graphical tools package currently available. Aside from minor quibbles over details of its individual components, one cannot help being impressed with the broad scope and ability of  the seven major applications which comprise this package. CorelDRAW! 4 consists of the following:

	CorelDRAW - a professional, vector-based drawing program. It includes a full complement of precision drawing tools and features extensive text manipulating capabilities.
	CorelPhoto-Paint - a paint and photo-retouching program. It is richly endowed with image enhancing capabilities, including numerous filters and effects.
	CorelTRACE - a program that converts bitmapped images into vector graphic images.
	CorelMOSAIC - an image managing program. An excellent organizational tool, it permits the viewing, moving and storage of large numbers of images.
	CorelMOVE - a 2-D animation program. New with version 4.0, this tool allows the creation of simple or complex animations and includes a built-in sound editor.
	CorelCHART - a program for building all types of charts and graphs. Data can be entered directly or imported from several of the popular spreadsheets.
	CorelSHOW - a presentation program. It is OLE compliant and therefore capable of importing and assembling objects from many sources to produce excellent on-screen or printed presentations.

Impressive, isn't it? But this is not all. In addition to the above stable of applications, the CorelDRAW! 4 package includes a plethora of resource material. Over 750 fonts in both True Type and Adobe Type 1 format, more than 18,000 clip art images and symbols, and hundreds of animations and sound clips fortify this suite. It ships with two CDs that contain all the applications' software and extensive libraries in uncompressed format. The applications may be installed to run in whole or in part directly from the CD, or may be installed from the included set of diskettes. The diskettes contain all the symbols and a selection of the clip art in compressed format.

Though the initial release of CorelDRAW 4 was reportedly fraught with bugs, the current revision, v4.00.B3, has addressed most, if not all of those problems. On the whole, this new version happily addresses many of the concerns and difficulties associated with its predecessor. One obvious change in the package is the absence of the VHS tutorial included in the last version. In its place are individual brief tutorials in AVI format that may be viewed on the user's monitor - quite handy, especially if you don't happen to have a video cassette player on hand.

Many layers of functionality have been built into these applications, yet thoughtful, simple interfaces facilitate the operations of each. A broad overview that touches on some salient points will be helpful to both the user who is shopping for a professional drawing package and the Corel 3.0 user who may be considering an upgrade. What follows is a look at some of the highlights and changes in the component applications.

CorelDRAW

This professional drawing program is the heart of the package. Very similar in appearance to the prior version,  3.0 users will find this version at once both familiar and new. CorelDRAW 4 adds new functionality with corresponding new menu items, broadens the use of the Roll-up Menu which was introduced in 3.0 and rearranges the locations of several drop-down menu items.

Corel strengthens its drawing prowess in this version, adding to its well-established Bezier curve, node-editing, and color management capabilities. Three types of control points are provided to manipulate Bezier curves - smooth, symmetrical, and cusp. The node editor has been enhanced with the following new features:

Auto-Reduce - Automatically eliminates extraneous nodes from a curve object without significantly changing its shape. Simplifies editing.

Elastic Mode - A new node editing method that causes nodes to move as an elastic would expand and contract when stretched.

Pressure Edit - For node editing PowerLines. Much like node editing another object except PowerLine Pressure Handles are used to increase or decrease the width of the PowerLine.

Power Lines is the Corel equivalent of a calligraphic pen. It provides 24 different line types and includes a feature which allows you to create your own.

Three different color models are provided: CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black), RBG (red, blue, green) and HSB (hue, saturation, brightness). If you use the RGB or HSB models, Corel will internally convert the colors to their CMYK equivalents. The advantage of the CMYK model is that you can reference Truematch or Pantone systems and be fairly certain of the resultant printed colors. With CorelDRAW 4 you can now print color separations on non-PostScript printers.

New Roll-up Menu items include the new Contours, PowerLines, Object Data, and Styles features and the enhanced Envelope and Node Editing features. The advantage of a  Roll-Up is that it streamlines many operations. Its accessibility, by staying "on top", eliminates the need to repeatedly access a dialog box through a menu item to fine tune a certain parameter. The main tool bar is also now imbued with the ability to float, further enhancing overall functionality.

