#: 68489 S10/WPCorp News/Info 06-Jul-88 00:06:30 Sb: 7/1 Maintenance Release Fm: Pete Peterson (WPCorp) 72067,3552 To: All There is a new version of WP5.0 dated 7/1/88 which we are calling the first maintenance release. The software is available free of charge to authorized 5.0 users. If you call or write WPCorp or SoftCopy (81 N. State Street, Orem, Utah 84057) (800/222-9409- SoftCopy, 800/321-4566-Orders, 800/321-5906-Support, or 801/225-5000-Info Services), we will send the maintenance release via US Mail (which, believe it or not, is faster than UPS). In your letter (or during your phone call) be sure to mention your license number (if you ordered a 5.0 update, use your license number from 4.2 or 4.1), your media, your printer or printers, and of course your name, address, and phone number. You can also order the update via CompuServe by sending an Easyplex request to Mary Jo Rench at 71531,3331. If you have ordered Bitstream Fontware already, the maintenance release will be included *without your having to request it*. This should start shipping the end of this week. The maintenance release includes WP1, WP2, PTR, Conversion, and the requested printer drivers. If you work in an office with more than one copy of 5.0, we would sincerely appreciate your ordering one copy of the new release and using these diskettes to update all authorized copies in your office. We already have more than 300,000 copies of 5.0 out there, so any help in reducing the number of copies we have to ship is very appreciated. I don't have a list of the changes to the software, but I hope to post one soon. This version does have much cleaner printer definitions, and solves the CONVERT.EXE problems reported on the forum, and the Text In/Out problems. It also fixes the spacing problems with the Postscript printers. Pete #: 69046 S10/WPCorp News/Info 07-Jul-88 22:58:08 Sb: #Latest Release Fm: Pete Peterson (WPCorp) 72067,3552 To: All I did talk to Don LaVange today to find out what was in the latest release. There are a lot of little things, but also a couple of surprises. The Text In/Out problems closing files is fixed. The Interrupt 7F call we were making to check for that IBM monitor is not made anymore. It was a legal thing to do, but we have worked around it so the Compaq ROM upgrade is no longer necessary, the Hardcard ROM upgrade is no longer necessary, and the network version will work on the ELS network (Novell's Entry Level System is what ELS stands for I believe. I already mentioned it in another message, but from the Alt-F9 (Graphics) key you can now press List Files to see a list of files so you can look around for the graphic file you are trying to find. *And* the "Ignore Words with Numbers" option on the Spell key is back because of popular demand, which proves not all reruns are bad. The network version still didn't ship today, but they are *sure* it will ship tomorrow. We are going to notify all our 5.0 registered and update customers with a postcard explaining the availability of the new release. You can wait for your postcard, or call any of the WPCorp numbers as soon as you want. Pete #: 71310 S10/WPCorp News/Info 16-Jul-88 01:56:06 Sb: 5.0 Software Changes Fm: Pete Peterson (WPCorp) 72067,3552 To: All The maintenance release is now shipping. There are a number of changes. Many have to do with printer definitions. Some are bug fixes, and one change is an enhancement. I'll try and list the important items. WP1 and WP2: A number of bugs were fixed. I won't try to list them all, but here are a couple of examples. "Advancing up or down with 4.2 units did not work properly. The top margin was being added to the number of lines to be advanced, until the conversion to absolute units was made." "Previewing a document while printing would display none for Paper and Location in the Control Printer screen instead of displaying the correct form and sheetfeeder." "The help screen for compose said to press compose and then Alt 127 to get character 127 to show; it no longer says to press compose." In reading through the list of fixes, it looks like the ones mentioned here on the forum have been fixed. Tutor shouldn't hand anymore when run with Sidekick. Files are now closed after using Text In/Out. Extended characters now sort correctly. Postscript printing was changed to take advantage of Postscript capabilities when printing graphics. Some Not Enough Memory errors were eliminated. EPS files now convert properly when retrieved. A few enhancements were included. You can now press List Files after choosing Alt-F9, figure, filename. A graphics image can now be