[HEA] _____________________ ___ _ |___ ______________| | | | | | | _ | | | | | || | | | | | | || | | | | | | || | | | ____ _ _ _ _ ______ | | | || | | | / __ \ | | / \_/ \ | ___ \ | | | || |__ ____ | | / / \ | | /\ /\ \ | | \ \ | | | || _ \ | _ \ | | \ \__/ | | | |_|| | | |__/ / | | | || | | || |_|| | | \___/|_| |_| |_| | ____/ |_| | || | | || |__ | |____________________ | | _ |__||_| |_|\____/ |________________________| | | |_| | | Lighting Your Apple II Path On Delphi | | |_| >>> WELCOME TO THE LAMP! <<< ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE VIRTUAL ][: Using Zip Disks To Improve Your Dog's Image SUDDENLY SOFTWARE: Disk Access II 2.0 AND THE BEST OF THE A2 AND A2PRO MESSAGE BOARDS "Teaching the Apple II user how to fish since 1998" :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: The Lamp! An Onipa'a Software Production Vol. 1, No. 12 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Publisher & Editor.......................Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W., L.S.W. Internet Email....................................thelamp@sheppyware.net :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: TABLE OF CONTENTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 15, 1998 OPENING PITCH Spoiled By Perfection ------------------------------------------ [OPN] A FUNNY THING HAPPENED [FOR] The Heat Is On ------------------------------------------------- [HET] Miscellanea [MSC] Rumor Mill ----------------------------------------------------- [RMR] Public Postings [PUB] Best Of The Best ----------------------------------------------- [BOB] A2Pro_DUCTIVITY Checking out A2PRO on Delphi ----------------------------------- [A2P] THE VIRTUAL ][ Using Zip Disks To Improve Your Dog's Image -------------------- [TVT] SUDDENLY SOFTWARE Disk Access II v2.0 by Seven Hills Solutions Specialists Corp. - [SUS] EXTRA INNINGS About The Lamp! ------------------------------------------------ [INN] [*] [*] [*] READING THE LAMP! The index system used by The Lamp! is designed to make """"""""""""""""" your reading easier. To use this system, load this issue into any word processor or text editor. In the index you will find something like: EXTRA INNINGS About The Lamp! ------------------------------------------------ [INN] To read this article, simply use your search or find command to locate [INN]. There is a similar tag at the end of each article: [EOA]. :: DISCUSSED ON DELPHI :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: : : : I'm more humble than you are. : : : ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: TONYW1 :::::::: [EOA] [OPN]------------------------------ OPENING PITCH | ----------------------------------- From The Editor """"""""""""""" by Ryan M. Suenaga, B.A., M.S.W., L.S.W. [thelamp@sheppyware.net] SPOILED BY PERFECTION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Like many island residents, I'm a big fan of women's college volleyball. Between three of the teams in the islands (University of Hawai'i, Brigham Young University Hawai'i, and Hawai'i Pacific University), it's a virtual certainty at least one of them will win a national championship and all will be ranked in their respective national top tens. So it was no surprise this year when the women of HPU won the NCAA Division II championship, yet it seemed a disappointment when the Rainbow Wahine were eliminated in a NCAA Division I Regional Final--meaning they were only one of the top eight teams in the nation. It seems ironic--people are disappointed when you're only number eight. The Rainbow football team ended this season without a win and with an eighteen game losing streak. If somehow they became number eight in the nation next year, the whole town would be ecstatic, not disappointed. Perhaps it's another case of not realizing what you have, and being spoiled by having been the best--is it really true that nothing else comes close? Not eight years ago, the Rainbow Football team ended the season number 20 in the nation, and we were still disappointed then. We'd be more than happy now. Those of us who still compute with an Apple II at this late date can be disappointed over what we don't have--we don't have a head-to-head competitor with _Netscape Navigator_ or _Microsoft Internet Explorer_. We don't have a national magazine that is sold on newsstands or a huge multimillion member user base. Or we can appreciate what we do have. We have dedicated developers who give every second of time they can spare to squeeze even more out of a computer the general public has long abandoned. We have publications which cut the fat and give the leanest news the Apple II community has to offer. And of course, we have Delphi, which serves as the glue for the electronic scrapbooks we each have a page in. More than twenty years after the birth of the Apple II, we're no longer spoiled by perfection. But considering all we have, I'm more than happy. [*] [*] [*] Hey Mr. Postman Department: For some unknown reason, the account at Delphi which is dedicated to email for _The Lamp!_, thelamp@delphi.com, is not working. I am not sure if this is a temporary or permanent situation at this point. In any case, at least for now, please direct any correspondence regarding this publication to our new email address: thelamp@sheppyware.net. [*] [*] [*] So Many Projects, So Little Time Department: For a dead computer platform, the Apple II sure keeps me busy, so busy in fact that I seriously considered skipping a December issue to devote more time to another Apple II project of mine, the set of scripts I'm working on to use with _ProTERM 3.1_ to automate Delphi message passes, what experience online service users know as an "offline reader", or "OLR" for short. However, since I'm not always in the mood for scripting, I took a few days away from that project to work on this one--the December 1998 issue of _The Lamp!_. This marks the conclusion of the first volume of what has become of The Publication Formerly Known As _GenieLamp A2_, and I'm more than happy with what we've produced. I'm planning on continuing to edit this newsletter through 1999, although I'd certainly like to start grooming a successor so I can go to work on even more of my other Apple II projects. Yes, that's a hint--applications are welcome, via email to thelamp@sheppyware.net. Happy Holidays all. I'll see you again in the new year. Ryan thelamp@sheppyware.net ASCII ART BEGINS _________ _ _ _ |__ __| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |___ ____ | | _____ __ ___ _ _ _____ | | | | | ___ \ / __ \ | | /____ \ | v v | | v ___ \ | | | | | | | | | /__\ \ | | ____| | | /\ /\ | | / \ \ | | | | | | | | | _____| | | / ___ | | || || | | | | | |_| | | | | | | | |_____ | |____ | |__| | | || || | | \___/ / _ |_| |_| |_| \______| |______| \____^_| |_||_||_| | |\____/ |_| | | | | |_| ASCII ART ENDS [EOA] [OPN]------------------------------ A FUNNY THING HAPPENED. . . . | ----------------------------------- Checking out A2 on Delphi """"""""""""""""""""""""" by Ryan M. Suenaga, B.A., M.S.W., L.S.W. [thelamp@sheppyware.net] * The Heat Is On * Miscellanea * Rumor Mill * Public Postings * Best Of The Best THE HEAT IS ON """""""""""""" [*] Entertainment Software ....... The GShisen Beat Goes On [*] Vendors & Tech Support ....... New Spectrum, GSoft & WebWorks [*] Hardware Hacker ....... Floppy Drive Troubles [*] Telecommunications ....... More With Marinetti MISCELLANEA """"""""""" HACKING THE FOCUS CARD FROM BY DREMEL KING The Focus Driver and the 20MB """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Focus. There are some full size 20MB Focus drives in existence. These are not part of this issue. The incompatibilities are with the Focus 20 that has the Kittyhawk drive installed. There are two types of these, those bought a long time ago and those bought not as long ago. There was a period of only using the large (standard 2.5" drives) That separates the two types. If your drive has the Focus driver installed (blinking square in upper right corner during drive access) it is compatible. ALL of the early ones and a few of the later drives are not compatible. Mostly, when able, the incompatible drives were sold for the //e in the later set. The way to tell if you have a newer or older one is by way of the drive connection to the card. On the original series the drives are attached and you can see pins at a 45 degree angle, on the newer ones the drive is attached to a connector on the card that is at a 45 degree angle. You can upgrade the drive size on an older card by simply replacing the drive and adding the metal mounting rails. On the newer 20 Meg drive you can not (well, you could) just attach the drive to the card. (As the drive would then block all slots because it is at a right angle to the card). That is why the Focus Zero (Controller and mounting rails) is the same cost as a 20MB drive. The 20MB drive does not contain the rails and will not accept a standard drive without blocking all the slots. (Which will work for those with completely stock systems. No Zip, no TWGS, no nothing. :( If you want to try the driver with a drive type, although, chances are if you got the drive without it, it's not compatible. (Unless its in a //e, you don't know) install the driver (from the 3.5" floppy or web site) into the system folder and reboot. IF your drive starts clicking halfway through the boot stage. Get a System Disk 5 or 6 startup disk and from the Finder, remove the driver from the system folder. Tip for upgrading/changing drive types: The Focus controller as is supports up to 2GB, 40 Partitions. When partitioning the new drive at the point you are prompted to type the word FORMAT, hit Open-Apple RETURN instead. (Like formatting a floppy from Finder). It will skip the long and un-needed low level format. Unless the IDE drive your using was having bad block problems in it's prior use (and you shouldn't be using that thing