CorelDRAW is well known for its marvelous 3-D and special fill effects. Both make return, enhanced appearances in this version. Over 100 editable bitmap texture fills are included, providing a firm springboard for virtually limitless creativity.

One highly requested feature is the new multiple page capability. This permits the creation of documents with as many as 999 pages. The new Layout menu centralizes features for setting up documents. From here you can add, delete, and move between pages of the document. The Layers and Styles Roll-Ups are also accessed from here. The Layers menu replaces the Transform menu in version 3.0. Commands once found in the Transform menu have been relocated to the Effects (Rotate & Skew, Stretch & Mirror, and Clear Transformations) and Arrange (Move) menus. Former Display menu items, the Grid, Guidelines, and Snap To commands are now found in the Layout menu.

Added desktop publishing capabilities include 15 editable document templates and preset options for one and two-page layouts on a selection of paper sizes. Coupled with Corel's built-in text manipulation and special effects capabilities, these additions elevate the program to a formidable DTP; powerful, yet suitable even for a beginner.

CorelPhoto-Paint

This is a feature-rich application for painting and for retouching photographs. It sports an extensively reworked interface that now conforms more closely with that of the CorelDRAW program. Its new floating toolbox and Roll-up Menus also perform in similar fashion.

New Roll-Ups in CorelPHOTO-PAINT include Color Selection, Tool Settings, Canvas, Fill Settings, and Bitmap Textures. Rotations and distortions have been added to its Transform capabilities and an improved text tool permits text to be entered in a DRAW-like "Enter Text" dialog box. Adding depth and ease of accessibility to functions, most of the toolbox buttons have more tools associated with them. A new masking tool allows you to work on selected areas of an image without affecting the area outside of the mask. Inside the mask, you may work with multiple tools.

Further expanding its special effects capabilities, you will now find an artist brush, a pointillist brush, and an impressionist brush. The impressionist and pointillist effects have also been added as cloning options.

Other new features include improved screen and printer calibration capabilities, splitting and combining channels, printing color separations, creating custom circuits and response curves. It is important to note that CorelPHOTO-PAINT is TWAIN (Technology Without an Independent Name) compliant, thus is it able to access scanning devices.

CorelTRACE

Bitmaps, though native to Windows, are unfortunately limited in capability with regard to image manipulation. Their major drawback is their fixed resolution which results in jaggedness when the image is rotated or enlarged or if it is viewed or printed in high resolution. CorelTRACE converts bitmap images into compressed vector format, a format which gives artwork smooth lines regardless of the resolution. Furthermore, vector images take up less disk space and print faster than bitmap images.

CorelTRACE has been significantly upgraded in CorelDRAW 4. The Batch File Roll-up makes its first appearance along with improvements in batch tracing. There are several new tracing methods including WoodCut, Silhouette, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and Form. The Pick, the Magic Wand, the Zoom, the Color Selection, and the Eyedropper tools are all brand new to the program. CorelTRACE is now TWAIN compliant, rounding out its new capabilities very nicely.

CorelMOSAIC

No graphics package would be complete without a method to easily catalogue and view graphic images. CorelMOSAIC is the application that fills that role in this package.

 An excellent visual image file manager, CorelMOSAIC can not only catalogue and display thumbnails (small bitmapped reproductions) of your graphic files, it is also capable of managing text and sound files. Optionally, file information can be viewed in text format. Graphic files are managed by storing them as a Library or a Catalogue in compressed form, allowing you to remove the originals from your hard drive, thus saving space. Files stored in this manner can easily be expanded for use whenever it is desirable.

CorelMOSAIC provides print, moving and editing functions for individual files and also performs batch printing, importing and conversion. Multiple windows can be displayed, permitting easy "drag 'n drop" functionality for quickly moving, copying or expanding files among several directories, catalogues, or libraries simultaneously. All graphic images can be viewed from within their associated applications by simply double-clicking on the thumbnail or filename. This program is also designed to view and convert files from a Photo CD disk.

CorelMOVE

Making its debut in the CorelDRAW package, CorelMOVE is an impressive tool for the creation of simple or complex animations. Simulating the traditional frame-by-frame process, the user may create and import the actors, props and sound to be used in an animation or may draw upon the rich library of resources that are included.