saved from the figure edit screen to any valid path, not just the current path. You can now cancel during a graphics conversion. Toshiba T5100 and T3100 graphics drivers were added. Install.exe Program The install program should not report incorrect file not found messages. Install can now be used to change the config.sys file to files=20 on a floppy drive. The user can now copy the files from specific diskettes, and the learn directory is not created until after the user answers yes to copy the learn diskette. Spell.exe Program 4.2 dictionaries will now convert properly to 5.0 dictionaries. If you plan to convert a 4.2 dictionary, you should request this disk also when you request the maintenance release. Graphenv.exe Program Added "2" as an option for the new /c switch, to force a 2 color image during conversion. The correct error message in a disk full situation will now be displayed. Printer Diskettes 1,2,3,4,7 Changes were made to practically every printer driver. For example, for Postscript printers the "m" character width was changed from 100 to 1000 in Helv Black table. Additional printers were added and a new printer 7 diskette is available. QMS Kiss is on there. Tandy printers are there. Digital LN03 is there. Okidata printers include the 84, 84 (IBM), 92/93, and ML 192. Cosmo World Adeaus CP-2000 is on there. I think were to a point where practically all of the 4.2 printers now have 5.0 drivers. Sheetfeeders now include BDT MF 850, Diablo Single/Dual/Envelope, HP 2603A 3 Bin, Mechanical, BDT MF 830, DG 6321, Nec 3550 Single/Dual, Citizen (Dual Bin), NEC P5, Paperpro 88, and many more. Two printer diskettes are available for $10 each (you'll probably only want 1 of these at the most). The Printer 5 diskette replaces the WP 4.2 "HP Utility Disk." It contains two drivers (HP Laserjet+/500+ Additional and HP LaserJet Series II Additional) with support for HP and Bitstream manufactured softfonts in addition to those supported on the Printer 1 diskette. Additional fonts support are AA, AB, AG, RA, RB, TA, TB, UA and UB. Also, the CenterPiece Tax and Accounting and JetFont 4-in-one cartridges are supported. The Printer 6 diskette is a utility disk for Postscript printers which has been available for a few weeks. Changes were made to incorrect character widths and the addition of missing widths. Pologue was updated so that Bitstream's package will work correctly. The files were updated to the new PTR format. 12 point fonts in WP will now match 12 point fonts in other applications. ITC Zapf Dingbat fonts were added to the user defined character set. Some of you may not agree with the $10 charge. If you would like to complain, I'm the one to disagree with. I feel that the package should come with the basic printer diskettes, but that it is impractical to ship every diskette we ever produce. If you have a friendly dealer in your area, they should have copies of these diskettes, and should be willing to let you copy them at no charge. We're not trying to make money with these, so we don't mind having the files available in one of the DLs. We only want to cover our costs. Pete #: 71315 S10/WPCorp News/Info 16-Jul-88 01:57:44 Sb: 5.0 Release Dates Fm: Pete Peterson (WPCorp) 72067,3552 To: All My understanding is that the "official" 5.0 release date is July 11 for WP1 and WP2. Not all of the diskettes are labeled this date, however. Don't be worried if your printer diskette has a 7/1 date. All diskettes should be dated 7/1 or later, and the WP1 and WP2 should be dated July 11. If you received a maintenance release with an earlier date, please call in again and request the latest stuff. Next week we should be shipping a full set of diskettes to all our dealers. You can make copies from their diskettes if you are authorized to use 5.0. You can call our order department at 800/321-4566 or SoftCopy 800/222-9409 and order the disks if you don't want to wait for the postcard we hope to ship this coming week. The phones are improving a lot. It looks like the worst is over. Support has added quite a few people. The hold times are coming down. It is easier to get through early and late in the day. They do have much better information now than they did two or three weeks ago. When you call now, they almost always know if a problem you are having is your error, a limitation in the program, a fixed bug, or an unfixed bug. We very much appreciate your patience and support throughout this ordeal. It is very nice to see large sales number, but it is even better to get out of the huge hole we made for ourselves when we shipped so many copies all at once. Pete