anyway) you do not need to low level format the drive. Tony (T_DIAZ, 17949, GO COM A2) EPSON STYLUS VS. HP DESKJET FOR THE IIGS I've received a couple of """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" reports from folks who have successfully used an Epson Stylus with a IIGS. The two things they had in common were: They were using one of Harmonie's Epson LQ drivers. They connected the Stylus to a parallel interface card. The results were the same: They were NOT able to print in color from GS/OS. They were able to print in color from Print Shop GS. So, perhaps the best term to use when it comes to describing how the Stylus and IIGS interact is "limited compatibility." I don't know what the pricing is like these days outside the San Francisco Bay Area, but quite a few large chain stores near me (Good Guys, Office Depot) are blowing out the Hewlett-Packard DeskJet 400 for, are you sitting down, $89. As wonderful as those Epson Stylus printers are when used on other platforms, it's the DeskJet IMHO that offers the most IIGS compatibility. And, 89 bucks is just unbelievably great pricing. Joe Kohn (JOE_KOHN, 17909, GO COM A2) THE DEAN'S OPINION ON APPLE2.ORG That is such a fun web page. I highly """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it! --- Dean Esmay -- esmay@syndicomm.com (ESMAY, 17253, GO COM A2) OPENING THE DOORS FOR COMPUSERVE REFUGEES I don't know if most people """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" here know, but on December 1, 1998, CompuServe's Apple II forum will no longer be accessible to those who have only an Apple II computer. After that date, if someone wants to access CompuServe's Apple II forum, they'll need a Mac or PC running CompuServe's front-end software. So, I'd like to devote some time during the next few Monday night multi-system chats to help Apple II users on CompuServe find some alternatives. Here's a copy of the message I just posted on CompuServe, offering assistance... The clock is ticking, and in just a few more weeks, those who have only an Apple II computer will no longer be able to access the Apple II Forum on CompuServe. For that reason, I'd like to devote some time at the next few Shareware Solutions II sponsored Monday night multi-system chats to assist those Apple II users remaining on CompuServe to find alternatives. And, by alternatives, I don't mean buying a Mac or PC. If an Apple II is the only computer you have, there are other systems where you can connect. You can "surf the web" on an Apple II. You can access other online networks with an Apple II. Heck, what can't you do with an Apple II? Well, after 12/1/98, you won't be able to connect to CompuServe's Appuse forum. So, you better make your plans now. Friendly and knowledgeable Apple II users will be standing by the next couple of Monday nights to help you make those plans. To attend the chat, just enter Appuse at 10 PM EST and join us in the chat room. Joe Kohn (JOE_KOHN, 17600, GO COM A2) <<<<< My not-so-hidden agenda for Apple II folks on CompuServe is to try """"" to steer them towards an ISP so that they can surf the web using lynx or SIS, and can telnet into Delphi. To my way of thinking, that's the best of all possible worlds, and it only costs approximately $20 a month. So, what I'd like to do before the next Monday night chat is to compile a short list of phone numbers for ISPs that offer shell and ppp access and who are recommended by fellow Apple II owners. Whenever I've asked for recommendations from fellow Apple II users, the two ISPs that keep coming up are Primenet and Concentric. Does anyone else have any other ISPs that they'd recommend? If so, could you post the name here, along with a phone number? Thanks! Joe Kohn (JOE_KOHN, 17678, GO COM A2) >>>>> As we do not yet know what Compuserve will throw at us, or rather """"" remove from us, a Compuserve user should consider these points before looking for a new ISP: If an Apple II user has a Compuserve account, they already have an ISP that supports PPP using Marinetti. Unless they want to be online for an excessive amount of time, a Compuserve account may also prove cheaper per month than a standard ISP. In Compuserve they also have an ISP that can be connected to from anywhere in the world. They just need to find one of the thousands of local Compuserve access nodes in the local telephone directory. But, to use this method of access to the Net, they will need a IIgs, Marinetti 2.0, and for reasonable Telnet connections, a copy of Spectrum 2.2. To access more than Telnet, they will also need FTP clients, mail clients, etc.. These are still in the process of being developed, and are promised fairly soon. To access the Web, they will need SIS 1.1 under Spectrum 2.2, which Geoff estimates is at least two months away. For an Apple II user, or to access Lynx, they will need a new ISP that supports a Unix style shell interface. Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Sat 21 Nov 1998 - 242 days till KFest '99 Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum 2.2 & Crock O' Gold 2.6 Bernie ][ the Rescue 1.3 woofing on a PowerMac 8200/120 http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/ (EWANNOP, 17699, GO COM A2) <<<<< Ewen - As I said over on CompuServe, I'm a guest there, so I can't """"" openly promote another system over there without running afoul of their rules, but... For those who own only an Apple II, CompuServe will not be, IMHO, a very good alternative as an ISP after the switch-over. After all, after establishing a PPP connect with Marinetti or with Spectrum/Marinetti, then what? All Apple IIGS users will be able to do is Telnet to somewhere else. That's why I think it's best to direct Apple II users on CompuServe to get an ISP that offers both a Unix Shell and PPP access. That way, they get to surf the web with lynx, send e-mail with pine, download files with ftp, etc and for $3/month extra, they can telnet here. For you, it's a different story, as you _can_ use CompuServe as a full fledged ISP; folks who have only an Apple II or IIGS can't. Then again, there certainly hasn't been very much panic expressed on Appuse about the upcoming changes and lock-out, so maybe my concerns are overblown? Joe (JOE_KOHN, 17706, GO COM A2) >>>>> I was only giving the options as they exist now and are coming. """"" After making a Marinetti PPP connection with a IIgs to Compuserve, you can then Telnet to a site that supports Lynx, Telnet to any site that supports Telnet. Then very soon, use SIS 1.1 to surf the Web, use Jeff's upcoming mail client to read/write your email, and someone else is doing an FTP client, and someone else a newsreader... What else could you want? :) Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Sun 22 Nov 1998 - 241 days till KFest '99 Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum 2.2 & Crock O' Gold 2.6 Bernie ][ the Rescue 1.3 woofing on a PowerMac 8200/120 http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/ (EWANNOP, 17728, GO COM A2) <<<<< Last night, many hours after turning off my computer for the day, """"" it finally dawned on me that I just hadn't been looking at the big picture, and so I just wasn't understanding the full implications of what you've been saying about using CompuServe as an ISP. What finally dawned on me is that Apple II users on CompuServe, whether making a PPP connect via Marinetti or through a direct dial-up, already have the ability to Telnet to Delphi, a system which does offer a full complement of text-based net applications like lynx, ftp, ping, traceroute, etc. Combine that with CompuServe's worldwide phone network, and I guess that does make CompuServe a semi-workable ISP for Apple II users. Or, at least, it's a way for folks to get to a full service system, such as we have here on Delphi. In any case, today's developments seem to indicate that Apple II users on CompuServe have been given at least a one month reprieve before the Appuse forum is no longer accessible. Joe (JOE_KOHN, 17816, GO COM A2) >>>>> The penny finally dropped! If they already have a Compuserve : """"" account, and they only connect for a few hours a month (using OLRs), it is also cheaper than getting a conventional ISP. :) > What finally dawned on me is that Apple II users on CompuServe, whether > making a PPP connect via Marinetti or through a direct dial-up, already > have the ability to Telnet to Delphi, a system which does offer a full > complement of text-based net applications like lynx, ftp, ping, > traceroute, etc. Yes, but there is a snag here. If they Telnet from Compuserve to Delphi using the direct dial-up link, Compuserve only allows 7-bit Telnet connections. That would be fine for Lynx, and some of the other things, but would not allow any X/Y/Zmodem transfers. If you however make a PPP connection using Marinetti, then there is no problem. This is in fact the route I am currently using to get to Delphi. Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Tue 24 Nov 1998 - 239 days till KFest '99 Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum 2.2 & Crock O' Gold 2.6 Bernie ][ the Rescue 1.3 woofing on a PowerMac 8200/120 http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/ (EWANNOP, 17848, GO COM A2) MORE A2ERS CHIME IN WITH ISP RECOMMENDATIONS As I recall, Seven Hills has """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" recommended Netcom as a good ISP for Apple II users. I don't have a phone number, but I think the web site is: http://www.netcom.com/ Max (JUICEDGS, 17684, GO COM A2) >>>>> Concentric provides the best dial-up service I've ever used (and """"" I've used quite a few). I highly recommend them. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd Macintosh & PowerPC Programmers Forum (SHEPPY, 17689, GO COM A2) >>>>> I'll also chime in for Concentric. They have proven to be very """"" reliable, and if you're into Usenet I don't think you'll find a more complete set of newsgroups anywhere. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Tony Ward, A2 Database Manager - Sun Nov 22, 1998 12:21:18 am [Delivered with Spectrum v2.2 and Crock O' Gold v2.6] -- I'm more humble than you are! (TONYW1, 17717, GO COM A2) >>>>> I'll echo both Tony and Sheppy. If an Apple II user needs a """"" dialup, for 'Net access, they could do a lot worse in terms of price, performance, and coverage area than Concentric. I have an emergency backup dialup ISP (aka the Hawai'i State Library System :) and cable modem arrives here -this week-, the day before Thanksgiving. - Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W., L.S.W. - rsuenaga@apple2.org Editor and Publisher, _The Lamp!_, published monthly on Delphi "Teaching the Apple II user how to fish since 1982" Posted by PTMM v2.5 - The integrated information solution (RSUENAGA, 17725, GO COM A2) GSHISEN CAUSES WORLD ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN, FILM AT ELEVEN After another """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" all-night GShisen marathon, I got curious about something: What is it "randomizing" at the beginning of each new game? The games are numbered so I assume each one will start with the same layout no matter how many times you play it, right? - Tony (TONYW1, 17255, GO COM A2) >>>>> For anyone who's interested.... """"" The game number is the "seed" for randomizing the game. The board is initially loaded in a sequential manner and then the pieces are "randomly" moved 1000 times or so. Any given number will _always_ create the same layout. This allows 2 people to accurately compare times for the same game or hold a contest at KFest where everyone starts off with the same layout. (KWS, 17258, GO COM A2) >>>>> Ok, I admit it. I downloaded GShisen and put it on one of the GS's """"" at the Univ. computerlab I work at. I probably won't play it every time I work there, but I WAS able to clear the board a few times (don't ask about times--I have no clue how some of you manage this in under 5 min.!) On a couple of the games I played, the Asst. Dean of the Univ. was sitting there playing along with me. :) Later.............Howard (HKATZ, 17264, GO COM A2) >>>>> GShisen gets my vote for game of the year. Of course, I can only """"" think of two new games this year offhand (except maybe the Cogito for Second Sight, but that's got a really limited market, and it's not actually new). Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd Macintosh & PowerPC Programmers Forum (SHEPPY, 17299, GO COM A2) >>>>> Re: completion rates """"" When I was writing GShisen, before I added the "Suggest Move" feature, my completion rate was probably less than 5% since I couldn't fined any more move. After adding "Suggest Move", my completion rate skyrocketed (though it slowed my finish times down :) (KWS, 17442, GO COM A2) >>>>> You know, I tried a different mouse pad, moving my Dr. Pepper from """"" the right side of the keyboard to the left, dimming the lights, changing the music, hopping on one foot, and yet I couldn't do any better. I think you're right, it must be the mouse! ;o) And now for something completely different: Alert! + - + - + Alert! + - + - + Alert! + - + - + Alert! Alert! + - + - + Alert! + - + - + Alert! + - + - + Alert! Alert! + - + - + Alert! + - + - + Alert! + - + - + Alert! Alert! + - + - + Alert! + - + - + Alert! + - + - + Alert! For those who want to make custom tiles, the docs are backwards! Make your icons 16 _Wide_ and 18 _high_ or face truncations and ghosts (and perhaps undefined behavior ;o) Back to the old drawing board ^H^H^H^H^H program ;o) HABANERO p.s. An interesting side note, if you forget to change the rPString resource attribute to $7FFF, all the tile files in the tile menu are called "alphabet" ;o) (HABANERO, 17457, GO COM A2) >>>>> I've heard a lot of complaints about mouse responsiveness lately, """"" and all I can say is that, well, it is slow. Version 1.1, is much more responsive (__much__ more responsive). It's been submitted and should be available soon. (KWS, 17595, GO COM A2) >>>>> You mean you've changed it to make it even more playable? """"" You FIEND! ;-) -- Peter Watson -- Write to MSDOS disks on the Apple IIgs? -- Impossible! ;-) (PETERWATSON, 17614, GO COM A2) <<<<< One rather simple way of cheating would be to use a screen capture """"" program to get a snapshot of the game board. You could study it while the game is paused, then wham-bang make all your moves quickly. But what fun would that be? BTW, the update is fantastic! There is no more noticeable pause or "hiccup" when clicking on a tile. My times have improved accordingly. :) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Tony Ward, A2 Database Manager - Sun Nov 22, 1998 4:18:53 pm [Delivered with Spectrum v2.2 and Crock O' Gold v2.6] -- Hips or lips: Let your conscience be your guide... (TONYW1, 17753, GO COM A2) >>>>> I find that with GShisen 1.1, I still have to be very careful to """"" hold my mouse still after clicking on a tile, or it won't be selected. I'm playing on Bernie on my G3/266. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd Macintosh & PowerPC Programmers Forum (SHEPPY, 17760, GO COM A2) >>>>> Although I do not believe that each game can be successfully """"" completed, I've found it to be a heckuva lot of fun to replay games. It's amazing to me how changing one move early on can have such a dramatic effect on the outcome of the game. I've played a few games where I've run out of moves with 100 or more tiles remaining on screen, yet have completed the game on the second try. OTOH, I just replayed a game that, a few weeks ago, took me less than 5 minutes to solve, with disastrous results this time around ;-) Sometimes it's just so clear what I have to do, and at other times, the solution is staring me right in the face, and I just don't see it. And, that's what makes GShisen such a challenge. Joe (JOE_KOHN, 17908, GO COM A2) GETTING IN TOUCH WITH SEVEN HILLS The Seven Hills web pages will be """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" updated in due course. In the meantime, please make sure that all correspondence is sent to , some of the older email addresses may not be monitored any more. Spectrum 2.2 is now shipping. Updates from any previous version of Spectrum are $25, and a new copy is $85. Please add shipping and local sales tax as appropriate. Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Thu 5 Nov 1998 - 258 till KFest '99 Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum 2.2 & Crock O' Gold 2.6 Bernie ][ the Rescue 1.3 woofing on a PowerMac 8200/120 http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/ (EWANNOP, 17285, GO COM A2) ARE APPLEWORKS 4 AND 5 Y2K COMPLIANT? Sort of :) """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Some of the formulae are not ... most notably @today() ... but there are others as well that are not y2k compliant Kevin Noonan gswombat@delphi.com Todays quote: And she finally tastes the sweet smell of success (GSWOMBAT, 17404, GO COM A2) SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION GUIDELINES IN A NUTSHELL Here's a quick summary of """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" the various forms of software distribution as I understand them, and as I describe them in any documentation I write: Public domain means that the author has surrendered all rights to the software. They have no control over distribution, alterations, or usage of any kind. Freeware is copyrighted software that's licensed free-of-charge. The author may stipulate distribution and usage terms, and alterations are forbidden by copyright law. Shareware is copyrighted software that's distributed free-of-charge in trial form (either as a fully-functional or partially-functional demo), with the legal stipulation that the product be paid for after a certain amount of time or in order to obtain additional features. The author retains all rights to control distribution and usage, and alterations are forbidden by law. Commercial software is copyrighted, and is protected by law from distribution without license to do so being granted by the author. Commercial software must be paid for up-front (like by buying it in a store, or by using an online purchasing system). Alterations and distribution without permission are forbidden by law. Some commercial software is licensed for free, which is to say that the purchase price is $0. The Apple IIgs System Software falls into the last category: it's commercial software that is licensed for no charge. It's interesting to note that when you "buy" software, you aren't buying the software so much as you're buying a bundle of materials and a license that grants you permission to use the software on the disks you've purchased. The license can (technically) be revoked by the author of the software if you violate the terms of the license agreement. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd Macintosh & PowerPC Programmers Forum (SHEPPY, 17459, GO COM A2) BASIC ZIP AND TWGS TROUBLESHOOTING A common problem with the TWGS card """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" (and the ZIP GS as well) was that the pins that connect to the CPU socket on the motherboard would get corroded, or just warp from heat, so that they did not make good contact. The checkerboard screen is one of the things you will see if this happens. It does not necessarily mean that this is what HAS happened, but before doing anything else, your friend should slightly bend the pins on the connector that plugs into that socket so that the fit will be TIGHT (for a while) and try reinserting it. If it doesn't work the first time, it is worth trying 2 or 3 times just to be sure. You can bend the pins inward or outward, and if you have to do it multiple times, try both. NOTE!!!!! Those pins are cheap and fragile. Exercise EXTREME CARE (but don't hesitate to bend them, because if this doesn't work the card is basically a paperweight anyway :). Gary R. Utter (UTTER, 17501, GO COM A2) TONY ON APPLE BRANDED 3.5 DRIVE MECHANISMS There are two main types of """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Apple 3.5" Drive assemblies. There are actually 5 different variations, but two that matter which I refer to as 'Red' label and 'Black' label. The difference is in the logic board, in this image is the Red Label drive: http://www.apple2.org/images/DiskDrives&Related/PreLironCloseup.JPEG Looking at the area to the lower right side of the DRIVE, not the card under it, notice the solid area in the middle and connecting the pins in the middle of that 16 pin IC. O O O-O O O O O | \--------\ | SOLID AREA| Text Diagram | /--------/ O O O-O O O O O The Black Label drive does not have this area filled in, but rather there are two traces running through there. That is the easiest thing to spot when just looking at the drive. The next thing is on the side of the drive is a serial number label, see http://www.apple2.org/35Drv/35Drv8.html for an example. The color of the *NUMBERS* is the drive type. = Red Label Drive Black Numbers = Black Label Drive Blue Numbers = Blue Label Drive. Blue?!?! Ok, another type. Blue is a 1.44 (FDHD) Drive. You can also tell a HD drive by the front, switches are three mini white or blue shafts, two on one side, one on the other. (Write Protect, disk inserted and HD or DD) The Nitty Gritty of all this is that over all, only drives of a certain color work in certain places. With reference to the Apple II, the only concern is the UniDisk 3.5. It requires a Black Label drive. For completeness, I'll list it all here. Red Label Drive Black Label Drive --------------- ----------------- AppleDisk 3.5 (Platinum) UniDisk 3.5 Apple IIc Plus Mac 512Ke Mac SE / Mac II Mac Plus Mac Plus * * You may find a Red Label drive in a Mac Plus, if so, you will also find with it a ribbon cable with a YELLOW stripe instead of the RED for pin 1. A yellow cable is required to use a Red Label drive in a Mac Plus or 512Ke. (Or 128/512 using the 800K As MFS only) The biggest difference in these two drive types is the eject/disk inserted detection. If you assemble a drive and you have the eject motor constantly going then you have the wrong drive type installed. Now, for a twist, this is not always the case, some times you will find a Black Label drive working where it should not be, two reasons, the board could have been changed. Properly identify the drive by the bottom instead) or the board has been modified. (You will see several components sleeved in clear plastic, soldered to various points on the logic board.) The Daisy Chain board in a UniDisk is for a UniDisk only, likewise, the board in the AppleDisk 3.5 and SuperDrive (FDHD) is for those drives only. For the AppleDisk (800K) and SuperDrive (FDHD) the daisy chain board is the same. You can make a 1.44 from your 800K drive by swapping the drive assembly. The UniDisk daisy chain board is incapable of 1.44. (MFM). The FDHD Drive Assembly will also work where an 800K drive (Red Label) was without any changes, but only as 800K unless controller hardware is present to support it. (In a pinch, you can use it if your up the creek with no drive) Tony (T_DIAZ, 17948, GO COM A2) IOMEGA DEBUTS NEW ZIP DRIVE FWIW, Iomega announced a backwards compatible """"""""""""""""""""""""""" Zip 230 (I think it's 230) meg drive just recently. I have the info on it in my stuff from Comdex, but I haven't had a good look at it yet. I am safe and back home from Vegas, btw. :) - Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W., L.S.W. - rsuenaga@apple2.org Editor and Publisher, _The Lamp!_, published monthly on Delphi "Teaching the Apple II user how to fish since 1982" Posted by PTMM v2.5 - The integrated information solution (RSUENAGA, 17692, GO COM A2) >>>>> The new Zip drive is 250 MB. """"" Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd Macintosh & PowerPC Programmers Forum (SHEPPY, 17723, GO COM A2) LESS THAN LEGIT ISPS AND MARINETTI There is a problem with some PPP """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" implementations which expect certain options to be negotiated. Marinetti does not support every PPP option. However, the standard PPP specification states that all implementations MUST be able to support the lowest common denominator in regard to option negotiation. In most cases, the problem is the host terminates the connection because it cannot have what it wants, however illegal that may be. Future updates to Marinetti may fix this. But again, it is most likely not Marinetti's fault. Regards, Richard (RICHARD_B, 17632, GO COM A2) TECHNICAL INFO ON THE FDHD CONTROLLER FROM THE MUG! MASTER I'm not aware """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" of the "reference" manual that shipped with the card being online, but others may know more than me about this. As far as I know, a technical reference manual for the FDHD card was never released. Dave Lyons once told me that Apple had an ERS (ie. the internal pre-release manual) but it needed work before it could be let out the door (even as a text file). I know a reasonable amount about the card at the high-level programming level, but if you want to know about ROM contents, hardware soft-switches, etc. I'll have to defer to others (if any!). -- Peter Watson -- Write to MSDOS disks on the Apple IIgs? -- Impossible! ;-) (PETERWATSON, 17639, GO COM A2) <<<<< When I said "high-level programming" I guess I was trying to refer """"" to "technical" use as against "stick in a disk and hope it works" use. :-) Limitations? Software that writes directly to entry points in the slot firmware will break. (I suspect this is how most people found out about the self-test in the card. If you call C50A in a standard GS, you've called the standard SmartPort i/o entry point for the 3.5" disk firmware. On the FDHD card, this is the self-test address! Software that follows the rules for determining entry points will work, though.) Another limitation (feature, bug, whatever) is related to formatting disks that have been previously formatted with the "alternate" format, eg. low-level formatting an 800K GCR disk as 720K MFM, or vice-versa. The format works, but the drive/card gets very confused afterwards, and basically becomes unusable until you reboot. It's been a while, but the symptom is an error like "no disk in drive" or something equally silly every time you try to do anything with it. There isn't a problem with 1440K disks because they are always MFM format. Hmm, what else? Diversi-Cache no longer provides any benefit if slot 5 is a FDHD card. OTOH, it doesn't break either. BTW: Anyone *NOT* using Diversi-Cache on a GS with the standard 3.5" drives is crazy! GS/OS may have reduced the spectacular improvements to merely good, but it didn't eliminate them by a long-shot! Ask me questions for anything else you want to know, and I'll try to answer them. -- Peter Watson -- Write to MSDOS disks on the Apple IIgs? -- Impossible! ;-) (PETERWATSON, 17662, GO COM A2) GETTING GSBUG GSBug, with printed documentation, is also available """"""""""""" from the ByteWorks at http://www.hypermall.com/byteworks. GSBug is the feature product in Apple's APDA-15 Apple II GSBug and Debugging Tools Reference This includes a lot of tools besides just GSBug. GSBug also ships with every copy of ORCA/M. Mike Westerfield Byte Works, Inc. (BYTEWORKS, 17669, GO COM A2) CLEANING COMPUTER EQUIPMENT IN THE DISHWASHER? I clean my keyboard in the """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" dishwasher. I'm not sure I'd have the guts to put my motherboard in there though, even though I know that technically there's no difference. The warning about letting it air dry =completely= is critical. Don't let it run through the dishwasher's dry cycle. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Tony Ward, A2 Database Manager - Mon Nov 30, 1998 2:25:10 am [Delivered with Spectrum v2.2 and Crock O' Gold ] -- My mistakes are purely erroneous. (TONYW1, 17961, GO COM A2) >>>>> I did it once, too. And, it sure cleaned out all the gunk. """"" I did it in the middle of the summer, and then brought the disassembled keyboard outside to dry off in the heat. Most of the time though, I just use compressed air to clean out the keyboard dust and TV Tuner to clean and lubricate the key stems. I probably blow air through the IIGS keyboard a few times a year, but only use Tuner cleaner when needed. And, when the keycaps themselves get dirty, an old toothbrush sure works wonders. Joe (JOE_KOHN, 17966, GO COM A2) >>>>> Sure, a lot of bench techs use compressed water to clean parts... """"" but practice caution when cleaning items that have surface soldered capacitors and voltage regulators -- tin solder connections sometimes aren't soldered very solidly. Canned air is generally ok, but an air compressor should be used with extreme caution -- not just because they are so powerful and can blow components off the board, but because the air can generate a static discharge. Also, make note of all jumpers and their configurations. It could save a lot of time later. If you want to use the dishwasher -- make sure the board is securely mounted and remove that battery! (SFAHEY, 17967, GO COM A2) MORE ON THE SECONDSIGHT I don't remember if it able to do what you want """"""""""""""""""""""" but you may want to try ThirdView from Brutal Deluxe. Its freeware and should be out on the net. I can't recall if it is in our database here. If not, I'll try to upload it when I have time. Paul. Paul Schultz schultp@delphi.com sent your way via Spectrum 2.1 and Crock O' Gold 2.5 (SCHULTP, 17946, GO COM A2) >>>>> I'm not aware of any programs that use the 1024x768 mode on the """"" Second Sight. I'm not sure if it even works. As for picture viewers, GView is the best. Thirdview is okay, but it does not do horizontal scrolling, and it's slower than GView. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Tony Ward, A2 Database Manager - Mon Nov 30, 1998 2:20:31 am [Delivered with Spectrum v2.2 and Crock O' Gold ] -- Do what comes naturally now. Seethe and fume and throw a tantrum. (TONYW1, 17960, GO COM A2) RUMOR MILL """""""""" A TRUE COLLECTOR'S ITEM There were 500 Apple Computer 1 kits produced; """"""""""""""""""""""" how many of them actually got built into working computers is an unknown. Working models can go for $15,000 and up. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd Macintosh & PowerPC Programmers Forum (SHEPPY, 17298, GO COM A2) BERNIE 2.0--ALMOST READY FOR PRIME TIME Hello everyone, """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Just need to ventilate some of the hype that's been accumulating inside me. If you like Bernie, you're gonna like Bernie 2.0 prerelease, and you're gonna like Bernie 2.0 Final. We're currently stuck at prerelease level, but that's already an improvement. :) So, warm up your FTP tool and say hello to http://www.magnet.ch/emutech/Bernie2 woof, Henrik (GUDATH, 17256, GO COM A2) MORE NEW SHEPPYWARE Just a note to let everyone know that my next """"""""""""""""""" freeware Apple IIgs program will hopefully be available in the next few weeks (I have it working, but there are some glitches and interface cleanup to be attended to). It's an NDA called ShepPing, which lets you use Marinetti to ping other computers on the Internet. It works asynchronously, in the background, so you can be pinging a site while doing other work. I hope to have it out this month, but it could be December if these glitches take longer to fix than I hope they will (or if this cold of mine gets any worse :). Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd Macintosh & PowerPC Programmers Forum (SHEPPY, 17759, GO COM A2) PUBLIC POSTINGS """"""""""""""" LATE REGISTRATION FOR A2U'S HYPERCARD IIGS COURSE Hop on over to the """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" A2Pro forum here on Delphi and download the lessons from the A2 University database. You can get info about each lesson and find out what the filename of each lesson is by reading the New Uploads in A2Pro thread (sorry, I can't remember the number of the first lesson's message). You can also just go to the A2 University database (go com a2p dat a2) and do a "read" command. The HyperCard IIgs Course lessons are the only files in that database at present. You can also read the HyperCard IIgs Course Q&A thread (starting with message number 2217) to find out what comments have already been made. If you have any questions or are having difficulty understanding any of the concepts in the lessons you can post your own message as a reply to message 2217 and Gareth Jones (the instructor), HangTime, myself or anyone else who feels like speaking up will answer or comment. Alternatively, if you only have the free web based account or prefer to use the web interface, go to the A2Pro Forum's web page (http://www.delphi.com/a2pro), and click the A2 University link on the left. There you will find the preview lesson that explains what the course will teach and you will find a link to a download page which has all the lessons available as both .BXY and .BSQ files for you to download. Lesson 4 should be coming any time now. Right Gareth? :-) Jeff Blakeney - Dean of the Apple II University in A2Pro ** HyperCard IIgs Course now in session! ** (JBLAKENEY, 17929, GO COM A2) SPECTRUM 2.2--NOW SHIPPING """""""""""""""""""""""""" + Spectrum is the most powerful and most comprehensive IIgs desktop telecommunications program. + Its scripting structure surpasses anything seen on either the Apple II or Macintosh platform. + Spectrum 2.2 is now TCP/IP ready using the Marinetti TCP/IP Tool. + Use Spectrum with the Crock O' Gold offline message system for full control of Delphi. - Spectrum 2.2 now requires System 6.0.1. - Improved script execution speed. - Optimise scripts by compiling them. - Spectrum 2.2 and the XCMDs are Y2K compliant. - Optional Serial or TCP/IP environment. - Fully Integrated support for Marinetti 2.0. - Integrated multi-socket Telnet function. - Up to 32 simultaneous open TCP/IP connections. - View HTML files directly from within Spectrum. - Enhanced !Help! NDA includes Find function. - Internal support for Babelfish Import and Export. - Spectrum 2.2 supports the Hierarchic Control Panel. - Updated Spectrum Port driver. - 57600 baud connections using Bernie ][ the Rescue. - More than 50 new or updated script commands. - More than 30 new replacement items. + Many enhanced and updated XCMDs: The BinHQX XCMD now includes: BinSCII encoding and decoding. BinHex 4.0 encoding and decoding. MIME Base 64 multipart encoding and decoding. UUencode encoding and decoding. Enhanced WorkBench XCMD replaces the ResEdit XCMD: Access and edit resource forks. Make MessageCenter and IPC calls. Make Toolbox and GS/OS calls. Peek and Poke. You can order now with a Visa/Mastercard/Discover card (give expiration date) via email or by phone (904-575-0566) or mail a check/money order to: Seven Hills Solutions Specialists 1254 Ocala Road Tallahassee, FL 32304 v1.0-v2.2 upgrade $25 v2.0-v2.2 upgrade $25 v2.1-v2.2 upgrade $25 New/Full v2.2 $85 (Special offers may be available - Contact SevenHills) U.S.: Add 7% tax if in Florida. Add $3.50 shipping and handling. Outside U.S.: Add $3.50 s/h for either upgrade; $5.00 for full version. Contacting SevenHills online: Mail: Web: (EWANNOP, 17313, GO COM A2) <<<<< Just a reminder.... """"" The Spectrum 2.2 update is now shipping, and is dropping on to front door mats all over the world. To keep yourself up-to-date, and be able to navigate the Internet properly, you will need to upgrade your copy of Spectrum so it can use the Marinetti TCP/IP stack. Full multi-session Telnet support is standard in Spectrum 2.2. For any help you may need with installing or using Spectrum 2.2, please post your questions to me in this Forum, or in email to . You can order your copy now with a Visa/Mastercard/Discover card (give expiration date) via email or by phone (850-575-0566) or mail a check/money order to: Seven Hills Solutions Specialists 1254 Ocala Road Tallahassee, FL 32304 Upgrade from any version of Spectrum (1.0 - 2.1) is $25 New/Full copy is $85 (Special offers may be available - Contact SevenHills) U.S.: Add 7% tax if in Florida. Add $3.50 shipping and handling. Outside U.S.: Add $3.50 s/h for either upgrade; $5.00 for full version. Contacting SevenHills online: Mail: Web: Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Sat 14 Nov 1998 - 249 till KFest '99 Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum 2.2 & Crock O' Gold 2.6 Bernie ][ the Rescue 1.3 woofing on a PowerMac 8200/120 http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/ (EWANNOP, 17493, GO COM A2) WEBWORKS 1.2 SPINS ON THE 'NET WebWorks GS 1.2: Coming This Week! """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Version 1.2 has a significant number of bug fixes and new features. The most exciting new features are the new Window menu, support for opening and printing files from the Finder, and the SIS Tags submenu, providing even greater support for special SIS features. WebWorks GS 1.2 will be available beginning Thursday, November 5, 1998. An updater will be available on my web site and on Delphi, and future disks shipped by Shareware Solutions II will contain version 1.2. If you don't already have WebWorks GS, be sure to visit for more information about this product, or visit to place your order today -- online orders are processed by Kagi, and a secure server is available! If you'd rather pay by check (or you want to use a credit card but trust the postal service more than you trust the Internet), let me know and I'll email you a Teach containing a form you can fill out and send to Kagi with your check. The complete revision notes for the new version of WebWorks GS follow. New Features 1. The link dialog boxes now support the HTML TARGET attribute. This lets you specify a target frame or window for the link. 2. Added a new menu option: Edit:Set Editor Font. This lets you choose what font you want to use in WebWorks GS editor windows. By default, this is Monaco 9, but you can now change it to anything you want. All windows use the same setting, and when you change it, all windows are automatically reformatted into the new font, style, and size. This preference is saved to disk. 3. WebWorks GS now accepts the Open and Print MessageCenter messages. This means you can double-click an HTML file in the Finder (assuming you installed the WebWrks.Icons file into the Icons directory), and WebWorks GS will launch and open the file. This only works for one file; you can't select a batch of files and have them all open. 4. Added the SIS Tags submenu. This submenu, located in the Layout menu, lets you insert special Spectrum Internet Suite tags. These are: Smiley Face: Displays a smiley face Sad Face: Displays a sad face SIS-Enhanced: Labels the document as SIS enhanced Insert Sound: Inserts a SIS sound tag Insert Speech: Inserts a SIS speech tag The Insert Sound option brings up a dialog box that lets you enter the name of the sound effect to play. This sound will only play if a sound by the same name is located in the users *:System:Sounds folder, and if the user is using SIS; otherwise, nothing will happen. Insert Speech lets you insert a tag that will speak some text. Choosing the option brings up a dialog box that lets you enter the text to speak. The text will only be spoken if the user is using SIS and has the Byte Works Talking Tools installed. 5. Added a Window menu. This lists all open windows, and lets you switch among them easily. Bug Fixes 1. The Find and Replace window now keeps the contents of the Find and Replace edit fields across uses, so you can repeat searches easily. 