Every imaginable aspect of the creation and running of an animation is easily controlled by way of the Timeline Roll-up. Thorough online help is provided to walk step by step through the process and a finished sample is provided to illustrate the possibilities. This interface greatly simplifies what otherwise can be a most difficult process, providing controls that direct the actors path, organize the order and length of presentation of individual cels and tie sound to the animation with precise cues and playback options.

CorelCHART

CorelCHART is a program designed to build and display graphical representations of data. Several welcome improvements are evident in this upgrade.

In addition to offering the basic chart types - line, bar, and pie, CorelCHART produces magnificent three dimensional charts. Charts can be built by pasting or importing spreadsheet or ASCII data, or by entering data directly into its Data Manager. A major improvement in this version is the addition of full-featured spreadsheet capability to the Data Manager. These features include over 45 mathematical and financial formulas, the ability to "tie" together cell values, data sorting capability and a Search and Replace function. There are new cell formatting features provided and data can now be printed directly from the Data Manager. Multiple data managers can be open at the same time allowing easy cutting and pasting.

CorelCHART is an OLE server, so charts can be linked into other documents. It is also DDE compliant so it will support data links with existing spreadsheet files created in other DDE-supportive applications.

Facilitating the accomplishment of a polished product, CorelCHART uses CorelDRAW's print dialogue box which permits previewing and resizing. It also shares all of CorelDRAW's fill features, including color palettes, pattern, fountain, and texture fills.

CorelSHOW

To complete this immense package of graphical tools, CorelSHOW provides the means to create multi-media presentations.

CorelSHOW uses new editing cues and graphical timelines to produce multi-media presentations more efficiently. The insertion of editing cues provides a way to easily cut quickly to different points of a presentation. Graphical timelines give visual representations of the occurrence and duration of each slide's appearance in the presentation, and when and how long a frame will appear in each slide. Both tools quite effectively aid in speeding production time. Transition effects can now be added to each object within a slide, and animations created in CorelMOVE can be played within a CorelSHOW frame. This powerful new feature can greatly increase the impact of a presentation.

Covering All Bases

CorelDRAW! 4 is decidedly the top of the line in graphical packages. Assembled here together are very capable tools for executing virtually any graphical task. Though there are other available individual applications that perform some specific tasks more adroitly, for example: Auto-CAD for precision drawing, there are none that cover all the bases as completely as CorelDRAW! 4.

If you are seeking to acquire the widest possible expanse of graphical abilities housed within a single package, then you need look no further. I have found CorelDRAW! 4 to be invaluable and I highly recommend it to everyone.

CorelDRAW! 4.0

List Price:  $595.00

for further information please contact:

Corel Corporation

1600 Carling Avenue

Ottawa

Ontario, Canada KIZ8R7

800-836-3729

fax 613-761-9176

written by

Steven Jay Cohen


       INTELLIGENT COMMUNICATIONS CARDS

by Randy Wong

Intelligent Communications Cards

Are you ready to make that leap of speed? With the appearance of V.Fast Class (V.FC) modems, we are getting closer to the switch from the 14.4 Kbps standard, called V.32bis, to the new and higher 28.8 Kbps standard of V. Fast, also called V.34. The V.FC modulation enables modems to communicate at speeds up to 28.8 Kbps prior to the finalization of the V.Fast standard. Another stepping stone in-between the V.32bis and the V.34 standard, is V.32terbo that supports up to 19.2 Kbps. One of the problems that we will be facing that will be outside of our control is the quality of the telephone lines. With speeds reaching up to 28.8 Kbps, the high speed modulation techniques must use a wider bandwidth within our telephone line systems. As our data travels at higher speeds, it will be more sensitive to line noises and other telephone line defects. In time, that will change. The problem that I am looking at, is the data flow into our computers. Can we handle the increase in data flow, and still maintain productivity in the foreground?

Most of us have been equipping ourselves with the 16550AFN buffered Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART) chip. Combining this 16 byte First In - First Out (FIFO) buffered UART chip with a special Windows driver, such as TurboCom, most of the high speed disasters have been avoided. With the new increase in data flow into the computer, will this current serial port/Windows driver be enough? In some cases, this will be fine for those who would sit and watch files being transfered. For the active users, this combination will not do. There are several ways of releasing the constraint the UART chip is under. One remedy is to route the high speed modem through the parallel port. In my case, I took another route. I wanted to explore the area of enhancing the serial ports, thus leaving my printer alone. Testing with a Hayes OPTIMA V.FC 28.8 modem, I went to work.