2. The cursor changes to an arrow while using Find and Replace, instead of remaining a watch cursor. 3. The AppleWorks Special Codes preferences are now saved properly; there were problems with this in the past. 5. The AppleWorks Special Codes dialog no longer automatically converts strings into HTML entities; this lets you use HTML in special codes. 6. You can use the RETURN key as an equivalent for the OK button in the Special Codes dialog box. 7. TextEdit fields, including the editor windows, are now much smarter about selecting text. Smart cut & paste is no longer used (this was inserting unwanted spaces into the HTML). In addition, the quote ("), comma (,), greater than (>), and less than (<) characters are now treated as word breaks, which really makes editing a lot easier. 8. Fixed a typo in a warning alert. 9. Fixed bugs in low-memory error handling code, and in the code that keeps track of what untitled window numbers have been used. 10. The AppleWorks Special Codes dialog no longer shows garbage for unassigned codes. 11. The Find Again button in the Find window actually works. -- Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd http://www.sheppyware.net Creating software for everyone! (SHEPPY, 17271, GO COM A2) <<<<< WebWorks GS 1.2 is now shipping! """"" Current WebWorks GS owners may download the update at . If you'd like to buy WebWorks GS, visit to order online via credit card, or send a $20 check to Joe Kohn of Shareware Solutions II at: Joe Kohn 166 Alpine St. San Rafael, CA 94901-1008 USA If you'd like to pay by credit card, but fear the Internet, you may download an order form you can print out and send by postal mail at . This is a Teach document you can print out, fill out, and mail out, and lets you order WebWorks GS, ProBOOT, and Shifty List (in any combination). If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd Macintosh & PowerPC Programmers Forum (SHEPPY, 17293, GO COM A2) INTERIM COG UPDATE The COG 2.6 update is now on my home pages for """""""""""""""""" downloading by those who have difficulty with Delphi. The Spectrum 2.2 Installer removes the BatchXFer and ResEdit XCMDs. The functionality of the BatchXFer XCMD is now included within Spectrum 2.2, and the ResEdit XCMD is replaced by the WorkBench XCMD, which includes all the same functionality plus a whole lot more. Tool calls, GS/OS calls etc. This would not be a problem, but COG 2.5 requires the BatchXFer XCMD to run. In the 2.6 docs it mentions that you can continue to use 2.5 if you are not going to use TCP/IP. So if you wish to continue to use COG 2.5, you will need to keep back a copy of the BatchXFer XCMD, and place it in the Add.Ons:XCMDs folder after installation so that it will still work. The same goes for any script sets that require ResEdit. The only one I can think of offhand is SIS. Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Wed 18 Nov 1998 - 245 till KFest '99 Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum 2.2 & Crock O' Gold 2.6 Bernie ][ the Rescue 1.3 woofing on a PowerMac 8200/120 http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/ (EWANNOP, 17620, GO COM A2) BEST OF THE BEST """""""""""""""" 17899 26-NOV 22:41 General Chatter System Configuration From: JBLAKENEY To: ALL Well, I just have to let everyone know about my new Apple IIgs configuration. I finally received the second half of a shipment of Apple II stuff and finally have a nice system. :-) NOTE: This was posted to comp.sys.apple2 a couple days ago but I've made a couple minor corrections since then. My old configuration first just so you know how big a leap I've taken: Apple IIgs ROM 01 5.25 MB of RAM (CVTech w/4 MB and Apple 1 MB) Stock speed (no accelerator) Slot 1: Printer Port connected to ImageWriter II : Grappler+ connected to a Panasonic KX-P2123 (when I'm not using it on my 486) Slot 2: Modem Port connected to either a 14.4kbps or a 33.6kbps modem (depending on whether I feel like swapping cables) : Empty Slot 3: Built-in Text Display : Video Overlay Card Slot 4: Mouse Port : Empty Slot 5: Smart Port with one Apple 3.5 Drive attached : Empty Slot 6: Disk Port : Apple Disk ][ controller with one Disk ][ drive attached Slot 7: Your Card : AMR SCSI controller with an AMR 60 MB hard drive attached Note that the AMR hard drive isn't a whole lot faster than a 3.5" floppy drive. Also, the reason I was using a Disk ][ controller card was so that I could turn 5.25" drives on and off using the Control Panel. When I set slot 6 to Disk Port I didn't have access to the 5.25" drive and when I set it to Your Card I did. I am now running: Apple IIgs ROM 01 8.25 MB of RAM (CVTech w/4 MB and a Sequential RAM=GS 4 MB) ZipGSX v1.02 running at 8 Mhz with 16 kb cache Slot 1: Printer Port connected to ImageWriter II : Grappler+ connected to a Panasonic KX-P2123 (when I'm not using it on my 486) Slot 2: Modem Port connected to a 33.6kbps modem (I put away the 14.4kbps modem and share the 33.6 kbps with my 486) : Empty Slot 3: Built-in Text Display : ZipGS accelerator (I plan to move this to slot 4 so I can put my Video Overlay Card in this slot but I need to make or buy a slightly longer cable first) Slot 4: Mouse Port : Empty Slot 5: Smart Port with two Apple 3.5 Drives attached : Empty Slot 6: Disk Port with an Apple 5.25 Drive and a second 5.25" of one kind or another (I have several) daisy chained to it : Empty Slot 7: Your Card : RamFAST rev D SCSI card (I don't know how much cache) with a Quantum ProDrive 1225S 1 GB hard drive and a TMS Pro T155 155 MB tape backup attached The 5.25" drive setup has now been reversed. When slot 6 is set to Disk Port I have access to the 5.25" drives but when it is set to Your Card, I don't. I've also been lent (with option to buy) an Epson Stylus Color 400 printer but it doesn't work with the Epson printer but I'm not going to bother you with that problem right now. :-) Now my machine is just SO MUCH FASTER! It now takes about 30 seconds from power on to being able to use the Finder even with all my add-ons (Finder 455k, System 552k, Desk accessories 306k and Setup files 358k according to the "About This Apple IIgs" window). I was never very fond of Heirarchical menus on my unaccelerated machine but now the menus get drawn so quickly and the heirarchical sub-menus open and close so quickly that I don't even notice that they are different from standard menus. Wolfenstein 3D runs much better and I finally got to see MegaDemo. GShisen is much nicer to play as it will automatically tell me when there are no more moves instead of me having to manually ask it to check for remaining moves. I was really impressed with how fast ShrinkItGS unpacks files now and makes me wonder just how fast it would be if I have a math coprocessor. Having 9 32 MB ProDOS and 1 880 MB HFS partition is wonderful. I finally have enough room to sort through the 200-300 archive disks that I have accumulated over the years. Anyways, as you can probably tell I'm ecstatic and am enjoying myself to no end. I'll have to look at upgrading the ZipGS to even faster speeds come the new year. Jeff Blakeney - Dean of the Apple II University in A2Pro ** HyperCard IIgs Course now in session! ** [EOA] [A2P]------------------------------ A2Pro_DUCTIVITY | ----------------------------------- Checking out A2PRO on Delphi """""""""""""""""""""""""""" by Ryan M. Suenaga, B.A., M.S.W., L.S.W. [thelamp@sheppyware.net] DB 9 GAME SOCKET PINOUTS ON THE APPLE II """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" _______________ ( 1 2 3 4 5 ) \ 6 7 8 9 / ------------ 1 PB0 Button 0 input 2 +5V 5 volt output 3 GND Ground 4 PDL2 Paddle 2 input 5 PDL0 Paddle 0 input 6 PB2 Button 2 input 7 PB1 Button 1 input 8 PDL1 Paddle 1 input 9 PDL3 Paddle 3 input This is from the Apple IIgs Technical Reference, so it doesn't explain how this connector is used on the //c and //c+ for the mouse. -- Carl Knoblock - Telephone Tech - Mon 2 Nov 98 8:34:39 pm cknoblo@novia.net - Via Spectrum v2.1 & Crock O' Gold v2.5 KansasFest 11, July 21-25, 1999 - 261 days till KFest (CKNOBLO, 2312, GO COM A2) NEWS FROM THE BYTE WORKS The November edition of our web page is up. Be """""""""""""""""""""""" sure and stop by http://www.hypermall.com/byteworks to see: * New tech sheets for ORCA/Modula-2, ORCA/Debugger and ORCA/Sublib Source. * Sale prices, good for the month of November, for our compilers (with or without a course), ORCA/Debugger and ORCA/Sublib Source. Mike Westerfield (BYTEWORKS, 2313, GO COM A2) <<<<< GSoft BASIC 1.1 Released """"" If you joined the GSoft BASIC crowd early, you got version 1.0. While we strive for perfection, reality tells all of us that a major new software package always has some early problems, both bugs and features that should have been included but were not. The Byte Works is pleased to announce the release of GSoft BASIC 1.1. Any new orders will be filled with this new version. In addition to fixing all reported bugs (and a few we found ourselves), GSoft BASIC adds some exciting new features: * You can use simple BASIC PRINT and PRINT USING commands to write to graphics screens and windows. * SHARED variables are supported. SHARED variables are BASIC's way of implementing global variables. * You can create constants. * You can turn off automatic creation of variables, making it easier to develop and debug large programs. * Apple IIGS tools can call GSoft BASIC subroutines. And we saved the best news for last: If you registered GSoft BASIC 1.0, all you have to do to get your upgrade to GSoft BASIC 1.1 is walk to your mailbox! We've already mailed a complete two-disk upgrade to all registered owners of GSoft BASIC 1.0. If you would like to know more about this exciting new product, visit our web site at http://www.hypermall.com/byteworks or e-mail us and ask for a printed catalog and technical information sheet. Mike Westerfield Byte Works, Inc. (505) 898-8183 MikeW50@AOL.COM http://www.hypermall.com/byteworks (BYTEWORKS, 2347, GO COM A2) HOW TO TELL THE SHIFT KEY IS DOWN Location $C025 ( PEEK(49189) ) should """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" give you the information you need. The layout is as follows: bit 7 = Open-Apple key down bit 6 = Close-Apple (Option) key down bit 5 = Updated modifier latch without keypress bit 4 = Keypad key hit bit 3 = Key repeating bit 2 = Caps lock down bit 1 = Control key down bit 0 = Shift key down I'm not sure whether this is only updated when a key is pressed, such that it contains the setting with the last keypress, or whether it reflects the current status. I'm not sure how bit 5 works either. I just copied the above from Appendix E of the Firmware reference. I can't think of where I might have more information about the key latches. -- Michael (SAR, 2316, GO COM A2) >>>>> $C025 is always current. """"" Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd Macintosh & PowerPC Programmers Forum (SHEPPY, 2319, GO COM A2) TIMEZONE TOOLSET DOCUMENTATION I finally had a chance to finish up the """""""""""""""""""""""""""""" documentation. Watch the A2Pro Libraries for the Developers Kit. For the non programmer, a version with a simple installer will show up in the A2 libraries. Geoff (SISGEOFF, 2320, GO COM A2) NDAS AND FLOATING POINT MATH I'm working on an NDA in C, and I need to """""""""""""""""""""""""""" use floating-point numbers. So my Init code now calls SystemEnvironmentInit and SystemSANEInit, and my ShutDown code calls SystemSANEShutDown. This still crashes when it tries to call SANE. So I added calls to SystemMinStack and SystemUserID, but these don't appear to be in any of the libraries, and the NDA won't link. Any ideas what could be going on? Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd Macintosh & PowerPC Programmers Forum (SHEPPY, 2325, GO COM A2) >>>>> Nifty Spell used some SANE routines in its early incarnations. It """"" was found that the SANE ToolSet caused so many problems with crashing, that Chris had to remove the calls, and approach the calculations by conventional IntMath calls. I don't remember if we ever pinned it down more tightly than that but I would guess that it was zero page memory problems with starting and closing the Tool. Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Sat 21 Nov 1998 - 242 days till KFest '99 Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum 2.2 & Crock O' Gold 2.6 Bernie ][ the Rescue 1.3 woofing on a PowerMac 8200/120 http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/ (EWANNOP, 2326, GO COM A2) <<<<< Rrrr... I'm computing turnaround time for ICMP packets; I'm trying """"" to convert the time in ticks into a reasonable approximation of milliseconds (yes, I know there's a major deficiency of granularity here :). To do it, I need to multiply ticks by a number like 16.6666667; right now, I'm multiplying by 17, but the rounding error is going to be pretty large. Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd Macintosh & PowerPC Programmers Forum (SHEPPY, 2327, GO COM A2) >>>>> There was a problem (fixed in System 6.0.1?) with SANE not zeroing """"" its direct page at startup, but that doesn't sound like your problem. - Tony (TONYW1, 2328, GO COM A2) <<<<< I doubt it; I'm running 6.0.1 on everything here. """"" Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd Macintosh & PowerPC Programmers Forum (SHEPPY, 2329, GO COM A2) >>>>> Surely you can get the result you want by just dividing the number """"" of ticks by 60000. _LongDivide will do that for you. But that will give you both a remainder and a quotient. Math is not my strong point, but depending on what actually you want to end up with, you might also be able to use _FixDiv and then _Fix2Frac to produce a fractional result. In general I have found that the IntMath tools provide all you need without having to mess with SANE. Ewen Wannop - Speccie - Sun 22 Nov 1998 - 241 days till KFest '99 Delivered without using a IIgs by Spectrum 2.2 & Crock O' Gold 2.6 Bernie ][ the Rescue 1.3 woofing on a PowerMac 8200/120 http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ewannop/ (EWANNOP, 2330, GO COM A2) >>>>> No, that wouldn't work. You have an int in ticks. To convert it to """"" msecs without using SANE, it requires a multiplication and division operation. The equation is ticks*60/1000=msecs. With the toolbox, Use _Multiply and _longDivide with appropriate arguments. But since C is being used, why not use the integer math libraries with the two step equation? It just might be faster than using SANE. This doesn't help why SANE is failing, but it does give a more accurate work around than using the 17 value. Geoff (SISGEOFF, 2331, GO COM A2) >>>>> Sheppy, I'm not sure why SANE isn't working in the NDA either. """"" Here's a couple of other thing to watch out for: 1. ORCA/C's SANE startup code looks to see if SANE is already started. If so, it is not started again. This may be causing problems in the specific environment you're working in. 2. ORCA/C's startup code for SANE assumes the direct page area has been set up by ORCA/C, including some variables it uses to determine the start and end of this area. These must be initialized properly or you will get a crash. 3. There's nothing sacred about the C startup code for SANE. As long as SANE is started by someone, you can use floating-point operations in C. In short, if there are reasons why you can't set up a direct page, you can always start SANE the old fashioned way. Mike Westerfield (BYTEWORKS, 2336, GO COM A2) <<<<< Hm, so I'd need to write assembly code to set up a direct page, """"" then? I thought NDAs came with a stack... maybe I've forgotten something though. :) Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd Macintosh & PowerPC Programmers Forum (SHEPPY, 2338, GO COM A2) >>>>> Nope! """"" An NDA gets to use whatever stack is left over by the application - if any! I'm trying to remember the details from a couple of years ago when I was developing MUG! and kept crashing in strange and apparently random ways. I eventually worked out that I had the leftovers from the application's stack rather than the GS/OS default 4K (or my own stack segment which I also tried). Subsequently, I reduced my stack usage (and crashes!) dramatically. The only thing I find strange looking back now is how this would work with more than one NDA open at a time - or is my memory playing tricks and you can't do that? -- Peter Watson -- Write to MSDOS disks on the Apple IIgs? -- Impossible! ;-) (PETERWATSON, 2339, GO COM A2) >>>>> Despite rumors and attempts to the contrary, the Apple IIGS is not """"" a multitasking machine. An NDA is called, does all of it's work, and returns from that call without any other NDA (or the original application) getting a chance to do anything during that call. That's why it is safe for the NDA to use the application's stack. "But the window is open!" Yes, but the NDA doesn't have to be running for that to happen. It's update routine might get called, but if so, nothing else is happening while the call is made. Mike Westerfield (BYTEWORKS, 2340, GO COM A2) >>>>> > Hm, so I'd need to write assembly code to set up a direct page, """"" > then? That's one way to go. For the specific case of SANE, you might want to just start it using the tool locator. I really should look at the NDA startup code sometime. You're positive I'm not already starting SANE, right? I don't think I did, but it's been a _long_ time since I've really looked at that code. Mike Westerfield (BYTEWORKS, 2341, GO COM A2) <<<<< I honestly don't know, Mike. All I know is I saw that a SANE call """"" was crashing and I figured I must need to call the ORCA/C SANE initialization function. It sounds very likely that what I need to do is make sure I have my own stack/DP set up. Gotta see if I can figure out a way to do that from C in an NDA. :) Eric "Sheppy" Shepherd Macintosh & PowerPC Programmers Forum (SHEPPY, 2342, GO COM A2) WHERE CAN YOU GET HYPERCARD IIGS? There is a link on the A2 University's """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" web page (linked off of the A2Pro page at http://www.delphi.com/a2pro) that says that HyperCard IIgs can be downloaded from: ftp://ftp.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Up dates/US/Apple_II/HyperCard_IIGS_1.1/ Type that all on one line. It is also available in A2Pro's HyperMedia Programming database (go com a2p dat hyp) as the following files: HCGS.BXY (HyperMedia Programming) Size: 470932 bytes INSTTOUR.BXY (HyperMedia Programming) Size: 450485 bytes HCGSHELP.BXY (HyperMedia Programming) Size: 448242 bytes HTALKHELP.BXY (HyperMedia Programming) Size: 272510 bytes STACKS1.BXY (HyperMedia Programming) Size: 410044 bytes STACKS2.BXY (HyperMedia Programming) Size: 451794 bytes You may also want to read the Apple license agreement which is in both the ftp directory and the A2Pro database. APPLELIC.BXY (HyperMedia Programming) Size: 6533 bytes or APPLELIC.TXT (HyperMedia Programming) Size: 10484 bytes Finally, if you don't feel like downloading it, Byte Works has it for sale with a special discount for people who are taking the HyperCard IIgs course here in A2Pro. Here are the products that Byte Works has available: APDA-48 Getting Started with HyperCard IIgs (manual) $15.00 APDA-49 HyperCard IIgs Reference (manual) $25.00 APDA-50 HyperTalk (manual) $15.00 APDA-51 HyperCard IIgs disks $10.00 * APDA-52 HyperCard IIgs (APDA-48 to APDA-51 disks and all manuals) $60.00 * This product can be ordered by HyperCard IIgs course participants at a cost of only $50.00. Just be sure to tell them you are participating in the Apple II University HyperCard IIgs course on Delphi. Jeff Blakeney - Dean of the Apple II University in A2Pro ** HyperCard IIgs Course now in session! ** (JBLAKENEY, 2345, GO COM A2) [EOA] [TVT]------------------------------ THE VIRTUAL ][ | ----------------------------------- Using Zip Disks To Improve Your Dog's Image ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ by Ryan M. Suenaga, B.A., M.S.W., L.S.W. [thelamp@sheppyware.net] USING REMOVABLE HARD DISKS TO SET UP BERNIE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As more and more Apple IIgs users also become PowerMacintosh users and discover the revolutionary Apple IIgs emulator known as _Bernie ][ The Rescue_, the need to be able to exchange data between the two platforms becomes more and more apparent. In this article, we examine how to use some popular hardware and software--the RamFAST, Iomega Zip Drive, and the Macintosh programs _Hard Disk Toolkit_, _Disk Copy_ and _SCSI Probe_--to move your IIgs hard drive partitions over to your Mac so Bernie can bark. This article assumes understanding of the concept of disk images, particularly _Disk Copy_ images. Please consult the documentation for _Disk Copy_ if you need a primer on disk images. The relevant hardware this method was tested on is as follows: On the Apple II side of things: ROM_3 Apple IIgs, 5 mb of RAM, 9/32 ZipGSX accelerator, Revision B RamFAST, 170 mb hard drive, and Iomega Zip Drive. On the Macintosh side of things: PowerBook 1400cs, 44 mb of RAM, 750 mb hard drive, and Iomega Zip Drive. NOTE: These methods have not been tried with other hardware or software, including the popular Apple brand SCSI cards. The first thing to do is find out how large your hard drive partitions on the IIgs are. You can get a rough idea by using the command-I keystroke in the IIgs Finder, but the best way is to enter the RamFAST UTIlities (aka _RAMFAST.SYSTEM_), hit command-U to enter the SCSI Utilities, and select which drive you are interested in (if you have more than one drive). Your SCSI drive's partitions will be listed for you with the volume size next to it. If you created partitions of the maximum size allowed by the RamFAST for a ProDOS partition, they will be listed as having a volume size of 32768k, if not the partitions will be of varied (smaller) sizes. You'll want to jot these numbers down. Next, using the Mac, fire up _Hard Disk Toolkit_ (or some other utility which allows you to format and partition a Zip Disk). You'll want to partition the Zip Disk to have partition sizes exactly the same as the RamFAST partitions, meaning if your RamFAST partitions are 32768k, you want the Zip Disk partitioned by the Mac to also have a partition size of 32768k. It is now time to move this Zip Disk over to your IIgs. Given that you are in the IIgs Finder, simply unmount (drag to the Trash) the Zip Disk from your Mac and insert the Zip Disk into the Zip Drive attached to your IIgs and RamFAST. It is likely you will see an alert box with an error message similar to the following: "Using the installed FIle System Translators, GS/OS does not recognize this disk (in device .CVTECH.S7.G). Do you want to intialize it?" giving you a choice of initializing or ejecting the disk. Don't panic. Simply hit return (you will probably need to do it twice) to eject the offending partitions. What is happening here is the RamFAST is detecting a partition that the Mac needs to mount the Zip Disk on its desktop. You do _not_ want to initialize the partition. You will end up with the partitions you sized (to 32768K or other size of your choice) being mounted on your IIgs desktop. If you have sized your Zip Disk partitions to be exactly the same size as your IIgs hard drive partitions, you can now simply do volume copies of your IIgs hard drive partitions to your Zip Disk partitions (if not, you will have to do the slower file copy). Following the completion of the copy, drag the Zip Disk partitions to the IIgs Finder's Trash, eject the disk, then insert it into the Mac's Zip Drive. You may need to use _SCSI Probe_ or an equivalent to mount the ProDOS partitions (Note: you _must_ have _PC Exchange_, _File Exchange_, or some other program installed on your Mac that will allow mounting ProDOS disks, and be aware that you must have File Sharing on your Mac turned off to mount ProDOS disks in Mac OS 8 and later). You can now use _Disk Copy_ to make disk image files out of your partitions, and mount them directly when using _Bernie_. You now have the knowledge necessary to transfer all of your RamFAST's hard drive partitions over to your Mac while running _Bernie_. With a little ingenuity, I'm sure you can figure out how to use the methods detailed in this article to also transfer your data back the other way. We will continue to look at how you can bridge the gap between your real and virtual Apple II in future issues. [EOA] [SUS]------------------------------ SUDDENLY SOFTWARE | ----------------------------------- Disk Access II v2.0 by Seven Hills Solution Specialists Corp. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" by Ryan M. Suenaga, B.A., M.S.W., L.S.W. [thelamp@delphi.com] Disk Access II ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Program Name: Disk Access II Author: Steve Stephenson and Ewen Wannop Publisher: Seven Hills Solution Specialists Corp. Version Reviewed: 2.0 Distribution: Commercial software, $20 U.S. dollars for new copy, $11.50 for upgrade from any previous version. Seven Hills Solution Specialists 1254 Ocala Road Tallahassee, FL 32304-1548 Voice: (850) 575-0566 Fax: (850) 575-9445 sales@sevenhills.com With the post-KansasFest release of a tremendous amount of new and updated Apple IIgs software comes another utility program from Seven Hills, _Disk Access II 2.0_. In a nutshell, _Disk Access II_ is a New Desk Accessory that allows you to perform all manner of disk and file maintenance. In fact, it is so comprehensive it is nearly feature-for-feature identical with the IIgs Finder, and in some ways packs far more power than Finder ever could. When invoked (either by the pull down Apple menu or a user defined keystroke), _Disk Access II_ presents a famillar interface, complete with several pull down menus of its own. At the same time, it lists active disk devices on your IIgs system. From this point the user can either perform disk level maintenance (such as renaming, copying, or erasing entire volumes) or click on the any of the listed devices to open it and display a list of its contents, which will be presented similarly to a Finder window listing a disk's contents. Users can do basic file maintenance here by using _Disk Access II_ to rename, copy, delete, get information about, verify, move, or duplicate files, or create a new folder. In addition, you can change any filetype's info or use a powerful find file function that allows you to search not only on a file's name, but also its filetype, auxtype, created date, modification date, size, existence (or non-existence) of a resource fork, or its locked, hidden, or inactive status--or any combination of the above. If you work often with a few directories, you can add a shortcut under the Paths menu to access it instantly. You can use the Window menu to view the contents of files (a great utility for a quick and clean peek into a file's format) or you can create a new window to type yourself a quick note in and then save it as a text file. It's not as powerful as say _Hermes_ or _EgoEd_ but it certainly can be convenient. Several windows can be open at any one time and you can choose between them using the Window menu. Like many new programs, _Disk Access II_ comes with documentation on disk only, in this case in the form of the !Help! NDA, which is freeware from Seven Hills. You can print these out if you'd like, and I suggest reading them thoroughly as this is a program with a lot of sophistication. Familiarity with the documentation will be essential to get the most out of _Disk Access II_. In short, Seven Hills has a real winner in the form of _Disk Access II_. It packs plenty of power (including one of the most powerful find file functions available for the IIgs) in an attractive package at a low price, and those who have avoided one of my personal favorites, _File-A-Trix_, due to the text interface, will likely take instantly to the attractive desktop interface of _Disk Access II_. Thank you to our friend Ewen Wannop for finishing up the program and to Seven Hills for keeping the promise Apple Computer, Inc. didn't. :: DISCUSSED ON DELPHI :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: : : : If we all share our ignorance, : : soon we'll have none left. : : : ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: GSWOMBAT :::::: [EOA] [INN]------------------------------ EXTRA INNINGS | ----------------------------------- About The Lamp! The Lamp! is published on the fifteenth of every month in """"""""""""""" the Database of the II Scribe Forum on the Delphi online service (GO CUS 11). This publication produced entirely with real or emulated Apple II computers using Appleworks 5.1 and Hermes. Apple II Forever! * The Lamp! is (c) copyright 1998 by Ryan M. Suenaga, M.S.W. All rights reserved. * To reach The Lamp! on Internet email send mail to thelamp@sheppyware.net. * Back issues of The Lamp! are available in the II Scribe Forum on Delphi as well as The Lamp! Home Page, http://lamp.sheppyware.net. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Delphi Online Services, Syndicomm, Inc., or Ryan M. Suenaga. Forum messages are reprinted verbatim and are included in this publication with permission from the individual authors. Delphi Online Services, Syndicomm, Inc. and Ryan M. Suenaga do not guarantee the accuracy or suitability of any information included herein. We reserve the right to edit all letters and copy. Material published in this edition may not be reprinted without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Registered computer user groups, not for profit publications , and other interested parties may write the publisher to apply for permission to reprint any or all material. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< [EOF]