Hayes ESP Communications Accelerator 2.0

  The Hayes ESP Communication Accelerator Version 2.0 is a single enhanced serial board. It is a 16-bit half size board that will fit in either an 8-bit or 16-bit slot. You get two 1024 byte FIFO buffers for sending and receiving. A special Hayes proprietary processor manages the buffers, flow control, and system interface. This board is capable of  handling speed up to 921.2 Kbps and a serial port setting of 115.2 Kbps. The ESP will appear to applications as a 16550 UART, but with a 1K receive and a 1K send buffer. There are three jumpers to set the Base Address and ten selectable IRQs. Leaving the card set for the default and slipping it into a slot was all it took. The ESP supports COM1 through COM4. Windows 3.0 and Windows 3.1 drivers are included. A Windows setup is used to install the drivers and configure the ESP card. The standard Windows Comm.Drv is replaced with an enhanced version to work with the ESP card. The warranty is two years.

Hayes ESP 2.0 is priced at $99., a two port version coming soon for $149.

Telcor T/Port and T/PortTwin

  The Telcor T/Port is a single intelligent serial board, while the T/PortTwin is a two port version. Both cards are 8-bit half size boards. On the back of the card, there is a RESET switch. This is used to clear the buffers and reset the card. Jumpers are used to set the Base Address. Switches control the setting for COM1 through COM4 and 5 IRQ settings on the T/Port card, while jumpers control the COM and IRQ settings on the T/PortTwin card. You get 16 Kbytes of receive buffers and 14 Kbytes of transmit buffers. The Telcor cards appear to applications as a 16450 UART, but with greater buffer capacity. The serial port supports settings up to 115.2 Kbps. A proprietary processor controls each port. In the case of the T/PortTwin, there are two onboard processors. These processors control the buffers, flow control, and system interface. I installed the card into the first available slot using the default settings and I was ready to go. There is no setup or install program. All you do is copy the Windows driver to the Windows/Systems directory. You have to edit the System.ini file to replace the Comm.Drv statement with the Telcor communication driver. Restart Windows, and you should be in business. A special feature of the Telcor drivers is that in Windows, the T/Port and T/PortTwin do not use an IRQ nor does it use a DMA channel. The warranty is five years.

T/Port (single port) is priced at $99. and the T/PortTwin (two ports) is $139.

DigiBoard 2Port

 The DigiBoard 2Port is a two port smart serial board. It is a 16-bit full size board that will fit in a 16-bit slot. You get two 8 Kbytes FIFO buffers for sending and receiving. It uses an Intel 80186-8 processor to manage the buffers, flow control, and system interface, and has 64 Kbytes of dual ported RAM for storing data in the receive buffers. This board is capable of a serial port setting of 115.2 Kbps. The 2Port will appear to applications as a 16550 UART, but with a 8K receive and a 8K send buffer. Setting up the Base Address with the switches was easy. The 2Port supports COM1 through COM9. A setup is used to install the drivers and configure the 2Port card. For the dual ported RAM, you will have to decide what size memory window you want. It can be either 8K or 64K. Using either one will cost you no performance loss. I chose the smaller of the two, 8K. The mapping of the memory address between C000H and EFFFH for this 8K memory window was not an easy task. For some users, it would be a breeze, but not for someone like me. The quickest way was to pull out my old Manifest program and see what upper memory address was available. I found that memory address D400H was free. Finally, if you are using any Extended Memory Manager, you must now exclude the memory you have just taken. Unlike the other cards, 2Port lets you use other drivers to handle either port. The warranty is five years.

DigiBOARD 2Port is priced at $299.

All boards, for the most part, performed well with the Hayes OPTIMA V.FC modem. Problems encountered were mainly the manner in which the Hayes modem would connect with another Hayes OPTIMA V.FC, a factor decided by the quality of the telephone line. Once connected, data transfer on compressed files was amazingly fast. While opening Word 6.0a and editing a large WinOnLine Review source document file, data transferring in the background did not pause. While paging in Word, the Hayes ESP affected me with some jerky movements, with activity lacking the usual smoothness. The Telcor T/PortTwin and DigiBoard 2Port showed little or no signs of slowing me down. Background transfer did begin to falter and finally stopped for service when moving several megabytes of files. Three megabytes seems to be the limit for the larger buffer cards. When switching to check the communication application, there was no data loss or error. Just for fun, I tested the usual Windows limitation and was unable to complete a format of a diskette before data transferring paused for service. Data transmission did resume when the format was completed. The Telcor T/PortTwin did show some signs of not reinitializing a modem correctly when using some communication programs.

 The Telcor T/PortTwin and the DigiBoard 2Port were my favorites. Telcor T/PortTwin less expensive price tag, a processor for each serial port, and large buffers makes it a good choice. The DigiBoard 2Port is expensive, but the solid design and performance makes up the difference. Using the Standard Intel 80186 processor for serving 2 ports and a large buffer helps pick up the slack. Making the deal even more favorable, Windows, NT, and OS/2 drivers are available now.

The next time you start faxing or transferring files and your multitasking system slows down, consider this: There are solutions for offloading work from your CPU.

For more information, please contact:

Hayes Microcomputer P.O. Box 105203 Atlanta, GA 30348-5203 (404) 840-9200 Fax: (404) 441-1213	Telcor Systems Corporation 4 Strathmore Road Natick, MA 01760 (508) 653-3995 Sales: (800) 826-2938 Fax: (508) 651-0065	Digi International d.b.a. DigiBoard 6400 Flying Cloud Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (612) 943-9020 Fax: (612) 943-5398
Written by:

Randy Wong


       TAMI TALKS WORDPERFECT

by Tami Brydone-Jack

Writing the "Great American Novel"

I'll start off by saying that I can't help you get past the "writer's block" that plagues us all from time to time, but I can help make formatting and editing much easier with WordPerfect.

While this is a part of WordPerfect that is more advanced than other topics I may normally cover; through my on-line "conversations" with a fellow writer, I discovered that this was a topic that requires an in-depth discussion. As always, if there are any aspects of WordPerfect that you would like to see covered, please let me know, and I will endeavor to cover those topics.

My recommendation for a novel or any other type of long document (more than 50 pages or so) is to use the Master/Sub-Document feature found in WordPerfect. This is a little-known feature of WordPerfect, but one of those "gems" that make WordPerfect stand out in my opinion. While I do not write fiction, I write customized training manuals for my clients. This feature can be used for a number of different types of documents, including catalogs, Wills, contracts, manuals, and yes, books.

Spell-checking, editing, opening or saving a long document can take a lot of time. It is much easier to do those things to a small document.

Credit, where credit is due...thank you Casablanca for giving us some of the very best lines ever spoken.

"Of all the gin-joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine..."

So, this sounds like a great idea, but how exactly do you go about doing this? First of all, a sub-document is nothing more than a WordPerfect document. Each chapter would be its own document, so for example, you could name Chapter One "WLDSTRM.C01"; Chapter Two could be "WLDSTRM.C02"; and so on. Each of these documents can be edited and spell-checked individually. If you wish a Table of Contents and an index in the book, be sure to mark those items in the documents. Normally, each chapter should start on an odd-numbered page, so the very first code to put into a chapter (or new document) should be "Force Page-Odd." [Layout, Page, Force, Odd]. Don't set your page numbering position in the chapters, that will be taken care of in the Master Document.

To mark text for the Table of Contents (each chapter title), block the text, choose Tools, Table of Contents, Mark 1.

To create an index, you have two choices. You can either mark each word individually (time-consuming), or you can create what is called a concordance file to be used in the master document. A concordance file is nothing more than yet another WordPerfect document which is full of key-words you wish referenced in the index. Defining the Table of Contents and Indices are outlined below."You played it for her, play it for me..."

Now that all of the chapters are completed, it is time to create the master document. This is also a separate document. In our example, we will name it "WLDSTRM.MST." This document will contain very little actual text; perhaps only the title page, and then the rest will be codes such as page numbering format and position, font information, a definition for the Table of Contents, references to each individual sub-document, and the index definition.

First, type the title of the book on a separate page and also type any dedications, acknowledgments, etc. on their own page. Then define the page numbering format to be used throughout the book. Next step is to define the Table of Contents. To define the Table of Contents, move the cursor to where you want the Table of Contents to be, and choose Tools, Table of Contents, Define and proceed to choose the Table of Contents options that you will be using in the book.

Next step is to reference all of the sub-documents. To do this, choose File, Master Document, Sub-document, Include and select each sub-document in turn.

If you are using an index in the book, and are using the concordance file (recommended), choose Tools, Index, Define and select the name of the concordance file. If you are not using the concordance file, choose Tools, Index, Define and proceed to select the index definition options that you are going to use for the book.

"This could be the start of a beautiful friendship..."

Now, all that is left is to generate the master document. To generate the entire document, choose Tools, Generate. This will generate all Table of Contents, sub-documents and indices. When the Master Document is generated, the entire document will be ready to print in its final form. The expanded master document does not have to be saved, since all sub-documents and the master document have been previously saved. With each revision, the Master document only has to be re-generated and re-printed in order for it to be updated with any revisions that are necessary.

written by

Tami Brydone-Jack


       WORD 6.0 PROOFING TOOLS

by Ed Hoffman

The new Word for Windows 6.0 is certainly a powerful word processor. Having upgraded from version 2.0, I was pleasantly surprised to see the extensive positive changes. Almost any feature you could ever hope for in a word processor can now be found in this program. However, despite these great forward strides, there remains an area where it could have been made more powerful. Specifically, I would have liked a greater expansion of the spelling checker and thesaurus.

Fortunately, there is a remedy for this limitation in Word's proofing tools. That remedy is the new versions of the Alki Comprehensive Thesaurus and Comprehensive Spelling add-ons for Word 6.0. Having used the earlier versions of these add-ons for Word 2.0, I was delighted to see these new releases. As before, these add-ons certainly qualify as "gotta have" additions for anyone using Word for Windows 6.0.

Comprehensive Thesaurus

The thesaurus included with Word for Windows 6.0 has a good array of synonyms, enjoying the addition of a significant number of new entries to the list. This improved built-in thesaurus may indeed be sufficient for many writing tasks. However, when you need to find just the right word for your writing, you'll appreciate the expanded capabilities of the Comprehensive Thesaurus.

The basic thesaurus furnished with Word for Windows 6.0 has approximately 450,000 synonyms in its base list. The Comprehensive Thesaurus expands this list to approximately 600,000 synonyms by adding an additional 150,000 synonyms. Surprisingly, the list of additional synonyms are actually useful words. Rather than expanding the thesaurus with useless words you'll never use, the Comprehensive Thesaurus actually adds functionality and not just bulk. The word NEWS, (the scoop. the goods, headlines, data, knowledge, revelation, itemization, message, copy, communication, release, dispatch, telegram) for example, has thirteen more synonyms in the Comprehensive Thesaurus than found in the standard Word thesaurus.

One feature new to this version of the Comprehensive Thesaurus is a very handy Pop-Up window. In addition to the usual window, the program gives you the option of a small pop-up window that shows the synonyms right beside the word in question. If you want to find a synonym quickly, simply highlight the word. Then holding the CTRL key down, click the right mouse button. A window appears beside the word with all the listed synonyms. Click on the word you want in the list and the word is instantly changed in your document.

If you decide to go to the regular thesaurus, the last item in the listed words is Thesaurus. Simply click this word and the regular thesaurus window opens. The pop-up window lists all available synonyms, related words, and antonyms contained in the regular thesaurus window. This pop-up feature is really a time saver and has certainly changed the way I use the thesaurus.

Comprehensive Spelling Dictionary

The built-in spell checker in Word for Windows 6.0 is also a very useful proofing tool. Like the Thesaurus, this tool has also been improved for version 6.0. The Comprehensive Spelling Dictionary program expands upon this by adding an additional 83,400 words to the built-in list. Here again, the basic spell checker is adequate for most general purpose work, but specialized correspondence or documents can be troublesome. To help with this problem the words added to the spell checker with the Comprehensive Spelling Dictionary are specialized medical, legal, business, financial, and insurance terms.

Installing and using these new proofing tools is also very easy. Simply type SETUP and the programs both install in your WinWord directory. The Comprehensive Thesaurus and the Comprehensive Spelling Dictionary both operate from Word's normal Tools menu items. The only difference is the increased number of words available to you. If you find that the limitations of the built-in thesaurus and spell checker are a problem for you, or if you simply want more power in Word for Windows 6.0, these programs are definitely worth your consideration.

Comprehensive Thesaurus

List price: $39.95

Comprehensive Spelling Dictionary

List Price: $69.95

available from:

Alki Software Corporation

300 Queene Anne Ave. North, #410

Seattle, WA  98109-9803

1-206-286-2600  (Voice)

1-206-286-2785  (FAX)

written by

Ed Hoffman


       LEARNING BY VIDEO TAPE

by Ed Hoffman

Each person seems to learn best in one of three different ways. The Pioneers, like myself, jump headfirst into a program, braving the deep waters and paddling frantically to stay afloat. Eventually, we sink or swim. The Bookworms are deep into the documentation before they even crack the license agreement envelope, coping with alien terms in unfamiliar territory, struggling desperately to comprehend the conceptual. Finally, the Missourians require illustration: Show Me. Enter -- the videotape.

There have been programs that include video and audio tapes as supplements to their documentation. The aftermarket is full of supplementary books to help you learn more about popular programs, and so my bookshelf bows under their weight. These can be helpful, but some more exotic concepts are best be explained to everyone using the Missourian Method. Recently, I decided to view a video designed to help you maximize your use of an old favorite, and judge its effectiveness.

Anyone who has experimented with Word for Windows in any of its versions knows that this is definitely a program that takes word processing to an entirely new level. Quite possibly the simplest way to learn to use the power of Word for Windows to your advantage is with video tapes. These tapes show you step-by-step processes and procedures that you can either follow exactly or modify to suit you specific requirements.

One activity that Word for Windows is well suited to perform is desktop publishing. However, unless you know some of the shortcuts and techniques, desktop publishing can be quite an intimidating task. The simplest way to overcome many of the obstacles in desktop publishing with Word for Windows 2.0 is with the Word for Windows: Desktop Publishing with Style video tape from LearnKey.

This tape offers a variety of very insightful and entertaining examples to show you how to perform a variety of desktop publishing tasks. The host of the program, Daniel Will-Harris, offers many useful suggestions and tips with a style guaranteed to keep your attention. Starting with the basic setup of the Word for Windows program, Daniel takes you through a series of lessons covering a wide range of typical desktop publishing activities. Unlike many other tapes I have seen, this tape actually makes learning desktop publishing fun. Using an inventive and almost irreverent approach to the topic, Daniel makes the two hours of instruction seem to fly by. Though humorous and very entertaining, the tape does do a good job of introducing and explaining the fundamental aspects of desktop publishing with Word for Windows. So, while you may find yourself chuckling at times, nevertheless at the end, you'll have gained a lot more confidence with what you can do in desktop publishing.

Starting with the basic setup and arrangement of Word for Windows, the program quickly moves to several of the features that are well suited for desktop publishing tasks. The tape explains and illustrates several of the built-in macros and processes used for installing and using these time savers. Likewise, native Windows TrueType fonts and a few added fonts included on the accompanying disk are also explained. There is a brief tutorial on setting up your NORMAL.DOT file and working with other templates.

Each of the lessons covers a specific type of form or publication that you can use as is, or modify to suit your needs. Among these examples are an Efficient FAX Form, a Schedule, an Overhead Presentation, and a Newsletter. Each of these examples was selected and designed to point out the various features of Word for Windows 2.0 and how each feature is accomplished. Throughout these lessons you'll learn to setup and use tables, columns, headers, footers, special characters, and symbols. You'll also be exposed to the techniques used in importing and sizing graphics, text and lines.

The tape is a very good investment, and you'll undoubtedly want to keep it close so you can refer back to it often. Though this specific tape is specifically written to suit Word for Windows 2.0, many of the tips and techniques illustrated will also be useful for the newer version 6.0 of the program. I will be interested in seeing a newer version that demonstrates the additional power in version 6.0.

The lesson from this adventure is that video tapes can be a valuable learning tool for both myself and others, regardless of their primary learning habits. Speciality areas, such as desktop publishing and other visually oriented tasks can especially benefit from this medium.

Word for Windows: Desktop Publishing with Style

List price: $49.95

available from:

LearnKey, Inc.

93 South Mountain Way Drive

Orem, UT  84058

1-801-224-8210

written by

Ed Hoffman


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